St. David's Day Artist Trading Coin (Lavinia Stamps)

The 1st of March is Saint David's Day (the Patron Saint for Wales).  So I made an Artist Trading Coin to commemorate the day.

I've used Distress Oxide Inks for the background (Tumbled Glass for the sky and Mowed Lawn and Lucky Clover for the grass.

Using Versafine "Smokey Grey" shade of ink, I stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Skeleton Tree Scene".  I then stamped the "Small Dragon" in Versafin Clair "Tulip Red" ink.  

I then created the landscape at the base of the coin, using a mask and Distress Ink in the shade of "Peeled Paint".  Finally I added letters for the word "Cymru" which is the Welsh work for Wales and I inked the edges of the coin.

Sympathy Card (Stampin' Up Hopeful Thoughts)

Today I received some sad news.  A good friend of my parents passed away yesterday.  My parents are both dead, but hearing the news of the friend passing brought to mind all the fun times they had throughout their friendship.

I quickly put this card together, so that I could catch the first post. I've used a Stampin' Up set called "Hopeful Thoughts" stamped in Versafine Nocturne.  I added some small pale blue gem stones to the middle of the flowers to lift the image a little.

Girls Birthday Card

I fancied making a bright card, suitable for a young lady who will be celebrating her birthday today.

I decided to stamp flowers from the Hobby Arts Ltd, stamp set called "Abstract Flowers", stamped in a raspberry shade of Adirondack Ink.  I then coloured the flowers with a yellow Promarker.

I stamped the Apple Blossom Banner sentiment in the same Raspberry coloured ink and die cut it using the Apple Blossom die.

Camper Van Card using the Black Ice Technique (Creative Stamping Issue 54)

I have continued my play with the Black Ice technique.  If you're not familiar with this technique watch this youtube.

The camper van stamp was a free gift with issue 54 of Creative Stamping magazine.  The sentiment is by Papertrey Ink from thier "Stylish Sentiments" set.

I used three shades of StazOn ink for this card - Black, Azure and Teal.

The Black Ice "Green Man" Card #laviniastamps

While I had the inks and everything out for the first "Black Ice" project, I thought I would make another but add another colour.  

Unfortunately, I'm still picking up reflections in the mirror card, so apologies for the quality of the photography.  I've tried different angles and lights, but none of them are great.

I've watched a youtube tutorial on how to do it.  I've used a piece of silver mirror/foil card and inked it with black StazOn, dragging it from top to bottom to get a streaked look.  I've then rotated it twice to then ink from what was the bottom to the top that is now the bottom, if you get what I mean.  I repeated the technique using an "Azure" shade of StazOn ink to get the blue areas.

I then stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Green Man" in black StazOn ink.  I dragged a Versamark ink pad across the surface (again top to bottom) to get a streaked look, then coated with clear embossing powder and heated with a heat gun.  Finally, I mounted it onto black and blue card.

Male Birthday Card using "Black Ice" Technique (Papercraft Essentials Issue 61)

I had heard about a technique called "Black Ice", so I 
Googled it and found out how to do it.  The best demonstration I found for it is this one.  It is clear and easy to follow.

I thought the look of the black ice, leant itself to a male card, so that is the direction I took.  I used a stamp and embossing folder Apple Blossom set which came free with issue 61 of Papercraft Essentials magazine.

I started by embossing a piece of black card and mounted it to a white card blank.

Using a piece of mirror/foil card, I dragged a black StazOn ink across the surface, from top to bottom.  I then rotated it and dragged it in the opposite direction so that there was equal amount of ink at both the top and the bottom of the foil card.

Using the stamps from the magazine I mentioned earlier, I stamped the sentiment and beer glasses, also in Black StazOn ink.

Using a Versamark clear ink embossing pad, I dragged it across the surface, in the same direction as earlier, from top and bottom, I didn't want total coverage, but more of a streaked effect.  I then coated it with clear embossing powder and heated till raised.

I finished the card, by mounting the foil section onto a piece of black card and then mounting that with foam pads for elevation onto the embossed surface already prepared.

I do like the look of this technique, but it is very hard to get decent photographs as I seem to pick up the colours on mirror card from around me.

Week 09 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

The prompt for Week 9 is:  "One Word"

For my tag, I opted for the word "Simplicity" this is reflected in the minimal look of this tag.  I used my "Brother" label maker to create the word and then stamped the flowers, which are from the Hobby Art "Abstract Flowers" set, stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink.

