Cloudy Skies

Hello everyone, here are a couple of projects that I created for last month's TV shows on The Craft Store, using the fabulous new house stamps from Kim Moody.

 I created a background using Distress Inks in shades of blue and green. I stamped Luv Shack onto a smaller piece of Drawing Cartridge and masked the image. I stamped a couple of trees from Woodland Design a Tree and extended the hedge using a fineliner pen. I coloured the background using Distress Inks and a blending brush, I used a stencil over the top with more Distress Inks to add the clouds. I added foliage to the trees and grass using stamps from Glade Design a Tree stamp set. The image was coloured with pencils. I edged both pieces of card with ink to create more definition before I adhered them to the base card. Finally, I added a sentiment from Say it Vertically.

To create my second card, I chose three of the houses - Luv Shack, Cotswold Stone, Urban Chic, and stamped them on a piece of Drawing Cartridge, masking them as I went along. I coloured the background with Distress Ink, and coloured the images with pencils. I added a sentiment from Amazing Mackintosh Words. I stamped some foliage from Silhouette Grasses along the front.

 

I will be back later in the month with another project to share with you. Take care and stay safe, xx

Colourful Bookmark Houses

Hello everyone, I hope that you are all keeping well and that you have been enjoying some better weather. I have a few projects to share with you over the next few weeks that will hopefully make you think of sunnier days, the colours are certainly bright and cheerful!

My first card was made using one of the bookmark style houses featured on last month's TV shows on The Craft Store, Turret House. This has a fairytale castle feel, with Russian elements in the rooftops. I have coloured the building in bright colours to match my background, which was created with Brushos. I placed a stencil over the top and added some Distress Ink. I used the Orchard Design A Tree stamp set, to create a forest around the building. 

I used pencils to colour the image, a fairly cheap set this time from Faber Castell. I seem to go through phases of what I like to use, but I am trying to use some of my neglected stash if I can at the moment. These pencils work quite well, and although they did not cost much to buy, I like the effect that I can achieve with them.

My second card was created using the lovely Italian House. I used lots of stamps from Make Your Mark to create the background, and added texture paste through a stencil. I coloured the images with pencils. The text comes from  the Words of Wisdom stamp set, and I have used the Orchard Design a Tree stamp set once again. I chose not to add any foliage this time, simply added a bit of pencil colouring to suggest the feeling of leaves on the branches.

I will be back soon with more projects to share with you. 

Thanks for stopping by, and take care.

Judith xx

Time for Nature

Hello everyone, I hope that you are keeping well. I am sharing my last few projects this month featuring stamps from last month's TV shows on The Craft Store. 

My first card features stamps from the beautiful stamp set Sow the Seeds. These large stamps are perfect for journaling or creating eye catching, distinctive cards for someone special. I love the seed heads, and wanted them to shine in my project. I created a background using my inky plate and soft colours. I stamped the images, and added some pencil where the shading was present. I added extra foliage from Silhouette Grasses, such a useful stamp set.

My next card features the fabulous pine cone from Mother Earth as a focal point. I stamped this three times onto kraft card, using brown ink, and cut it out and scrunched it up to give it added texture. I created a background on a piece of tea dyed drawing cartridge, using stamps from Sow the Seeds and Make Your Mark.

The next two cards are older samples that I posted here on my blog a little while ago, but I will share them with you again. A simple piece of white embossing, and then the image was painted with Koh-I-Noor watercolours:

The leaf was stamped using different colours of ink, and then lightly coloured with pencils to accentuate the shading:

Finally I created a card using the Scripts and Timepieces stamp set, which was only available during the TV shows. I coloured my background with Distress Ink, and stamped the scripts using dark brown ink. I added splatters from the Timeless stamp set. The cental piece was created by stamping onto a piece of stampbord which I had coloured with Distress Ink, and I then added triple embossing for a shiny glaze.

Thanks for stopping by, take care,

Setting the Scene

Hello everyone, I hope that you are all keeping well. I am sharing more projects today from last month's TV shows on the Craft Store, where we showcased the fabulous Retro Vases and Retro Floral stamps. As I mentioned in my last post, if you would like these stamps, you can give Lesley or David a call at the unit, and they will take an order from you, as these stamps are not available on the website.

