Celebrations/Anything Goes

Hi Folks, it's been a while since I popped in to say hello, we had such a busy time preparing for Christmas, that crafting had to take a back seat. I hope you all had a great time, I know that we did!

The project that I have to show you today is for the Artistic Inspirations Challenge Blog the theme this week is Celebrations/Anything Goes. I have made a card for my neices's 7th Birthday, so it fits the bill for a celebration quite nicely. I have used an image from Limited Runs, it is called Mushroom #2, and combined it with a couple of stamps from Lavinia stamps. I have placed these onto a backgroud that I first coloured with Distress Inks, then laid a Prima mask over the top, and used the same colours again, to get a stronger colour around the mask. I have then used a little star cluster stamp from Lavinia stamps all over the background, and added some Glamour dust.

The fairy wings were made by stamping the images onto some Crafty Individuals backing paper, and then sticking them to Clearly for Art before shaping them.

There are some great prizes on offer over at the challenge blog:

Eureka is offering the winner 5 digis of their choice

Nikki is offering the winner 3 digis of their choice

QKR is offering the winner 5 digis of their choice

So why not have a go at making something and enter into the challenge? You can make whatever you like, a card, tag, altered item, mixed media piece, it's up to you.

I hope you all have a great evening tonight, and would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year. Thank you for your support in 2012, and I look forward to seeing what you all get up to in 2013. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Steampunk Clock

Here's another sample using the Steampunk Butterfly stamp set. This sample is showing over on the Design Team Blog today, but I would like to give you a few more details about it over here.

I started my design by painting two MDF cogs with black gesso, and then cutting out some backing paper from the Prima Firefly 6" x 6" paper pad. I stamped and embossed the cog fragment onto the papers with silver embossing powder, and added some Distress Ink around the embossing for depth. I sanded the edges of each piece to distress them. I then stuck each piece to the cogs. I glued the cogs together, and left them to dry.

I stamped two butterflies onto more of the Prima paper, cut them out, and stuck them onto Clearly for Art. I coloured the back of the paper with Distress Ink before I stuck them down, so that I would not have any white paper showing once I was finished. I heated the butterflies up, and bent them into the shape that I wanted.

I made a flower using silver metal stuck onto black card. I cut the shapes using a Nestability shape, and then coloured them with alcohol inks. I fixed them together with a brad, added a cog over the top, filled the centre with Glossy Accents, and dropped black glass glitter in the centre. I stamped some leaves onto the silver metal using Stazon Ink.

I cut a Tim Holtz clock die from chipboard, which I coloured with Distress Inks. I added embossing powder in various metallic colours, then I added some Stickles for a bit more shimmer. Finally, I added a few metal cogs to finish my design.

The clock has a working mechanism installed, and I made it in colours that I quite like, so I may hang it in my craft room.

This is the last of the Steampunk Butterfly samples for now, I hope that you have enjoyed them. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Use Christmas Colours

Hi Folks, I have a Christmas card for you today using Christmas colours. It is my Design Team sample for the Artistic Inspirations Challenge Blog The image is from Delicious Doodles and is called Holly Fairy. I have coloured her with pencils, and then used a digital download from Chocolate Baroque the sentiment is also from CB.

There are some great prizes on offer over on the challenge blog, hop on over and take a look. You can make anything you like, a card, tag, altered item, mixed media piece. The theme this week is Christmas Colours/Anything Goes, so the sky is the limit really.

Teri is offering the winner 4 digis of their choice.

Sassy is offering the winner 4 digis of their choice.

Susan is offering the winner 5 digis of their choice.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog Anything Goes
Flutterby Wednesdays Anything with a Fairy
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes


Thanks for stopping by, xx

Stained Glass Window

I have another sample to show you today using the new Steampunk Butterfly stamp set from Chocolate Baroque

When I saw the circular fragment, it reminded me of a church window, and I wanted to try and create that effect. After a bit of practising on scrap paper, I managed to achieve a reasonable attempt! I made a background using Distress Inks spritzed with water, then stamped the four sections of the fragment. I needed to mask a small portion off each time, using masking tape, as the fragment is too large otherwise. I then added the two spires from the Gothic Fragments stamp set. I needed to mask a tiny portion of these to then stamp the corners so that they appeared to be behind the spires. I coloured the images in tones of brown, using my Polychromos pencils, and added touches of gold Mica ink.

