Happy New Year ...

... a new year brings with it new challenges and opportunities.  For me, January can be the longest and hardest month to deal with ... a time for reflecting back on the year that has gone and looking forward to the year to come.  One thing I've been thinking about is my blog and how I can improve it ... I seem to get less visitors as time passes. Part of the problem is that I haven't been posting as often as I did so I plan to rectify this (of course this means I need to find more time to be creative!!).

So here we go ... my first post for the New Year ... 

I was inspired to create this card by two challenges:

Time Out Challenges #126


Inkspirational Challenge #177
 

It seems strange to be asked to CASE one of my own designs for a challenge ... this is the original card:

Enjoy!

Saturday fun ...

Good evening ... I've had a lazy day crafting and creating ... some success and some best not talked about!!

First up I created a card using the sketch from CAS Colours and Sketches and the photo inspiration from TIME OUT Challenges:

This card began with a print I created using stamps, acrylic paint and my gelli printing plate ... this is the print:

I selected a small area and die cut a rectangle, I also die cut a piece of vellum the same size and stamped and heat embossed the sentiment.

The details of the two challenges are:

CAS Colour and Sketches #273


TIME OUT Challenge #110 Photo Inspiration



Enjoy!

Dandelions ...

I was on a bit of a roll yesterday and this card is just one of four I managed to create ... possibly my most successful crafting day in weeks!  I ran out of time to create a post to share the card ... so here I am a day later.

Another simple card created using a gelli print for the focal image.  I die cut the image from the gelli print and from 3 other pieces of white card all of which I adhered into a stack to create more dimension.  I had real trouble deciding what colour to use for the sentiment ... as you can see in the end yellow was the winner!!

I used:
Sue Wilson: Dandelion Posies
UNIKO: Simply Said Blocks
Memento Ink - Dandelion

As mentioned at the start I am entering this card into the TIME OUT challenge:

Enjoy!

Springtime ...

I hope the sun has been shining for you ... it remains dull, wet and overcast in Oxfordshire ... making for a dull and overcast mood!!

I've been creating my own kind of sunshine water colouring and creating ...

... my aim was to reflect Springtime on a card ... no grey insight!

I used:
STAMPlorations - Dee's Artsy Blossom Sprays #1
Distress Inks - Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Lucky Clover, Abandoned Coral, Twisted Citron

I'm entering the following challenges:

TIME OUT #107


Stamping Sensations April Challenge "One for the Girls"

Seize the Birthday Anything Goes with optional Vibrant Colours

Craft Stamper Magazine April Challenge "Anything Goes"

Enjoy! 

Daffodil Delight .

A quick post to share a card:

I stamped and heat embossed the daffodils before water colouring the images.  The sentiment is heat embossed onto a piece of vellum before wrapping around the stamped panel.  The panel was adhered to the card base using foam adhesive to add a little extra dimension.

I used:

UNIKO - Spring Botanicals: Daffodils

Winsor and Newton Water Colour Paints

Versamark Ink

WOW White Embossing Powder

I'm entering the following challenges:

TIME OUT #105

Happy Little Stampers

UNIKO

Craft Stamper Magazine Blog - March "Anything Goes"

Enjoy!

One Layer Stencil ...

Good Evening ... popping in to share this:

A simple design - a stencilled image and a stamped sentiment!  This is a new technique for me ... I used alcohol inks and a stencil on my gelli printing plate.  I brayered two shades of pink alcohol ink onto the plate and then added the stencil.  I removed some of the ink from the open sections of the stencil and then added some yellow Memento ink, removed the stencil and allowed this to dry.  As it was drying I masked off a rectangle on my card base.  Once dry I added a thin layer of Buff Titanium acrylic paint, placed the card base over the top and rubbed the back to transfer the image.  I un-crossed my fingers and removed the card ... and what you see is the end result.  I added a simple sentiment and that was that!!
A one layer card created with a stencil!!!

I used:
Adirondack Alcohol Inks - Cranberry and Raspberry
Memento - Dandelion Ink
Buff Titanium Acrylic Paint
UNIKO - Chrysanthemum Stencil and Simple Said Stamp Set

I will be entering the following challenges:
"Less is More" # 367


Also, TIME OUT Challenge #105 - Happy Birthday and Congratulations!!


Enjoy!!

Snow Day Fun ...

Snow, snow, snow ... is the only topic of conversation around the UK at the moment ... it seems to have brought the country to a virtual standstill ... but there is always an upside ... our school is closed so I get a three day weekend!!  So I have spent the day crafting ... making cards, making books and even creating an art journal page!!!

It seemed only right to share some of my hard work with you this evening ...

