Monday - here we go with another week!

Morning readers,

Hope you enjoyed your weekend and that Storm Ashley wasn't too bad for you all.

I've a make to share with you today ..... I'm a fan of the glue stick foiling method, I like the less than perfect effect and feel it just elevates a "nice" card by several degrees, to a special card and so .... an anniversary card evolved during the recent session at my Table of Craftiness!

My C6 card

And a closer view of the gluestick foiling

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and pink, for my card front, insert and matting
• Using low tack tape I masked off a section for stencilling
• Vicki Boutin heart stencil used, with makeup brush, to apply Memento rosebud ink through.
• Whilst my stencil was in place I used a gluestick to add a "swathe" of glue through the stencil too, burnishing with my fingers before removing and washing the stencil
• After leaving the glue stick for an hour, I overlaid my sheet of gold foil and burnished firmly with my fingers and then left it overnight to "dry" before removing the foil. I just love the way it gives a kind of grungey coverage
• Hero Arts sentiment (from CL342) stamped using Versafine onyx black ink

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

1. Paperminutes - challenge No. 868 - ANNIVERSARY
2. Stencil Fun - Oct challenge - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) HALLOWEEN
3. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 2442 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Cutie Pie - challenge No. 199 - PINK and PRETTY
5. Krafty Chicks - challenge No. 738 - CAS (Clean And Simple)

Monday, welcome to another week ....

Morning readers,

Hope you all had a good weekend and that perhaps, like me, you were loving the slightly cooler weather at the weekend too.

I've a make to share with you today ... an Artist Trading Card, measuring just 3½" x 2½" - a chance to get inky and to layer some stamps - Yee Haa!

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in white and black
• Using a makeup brush and Memento tuxedo black ink, I applied a loght cover of ink to the entire white card panel
• Kaisercraft Grid and script images stamped using Memento gray flannel ink
• Aall & Create image (from set #372) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Stampers Anonymous sentiment (from CM155) stamped using Versafine Clair warm breeze ink
• Creative Expressions stencil (CEMSECLIPSE) used, with a glue stick, to apply the adhesive through the stencil, burnishing the adhesive with my fingers before applying dark blue holographic foil and again, firmly burnishing with my fingers before allowing to dry - just to add a little texture and interest

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

1. Krafty Chicks - challenge No. 727 - STAMP ACT
2. Love to Craft - challenge No. 81 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Creative Inspiration - challenge No. 17 - ANYTHING GOES
4. A Perfect Time to Craft - August challenge - ANYTHING GOES
5. Crafts Galore Encore - August challenge - ANYTHING GOES

Well, the lovely Riddick has returned home from his vacation with us, such a good boy but .... you absolutely cannot leave food unattended!!! Or tissues - what IS that all about?!! We had some lovely weather and, as you can see, he enjoyed some outdoor time! It was nice to be able to leave both the kitchen and patio doors open for him to come and go as he pleased, a service he was able to make full use of - caught him going out of one and back in through the other more than once - bless!.

Wednesday - hump day already!?!?!?!

Morning readers, 

I've a make to share with you today ....... another outing for my Distress Crayons - how HAVE they lain neglected in my stash for so long???

My C6 card - note: no other views of
this card as I didn't stamp - on this occasion!!

You will see the other panel very soon!

With stencilled/crayoned panel,
ready for foiling

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and light pink, for my card front, insert and matting
• Using a dollar tree clear blending mat, I scribbled Distress Crayons in picked raspberry, mustard seed and spiced marmalade before spritzing with water and then smooshing my card front then drying .. repeating till I was happy with the light layer of colour. I set aside to dry overnight
• Tim Holtz stencil (from mini set #7) taped to my card front and I scribbled the picked raspberry crayon through the stencil, blending with a damp finger, I let that dry briefly before adding a glue stick which I burnished with my fingers before removing (and washing) the stencil.
• Gold foil overlaid and burnished firmly with my fingers before setting aside to dry
• A quick spritz of Krylon fixative to protect the water based crayons

