Mother's Day

THIS IS MY SECOND POST TODAY, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO READ MY EARLIER POST.

Well my Mother's Day cards this year were dictated by what I was teaching my card making class. I am currently going over backgrounds. Last week, we covered direct to paper with ink pads, and then stamped over the top with images to create a fabric like background. We then used some lovely Elusive Images Flower stamps as our main images which we either watercoloured with Distress Inks, or coloured with Inktense pencils. I have done one of each. Personally, I prefer the orange toned card, which is unlike me, because I used Glossy Accents on the bulb jar, and the Distress Inks ran slightly. I also prefer the backing paper on the orange one. That one is intended for my MIL, but as my Mum doesn't read my blog, she'll never know!

I also had another attempt at making one of those faux porcelain flowers with my brand new Melt Pot. I have lots of ideas for what else I'd like to try, but not enough hours in the day. Maybe another time. Thanks for looking, Judith x

Totally Gorjuss Challenge

I decided to enter the following card into this week's Totally Gorjuss Challenge using the sketch provided.

 I love the DPs that I have used, which I have hoarded for ages by Kelly Panacci. I have used an image from Mo Manning which I have coloured with Coloursoft pencils and Zest it. A piece of velvet ribbon and a flower made with my Blossom Nesties, edged with DIs and Glossy Accents finishes the card. The huge brad is from a pack that I bought at the Hobby House stand at Stamperama a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for looking, Judith x

Stamperama

Well, I'm back from a day going around Stamperama at Stevenage, which is about an hour and a quarter from where I live. I had a really great time; I saw Kay Carley, and the Stamp Addicts girls, the folks at LB Crafts, where I picked up my new Distress Inks ooh la la!

I spoke to Bev Rochester at The Hobby House stand, and ogled her gorgeous cards IRL, and had a good look at what there was to see.

I had the best time at the Artistic Stamper stand, watching Jennie deonstrate the Melt Pot, something that I've been interested in for a while, but didn't know much about. Her demonstration pieces were fab, and she gave me a piece to bring home! Thank you Jennie, so much! I just need to add some beads to the piece that she gave me, and it will make a lovely brooch.

 I also sat with Hels, who is so lovely, and had a go at her make and take.

We made a faux porcelain flower, similar to the grungepaper flowers doing the rounds at the moment, but made with thin card, coloured with DIs, overstamped, then dipped in clear UTEE in the melt pot. The final step was to add a glass bead in the centre, they are gorgeous! I bought a Melt pot, needless to say, and will be making lots of these. I bought tons of other things too, including Paper Artsy stamps, Tim Holtz ornate plates, a couple of punches, Nesties, and lots of other bits and pieces. What a good day, Judith x

Flowers

I always seem to be telling you that I've been ill whenever I write a post, and today is no exception. However, I'm not going to ramble on, I am feeling a bit better, so let's hope that it stays that way. I've just got back from a short break with my OH to London and the trip probably did me some good too. We had a lovely time going to the Science Museum, we saw the West End show Jersey Boys, did a bit of shopping, and I got to visit Blade Rubber Stamps and trawl around Liberty looking at the gorgeous haberdashery department. I had some gorgeous cupcakes in Selfridges, my favourite one was called Red Velvet, which had a cream cheese topping on it, need I say more!

Anyway, onto the subject of this post, Flowers. I have made lots of flowers recently, in various shapes and sizes, using several different methods and materials, so I thought that I'd have a chat about one or two of them. I love using my Nesties with scrapbook paper, newspaper, or even computer paper to cut several layers, scrunch them up, distress the edges, and then use Distress Inks, or Glimmer Mists, before layering them together with a brad, or putting a button on the top. I often make lollipop flowers along a similar vein, just using circles instead of Nestie shapes.

Recently, I made a metal flower with my Nesties, painted the layers with precious metal paint, and then moulded the layers with an embossing tool, before fixing the layers together with a brad. I used the flower on a project on my other blog http://craftstampingquartet.blogspot.com/ which I run with three very good friends. There is a step by step tutorial for the metal flower over there, but I'll show you a picture of the flower here, in case you haven't had a look, (if not, why not?)! 

The other day, while blog hopping, I came across a stunning card made by Linda Ledbetter on Linda's blog I don't have the exact spot sorry, but just scroll back a few days, you'll see it. Anyway, she found a great tutorial here  I have a few step by step pictures myself, so here goes with an explanation. These are fabric flowers made from old chiffon scarves, dig them out of your wardrobe if you have them. I have loads from the days when I did a proper job, and had to wear a suit.

