Monday, March 31, 2014

Blue Flower


Another flower card for you today.  I'm playing along with the Waltzingmouse Fanatics colour challenge (or the nearest I could get to the colours).   I've used the Funky Flowers set to build a flower.  (I drew in the stem with a marker pen.)  I double stamped the happy, first with paler blue then with the teal, slightly offset.  Tied some metallic thread around the panel, and I couldn't resist a bit of splatter.


I'm playing stretch-a-sketch again at CAS(E) This Sketch:


And I'm also playing along with Simon Says Monday Challenge where the rule is - no rules, it's an anything goes week.

Stamps: Watzingmouse Say It Loud, Funky Flowers

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 - March and Orange Jalfrezi Verdict


I'm playing along with Tim Holtz' 12 Tags of 2014.  This month it's all about smudge stamping and second generation stamping.  And using an airbrush which I haven't got, so I substituted that for sponging through a stencil.  The idea is that you stamp the image on one tag, huff on the stamp and stamp onto the second tag, getting a lighter image, then take a clean sponge to them to blur the images.  All went well until I added the wording stamp on the left-hand side of the tag as an afterthought.  By that time, I'd been moving the tags around, and stamped them the wrong way, so the first generation tag has the paler wording stamp, and the second generation tag has the stronger wording.  Oh, well.

Here is Tim's pair of tags:-


And the verdict on the previously untried orange and jalfrezi milk chocolate - fabulous!!  I won't be asking or my money back!

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Buttons And Chocolate Buttons


It's a week for buttons.  House of Cards have a challenge to use buttons on CAS/classic/elegant cards,


And Simon Says Wednesday Challenge is Anything Goes With Buttons.


The new challenge at Simon Says Work It Wednesday is to create a card that makes you think of Spring


And the doors are still open at The Card Concept.  I think I'm Clean & Layered today.


I went to a ladies' event last night where there was a talk on chocolate.  With sample tasting.  Mmmmm.  This chocolatier makes unusual combinations.  Dark chocolate, lime and chilli.  Delicious, bought some.  Dark chocolate, lemongrass and Szechuan pepper.  Fabulous, bought some.  Milk chocolate, orange and jalfrezi.  Bought some, not tried it yet but he promised I'll like it or my money back :)

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Happy 50th, Maria!


Wheeeee!!!  We're having a surprise birthday party!  And the Party Girl is none other than Maria of rieslingmama who just happens to be 50 today :)

Cardmaker extraordinaire, Maria creates fabulous cards that often have a bit of an edge to them, a twist or an interpretation that nobody else thought of.

Many of you will have seen the evidence in her frequent appearances in Papercrafts & Scrapbooking Magazine, she was World Cardmaking Day 2013 winner in the birthday category, and is a Design Team member for STAMPlorations and Simply Create Too.  But you probably know all that already.

She's also a fun blog buddy!  Happy Birthday Maria!

I'm linking my card up to The Card Concept - I think I'm shabby chic today.

Ooh look, there's your birthday cake, Maria!

Come and join the party - link your card up here.  The drinks are on Maria (well, she does live in wineland)!


Saturday, March 22, 2014

A Twofer And A Video On Waxing


A couple of cards for you today.  This first one was inspired by Marion's card at Muse:


And by this photo at Winnie & Walter's Playdate No. 1 challenge.  I followed the colours of the clothing and interlocked the hellos to mimic the way that the family is interlocked.  I know the bokeh is part of the frame, but I wanted it to be represented in my card anyway.


I'm also entering it into the current FUSION challenge, where I've just used the sketch:-


Stamps:  Winnie & Walter: The Big The Bold and The Happy; STAMPlorations Vignette Retro Mod Shapes (circle)

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And for my next trick, I've made a video for you.  I did a stall at a pop-up cafe in the village yesterday.  I wanted to take some encaustic wax cards to sell but needed to make a new batch.  When I posted some wax cards on my blog at the beginning of the year, some of you had asked for a tutorial, so I thought I may as well video the process while I was making this new batch.  (Don't worry, the video is less than 3 minutes long - I speeded/sped? it up.  Whatever, it's quick.)

The bad news is that there were only 12 customers all morning.  The good news is I sold a wax card and a framed wax picture, and the organiser has asked me to try for the village fair later in the year.

Here's the card that's featured in the video:


I'm entering it into the challenge at Clearly Besotted - In Flight (see the little birds?).  Sentiment from the Fabulous Fuchsias set.
To be honest, I'm in a quandary about this.  I've always thought of wax cards as separate from stamped cards and therefore they don't "fit" into blog challenges.  But are they any different from, say, watercoloured cards or paper-pieced cards or stencilled cards?




Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Sending Hugs


I'm behind on my school work at Online Card Class.  This card is inspired by Laura B's plaid card on Day 5, although I've masked one area and stamped the bands of colour using the back of a sentiment stamp rather than spongeing them.  Spongeing?  Sponging?  Whatever, I didn't.


I've used the sketch from Waltzingmouse Fanatics (and I didn't even change it!):


I've used the colour scheme from Just Us Girls:


I've used masking so I can enter it into Less is More:

And at CAS on Sunday, it's a one layer wonder challenge.

Off to catch up on my school work now.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Happy Not-Birthday Anita!


