Crafty Cardmakers and More – you’ve been framed!

This fortnight’s theme is 'You've Been Framed', and we would like to see a prominently displayed frame on your project, this can be stamped, die cut, or made up of other materials, or you could decorate an actual frame if you wish.

We are sponsored by SIR STAMPALOT and also by DI'S DIGISTAMPS and the DT have some great inspiration for  you over on the Crafty Cardmakers and More blog.

I recently blogged about a new embossing folder I’d bought. It makes a super frame and I decided to use it for my DT piece. This time I tried it out on kraft card and sanded it back to highlight the detail then cut out the centre. I used an old flower fairy stamp that hasn’t been out in a while because the roses matched the frame and coloured it in in soft pastel colours, adding a bit of mica to my fairy for a bit of subtle sparkle. I mounted the frame on foam tape and added a teeny bow to the corner just because I can.

I printed out the sentiment for the insert from my pc and added some stamping. As a finishing touch I stamped on the envelope. (I may be over egging it now)

 

Hope you can join in with us this fortnight and as always look forward to seeing what you get up to.

See ya.

March Giveaway Winner….

is GLENNIS. I will email you hun for your addy.

Thank you to everyone for playing, April giveaway will be here soon.

See ya.

First Project for Fantasy Stampers - Challenge #7

Super excited to have been asked to join the Fantasy Stampers Design Team! This is a relatively new fortnightly challenge blog with the emphasis on stamping – as good an excuse as any I can think of to force me to give some of my many stamps a work out!!

The theme for Fantasy Stampers Challenge # 7 is ‘Silhouettes’. I have chosen to go with a tag and used the highly recognisable Tim Holtz stamp ‘umbrella man’ as my main silhouette. I decided to stamp and clear emboss him and then ink my tag – the emboss acts as a resist to the ink and adds a bit of texture as well. The other stamps are mainly by Tim Holtz as well but I have to admit I am unsure where the flower silhouettes come from – that’s a very old stamp from my stash.

For more DT inspiration do hop on over to the Fantasy Stamper blog to see what he rest of my teamies have been up to – link your project and we’ll be round to see what you’ve got up to this fortnight.

I am linking this tag in with  the Fashionable Stamping Challenges # 69,  the theme for which is also ‘Silhouette’.

Tags of 2014 - February

Late again, oops.

Any how Tim’s tag can be seen here, and the main techniques for this tag were gradient colouring and embossing through a stencil (check), a chalkboard effect sentiment (check – though I used distress embossing powder) and a blingy embellishment  (not quite so successful there!!)

Not sure about these - I liked the stencil technique and even had a modicum of success with the chalkboard thing but the embellishment is so so as I had to improvise. I am really not sure why I did three!

Now to try and get March’s done in the next couple of days!

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday # 251

Here we are again and I seem to have spent the whole week moving furniture and supplies to get my new craft room sorted. At one point the contents of my previous room seemed to have just exploded and I thought I would never get it all in. A little sobering to consider quite how much crafty stash I have. But now I’m 95% there, just need to decide if I can sacrifice a small amount of worksurface for another small shelf unit so that I can get all my christmas stash (currently cunningly hidden in my OHs office) in this room as well. It hardly seems fair to have all this space at my disposal and still need overflow arrangements!

Here’s my desk – residue from wrapping up my son’s bd present yesterday and three timmy tags (yes, the February ones) which if I achieve  nothing else crafty today will get finished. Otherwise all the usual rubbish has just been re-located but my desk does somehow seem bigger – I think it is having the window sill.

The floor in this room is lovely, but I have ordered a large mat – the rumble of the castors on my chair is a bit disconcerting late at night!

Final picture (sorry!) from the other end. As you can see there is still a bit of organisation to be done but also some little bits of space so I hope I’ll get it all tidy very soon. The intention is to get a fold up table that will fit in the centre so that I can have visitors without having to  have our backs to each other – but we’ll see, I may have to practice with a chair and a bit of MDF before deciding what to get.

So why I am showing you these pictures – honestly not just showing off – well that’s because every week a group of crafty peeps do the rounds to see what or cyber friends have been up to. The link is here if you want to read all about it.

Sorry for all the pics but very excited about my new room – hopefully will  be back with pics of artwork rather than my furniture removal skills next week.

Have a good day!   Cindy xx

Happy 103rd birthday

No that’s not a typo. I have had a standing commission for the last few years to make a card for my friend’s nan who reaches the grand age of 103 early next month. I heard the other day that she had tried pasta for the first time and quite enjoyed it. Sweet!

Surprise, surprise, I have gone with that Sue Wilson inspired card design again. Why? Well because I think they are pretty and I kind of have it sussed out. Maybe that’s being lazy but I tend to err towards a sensible use of my time especially when I have a lot to do. Promise I’ll find something new to obsess on very soon!!

Once again I used a pattern paper, this time from Theresa Collins. I chose yellow/orange for this year – we are gradually working our way through the colours – and glittered over the paper using an adhesive sheet. So blingy!

All the flowers are handmade, I’m trying to perfect this little dahlia type style. They come from the Tim Holtz Tattered Flower Garland strip die.  

