Back after a long break!

It's taken me ages to get back on here. I intended to post some Christmas card photos, but I was even more disorganised than usual last Christmas, and barely got my cards finished and posted before New Year!

Since the NEC Hobbycraft show a few weeks ago, I've been obsessed with using brushes (ink dusters) to make inky backgrounds - it's much easier than battling with my brayer :-)  Here are a few of the cards I've been making over the last few days:

I am entering this one in the Less Is More 'Three Shades of Green' challenge.

I masked the area to ink and stamp, and clear embossed a couple of the images before using the ink dusters and stamping the image in different colours.

The ink dusters are also great for making backgrounds for my Lavinia stamps:

I'm entering this card in the By The Cute and Girly 'Once upon a time.....'  challenge, and the 

Flutter By Wednesday challenge.

Leaves of Time

There are some gorgeous images at Leaves of Time which are free to use for personal use. I downloaded a few, and had a go at a card with one of them:

I used a brayer for the sky and sand, and coloured the boat with promarkers. I was hoping to make this a CAS card, but I think it looks a bit unfinished. I might have found the perfect excuse to buy another Lavinia stamp:

I reckon this stamp would finish off the card perfectly! But finished or not, I'm entering this in The Crazy Challenge 'Colour Combo' challenge, and the Simon Says Stamp 'Anything Goes' challenge.

Unicorns, I Love Them

Hi! I made this unicorn card yesterday. I still need to work on using the brayer properly, but I love these backgrounds, despite the inky mess I end up with, all over me and the craft table! I used Lavinia stamps and Stampin' Up inks.

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
Papertake - 'Creature Comforts'
Crafty Sentiments - 'Happy Birthday'
Anything Goes - 'Anything Goes'
Stamptacular - 'Just Sayin’!'

Inkadinkado Stamps Again

Hi again! Here's another card I made with one of the Inkadinkado stamps. I masked the frame around it before brayering this time, to make a single layer card. I used Lavinia stamps for the flowers around the edge.

I'm entering it in The Secret Crafter 'ONE LAYER CARD' challenge, The Crafty Pad Designs 'DIAMONDS ARE A GIRLS BEST FRIEND' challenge, and the  Less is More 'Anything CAS Goes' challenge. I'm hoping the big white border will make it CAS enough for LIM :)

More Brayering

Hi! I made this card with my new Inkadinkado stamp set, and my Lavinia cherry blossom stamp. I used stickles on the flowers to add a bit of sparkle.

I'm entering this card in By The Cute & Girly Challenges 'ALL THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL' challenge.

Loving the Tree Stamp!

Hiya! Here's another couple of cards using my new tree stamp. I've been trying the brayer out again. I find it really difficult and very messy, but I love the effect of brayered backgrounds :)

I'm entering this one in The Crazy Challenge 'Men Only' challenge.

I'm entering this one in the The Squirrel and The Fox 'Anything Goes' challenge.


I showed these cards to my other half, to get some feedback, and he said the stamp was a bit pointless, but the background was nice! Well, at least he likes my attempts at brayering, I suppose. I was lucky to get any sort of compliment. One night when the girls were round for a card making night, he walked in and said; "oh, good. You're all sticking bits of card to other bits of card.' He really doesn't appreciate our efforts!!!

Things with Wings

Hiya! Finally managed to get some card making done, and had a good time just mucking about with stamps and inks :)

Inspired by all the challenges my friend Linda enters, I decided to have a go at Papertake's Things With Wings . I tried to enter last night, but my internet connection died, so I hope I'm not too late...

I'm still trying to get the hang of using a brayer, and sponging edges. I was smothered in inks by the time I finished this! I used Lavinia stamps, Stampin' Up &  Adirondack inks and DCWV Once Upon A Time backing paper.

I'm also entering this in The Squirrel and The Fox 'Anything Goes' challenge, and The Paper Shelter 'Fairies and Elves' challenge.

Using my NEC purchases

Finally starting to use my Lavinia stamps! I keep buying some every time I go to the Hobbycraft Fair at the NEC, but have never really used them before.

Definitely need more practise, but I'm quite pleased with my first few attempts :)