...and red

Another day, another entry to Hels Sheridan's Sunday Stampers challenge.  This week the theme is Brown and Blue, and judging by the entries posted so far, the standard is very high.  So it is with trepidation that I post the following creation;

Now before you say anything, I know, there's red in it!!  I tried various versions with different shades of brown/copper but they didn't work the same so instead I'm cheating (a bit).  I was inspired when watching the Clarity Stamps show on C&C by a card created by the talented Dee Paramour.  Hels had also put delicious inked paper flowers on her piece this week.

The recipe; on an antique gold card base my Stamposaurus Union Jack mask was used with VersaColor in Raspberry and Indigo.  The large postcard stamp (Clarity) and the London/postal elements (Kanban) were used with DI Walnut Stain and a little clear embossing powder.  With this done, the whole background was embossed using a Sissix postcard embossing folder.

To embellish, Spellbinders roses were diecut in three different sizes from brown parcel paper that had been scrunched and had more Indigo ink applied (direct to paper).  They were then spritzed with Cosmic Shimmer Mist in Blue Ice.  The clock and ticket were embossed from a TH Sissix folder, again in the antique gold card, inked with the Indigo and Walnut Stain inks.  Finally, the blue florishes in navy card and the postcard edge in bronze paper (both Spellbinders dies) were added  and three small buttons completed the piece.

OK, better get off and do domestic stuff/work stuff before it gets too late.  Thanks to everyone for their continuing support.  It is such a positive boost at the mo'.  Hugs, Buttons x

(p.s. just seen a challenge I can also enter this into on a blog which has an amazing design team - and so to Fashionable Stamping Challenges!)

Spots and...

Good morning all.  Hoping this is going to work as the T'internet connection seems to be going a bit wibble at the mo' - apparently BT will be upgrading it in the next couple of days, so we'll see if it speeds up a little or goes into complete meltdown!!

Anyhoo, hear I am with another small creation which I intend to enter in this month's Artistic Stamper Creative Team Challenge.  The theme this month is Spots and Stripes.  Got the spots covered (and not just the ones in front of my eyes from staring at this PC for too long!!) and the stripes? well those are included in the tape measure!!

This was totally inspired by a creation from Ania Dabrowska who puts so much detail and texture into her pieces.  The white card base was sprayed with silver Cosmic Shimmer (CS) Mist and the edges distressed using DI Walnut Stain.  An old Prima journalling image was stamped onto greaseproof paper, trimmed and stuck to the base, and the spots and Dream were stamped and CS gold embossed on the card edges.

From here on in it was a case of layering: a piece of that net curtain again (aged with antique gold and silver ink and a black pen); a frame cut from antique gold card (using the Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Squares set); a section from an old K&Co paper (stuck onto cardboard, aged with ink again, and stamped/embossed with a small Barbara Grey key); a Spellbinders charm diecut in gold textured card, aged with black Stazon and Glossy Accents added to the centre to highlight the D on the paper); and a tape measure (an Andy Skinner stamp on 'lemon juiced' card with Cosmic Shimmer gold embossing powder).

Finally I added: a key (a Kanban stamp on antique gold card, in black and Indigo Blu Morris Dance metal flakes, with TH crackle paint); a couple of leaves (punched from silver mirror card, aged with Ranger copper mixative and butterscotch alcohol inks); and a pile of buttons and beads from my stash.  I was chuffed with the way this one came out, and oh boy! is it so much quicker working to this detail on a smaller project!!  Hope it gives your mojo a helping hand.

OK, off to create something for the Sunday Stampers challenge (blue and brown) this week.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hugs, Buttons x

Oooooo, Monet!!

I mentioned in my last post that I was trying something new for me.  It isn't revolutionary, and the rest of the crafting world figured it out long ago, but for me takes a while for the lightbulb to go on!!  Despite admiring those who can impose a level of self-control in their projects (e.g. Ania Dabrowska) I always end up chucking the kitchen sink at whatever I do, which means that creating cards takes too much time.  Plus I procrastinate (there's a word for you Hels!!) - or as Leonie would put it, I faff!!

So last week Hels did an ATC, and it occurred to me that this would a fantastic way of 'doing my thang' on something small scale that wouldn't take as long and could be added to a plain card later.  She has also mentioned the challenge on the Studio L3 using techniques from TH's new Compendium.  The latest challenge involves using faded layers (time to try out the Ranger specialty paper, DI's, a small TH mask and a swirly Creative Expressions rubber stamp).

 To be honest I didn't know where it was going, but the completed background reminded me of the colours used by Monet in his fabulous paintings of waterlillies, so the rest came from that.  Et voila...

 my Studio L3 challenge entry.  And does this new approach work?  You betcha.  Despite having another busy week at work I've completed another two projects and have three more partially done!  Hurrah!!

