Wednesday 21 February 2018

Hello

I think I'm having withdrawal symptons
- I haven't done any craft today (😢 )
however, I'm sure that it's only temporary!



A few days ago, I made this ATC (Artist Trading Card) 
along with a card, for an acquaintance who I know through an on-line facebook group.

If you have been following my posts recently, you will know that I've been playing
with Distress Oxide inks to create unique backgrounds. 
This ATC is made from a piece of leftover card.

The little monster and the sign, are stamped directly onto the ATC, then again on white card.
They were then coloured with Prismacolor pencils, fussy cut and glued directly over the first image.
The 'hello' was then stamped onto the sign, the monster was given googly eyes AND eyebrows.
To finish off, I went around the edges with 'pumice stone' Distress Ink.



This was the card that accompanied the ATC to its destination.

The calendar was stamped onto white card, along with its title, and cut out.
The pig was stamped twice onto white card, coloured and cut and layered for a 3D effect.
It was given a black mat before adhering to a folded square card.

The recipient seemed very happy with her surprise ATC and card.

Stamps
Aall and Create - #13; #18
Stampotique - Flying Pig
My Favourite Things - Journal It Calendar Basics
Lawn Fawn - Jessie's ABCs

(Note : the calendar has been in my stash for some time so I don't know if it's still current)


Happy Crafting!
 
  



Sunday 18 February 2018

Wishing you a special day

I always think getting something personal in the mail
(instead of bills, and boring stuff)
makes my day so much better.

One of my friends was celebrating her birthday this week,
so I took one of my new stamps and had a play.




Using four Distress Oxide inks, I spritzed them with water and smooshed some white card through them.  After waiting a few minutes for them to dry, I again smooshed the same card through a second time followed by a third.  Allowing each smoosh to dry each time, means the colours build up without ending up a muddy puddle.  Each smoosh also allows more of the fine dots of colour to be added.  This is such a fun technique and every piece is unique.

Once the background was nice and dry, I stamped the girl directly onto it;
and again onto white card.
The hearts were coloured directly on the background while the girl was coloured,
fussy cut and glued over the first image.  
A piece of washi tape was added before gluing her into place,
along with another smaller piece in the top left corner to add balance.
A sentiment and a black mat were added before adhering to a folded white card.

Stamps
Studio Magda Polakow - #02
Stampendous - Birthday Wish SSC1115

Challenges 
Wishing you a beautiful birthday, my friend!  Woohoo!!!

Happy Crafting!

  

Monday 12 February 2018

Hello

After a busy weekend, it was lovely to spend the day at home
sitting at my craft desk and catching up with some cards that needed to be made.



I'm currently hosting an ATC swap with the theme
Favourite Technique with an added heart
[in honour of St Valentine].
My current favourite technique is using Distress Oxides on my craft sheet,
misting with water and smooshing cardstock through it multiple times
which creates unique and interesting colours and patterns.




These cute little critters are from
Studio Magda Polakow
and they are perfect for this theme.



Both critters were stamped with 'jet black' Archival Ink,
coloured with Prismacolor pencils,
fussy cut and popped onto foam dots.
A piece of washi tape was added to the backgrounds before adhering the critters.



'Hello' was stamped directly on the background,
and for added texture, I added Glossy Accents to the hearts.
A handdrawn border finishes them off.

Stamps
Studio Magda Polakow - #05
['hello' unmarked from my stash]

You can find these and other stamps at

I hope my swap partners like these ATCs
(if not, I might just have to keep them for myself LOL!)

Happy Crafting!
   

Saturday 10 February 2018

G is for Galaxy

Last week I was very honoured to be crowned
Queen of Snark
at The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers.

As Queen of Snark I have been asked to be a guest designer
at this weeks challenge
 G is for Galaxy


  As the torn paper stamp was new, it was still sitting on my desk and as I looked at it, 
an idea formed in my head.

I cut ivory card 140mm x 280mm, scored and folded to form a square card.
A black mat 130mm x 130mm was also cut, 
along with a piece of book paper 120mm x 120mm.