Here is my second tag with slightly more decoration.

I kept my tag deliberately clear of colour other than the band the word sits on, so that the eye is drawn to the word. 

For this tag, I used two stamps from the Stampin' Up set called "Gorgeous Grunge" . I stamped the coloured stripe in a Versafine Clair ink, in a shade called "Glamorous".  The rest was stamped in Versafine "Black Onyx" shade of ink.

I drew the circles through a D'Inkables stencil from Bee Crafty.  For the "Simplicity" word, I used my Brother lable maker.

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You can find more details about the tag challenge here, including a list of the previous prompts.

There is also a Facebook Group for this challenge.  Feel free to pop over and join the other members uploading images of their creations to the weekly albums.  Hope to see you soon.  Sam x

Happy Days - A Craft Box Delivery

Today was "Craft Box" Day.  A delicious selection of goodies, packaged to perfection so that it feels like I have a present to myself each time I untie the ribbon on the beautiful presentation box.

I don't subscribe regularly to Craftbox UK, I just pick and choose the ones that I think I'll be able to use.  This Signature Box was seaside related.  I am totally thrilled with the selection of goodies I received this month.

All these goodies and beautiful patterned papers too.  I can't wait to use them.

Artist Trading Coin - Simply Cards and Papercraft Magazine Issue 186

It must be the sunshine that has sent me into a spin of tidying this morning.  I decided to tackle my craft desk as it was starting to get difficult to find space to work.  But then I got distracted.  This often happens as obviously everything is far more interesting than tidying and cleaning.

I was sorting through my craft magazines.  Storing the free stamp sets, saving the odd article and then popping the rest of the mag in the recycling.  

While doing this I came across a tiny little stamp on a sheet of goodies that came with Issue 186 of Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine.  Although the stamp was small, the sentiment actually packed quite a punch, reading "If it doesn't make you feel fabulous, don't do it, don't buy it, don't keep it!  Which made me smile.

That is the point that I became distracted.  I grabbed an off cut of oxide background, stamped the sentiment.  Also with the stamp came a cute little triangle stencil, so I popped some ink through that and then die cut the circle.  I layered the front, middle and back with glue and then inked the edges.  

See how easily I'm distracted?  I can't face the remaining pile of magazines, so I may take heed from the sentiment and pop them in the recycling - minus the freebies, obvisously.

Design Team Make for "My Time To Craft Challenge" #391 - Pink and Girly

This is a Design Team make for "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog".  The challenge for #391 is "Pink and Girly".  If you have a moment, please do pop over to the challenge page, highlighted above and check out the other fab makes by my fellow Design Team colleagues or maybe take part in it yourself.

For this card, I created a pink background colour using the following shades of Distress Oxide inks:  Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry and Festive Berries.

Using a Lavinia Stamp called "Zen Rose", I stamped multiple images at different levels across the page in Versafine "Smokey Grey" ink.  

Using Versafine Clair "Monarch" shade of ink, I stamped the Lavinia Stamp "Flower Fairy"  and the sentiment (I purchased this second hand, so I don't know who produced it). Using the same shade of ink, I inked all the edges of the card, leaving the middle area lighter.

I finally added some touches of white and silver glitter, using a Signo Pen and stuck a handful of sparkly sequins onto the card too.

Bubble Gazing Card using Lavinia Stamps

On the sixth attempt I actually managed to complete a project today.  My mind just wouldn't concentrate and five projects ended up in the bin. I think this may have been due to it being Hochanda Day - with my Design Team samples being shown on TV.  Still I got there in the end with this card.

I started off with a blue and yellow background created by using Distress Oxides in "Mustard Seed", "Cracked Pistachio" and "Salty Ocean".

I then used Memento Luxe ink in a shade called "Wedding Dress" through a multi size circle stencil to create the bubbles.  I then masked a circle area and inked the big blue moon/bubble using a Distress Ink in the shade of "Blueprint Sketch".

I then set about stamping the "Sacred Spells" sentiment , "Spotty Toadstools", "Jasmin & Seb's House", "Star Gazing", "Moon Pods" and "Pound Stamps".  I stamped in Versafine "Stormy Grey" ink and various shades of Versafine Clair ink.  

I coloured some of the areas using Promarkers.  I added a sparkle using a silver glitter Signo Pen.  I added white dots to the toadstools with a white Signo Pen and I used Liquid Pearls on the moon pods.

