7th birthday card - stripes & bling

Stamps: It's Your Day (HA); Fancy Phrases (WM); Basic Borders (Mama Elephant)
Ink: Rosebud, Lilac Posies, Tangelo (Memento); Versamark (Tsukineko)
Other:By The Numbers die (MFT); silver card; white e.p.; Diamond Stickles
 

Inspired by the sketch on this week's Fusion challenge:

I stamped the long stripe first, then applied the mask before stamping the other stripes, spacing them using the grid on my stamp press.

The number was die cut, then carefully fussy cut for just an outline.  Stickles were applied once it was stuck in place on the card.

Have realised is also fits a tic-tac-toe line for this week's CAS-ual Fridays ~ dies, bling, birthday.

Off to enjoy the sun now - gotta catch it while you can...

 

Linking to:

Fusion Card Challenge: Hypothesis #5
CAS-ual Fridays: CFC100 ~ Tic-Tac-Toe

Quilted star

Less Is More are asking for traditional colours today - red & green.  Hurray.  I have been making a lot of Xmas cards this week, haven't posted them all, so may enter more than once.

Stamps: Text Style (PTI)

Ink; Rhubarb Stalk (Memento)

Die: Quilt Cuts 2 (WPus9)

Firstly, a nice regular quilted star.  Squares & other regular shapes are really my first love.  Although I appreciate quirkiness & off-sets, I also struggle with them.  There is something inherently right about a square design matted on to the centre of a square card.

I die cut the star from 2 pieces of card in my stash.  Drawing around the inner squares, I masked off the area & stamped the text.  Using a Quickie Glue Pen was far & away the easiest & cleanest method to stick down the frame & the inserts.  A few more squares, & we're away.  I also tried a card with the left-overs, reversing the colour scheme, but it didn't look right.

 

Linking to:

Less Is More: Week 96 ~ Red & Green
Dynamic Duos: #31 ~ Light Green & Red

Scene It

Stamps: Tiny treasures Christmas (Pink Petticoat); Tiny Trees (WM); unknown clip-art

Ink: Teal Zeal, Summer Sky (Memento)

Other: Modern Landscape die (Memory Box); circle punch; Stickles

My card today was very heavily influenced by Kristina Werner's card here.

The challenge on one layer wednesday this week is to create a scene.  (I'm guessing Karen doesn't intend for us to go & have a tantrum in the nearest restaurant).  I used the modern landscape die to create a mask, having first printed out my digital images.  The trees & house were a bit lost to start with, so I outlined the house with thin black marker, to create a visual triangle with the sled & the snowman.  BIG mistake.  Now the house was all my eye could focus on.  I have managed to soften it a little, with repeated applications of white gel pen, but I'm still not entirely happy.  What I do like however, is the 'snow' effect achieved by sponging on hammered card.  This was completely accidental.

The Tiny Treasures set also includes a penguin, so I might have another go with that & an igloo.

 

Linking to:

One Layer Wednesday: OLW116~ Scene It

Just a quickie...

Stamps: Bitty Banners (WM); Get Merry (HA)

Ink: Rhubarb Stalk, Bamboo Leaves, Pear Tart (Memento)

Inspired by masking on One Layer Wednesday this week. I stamped the distressed tree from Get Merry, cut it out & stuck it down, then stamped across it with the banners.  Simples!

 

Linking to:

One Layer Wednesday: OLW107 ~ Masking

Less is More: Week 86 ~ 3 challenges

Fireworks

Stamps: Artemio
Ink: Tangelo, Morocco, Dandelion, London Fog (Memento); Aqua (Adirondack); Versamark (Tsukineko)

Embossing powder: Aurora Crystal Sparkle (Cosmic Shimmer)

Can you believe this is my 100th post?  Me neither.  So I've that's 90ish cards I've made since April.  I know I haven't sent that many, so I'd better look them out & see if I can sell any.  I daren't even count the hours that amounts to (& then there's the blogging hours...).  Just as well DH doesn't read this blog.  Still, there's no point even trying to clear up the mess at the moment.  I currently have 7 men in my house making dust.  I don't stand a chance.

