UK STAMPERS TAG SWAP

It's been a long time but I am so glad that I have refound UK Stampers Group on Facebook.  It has some great monthly swaps and I decided to take part in some. This week I am sharing my tag I made for the September Tag Swap.

First I stamped a music note background from a stamp by WOW! Embossing Powders. I then stamped and coloured the flowers with Spectrum Noir Pencils before affixing to the tag. I did the same with the birds. To made it look a bit distressed I edged the tag with white acrylic paint.

I hope the receiver will like it...!!

I am entering the following challenges too

Love to Craft - Anything Goes

Mixed Media Tag

Back now from the Easter break and ready to craft! I really enjoyed making this tag using different kinds of medium.

I used Distress Crayons and Gelatos to colour the background of the tag before stamping onto it with a text stamp. I dry brushed some of the area with white acrylic paint. The trellis is a die cut.

For the butterflies and flowers I stamped onto watercoloured card coloured again with Distress Crayons and Gelatos. I used WOW!Embossing Powder in Brass to emboss the outlines.

Finally I assembled them all onto the tag and added some glitter (well I am The Sparkly Fairy!)

I hope you like it!

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Make My Monday - Embossing

A Inky Mess - Anything Mixed Media

Crafts and Me - Things With Wings

WOW! Embossing Powder - Anything with Embossing

Flowers and Lace

Are your ready for another challenge? This week at Crafting By Designs we are looking for projects that use Flowers and / or Lace.

Our sponsor this week is Lacy Sunshine

I decided not to use a digital image this time but to do something a bit different - embossing onto dark card.

I used a stamp from the Folk Floral range by Docrafts. I stamped it with Perfect Medium before using White Super Fine Embossing Powder by WOW!Embossing Powder.

I had run out of stick on pearls so I used Liquid Pearls to create mine. 

The piece was mounted onto white then a blue card. I then die cut some flourishes in white card to decorate the corners.  

I have to say I was so pleased with this and hope mine and the rest of the Design Team provides some inspiration for your projects.

Come and join in!

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

The Crazy Challenge - Lace

WOW Embossing Powder - Anything Goes with Embossing Powder

Penny Black and More - Anything Goes with a Stamp

Gold

Many of you may know I recently became a Design Team Member at Happy Little Stampers (HLS)for their Anything Goes With a Die challenges. So I was very excited to also receive a place on the HLS Christmas Challenge Design Team too!

For my first challenge for July I have created this card. The theme is GOLD.

I diecut three baubles from gold mirri card and glitter adhesive paper. The dies I used are from Crafters Companion and Marianne Creatables.

I attached the baubles and then hung them with gold sparkly ribbon.

The sentiment was heat embossed using WOW! Gold Detail Embossing powder and mounted onto mirri card.

I believe its never too early to think about Christmas crafting so pop over to the challenge for some inspiration and to enter your own creation!

Challenges I am entering are :

Ike's World - Christmas in July

Inky Chicks - Christmas in Summer

Crafty Boots Challenge - Christmas in July

The Paper Players - Christmas in July

Christmas Cards All Year Round - Anything

Crafty Hazlenuts Christmas Challenge - Anything

Embossing in Gold

I hope you enjoyed your Easter break. I managed to sneak in some crafting during the school holidays!

This is one of my all time favourite stamps from Crafty Individuals.  This time I decided to make it a little more modern by using this colour combinatio - Barn Door and Broken China

I stamped the images and decoupaged some of them for added depth. I then added WOW! Pale Gold Embossing Powder to some areas. The card background was made by spritzing ink in corresponding colours onto the card.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

AAA Cards - Clean and Simple

WOW! Embossing Powder Challenge - Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion - 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

Postcard from Paris

I have been trying to get this little card finished all week, but have been busy with card orders, making cards for my Nan who turned 95! and upcoming samples for exciting Serif Craft Artist Shows.

The card is my entry into the Sunday Postcard Challenge - so better late than never!!

First I stamped the Papermania Paris Scene Stamp onto the card and then used a masked to cover it. I covered the rest of the card with Distress Ink. Using the script stamp from the Papermania set I randomly stamped onto the postcard. The Eiffel Tower (and the frame) was diecut on my Cricut machine and then embossed with WOW! Gold Embossing Powder. The sentiment was from a Creative Expressions Paris Set which again I embossed with gold powder. I added some paper flowers and paper collage details from Docrafts Madame Payraud to finish.

I really enjoyed making this as it took me back to my original craft style.

I am entering the following competitions:

Crafting With Friends - Anything Goes

CreativeArtiste Challenge - Anything Goes

Scrap & Craft Challenge - Vintage or Shabby Chic

I'm Back!

After the most fabulous holiday in Jersey I am home and  crafting!  I wanted to share this fabulous postcard I picked up, whilst on holiday, by MollyMac.

Now that school is back I have also had time to do my own crafting. I made this card using the Whisper A Wish stamp from Little Claire 

I used watercolour card to stamp onto. The background was created with Distress Inks and I used a mask to create the moon. I used WOW!Embossing Powder and silver glitter glue for the stars. 

I hope you like this card and have now added it to my Folksy store too!

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

Love is still around!

I know Valentine's Day has now passed us by, but I couldn't resist creating this card. You know when you think about crafting in your sleep? Well this is one such creation.

To create this card I used the materials below.

First I painted the thick card with acrylic paint and used the ink spray to add the red colour.  The purple spots were created with a stencil. Using various WOW! Embossing stamps I ramdomly stamped over the background in black ink. I used a white pencil to highlight the string of hearts. Finally I stamoed the flower image onto the card and then again onto plain card so I could decoupage the image.

