For the Boys

The challenge on Addicted to stamps his week is a themed card suitable for men or boys.  I've used a Stampin' Up stamp - the sails were cut out and layered up for a bit of dimension.  Backing paper is from Tim Holtz vintage shabby range, layering is done with Nestabilities and I just added some die cut swirls which look a bit like ocean waves.

R is for Retro (and Ribbon)

My second tag this month is less elaborate but no easier to think of something to fit the letter - it seems to get harder as the alphabet progresses and I daren't think about the end few letters yet.  A favourite set of stamps from Elusive Images (now Chocolate Baroque) is Retro Flowers and this is what I turned to for this tag.  The background was inked with Distress inks and then water stamped which lifts some of the colour.  The main image was simply stamped and embossed, cut out using a Spellbinders die.  The retro style embossed piece of card was produced by inking the embossing folder before inserting the card - a piece of ribbon was added for good measure.  These two tags have been posted off now and I'm looking forward to seeing which 'swaps' I'll be getting this month - the collection is growing.

Q is for Quilling

Time to be thinking about sending off the two tags for this month in the Chocolate Baroque alpha tag swap and for 'Q' I settled on quilling which is something I'd not done for years but I have all the 'stuff' for it.  At first I had difficulty thinking of anything to fit this letter especially as products from CB have to be included but this aspect is taken care of with the background which was coloured using Distress Stains and then some overstamping using CB grasses stamps to form the basis for my quilled 'garden' complete with cheeky frog sitting on a stone.  I will show you my take on the tag for 'R' another day.  At the moment it is so dark indoors that I need the light on to see what I'm doing and there is torrential rain so I won't be going to the post with these today.

Designing Jewellery

I've been tinkering about trying out various patterns, threads and colour combinations for braids made on the Kumihimo disc and plate - then of course what to do with these miscellaneous lengths of braid??  Some of them are being turned into items of jewellery and here is a necklace with a charm dangle which I designed to use this piece of black and gold braid.  The photo isn't as sharp as it might be because I should have used a tripod when taking it but I'm sure you get the general idea.