12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist - take 4

This tag has been created for Ellen Hutson 12 tags of Christmas with a feminine twist challenge. This tag was inspired by Heather Campbells shaker tag from day 10.  I have used two Bella tags. One I cut the window in with a curved rectangle die from MPress. This tag I left white and adhered the plastic window to it with the MFT skyline border die-namics sandwiched between the two so it is outside the shaker window as Heather had done.  Next I stamped and embossed the Kaisercraft Christmas sentiment with Zing red metallic finish embossing powder, which is much more a magenta pink than red. I then cut out a circle of masking material and placed over the sentiment  while I coloured to create the moon effect.  The background was then coloured with distress inks - squeezed lemonade, mustard seed, Victorian velvet, worn lipstick and picked raspberry.  Then after removing the mask I proceeded to stamp the Kaszazz Santa and sleigh with versamark to heat emboss with black - spectacular fail!!  The background distress inking was still too wet so black powder stuck everywhere.  So I brushed it off and now I have a slightly smoggy sunset, lol. I stamped Santa and the reindeer again just with brilliance black ink.  I stuck some thin adhesive foam strips around the edge, popped in some gold and silver sequins and a little sprinkle of silver stardust ( a mixture of coarse glitter and little stars) and adhered together. I created a black reinforced with two punches from some black card and then popped a couple of piece of silver ribbon through the hole and tied it up with gold cord.

Thank you for looking, cheers Linda

12 Tags of Christmas with a feminine Twist - Take 3

This tag has been created for Ellen Hutson 12 tags of Christmas with a feminine twist challenge. This tag was inspired by Jean Manis's sparkly tag from day 6.  I have used a Bella tag to which I have adhered some Basic Grey paper - this is from an old 6x6 pad called wisteria (definitely a non holiday paper collection).  The tree was cut from purple cardstock using a Nellie's Multi-frame die (MFD045).  I then adhered the sequins with the multi-medium from Ranger. (I tried the double sided paper like Jean, but it was an utter failure. Mine definitely isn't the same quality as Jean used). This was popped over some handcut snowbanks.  The Merry Christmas light string is a stamp which came free on a magazine called Christmas Cheer (the stamp set not the magazine).  It was stamped with versamark and embossed with detail white powder from sparkle n sprinkle.  The strings were extended with signo white pen. I cut the stamp in half to create the two strings. (Jennifer McGuire is right they don't scream or present any indication of pain). The present is a die from Kaszazz (I don't think it is available any more). It was cut out of two colours of the Wisteria paper and layered.  The bow was cut out of tinsel paper to match the sequins.  I finished it with a triple bow of seam binding and a little bit of gold trimmed purple satin ribbon. The seam binding came from Craft Queen but I'm not sure about the other as it was only a tiny offcut. Sorry about the crappy photo - late at night and the flash picture looked awful - the sequins looked all funny colours - yuck!

Thank you for looking, cheers Linda

 

PS I love purple

12 tags of Christmas with a Feminine twist - take 2

This tag has been created for Ellen Hutson 12 tags of Christmas with a feminine twist challenge. This tag was inspired by Julie Ebersole's arty tag from day 1. The tag background is a Reves 300gsm watercolour paper cut at about 7.5 x 12 cm and the corners cut off to create the tag shape .  Julie created her stripes by hand watercolouring with distress ink (definitely watch her video she such great fun). I wanted a little more sparkle so I painted my stripes with the melon metallic Faber-Castell gelato. I also used tape to create straight stripes (a little OCD I know).  The sentiment is from Kaisercraft Christmas sentiments. It was stamped with versamark and embossed with gold.  The wreath is the breezy wreath from Poppy Stamps. I cut it out of plain white cardstock 3 times and layered it up (fiddly and I think I need new glasses).  I then stuck on some iridescent pale pink sequins on the wreath and decorated around the star with some gold and transparent pink sequin stars. The smaller of the gold stars was actually silver but I coloured over it with a Faber-Castell metallic marker. I punched a hole in the top (please try to ignore my poor centring) and created a reinforcer out of gold shimmer paper with two small circle punches.

