Birthday Time

Last week, my friend's little girl, Grace, turned 3.  From the photos it looks like Grace had a fabulous birthday.  Here is the card that I made for her:

I used a melon mambo coloured card as a base.  I then took more of the card and embossed it using a yummy Stampin' Up folder (love this one).

I then die cut a 'deco' label and word band in lilac.  The '3' was die cut from the Tim Holtz 'wordplay' die.

The owl was die cut onto Kraft card stock.

I know that mummy liked it, and am sure that Grace did too!!

Rebel Stampers ATC Swap

It is that time again over at the Rebel Stampers site.

The Craft Stamper atc was based on the phrase stamp from the April edition.  Here is my creation:

I covered an atc in Prima paper.  The image was stamped in Archival ink.

Flowers and pins were added to the bottom right corner to finish.

The other theme for the month was 'ABC'.  Here is my atc:

I covered an atc with gorgeous Stampin' Up papers that I have had for ages (they are long discontinued!).  I then stamped ABC in the corners.  Very simple, though hopefully, effective!

Thanks for looking.....

Rebel Stampers Tag Swap

The letter 'D' was the theme for April's tag swap.  Here is my tag

I added 3 colours of distress paint onto my craft mat, spritzed them with water and swiped my tag through it.  The tag was the dried and the same colours of distress ink added to the tag to deepen the colours.

Next I stamped the images in black Archival ink and dried with a heat gun to set the ink.

To finish I added a ruler and film ribbon and the letter D.

I hope you like it.

Thanks for looking....

#3Up Paper Artsy Challenge

A few weeks ago I entered the opportunity to appear on the Paper Artsy blog using their new Hot Picks stamps.  I was thrilled when I arrived home from work one day and saw an envelope with a set of stamps and instructions.

I spent all night stroking the stamps (I know.... we all do it though) and thinking of ideas for my creation for the blog.  The next day I set to work and the ideas flowed.  Here is my end creation

 

 I won't tell you how I made it as all of those details are on the Paper Artsy blog.  The project went live last week (3rd May) and I was delighted to see it!

Thanks to the folks at Paper Artsy for the great opportunity..... and thank you for your visit to my blog.

Masterboard Mayhem - Inspired by Jo Firth Young

A few weeks ago Jo Firth Young showed us how to create a master board over at the Paper Artsy blog.

As soon as I saw this I couldn't wait to have a go at creating one of my own. The only problem was that once I started I couldn't stop.... and I ended up creating 3!  Here are my creations:

For each of the master boards I tried slightly different stamps.

All of the master boards were coloured using water colour pencils.

Once created I couldn't bear to cut them up - once I had overcome this I used a section to create a matchbox to send a small gift in. 

I thought the master board looked really nice when used - and I still have some left!

Hope you like my creations - and a massive thanks to Jo Firth Young for creating this new addiction for me! 

Happy Birthday To A Dear Friend

Today is my dear friend, Caz' birthday.

I thought I would share the card that I made for her

Here, I used the gorgeous Santoro papers and stamps.

I covered a card blank with one of the papers.

Next, I cut a mat and used a distress tool around the edges.  I then inked around the edges with walnut stain ink.

I added a paper doily.

I die cut a deco label and stamped the gorgeous 'Pursuit of Happiness' stamp.  I coloured it using water colour pencils.

I added this to the centre of the card.

Next, I embellished using Prima crystal swirls, resin flowers, pearls, pins and a chipboard key (which I coloured using distress ink).

I hope that Caz has a fabulous birthday and is spoilt all day.

Thanks for looking.

Graphic 45 Fun at The Stamp Attic

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to go to a Graphic 45 workshop at the Stamp Attic.  We had a fabulous day.

You can see details from the workshop here.

I won't show the whole of my project but here are a couple of pages from it

I really had great fun creating this journal - and the papers were just gorgeous..... I'm certainly looking forward to the next workshop!
Thanks for looking!

Happy Easter

I would like to wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful Easter.

I thought I would share the cards that I made for my loved ones.

I embossed chocolate card using a Stampin' Up lattice folder. 

I die cut a border, swirl and 2 labels in pink card and edged them using walnut stain distress ink

The Bunny was die cut in chocolate

The greeting was stamped in Coffee Archival

This is the card that I made for Dan

I covered a card blank using Tim Holtz seasonal papers.

I embossed then cut green paper (this was the other side of one of the seasonal papers)

I die cut a deco frame onto water colour paper.  Here, I stamped the Tom Holtz rabbit and coloured him with distress markers.

The label was die cut and greeting stamped.

Everything was edged in walnut stain (as usual!).

I added green seam binding to finish.

I was really pleased with the finished results here.  I'm sure Dan will love it!

