Experimental Rose

Good morning all, I hope you are all well and happy, and are finding time

for lots of crafty playtime. Welcome to my new followers...I hope

you enjoy your visits here.

If you have been reading my blog recently, you will know that I have

just begun experimenting with mixed media. My card today is my 

4th attempt at m.m., and 'the jury is out' as to whether I should be

showing it to you or not, as I am not sure if I like it.

Recently, while browsing on the 'net, I came across a tutorial using a 

combination of Tim Holtz's Frosted Film, and Wendy Vecchi's Clearly

For Art...now that's one heck of a duo of pure talent, isn't it!! I finally

got my little 'paws' on both products, and that's where the fun began, 

using a mixture of information from internet tutorials, instructions on 

the packaging, and my own bumbling experiments.

After attaching the 2 new (to me) products together, I die-cut them using

Spellbinders Rose Creations. On the reverse side of each petal layer, I  

sponged Lavender Brilliance Archival ink, and applied Sunshine 

Yellow Pinata alcohol ink to the centres, using cotton buds.

With a scalpel I scratched 'veins' into the leaves, then sponged them with Jade  

and Coffee Bean Brilliance Archival inks. Working fast before the petals

cooled and hardened, I heated 2 petals at a time, shaping them while still

very hot (ouch). I then used a hot glue gun to construct the flower.

The backgrounds were created using an embossing folder, pearlescent spray and

a variety of Distress Inks. Before applying the peel-off sticker greeting and

border, I coloured them with Promarkers. I sponged the die-cut flourishes, 

cut from kraft, with Distress Inks.

Challenges I would like to enter

Anything But Cute #1 - 'Vintage Garden' (The embossed panel reminds me of my Grandma's big flocked/velvet lounge suite) Exceptional New Mixed Media Artist

City Crafter #262 - 'Inky-nes'S' '

Crafting Musketeers #25 - 'Use A Die-cut'

Our Creative Corner - 'April Showers Bring May Flowers' (The top panel reminds me of stormy, rainy skies)

Stempelgarten #37 - 'Embossing' TOP 3

The Mixed Media Monthly #12 - 'May Flowers'

Dies - Spellbinders Floral Flourishes, Rose Creations; Cheery Lynn Exotic Butterfly small

Embossing - Couture Creation Endless

Inks, Spays, Stains - Brilliance Archival Pearlescent Lavender, Jade, Coffee Bean; Adirondack Denim; Daler Rowney Pearlescent Liquid Acrylic;Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain Picket Fence; Tim Holtz Distress Inks Scattered Straw, Antique Linen, Gathered Twigs, Bundled Sage, Iced Spruce, Peeled Paint, Dusty Concord, Milled Lavender, Tumbled Glass

Frosted Film - Tim Holtz

Clearly For Art - Wendy Vecchi Clear

Glitter - Ranger Stickles Star Dust

Peel-off stickers, mini beads - from my junk stash

I am trying to ignore the noise, but can no longer...my vacumn cleaner and broom are calling me, so I fear I must obey. Urrrrgh!!!

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs

Jennifer. x

Inky Fingers

'Inky Fingers' was the only title I could use for this post, as that was well and

 truly what I had at the end of the making of this card. However, I seem to be

overcoming my aversion to having messy fingers and hands, as I loved 

getting 'down and dirty', and can't wait to repeat the fun. Before I began

'playing', every single element was stark white, including the card base.

I created puddles of various D.I.s, dragged my cardstock through them several

times, drying with a heat tool each time. Then from a height, I sprayed with

Picket Fence distress stain. When that was dry I sprayed with a little

Pearlescent Liquid Acylic diluted with water, creating a stunning 

shimmery effect, which unfortunately barely shows in the photos. 

When the base was completely dry, I softly stencilled swirls all over, using

portions of butterfly wings on a 12x12 stencil, then sponged around the

edges. 

The flowers are made using EK Success punches and D.I.s, and the

seam binding was stained with several D.I.s.

The bird in flight (as with the little birdhouse) was embossed with Chunky

Blue Frantage, and a tiny sprinkling of lavender Opals. The stamped bird

and sentiment are from a set of clear stamps I have had for about 5 or 6 

years, and never used. I found them (along with quite a few other sets, and

many other items) when I moved my craft room from the old stable to the

 house. Shame on me! The good thing is though, it's like having new stash.

At this stage I have not decorated the inside of my card, as per usual, but

if I decide to do so, I will edit this post.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Artistic Inspirations #128 - 'Anything Goes With A Twist of Flowers'

Craft For The Craic - 'Bingo' (flowers, ribbon, die-cuts)

Creative Card Crew #84 - 'Handmade Flowers'

Frilly and Funky - 'Put A Ribbon On It'

Fussy and Fancy #135 - 'Girly'

Inspiration Journal - 'Spring Blooms'

Mixed Media World #1 - 'Anything Goes'

That Craft Place - 'Easter/Spring'

The Crafter's Cafe #109 - 'Spring Flowers'

The Shabby Tea Room #248 - 'Beautiful Blooms' (photo inspiration)

Dies - Spellbinders Grand Classical Lace Border; Memory Box Woodland Branch; Sweet Stamps Elegant Leaves; Couture Creations Baby Dove; Marianne LR025, LR0106, LR0107

Stamps - Inkadinkadoo
Punches - EK Success Retro Flowers Medium and Large
Stencil - Crafter's Workshop Butterflies 
Frantage - Stampendous Shabby Blue
Opals - Lavender
Inks and Stains - Versamark; Brilliance Archival Pearlescent Lavender, and Jade; Adirondack Denim; Daler Rowney Pearlescent Liquid Acrylic; Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain Picket Fence; Tim Holtz Distress Inks Scattered Straw, Antique Linen, Gathered Twigs, Bundled Sage, Dusty Concord, Milled Lavender, Tumbled Glass
Seam Binding and Stamens are from my junk stash

Me thinks I had better go and attend to boring tasks like housework, so thank you for visiting. I have some very exciting news to tell you soon, but at this stage I have to 'zip my lips', so in the meantime, I wish you "Happy Crafting".

******

I would like to mention too that at Winter Wonderland we have a DT Call. We are looking for 2 new teamies who are enthusiastic about making Christmas cards. For full details, pop over to our challenge blog, and if you are interested in joining us you have until 10th April to apply.

******

Hugs
Jennifer. x

Krafty Creations

My goodness, can you believe we are already in the 2nd half of February?

Because it is a Friday, it is time for another Winter Wonderland challenge.

This week our theme is 'CRAFTY CREATIONS'.

Don't forget, we are still in our 'non-Christmas' period, so you can enter

our challenge with any style/image, as long as we can see some kraft.

Our generous sponsors for this challenge are 

and

Other than my base card and part of the insert, I have used kraft for every

other element of my card and matching envelope.

As in my previous post, this card is also quite different from

my usual style. However, I really enjoyed making both of them.

A closer look at the flowers, sponged with Adirondack Raison,

 and the leaves, sponged lightly with Bundled Sage D.I. This is 

the first time I have used the pretty flower dies, which I won

in a challenge last year.

Inside my card co-ordinates with the front.

Challenges

Crafting for all Seasons #96 - 'Die and/or Punches'

Cute Card Thursday #361 - 'Floral Delight'

Just Inspirational - 'Handmade Flowers'

Papertake Weekly - 'Bingo' (die-cut, free, glitter)

Party Time Tuesdays #195 - Anything Goes

Dies - Cheery Lynn Leaf Flourish; Sweet Stamps Mini Flowers

Punch - Martha Stewart Floral Strip; EK Success Scalloped Corner Rounder

Stamp - The Creative Stamp Collection P/L E238

Inks - Adirondack Raison; Tim Holtz Bundled Sage

Stickles - Ranger Platinum

For a chance to win one of the fab prizes, why not pop over to Winter Wonderland, be inspired by my teamies gorgeous creations, then enter our 'Krafty Creations' challenge.

Until next time,

Hugs

Jennifer. x

Wedding Roses

A few months ago, I made this card for a wedding in September, and forgot

to post it on my blog, so here it is now. The lovely couple are Veronica and

Antonio, hence the 'V' and 'A'.

 

I took the photos on 2 consecutive days, and although the weather was the same both 

days, I can't believe how different the colours are. The true colours are closer to the

ones below. I used my favourite method of cutting my rose petals and leaves from 

parchment, or vellum, then handpainting them with dye inks before shaping them. 

It is a very time-consuming process, but the end result is quite satisfying.

A closer look at the roses on the left...

and on the right. These smaller roses were cut with a combination of

Cheery Lynn dies, and Carl punches.

Inside my card matches the front. 

