Fairy Sweet Wishes

 I really need to be more consistent with my blogging! Unfortunately I have let Instagram get in the way and tend to post more there. 

I wanted to share this card with you as I am so pleased with how it turned out. I always look with envy at blended background cards and am quite pleased how the Distress Oxides performed.

This stamp set came with both dies and stamps which made the cutting out so easy. I used a coated cardstock with Distress Oxides to create the blended background. The images were coloured with Promarkers.

I thought I would enter some challenges again, so in no particular order:

You can find a great list at Paper Playful

Elibelle's Corner - Things With Wings

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Hare today

It's been over three months since I posted. Whilst I have had a little more time to craft I have had my son at home having home schooling as all our schools are still closed in the UK for Year 8.

Being at home and indoors has given me the chance to hunt through my stash for products I had forgotten about or never used.

With everyone rushing to the hairdressers I though it a good time to show you my own hare!

The stamps I used to make this card are by Crafty Individuals and came with a recent copy of Creative Stamping Magazine.

I created the background with spray inks and distress inks on watercolour card before stamping the image on top. I made a mask of the stamp to cover it whilst overstamping the grasses. To finish I used a white gel pen to highlight areas and a sprinkle of glitter.

I think it looks so ethereal and have plans to frame it and hang it on my wall.

Challenges I am entering:

A Bit More Time To Craft - Anything Goes

Crafty Animals - Anything With an Animal

Angel Blessings

Well how things have changed since the last post here on my blog. We are all in our houses trying to keep ourselves and the wider community safe. So my thoughts and good wishes are with you all.

One of the good things about being at home more is getting the chance to finish some projects which have sat on my craft desk for some time.

Today I managed to finish this MDF angel in a mixed media style.

I used book paper, paint and gold leaf to decorate her and she is now displayed on my shelf.

Now, what's next?!

Challenges I am entering:

Bleeding Art Challenges - Anything Goes Mixed Media

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Mixed Media ATC

One of the best places to learn and share mixed media projects is the Mixed Up Creatives.  They also run a monthly ATC swap.  You can find the Facebook Group at  https://www.facebook.com/groups/mixedupcreatives

This was the inspiration board for the February Swap

And this is what I created

I embossed the brick pattern in my Sizzix machine then painted over the top with Dynapaints. I used gold wax to highlight some of the areas. The heart is made from grunge paper which I painted then added Magic metal embossing powder to. Whilst hot I added the silver thread and the sequins. To make the ATC stand out I dry brushed red paint on the edges.

Challenges I am entering:

Mix It Up Challenge - Anything Goes + Smooshing

More Mixed Media - Anything Goes +optional green

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year. Who can believe we're in a new decade and 2020?!

I managed to find time to make a New Year's Eve card for a friend and thought I would share it with you all.

I used files from the Cricut Maker to create the background, sentiment and glasses. With the gold ribbon it creates a stunning and classy card.

I am entering the following challenges

Always Fun Challenges - New Year

CraftyHazlenutsChristmas Challenge - Anything Christmas and or New Year

Decking the Halls

It may be early but I have already made the resolution to step up with my blog in the New Year so look out for something new and different!

In the meantime I am trying to squeeze in as much Christmas crafting as I can. I absolutely love crafting with my Cricut machine. Here is my first decoration using SVG Dreaming Tree cutting files.

It was so easy to cut and put together. I think I might have to make more!

I am sharing this with

Cut It Up 

Merry Little Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes

Tales From The Craft Room - Christmas

Back to the blog

My poor blog has been sadly neglected over the summer and prep for craft fairs so I'm making an effort to show it some love.

We had a fun time at Halloween and I treated myself to some great new silhouette stamps by Marianne Designs

And this is what I made with them

I used Distress inks to create the background on a blank tag and then simply stamped the silhouettes.

The tag below I created for a Facebook swap 

I hope you all had a spooky Halloween too!

Challenges I am entering

Crafty Gals Corner - Halloween Colours

Crafty Cardmakers - Halloween

Always Be A Mermaid

 Having just got back from a fantastic week away in Majorca (despite the heatwave!) it's time to get back to the crafting!

I was lucky enough again for my work to be selected for the Ready, Set, Stamp feature in CraftStamper Magazine.

The theme was Deep Blue Sea and this is what I created

I used Distress Oxides on the card and sprayed them with water to merge them into an underwater effect. Once dry I stamped the mermaid by Stampendous stamps in archival ink and the blue circles in Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink. 

I used the Jane Davenport Making Faces flesh coloured paint for the body, watercolour paints and gold marker. I added the embossing powder, glitter, beads, artstones and fragments for the under the sea look. The diecuts were cut from watercoloured card before painting and added to the card. And as the sentiment says, Always be yourself, unless you can be a mermaid!

Other challenges I am entering:

a2zscrapbookingblog.com - Sparkle and Shine

Country View Crafts Challenges - Blue and Green

i Hanna's Postcard Swap

One of the really fun things to do each year is iHanna's Postcard Swap. You make 10 cards and then send them to given addresses. I have sent mine to Sweden, UK, Australia, Canada and the US.

I am now starting to get swaps back which makes for a happy mail box each day!

These are some of the swaps I have received so far

And these are some of the cards I made to send out

Make A Wish

OVER hill, over dale, 

   Thorough bush, thorough brier, 

   Over park, over pale, 

   Thorough flood, thorough fire, 

   I do wander everywhere, 

   Swifter than the moone's sphere; 

   And I serve the fairy queen, 

   To dew her orbs upon the green: 

   The cowslips tall her pensioners be; 

   In their gold coats spots you see; 

   Those be rubies, fairy favours, 

   In those freckles live their savours: 

   I must go seek some dew-drops here, 

And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear. 

                                                                              William Shakespeare

This poem inspired me to dust off my Lavinia Stamps and make a fairy tag. 

I used distress inks to create the background for the silhouette stamp and added glitter to the wings for sparkle.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Dragonfly Dreams - Anything Goes

My Time To Craft - Tag It

Easter Time

I hope you are all looking forward to the Easter break. We are expecting some warm temperatures in the UK, hotter than the Costas!

I decided to create this Easter card today before the holiday formally begins tomorrow.

The rabbit was cut on my Cricut machine and then edged with Distress Ink. The other elements were diecut from various foliage dies, some from coloured paper, others from white paper and watercoloured.

I embossed the background before bringing out the detail with distress ink. Finally I layered the finished work and mounted onto a white card. 

I am looking forward to seeing all your Easter creations too!

Challenges I am entering:

Crafty Gals Corner Challenges - Easter

Country View Craft Challenges - Easter

Always Fun - Easter

In the Moonlight

I've been so busy with card orders that I haven't had time to play with my art supplies. However I did get time to create this piece which was chosen for publication by Craft Stamper Magazine.

The background was created with Distress and Distress Oxide inks watered down on a palette. Then I used a branch stencil to create the trees. The stamps are by Samantha Braun. I used micro beads and glitter to add an ethereal effect.

For more details see the current issue of Craft Stamper Magazine, there are also some great projects from other readers.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Sisterhood of Crafters - Ladies/Girls

Mix It Up Challenge Blog - Inked Backgrounds

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

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