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Monday 28 January 2013

Triple Time Stamping

Afternoon everyone from a very wet and windy Somerset  - ideal for crafting!!!  lol

A challenge I've been meaning to join in with is 52 (Christmas) Card Throwdown and this week's challenge is:

This week it's a technique we want to see and the technique is Triple Time Stamping.  This is such a great technique, it's simple but has the wow factor!  Dawn Olchefske produced a great video tutorial for this technique which you can find here.  Can't wait to see what you come up with!

For my card I decided to use my Andy Skinner "Winters Tale" stamp set and thought of going with monochrome.  I first cut my three layers of white cardstock and lightly attached them centrally on top of each other.  I then inked up the individual stamps with Black Versafine and carefully stamped onto the triple layer.  When I was happy I then detached the layers and cut black mats for each layer. 



Before I added the top two layers to the bottom one I added some
Bakers Twine and a button.  I was going to pop the finished item onto a 5x7 card blank but it was a little small for the blank so decided to add another layer but off-set them which I think makes it look a little more interesting.  I added some Glistening Snow-tex to areas of the card which is very hard to photograph but think you might be able to see a little twinkle!!!  lol  The sentiment is a Papermania stamp PMA 10038.

Thanks for stopping by.




Sunday 27 January 2013

Less is More - Week 104 Sketch

Afternoon everyone - hope you are all well and have had a good weekend.  After the snow we've had the rain, and lightening and thunder............

Anyway, on to the matter in hand.  It's Week 104 over at Less is More and the theme is:

Sketch #8
This week we have a sketch for you drawn by Jen.
It's simplicity itself, so to add a little constraint, we ask that the card stays in this orientation ie that the band remains in the horizontal plane, in the lower part of the card and that it takes up no more than 1/3rd of the height of the cardbase.
 
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One person who I admire greatly is Heather over at Bits and Pieces.  If you've never come across her blog it's definitely worth a visit.  She does some amazing work and is Queen of CAS - I've CASed a card she's recently posted.  However now I've properly read the instructions for the sketch challenge I think I'm a bit over in the 1/3rds department!!!  Anyway, I'll plough on and try to get another card done later on.


I've used my Stampin Up Heartfelt Thanks set (both flower and sentiment).  Stamped with Versamark twice onto separate pieces of card, clear embossed and then sponged with DI Shaded Lilac.  I then did exactly the same but directly onto the card base.  The sentiment was stamped in DI Chipped Sapphire.

Thanks for dropping by.




Saturday 26 January 2013

Addicted to CAS - #5

Morning everyone - welcome to the latest challenge over at A2CAS.    The incredibly talented Loll of Stamping with Loll is your host.  The code word for this challenge is:

This week we are so lucky to be sponsored by Andrea over at Annabelle Stamps!! 
Andrea has offered a $10 discount voucher at her store!!
My DT card consists of a square pearlised card blank.  I then took my IndigoBlu stamp "Love is" and covered it with FlitterGlu, stamped onto some white cardstock and covered in gilding flakes.  I then quickly went and washed the FlitterGlu off my stamp (it's really, really sticky!!!).  I then rubbed my scoochy foam over to get rid of the excess gilding flakes (back into the tub).  I inked around the edges with my copper leafing pen and added two pieces of ribbon.  I then added my heart "hand made with love" charm and popped it up with foam pads on the base card.
Please pop over to the A2CAS blog to see the wonderful inspiration provided by the Design Team and we look forward to seeing your creations and visiting your blogs.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Happy crafting.




Sunday 20 January 2013

Less is More Week 103 Theme

Happy Sunday everyone - hope you're all keeping safe and warm.  We've been getting some more snow this morning but it's very light.

Well, I think I'm on a role - perhaps the effect of my new craft room? - and managed to finish my card for the new Less is More challenge which is:

This week we have a theme for you to follow which is
FRIENDS
This could take the form of a friend related sentiment... activities which friends share, images of friends - animal or human or both!

