Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Wedding Bling!

Another challenge!


By the time I had finished this card, I was glittered from heat to toe!


It was a pocket card with an insert that lifted out with a tab at the top. 
I attached the glitter page onto the main card and scalloped the center edge, so that the base card edge created the contrast.
A lovely rich black satin bow and a few bling finished the card off.


I think I softened a little and ended up liking the card just a little......??

Sunday, August 28, 2011

More Distress Inks

I was playing around with the Distress Inks and created the background using the 'smoosh' method. I liked the colours so using a Hero Arts stamp and Versamark Watermark ink I stamped on the background and embossed with clear powder. I continued to add distress inks until I had the effect I liked. On top of all that, I used the same stamp and Versamark Vintage Sepia ink direct to paper, coloured the flowers and leaves and cut out extra flowers and mounted for a 3D effect. I used a page of text from a very old book I had, edged the tear marks with Vintage Photo ink and attached it to the card. Some seam binding dyed to match, a few flowers and pearls and a stick pin finished the card. The sentiment was mounted onto a Spellbinders Floral Doily Motif. A card with a vintage feel to it.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Housewife Fairy

Is she not the cutest fairy you have ever seen?
I wish I could be so happy whilst dusting and cleaning, never mind glamorous!
The background was created from scratch starting with Opale Wove Natural Shimmer board. Several Distress Inks were dotted around on a silicone craft mat and spritzed with water. The card was placed on top of this mess and 'smooshed' around so as to pick up all the ink. It was heat dried and then the process was repeated, so as to get a good layer of colours down. Next I placed the negative from a flourish I had cut out using the TH die Fancy Flourish and sponged on Victorian Velvet. A few smaller negative images were sponged on as well. Finally it was all spritzed with Perfect Pearls Mist in Pearl and left to dry. The seam binding ribbon was dyed with the inks as well. The lovely fairy was painted using Distress Inks and I was so very impressed with the turnout. Stickles was used on the wings and duster and all mounted onto the card with a flourish and a sentiment "Believe in Fairies" from LOTV. The lovely fairy is a digital image from Mo Manning. I just love Mo's work and they are a pleasure to colour. A very interesting Distress Ink exercise.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Challenged!

I was presented with this sheet of paper and asked to make up a card with it. Well, it took my breath away and had me running for my sunglasses! It was Bright and Shiny!
Anyway, I tried to quieten it down with black. Unfortunately I did not have a sharper black board and had to use this textured mat board, which was not really 'black' enough. However, it was well received and I was as happy with it as I could be!
The outside boarders were punched with a Martha Stewart 'Quilted" punch and the sentiment is from Justrite. Their stamps always stamp perfectly and always look really classy. I used the Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two  to stamp the sentiment on and added bling and a lovely black fabric flower to finish it off. In spite of the brightness, the card is so much better in real life.

Monday, August 22, 2011

One Layer Card

I recently shared the little I know about Distress Inks, both Pads and Ink, and made up this card for the class to use to practise the technique of rubbing onto the card rather than placing the pad directly on the card and creating those dreaded pad shapes instead of the smooth look as shown on this card. I masked off the center and used Worn Lipstick below the mask. Above the mask was Victorian Velvet and at the top was Wild Honey. I spritzed the 'join' mark between the two top colours with water and it magically blended the colours beautifully. The Star bursts are a background stamp from CHF and the sentiment is from Hero Arts.
Lots of Stickles and big bling, and a very simple, pretty card. The class enjoyed this exercise and were thrilled with their creations. 

Thursday, August 11, 2011

You Rock!

I needed to get more practise painting with Distress Inks so I printed out this Kenny K chick and cut her out using the spin off dies from Spellbinders called Shapez by Xyron. This die is the badge and I cut out a few of the stars from that die. I was pleased with the way the DI's blended and how you can achieve the subtle shading necessary for the face and hair with just a couple of colours. 
Generally it worked out rather well and I am more than pleased with my efforts. I must say that I could settle with the DI's only if I did not have a choice, but since I already have so many colour mediums I would say that for me this would run a close, albeit much cheaper, second to Copic's.
I love the ease of the Copic pens, no mess or fuss, but can't say I was unduly stressed using these inks. I placed a drop of the colours I selected into a plastic pallet and labelled each one. It was easy to mix up with water on the side of each colour and much to my surprise the inks did not dry out for several days, even such a small amount. I'm thinking that it would be a good idea to place it into a plastic bag, seal it and keep it stored in a safe place between painting sessions. It mixed up with a tiny amount of water and was ready to go again. Very impressed am I! 


