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

Morning readers, 

Hope you all enjoy your weekend, with the relaxing of lockdown restrictions did you eat out? Go shopping? Neither for me since we had no particular urge .. we shall be gradually increasing the number of times we go out and the reasons we go out too ... just not all at once! However, it's looking like a nice day so .. who knows what today will bring?!

I've a make to share with you today ....... one of those cards nobody likes to make but, as a cardmaker, you all too often get asked for ... a sympathy card. I normally keep a small stock in but was recently asked for one which didn't say "thinking of you" and this is one I came up with.

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 grey pearlised and black card - cut to mat with narrow borders
• Using my MISTI (to get a good image) I stamped my halftone squares image using Memento grey flannel ink ... cheap silicone image so I had to have a number of goes
• Then it was the turn of my very elderly Paper Artsy foliage stamp (from HP1004) ...... the cling cushioning has shrunk away from the edge of the stamp so I had to have several goes with this too ... and my Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Avery Elle sentiment (from ST.18-07) stamped using Versafine Clair morning mist ink

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

1. TGIF -  challenge No. 273 - TECHNIQUE CHALLENGE - SILHOUETTES
2. Krafty Chicks - challenge No. 516 - CAS (Clean And Simple)
3. Sweet Stamping - July 18th challenge - CAS
4. AAA Cards - challenge No. 170 - MAXI WHITE SPACE + (optional) FLOWERS

 

And now for a masculine style Artist Trading Card ........ plainly I'm going through a monochrome phase, and I think I LIKE IT!

My Artist Trading Card

And perhaps, a better view of the grungey foiling!

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of leftover card in grey and white
• Using a makeup brush I applied Memento grey flannel over the entire white panel and tuxedo black to the outer edges only
• Imagination Crafts images (from 12991) stamped using Memento grey flannel ink
• Craft Stamper free border image (by Visible Image) stamped around the outer edge of the panel using Memento tuxedo black ink
• Aall & Create chess piece (from set #122) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Paper Artsy sentiment (from HPXT03) stamped using Versafine onyx black, sprinkled with Judikins "sticky stuff", the excess shaken off and returned to the pot before heat setting. 
• Whilst the sticky stuff was still hot (and, well .....  sticky!) I placed my silver foil over the top, burnishing with my fingers ... such a fabulously grungey foiling effect - my new favourite technique!
• Faber Castell "S" thickness pitt pen used to doodle the sketchy border on the grey matting layer

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

1. CardzTV - challenge No. 119 - ANYTHING GOES
2. Creative Fingers - challenge No. 190 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Gem of a Challenge - challenge No. 15 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Crafters Castle - challenge No. 31 - ANYTHING GOES

I discovered that one of my cards was picked as a winner over at the Scrapping4fun challenge blog -  for challenge No. 170 - thanks so much peeps.

 

Saturday once again ... what will the weekend bring?

Morning readers, 

I've a make to share with you today ....... it's the dreaded ONE LAYER week over at Simply Less Is More so .... it might surprise you that I actually remembered BEFORE I made my matted and layered card ... like I've done oh so many times!

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
• One piece of white card, cut to fit as an insert
• Penny Black (2803K "Let's Play") image stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Inkadinkado sentiment (which I've had for so long I no longer have the original packaging) stamped using Versafine Clair twilight ink
• PRS scribble (as "snow" from their Sketchy Christmas set) stamped using Memento grey flannel ink

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

1. Simply Less Is More - challenge No. 424 - ONE LAYER CARD .... CHRISTMAS IN JULY
2. TGIF - challenge No. 273 - TECHNIQUE CHALLENGE
3. My Time To Craft - challenge No. 436 - CHRISTMAS IN JULY
4. Krafty Chicks - challenge No. 516 - CAS (Clean And Simple)
5. Sweet Stampers - challenge No. 46 - CHRISTMAS IN JULY

 

And a friend recently sent me an ATC holder and then shared the measurements to make it, so ......

