Week 27 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

The prompt for Week 27 is "Purple".

To create the coloured background of the tag, I used a Distress Oxide Spray called "Picked Raspberry for the top part of the tag.  On the lower area, I sprayed a Dylusion Ink Spray called "Crushed Grape".

I spritzed a Clarity stencil called "Orbit" with water and then flipped it on top of the tag.  The area where the stencil met the tag makes a bleached effect giving a different shade of colour which adds interest to the base.

Using Versafine Clair Ink in the shade of "Fantasia" I stamped the hands and sentiments, all part of a Visible Image stamp set called "You Are Not Alone".

Using a Distress Oxide ink in the shade of "Wilted violet" through a small diamond stencil, I created a relief pattern.

Using the Versafine Clair "Fantasia" ink again, I added the detail around the edge using a stamp from another Visible Image stamp set called "Ahead Of Our Time" and "Somewhere In Time".

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Click here for more information about the challenge.

There is a Facebook Group for this challenge, where members can upload thier creations to the weekly prompt albums and chat to others taking part.  You are welcome to join in, the more the merrier.  Sam x

Design Team make for "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog" #400 "Seaside"

It's time for another challenge on the "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog" which has a theme of "Seaside" for challenge #400.

If you have a moment, please do pop across to the blog to see the other fab makes by my fellow Design Team members.

I decided to do something a bit different for this make by using lots of little bits and bobs I had floating around my work desk.

I had a piece of stamped card with a woodgrain effect, which I had given a grey wash to make it look like weathered wood, so decided to use that as a base.

I knew the colours that I wanted for the sea, so used Distress Oxide Inks in the shades of:  Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Broken China and Salty Ocean and roughly applied it to card, filling the white areas using a paint brush.  

Once it was dry, I ran it through a Crafters Companion embossing folder which gave a nice wave look texture.  I ran a clear embossing ink pad across the surface then covered with a white/silver embossing glitter so that the raised areas sparkle like the sun catching the raised waves, then heat set.

In my embellishment stash, I found a balsa wood sentiment saying "Sun, Shells & Sand" so decided to colour the sea weed and star fish using my Arteza brush pens and then added some Stickles glitter glue to give it a bit of sparkle.

I tore a piece of cardboard box to add a colour and texture like wet sand. 

Finally, I assembled all the components and added little pearl like beads to the sand and small shells,  I also added a handful of clear sequins to the card to give added sparkle.

Wedding Day Card (using Funky Fossil "Bold Damask" stencil)

In my previous post, I explained that when cleaning your stencil to pop it onto a piece of card and to use a wet wipe.  

The remaining colour that you have used on your project gets wiped into the "cut out area" of the stencil and creates a totally different background that you can use at a later date.  The background to this card is the additional background from my previous post.

I cut the stencilled image to the desired size and mounted it on grey and yellow card.

I then die cut the grey intricate background shape behind the sentiment using a Spellbinders die set called "Renaissance Jubilee - Tags".  

I then typed and printed the sentiment of "On Your Wedding Day" and die cut it using the inner section of the above mentioned die set.

An easy and quick wedding card which I think look quite classy.

New Home Card (Stencil Tutorial) using a Funky Fossil Bold Damask Stencil

Today I had the ideal reason to craft, my regional electricity supllier was doing work in the area so there was no power from 9am till just after 4pm.

I made this new simple new home card using a stencilled background.  I started using a blending tool, covering the whole card with a Distress Oxide ink in the shade of "Fired Brick".  (This has to be one of my least used colours, but it's actually fab).  

A little tip when doing the blending, you need to have a very light touch, almost like you are tickling the surface of the card with the blending foam and I work in a circular motion.  I start from the edge and work my way towards the middle.  I also use a clean piece of card or paper to hold the card down, that way I don't get finger prints or grease marks don't get transferred.

Positioning the stencil - I like to have a little bit of the card showing on all sides of the stencil. I place the card base on a piece of copy paper and position the stencil.  I then use some low tack masking tape on all sides covering the stencil edge, the thin edge of the card and then secured on to the copy paper.  

I decided to use a Funky Fossil Stencil called "Bold Damask".  I can now start to create the pattern.  Through the stencil I used another Distress Oxide Ink, this time in the shade of "Wild Honey", which I applied with a foam blending tool.  Again, I work from the edges towards the centre in a circling motion.

Once done, you can very gently remove the masking tape.  Even though it is low tack, sometimes it can still rip into your lovingly prepared background, so take it slowly and gently.

I really like the subtle pattern that this colourway has created, it has a lovely warmth to it.

