The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Change

Happy New Year! And welcome to a new year of challenges with The Mixed Media Card Challenge. To kick off 2017, our theme is 'Change', with an option of 'Water'.

My interpretation of 'change' is a change in the seasons.  We were in the Australian summer last month for our son's wedding, then back for a northern hemisphere Christmas, so we literally changed seasons in December!

The background of my card panel is sponged Distress Inks.  I placed the STAMPlorations Bold Florals stencil over the panel and spritzed with water, then dabbed the colour away - it's only faint, but it is there!  Then I drew round the outline with my Stabilo All pencil, and smudged it with a wet brush.  I stencilled some dots using acrylic paint through the Dots All Around stencil, then added some glass bead texture gel to the centres of the flowers, and finished off the card with a die-cut sentiment.

Pop on over to The Mixed Media Card Challenge blog for some more fabulous inspiration from the team, and add your interpretation of the theme to our gallery.

Incidentally, if you were thinking of ordering any STAMPlorations products, I've got a discount code you can use to get 20% off all regular and sale priced stamps, stencils and dies (yay!).  The code can't be combined with any other offer codes.  Just enter STAMPGIRLSHIRLEY (it's not case-sensitive) at checkout to get your discount.

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Gold

We've got a new challenge for you at The Mixed Media Card Challenge, and it's Gold, with an optional element of Star.

I started by stamping the stars (from STAMPlorations Christmas Reindeer) around the edges of my base card, then splattered some drops of gold mica spray over it, and stamped the sentiment in the centre of the card.  I diecut a star shape out of gold card, then made a shaker panel to place over the sentiment and painted the centres of the stars with Gansai Tambi White Gold watercolour paint.

Pop on over to the Mixed Media Card Challenge for some more fabulous inspiration from the Design Team, then join in with your gold creations.

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Thanksgiving

It's a new month and a new theme at The Mixed Media Card Challenge.  This month our theme is 'Thanksgiving' with an optional element of 'table'.

My card panel started life as the mop-up of spritzed Distress Ink from the ARTplorations leaf stencil, but it was a bit too wishy-washy so I laid the stencil back over the card panel then stencilled Cosmic Shimmer Gold Pearl Texture Paste through, and once that was dry I sponged more Distress Inks in the gaps.  Gave it several flicks of water, then once it was all dry added some Glossy Accents.  The hint of colour on some of the gold leaves is from watered-down Inka Gold paste in red and green.

I  used one of the new CUTplorations word dies, cutting it once in maroon and once in white to use as a drop-shadow.

Pop on over to the Mixed Media Card Challenge blog for some more fabulous inspiration, and play along with us.

STAMPlorations Inspiration #101 and Mixed Media Card Challenge

It's Inspiration Tuesday over at STAMPlorations.  When I was making this card for the Fall Coffee Lovers' Blog Hop I pulled out this purple Gelli print and made both cards at the same time.

The Gelli print is made with acrylic paints, and the circular marks were created by a cardboard tube.  I stamped the coffee cup directly onto the panel, then pierced through the card at the sides of the wrap, threaded purple jute through and tied it at the centre.  I added some white highlights around the lid with a white gel pen, and double stacked the Oh Frap! diecut.  The sentiment comes from The Bee's Knees Pets stamp set.

Pop on over to the STAMPlorations blog for some more fabulous inspiration from the rest of the team.

This card also serves as a reminder for The Mixed Media Card Challenge, where the theme is Black and Purple with an option of twine.

ETA: Adding this to Becca's Hop to Stop :)

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Black and Purple

It's a new month, and a new challenge at The Mixed Media Card Challenge.  And this month, it's all about black and purple.  And twine if you so wish.

My background is second-generation stamping, then I stamped the flower image (Artemio), and splatted Distress Stains over the flowers.  Once everything was dry I added Glossy Accents to the flower heads and a twine bow.

I found some different colours of foil, including purple, in my stash so I sponged some PVA glue through a mini stencil and adhered the foil.  You can get a better look here, but it's still not as good as it looks in real life.

Pop on over to the Mixed Media Card Challenge blog for some more fabulous inspiration and to join in the challenge.

I've been getting carried away with this foiling lark.  Expect more...

