Saturday 26 November 2016

Peace On Earth

Good to be Crafting again xx
Still need to enhance my blog but I am leaving it until I have more time......
And I shall be saving it lots as I do!

Update...
Thrilled to be a top pick at the Mixed Media Challenge at Stamplorations 
and 
Spotlight Artist at City Crafter Challenge...Thank you so very much x

I am so glad that I can join in with Loll's 12 Days of Christmas Event with this tag.
Loll and her friends have provided amazing tags for inspiration 
and there are stunning entries in the gallery.

http://www.stampingwithloll.com/2016/11/day-one-twelve-tags-of-christmas.html
Linky open until the 25th November
I had hope to enter the Stamplorations Tag Event however I had missed it ......
but thank fully it has been extended to the 28th November....

I started by stamping the poinsettia row from Stamplorations 
on the tag and then on a post it note for masking.
I popped a stencil over it and mixed clear embossing paste with gold mica 
to produce the horizontal gold lines.....icicles the wrong way!
I fussy painted the flowers with red and gold paint 
and stamped over it again using the Misti.
Frantage was heat set to add more texture, detail and snow like over the flowers.
The die cut sentiment also from Stamplorations was cut several times.
The tag has been layered and gold and red paint used on the edges.
The Mica and Paints really do look shiny.
So I will be popping my tag over to join there fun challenge 
as there is certainly lots of shiny gold on my tag x

Crafty Hugs x
Challenges I would like to enter........
Loll's 12 Days of Christmas Event - Mixed Media, to include stamping plus two mixed media elements.....I stamped the poinsettia, used a stencil, embossing paste and heat embossing, die cutting and Frantage....

Stamplorations Tag Event - Create a new holiday Tag

Stamplorations - Mixed Media Challenge- Anything but a Card and use a stencil
The poinsettia stamp and the die cut sentiment are from Stamplorations







City Crafter Challenge - Week 339 - Gold Finger










Stamplorations - Anything goes using their products



Monday 21 November 2016

HELLO X

So glad to be back x
I deleted my blog in error, whilst trying to update it and I thought it was permanent.
But...........
Because of the help and thoughtfulness of this generous and kind Blog World 
I've managed to get it back!

I wanted to say a Big Thank You 
for all your help and very kind words.

You have been so helpful and kind and I am so glad to have my Blog back.

I've missed crafting and I've missed commenting on your fabulous blogs,

Thank you for all the wonderful inspiration and your amazing and creative projects.
Crafty Hugs
x



Saturday 1 October 2016

Love...........

Guest Designer..........
I have just come back from a lovely holiday and I am so looking forward to catching up with visiting your fabulous blogs and admiring your wonderful inspiration x
The internet wasn't readily available, so please accept my apologies for not visiting sooner x

After winning The CAS Mix Up Challenge last month with this card 
I was kindly invited to be Guest Designer this month...
Wow ....what an Amazing opportunity!
The CAS Mix Up Challenge offers tons of inspiration and new techniques to try.
CAS, Mixed Media and Techniques all on one card......Fabulous!
The Team are so friendly and helpful  and I love entering the challenge because 
of the mixed genre's and techniques x
The Challenge this month is Stamping + Ghosting + Your Choice
You will find links on their blog to try out different Ghosting techniques....
This is my card.....
I started with blending several colours of distress inks quite liberally onto the card.
I layered the flower stencil onto the background and used water to lift the colour 
to produce a ghosting effect.
I used minimal water and a small sponge to lift the water to stop the water seeping underneath.
The flower was stamped over the ghosting effect, slightly off-set.
I used white gesso inside the stamped image and then painted with water- colours.
I have used black glossy embossing paste through the love sentiment stencil 
and die cut the rectangle with a stitch die. 
I finished with popping on a heart stencil and using a darker distress ink in the 
bottom right hand corner.
Thank you so much for the opportunity of guesting with you this month.
I love your fun, creative, inspirational and informative challenge.
Thank you for finding time to stop by...
Crafty Hugs xxx 







Tuesday 13 September 2016

Pink Lady.....

Today's Card....
Inspired to make this card using the Marble Technique over at CAS Mix Up Challenge.....
Pop across, if you've time to see links to how to do these techniques x
I had a fun and messy day trying out this new to me technique of using 
shaving foam and alcohol inks to achieve a marble effect.
I tried lots of different colours and different methods of using the foam and also through stencils.
I now have lots of backgrounds to use at a later date.
However..........
After doing loads of backgrounds I stamped and fussy cut the lady's dress.
I thought the lady/dress stamp and the sentiment was quite sassy together.
I have stamped in black archival ink the horizontal lines.
I used the inspiration photo at Inspired by all the little things to help out here.....
I also picked up on the pink cushion and flower in the photo.
The rectangle has been die cut with a stitch die and raised up onto foam.
I popped on another piece of pink marbling to emphasize the sentiment.
The marbling shaving foam is a fun technique to try....messy but well worth it x
I love learning new techniques and the CAS Mix Up Challenge is excellent for giving you 
inspiration and encouragement to try new ones x

Thank you so much for stopping by today.
Crafty Hugs x
Challenges I would like to enter....
CAS Mix Up - Stamping + Marbling + a choice
My choice is die cutting, fussy cutting, heat embossing and splats
Stamplorations CAS - Anything Goes with an optional twist of pink
Penny Black and More - Add a Sentiment
Craft Stamper - Anything Goes using stamping


Thursday 8 September 2016

So Blessed.....

