Some things get better when you let go

Hello

I've been looking forward to using one of my new stencils from GelliArts designed by Giogiocraft and finally I had the perfect project. 

I cut the top of the frame off the stencil as I didn't want it getting in the way. The Distress ink colours were picked from the August mood board for the #TAWI challenge with Isa. The theme for the month is vellum, combined with a line of three prompts from a 'tic-tac-toe' grid. I went with label, bird and swirls.

As usual I started off with every intention of taking photos...and then completely forgot! After using Distress ink through the stencil and on the edges, I stamped some background swirls in Distress ink and some bolder ones in black Archival ink.

The bird, foliage and flowers were cut with a Sizzix die from vellum and coloured with Inktense pencils. I found a handy little vellum tag which hopefully counts as a label, and some words from an old booklet. To finish off I added some pearls and spatters.

I was able to make a card with the remaining vellum die cuts.

It turned out better than I expected as I always find vellum a bit tricky. Not sure if I prefer the blue or the pink bird. Let me know what you think.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a great day xx

Joy to the World

Hello

Somehow the end of the year has crept up on me. Just in time I managed to get all of my Christmas cards made AND sent.

I finished off with some snow globe cards using an Apple Blossom die set and stamps from Card-io and various magazines.

I'm looking forward to using the Card-io stamps for some spring birthday cards, so watch this space.

One last festive card using Sizzix dies.

I wish you all happy holidays and best wishes for the year ahead xxx

A gentle return

Hello

I'm back after a couple of months of no posts. I have been doing some crafting and painting, by that I mean starting things that I haven't finished! 

One project I did get finished was a mixed media canvas.

I started by painting a 25cm sq canvas with Fresco Finish paints and stencilling in some background.

Next I coloured white card by 'swooshing' through Distress Oxide ink...

...and die cut leaves, flowers and a vase. It was A LOT of die cutting!

I think it was worth it in the end.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a lovely day, hopefully with a little crafty something thrown in xxx

 

Mother's Day Blooms

Hello

Today in the UK we celebrate Mother's Day, although I know a lot of countries celebrate in May and other months of the year. 

I've made a couple of cards with the Sizzix colorize blooms dies. I enjoyed making them but I won't lie it was a very lengthy process to colour all of the card, die cut and place all the pieces.

Think the effort was worth it though.

Wishing you a very happy day wherever you are.

 

 

Jingle all the way

Hello

Just a quickie today sharing this cheeky chap using the Sizzix die and some magazine stamps. He does looks as if he is in the festive spirit.

Hope he brings a bit of a smile. Take care, have a good day xx

Hummingbird

Hello
Sometimes I get together with other crafty friends and we admire each other's new purchases and have a play. This usually results in a collection of die cuts and stamped images that get stashed away for future use. I've been trying to stick to my resolve to finish half completed projects and use up bits and pieces, or clear them out. Some of these have been waiting many years to be finished!

First up is a hummingbird card.

Thank you for taking a look. Wishing you a day full of sunshine and flowers xx

Materials used:

Sizzix Thinlits die: free bird

Marianne stamp and die set: two flowers

Faber-Castell Gelatos

Distress Oxide ink

Archival Ink: jet black

Embossing with Gelatos

Hello
A quick one to start today as I realised that this one slipped by without me posting. Although it's a Mother's Day card, with a change of sentiment it would fit many occasions.

First I scribbled on two pieces of card and blended the colours with a damp baby wipe.

Then I coloured an embossing folder using the lighter colour first. I did both sides and then spritzed lightly with water. 

I put my coloured card pieces back to back in the folder so that I could emboss both at the same time, ending up with one side embossed and one side debossed. There was still some colour on the folder so I spritzed again and ran two pieces of white card through. 

 

Using a different folder I embossed and die cut some flowers and used the pieces to build up the card, adding some string, gems and a sentiment to finish off.

 I had enough pieces for two cards so one for my mother-in-law as well!

I know that a lot of the world celebrates Mother's Day in May so there's still plenty of time to be inspired. Take a look at The Craft Barn blog for more ideas here...here...and here.

Thank you for taking time to look. Don't go away - there's another post coming!

Chill December brings the sleet

Hello
...and finally to the last verse of the Twelve Month Poem Challenge at The Craft Barn.