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Harvest Basket

We've got a new challenge for you at The Mixed Media Card Challenge - this month it's Harvest Basket, with an optional element of Fruit.

I had to be a bit creative with the theme here because I don't own any harvest/thanksgiving stamps.  Harvest is celebrated in the church but it's not a card exchanging occasion in the UK.  So the hessian is my nod to a 'basket' (more of a sack, really).  The optional fruit I can do, particularly when it's in the liquid format ;)  Those juicy grapes are just ready for picking and turning into wine!

My background is clear embossing paste through Tribal Triangles stencil, then swooshed through red grape and vine leaf colours (Aged Mahogany, Peeled Paint) and a splatter of autumn gold in the form of gold mica spray drops.  The grapes look juicy courtesy of Glossy Accents.  The stamp is from Woodware.

Pop on over to the Mixed Media Card Challenge blog to see the fabulous inspiration from the rest of the design team, and to add your creation to the gallery.

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Reminder

Are you playing along in our Rainbows challenge at The Mixed Media Card Challenge?  Our optional element this month is Dragonflies.

My newest obsession is PaperArtsy Infusions, a mix of dye colour particles and walnut crystals.  I was only going to buy two or three colours, but I couldn't make my mind up, so I bought the set of 12 :)

I wet a strip of the mixed media paper and sprinkled the crystals on, spritzing and dripping, then wet another strip and moved on to the next colour, until I'd made the grungiest rainbow ever!

The dragonflies, from The Bee's Knees Winged Things, were stamped on another sheet of Infusions-filled paper and fussy cut.  I splattered some gold mica sparkle on the background, and added Wink of Stella to the main dragonfly and Stickles to the two smaller dragonflies.  I just stuck the dragonflies down by their bodies, and lifted the wings for dimension.

You've still got time to join us - bring your rainbow with you!

I'm adding this to CAS Mix Up where the theme is Stamping + Sprays + Your Choice (Fussy Cutting).

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Rainbows and Dragonflies

Hi folks, it's a new month and a new challenge at The Mixed Media Card Challenge.  This month it's Rainbow with an optical element of Dragonflies.

My optional element features quite prominently!  The background is Distress Ink mini pads swiped across the panel then spritzed.  I stencilled some dots with iridescent texture paste, and once it was all dry, stamped over the top.  The die-cut/embossed butterfly was dipped into spritzed Distress Inks on a craft mat, then painted with Wink of Stella.

Pop on over to The Mixed Media Card Challenge for some fabulous inspiration from the team, and play along with us here.
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The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Sparkle

Time for a new challenge at The Mixed Media Card Challenge, and this month it's all about Sparkle, with an optional element of Gems.

I started with a Gelli plate print which I'd made with purple, blue and green paints and a stencil, mask and bubblewrap.  I stamped the flower in Versafine Onyx Black, then stitched along the base.  The stitching wasn't great so I just pulled the threads around and glued them down.  A few blobs of Stickles on the flower heads, and if you look closely you can see three tiny AB gems.  I mounted the panel onto sanded and distressed Core'dinations card, then onto the card base.

Pop on over to the Mixed Media Card Challenge blog to see more fabulous inspiration from the design team, and join in.

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Reminder

Are you playing along at The Mixed Media Card Challenge?  This month the theme is Sunset, and the optional element is postage stamp.

I stencilled the dots with clear paste on a white panel, and once it was dry I set to with the orangey Distress Inks and splattered some water.  On the lower panel I scribbled Distress Crayons, then rubbed them with wet fingers.  The bird is Tim Holtz Crazy Birds, and the sentiment is from STAMPlorations.

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Sunset

It's a new month and a new challenge at The Mixed Media Card Challenge.  This month the theme is Sunset, and the optional element is Postage Stamp.

My background is made from encaustic wax applied with a craft iron, and the highlights were made with a white gel pen.  I stamped the cruise liner on white card, cut it out and added shading with Distress Ink.  I placed the three quotes on a long acrylic block, inked them up in similar colours to the background and stamped on spare card, then grunged the edges with scissors.