Today's card.....
Update......Thrilled that my card has won over at The Craft Stamper-Make It Take It Challenge.
And an Honourable Mention at Rubber Dance.
Thank you so very much x
I had a fun day today trying out different techniques.
I first stamped the leaves and flowers with thick white gesso. 
This gave a gorgeous chalky feel to the card.
I then used several shades of grey distress inks to blend over the gesso stamping for the background.
I wiped the distress inks off the gesso, which left an off white colour, which is what I wanted.
I then over stamped, off setting the leaves and flowers with two shades of archival grey inks.
A few of the stamped rain drops have glossy accents on them.
I finished with die cutting a stitched square 
and adding the sentiment, stamped in dark grey archival ink.
I have had a lovely time away this past week visiting family and having a fabulous time x
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Crafty Hugs x
Challenges I would like to enter.....
Rubber Dance - 2nd Anniversary of the blog Challenge
The leaves and flowers are Rubber Dance Stamps
I have gone with July and the optional theme of Friendship x
Stamplorations - Sketch and or Theme-Stamping and Monochromatic scheme
I have gone with the Monochromatic theme
Craft Stamper Magazine - Take it Make it - Stamp It - Anything Goes using stamps
Lots of stamping on this card
Happy Little Stampers - Mixed Media - Distress
I used distress inks to blend the background

Tuesday 30 August 2016

Friends Together......

Guest Designer at CASology...........

I was so delighted and thrilled to have won at CASology last week with this card...
As a result Melissa asked me if I would like to be a guest designer this week...
Absolutely.... I would love to ..........
This weeks cue card is Stitch....
This is my card......
I stamped the Friends Image and sentiment several times with the Misti 
to get the black as dark as I could get it.
I die cut the 'together' sentiment from white CS and inlaid it.
The Zig Zag Stitch line has been stamped and heat embossed in gold.
I finished off by die cutting the square with a Stitch Square die.
I tried several different ideas for the cue card,
after settling with the idea of 'Friends Stitched together through friendship' x

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity of Guest Designing this week.
I look forward to admiring your creations in the gallery.
Crafty Hugs x
Challenges I would like to enter.....
Cardz4guyz - Something beginning with F
Tuesday Throwdown - Clean and Simple
Simon Says - Monday Challenge - It's a Stitch Up

Friday 26 August 2016

Exotic......

Hello There......
Today's card is a CAS fun card.
The giraffe has been stamped and then masked so I could use a stencil 
and blending with distress inks.
I thought the stencil from Stamplorations looked like a Giraffe.
The edges have been heat embossed with gold and copper.
I finished off with lightly colouring the Giraffe and stamping the sentiment.
Some smudgy bits but I guess that the Giraffe won't mind!
Thanks for stopping by....
Crafty Hugs x
Fun Challenges I would like to enter......
CASology - Cue Card - Fun
AAA Cards - Blending
Stamplorations - Sketch and  or Theme - Stamp and Markers
Happy Little Stampers - CAS - Masking
Thank you for the Favourite shout out with this card....



Tuesday 23 August 2016

Geometric.....

Before I show you today's card I was thrilled and delighted to have won 
 at CASology with this card from yesterday...
I  have been lucky enough to have been selected as the Honourable Mention several times 
but never a win, so it's made my day and I thank the team for all the wonderful inspiration x
Anyway.....Today's card.....
I started by die cutting the geometric die out of foam as I wanted to use it as a stamp.
I hadn't done this before and I was super excited that it worked really well.
I used re-positionable spray on the foam and 
then stamped with versa mark and white embossing powder.
I had a fun time using my Gansai water-colours in rainbow colours.
I cut the flower die and used this as a stencil and scraped through black embossing paste.
The flower was die cut out of more water coloured card and popped on top of the black paste.
Some of the sentiments have been die cut and layered with foam 
or popped straight onto the card or stamped and raised onto foam.
I enjoyed mixing the sentiments and how they where used on the card.
I also enjoyed using a die as a stamp.
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Crafty Hugs x
Challenges I would like to enter.....
Seven Hills - Geometric Challenge
All the manufacturers of the dies, water-colours and Stamps are stocked by the store
City Crafter Challenge - It's All About.....'You'
I was struggling with a sentiment so the challenge helped me focus with one
Update...Spotlight Artist...Thank you so very much xx
Casual Fridays - Time to Color
Creative With Stamps Challenge 5- Geometric
Update....Honorable Mention...Thank you very much x
I have used rainbow colours




Monday 22 August 2016

Dream Big....

Today's card......
Update....Thrilled to have won at CASology....Thank you x
I started by spraying a few sprays onto card and then die cutting the feather.
I also die cut the feather out of White Linen card.
The small butterflies have been stamped using a kaleidacolor dye ink pad.
I always forget to use them...they really are so pretty.
I assembled the card, inlaying the sprayed die cut feather, 
stamping the sentiment and then hi-lighting with a gold pen.
CAS and Mixed Media........
I have had these die cut feathers for ages and not used them and now I can't stop using them!
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Crafty Hugs x
Challenges I would like to enter.....
CASology Cue Card Challenge - Dream
Update....Thrilled to have won at CASology....Thank you x
CAS Mix Up - Stamp + Spray and one other of your choice.....Die Cutting
Stamplorations - CAS...Anything Goes...Option Gold
Happy Little Stampers - Die Challenge - Anything Goes




Sunday 21 August 2016

Happy Everything

Today's card has been inspire by a CASE card...
Update...I won with this card-Thank you so much...Loved casing Shalu's card x
This is my take on the card....
I started by painting gold stripes, using starlight paints free-hand 
and then stamping in black a striped stamp using mixed media stamps.
I have used a flower stencil and clear embossing paste and orange distress inks to colour it.
I have popped on several green sequins.
I have finished off with a black and gold strip down the left and heat embossing a sentiment.
I enjoyed CASEing Shalu's card and producing an artsy and fun card.
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Crafty Hugs xx
Challenges I would like to enter....
I won with this card-Thank you so much xxxx
Stamplorations - Anything Goes - On going using their products