Mermaiden

Mermaid Sequins

As you all know I am a little girl when it comes to mermaids - I love them.  I used sequins for the scales on her tail, and of course all self respecting mermaids would have pearls too, not to mention the stardust in her hair.

Digi-Image: A Day For Daisies (coloured with Reno pens)
Embellishments: Sequins, pearls, Kindyglitz for stardust, two shades of ribbon knotted
Embossing Folder: Sizzix bubble

And of course (what else!) watercolour paper made by me using Distress inks and Glimmer mists


Shared on challenge:

http://adayfordaisies.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/take-two-august-2015-club-kit-challenge.html

Cheers

LiMSketch; Patterns



I love buttons and have inherited a jarful.  And I love pretty papers ... so this sketch just seemed right for CAS buttons and checks.  It really doesn't take much to make a card look pretty smart. And I reckon this would be okay for a man or woman.



Diecut: Paper Smooches.

Background is embossed using the scoreboard; black wavy strip cut with a rotary cutter; Die is cut into the checked paper and black card is placed underneath.
Buttons applied with glue dots.


Shared on challenge:

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/week-238-sketch.html

http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/cfc142.html

Flowerpot Baby

Stamp & Die; Embellishments


Isn't this the cutest image?  And I like the non-traditional colours too.

Stamped in black ink, coloured with Lyra watercolour crayons, then diecut, with a slightly larger die cut in red for a mat.  Mounted on dotty paper.  Diecut label with stamped sentiment.  And of course using my two favourite embellishiments - ribbon trim and brads.   Ribbon is such a cool embellishment as there is such a fabulous range available, and did you know you really only NEED have one lot of brads because you can have them as they are; colour them with ink or pens; ink & heat emboss them; or glue and glitter them!  How handy is that?

Baby Stamp: Rubbadubbadoo
Dies: Spellbinders
Sentiment stamp: unknown brand

Shared on challenge:
http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/august-challenge-anything-goes-with.html

http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/favourite-2-embellishments-and-why.html

Starry Bear

Sketch; Christmas sparkle


I wanted a card that was for Christmas without looking too Christmassy ... if that makes sense?

So then, non-traditional colours, and a bear holding a star.  What else to go with that than punched stars and two punched corners.  The bear is a framed by two layers of diecut gold card circle frames in two sizes and then by a black circle.  All are dimensional.








Shared on challenges:

http://sketchsaturday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/week-375-with-kenny-k.html

http://happylittlestampers.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/hls-august-christmas-challenge.html

Pinky goes shopping

Pink challenge; B & W & one colour


Pinky goes shopping - don't you love her pink hair?

Embossed background, stamped image and sentiment, punched border.  Colouring with copic marker.


shared on challenges:

http://getcreativechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/challenge-21-monochromatic-using-pink.html

http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/08/black-and-white-with-one-color.html

Etching workshop

Etching weekend class with Carole Shepheard August 2015 at her Kawhia workshop with a wonderful water view.  How magic to sit drinking coffee with a wood pigeon sitting outside the window.

This is an etching done from a photo I took at Riverton in Southland, NZ a couple of years ago.  What a magic spot and this rickety old wharf just begged for attention.




















On the right is an aquatint made from the same etched plate, using two tones of ink.










This uses the same plate in a Chine Colle technique using one tone of ink for printing, but onto heavy paper overlaid with tissue that has been coloured previously with three colours.



What a wonderful weekend and a wonderful bunch of women.  We had a lot of fun, made a few mistakes which were turned into opportunities, but in the end what fabulous results.  Everyone went away tired but happy.  Carole is a wonderful teacher, and shares her knowledge in a seemingly effortless way.  She must've been very tired at the end of the weekend too, with eight of us to wrangle.

Cant resist flowers

MakeYourMark

This is a glue resist technique.
PVA glue randomly spread over card.  When dry distress inks blended over.  Grasses stamped over using black ink.  Trimmed to size, matted with black card with punched border.  Tied string, added tiny doily with stamped sentiment on silver card, adhered onto card with dimensional foam.



Shared on challenges:

http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/challenge-157-make-your-mark.html

Hot colours

Summer colours

Five patterned papers to make a sun ray, and a fluttery butterfly to enjoy it.  I made this for a lady with cancer, hoping it will put some sunshine in her day.

Shared on challenges:

http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/145-warm-summer-colours-and-dt-call.html

Knotty

Tie it Up; Creature; Sparkle

Embossed white card matted onto blue card.  Three shades of ribbon knotted and tied around.  Hexagonal diecuts.  Digistamp coloured with Reno pens, KindyGlitz added to the balloon.  Stamped sentiment made into a matted banner.
Digi:  From The Heart Stamps

I like that it looks fresh and sparkling and unfussy... and doesn't he love his glitter balloon?









Shared on Challenges:

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-tie-it-up/

http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/08/feature-creature.html

http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/93-sparkle-glitter-or-anything-that.html

Notions Quilt Challenge

The challenge is "Notions" ; had to be 30cm x 30 cm finished size, and consist of three quilting layers (top, batting, back).