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

1. Love to Craft - challenge No. 80 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Krafty Chicks - challenge No. 716 - CAS (Clean And Simple)
3. Dragonfly Dreams - May challenge - USE A STENCIL
4. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - challenge No. 230 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Pammie's Inky Pinkies - challenge No. 2420 - ANYTHING GOES

What prompted me to get out my Distress Crayons? Well I was looking to streamline my stash and wondered whether I would ever use them again ... a quick trawl of YouTube and I watched the video below ... think I answered my own question. If you have some unloved Distress Crayons in your collection then this might jumpstart your imagination again ... ENJOY and, you're welcome!

TGIF, got plans for the weekend?

Morning readers, 

I know it's not a Bank Holiday weekend but ... got plans for the weekend? I hope you all have something nice to look forward to.

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

My C6 card

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and pink, for my card front, insert and matting
• Snippets of card in white and pink, for my image panel
• Using a makeup brush and Memento rosebud ink, I applied a light layer of pink to the white snippet before overlaying the Carta Bella stencil (CBHA 56033 "Bat Bones") and adding further colour
• With the stencil still in place I applied a fairly random layer of a glue stick, burnishing with my fingers.
• After removing (and washing) the stencil, I added a sheet of gold foil, again, burnishing firmly with my fingers - I then left it to "dry" for an hour or so before removing the foil, I LOVE the slightly random and grungey effect this method of foiling has.
• Tim Holtz Artistry image (from CSS27836 "Nature's elements") stamped using Versafine onyx black and Versafine Clair charming pink inks
• Silver glitter washi tape

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

1. Stencil Fun - May challenge - USE A STENCIL + (optional) GIRLY
2. Snippets Playground - challenge No. 480 - USE SNIPPETS
3. Ally's Angels - challenge No. 82 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Creations in Pink - challenge No. 70 - ANYTHING (mainly pink) GOES
5. Sparkles Monthly Challenges - challenge No. 176 - CAS (Clean And Simple)

We've recently returned from vacation and .... here are some more pix. We got woken up one morning, at 05:00, by a "CLUNK". I wandered about the place, looking for the source of the clunk but without success. I didn't go out on to the pool deck as it's still pretty dark at 05:00. However, once it got light, we spotted that the pool net and brush were lying on the deck instead of being propped against the wall and (donning deerstalker and magnifying glass) there appeared to be evidence of the presence of an animal! Hmmm, further investigations and, yes, we were right, it was a bunny - cute as a button but still an unwanted intruder so ... we herded it to the exit as gently as we could and then, of course, had to sweep up and hose down the pool deck!!!

SO lovely to be able to sit out on the pool deck (with the obligatory chilled beverage) at 21:00!

And a trip to Lakeland ..

Lake Mirror

Awww - spotted this young family at Lake Mirror

Moorhen? Preening, Lake Morton

Nice to see that even ducks have girly get togethers!!

Panoramic view of Lake Morton

Sounds like a joke: A pelican and
a heron walk in to a bar......

Monday and it's a whole new week in front of us!

Morning readers, 

Hope you enjoyed your weekend - we did! We were dog sitting the lovely Riddick, he's a good boy, but honestly? SUCH a sad face even when his tail is wagging fit to fall off!

I've a couple of makes to share with you today ....... the first one is another Artist Trading Card, I've had a bit of a run on them so needed to make a few.

My ATC, measuring just 3½" x 2½"

And a closer view of the random and sketchy foiling!

