WICKED WEDNESDAY ATCS CHALLENGE #14 - OCEAN/AQUATIC

All the deets for this super challenge are HERE.
I enjoyed this one - but then I enjoy all the challenges I have a go at - and got to use my precious Brixham shells again. Any excuse to use those because when they are all gone I will be able to make the excuse to go to Devon again for more!!!

The base is mount board covered in Terra - Sahara - which gives a sandy effect when dry smeared with a bit of broken china distress stain. I used the top of the branches from an Andy Skinner tree stamp to stamp sea weed in forest moss DI which I then clear embossed. The rest of the scene is made up of sea moss, Martha Stewart punched branches, shells, a sea horse charm, a fish button, some sparkly sticky gems and a brass anchor embossed with aged mahogony distress embossing powder. The whole effect was glued together with multi matt medium.
Thanks to Wicked Wednesday ATCs for picking me as one of their top 3 again last week. It's such fun to have a go.

A PAPER TOWEL XMAS CARD

I've had this card laid out for about a week now but have been 'scared' to actually put it together. I wasn't sure whether it would work nor how to achieve the look I wanted. In the end I just went for it and gave up wondering.
The whole thing came about after making a gorgeous card that Andy Skinner had given instructions for. The amazing orange sky attracted me and I had just the thing I wanted to use - kitchen towels - that I had used to dry ink on both backgrounds and my work sheet. I put 3 of them together to form the sky and began.

The kitchen towel sky is on the right of the A4 card that I blended Distress Stains on to in  order to make the rest of the sky. Does that make sense?
The cardstock is not really thick enough for a base card, so I generally fold another piece to A4 and place it inside.
Anyway, I then got to work stamping, cutting out and sticking in place. This is the finished card front.

In the end I was really pleased with it. I thought the inside 'stiffener' needed a little something, so added this.

I am on a roll with Xmas cards just now so if I know you and you follow my day to day ramblings, one of the cards I make and show may just pop through your letter box this year. This one knows it's destination so I hope the recipient(s) like it.

JOURNAL JOURNEYS OCTOBER CHALLENGE

This month's challenge over at Journal Journeys is autumn/nature plus the use of stencils.
Although, unlike many, I actually don't like Autumn. I hate the thought of everything dying plus the cold, wet and wind. The dark doesn't help either. I much prefer spring when everything is happy. Having said that, I do adore the autumn colours which are some of my most favourite ever especially the deep reds.
Still not really into this journaling lark but I keep having a go, so here are my pages for the challenge this month.

I used a mixture of distress inks, colour wash and Terra to create the background and I used a flower stencil plus the remains of grungepaper once I had die cut leaves and a swirl as another set of stencils. The dots are the remnants of red rubber once I had mounted the alpha stamps it contained and I also used a plastic letter stencil to spray some perfect pearls through - which hasn't shown too well on the photo. The 'rutting' deer are from Tim Holtz reindeer flight die and their antlers are from his branch tree die. The words are one of Andy Skinner's stamps.
Although I said autumn means everything is closing down ready for the winter and dying, I think the amazing colours have brought this little scene to life.

A BIG XMAS CARD

First of all follow this link to Andy Skinner's post.
The tag card he has made using a set of his new stamps - Winter's Tale - is just stunning. You will note that he does say in his post that you may make this card following the instructions, so that's just what I have done. Please remember though, I am no artist so I did find the snow shading a little difficult - actually - a lot difficult!!!!
Here's mine then.

I love these stamps, they interact with another set of Andy's stamps I have - Back to Nature - and, they can be used with Lindsay's new Xmas stamps too.
This was fun this morning.

WOYWW AND I WON AGAIN

The incredible artist - Laura Carson - from Artfully Musing blog fame, hold a draw every month to win her art. I was so lucky that random org picked me at the beginning of the year and I received an amazing winter scene ATC. This time, I have won this one:

Another to deck my walls.
Well today being another Wednesday of What's on your Workdesk Wednesday fame run by desk-hopper extraordinaire Julia, means we get to do a bit of travelling and poking around other like-minded crafter's space. Mine started off like this:

A couple of packets of dagger beads and some beading thread. to the left of these are the 3 packs of stamps I bought on Sunday at Lindsay's workshop:

The 2 larger packs are some of Andy Skinner's new stamps. I adore the trees which cane be used for all sorts of projects and will also mix and match with that pack of Lindsay's stamps.
Left again are all these:

Little packets I have made up from my odds and ends drawers of children's beads, confetti, tags etc. This is the start to my major clear out (which may take months I hasten  to add). I need the space!!! How many of us have said that then??
Anyway, the tiny bit of space I generally work on look like this this morning:

The beginnings of more Xmas cards based on the ones from the weekend workshop using Lindsays stamps. I think that little elf is so cheeky.
Well, the sun is shining today so it's time to get some washing done because I have no doubt that the rain will be back again tomorrow. Have fun  today and watch out for me calling round.

COMPETITION CANDY

Pop over to Andy Skinner's blog - link here - http://andyskinnerorg.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-time.html
for the chance to win some wonderful new competition candy.
Andy is a Personal Impressions stamp designer and creates magic. His stamps are a delight and the new ones form part of the prize along with some of Lindsay Mason's new stamps and lots and lots of other goodies, including Ranger.
The competition runs all April and the winner will be announced on 4 May.