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

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

Forgotten Friday 18- Photorealistic stamp

Hi Folks, it's Friday again, where did that week go? It's time to look through your crafty bits and pieces and make something with your forgotten or neglected stash. Leave a comment on this post, and I'll pop along to your blog to take a look. You can take all week, no worries.

This week, I've chosen to use a photorealistic stamp called 'Serena' by Stampsmith I believe. I have never used this stamp, and bought it ages ago. I thought that it wouldn't stamp very well, but this was its first printing, and it came out really well. I used Versafine ink, and brayered the ink onto the stamp. I have used lots of neglected items this week as well as my stamp. Some lovely paper by Prima 'Firefly' from the Flights of Fancy collection. Some gorgeous peach ribbon roses that I bought last year from the Clothes Show where I go every year with my Daughter Megan. I also used some butterflies from an old necklace, bought especially to break up for my crafting. I've used some beautiful sari ribbon, given to me by my lovely friend Lesley. Finally, a sentiment that I hadn't used yet from a Chocolate Baroque set 'Loving Sentiments'. I use lots of others from this set, but I thought that this card could be set aside for when I need to send it someone who needs cheering up.

I love how this image stamped out, isn't it a lovely stamp? I may have to get more of these photorealistic images now I know that I can stamp them okay. I am definitely going to use this one again.

Thanks for popping by today, have a great weekend, whatever you are up to, Judith xx

Stamping Contrasts

Hi folks, well it's not such a sunny Sunday here today, but it's a welcome change, as the garden really needs a bit of rain. Yesterday was very humid, but it's a bit more pleasant today.

I have two cards to show you today, both using Tim Holtz's 'Papillon' Stamp set, which I loved as soon as I saw it. I love butterflies anyway, but the background stamp is just fabulous. At my card class last week, I wanted to get the girls to use white embossing in their cards, so we based our cards on this technique. We chose three colours, and blended our backgrounds, after embossing the background stamp. We also coloured the butterflies with the same colours, and decoupaged the butterflies. We used some Kraft card, and chose a stamp from the set as our background stamp, this time using a Versafine ink in a matching colour, (I used Majestic Purple), and then I matted everything onto red Bazzil card.

I haven't added added a sentiment, as this card could then be used for any purpose, a great store cupboard card!

My second card has a lovely shabby, vintage feel, which is exactly what I wanted. I firstly created my background, using a Linda Brown technique  using Paper Artsy paint, which you apply to white card sparingly, and dry with your heat gun. I then used Antique Linen and Spun Sugar Distress Stains, and blended them with a baby wipe over the top. When these were dry, I stamped the big Papillon background stamp down my card, using archival ink.
I then embossed and refined my metal shapes in Pearl metal, and painted them using Vintage Lace Fresco Finish paint. I rubbed over a little bit of black paint dabber, and wiped off the excess to age them slightly. I cut the wings from sticky back canvas, coloured them with Antique Linen Distress Ink, and stamped a Crafty Individuals script stamp over the top. I coloured the Ideology ribbon and flower trims with Spun Sugar and Antique Linen Distress Stains, before spritzing them with water.
I then assembled my card, adding a computer generated sentiment, and a heart charm. I had seen this sentiment on another blogger's card ages ago, I've looked so that I could give credit to her, but can't find the link. So my apologies for that.

This card is going to a very special person, and I hope she has a lovely Birthday!
Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a lovely weekend, whatever you are doing, Judith xx

Forgotten Friday Number 7- Vintage Crafty Individuals

Hello Folks, it's Friday so, on my Blog, that means that it's time for my Forgotten Friday post. This week, I've been looking through my neglected Crafty Individuals stamps. I'm an avid collector of these gorgeous stamps, introduced to them by my lovely friend Elaine. However, because I'm so busy, I often don't get to use them, and they get forgotten about. The stamps that I have used on this project are no exception.
I have used CI-173, CI-148 both for the first time, and two old faithfuls, CI-116 the crackle stamp, and CI-085 the letter stamp.
I wanted to create a vintage feel to my piece, so I added cream lace, pearl buttons, and some seam binding. I stamped onto Kraft card, and made my favourite flower at the moment out of brown parcel paper, spritzed with Distress re-inker and water, scrunched, then dried with a heat gun to make it stiff. I added a cute little metal butterfly to tone in with the cream lace.

I painted the main image with Distress Inks to give a washed out feel, and edged the cream card with Distress Inks.

Have a look through your old and neglected stash, make something, and leave a link to your project in my comments. I'll pop along and have a look. I'd love it if more people joined in with my Friday makes, and would be happy to give a spot prize of some of my forgotten stash! Thanks for stopping by today, Judith xx