Here is my card:
I took a scalloped cream 6" square card blank and put it through my eBosser with my Lifestyle Whimsy e/f to give it some texture.  I stamped the image (Little Sisters by Rubber Stamp Tapestry) with Rich Cocoa Memento ink onto cream card, tore the edges and inked them.  This was mounted onto a scalloped square nestie.  The sentiment is SU Oval All and I used my SU oval and scalloped oval punches.  The little flower was stamped out again, cut out and popped on top of the oval sentiment with a little pearl made using Liquid Pearls.  The bottom border is my Memory Box Meridian Border die.  I then tied a bow with some cream ribbon...........and "Bob's your uncle"!!!  lol

I had a friend in mind when I made this card so after I took the photos of it I then placed a Liquid Pearl pearl at each intersection of the e/f and, as luck would have it, my Tim Holtz Frosted Film arrived, so I cut a piece the same size as the Little Sisters image and placed on top and burnished (although not sure it shows up in the photo).  It just gives a lovely subtle frosting - and as it comes in a roll of 12" by 6 feet is great value for money as it can be die cut, alcohol inked etc etc.  So here is a photo of the final version although the first card is the one being submitted to the LIM challenge (just in case Chrissie and Jen scroll down this far!!!  lol).  Sorry about slight difference in colour between the two photos but one was taken last night and the other this morning.

 
 Thanks for dropping by.



Saturday 19 January 2013

Birthday card

Afternoon everyone - hope you're all keeping safe and warm.  I was due to go to a workshop today but it was cancelled because of the snow.  The main roads are okay but seeing as we live in Somerset even getting out of the village is a problem as these roads don't get gritted.  Where I was due to go is quite high up with single track lanes (no passing spaces) which, I suppose, means you would only crash into the fields!!!  So, I'm pretty glad to be sitting at home playing.......

It's a friend's birthday at the end of the week and this is the card I've made for her.  I've been meaning to do some ribbon weaving for a while and had a design for this card in the back of my mind - so it was a perfect time to play.

 

Close up of ribbon weaving

Recipe:

Memory Box:   Madeira Corner
                          Prim Poppy
                          Honeyblossom Sprig
                          Delicate Fern

Poppystamps:   Gentle Leaf

Embossalicious embossing folders

Spellbinders:    Grand Decorative Circles 1
                           Exquisite Circles

Liquid Pearls:   Bisque

Stampin Up:     Afterthoughts stamp set

Thanks for dropping by - have a great weekend.






Friday 18 January 2013

LIM Challenge 102 - Sport or Exercise

Just managed to post this by the skin of my teeth............this week's challenge over at Less Is More is:

So it's everybody's favourite this week.... One Layer Cards... and we have chosen a fab theme for you....
Sports or Exercise
We would like to see sports or exercise themed cards.. this could be an image or even a sentiment or sporting quote.

I don't really have many sporting/exercise stamps but remembered this delightful digistamp from Mo Manning and I thought it would definitely fit the bill!!!  After all housework is exercise isn't it?  lol
I went into my CraftArtist programme and drew a circle on my page, imported the image and added the text.  I then printed it out and put it in my embossalicious e/f and placed my embossing diffuser over the top lining it up with the printed circle.  I then ran it through my eBosser and ended up with the surrounding card embossed leaving the circle and image free from embossing.  The image was coloured with Flexmarkers and I added Stickles to the wings.

On a slightly different tack I mentioned on Wednesday that it was my friend Darnell's 42nd wedding anniversary and posted a card for her and her Mister.  If you haven't had the delightful experience of visiting her blog then you really must!  She always makes my day and raises chuckles along the way.  Another blogging friend Ardyth at MASKerade got in touch with lots of Darnell's friends saying how nice it would be to make a card and also post our wedding photos.  I wasn't in a position to post any photos on Wednesday as I needed to scan/photograph my photos (as they are soooo old!!! lol).  So here is a quick snap of Tony and me on our wedding day back in 1990.
Thought, whilst I was at it, I would post a couple of photos I took this morning.  Here is the view out of my craftroom window:

Thanks so much for visiting - I hope wherever you are you keep warm and safe.  Happy crafting.