Challenges

Fantastic Tuesday #10 - 'Must Be Square, Make it Fancy'
Songbird #28 - 'Favourite Song' (The Rose)
Through The Purple Haze - 'Pink, Purple or Red'
Unstampabelles #29 - 'Vellum - No Stamps'

Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Circles, Foliage, Rose Creations; Cheery Lynn Wreath Strip, Medium and Large Rose; Cuttlebug Alphabet Olivia
Punches - Carl Butterfly, Carl Retro Daisy,
Embossing - Tied Together (don't remember the brand)
Stamens - Flower Soft
Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Adirondack Dye Inks
Ribbon from my junk stash

This is just a short post tonight as it is after 1 a.m., and very unseasonably cold. I have had to keep my computer shutdown all day, because we have had multiple electrical storms, and torrential rain. We have just had a brief break from the storms, but unfortunately there is another brewing, and each crash if thunder is getting closer, so I had better bid you all "good night", and shut-down yet again.

Hugs,
Jennifer. x

Santa's Sleigh

 Oh my goodness, tomorrow will be the first day of August. Happy birthday to all horses, and here in Australia it is Wattle Day. 

The weeks are just racing by at an alarming rate, and already it is time for 

another challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty.

Our theme this week is 

'ADD SOME STITCHING - REAL OR FAUX'

We have 2 lovely sponsors this week, and they are

and

I was given this traditional digi image, Santa's Sleigh Silhouette, from Floppy Latte

to play with, as well as the digi paper. The Swiss Dots paper came in six

fabulous colours. 

I layered the paper, and adhered it with the base stripes both 

horizontally and vertically to create more visual interest. My stitching

is faux, the white drawn with a gel pen, and the sivery grey with a 

Zig Pen.

I coloured the moon with a Promarker (Primrose I think), and sponged

the edges of the white panel with Adirondack Denim.

In March, I bought the die for this reindeer from a lady at a stamp camp 

I attend twice yearly. She didn't want it...can't imagine why...

I love it. This is the first time I have used it, but I am sure you

will be seeing it quite often in the next few months. That tiny

blue gem fitted perfectly into his eye socket.

Challenges:-

Lexi's Creations - 'Christmas In July'

Stamp And Create - 'Christmas In July'

Cards For Men #15 - 'Christmas In July'

Shopping Our Stash #112 - 'Use Your Oldest Punch'

(Creative Memories - Corner Rounder)

Image - Floppy Latte digi Santa's Sleigh Silhouette

Paper - Floppy Latte Swiss Dots 1, Art Stamps Australia Silver Glitter

Dies - Sullivans Stars; Unknown Reindeer

Punch - Creative Memories Corner Rounder

For a chance to win great prizes, why not visit Penny's Paper Crafty and enter our 'Add Some Stitching - Real Or Faux' challenge.

Until next time, thank your for looking.
Hugs,
Jennifer. x

Guest Designer

Hello fellow crafters,
Last week I was thrilled to find that I had been chosen as the winner of challenge #27 in ABC Challenges, with this card that I made for my blogger friend, Pauline's birthday.

My prize was to be their Guest Designer for this week's challenge, 

'Make Your Own Stamped Background'

This is my card, using a colour I rarely use, orange. I felt like getting my fingers inky, something else I rarely do, so I made some more of my parchment roses.

For my background paper I used Express Blend-it card, which I normally use for my images that I colour with Promarkers. It is beautiful to work with when using a Resist Technique. I stamped the swirls with Versamark ink, then embossed them with Silver Pearl embossing powder, which creates such a 

luxurious look. 'Tis a pity that did not show up in the photo. I sponged the whole card with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink, then wiped it with a facial tissue. It doesn't show, but I lightly sponged the leaves

with Sage Versacube ink.

A closer look at my parchment roses. They have Flower Soft in the centres.

The large one reminds me of the big, soft, highly-scented roses my

Gran used to grow. 

Inside my card co-ordinates with the front.