This is version one.  Even though I had been working with it on & off for a month or more, I wasn't satisfied with it, it felt messy and unfocussed.

On the morning of hand-in, I took bits off and discarded them, then rearranged other pieces, in particular the scissors.

I am happy with this one:  Version two.  The scissors look much better 'cutting' through the slash at the top, and fewer buttons show up the black stitching that quilts the piece.   And more importantly it looks 'cleaner' and more purposeful.  Now I think the eye goes up the zip and around the quilt in a focussed way, rather than darting all over the place.

Hope you like it too.

DecoDame

Mojo409


This is such a great sketch!

Panel of dotty paper, corners rounded.
A round of torn mulberry paper.
A bit of diecut rose peeping out.
Image panel is a download from Creative Stamping.
Sentiment strip is a rub-on with a clear background, because I wanted to see through & not interrupt the line of her.  Quite simple as I didn't want anything to compete with her, isn't she a darling?


Shared on challenges:

http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/mojo-monday-409-contest.html

HeartSong

Mojo409

I am so liking this sketch!


A plain white card base.
A round of white torn mulberry paper.
A strip of wine mulberry paper.

An ATC I made ages ago and never could part with.  I was having a clean out and thought why not make use of the ATCs as toppers?  The heart is punched, inked, and covered with several layers of Glossy Accents sprinkled with fine glitter while still wet.  The music is washi tape.  All put on a background scrap of embossed white card (swiss dots) and a scrap of striped paper.  edge inked all round.

White satin ribbon .

Isn't that romantic?           

Shared on Challenges:

http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/mojo-monday-409-contest.html

Always Heart

235 Colour - Berry shades; Anything goes.




CAS style it may be but there are seven berry shades of ink on this!



Background & Heart Stamps: Hero Arts
Sentiment stamp: Heidi Swapp
Inks: Versacolor, Colorbox, Impress, Memento
Wine base card and pearls.



Shared on challenges:

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/week-235-colour.html

http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/challenge-156-anything-goes.html

Bonnes Vacances

Mojo409; Sparkle; Fun in the sun

What else is a summer holiday but clear blue skies, pristine sand and sparkling sea?
I just made this for our French teacher who is off to Fiji for a holiday in a week's time - remember it's the middle of our NZ winter!  And because there was a sparkle challenge in the mix, I couldn't resist...

Sparkly papers torn and layered (to represent sea, sand and sky).  A digi-stamp coloured with Reno pens, matted in dark blue. Horizontal strip is under the topper instead of on top but the wavy postmark continues the line.   Postmark stamps and a flower in her hair with pearl centre.  Diecut rounded shells (from Coffee paper) and star-fish (manila) attached with dimensional foam.  Sentiment is my handwriting scanned & e-cut.


Now doesn't that make you want to go on a tropical holiday?  I'm so envious, I look out the window today and it is dull grey and pouring with rain!

Digi-stamp: Scrappers Delight
Stamp: (Hampton Art)
Die-cuts: Cuttlebug
E-Cut: Brother Scan'n'Cut
Shared on challenges:

http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/mojo-monday-409-contest.html
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/93-sparkle-glitter-or-anything-that.html
http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/08/fun-in-sun-challenge.html

Thinking Man

Mojo409; Anything goes

Paper from stash.
Face Stamp: Stampers Anonymous.
Glasses & Moustache: from Craft Stamper magazine, heat embossed black.
Die cut: Spellbinders Labels nineteen

I'm having trouble getting colours to come out right; the green is really more of a bright dark lime green and looks quite snappy.  This is taken in daylight; I wonder, does anyone else have this problem??

Thanks for visiting and commenting.










Shared on challenge:

http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/mojo-monday-409-contest.html


http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/challenge-156-anything-goes.html

Do More

Mojo409



What a great sketch this is, so inspiring!









Diecut tag: Kaisercraft
Stamp: Rosie's
Diecut feathers: Spellbinders & Couture Creations
Circle diecut & embossed:Sizzix

Thanks for visiting and leaving me a comment.

Shared on challenge:

http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/mojo-monday-409-contest.html

Sepia Girl

Mojo 409; C&GI Fun in the Sun.



Image was a free download, I'm not sure from where, but maybe from Craft Stamper. 

Diecut: Spellbinders Delightful Circles

Shabby rose made by me from a torn strip of muslin.

Patterned paper, layered with diecut, fine twine circled around, then pic (distressed and edges inked), crochet lace and rose on dimensional foam.

She is so absorbed in her task, what better way to spend the summer?  Sometimes I wish I was a kid again...









Shared on challenges:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/mojo-monday-409-contest.html

http://cagichallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/08/fun-in-sun-challenge.html

Special delivery

SSSketch


Diecut:  Spellbinders Sprockets
Main Stamp: Sweet Pea Stamps
Sentiment stamp:  don't know
EF:CraftConcepts Grunge Dots

Embossed yellow card, dabbed with Versamagic white chalk ink and green Dovecraft chalks.  Stamp image coloured with Reno pens, background around the clouds are dusted randomly with blue chalk.




