Second Post

What's this - two posts in one day which is quite unusual for me these days!!  This card was made in response to a request from a friend of a friend for a 90th birthday card with some quite specific guidelines which in fact I found difficult to meet but I put my brain in gear and at least made something which may or may not fit the bill.  If the person who ordered it  thinks it won't do then there is no obligation and I can keep it in my box until someone else is looking for a  for a 90th male themed card.  I was asked to post it on the blog so that she can see what she thinks because she lives at the other end of the county.

Background paper was some I came across which fitted in with the nautical theme; the image is a Stampin'Up stamp; 'ship's wheel' is a cog die from Sizzix and the wavy border was cut with an EK Success punch; the sentiment was produced on the computer and popped onto a die cut star.

A Quandary

What is my quandary you might ask?  Well I was tempted to get this Birdhouse embossing folder by Crafter's Companion which I love but the thing is that such a nice design deserves to be seen and I tried various ideas before I came up with this simple one which I'm not entirely happy about.  I used a bird stamp from Stampin' Up Touch of Nature set (now discontinued) and a trellis die from Tim Holtz Frameworks range.  The bird image was cut out using SU Deco Labels dies and the stamped sentiment is a punched label shape (also SU).  I will have to keep the brain working on ways of using this embossing folder and maybe try to curb my tendency to 'buy now - think later'!!  In fact I have to much 'stuff' that I really should avoid the 'Buy Now' buttons altogether.

Another Bear

I've used another of the Bingham Bear images to make this card.  Background is embossed using a Sue Wilson folder, image cut out with Sizzix (for Stampin' Up) starburst framelit die and some Spellbinder circles.  The lacy border was cut with Spellbinder border dies and the little stamped flowers are Petite Petals from Stampin' Up with punched centres.  Sentiment is a clear stamp which I curved on the block so that it would fit the Bitty Banner die cut.

A Bingham Bear

This card was made mainly from bits and pieces lying around on my working space - you know how it is you try out a die on an odd piece of card, cut a piece of backing paper, print an image or two and then don't actually make them into anything.  Today I decided to gather some of the bits together, match them up and make a quick card.  The image is from Bingham Bears by Serif, backing paper is from a Debbie Moore CD, corner die is a Spellbinder one, as is the plain kraft circle.  The bear was cut out using a Sizzix thin die (Stampin' Up) and the computer sentiment popped onto a smaller zig-zag circle and a punched label (also SU).  That's a few less odd bits and pieces cluttering up my space!!  I know it is officially spring now but today seems quite chilly to my way of thinking, nothing like as nice as last Sunday.

Banner with Roses

Today's card combines some banner die cuts made using Sizzix banner framelits dies (from Stampin' Up) and some roses stamped using their two-step stamp set called A Rose is a Rose - the flowers had to be cut out with scissors of course.  Colours used are Regal Rose and Rich Razzleberry with a couple of greens for the leaves (Certainly Celery and Wild Wasabi).  Backing paper is from my stash and the sentiment was a clear stamp of unknown origin but it fitted the little tag strip quite nicely.

Bird Amongst the Flowers

I challenged myself yesterday to use a 'chicken wire' die cut which my friend Anne kindly gave me a while ago and after some thought I came up with the idea of making it the backdrop for some flowers.  I started by cutting a frame using Stampin' Up die (Framelits Labels) which I then embossed using a folder from Couture Creations; another shape was cut and embossed for the backing before I sandwiched the 'chicken wire' between the two layers.  Backing paper was a leftover piece from a Prima pad and a border strip was punched (EK Success).  When I was at the Extravaganza Day we used the SU bird punch which made me realise I'd not used mine for such a long time, so inspired by that I've used a punched bird to sit in the flowers which were stamped with Petite Petals set which we also received on the day.  There is a punch to match these flower stamps but unfortunately I don't have it yet so they were cut out wish scissors - leaves were cut with a Tattered Lace Die.  This all took quite a time to assemble but I'm pleased to have made use of the gift die cut.  I'm wondering now if I should have used brown for the bird, but I didn't really want to introduce another colour but I think he might have shown up more if I had.

I'm Back!

My computer was returned to me yesterday complete with new operating system so hopefully I will be able to catch up with blogland - I do so hate being cut off from the world and using a tablet is no substitute for the real thing.  I have quite a bit of work to do re installing my programmes and retrieving my files but I'm hoping that won't take me too long and of course I have to get used to the new system but it seems pretty straightforward as far as I can see although some of my programmes aren't compatible so that's something else to deal with.  I have a card to share today which is one I made a while ago but hadn't actually shown. Background is embossed Centura pearl card and the other elements are from various Stampin' Up stamp sets with some die cut leaves and butterflies.