I decided to create a little scene for my first card. I used some torn strips of paper to create some hills, using Distress Ink and a blending brush. I added a circle mask to create a sun. Once the background was created, I chose some suitable silhouette stamps from the two sets and stamped those using various colours from the Versafine Clair range of inkpads. I used first and second generation stamping to create some depth to the foliage. The little butterfly stamp comes from the Butterfly Blush stamp set, so useful for this kind of scene. The sentiment comes from the Life is so much Better stamp set.

My next two cards followed the same basic principles, I used a piece of fabric and stamped circles in analogous colours, (next to each other on the colour wheel), using different sized circle stamps from the sets and coloured Archival ink. I then chose some of the retro images and stamped over the top using black Archival ink.

For this first card, I used an inky plate background.

For the second card, I used a Brusho background. Matting the layers onto black card adds more definition. The sentiments are from the Say it Vertically stamp set.

My final card was a quick card created straight onto a card blank. I stamped three vases using Versafine Clair ink, which I masked with Masking Tissue. I then coloured the floral staps with Koh-I-Noor brush pens and stamped them above the vases, before removing the masks. I added a bit of shading with a grey pencil to 'ground' the vases.

I really had a lot of fun working with these stamps, and hope that you have found some inspiration in my projects. Thanks for stopping by, take care, xx

Watercolour Backgrounds

Hello everyone, I have a few projects to share with you today, featuring stamps from last month's TV shows on the Craft Store. I really enjoyed creating these projects, as they were a slightly different approach for me. I had recently taken a watercolour course with Lucia from The Wild Ink Workshop, and these backgrounds were a result of my practices. 

I started by creating the backgrounds, using scraps of watercolour paper, drawing cartridge, etc. These are of varying size, some are really small, and very cute! I have used a mixture of Jayne Davenport watercolours and Derwent watercolours, just whatever I had in my stash.

They would make lovely thank you cards, or little notelets, I love the whole concept. I stamped the silhouette images, and added some white details with a gel pen. 

I even had a go at drawing some foliage by hand as recommended by Lucia. This was such a relaxing thing to do, and I will definitely try to do this more often, time permitting.

I created a couple of backgrounds for the larger cards to tone in with the little panels. I used clear embossing powder to stamp and emboss the silhouette flowers first, then added Distress Inks with a blending brush.

On the second example, I ironed off the embossing powder, creating a faux batik effect, so that I could stamp a sentiment over the top. (You will need to place some copy paper over your background to protect your iron, and turn the steam off, if your iron has a steam setting!)

I have added a touch of gold watercolour to link the squares together, I used Gansai Tambi metallic watercolour, which is very creamy, and perfect to layer over regular watercolour paint, the gold really pops. These cards were relatively quick to make, and would be suitable for so many occasions. Chocolate Baroque has so many silhouette stamps. If you made lots of backgrounds, and then rummaged through your stamps, you could create a big pile of cards in no time.....

Lesley and David have said that although these stamps are not on the website, you can order them by phone - Retro Vases and Retro Florals, as they were a one off for the TV shows.

My final card was created using Distress Inks for the background, and stamping a selection of stamps from Make Your Mark to build up layers of depth. I used Versafine Clair coloured ink, and added circles in black ink, which I wanted to be more prominent. I then chose some floral elements from the two Retro stamp sets.

Make Your Mark is such a versatile stamp set, we reach for it again and again to create our backgrounds and to add an extra something to our cards.

I will be back later in the month with more projects to share with you. Thanks for stopping by, take care and stay safe xx

Florals in Reds and Golds

Hello everyone, I have a few more projects to share with you, featuring stamps from last month's TV shows. 

My first card was created using a Brusho background, I have lots of these in my stash, waiting to be used when I need them. I make a batch in lots of different colours, which I can pull out when I need them in a hurry. Very handy when I am making DT samples!

I stamped a leafy sprig from the Autumn Poppy stamp set randomly over the background. It is not an exact match to the main image, but is close enough. I coloured the image with Staedtler Ergosoft pencils, choosing a lovely olive green and soft red. These are fast becoming a favourite medium to use.

I die cut an oval and stamped the Flora Musica image, adding a bit of Distress Ink around the edges to soften the whiteness of the card. I coloured the image with pencils once more, coordinating with the colours of the background. I chose some toning ribbons to pull the project together. 

To create my second project I made a wrinkle free distress background, using Distress Inks on a craft mat, which I mopped up with a piece of drawing cartridge. I stamped around the edges with the Large Crackle Background, and added the splatter stamp from the Timeless stamp set. 

