Bella & Butterfly

hi everyone, yesterday I needed to do some DT work, so when I had finished I decided to make a li’l ATC while I had got my supplies out on the table. When I started making ATC’s back in April I had a ruffle through my stamp boxes and identified a few that I thought would be particularly suitable for that format. This was one that stood out as its size is just about perfect. 😀

Up to now I have tried to achieve an "arty" look with my ATC's, so this one is a bit of a departure ... the image is so cute!!

I stamped my image and then cut the card to slightly smaller than standard ATC size. I coloured the image with Promarkers and then created a “mottled sky” effect by lifting some ink with rubbing alcohol and a cotton bud. I attached a sentiment sticker, matted my image panel onto a snippet of pink linen card stock and finished with Glossy Accents highlights on the butterfly wings and flowers.

Stamps: Wild Rose Studio “Bella & Butterfly”;

Media: Promarkers and Flexmarkers; Glossy Accents highlights;

Tools: Tim Holtz “Small Talk” sticker.

Challenges I would like to enter: 

A Gem Of a Challenge #13 2022 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

A Tiny Craft #10 - All Things Tim (2nd entry)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Anything Goes

Snippets Playground #431 - Anything Goes Using Snippets

Time Out #217 - Be Kind

An exciting (!) day of household chores ahead today … roll on the weekend! Take care and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Allsorts Challenge #682

Good morning everyone, it's Saturday so it's time for another weekly Allsorts Challenge. This week Lynn has chosen the theme and it is

*** So Girly ***

So we would love to see all your pretty, glamourous and feminine creations!

This week's fab prize is 2 AALL & Create stamps

Here's my card for this week.

This is part of another stamp I recently bought from the FB crafting de-stash site and I am very pleased with it ... I just love the bohemian "arty" look of the lady, and the sentiment is fab!  I believe it was given out with a craft magazine, but the lady image is actually Indigo Blu "Juliette".

I created a sponged background with Distress Oxide inks, then used more DO's with a circle mask to create my sun. I stamped my main image with Versafine Clair and heat embossed, then matted onto black and yellow card. I hand cut a DL card base and stamped/heat embossed the sentiment, then matted my image panel onto it and finished off with a few tiny punched butterflies, gems, and a Tim Holtz "Small Talk" sticker.

Stamps: Indigo Blu (given out with Craft magazine);

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Barn Door); Versafine Clair (Nocturne); clear embossing powder;

Tools: X-Cut butterfly corner punch (I used the tiny butterfly outcuts); TIm Holtz "Small Talk" stickers;

Gems from my stash.

Challenges I would like to enter:

As You Like It - Fave Feminine or Masculine (and why)

(My fave is definitely feminine as I have so many more suitable stamps eg. Girls, flowers, fairies … and I love girly colours !!)

Classic Design Challenge #6 2022 - Anything Goes

Craft Rocket Challenge #93 - Girls

Crafting Happiness #124 - Anything Goes

Creative Knockouts #458 - Something To Say

Dream Valley #272 - Add a Sentiment

Simon Says (Monday) - Something Beginning With "S" (3rd entry)

(stamping, sentiment)

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

We Love Stamping (June) - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Worldwide Open Design Team Challenge #6 2022 - Anything Goes

Hope you can join us this week, and I look forward to seeing your entries. Don't forget to visit the challenge blog to see more fab inspiration from the rest of the team. Thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Wise owls

Hi everyone,

There are a lot of masculine challenge themes around in June due to Father's Day, but doubtless like many people I sadly no longer have my dad to make a card for, nor anyone else who needs a masculine greetings card at this time of year.  So today I would like to share a couple of masculine themed ATC's that I have made, using an idea that had been kicking around in my mind for some time. I have called this pair "Wise Owls".

