Favourite colour combinations

Hi folks, my last post was a scheduled post, so I haven't had a chance to say thank you for the lovely comments from you wishing me well for my tooth extraction. It went okay, the sedation kept me perfectly calm, which was just what I could have hoped for during an uncomfortable and tricky procedure. I am a bit battered and bruised now, but hopefully things will just settle down after a few days, and I'll be back to normal in that department, anyway! I'll be off to Hospital again for a procedure on my arm in a couple of weeks, as I have a frozen shoulder that needs treatment. It has been very painful for about four months, and the time has come to get it sorted out, hopefully. So, I'll keep you posted as to how that goes, but not in too much detail, lol!

Anyway, onto matters crafty now. Since I have been playing with Distress Stains recently, it has made me think about colour combinations, particularly when using the Distress family of colours. I am rediscovering combinations that I love to use; Barn Door and Wild Honey, Victorian Velvet and Antique Linen, and most recently, Scattered Straw and Weathered Wood. I really like this combination. I have used it on projects before, but most recently, used it for a couple of Indigolu samples that I'd like to show you.

The first one uses stamps from 'Grand Tour II'. I masked a triangle section of the background off, and inked it up with my two colours of Distress Ink, then stamped the background with the map from the stamp set, twisting it at different angles, to fill the space. I then dried this off, covered it over, and filled another triangle section. I repeated the processs until the background was covered.

I coloured a piece of white card with the two colours, working out roughly where the building would sit, allowing for where the sky needed to be, and then stamped the main image with Flitterglu, and added the gold gilding flakes.

My second sample uses 'Grand Tour I' and the same colours throughout. I used Distress Stains to create a wrinkle free distress background. I created a strip of bicycles using the Flitterglu and gold flakes again. The little bicycle charm is an almost perfect match for the stamp, I was really happy about that. I stamped the word 'Travel' on the ribbon with Versamagic Jumbo Java ink, it's a great ink for stamping on fabric, and I have several colours in this ink for this purpose. The lady on the bicycle is a great focal stamp, and the details have come out really well, although the photograph doesn't really do her justice.

So, for a girl who loves purple, and working with bright colours, I am definitely finding my softer side at the moment! What is your favourite colour combination? Do you like brights, or the paler shades?

Thanks for stopping by today, Judith xx

Breath of Spring

Hi folks, I've posted a project over on the Chocolate Baroque Design Team blog today, using the new Artistic Expressions stamps. This set is a personal favourite of mine. It is just so useful.

I had this project in mind as soon as I saw the stamps, but saved it as my last project to make. I started out with a piece of Kraft card, and covered it with book pages from an old French book, using Mod Podge matt. I didn't glue an oval area in the middle though. When the glue was dry, I tore the area that wasn't stuck down away, leaving rough edges. I then coloured the pages with Antique Linen Distress Ink, and Lulu Lavender, and Sweet Plum Memento inkpads.

I used a Crafter's Workshop template, and dry brushed some cream acrylic paint through the holes, and then dry brushed some more paint around the edges of the whole piece. I stamped and embossed the word and large swirl, using Plum Archival ink and clear embossing powder.

I stamped the flower from the 'Breath of Spring' stamp plate into the centre of the piece, and coloured it with Polychromos pencils. I then used Scattered Straw Distress Ink, to colour the edges of the area of Kraft card left showing. I stamped two bees onto white card, coloured them in, and stuck them to Clearly for Art, after cutting them out. This meant that I could mould them into the shape that I wanted.

I hope that you have been popping over to the Design Team blog this week to see what my team mates have been up to, as they have made some stunning projects. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Forgotten Friday 50- Lady in Pink

Hi folks, it's been a busy week around here, and Friday has just whizzed around again. I have been very busy with DT work, and haven't made a seperate Forgotten Friday piece. Hoever, one of my older DT pieces actually qualifies for this post, so I'm choosing to show that today.

