Black and White ...

A quick post this evening to share this:

A simple quick card inspired by a couple of challenges:

Color Hues Challenge #14

Addicted to CAS #194

I used:

STAMPlorations Flutter Zen #1 die

Stampin Up Off the Grid Stamp

UNIKO Simply Said Block

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

Keep crafting!

Grey, Sunny, Wet ...

... this just about sums up today!! It also reflects my mood ... the only solution seemed to be getting creative.  After spending quite some time just gazing out of the window I did manage to tune in to my creative heart and make a couple of cards.  As always the TIME OUT challenge provided me with inspiration - so this is the first card of the day: 

The image, the background and sentiment were stamped and then heat embossed.  I water coloured the stamped images and then fussy cut the flower as I wanted to use it to add dimension to the card (and realistically I was too lazy to mask and stamp it all!!).

I used:

Visible Image - Creative Chaos

STAMPlorations - Softly

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

WOW Clear Embossing Powder

Ecoline Brush Pens

The challenge details

TIME OUT Challenge #184

I've already started working on my garden (rather than waiting for April) as it sure does help 'get me out of my head' the only problem is that it is dependent on the weather!!

I'm also going to enter the current challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More #401

Stay Safe!

Sunshine ans Spring ...

This morning we are lucky enough to have some Spring sunshine - it always brings a smile with it.  So I've managed to potter around in the garden this morning and am pretty much up to date - weeds are very sneaky though and tend to pop up when I'm not looking!!  I have lots of vegetables and herbs planted so fingers crossed for a bumper harvest later in the year.

In my last post I mentioned that I had created two cards to celebrate Spring, so this is the second card using the same stamp set but a very different look.

 

This time I stamped and heat embossed the flowers with gold embossing powder and then coloured them using just two inktense pencils. I love the way you can get a range of colour depending on how much water you use to blend them.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

UNIKO Challenge #64

Addicted to Stamps and More #401

Enjoy the sunshine if it is shining where you are and stay safe.

Spring has sprung ..

Today is the first day of Spring in the UK but it is hard to believe as there has been no sign of the sun and it really is quite chilly.  I have done some gardening this morning but once my hands get cold I have to stop!  So in I came and returned to my craft room to get creative (and warm!).

Inspired by the challenge at UNIKO with the theme of 'Signs of Spring' nothing says Spring more than the arrival of daffodils.  I've created a couple of cards with the same stamp set but just plan on sharing one with you today.  This card is another card that is not in my usual CAS style as you will see the whole of the card front has something on it - no white space whatsoever!  Unlike the mixed media card I made earlier this week I have only used one technique - heat embossing.

I cut a panel of yellow card (it does look brighter in real life!) and then stamped just the flower head of the daffodil with watermark ink and heat embossed each image with white embossing powder.  I did the same for the sentiment and then it was just a case of adhering it to the card base, I used foam adhesive for the sentiment just to add a little dimension.

I used:

UNIKO Spring Botanicals: Daffodils

UNIKO Big and Bold Hello

Spectrum Noir Watermark Ink

Wow White Embossing Powder

UNIKO Challenge #64

Stay Safe and Keep Crafting!

Less is More ... CAS Inking

 Good morning! Time for a new challenge at Less is More ... it is time for a recipe challenge -

We are looking for an inked area of your card - maybe a die cut or masked area.

I masked an area off and ink blended the whole area first and then used a stencil to add some interest to the background.

I hope you are inspired to join in with the challenge and remember to check out the blog for more inspiration from the other design team members.

Stay safe!

Coffee Lovers Hop ...

 Along with the STAMPlorations team I'm joining in with the Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Hop:

I've created three small cards - same design different patterned cups and sentiments.  

I used the solid die from the Zen Coffee Cup layering dies to create the card base.  I used a gelli print to die cut the three coffee intricate dies and adhered them to the front.  I finished each card with an encouraging sentiment.  As we are not allowed to meet up with friends to share a coffee at the moment this seemed to be a fun way to keep in touch.

I used:

STAMPlorations - Zen Coffee Cup Layering Dies

                              - Hey Sunshine Clear Stickers

(This post contains affiliate links when you click on them and place an order I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you).

I hope you find time to check out the Hop and get involved - I know that you will find much to enjoy and inspire.

Stay Safe

Shades of Green ...

 Last week I created a mixed media card but it still looked CAS (check it out here) so today I've tried to create a card that isn't CAS and would not be recognised as one of mine!!!

Here it is:

The background is created using tissue that was printed using my gelli plate and then adhered to a piece of white card, there is also some script tissue underneath in the two corners.  I stencilled some detail with white texture paste and stitched around the edge to pull the design together.  The hexagons and butterflies were die cut from card also printed with acrylic paints, stencils and my gelli plate.  Finally I added the sentiment and adhered the panel to a card base.  I would say it is different from my usual CAS card style!

My inspiration for this card was to join in for a second time with the current challenge at TIME OUT challenges

Stay Safe!