Using 'jet black' Archival Ink, I stamped the torn paper image onto the book paper,
and cut away the inside. 
 I stamped it a second time onto ivory card, blending 'pumice stone' Distress Ink over the image.   I fussy cut the bent over parts of the torn paper, and glued them onto the book paper, so that it looks like the underside of the paper.


The TARDIS image was stamped with black ink and coloured with Prismacolor pencils.
Clear Wink of Stella  was added to the windows and the light on top of the box.
After the TARDIS was fussy cut, I added Glossy Accents to the door panels and set it aside to dry.


Before everything was adhered together, I did a little experimenting with a milky way  technique to peep through the torn paper.  After a couple of attempts I was happy with how it looked so the book paper was adhered to the black mat, the TARDIS was added using a wobbly thingy and computer generated words were added.  The bright stars are dots of a white/clear Gelly Roll pen.

Stamps
Katzelkraft - Papier dechire [Torn Paper] KTZ171 
Kindred Stamps - Time Traveler 

I think the card looks pretty cool!  
I love it when you have an idea and it all comes together!

Come and have a look at what the Sisters have created this week 
Happy Crafting!

  


 

Thursday 8 February 2018

Be a carrot!

I think I've just about got time to still enter the
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers
"F" is for farm life
so, in the garden of life, be a carrot!


This carrot stamp is an old favourite of mine and always puts a smile on my face
when I get it off the shelf.
I stamped it onto a piece of leftover inked card 
(from when I was playing with Distress Oxides last week)
and added blue Gelly Roll pen to the stripes
and baby blue Liquid Pearls to the spots.
A little smudge of 'cracked pistachio' Distress Ink was added to the leafy top.
I then fussy cut it, popped in on foam dots and attached it to the floral background.
A little quote, a quick blend of 'pumace stone' Distress Ink around the edges 
and it's done!


Stamps
Stampotique - Carrot
Lawn Fawn - Jessie's ABCs

Paper
49 and Market - Scents of Nature 'hold on me'

Challenge
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - "F" is for Farm Life

You still have time to click the Sisterhood link and join in the fun!

Happy Crafting!
 


Tuesday 6 February 2018

Pika!

What does a Pikachu say?  Pika! or Happy Birthday!


There are a couple of family birthdays this week, 
so with this in mind I thought I would do something different.
The only thing that is stamped is the word 'Pika!', everything else is die cut.
[Gosh, what was I thinking?  LOL!]

After a couple of false starts with the Pikachu, I cut him on white card and hand coloured him with pencils.  He probably should be a deeper yellow however, colouring on a pre-cut shape isn't as easy as colouring between stamped lines.

The white background was die cut, with a piece of leftover card that was pre-inked popped in behind.  The clouds were die cut, and coloured with a bit of  'pumice stone' Distress Ink and edged in 'broken china'. 
'Pika!' was stamped onto a cut off piece from the background and popped onto foam dots.
Pikachu was also popped onto foam dots, his little arms onto doubled foam dots for dimension, and given googly eyes [although I'm not sure Pikachu has any white on his eyes - hmmmm].

The finished front was adhered to folded black card, and a white insert was added to finish it off.

Die Cuts
Simply Dies - Pikachu 
Paper Rose - Multi Spot Background
Stampin' Up! - Word Bubbles Framelits Dies 

 
The recipient of this card seemed quite happy with my Pokemon attempt - phew!

Happy Crafting!
 

Thursday 1 February 2018

Stable is ....

Stable is a place where horses live, yes?  Or is it a state of mind?  
Hmmmm ..... you decide!

This week the Snarky Sisters have gone a bit rural with the challenge being
"F" is for Farm Life
so with that in mind, this four hoofed chap is wondering where his 'stable' might be?



I still had some of last weeks background lying around, 
and with a bit of creative licence, you could almost imagine a beautiful rural sunset.



The fence and pony were stamped onto white card, coloured with Prismacolor pencils and fussy cut.  The fence was glued directly onto the background with the pony popped onto foam dimensionals.  Some grass was added along with the sentiment. 
 Just for a bit of fun, the pony has some interesting spots on his rump!

Stamps
Stampotique - Ponytail; Picket Fence
Dylusions - Ugh!! People!!

Challenge
Why not pop over to these challenges and join in the fun?

Happy Crafting!