I stamped a flower from the Bold Bloom stamp set onto acetate, using Stazon, and then added some multi-coloured flakes behind the image. Once this was dry, I added this to the centre of the 'window'. I used fine line masking tape coloured with a black Copic pen to represent the leading on the window.

To complete the background, I used a stamp from the Texture Fragment stamp set, using three different colour Distress Inks, and stamped randomly to create a stone effect. I then used a sentiment from the Artistic Affirmations stamp set in the top corner.

This card is showing over on the Design Team Blog today, but if you keep checking back there will be lots more inspiration from my Design Team mates over the coming days. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Offer of the Week- Family Christmas

Each week, over at Chocolate Baroque Glenda is running a 'Stamp of the Week' offer. This week, the stamp set on offer is Family Christmas It's a lovely set, and I have been rummaging through my photo archives for some samples to show you.

Here is a sample using the lovely angel, decoupaged and coloured with Copics. I have used a beautiful download that was a freebie from Glenda, printed onto pearlescent paper.

I have again coloured and decoupaged the image on this sample, using Copics. The background was made using gold embossing and Distress re-inkers.

A rocking horse should rock, shouldn't it? So, I made a card that rocks for this sample in a simple monotone scheme.

Here's a super-sized tag with a fragment dangle on the bottom using a piece of book paper as background paper for my stamping.

Finally, just to show you that corners don't have to be square, I stamped lots of corners, and made them into a wreath, using Stickles for the berries. The backing paper is from the Artylicious Season's Greetings CD.

The offer on this set runs until tomorrow, when there will be a different set to buy at a great price. Hopefully, I've given you a few ideas for this set, and I'll have a rummage for the next one! Thanks for stopping by, xx

Dressing up in Steampunk Style

Hi Folks, here's a sample showing over on the Chocolate Baroque Design Team Blog today. I'm giving a more detailed description of how I made it over here.

I love using these dress forms, as they are cheap, but look great once they are altered. I painted the base firstly with a coat of gesso, then a coat of acrylic paint and let these dry. I stamped some tissue paper with the images that I wanted to use, and coloured some of the areas with various shades of browns and oranges, using my Polychromos pencils as I know that these do not bleed when using Matte Medium. I cut around the images, and applied them to the dress form and the base, using Matte Medium, covering the top as well. This helps the tissue paper to disappear into the background fairly well.

I then applied a coat of beeswax, using a large brush. I melted this with my heat gun to smooth out any thick areas, and then let it set again. I buffed the whole thing with a duster, to bring up a nice shine.

I stamped a couple of butterflies onto brown card using copper EP, which I cut out and added to the project, using rusty keys for their bodies. I then made some flowers using metal and crinoline. I used the peony die to cut these out, and coloured the crinoline with Rusty Hinge Distress Stain. I embossed the metal shapes with an embossing folder, and then wiped the raised areas with alcohol ink to remove some of the colour. I fixed the layers together with some faux screw brads.

The last touch was to add some copper wire to the stem of the project.

I'll be back in a few days with another explanation. I hope you'll pop back! Thanks for stopping by, xx

Steampunk in Flight

There is a new set of stamps out over at Chocolate Baroque which means that luckily, I have been playing again. Well, working very hard, to produce some samples for the Design Team, I should say. Several of them will be showing over on the Design Team Blog over the next week or so, but I have one to show you today that is just for here.

I created a background using Distress Stains, including one of the metallics, in a soft palette, and then stamped the cog fragment, and the arch fragment over the background, using the toning Distress Inks. I then used a Gold paint dabber, and added some embossing powder, mica flakes and glass glitter in two of the corners.

I stamped some of the roses onto gold metal, and cut them out, puffing them up using a large paper stump. I then stamped some of the tattered wings onto card coloured with Distress Inks, and cut these out. I fixed them together using hinges, and added some coiled wire behind for antennae. Once I stuck the 'butterflies' to the card, I added a trail of tiny clock cogs and more glitter glass behind each one, and stuck little cogs to their antennae.

I coloured some seam binding with Distress Stains to match the overall colour scheme.

It was my Wedding Anniversary last week, and I made a slightly more masculine version for my OH, in a different colour scheme, using a computer-generated text. The font was a free one called 'Steampunk'

I'll be back tomorrow with one of my DT cards, as I'm giving in depth explanations over here each time, rather than bogging down the DT blog. I hope you'll pop back, as I've loved working with these stamps, and I've got lots to show you! Thanks for stopping by, xx

Snowy Trees

Hi Folks, just a quick post to show you some batch cards and tags that I have been making for Christmas. I have made some masterboards using white embossing as a resist, then covered the backgrounds using the wrinkle free distress method. I blended Distress ink over each snowflake using Cut 'N' Dry foam, to make them really pop.