 

Anyway, I digress...  100 posts, so what could be more appropriate than fireworks?  Autumnal (November 5th) for One Layer Wednesday, Sky for CASology & embossed for CAS-ual Fridays.  As I don't have much in the way of embossing powder, I stamped in Versamark before the colour, to give the powder a fighting chance of sticking.  Then I masked off the rectangle & sponged with aqua & grey for the sky.  I must tell you, this isn't quite how it looked in my head, nor is it the first attempt, but you just go with it, right?

 

Linking to:

CASology: Week 10 ~ Sky

CAS-ual Fridays: CFC69 ~ embossing

One Layer Wednesday: OLW105 ~ Autumn

 

 

Retro sketches challenge

Stamps: Rustic Branches (PTI); Nordic Winter (WMS); Geo-Graphic (Paper Smooches)

Ink: Rhubarb Stalk, Pear Tart (Memento)

Other: button twine (WMS)

I'm not sure why I've never entered retro sketches before, but I have had a look every week.  This week it managed to coax my struggling mojo out from beneath the builders' dust.

Masking was no problem with my fabby new Pritt on & off roller.  It's the best temporary adhesive I've used.

Stamping was more of an issue. I like the look of the linen effect card, but it's a bit of a nightmare to stamp on, as you can see towards the top left of the chevrons.  Had to prune the twine a bit too, as it was rather hirsute. 
Enough of the moaning already! I'm pleased with the final outcome.

 

Linking to:

Retro sketches 28

Less is More: Week 84, one layer ~ Foliage

 

Ocean triptych

Ink: Aqua (Ranger Adirondack); Tumbled Glass (DI)

Other: Prismacolor pencil; corner chomper; Signo Broad gel pen

This week on CAS-ual Fridays the challenge is something you would see in or at the ocean.  I was inspired by this fantastic photo:

The sky & sea are done in the same ink.  I used hand-cut scalloped mask for the cloud effect.

I did draw in some birds on the top right with gel pen, but they are a bit hard to see in the photo.  I added the boat in pencil just for a little splash of colour, but tried it out in various other media first.  I nearly chickened out - kept putting the pencil up to the paper & pulling away - but am glad I held my nerve.

Not sure if it's too plain or not.  Might add a sentiment when I know the occasion & the recipient.

Linking to:

CAS-ual Fridays: CFC66 ~ Splish Splash



Squares, squares everywheres

Stamps: Gingham & Co (WM); Little Bitty Bird (PTI)

Ink: Tangelo, Rose Bud, Angel Pink (Memento); Aqua (Ranger Adirondack)

Font:  migrainesans

Whilst seeking square inspiration, I chanced upon this piece of art:

So I replicated the layout for my card. The squares were all masked & stamped, & I like the way the ink has bled a little on the linen textured card, giving the squares a frayed fabric feel.

Linking to:

CAS-ual Fridays: CFC65 ~ Square card 

CFC65 ~ a square card

Stamp: Tin Types (PTI)

Ink: Christmas Red (HobbyCraft)

Other: Star Die (MFT)

This is a card from last year (hence the DIRE photo, as opposed to the usually just BAD) that has not yet appeared here.

Simple masking with Post-Its above a digital sentiment, with a blingy star up top.

I'm sure this won't be my only entry this week, as most of my cards are square.

Linking to:

CAS-ual Fridays: CFC65 ~ Clean & Simple Square

OLW95 ~ Stars & Stripes

Stamps: Star Prints (PTI)

Ink: Tangelo, Rhubarb Stalk, Angel Pink (Memento)

Other: MS circle cutter, sponge daubers, Post-It notes, Corner Chomper

This week on OLW, we have to use at least one star & one stripe.