The cruise ship image reminded me of when we emigrated to Australia not long after we were married in the late 1970s, hence the Australian postage stamp on my card.  It took four and a half weeks from England to Sydney via South Africa.  We were the rump of the Ten Pound Poms (although it cost us a bit more than that), and it was the next-to-last sea voyage - flights only after that.

DH at Port Melbourne

Pop on over to The Mixed Media Card Challenge blog for some more fabulous inspiration for the team, and add your sunset card.

The Mixed Media Card Challenge

It's a new month and a new challenge at The Mixed Media Card Challenge.  This month, our theme is Reflections, with an optional element of Water.

I've gone with the moonlight on water theme of the inspiration graphic.  To get my reflected buildings, I inked the stamp up in grey, then brayered over the stamp to pick up the ink, then brayered  the ink onto my card panel.  I left a gap, then stamped the image in black the right way up.

To get the grassy river bank, I masked off the buildings and reflection to leave a strip, inked that up with Versamark then poured Fran-tage embossing powder on and heat embossed.

The sky was done with Chipped Sapphire and water splatters (after masking a circle for a moon), and the water was done with Stormy Sky (again, after masking a circle for a moon). I highlighted the rooftops with Sakura Stardust gelly roll pen, and also added a few tiny stars amongst the splashes in the sky and in the reflected water.  You've got to look hard, but they are there.  If you see loads, just wipe your monitor ;)

Fancy playing along?  Check out some fabulous inspiration from my teamies here, then join in!

Mixed Media Card Challenge Reminder

Have you played along with The Mixed Media Card Challenge?  There's still time, you know.  Our challenge this month is Sunshine with an option of bricks.

I started with an abstract gelli print background which was mainly in lime and teal with a touch of purple acrylic paints, then stencilled brickwork (Winnie & Walter) using Dylusions Melted Chocolate paint.  The sun was created by twisting a mini blender and Dylusions Lemon Zest, then I scribbled around the sun and the bricks with a black fineliner.

The JOFY flower was already coloured (probably with Distress Inks) and sitting waiting patiently in my stash for its moment of glory, but I think it's being outshone (geddit? sunshine?) by that crazy bird.

I wrote the sentiment with black pen, then added some white highlights and went around the edges of the panel with black Neocolour II and a wet paintbrush.  I added a couple of pieces of ripped washi tape to finish.

Pop on over to the Mixed Media Card Challenge blog for inspiration, and join in with our challenge, why don't you?

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Sunshine

So here's Post No. 2 of the day and it's for The Mixed Media Card Challenge.

Click here for Post No. 1 Craft Stamper Take It, Make It.

Click here for Post No. 3 CASEplorations.

Click here for Post No. 4 BooBoo on April Fool's Day.

So, welcome to The Mixed Media Card Challenge, which is Sunshine with an option of Bricks.

I started off by smooshing Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Crushed Olive and Mowed Lawn onto a piece of card.  Once that was dry I sponged a sun using Dylusions Lemon Zest paint.  Added some torn washi tape for flower stalks, then ran the brick embossing folder over the panel.  I added some green Gelato at the base, then attached some Prima flowers with brads (got to get rid of the huge stash somehow!), then adhered the panel to my base card.  I wrote the 'hello' with a white Posca pen on black card then trimmed it and popped it up with a couple of foam squares.

Pop on over to the blog to see some fabulous inspiration from my teamies.  How will the challenge inspire you?  Link your creation up here.

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Are You Playing?

Are you playing along with The Mixed Media Card Challenge?  The theme is Trees with an option of birds.

I'm adding my card to Loll and Bonnie's CAS Mix Up challenge.  Watercolouring, stamping, and my choice - die cuts.

STAMPlorations Inspiration #65 - Happy Together

It's Inspiration Tuesday at STAMPlorations.  I've got a couple of lovebirds for you with this card which could either be a wedding card or an anniversary card.  The background is Distress Paints spritzed and dripped on mixed media card, with trees die-cut from kraft card, some patterned paper flowers and a little raffia bow.  The sentiment is from Sentiment Builders: Love.

Take a peek over on the STAMPlorations blog at some more fabulous inspiration from the rest of the team, and don't forget to leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning a gift certificate.  