Final Reminder: Lavinia Stamps will be on Hochanda Today 21st February 2019 #laviniastamps

A final reminder that Lavinia Stamps will be on Hochanda TV today at mid-day and also at 4pm.    

The talented Amanda Branston will be demonstrating techniques and showing the samples produced by the Design Team (some of the samples will be mine as shown above).

You can find Hochanda on Sky 673, Freesat 817, Freeview 85 and also Live on-line.

Here's a link to the stamps which will be available.

Lavinia Stamps Design Team Samples for Hochanda TV on 21st February 2019

This is the first set of Design Team samples I have made for Lavinia Stamps, which will be shown on Hochanda TV on the 21st February 2019 at mid-day and also at 4pm.

Sample 1

Has a more Autumnal feel to it in the colours I have used.  I started using a Gelli Plate to create the background colour using Brusho to get the spotty orange flecks. I added dots of white, to break up the colour a little, by using a white Signo Pen.

I masked off the area around the sun, using Distress Inks, coloured it in using various colours of orange for depth.  I stamped the "Forest Scene" trees in Versafine "Vintage Sepia" ink and then stamped the "Faith" fairy (the one in the air) and "Winifred" (the standing fairy) in Versafine "Black Onyx" ink.  I masked off the top of the card and created the landscape at the base for "Winifred" to stand on.  Finally, I added a little glitter, using a silver Signo Pen.

Here are the links to the Lavinia Stamps I have used on this sample:  Faith, Winifred, Forest Scene, Forest So Green Sentiment.

Sample 2

For this sample, having made quite an Autumnal look, i wanted to go bright and fresh, reflecting Spring colours.  I created the background using three shades of Distress Oxides (Squeezed Lemonade, Cracked Pistachio and Tumbled Glass) . Once dry, I stamped the "Single Skeleton Tree" and the "Lunar Buds" in a Versafine "Stormy Grey" shade of ink.  I next stamped "Winifred" and the sentiment using Versafine "Black Onyx' ink.  I masked off the card to create the landscape at the base.  Finally, I added some Liquid Pearls to the middle of the "Lunar Buds" and some silver glitter by using a silver glitter Signo Pen.

Here are the links to the Lavinia Stamps I have used for this sample:  Single Skeleton Tree, Lunar Buds, Forest So Green Sentiment, Winifred.

Sample 3

This is the third sample I have made with Set 3.  For this set, I wanted it to be a bit vibrant and in your face, hence the turquoise and pink.

I created the background using a Gelli Plate and Brusho.  I masked the tag, exposing an area for the moon and coated the circle with Cosmic Shimmer Colour Cloud Blending ink and left to dry.  I coated a piece of card with Distress Oxide ink in a "Salty Blue' colour.  Once dry, I stamped the "Forest So Green" sentiment several times.  I then cut the verse into sections.

Returning to the tag itself.  I stamped stars over the moon area using a Brilliance Ink in the "Platinum Planet" shade.  I then stamped the maple leaves and the Forest scene trees in Versafine "Black Onyx" and "Stormy Grey.  I then inked the edges of the tag.  Finally, I arranged and then stuck down the words I had prepared earlier.

These are the Lavinia Stamps I have used on this project:  Forest So Green Sentiment, Forest Scene, Maple Leaf Mini, Stars 2 Mini.

Time To Make Some Changes Tag - Visible Image Stamps

It seems ages since I have made a tag that isn't part of the challenge, so this evening I had a quick play and made this one.

The base is a mix of Distress Oxides.  I then used Distress Inks in the shade of "Candied Apple" through an Andy Skinner "Tornado" stencil.

Using a Visible Image stamp from their "Ahead Of Our Time" set, I stamped the spiral and the falling lady, both stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink.  

Using the same ink, I stamped the "Time To Make Some Changes" sentiment which is part of the Visible Image set called "Somewhere In Time".  Also from the same set, I stamped the fragmented splatter around the edge of the tag.  Finally, I used a Sakura Jelly Roll pen to colour in areas of the spiral.

A recovery project (when crafting goes wrong) #Laviniastamps

I have been a paper crafter for many years and sometimes things go wrong.  Usually due to my carelessness.  This is one of those projects that went wrong and was then recovered.

It started a couple of days ago, when I was making a batch of alcohol ink backgrounds on Yupo paper.  Having made a very special background (using Mermaid and Citrus shades), I foolishly stamped the seahorse in the wrong ink.  I don't mean the wrong shade, I mean the wrong type of ink.  I used a Versafine Clair ink instead of a StazOn.  