A Little Tip - Don't forget to clean your stencil before storing it.  I place the stencil on an off-cut of plain card and then use a wet wipe to clean the stencil.  You will find that the "cut out areas" of the stencil will fill with a lighter tone of the colour you have used earlier.  

In this instance, the image on the right is my cleaning the stencil pattern, so you now how two stencilled backgrounds for the effort of one.  One to use and one to go in your pile of backgrounds to be used.

To create the rest of the card, I die cut three house shapes using a Papertrey Ink set called "Love Lives Here".  I stuck the first one in the middle of the card and used a rular to align the bases of the other two house shapes.

The "Welcome To Your New Home" sentiment is part of a Hobby Art Ltd stamp set called "General Greetings" which I stamped in Versafine Clair "Chianti" shade of ink.  I then stuck the whole image onto a white card blank.

Week 26 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

We're at the half way point of the challenge.  It's down hill to week 52 from now on.

The prompt for Week 26 is "Leaves"

For my tag, I have created lots of layers, starting with using a gel press, using Colorbox Ink and Brusho.

I next stamped leaves using Versafine Clair Ink and a leaf stamp from "Oak House Studio".

The next layer was using Versafine Clair Ink and a script stamp, also from "Oak House Studio".

I then used a Stampin' Up thinlit die set called  "Beautiful Branches" to die cut the flower head and stem.  I layered the flower head in two shades of lilac/purple, stamping a script over the lighter shade using a Versafine Clair Ink called "Monarch".  Once the flower and stem were adhered to the tag, I added touches of Liquid Pearls in the shade of "Blackberry".

Finally, I used a Lavinia Stamp, mini leaf stamp from their "Pound Stamp range" to stamp the small leaves at the top and the bottom of the tag using Versafine Clair ink in the shade of "Shady Lane.  I used a Distress Ink in the shade of "Forest Moss" to edge the tag.

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Click here to read more details about this tag challenge.

There is also a Facebook Group for this challenge, where members can upload thier makes to the weekly prompt albums and talk to others who are taking part.  This is a very relaxed challenge and we'd love you to join in.  The more the merrier.  Sam x

Sweet Poppy Stencil "Floral Delight" Card

Last night I made a card with quite muted colours, today I have gone bright making this stencil card.

I've used a background of Dylusion inks in yellows, orange, purple and green.  Once dry, I spritzed an Andy Skinner "Tornado" stencil and flipped onto the top of the inked surface.  The area that hits the inked area becomes slightly bleached giving the reverse image of the stencil.

I used a black Ranger Archival ink through a Sweet Poppy Stencil called "Floral Delight" to create the main image.  

The sentiment is stamped in the same ink using a stamp from a Spellbinders set (STP-004).

This is my second entry into the June 2019 challenge for "A Place To Start Challenge Blog", with a stencil theme,

Lavinia Stamps "Sky" Let Your Spirit Take Flight Card

I've made this card in stages.  I originally made the background about a month ago, using Disress Oxide ink pads and sprays, but it didn't suit what I had in mind, so put it back in my "to be used" pile.

I then decided to use a wet Tim Holtz "Rays" stencil to create a bleached ray look to the background.  Again it wasn't what I wanted, so put it back in the pile.

This evening, third time lucky, it was the ideal background for what I had in mind using Lavinia Stamps.  Using Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" ink, I stamped the "Twisted Willow" stamp.

Using the Versafine Clair "Chianti" shade of ink, I stamped the fairy called "Sky"

I then used a circle moon mask and darkened the edges and filled the inner using two shades of Distress Oxide Inks:  Wild Honey and Broken China. Using a Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink I stamped the "Let Your Spirit Take Flight", breaking the sentiment into two lines, which I felt suited the card better.

I then moved on to filling the edge detail.  On the right hand side, I used the Versafine Clair Ink "Chianti" to stamp the "Seasonal Tree" branches.

On the left hand side of the card, I used two pound stamps "Mini Berry" and "Mini Leaf 5".  I used the "Mini Slender Mushrooms" on the tree trunk on the right hand side too.

I added white highlighted areas to the card using a Posca Pen and added some silver glitter to the wings using a Signo Pen.

Lavinia Stamps "Unicorn" Tag

Today I have used the Lavinia Stamps "Unicorn" stamp. I've had this stamp for a while and have not got round to using it, so thought I would address that today by making a tag.

I had a background from a session a week ago so decided to use that as the base.

I stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Unicorn" in a Versafine Clair ink called "Purple Delight".

I then stamped the trees using Lavinia Stamps "Small Fairy Fir Tree" stamp using a Distress Oxide Ink in the shade of "Evergreen Bough".

