TGIF peeps, the weekend starts today!

Morning readers, 

I've a make to share with you today ....... I thought I would revisit the "retiform" style, with a twist! Normally, retiform has small images (or partial images) in the smaller inked sections but I've chosen to go with one larger silhouette image instead and ... I LIKE IT! Hope you do too

My card

 

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

And a closer view of the inked panel

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
• Snippets of card - one with an aperture cut out (used as a mask) and one strip - to aid retiform inking
• With my mask in place I used a makeup brush to apply Memento dandelion ink to the entire panel then, adding the strip of card (randomly, I applied Memento canteloupe - working away from the card strip and moving as required
• Clearly Inspired blossom (from LCS100 "Brushed flowers") stamped using Versafine Clair charming pink ink
• Hero Arts sentiment (from CL342) stamped using Versafine Clair morning mist ink
• Stardust stickles to bling up the foliage!

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

1. Crafty Sentiments - July 28th challenge - ANYTHING GOES
2. Through The Craft Room Door - July 28th challenge - ANYTHING GOES
3. Arty Diva's - challenge No. 27 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Lemon Shortbread - challenge No. 125 - ANYTHING GOES

Wednesday .... again?

Morning readers, 

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

My Artist Trading Card

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in textured caramel, chocolate brown and white
• Hero Arts "old French script" (H2365) stamped using Brilliance pearlescent chocolate ink
• Using a makeup brush I applied Memento rosebud ink to the white snippet before placing the Dylusions circle stencil (DYS52364) and applying more rosebud ink to the right hand side of the panel - fading the colour towards the centre. Changing the stencil to Carabelle MA60051 I repeated the exercise but to the left side, fading the impression toward the centre.
• PRS sentiment (from DIY set) stamped using Versafine onyx black ink
• Clearly Inspired bloom (from LCS100 "Brushed flowers") stamped using Versafine onyx black ink and, whilst wet, applied a liberal sprinkling of Judikins "sticky stuff" before heat embossing, pressing pink foil over the image whilst still sticky - burnishing with my fingers.

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

1. Dragonfly Dreams - July 5th challenge - NO PATTERNED PAPER
2. Allsorts - challenge No.'s 581/582 - FLOWERS ALL OVER
3. A Place to Start - July challenge - FLOWER/S
4. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 2030 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Always Fun - challenge No. 173 - USE STENCIL/S

And now for a Christmas card .. it seems to be a tradition to celebrate Christmas in July with craft-y makes and I'm no different to anyone else ........

My card

And a closer view of the image and stencilling

 

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 Paper Mill "Christmas red" card, cut to mat
• Make it Crafty ("Cheery Santa") image stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink, stamping on to a post it which I then fussy cut, to use as a mask
• With my mask in place and using a makeup brush I stencilled Memento Bahama blue ink through my Dutchdoobadoo (faded dots 4) stencil
• Copics, Pro Markers and Kaisercraft glitter gel pens used to colour the image
• Stardust stickles for the "fur" and snow
• PRS sentiment (from "Sketchy Christmas") stamped using Versafine tulip red ink

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

1. Cute Card Thursday - challenge No. 644 - CHRISTMAS IN JULY
2. Chrimbo Crackers - challenge No. 211 - ANYTHING (Christmas) GOES
3. ABC of Christmas - July challenge - "N" is for NO FUSS or "O" is for OVER THE TOP
4. Christmas Craft Creations - July challenge - CHRISTMAS CHARACTERS
5. Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - challenge No. 500 - ANYTHING (Christmas) GOES

Most of you regular readers will recall that I've spent the last ten months walking for health and been joined the last couple of months by a walking companion who's been walking instead of going to the gym. Well, the gyms have reopened so my pal doesn't come out with me any more but .... I owe her my thanks as she encouraged me to walk further than I had been doing solo. It's a testament to her efforts that, yesterday, I did a three miler ... SOLO! Thanks Debbie!

Off road!

Footpath

And back to tarmac!

Monday ... look out! Here comes another week!

