Winter......

Today's project is a Winter's Tag.......

The background has been blended with distress inks, sprayed and splattered.

The trees and branches have been stamped with grey ink.

I popped the stencil over the tag and sprayed with water to lift some of the ink.

I then further enhanced the 'stained glass' stencil with white pigment ink.

Lastly I scraped through clear paste to give a shiny effect of glass.

This photo shows some of the background detail better.

There's a lot happening in the background but my photos aren't really showing it.

The red cardinal was water-coloured in red (although it looks like pink!) 

and fussy cut.

The bough of the tree has white glue on it for snow and the bottom edge with 

frantage shabby white embossing powder.

The winter die cut has been raised up with foam and the ribbon died 

with the same distress ink colours.

The cardinal is actually inside looking out through the window....

Some crafty licence here I think!

Crafty Hugs x

Challenges I am linking the tag to....

Rubber Dance - Inspiration Photo and colours and I went with the optional twist of frosty winter...

The cardinal stamp is by Rubber Dance
Thank you so much for the Honorable Mention xxx

Stamplorations - Mixed Media - Anything goes using a stencil and not a card

The stencil is Stamplorations as is the sentiment die cut

Congratulations.....

I have been having fun playing with Alcohol Inks....

This is my card......

I started with die cutting a circle, to use as a mask 

and then stamping around it using splat stamps, 

in a couple of shades of light grey.

I also did free hand splats with silver metallic paint...which I loved.

The gown has been stamped onto one of my Alcohol ink backgrounds

 and fussy cut.

I normally don't do fussy cutting, as I like to work out how to do it 

as one layer but with the inks I was stuck.

 The gorgeous stamp, which I've not used before,
 is from The Ton and also includes the delicate lace stamp, 

which goes at the bottom of the dress 

but I stamped it just inside the circle as if it was a hanging flower/vine.

I wanted to show the gorgeous effect of the inks in this photo.

Once I started I couldn't stop and have lots now for future projects.

I wanted to show how fabulous the gold ink is, in this photo.

I have used all Ranger Alcohol Inks but the gold is from Patina and is stunning.

It moves like liquid gold when you use the blending solution on it.

Karen D of Snippets was using Pinata Alcohol inks and of course I had to have some!

I finished with stamping the sentiment, also in the stamp set, the tiny flower

and silver washi tape down the side.

I actually made a flower from shrink plastic for her hair but it was still too big!

I loved playing with the alcohol inks. 

The colours themselves re-acted differently, which surprised me

and of course on different glossy card, yupo etc.

Stained fingers and loved it!

Crafty Hugs x

I am linking my card to the following challenges.....

The Ton - Celebrate

Darnell's NBUS challenge. 

I would be thrilled with any of the wonderful prizes

Without the optional theme..x

Dreams .....

Still playing with charcoal.....
Thrilled to have got a Win with this card from Stamplorations - CAS challenge..Thank you x

 This card was initially a little longer but after doing the third butterfly, 

through the stencil, it leaked underneath!

So...... the charcoal gradient isn't so gradient!

I used black paste for the butterflies and once it was dried popped on 

Liquid Chrome.

This stuff is super shiny and covers really well.

Finished off with the NBUS sentiment, silver washi tape and a few sequins.

Crafty Hugs x

I will be linking this card to Darnell's NBUS challenge. 

I would be thrilled with any of the wonderful prizes

This time without the optional theme..which is a fun one x

Also linking up with...

Stamplorations - Theme Challenge - Stamping and Mixed Media

Stamplorations stencil, embossing paste, stamping, charcoal water-colouring

Stamplorations - CAS Challenge -  Anything CAS with the option of Silver or Gray
Update-I was lucky and got a win with this card-Thank you x
Stamplorations - Never ending Challenge-Using their products-Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers - CAS - Stencil 

Crafty Hugs x

With Love.........

Today's project is decorating an envelope.......

My colour choice was inspired by Color Throwdown

I thought they where really pretty colours.

I used Concord & 9th Wildflower Stamp Set 

and New to me their Perfectly Penned Stamp set.

I was keen to see if I could link the alphabet together.