The circle is 2.75", cut with a Martha Stewart cutter.  I stamped & cut out a star on scrap paper to use as the mask inside the circle (placed deliberately off-centre).  The stripes were sponged on, using Post-It notes to mask, but clearly I needed to use new ones at the end for the long pink stripe - you can see where the ink was beginning to bleed through.  Ho hum; a lesson learned for next time.

Linking to:

One Layer Wednesday ~ OLW95, Stars & Stripes
Moxie Fab World: Tuesday Trigger

That frame again...

Stamps: Bitty Banners (Waltzing Mouse); Circus Animals (My Cute Stamps)

Ink: Pearlescent Purple (Brilliance); Lilac Posies (Memento)

I told you once I found an idea, I worked it hard!  Banners instead of washi tape today though.

The lion was stamped on DP & then the mane coloured with Promarkers. The dots were made using the Promarker blender.

If you haven't seen the first card I made like this, find it here.

Linking to:

Casual Fridays: CFC58, Pretty in Pink

Hexagon card

Stamps: Geo-Graphics (Paper Smooches); Fanciful Flowers (Elzybells)

Ink: Rose Bud (Memento), Studio G Chalk

Font: Winnie the Hoop; Trocchi

This card was inspired by this one for Hero Arts by Julie Ebersole. I had to mask of part of the hexagon stamp while inking, as it is much wider than I needed.  You can't see very well from the photo, but the patterned piece is mounted on the base using foam pads.
The only thing I am not entirely happy about is where I had to chalk-on-Versamark for the flowers. But that's what happens when you embark on an orange / fuchsia colour scheme with no orange ink pad!!!

Rescue Mission:

Slept on it.  Decided I couldn't leave it alone.  Did what all good crafters do with an error - covered it up with bling.  Stamped hexagons on to scrap paper, cut 3 individuals out & stuck them over the (now to my mind VERY offensive orange flowers) & finished with some pink jewels.  NOW I love it.

Linking to:
Less is More: LIM72 - Something Shiny

OLW93 - In the Kitchen

So, this week we are invited to take inspiration from the kitchen  Notice THE kitchen, not YOUR kitchen.  My kitchen is singularly uninspiring.  I was considering trawling pinterest until I saw IT. 

What was IT I hear you cry?    Not the stack of recycling bins in the corner.  Not the half full bowl of cat food that is seemingly invisible to the cat.    Not the small pile of crumbs under the toaster.  (I did briefly toy with the idea of attaching these in a neat line via sticky strip, like glitter).  Not the mess of post waiting to be filed.  Appalled?  Read the sub-heading of this blog again....

IT is a small basket I made from the Lakeland catalogue many months ago, that sits on the window sill as a repository for all the small bits & pieces whose origins are as yet unknown, but will become immediately apparent as soon as they have been consigned to the bin.  Yes, the junk pot.  How sad am I that this is the most inspiring thing in my kitchen?  In all fairness, it is on the to do list, just not at the top.
 

Stamps:Text Style, Polka Dot Basics II , Star Prints (PTI); Fancy Phrases (Waltzing Mouse); Background Stripes (Hero Arts)

Ink: London Fog, Rose Bud (Memento); Versamark; Sudio G chalks

Font: Winnie the Hoop, Trocchi

 I designed & cut the template with Silhouette Studio & then masked off bits & pieces with Post It notes.  The full colour panels were achieved by sponging, some with Versamark & then chalk. 

I'm now wondering if I should have moved this more towards the centre of the card.  Undecided.

Did you see the little flourish that sneaked in while I wasn't looking?  Also, can you tell I read an article about how to improve your photos - note the seamless background.  When I get my new craft room (not SO far away now) I am definitely making a light box.



Linking to:

One Layer Wednesday: OLW93, In The Kitchen



One Layer Wednesday ~ on the edge

Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II (PTI); Mesh (Visible Image)

Ink: Pear Tart, Rhubarb Stalk (Memento)

Font: Special Elite 

Printed out the sentiment & added the faux washi tape as described HERE.  Originally intended to mask it so the red was 'over' the green, but I forgot &  I like it like this now.