It's an IndigoBlu card, using stamps from the 'Music Hall' plate. I really like this stamp plate, but hadn't inked it up for ages. I had the chance to choose which stamps to make two of my projects with recently, and used these for one of them. I've gone for a soft palette of Victorian Velvet and Antique Linen, to give a air of faded elegance, a bit like the woman in the main stamp.

I stamped the image onto a Nestability shape, echoing the suggestion of a poster, which is one of the accompanying smaller stamps. I've added some small black rolled roses, and some Crealie leaves to finish. The sentiments are great on this stamp plate, aren't they?

Don't forget to pop over to the Chocolate Baroque Design Team blog today, as I have another card showcasing some great Crafty Individuals stamps. I've gone very patriotic this time! The details of how I made the card are all on the DT blog, but here's a quick look at what I've made:

Why don't you have a rummage through your forgotten and neglected stash, and make something. Leave a comment, and I'll pop along to your blog to take a look. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Brideshead revisited?

Hi folks, I had occasion to make some samples for Kay and Alfie to take to the 'Stitches' show at the weekend, and these won't be seen elsewhere at all. Some of the cards can't be shown yet, because they contain new stamps, but a couple of cards used stamps that are already for sale on the Indigoblu website.

The first one was using the set called 'Brideshead, which contains a great mixture of small stamps, great for collage style cards, or for using with some of the other stamps in the IndigoBlu range. I decided to go for quite an unusual colour scheme, based loosely on a peacock feather, as I used a stamp of that design for my background. I stuck to greens and purples throughout the project.

I created two small cameos, cutting a fluted oval shape from purple metal with a Nestability shape. I then stamped the man and woman on an oval piece of card, and placed these on top, covering them with Glossy Accents.

I stamped and embossed the car with a two tone purple embossing powder to carry through the purple theme. The gold gilding flakes feature heavily in my design, adding to the sumptuous feel of the design as a whole. I wanted to create a slightly Art Deco feel to the piece, as the peacock feather has that style about it.

Hopefully, the addition of a real peacock feather helps to add to that feeling too. I really like this stamp set, and there were a few more stamps that I didn't get the chance to use, so it is a great mixture of images.

The bank notes and champagne label look great coloured with Old Paper Distress ink, and then stamped with the Flitterglu and gilding flakes.

I'll have another sample in a day or two, thanks for stopping by, xx

Travel Journal Card

Hi folks, I've posted a project over on the Chocolate Baroque Design Team blog today using the new Artistic Expressions stamp plate recently released by Glenda at Chocolate Baroque and some Crafty Individuals stamps that are available on the website too.

The details of how I made the project are on the Design Team blog if you are interested. However, some of the key features I used are as follows:
I used Versamark through a stencil, and then added clear embossing powder, to make an interesting background.
I also used the crackle stamp from the 'Echoes of Italy' stamp plate to cover some black card to make a little old book.
I coloured a sliver book plate with alcohol inks, to make it a different colour.
I used a computer generated title for the book.
I masked off portions of a stamp before inking to only use the sections that I wanted.

My Design Team mates have been producing some great samples too, so keep checking back to the Design Team blog to see what they have been up to. Thanks for stopping by, xx

A little bit of Pomp and Pageantry

Here's another IndigoBlu card that I made recently, using Flitterglu and gilding flakes. I've used the 'Pomp and Pageantry' stamp set, and the large 'Jack' stamp.

I wanted to use the typical red and blue, but to incorporate the gilding flakes, so they replace the white in my colour scheme. I have used gold embossing for the scrolls on the background.

I have masked the man and woman together, which I like to do, using Crimson red Versafine ink to stamp the images onto Kraft card. The flakes are so colourful, and you can really see them on the large flag.

I'll be posting a couple more samples this week hopefully in the run up to another TV show on Sunday 26th Feb. Don't forget to look out for my samples! Thanks for stopping by, xx

Clean and Simple by Shirley

Hi folks, I'm just popping in to show you a tag that Shirley has sent me a photograph of, for this week's Forgotten Friday post. Shirley has recently treated herself to some Polychromos, and is getting on really well with them.

