Saturday, February 28, 2015

18th Birthday Memory Book



My friend quite often orders memory books from me as personalised gifts for special occasions - weddings, christenings, big number birthdays.  I usually do 12 pages plus some insert flaps or tags, and stamp appropriate quotes on some of the pages.

For the cover on this one, I pasted some letters and Tattered Florals onto the card then brayered and painted with various acrylics.  I added some glass bead gel medium to the flower centres, some Neocolour II around the petals, stamped a filmstrip border and stitched the whole thing to another sheet of card for strength.  The gold numbers were stuck on last.


Same treatment for the back cover, without any diecuts.  Then it all went through the Bind It All and I tied various ribbons, twines and fibres to the rings, and added a metal ladybird.

I'm entering this into Artist Trading Post, Alphabet Soup


Simon Says Monday Challenge, No Rules


and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge, Anything Goes



and Our Creative Corner, Tic Tac Toe - any line that goes through the centre, i.e. you must include stamps.  I went for Metal, Stamps, Mediums.  But.  I'm not sure how prescriptive the rules are.  Are you only allowed crackle paint, paste and glaze?  Do you have to use all three mediums?  I also used paint - does that disqualify me?


Instead of fiddling around making boxes for these memory books, I use cotton bags and make a matching tag.


I've been asked to make a male 18th book.  That should be interesting...

Friday, February 27, 2015

... Just Married


We've got some more inspiration for you today over at STAMPlorations.

Here's a clean and simple wedding card using The Bee's Knees Newlyweds set.  I just added a touch of colour to the blushing bride's cheeks, the groom's tie and the bouquet, lined the sentiment up with the bottom of the image, and added three self-adhesive pearls.

I'm adding this to Simon Says Monday Challenge - No Rules



and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes


Thursday, February 26, 2015

Seize The Birthday - Masculine


We've got a masculine theme for the challenge at Seize the Birthday.  I swooshed some Distress Inks onto white card then stamped the Texturised Big Numbers (from the STAMPlorations stamp lab) over it.  I brayered a light layer of white acrylic ink over it to grunge it up a bit, then added white highlighting on the numbers with a Sakura Gelli Roll pen.  The happy birthday strip is just stuck down at each side so that I could tuck a drinks ticket behind the strip.

Come and join us at Seize The Birthday - and take a look at the fabulous inspiration from the rest of the team.

ETA:  Just realised it fits the bill for The Male Room - make your own background paper.


And I'm also adding it into Uniko Studio challenge - Birthdays.


Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Girly 50th


I've been sploshing and splattering again, this time for a 50th birthday card.  I stamped the girl (Magenta) in VersafineOnyx Black then sploshed some Pickled Raspberry on her dress, Scattered Straw on her hair, Shaded Lilac for the bow and the tassels around her skirt.  Then splattered :)  Oh, and sploshed a shadow across.  The sentiment is from STAMPlorations Hashtag Authentic.

I'm entering this into Simon Says Monday Challenge - No Rules



and Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes



I'm over at STAMPlorations tonight with another 'Inspired By' feature - this time it's Wassily Kandinsky.  Here's a little preview.


ETA:  I'm also adding this to Uniko Studio - Birthdays - thanks for the prompt, Sandie!


Monday, February 23, 2015

Dream A Little Dream


Today I'm using some of the older STAMPlorations stamp sets.  I've used Trendy Feathers and Artful Flutters, both from the Vignette series.

The card is based on a lesson from my online mixed media class, Lifebook 2015, where we drew a feather onto a similar background to this.  When I spritzed the background (Dylusions) there was a white gap which was shaped like an 'a' so I created the sentiment around that.  I wrote 'little' in white pen then edged it with black.  I added some colour and white pen to the feather.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog to see the fabulous designs from the rest of the Inspiration Team.  If you fancy CASEing this card, or any other cards by the Inspiration Team, you can include yours in our CASEplorations challenge.


