More coffee break previews!

You must think I am always taking coffee breaks! It's just a good time to post on here whilst I'm having ten minutes or so away from my work table....er....for table, read  floor! I just spread stuff out so far and wide when I work that it's simpler to work down there...keeps me flexible too!

Anyway, here are some more previews of my new Christmas stamp sets. Thank you for all the lovely comments and emails that I've had about the ones I posted yesterday and, to answer some of the queries, they will be out sometime in July and will be available from any Personal Impressions stockist. If your nearest store doesn't have them, just make a note of the code number/s and ask them to order them for you.

Okay, on with the next sets. This first one is my "Zendoodle Reindeer Ready to Go" CICSA6311.

As I explained yesterday, the Zendoodle stamps all have two versions of the exact same image - one plain and one ready doodled. To answer a question that I was asked last night, you don't get both versions in one set - there is a choice of either the plain image OR the ready done one. Just to illustrate, here is the plain version of the same reindeer....

...this one is "Zendoodle Reindeer" CICSA6309 and, as you can see, this gives you the outlined areas for infilling with your own doodle designs.

Okay, next up is a set called "Branching Out" CICSA6338....

....this set was in response to many requests for my stripey branch to be made as a stamp so I have added three other, more festive, variations as well. Of course the stripey one can be use all year round. Turn it through 45degrees and it works as a tree, seaweed etc.

This set was my sister's favourite from the Zendoodle range........

....maybe it's because Heather is an expert sock knitter! Anyway, this one is "Zendoodle Christmas Stockings" CICSA6321. Lots of scope for bright colouring, fine glitters and general fun with this set!

I love snowmen and I love using silhouette stamps so there are a couple of the icy fellows included here....

This set is called "Peaceful Christmas" CICSA6325 and I know that I'll be using this a lot in demonstrations and for my own cards this year. Dylusions ink spray backgrounds, Distress ink backgrounds and some white gel pen highlights....I can see them now! 

Back to Zendoodles and this is "Zendoodle Snowman Ready to Go" CICSA6320....

....well, I had to, didn't I?! What a jazzy outfit!

Next up are "Little Festive Houses" CICSA6329. Ideal if you're sending cards to anyone having Christmas in a new home or the "our house to yours" cards of course. I'll be matching these with little snowmen and other characters.

 A big word now! This is "Zendoodle Joy RTG" CICSA6317. Lots of festive doodles within the letters on this one.

Finally, for now, another Doo Lally Pip set....

....this is "DLP  Night Before Christmas" CICSA6334. Not sure about health and safety with her candle carrying technique! The candle can be cut away and replaced with anything else or she can even hold the stocking of course. She also has a pair of optional script wings that can, of course, be used with other figures.

Well, that was an interrupted coffee break and posting session as my neighbour popped round for a chat so I will have to scarper now and catch up with myself....and make a fresh coffee too I think!

I'll be off to Coventry first thing in the morning for my day at Daisy Jewels and Crafts teaching a workshop. So, I'll post some pictures of that when I get back.

Have a great weekend everyone!

A peek at new Christmas stamps!

Morning everyone, I'm just having a quick coffee break and, as the images of my new stamps are now available to see on the Personal Impressions website, I thought I'd just take a few minutes to share a few with you. You can see the whole collection by clicking here, although there are a couple more still to be added later today.

Well, here goes....I've just chosen a few different sets from the whole collection........

....first up is "Little Fairy" CICSA6332. She's a pretty sturdy little thing with her boots and stripey tights! She has a nice stream of starry sprinkles to waft around the place though.

Of course, anyone who knows my work will be aware of my obsession with snowmen of all different styles and here's one of my new ones.....

....he's called "Stringy Snowman" CICSA6337 and he's in the Doo Lally Pip range. I'll be stamping him directly onto my backgrounds and then stamping him again so I can cut out his head and body to layer over the top....no cutting round stringy arms for me! 

A set of quotes now, these ones being "Inspirational Quotes Greetings" CICSA6341. If, like me, when you make quirky, cute, or just non religious Christmas cards you still like to have the option of some words that allude to the real meaning of Christmas in some way, then I hope these will fit the bill.