The difference between the two is that StazOn is quick drying and works well on non-porous surface (Yupo is like a plastic coated paper).  Where as the Versafine Clain needs something to grip to.  The result of this error was that in 24 hours time, the ink was still very wet.  I decided to wipe it off and see if I could salvage the beautiful background - and it worked!

The wet wipe did remove some of the alcohol ink background, but at least I was able to use it.

I started by stamping the Lavinia Stamps "Seahorse" in a StazOn ink in a "Teal Blue" shade.  I then stamped the "Skeleton Tree" in StazOn "Midnight Blue" shade of ink to replicate seaweed.  I used the Lavinia "Seaweed" stamped in StazOn "Forest Green" shade of ink.

Finally, I added highlights of silver glitter using a Signo Pen and added sequins and sticky gems to replicate air bubbles in the water.

Free Falling Card - Funky Fossil Stencil

Today I made something a bit different.  I hope it hasn't made your eyes go too funny!

Last week I ordered some stencils from "Funky Fossil Designs".  The one I have used on this card is called "3D Sphere".

I used Distress Inks through the stencil and then used the same shade to ink the edges.  I didn't want to interupt the dots too much, so decided to stamp the falling man image in a corner.  The stamp is part of a Visible Image stamp set called "Ahead of our time", which I stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" shade of ink.

The sentiment, I typed and printed on the computer, then die cut it to a rectangle shape.

Lavinia Stamps Design Team Samples for Hochanda TV 21st February 2019

This is the second set of Design Team samples I have created for Lavinia Stamps, which will be shown on Hochanda TV on 21st February 2019 at mid-day and 4pm

Sample 1

I created the background for this tag by using the following Distress Oxide colours:  Bundled Sage, Antique Linen and Tumbled Glass.  For the sun, I used Distress Ink in the "Dried Marigold" shade.  I masked the hill side off and then stamped the trees using Versafine "Smokey Grey" ink.  I stamped the sentiment in Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" ink.  Finally, over the blue areas of the sky, I added dots of silver glitter with a Signo Pen.

Here are the links to the Lavinia Stamps I have used for this tag:  "Forest Scene" and "Silver Lining".

Sample 2

I've used a selection of yellows and orange shades of Distress Oxides to create the background colour.  I then created the landscape by using a couple of torn pieces of card and masking the area and building up the image using greys and black Distress Inks.  Both the trees and the sentiment were stamped in Versafine "Black Onyx".  I used Signo Pens for touches of gold and silver in the sky.

Here are the links for the stamps used:  Silver Lining Sentiment, and Forest Scene.

Sample 3

For the background of sample 3, I have again used a mixture of Distress Oxides and Distress Inks.  The sentiment and the trees are both stamped in Versafine "Black Onyx" ink.  I have added a few touches of Signo Silver glitter pen to the sky area.

Here are the links for the stamps used:  Silver Lining Sentiment, and Forest Scene.

Lavinia Stamps Design Team Samples for Hochanda TV on 21st Feb 2019

These are the third set of Design Team samples I have created for Lavinia Stamps, to be shown on Hochanda TV on 21st February 2019.

Sample 1
I've created a Distress Oxide background using "Dried Marigold, Carved Pumpkin, Picked Raspberry and Squeezed Lemonade".  Stamped in Versafine "Black Onyx" and Versafine Clair "Monarch.

I've used the following Lavinia Stamps for this tag:  Faith Fairy, Lunar Buds, Mini Leaf and Stars 2.

Sample 2

For this card, I have used a Gelli Plate to create the background using Brusho inks in orange and lime colours.  I have stamped the images in Versafine "Black Onyx" ink.

I have used the following Lavinia Stamps for this card:  Faith Fairy, Mini Leaf 5, Forest Scene and Stars 2.

Sample 3

For this card, I used a Gelli Plate to create the pink and blue background.  I then divided the panel up to create rays from the bottom right hand corner.  Masking of areas, I filled in alternate panels using Distress Oxides in the "Twisted Citreon" shade.  

I stamped the fairy and the leaves on the green panels using Versafine Clair "Monarch" ink.  Finally, I added some dots using a Signo Pen.

