pretty paper hearts

the theme at Pretty Paper Hearts is "Cracked". Which I took as an opportunity to use this amazing technique which has been demonstrated by my super talented friend Carrie in the current issue of Stampers' Sampler.
This technique allows you to make the most fabulous crackle background using only acrylic paint and PVA glue. If you like messy techniques, they don't come much messier than this one!
first I painted the card with cerulean blue acrylic paint, and allowed it to dry. (I do not do well waiting for things to dry, I'm about as patient as Mr Impatient of Impatientsville) then I painted this with a layer of PVA glue and immediatly with a layer of white acrylic paint, then waited....and waited.... and went for a bath...then came back and WOW!! how cool is that effect! after leaving it to dry a bit more (spot the impatient fingerprints), I finished it off with collage image and stamps from Inka and embellishments (including the most perfect button that was in the Blog candy I received from Marie)

Magic happens, when you read a book

That's what this is supposed to represent. I made it for the favourite author theme at Pretty Paper hearts. My favourite childhood author was Enid Blyton, and I have used a page from the enchanted wood (a copy I keep just for this purpose). The background of this has been through so many changes. I first edged it with vintage photo distress ink and stamped some skeleton leaves on it. but it was too brown, so I sponged some orange and green on, but then I didn't like it,so I sprayed water on it, which improved it, but still wasn't right, so I sprayed it with walnut ink, and then I finally liked it. As I used walnut ink, I am entering it for the Created by Hand challenge. I then did some random embossing, sponged some stars through star waste. stuck it to chipboard, edged in gold, etc etc
The collage image and stamps are all by Inka.

pretty paper hearts

I recently found another challenge blog, pretty paper hearts, so I had to give it a try. The challenge is to use a flower stamp, polka dots and the colour red. I was recently given some of these rub on photos by Carol which she got from QVC and I have been wanting to have a play with them, so I decided to make a quick asymmetric heart tag for this theme. I used a circle thing that you put on the bottom of furniture to stamp some circles in distress ink, but I didn't think they stood out enough, so I added some glitter polka dots as well. I made these by punching circles in stix2 sheets (also from QVC donated to me by my mother-in-law)then sprinkling with glitter. I remember now why I don't use loose glitter, it's everywhere!!!