Morning readers, 

As we roll towards the end of July I occasionally find myself wondering what happened to the months between February and now, February being pretty much the last time anything felt close to normal! I wonder if any of us would have done anything differently had we known then what we know now ....... just a thought!

I've a make to share with you today ....... I can't believe it but I have more than enough Christmas cards for 2020 and must therefore consider myself to be working on my 2021 quota!!! YIKES!

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 navy card, cut to mat with a narrow margin
• Stampendous image (VO99 - "Merry Montage") stamped using Versafine Clair morning mist ink, including on to a full cover post which I then fussy cut out and placed over my stamped image as a mask
• With my mask in place I added the star stencil (from Tim Holtz mini set #38) and, using a makeup brush, applied Memento Paris dusk ink randomly around the image ... repeating over the other stamped images on the insert, reverse and envelope
• After removing the mask I added some colour using Pro Markers (pear and apple and red and poppy)
• Wink of Stella clear glitter gel brush pen used to add a little twinkle to the holly leaves and Anita's dimensional gloss to give some serious shine (and texture) to the berries

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

1. The Holly and Ivy - challenge No. 75 - ANYTHING (Christmas) GOES
2. Ike's World - challenge No. 134 - "S" is for SHOW US CHRISTMAS!
3. TCP - challenge No. 370 - CHRISTMAS IN JULY
4. The Paper Girls - challenge No. 204 - CHRISTMAS IN JULY

And now for an Artist Trading Card, a great way to use up those pesky little snippets of card that just "look like they'll come in handy" ...

My ATC

Materials used:

• ATC Blank
• Snippets of leftover card in reddish brown and white
• On the reddish brown snippet I stamped the Imagination Crafts diamond image (from background textures) using Memento sweet plum ink
• On the white snippet I stamped the PRS sentiment (from "New Day") and Stampotique ("Moth Fab") using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Using Marvey le plume alcohol ink I coloured the background and Faber Castell Polychromos pencils to colour the image
• Tim Holtz mini stencil (from set #24) placed over the image panel and, using a makeup brush, I applied Memento rosebud to the background (taking care to avoid my coloured image) and then, having removed the stencil, blended Memento sweet plum ink to each corner to add texture and interest.

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

1. Crafty Sentiments - July 21st challenge - ANYTHING GOES
2. Through The Craft Room Door - July 21st challenge - ANYTHING GOES
3. Gem of a Challenge - challenge No. 15 - ANYTHING GOES

I recently took my last few walks with my lockdown walking pal and (at her request) we included a walk to a local park, where we spotted an array of painted pebbles ...

The pebbles lined the right hand side of this path

Saturday and it's Rudolph Day

Morning readers, 

Had a busy day yesterday, more like the old normal ... walk in the morning, coffee with a pal, video chat with friends and then pals dropped in for drinks late afternoon - so nice.

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

My Rudolph Day card

 

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

You may JUST be able to see the "hint of blue" circle behind the snowflake

Materials used:

• White C6/A2, 250gsm card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card cut to fit
• One piece on PaperMill intense red card, cut to mat
• Snippet of leftover card from which I die cut a circle very slightly larger than my snowflake, to use as a mask
• Me and my big ideas snowflake (CSK-01) stamped using Versafine Clair twilight ink
• Craft Emotions sentiment (from 130501/1813 Handletter Christmas words) stamped using Versafine Clair morning mist ink
• Once the inks were dry I taped my mask over snowflake and, using a makeup brush, I applied Memento Bahama blue ink
• Stardust stickles to bling up the snowflake

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

1. The Holly and Ivy - challenge No. 75 - ANYTHING (Christmas) GOES
2. The Paper Girls - challenge No. 204 - CHRISTMAS IN JULY
3. Scraps of Life - July Rudolph Day - CHRISTMAS PROJECT
4. TCP - challenge No. 370 - CHRISTMAS IN JULY
5. Ike's World - challenge No. 134 - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) CHRISTMAS IN JULY

And a little mail art-fest ......

