Canvas #2

I can see myself really getting into doing these!! In fact, I already have another two on the go...!!

This one is for my Mum. My original plan was to do a 'bird' theme canvas but it sort of evolved when I realised that my bird images are all totally different styles and wouldn't look right together. Mum loves her garden, so I thought a garden type theme would also work well for her - and suited the things I had a bit better!!!

Again, this is a canvas board, which I inked up in a bunch of blues and greens (mostly distress inks). I stamped the grass and flowers image in a dark green distress stain, which I blotted afterwards and gave a totally different look - it lifted all the blue which I wasn't expecting, but which worked really nicely and gave a more subtle yellow sort of colour. I also stamped the tree image (and an extra bit of grass under the tree as the first stamp didn't reach across the whole canvas!). I then made a mask of the bottom half and images, and stamped the music notation. Of course, when you want a lovely crisp image, you end up with a bit where the ink doesn't take - typical! I then sealed the whole thing with clear embossing powder.

Once that was done, the rest came together so quickly! I used a butterfly I'd made previously (double sided foam die cut into a butterfly and then mother of pearl transfer foil on the sticky bit), with a square blue gem added because my Mum just loooooves blue and can't get enough of it! A few flowers with added bling which were added either direct to the canvas or on 3d pads. Four stamped birds on vellum, stuck down with double sided tape. Then, to finish, a die cut rectangle of vellum, stamped and embossed with sparkly embossing powder. The bow is part of a set of earrings I was given for crafting purposes, which I've cut down to get the best bit and then stuck on top. And lastly, a bird stamped, fussy cut and popped up on dimensionals.

I'm pleased with how it turned out, can't wait to give it to Mum now! I hope she'll love it!

I'd love to know what you think. And I'd also love to know where you think the focal point is and where the eye is drawn - I'm fascinated by the idea of "movement" in designs but I'm often not sure why I'm drawn to something, and so I'm trying to educate myself!!!

Entering into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Hey girl
The Pink Elephant - Summer
The Stamp Man Challenge - Summer colours (anything goes)
Allsorts challenge - distressing

Wedding card

A friend of mine asked me to make her a wedding card to give to a couple getting married tonight. I don't often give cards away as I find it a bit.. stressful!! I worry that people won't like them enough to give them away if that makes sense! So I made a pile of different ideas, trying to go for every style I could think of!

This was the one she picked - and it's the one I would have picked too so she obviously has good taste! (typically, the pic hasn't come out very well and I no longer have the card - but you get the idea anyway!)

Very simple to make, I think it's pretty and elegant, and almost totally carried by the gorgeous DP.

The vows script is a new stamp I bought from a tabletop sale last weekend, which was a bargain.. got loads of great new stamps which I've been happily inking, and they barely cost me anything.. lovely stuff :)

Thanks for popping by..

Trying something new - my first canvas!

I decided to try something a bit different, as I've got plenty of cards to keep me going for a bit... Saw this idea on Hels' blog, mini canvases decorated... and thought I'd give it a go!

I decided to use canvas board instead of proper canvases.. they were cheaper (for a first attempt!) and the size was better for what I was looking for... tho I'm still thinking about how to make it hangable.. going to have to visit a hardware store methinks! Any tips gratefully received!

This is a canvas for a friends' birthday. We work together, and I've never known someone to drink so much tea.. so I know this will give her a giggle! Purple is also her favourite colour.

So, I started by covering the canvas in three coats of gesso.. wasn't really sure how many to use, so figured three seemed like a lucky number. It did seem to work, but it was still tacky this morning after leaving it overnight to dry... so perhaps I'll try two coats next time ;)

I then blended pink and purple distress inks over the top.. it is lovely to do, much easier than on card as the inks really move around and don't get absorbed. I then overstamped with some purple chicken wire in the middle (mostly behind the sentiment), and some script in white at the top and bottom of the board. I left it a couple of hours to dry but it was still very tacky and the inks weren't really drying so I dumped a load of clear embossing powder on and sealed the whole thing with that.. worked a treat, and it's lovely and shiny too.

Stamped four images (some in distress and some in archival) from the tea set from here, and coloured in various distress inks, fussy cut and stuck down. I really love the tea sentiment, would use it on everything I made if I could!!