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in white and textured mid blue (DCWV)
• Using a makeup brush and Versafine Clair paradise ink, I applied a light layer of colour to the white snippet
• Inkylicious vines image (Delicate Vines - from 2013) stamped using Versafine Clair paradise ink
• Heffy Doodle sentiment ("Sending Smiles" - late 2023 - NBUS) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Unbranded floral die used to cut my image from a snippet of textured black card (DCWV)
• Quickie glue pen used to randomly dab and sketch marks on the die and image panel
• Once the quickie glue was dry, I overlaid bronze foil and burnished firmly with my fingers

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

1. Creative Crafters - challenge No. 73 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Beautiful Blossoms - challenge No. 14 - ANYTHING FLORAL GOES + (optional) MOOD BOARD
3. Ally's Angels - challenge No. 79 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - February challenge - ANYTHING GOES
5. Creative Fingers - challenge No. 271 - ANYTHING GOES

Optional Beautiful Blossoms

And now for another card .... so, there I was, killing time by trawling YouTube when I came across a video (by Zoey Scarpelli) which attracted my inner inky soul! I figured I could play about a bit and adapt it to fit my style - reckon it works (IMHO) and it IS a fun technique - if you're curious, the video is further down. I REALLY enjoyed making this - to be honest, my mojo's been a bit absent lately so it was great to immerse myself in this project.

My C6 card

On the right is my card front, as you can see from the print
on the left, I cleaned off my stencil on a piece of white card,
looks like I have the makings of a grungey ATC at some point too!
YAY!, we crafters waste NOTHING, if we can help it!

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and matching envelope
• Card in white and black
• Snippets of card in white and black, for my sentiment plane
• Inks used: Distress Inks in ground espresso, frayed burlap, pumice stone, spiced marigold, picked raspberry and blueprint sketch
• Stencils used: Tim Holtz THS002, THMS007 and THMS053 and a 6"x6" Circles stencil from Stamposaurus
• Precious Remembrance shop sentiment (from the New Day set) and Pink and Main flower (from PMO554) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne and morning mist inks
• Using a floral die set and textured black card snippet I cut three flowers but ended up only using two of them
• Given that all these inks are water based, once they were dry I gave them a quick spritz with Crafters Companion Spray and Shine, to seal

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

1. Stencil Fun - February challenge - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) LOVE/HEARTS
2. Creative Knockouts - challenge No. 515 - DIES/PUNCHES/STENCILS - two out of three ain't bad!
3. Penny's Paper Crafty - challenge No. 565 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Friendship Challenge - challenge No. 96 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - challenge No. 224 - ANYTHING GOES

And the video inspiration? A lucky spot whilst watching a Pink and Main video .. I spied this Zoey Scarpelli distress ink video which looks SOOOOO up my street

I was chosen as a TOP3 over at Colouring with pencils - thank you so much

Monday and the start of a new week

Morning readers, 

I've a make to share with you today ....... an Artist Trading Card, measuring just 3½" x 2½" - gave me a chance to use some washi tape which I bought whilst on vacation in Rye, in 2023, but haven't used much .... oh and also the opportunity to get out my much neglected alcohol inks! Woo Hoo!

My ATC - truer colour representation below

Showing a hint of foiling

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of card in white and grey
• A selection of washi tape
  
• Alcohol inks: Wild Plum, Cool Peri and Latte + blending solution 
• Quickie glue pen, applied randomly, and (once dry) bronze foil applied and burnished using my fingers, to give a random sketchy foiling effect
• Sizzix die used to cut my floral silhouette using a white card snippet
• Tim Holtz Idea-ology "small talk" sticker

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

1. Love to Craft - challenge No. 78 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Pattie's Creations - challenge No. 215 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Creative Fingers - challenge No. 271 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Gem of a Challenge - challenge No. 3 - ANYTHING GOES
5. Ally's Angels - challenge No. 79 - ANYTHING GOES

Hope you all enjoyed a great weekend - we were celebrating a birthday, a few of us met up for dinner at a Caribbean hostelry not far from home - we had a blast!

A fabulous (and delicious) personalised cake too
our thanks to "the surrogate fam"

The gifts get more cryptic, with age!!!