I die cut a rectangle and stamped the Crackling Rose which I coloured with pencils. The sentiment comes from the Life is so much Better stamp set.

The stamp from my final card was not actually featured on the show Song Thrush, its silhouette companion made an appearance. I made this card and so will share it as you could create something very similar. I used a tea stained background, and stamped a leafy image from Brocade Backgrounds over the top.

I stamped the main image twice, and coloured the images with pencils. I decoupaged some of the flowers before matting the layers onto brown card. The sentiment once more is taken from Life is so much Better. 

I had so much fun this month working with a lot of these older stamps. For some of you they will be brand new. It was great to revisit the images and get to use them again, mixing them with newer stamps that were not around when the stamps first came out.

Thanks for stopping by, stay safe and take care, xx

Blue Florals

Hello everyone, I hope that you are all keeping well. I have a couple of projects to share with you today featuring stamps that we brought to the TV shows last month. Both projects share a common theme, I have used blue tones to colour the flowers. You can colour the images however you like, so why not use blue, or whatever colour you prefer? You can match the colours that the recipient loves, a favourite colour scheme, or the gift that you might be giving. 

To create my first card, I created a Brusho background, using green, turquoise and purple, and once this was dry, I inked through a stencil, using the same colours of Distress Ink. I stamped a verical sentiment from the Say It Vertically stamp set over the top.

I die cut an oval and stamped and embossed the Harlequin Bouquet, using Versafine and clear embossing powder. I coloured the image with watercolour pencils and lightly blended the colours with a water brush. I edged the oval with Distress Ink.

Another Brusho background formed the basis for my second card. I stamped the Floribunda Net over the top using Versafine once more. I added some stencilling with a mesh stencil using gilding wax this time, adding a bit of subtle shimmer. I coloured the roses with Staedtler Ergosoft pencils, and then used a Wink of Stella pen over the top for more sparkle. I used a sentiment from Life is so much Better to create a frame.

I will be back later in the month with more projects to share with you. 

Thanks for stopping by, stay safe and take care, xx

Bold Landscapes

Hello everyone, I hope that you are all keeping well. I have a couple of vibrant projects to share with you today, showcasing stamps that Lesley brought to you on last month's TV shows on Hochanda. 

 My first project is an accordian book, and I have used lots of stamps from the shows. These little books are a great way of experimenting with stamps and colour, you can let your imagination go wild. I started by colouring a piece of drawing cartridge with some ink, and let this dry completely. I then stamped and embossed the Klimt Panel twice with gold embossing powder, and cut the panel out. I mounted the panel onto black card. 

 

I cut some strips of drawing cartridge just a little bit smaller than the pieces of black card, and coloured these with Distress Ink, before scoring them into sections. I stamped the Arched Landscape and Landscape Collage twice onto the panels on one side, and coloured these with pencils. I stamped the Klimt Panel using second generation stamping in between the panels as an infill with pink and blue Distress Ink.

On the reverse, I used the Klimt Panel once again, using the same colours of ink to build up the background. I also stamped fragments of the Floribunda Net stamp on each page and coloured this with pencils. I constructed the book, adding ribbon to enable me to close the book.

My second project is equally colourful! I chose to stamp the Garden Lace Scene onto kraft card using white embossing powder, and used inks to colour the scene. I matted the image onto a piece of Lesley's A5 Double Sided Designer Papers Roll Up. I also stamped and embossed onto this background using white embossing powder, and chose to use an image from the Lace Fragments stamp set. There is a strip of lace on this set that matches the border on the main image exactly, and I stamped this onto kraft card to use as a strip behind the main image instead of a piece of ribbon. I stamped and embossed one of the new Say It Vertically sentiments onto kraft card to finish my project.

These images are such fun to work with, and I have lots more to show you this month. Keep checking back to see what my Team mates have to share with you as well. Thanks for stopping by, stay safe, xx

Really Useful Cards

Hello everyone, I wanted to show you some really useful ideas for cards. We often need a card in a hurry, and need to rustle up some thing in next to no time. Lots of these cards could be made in different colour options, you could make a set of them and give them as a gift to someone.

My first two cards were made using textured linen card, and I blended three colours of Distress Ink over the background first. I used a circle mask to create a sun in the sky. I then stamped the foliage from Eastern Grasses across the top using Versafine Clair ink in a couple of colours. I used first and second generation stamping to create a bit of depth. I added a sentiment from the stamp set using the same inks as before.