Anyway, back to the card - I finally inked up a set from Anabelle's I won last year, and stamped, coloured and cut out the guitar. 


I used the music stamp direct onto the dp which is still from my stash from Paola. The corners were punched with a punch bought years ago. It just suited this image.


I will most certainly be painting with the DI's again soon!

Moz Bearz

Please click on the Moz Bearz tab at the top of the page for some exciting news for teddy bear artists!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Petaloo Flowers

There was a new shipment of flowers in the shop and I was asked to do a card using these Petaloo flowers to give some ideas on how to use them.
I was stumped, as I love flowers but in moderation and I could not use just one or two alone on this card. I decided to keep it clean and simple (the background and sentiment) and not use an image as it would be too busy - for me that is!
Out came my Justrite sentiments - they are the best, always stamp perfectly first time and always look so classy! I shaded the edges of the inner label with DI Victorian Velvet and mounted it on a sheet of very vibrant card from a pad in my stash. Because I was able to cover up the busy print with the Petaloo's it worked out fine, without clashing madly. I made a double bow with the bow maker, which I have finally mastered, after all these years - ! A flourish I found and a couple of pearls and all done!
Whilst not exactly my kind of card, it created a lot of interest and many positive comments in the shop - job well done, says I!!

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Engagement/Wedding Card

I added another vintage style card to my Engagement/Wedding Card 'portfolio'.
I used the lovely nude colour for the background and is perfect for the vintage look. I stamped Hero Arts Long Writing Background from Nikki at Paperchain using Memento Rich Cocoa, so it peeped through the gaps between the dp. This gorgeous dp was cut into strips and punched at the base using a EK Success punch and then I applied Tea Dyed Distress Ink around all the edges of the strips and the nude card.
The vertical strip of card was also nude card edge punched with another EK punch and shaded with DI Tea Dyed. I coloured the seam binding with Distress Inks and made a double bow, inserted a stick pin and a lovely bud I got from an overseas blog friend Viola. The sentiment was from Margie at Stamp 'n Stuff and embossed with copper embossing powder as was the Marianne flourishes.
I just loved creating this card. Funny, I feel more vintage coming on........ lol!

Friday, August 5, 2011

A new local crafting friend

I have found a kindred spirit in Pietermaritzburg.
Mari does the most amazing crochet work and I'm looking forward to doing a few of her classes.
We are hoping to share teaching premises in the near future.
I will be twisting Mari's arm to do a class where us card makers can learn how to crochet the lovely flowers and other embellishments we can use on our cards. With Christmas not to far off, perhaps a few crocheted ornaments to hang on the tree or attach to our Christmas cards may be arranged.
Do pop over to her blog and check her diary for classes and dates she has on offer.
Welcome to blog sphere and your 'new' home town, Mari.



Sweet Birthday Wishes

A dear friend had a birthday recently and I just had to break out and do a SM card. Also, the beautiful heart dies from Nellie's Dies was begging to be used. 
I coloured Tilda with Copic's and practised my shading. Slowly getting there, but still need to work at it.
When I grow up I want to colour with Copic's like Paola!
The dp was a sheet from Paola I had in my stash. I mounted this onto a dusty pink card and wrapped some Copic dyed seam binding around the card and secured it with a stick pin I made using crystals and beads. Played with a double bow and think it worked ok. 
Tilda was cut out and placed in the bottom 'loop' of the heart and perched on the ribbon. The heart was cut out of shimmer white card and I removed the center of the big die so that there was a bit of colour popping through. I cut out the flourishes and mounted beautiful roses onto the swirls. A little bling and its was complete.
The bracelet was a gift made by Moi! 
She loved them both and we shared a lovely lunch and a catch up!


A peek at the 'dressed up' gift box the bracelet was in.
Sometimes the packaging over shadows the gift.... lol!