She has used a lovely image from Chocolate Baroque, which she has stamped in Stone Gray Stazon ink, before colouring it with the pencils, and blending them. She has done a fabulous job.

She has inked around the edges with Distress inks. Shirley says that this clean and simple style is very unusual for her. 


Thank you for letting us see your tag Shirley, and thank you to everyone for stopping by, xx

New stamps at Chocolate Baroque

Glenda has released a new set of stamps over at Chocolate Baroque called Artistic Expressions. This set is such a great set of stamps, all that you could wish for in a single stamp set, big words, swirls, and a heart with wings!

Even better news, she has a giveaway over on the Design Team blog until Tuesday, so pop over there and leave a comment to be in with a chance to win a set of stamps. Whoever gets this stamp plate will be very happy!

I posted a card over there today, and have several posting over the next week and a half, some of which I'll be showing you over here too. If I had 48 hours in the day, I'd still be making cards and projects with these great stamps, but I'm onto the next lot now! Here's a quick look at my card, but the details are all on the Design Team blog:

On another note, I'm getting my tooth out next Saturday, so I won't have to wait too long.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Keeping busy

Hi folks, another scheduled post from me today. I'm finally off to the Hospital to be seen about having my tooth out. I had an infection flare up in my gum back in October, and it was recommended that my tooth should be taken out. It's only now that I'm having my consultation appointment! It's complicated, and needs to come out under a general anaesthetic, as the roots of my tooth are near my sinus cavity, and could be awkward to extract. I'd rather not be awake for the whole process anyway!

I made a card for my niece's 16th Birthday, using Distress Stains for the background again, I love using these at the moment. I've used stamps from indigoblu
to complete the card. The colours of the butterfly are not supposed to be realistic in any way, I just wanted them to match my background.

  

Here's another card sample from the latest Create and Craft TV show featuring the IndigoBlu stamps as well.

This features a spritzed background using Distress reinkers and water. I've coloured the poppies with Polychromos pencils, and then used Flitterglu and gilding flakes for the sentiment, and the border along the bottom.

The weather forecasters say that we are in for some cold weather this weekend, a good excuse to stay inside, wrap up warm, and get some crafting done, methinks. Anyway, have a good weekend, and thanks for stopping by, xx

Mr Linky Widget

Hi folks, just to let you know that I have added a new follower widget in my sidebar. Some of you may have heard of the changes being talked about effective 29th February, that we will be losing Google Friends Connect. It would appear that those without blogs, or with Wordpress blogs may not appear as followers on our old followers widgets any longer. Mr Blogger doing another bit of housekeeping. This new widget isn't run by any particular company, so won't be tied into anyone in particular.

I've seen the information all over the place, but most recently picked up the details from craftimamma who has the information on her blog.

Just to reiterate, those of you with Blogger blogs don't need to worry. Those of you that may be affected, please consider using the new widget so that we can keep in touch.

Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Forgotten Friday 49- A little bit of Love WV style

Hi folks, it's Friday again, hasn't my blog been active this week! I've been writing my posts in advance, and then setting them up to post at designated times, as I've been busy making DT samples this week. I've also been struggling with a nasty migraine too, so I've needed to spend some time in bed trying to get rid of that.

My Forgotten Friday project this week is a bit of a cheat really, as it's actually my OH's Valentine's card. I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone this week. I was using neglected stamps and materials to make his card, so it qualified for the post. I have used Distress Stains to make the background, and before this week, these had sat completely unused for ages in the drawer. Now they are my best friend for colourful backgrounds. They are quick too. I have used Barn Door and Wild Honey for the background on this card. I used Wendy Vecchi stamps to complete the card, a great stamp along the bottom, that looks like a wrought iron fence, or upside down hearts, whichever way you want to look at it. I couldn't find my stamp positioner, so I just crossed my fingers and hoped that they would line up straight!

