In My Heart

February is the month of love - apparently! I love taking part in swaps and made this ATC for a recent Valentine's swap on Facebook.

I am trying to use up old cardboard so recycled some for the base. I used Dyna Paints first and then embossed with a wood effect folder. I dry brushed white paint over the embossing and then sanded some of the paint back. I used Tim Holtz Washi Tape on the background and a text stamp. The heart is wooden, painted red and edged with Black Soot Distress Ink. I wrapped the heart in wire and added a Tim Holtz sticker as a sentiment.

It was quite hard to part with this one!

Challenges I am entering :
A Vintage Journey - Your Hearts Desire Challenge
Creative Artiste - Anything Goes
An Inky Mess - Anything Goes Mixed Media

Christmas Blessings

My poor blog has been neglected in the run up to Christmas and the many cards I have made for friends, family and my ETSY store. So I will leave you with Christmas wishes for peace, harmony and love. I hope to give my blog a makeover in the New Year so watch this space.

I made this card for my Grandma who is 98! using a stamp from Woodware. I stamped and embossed the image with white embossing powder on blue card. After matting and layering the image I added die cut flowers and foliage.

I am entering it into the following challenges:

Artistic Stampers - Christmas

Country View Challenges - Christmas

Dies R Us - Christmas

Happy Halloween Eve

Once again the world awaits the spookiest night of the year. Our family had great fun choosing a pumpkin at the farm last week and decorating the house.

I joined in with the Halloween Tag Swap on Mixed Media's Facebook page. 

I created the tag by first applying distress ink through a tree stencil. Then I added torn book paper and the stamped image. I coloured and cut out the pumpkins. I also added some gothic like washi tape. The final piece de resistance is the witch which I die cut on my Cricut machine, before adding metal sparkle glitter glue.

I hope you all have a very Spooky Day!

I am entering my tag into the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash - Witching Hour

Bitten By The Bug 2 - Halloween

A Inky Mess - Anything Goes

Dream in Darkness - Halloween

Autumn Days

Since becoming addicted to Instagram my poor little blog has been neglected! Due to the school holidays and start of a new term I haven't had much time to create anything new. So yesterday on a cold and wet Sunday I finally got round to opening my new stamps from Hobbyart.

This is a beautiful set titled Lino Cut Hares and they are a joy to use. I created the background using Spectrum Noir Aquatint inks on watercolour paper. Then I stamped the images in black using an Archival Ink Pad. I wanted it to look quite primitive. I added the white accents using a POSCA paint pen.

I might even frame it and put it on my wall!

I am entering the following challenges

Dragonfly Dreams - Anything Goes

International Art and Soul - Nature

Alphabet Challenge - N is for Nature

Fab N Funky - All Creatures

As Seen in Craft Stamper

Its been a while since I've blogged as we have been enjoying our annual holiday in Jersey, Channel Islands. Its a beautiful island and one we have returned to for the past 4 years.

St Ouens Bay

Pleimont Bay

                           













Even more exciting is seeing my work in Craft Stamper Magazine! I was delighted to have my work chosen for the Ready,Set Stamp feature.

I used a new set of shell stamps from Woodware and an embossing folder from my stash. I inked the background using Distress Inks. Having arranged the stamped elements are used Imagination Crafts Art Stones for texture. For more information pick up a copy of the magazine for more details.

Just Us Girls - Beach

Country View Crafts Challenge - Sun, Sea, Sand

Under The Sea

The temperature on the South Coast of England these past weeks has often hit 30 degress centigrade! So the best place to be has definetly been by the sea.

I was inspired to make this piece by just that - the sea!

Its not often I make something like this so it is with some trepidation I am sharing it!

I began with a blank canvas and with glue attached string, shells, netting and art stones before covering in gesso. I then applied various shades of green and blue paint, including the lovely dyna paints by Pebeo.

The mermaid is by Creative Embellishments. I was lucky to win a bumper selection of their products in a competition recently. I applied paint and gilding flakes to the mermaid before attaching. 

I am quite in love with this mystical, sea themed canvas!

Challenges I am entering

A Inky Mess - Just For Fun

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes

Mix It Up Challenge Blog - Anything Goes + Mixed Media

Rhedds Creative Spirit - Anything Mixed Media

Cheers - Happy Father's Day!

So today is Father's Day and I want to say a big thank you to my Dad who is amazingly kind, generous and fantastic Grandpa!  I know for some today is painful for those who's Dad is no longer around but I hope you can think of them with fond memories.

I picked up the recent copy of Papercraft Essentials and made this card for my Dad using the free Apple Blossom gifts.

I used the embossing folder and then distressed it with various colours of Distress Inks. It was a happy accident as I started with black and didn't like it so added colour. I quite like how it turned out!  I stamped the bottles and glasses onto card with an archive ink pad before colouring them with watercolour pencils and diluted Distress Ink.

The sentiment was created with a set of alphabet stamps from my stash.  

The card is now sitting in pride of place on my Dad's mantelpiece!

So all it remains for me to say is

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY - CHEERS!

Challenges I am entering:

An Inky Mess - Anything Goes

Addicted To Stamps and More - Anything Goes

E

Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes

A Peek at Fairyland

Last week I treated myself to a new set of stamps from Crafters Companion as demonstrated on Hochanda by the fabulous Sheena Douglass.

And this is the result...

To create the card I first applied Distress Crayons onto Watercolour card, adding water to create a wash. I then overstamped the toadstools and foliage. I used Distress Ink and water to colour in. I also applied a wash of Clear Sparkle Pen to add a touch of magic. Finally added some white pen highlights.

I wonder who lives in those toadstools?!

Challenges I am entering :

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes

The Fairy and the Unicorn - Anything Goes (optional fairies)

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Magical Fairy Garden

DIY Postcard Swap

Well what glorious weather we have in the South of England today. Apparently we are heading for a heatwave!

I've just been to the post office to post my 10 postcards as part of iHanna's DIY Postcard Swap. It was the first one I have taken part in and its been great fun. I even got my Gelli Plate out which I have had for nearly a year and not used!!

Here are some of the post cards I will be sending out

Made using my first ever Gelli print!

Stamps, stencil and Distress Ink.

Mixed collage

I will share more of them later in the week and also pictures of the ones I receive!

Rekindling my mojo!

I have been struggling a bit to create recently and was looking for something to inspire me. And I found it in the Facebook Group Sheena's Inkettes. So much so that I had to buy the new lily stamp and embossing folder.

I also finally got around to buying some Pebeo Gilding Wax too!

I made a finished card using embossing, Pebeo Dyna Paints, Cosmic Shimmer powders and stamping.

I can't wait to try out some more techniques with this set!

Challenges I am entering

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes