My work space

Hi Folks, we were asked recently by Hilde our blog leader over at Crafting with Dragonflies to do a reveal of our craft spaces. This idea filled me with horror, as I am a messy crafter. I decided that I did need to tidy my craft room up at least a bit before I could photograph it in all of its glory to let anyone see it. It has taken two trips away from my Husband to achieve this, but it is now very tidy. I am including a before picture as well, just so you can see how untidy I usually am!

I am ashamed to show this picture, but in my defence, I always know where everything is! My craft room is in what should be the dining room of our house, but it is quite small, and we have had a lovely extension built to house our dining table now.

My nice tidy desk, which houses my PC and the Big Shot Pro. There are pieces of my artwork on the wall, and the collection keeps growing.

Lots of baskets and useful storage to keep things organised. This side of the room contains boxes housing my jewellery supplies, acrylic paints, dies, embossing folders, and all sorts of other useful materials for the different crafts that I enjoy. I also have various sets of pens and pencils including Copics, Polychromos and several sets of Derwent pencils, a well known British make of pencils for those of you who are reading this outside the UK.

My precious unmounted stamp collection is housed in those Really Useful boxes, and I have more stored elsewhere. I love to collect books on the various crafts that I enjoy, cardmaking, mixed media, jewellery making, etc.

The filing cabinets, including the little red one on the left house my wood mounted stamps, more unmounted stamps and card. I hope you have enjoyed the tour of my craft room. I quite often end up working on the dining table because my desk is so untidy, plus the lighting is better there:

As you can see, I can mess the table up quite quickly as well! Thanks for stopping by, xx

Hi Folks, here is another sample using the versatile Nature Fragments and Abstract Fragments stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque. I have created a background by covering some watercolour paper with a wash of  Ecoline ink, and adding some salt while it was still wet. Once the background was dry, I brushed away the salt, and randomly stamped the squiggly texture stamp in Salty Ocean Distress Ink across the paper. I added highlights with a white pencil.

I coloured a piece of glossy card with green and brown alcohol inks and then stamped the large and small tree trunk circles several times in archival black ink. I cut these out, and arranged them across the page. I used another texture stamp and some blue green embossing powder to create a pattern across the wings of a die cut dragonfly.The sentiment was taken from the Words of Inspiration stamp set.

 

Something along these lines might make a great masculine themed card, which is always hard to design.Thanks for stopping by, xx

Fragmented background

Hi Folks, I have another sample to show you using the new Nature Fragment stamps from Chocolate Baroque. I have chosen to alter a small papier mache plaque which I have painted, and then covered the front with some scrapbook paper. Before attaching the paper, I stamped the large hessian (burlap) stamp using gold embossing powder across the middle of the panel, and added a piece of cerise ribbon. I used another stamp from the stamp set and Lilac Posies Memento ink to add some random stamping across the background. I then used a fragment stamp from the Lace Fragment stamp set to fill in any areas left, using Iced Spruce Distress Ink. I softened these areas with a pearl spray.

I stamped and embossed several images from the Haberdashery stamp set, using white embossing powder, and coloured them using the Memento Ink, or the Distress Ink as before. I also embossed a pair of scissors using gold embossing powder onto a piece of gold pearlised card. Finally, I cut a small tag shape, which I coloured with Iced Spruce Distress Ink, keeping the die cut in place, so that the edges remained white, in keeping with the other embossed pieces, and stamped a sentiment from the haberdashery stamp set onto the tag.

Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Alcohol flourishes

Hi Folks, there are some new stamps at Chocolate Baroque released this week,that will be a great bunch of stamps to have at your fingertips. They are a range of texture stamps, including things like woodgrain, brick walls, stones, and lots of other fabulous designs. The stamps are broken into two sets, but are also available as a multibuy.

I have used a couple of stamps from the Nature Fragments stamp set for this card. I created a wrinkle free distress background first of all, and then stamped the ornate flourish stamp across the background using three different colours of Adirondack Ink, Eggplant, Stream and Wild Plum. I coloured some Glossy card using Eggplant and Wild Plum alcohol ink, and then stamped the panel with the negative flourish image, using silver embossing powder.

I die cut a butterfly from plum coloured foil, which I embossed through a die cutting machine. I used some alcohol ink to change the colour of the raised areas. I matted the design onto teal coloured card and added some plum ribbon. My sentiment came from the Pretty Poppies stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Handmade Flowers

Hi Folks, it's time for another challenge over at the Crafting with Dragonflies challenge blog. This fortnight, we are sponsored by A & T Digital designs, and they will be giving the winner a prize of two digital designs. The theme is to make a project incorporating handmade flowers.

