More clean and simple......

My last attempt at 'Clean and Simple' freaked out Neet and Von at Artful Times because they thought they'd got their challenges in a muddle. C&S is the official challenge this fortnight so I had to come up with another project that fits the bill.

I just happenned to have my JOFY stamps on the desk and they are so adorable I thought they would work.














After looking at my first attempt I did wonder if there was enough white space, so I tried again with less elements.

Just love this stamp set!!

Finished Charms

Just a quick second post from me today.

Here are my little charms for the current Artful Times Challenge.  The two vintage ones are papers collaged onto metal blanks then glazed with glossy accents.

The other two are stampboard, coloured and stamped with Lynn Perella images.

You can swap swap your charms as well if you'd like, which I have asked to do.
I do like to see other people's work up close and personal!!
 

Working the Cuttlebug..

The current challenge at Artful Times is to use two or more folders on a project. Like Neet, I was a bit flummoxed by the notion but thought I'd let it simmer.

Quite coincidentally, I was looking for confirmat
ion that I could use a certain die in my cuttlebug before ordering it and I came across this 'Double Cuttle' tutorial which explores using two embossing folders together. Result!! (there are a few other cuttlebug tutorials there if you are interested although the blog itself seems to have lapsed a bit lately).

The idea is to emboss the same piece of paper twice using two different folders, highlighting the first impression with inks or whatever and after running through with the second folder highlighting the second impression. The best advice as to choice of folders was to do the busiest one first, and all I can add to that really is perhaps use a background type folder first and then one that is more an image.

I used a diamond background folder and then the leaf folder (can't remember the names but I'm sure any buggies out there will recognise them). I used some mini ink pads to highlight each time. In a moment of madness I found some chipboard leaves and embossed them as well with 'divine swirls' - so 3 embossing folders for me!!

Here's the finished 8 x 8 card with some pink accents, my new gorjuss stamp, shabby flowers and a sentiment at a jaunty angle. (I remark on that only because it makes me really uncomfortable)


















Here's a tag madewith the same folders plus a dotty one  - yep,  I managed to use three folders again! Another shabby flower (get used to it, I made a lot of them!!)



Then I wondered what it would look like if I stamped first and then embossed. So I tried out another tag, stamping 'LOVE' and the swirl before embossing with my dotty and hearts folders. Kinda like this, I think there are definite possibilities there. I'll gift this one to the first person who asks, I haven't put any embellies on it so it could even be a bookmark but be aware it isn't sealed.

Enjoyed that challenge, really like it when something prompts me to make use of the thin
gs I've already got in a different way - and it is soooo simple, do have a go.

See you soon.

Please note: still jumping through hoops to upload so apols if anything looks weird - never know till I publish quite what is going to happen!!
 

Squeaking in...

with a quick ATC for the current Artful Times Challenge which was a recipe.

Blue
A female (head or body will do)
Silver
Ribbon
I had some new embellishments (see desk below!!) and thought the black lady silhouette would just fit on an ATC. Blue backing paper and stamping, Bit of embossing and distressing. Silver Krylon edging and Silver ribbon. I wrote the sentiment by hand because I just could not bothered to waste a sheet of paper in the printer for one sentence. I'm not sure it actualy makes any sense but it was how I felt today - it was just so dismal for the whole day, a real disappointment after the lovely day we had yesterday but I was somehow in a good mood.

Anyhow there it is, ta da, first challenge entry of  2013.

Just got in from seeing the Hobbit so I'm buzzing. Enjoyed every single minute, and I'm hard to please when it comes to Tolkein, must have read the Hobbit at least 15 times (and that's a conservative estimate). Can't wait for Part 2!

Right must get on and do my photos to upload Art Draw tomorrow!!!

Mostly a Tree.....

I don't wan't to give up onSummer - such as it was - but there is a  decidely autumnal feel to the air at the moment. So when I saw that the current Artful Times Challenge was to create something with a tree as the main focus I was drawn to create this colourful tag.

 The background is distress stains and inks (I also used a new leaf mask I got at Ally Pally) and for a change  I stamped the tree image onto black card with versamark and embossed with distress embossing powder although it looks more brown than black in the photo. I really don't know what the two bits of string are doing, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Now, be honest, are my photos getting any better? I am trying to take photos with my ipad which allegedly has a very good camera - they do seem to me to have a bit more depth to them (although I still can't seem to get the lighting right, especially at night) but what do you think?

See ya soon, Cindy