Front of my ATC holder

And a more side on  view to show detail

And the envelope 

Materials used:

• 300gsm white card, cut to 2½" x 11½" and folded at 4", 8" and 9¾"
• Stencils used: Dylusions DYS52364, Dutchdoobadoo 470.715.009 and Imagination Crafts (I no longer have the packaging and there is no reference on the stencil itself, sorry)
• Inks used: Distress Oxides in antique linen and candied apple, Versafine onyx black
• Stamps Used: Paper Artsy HPXT03 and Lavinia "fairy thistles" LAV378
• Other  materials: Judikins "sticky stuff", heat gun and red foil
• And, for the envelope .... one piece of paper 6" x 6" and scored diagonally at 3¼" and on the other side at 2⅛"

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

1. Love Craft Challenge Blog - July challenge - ANYTHING GOES
2. Crafting Happiness - challenge No. 57 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Polkadoodles - challenge No. 29 - ANYTHING GOES
4. QKR Stampede - July challenge (#401) - ANYTHING GOES

TGIF peeps!

Morning readers, 

Hope you've had a good week .. I FINALLY managed to get an appointment with my hairdresser ... well, not my actual hairdresser since she broke her arm during lockdown but ... you know what I mean. It was a really nice feeling ... my previous appointment was in early February! Feeling "pruned!"

I've a make to share with you today ....... I made this for a neighbour who's baby is due IMMINENTLY - she must be struggling in this humid weather - hope you don't have too much longer to wait, Amelia and Mihail

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
• One piece of white card and one piece of DCWV "Nana's kids" patterned paper cut to fit
• Snippets of leftover card in white and orange
• Nesting dies "faux stitched rectangles" and Nesting ovals
• Michaels grosgrain ribbon
• Dimensional foam tape
• Stamps Used: Imagine That "Write Big #2", Stampcraft feet and hands (440D76  440D29)
• Inks Used: Versafine Clair nocturne, Ranger Archival monarch orange

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

1. Crafty Calendar - July challenge - ADD A RIBBON
2. Crafting Happiness - challenge No. 57 - ANYTHING GOES
3. Dream Valley - challenge No. 228 - ALL OCCASIONS
4. International Art & Soul - challenge No. 87 - TINY THINGS
5. Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday challenge - FOR A CHILD

And now for an Artist Trading Card ..

My ATC

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of leftover card in black and white
• On the white snippet I applied Memento tangelo ink to the entire snippet, using a makeup brush
• Placing my Stamplorations stencil (bubbles) over the snippet I then used the same brush to apply Memento rosebud ink
• Paper Artsy sentiment (from HPXT03) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Me & my big ideas rosebud (from "Sassy icons" CSK-10) stamped using Versafine onyx black ink and, whilst still moist I liberally sprinkled Judikins "sticky stuff" (shaking off the excess) and heat set .... whilst still sticky I placed a sheet of red foil over the image and burnished with my fingers ... LOVING the grungey uneven application of the foil here
• Lisa Horton images stamped around the outer edge of the snippet using Versafine Clair morning mist and Ranger Archival vibrant fuchsia inks

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

1. Crafty Sentiments - July 14th challenge - ANYTHING GOES
2. Through The Craft Room Door - July 14th challenge - ANYTHING GOES
3. Lemon Shortbread - challenge No. 124 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Southern Girls - July 9th challenge - ANYTHING GOES
5. Art Impressions - challenge No. 287 - SPARKLE AND SHINE - I think the red foiling counts

Welcome to hump day Wednesday ...

Morning readers, 

I've a make to share with you today ....... In early June I placed an order for a set of Lisa Horton stamps from Craftstash in the U.K., my order arrived on June 9th but without the stamp set I ordered, so I contacted the supplier. They were most apologetic and mailed another set out on June 10th .... after two weeks these had not arrived either!! I contacted them again suggesting perhaps a refund, a lovely lady there suggested that she would like for me to accept a third mailing ... after all, what were the chances they would go astray again and (on June 29th) she mailed them out again, they arrived on July 2nd - Woo Hoo! I am therefore delighted to thank Bryony and to break the seal on the long awaited stash!