Thanks for looking.....

Rebel Stampers Tag Swap

The theme for the swap was 'C'.

Here is my tag

I coloured the blank tag using various colours of distress ink. 

Next, I stamped a Creative Expressions clocks stamp in Archival ink.

I stamped various clocks and watch images (Artifacts) onto card and cut them out - some were coloured.  These were then layered onto to tag.

I added some film strip ribbon, the letter C and some gear mechanicals from Prima.

Hope you like my tag.... Thanks for looking.

Rebel Stampers ATC Swap

Where did March go???

It's that time of month again - time to show the atcs that I made for the swap over at the Rebel Stampers.

The first ATC is based on the free stamp that came with the March edition of Craft Stamper

 

For this atc I covered an atc with background papers.  I then created some hills by ripping layers onto the atc.  I edged this with walnut stain distress ink.

The free images were stamped and coloured with watercolour pencils before being cut out and added to the atc.

I finished the atc by stamping a sentiment.

The second atc was based on the theme of  a 'Spring or Easter card'

I created an atc sized card and coloured it with distress inks.  I stamped the image (a Craft Stamper freebie from a couple of years ago).

The quote is a Donna Downey quote.

I finished the card with pink ribbon.

I hope you like my swaps.

Thanks for looking.....

Rebel Stampers Tag Swap

It's been a long time since I took part in the tag swap.  I vowed to be better at it this year...then missed January!

I made sure that I completed February in plenty of time!

The theme was the letter 'B'

I covered a Manila tag in Paper Artsy paper and then stamped random images over the background.

I die cut a label and stamped a Balloon image which I then coloured in using water colour pencils.  I added a brad to the bottom before fixing the label to the tag.

I had great fun creating this tag and look forward to the forthcoming months.

Thanks for looking....

Rebel Stampers Christmas Card Challenge

Yes, I know!! The dreaded 'C' word!

A challenge was set over at the Rebel Stampers to create a Christmas card each month using certain criteria.  The idea being that it will give us a stock of cards to use at Christmas time.

 I was a little slow in doing this and so did the January and February challenges at the same time!

January's challenge was to use a stamp that had not been used before. For this I used a Paper Smooch Greeting:

I decorated a card blank using Olive green paper.

I stamped the Santa image in Archival ink onto a journalling tag.

The holly wreath was die cut and added to the side of the card and the sentiment stamped at the bottom.

February's challenge was to use gilding flakes:

I covered a card blank using Crafters Companion 'The Snowman' card.

I stamped the Snowman image and covered it in gilding flakes.... I'm getting better at gilding but need more practise!

I then stamped a sentiment and added a snowflake and some bells tied to ribbon.

Well, that's 2 cards made ready for December!!

Thanks for looking....

'Feel Better' Crafting

While poorly over the weekend I was able to create very little.

I was keen, however, to use some of the stunning new Tim Holtz papers that have just been released and can be bought from The Stamp Attic.

I covered  a card blank with some of the totally yummy papers.

I then used a Wendy Vecchi Archival ink to stamp the corner image from the Stampers Anonymous Classics set in all 4 corners.

Next I die cut a deco label - firstly in green coredinations card and then in watercolour paper.

I stamped the pear image in black Archival onto the water colour paper and then heat set the image.

I then water coloured the image using Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters and Vintage Photo distress markers and a water brush.

Once happy, I heat set the image and inked the edges using walnut stain ink.

I added pleated ribbon and a sentiment to finish.

I can see that I am going to have great fun with some of the new papers and stamps and look forward to 'plating' properly when I am recovered!

Thanks for looking...

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 - March

I can't believe that it's March already!!

I had a go at creating Tim's March tag - although do not have the stamps, spritzer or stencil that he used!  I also created a card as opposed to a tag so that I can use it at some stage in the year.

Here is my first generation stamped card:

Here is my second generation stamped card:

I really liked the paper smudging technique.  Think I need a bit more practise though!  Thanks for looking.....

Play Day Sunday

I've been suffering from a migraine all weekend and so have barely done much crafting.  However, I still haven't shared with you the creations made during my play day with Di and Laura last week.

We had a fabulous day and created alot whilst having a good natter and a lovely lunch (thank you to Di for bringing lunch).

We decorated an art spool, a mini paper mache hanging and made a card.  Here are my makes:

Art Spool:

 Please excuse the poor picture quality!!

I started off my decorating an art spool using Prima papers and edging it with walnut stain distress ink.

I decided to go with a sewing theme so coloured cotton reels and die cut canvas die forms.

I then started to place them on top of the spool and when I was happy I glued them in place using cosmic shimmer glue.

Here is a side view of the spool. I finished by adding pleated ribbon around the edge of the spool.