I cut a small circle in masking paper, and sponged my night sky background onto my ATC panel with Distress Oxide  inks, then removed the mask and lightly sponged lighter colours onto the moon. I stamped my trees, owls and foliage using Versafine Clair, and highlighted everything with my Sakura Stardust pen, plus orange sparkle pen for the owl's eyes. I stamped a few mini stars using Brilliance pearlescent white ink, then stamped, cut out and attached my sentiments. Finally I matted the panels onto standard ATC size black linen card, and attached a couple of mini heart gems.

Here’s an angled shot to show the sparkle...

... and a closeup of each ATC.

1/2

2/2

Stamps: Lavinia "Brodwin & Maylin", "Tree Branch", "Forest Scene", "Leaf 1 Mini", "Stars Mini"; sentiments - Visible Image "Dragonfly dreams";

Media: Tim \holtz Distress oxide inks (Chipped Sapphire, Villainous Potion,  Seedless Preserves, Stormy Sky, Kitsch Flamingo); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Imperial Purple); Brilliance pearlescent ink (white); Sakura Sparkle pens (Stardust and orange).

Challenges I  would like to enter:

Colourful Options (June) - Precious Purples (2nd entry) - BEST IN SHOW

Country View Challenges (June) - Seeing Stars - TOP 3

Creative Inspirations (June) - Masculine

Dare 2B Artzy (June) - Masculine

Paper Funday #42 - Anything Goes with option Masculine

Pearly Sparkles #74 - One For the Boys

Simon Says (Monday) - Something Beginning With “S” (2nd entry)

(Sentiment, sparkle, self-reflection)

Sparkles #153 - Things With Wings (3rd entry)

Stamping Sensations (June) - Make It Masculine

Word Art Wednesday #549/550 - Anything Goes

Hope everyone is coping well with the mitheringly hot weather we're having .. take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Find Joy ... and Live Gently

Hi there, today I would like to share a couple of projects I made with a set of AALL & Create stamps I recently bought from the FB UK Stampers Forum Craft De-Stash site. I had really fancied these stamps but had resisted as they are so expensive and I've bought loads recently already;  but I got them here for just over half price, and they have only been used once!  I love the arty look of these stamps, and was very surprised by how HUGE they are!

So firstly ... a card ..

I stamped my main focal image using Versafine Clair then heat embossed with clear EP. I then created a smoosh background with Distress oxide inks by applying them wet to the image with acetate, concentrating particularly on the printed circle areas. I then added more interest by stencilling some more DO to the top left and bottom right hand sides, then coloured my butterfly using Posca sparkle pens watered down slightly and applied with a paintbrush.  I stamped my "Butterfly" text with DO, and added a Tim Holtz Small Talk sticker sentiment, then matted simply with a black linen border.

here is an angled pic to show the sparkle on the butterfly wings.

Stamps: AALL & Create #449 - Through the Meadows;

Media: background - Tim Holtz Distress oxide inks (Salvaged Patina, Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers); Versafine Clair (Nocturne); Posca sparkle pens (yellow, light blue);

Tools: stencil - Tim Holtz "Dot Fade"; TIm Holtz "Small Talk" stickers.

Challenges I would like to enter:

A Gem Of a Challenge #13 2022 - Anything Goes

Crafty Calendar (June) - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Double Trouble #114 - YouNique Technique

(I have created my background using inky smooshing and stencilling)

Elliebelle's Crafty Wednesday (June) - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Let's Craft and Create #184 - Anything Goes with option Penny For Your Thoughts - TOP 3

Make My Monday #177 - Colouring - Any Medium

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2225 - Anything Goes

Path of Positivity #102 - Anything Goes Positive (2nd entry) - DT DELIGHT

Simon Says (Monday) - Something Beginning With "S"

(stencil and Small Talk Stickers)

Try It On Tuesday - Recycle It

(the stamp set is recycled ie. pre-loved)

We Love Stamping (June) - Anything Stamped  (2nd entry)

While I had my supplies out on the table I also made a co-ordinating ATC, as it occurred to me that one portion of the stamp would just sit perfectly on an ATC size piece of card - I entitled this one "Live Gently Upon This Earth", as I thought the TH sticker sentiment was just so apt with the butterfly image.