I was inspired by the sketch at CAS Colours & Sketches #261

... and by the current challenge at TIME OUT Challenges #104

 

A bold sentiment heat embossed on vellum and adhered to a vibrant panel created on my gelli printing plate. Both elements have been adhered to the card base with foam tape for added dimension.

Enjoy!

Love inspiration ...

Good evening!! I wish it was Spring ... it has been a cold a dreary weekend!

I'm stuck in a bit of a creative rut at the moment ... I spent quite a lot of yesterday trying to create a card or complete a page in my art journal with no success whatsoever!! Then when I should have given up and gone to bed an idea popped into my head from nowhere ... this is the result:

This is inspired by these challenges:

"Less is More" #364


TIME OUT Challenge #102


My heart was created using a die and a scrap of a gelli print.  I die cut the musical score 4 times from card and adhered them together to make a thicker element to add dimension.  The hardest part was lining up the individual letters for the sentiment ... it always amazes me how well they stick to your fingers!

I used:
X Cut Heart Nesting Dies
Sizzix Sing Out Loud die
Lawn Fawn Milo's ABC 
Stampin Up Nearly Navy Ink

Enjoy!!

Thanks ...

Good evening ... I seem to be off to a very slow start this year with my blogposts ... but hopefully things will start to pick up as the year progresses and I get more organised!!

I've a card to share today:

A quick card combining stamping and die cuts and just one colour.

I'm entering the following challenges:

"Less is More" #362



TIME OUT #100



Enjoy!

TIME OUT Reminder ...

I'm popping by this morning to let you know that you still have time to join in with the current challenge at TIME OUT Challenge ...

Autumn with the optional twist of speed stamping.

The optional twist is all about creating a card in 10 minutes or less but, of course, you can enter without the twist.  I tried with the twist for my first attempt and was doing well until it came to tying a bow!  This time I've created a one layer card using a stencil, stamp and marker pen.  How long did this one take ...

... six minutes!

I used:

PaperArtsy Stencil by Lin Brown

Distress Inks - mustard seed, carved pumpkin, candied apple and mowed lawn

Pitt Artist pen for the doodle border.

I've had fun being involved with this challenge and hope that you will join in.  Why not check out the blog to see more inspiring projects from the design team and check out how many took up the optional twist!

Enjoy

Taking Time Out ...

There are sometimes when you just need to be able to sit and craft ... today is just one of those days!  After an "interesting" day at work there really is nothing better than getting creative ... inspired by the challenge at TIME OUT where the theme is to CASE another designer (See the photograph below) ... I came up with this:

When I first saw the challenge all I could see was the brilliant design by Cornelia and couldn't think what I could do but then I remembered the new stamp and dies from STAMPlorations that I had just received and then I new just what to do!  As you can see I took my cue from the colours and the image ... I added a few splatters just for fun!

It is worth checking out Cornelia's blog for more inspiring projects.

I used:

STAMPlorations - For the Birds stamp set and coordinating dies

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

Distress Ink - Twisted Citron

Stampin Up - Off the Grid

I'm also entering:

STAMPlorations Never-ending Anything Goes Challenge

Before I go ... I do have some fun and positive news that certainly has lifted my spirits.  I won UNIKO's last challenge - thanks to the wonderful design team for choosing my card as a winner!  This is the card:

And I received an Honourable Mention from the design team at Mixed Media Challenges for my entry in their June challenge.  This is the index card that I entered ... I'm so excited as I don't do much in the way of mixed media.

Enjoy!

Bunch of flowers ...

A quick post to share this card:

I started by creating some background paper using distress inks and a small gel printing plate and a number of stencils.  I then die cut the flowers from the background paper, kraft card and white card.  I created the bunch of flowers and tied them with a bit of twine.  Die cut a couple of tags and stamped the sentiment on one of them.

I'm entering the following challenges:

"Less is More" #331 Colour Challenge


TIME OUT #84  - Flowers and Friends make life a garden

Enjoy!

Flowers and Friends ...

 I'm never quite sure why time asses so quickly when you are on holiday ... it is Thursday already and I haven't managed to do half the things I planned to do during my week off!! However, I have managed to spend time crafting ... perhaps I should have been doing the housework but there is always tomorrow!!! 

This is the card I've created today:

I seem to have on going problems taking photographs ... today the problem seems to be too much light!! 

I used:
UNIKO - Pure Florals: Lily and Originally Organic
Distress Inks - Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon and Twisted Citron
WOW Gold Embossing Powder
Lawn Cuts - Stitched Rectangles
Wink of Stella

I'm entering the following challenges:

TIME OUT #84 Inspired by words:

"Flowers and Friends make Life a Garden"

"Less is More" #330 Gold embossing and wink of stella on the buds


Enjoy!