Just Thinking of You

Good afternoon and welcome to the blog today.

I've been posting scheduled posts for the past few days as I've managed to put my back out good and proper but glad to say I'm able to get back into the craft room for short spells before caving in and heading back to bed. 😳

I recently bought a selection of Woodware stamps from the lovely Paula at the Stamp Hut and I couldn't wait to pop some ink on them.

This one is called Going to Seed (JGS300) and I loved the airy feel to it that allows colour to pop through or gives the option of adding your own colours. It comes with two sentiments one of which I've used on my card and another that says 'Especially for you' so it covers a wide range of occasions. 

I hunted out some of my older acrylic paints and got to work creating various backgrounds and using whatever came to hand to give depth and dimension without actually adding anything else if you know what I mean.

I've used DoCrafts Artiste Rouge and Dusty Rose with Anita's Lemon Yellow for this one. 

I stamped the images with Versafine Onyx Black which gives great coverage and really pops against the background.

Some black card to back the piece, a narrow black ribbon and a couple of black pearls completes it. 

I hope you enjoy this change of pace and materials today.

Have a good weekend whatever your plans and catch you soon!

Downton Abbey quartet

Good afternoon and welcome.

This one is a long post - just saying! :) 

I received my Downton Abbey CD and embossing folders with a selection of dies the other day and just had to have a wee play.

I was very disappointed that my CD wouldn't open with the built in interface but after a few queries and lots of help from Joannie on the Joanna Sheen forum I got it running properly.

A big Mwah! to Joannie.

It's always a bit of a puzzle which papers to use for which elements so this first one is a mixture - the image is on photo paper, the sentiment on 300gsm card stock and the papers are printed onto Crafter's Companion satin finish printer paper.

I've used Papermill ivory card stock for the base and layers and gathered twigs distress ink to ink through the dies.

I've embossed the green paper with a Sue Wilson folder - Star Swirls and highlighted the design with Viva Decor Inka Gold in Indian Gold and Old Silver.

I've used some antique linen distress ink on the sentiment as that was printed onto white card stock and I wanted to tone it down a little.  

You can see the design pop better on this pic. 

 

Now sometimes I can't be bothered to print out lots of papers so I had a delve in my stash and found these DoCrafts ones from the Persimmon collection.

I found loads of papers that would complement the CD so that will save a little bit of ink! 

I've embossed the plain rust coloured paper with one of the gorgeous embossing folders from the Downton collection - Leaf Flourish. Yum!

I love the way it gives an almost leathery look to the paper.

I sandwiched the paper between two sheets of copier paper to spread the pressure so that it wouldn't crack too badly.

 The image is the second one on the sheet that I printed and I think the papers I've chosen bring out the background quite well.

I've used the bow die again and the feather brooch die to add interest. 

Hopefully this pic will let you see the texture on the plain paper better.

My next two cards are for the men in my life.

I loved the rich papers and the embellishments - the ribbons and buttons were just what was needed.

I've use one of my Tonic topper dies for the background on the image and it was a perfect fit and match for the theme. 

The second of my male cards uses elements from the card companion section of the CD.

I've used the Motor vehicle die cut from ribbed black card stock and chipboard (no problem getting through that) and made a sturdy embellishment for the card. It's highlighted with Viva Decor Inka Gold in Indian Gold and Old Silver. I've used the Elegant Border die inked with gathered twigs distress ink cutting off the two ends and turning them round. I just love the effect of the Fleur de Lys embossing folder on the buff card stock (Papermill). I've inked that also with the gathered twigs DI. 

The buttons are glazed with Glossy accents to finish.

Phew! there you are. It's taken nearly as long to write the post as make the cards but I hope you enjoy them.

Have a super day!

One of those bits and pieces cards

Hi and welcome today.

I'm sure you have already read my update on the cycle race. Jonny made it - 90 miles! Phew! even the thought makes me sore. Well I am equally delighted to report that Karen completed her stint in the Belfast marathon today and is one tired but happy bunny. What a week end for them and well done too.

Onto today's very plain card. I had these papers printed out and lying in my odds and ends box. We all have one of those don't we? 

I added the Hero Arts silhouette grasses stamp in gathered twigs distress ink which I then embossed with clear ep. The sentiment is a freebie from the DoCrafts Creativity magazine which got the same treatment.

I've used a Crafter's Companion plaid Embossalicious folder for the bottom panel and inked the pattern to make it stand out a little. The buttons are from Basic Grey. All in all a very simple card but it might do a dad who likes bird watching! You know the sort of bird watching I mean. Steady on now. :) LOL

I hope you have had a great bank holiday. We've certainly had a busy one that's for sure.