I created the water and landscape area using Artza Brush Pens.  

I decided that the image of the unicorn looked to solid, using a Uniball Signo Pen in a silver glitter, I coloured the unicorn to add a little extra magic.

Lavinia Stamps "Tree Goddess Luna" Dream Card

I love this "Tree Goddess Luna" stamp by Lavinia Stamps, so decided to use her again, even though it's only a couple of days since I last stamped her.  This card is actually very sparkly, but unfortunately the camera just doesn't pick it up.

I used one of the backgrounds I made the other day, when I was experimenting using a stencil to print with.  The image above is the background before I started stamping.  I produced the pattern by using a Funky Fossil Stencil called "Petal Burst".  For this background I experimented with Distress Inks, which I found didn't work as well as the Oxides did for the same process.

Back to the image.  I started by stamping the Lavinia Stamps "Sacred Spells" script stamp in Versafine "Stormy Gray" ink.

Using the "Dream" stamp from the Lavinia Stamps "Inspire Me" set of word stamps, I stamped the word in Versafine Clair "Purple Delight" ink.  Using the same ink, I stamped the "Tree Goddess Luna" image.

I needed to draw the eye in to the image, so went around the edge with a blending tool and a Distress Oxide Ink called "Broken China".

Finally, I added some sparkle by using a silver glitter Signo Pen and a Sakura Gelly Roll pen to add some shimmer to the wings of Luna.  I added a sprinkling of Nuvo "Diamond" sequins to the background too.

Forget Me Not "Follow Your Heart" Card

My first make of the week is this "Follow Your Heart" card using the "Border and Sentiment" stamp set by "The Forget Me Not Kraft Kabin".

I started by stamping the wavy border using a Versafine Clair ink called "Charming Pink".

Using a stencil and low-tack tape, I first coloured the hearts with a Distress Oxide Ink in the shade of "Spun Sugar" and then with the Versafine Clair "Charming Pink" ink as I wanted the hearts to be softer than the border but to still have a bit of depth too.

Using the same "Border and Sentiment" stamp set, I stamped the sentiment and the arrow.  Finally, using the same Versafine Clair Ink in "Charming Pink", I stamped the word "Love" in the middle of the heart.  The "Love" sentiment is part of a Visible Image stamp set called "Bloom and Grow",

New Baby Card

Our neighbours have recently had a new arrival to their family, so I made this card for them.

A couple of days ago, I was experimenting printing backgrounds using stencils.  For this background I have used a Funky Fossil stencil called "Petal Burst".

This background is actually the result of me cleaning off the stencil with a wet wipe.  As I wiped, the colour filled the gaps in the stencil on to the card below. It was too good to throw away, so I kept it for a future project.

I cut the image down to size so that it was square.  Using Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" shade of ink, I stamped the baby image, which is part of the Visible Image stamp set called "Bloom and Grow".  

I stamped the Papertrey Ink sentiment (part of the "Signature Greetings" set) in the same ink.  Then mounted the card on to some matching cardstock.

I have entered this card into the June 2019 "A Place to Start" stencil challenge.

Week 25 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

The prompt for Week 25 of the challenge is "All Things Male" as it is Father's Day weekend.

For my tag, I decided to use a Visible Image set of stamps which is quite new to me, it's called "Art Rebel".

I started by repeat stamping the large fish from the set onto a plain manilla coloured tag.  I used Distress Oxide ink in the shade of "Brushed Corduroy".

I then stamped the words from the same set using Distress Oxide "Ground Espresso" shade of ink.  I then used a blender very lightly to give a little blush colour to the surface using Distress Oxide "Fired Brick" shade of ink.  I inked the edges of the tag using a black Versafine Clair ink called "Norcturne".  I also added some black splatters to the surface too.

Using the Distress Oxide "Ground Espresso" shade of ink again, I stamped the face sections onto a plain tag and cut them down,  I then mounted them on some red card and adhered them to the tag.

I die cut swirly cirles in matching red card.  Using Glossy Accents, I stuck a button to each eye of the glasses then stuck the outer edge of the die cut swirl over the button, so that the middle stands out 3D like.  I found some little metallic discs which I also stuck to the tag.

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Click here if you would like to know more details about this tag challenge.

There is a Facebook Group for this challenge, which you are welcome to join.  Within the group, you can upload your creations to the weekly prompt albums and talk to others already taking part.  It's a very relaxed challenge, so feel free to pop over.  The more the merrier.  Sam x

Lavinia Stamps June 2019 Monthly Challenge (sample #3)

Every month, Lavinia Stamps hold a monthly challenge, where the winning name drawn wins £40 of vouchers to spend on lovely Lavinia goodies.