I stamped the heart and the sentiment onto Kraft card, after colouring it with Distress inks, the same colours as the Distress Stains that I used for the background. I added Glossy Accents to parts of the heart for a bit of interest. I used some paper string behind the sentiment, to give a more masculine feel than adding a piece of ribbon.

So, why don't you have a rummage through your stash, and make something with your forgotten and neglected items? Leave a comment and I'll pop along to your blog to take a look.

EDIT: I have chosen to take word verification off my blog for now, as I see that Blogger has chosen to put a new, very difficult to read system in place. When I have had to type this myself, it's really difficult to read. I don't want to put my readers through this. However, I know that in the past, this has opened me up to a lot of very strange commenters, so I am keeping an eye on things for the time being.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Poppies-what else?

Hi folks, here's another sample that I made for the recent Create and Craft TV Show, using the fabulous stamps from IndigoBlu Flitterglu and some gilding flakes.

This time, I have used stamps from the stamp plate 'Poppy Meadow'. I created a background using Distress inks, and used a swirl stamp around the edge. I cut an oval shape from black card, and stamped the large poppy with Flitterglu, and applied the flakes. Black card shows the flakes off so well.

You all know how much I love to make handmade flowers, and this time, I wanted them to represent poppies, which are my favourite flowers. I love using these brass rings, adding Glossy Accents, and dropping seed beads into the glue, it's so effective. I have used handmade paper, which I have spritzed with Barn Door reinker to get this lovely red colour, before cutting the flowers out with a Nestability shape.

I really like the multi-coloured nature of some of the flake options, this one has reds and coppers in it. I'll be posting another sample in a couple of days, so keep popping back. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Before the snow disappears completely...

I took this photograph the other day, and just wanted to share it with you. My chickens hate the snow, they don't like the feel of it under their feet, or under their wings. They grumble and complain. It was sunny a couple of days ago, and they wanted to sit out after days of being stuck in their coop because the snow had been too deep for them to get about. I don't often see them lined up like this, so I had my camera at the ready, and took a quick picture.

Minutes later, my OH came stomping up the path, they all scrambled off the fence, and were gone again.

Sue has sent me another lovely card this week for her Forgotten Friday submission. She writes, "the stamp I used is a neglected CI stamp which I stamped on card previously coloured with distress stains and inked the edge with DI black Soot and mounted in co-ordinating card the sentiment I coloured with DI and the leaves are crealies and the flower was in my stash."  

This is a lovely card, I really like that blue and yellow combination. I'm a real softie for bird images too. 

I hope that you are all keeping warm, and that the snow is clearing now wherever you are. Thanks for stopping by, xx

A little bit Vintage

Hi folks, another IndigoBlu sample today, featuring Flitterglu and gilding flakes. However, today's sample is a little bit more subtle than my previous one!

This sample uses the stamp plate 'Sarah's Choice', which is a mixture of words and definitions. I have chosen a soft colour palette of Kraft and cream, to which I have added the red gold gilding flakes. I stamped the script with Flitterglu, and added the gilding flakes down one side of my background. I added the same script effect to my handmade flower, which I made from brown parcel paper. I chose a vintage postcard as my focal point for the card, the colours were just right for this project.

I stamped some seam binding, made a vintage label, using one of the definitions, and added some pearl embellishments. The white burlap detail is another stamp from the stamp plate, it is a great stamp.

Keep checking back, as I'll be posting another sample in a couple of days, thanks for stopping by, xx

Flittering on By

Hi folks, well it is still really cold here, how about where you are? My OH went to work yesterday morning, and it was minus eighteen degrees! That is mighty chilly!! I will be so glad when Spring decides to arrive.

