Melting in the Heat

Hopefully that's not the last of the summer now as its been raining in the south for a couple of days. Last night we even had thunder.

Well I have been melting in the heat (excuse the pun!) whilst working on my entry for Craft Stamper Magazine's challenge Take It Make It.  The challenge is to use a layered embossing powder technique featured in the magazine by Birgit Koopsen on pages 30-31 of the July 2013 issue.

For my entry I used a selection of WOW Embossing Powders to create the layers. I used a mask to apply Versamark ink through to achieve the dotty effect.

I then overstamped using a black Stazon inkpad and a butterfly and roses stamps. I added colour to the stamped images with Promarkers. Finally I added a small scattering of Frantage to the bottom right hand corner. 

I wasn't sure how to finish the project off so decided on a card. To add more interest I stamped around the edge with Dusty Concorde Distress ink using the same rose stamp. I am really amazed at the effect you can achieve with this technique!

Deep at the bottom of the Craft Box!

I hope you are all managing to stay cool in these sizzling temperatures! Last night was so hot I got up and made a card as I couldn't sleep! It was made after having a deep rummage in the bottom of the craft box and finding these stamps.

I stamped the Kanban images using Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink and then used Barn Door and Salty Ocean to accent certain areas. The compass is a second generation imprint to give it an even more distressed look. I went around the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink to age the card. I wrapped bakers twine around the card and finished off by adding a die cut kraft tag with a stamped image. To finish I backed the card with seaside themed paper from Docrafts.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Chocolate, coffee and cards - life's a beach

Stampin with the Dragon - On the beach

Heck of a Challenge - The Sea

Simon Says Stamp - By The Sea

In a Garden

My poor blog has been a bit neglected recently what with all this lovely weather I seemed to have spent more time in the garden. Which is my theme for today's post!

This is a Twinchie I have created for the Show Me Your Twinchie Challenge - where they would like to see "In an English Country Garden". I used Cut N Dry to apply Distress Inks to watercolour card and then applied various black peel offs on the top to create a scene.

And whilst on the subject of gardens I thought I would share this gorgeous photo of  our garden visitor. He appears to enjoy the sunshine and has been out tucking into cat food!