A Peaceful Wish

With the countdown to the final hours of 2016, I just wanted to pause for a moment.
This past year has provided me with so many creative highlights which were made all the more special considering this year saw me time and again with enforced time away from crafting.
Creative opportunities are never taken for granted but this year I have been completely overwhelmed.  Two completely unexpected opportunities came my way.  Near the top of the year Catherine Moore invited me onto her Character Constructions D.T.  The first blog post I ever wrote centred around a Character Constructions project.  Never did I imagine, one day to be on her D.T.  I’ve had great joy in working with her fabulous stamps and the added honour of the invitation to collaborate on the Character Constructions 2017 calendar.  I eagerly await 2017 and continuing to work with Catherine Moore.
A more recent but equally unexpected invitation was from Sandra Evertson, to be an Ambassador for Relics & Artifacts.  In the summer, I was a Guest Ambassador, I could never have dreamed what was in store for me. My role differs slightly to that of the other Ambassadors but I cannot wait to see what 2017 will bring for me in this role.
New connections forged do not mean that old connections are not treasured.  I am thankful to so many who allow me to create with their products:-  Crafty Individuals’ Jean and Malcolm, Rachel Greig at Darkroom Door, Leandra at PaperArtsy, Chris and Sharon at Redlead Paperworks,  Laura and Graham at That’s Crafty.  It has been great fun creating with That’s Crafty’s own product range which they are expanding all the time.  A highlight was appearing with the D.T. in a Craft Stamper 3D Challenge.
Stampington & Company provided so many highlights for me this year that I really need to take some time to let it absorb.  It has been so momentous that it just is not sinking in.   Until this year, I had been incredibly fortunate to have been published time and again in a range of Stampington titles but this year was beyond anything I could have dreamed to be possible – I had my first articles in Somerset Studio, Somerset Life and Somerset Apprentice.
I keep anticipating that the bubble will burst!
Amongst my gratitude is to those of you who are friends, friends who I know I will likely never meet yet that does not detract from how we care when times are tough for each other or when we can celebrate any joyous news.  With my absence from blogland, I never expected to still have friends take the time and trouble to visit scheduled posts – thank you so much.  I cannot express how much it means to me because by doing so, it would open a flood-gate of personal emotions.
New Year seems to be a time of mixed emotions, celebratory but also it can be contemplative, possibly a time to gather our thoughts and reflect on what has impacted on our lives through the past year or a time to look ahead to what could possibly be in store for us.  It is also a time when people are more likely to feel the deep loss of those who are no longer physically present in their lives.
Here’s to the New Year, that it is kind to you and that good times outweigh the rough times.  With us all scattered around this world and in those troubled times, I also hope that 2017 has some peace in store for us, we could surely do with it!
Stamps by Character Constructions.
See You in 2017!
Lynne x

Winter Wonderland … A Resounding Silence (Somerset Studio Gallery)

Hello
Appearing in Somerset Studio Gallery is such a wonderful way to end the year. This assemblage is another piece I am lucky enough to have published as a Spotlight, in this issue.
Tree – Crafty Individuals CI-450
Sentiment – PaperArtsy ESN
Dinky Stencil – That’s Crafty Snowflake Background
I was trying to convey peace, stillness, on a winter day with the low winter sun dancing on the frosted landscape, the only sound the crunch underfoot on the snow impacted ground.To heighten the natural and organic feel to the panel, the tree was stamped onto some mop up/under paper which does result in a less than perfect stamped impression but for this, it was exactly what I was aiming for.
When I first started to stamp, I would have thought a less than perfect stamped impression was good for only one thing, being tossed into the rubbish bin but now, there is great freedom and sense of satisfaction when a perfectly imperfect impression actually adds more to a project.That’s Crafty greyboard snowflakes, oh I just love them.  The snowflake brings the eye towards the textural layers.
With the colour palette silvery white with mere hints of gold, this representing the golden glow of the winter sun.Thank you to anyone who takes the time to visit, especially at this time of the year when there is great demands on your time….so Thank You!
Wishes
Lynne

Winter Wishes (The Stampers’ Sampler)