Cut several circles of different sizes from your scarf.

Burn the edges with a lit candle, carefully, with a bowl of water standing by. I used tweezers to hold the fabric.

Layer up and sew through a few times, finish off by adding beads or buttons in the centre.

                                                     

I've made a card with the two red flowers, as I thought that they looked a bit like poppies, which are my favourite flower. I started off with a piece of Kraft card, which I stamped with a Grungey Flower from Elusive Images in Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder. I  then coloured the card with dried marigold, spiced marmalade, worn lipstick and fired brick DIs. I then ironed away the clear embossing powder under greaseproof  paper to get a flat surface, and stamped a flourishy flower from the same stamp set in fired brick onto my background. I finished off by edging the background with black soot. I stamped a sentiment onto watercolour paper and edged this with DIs, then mounted it onto pearlescent card. I punched four flourishes and set two behind each flower in opposite corners of my card. Hope you like, Judith x

Valentine's Day Card

Well, I hope you are all having a Happy Valentine's Day, whatever you are doing. I am still recovering from being rather poorly. I had a bad migraine a couple of weeks ago, which was really bad. I was left with severe nausea which just wouldn't go away. I couldn't face food, even the thought of it made me feel bad.  seem to be getting over that now, thankfully, but I have a rotten cold! Oh well, life goes on.
My daughter Megan has just been home on one of her flying visits, bringing her boyfriend and her washing with her. It was lovely to see her, as she has been a bit down lately, and I think she just wanted to come home. She was really chirpy, and it was great to hear her laughing about the house. I got her washing done, and she was off again for a few weeks, back to Uni. We keep in touch, but I miss her, and there's nothing better than that first hug when she walks in the door.

I made Terry, my hubby a Valentine's card based on an Elusive Images themeplate 'Weekend in Venice' this year. We have been to Venice several times; I love going there, and we have some very special memories of our times there, and of being in Italy in general. So, I felt that this card was me being romantic for him. I used a background paper from an Artylicious paper pack 'Echoes of Italy', which looks like old plaster, and stamped a rose silhouette up the side. I watercoloured the main image with Distress Inks after stamping it on watercolour paper.

As this next week is half term, and I don't have to work, I am really hoping to join in some challenges. I always say that, and it becomes the kiss of death to my ambitions! Everything goes pear shaped, and I end up getting nothing done, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed... Bye for now, Judith x

Fairy Card

Well I had a migraine last week, and was unable to finish a card that I had wanted to enter into the Quixotic Challenge which was to include butterflies. This week's challenge is 'I believe in Fairies', so I've included a fairy image on my card, and hey presto, it qualifies! The basic principle of the card is based on an idea that I cased from Jane at Jane's Lovely Cards and a card she made a while back. She makes gorgeous cards, and if you haven't visited her blog, you should. The card is relatively simple because I also wanted to use it to teach to my card making class this week. Therefore I have not used Bazzil card, or one off scrapbook papers which I might have done otherwise. I have used Distress Inks to edge my plain card, around the edge and inside the oval, all around the flowers, leaves and butterflies. I have then used Stickles to edge my flowers and butterflies, and used some flat backed pearls on my flowers.

There is also a second version below, which is not related to the challenge of course, using one of the new Manga stamps from Suger Nellie, these stamps are gorgeous, and I'm itching to use some of the others when I get the time.

 Don't forget to pop over to my other blog, Craft Stamping Quartet to see how we are getting on, Judith x

Time for a facelift

My poor little blog has been sorely neglected lately. I have been working quite a bit and then this week, I've has a terrible migraine. I suffer quite badly from migraines, but can normally control them with medication. Sadly not this time. However, I'm getting over it now, and hopefully I'll have a couple of cards to post over the weekend.
I thought I'd give my blog a little facelift, the website that I got this free background from has some lovely backgrounds, you just request the code, the blog owner emails it to you, and hey presto, you have a new background. You can request two, so I have another one saved for later, and I may switch between the two of them, depending on how I'm feeling at the time.
I hope you're all fine, and keeping busy, bye for now, Judith x

New blog

Hi folks, three friends and I are starting a new blog called Craft Stamping Quartet We all live apart from each other, but wanted the opportunity to 'craft together'. We came up with the idea of choosing a project each month from Craft Stamper magazine, and each working on the same project, but hopefully coming up with very different finished results. We would like to show sneaky peeks and mini tutorials along the way if possible to make the blog interesting and informative. However, we have just set the blog up, so don't expect great things all at once!
We don't get to see each other very often, so this feels really great, as if we are spending lots more time together. One of us lives in the South of England, I'm in Norfolk, and two are further North. If you'd like to support us by becoming followers or leaving a comment on our blog, we would really appreciate it, thank you, Judith x

Another Challenge Entry!