Autumn Flowers

AUTUMN FLOWERS is the theme for this week's challenge at Make My Monday and there are some lovely cards by the design team for inspiration.  I've used a silhouette stamp from Stampin' Up, inked using marker pens and cut out using a die from their Apothecary Accents set.  The embossed background is Centura Pearl card with a Creative Expressions embossing folder and the various layers and borders used up some more of my scraps of paper and card which hopefully tone with the image in autumnal colours.

More...

I'm so enjoying working through some of the techniques in the Creative Chemistry from Tim Holtz and this card incorporates effects like shattered glass, tarnished silver, faux rust etc - obviously I can't go into to details but I know lots of my 'viewers' have been following along as well so they might recognise the various elements. Can't stop to write more at the moment as I'm off to patchwork group, somewhat reluctantly I must say - I need to 'play' some more!!

Photo Inspiration

As there were five Mondays in September the people at House of Cards have come up with a photograph for inspiration and we can use any style of cardmaking.  Here is the photograph -

I've picked up on the autumnal colours for my card and also the leaves.  An image from Oh La La Cascade of Colour has been printed onto watercolour paper - this was after a couple of false starts until my printer finally decided it would carry the paper through!!  A matching piece of paper was printed for the background, then a layer of embossed card using a Couture Creations EF with leaves (Core-d-nations card, sanded to bring out the design).  Finally I cut a selection of leaves using a tim Holtz strip die and arranged them with a greeting. Lots of ideas on the challenge blog if you want to have a go - just follow the link.

House of Cards Shabby challenge

Well I'm not sure quite where this week has gone but I think I'm just about in time to scrape in with my card for the House of Cards SHABBY AND VINTAGE challenge. Again we are using the colour scheme of the month.  Background paper is from my stash and the postcard embossing folder by Sizzix seemed appropriate, along with a dress form taken from an artylicious CD to which I've added some die cut swirls and little yo-yo flowers which I made with some scraps of organza and beads.  A ticket sentiment and that's it for the challenge this week.  I was planning on popping out this morning but as it is raining steadily I think the craft room is a better bet!!  Have a good weekend whatever you might be doing.

I must apologise for the picture quality - too dark to take a photograph indoors, too wet outside so I've scanned it which tends to throw the background out of focus if there are raised elements.

The Male Room challenge #4

The theme this time on the Male Room challenge is SPORTS OR HOBBIES and there are some interesting takes on this with the design team cards, well worth a look if you are stuck for ideas for male cards.  I decided to use a Boofle image - he is a photographer here - and I've used matching backing papers and added a few die cut buttons (Sizzix die from Stampin' Up).  The zig zag strips were cut using a Spellbinder borderability die.

Tag Challenge

I came acrosss this Dragons Dream site whilst wandering around the blogs recently and decided I'd have a go at their current challenge which is to make a tag using a recipe - MUSIC, TISSUE PAPER/TAPE, BLUE.  The tag was coloured using Distress stains and inks and some texture paste was added through a Tim Holtz mask, followed by some partial overstamping with music.  A strip of tissue tape was added down one edge.  The musical image is from Chocolate Baroque Music Fanfare set - with the butterfly coloured, clear embossed and layered for dimension.  The word was produced on the computer and popped into one of the label frames which comes on the Sizzix tag die. The seam binding tie was dyed using matching Distress stain.

This is my second post today because I see that this one startsa on a Wednesday so presumably there will be a new one later today - just scraped in it seems with this one!!

Create a Scene

The challenge this week at Make My Monday is to CREATE A SCENE and for this one I first made the background by again using the masking technique spotted in the current Craft Stamper.  The mask was first swiped with blue ink and lightly spritzed with water before pressing the card onto the wet ink. The technique in the mag uses the same colour ink to sponge through the mask once the first layer is dry which works very well, but this time I tried another colour.  The scene was created using a Spellbinder die for the ornate fence; Memory box dies for the tree and birds; Sizzix dies for the leaves and acorns using a page from an old book.  There was a little stamping of feathery grasses behind the fence.  The leaves on the tree were swiped with Versamark and embossed using Distress powder to give them a crunchy autumnal appearance.  I'm undecided at the moment about adding a sentiment to this card so will leave it for the time being until I have an actual recipient in mind.