Hello
This post features a trio of snowflake angels which appear in the Autumn issue of The Stampers’ Sampler – squeezing them in here, before the end of the year, really should have shared them before now!
This is quite photo heavy but will be short on words…that’s a first!
The trio gathered together – each doll approx 4.5″ x 8″
Other than the little labels with a festive sentiment, all stamps are Character Constructions and available HERE. Catherine Moore ships to the U.K. otherwise I think it is almost impossible to source them here.
Each angel consists of many stamps, so they are not quick makes but once you give yourself over to them, they are such fun to stamp, assemble and then adorn.  For all the paper dolls, I painted papers/cardstock.She has such a wonderfully sweet face.ICE Resin brings a wonderful dimension to the wings, with the merest hint of glitter.
The crinoline stamp is a huge favourite of mine, for the angels I dressed it up further with layers of tulle or vintage lace.Glad Tidings.The colours are subtle, a very pale blue with hints of silver.Snowflake WishesEach has sheer ribbon as a hanging mechanism so they could be displayed on a Christmas tree or door handle or arranged along a mantle.She hands out snowflake wishes to passersby on a winter day.
Catherine Moore’s beautiful stamps allowed me to have fun. One of the joys of 2016 has been working with her stamps and the honour of being on Catherine’s D.T.
January 1st is looming upon us but I will try and share at least one more blog post before the end of the year comes calling.
Wishes
Lynne

Spread Your Golden Wings

Hello
It might be Christmas but I have a blog post at That’s Crafty. Details, photos, etc can be viewed HERE.Sending Festive Wishes for comfort, joy and peace or if you prefer, adding a dash of merriment!
Lynne x

Relics & Artifacts

Hello
The opportunities that have presented themselves to me over the years have always taken me by surprise. Maybe in part because I never expect anything, always believing the opportunities to be a dream too far.
Imagine the level of surprise at the news of becoming a Relics & Artifacts Ambassador. I know, I still cannot absorb this news. My role is slightly different to the other Ambassadors although the invitation is there for me to create with R&As whenever I wish.
My passion for R&As is genuine, from when I first saw them I could see the endless possibilities for creating with them. Sharing a few older projects.
A link to the post at Sandra Evertson’s The Muse
t.


If you would like to, you can read a few words in my interview at Sandra Evertson’s Relics & Artifacts Muse, HERE.
Thank you to Sandra and David and the Ambassadors for making me feel welcome.  They are such an inspirational team whose passion and enthusiasm is infectious.  Such an honour for me to even be a small part of this.
Wishes
Lynne

Hanging Around The Christmas Tree

Hello
A quick post to share two ornaments featuring Character Constructions stamps and Sandra Evertson Relics & Artifacts.
Some weeks ago I received Character Constructions Christmas Vintage Christmas Plate No. 6  which has wonderful festive sentiments and I thought it would be fun to use them on ornaments. The second ornament has a sentiment from the Bird and Bee No. 14 set.
I have been drawn to tartan this year, do not ask me why!At this time of the year, a dash of glitter is acceptable, just a light sprinkle as the ICE Resin magnifies it.Simply stamped muslin bags again featuring Character Constructions stampsHope you are all whizzing though your Christmas preparations!
Wishes
Lynne

Angelic Winter Wishes (Somerset Studio Gallery)

Hello
A wonderful way to close out the year is making an appearance in Somerset Studio Gallery. I am so thankful to have multiple pieces in this issue, a few are festive/winter related so I thought I would squeeze in a couple between now and the 25th.  I will be back-tracking, after Christmas, to share artwork that I haven’t caught up with as yet, some going as far back as the summer!
Supplies used:-
Redlead Paperworks Sentiment
That’s Crafty Dinky Stencil Snowflake
Sandra Evertson Relics and Artifacts direct from Sandra Evertson or from That’s Crafty.
One of the festive creations is this…assemblage on canvas substrate with That’s Crafty stencil in the backgroundand pairing up two Relics and Artifacts.This is a favourite Redlead winter sentiment,  layered onto a fragment of mop up paperwith a crystal Curio to bring lightand to stand the assemblage, a wooden spool, distressed and softened with a scrap of vintage lace with pearl.
Here’s to it not being too hectic a time for all of you if you are in the middle of festive preparations.
Warm Winter Wishes!
Lynne

On Angel Wings

Hello Everyone
My post over at the That’s Crafty blog today features one of That’s Crafty’s uprights, the Dinky Arch Upright plus Dinky Stencils, including the beautiful wings, yes the wings on the Relics and Artifacts angel are from a stencil.
If you are interested, then please click HERE, for further details.
Just realised – no stamping on this project either.  That’s two weeks running for the That’s Crafty blog with no stamping appearing!
Always appreciate the time you take to visit, especially at such a busy time of the year.
Wishes
Lynne