I have chosen to use a piece of Prima 'Firefly' paper as my background, and stamped a large flourish using white embossing powder in one corner. I made a flower using handmade paper, and cut six layers using my Spellbinders Blossom 5 dies. I coloured the shapes with Distress Ink, and then attached them together with a brad. I scrunched the shaped up around the brad, spritzing them with a bit of water. I then heat set the flower with a heat gun. Once the flower was dry, I stuck the flower to the background, and added a metal ring into the centre. I filled the ring with Glossy Accents, and dropped seed beads into the middle. I love making these flowers, using various die shapes and colours.

I stamped a large butterfly using white embossing powder onto white card, and then coloured the image with Distress Inks. I chose a suitable sentiment and stamped this onto a tag which I had also inked with Distress Inks, leaving a white border around the outside. My stamps are all from Stamp Camp, and have been very neglected. This project was a great opportunity to dig them out.

Why don't you pop over to the challenge blog and take a look at the fabulous projects that my Team Mates have made? Thanks for stopping by, xx

Purple and Gold

Hi Folks, here is another sample using the Fancy Flourish stamp set. I have created a background using glossy card and alcohol inks. Once I had covered the card, I then stamped one of the flourish stamps across the card diagonally with gold embossing powder.

I created two oval shapes with mountboard by die cutting them, and then colouring them with Distress Inks.I stamped the shapes with a crackle stamp and then stamped the large flourish stamp on the bigger oval and a sentiment on the smaller oval. I punched a hole in the ovals at this point. I added three layers of UTEE, to create a tile effect on the ovals. I joined them together with jump rings and stuck them to my background. Finally, I added some gems to the large flourish.

 

As you can see, the flourishes are great for both backgrounds and focal points on your cards. They really are versatile. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Holly Flourishes

Hi Folks, here is another sample using the Fancy Flourishes stamp set from Chocolate Baroque. This time, I have chosen to make a quick little Christmas card. I think that this may be another card that I would like to make as a batch card, as it does not involve too many steps.

I took a piece of kraft card, and stamped the holly flourish stamp several times on the left hand side, to create a branch. I then used a white pen to draw a few lines to resemble snow on the branches. I stamped the word 'Joy' from the Big Bold Christamas stamp set in red in the top corner of the card. I die cut a bird from brown foil, and coloured the stomach area with Red Pepper Alcohol Ink. I then added a little gem for an eye.

Finally, I added a red and green layer of card behind my design to complete the card.

I hope that my design has given you some inspiration, thanks for stopping by, xx

Angel with a flourish

Hi Folks, there are new stamps over at Chocolate Baroque right now, and Glenda is having a giveaway over on the Design Team Blog as well. The new stamps are a set of flourishes, great for backgrounds, or making great cards in their own right, as you will see if you keep checking the DT blog over the next couple of weeks.

I have chosen to use the largest flourish stamp on my sample today, and created a background resembling a stylish wallpaper. This would look great in a smart salon or bedroom. I have opted for a palette of yellow and black, an unusual choice for me, but I really like how it turned out.

I used Mustard Seed Distress Ink to colour a piece of plain card, and then stamped the large flourish over the background. I used the feisty angel from the Gothic Angels stamp set as my focal image, but only wanted her head on my design. I masked off the rest of the stamp image, using masking tape, and then inked up the stamp. I peeled away the masking tape, and then stamped the image. I chose to colour her with pencils, keeping to a fairly monochrome palette, and added Glossy Accents to the ivy leaves.

The flower is made from handmade paper sprayed with yellow ink, and edged with Black Soot Distress Ink. I have stuck the layers together with a brad before sticking a cog in the middle, and dropping seed beads into Glossy Accents to create the centre. I have added some green ivy leaves to tie in with the angel's headdress and necklace.

 

I'll be back in a few days with another sample, but be sure to check out the DT blogfor more inspiration from my Team Mates. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Card with Nature/Trees/Leaves

Hi Folks, it's time for another challenge over at the Crafting with Dragonflies challenge blog. The theme this week is 'Nature/Trees/Leaves' which is perfect for any time of year, but particularly in the Autumn, when the leaves are changing colour, and we are treated to such a spectacular riot of different shades.

I have chosen to make a leafy background using leaves from my garden, which I have inked around. My very good friend Elaine taught me this technique, and you can see many fine examples on her blog. I then stamped several trees onto the main piece of card using Autumnal toned inks, and coloured the trees using pencils. I created some paper masks by stamping the trees onto paper, and cutting the base line away. I then inked some hills underneath the trees. I added some flourishes around the edge of the design and some foliage along the bottom using more Autumn colours.

I chose a deep plum, one of my favourite colours to mat the pieces of card, and then stamped the word 'Autumn' onto the leafy background.