What a privilege to make something pretty for such a special lady. Roll on next year!!

Where’s Your Workdesk, Wednesday? # 250

Ooh that sounds like a significant number doesn’t it?

I have cheated a little this week as there is no work on my desk today as all projects are on hold and I am cleaning and tidying - my DD has finally left home. Sob.

 So my pictures are of the room I am cleaning. (You would be forgiven for thinking that from the picture she hasn’t actually left yet……………..) Nice view. Nice light space.  

Guess what’s going in here as soon as I can sort it? Yep, hopefully my WOYWW will be coming to you from this very space very soon, depending how I get on with the sorting out and moving my stuff across the hall. The sheet of A4 paper is my attempt to plan out where everything will go. I have to be careful as I mustn’t create more storage space (remember, nature abhors a crafty vacuum…) and, heaven help me she may come back in a year’s time and I will have to do it all in reverse. But more work surface and room for more than 1 person is a definite possibility. Yay!!!!

If you wonder what I’m on about hop on over to our illustrious leader at Stamping Ground for all the details. Meanwhile I’ll be around to see what you are up to in between tidying up sessions. If you have time to leave me a little love that would be great.. If you have time to come and help that would be even better.

Can’t actually believe that it is Wednesday again already…..

Try It On Tuesday – Let the Music Play!!

Get out your music themed stash for this fortnight’s challenge at Try It On Tuesday. We’re looking for something to fit a musical theme and the DT have already have some great inspiration for you – pop on over for a look.

Felt like getting a bit messy so I’ve gone a bit abstract with a mixed media ATC. I started off by making an emboss resist background and coloured that with distress stains. I then stamped my one and only music stamp onto tissue and adhered with decopatch glue. I then coloured it with some translucent fresco paints and then some general splodging with acrylics (I believe that is the technical term). The little letters are from my stash – now they are seriously old, I’m talking around a decade here – and painted the wooden treble clef and edges with black paint.

A bit different yet again – not a cute image or a die cut in sight - and surprisingly quick to do if you keep your layers nice and light so there isn’t too much drying time. Total old stash used: letters, tissue, 2 stamps, embossing powders, paints and 1 embellie. Result!!

See ya.

Something a little different….

 

I have had a hankering at the back of my mind to make a project using this stamp ever since I saw that the current challenge at  Craft Hoarders Anonymous (and who doesn’t relate to that blog name!!) was Vintage or Retro. I’m not really sure if this is really a retro image but she always makes me think of the 60s. She is also one of the very first stamps I ever bought so definitely qualifies as hoarded stash!

   When hopping about Sunday morning I noticed the current theme for the Craft Room Challenge  was the 20th Century  - and the idea for this Warhol homage card popped into my head but I still didn’t have time to put it together – DD moved out yesterday, and my presence was required for a spot of cleaning, unpacking and general reassurance for 3 20 somethings making their way in the big wide world.

Frankly by the time I sat down at my craft desk tonight I was exhausted and looking for something simple to do to wind down before bed and this seemed to fit the bill. I stamped the image four times in black, dark blue, red and orange ink (who knew I had an orange ink pad?)

For about 5 seconds I toyed with idea of masks and brayering or sponging the different colours, looked at the clock and then sensibly decided it would be easier to use promarkers!! The colours I hope are in the spirit of the original prints even if the techniques aren’t!

After cutting each one to size I mounted them on white card and then decided it needed a fine black border to make it pop a bit. A bit of fun for a Sunday night. Hope you like!

See ya

60th Birthday card a la Sue Wilson

Credit where credit is due. Love Sue Wilson’s style, she is so creative with her dies and layers. Had another go at the layered card she made here. As I was in a bit of a hurry (yeah another birthday I forgot – not doing so well this year!) I glittered some patterned paper rather than stamp my own and missed out the embossing step.

 

Because I’d figured it out once before this one went together pretty quickly (well it was the shortened version!). I have another card to make for a friend’s grandma (103 this year and still going strong) and guess what, I shall be doing this style again.  

Having read Sue’s instructions on how to do it I even managed to do the piercing around the edge. Now it’s not perfect but not too bad for a second attempt (the first one didn’t go so well……..!) and it does finish it off nicely. Papers and flowers from Craftwork cards Blush Rose collection – I even used the ‘waste’ to decorate the insides but forgot to photograph it.

Hope you like!!

Pretty in Pinky Brown…

Here’s what I knocked up with that new Santoro stamp and embossing folder yesterday. (You didn’t think I was going to do paperwork all day did you?)

I fell in love with the colour scheme on the packaging so tried to copy it myself. Kept it flat with just the embossing from that new folder for texture. This one will probably go in my MacMillan box. Like Christmas (makes smug face, 60 cards done and dusted), I have vowed to be prepared this year. She’s so pretty. Now maybe try her with some paper piecing?

See Ya.

What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday? #249

HELLO WOYWWERS!!

I had to take a little break from WOYWW as I was working every Wednesday and it seems unfair to post when I don’t know if I’ll have time to visit many peeps. Now working much less, (I know I keep going on about it but very happy about this situation for the moment at least) and NO WEDNESDAYS. At least until the end of April anyway and maybe beyond……..