I really enjoyed making this.  Though got frustrated when I needed to use a hammer to get the spool to fit together after decorating with paper!!

 Mini Paper Mache Hanging:

Here I used Paper Artsy a layer of Fresco Finish paint followed by a layer of Crackle Glaze and a final layer of Fresco Finish paint.  You can't see the crackle in the picture but it looked pretty awesome!

I then stencilled onto the canvas using paint and added some texture paste in a few places.

The images were stamped onto card and then painted before being glued onto the canvas.

Card:

After not being entirely happy with my paper mache hanging I decided to go back to what I love... that being Wendy Vecchi!!

I covered a card blank using Tim Holtz paper and stamped onto the background using Archival ink.

I then stamped the leaf border around the edge.

I stamped the 'Queenie' image onto card, cut it out and inked the edges.

I did the same with a quote and the butterflies.

I was really happy with how the card turned out....The perfect way to end the day!

So...that was my creations...here are Laura's:

And here are Di's:

I am sure you will agree that they created fabulous pieces of art!  Great fun!

Thanks for looking....

Pretty In Prima

Today I want to share some cards that I have crated, mainly using the free paper pad and stamp set from Simply Cards magazine.  I don't buy many craft mags but when I saw how lovely these were I could not resist!!

Here are my cards:

 For all of the cards I stamped the Hero Arts Tiny Triangle background stamp using distress ink

 I layered lots of stamps using distress ink and Wendy Vecchi Archival inks 

(love these inks - the lady is a genius!)

The main focal images were stamped in Archival ink and edges distressed 

then edged in walnut stain distress ink

The panels that the main images are stamped on are journalling cards from Prima 

(Can't remember the name but they are fabulous!!)

The steampunk dress form image here are and Eco Green set purchased from  The Stamp Attic

I hope you like my creations.... they certainly kept me busy for an evening!!

Thanks for looking......

Rebel Stampers ATC Swap

Where did January go???  I have to admit that I was a bit late in completing the swaps this month, but the ladies at Rebel Stampers waited patiently for me!

The first swap is based on the free feather stamp from the January edition of Craft Stamper

I started by stamping the background in walnut stain distress ink using the Hero Arts Tiny Triangles stamp.

I then stamped the feather 3 times onto card and coloured it using peacock feathers distress ink.  I then cut the feathers out.

I wrapped teal seam binding on the atc the used pinflair glue to layer the feathers.

I added a button with string and a metal sentiment to finish.

The second atc was much trickier (for me anyway!) and the theme was Peace and Tranquillity

I covered an atc with Prima paper and inked around the edges using walnut stain ink.

The image was stamped directly onto the atc and coloured using water colour pencils.

I then stamped a Donna Downey sentiment to finish.

Thanks for looking......

The Pursuit Of Happiness

This just happens to be my favourite film....and not only because it features the very delish Will Smith!  My favourite quote stamp also has this on it and states 'Sometimes It's Good To Pause In The Pursuit Of Happiness And Just Be Happy'  - which I think is very true (love this stamp!!).

So, I was so excited when the  Santoro Mirabelle collection was released.  For those of you who know me, I don't do cute!  But, these stamps are quickly and fabulous.  I was very lucky that a dear friend of mine gave me the 'Pursuit of Happiness' stamp set from the collection (See, I wasn't just rambling!).

Here is my creation

I used some of the papers from the gorgeous paper collection that matches the set.  I added a heart shaped paper doily and die cut butterfly.

The main image was stamped in Archival ink and coloured using watercolour pencils.

To finish I added scraps of ribbon, resin flowers and heart pins.

I was really happy with how this turned out - so much so that I created another 3 in different colours!

Thanks for looking....

Valentine Wishes

A very happy Valentine's Day to you all.

I wanted to share the card that I made for my beloved

I started by colouring a card background using Victorian velvet distress ink.

I then stamped the AMAZING drawn heart background from Simon Says Stamp using fired brick distress ink.

I stencilled onto the background using embossing paste and a stencil.

I then set about die cutting hearts of various types... and just had to include a metal heart too!  

I finished by using metal cogs and a metal greeting.

I also wanted to decorate the inside of the card...

I am sure Dan will love it!

Thanks for looking.....

You've Just Gotta Love Wendy Vecchi!!

Recently Wendy Vecchi celebrated her 1000th blog post.... wow!!  1000 inspirational and creative posts from an amazing lady!!

Anyway....Wendy has been showing some fabulous tutorials using stencils and inks and embossing paste.... so I decided to spend an afternoon having fun!  Here are my creations

  

Yes.... the final card features an image and quote from a NEW Studio 490 release.... I just love them!!  And couldn't wait to get my hands on them!!

I hope you like my creations.... Thanks for looking!