Saturday ... the weekend, a lie-in?

Morning readers, 

No lie-in here ... I go out walking with a pal daily ..... during the week we head out at 08:30 but on Saturday it's 09:00 ... not REALLY a lie-in though!

I've a make to share with you today ....... here's how it came about ... I was chatting (electronically) with a pal on the topic of makeup brushes for ink blending. Some little while ago I ordered a set from Amazon and discovered just how cool they are for ink blending. Both my pal and I had ordered a set of mixed sized brushes but were sceptical as to how useful the smaller ones would be ..... I did wonder whether they would work for random lines/tartan so .. here's the experiment. They DO work for random lines and/or tartan but it's a bit like hard work (see below ... and see the size of the tiny brush I'm talking about below in the "materials" pic) and my experiment was not deemed a success. I also tried stencilling lines using the small brush but they bristles found their way under the stencil thus blurring the edges and, frankly, I'll either be using the smaller ones for the eye makeup they were intended for .. or binning them! The larger ones are simply smashing though so I've ordered a set of all the same size and they came with their own little caps so will be perfect travel supplies!

My Artist Trading Card

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of leftover card in pearl blue and white
• Using the white snippet and a very small oval makeup brush I applied Memento grey flannel and Paris dusk in a kind of freehand tartan. Those tiny makeup brushes are, IMHO, pretty useless and will be finding their way to the bin - as the slid underneath stencils too, making for a very fuzzy image
• Wendy Vecchi sentiment (from SCS141 "gift of art" and yes .. that is the designers autograph on the right hand side which at least dates the stamps to 2017!) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Craft Emotions foliage stamped using Memento grey flannel and Versafine Clair twilight ink (also deploying a 2nd gen print)
• Silver and blue Tsukeniko gelly roll gel glitter pens used to doodle a border
• Self adhesive faux crystal gemstone

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Polkadoodles - challenge No. 28 - ANYTHING GOES
2. CardzTV - challenge No. 118 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Creative Fingers - challenge No. 190 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Southern Girls - July 9th challenge - ANYTHING GOES
5. Through The Purple Haze - challenge No. 169 - ANYTHING GOES

Oopsie, here comes another Friday

Morning readers, 

Traditionally, Friday's signify the start of the weekend and often  involve drinks with friends, visits to and from friends and possibly even a meal - very little of which is happening right now and (unless we get a grip on this Covid-19) won't be happening any time soon either. I'm still observing the 2m rule, haven't dashed off to the shops and probably won't be dashing to the restaurants/pubs any time soon ... I'll be waiting till the second wave that appears almost inevitable is on the wane too. In the meantime, I'll be making the most of the opportunity to visit the ToC (that's Table of Craftiness) without guilt!

I've a make, from the ToC, to share with you today .......

My Artist Trading Card

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of leftover card in white, grey and black
• On the white snippet and using a makeup brush I applied Adirondack mushroom ink
• With my Creative Expressions mini Giraffe print stencil in place I applied more of the mushroom ink, changing out the stencil for my Memory Box grid stencil (88517) and adding small areas of stencilling with the mushroom ink
• Studiolight triangles image (from SL340) stamped using the Adirondack mushroom ink
• Studiolight borders (SL455) stamped using Memento grey flannel and tuxedo black
• Studiolight numbers (from SL340) partially stamped in two places, using Memento tuxedo black ink
• Studiolight sentiment (from SL408) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Crafty Creations - challenge No. 411 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Sisterhood of Crafters - July 8th challenge - INK IT UP
3. Penny's Paper Crafty - challenge No. 475 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Leanne's World 101 - challenge No. 28 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Creative Moments - challenge No. 194 - ANYTHING GOES

Welcome to Hump Day Wednesday!

Morning readers, 

I've a make to share with you today ....... I participate in a monthly ATC swap with a pal and recently made this for our July swap ..... I'm happy to share it here because I know she's received it!

My Artist Trading Card

And a closer view to show detail

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of leftover card in pearlised grey and white
• Stamps Used: Creative Expressions CEC828 and CEC897, Precious Remembrance Shop's "Positive Thoughts"
• Inks used: Memento grey flannel, Paris dusk, ladybug and Versafine Clair nocturne
• Additionally: Fine Faber Castell pitt pen and sharpie for the doodled border

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Crafters Castle - challenge No. 31 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 2027 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Crafty Sentiments - July 7th challenge - ANYTHING GOES
4. Through The Craft Room Door - July 7th challenge - ANYTHING GOES
5. Arty Divas - challenge No. 25 - ANYTHING GOES

And some mail art to send the above ATC on its merry way ....

My DL envelope

Materials used:

• One DL envelope
• Post it, cut to the approximate size of my address panel
• Stamps used: Creative Expressions CEC897, StudioLight SL362, Paper Artsy HPXT03
• Inks used: Memento Bahama blue and Versafine onyx black
• Stencil used: TCW 357S
• Additionally: Judikins "sticky stuff" and a sheet of blue "foil"

I'll be entering this over at the following challenges:-

1. Love To Craft Challenge Blog - July challenge - ANYTHING GOES 
2. Retro Rubber - challenge No. 138 - ANYTHING GOES but MUST use images more than twel months old .... my Paper Artsy sentiments date back to 2011
3. Paper Minutes - challenge No. 648 - ANYTHING GOES

And now for a card .....

My card

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• White C6/A2, 250gsm card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to fit
• One piece of yellow card, cut to mat
• StudioLight image (from SL340) stamped using Memento grey flannel ink
• Paper Artsy splatter (from HPXT01) stamped using Memento dandelion ink
• Clearly Inspired floral sprig (from LCS100) stamped using Versafine Clair charming pink ink
• CAS-ual Fridays sentiment (from WTF) stamped using Versafine morning mist ink

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Simply Less Is More - challenge No. 423 - COLOUR CHALLENGE - see below
2. Gem of a Challenge - challenge No. 14 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Dream Valley - challenge No. 228 - ALL OCCASIONS
4. A Place to Start - July challenge - FLOWERS

Monday and another week ahead

Morning readers, 

Hope you all enjoyed your new found freedom wisely ... some of you lucky people may even  have managed a haircut ... I've still a week or so to wait for mine! Some of the pix I've seen seem to indicate that some people went bonkers in the past few days, making me wonder what the last three months was all about! What changed for me over the weekend? Pretty much nothing ... I went out for a socially distanced morning walk (as usual - I've been walking daily for almost a year now) ... did some laundry (yawn!) and that was about it ... mind you, I did whip that washing in a bit before I'd planned, when it started to look like it might actually leave the garden in the wind! Nothing for it but to spend some more time at the ToC (that's Table of Craftiness) ...

I've a make to share with you today ....... I'm simply debating now, whether or not to add an odd number of faux crystal gemstones ...  What do you think .... YES or NO?????

My card

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of  my envelope

Materials used:

• White C6/S2, 250gsm card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to fit
• One piece of hot pink card cut to mat, with a narrow border
• StudioLight border image (SL454) and unknown "birthday" sentiment stamped using Versafine Clair charming pink ink
• Unknown "Happy" sentiment stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. NBUS - challenge No. 16 - USE NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) .... the StudioLight border stamp
2. WaterCooler Wednesday - challenge No. 278 - ANYTHING GOES with A FEMININE TWIST
3. Scrapping4Fun - challenge No. 170 - BIRTHDAY
4. Cute Card Thursday - challenge No. 641 - ANYTHING GOES

 

And, whilst trawling t'internet recently ... I was inspired to make my own version of a card which I believe to be by Karen Dunbrook - she's so talented - her card is at the bottom of this post. My apologies if the inspiration photo is NOT one of Karen's .... I tried to find it again to credit properly but failed. I'd already committed to making it a birthday card before I got a bit heavy handed with the grey flannel .... without the pink (and the birthday sentiment, obviously) it would probably have made a great sympathy card.