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 300gsm white card cut to fit
• Snippets of leftover card in white and hot pink
• Stamps used: Lisa Horton background textures (NBUS), Uniko Anniversaire Art Decoratif and Craft Emotions 130501/1237 "Herbs and Branches"
• Inks used: Memento London fog and rosebud, Versafine Clair charming pink and nocturne
• Stickles stardust - to bling up the foliage

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

1. NBUS - challenge No. 16 - USE NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff)
2. Pixie's Crafty Workshop - challenge No. 382 - USE SNIPPETS
3. Crafting Happiness - challenge No. 57 - ANYTHING GOES
4. Dream Valley - challenge No. 228 - ALL OCCASIONS
5. A Place To Start - July challenge - FLOWERS

And now for a Christmas card ... it's July so why wouldn't you be thinking Christmas?!?!?!

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 Kraft card cut to mat
• Snippets of leftover card in both white and kraft
• Nesting circle and rectangle dies to cut my image and sentiment panels
• Anita's Santa cat image  ... one of my oldest images! .... and a PRS sentiment (from Sketchy Christmas) stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Pro Markers and Sharpie pens used to colour image
• Narrow satin ribbon
• Anita's dimensional gloss and glamour dust to give the "fur" on the hat such a sparkle

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

1. AAA Cards - challenge No. 169 - MADE IN MINUTES + (optional) CHRISTMAS IN JULY
2. Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge - challenge No. 498 - ANYTHING (Christmas) GOES
3. My Time To Craft - challenge No. 436 - CHRISTMAS IN JULY
4. Crafty Catz - challenge No. 514 - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) CHRISTMAS
5. Aud Sentiments - challenge No. 255 - CHRISTMAS + SENTIMENT

Monday and the start of a fresh week ......

Morning readers, 

Hope you all enjoyed a good weekend, with the lifting of a number of the Covid-19 restrictions life is just BEGINNING to look interesting again. My diary actually has things like "hair appointment" and stuff in it too - HUZZAH! Let's hope, if we're all sensible, we can avoid a second wave necessitating a return to lockdown.

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 each of grey and of pink card, cut to mat with a narrow border
• Using my Dutchdoobadoo stencil (faded dots #04) and Ranger Archival vibrant fuchsia ink I stencilled colour to the lower right corner using a makeup brush
• Penny Black flower image (from "Allegro") stamped using Versafine Clair morning mist ink
• HLS sentiment (from "Wish you were here") stamped using Versafine Clair nocturne ink
• Stardust stickles used to trace the stems and leaves and bling up the image

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

1. Daring Cardmakers - July 10th challenge - DECKCHAIR STRIPES and SUNNY DOTS
2. Creative Friday - challenge No. 259 - STRIPES or DOTS
3. Stinkin' Inkers - July challenge - I SEE SPOTS
4. Dragonfly Dreams - July challenge - NO PATTERNED PAPER

And a little Artist Trading Card ... to use up some of those pesky snippets of leftover card!

My ATC

Materials used:

• ATC blank
• Snippets of leftover card in textured red and white
• Stamps used: Lisa Horton "background textures", Woodware circles FRS369 "Mod Circles", Paper Artsy sentiment HPXT03
• Inks used:Memento London fog, grey flannel, ladybug and Versafine Clair morning mist and nocturne

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

1. Simply Create Too - challenge No. 162 - RED, WHITE and BLUE
2. Crafty Friends - challenge No. 139 - CIRCLES
3. Avenue613 - challenge No. 235 - ANYTHING GOES + (optional) SENTIMENT AS THE FOCUS
4. Corrosive Challenge - challenge No. 7 - ANYTHING GOES

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