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Archive for March, 2014

Birds Of A Feather

Good morning blogland, hope you’ve gotten over losing that hour???  –  Showing two cards today, both very similar and why has she done two cards very similar you ask?

It’s because I made a mistake with the first one and forgot to add something to the mix.  Can you believe I forgot to add the extra card in the middle.  So one card has a few embellies and other has the middle card.  This is my Saturday morning class make and the girls love to see the finished article before we start so hence the two cards.

The topper on the card was the technique they learnt how to do and all loved it.  As you know stamping is my first love and getting messy my second but this card has the wow factor with hardly any mess.  It is made along the same lines as my explosion of colour card here.

We started by stamping a very old but still a fave stamp of mine from Hero Arts called French Writing With Butterfly which we heated with white embossing powder.  Then an acrylic block came into play.  Dabbed Tea Dye DI onto it before spritzing with water then placed over the top of the white stamped image.  Left this to dry and went ahead with making up the card.

The card is another kinetic one which is made from one sheet of A4 cardstock.  It has an easel stand at the back for ease of standing up.  The topper fits onto another little card which has been added to the middle and there is also a flap at the front.   Everything lays flat for ease of sliding into the envelope.

We went back to the topper and over stamped, in a lighter shade of ink, with a background crackle stamp.  Lightly buff so the white image pops through.

A craft sheet was added to the mix at this stage with three contrasting DI ink colours being dabbed onto it.  The bird stamp was pressed into the colours and given a little wiggle so the colours blended onto the stamp.  Move away from the craft sheet, this is important as you really don’t want any drops of water falling onto your inks, then spritz the stamp with water.  Press the stamp onto the topper but do not leave very long as the image will puddle.  Used a botanical stamp next and did the same … pressed and wiggled gently.

Lastly the word “Believe” was inked with Versafine Black (my #1 choice of ink pad).  Ehhhh red faced here … guess who forgot to give this stamp to the girls … sorry girls.

These are the two cards I made.

Birds Of A Feather4Birds Of A Feather2Birds Of A Feather3Birds Of A Feather1

Here are the girl’s wonderful works of art they all did fabulously, don’t you agree?

Thank you Phil,  Susan, Faraway, Theresa, Maria and Phil (not a mistake we have two Phil’s in the class) for making my Saturdays so enjoyable and full of fun.  Huge thanks to Maria for supplying the M & S cakes each time … yummmm.

Shirl

An Explosion Of Colour

Fashionable Stamping Challenges this fortnight have a fabulous Silhouette theme which was picked by the lovely Ellie.

My fabby teemie sister Avril has chosen to use the same stamp as myself.  How different they both look … mine an explosion of colour and hers (which you can see here) so soft and delicate.  CAS as it should be.

Definitely an explosion of colour going on here girls.  Wanted my silhouette stamp, which you can find here, to really stand out so what better way than to surround her with colour.

First thing I did was to stamp, then mask her off.  My background was made by using an Indigo Blu stamp called Blazing Poppies with a clear Versamark ink pad then embossed with a white powder.

Next came the colourful fun part.  Onto an acrylic block I dabbed  DI’s – Barn Door, Tumbled Glass and Mustard Seed, spritzed water over the colours before placing onto my cardstock.  Leave this for a little while so the colours soak in.  When dry lightly buff so you can see the white pop off the page.

Not sure if you can make out the butterflies around the edges, there are four of them.  These were stamped with a cream chalk paint and the butterfly is from a set called Nature I – also from Indigo Blu.

My flower was made by using stamps from PaperArtsy.  Used two sets one is here and the other is here.  Again these were stamped with a Versamark ink pad then white embossing powder, before being heated and cut out.

I would love it if you hopped on over to see all the DT’s work as they are simply stunning.  Also don’t forget that the winner of this challenge has $20 to choose anything they like from Flonz’s store.