I followed the same techniques and used the same supplies as the card.

Challenges I would like to enter:

A Tiny Craft #10 - All Things Tim

Mixed Media Lovers #14 - Anything Mixed Media Goes - TOP 3

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Add a Sentiment (3rd entry) 

Sparkles Forum #153 - Things With Wings (2nd entry)

Word Art Wednesday #547/548 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

That's my lot for today ... thanks for visiting and take care.

Hugs,

Allsorts Challenge #681

Good morning everyone and welcome to another weekly Allsorts Challenge. This week Dena has chosen the theme and it is

*** Summer Flowers ***

Perfect for the time of year, with so many lovely blooms popping out in the garden as the sunshine warms up and the spring blooms fade away, and plenty of scope for some gorgeous makes! 

This week we have 2 great prizes on offer:

Firstly, this fab floral stamp set

and secondly, three digi images of the winner’s choice from Ruth Hamilton Design.

Here's my card for this week, using the gorgeous Ruth Hamilton Design - Sunflowers.

I printed off my image and coloured with Promarkers, highlighted areas with a white pencil and white gel pen, then cut out with a stitched rectangle die. I edged the image panel with sponged Distress Oxide ink and lightly spattered with gold Posca pen. I lightly stencilled with more DO directly onto my 7” * 5” card blank and stamped my sentiment, before attaching my coloured image. I finished off with a couple of die cut butterflies .. voilà !

Stamps:  Ruth Hamilton Design - Sunflowers; sentiment - Crafter’s Companion “Magical Sentiments”;

Media: Promarkers; Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn); Posca pen (gold); white gel pen;

Tools: AALl & Create stencil #110 - Digits Checked;  stitched rectangle dies from Amazon; butterfly die - Crafter’s Companion.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Addicted to Stamps & More #431 - Make Your Mark

Cards4galz #175 - Die Cuts and/or Punches (2nd entry)

Crafty Calendar  (June) - Anything Goes

Creatalicious #237 - Anything Goes with option Use a Stencil

Daisy Chain #64 - Flowers

Dream Valley #272 - Add a Sentiment

Fab ‘n’ Funky #553 - Celebrations (2nd entry)

Pammie’s Inky Pinkies #2224 - Anything Goes - HONORARY MENTION

Seize the Birthday #240 - Anything Goes with option Favourite Technique

(I love sponging with distress oxide inks, colouring with alcohol markers and spattering … so 3 for the price if 1! 😀)

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Add A Sentiment (2nd entry)

Hope you can join us this week, and I look forward to seeing your entries. Don't forget to visit the challenge blog to see more fab inspiration from the rest of the team. Thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Jubilations!

Hi there, today I would like to share a set of 3 ATC's I have made for the FB UK Stampers Forum monthly swap, where the theme is "Celebrate".  Many of the participants have made ATC's that are  themed around the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebration, so I thought I would join in as I found some suitable supplies in my stash - so if not now, when??

I was actually away over the Jubilee weekend so didn't have time to make these before then, but I am still well within time for the monthly swap, so here they are!

I found an old paper pad which included some funky Union Jack papers, including some small die cuts. They were actually shaped, so I squared them off and used them as the basis of the design. I matted each Union Jack onto a co-ordinating piece of paper cut slightly smaller than standard ATC size, them matted again onto standard ATC size blue card. I hand cut triangles from glitter card and attached them to form the strings of bunting, and die cut the E II R letters from silver mirri card to represent the platinum in Platinum Jubilee. I stamped my sentiment onto another co-ordinating paper from the pad, edged with blue Promarker and attached. Finally I finished off with a silver "70" sticker and a sparkly silver heart on each card.

