ATC Spotlight Challenge

These are three ATCs which I thought I would enter into the Spotlight Challenge which at the moment is on ATCs. I stamped the text then over stamped the butterflies, and flowers. I used a variety of techniques - embossing, colouring with Promarkers and using Pearl Powders over versamark ink.

Polka Doodles - Christmas in July

The theme this week at Polka Doodles Challenge blog is Christmas in July - so here is my Christmas card. I made it using a No Stamp Required image from the new My Craft Studio Christmas Whimsies CD, then coloured it using Promarkers and Aquamarkers. I added buttons and Flowersoft Polar White to decorate.

I'm also entering

Pollycrafts - Christmas in July

Creative Belli Blog - Christmas in July

Christmas Inspirations

Allsorts Challenge - Free and Easy

Tag Tuesday - Butterfly

The theme at Tag Tuesday for this week is Butterflies. I made this tag using Tim Holtz's faux enamel technique using Old Linen Distress Ink, Clear embossing powder and Walnut Distress Ink. I added tissue tape onto the background. The Anna Griffin butterfly stamp I stamped and used the direct to paper technique with Distress ink to colour. I then brushed out the colour with a water brush. I added dropped off gold UTEE onto the wings. Finally I made a bead dangle with butterfly beads to decorate.

I made the top 5!

I'm so pleased to have made it in the top 5 of the Stampman Challenges - Alcohol Inks. Its quite fitting as this week sees the second birthday of my blog. Where did those years go! I am hoping to be able to have some giveaways soon to celebrate! I would like to say a big thank you for all my followers and those who have been with me from the very beginning. Your support is appreciated!

A Summer's Evening

We don't seem to be getting many warm summer evenings in the UK, so I thought I would evoke the feeling with some summer art. I created the background with Distress Inks and Cut n Dry Foam. Then I used a variety of stamps to create the foliage and embossed with black embossing powder. I created the sun by watering down that area to get the shadow and then reapplying ink through a template. I added white gel pen for highlights. Finally I used my new The Paper Company stamps to create the gold embossed foliage on the card base.

I'm entering this into the following challenges

Artistic Stamper - Summer Colours

Stampalot Challenge - Anything Goes

Grungy Monday Entry

I had time to sit and play this morning so decided to work on a Grungy Monday Week 15 entry. This week, using Tim Holtz's faux distressed enamel technique, I created a little tag book with a cover. The book isn't filled yet - so watch this space! I loved the effect the clear embossing powder produced. I used Tattered Rose and Walnut Stain for this. I stamped the butterfly with the different colours of Distress Ink and embossed it. The black end paper I embossed with Tim's patchwork folder and rubbed over with gold ink. I added metal embellishments to the tag cover as well as ribbon and a little tag. Phew! Off for a lie down now!

Atc Challenge - Last minute entry!

The challenge at ATC Challenges for the last two weeks has been household items or anything goes. Well now my Polka Doodles stamps have arrived this was the perfect time to try them out for the anything goes category. A simple card using Memento ink pad, Promarkers and a blender pen.

Vintage Wall Hanging

This is a piece I made for the Vintage Stamping competition on the UK Stampers Forum. The winner will be picked at random tomorrow - so fingers crossed!
I made this piece using an old frame from some chipboard shapes. I painted the frame and stamped and embossed silver text. Behind are various stamped papers, background papers and a vintage image. I made the flourish from grungepaper which has been silver embossed and added lace, a glittered flower and a hat pin.

Other challenges I am entering with this
Allsorts - Anything goes!

Creative Expressions Calling Card Challenge

One of my favourite companies, Creative Expressions are looking for Design Team Members! Oh how I would love to work for them. They make the most amazing stamp sets - of which I have quite a few!

Anyway, as part of the application process, we are asked to make a calling card (ATC ). I decided to make this one, in the form of a postcard something which came about in the Victorian Era.

To make this you need :
Three Separate stamps, Flourish stamp, Distress Ink, Adirondack Ink, Versamark inkpad, Perfect Pearls or Cosmic Shimmers and Gilding Flakes, waterbrush, glue pen.

1. First stamp the butterfly with Adirondack ink onto the ATC and create a mask to cover it.
2. Stamp the text background over the top and the postmark. Blend Distress Inks over the card.
3. Colour the butterfly using a waterbrush and Distress Inks
4. Stamp a flourish with Versamark clear ink on the corners at dust with Perfect Pearls /
Cosmic Shimmers.
5. Highlight the butterfly with a glue pen and rub on gilding flakes
6. Finish by going around the edges of the card with a darker Distress Ink Pad

Pink, Cream and Brown

First of all I want to say I hope all my American followers enjoyed their July 4th celebrations. I have seen some of your blogs and you looked as though you had fun!

Back to crafty business - I made this card using a Crafty Individuals stamp CI-148, so perfect for this month's Craft Individuals challenge which is to make a vintage card using the colours pink, cream and brown. Firstly I embossed a piece of card with swiss dots and aged it with distress inks. I stamped the focal image in brown and pink distress inks. The butterfly is an Anna Griffin stamp and the ticket is a download from Miss Cutie Pie.As a finishing touch I added a hatpin.

Also entering Make My Monday - Brown, Cream and Pink

Playing with Alcohol Inks

Its been a while since I used my alcohol inks and it was great to get them into use again. I experimented with a few techniques on this piece. I put alcohol inks on glass and Tim Holtz Fragments and then a couple of pieces I stamped and embossed with gold ink. The background I made with glossy card and alcohol inks, then overstamped the flourishes and embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Aurora Arctic Black embossing powder. Visit Tim's page to see more on alcohol inks

I'm entering this piece into
StudioL3 - Alcohol Inks
Stampman Challenge - Alcohol Inks and Optional Sketch