Snowflake Angels (Somerset Studio)

Hello
Today I am sharing two assemblages which appear in the Nov/Dec issue of Somerset Studio. I have two articles, yes, pinch me!
In the article I share how Relics and Artifacts and other elements, such as paperclay, helped me create snowflake angels.
Some of the Supplies used:-
Character Constructions (wings) The Bee Keeper’s Tea No. 7
Redlead Paperworks (Snowflake Wishes)
Carabelle Studio Stamp – from That’s Crafty
That’s Crafty – Greyboard Panels, Greyboard Snowflakes, Dinky Stencil Snowflakes
Sandra Evertson Relics and Artifacts – @ Sandra Evertson or in the U.K. from That’s Crafty
A framed paperclay face.Excuse the blurry photo!  The stamped wings, from Character Constructions, have been coated with ICE Resin with a sprinkle of sparklewith the R&A heart having the same treatment of the ICE Resin.A wee stamped tag with a sentiment from Redlead.The second assemblage, which is slightly more gold in tone.Paperclay features heavily on this one, using it in two different ways.  Paperclay has been such a revelation for me, now I don’t know what I do without it in my stash!  The crown and wings on this snowflake angel are Carabelle Studio, used with paperclay.A wee addition of a snowflake charm with pearl added to the R&A.You can just about see the snowflakes stencilled onto the substrate,  this is a wonderful Dinky Stencil.After, I realised the sentiment I conjured up really makes no sense at all yet at the time, it seemed to make complete sense to me!Dresden Trim is so wonderful for all those little extra touches.Thank you to Christen Hammons at Somerset Studio for publishing my article.  I always feel thankful for the amazing products we have at our fingertips because the vision of That’s Crafty, Catherine Moore, Redlead, Sandra Evertson, made it possible for me to have fun creating those two assemblages.
Many thanks for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne

Clan MacDeer & Their Festive Shenanigans

Hello
Normally, at this time of the year, I flood my blog with festive inspired creations.  A few factors have hindered this happening this year one being that my mind is still stuck back in March, possibly April… certainly not December!!!!
That said, a few weeks ago I received Happy Mail indeed, stamps from Catherine Moore’s Character Constructions, Vintage Christmas plates No. 6 – 9.
Inking up Plate No. 9, along with stamps:- dresses, arms and feet, from various other CC stamps plates, I really did have a great deal of fun making what I’m about to share in this post. Lots of fussy cutting involved, my fingers are still refusing to speak to me!

(words – Lynne Moncrieff 2016)
Clan MacDeer & Their Festive Shenanigans
If you travel north of my home, keep to the country roads and give yourself enough time in your journey to stop along the way, stretch your legs, partake of light refreshments.  Eventually,  after what seems an eternity, you will spy a castle rising out of the gloaming.  At first sight it is imposing, you will possibly have the urge to about turn.  Instead, find some courage, some say that a little Dutch Courage in the shape of a nip of whisky is all that is required,  I prefer the advice of taking a deep breath and embrace what lies within the walls of the castle.  
Guidebooks will inform you that this is the family residence of Clan MacDeer but in the nearby village, whisperings are muttered that MacDeer are no ordinary family, they are magical creatures, half human and half reindeer.  
Tis only from  1st December ’til Midnight of 1st January that cheer resonates from the castle.  Ceilidh music, the swirl of the bagpipes, the cries and whoops and stomping of feet of those gathered as they dance their way through The Eightsome Reel, The Dashing White Sergeant and the one which sees everyone clamber onto the floor, Strip The Willow.  Amongst those whose dresses swirl in the air  and whose voices whoop the loudest, are the triplets of the MacDeer clan.  Daphne is the eldest by 1 minute 20 seconds.Aggie, she is the baby, with her sweet demeanor and always a quizzical look to her face,she is also the most likely to be fussed over especially with new frocks for the festive season.Mairi’s greatest wish is that she were the first born of the triplets and not the middle girl.  She can often be heard telling “a fib” when asked if she is the eldest.  Yes, Mairi loves Daphne and Aggie like no other but how she deerly  dearly (!) wants the status of being the eldest.The foolish girl that she is, she has even taken to dressing beyond her years!
Of course there are other members of Clan MacDeer and if time permits, then I will allow an introduction.  In the meantime, thank you for stopping by especially at such a busy time.
Wishes
Lynne

(words are from my own silly imagination)