The Travelling Man

Good evening everyone and welcome followers old and new. It's been a busy day here at the madhouse, but I've squeezed in some crafting time and managed to create 3 pieces for entry into 3 challenges (oooh, feeling slightly smug right now - that usually means I've forgotten to do something important!)

One card, one card topper and one more ATC for the OH's birthday project (well, I was on a roll and fell in love with the colours! what can I say?!)

Many thanks to the following challenges who have co-ordinated their themes beautifully (though undoubtedly unintentionally);

• The Sunday Stamper Challenge - This Boy (is there anyone out there on the crafty planet that doesn't enter this one? I think not!)
• The Stamp Man Challenge  Blog - Time/Travel (some outstanding entries every time and so worth checking out)
• Scrapology - Vintage Card (a new challenge to me, but as it's sponsored by Hels Sheridan that's good enough for me)



Loads of techniques to these, so I'll start with the background: white card with Laurel Leaf, Split Pea and Mountain Lake Versa Color smooched around and rubbed together; text and postmarks embossed on top using Snowflake tinsel powder with green and gold mica powder; quick run through with a postcard embossing folder and the resultant impressions highlighted lightly with copper ink. The background paper is from the K&Co Life's Journey set.

You know how sometimes it just works? That's why I did two smaller versions of the background too.

The tag got covered in a mix of walnut vintage ink and Umber Versa Color - love the way that stuff makes everything chalky and soft. You can then restamp over it with the original ink (in this case with my old favourite manuscript background stamp) and it gives a subtle texture. The black embossed sentiment is a Sam Poole Arty Phrase - these are a must.

I'm quite proud of the fact I matched the stamping on the tag with that on the main card - it took some doing, I can tell you! To finish - a couple of strands of blue baker's twine (thanks Anne!) coloured with Pine Needles, Wild Honey and water.

The 'faux suede' was fun: take the non-shiny side of some thick brown paper, scrunch it up and then reflatten, rub over first with that Umber Versa Color and then with copper ink to highlight the raised areas and hey presto! a perfect vintage surface for stamping on with black Archival ink (feels good and tears well too). Had to use my Stampendous steampunk balloon from The Stamp Man for the card.

The card topper and ATC used a mix of Kanban, Dimension Fourth and freebie stamps on the 'faux suede'.

The filmstrip (Dimension Fourth) was stamped with black Archival several times on acetate, coloured with black Promarker and further stamped with various travel/time elements.

Finally, for both the card topper and the ATC another Sam Poole Arty Phrase stamped onto K&Co Life's Journey paper, distressed with walnut vintage in and mounted on antique gold card. Really enjoyed doing these and (believe it or not!) I resisted the temptation to throw more embellies at all of them. So it's now time to sign off as my bed calls. Thanks for visiting. Hope to see you again soon, hugs Buttons x