A Mother's Day Card

Hi Folks, I have a project to show you today created for the second challenge on the Sincerely Yours challenge blog. The first challenge was really well received, with some gorgeous entries, so thank you to those of you who entered.

This fortnight, the theme is 'Mother's Day' just right for those cards that we need to make right now! I have used a lovely digital image from Dilly Beans, one of our sponsors, called 'Grandpa's Flowers', which I have paper pieced using Pink Petticoat papers, from a range called 'Little Fleurs'. These have been lurking on my computer for ages. I added some pencil shading for depth, but there are four layers on my flowers anyway! I have also used some stamps from our other sponsor, Visible Image, 'Long Grass', 'Butterfly' and 'Mother's Day', to complete the card.

Our sponsors are offering some great prizes this week:

Dilly Beans are offering the winner 3 digi images of their choice.

Visible Image are offering the winner 2 character stamps.

Please pop over to the blog to see the stunning creations that my Team mates have created this week. Why not enter the challenge, you can make whatever you like, it does not have to be a card, it can be any kind of project.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Divas by Design Anything Goes

Flutterby Wednesdays 3 or more layers

Ruby's Rainbow in the garden

Through the craft room door anything goes

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Crafting on the Edge

This is my second post today, quite remarkable I know, but please scroll down if you are looking for my Altered Inspirations post.

I'd like to show you some samples that I have made using the decorative edges clear stamp set from ChocolateBaroque Two of these samples are showing on the Design Team Blog today, and I have a third to show you exclusively here as well.

For the first sample, I used Ecoline ink to colour the background, and then I used Versamark ink to sponge through a Crafter's Workshop harlequin mask, before swirling Pan Pastel colours over the top.I used Versamark and Pan Pastels to stamp the script image as well. The harlequin border was created using the new border stamp and Memento ink. I added some decoupaged butterflies and poppies from the Butterfly Collage stamp sheet.

My second sample was created by using Ecoline inks to create the background again. I dropped sea salt onto the background while it was wet, and left it to dry. I brushed the salt away, and stamped the seaweed image along the bottom. I stamped the seahorse onto the large Nestie shape, and masked the image before colouring the background with Distress Inks. I coloured the seahorse with pencils. I stamped the seaweed image onto the background, and then embossed the circle border image along the bottom with white embossing powder.

My third card is a nod to Art Deco furniture, or a radio from that era. Using black card, I made a shaped card with a decorative top. I cut panels using the Echoes of Italy paper in brown. I stamped the Art Deco border and a couple of Art Deco style flowers onto the panels in black ink, and embossed them with clear embossing powder. I added a brass rose to finish.

I hope that I have given you some ideas for this very versatile stamp set. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Fancy Folds/Anything Goes

Hi Folks, I'm back with a projects for the Artistic Inspirations Challenge Blog and the theme this week is Fancy Folds/Anything Goes.

I am using an image from our sponsor this week QKR, called 'Birdhouse and Vines'. I wanted to make something other than a card, as I have several projects that I need to make to give to other people. I decided to make an envelope book using kraft envelopes, and some matching kraft card. The book involves a fair bit of scoring and folding, so I'm happy that it qualfies for this week's challenge title.

I have used some pretty scrapbook papers from my stash that I have had for ages, in a blue a yellow theme. This is not my usual colour palette, but it was a refreshing change to work with these colours.

I have lined each page with various different designs, and the pockets created by the envelopes will hold tags or other small items. Because the book is quite small, I was able to use small offcuts of card that I keep for such projects.

I have added a wooden embellishment to my tag, which I lightly dry brushed with cream acrylic paint to tone in with the rest of the colours I have used.

I hope that you will pop along to the blog to see what my Team mates have been making this week, and why not enter the challenge? You can make whatever you like, a card, tag, altered box, mixed media piece, etc.

I am entering my project into the following challenges:

Gingerloft Ribbons and Bows

One Stitch at a Time use a digi

Robyn's Fetish Use Ribbon or Twine

Inspire me Fridays Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hi Folks, I have a project to share with you today that I have made for a new challenge blog which is starting today. I am lucky enough to have been chosen to be on the Design Team. The blog is Sincerely Yours Creations
and they are a fortnightly challenge blog with a Facebook page as well. They have some great sponsors providing fabulous prizes so it is really worth entering the challenges to grab a chance of winning something.
The theme for this fortnight's challenge is Valentine/Love, and my card reflects that with my own take on the subject. I have used an image from our sponsor Delicious Doodles called 'Rosalee', and coloured her with Polychromos pencils. I then set her on a Nestie shape inked and stamped with a large crackle stamp. My backing paper is a digital download from Pink Petticoat called 'French Script' and comes in a huge variety of colours, but I went for a simple cream and dark brown in this instance. I stamped and embossed a couple of ornate corners from Inkylicious on the background, and an Eiffel Tower image from Waltzing Mouse stamps. (The sentiment is from the same stamp plate). I coloured some handmade paper using Distress re-inkers using two colours to get the shade that I wanted, then made some rolled roses. The die cut swirl is from Die-namics.