Take care and I'll see you soon.

I've made about nine other Father's day cards using my Hunkydory Fan-tash-tique kit but forgot to take pics before I added inserts and packed them up. Oops!  Maybe next time. 

At last!

Good morning and welcome to the blog today. I hope you are having a great Bank Holiday weekend and that the weather has been kind. We had a real scorcher yesterday and I managed to get a bit of sunburn when I sat out the back chatting with my daughter and hubby over a cup of coffee. I hate being sunburnt, I just hadn't realised how strong it was! I am definitely not a sun worshipper and can only take it in short bursts but it was lovely to have a proper bright and cheerful day with hardly a cloud in the sky.

Janette and I were exhausted as we traipsed round yet more tile shops still not quite seeing what would hit the spot. We must have looked a right pair toting our cupboard doors with us everywhere we went. LOL

Onto today's card. At last I got my sticky mitts on the Sizzix Accordion Flip 3D die and the Frames and label bracket die that goes with it. I have been waiting for months for this die to come back into stock and I pounced on it right away.

I also unearthed my Viva Decor Inka Gold paint and had a ball applying it to everything that didn't move.:)

Papers - Heartfelt Creations Sun Kissed Fleur collection

Spellbinders Parisian Accents dies; Labels die either 22 or 23 (sorry not marked)

Sizzix Accordion 3D Flip die

Sizzix Label Frame and Label , Bracket die

Butterfly - Sizzix Movers and shapers die (Tim Holtz)

Viva Decor Inka Gold - Old Silver and Steel Blue paint

Sentiment - Do Crafts 'Welllington' stamp set

Papermania velvet flower

Hero Arts 'Art, Life and Beauty' stamp

Walnut stain distress ink

Card opened out

View at the back

Close up of the two blue panels

I hope you have enjoyed my first go with this die. The beauty of it is that you can cut as many panels as you like and make a much larger card/album depending on what it's for or just two for a simpler card base.

Thank you for calling in today. I'm just going to have a lazy one and relax with my Kindle.

See you soon!

Little Bert

Hi and welcome to the blog this morning (afternoon or evening)!

I think I've caught the kraft bug what with all these rustic Christmas cards I've been making.

I just could not resist (where have you heard that before) this wee image from Little Claire. He's called 'Little Bert' from their Cutie-Patooties range.

I was colouring him in with several different combinations but Jude decided he liked this one best, so this one it had to be. :)

Kraft card stock from Forget-Me-Not in Belfast (or Craftwork Cards)

Papers - DoCrafts 'Wellington' paper pack

Banner dies - Sizzix/Hero Arts 'Banners' Framelits with stamps

Scroll border - Tim Holtz edger die

Sentiment - Craftwork cards

Edges inked with vintage photo distress ink

The image is coloured with Spectrum Noir pens

Skin - FS 3, TN 1, 2, CR 4

Hair - BG 6

Clothes, hat - TN 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9

Shoes - EB 3, 4, 6

Broom - EB 6, 7

A sideways view to show the layering.

This is another simple card. I'm leaning to the less is more at the minute, don't know how long that will last!

Thank you for calling in today. I hope you have a good one.

A simple gift of a flower

Hi and welcome to the blog today. I've found a new - to me - digi stamp artist and I've been having a lot of fun colouring these little funky images. Those of you who already know about it will be saying 'it's about time', if you haven't yet discovered Sassy Cheryl's fab digis you will find them HERE!

I've a feeling the lovely Karen introduced me to this bean feast of lovely characters so a big thanks to you my lovely!

Not only that, but the images I chose to start with are all on sale which is a double bonus. 

Sassy Cheryl digi image 'A simple gift of a flower'

Prima Annalee papers

DoCrafts Forever Friends sentiment

Sizzix extended die swirl

The image is inked round the edges with tumbling glass distress ink

The image is coloured with Promarkers and Prisma pencils

I managed to catch the flower petals with my pink Promarker but have since gone back to correct it! :)

I've decorated the inside of the card. I can't seem to leave a card bare any more!

I hope you enjoy this simple card today. I've cut back on the embellishments quite a bit. Sometimes I think they take away from the image but I could be alone in that thought. :)

Join me tomorrow for another of these delightful images!

Thank you for stopping by today. I really enjoy your company and your thoughtful comments.

Sorry this is late in posting. Mr Blogger doesn't seem to want to keep to schedules!