April Snow ...

 It is hard to believe that it is April as we got up this morning to a covering of snow and for it to still be snowing ... it just shows how strange the weather can be as now (afternoon) the snow has gone and the sun is shining brightly!  Oh well, at least it gives me something to talk about!!!

I finished off a card tis morning that was in response to a couple of challenges:

It was only when I photographed the card that I realised I had been influenced by the weather!!  I haven't created a bokeh effect card for simply years!!!  I'm not sure why or how it popped into my head as a possibility but it did - I do like the way it adds some interest to the background.

I ink blended the background using two distress inks and then used a stencil to blend the dots through to create the bokeh effect.  I had already stamped and masked the flower before creating the background so once it was dry I just had to colour the image and add the sentiment.

I used:

Visible Image - Creative Chaos Stamp set, Two Tone Stencil and Go to Words stamp set.

Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass, Twisted Citron and Picked Raspberry

I am entering the following challenge:

TIME OUT Challenge #185

I took inspiration from the colours and the flowers centred in the photograph.

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!

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!

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!

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!

Red and Grey ...

Another day in UK lockdown, a morning of housework followed by a couple of hours crafting!!  This afternoon I have taken two challenges for inspiration.  Firstly I've taken the colours for the current Color Hues challenge of Red and Grey.  Secondly, the new challenge at TIME OUT Challenges where the theme is 'You' the idea is to show something about yourself ... this could be something you like, a hobby you have, your style of card making, anything about you.  I've gone with my card making style ... if you follow my blog you will know that my style is CAS (Clean and Simple) so my card today is also Clean and Simple.

I stamped and heat embossed the image before water colouring with distress inks.  While to focal image was drying I created a water colour wash to create a background, using water colour paint adding some small splatters using distress inks.  I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment before adhering the elements to the card base with foam tape.

I used:

Archival Ink - Watering Can

WOW Clear Embossing Powder

Distress Inks - Pumice Stone and Festive Berries

STAMPlorations - Bloom Sketches

Windsor and Newton Water Colour Paynes Grey

The challenge details:

Color Hues #9

Time Out Challenges #179

Stay safe!

Thinking of you ...

 I'm popping by to share a quick card ... 

I was inspired by the new TIME OUT challenge:

I chose to create a card quickly ... I love to challenge myself to great cards without too much faffing, as quickly as possible.  This card came together like a dream ... I used two dies, one to cut the panels and one to cut the leaves using a piece of a left over gelli print and kraft card. Then adhered the panels to the card base with foam tape to add dimension and interest.  Finally, I stamped the sentiment - all was going smoothly until this point and I smudged the sentiment  and made a right mess!!  So I stamped the sentiment on to a slim piece of card and heat embossed it before adhering it to hide the mess.  It took about 10 minutes to create the card ... it would have been less if I hadn't messed up the sentiment!!  The speed was only possible as the dies and card were already resting on my desk!

Stay Safe!

Holly ...

If you've seen my earlier post from this evening you will no doubt spot the similarity between this card and the earlier card!

 

I stamped and masked the holly and then stamped the sentiments around the image.  

I used:

Distress inks - Festive Berries, Pine Needles, Lucky clover and Crushed Olive

Sheena Douglas Stamp Set - A Little Bit Festive

I'm going to enter the following challenges:

TIME OUT Challenge #174

Christmas Card Throwdown November Colour Challenge:

Stay safe!

Red and Black ...

Another card for the Christmas card collection ...

 

Lots of stamping and just a pop of red.  I stamped and masked the robin before using two border stamps across the card.  I then masked the border along with a strip down the length of the card before stamping the words.  The robin was water coloured with distress inks.

I used:

Distress Inks - Festive berries and squeezed lemonade

Sheena Douglas Stamp set - A Little Bit Festive

Sentiments from numerous stamp sets.

I'm going to enter the current TIME OUT Challenge #174

Keep Crafting!

Christmas 2020 ...