I left the end third of each background free from embossing, and cut my ovals from that section. I then stamped the trees with dark brown ink, and once this was dry, embossed the image with white embossing powder, offsetting the image slightly. This makes the trees look like they are covered in snow. This is the beauty of clear stamps, as you can line them up exactly, then move them just a tiny bit, before placing them down again.


I cut some tags and co-ordinating strips for the Christmas cards from the remaining pieces of card. I layered the ovals onto toning scalloped ovals, and stamped a sentiment taken from the Warm Christmas Greeting stamp set onto each card.

Once I had created the background card, these projects were very quick to make. These are perfect at this time of year, when as a crafter, I need to have lots of items in my storecupboard to send to friends and family.

 I hope that I have given you some ideas using these stamps anyway. Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Leafy Zentangle Butterfly

There are some lovely leaves on the Tangled Garden stamp set, just released at Chocolate Baroque and I wanted to make a feature of a few of them in this design. I decided to create a rambling frame, by stamping and masking them around the outside of the background, which I had painted with Ecoline ink. I then linked the leaves with small areas of tangled designs. They are simple twirls and dots, not very complicated at all.

I coloured the leaves with pencils. I then stamped the Butterfly onto a spare piece of card and coloured it with pencils as before. I added some wire and some toning pearls for antennae. I stamped a sentiment taken from the 'Patchwork Butterfly' stamp set onto the background to complete the card.

I love using butterflies in my card making, and I think that this one will become a firm favourite. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Autumn Fairy

Hi Folks, I've had a chance to do a bit of crafting today, and decided to ink up a couple of unused stamps. I've wanted to use these stamps for a while, but just haven't had the time. They are both from Designs By Ryn, a Canadian Company, and Ryn the owner and designer, sells some fabulous stamps.

I coloured the fairy, and used a bit of artistic licence, making her little friend a red squirrel, using Polychromos pencils. I used rich Autumn colours, our trees are still covered in these shades and are really stunning at the moment. I stamped the background with the Circle cluster set, using Crushed Olive Distress Ink. I then made a flower using handmade paper cut from Nestability shapes, and a couple of leaves, using the Sizzix Tattered Leaves die. I inked the shapes using Distress Ink, spritzed them with water, and crinkled them, before heat setting them with a heat gun. I added a brad to the flower, which I coloured with Pesto alcohol ink to achieve the perfect colour.

This card is going to someone as a Birthday card, so it is already on its way to the recipient.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Recycle/ Anything Goes

Hi Folks it's time for another challenge over at the Artistic Inspirations Challenge Blog and the theme this week is Recycle/Anything Goes.

I have chosen to make a Christmas card using a great image from one of the sponsors this week, Robyns Fetish.I printed the image and coloured it with my Polychromos pencils, before cutting it out. I layered the image onto some cardboard packaging from a box that held Milk cartons. I stripped off the top layer of paper, and sanded any remnants away, revealing the ridged surface. I edged the card with Tarnished Brass Distress Stain. I also used a piece of ribbon left over from a flower arrangement, which I laid over the top of the ribbed card.

The background paper is a digital download from Chocolate Baroque called 'Holly Tumble' it is really pretty, and the colours suit my project perfectly. I added a sentiment from a clear stamp set, also from Chocolate Baroque, and edged the tag and kraft background with cranberry adirondack ink.

There are some great prizes on offer this week on the blog:

Sassy is offering the Winner 4 digis of their choice

Teri is offering the winner 4 digis of their choice

Susan is offering the winner 5 digis of their choice

So why don't you hop along to the blog and see what my design team mates have made, and have a go at making something yourself? It can be any kind of project, a card, tag, box, altered item, whatever you like.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
Robyns Fetish Anything Goes
Southern Girls Challenge Thinking About Christmas
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Autumn Leaves

It doesn't really feel like Autumn now, more like Winter really, but the colours are really splendid. We live in an area surrounded by forests, whichever direction we drive. The trees are just beautiful at this time of year in their various cloaks of gold, copper, rust, and bronze, it is really spectacular. Soon, the branches will be bare, and they will look a bit forlorn, but for now, I am enjoying the leafy firework display whenever I venture outside the warm house.