Entering for: Indigo Blu Challenge – Spring Blossom’s

Shirl

Envelope Album

First page of an envelope album which I started the other day but as you can see here I have sailed away on a different path yet again.  This is definitely what crafting is all about, just go with the flow!!

This time I have used a different stamp for the front which is from Indigo Blu called Dancing Children.  First used this stamp here but only showed the girls from the end, today you can see all the stamp..

Originally I wanted the album to be a little sophisticated but then veered off  and went for a Springtime feel.  Because our weather at the moment is so unpredictable … should be Spring by now … I went with a scene that looks as our weather does … storms, snow and in between some beautiful sunshine.  Background paper is a G45 sheet.

Children PlayingChildren Playing2

  Made the background by first stamping then masking off before adding DI’s Ripe Persimmon and a mixture of Mustard Seed plus Squeezed Lemonade.  Did the flick technique with water and when dry blended some Black Soot and sprayed a little of the Dylusions White Linen.   Coloured the children with a mixture of Copic Markers, really enjoyed getting them out and having a play something I haven’t done in ages.

Have to show more later as I am off to start my class project for today!!!

Shirl

New York Socialite

Yesterday started off by me wanting to make an envelope album something I haven’t done for ages. Tags were going to be inserted into the envelope pockets and so on …

Here are a few of the items which I had on my desk ready to use, other stamps were added later.

Now I am sure this has happened to you … everything takes on a mind of it’s own and you end up with nothing like the original project you wanted to make.

The envelopes and tags are still on my desk ready to make a start today but here is the card I made instead.

I think the stamp had something to do with my complete change of course, just got carried away with her.

New York Socialite.

Shirl

Feeling Brown, Blue and Cream

Here is one of my fave colour combinations when crafting, blue and brown, it is especially beautiful when teemed with flowers and birds.

All the stamps are from Indigo Blu, “Live, Laugh Love” and “Nature 1” except the little flowers which are from Stampin Up.

Stamped the bird onto tissue paper and whilst drying I painted the Ornate Frame die with some blue and beige chalk paint. Used the same paint for the bird before adding to the middle of the frame. Also ripped the tissue very gently to add a more distressed feel. Matted everything onto brown embossed cardstock which I enhanced with a little gilding wax called Patina.

Shirl

Distressed Medieval Matchbox

Made this little Matchbox with two new stamps I bought a while ago and only just getting round to using them. They look so medieval (quite gothic in fact) that I wanted to create a touch of opulance to the mix so added some gold embossing powder randomly around the edges which gave me the distressed look I was aiming for. One image was stamped with Versafine black and the other with Versafine Vintage Sepia.

Made the match box with a Stampin Up Envelope maker … this little gadget is super cool … then used Gesso to dilute the colour of the papers on the outside. Tim’s Harlequin stencil came into play but only a little also used some of the DI Seedless Preserves for her hair.

Opened the box a little for the next pic and the last one shows off the other stamped image inside. Only used a few embellies to enhance the images, a bit of gold beading and two buttons.

Can you believe the papers are from Graphic 45 the Mother Goose collection.

Match Box OpenMatch Box Inside

Shirl

Graphic 45 Design Team 2014 Audition

In it to win it.

Only just seen that Graphic 45 have a DT call and I think you all know by now that they are my fave papers of all time. Only problem is that I have to wait forever to get my mitts on any of the new designs they release. It’s a slim chance because I know there are going to be hundreds of entrants but as the title says … “In It To Win It”. Here goes:

First criteria is to create a blog post with a minimum of 6 projects. These do not have to include G45 products but they would prefer.

The first two projects are unseen before so lots of photos to show but the next 3 projects are older posts so I have just left links for these.

Loved this wallet so much that I decided to make another but this time with all Graphic 45 papers and stamps. The papers are from the Typography collection and A Ladies Diary. Also used the stamps from A Ladies Diary and the Secret Garden.

This pic shows what the inside looks like when the wallet is fully open. Covered the front of a flip over paper pad then covered the pen to match. Made a little tag pocket into which I inserted a stitched vellum envelope and again added a tag and another G45 pic.