 I'm finding it difficult to imagine what Christmas will look like this year ... one thing I do know is that I will still be sending cards to my family and friends, maintaining contact has never been as valuable as it is at the moment! 

As always I'm trying to find that one design that I like enough to make multiples of ... I like the design of this card but it does take more time to create than some of my other designs but on reflection since I retired last November and with lockdowns I do not seem to be short of time!! (I'm often short of motivation though!!)

First, I stamped and heat embossed the seasonal words down the left hand side of the panel before colouring with a wash of distress inks.  I coloured some embossing paste with ink before spreading it through a stencil. As this was trying I die cut the other elements out of a piece of scrap card - the sentiment was die cut numerous times before gluing into a stack.  As I had the supplies on my desk I made a second card with slight changes:

The main difference in this card is that I left the paste white and then sprinkled blue embossing powder on the top and then heat embossed it - this adds a bit of sparkle to the background (unfortunately it doesn't show in the photograph!).

I used:

STAMPlorations - Joyful stampset

Stampin Up - Star Stencil and Not Quite Navy Ink

Ranger Embossing Powder

Distress Inks - Peacock Feathers and Tumbled Glass

I'm entering the following challenge:

TIME OUT Challenge #174

Stay Safe and Keep Crafting!

Adventures ...

 Good evening!  This is something of a change for me ... two posts in one week!  It has been a while since I created enough to enter any challenges but today I spotted two challenges that provided me with the necessary inspiration - the sketch at AAA Cards and the theme at TIME OUT challenges (full details are at the end of this post).

This is the card I created:

The Adventurous theme brought to mind travel which led to thoughts of rainbows and chasing dreams at the end of the rainbow.  All this led to this card ... I took the sketch (I changed the orientation) and multi stamped the sentiment in rainbow colours.  The stack of suitcases were stamped and coloured using polychromos colour pencils before the image was fussy cut and adhered to the card base with foam tape for added dimension.

I used:

STAMPlorations: Born to Roam

Faber Castell Polychromos Colour Pencils

Distress Inks - Festive Berries, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet, Spiced Marmalade, Twisted Citron

Memento - Dandelion Ink

Details of the challenges:

AAA Cards #173

TIME OUT Challenges #170

Stay Safe!

Just for fun ...

Good evening ... I've popped in to share a project that I created just for fun!  It is weeks since I posted anything other than my design team projects.  Family needs have been my priority over recent weeks and continue to be so but there comes a time when I just need to switch off. I've also been busy decorating my kitchen which seemed to take ages and ages but I am pleased with the final result.  I've also been making face masks for the family.

This project is an art journal page:

The first layer is some texture paste through a stencil and then I added the colour using distress inks to create a water colour wash.  Some simple random stamping to add interest. Once the background was dry I stamped the main image and coloured it with the same distress inks that I had used in the background.  I finished the page by stitching a border to bring it together and added a caption.

I had started the project thinking Autumn colours but then used a Spring flower for the focal point!  So I guess you could say that it was inspired by both seasons!

I thought I would enter the challenge at TIME OUT Challenges:

 As this strange year continues I hope you are beginning to find your new 'normal' and are keeping safe.  Hopefully I will be inspired to create some more projects and I may even share some of the things that have been keeping me busy and distracted during the UK lockdown.

Stay safe!

Painting ...

It would seem that my days have developed into quite a routine ... housework, followed by gardening and then into the craft room ... as long as we have fine weather and are under the shadow of Coronavirus I imagine that it will remain like this.

So this afternoon I created another card:

I took a tiny individual paintbrush stamp and created the line of brushes and then coloured each one with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and a silver gel pen.  I stamped and die cut the sentiment before adhering to the card base using foam tape to add a little dimension.

I used:
STAMPlorations: Art Expressions 
Versafine Onyx Black Ink
ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Markers

I'm entering the following challenges:

TIME OUT Challenge #161


As this is the first outing for these two stamps I will also enter:

NBUS Challenge #14


Addicted to Stamps and More #389


Stay safe  and keep crafting!