The sentiment was stamped and coloured then popped up on a faux chipboard shape made by stacking die cuts (tip picked up from Vicky's blog), and then embossed the edges in silver for a bit more shine.

Tied a ribbon in the lace, and stuck it down.. the flower at the bottom is created from three different shop bought flowers, metal one as the middle layer. There is also a frame shape cut out of an aluminium can stuck at the back behind the cup.

And that was about it!

I've already started on the next one. They're not really a style I'm particularly comfortable with so it's great to try some new things and just see what happens! I'm planning to make one for my sister with a butterfly theme, one for my mum with a birds theme, and I like the idea of making a couple for the flat - perhaps a "bathroom" plaque with rubber ducks and bubbles... or a "kitchen" plaque with food and stuff on.. you get the gist. We'll see!

So I'm entering this for a few challenges...

Hels' Sunday Stampers - Embellishments
Anything Goes Challenge - Lavender and Lace
Saturday Challenge - Food and Drink
Stamp Man - Anything Goes - Summer Colours
Totally Papercrafts - Lots of Layers

More blue, more framing

Another blue entry for the Addicted to Stamps challenge.

Very similar to this card I posted last week, for the Moxie Fab love challenge. This one has been made 100% specially for my mum with her favourite colours and favourite images. She's really unwell and I can't stand not being close to her (she lives about 90 miles away). I go to see her as often as I can, but when it's not possible, the best I can do is let her know I'm always thinking of her.

Inky background created with all kinds of different blue inks and sponges. The stars are one corner stamp, and I used a stamp positioner to turn it into a frame. I quite like how it gives an uneven shape.


Here's another picture, to show the shiny shine! Love silver embossing - and so does my Mum!

And here's a pic of the inside.It's not stuck down in this pic, as I wrote a soppy message in silver pen before sticking it down, but didn't feel I needed to share that with you all ;)

Thanks for stopping by.

Bon voyage

A quick post, with a quick card made for a friend who is off travelling.

Entering into the "Blue" challenge at Addicted to Stamps. I've got another entry to post tomorrow too, blue is one of my favourite colours to use!

Thanks for visiting, would love to know what you think.

Moxie Fab - love challenge

Another entry to the Moxie Fab challenges... there are so many awesome challenges going on over there at the moment! This card is for the love challenge.

I started off with a background created with a pile of distress inks.. can't remember the colours but if you want to know then please feel free to ask. I picked those colours because I think this is a really warm and comforting colour combination, just perfect for a love card.

I then decided I wanted to add copper and gold embossing powder, for a sort of autumnal feel. Foliage seemed a sensible way to go, and so I went for edges and left the space in the middle for the sentiment. If you look closer there are some foliage images which are unembossed because i liked the subtle look of the embossing ink.

The stamps are all from the Papermania Bird Song set which I recently acquired in a sale.  The birds were embossed with fired brick distress powder on to vellum, and stuck on. The top one looks a bit odd because of the shine - it looks much more solid in real life but I couldn't get a pic which showed that as matt and the gold and copper as shiny!

Finally, I created a black card blank and stuck the panel on top. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out :)

Also entering into the following challenges:
Try It On Tuesday - Anything Goes
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Depth of Distress
Craft Your Passion - Things with Wings

Moxie Fab birthday challenge

A birthday card today, made to bump up my collection (birthday cards are always good to have on hand!) and with the Moxie Fab stamping challenge - birthdays in mind.

The flower stamp is a V&A stamp - really love their images, such gorgeous florals. I've stamped in white ink on to a black base, and added some punched flowers with some bling. The ribbon is recycled from some packaging.

I'm also entering this for the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps - Bingo challenge (stamp, free, flowers)

Allsorts challenge - In Bloom

Moving Along With The Times - Happy Birthday

Moxie Fab - congratulations

Today's card is for the Moxie Fab congratulations challenge. Make a congrats card, with stamping as the main feature.

All colours are distress inks... the dragonfly stamp is one of my favourite EVER.

The sentiment looks wonky in the pic.. very annoying. It isn't, it's just the angle of the photo... which in turn is because there is NO LIGHT around at the moment, just huge looming grey clouds. Not that I mind that much, more time for crafting and acting the hermit crab!

