Sunday Snippets - Autumn Sunset and Another Altered Frame

Happy Sunday Everyone

Hope you are all have a lovely, possibly restful, maybe exciting, day :)

As it's Sunday it's time for a trip to Pixie's Snippet Playground - Week 94 and today, because it incorporates a couple of snippets, I have the sunset scene, last seen in it's unfinished state, on my desk on Wednesday.

The background, a snippet of white card, is sponged with combination of Tim Holtz distress inks in yellows, pinks, mauves, blues and black. The stamps, Lavinia's Bare Trees & Leaves and Toadstools, were stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed with a black powder. Finally, it was edged with Rub 'n Buff metallic wax, rather appropriately Autumn Gold, and matted on to a leftover scrap of embossed black card - the folder is the superb Fall Leaf Background from Darice - which has also been given the Rub 'n Buff treatment.

Just a tiny embellishment top left, composed of a scrap of hessian, a few gold waxed leaves and a bronze brad, to finish.

To frame it I altered a very old frame I had tucked away in my box of 'things to be recycled/altered'. In fact the frame is more than 43 years old ... I know this because for much of the 43 years it held a lovely photo of my baby son, then 11 months old, in it ... and he is now 44 years old :) As usual, I forgot to take a before shot of the frame which was a very battered cream with a gilt trim. Here's a shot of the back to give you some idea of the sorry state it was in.

It now has several layers of acrylic and one of a bronze metalic paint with a touch of Rub 'n Buff around the uppermost edge for good measure.

Looking so much better - there might even be another 40+ years in it yet :)

Off to sort out my wardrobe now and pack away anything I think I can live without for the next few weeks.

Take care and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

A Lucky Day ...

... or should that be a lucky week!

Whatever, this morning I discovered that I've won not just one challenge, but TWO this week ... how terrific is that :)

The first is at Crafty Cardmakers for this card depicting a 'winged thing'.

I used a new, to me, technique with ink dusters for the background - check the post here for details.

Thanks to Lin and Crafty Cardmakers for choosing my card as a winner :)

The second is over at CHNC for challenge 145 - the one with the watercolour painting as inspiration for this my second submission entitled 'In A Manger'

This is another of my recycled toppers matted on to two layers using different methods of embossing - check the post here for details.

Many thanks to Hazel for running such a fabulous challenge blog.

I think the stars must all be in alignment this weekend and it's definitely started on a high for me. Not only these challenge wins but it's a Barbara Gray and Sheena Douglass weekend on Create and Craft TV too!

I was up at 6.30am bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, just raring to go. I even tried taking Julia's - Stamping Ground - advice and started on her itemised list of ten, but I think I peaked too early and I now need to have a lie down. It could be some time before I complete just that first ... i.e. #1. Make a list of all the things that you want to make between now and Christmas - 74 days to go! And only four weeks to moving day ... help!!!

I hope you are all enjoying the weekend too :)

Take care and happy crafting,

Friday Smile - The Witches, The Black Cat and Pansies!

Morning Everyone

My Friday Smile on a Friday ... I must be doing something right :) Annie is hosting Week 39 of her Friday Smile blog feature - a brilliant idea that encourages me, for one, take stock and count my blessings at least once a week, and in a busy life that's something I frequently struggle to find the time to do. Don't we all?

Last week it was my lovely grandson and great grandchildren, thanks Annie for featuring the fun snap of Rhian cuddling up to her Uncle Alun ...

... this week it's pansies. I know, from the sublime to the ridiculous but this really did make me chuckle. Some witty gardener had the foresight to sew black and orange pansies together in time for them to be in bloom for Halloween! And here they are on display at Gardenwise garden centre at Dumfries, complete with three witches and their broomsticks, cauldron and, of course ...

... the obligatory black cat. How brilliant and fun is that :))

Incidentally, and I wish this was smelly-vision, the perfume from the huge display of pansies and violas was absolutely delicious.

Now, it's your turn. What made you smile this week? Whatever it was, do share it with us - just pop over to Annie's and add your link :)

Oh, and as the weekend starts here, I wish you all an enjoyable weekend.