Thursday 29 March 2012

DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY CARD


Not the best photograph in the world but here's my finished anniversary card.

Wednesday 28 March 2012

WOYWW # 147

Wednesday AGAIN and this week I'm working on another commission card, this time for a Diamond anniversary. Decided to go white on white, something I've never done before (don't usually risk the inky fingerprints). Just made my own blingy centrepiece for the flower, need to see what it looks like when the glue dries before I make some more. So far so good, even tried embossing with my mica mask, came out quite well once I'd got the sandwich the right way round.



If you want to see what other peeps are getting up to this week then pop on over to Stamping Ground the bloggy home of Julia Dunnit who hosts this weekly bloghop. I'll come and see as many as I can but I have to get this finished today to deliver on the way to work this afternoon so may be evening by the time I catch up to you all. Happy WOYWW guys!!

Tuesday 27 March 2012

EASTER EXPLODING BOX

Well here is my design team offering for this week's Try it on Tuesday challenge. The theme is 'Easter' or 'New Life' and I chose to make an exploding box.

For the outside I re-visited the 'watercolour' technique once again and used nestabilities petite ovals to cut the apertures and toppers on the outside. I thought I would use the free bunny (or should that be 'hares?') stamp I got with Craft Stamper magazine on my project. Most of the other stamps were from Crafty Individuals (CI-226 and CI-207) plus a couple of old faithful florals. Used my distress inks to do a fair bit of blending and for once there is no bling!!

For the inside I made a little spring scene or diorama by stamping onto each of the surfaces and then cutting around the images - not sure if that makes sense but I just thought it was a bit different to leaving each section square.

Butterflies and 'Happy Easter' (not very clear in the photo I just realised) are stuck onto fine strips of acetate so they 'float'.


The box is intended as an Easter gift and the  centrepice was initially made to house a creme egg but it looked rather daft so I substituted the little eggs. I shall have to tell the recipient to open very carefully lol!!

Hope you like my take on the theme and that it inspires you to enter in to the fun at Try it on Tuesday. You can create any type of project as long as it follows the theme. This week we are sponsored by The Craft Barn so you could even get yourself a prize as well as a guest showcase spot on the blog.

Looking forward to seeing what you create!!

Sunday 25 March 2012

101st birthday card

A standing commisioin for one of my friends is to make a card for her Nan's birthday. Last year I made one for her centenary celebrations. I was really pleased to be reminded that another year had gone by and another card was needed (although apparently 'this is not a special birthday')!! Here is what I've done.


Wish I had a photo of the lady herself to share. 101. Marvellous.

Have a great day all.

(NB Just one more week to enter my art draw. Click on the picture top right to go to the relevant post)

Wednesday 21 March 2012

WOYWW # 146


Well here it is. I have been MIA from WOYWW for a couple of
weeks but I have been busy creating. Still am for that matter, on a roll, staying up to the wee hours........ (lowers voice to whisper........Mr Mojo has been visiting my craft room, but we don't want to scare him off do we).  Now this may look like a disorganised mess (OK, it does look like a disorganised mess) but there is a lot going on (I can't believe I only cleaned and put away all my stamps on Saturday and it is like this again already). I've even finished the prototype for my kiddies easter craft event at work. Do you think I've got enough chickens?

But, to be sensible - and let's face it I'd be surprised if you got this far if you were - I'm showing you my desk as part of the weekly craft desk blog hop run by the fabulous Ms Dunnit of Stamping Ground (I'm being a creep 'cos I want her to send me a badge). Go on over and see what it's all about. Have a nose around, see what's up, who's doing what this week, find out what I mean about a badge - you get the picture. I'm at work today till 8 so I'll be catching up with you all this evening. Thanks for stopping by!!

Monday 19 March 2012

Mosaic again - Tim Holtz style!!


Well, I didn't have time to do the 12 tags of Christmas in 2011 so I was delighted to discover that Tim Holtz has launched the '12 Tags of 2012' with a tag for each month. A whole month to create - much less stressful!!

I know I am a bit late starting, I have only done March's tag (I don't think Tim has done January's yet but I could just be reading the blog wrong) but I can catch up when I have time. I'm going to do two tags in the suggested style each month and hopefully as well as a lovely keepsake for myself I will have a readymade giveaway for January 2013 (it'll be here before you know it LOL).

For me doing the tags is not about following Tim's recommendations slavishly but the challenge of using what I have to do something similar. For March's tag, Tim used a woodgrain embossing folder to create the background on his tag but I don't have any folders or stamps that would be suitable so I used the old glue and acrylic paint trick. I think it works quite well!! 