 You could make lots of these and just choose your favourite colours, they are quite quick to make, just vary the sentiment to suit the occasion.

I have left the sentiment off the next card, it could be used for any occasion. I chose a large bloom from Fresh Florals and inked it up with two different colours of red Versafine Clair. I stamped the image randomly over a piece of kraft card to create a background. I stmped the poppy image onto an oval of drawing cartridge and coloured the image with Koh-I-Noor watercolour paints. I added a touch of Distress Ink around the edge.

This last card is an older card that I made some time ago, but I thought that I would share it with you again. I used some very thin masking tape across the background and then added Distress Ink in between each section. I removed the masking tape and stamped the image onto the panel using black ink. I backed the panel onto black card. I coloured some ribbon with the green Distress Ink, and once it was dry, I stamped the ribbon with the words from the Amazing Mackintosh Words stamp set using black Archival ink.

I hope that you will try some of these ideas for quick cards. Thanks for stopping by, stay safe and take care, xx

Beautiful Bold Butterflies

Hello everyone, I am sharing more butterfly cards with you, following on from my last post. Butterflies are such a universally popular image, and I hope that you will enjoy what I have to share with you today.

I created my first card using the Just Butterflies and Butterfly Blush stamp sets. I coloured a piece of drawing cartridge using Distress Oxides and then stamped some of the butterflies from Butterfly Blush using Versafine Clair. I added some white dots using charcoal through a stencil, however, you could achieve a very similar look by using white paint and one of the dotty stamps from Make Your Mark.

I added some texture paste to a piece of MDF, and once it was dry added some paint and gilding wax. I stamped and embossed the butterflies onto vellum, cut them out and layered them up onto the panel. The sentiment from Butterfly Mind was stamped onto a spare piece of background.

The following two cards are older projects, but once again, I hope that you do not mind me sharing them with you. I masked off  the edges of the cards, and added Distress Ink in the centre of the cards. I was aiming for aurora borealis effect, and hopefully achieved that feeling in these cards. I added water splatters, and then stamped the foliage from Briar Rose Butterfly along the bottom using black ink. The butterflies were stamped onto sparkly acetate using Archival Ink and I added coloured vellum to the back, but you could just stamp them onto card, colour them as normal and use a sparkly pen over the top to achieve a similar look. The sentiments come from the Birthday Words stamp set.
 

By changing the colours and foliage, you can create a completely different look, these are really pretty and would make a nice set to give as a gift as well.

 

Thanks for stopping by, stay safe and take care, xx

All About the Butterflies

Hello everyone, I have some projects to share with you today created with some beautiful butterfly images that we brought to Hochanda last month. My first card was created fairly quickly using a piece of drawing cartridge, onto which I drew a circle with a pencil. I chose several colours of Versafine Clair in shades of blue and green and stamped an image from the Thistle Butterfly stamp set around the circle. I stamped each colour five times, to ensure an even coverage, varying the direction that I stamped to make the foliage appear more natural. Although these colours are not necessarily true to nature, I love how they turned out.

Once I had finished the wreath shape, I added some splotches with an image from Just Useful, using some of the same colours that I had used in the wreath. I added a touch of shading around the edge of the background with Distress Ink. I added a sentiment in the centre of the wreath from Birthday Words.

I stamped and embossed three butterflies from across the four sets, I just chose whichever butterflies appealed to me most, to be honest. I used some of Lesley's A5 Doubled Sided Designer Papers, they are so useful for this sort of thing, and will last for ages. I used white embossing powder for a delicate touch.

I am sharing two older projects with you today using the Honeysuckle Butterfly stamp set. These two projects were really fun to create, so I hope that you don't mind seeing them again. The first was a canvas that I made using a sheet of old music paper. I painted over the top using a zingy green colour, and decoupaged the image which I had coloured using pencils. I stamped around the edge using Archival Ink. I added lettering to create a collage effect, you could use book paper, die cuts, whatever you have in your stash to create this effect.

 

This next project is more subtle, but again, I loved creating this one too. I used a Brusho background, and added stamping using an image from the Elegant Edges stamp set around the edge of the background. The butterflies are decoupaged, leaving one wing free for real dimension. This card is just waiting for a sentiment for the right occasion. It would make a lovely Mother's Day card, don't you think?

 

Thanks for stopping by, take care and stay safe, xx