Wednesday 16 January 2013

ESPECIALLY FOR DIPPY AND MISTER (aka Kevin)

Hi Folks - I'm back and with a very heavily laden photo post; so take a seat and pick up your cuppa and come have a look!

Firstly I want to wish my special friend Dippy and Mister a very, very happy anniversary and I have a card for them.  I think it's fitting for Dippy as I'm sure she's up in the air most of the time!!!  lol  Just joking Darnell - you're a great blogging buddy and so supportive.  Hope you have a wonderful day.

Next I have some photos - also for Dippy (as she's been gagging for them) but also for everyone else who have kindly been enquiring how my new craft room is going along.  Well, it took much longer than anticipated but it's finally there - everything moved in (hope I can now find stuff!!!) and I'm sure I'll be doing some reorganisation along the way as I start working here but at the moment it's fine.  I'm also entering the great WOYWW blog.  So here they are:



Looking in through the door

My new card/paper unit

My desk

My eBosser station

My dedicated sewing area

Old pine unit "upcycled"!!!

Computer area

My A1 Architect's unit holding all my stamps

Think I might have a bit too much!
 You can't imagine the number of storage boxes and drawer units I took down to the charity shop yesterday - it was quite cathartic!!!  My room is on the other side of the house and faces West so is much lighter/brighter than my old room, plus it has a lovely view out on to fields.

Can't wait to get crafting now - seems like it's been far too long.
One last look at my very clear desk - it won't look like that for very long!!!  lol












Thanks for stopping by.  Hopefully I can now get back to normal with posts and commenting.

 

Saturday 12 January 2013

ADDICTED TO CAS - Challenge #4


Welcome to our first challenge of 2013!!

We can't wait to start the New Year with our latest challenge. Hosted by me, Karen, our Code Word this fortnight is 
We have an awesome sponsor again for this challenge. Please let me introduce you to 
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Uniko Studio is a small company based in the North East of the UK. Uniko Studio specialises in surface pattern design & clear stamps for the hobby market.


Uniko Studio will feature high quality photo polymer stamps designed & manufactured here in the UK, and if things go well we will branch out into other crafting supplies.



Since starting & graduating from Cleveland College of Art & Design, with a first class honours (BA) degree in Textiles & Surface Pattern Design I knew that my new path in life would be a creative one. Since a young girl I have been creative & I have enjoyed the hobby of making cards for as long as I can remember! During the final stages of my degree I focused my projects on designing clear stamps for the hobby market with a clear focus of starting the company once I graduated.


So here I am.. Uniko Studio! I hope you will join me on this adventure & enjoy the NEW stamp designs from Uniko Studio.


Beverley has been kind enough to offer a fabulous prize -



This gorgeous digital collection is up for grabs AS WELL as your choice of 3 x digital paper collections!!!

For my inspiration card I was lucky enough to be able to use the beautiful English Country Garden digistamps together with their Eclectic Mix Summer papers.


I started with an 8" scalloped card blank and put it through my eBosser in an A4 embossing folder.  I then used a Die'sire Embossalicious e/f called Regal Frame and embossed a piece of card which is 6" square.  I printed out four of the papers and then resized the flowers and butterfly and printed each onto different papers using my laser printer.  These were then foiled (which I hope you can see from the photos).  I did the same for the sentiment and punched it out with my EK Success Labels punch.  The finishing touch was some White Opal Liquid Pearls to make the butterfly trail.

To be in the running to win this wonderful prize, please do not forget to check our challenge rules HERE.

Please use the Code Word provided for your inspiration and remember to keep your project Clean and Simple. Now, how are you going to use embossing on your project? Will it be dry or heat or both? We can't wait to see what you come up with.
Pop on over to Addicted to CAS to have a look at the wonderful inspiration the Design Team have come up with.
Thanks for visiting - it's much appreciated.