Shared on challenge:
http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/stella-says-sketch-challenge.html

SnowMan

(Stella says Sketch, FTH August)



Digi image coloured with Reno pens.

Digistamp: From The Heart Stamps
Sentiment stamp: Penny Black
Diecut: Spellbinder
Border Punch: Fiskars


I dislike making Christmas cards at this time of year, but have to start sometime and I guess if you knock off one a week it's not too bad ...   and this is pretty cute.   I don't usually do traditional colours but just felt like it this time.



Shared on Challenges:  http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/stella-says-sketch-challenge.html

http://fromtheheartstamps.com/community/2015/08/01/free-stamp-of-the-month-august-2015/

Feathers

Feathers

Made my own watercolour background using distress inks smooshed on an acetate sheet, then paper applied to the resulting mash! COrners rounded.   Diecut bird on branch and stuck double layered so it is more substantial, stuck on with a real feather under the low branch.  Stamped sentiment.

Diecut: Impression Obsession
Sentiment stamp: Hero Arts

I have collected feathers whenever I come across them, they are amazing - soft but strong.  I love that birds leave them around like little messages that say ... I was here!

Shared on challenge:
http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/favourite-fur-or-feathers-why.html

Star Man

Mojo Sketch 409











Smooshed my own background using distress inks in the yellow-orange range.  Printed the digi-image, coloured with Reno pens.  Assembled with cog/sprocket diecut, racing flag check ribbon and a star sentiment printed on the computer, and matted with black card adhered with dimensional foam.  All mounted on black base card.

Digi-image:
Diecut: Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets

Shared on challenges:
http://mojomonday.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/mojo-monday-409-contest.html

Feathered Friend

Little bird & feathers

I cut an aperture in card & deco paper, and a frame in red. Diecut branch & feathers, one in white card and one is vellum.  Stamped sentiment, cord tied around feathers.  Painted bird with Lyra watercolour crayon & cut out, placed on branch with dimensional foam.

Digi-image: A Day for Daisies
Diecut: Spellbinders feathers in the wind
Sentiment: Kaisercraft

Actually I painted the whole digi-stamp but messed up on the flowers. So I rescued him.  I do like this simple version - and he is SO cute.  I reckon he is thinking  'Hmm so that's where they disappeared to... '

When we lived in the country I used to have chookies of various kinds and colours, chickens hatching ... I specially loved the Chinese Silkies - their chicks are like little bumblebees!  Have you ever looked closely at a feather?  They are beautifully engineered and for something so delicate, they are amazingly strong.

Shared on challenges:

http://www.adayfordaisies.blogspot.co.nz/2015/07/take-two-more-birds-challenge-127-add.html

http://asyoulikeitchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/favourite-fur-or-feathers-why.html

Watercolour Bubble Bath

Sketch 114 with the watercolour twist; Snippets (yes please).

What a feeling, sinking onto those bubbles in that deep bath...

Technique was strategically dabbing distress ink pads on acetate, spritzing with water, then smooshing printed digistamp in it.   It seems to give a steamy floaty atmosphere. I added colour to the beak, five adhesive iridescent bubbles, & kindyglitz to the rest of the bubbles.  Background is four strips of coordinating ribbon fixed diagonally over the embossed white card.  What a great way to use up snippets of paper and ribbon.  I often have small bits of inked paper that I overstamp and leave just as a line drawing.

EF: Cuttlebug Diamonds in the Rough
Digistamp:  From The Heart
Ranger Distress Inks

Shared on Challenges:
http://fromtheheartstamps.com/community/2015/06/17/midweek-design-team-inspiration-post-2/sketch114/

http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/pixies-snippets-playground-week-188.html YES please

Flower inspiration

Challenges:   Summer flowers; photo inspiration.






Stamps: Verve stamps
Versacolor Ink: Green Tea, Marigold, Opera Pink.
Distress Ink: Spiced Marmalade, Dried Marigold, Spun sugar, Silver.
Hero Arts ink: field greens
Versafine ink: Onyx black.


Some colour and flowers stamped directly onto white card background.  Others are colour blocked, overstamped, cut out, then attached with varying depths of dimensional foam. 

Basically the flowers, the colours and the round shape are the inspiration, with the centres showing a hint of silver metallic.  The colours are actually brighter than the photo shows.

Shared on challenges:
http://addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/challenge-155-photo.html

http://cinspirations.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/challenge-323-flowers_22.html

http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/august-challenge-summer-flowers.html

Man-box

Not a card - a man's jewellery box.

Raw MDF box purchased, covered with crushed tissue paper, then painted with black acrylic paint, textured paper here and there, then randomly stamped in gold ink with inspirational words (inspire, live simply etc).  Computer printed Vintage car & travel posters applied, then all Mod Podged.  Diecut cogs adhered with stick on brads.
The box is small H 2" W 4" D  3".
Lined with black felt.

Shared on challenge:
http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.co.nz/2015/07/144-anything-but-card.html