For the mosaic butterflies I was able to use Tim's dies but had to grout with black embossing powder. The 'snippets' were the remains of some experimenting with 'Clearly for Art'. I had watched a Wendy Vecchi tutorial for making metallic looking flowers with CFA because I wanted to make some flowers to go with a steampunk piece I am making for next month's Art Draw. Well, to be honest I don't think my finished piece looked much like Wendy's but it was certainly interesting. (Probably need to watch the vid again!!) Anyhow I used it to make the small flowers on the tag and used the remnants for the snippets (tiles) on my mosaic butterflies. Because Iput them shiny side up I didn't use the glossy accents but I am well pleased with the way they turned out. There are more flowers and butterflies so they will probably be popping  up on other projects as the weeks go by!!

Sunday 18 March 2012

I got the glitter out for Mother's Day....

This is the card for my mum, kept it simple, she would be suspicious of all that gushy stuff LOL. Can take no credit for this design other than the technical execution as it is based on one I saw Chloe of Chloe's stamps demonstrating on create and craft TV.

I was really impressed with her blingy cards so I bit the bullet and got out the glitter - the flowers and leaves are all glittered (not sure it shows in the pics) and I love it. I do however now have sparkly jeans and a sparkly carpet.





Struggled a bit to cut my aperture (apparently spellbinders are not that happy about going through three layers of card at once LOL). Afterwards I realised that if I had gutted the mirri mat it would have been easier and I would have saved myself a large bit of mirri card. doh. Will know next time.                                                            
  Happy Mother's Day everyone!!


Friday 16 March 2012

I have been busy, really I have...

Been home quite a bit this week so have spent a fair amount of time in my craft room. Can't show you everything I've been working on  (what a tease) but here is yet another shoe card. I really like this design - I think this is the third time I have made it. While I had the anna marie designs CD out I decided to print off one of the other templates and make this chest of drawers stepper card.
I managed to use up some left over embellies from the Kanban Frou Frou kit.  I think they kind of go, even though the shoes in mid air isn't particularly realistic!!  The background paper was printed out from my Craft Artist programme and I did a fancy inside bit to write on as well.   Even used up one of those vinyl stickers (the chair) for which a use has eluded me. I'm on a bit of a mission to use up old stuff, mainly because I am drowning in it.  I went through my sticker folder the other day - the stuff I found in there!! Still the kids at work will love 'em LOL.            

I need to make space for new stuff - like these flower stamps I just bought from 'Stamps by Chloe'. (Aaaaw come on, a girl can never have too many flowers stamps.....). These were just a try out but I stuck tem on a card anyway. Drew the stalks myself, woo hoo. I actually think this one looks better IRL. IMHO. LMAO.

Finally whilst I was playing in my spray tray I came across this rather yummily coloured rectangle of card. I often leave bits of card in there to see what comes out. This had been stamped with the 'glue things together' and the wonky 'quick' (I recognise the stamps but don't remember doing this at all). Anyhow I  thought it deserved to be used so I made a quick bookmark, just adding the studio 490 image, some fibres and tidying up the back because I do like a tidy behind. It isn't laminated but if anyone wants it let me know (Just checking to see if you are reading this drivel to the end hee hee hee). See ya soon, Cindy x


     



Thursday 15 March 2012

Mother's Day Card (No1 !!)

Well I'm not sure if  this is going to my mum or not as it may go to a commission unless they decide they don't like it. My mum would love it but I am not entirely happy with it. It's a hybrid effort with some digital elements, stamping, decoupage, promarker colouring, nesties and embellies. It sure took long enough for me not to be pleased with it. Just looks a bit unbalanced. Since I took the photo I added a little cross charm under the bow (a cross was in the brief) and I'm a little happier with it (Just can't stop fiddling that's why everything takes me so long).

I took an A4 card and cut it down a bit as I actually find A4 cards a bit too big - we need another size between A5 and A4 I think!!

Part of the commission was for 'lots of words' (you know what mums are like LOL) and so I tried to do a fancy fold up thing in the middle with a sheet of A3 and added my verses but for some reason I couldn't get the colour of the text to change which was a little annoying but it looks OK.  (Please don't laugh at my excruciating verse). Unfortunately I hadn't anticipated that a sheet of A3 folded in half and then in half again is basically A5 sized - so it doesn't cover the whole of the  card. But I'd already done the front so I wasn't going to change it!! Aaah, forward planning.........

And then, because I cut down the A4 card I had to make a box because I didn't have an envelope. I used the green hougie board rather than the enveloboxer thingy that is staring at me because I really have not worked out to use it yet. Of course, I hadn't thought about using a sensible measurement when I cut the A4 card so that was easy (NOT). LOL, I have all the 'stuff' if only I had an ounce of common sense sometimes I would make my life easier.


So it may be for my mum or someone else's mum, I'll find out tomorrow. Would save me a job if they decide to buy their own as I haven't even started on MDC No 2 yet. But there's always Saturday.....

Finally a little plug.... for the March Art Draw. There have been very few entries so far this month so if you've read this far and you haven't entered why not go to the relevant post here and leave your name. You don't even have to say anything much (although that would be nice!!).