Lavinia Stamps Design Team Samples for Hochanda TV on 21st February

This is the fourth set of  Design Team samples I have created for Lavinia Stamps, to be shown on Hochanda TV on 21st February 2019 at mid-day and 4pm

Sample 1

I created the background using a Gelli Plate and Brusho inks.  I stamped Sebastian the Seahorse and the sentiment in Versafine Clair "Monarch" shade of ink. I used Distress inks to create the rock shapes at the bottom foreground.  Then stamped "Lunar Buds" (from set 3) to create a fossil/lichen look.  Finally, I added spots of glossy accents to the eyes of the seahorse and to the water background and touches of white with a Signo Pen.

Here are the links to the Lavinia Stamps I have used for this sample:  Sebastian the Seahorse, Deeper than the ocean sentiment and Lunar Buds.

Sample 2

For Sample 2, I created a background using a combination of Distress Oxides and Distress Inks.  I masked off a circle for the moon and applied a Cosmic Shimmer "White Clouds" Blending Ink and left to dry.  I have only used one stamp for this card and that is Sebastian the Seahorse.  I stamped the main image in Versafine "Black Onyx" ink.  I then used the spines of the seahorse to stamp around the edge of the card, in Versafine Clair "Monarch".  Finally, I used a Signo Pen in silver to make dots through the water.  I used a white Signo Pen for areas on the seahorse too.  I added a spot of Glossy Accents to the eye area to make it more glass looking.

Here is the link to Sebastian the Seahorse if you would like to buy one too.

Sample 3

As the two other samples are quite busy with colour, I wanted the third to be clean and simple.  I used a Stix2 Masking Sheet and cut a circle aperture in it using a die.  I used the aperture/hole to mask off the edge area of the card and filled with Distress Inks using the following shades "Spun Sugar", "Picked Raspberry" and "Wilted Violet".  Both the seahorse and the sentiment were stamped in Versafine Clair "Monarch" shade of ink.

Here is the link to "Sebastian the Seahorse" and the "Deeper Than The Ocean" sentiment.

Hobby Arts Puffin Island Birthday Card

I made this card for a male relative.  I stamped the image in Versafine "Smokey Grey" shade of ink, using the Hobby Arts stamp called "Puffin Island".  I coloured the image using a paint brush and Distress Inks.  The sentiment is by Papertrey Ink and is part of their "Stylish Sentiments" stamp set, stamped in Versafine "Black Onyx" ink.

In The Style of Pop Art - Funky Fossil Stencil

I recently placed an order with "Funky Fossil" of some stencils and MDF items.  The order arrived yesterday, so today I had a play with acrylic paints through one of the stencils today.  It's the first time I have used acrylic paints so I wasn't quite sure what I was doing, but I like the end result!

52 Week Tag Challenge 2019 - update on the first 8 weeks

As I was putting my tags away, I thought I would take a photo of the first 8 weeks.

It surprises me when I look back at the colours, textures and techniques that i've used.  That's why I find tags are a great canvas to experiment on.  It doesn't matter if it is right or wrong, just go for what is in your mind at the time of making that matches the prompt.

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You can find more details about the 52 Week Tag Challenge for 2019 by clicking here.

There is also a Facebook group where you can upload the images of your makes to the weekly prompt albums.  We'd love you to join in.  Sam x

Week 9 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019 - Creative Stamping Magazine issue 62

The Week 8 prompt is "Winter".  We've certainly had our share of wintery weather of late, so it seemed only right to have a prompt to reflect it.

I started my tag with a background of the following Distress Oxide colours:  Antique Linen, Tumbled Glass, Weathered Wood and Salty Ocean.  I then inked the edges of the tag with a Colorbox "Royal Blue" shade of ink.

I stamped the faded sentiment (Lavinia Sacred Spells stamp) and the trees (part of a free stamp set from Creative Stamping - issue 62) in Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink.

I then stamped the birds (Lavinia Stamps) and the deer (also free with issue 62 of Creative Stamping magazine) in Versafine Clair "Twilight" shade of ink.

I had a Snipart balsa scroll and snowflake piece which I coated in the Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink and then stuck it to the tag.

Using a silver flitter Signo Pen, I coloured over the snowflaks and stars.  I also added touches of glitter to the trees, ground and animals too.  Finally, I added some pale blue sticky gems.

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Please click here if you would like more information about this challenge.

There is also a Facebook Group linked to this challenge where you can upload images to the weekly prompt albums and chat to others who are taking part.  You are more than welcome to join in.  Sam x