There is a challenge over at Country View Crafts running for a month and the theme is LAYERS so I'm adding my card to their blog as well.

HOC Challenge

We are into the second week of the House of Cards challenge for September which means it is still with the same colour scheme but this time in the CLEAN AND SIMPLE style.  My regular followers will know that this style isn't a favourite of mine but I do like to rise to the challenge!  I used a linen textured square card and having cut a mask from paper using a Sizzix die (Stampin' Up) I brushed three of the colours through the aperture and then stamped a SU floral stamp in the darkest purple, adding a little butterfly for  interest and balance.  The sentiment is die cut from matching card.   I'm off now, back into my comfort zone!!

The Great Outdoors

The title of this post is taken from the challenge this time at The Male Room, where all cards made must be suitable for men (or boys).  This skateboarder image comes from a Watercolour Collection by My Craft Studio - I thought I'd have a look through for a suitable landscape image but when I spotted this I changed my mind about the card I was going to make.The textured 'wall' was made using a Tim Holtz embossing folder and I stamped a couple of tickets for sentiments, adding a scrap of tied string left from another project; the piece of kraft 'notebook' card  was punched with an EK success punch; backing paper from my stash.

House of Cards Challenge

It is the fourth and final week of this month's sketch challenge at House of Cards and the style this time is vintage/shabby.  Now I know it is fine to change the orientation of a sketch from vertical to horizontal but I've gone way 'off piste' today and put mine on the skew so I hope that is also acceptable.  Background is a piece of Tim Holtz Kraft Resist card, sponged with Distress ink - I  added some cut and embossed cogs with the addition of a little ink and Treasure gold.  The postcard was made using a stamp from Chocolate Baroque on a scrap of watercolour paper.  The penny farthing was cut with a Memory Box die and popped onto a Sizzix (Stampin' Up) die shape.  The tattered banner was from a Tim Holtz Sizzix strip die and two little metal charms were added to comply with details the sketch layout.  I wonder what HOC will come up with for the September theme - always interesting to see how others interpret these suggestions.

A Bit of Mixed Media

I've had this box lying around for quite a while with the intentions of decorating it in some way - it started off as a plain kraft coloured box of about 7" square.  My first move was to cover it all with a layer of gesso, followed by Distress paint in Weathered Wood with a final light touch of Rusty Hinge.  There were a few things I wanted to try on this and one of them was the faux aged metal effect which I spotted on Jenny's blog recently where she had used it to good effect on a pocket watch.  As I have this die I thought I'd use it too - the face of the watch was printed from the Wellington CD which I used recently (Docrafts).  The image was resized  to fit the die, sponged with some Distress Ink and then covered with rock candy crackle medium, hands were from a Marianne die which luckily was the right size. I started the background by sponging distress inks and overstamping with various text and images.  The area over the text in the top left has been textured through a diamond mask with glass bead texture medium which dries clear to show what is behind it - unfortunately because it is clear it hasn't shown up well on the photos although I'm pleased with the effect on the actual box.!!  The grungeboard swirl was coloured with rusty hinge and clear embossed.

It so happens that Make My Monday this week are asking for 'anything but a card' so this will be my entry for their challenge and also it fits the metallic theme on Sunday Stamper where hopefully faux metal will be acceptable.

I've managed to get a half decent photo of the glass bead texture medium area - not easy to photograph

Reflections

This card is for the second challenge on The Male Room blog which started recently - they had such a lot of entries for their first one which was brilliant for them and hopefully they will do equally well this time around. This time the theme is REFLECTIONS and my image was produced using Craft Artist.  It started out as a black line drawing with a transparent background which meant I was able to colour it digitally (needed a steady hand with the mouse though) and then I composed it into a reflection picture with a sea background. The 'ships wheel' is a Sizzix die cut (cogs really) and the wave-like border is a Lea'bilities die.

Silhouette

The idea this week on Make My Monday is to use a silhouette on the project so I've used one of my favourite silhouette stamps - the agapanthus from Stampendous which is a versatile image.  This time it was stamped once then repeated without reinking which gives some perspective.  Distress inks were dusted across the cut out shape (Stampin' Up label from Sizzix), then I simply added a sentiment and a couple of  stamped and punched butterflies (SU).  Background paper is from Prima, overstamped with the agapanthus.