'Hello'

This card was inspired in a roundabout way by Julia's card which was a very deserving win at the Stamp Man! Julia made her amazing card using metal tape. I am desperate to get some (look at Julia's blog and you too will need some in your life!), but things have been so hectic that I just haven't gotten round to it. In a vain hope that hubby might have some, I rifled through his toolbox. No metal tape.. but lots of bright coloured electrical tape..

And this was the outcome! It's lovely stuff to work with - really stretchy and flexible, and not too sticky so easy to get into the right position.

Still need to get some metal tape, the possibilities are endless!!!

Entering this into the Pan Pastels - Anything Goes challenge.

LIM - paper piecing

Ooooh I love a bit of paper piecing!

This one is for the Less Is More - paper piecing challenge.

Also entering for Craft Your Passion - things with wings.

LIM - more shinies

Here's another shiny which I made a while back, but haven't gotten round to posting.

This was inspired by this card by Ardyth. If you're not familiar with her blog, you need to check it out!!

This card is not my usual style - I'm really not into big shows of bling, but I loved Ardyth's version and I've got loads of these little flower blings that I wasn't sure what to do with. I'm pretty pleased with this one because the square was created with one straight line stamp which I lined up by eye and managed to get right first time... miracles do happen, once in a while!!

All stamping has been clear embossed so is a little shinier in real life!

This is my second entry into the Less Is More - Something Shiny challenge. Click here to see my first entry.

Thanks for stopping by, would love to know your thoughts!

LIM Something shiny

I'm here with my first entry for this weeks Less Is More - Something Shiny. I feel pretty sure I will be back, as I can't get enough of shiny things!

This card is one I made ages ago... and then messed up by smudging the ink of the sentiment which was stamped directly on to the card.

original SMUDGY version :(

Soooo annoying! I decided this challenge was perfect for reviving it - baby's are the ultimate "something shiny" after all, and there are plenty of shinies on the card itself... the cardstock, metallic pen, glittery embossing powder... and a little shiny spot for an elephant eye.

Close-up of the glittery sentiment..

Banner coloured in shiny metallic pen, and sentiment embossed with glittery embossing powder.

I am really loving making baby cards! Just need a few more people to have them now.. lol.

Got loads of cards to share over the next couple of days, if I have time! And I'm hoping to make more for this challenge too :) Looking forward to seeing the other entries!

Less Is More - flourish

Here's my entry for this week's Less Is More challenge - one layer with a flourish.

Really tricky to get a good picture of the shimmer!!

The copper coloured ink is a dovecraft pigment ink. If any of you own these, then you will know what a royal pain in the backside they are! I call them my 'toxic' inks because they never dry and they stain EVERYTHING. They have a really greasy texture to them. They're great for use with embossing powders though, because they're soooooo wet and juicy that they grab all the powder!

After several hours soaking in hot water and fairy liquid, that flourish embossing folder is almost back to normal colour... although it's still very shimmery!

Love you to the moon

Here is a card I've made for a friend. She's sending it to her Mum.

The black sheet is popped up on dimensionals, which hasn't shown up at all on the pic!

Entered for Try It On Tuesday - Anything Goes

I've seen so many gorgeous creations out there in blogland of late. Really looking forward to trying some of the ideas you've all been giving me - so thanks for continually giving me the opportunity to see what you've been working on!

Embossed pirates

Another quick share tonight of this lovely little number...

My brother has said he would like some of my cards to give away, so I am going to make some kids cards for him to give to his son's friends. They live in Switzerland,so best to leave them without sentiments - as I don't have any German ones!!

As I know my nephew loves pirates, I figure his friends are probably into them too... but I'm pretty sure a boy of any age would like this one :) The flags are made with distress embossing powder so have a lovely texture to them, and three of them are popped up on dimensionals (which you totally can't see in the pic!)

Thanks for popping by, would love to know your thoughts :)

Entering for the following challenges:
Allsorts - By the seaside
Saturday challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant - Vibrant colours
Try it on Tuesday - Anything Goes

Fathers day cards

Before I start this post, just want to say a big thanks for your opinions about cards for my brother! I've decided to go with this one and to send the second card from this post to my father-in-law for fathers day.

I've enjoyed making a few other fathers day makes...

I'm giving these to friends to give to their daddies! I am loving this style at the moment :) really enjoyable (and messy!) to make. Would love to hear your thoughts :)

Entered into the Stamp Man challenge - Make It For A Man.

