Birthday Bash ...

Another day, another card! Tonight is back to distress inks and dies ... a card to join the birthday celebrations at STAMPlorations.  I wanted to use balloons and I wanted to use STAMPloration stamps and that is exactly what I have done.

I used stamps from the STAMPlorations Mixed Media Grunge  stamp set to colour some card before die cutting the balloons.

This is the mood board for the challenge:


I had some great news yesterday ...  I received an Honourable Addict award from Addicted to Stamps , thanks for choosing my card - this is the card they liked:



Enjoy!

Let's Celebrate ...

Back to card making today!!  I like do something creative on a Monday as I feel it gets the working week off to a good start ... and makes up for having to go to work!

Tonight's card celebrates my new crafty treat - I bought a set of Zig Clean Colour Real Brush markers, an unnecessary extravagance!  I've seen quite a lot of blogs extolling the virtue of these so thought I would jump on the bandwagon and try them myself.  They arrived at the weekend so this is my first attempt to water colour with them ...

They are easy to use and easy to blend but it is to soon to give a final verdict but I am looking forward to playing with them.

In addition to the new markers I used:

Versafine Onyx Black Ink
Crafter's Companion Watercolour card
STAMPlorations Bloom Sketches stamp set
Clearly Besotted Many Messages stamp set

I'm entering the following challenges:

"Less is More" Week 230 Sketch Challenge (i have stretched the boundaries of the top box!)


STAMPlorations - ongoing Anything Goes Challenge to use STAMPlorations stamps

Enjoy!

Upcycled Chair ...

I've been working on a project for a few weeks which does not involve paper or card ... it does however involve paint, wax and fabric.  My mum gave me a wicker chair - the low kind for use in the bedroom (I think!).  I brought it home to see what I could do with it, I only wish I had taken a photograph of it before I started the transformation.  It had been paint a deep navy blue and the seat was covered in a gold coloured satin-like fabric.  This is what it looks like now:

The fabric was designed and created by my son - it was made through a photographic printing process know as cyanotype.  It started as pieces of fabric approximately A3 in size - he created 20 different designs which were stitched together to create a hanging as part of an art installation.  I was a little surprised when he said it was OK for me to use the fabric for this project!

I am pleased with the result as it is an interesting mix of old style and modern - I'm just not sure what I'm going to do with it now it's finished.

Vibrant Pink ...

From gentle and soft to vibrant in two cards!!  My last post was all about subtle, muted gentle colours ... tonight's is quite the opposite.  It is still pink and green but there is nothing subtle about Picked Raspberry - I'm not really a pink kind of girl but this colour brightens my day!!

I used:

Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry
Stampin Up Ink - Lucky Limeade
Uniko Studio - Beautiful Blooms I stamp set
Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Stripes
Golden Gel - Light Modling paste.

I'm going to enter the following challenges:

"Less is More" - Week 229, Stencilling
AAACards  - Game 42 Paste and/or Stencils
Uniko Studio - Challenge #22 Anything Goes

Enjoy!

Soft and gentle ...

Popping in for a quick post this evening ... time seems to be in short supply at the moment!  I managed to create a card this evening for this week's challenge at "Less is More" - the theme is Stencilling.

Apologies for the wonky photograph!

The colours and style are very gentle and subtle compared to my usual choices!

I'm also entering the challenge at AAA Cards - Paste and/or stencil.


Enjoy!

Edit: Just popped back to list the ingredients that I used:

Stampin Up - Everything Eleanor Stamp set
Distress Inks - Antique Linen and Victorian Velvet
The Crafters Workshop Stencil - Mini Chickenwire reversed
Golden Gel Light Molding Paste
Gold thread

24.06.2015

Rainbow circles ...

Finally I managed to create a card for my son ... it took me ages to come up with a design that I thought was his style and this is it:

I seem to have a thing at the moment for die cutting and using the negative space left behind rather than the die cut itself!  I also either use shades of one colour or every colour of the rainbow!

I'm going to enter the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #149, Clean and Simple
Stamping Sensations - June challenge, Dies and Punches

Enjoy!

Edit:  Just popped back to list my ingredients:

Clearly Besotted Geometric Style II Stamp Set and dies
Distress Inks - Festive Berries, Ripe Persimmon, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire, Seedless Preserves
Uniko Studio Background Builders, Round in Circles Stamp set
Memento Ink - Dandelion

Also, just realised I could enter the Uniko Studio Challenge - Anything Goes with the optional twist of Masculine Card - as I made this card for my son I guess it fits the optional twist!
24.6.2015

Black and white gerbera ...

When I'm stuck for ideas I usually turn to my favourite stamp set to see if I can find inspiration - and today is no exception!  I'm supposed to be designing a card for my lovely son's birthday on Monday but ideas are sadly missing!!  I'm not sure that he would appreciate receiving this card:

This is the gerbera from Uniko Studio and I love it!  This time I have stamped it in onyx black ink and then shaded it using a fine micron black pen - I've seen this technique used before but cannot for the life of me remember where!! 

I'm going to enter the following challenges:

Uniko Studio Challenge 22 - Anything Goes with the optional twist of a masculine card.

Addicted to Stamps and more Challenge 148 - Clean and Simple

Enjoy!

One design, two Dads ...

It's Father's Day in the UK this coming Sunday and I was short of ideas!  Eventually I managed to come up with one idea and made two cards - it feels a bit like cheating making two of the same!  Hopefully the Dads will just be pleased to get a handmade card.

I'm currently obsessed with creating background papers - the first card was made with shaving cream (apt for a male card!) and shades of blue ink to create a marbled effect and the second card was created by brayering chalk acrylic paints in shades of green onto card.