Thank you for looking,  cheers Linda

12 tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist

This tag has been created for Ellen Hutson 12 tags of Christmas with a feminine twist challenge. This tag was inspired by Kittie Caracciolo's gorgeous tag from day 3. The tag background is a 8 x 15 cm white tag from Bella. The patterned paper  at the top of the tag is from a Webster's Pages 6x6 pad from a few years ago. Below that is some linen textured white card which was scored to look like timber boards. Not that this is very noticeable in the photo with the flash flare. As per usual I'm taking picture at night no natural light and pretty ordinary photography skills to boot. The window was cut with a Cheery Lynn Designs die - Window C.  It was partial die cut as I didn't want the lowest row of window panes. The flower was cut from gold shimmer paper using Kreaxions LIT144ABC die (sexy die name huh!).  Two of each of the three sizes of flowers in this die set were layered together. These were then layered on two of the smallest flowers in the Nellie's Multiframes MFD046 (another sexy name).  A little pale blue gem was placed in the centre to match the shimmery cardstock of the foliage behind.  The foliage was cut from off-white shimmer paper and the pale blue shimmer card using the following dies - Joy crafts - 60020257, billies flourishes 6002-0264; Couture Creations Dolce; LeCrea Design leane 003 and Marianne designs Anja Leaves 4.  There is also a couple of sprigs cut with a Punch Bunch punch.  I tied a double bow with some thin satin ribbon and organza ribbon layered together. I tied a shimmery ball to this ribbon and adhered it down and called the tag completed. 

I hope I can find some time to make some more tags inspired by this challenge. There are some gorgeous creations. Thank you for looking,  cheers Linda

Christmas doves

These beautiful doves are a stamp set from Sparkle n Sprinkle called Christmas doves.  These were part of their November release I was lucky enough to win.  The doves were stamped on basic white cardstock using olive archival ink from Ranger. Image was cut out with the largest die from Spellbinders labels 25. The image was then inked with broken china distress ink while the card was still in the die. The Christmas doves was then stamped again on X-press It blending card and the doves and holly were coloured with copic markers. The doves were then covered in embossing ink and heat embossed with Judikins iridescent sparkle embossing powder and the holly with plain clear embossing powder. The doves and holly were fussy cut, shaped and popped over the original stamped image with silicon.  The stamped image was mounted on a 15cm square card over the blue ribbon (I have absolutely no idea of the source of this ribbon other than that it came out of my blue ribbon jar).  The glittery corners were cut from the My Favourite things four corners die-namics using double sided adhesive paper which was adhered to some scraps of card. The top release paper was removed and some fine turquoise glitter was rubbed into the adhesive. I think the glitter was a Martha Stewart glitter. Finally  the Spellbinders ribbon banner was cut from plain white cardstock inked with the broken china distress ink (but more lightly) and stamped with a sentiment from the same Christmas doves stamp set.

Thank you for looking,

 

 

I would like to enter this card in the following challenge

 

Sparkle n Sprinkle creative challenges for December -use loose glitter, embossing powder and/or flocking

Cheers Linda

Bokeh Background

Dawn of Wplus9 design studios demonstrated a fantastic bokeh background technique way back in August. You can check out the original blog post here or the YouTube tutorial here.  I used her technique to create the background for this card using broken china, tumbled glass and pumicestone distress inks.  I think sponged on Brilliance moonlight white ink through a stencil I made by punching and die-cutting  lots of different size circles into a sheet of acetate. I know there is not much peaking out now but it really is pretty.  Over the background I have placed the memory box orchard tree frame cut from basic white cardstock. In the tree I have placed a couple of sweet little birdies from a Wee Stamp set from Whimsy Stamps which came from with Australian Simply cards.  The Fairy is another Wee Stamps design from Whimsy Stamps called the Silver Fairy.  I think she is just gorgeous. The birdies and the fairy were coloured with copics, fussy cut, given some shape and stuck down with silicon. I put silver glitter on the fairy's wings.  This is a super fine glitter called reflection from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  It is so fine and glittery gorgeous. Once you glue it down it wont come off (I just used some PVA) it has an almost velvet texture. The foliage border behind the fairy is from another free stamp set from Australian Simply cards from Indigoblu.  This was stamped and embossed on vellum with white detail embossing powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  It certainly does an excellent job of getting the detail, even the tiny little thin stalks and stems in this image. The sentiment is from Kaisercraft and it was stamped on a die from a Wplus9 set called circle stackers 1. Thank you for looking.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges

Whimsy Stamps Inspiration Challenge 77 - Two or more images

Sparkle n Sprinkle Creative Challenges for November

LOTV November Challenge

I was lucky enough to be the winner of the Christmas in July blog hop at Lili of the Valley. I won 12 of their adorable rubber stamps. The sweet image on the card below "A time to care" was one of these. I coloured the little angel and her birdie friends with distress markers and a waterbrush.  I was trying to channel Fleur of the  LOTV Design Team, her colouring skills are absolutely amazing. I certainly didn't attain her level of skill but I'm happy with the results. I cut out my stamped image with Spellbinders labels one and mounted it on some kraft card cut out with spellbinders decorative labels one and embossed randomly with Opals Snow Gum - a ultra thick embossing powder.  The patterned paper is from a Kaisercraft 6 inch paper pad called Christmas Collections, I'm not sure if it is still available. I love the vintage look and thought it went well with the image. I created the border by cutting out four strips with the EK success snowflake border punch. The little Kraft tree are cut using a Marianne Designs die and embossed with the same powder.  The foliage was cut from white and pearl cardstock using a mixture Whimsy Stamps and Joycrafts dies and punch bunch punch.  The sentiment is from a Kaisercraft set simply called Christmas sentiments and was stamped using a detailed white embossing powder from  Sparkle N sprinkle on a label from  Kaszazz (a Stampin Up style company here in Australia).  Thank you for looking.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenge

Lili of the Valley - Merry Christmas

April Unity {Be Inspired} Challenge

This is my first time participating in the monthly Unity Stamp Company Challenge.  Unity have so many great stamps and fantastic sales each week. I bought quite a few itty bitty stamps and some grab bags at a sale earlier in the year so I thought I would create something for this months challenge.  I was inspired by both the inspiration picture, colour palette and the card sketch.

I created the card below by first stamping the jar with the roses from Unity's Countryside Blooms itty bitty in stazon on watercolour paper.  I coloured the image using Distress Markers with a waterbrush.  I just scribbled the pen on a palette and picked up the colour with a waterbrush.  I fussy cut the coloured image and popped it on a white panel edged with Chipped Sapphire distress ink which was matted on blue card and then stamped with the sentiment from the Dragonfly of Beauty itty Bitty. This was affixed to a panel of the brown card along with strips of patterned paper from the Kaisercraft These Days paper pad which were also matted on the blue card.  The whole panel was then matted on a card made from the same brown card. Thanks for checking out my blog and card, cheers Linda

Playing with Paste

I have been awed lately by the amazing use of pastes and stencils to add great texture and dimension to projects, so I thought I would give it a go. Prepare to be AMAZED!, well maybe startled is more the word I'm looking for. As a first attempt it is OK, but I definitely need more practice.

The first step was to create a stencil.  I used the hexagons from the Wplus9 quilt cuts 1 die set. I just heavily embossed the die into plastic, trying not to cut right through and lined it up for a number of passes through my cuttlebug. I then took the centre of hexagons out with my craft knife. Here's the result.

