Welcome to the weekend, I KNOW I don't normally post on a Saturday but ....

Morning readers,

I haven't posted on a Saturday since Simply Less Is More ceased their challenges but ..... hubs and I took a few day trips out and I didn't really have time to devote to a blog post - that's my excuse, such as it is!!!!

I saw this technique around on the internet but foolishly didn't make a note of who's make I spotted. I liked the first attempt (a lot) so thought I would have a second go - so the technique would be firmly "in my brain", so, here is Mark II ......

My C6 card

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white and grey, for my card front, insert and matting
• Using low tack tape, I masked off the lower left corner of my card front
• Using a blending sponge I applied ("ombre style") Distress inks in spiced marmalade, picked raspberry and barn door
• Penny Black image (from Woodland Beauty) stamped twice using Versafine onyx black ink
• Inkadinkado sentiment (from 98782) stamped on to white snippet
• Elsewhere on the card and envelope Stampers Anonymous sentiment (from THJ009) stamped using Versafine onyx black ink
• A quick spritz with Krylon fixative - to protect those water based Distress Inks
• Stardust stickles to add some sparkle

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

1. Seize the Birthday - challenge No. 294 - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) Feather
2. Creative Fingers - challenge No. 288 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Morgan's Artworld - challenge No. 82 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Crafts Galore Encore - challenge No. 129 - ANYTHING GOES

I discovered I was a top pick over at the Gem of a Challenge recently, thanks so much, I really appreciate it.

TGIF - another weekend is on the horizon!

Morning readers,

I've a make to share with you today ... I saw this technique around on the internet but foolishly didn't make a note of who's make I spotted (CASE'd). Liked the effect alot so thought I would have a go. I used a muted palette which I felt suited the two matting colours I'd chosen and a sympathy card evolved. Nobody LIKES to make those sorts of cards but it's always good to have at least one in reserve.

My C6 card

Materials used:

• White, 250gsm, C6 card and envelope
• Card in white, light grey and mid grey, for my card front, insert and matting
• Using low tack tape, I masked off an area to the bottom right of my card front.
• Using a blending brush I applied (ombre style) Distress Inks in faded jeans and hickory smoke
• TPC Studio image (from ST51109 "Autumn Harvest") stamped using Versafine onyx black ink (I stamped this image elsewhere using Ranger Archival watering can ink)
• Clearly Wordsworth sentiment (from VO09) stamped using Versafine onyx black ink
• A quick spritz with Krylon fixative, to protect the water based Distress Inks and "Voila!"

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

1. Gem of a Challenge - challenge No. 21 - ANYTHING GOES
2. CRAFT - challenge No. 738 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Penny's Paper Crafty - challenge No. 583 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Dream Valley - challenge No. 324 - ANYTHING GOES

I recently discovered that one of my cards had been picked as a random winner over at Pammie's Inky Pinkies (challenge No. 2442) - thanks so much peeps

Saturday/Boxing Day - how was it for you?

Morning readers, 

Welcome to what we in the UK call Boxing Day and much of the rest of the World calls Saturday, December 26th! I hope you all managed to find some joy in what must surely have been your oddest Christmas to date! We were wakened good and early, no .. not by children but by the arrival of an ambulance to a neighbour and we just have to hope it wasn't too bad for them. Of course, once awake, it was a cup of tea whilst watching the news ..... then, over coffee we opened our presents to one another. Once it was properly light it was off for our customary walk and then home to cool off and shower! Once fit to face the World (not that the World was going to be coming calling but ....) we opened a bottle of something chilled and fizzy and set about opening presents. Sadly, the pandemic ensured that the majority of presents under our tree this year are gifts still awaiting exchange .... so this opening didn't last as long as the fizzy! We are, however, blessed with the certain knowledge that things WILL get better and we WILL get to see our friends, at some point - until that time ... CHEERS!

I've a make to share with you today ....... yes, it IS a Christmas card but ..... when you have new stash don't you find you just have to use it? One sentiment, two inks and a stencil - a QCAS (Quick, Clean And Simple) card - perfect to batch make should I ever need to, too late for this Christmas though!