I did hint yesterday that I had been shopping. Oh what is the matter with me? It is an addiction.

So here are my purchases. Some new Gorjuss girl stuff and another little Santoro stamp I couldn’t resist – isn’t she cute? A new embossing folder – already been playing with these as you can see. This month’s craft stamper, that’ll sort coffee time this afternoon. (Note to self: Must cover that Heroes box).

I’ve pulled out some bunting and my Prima stamps – I have an idea for a little project to brighten up my NEW CRAFT ROOM if I ever get it in there. It does kind of hinge on DD moving out (which she is desperate to do) so I can move into her room but things aren’t going so well and they keep getting let down. (I cannot begin to tell you how disorganised my house is, she has been packed up ready to go for over a month - bed dismantled, belongings downstairs, clothes everywhere – no change there I admit).

Obviously I do have mixed emotions about this, (not least of which is I will be living here with just boys for company) but come on, who wouldn’t want a bigger craft room?

However this is what I have said I will do today – paperwork. I am about 4 months behind with my filing and I must get it sorted. In between visiting crafty desks of course!!

So that’s me for today. For full details pop over to the mother ship here. Hope to get round quite a few desks today. And if you have time, check out my giveaway for March, I think it’s cute.

Shameless self promotion. Have a great day!!

It is Tuesday isn’t it?

All at sea since being back, new work pattern to get used to (won’t be hard, hardly going at all now!!) seems weird to be home on a Tuesday. 

 

Made this card last night when my friend was round. I had cut the frame out for another project about two months ago and changed my mind so it’s been wandering around the craft room since then. Went through my WIP folder and saw the image I’d printed out from my House Of Zandra Fabulous Fashion CD. Made the background and flowers from scraps. Result. Another teeny weeny dent in my stash. Just as well because I’ve been spending again. BAD GIRL. 

Probably shouldn’t have posted this as I am going to send it out to someone but I don’t think they read my blog.

See ya.

MARCH GIVEAWAY – I’M BACK!!

 

and I’ve brought the sun home with me for a change! What a lovely day it was Sunday, I just had to spend it in the garden but I did manage a couple of hours in my craft room and I had promised that this month’s giveaway would be along today so here it is. A large tag (it’s approx 8.5” tall) using one of my gorgeous Julie Nuttall stamps. I just love these little dolls they never fail to delight me. Using one of the ready made Julie Nuttall tag pad tags as a base I have added texture pastes, stamping, paints, inks and distressed papers. Can you tell I was missing getting messy?

The doll was paper pieced and coloured with promarkers and then I just went bananas with die cuts and flowers. 

 

 

 

I used a mix of ready made  and hand made flowers – that centrepiece was made a while ago using wax in the meltpot. I also added a bit of mica sparkle to some of the leaves.

Right, here’s da rules. If you want to go in the draw then let me know by leaving a comment on this post. If you link from your own blog I will put you in the draw twice. International players welcome, closing date for entries will be 9.00 pm on Sunday 30th March.

 

I’d also like to bring to your attention a newish challenge blog called Fantasy Stampers. Their current challenge is ‘Spring Colours’ and I’m going to link in this project as I think it qualifies even though it’s a bit ‘shabby spring’ rather than vibrant blues, yellows and greens.

That’s all – have a  great day!!

Crafty Card Makers and More – Slap It On

I am a little late posting my DT piece as I have been away and yet again a scheduled post failed to post. I’m sure there must  be a button to push that for some reason I can’t see!! So please be aware that the challenge now only has one week left to run.

Very excited because this is the first of our new Mixed Media style challenges for Crafty Cardmakers and More. We would love it if you could think a little outside the box for this challenge (no pun intended), and whilst each of these challenges will have a theme - this one is Winter or Slap It On (please see below for full definition) they are also 'NO CARD' challenges.

Yvonne is hosting the first of these challenges, and would like to see something either related to Winter or Slap It On, which basically means that anything goes (but NO CARDS!!)

We are sponsored for this challenge by
WOODWARE CRAFT COLLECTION

With a prize of £12.00 to spend at your favourite Woodware Stockist, either in store or on line.

Now to get on with my project. Well I am afraid I am well and truly fed up with winter so I opted for slap it on and a chance to transorm this papier mache box.

I added papers, paints, texture paste, die cuts and metallic rub ons. The various layers give the finished box a depth that isn’t immediately obvious from photographs.

 

I mixed texture paste with some acrylic paint to colour it before spreading it through this gorgeous ‘Peacock’ stencil by that special touch. Using only part of a largish stencil on such a small area was a bit of a challenge especially as I wanted it to ‘sit ‘ centrally on the sides of the box. (Almost made it!).

I then spent ages adding and removing black paint and gilding wax until I got a finish I was happy with. Just the kind of nonsense that keeps me happy. I think that maybe it needs a little more (ideas on a postcard please), but time is pressing so this will have to do for now. Hope you like and that you feel inspired to join the challenge but please remember, no cards!!