Tuesday 13 March 2012

The Wonder of Watercolour for TioT

Well the new look TioT really gets going this week with a challenge sponsored by One Stop Card Crafts and one lucky winner will be randomly drawn for our sponsor prize.  This week we are looking at watercolour techniques and this is my DT project for the challenge.

I'm not really a watercolour artist - I would love to be able to do it properly but I'm not a very patient person and tend to end up with a brown study rather than a delicate watercolour.!! So here is my quick fix to a water colour effect that anyone can do.

Find a couple of stamps with an image that doesn't have too much fine detail (it will get lost) and some areas that are a 'block' of colour or have a distinctive shape. Ink up your stamps with water soluble inks or watercolour pens (its good to use a couple of different colours if you can) then spritz with a fine water mister. Leave just a couple of seconds, stamp and 'voila' instant water colour effect. You may have to play to find the right stamp  and amount of water but it's a quick and effective technique and I think you'll be surprised at the results if (like me) the thought of watercolouring using a brush and paints is a bit daunting.

While I was getting messy (use gloves if you don't like getting your fingers inky!!) I made a couple of other projects using the same technique.

another ATC
Flower and butterfly stamps get the treatment
Flower stamps are particularly useful for  this technique as they tend to be recognisable and lend themself to the watercolour look.
Used the technique on the background and main image.



I wasn't too happy with the lady image on this tag as the watercolour effect lost so much of the detail in her face. In fact she looks a bit like she has grown a great moustache (!!).  It was going in the bin, but I distressed the edges and really liked the way the edges curled (would never do it if you were trying for that effect!!) so I popped her on a tag anyway. Not too shabby despite the fact that she looks rather hirsute.

So why not join in with us at TioT with your take on the wonder of watercolour. There is no restriction on the type of project you can enter - it could be a card, tag, altered art, an ATC or any sort of crafting you wish as long as it meets the published theme.

The Design team will pick their top 5 entries from the challenge and each will get one of our new blinkies to proudly display. The  Top entry will be asked to join us as a guest designer on a future week Guest designer week posting.

Can't wait to come and see what you get up to.

Best wishes, Cindy x 

Tuesday 6 March 2012

I am pleased to announce.............

that I have been asked to join the design team over at Try It On Tuesday. This very friendly challenge blog is having a makeover with additional DT members and a re-vamp of the way the challenges are run, so why not pop over and find out what is happenning?

This is my first design team project for TIOT and I decided to make a card based around some of my favourite things - in this case, Family, Flowers and Flutterbies!!



The card is destined for my dear sister whose birthday is this week (in fact we were out yesterday having a glass or two of bubbly to celebrate).

The butterflies were made using fusible film and angelina fibres ironed on to a Clarity butterfly stamp. It gives a lovely iridescent effect  and looks great layered up.

I used an edging punch for the lace, nesties for the centrepiece and the spiral flowers were die cut from vellum which gives a lovely delicate effect - although you do have to wait a little longer than normal for the glue to 'grab' hold.

I am really excited about becoming 'part of the team' and seeing what everyone creates for the challenges. So pop on over and take a look!!

Sunday 4 March 2012

March Art Draw - gone mad for mosaic!!

Had a couple of options for this month's giveaway but when I saw that the current challenge for 'Try It on Tuesday' was 'mosaic' I thought I really should have a go at this. I have a ton of mosaic stuff (I jest you not, mosaic tiles are very heavy) so surely I could use my vast range of mosaic tiles to alter something small? I finally decided on this little birdie hanging (which I have to say looks much cuter in real life) which is an altered balsa shape. I have used the tiniest of tiles, most of which have been cut to accomodate the curve of the bird's body. I have only done one side as I thought it would make him a bit heavy to do both.. and he does need to go in the post!

So this is the giveaway for this month, the actual bird bit is about  4" x 2.5" so it won't take up much room! If you have space and would like to enter the draw then leave a comment on this post before 9 pm on Saturday 31st March. International players are very welcome to join in and everyone please feel free to link from your own blogs if you have the time and inclination.

Getting out the tiles sent me on a bit of a trip down memory lane, because a few years back I was absolutely crazy for mosaic and even attended courses to learn what to do. I'm also quite pleased to say that I had a couple of comissions that I actually got paid for!! Anyhow, here are a few photos of some of the mosaics that I made then that are still around my house and garden.


 I actually have a huge mosaic for the garden that has been under my bed for about 5 years. We had some building work done and the piece of exterior grade plywood I had bought and had cut to mount the mosaic got used for something else (mixing up cement or something). I was not best pleased and haven't gotten around to replacing it - another project for my to do list!!

Anyhow thanks for popping by and I hope you take time to leave a comment and take part in my Art Draw.


What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday? #771

  Morning deskers, welcome to our weekly Wednesday Blog Hop - WOYWW. Here's the link to the one responsible, the lovely   Julia at Stamp...