I have made a card using a new stamp set from Chocolate Baroque, called Terrific Treescapes, which tries to reflect this time of year. I have also incorporated one of my favourite all time sayings from the same company, I just love this phrase. I used Pan Pastels for my background, and then stamped two of the tree images over the top. I took some of the small Sofft sponges, and picked up colour and dotted it across the trees to try and give the impression of leaves blowing in the wind. I have also created a carpet of leaves on the ground, underneath the trees. I then took a leaf from the Sunny Sunflowers stamp set, and stamped this across a piece of Kraft card in various Autumnal colours. I also edged the card with ink to give it a border.

I am going to enter my card into the following challenges:

JellyPark Challenge Back To Nature
Do You Stack Up Leaves and Trees
Pixie Dust Studio Fabulous Fall Colours
Simply Create Anything Goes
Crafting For All Seasons Falling Leaves

Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Monochrome Blossom

Here is another sample using the Tangled Garden set of stamps from Chocolate Baroque I've used the large open blossom, and filled the petals with various zentangle patterns, using a Micron pen. I stamped the image three times, to create a layered effect, and coloured the petals with watercolour pens and a blender pen. I've added white highlights.

I drew a freehand addition myself in the form of a swirly stem, and added an aura around the outside. I then coloured this with pens as before. By using the blender pen with watercolour pens, it gives a lovely variation of shade, especially in larger areas.

I used a piece of black card to mat my design, and then placed this onto a cream textured card. I added some flat-backed pearls to finish.

I'll be back soon with another sample, thanks for stopping by, xx

Zentangle Butterfly

Here's a Design Team sample that is posting on the Chocolate Baroque Design Team Blog today. I have used a large butterfly stamp from the new stamp set 'Tangled Garden', that I mentioned in my previous post.

The full details of how I created the card can be seen on the design team blog page. Basically, I have created a wrinkle free Distress background after masking off the string, and edges of the background. I have then drawn the Zentangle patterns in the white areas, and coloured the designs with watercolour pens using a blender pen.I coloured the butterfly and flower the same way.

I find the process of tangling very relaxing, and have really enjoyed working with these stamps. I'll be back in a few days with another sample. Thanks for stopping by, xx

A piece of ZIA

There are some gorgeous new stamps over at Chocolate Baroque right now and I've been busy making samples with them for the Design Team blog However, here is a project that I made just for fun.

I drew a frame on a piece of watercolour paper, this is a piece of HOT pressed watercolour paper, and is very smooth. It is ideal for this type of work, as the pen flows very easily across the paper. I stamped the large flower onto the paper, and then made a mask using Eclipse paper, which I placed over the flower, once the ink was dry. I stamped the leaf image twice, and removed the mask. I stamped a couple of small dragonflies onto the background, and then filled the remaining area with the Tangle pattern Florz. I used a filler design inside the frame.

I stamped a couple more large flowers, and a butterfly image onto a spare piece of watercolour paper, and filled in some of the areas with tangle patterns. I then coloured the designs in with pencils, and cut them out before assembling the project.

I'll be showing you a few more designs using these lovely stamps over the coming days, so please  keep popping back.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Vintage Elusions challenge Fantasy/Anything Goes

Hi Folks, it's time for another challenge over on the Vintage Elusions Challenge Blog and the theme this week is Fantasy/ Anything Goes. I have been working with a great image from a company called Gingerloft Designs. I decided to go for a one layer card, with postage very much in mind, it costs so much these days, doesn't it? However, I could easily enhance my design, with addition of some extra leaves and flowers if I was going to hand deliver the card.

I started by printing the image onto card, and then stamping some stars onto the white space using Matte Medium. I allowed this to dry, before I used various colours of Distress Ink over the top. The Matte Medium acts as a resist, and causes the stars to show as white against the background. I used a small star cluster fom Lavinia stamps to stamp randomly inbetween the larger stars. The large word stamp is also from Lavinia stamps. I have then simply coloured the image with pencils.

I like the fact that I could use this card for Christmas if I wanted to, or for a general Birthday card, it will be a useful addition to my storecupboard card collection.

 

Tami is offering 3 Digis of the Winner's choice

 

Heather is offering 3 digis of the Winner's choice

There are some great prizes up for grabs this week from our sponsors on the challenge blog, so why don't you hop over and take a look? See what my team mates have been up to as well, and try and make something for the challenge. It can be a card, an altered item, a tag, whatever you like.

Thanks for stopping by, xx