Chill December brings the sleet,

Blazing fire and Christmas treat.

Another year nearly done. I've enjoyed making the mini canvases for the Twelve Month challenge and starting to look forward to what's next. Do have a look at the blog to see what other people have done with the verse.

Last Christmas card made this morning for my husband (can't post it just yet!) Off now to do a bit of carpet cleaning in readiness for visitors over the next few weeks.

Thanks for stopping by. xx

May brings flocks of pretty lambs...

Hi
This week saw the arrival of the swifts at the reservoir near to my home. People who know me might say I'm a little obsessed by swifts! I'm excited when they arrive and feel sad for days when they go. They are a sure sign that summer is not far away. The reservoir attracts a lot of wildlife and is a well known birding spot. On the grassy banks sheep are grazed and this is a lovely time of year to watch the lambs playing.

And so over to The Craft Barn Twelve Month Challenge. The challenge is based on Sarah Coleridge's poem The Months.

May brings flocks of pretty lambs, 

Skipping by their fleecy dams.

It feels quite sultry this morning. Great for bringing the flies down which means the swifts come in close. I feel a bit of swift watching coming on!

Do have a look at The Craft Barn blog to see what other ideas people have to illustrate this month. Thanks for stopping by. xx

Tealight Holder

With Christmas approaching it’s time for a bit of altering. I picked up a tealight holder in a charity shop some time ago that was crying out for a makeover. First texture past was added, left to dry and then painted white.

Next the background was painted, gradually blending the colours together. When it was dry speckled stars were added in white paint and the textured areas were highlighted with gilding wax.

  Die cut snowflakes were embossed and painted silver. When the silver was dry the raised areas were highlighted with white paint and the snowflakes were adhered with gel medium.

 Finally gems were added and the holder was sealed with gel medium which also gives a silk finish. To finish a circle of felt was added to the base.

 

Now that it's dark so early I really enjoy sitting in candle light when I get in from work. It's a great way to block out distractions and relax.

 

Materials used:

PaperArtsy grunge paste

Tando masks: distorted harlequin, Giovanna eighties

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint: snowflake, blue oyster, china, southern skies, blueberry

Viva Decor Maya Gold: silver

Creative Expressions metallic gilding wax: patina

Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die: winter elements

Sizzix Texture Fades Embossing Folder: gridlock

Ranger Multi Medium: matte

  

Coming up roses

I'm not usually a big one for die cutting as the main focus of a card, but recently I bought some bargain dies and thought I'd see what I could come up with.  First a watercoloured background using Spectrum Noir Aqua markers.

Then colouring the die cut roses and the border.  I layered up the roses as I didn't really want the gaps.

 Then put it all together with a bit of background stamping...

...maybe more experimentation needed!

As it does feature colouring I'll enter it in to The Craft Barn weekly challenge using colouring / pens.

Materials used:

Spectrum Noir Aqua markers

Sizzix dies: rose vine,  Marrakesh tile

PaperArtsy: EDY10 bird stamp

free sentiment stamp

Time to Be Thankful

It is about this time of year my sister puts in a request for some Thanksgiving cards for her American friends, so I thought this year I would get a head start.  First the Sizzix Fern embossing folder was used on white card.

Distress Ink was applied and built up in layers, the embossed areas coloured with Promarkers and  leaves stamped around the edges.  The stamped leaves were partially coloured in.

 

Treasure Gold was lightly rubbed over the embossed area and smeared more along the edges.

Two set of leaves were stamped, cut out, coloured and curved using an embossing tool on a foam mat.  More Treasure Gold was applied to the edges of the leaves.

Distress Ink was used to create a co-ordinated coloured background on a card blank and the leaves adhered with silicone glue.  The wording was cut on an Original Silhoutte digital cutter.  And there you go!

 Recent events have given me reason to reflect and be thankful I have such a great life.

Materials used:

Sizzix Embossing Folder: fern

Distress Ink: weathered wood, dusty concord, salty ocean, squeezed lemonade, fired brick

Woodware Clear Stamps: Leaves and Swirls

Promarkers: tulip yellow, gold, pumpkin, orange, berry red, lush green

Treasure Gold: white fire

silicone glue and adhesive tape