Linking to:
One Layer Wednesday: OLW92 - On the Edge

Good luck card

Stamp: Tremendous Treats Valentine (PTI)

Ink: Aqua (Ranger Adirondack); Summer Sky, London Fog (Memento)

Font: Narkism

I masked off a circle & sponged the cloud effect with a pieced of hand scalloped paper.  The plane is paper-pieced, coloured with sponged ink & prisma colour pencils.  I created the banner & sentiment digitally, & then coloured the sentiment in with coloured pencils.

Originally the card was longer, with the intention of doodling a trail behind it leading to the banner.  Could not get it to look right, so cut it back to a nice, comforting square.

Buckets of love



Stamp: Tremendous Treats Valentine (PTI)

Ink: Aqua (ranger adirondack); Antique Linen, Tumbled Glass (Distress Inks); Christmas Red (HobbyCraft); unknown orange; London Fog (Memento)

Card base: A6 ivory (Anna Marie Designs)

Font: Migrainesans

I've not had much success with sponging in the past, but I'm dead chuffed with how this card has turned out.  I printed out the sentiment first - right back in my comfort zone after Saturday's horrific experience with you-know-who - & masked off the square using torn edged paper for a softer look.

The image was stamped 3 times: once on the card & then twice on white paper.  I sponged the different areas on the 2 separate images & then paper-pieced them together.  I put some sellotape over the heart before cutting out, for a slightly glossy finish.  Originally tried colouring the bucket with pro-markers, but that was just too harsh against the sponged background.

Love it love it love IT.  Fully expect tomorrow to find a challenge with a seaside / summer theme that I now can't enter!

Linking to:

The Play Date Cafe: PDCC135 - poolside, aquamarine & clay

One layer Wednesday (OLW89)

Stamps: Bitty Banners (Waltzing Mouse); Cake unknown

Ink: Christmas Red (HobbyCraft), Mediterranean Blue (Brilliance); Aqua (Adirondack); Versamark

Other: white embossing powder

Just a quickie - more of the same really, but without the paper piecing.

Linking to:
One Layer Wednesday: OLW89, Something Sweet
Papertake Weekly: True Colours

Same technique, improved execution



Same stamps etc as yesterday

Ink: London Fog, Rhubarb Red (Memento), unknown orange

Same idea as yesterday, but this time I drew around the 'tape' pieces using the window as a light box, & cut them out more accurately before using them as masking pieces.

The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice a small smudge of red towards the bottom left of the mask photo, that has disappeared for the final.  I sanded it down lightly & filled it with white gel pen.  This textured card is very forgiving!

Faux washi tape card

Surfing around the other day, I came across this fab card, by Therese at Lost In Paper.  I carried it round in my head for a while, & this is what I came up with.

Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II (PTI); Mesh (Visible Image); Background Stripes (Hero Arts); Circus Animals (My Cute Stamps)

Ink: Pear Tart, Bahama Blue , Tuxedo Black (Memento); Mediterranean Blue (Brilliance); Versamark

Font: EcuyerDAX, Worstveld Sling Extra

Card base: A6, hammered white (Paper Mill Direct)



I wanted to make it look as if the frame were stuck on with washi tape.  I don't possess any washi tape, as it is hard to come by in the UK, so I made me a stencil.

I tried both ends out before stamping on the card, & the zig-zag end was just too fussy, given that the stamps I used left quite a lot of white space.

I designed the frame in Studio, & sketched it lightly in place prior to stamping.

Then I masked off the pieces of frame that would be under the 'tape' (not quite as accurately as I thought... there are a few big gaps!), & ran the card through the printer.

I stamped the seal once on the card & again on a scrap of blue & added some Versamark polka dots.  Cut out the blue seal using my new favourite tonic studios scissors, & stuck in place with Pritt stick.

Decided something was missing, so added the ball.

Took a few photos, smiled smugly & congratulated myself that all the ink was in the right place... opened the card & found a HUGE great ink smudge.  Don't know how it got there ;).  Still, gives me an excuse to play all over again!