Messing About with ATCs

Its been a long time since I made some ATCs. I don't why as I love the fact you can go wild and experiment with techniques in such a small space.

I was inspired to make these cards by Lynn Kopas' work and whilst no where as fabulous as hers, I really enjoyed making these.

First I stuck on a layer of hessian type material and then added found objects, beads, shells and other trinkets. I covered the whole piece with Gesso. For the first time I used a texture paste and a stencil to create the flourishes - I am now hooked!

Once dry I spritzed blue and green inks onto different areas and stamped the butterfly image.  To bring out the texture I dry - brushed gold acrylic paint onto shells and flourishes.

I think I may be making more of these!

I am entering them into the following challenges:

That's Crafty Challenge Blog - ATCs

Stamps and Stencils - Oh So Blue

We Love to Create - Anything Goes

A little stitchery

I hope you are all getting ready to enjoy the heatwave in the UK?

Another craft I love to do is sewing and embroidery. This weather is perfect for relaxing in the garden with a bit of sewing. This is a WIP! Although not sure what its going to turn into yet.....I will keep you posted.....

On the papercraft front I have also created a stitch themed card.

I used a Creative Expressions set of stamps to create the images, stamping with Distress Ink and using a wet brush to pull out the ink. I used a hessian embossing folder to create the background and lots of sewing bits and bobs to decorate.

Hope you like it!

Challenges I am entering are :

Crafting By Designs - Anything Goes

 Crafty Cardmakers - Stitching

Merry, but not so bright!

This week has been a hard one with yet another round of antibiotics for a throat infection! Hoping now I will be on the mend.  I have been spending time indoors crafting this week and made this Christmas card today. I bought these Woodware stamps on Ebay, they are still in good condition and stamp perfectly.

I coloured in some of the image with Promarkers and a metallic pen and then added buttons. The sentiment is a rub on. I have to say I think this makes a very stylish card.

Challenges I am entering:
Christmas Stamping All Year Round - Anything

Fab n Funky - Buttons

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge- Buttons

Back with Pretty Pastels

I've been a bit quiet this week as I've been on holiday in the Isle of Wight for a week. But now I'm back and busy with cardmaking, competitions and makes for Christmas!

As a member of the Alphabet Challenge design team I had to create something using P for Pastels. Something of a departure for me as I don't often use pastels. I made this card using a stamp from The Craft Stamper magazine, coloured with ProMarkers and added pastel buttons. The idea came from one of my first sketchbooks I have just begun.

Allsorts Challenge Blog Entry - Love

This week's challenge over on the Allsorts Blog is Love.I have had this heart made for some years now and have been trying to find a use for it, now I have! I covered a piece of card in fabric, then cut out a heart with pinking shears from pink felt. I then added the heart and put glitter on some of the buttons. I pinned on a bow with a pin topped with a pearl heart.