My three envelopes

Materials used:

• C5 and DL envelopes
• Post-its, to mask off the address area
• Makeup brush
• Stamps used: StudioLight SL408
• Stencils used: Carabelle TE60055, Memory Box 88505 and Dylusions DYS52364
• Inks used: Memento Paris dusk and Versafine Clair twilight

Another Friday? Can only mean another weekend!

Morning readers, 

I've a make to share with you today ....... I have purposely left this card without a sentiment as I thought it would work for too many occasions to want to pick one right now!

My card

And the co-ordinating views

Materials used:

• White C6/A2, 250gsm card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of white card
• One piece each of grey and pink card, cut to mat using perfect layering ruler and Slice ceramic craft knife
• Close To My Heart image (from D1504 "Fashionista") stamped using Versafine Clair charming pink ink, including on to a post it which I then cut out to use as a mask
• With my mask in place I used a makeup brush to apply Memento rosebud ink through my That's Crafty dinky stencil (TC001)

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

1. Little Red Wagon - challenge No. 559 - SPOTS or STRIPES
2. Penny's Paper Crafty - challenge No. 476 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Crafty Creations - challenge No. 411 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Arty Divas - challenge No. 26 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Lemon Shortbread - challenge No. 124 - ANYTHING GOES

And now ... a little Artist Trading Card, to use up some of the pesky leftover snippets that just seem to accumulate in the box ....

My ATC

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of leftover card in white and yellow
• Heart images (from Craft Asylum #480203) stamped using Versafine Clair charming pink and red tulip and Memento dandelion inks
• Printworks (F1066 "paint splatter") stamped using Memento rosebud ink
• Paper Artsy sentiment stamped on to a separate piece of white card using Versafine Clair charming pink ink which, once cut out, I also used to edge the panel before matting on to yellow card and adhering to my ATC using dimensional foam tape

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

1. Fab 'n Funky - challenge No. 491 - USE A REAL STAMP
2. The House That Stamps Built - challenge No. 2220 - ANYTHING (stamped) GOES
3. Through The Craft Room Door - July 23rd challenge - ANYTHING GOES
4. Crafting Happiness - challenge No. 58 - ANYTHING GOES

Wednesday and the weekend's getting closer!

Morning readers, 

Hope your week is going well, mine is; I've been enjoying the glorious weather - perfect for walking in the mornings ... not too hot. The afternoon's have been lovely - perfect for sitting in the sunshine!

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

My Artist Trading Card

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of leftover card in white and red
• VLV image stamped using Memento tuxedo black ink
• Pro Markers (turquoise and rose pink), fineliner pens (orange and yellow) and Sharpies (hot pink and blue) used to colour image
• Hero Arts sentiment (from LL927 "Conversation dots") stamped using Versafine Clair purple delight ink
• Nesting circles dies used to die cut the sentiment in to a circle, to fit my tile
• Anita's dimensional gloss used on the eyes
• Sticko clear mosaic tile sticker placed over my die cut image
• Faber Castell pitt pen used to doodle the border

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

1. Inkspirational - challenge No. 217 - PAINTING or COLOURING
2. Crafting Happiness - challenge No. 58 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Incy Wincy - July 20th challenge - SUMMER COLOURS
4. Take a Word - July 19th challenge - CIRCLE

And now for a birthday card .... for a certain chef I happen to know!

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 each of Kraft and chocolate brown card, cut to mat with a narrow border
• MFT chef image (from BB-49 "Recipe for happiness") and Woodware sentiment (from FRS362 "deco sayings") stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• That's Crafty dinky stencil (TC064) through which I applied Versamagic gingerbread ink using a makeup brush
• Copic alcohol markers and sharpies used to colour the image

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

1. Sweet Stampin' - July 18th challenge - CAS (Clean And Simple)
2. Krafty Chicks - challenge No. 516 - CAS
3. Crafty Friends - challenge No. 140 - BIRTHDAY
4. Colour Crazy - challenge No. 28 - ANYTHING (hand coloured) GOES
5. Artsy Stamper - challenge No. 20 - BIRTHDAY