The rest of the Design Team have been busy making some fabulous samples, so please hop over and take a look. Why not enter the challenge and see if you can win a prize? You can make whatever you like using any medium, and we would love to see what you come up with.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Digistamps4joy Romance

Divas by Design Love and Romance

Ruby's Rainbow Roses

through the craft room door Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Stamp of the Week and a Valentine card

Every week, Glenda offers a stamp sheet at a special price over at Chocolate Baroque This week, the stamp set is Rose Stem Script, a little A6 stamp set that has been around for a little while, but is so useful for all sorts of occasions. A couple of years ago, I used the rose while I was making a DT card and some newer stamps at the time. I carefully cut the rose out, omitting the script background, and made a bouquet with the roses. I set the bouquet onto a piece of linen that I had stamped with a smaller rose, and edged with a piece of lace, making it look like a handkerchief. The card eventually became a Mother's Day card for my Mum, as she has lots of pretty printed hankies, and it reminded me of her.

The little roses are coloured with Copic markers, and the backing paper is from the Essence of Nature CD.

So up to the present day, I have used the rose script stamp to make my OH a Valentine's card. I've kept the design fairly simple, using a monotone colour scheme. He's not much of one for cards, but I can't let the day pass without sending him a token of my love, can I? I've stamped around the edge using a tree from the Fantasy Woodland stamp set, this is fast becoming one of my favourite stamps. The sentiment is an old Elusive Images stamp which fits the bill perfectly, and I've used Distress Markers for the two tone effect.

Rose Stem Script is on offer until Friday, when there will be a different stamp sheet up for grabs at a bargain price:

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Enchanted Forest

Hi Folks, here's a card that I made using lots of tree stamps to create an enchanted forest scene. I used Distress Inks to create a soft background, and paper masks to form the hill shapes for the trees. I have used Memento Inks to stamp the trees, and then coloured the trees with pencils.

I added Glossy accents to the flowers on the focal tree, and Stickles to the fairy's wings. The little flowers are made from glassine paper and edged wth ink before heat setting them.

There are a couple of sneaky peeks of as yet unreleased stamps on this project! I have been given permission to blog this card and to let you know that if you would like to take a look in the What's New department over at Chocolate Baroque on Valentine's Day, you will be able to see the items that I have included in my project.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Verdigris Tree

Hi Folks, here's a sample using the Fantasy Woodland tree set again. I've stamped the image of an orange tree onto some Prima Firefly paper, and coloured it with pencils. As it is a fantasy tree, I have used my own colour scheme, and so the fruit have become a rather fetching plum colour! I then edged the paper with Verdigris embossing powder.

For the background, I used a deep purple iridescent card, which I embossed, and then painted with Vintaj patina paint. Once it was dry, I rubbed some of the paint back, to reveal the dark card underneath, to give the feeling of old lead. I added a word on a label made from the Firefly paper again, and some burgundy satin ribbon.

This is the first time that I have used these paints. I had them set aside to use with metal, but they work really well on card, so I'll definitely use them again this way.

Glenda is currently doing a giveaway on the Design Team Blog if you are quick and make a comment on the giveaway post, you are in with a chance of winning some of the fabulous new stamps.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Embossing/Anything Goes

Hi Folks, it's time for another challenge on the Artistic Inspirations Challenge Blog and the theme this week is embossing/anything goes.

I am using a cute image from our sponsor Robyn's Fetish called 'Waking up Birdie', which I have coloured with pencils, and placed onto a lovely backing paper from K & Co. The sentiment is from Stamp Camp, which I have embossed. The ribbon is actually from a Christmas present that my OH bought me for Christmas, there is writing on the other side. However, I loved the colour, and couldn't bear to waste it!

Our sponsor this week, Robyn, is very kindly offering the winner 5 digis of their choice:

Why don't you have a go at making something for the challenge? You can make whtever you like, a card, tag, altered box, mixed media item, there are so many possibilities.

I hope that you have a crafty week ahead of you, and hope to be back soon with some more projects to share. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Vintage Car

Hi Folks, I have a card today to show you based on a project made by Christine Dark in this month's Craft Stamper magazine. I loved her project as soon as I saw it, and wanted to have a go. I needed to make my FIL a card for his Birthday, so mine is on a masculine theme. However, I'm definitely going to make some more feminine versions as well.

I had an idea in mind, and set about assembling my die cuts, as per Christine's instructions:

It was then a matter of working through the various processes, adding the paint layers, and stamping to get the final look.

 The stamping isn't perfect, but then looking at the magazine pieces, it's not meant to be. It is very difficult on multi-layered items to manage perfection! It adds to the distressed, worn feel of the whole thing.

We are off to see my FIL later today, he doesn't really appreciate handmade cards, but I know that I've taken a lot of care over this one, so I guess that's what matters! Anyway, I hope you are having a great weekend, thanks for stopping by, xx

Woodland Flower

Hi Folks, I have a sample that I'd like to show you today using some fabulous new stamps from Chocolate Baroque The set is called Fantasy Woodland, and is full of all kinds of trees and foliage, it's a great set of stamps.

For my sample, I've taken two of the small trees, and stamped them onto card that I have coloured with yellow ink. I chose two different coloured inks in shades of plum to stamp the trees. I cut these out, and once I'd worked out where they were going on my card, I stamped another tree twice to resemble leaves. I assembled my flower, made from the tree shapes, curling the top layers for dimension. I then added a green button, tied with paper string in the centre.

I added one of my favourite Chocolate Baroque sentiments to the card. I use this time and time again, as it is such a lovely expression, and the curly font is really pretty. I created a background for the card using Dylusions sprays in various shades of pink and purple.

This card is showing on the Design Team Blog today. The girls have made some fabulous samples, so do keep popping over there for a look. Thanks for stopping by, xx