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 DCWV textured card, cut to mat
• Uniko sentiment (From "Christmas wishes" .. NBUS sentiment from a set received December 21st) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Taking a makeup brush and my Tim Holtz stencil (THS050) I applied Memento Paris dusk ink through the stencil, trying to avoid the sentiment 
• An odd number of self adhesive gemstones applied to the centres of my snowflakes to bling up the card

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

1. Cupcake Inspirations - challenge No. 509 - SNOWFLAKES - see below
2. Dream Valley - challenge No. 238 - CHRISTMAS
3. AAA Cards - challenge No. 180 - MADE IN MINUTES + (optional) CHRISTMAS
4. The Holly and Ivy - challenge No. 85 - ANYTHING (Christmas) GOES
5. Christmas Kickstart - challenge No. 45 - IF IT'S CHRISTMASSY - link it up!

Of course, I must have been VERY GOOD this year because Santa brought me some fabulous presents, some of which were crafting goodies so ... expect more Christmas cards from me sometime soon!

TCW835 "plaid fringe", Paper Artsy ZA33 & Polkadoodles PD8083 "Christmas Scene"

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all

Morning readers, 

Before I share my Christmas wishes with you all, I've a make to share with you today ....... it seemed only appropriate to make it a Christmas card and to make it using my latest stash acquisition

My card

  

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

Materials used:

• Kraft card 4" x 4", 300gsm and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of Kraft card cut to fit
• DCWV self adhesive, textured, card ... from a Christmas stack, cut to mat
• Uniko sentiment (NBUS ..... "Christmas wishes") and Stampendous image (also NBUS SSC1324) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Polychromos pencils used to colour
• Memento ladybug ink applied to the edges of my DCWV layer to conceal its white core
• White Tsukineko gelly roll gel pen used to highlight the larger font of text
• Wink of Stella clear glitter gel brush pen to highlight the beard, fur trim and snow of my gnome

Both stamp sets are actually NBUS, one brand new the other .... rediscovered!

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

1. NBUS - challenge No. 21 - USE NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff)
2. Take a Word - December 20th challenge - CARD
3. Dream Valley Challenges - challenge No. 238 - CHRISTMAS
4. Christmas Kickstart - challenge No. 45 - IF IT'S CHRISTMASSY - link it up!
5. Paper Minutes - challenge No. 672 - CREATE A CHRISTMAS CARD OR CHRISTMAS GOODIE

And now ...... I should like to take the opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very

And a Happy and healthy 2021 let's hope that we can all see the end of the Covid-19 pandemic 

- stay safe and stay well

It's Friday again so the weekend starts today!

Morning readers, 

Friday, the weekend starts today - mind you, with lockdown all my days rolled together ... get up>go for daily walk>come home>stay home>eat>sleep ......... and repeat! Not sure how this lifting of lockdown will change my daily routine since I'm still not keen on the idea of catching Covd-19. Good Luck to you all and stay safe.

I've been at the ToC (Table of Craftiness) this week, after a number of days off ..... my first make today is a Christmas card.

Whilst I DELIBERATELY offset my circle I'm now reviewing
whether it JUST looks like I miscalculated!

The front and back of my card and the back of my envelope

Materials used:

• Kraft 300gsm, 4" x 4" card and matching sized envelope
• Two pieces of Kraft card cut to fit
• One snippet of leftover Paper Mill Christmas red card, cut to mat
• Using my Heffy Doodle circle stencil (deliberately off centre though I'm debating the wisdom of this now!) I used a makeup brush to apply Distress Oxide in antique linen lightly over the circle.
• Overlaying my Circle with my Memory Box grid stencil (88517) I applied further antique linen avoiding the area I wanted my stamped image to appear
• Having removed the stencils I rubbed an anti static mat over the circle
• Hero Arts tree image (F4818 "merry merry Christmas" - in my collection since 2014) stamped using Versamark ink and sprinkled with Kirsten Lapping "magic mirror silver" embossing powder before heat setting - elsewhere on my card this image was stamped using Versafine Clair shady lane ink