The front opening has a magnetic disc behind the papers so it just snaps shut. Love all the stamps and fussy cut embellies – they enhance the project perfectly.

2 Note Book4 Note Book5 Note Book

It was so hard to choose a topper to cover the front of the pad but this is such an apt quote that I had to go with it. I masked off the Secret Garden stamp because I only wanted the word secret and the little bird on the pad.

7 Note Book6 Note Book8 Note Book9 Note Book

Onto my next make which is my file folder box. This was finished in January but only just getting around to posting. Made it to house all the cards I make in advance for my family this year. As you can see the Graphic 45 papers are out in force again and this time its the A Place In Time Collection. Made the box from scratch with a friend of mine and what a time we had banging our heads together with the measurements. Total chaos at times but the end result was worth it.

Used the grey board for the box which was covered with embossed cardstock then given a coat of dark blue chalk paint before gilding wax was added. Reinforced the back edges and the feet are cotton reels. The side bags are for any notes I might want to add about anyone’s card.

Box 1Box 2Box 4

The box lid has pics of the family which I printed onto tissue paper then added with mod podge. Placed the image of the boys together in the clock then ripped through the numbers.

Designed the box such that the front just drops down so all the folders, with the cards in, are easily accessible.

Box 5Box 6Box 7Box 8

Here are the links for the other four makes which are not totally Graphic 45 but there are papers or stamps used in probably all of them.

Graphic 45 Nuts & Bolts Album

Tag Holder

Trinket Box

Write Your Story

Keeping all my fingers crossed.

Shirl

Imagine Being Inspired

I was definitely inspired this morning when I saw what the Sunday Stamper (Hels) had as her theme this week – A Stitch In Time. Sadly I don’t sew nearly enough these days but I love buying the sewing stamps. Especially this set from Indigo Blu called “Sewing Mends The Soul”.

Also entering into the very first challenge at A Vintage Journey with an “Anything Tim Challenge”. Hop on over and have a look at the Design Team’s work because if you are a Timmy fan then this is the place for you to be inspired, the design team samples are gorgeous.

Didn’t clear away the DI colours … Mustard Seed, Tumbled Glass and Antique Linen that I used on my last post which just shows how much I like the combination because I have used the same again. Used a movers and shapers die called Imagine and a PaperArtsy stamp set called Buttons 3. I totally got deep down and dirty with this make but hey that’s what this crafting lark is all about plus I didn’t really get a sewing machine for Andrew!!!!

ShirleyShirley 2Shirley 3

Shirl

Water Inspired

Fashionable Stamping Challenges this fortnight have a fabulous theme of Water Inspired which was picked by the lovely Amanda.

Another of those cards that lays flat so makes it easier for posting but this one has wndows. This is similar to a card we made in my class last week, (gave the other away before I took a photo) so decided to make another for the FSC challenge. The theme today makes for a great man’s card so will be going into my future card box. Which incidentally I haven’t shown yet … will try to take photos next week and post.

Sideways on view of the card with the windows open. As you can see for the inside windows I made two pockets for little tags to be added. The other pic is how the card looks when fully opened.

Shirley 1Shirley 2

The middle band on the cardstock was masked off before being inked, stenciled and stamped.

This last pic is how everything looks when folded flat to go into an envelope.

Added a little digital collaging with my graphics program around the edges.

Shirl

Nature Walk

Made a very quick one layer card with one of the new stamps from the Stampers Anonymous Nature Walk set.

The birds nest was always going to be the one I used first because it is my fave from the set. Background ink colours are Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Crushed Olive and Frayed Burlap.

Stamped and embossed the Indigo Blu stamp set called Nature I with white embossing powder. Used another of my fave stamps at the moment from Stampin Up called ‘Off The Grid’ this was stamped with Versafine Vintage Sepia.

New Stamp 1New Stamp 2

Hope you enjoy looking as much as I enjoy making.

Shirl