This week, we are sponsor free, and so I have chosen to use rubber stamps from Chocolate Baroque for my design. The winner's prize will be from our blog organiser Hilde. Please pop over to the blog to see what my Design Team mates have been making, and why not have a go at entering the challenge with a leafy/tree/nature inspired card?

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Snowflake Edges

Hi Folks, I have a couple of cards to show you today using the Winter Edges stamp set available from Chocolate Baroque


My first card uses the lovely focal stamp from the Reindeer Landscape stamp set, which I have coloured with Splash inks. I have then embossed a few snowflakes over the top, and added some glitter glue to the shaded areas to suggest some fallen snow on the ground.

I have created a long background panel by using one of the snowflake edge stamps, and embossing the image using white embossing powder. I filled the space at the top of the card by turning it around, and just used the top of the stamp again, it fit into the gaps perfectly. I then added several colours of blue Distress Ink to the card, and the white embossing powder acted as a resist, showing through the ink. Once I had assembled my card, I stamped the word 'Believe' in the top corner.

My second card uses the house edge stamp and another of the snowflake edge stampes to create a scene. I stamped these directly onto the front of a square card and filled in the gap between with single snowflake stamps from the same set, using white embossing powder again. I coloured the card using various blue Distress Inks, creating a graduated look. Once I had finished, I spritzed the card with water, to create a mottled effect to add to the snowy feel. I cut a heart shape from the centre of the front of the card, and also from a piece of scrap paper. With the die still in place, and adding the paper mask to the front of the card to protect the card front, I sponged some colour onto the inside of the card through the heart shape. I added a favourite Christmas sentiment of mine.

I think that this is a design that I will make quite a few of this year, as it is simple for batch making, and contains a sentiment already built into the card. How are you all getting on with your Christmas cards?

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Reindeer Luminary

Hi Folks, I have another sample for you using the Reindeer Landscape stamp set. This time my project is a little bit different, as I have made a luminary. I printed out four large vintage tags, available from Chocolate Baroque in the printable section. I cut an aperture in each, and scored above and below the aperture. I trimmed the bottom of each tag so that I could fold it up, and then trimmed two of the top tags slightly. I punched a hole in the top of two of the tags to add some ribbon, and that was my basic luminary design.

I embossed some sticky backed aluminium tape, and aged it by adding some black paint to it, then rubbed away the excess. I stuck the tags together using the aluminium tape. Here is the luminary once it is folded flat. The piece of card is placed in the bottom for stability once it is assembled:

I stamped the Reindeer Landscape image onto vellum four times using white embossing powder, and coloured it on the reverse using Splash Inks. I wanted a very pale vintage feel to my luminary.

I was very excited when I found that the white embossing worked just as well as black when it was lit.

I hope that this has given you some inspiration for this lovely stamp set. Keep checking the Design Team Blog for lots more ideas from my Team mates. Thanks for stopping by, xx

Make a box and cards

Hi Folks, it's time for another challenge over at the Crafting with Dragonflies challenge blog. This week, the challenge is to make a box containing at least three cards.

I have chosen to make a box following a design that I saw on the Internet that I really liked. There wasn't a template, so I made the pieces up myself based around the size of my cards. I cut two pieces of chipboard 14 cms x 14 cms and another piece 14 cms x 3 cms, and covered these in one long piece of patterned paper on both sides, leaving a small gap in between each piece, so that they could fold up into a basic book shape. I then cut four pieces of chipboard 13.5cms x 3cms, which I also covered in paper on both sides, wrapping them around into a frame. I glued these inside the book with a wet glue for added strength. I stuck a piece of ribbon underneath the frame before I glued it into the book shape. Finally, I cut two more pieces of chipboard 13.4cms x 13.4cms which I covered on just one side with paper. I stuck one inside the frame to trap the ribbon. The other piece, I stuck inside the top of the inside of the box, trapping another piece of ribbon underneath. I inked all of the edges of the paper with Distress Ink to add some shading.

I printed my images and coloured them with pencils before cutting them out with Nestability shapes, and matting them onto green card. I have used two images from our sponsor A Day for Daisies. The first is 'Hoppity' and the second is 'Fuzzy Bunny Thoughts'. I added some punched butterflies to the second image to tie in with the first.

My box could actually hold a couple more cards with their envelopes, as it is quite deep:

Here you can see it tied up with the ribbon. I really like this design, and will probably make it again.

These little rabbits are so cute, and as my cards are blank, they could be used as Birth announcements, little Birthday cards, or just general any occasion cards.

Please hop over to the challenge blog to see the really inspirational projects that my Team Mates have made and have a go at entering the challenge yourself. There is also a Design Team call out at the moment for our blog, so if you are interested, please apply on the relevant post. We would love some new members.

Our sponsors this week are A Day for Daisies who are offering a $12 Gift Certificate to spend in their shop, and Di's Digi Designs.

Thanks for stopping by, xx