I'm entering my card into Simon Says Monday Challenge, No Rules

and The Paper Players, where I'm up to my stretch-a-sketch tricks again.  My circle is the big splodge of blue and green ;), my sentiment is lower and not on a banner, and my funny 'a' represents the twine, but hey, I've got a feather!


Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Happy Doughnut Day, Anita!


Today it's Anita's birthday so I'm popping in to wish her a "sweet" calorie-free birthday.  It should really be croissants or pain-au-chocolat rather than donuts, but I don't have any stamps for them, so doughnuts it is.  I'm sure they all go equally well with a glass of bubbly or red wine ;)  Happy birthday, Anita!

I'm entering this into Curtain Call - Donut Delight


And I don't think it's too much of a stretch to include it in Simon Says Monday Challenge - A Piece of Paradise - especially if there is a glass of bubbly to accompany it!


If you visit Anita regularly, you will know she is in the long process of renovating her home in France.  I'm renovating some houses over at STAMPlorations tonight - here's a sneak peek:




While we're talking STAMPlorations, my doughnut card actually (loosely) fits the new monthly CASEplorations challenge of this card by Julie Ebersole.  Why don't you play along?  Get all the details here.

source: Julie Ebersole

Monday, February 16, 2015

Watch The Birdie


When I grow up I want to be able to watercolour like Dawn Woleslagle.  I'd also like to be able to sketch like her too!  I love how she let the colours bleed away from the bird into the background on this YouTube video, and I wanted to attempt something similar - attempt being the operative word, mine looks like a real bruiser compared to Dawn's delicate painting.

I used my homemade kingfisher stamp - the good news is that a slightly smaller version of the kingfisher (and a few of his friends) will be released under the Bee's Knees line in the STAMPlorations April release, so watch this (birdie) space.

I stamped the kingfisher with Versamark and white-embossed it, then sloshed on some Distress Inks.  I decided that I would iron off the embossing.  I can tell you from experience that ironed-off white embossing is nowhere neat as good as ironed-off clear embossing, but hey-ho.

I'm entering this into The Paper Players - CAS - Feathered Friends (feature a bird on your card),


and also into Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - All Creatures Great and Small,


and Simon Says Monday Challenge - Paradise.  I always think kingfishers look exotic with their colourful plumage.  A kingfisher family lives on the river near us and DH is lucky enough to see one now and again on his dog walks.


Saturday, February 14, 2015

Papertrey 8th Anniversary - Take Three

Third and final post for Papertrey 8th Anniversary. This next card is for Challenge 5 - Spring into action - use a stamp set that hasn't seen ink yet and Challenge 7 - Heavy Metal - use only metallics and neutrals.


I've had the robot set for ages and never had the excuse to use it.  I stamped the heart from Wet Paint in his belly and embossed it with silver, and added nailhead for eyes.

This next card is for Challenge 8 - blue ombré:


Washed a piece of mixed media paper with Distress Inks and spritzed, then stamped Larger Than Life wildflowers over it, and mounted it onto white card.

That's all folks (for today anyway!).

Papertrey 8th Anniversary - Take Two

Back with a couple more challenges for Papertrey.  Click here for the first two.

Challenge 3 - Make a Tag for a Bag


I used a Waltazingmouse stitched tag die, sprayed some Dylusions into the corner, then stamped using the Wet Paint set.  Tied it on to the handle with some lime and black polkadot ribbon.

Challenge 4 - Build a Bouquet


Larger than Life, Communique Curves Sentiments, Distress Ink Minis and splatters!  I'm also entering this one into Simplicity One Layer Challenge - You Blend.

Back soon with the last two!

ETA: Just re-read the rules for the Build a Bouquet - only used one floral set.  Oh well!

Papertrey 8th Anniversary - Take One

I'm entering a few of the challenges at Papertrey, so I've split them into a few posts.  Here's post No.1 for Challenges 1 and 2:

Challenge 1 - Colour Recipe and Sketch



I've used the Wet Paint set together with a Penny Black die which I've covered with encaustic wax.