Anita in France (aka My Papercraft World) was very coy about her birthday last month, so it snook by us all.  But Bev from Happy Dance cooked up a plan to give her a surprise belated birthday party, ably assisted by Party Planner Extraordinaire, Darnell. (And I've just caught a glimpse of all the party food and drink on Bev's post - I'm in there!!)

I cased this fabulous card by Wida, who is starring on the Penny Black blog all week.  And if you think this card from yesterday is fab, check out what she made for today's post!

Wida's card
So Happy Birthday for last month, Anita!  (If the Queen can have two birthdays a year, I don't see why you can't!)  If nothing else, it's an excuse to open a bottle of France's finest :))

Monday, March 17, 2014

STAMPlorations Sketch #8


It's time for a new sketch at STAMPlorations.  I've re-arranged the sketch slightly (no surprise there, then!) to turn it into a cake with candles.  The cake is made from the chevron stamp from Vignette Chevron and Arrows, the candles are made from Vignette Live Laugh Love, and I've used a leaf from Vignette Eclectic Florals for the flames.  The sentiment is also from Vignette Chevron and Arrows.


*****
PRIZE
The sketch challenges are sponsored by our sister shop, All About Scrapping. The winner gets to pick 3 DIGITAL products from the shop -- any combination of printable sheetsPhotoshop templates, and digital paper packs. The winner will also be invited as a Guest Designer in next month's sketch challenge.
*****

I'm entering my card into Seize The Birthday, with the topping - Stitches.


Sunday, March 16, 2014

Clematis Fence


I've been making woodgrain backgrounds again.  This time, it's a fence with a clematis growing up it.    Or trailing down it, depending on your point of view.  Online Card Class has been covering inlaid die cuts but mine is definitely more than a one layer card.  I was also inspired by Gayatri's fabulous DT card for CAS(E) This Sketch where she also used inlaid die cuts in vibrant colours.  I've gone for a less vibrant palette and taken a small liberty or two with the sketch.


I also had the inspiration photo from Curtain Call in mind when I made the card.  See the wooden barrel and the flowers.


I've used a Magenta stamp for the flowers, so I can enter it into Magenta's March challenge, Spring Is Coming.    Think Clematis Montana Rubens -ish.
The challenge at Simon Says Monday Challenge is D for Distress.  Distress Inks and distressed edges for me.


And at Simon Says Wednesday Challenge, it's Mother's Day or Special Girl:

Usual procedure for making the fence: score, smooch Distress Ink (Antique Linen) in a random fashion but following the grain, buff with kitchen roll, smooch Distress Ink (Walnut Stain) to fill blank areas, buff with kitchen roll.

Diecut Clustered Leaves from white card, stamp text with Versafine Smoky Grey, smooch with Distress Ink (Bundled Sage).  Die cut Clustered Leaves from distressed fence, replace with green leaves die cut.  Stamp flowers on white card with Versafine Onyx Black, colour with Distress Inks (Milled Lavender, Shaded Lilac, Dusty Concord), cut out.  I added some pink to outline the flowers and give them a bit more oomph.  Speech bubble from X-Cut.  Sentiment from unknown.

ETA:  I forgot to link it up to FUSION!  I've used the sketch:


Saturday, March 15, 2014

Birthday Stripes


I'm catching up on my homework for Online Card Class, and I've combined two techniques.  The coloured stripes are faux letterpress, but it's not easy to see in the photo (fine in IRL).  I also liked Shari's graffiti stamped card which is why it's all on an angle.  Shari's had different sentiments and fonts, but I've stuck with one word and used it - a lot!


I'm also entering this into Little Tangles where the challenge is to continue your theme onto the inside of the card.  Here's my insides :)


I'm also entering it into Keep It Simple, where the challenge is Stripes.


Friday, March 14, 2014

Craft Stamper Make It,Take It Reminder - Monoprinting with acrylic blocks



I'm back with a reminder post for the Craft Stamper Make It, Take It Challenge for monoprinting with acrylic blocks.  This time I used cheapo pearlised acrylic paint from the children's Easter activities section at the supermarket (from several years ago, actually!).  This paint is quite thin so the brayer skids about a bit, but you get used to how much pressure to use.

If you look at the pink background, you might just be able to make out some ghosty yellowish flower shapes in the top-right section.  I used a soft tipped colour shaper to make the flower shapes.  I started off with a layer of pink and yellow, pulled the colour off onto my card, then added another layer, drew the flower shapes, which leaves a negative, then replaced the card and pulled that layer off.  Then I finished up with a partial layer of lime green, slightly thicker.

I brayered the excess onto a spare piece of card then stamped my image onto this card, cut it out and popped it onto foam dots.  You're guaranteed to get co-ordinating images by using off-prints of the same colour scheme.



Come on over and join in the challenge, and be in with a chance of:
  • a set of limited edition acrylic JOFY paints
  • your winning entry published in Craft Stamper magazine
  • a guest designer opportunity in a future challenge 
What are you waiting for?

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Online Card Class - Days 3 & 4


So, I booked early onto the Online Card Class - Clean and Simple One Layer Cards.  Then I went and booked a few days away when it started - talk about a senior moment!  So I'm playing catch-up, starting with Day 3, Optical Illusions.  I loved both versions of Laura B's card so did the masked version.

The stamps are Clearly Besotted (Butterfly Wishes, Fabulous Fuchsias).


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We had a few days away in North Devon, and got some gloriously unseasonal weather.

Hele Bay

Clovelly

The road is so steep that the locals use sledges to transport goods