Anyway, I have decided to show you a card that I made a few weeks ago for one of the Create and Craft TV shows, featuring the stamps from IndigoBlu
It is unusual in that I have chosen to use black card for my background, but I think that this shows the gilding flakes off to their full potential. I have matted the card with copper and gold card, bringing out the colours of the gilding flakes. I have stampd two butterflies, and coloured them with Polychromos pencils.

 

The stamp set I used was called 'Wild Meadow' there are some great stamps on there. I'll be posting several cards that I have made using the gilding flakes and the stamps from IndigoBlu over the next few days. There is going to be another TV show coming up on 26th Feb. Look out for some more new samples from me in the programme hopefully!

I hope that you are all keeping warm today, getting a bit of crafting done, or generally taking things easy, thanks for stopping by, xx

Forgotten Friday 48- Vintage Christmas

Hi folks, well I should have been at my Mum and Dad's house today, but the weather foiled my plans. We had a lot of snow overnight, and unfortunately, it just wasn't really sensible for me to travel.

We are tucked off the road, so this was our drive this morning. Hopefully, it will all disappear again in a few days, but at the moment, we are back to being covered in snow again.

It seems rather apt to be working on a Christmas card in this weather for my Forgotten Friday project! I have chosen an unused Crafty Individuals angel stamp, it's a really cute little image. I decided to go along the lines of vintage this week, as I've discovered a colour combination that I really like lately, which is Antique Linen and Victorian Velvet. Particularly when using Distress stains. Now I hardly ever use these, they really do get forgotten in my stash. I put the two together, as I had been using a brighter combination for something else, and loved these two. I made a piece of background paper using the wrinkle free distress technique, and then stamped another Crafty Individuals stamp, which is an angels definition stamp. I also stamped a music stamp from The Artistic Stamper.

I added some lace, some seam binding, and a crochet flower that I have been hoarding for an age, as it is so lovely. I am improving my crochet skills, along with some of my blog buddies, so I could crochet some of these if I really put my mind to it. The swirl on the Kraft background is another Crafty Individuals stamp.

I have plenty of room to add a sentiment to this card, to personalise it at Christmas, but I'll do that nearer the time. How are you all getting on with your Christmas cards? I know it's only February, but you know how the time flies, I am determined to keep going throughout the year this year.

Anyway, why not have a rummage through your stash, see what items you have forgotten or neglected, and make something with them. Leave a comment on my post, and I'll pop along to your blog to take a look. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Sue's Forgotten Friday Contribution this week!

Hi Folks, here's a little something from Sue again. She's been making a box to put her tags in, for the Chocolate Baroque Alpha Tag swap. As you will have seen in my Forgotten Friday post, I'm making covers to put at each end of mine, and will put a large ring through the whole lot. It will be interesting to see what some of the other members come up with. Some may display them on a board, or hang them from some kind of stand, but it will be great to see the different display options as time goes on.

Sue has used  "lots of layers of DI stains & inks plus a Mica spray through a stencil.  Stamps were La Blanche for the letters and Crafty individuals for the butterflies both of these had been neglected and never inked. "

 

So thanks Sue for another fab contribution, the shimmer looks lovely on here. I don't own any La Blanche stamps, but I always stop and look at Craft Shows, because the images are lovely.

I'll be back on Friday with a post of my own for the coming week's FF, thanks for stopping by, xx

Forgotten Friday 47- It's a cover up!

Hi folks, it's Friday again, and I've been rummaging through my neglected stash again! This week, I've had a purpose, as I need to make a set of covers to hold some tags. I am taking part in a year long tag swap on the Chocolate Baroque Guild. I got involved in the swaps last year, but had to drop out due to other commitments, and just general stuff that happens. The theme this year is the Alphabet, so each month, we make two, or three tags, based on letters of the alphabet. Here are mine for January:

A is for Art, Arch and Aubergine! I used a gorgeous purple Moonglow embossing powder, but you can't really see it in the photograph. I added acrylic pieces, and used some texture stamps in the corners.