Challenge 2 - CASE Maille Belles

I chose this card by Maille:

Maille Belles
Here's my version, which I'm also entering into Simplicity One Layer Challenge - You Blend.


The tree is made a from a wildflower in the Larger Than Life set, sentiment from Communique Curves Sentiments, house from The Bee's Knees Houses.

Back soon with the next instalment!

Friday, February 13, 2015

Mr & Mr


With the legalisation of same sex marriages in some countries and several US states, it seems appropriate that there should be cards (and stamps) fitting the occasion.  I've stamped the tuxedo from The Bee's Knees: Newlyweds twice on white card then coloured them with Black Soot Distress Marker and fussy cut them.  I love how the Distress Ink creates a look of texture (zoom in, you'll see what I mean).  I only applied a light wash to the collars for contrast.

I just inked the sentiment without the 's', stamped it on to a white panel, added the tuxes and mounted it on to a white base card.

You could do a version using the morning suit, or a Mrs & Mrs version using the dress in the set:

The Bee's Knees: Newlyweds

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for more inspiration using the latest releases.  If you want to CASE this or any of the Design Team's inspiration cards, feel free to add it to the Inspirations CASE Playground here.

Craft Stamper Reminder - Stencilling


How's your stencilling?  Planning on joining us at Craft Stamper Take It, Make It?  All you need to do is use a stencil (and stamps) in your project to be in with two chances of winning.  This month's sponsor prize (two stamp plates from Paperbabe Stamps) will go to a random winner, and the winner voted by the Design Team will get their project published in Craft Stamper Magazine, a guest design slot in an upcoming challenge, and will also feature in their very own Winners Profile blog post - fame, yeah!


I had the bright idea of using calendar pages to personalise a birthday card.  I stamped the sentiment (STAMPlorations Hashtag Authentic and Sentiment Builders: Happy) on the calendar page and mounted onto lime green card.  I highlighted today's date with a Dotta-Riffic pen.  Only trouble is, I don't know anyone with a birthday today.  Is it your birthday today?  Happy birthday - wanna card?

For the stencilled panel, I used ARTplorations Shutters stencil and sponged Distress Inks (Squeezed Lemonade, Pickled Raspberry, Dusty Concord and Tumbled Glass) over some areas, leaving some blank space.  Then I turned the stencil round, lined it up and used the same colours to sponge into the blank space and over some of the other colours.  You just have to be careful when you're sponging opposite colours that you don't make it too muddy.

Pop on over to the Craft Stamper blog for some fabulous inspiration from the design team, then join in the challenge.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Seize The Birthday - Hearts and/or Arrows


Oh, look - it's another pink chipboard heart!  This time I've stamped the Awesome (STAMPlorations Hashtag Authentic) across the white card, stamped it again on to scratch paper as a placer, placed the heart into position on the scratch paper and stamped onto the heart.  The rest of the sentiment is from Sentiment Builders: Happy.  There isn't an 'an' in the set, it's part of 'anniversary' selectively inked and very carefully stamped off the block (because I had already stuck down the heart!).

Apologies for the poor photo quality.  I've spent hours trying to get/edit a decent photo with little success.  Geri, I'm feeling your pain!  I'm putting it down to the quality of the card in this case.  And the grey skies.

Anyway, come and join us at Seize The Birthday - Hearts and/or Arrows!


Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Heart Flowers and Hundertwasser


Here's a quick watercolour card for CAS on Sunday - Flowers.  I used the heart image from STAMPlorations Sentiment Builders: Love for the flowers, and the stem and leaf images from Vignette: Eclectic Florals.

Once the images were stamped, I sloshed some Distress Inks on, and added a few dots near each flower and top-right.

I'm over at STAMPlorations tonight with another card inspired by Hundertwasser.  Click on over to see the step-by-step.