Spectrum Noir Blog Challenge - Nature

Hi Everyone

Today's card is very simple and its for the Spectrum Noir Blog Challenge for August, the theme is nature.

So while demoing the spectrum noir pencils i usually colour a very simple butterfly image in with only 3 Spectrum Noir Pencils pencils to showcase how simple the pencils are to blend on their own. This is with a mixture of colours, it doesn't always have to be 3 shades of the same toning colour. I've coloured a fair few of these now but never finished a card with it.  The three pencils i have used are all from the essential set, 11, 56, 67.  I've used no blending solution or paper stumps this is just the 3 pencils blended together.

The Card base is made from CC black card stock, I've matted the butterfly onto Sheena's stamping card after stamping a little leaf flourish in shabby shutters distress ink.  The butterfly digi is on the spectrum noir DVD but you can also buy a rubber stamp, Flying Colours.  The sentiment is from the greetings set of vintage floral sentimentals, I just love these they come in handy time after time.

A very simple but effective card i think and i just love the colours.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Crafters Companion July Challenge - Sentiments

HI Everyone

Well I'm a month behind I must try to get up to date but the weather is just so nice.............

So July is nearly over but there is just time to enter the Challenge if you haven't already entered.

So this card is one i made using sheenas embossing folder from her taste of india range.  I've done this card twice at demo's and also at a recent workshop and everyone loved the effect.   I've used glycerine as my adhesive fort the embossing powder and its so easy. I've tried and tried with versamark and i just cant get the hang of it.

So all you need to do is using a hard brayer is paint glycerine over the roller and then transfer it to one side of your embossing folder, this one is ornate screen.  then emboss as usual through your die cutting machine, i used the reverse of some centura pearl card.  Then sprinkle with your chosen  embsossing powder, I've chosen gold.  then heat emboss to set.  Once you have done this then choose a couple of distress inks and apply with cut and dry foam.  I've used fired brick and seedless preserves.  then cut your piece of card down to fit your desired card blank.  I've used Kraft card and matted with black card.  then finished with some black ribbon and the sentiment is from sheenas Mandala stamp set, stamped in black embossing powder and cut out using tags 1.  Then to complete ive added a few drops of liquid pearls in a matching purple colour.

Hope you like it

Louise xx

Crafters Companion April Challenge - Floral

Hi Everyone

This months Crafters Companion Challenge blog has changed and its all run via facebook, click here for information on how to enter.

So I really had to make a card using the fab new Create a card Dies, they are coming back soon  I promise and I've used our fab quilling dies. I just love these too.  I've used Kraft card as the base and then matted with Neenah card underneath the patterned paper from my stash and used the Enchanted create a card die.  I've stamped using a sentimental Memories are made  stamp set in pumice stone distress ink.  The flowers are made using the Dahlia quilling die and then I've cut leaves in Kraft card to match using Leaf 1 and then scored veins using the Springtime treat board.  Then to finish I edged with the pumice stone distress ink around the patterned card and also the petal tips, then finished with pearls in different sizes.

Oh and are you loving the new Crafters inspiration magazine.  I was away on my hols when it was released and had a really busy first week back at work so I've just browsed through it this morning.  I have to say Louisa has done a fab job it contains lots of stunning cards and projects by a lot of the team at CC and DT members.  Amazing well done everyone!!!



Dont forget to pop along to the challenge and take part.

Hope you like my card.

Louise xx

A little bit Summery

Hi Everyone

My tutorial for the Spectrum Noir Blog is now up, well I'm a day late..........  I love love love Sheena's little bit floral stamp as flowers always come in handy for all sorts of occasions so i have chosen the beautiful Dahlia to colour.

The full technique and the spectrum noirs colours used are on the blog if you would like to have a go.  The background is using 3 different distress inks, squeezed lemonade, picked raspberry and peeled paint.  First i embossed the card with versamark and then used white embossing powder. Then when you add the ink with cut and dry foam the white powder resists where the embossing powder is.  Then just a few bits and pieces to finish and a tag from the Scalloped Tag pack of dies.

I was demoing a similar card at Strikes Stokelsey yesterday, and this week i am demoing at Crafty Nook in Durham on Thursday, details below.  Please pop in if you can it would be lovely to see you.............

Event:	Demo Day at Crafty Nook
Date/Time:	Thursday 5th September
Location:	Durham
Description:	Demo Day at Crafty Nook in Durham with Louise Welsh. 10am - 4pm Please call 0191 374 0877 for more information. Address: Unit 27 Durham Indoor Market Durham DH1 3NJ

Hope you like it

Louise xx

Crafters Companion Blog Challenge - Vintage

Hi Everyone

I so enjoyed making this card and i just love it, i keep looking at it as i walk past as i can't believe i made it as it is really different from my normal style of card.

Anyway the theme this month is vintage on the Crafters Companion Challenge Blog and i thought about colouring an image in  sepia tones with my spectrum noirs but I've a spectrum post to do as well so thought i would have a change.

I've use the 8x8 Regency Damask Embossing Folder and using corediantions card from the Nostalgia pack.  I've used Kraft card for my base and after embossing the coordination's i've used Victorian velvet distress ink around the edges of the pink core card.  Then i aged the edges of both the cream and pink card with my craft knife just scrapping gently along the edge to give that weathered look.

I've decorated with a coredinations rose with matching leaves,  that has also been edged with the Victorian velvet ink.  The sentiment is from Sheens through the Rain  stamp set and its stamped in vintage mahogany distress in onto kraft card and then matted onto the classical frame Diesire Die. (only available to club inspire members currently)   Then a little lace edging from my stash.

Pop over and join in for the chance to win a fab prize and good luck.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx

Thinking of You Always

Hi Everyone

I'm scheduling this post to pop up tomorrow while I'm at work as there are some fab new darice embossing folders being released.  There are 33 in total and there are some fabulous designs, well they are all fabulous and i really don't know how you are going to choose which ones you NEED, as the design team have done a fab job.  They will all be posting too and there are some stunner's i can tell you.

My first one is using the key design and I'm still in a bit of a messy crafter mood so the distress inks came out again.  I was an absolute mess yesterday at the demo at Strikes Stokesley but had fun and everyone was interested in all the techniques i used with spectrum's, stamps and embossing folders.  I've used cut and dry foam to add the ink to the reverse of a piece of centura pearl card and just blended the colours together in circular motions.  So for this one i have used the key  design folder.  The distress inks used are pumice stone, Victorian velvet and aged mahogany before putting the piece of card through  my ebosser.  After the pattern was embossed i then highlighted the raised keys with frayed burlap to enhance them.  Then i have used a sentiment from one of Sheena's last stamp sets and embossed in copper embossing powder  I've added a little bit of stunning lace i found in my ribbon drawer and then i only had a silver key so i used the same embossing powder as i used for the sentiment to alter its colour.

Hope you like it.

Louise xx