B is for Blue, Brown and Bird! It's a one layer card, simply shaded with Distress Inks after I embossed the design in white embossing powder, and I picked a few details out in pencil. I couldn't resist adding  couple of flowers though.

These are the tags that I have received back from Val and Kirsten:

Aren't they fabulous? We will have a real eclectic mix by the end of the year, hopefully with artwork from nearly everybody. There are 30 of us taking part, so it is a really great mixed bunch.

So, I have started to make my covers. I decided to use a very neglected set of stamps to add some background detail to my front cover. Sadly, these are no longer for sale, but they are so useful. They belong to a big A4 sheet that was for ATCs, and was available from Graphicus.

I coloured my tag shape with Distress Inks, and stamped two alphabet sets with the same colours onto the tags. I was naughty, because I used a brand new mask on here, it just slipped in somehow ;) but it's such a brilliant one, and I'm going to use this one a lot. I then stamped 'Art for Art's sake' from the same ATC stamp set using Versafine onto the tag. I chose to use a lovely tree stamp from the 'Woodland Dreams' stamp set available from Chocolate Baroque to complete this cover. I don't use this set, so I feel that it qualifies today as a neglected item. I have so many stamps, I like the set, but it is slipping into a state of being forgotten.

I will show you the completed cover once I have finished it, the back one too, as I know what I want to do. I am quite busy with DT commitments at the moment, so I need to put it to one side for now.

Have a look through your stash and see if you can find something neglected, and make something with it. Add a comment to my post, and I'll pop along to your blog to take a look. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Another Forgotten Friday submission from Sue

Hi folks, I'm just dropping in again today, to show you this lovely card from Sue. She has sent me a picture of a card to link to this week's Forgotten Friday post, thank you Sue!

She writes that it is a La Blanche stamp, coloured with Polychromos pencils. She has mounted the image onto a background that has been treated with salt, and then used TH Coordination Kraft card to mount everything onto. To finish, she has used some co-ordinating ricrac ribbon.

I love the colours that she has chosen, that blue green is a colour that I often use myself, and the image is fabulous. I am very fond of bird related images.

Thanks for stopping by today, I'll be back myself on Friday with a new FF post, xx

WOYWW it's been a long time!

Hi folks, I know it's been an absolute age since I took part in WOYWW, but I'm here again this week to try and catch up, visit some desks and have a nosey around.

I'm working in the extension today, not my craft room, as the light is so much better in here. My Husband grudgingly calls this 'Craft Room No. 2' as I spend so much time in here, and today, it's looking very tidy!

I held my card class last night, which is only a small affair, so there are lots of baskets along the wall, and a couple on the table. This enables me to carry my stash from my craft room out to the extension quickly and in sections for the class.

Last night we were working with Stampbord, and did a mosaic themed card. We are having a great term, covering lots of new techniques for them, and hopefully they are enjoying themselves. We used some stamps from Chocolate Baroque, creating a little mosaic strip using skinny masking tape. We then coloured three pieces of Stampbord, taped them together on the reverse temporarily, and stamped the image, before seperating them to put on the card. The background was made by applying Distress inks to a large block, and spritzing with water, before plonking it on the card, (technical term there!).

My pride and joy are my Polychromos pencils. I bought a set of 72 initially, because I didn't know how I would get on with them. Silly me! I love them to bits. Anyway, I have built my collection up to the full set now, but I had a lovely tin with the 72 in, and then a plastic box with the others just stuffed in anyhow. I searched on the internet, and found a lovely three drawer pencil box, with room to add extra pencils as I expand my collection.

I love it, and it is ripe to be altered too! The drawers all come out, so I can set them out on the table if I want to. I love the segments as well, so that the pencils are contained within smaller areas. I am a bit OCD about my colour groups, so this is just perfect for me.

Don't forget to hop over to Julia's Desk to see what everyone else is getting up to on this fine, sunny Wednesday, thanks for stopping by, xx