Time to say thank you for all the wonderful comments - it's so good to get feedback.  Hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekend.  Hugs, Buttons x

ps.  Thanks for the question Barbara - the flowers were simply cut from some curtain sample material (I've had hoarded for about 15 years because it might come in handy one day!!) using the smallest of the two Spellbinders Rose Creations dies.  I use three layers, stick each one together with a little fast drying glue in the middle, and then use my Glitter Girls embossing tool in the middle to give them some dimension.  To finish I glued some old glass beads (again, from my stash - see what you can find in the way of old necklaces at charity shops?) in the centre and added a little gold ink with a paintbrush to some of the petals.  Hope this helps?  If anyone wants any further deets please just leave a comment below - I'm never sure how much to ramble on about all the techniques used, and obviously for this challenge that would be unfair on TH too. x

Buttons Galore, and more...

Good evening all. Saw a challenge that needed entering this week; it is the Woodware Craft Collection Challenge and has the theme 'Buttons and Bows'.

This is my 'homage' to a design by one of the Goddesses of Crafting - Sue Wilson - and includes her ribbon ruffle concept and the 'leftovers' from a Spellbinder diecut frame. A number of stamps from Dimension Fourth have been used to create the postcard and the penny farthing accent.

The buttons (from Sam Poole's vintage sewing set) were stamped onto antique gold card using Tsukineko Encore Ultimate Metallic ink in gold.  To make them more interesting a few were stamped again and added randomly, whilst others were covered in Glossy Accents. Oh, and there are a few gold staples there too!

Today I got to have a bit of a play, having been sent in a new direction by one of Hels Sheridan's posts, and I am aiming to complete more pieces as a result.  More of this to come... for now it is time to clear up and get some sleep as there is a lot to do at work tomorrow.  Hugs, Buttons x

A Vintage Stamp

Final post of the day, and an entry to The Stamp Man Fortnightly Challenge which is currently looking for vintage or distressed entries. And so...

The main image on this card was created using a Michael Powell stamp, Vintage Photo Distress Ink and Promarkers. Lace and ribbon were distressed using a Marvy Heritage ink pad in Copper, and the K&Co backing paper was distressed, folded, layered and sprayed with  Cosmic Shimmer mica mists.

Some beautiful dark green pearl paper was used to create a wine bottle and stamped vine leaves, antique gold and copper Spellbinder die cuts were sprinkled liberally to accent different areas, and I had fun with the grapes; this required recolouring gold Pearlidoodles dots with a mulberry Promarker (amazing what you can do at a push!!) Overall it was good to see a totally different feel given to the same stamp used for another project (see earlier Inspired By Others post).

OK, that's all folks!! Got to get prep done for work tomorrow. Thanks for dropping by - I'd love to hear what you think and will endeavour to return the favour. Hugs, Buttons x

Reaching a Milestone

Saw a challenge on the Make My Monday blog today and couldn't resist. The theme is Time, part of the Men and Boys challenge.

This was inspired by a card created by Karen Moss for the ATDML design team a talented bunch of ladies who, with such a passion for scrapping, have a wonderful eye for layout and design.

My own version used Kanban papers and stamps, Spellbinders cogs and plain white vellum put through a Creative Expressions embossing folder - simple but effective me thinks.

Hope you like it. Hugs, Buttons x

Little Red Dress

Ahead of the game this week! (that won't last) as the weather was SO grim there was nothing for it but to stay in and craft. And so to my entry for Hels Sheridan's Sunday Stampers Challenge this week.

I love the art of origami, especially when it brings more of a 3D element to cards and projects. The sentiment (yes, this is going in the post this week for a reli) was Flitter Glued, the accessories were from a Spellbinders die purchased at Ally Pally (oh, my poor bank balance!!)with an accent touch of Pearlidoodles and if you look really closely you'll see the large die cut border at the bottom is in fact from a sample piece of wallpaper that looks and feels exactly like ruffled fabric!! (amazing what you can pick up at the local DIY store). I also stamped some faux stitching effects down there to add further interest.

The ribbon dress band got a touch of 'Frantage' with various types of embossing powders, a bit more Flittering and a lovely red element that came from... no, that would be telling. Suffice it to say me and the OH got some gorgeous posh choccies for Christmas which have been savoured and rationed!!!

By the way, if you haven't already seen it yet I URGE YOU to check out the STUNNING creations on Julie Short's blog for this challenge and prepare for your jaw to hit the ground... this uber-talented lady takes embossing folders to a whole new level and I am in awe.

OK, that's all for now. See you very soon.

Hugs, Buttons x