I would like to enter the following challenges:-

Craft Room - 'Stamp your Own Background Paper'

Crafty Ribbons #46 - 'Anything Goes With Ribbon'

Anything Goes #93 - 'Handmade Backgrounds'

Marianne Design Divas - 'Get Your Dies Out'

Rhedd and Rosie's #7 - 'Blooming Lovely'

Let's Craft and Create #70 - 'Die Cuts'

Milk Coffee - 'Load on the Flowers'

LEJ #54- 'Die Cuts and/or Punches'

Timeless Tuesdays - 'Butterflies'

Everybody Art #237- 'Flowers'

Whoopsidaisy - 'May Flowers' TOP 3

Creative Belli #170 - 'Flowers'

Stamps - Hero Arts Fantastic Florishes; Stampin' Up
Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Ink Spiced Marmalade; Adirondack Butterscotch and Raisin; Versacube Sage; Versamark clear
Dies - Spellbinders Rose Creation, Foliage; Marianne Creatables Double Frames, Frames Swirls
Punch - Carl Butterfly
Embossing Powder - Stamp-It Silver Pearl
Gem - Papermania
Flower Soft, Stickles Icicles, Ribbon, all from my junk stash

Why not pop over to ABC Challenges, see the lovely creations by the regular DT.

Hugs,
Jennifer. x

Under the Sea

Hello fellow crafters,

For the first time this season, the last 2 days have had a lovely autumn feel to them (happy dance!!!!). I love autumn - pleasant days and cool nights snuggled under the doona, while the garden is full of colour, and all the plants aren't burnt and limp. 

Enough of this waxing lyrical...again it is time for another challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty, and our theme this week is 

'GINGHAM AND/OR CHECKS'

Our lovely sponsors for this challenge are

I was given this cute image, Little Honey's Little Mermaid, by Sassy Studio Designs to play with, and at first I wasn't sure how I would incorporate gingham or checks into my design. However, last week while I was at my stamp camp, I saw these gorgeous elasticised ribbons in the 'shop'. They reminded me so much of the swimming costumes little girls wore in the 1950s. My first 2 piece swimsuit was pink and white gingham, and extremely modest by today's standards, I must say.

The background is Core'dinations cardstock, which I spritzed lightly with water, embossed it with a Fiskars plate, then lightly sanded it to accentuate the 'waves'. Some colours do not photograph true to life...IRL the rectangle behind the image is almost the same pink as that of the ribbon.

I used my Promarkers to colour The Little Mermaid.

        

A closer look at the shells, pearls, starfish, and the seaweed which I created using a Marianne die, and a Memory Box die. The 'seaweed' was cut from the same sheet of paper as the mat, despite the colour differences.

As usual I decorated the inside of my card to match the front. That gorgeous shiny paper is from a roll of book-covering paper that I bought years ago. I bought 3 or 4 rolls of different colours, but all of them change colour as they are moved about, and slightly reflect any colours nearby e.g. I was wearing a bright pink top when I took the photos (bottom RH corner, above).

Challenges I would like to enter are:-

Anything Goes #88 - 'Seeing Double-Use 2 of Anything' (2 mini cockle shells)

Cuttin' and Stampin' #11 - 'Pink, Blue, Yellow and Green'

Party Time Tuesdays #112 'Colour-Picture Challenge'

My Craft Spot #91 - 'Embossing or Glossy Accents'

Kaboodle Doodles #163 - 'Anything With Frills'

Cupcake Craft #234 - 'Mythical Creatures'

I Love Promarkers - 'Anything Goes'

Crafty Creations #214 - 'Embossing'

Simon Says Stamp - 'Water'

Image - Sassy Studio Design digi image Little Honey's Little Mermaid

Colouring - Promarkers

Dies - Memory Box Woodland Branch; Marianne LRO192; Spellbinders Scallop Ovals, Labels ?one, and Classic Rectangles

Punch - Martha Stewart Double Loops

Embossing - Fiskars plate Waves

Ink - Versacube Bamboo; Adirondack Denim

Stamp inside card - unknown (from a set at a $2 shop)

For a chance to win great prizes, why not visit Penny's Paper Crafty and enter our challenge.

Until next time, thank you for visiting, and "happy crafting".

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Demonstration Rose

Hello fellow crafters,
As I mentioned in my previous post, I did a demonstration on making vellum flowers at the Stamp Camp/Retreat I attended last weekend. This was the card I made with the rose I created at the demonstration.

I used my Tim Holtz 'Tattered Florals' die to cut out the petals, and to give my rose a fuller look, I cut 2 of the largest flowers. The leaves are also vellum, cut with Spellbinder 'Foliage' die, and coloured with 'Crushed Olive' distress ink.

The petals are coloured with Adirondack 'Raisin', and the centre is Flower Soft 'Lemon'.

