Back to Black

Well its finally like summer here in the South Coast of England. We are expecting 30 degrees this weekend!!.

I took my artwork outside to photo and am a bit disappointed with the picture. In real life I'm pleased how it turned out. I made it specifically for the That's Crafty Challenge which this week is Back to Black.

I first painted the canvas with black gesso and then added die cut corners from black card before coating again with gesso. I used a stencil from a recent edition of Cards and Papercraft, with Pebeo Dyna Paints. The butterfly stamp was from the same set which I stamped and embossed with WOW! Embossing Powder Metallic Gold Sparkle.

I just wish you could see it in real life to see the shimmering effect!

Other challenges I am entering

Artistic Stampers - Floral Fantasy
CountryView Crafts - Flower Power

Bring out the bunting

I love adding bunting to my cards and this one is no exception!

I created this card with the Little Claire Silhouette House stamp. I have never tried embossing onto patterned paper before so it's a first for me! I created the bunting using papers and twine. When I finished it I thought it was perfect for a New Home Card!

I am entering this into 

LC Designs Challenge - Anything Goes

Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything Goes

Embossed Trees

I have just purchased the new Embossing Book from Fran Seiford of Stampendous. And I am hooked on embossing again! There are some fabulous ideas.

I decided to dip my toe in the water again with this card for the Mixed Media Card Challenge. The theme is Trees.

To create the background I used gold acrylic paint and torn book pages. I then used a tree stamp, stamping with Versamark ink and using different colours of WOW! Embossing Powder.

Once cut to size I used a black Promarker to colour the edges to give it some depth.

Watch this space for more embossing projects!!

I am entering the following challenges:

Make My Monday - Square Card

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Make Your Own Background

WOW! Embossing Powder Blog - Anything Goes

We Love to Create - Mixed Media

Its the journey not the Destination

I thought I would share this project I made as my entry to the Sheena Douglass Design Team. Unfortunately I wasn't successful this time, but I am really pleased with the result of this piece.

I sprayed the canvas with various ink sprays and highlighted some areas with gold acrylic paint.  The middle section is an MDF square again sprayed with inks and Distress Inks. The butterflies, sentiment and flowers were stamped and embossed with Brass WOW!Embossing Powder. 

The outside leaves and flowers are from Sheena's brambles stamps. I sprayed a sheet of watercolour card with various inks before stamping onto it and cutting out the images.

As they say sometimes its not the destination but the journey that delights us!

Challenges I am entering:

Altered Eclectics - Anything Mixed Media

Creatalicious Challenges - Butterflies

ATC - Tim Holtz Style

A bit of a blast from the past as I haven't made an ATC for ages. That's what really started me off crafting seriously some years ago.

Over at A Vintage Journey Challenge the theme is to make an ATC with "a little touch of Tim" (Holtz)

I created the background by embossing the background with a Tim Holtz embossing folder and then embossing with gold powder. The washi tape, images and tickets are all from my "Tim Holtz stash"

Enjoy Your Crafting!

Emboss it at The Crafting Cafe

At the Crafting Cafe Challenge blog this month we are asking you to show us a card with embossing, be it wet or dry.

The  prize of 6 pots of WOW! embossing powders as WOW! is our sponsor this month.

For my DT piece I created this......

 I used the Cracked Glass technique. I stamped and coloured the butterfly  - a favourite of mine by Anna Griffin - with Distress Pens Then I covered the mountboard with Perfect Medium before applying WOW! Embossing Ultra High Clear Powder. I repeated this three times to get a thick coverage. Then I let it cool before bending the whole piece to give a cracked look. Finally I applied a dark brown ink with Cut N Dry Foam to highlight the cracks.

The papers I selected are the new ones from Docrafts - Madame Payraud which is a great curiosity style collection. I aged the papers further with Distress Inks before cutting them into squares and mounting them onto brown card. 

I would love to see your creations too! So join us at The Crafting Cafe.

Other Challenges I am entering:
4Crafty Chicks - Things with Wings

12 Tags of Christmas Challenge

I think Autumn has settled in for good today in the South, it is dull, wet and cold - perfect for staying in and crafting!

I have decided to try and join in with the Funkie Junkie challenge (sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique Store) to make a Christmas tag each week based on the inspiration given. I am a bit behind, but here is my take on Week One.

To make the tag I used black card which I stamped and embossed snowflakes onto using WOW Embossing Powder. I edged the tag with a white inkpad to give it a chalky look.The baubles are from a fabulous set FREE! with Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine this month. Again these were embossed with Bright White Embossing Powder from WOW! The holly leaves are stamped and coloured with Distress Markers and I added a felt snowflake and a pearl to finish.

1 down - 11 to go!

I am also entering this into the following challenges :
Winter Wonderland - Wrap It Up

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!

The Black Cat

This week is flying by and next week will be half term so time is in short supply. I love CAS cards and found time to make this one for the Less Is More challenge which this week is Cats or Dogs.

To make this card I first used the direct to paper technique using Antique Linen Distress Ink. I then stamped and embossed the cat using WOW Embossing Powder Ebony Powder. I drew the border freehand with a fine pen.

As the meerkats say - Simples!

Other Challenges I am entering : 

Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Order of the Opus Gluei - Black and or cat

Twinchie Challenge

 I love making small artworks and it is my aim to make a large artwork one day from the Twinchies I've made. I made this for the Twinchie Challenge which is Flowers.

I stamped the flower image onto text paper twice and coloured them with Distress Ink. For the top layer I used Cosmic Shimmer Embossing Powder and Stampendous Fragments, then melted them. I cut into the flower to give it a 3D look and then mounted it onto text paper. 

I'm a bit disappointed with the photo, as its looks more impressive in real life!

Faux Leather Technique

Today at the WOW! Embossing Powders Blog I am sharing the Faux Leather Technique with you, which is how I made this book cover. All you need is some Grungepaper, Distress Ink and of course WOW! Embossing Powder. Tomorrow on the blog I will be sharing a card using Pastel Powders.

Don't forget to leave a comment on the blog to be in with a chance of winning 12 Powders and a case!

To find out more visit the blog!

Black and White Embossing

Firstly I would like to wish all mothers a Happy Mother's Day. I think card making must run in the family as my son made a fantastic creation at school.

I've been really busy making samples for WOW! Embossing Powder this week and thought I would share one of my creations.

This was made with the fantastic new stamp set from WOW!. I stamped the dandelion heads in Versamark ink and embossed with Seafoam white powder. The butterflies I embossed with clear embossing powder. I stamped the text in black ink and mounted it on black and mirri card.

Do visit the WOW! blog to see more creations from the talented design team.

Other challenges I am entering :

Craft Lounge - Flower Stamps

Party Time Tuesday - Monochrome

Whimsy Stamps - Embossing

Old Fashioned Christmas

I made this card for a magazine cardmaking competition (fingers crossed!), but I thought you would like to see it. I used Sheena Douglass' Little Bit Sketchy Christmas stamps that were released last year and her new Paint Fusion Holly and Ivy stamps. I used Distress Ink and Promarkers as the colour mediums. The leaves I then decoupaged onto the front and added bakers twine and glitter to decorate. I stamped the snowflake around the card with Versamark and WOW embossing Clear Sparkle Powders. The inside I decorated similarly.

I am entering this card into the following challenges :

Scrapbook Sisters - Leaves

Samuel Taylors Crafts - Christmas Stamp. Sam has an amazing giveaway on the blog of 4 Prima 6 x 6 Paper Pads! Ends this week.