Blimey! I don't know what's the matter with me this week, here's another card which I have made to enter into some challenges. I have used the sketch from  the Secret Crafter Saturday blog , but have turned the sketch on it's side. I have also gone shabby to qualify for Simon Says Stamps Challenge which is shabby chic. I have used a crate paper DP which I have hoarded for an eternity, and also used it to make my flowers. I have inked  the edges of my layers with Distress Inks, then scuffed them with an edge distresser. I wanted to use my sewing machine, but when I went to get it out, horror of horrors, it was broken. So, that will mean a trip to my nearest sewing machine shop for a replacement part. So, I've just used faux stitching instead. I've used a sentiment from Elusive Images and a Martha Stewart punch to edge my green layers.

I love the little Image from Mo Manning, and I used the sentiment as I'm fed up with all the rain that we're getting now. Bye for now, Judith x  

Joining in Challenges

Last year, I tried to join in with blog challenges, but never seemed to have the time, or I was ill. etc. this year, I decided that I would try really hard to get more involved with challenges if I could. To that end, I have made a card this week that qualifies for two challenges woo hoo! Firstly DP2 challenge blog has the challenge of 'birthdays' this week, and my card is a birthday card for my SIL, using one of Mo's cute images, coloured with Coloursoft pencils and Zest it. I have used Crate paper designs and two Martha Stewart punches to decorate my card, punching out a little cupcake, and covering it with stickles. I punched two holes in it to make it look like a button, and added a piece of twine. I stamped an Elusive Images sentiment to finish. Secondly, Friday Sketchers has a sketch to follow, which really caught my eye. I will definitely use this sketch again, as I like the layout so much. Bye for now, Judith x

Donna Downey Classes

I'm so excited, because I booked up today to go on a weekend of classes taught by Donna Downey. It was a page from one of her scrapbooks that I used in my previous post. She also designs for Prima, as in Prima flowers etc. She is coming over from America in April, and teaching in Bury St, Edmunds, Suffolk running three classes, which are being organised by Your Touch of Craft, (see my side bar for a link). The classes will involve fabric based scrapbooking, and paint based,  paper and chipboard, embellishment scrapbooking too. That means the best of both worlds as far as I'm concerned, because you get touchy feely, and messy and splodgy as well! It promises to be an ecxellent weekend, with lots of new and fresh ideas from a very vibrant talented lady, and I get to spend it with my friends from Touch of Craft too, Kay, Amanda and Rosina.

I've been messing about making some flowers from the Craft Stamper article using grungepaper and the stitchel stamps. They have come up really well, but with the snow, I haven't taken any pictures as the light hasn't been great. I intend to use them on my next canvas project, so I'll blog them soon. The snow here has been rotten, as I know it has everywhere. Our roads are flanked by deep dykes either side, and this morning, I passed three cars in the dyke, one of which was being pulled out while the police attended. A sobering sight. My daughter went back to her boyfriend's house today, on the first leg of her journey back to Uni, and I was very relieved to know that she had arrived safely. Wherever you are, keep safe and warm, Judith x

Scrapbook Canvas

Just a quick post tonight, as my husband is being sorely neglected. I have been working like a trojan lately to get this canvas finished. It has been a labour of love, and I have really enjoyed making it. I have used my favourite colours, aubergine and teal, and lots of swirls and butterflies which I love too.

I used gesso to prime my Donna Downey canvas page, which I then painted with watered down acrylic paint. I then pasted some old book pages onto the painted surface with a transfer medium, Golden soft gel. I stamped some phrases onto dressmaker's pattern, and pasted that too. I overstamped some swirls, and images, added some bling, a handmade flower, and my large butterfly. I used Michelle Roo's instructions for the handmade flower which can be found on her blog. I hope you like my efforts, I'm certainly going to do some more of these, bye for now, Judith x