These may look quite simple but actually they were really fiddly and took me best part of three hours!  I was pretty pleased though with how they turned out, and after all this is a one-off as there will obviously never be another Platinum jubilee in our lifetimes (if ever!).   Here's a closer look at each ATC:

1/3

2/3

3/3

Stamps: sentiment - Uniko "Birthday Sentiments";

Media: Versafine (Majestic Blue);

Papers: Papermania "Portobello Road";

Tools: die cut letters - Tatttered lace "Alphabet Retro";

stickers and gems from my stash.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Cards4galz #175 - Die Cuts and/or Punches

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper (June) - Anything Goes With Patterned Paper

Creative Moments #235 - Red, White and Blue

Fab ‘n’ Funky #553 - Celebrations - TOP 3

Get Creative #112 - At Least 2 Patterned Papers

Penny's Challenge #523 - Anything Goes Using Paper

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Add A Sentiment

Sweet Stampin' - 3 Of a Kind

Taylormadecards4u (June) - Red, White and Blue (2nd entry)

Use Your Stuff #450 - Triangles

That's me done for today ... hope you are all having a good week and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Red, White and Blue

Hi everyone,

Today I would like to share an ATC I made for a swap in the Visible Image FB group, and a card I made to go with it when I sent it to my swap partner.  This month’s swap theme is red, white and blue, and you can only use VI stamps, stencils and dies. Most people seem to have made jubilee themed ATC’s but I only owned 3 VI stamp sets (though 2 more have now arrived that I bought in the jubilee sale! 😀) so I went down a different route .. I actually made 2 ATC’s while I was in the swing of it so I would have a spare for trading, and I have managed to trade it already!

First the card …

I created a smooshed background with Distress Oxide inks using acetate to splatter them around; then I did two separate lots of background stamping - one in blue Versafine, and the other in Versamark embossed with detail white embossing powder. I stamped the large butterfly onto separate card with blue Versafine and heat embossed with clear EP, then coloured the wings with watered down Posca sparkle pens in red, light blue and dark blue before fussy cutting out. I created my die cut with pearlescent white card and adhered it to the inked panel, then attached my butterfly and edged the panel with blue Promarker, matted onto a large snippet of pearlescent red card, and attached to my card base. I finished off with a stamped and heat embossed sentiment highlighted with a teeny red heart gem,

This really is a very sparkly card, which shows up better in the following pic.

Then the ATC’s, which I have entitled “Red, White & Blue”.

These pretty much followed the same method as the card but in miniature, using the teeny butterfly in the stamp set instead of the large one. Here’s a closeup of the individual ATC’s

1/2 (for VI monthly swap)

2/2 (traded separately)

Stamps: all stamps from Visible Image set - Butterfly Effect;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks (Blueprint Sketch, Salty Ocean); Versafine (Majestic Blue); Versamark; clear and detail white embossing powders; Posca sparkle pens (red, light blue, dark blue);

Tools: Visible Image die - Broken Mesh.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Crafty Calendar (June) - Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers: Dies (June) - Anything Goes with Dies

NBUS #39 - Use Your Never Before Used Schtuff

(Mine is the large and small butterfly and sentiment stamps, plus the blue Posca pens)

Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2223 - Anything Goes

Simon Says (Monday) - Bright and Cheerful

Simon Says (Wednesday) - Bright and Cheerful

Snippets Playground #430 - Anything Goes With Snippets

(my ATC stamping card and the red pearlescent card on both)

Stay Crafty With a Blog Named Hero (June) - By the Sea

(I don't have any sea or sea creature themed supplies, but I have followed the alternative suggestion of using techniques including water - smooshing of Distress oxide inks using acetate, and painting with watered down Posca sparkle pens)

Taylormadecards4u (June) - Red, White and Blue

Word Art Wednesday #547/548 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend - take care, and thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Allsorts Challenge #680

Hi everyone,

The week has flown by, and I'm here with another weekly Allsorts Challenge. This week Brenda has chosen the theme and it is

*** Any Stamped Image ***

This means that your focal image needs to be stamped or digi, rather than eg. just  a teeny stamped sentiment in the corner.