The inside of the card is decorated to co-ordinate with the front. I layered 2 Spellbinder Classic Scalloped Squares over the DP, and added a Memory Box 'Madera' corner die-cut. The gorgeous DP, was a fab '50% off' special on a bargain table at an art shop in Newcastle recently. I only bought a couple of sheets (A4), but wish I had bought more. It is by Cristina Re, and has the most luxurious texture. I was so pleased to find that the reverse side matched the colour of my rose perfectly..

I used Spellbinder 'Fleur de Lis', and Marianne dies for the card front. The sentiment is computer generated 'Brock' font.

I would like to enter my card in the following challenge -

             Daring Cardmakers - 'Vellum'

Until next time, thank you for visiting,

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

ATCs and More

Hello fellow crafters,
Sadly, my Stamp Camp/Retreat is over for another year. I look forward to it for months, and it feels as if we have barely settled in, and it is time to pack up and travel home. I know many of the other ladies feel the same.

The meals, prepared by Chef Mick, were as always, beautiful, and.....as always, I ate far too much.

Our instructor this year was the very talented Rachael Grieg, of Darkroom Door. We got very inky fingers, but it was such fun, and we learned a lot.

In my previous post I promised to show you some of the ATCs and other projects I had made for the weekend. I did 2 different styles of ATCs, as some people like 'pretty' styles, and others prefer a more grungy style. Below is a selection from the pile I made.

Unfortunately the photo above doesn't show the fact that I had embossed the majority of these ATCs with clear embossing powder. The brick wall card was put through a Tim Holtz embossing folder, swiped with Frayed Burlap distress ink, then clear embossed. The other cards were sponged with distress inks - Milled Lavender, Tattered Rose, Antique Linen, and Spiced Marmalade, then over-stamped. The tree and birds stamp is by Tim Holtz, while the flowers one is Hero Arts. 

The flower toppers are by Craftwork Cards, coloured with Promarkers; the middle card was embossed using 2 Cuttlebug folders - Swiss Dots and Argyle, then the raised Argyle side was swiped with Milled Lavender distress ink. The round flower stamp is from a very old Hero Arts set. For the 'quilted' cards I ruled squares, coloured them with Promarkers, then drew tiny flowers freehand. I pierced holes around the edges and drew faux stitching. I cut the scissors with a Marianne die.

This is a selection of the vellum flowers I made as samples for the demonstration I did at the Camp. Most are cut with different dies and punches, while some are cut freehand. They are coloured with various dye inks, either with single colours or blended on the flowers. The centres are Flower Soft.

These are the cards I made to thank Pat, Wilma, and Tara for all their hard work organising the Camp. (The photo which includes Tara's card was too blurred to publish). I also gave them a big box of Maltesers each. The toppers are by Craftwork Cards, coloured with Promarkers, and the DPs are First Edition 'Desert Bloom'.

This morning, one of my fur-babies, Pagliacci woke up with a closed eye, so off we went to the vet. The poor old boy (almost 14) has a huge ulcer on his cornea in one eye, and a small one on the other. Goodness knows how they occurred, but I have to put ointment in his eyes 4 or 5 times per day for 5 days. Oh dear, what fun I am in for - he is not known for his cooperative attitude.

As with previous Stamp Camps, we waste very little time sleeping, so I think it is time for me to try to catch up.

Until next time, thank you for looking,
Hugs, Jennifer. x

Autumn Grapes

Hello fellow crafters,
This is yet another card that I have left in cellar door at the beautiful Camyr Allyn Wines (here).

As you can see, I am still on the theme of grapes...this is a very old PSX stamp, and as it is a fairly small image, I chose to multi-layer it, using Spellbinder Classic Squares. I sponged the edges of the patterned paper with Adirondack ink. Although I own a collection of PATP punches by MS, you will have to get used to seeing this particular butterfly one, as it is my favourite, and as you have probably already realised, I use it on so many cards and layouts. The single butterflies are from the matching corner punch...I just trim them down with my tiniest scissors. Alternately, I trim off excess butterflies from the punched edge.

                                The inside is decorated to match the front of the card.

                                                                  Back of card.

Stamp - PSX
Cardstock - Bazzill
Paper - Kaisercraft 'Chapter One', DCWV
Ink - Promarkers, Adirondack 'Ginger'
Dies - Spellbinder
Punches - Martha Stewart, Carl
Other - Flowers, Stamens, pin, beads, spacer from my junk stash

As boring as it sounds, I must go and morph into a domestic goddess...my favourite pastime NOT!  Yuk!!!
Until tomorrow...thanks for looking.

Jennifer. x