I did have a couple of bits I had to stick back together as I cut right through the divisions and some of the divisions are thicker than other (should have taken some more time to line up the die).  I placed the stencil on white card and wiped over some modelling paste. The stencil wasn't really flat after having past through my cuttlebug (the plates are bent like bananas) so I did get some paste under the divisions of the hexagons (definitely need more practice). After the paste dried I sprayed the card piece with pure sunshine, squeezed orange and cheery pie dylusions and wiped some of the colour off the paste with a baby wipe. As I didn't have great definition on the hexagons from the paste smudging I used the Wplus9 quilt die to cut some hexagon borders from some paper in the Basic Grey Indian summer paper pad to try to get some definition back. I then cut a couple of floral shaped dies from the Wplus9 quilt cuts 1 die set in white card and from the BG Indian Summer papers and pieced them together. The die cut that forms the leaves and stems of the Wplus9 quilt flowers is ginko flourish from Fancy That.  The happy birthday is a Marianne designs die. I layered up 3 layers to give some dimension - another great tip I've seen used lately. I finished the panel with some kaisercraft yellow pearls and adhered to a folded white card.  

 

Thank you for checking out my blog.  I would like to enter this card into the following challenges.

 

Wplus9 Birthday Celebration Week 4- Stretch It - I certainly stepped outside my comfort zone with making my own stencil and used paste for the first time.

 

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - Paste 

Wplus9 Trend Watch Challenge

Wplus9 turn 4 in February and are celebrating all month long. As part of 3rd week of their Birthday Celebrations they have a challenge. The Wplus9 trend watch challenge focuses on trends - misting, metal, stripes, sequins, watercolour, hand colouring, etc, etc. There are a lot of fun trends around at the moment. For my challenge entry I have used watercolour splatters and sequins. The watercolour splatters were created by making a wash of a number of different colour Faber-Castell gelatos and flicking the paintbrush. The sentiment I created and printed and cut into a little flag ended banner. The multi-coloured star is centre of one of the Wplus9 quilt cuts 2 die set . I cut it out of many different colours and then pieced it together within the white frame. I then stuck on the sequin with glossy accents and finally adhered the panel to a white cardstock base. I hadn't tried this technique before, but I found it a lot of fun. As always thank you to anyone who stumbles upon my blog. 

Prima's CHA Winter 2014 sneek peeks

Go and check out Prima's new releases. Not only will you be overwhelmed by absolutely stunning collections but you also have a chance to win some wonderful Prima goodies. My favourite collection is Ingvild's Junkyard Findings and Shabby Chic Treasures. Amazing elements - just check out the TV frame. I love the electrical fittings and nautical elements too.  The picture below only has a few of these wonderful elements check out the Prima blog for more.

Timeless Tuesday - Lets Get in Shape

I created the following card for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #253 . Katie Simms of the Friends of Flourishes design team set the challenge this time and its Get into shape ie create a shaped card  (no exercise or dieting necessary).  I was lucky enough to be a winner in Flourishes December release challenge and won three gorgeous stamp sets - yes 3 - I was so excited I can tell you.  As they arrived in my mailbox the other day I thought I would use some of them for this challenge. I chose the plane and the cute little banner from the Lots of Thought set. This set has an amazing array of images and sentiments for loads of occasions.

I used an image from Bird Cards - loads of free images and cut files.  I printed the image and used it as a templates to cut out a white card base that I then layered with the blue card and checked paper, which is from one of Kaisercraft's older collections - Loire Valley.  The clouds are the Marshmallow Clouds die from Memory Box which I then embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss dots folder.  The plane and banner were stamped on X-Press it blending card and coloured with copics.  I will yet again apologise for the crappy photo. I think I need to see up a lighted area for photos as I'm always crafting at night and never have a chance to take daylight photos. As always thank you very much for checking out my blog.

Whimsy Stamps New Release and Designers

Whimsy Stamps is gearing up for their January rubber stamp and die release. Join in for the new release sneak peeks starting on January 20th on Whimsy Stamps Inspiration Blog.

They have 3 new artists joining the Whimsy family - Sandy Allnock, Simonne Clay, and Cathy Delannsay! Being a doggie lover I can't wait for Sandy Allnock's cute pet designs.