Quick and easy baby cards

I have come to a conclusion... I have far too many cards. I need to get rid of them! I'll send some over to St Lukes (if you're not joining in this challenge, give them a try - great challenges, a month between each so loads of time to enter, and if you send your cards in then it's for a great cause). I send a lot to friends and family, but there are still too many! I've tried to persuade my family that they want them.. we'll see! With this in mind, I figured that I should try to make 'useful' cards for a while... ones that have a purpose that makes them easy to send!

My card stash has a lack of baby cards, so I figured I'd make some... and ended up with 4. So quick and easy, lots of fun to make and I think they're cute.

(just noticed the pink one is stamped a lot higher!! They were done by eye rather than with any particular measurements).

It's nice to use some of these card blanks too... I bought them really cheap, and when I've tried to use them I find them very garish! They work well with this sort of clean, simple layout though - which I'm really glad of. Not sure what I'll use the "sick" colour one for though... it's not shown here, but there's really no other way to describe the colour. Ha!

Hope you're all enjoying the start of your jubilee weekend.. I'm spending the whole day crafting - bliss!

Entering into the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion - for a baby
Secret Crafter - anything goes

Less Is More shaped card

Back with a share for Less Is More.. they are looking for a shaped card this time. Here's my entry...

Love that cute little guy poking his head through.

Would love to hear your thoughts. Off to have a little browse through the other LIM entries now, I'm sure there will be some brilliant ones!

Challenges: Less Is More - shaped card

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Stars (and/or moon)

Come and Get It Challenges - Window cards

Choc, Coffee & Cards Challenge - For the boys

More male birthday cards

As promised, here are the other two possibilities for my brother's birthday... similar theme (sort of!) but very different type of card. As these are both one layer, I'll be entering them into the St Luke's Charity Challenge (still a few days to go!)

This was the first one I made.. A midsection created with score lines and masked off with scrap paper. TH masks and some inks sponged on. I liked it... but thought perhaps it would be improved with a bit more 'depth' in the background like so..

With masks in place, script stamped in picket fence distress stain and then the same inks sponged on (with a bit less of the vibrant blue as I wasn't so sure about it!)

I have deliberately left the sentiment off the second version, in case I don't want to use it as a birthday card. And I really can't decide which I prefer, I think that I like them both!

So I need your help to decide which to send! The card from yesterday's post, the top one or the bottom one from this post! Mum's vote is yesterday's share. I'm really torn!

Whatever I send, this is definitely a technique I'll be doing again - I only recently got myself some sponges and some ink duster brushes, and I have loved playing with them! Such different effects! And so QUICK to make! I'll definitely be making some of these to send off to St Luke's with my next load!


Challenges are pretty much the same as yesterdays...
Try It On Tuesday - Fathers day (cards for men or boys)
Simon Says Stamp - Cards for a special man or fathers day
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - For men
And of course St Luke's Charity Challenge - One Layer Month

How old??

Here is a card I've made with my brother's birthday in mind... though I've made some others which are also contenders, so I'm not sure which one to send as yet! I will share the others tomorrow and would love to know which one you think I should send!

I struggle with cards for my brothers. Not only do they need to be 'male' cards, I also don't know that much about what they like to do!!! I end up going for the same theme each year - so I decided to try something very different this time. This particular brother lives overseas, so I started thinking about using a map. On top of that, I stuck a Tim Holtz compass mask which I've barely used and wanted to try. I swiped Picket Fence Distress Stain all over the map, as a sort of 'base' and then splodged on colours using blue and brownish Distress stains. I then hummed and haa-ed for a bit before my husband suggested I dry emboss a frame around the outside - which worked sooo well and made it look totally different. I swiped some blue ink over the embossed frame to make it a little clearer. All I had to do then was mat it on black, add a sentiment and tie a bit of bakers twine around it :)

I'm pretty pleased with how it turns out - I always feel excited when something that isn't fairly CAS works out well, as I do tend to err towards CAS styles!

Entered into the following challenges:
Try It On Tuesday - Fathers day (cards for men or boys)
Simon Says Stamp - Cards for a special man or fathers day
Pan Pastel Challenge - Pastels
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - For men

As always, I'd love to know what you think! Thanks for visiting x