I think all good ideas come to you when you are sleeping!!

Challenges I am entering:

Artistic Stamper - Love

Rhedds Creative Challenge - Anything (Mixed Media)

Mixed Media Card Challenge - Love

Unruly Art Quest - Heartfelt

Opus Gluei - Be My Valentine

Christmas Crafting

It is so hot here in the South of England I have been trying to keep cool with some Christmas crafting. The thought of snow and ice is appealing right now!

For this card I made a tag and embossed it with snowflakes using White WOW! Embossing powder. This created a resist effect once I had gone over the top with Distress Ink. I stamped the deer image and again embossed with white powder before mounting it onto blue card. This gave a nice border to the deer. I then stamped the greeting and added the embellishments. For the background card I stamped a snowflake stamp with Broken China and Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink using first and second generation stamping.

At least that is one card off the list for Christmas!!

I am entering the following challenges:

Crafty Boots - Christmas in July
The Glory of Christmas Challenge - Christmas
Christmas Cards All Year Round - Non traditional colours
Addicted to Stamps - Holiday
Artistic Inspiration Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

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

Crafting A Scene

Happy Monday everyone! Once again over at Craft A Scene, they are sharing one of my projects I made for my Guest DT spot.

I made the background by swooshing card through Distress Inks diluted on a splodge mat. I then used a stamp from Kanban that I have never used! I used Perfect medium and embossed it with WOW Embossing Powder - Ebony. I added Perfect Pearls to the toadstools and using a Marianne Creatables stamp I stamped the dots and embossed with WOW! White embossing powder.

Why not enter this month's challenge with one of your favourite techniques?

All is calm, All is White

Its very rare that I use white on white in my projects, but I am pleased with the result. The inspiration started at The Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge. I am so hoping that I can finish this challenge, but as the big day gets nearer the days get busier!

I took inspiration from Linda's tag in the form or the three small tags, the snowflakes and flowers. 

First I embossed the background with a snowflake embossing folder and my Sizzix machine. Then I applied Perfect Medium and WOW! Embossing Powder  - Hologram Sparkle. The tags were cut with a die and the snowflakes punched from silver mirri card. The letters are Thickers which I have had in my stash for some time! I mounted the tags onto the background with foam pads. The flower embellishment was made from the same embossed card stock and vellum, cut with the Tattered Floral Die. I finished the card off by mounting it onto grey card and then Silver Centura Pearl.  So now its onto stage 8 of the challenge!

I am also entering these challenges:

Crafts Galore  - Christmas

Crafty Musketeers - Layers

Christmas Card Challenges - No Stamping

Glitter 'n' Sparkle - Add some Glitter and Sparkle

Crafty Hands - Sparkle and Bling

Simply Create Too - Snow or white only

Happy Halloween!

It's here! The spookiest night of the year! We are all set here at our house!

Time has been a bit short this week with it being half term, so I made a quick card with a fabulous stamp set I won from Flonz Crafts via The Fashionable Stamping Challenge.

I used Distress Ink and a stencil to create the moon. Then I stamped and embossed the image using Ebony Black WOW! Embossing Powder. I added ink around the edges and mounted it onto black card.

There are lots of Halloween Challenges around this week so I am entering this into the following :

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Anything Goes

Happy Campers - Halloween

Fan Tastic Tuesday - Square Halloween

Fab N Funky - Halloween

Funkie Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas - Week 3 Catch Up

Sometimes it's great when a plan DOESN'T come together! Which is exactly what happened when creating this project.  It started out as a card, but the gold leaf went on slightly wrong, so I ended up cutting the card in half to make this tag and I'm quite pleased with the result.

I am slowly catching up with The Funkie Junkie's 12 tags of Christmas Challenge. As Linda did I coated the card with Frayed Burlap and dusted it with gold perfect pearls. I stencilled the stars with the Frayed Burlap. and added the Sunset gilding flakes along the bottom. The black silhouettes are peel offs I found in my stash (amazing what hides in the stash!). I didn't have the same font for the Noel so I used a wooden embellishment covered with WOW Brass Sparkle Embossing Powder. The brass stars are brads  - again in my crafty stash!

Onto Week 4!

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

Inspired by Sheena

Having suffering with this sore throat the last few weeks I was able to catch up on some craft tv! I was inspired by the fabulous Sheena Douglass to make this card with an Autumn theme.

I created the background by first using Distress Inks applied with Cut N Dry Foam. Then sprayed Creative Expressions sprays and Tattered Angels Sprays over the top. The leaves are from Sheena's Paint Fusion range of stamps, embossed with Brass WoW!Embossing Powder and then painted them with Mica Paint. The embellishment was made by die cutting a leave, stamping the sentiment and using Distress ink again to add colour. Backing it onto a black card makes it really pop!

I am entering it into the following challenges:

Lunagirl - Autumn

The Artistic Stamper - Autumn

Rogue Redhead Designs - Autumn Colours

Sugar Creek Hollow - Fall is in the Air

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Autumn Colours

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!

No Place Like Home

The Sunday Postcard Art Challenge is one I've been meaning to enter for a while now and finally have! The theme this week is No Place like home and must be no bigger than 6 x 4" in size.

I created this first by applying Distress Ink in Mustard Seed and Peeled Paint using Cut N Dry Foam. The PaperArtsy houses were stamped and embossed with WOW Black Glint Powder onto watercoloured card that had been sprayed with Glimmer Mists. The heart was created by using the Direct to Paper technique again using Distress Inks. Finally I added the text using a stamp from WOW Embossing Powder.

I am also entering this card into the following challenges :

Ali Craft - Anything Goes