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!

Deep at the bottom of the Craft Box!

I hope you are all managing to stay cool in these sizzling temperatures! Last night was so hot I got up and made a card as I couldn't sleep! It was made after having a deep rummage in the bottom of the craft box and finding these stamps.

I stamped the Kanban images using Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink and then used Barn Door and Salty Ocean to accent certain areas. The compass is a second generation imprint to give it an even more distressed look. I went around the edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink to age the card. I wrapped bakers twine around the card and finished off by adding a die cut kraft tag with a stamped image. To finish I backed the card with seaside themed paper from Docrafts.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:

Chocolate, coffee and cards - life's a beach

Stampin with the Dragon - On the beach

Heck of a Challenge - The Sea

Simon Says Stamp - By The Sea

In a Garden

My poor blog has been a bit neglected recently what with all this lovely weather I seemed to have spent more time in the garden. Which is my theme for today's post!

This is a Twinchie I have created for the Show Me Your Twinchie Challenge - where they would like to see "In an English Country Garden". I used Cut N Dry to apply Distress Inks to watercolour card and then applied various black peel offs on the top to create a scene.

And whilst on the subject of gardens I thought I would share this gorgeous photo of  our garden visitor. He appears to enjoy the sunshine and has been out tucking into cat food!

For Dad

Now that Father's Day has been and gone I can share my card I made for my Dad. I was inspired to make it by the Stash Raiders article in Quick Cards Magazine. It was a great way to use all the different odd fonts I have kept in my crafty stash!

I am entering this into the following challenges :

Creative Creations Challenge - For You Dad

Lexi's Creations - Father's Day / Male Birthday 

Dream Valley Challenges - Father's Day / Male

Crafter's Cafe Challenge - Father of for a Male

Also had a great boost this morning. As a stall holder on The Supermums Craft Fair, my Thank You Card was pinned onto Pinterest. This morning I was so excited to see that Hobbycraft had repinned it in their own Thank You Teacher Board :)

Beside The Seaside

Its probably not the best place to be today on the South Coast as its raining! Is that summer gone? Anyway staying on a seaside theme I have created this card to enter this week's Docrafts Challenge.

I used a Michael Powell Beach Hut stamp for the main image, coloured in with Promarkers and decoupaged. The papers are from the new Docrafts Seaside Collection which I used to make the bunting as well. I finished off with a greeting "Wish You Were Here". I have to say I love it!

Other challenges I am entering :
Crafting Musketeers - Use a stamped image
Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Seaside Twinchie

What a lovely warm weekend we've had in the South of England today. Have also been reading up on patchwork today and hope to make inroads into a quilt very soon. I'm not very experienced at quilting but the heart is willing!

I made another little Twinchie this week for Show Us Your Twinchies Challenge which has the theme of the seaside.

I used a combination of stamps on a background coloured with Promarkers. I added sand Flowersoft and cut out bunting to finish. I think I might make some cards for my Etsy store like this!

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

Bees and Butterflies Twinchie Challenge

Finally summer seems to here on the South Coast, I managed to get some spray inking done this morning in the garden!

My offering to you today is my Twinchie for the Twinchie Challenge which is Bees or Butterflies. I used the InkyDoodles stamp set Primitive Angel 2 which is an absolute favourite of mine. I stamped the beehive and bees then coloured it all in with Promarkers.

Back soon!

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

Its amazing what you can find in your stash when you look! I haven't used alcohol inks for a while so decided to use them to make this Twinchie. There is a new Twinchie Challenge which can be found here.

Using the applicator with felt I applied the inks to glossy card stock, including the gold mixative. I used a stamp from Craft Stamper Magazine to stamp an image over the top and then embossed with gold WOW Powder.