This card is also perfect for The Mixed Media Card Challenge, where the theme is Trees with an option of Birds.  Pop on over and take a look!

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Trees

I've got four posts going out today - click on the links for these posts:
CASEplorations
STAMPlorations Inspiration #64
One Layer Christmas Card Challenge - Guest Designer (later on today)

So, welcome to The Mixed Media Card Challenge, where this month's theme is Trees with an option of Birds.

I *had* to have these forest archway dies by Memory Box early last year.  I've used the Grand Forest Archway and Medium Forest Archway on this card.  And this is the only time I've used them, so far.  I've also got the Small Forest Archway (which doesn't have a frame around it, and hasn't been out of its packet yet).

It seems to be quite the trend (especially in warmer climes) to get married outdoors, so I thought I'd make a card on that theme.

I cut the frames out of white card then coloured them with Distress Inks and adhered them on top of each other, then on to the background, which was made with Brusho powders.  I die-cut some tiny flowers, stuck them onto the trees for blossom, then added Liquid Pearls to the centres.  I stamped the happy couple from The Bee's Knees Newlyweds, and just added a touch of shading with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink, fussy cut the image, then placed the happy couple underneath the arch.  The whole panel was then adhered to the card base.

Pop on over to the Mixed Media Card Challenge to see some fabulous inspiration from the rest of the team, and add your Tree card to the gallery!

Spritzed Poppies

A quick post from me today.  I'm playing along with Simon Says Monday Challenge - Spritz and Spray, and Timeout Challenge - Love Is A Flower You've Got To Let Grow.  I stamped my poppies (Clearly Besotted - retired) with Distress Inks onto mixed media card, then spritzed water over them.    When dry, I dotted some Distress Stickles on the centres of the flowers.  I coloured a snippet of card with green Distress Stains then diecut the 'happy' from the main panel and the green panel, and swapped them over.  A little washi tape is helping all the bits stay where they should be.  I added some washi tape down the left then added my cut panel to the card front.

  

Also I just wanted to give you a quick reminder that the Mixed Media Card Challenge - Red with an option of Hearts - is open until 25 February.

The Mixed Media Card Challenge - Red

I've got two posts going out at the same time today.  Click here for my CASEplorations post, then come back in a few hours for a very special STAMPlorations post!

It's time for a new challenge at The Mixed Media Card Challenge, and seeing as it's February, we've got red with an option of hearts - what else? :)

For my background panel I've used clear embossing paste through a Tim Holtz stencil, then sponged Festive Berries Distress Paint over, sponging the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Once the panel was dry, I flicked water over the sponging.

On another painted panel I sponged Picket Fence Distress Stain through a punchinella stencil and flicked some diluted white acrylic paint over, then once it was dry I cut it with a stitched rectangle die and stamped and heat-embossed the heart image.

For my sentiment panel I sanded a piece of Core'dinations cardstock, then wrote the sentiment with a white gel pen.

Added some fibres at the top of the panel, and it's done.

Pop on over to The Mixed Media Card Challenge to see some fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team, then add your mixed media card to the gallery.

STAMPlorations Inspiration #55 - Expect Great Things

It's time for some inspiration at STAMPlorations, and we're in the middle of a new stamp release, so it's a great excuse to use some of the new images and sentiments from the release.

The butterfly is from my new set, The Bee's Knees Winged Things, and the sentiment is from Deepti's new set, New Beginning.

The background panel has been in my stash for a while.  At a guess, I'd say it involves a smooshing of modelling paste and some Distress Inks ;)   Once I'd stamped and coloured my butterfly on mixed media paper, I added a touch of pink and yellow onto the background to tie everything together.  Stamped a sentiment onto the scrap of mixed media paper, stapled it to the panel then mounted the panel to the card, added the fussy-cut butterfly and it's done.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Something New.  The sentiment says it all, but it's also a new stamp set ;)

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - Time Flies (time or flying)

Just Us Girls - Metal or Metallic (I've used staples, does that count?)

and Fusion, where I've picked a couple of the colours (magenta/yellow) and sort-of followed the sketch ;)

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Don't forget about the Mixed Media Card Challenge, which is all about beginnings, with an option of sequins.  Click here for all the details.