STAMPlorations March Reminder ...

The weeks seem to be scooting by this year ... here we are in the middle of the third month of the year and time to remind you that you still have time to join in with the STAMPlorations Theme and Photo challenge.   

I have an art journal page for you ... from the prompt I've chosen the number three ... 3 daffodils and 3 colours (yellow, orange and green).

I created the background using acrylic paints, a stencil and stamps on a gelli plate.  I stamped and heat embossed the daffodils on a scrap piece of painted paper before enhancing the colour with coloured pencils.  Finishing the page with a clear sticker.

I used:

STAMPlorations 

Mixed Media Grunge

Mixed Media Elements

Boxed Blooms

Leaves 1 Stencil

April Showers Clear Stickers

(This post contains affiliate links when you click on them and place an order I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you).

I hope that you are inspired to join in with the challenge and remember to check out the blog for more inspiration.

Stay Inspired!

Addicted to CAS ... Guest Designer

 I'm so excited to be writing this post ... I was lucky enough to be chosen as the winner of the Addicted to CAS challenge announced on 19th February and the prize is to guest design for a future challenge so that is what I am doing today.  The details of the challenge are:

Remember it is a CAS challenge so keep your design Clean and Simple.  I hope to inspire you to join in with the challenge ... I went with squares:

I began with a stencil and an Inktense pencil to create the background squares.  I stamped the floral image on a scrap piece of card before using an Inktense pencil to colour the flowers.  I then used the stecil again to create the squares around the flowers before cutting them and attaching them to the panel using foam adhesive to add some extra dimension.

I used:

Visible Image Two Tone Stencil

Woodware Burst Into Bloom Stamp Set 

Inktense Pencils

I hope you will be inspired to join in with the new challenge and  look forward to seeing your creations.

This is the card that I won the challenge with:

Stay safe and Keep Crafting!

One Stamp set, two cards, two styles ...

Good afternoon!  I have a couple of cards to share with you all - inspired by two challenges.

 First up is a one layer water coloured birthday card:

I stamped and heat embossed the butterflies which wrap onto the back of the card and then water coloured the images with distress inks.  The sentiment was also stamped and heat embossed.

Second up is the encouragement card - far more layers and techniques than the first.  I set out to make a mixed media card not necessarily in my usual style but the more I look at it the more it still appears clean and simple!!  I guess the biggest difference is the combination of more than one technique and the 'dreaded' splatters!!

I cut the panel to fit on the top of the card base before die cutting the middle with a mixed media die.  Behind the opening I have placed a panel of gelli printed card.  Then used some black texture paste to create the line of 'stitching', die cut the circle and stamped the butterfly before stamping and water colouring it.  I finished by stamping and layering the sentiment before adhering all the elements together.

The two challenges that inspired me are:

Twofer Card Challenge #36 - my choice was butterflies

Time Out Challenge #183

Have a great weekend!

Courage ...

A quick post this afternoon to share a tag inspired by two challenges - The Male Room Challenge, anything but a card; Color Hues, Yellow and Blue

 

It is a very wet and windy day in the UK so crafting seemed to be the only way to spend the day ... not that I need an excuse!!

The Male Room Challenge #148

Color Hues Challenge #13

Stay Safe!

March Sunshine ...

March is here and along with it the Spring, or at least it seems like Spring is here!  It is amazing how much better life is when the sun shines and the sky is blue even if it is a little chilly in the shade.  It means that I have been able to get into the garden and begin the sorting ready for vegetables to be planted and the weeds to be removed before they take hold.  Even my Cherry Blossom tree is preparing to burst into flower - each day the buds are getting bigger and turning to pink.

I must have been inspired by the thought of my blossom tree when I chose the colour for today's card - yes a beautiful shade of pink!

I had spent time last week creating some background sheets - partly because I wasn't inspired to create anything else!!  This background is faux mother of pearl created using pearl effects and cling film to create the texture in the background and them, once dry, ink blending the colour across the whole panel.  I did create quite a selection of these in different colours to add to my stash so you could be seeing more over the coming weeks!  I decided that I would use a silhouette over the top so that the background is the feature.

I'm entering the following challenges:

TIME OUT Challenges #182

They are celebrating their 7th Birthday so I really needed to create a card to celebrate this milestone - I love this challenge.

Country View Challenges - March Silhouettes

This challenge provided the inspiration for the silhouette stamp.

I hope you are all keeping well and safe!

Less is More ... Theme Baby

Good Morning, it is time for a new challenge at Less is More it is time for the Theme challenge and the theme is Baby.

With Spring on the way in the UK it is time to think of babies - human, animals, monsters or even robots!  So get out your supplies and get creating.  I've taken the traditional route and have created a welcome baby card:

I used:

For the Love of Stamps - Another Year Taller Stamp set

Simon Says Stamp - Handwritten Borders

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

I look forward to seeing your creations.

Stay safe and keep crafting!