The top panel was attached using foam tape to add additional dimension

When I finished the first card I was very happy with it so decided to make the second one but now I'm not sure whether I like either of them!  As I'm unlikely to come up with another idea any time soon I guess they will just have to be OK - it is the thought that counts!!

As they are monochromatic I'm going to enter the current challenge at Virginia's View



Enjoy!

Marbled butterfly ...

Tonight's card is made using a scrap from the marbled card I made last week.

It  seems a little strange to place the focal image on the inside of the card but it seemed a good idea at the time!!  I'm short of things to say this evening so I will just let the card do the talking.

I'm going to enter The Card Concept challenge, in the Clean and Simple category:



Enjoy!

Shaving cream and Butterflies ...

... an interesting combination!!   Let me explain ... I've been reading about creating marbled backgrounds using shaving cream as the base for dropping paint/ink onto rather than the traditional marbling method of using water.  I finally decided that I must have a go ... and I think I might be obsessed with the technique!  This is some of the paper:

This is not the best photograph - the colours are sunset inspired and are cleaner/brighter in real life!

I've used this card to create a number of cards using my new butterfly die (something else I'm obsessed with!).  I thought I would share this card with you:

 I die cut the butterfly from the marbled card and another from midnight blue card.  I then pieced the die back together combining the inside of the blue card with the outside from the marbled card - a crazy idea!!  The main image is stuck only by the body to give dimension.  I added a sentiment and then layered it onto a piece of the marbled card before adhering to the card base.

I'm going to enter this into the following challenges:

"Less is More" Week 227 Colour Sunset
Addicted to Cas Challenge 65 Butterfly


Enjoy!

Butterfly Sunset ...

This is the third card I've created today.

I created a mask from the die and blended distress ink through it to create a colourful shadow of a rainbow.  I die cut the butterfly from midnight blue cardstock and adhered it by the body - this has allowed the wings to provide some dimension to the card.

I used:
Distress inks - squeezed lemonade, dried marigold, spiced marmalade, ripe persimmon and a touch of Festive berries
Sweet Dixie Butterfly Die
Stampin Up - Not Quite Navy ink

I will enter the following challenges:

"Less is More" - Challenge Week 227 Colour - SUNSET
Addicted to CAS - Challenge 65 - Butterfly



Enjoy!

Sunshine and sunset ...

Sunshine, blue skies and Saturday - what more can a girl ask for!!  A day at home, no driving and time to craft.  So far today I have made two cards, painted a chair (that I'm refurbishing), done three loads of washing, a bit of shopping, cooked some pulled pork for tomorrows dinner and even managed to do some hoovering! 

This is my first card for today:

I blended a number of distress inks on a piece of watercolour card and then misted with water with perfect pearls to create a shimmer across the surface.  I cut the panel up with a hexagon thinlit die then adhered the hexagons to another piece of cardstock added a sentiment and mounted the panel on to a card base with foam pads to give a little more dimension.

I used:
Distress Inks - Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Festive Berries
Stampin Up - Hexagon Thinlit die

This week's challenge at "Less is More" is a colour challenge with SUNSET as the theme. - the colour theme for this card was the starting point for me so I will enter the challenge.  I love these colours so you could see me entering more than once this week!

Enjoy!

Edit:  I've popped back to add a credit to Laura Bassen - I have seen a lot of Laura's work and admire her as a designer of beautiful cards.  Although she wasn't in my mind when I created this card her influence is clear to see.  Thank you Sarah (Sazzle Dazzle) for pointing this out and apologies to Laura for not having credited her for inspiring me.

Not my usual style ...

Another after work card, once again designed to keep my brain distracted!  I'm not sure it has worked this evening but I have created a card for you to consider - it is very different from most other cards I've made.  It's not as clean and simple as usual but they do say that "..a change is as good as a rest.."  I leave it for you to decide whether that is true or not.

Here it is:

I brayered a large sheet of card with a selection of Fresco Chalk paints to create the background (it is greener in real life!).  I cut a square and then added texture using stencils - white ink and black ink.  The flower is stamped onto a gessoed page from an old French text book - the frame is die cut from 4 layers of black card to give it more body.  The butterfly is cut from a scrap of printed paper.

The end result does not look a bit like I thought it would!!  I am entering this month's challenge at the Mixed Media Card Challenge - the theme is Collage with the optional twist of a frame.


I had some great news this morning I've been given an 'Honourable Mention' over at the TIMEOUT challenge for this card.  I'm so grateful for this, it really brightened my day!



Enjoy!

Simple birds ...

A quick post this evening!  A card I made on returning home from work this afternoon - I just wanted to do something that would distract me.

I used:

Distress Inks - Festive Berries,  Salty Ocean,  Spiced Marmalade
Versafine Onyx Black
PaperArtsy JoFY JM 20

This is a first for me as I cut the stamp into pieces so that I could use the elements separately - it is something I've seen others do but have been too scared to do it!!  I'm pleased I did as I think I will use it more often now.  The card also includes another first - I used glossy accents on the heart (not that you can see it in the photographs), not a revolutionary idea but still new to me!

I'm going to enter the following challenges:

"Less is More" - it is Lucky Dip week, the theme is '2 or 4 legs' 
Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge 147, Make Your Mark

Enjoy!

STAMPlorations Guest Design Slot ...

Excitement time once again! I was a top pick in the STAMPlorations sketch challenge #32 and was invited to be a guest designer along with the winner and the other top picks!  As you know I'm never one to turn down such a request - I think I enjoy the challenge!

This is my take on the sketch:

This is the sketch:

I used:

STAMPlorations Trendy Leaves and Bloom Sketches stamp sets
Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry
Stampin Up Ink - Lucky Limeade

Thanks to Shery at STAMPlorations for this opportunity and also for the great stamp designs!

Enjoy