The theme for the month of June 2019 is:  "A Sprinkling Of Fairy Dust"

This is the third sample I have made as part of the Design Team to promote the challenge.

I made a batch of backgrounds using a gelli plate and Brusho inks a few weeks back.  I've used one of these for the base of this card.  Throughout this card, I have used Lavinia Stamps and Versafine Clair ink to stamp with.

I started by stamping the "Foxgloves" in the shade of Monarch Versafine Clair ink.  I then stamped the fairy called "Dust Silhouette" in the same ink.

I then moved on to the "Willow" hanging down, which was stamped in Versafine Clair ink in the colour of "Shady Lane".  I then stamped the "Wild Vines" in Versafine Clair ink in the shade of "Nocturne".

I inked the edge of the card and made a landscape for the fairy to sit on in Versafine Clair "Fantasia" ink.  I added touches of silver glitter to the fairy wings and created the dust droplets using Liquid Pearl droplets.  Finally, I gave the card a very light spritz and flicked on some Brusho "SprinkleIT" in "Iridescent Gold"

Printing backgrounds using stencils

I've been playing with stencils and how to replicate the image in a different way.

I used Distress Oxide Inks in the shades of Mustard Seedm Spiced Marmalade and Picked Raspberry.  I used a stripe Clarity stencil for this tutorial.

I randomly inked the stencil, ensuring there was a decent coverage of ink across the stripes.  I then spritzed the stencil with water.

I then flipped the stencil on a piece of cardstock.  Using a piece of kitchen paper, I gave a little pressure to ensure there was contact between the stencil and the paper.  The kitchen roll absorbs and surface ink that squishes out of the side.

Lift the stencil to reveal the coloured stripes.  You will notice that there is still quite a lot of ink left on the stencil, so I spritzed it again and repeated the process a further two times.

These are the three takes from the one inking of the stencil.

I inked the stencil again using the same colours and had a further play, I turned the card around creating a coloured grid background which I quite like.

I also tried the same technique using Distress Inks, but it wasn't as successful, I'm not sure why.  

However, I did like the look of the lower images, which was where I was cleaning the stencil with a wet wipe and it left a lovely coloured pattern.

I used Distress Inks on these tags too and the pattern is patchy, however they won't go to waste and will appear on a future project no doubt.

Design Team Make for "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog" 399 "Water Colour"

It's time for another challenge on the "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog".  The challenge #399 theme is "Water Colour".  This is my Design Team make for this prompt.  If you do have a minute spare, please do pop over and see the fab makes my Design Team colleagues have created.

I started this card by using a paint brush, giving the background a water colour wash using my Prima Watercolour Confections set.  

Once dry, I stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Nigella Damascena" in Distress Oxide Inks, first in the shade of "Bundled Sage" for the stem and foliage and then I used a mix of Dusty Concord and Faded Jeans for the heads of the flowers applied with a paint brush.  

I then gave the flowers a fine spritz of water as I wanted to give the stamped image a more water colour look as if it was bleeding into the background wash a little.

Once this was dry, Using a Versafine Ink pad in the shade of "Stormy Gray", I stamped the sentiment which is also by Lavinia Stamps and is called "Sparkle".  Finally, I used a silver glitter Signo Pen to add some highlights to the flower heads.

Lavinia Stamps "Tree Goddess Luna" on a Funky Fossil Stencilled Background

While the Funky Fossil "Enchanted Fan" stencil was on my desk, I decided to use it to make a card using a Lavinia Stamp.

I used a Distress Oxide Ink in the shade of "Peacock Feathers" through a Funky Fossil stencil called "Elegant Fans" to create the background pattern.

Using Versafine Clair Ink in the shade of "Twilight" I stamped the Lavinia Stamp "Tree Goddess Luna" and the "Dream" word, which is part of the "Inspire Me Set" of word stamps by Lavinia Stamps.

Finally, I used a Uniball Signo Pen to add silver glitter highlights to the fairy and tree.

Forget Me Not "Cyclopse Demon" Good Luck Card

Today I made this "Good Luck" card using stamps from "The Forget Me Not Kraft Kabin".

I started by stamping the "Cyclopse Demon" figure using Versafine Clair "Twilight" coloured ink.

I then used a Distress Oxide Ink, in the shade of "Peacock Feathers" through a Funky Fossil Stencil called "Elegant Fans".