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

1. Cardz4Guyz - challenge No. 259 - TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS (a CAS design with a pop of red - IMHO perfect for a guy - not too fussy)
2. Retro Rubber - challenge No. 149 - PHOTO INSPIRATION - I chose the red - for my matting layer and my tree from the foliage in the pic as well as the Merry Christmas theme 
3. The Holly and Ivy - challenge No. 84 - ANYTHING CHRISTMAS GOES
4. Ike's World - challenge No. 139 - "X" is for XMAS
5. Country View Crafts - December challenge - ANYTHING CHRISTMAS
6. Sparkles Christmas Challenge - December - NON TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS COLOURS

I've a make to share with you today ....... an Artist Trading Card where I thought I would practise my water colouring ...

My Artist Trading Card ... across the bottom is a shadow - not present IRL!

See? No shadow present - but the colour representation is much better in the top photo

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippet of leftover water colour paper (300gsm)
• La Blanche collage face stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Arteza real brush pen water colours
• I edged the ATC with Memento rich cocoa ink (not shown below)
• Crafters Companion Spray and Shine, to protect those water based paints

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

1. Love To Craft Challenge Blog - December challenge - ANYTHING GOES
2. Morgans Artworld - challenge No. 12 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Water Cooler Wednesday - challenge No. 300 - ANYTHING GOES + FEMININE TWIST
4. Penny's Paper Crafty - challenge No. 485 - ANYTHING GOES

Monday .... how did we get to the first Monday in September already?!?!?!

Morning readers, 

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend, get up to much?

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

My Artist Trading Card

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of leftover card in white and blue
• Woodware images (from JGS559 - new to me this past week) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Uniko sentiment (from Anniversaire Art Decoratif) stamped using Versafine Clair twilight ink
• Memento Bahama blue ink applied loosely around the parts of the white card panel not stamped on, using a makeup brush
• Sharpies used to colour images
• Stardust stickles applied to the "flower head" but .... not much glitter came out - only glue so, glamour dust liberally sprinkled and set aside to dry
• Anita's dimensional gloss applied to the leaves and set aside to dry
• White Tsukineko gelly roll gel pen used to doodle a border

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

1. Allsorts - challenge No. 588 - USE A HAND COLOURED IMAGE
2. All Fun - challenge No. 14 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Pixie's Crafty Workshop - challenge No. 386 - USE SNIPPETS

And now for a card ..... I was rummaging and stumbled across this stencil and thought it was time it saw some use, I don't believe I'd ever used it! SHOCKING! Who, among us, can say they have nothing in their stash they've not used?

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 textured fawn card (DCWV Neutrals stack) cut to mat 
• Using a makeup brush and a Stamposaurus stencil (NBUS) I applied Ranger Archival vibrant fuchsia ink, fading towards the inner edge
• Crafters Companion sentiment (from Sentimentals Greetings "Occasions") stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Taking my Wink of Stella clear glitter gel brush pen I traced over the hearts, to add a subtle twinkle which proved totally IMPOSSIBLE to photograph (sorry)

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

1. NBUS - September challenge - USE NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) 
2. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - challenge No. 141 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Polkadoodles - challenge No. 36 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Your Next Stamp - challenge No. 147 - KEEP IT CLEAN (and simple)

And, whilst I was in anniversary card mode ......

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 pearl gold card, cut to mat
• Using a makeup brush and Ranger Archival vibrant fuchsia ink I applied colour through my Carabelle stencil MA60051, having masked off my angled edge using low tack tape
• Crafters Companion sentiment (from Sentimentals Greetings - Occasions) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Honey Bee hearts image (HBST-218) stamped using Versafine onyx black ink, sprinkled with Judikins "sticky stuff" and heat set before burnishing pink foil over the image

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

1. AAA Cards - challenge No. 173 - SKETCH + (optional) AT THE MOVIES - see below ... I COULD say my movie reference would be "Love Story" - whaddya think?
2. Sweet Stampin' - September 5th challenge - ANYTHING BUT A BIRTHDAY CARD
3. Pink Gem Challenge - challenge No. 18 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Crafters Castle - challenge No. 33 - ANYTHING GOES

 

And, in case you are wondering ... yes, still walking! Here's another couple of pix ....