It went OK!

I will be entering the challenge.....

Where creativity meets C9 - Try something new

I stamped the flowers with white pigment ink

and painted the colours with watered down acrylic paints.

The flower stamp set is so pretty and I enjoyed using the new alphabet set.

The card to go in it is nearly finished!

Crafty Hugs x

I will be linking my card up to the following Challenges......

Where creativity meets C9 - Try something new

New Alphabet stamp set, stamping and colouring onto kraft with acrylics all new to me

Color Throwdown

HUGS ......

Had a crafty day yesterday so here is my card.....

The background panel has been done with charcoal 

and water to get the gradient effect.

I then stamped the morning glory flower with black archival ink.

The white flower was painted with heavy white gesso.

I hand embellished with a black pen and a little liquid chrome.

I stamped and embossed the circles, the edge of the card 

and the die cut Hugs with liquid platinum embossing powder.

Finally I die cut the front panel with a crazy double running stitch rectangle. 

The flower stamp, the hugs die and the circle stamps have never been used before 

so I will be linking this card to Darnell's NBUS challenge. 

This time without the optional theme..

I enjoyed making this card and had fun with the charcoal and gesso.

Hope your day has been a good one?

Crafty Hugs x

Challenges I would like to link my card to.....

Darnell's NBUS Challenge - 

Second entry this time without the theme and would be thrilled to win any prize

Stamplorations - Theme Challenge - Stamping and Mixed Media

Stamplorations flower stamp, hugs and rectangle dies

Stamplorations - CAS Challenge -  Anything CAS with the option of Silver or Gray
Stamplorations - Never ending Challenge-Using their products-Anything Goes

Home......

A dear friend of mine has a New Home so I made her this card, 

inspired by a few challenges.

The sketchy houses have been stamped onto water colour card.

The stamp set is by Stamplorations and has never been used.

The background has been watercoloured carefully with Lindy's stamp gang powders.

They produce different and fun colours and are very versatile.

I haven't used the powders before either but I will in the future.

I found quite a few whilst organizing my room!

The picture above hopefully shows the subtle shine 

and the slightly different colours.

The powders aren't as shiny as the sprays but you can use them in lots of different ways.....

Inspired by Darnell's NBUS challenge and the twist, I have die cut a hidden message.

I tried to line up the centre of the word Home with the red door.

The clear hearts on top of the house have been stenciled with clear paste.

Two thin strips of washi tape on the left and a simple stamped sentiment completes the card.

All the information is on Darnell's blog....

I am also linking up with 

Stamplorations CAS Challenge 

Anything goes which has an optional colour twist of silver or gray

Stamplorations Theme Challenge - Stamping and mixed media

I have used die cutting, stencil, paste and stamping

Less is More - Theme Challenge - New Beginnings

Stamplorations - Never Ending - Anything goes using their products

Thank you so much for stopping by....
Crafty Hugs x

Snowflake.......

I have so missed crafting.....

Here is today's card.....

With the techniques I've used I have found it impossible to get a decent photo 

but wanted to enter 

The CAS Mix Up Challenge and The CAS Water colour Challenge

which is closing shortly......

The background has been done with Alcohol inks and the cling wrap technique.

I used white glitter gel through a stencil for the background snowflake 

and a die cut snowflake out of vellum on top.

It is difficult to see but it is there.

I wanted the snowflake to look like it had fallen and stuck into the snow.

The Alcohol inked background produced a gorgeous atmospheric pattern 

that I hope you can see.

I stamped the sentiment with the help of my Misti three times.

I wanted to say a Big Thank you for your very kind and generous comments 

and for sticking with me duting my absence....I really do appreciate it x

Crafty Hugs x

Challenges I would like to enter....

The CAS Mix Up Challenge - CAS and Mixed Media

My liquid colour is Alcohol Inks and I have used a stencil and a die cut

CAS Watercolour - Snowflake
AAA Cards - Winter Chill

Memory Box - Winter Blues - I have used the Lindeman Snowflake Die

Happy Little Stampers - Christmas Challenge
Anything goes with the optional twist - Joy