Finally, I stamped the sentiment, also by "The Forget Me Not Kraft Kabin" in the "Twilight" shade of Versafine Clair Ink.

Lavinia Stamps "Dragon Stone Castle" Card

I made this card using a Brusho/Colorbox Ink Gelli Plate background.

I then multi stamped section of the Lavinia Stamps "Sacred Spells" script stamp in Versafine Clair "Stormy Gray"

Using Versafine Clair "Twilight" for the remaining stamping, I stamped the "Dragons Stone Castle" and the "Path".

I then masked the moon and edged it using a Distress Ink in "Faded Jeans" shade.

Using Distress Oxides in "Faded Jeans" and "Chipped Sapphire", I created the landscape using a torn section of card.  I used the same colours for the sky but added some Distress Oxide Ink in the shade of "Wilted Violet".

I then stamped the trees, which are part of the "Tree Scene" set and the "Mini Dragon" which is from the Lavinia Stamps "pound stamp" section.

Finally, using a white Posca Pen, I added some dots to the sky for stars.  I used metallic silver Sakura Gelly Roll pen to fill the windows and doors of the castle.

Forget Me Not "You Were Meant To Fly" Card

As the stamp set was out on my desk, I have continued my play with "The Forget Me Not Kraft Kabin" Bee Happy Stamp set making this second card.

This is the "Bee Happy" Stamp set.

I used an off cut of a previous gelli plate project for the background colours (I think I used Distress Inks).  I stamped the frame, the bee and the sentiment in Versafine Clair "Fantasia" shade of ink.

The small flower is from a Papertrey Ink Set of stamps.

Forget Me Not "Bee Happy" Card

Today I have been playing with the "Bee Happy" stamp set produced for "The Forget Me Not Kraft Kabin".

I used one of the gel press backgrounds I made yesterday as the base of this card.

Using a leaf stamp by "Oak House Studio", I stamped the leaves at the base of the card using Versafine Clair Ink in the colours of "Verdant" and "Shady Lane".

The wavy edge, sentiment and the bee are all part of the "Bee Happy" Set of stamps.

Using Versafine "Smokey Gray" ink, I stamped the wavy edge line four times to create a border for the image.  I then stamped the sentiment and the bee in the same ink.  I stamped the bee on an off-cut of card, coloured in the head and body with an amber coloured Arteza Brush Pen and then cut out the head and body and adhered over the top of the stamped image of the bee.

Finally, I added some subtle shimmer to the wings of the bee by using a Sakura Gelly Roll pen.

Creating Pretty Backgrounds (using Gel press and Brusho)

I realised yesterday, my stack of prepared backgrounds was getting low, so had a quick messy half an hour creating some pretty pastel coloured ones.

For these backgrounds I used a Gel Press, also known as a Gelli Plate. With Colorbox Inks brayered onto the plate and splashes of Brusho.  

I really like what I've produced, however the cleaning up after my messy session wasn't so nice!

Week 24 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

The challenge prompt for Week 25 is "Under Water".

To create my tag I've used two stamps from Lavinia Stamps and a stencil, it was a quick make.

First, starting from the middle of the tag, I used a Distress Ink in the shades of "Mustard Seed".  The next colour I used from the edge of the tag and blended to the yellow was "Peacock Feathers", then "Mermaid Lagoon" and finally "Chipped Sapphire"

I lay my prepared tag background on a piece of kitchen roll. Using an Andy Skinner stencil called "Tornado".  I lay it on my work desk and spritzed the surface with water.  I then flipped the stencil and lay it wet side down onto the prepared tag background.  I left it for a minute or so then lifted the stencil.  The area where the water has been leaves a sort of bleached look.  

If you find there are little pools of water on your tag, then lightly blot them with the edge of a piece of kitchen towel. 

 

Once the tag is dry, I then stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Seahorse", a fab stamp with so much detail, in Versafine Clair "Blue Belle" ink.  At the base of the tag, I added the fish using the Lavinia stamp called "Shoal of Fish", stamped in Versafine Clair "Twilight" ink.  I also went around the edge of the tag using this ink, just to darken it a little more.

Finally, I added some bubbles using a white and a silver Signo Pen.  I also added some white areas to the seahorse with the white pen and to give the eye a glassy look, popped on a little droplet of "Glossy Accents" and left to dry.

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Click here if you would like to know more about this challenge.

There is a Facebook Group for this challenge, where you are more than welcome to join and take part.  In the group, you can upload your creations to the weekly prompt albums and talk to others who are taking part in the challenge.  It is very relaxed, with no pressure to take part, just do what you can, when you can.  I hope you will join us.  Sam x