This week we have another two brilliant prizes for you - a £15 store voucher for Stamp Addicts

and this fab stencil

Here's my card for this week.

I decided to ink up this gorgeous Visible Image dragonfly which I have to say is one of my favourites even though I have only used it a couple of times before. I created my background by splattering Wilted Violet Distress Oxide ink onto a piece of white card using acetate, then I stencilled the left hand side with Shaded Lilac DO, and second generation stamped my AALl & Create scripted hexagons down the right side and a few random numbers here and there.  I stamped my main dragonfly image in black and heat embossed with clear powder, then coloured the wings with watered down Posca sparkle pen in purple.  I stamped and heat embossed my sentiment then matted the panel onto black card stock and my card base, and finished with a few teeny purple gems and a few spatters of white Posca pen. 

Stamps: Visible Image - Dragonfly Dreams; AALl & Create #383 - Scripted Hexagons; numbers - unknown; sentiment - Crafters Companion;

Media: Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink (Wilted Violet, Shaded Lilac); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Morning Mist); Posca sparkle pen (purple); Posca pen (white);

Tools: Sweet Dixie stencil - Hexagon Mesh.

Challenges I would like to enter:

Alphabet Challenge - E is for Embossing (wet or dry)

Colour Crazy Craft Challenge #23 2022 - Anything Goes With Colouring 

Colourful Options (June) - Precious Purples - FIRST PLACE

Elliebelle’s Crafty Wednesday (June) - Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers: Stencil (June) - Anything Goes with a Stencil

Paper Funday #42 - Anything Goes with option Masculine

Path of Positivity #102 - Anything Goes Positive - TOP PICK

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

We Love Stamping (June) - Anything Stamped

Word Art Wednesday #547/548 - Anything Goes

World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #5 2022 - Anything Goes (3rd entry)

Hope you can join us this week, and I look forward to seeing your entries. Don't forget to visit the challenge blog to see more fab inspiration from the rest of the team. Thanks for visiting.

Hugs,

Allsorts Challenge #679

Good morning everyone, and welcome to another weekly Allsorts Challenge. This week Lorraine has chosen the theme and it is

*** Anything Goes with option of Sun, Sea & Sand ***

This week's prize is a Marianne Design stamp set plus a Sweet Dixie stencil

Here's my card for this week - I have gone with the "Anything Goes" option, but have chosen to showcase the stencil that is one of this week's prizes.

I stencilled through the Sweet Dixie stencil using a mix of three colours of Distress Oxide ink, then stamped my flowers and sentiment using Versafine Clair. I matted onto two layers of co-ordinating pearlised cardstock, and finished off with co-ordinating punched butterflies and gems ... a pretty simple card from me this week!

Stamps: Unity Stamps "Insightful Meadows"; Penny Black "Firends Matter";

Media: Tim Holtz Distress oxide inks (Kitsch Flamingo, Salvaged Patina, Shaded Lilac); Versafine Clair (Nocturne, Warm Breeze, Charming Pink);

Tools: Sweet Dixie stencil - "Fern Flourish"; X-Cut butterfly punch.

Challenges I would like to enter:

A Gem of a Challenge #12 2022 - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz #598 - Anything Goes

Creative Moments #234 - Summer's Here

Double Trouble #112 - Something, Anything, Everything

(I have made something new, used repeat stamping of one of my flowers, and also linked up to previous partners Retro Rubber and Use Your Stuff )

Dream Valley #271 - Summer Colours (2nd entry)

(all of the stamps on this card are at least 10 years old)

Simon Says (Monday) - It's Up In the Air (butterflies)

Use Your Stuff #449 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

Hope you can join us this week, and I look forward to seeing your entries. Don't forget to visit the challenge blog to see more fab inspiration from the rest of the team. Thanks for visiting.

Hugs,