My card

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• White C6/A2, 250 gsm card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to fit
• One piece each of black and pearl grey card, cut to mat
• Using a makeup brush I applied Memento grey flannel to the lower right corner and then, having placed my Dutchdoobadoo stencil (470.715.119) over the top, brushed more grey flannel through the stencil. After removing the stencil I brushed a little Memento tuxedo black around the outer edges
• TCP sentiment (from S.5845.CL) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Craft Emotions foliage sprays in two sizes (from 130501/1143 and 130501/1237) stamped using Versafine Clair morning mist ink
• I then applied an odd number of faux crystal gemstones but felt it was just a little too sombre for a birthday card so .......
• PRS splatter image (from DIY set) stamped using Versafine Clair charming pink ink ... much better IMHO

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Crafters Castle - challenge No. 31 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Pattie's Creations - challenge No. 172 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Through The Purple  Haze - challenge No. 169 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Southern Girls - June 25th challenge - ANYTHING GOES

And the original which I CASE'd? See it below

I discovered that one of my ATC's was a favourite over at Happy Little Stampers, in their June challenge, thanks so much peeps

 

Nipped out for a walk the other day, with hubby (for a change) to a local spot popular with dog walkers .... shame social distancing seems to already be a thing of the past. We encountered just half a dozen people who took steps to leave a distance, the rest "just kept coming"! Still, it WAS a lovely way to spend an hour in a tree lined river environment

Saturday chatter

Morning readers, 

Well, a momentous day today ... July 4th ... it's Independence Day in the U.S. and, for many, in the UK too!! With the re-opening of many more businesses following what feels like MONTHS of lockdown. I totally get why we had to go through it. Frankly, I won't be rushing to the pub or restaurant. I am, however, really looking forward to a hair appointment on the 16th! Woo Hoo. Will you be dashing off to somewhere this weekend? If so then ... stay safe and I hope the weather won't spoil any plans for you.

I've a make to share with you today .......

My card

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• White C6/A2, 250gsm card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to fit
• One piece of yellow card, cut to mat
• Using a hand made circles mask I applied Memento dandelion ink to my masked circle, using a makeup brush
• Honeydoo circles stencil placed over my mask through which I applied Memento rosebud ink using another makeup brush
• Uniko sentiment (Anniversaire Art Decoratif) stamped using Versafine Clair morning mist (grey) ink .... I had thought about adding a flourish of some description at this point but decided that Less really IS more!!!

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Simply Less Is More - challenge No. 423 - COLOUR CHALLENGE - see below
2. QKR Stampede - challenge No. 401 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - challenge No. 139 - CIRCLES
4. Scrapping4fun - challenge No. 170 - BIRTHDAY
5. Cute Card Thursday - challenge No. 641 - ANYTHING GOES

And now, for one of those cards we card makers hate to make ..... I try to make some when I don't actually need them - less traumatic that way. I intended to just make a couple but then found myself on a roll making them - hopefully, I shouldn't need to make more for a while.

My card

 

The front, back and inside of my card along with the front and back of my envelope

Materials used:

• White C6/A2, 250gsm card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to fit
• One piece of black card, cut to fit with a very narrow border
• Dark Room Door sentiment (from DDRS066 "String Sentiments" stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne and morning mist inks
• Clearly Inspired floral spray (from LCS100 "brush flowers") stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne (for the insert and envelope front I used second impressions, in case there was a need to write over the image)

I'll be entering the above make for the following challenges:-

1. Three Muses - July 1st challenge - WHITE SPACE
2. CardzTV - challenge No. 118 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Creative Fingers - challenge No. 189 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Pattie's Creations - challenge No. 172 - ANYTHING GOES