Another thing that I like to feature in my stamps are owls! So I decided to create some festive ones along with their very own icicle strewn branch. They all different characters, from the rather bewildered one on the top right to Mr Grumpy on the left! Sorry about the appalling puns though....another of my favourite things!

This set is "Merry Christmas to Whoo" CICSA6323.

Another fairy now, or at least someone who wants to be a fairy! She is another in my Doo Lally Pip range and is "DLP Tree Fairy" CICSA6330. Her socks look pretty much like mine usually do when I'm relaxing on a chilly evening! Of course, you can always clip off her wings (ouch!) when she's not wanted as a fairy...and use the wings elsewhere needless to say.

To finish this first peep, here are three of the seasonal designs from my Zendoodle range. As with the first collection, there are "plain" sets and "ready to go" versions of the same designs. There are twelve new Christmas designs, so that amounts to twenty four in total...are you keeping up with me here?!? I'll just show you three of the ready to go versions here, but if you prefer to do your own doodled infilling, then the plain versions are for you!

This is "Zendoodle Dove Ready to Go" CICSA6315. As with all the Zendoodle range, it's a good size to make a big impact on a card or to use in a frame as a decorative picture. I'll definitely be making some decorations with this one as it's an easy one to cut out and decoupage of course. Rather than wild colouring on this one I'll probably choose just one or two tones of grey, lilac or blue and do some gentle shading.

Trees next, and this set is "Zendoodle Trees RTG" CICSA6319. A row of highly decorative trees that can be used as they are  or, of course, cut down into individual or smaller groups. I may have to restrain myself with my colouring on these or I might get carried away!

Finally for now, this last stamp is "Zendoodle Angel RTG" CICSA6312.She's an Angel and she's Zendoodled and there you have it!

Hope you enjoyed the first look at just some of the new sets. I was literally dreaming about doodling by the time I had finished all the Zendoodle designs! There are lots more sets in the collections so I'll share some more next time.

Meanwhile, my break is over and I'd better get back to work!

Ooooh, look what just arrived!

The postie just arrived with a package for me..........

 ......my new Christmas stamp sets! There are also a Halloween set and a hats set in there. The ones along the top are from the Crafty Impressions range in their new festive red packaging. The bottom row are from my Doo Lally Pip collection and, in the middle are my "Little Doo Lally Pip" stamps. There are loads of them....thirteen Doo Lally Pip sets, nine Crafty Impressions sets and ten Little Doo Lally Pips.....makes me realise just how much drawing I did a few months ago and it still gives me a thrill to see them turned into the finished product.

All the new Christmas stamps are available now from Personal Impressions stockists - if they don't have them in, just ask!

Along with my own stamps there were a few of the general Crafty Impressions Christmas word sets.....

......these will prove very useful additions in my sample making.

Speaking of which, it's all hands to the deck now (well, my two hands anyway!) to get lots of samples made with them all. The only question is.....where do I start!
I've just popped back here to add a couple of pictures of a canvas that I finished today - I didn't want to leave it part done when I started my Christmas samples. This one features my Piffy on a Rock Cake character and I've used calico across the bottom of the canvas again for grass. I really like the tactile quality that the fabric gives.

 Here's a closer look at the "grass"....

.....the tiny flowers are circles of painted card that I've wet and scrunched up before heat setting to stiffen them. I added little dots of dimensional pearl paint to the centres. You can see more close ups of the canvas on my Etsy site.
Well, it's been dull and misty here all day, with some showers too and the sun has only just put in an appearance. Yesterday was perfect weather for the garden party at the Vicarage where there was a barbecue as well as three tables weighed down with delicious salads of every description, cous cous, potatoes, trifles etc, all lovingly prepared by members of the parish. A lovely afternoon was had by all though I didn't win anything in the raffle (I never do!) and I didn't go on the bouncy castle either!
I did get some more good bat shots last night and will keep on trying until I manage to get a picture of one face on as it flies towards me....I'm determined!