Lavinia Stamps October 2019 New Release - Zanor

Lavinia Stamps have created some wonderful new stamps that will be available to purchase on their web site from 4th October.  The pegasus, in this card is one of the new release stamps and is called "Zanor".

I started this card using a background of Dylusion Spray Inks in three shades:  Pure Sunshine, Squeezed Orange and a very light spray of Melted Chocolate.

I started by stamping the female figure, Zemira and then Zanor the pegasus, both in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" shade of black ink.  I then masked of a round shape for the moon and covered the area with a very light coating of Distress Oxide Ink in a shade of "Milled Lavender" just to lighten the area.  I went around the edge of the moon with another shade of Distress Oxide Ink called "Black Soot".  I used the same ink to create the base that Zemira stands on.

I used the Lavinia Stamps "Spring Trees", "Skeleton Trees" and the "Skeleton Trees Scene" to create the tree lined background, stamped in Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" ink.

Using the "Black Soot" Distress Oxide Ink, I created the landscape to tie it all in together using a torn edge of a piece of paper.

I stamped the "Ducks" and the "Meadow Grass" in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

Finally, I used an assortment of colours of Sakura Gelli Roll Pen to add some floral detail to the landscape.  I used a gold Sakura pen to add highlights across the card and a white Signo Pen to add highlights to the hair, mane and tail areas.

Lavinia Stamps New Release October 2019 - Zanor

This is my third make using the fabulous new stamps Lavinia Stamps (release date 4th October) Zanor the pegasus and Meadow Mushrooms.

I used a gelli plate background that I'd prepared a couple of months back, it was a blend of two Colorbox inks (which resulted in a soft blue and green, ideal for a landscape) brayered onto the gelli plate then had wet Brusho sprinkled on top, the print impression was then taken.

I started this card a little differently from the way I normally work.  I created the landscape first, using the torn edge of a piece of paper and "Black Soot" Distress Oxide Ink.

I then stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Tree Root", I had to extend the length of the tree trunk by masking areas,repositioning and stamping the image again.  I used Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink to stamp the image and painted it using Distress Oxide Inks in the shades of Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo and Ground Espresso.

Using Versafine Clair "Acorn" shade of brown ink, I stamped the new "Zanor" the pegasus, the "Tree Branch", the little fairy at the base of the tree from the "Fairy Foragers" set, the brand new "Meadow Mushrooms" and the "Mini Slender Mushrooms".  Using the same ink, I stamped the sentiment "Let your spirit take flight".

Finally, I added some small flowers to the foreground and some high light areas to the card using a white Signo pen.

Lavinia Stamps New Release October 2019 - Zanor Pegasus

This is my second make using the brand new October 2019 Lavinia Stamps release.  In this card I have used "Zanor" the pegasus and "Meadow Mushrooms" (both sizes).

This is quite a small card, the actual image is only a little over 3" x 4".  All stamping on this card has been made using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

I used an off cut of a gelli plate print of soft blues and pink colours.  Created using Colorbox Ink brayered onto the gelli plate with wet Brusho sprinkled on the top (sorry I don't recall what shades I used as this is part of an old print).

I stamped "Zanor" the pegasus first, then created the landscaped background.  I coloured the lower section with Distress Oxide ink "Worn Lipstick" and "Picked Raspberry". Using the torn edge of a piece of copy paper and Distress Oxide Ink in the "Weathered Wood" Shade, I created the hill scape.

I masked off a circle shape around the head of "Zanor" and added a pink edge using Distress Oxide Ink "Worn Lipstick" to create the impression of a sky.

I then returned to stamping, the new "Meadow Mushrooms" and the "Mini Slender Mushrooms".  I stamped two words "Take Flight" from the Lavinia Stamps sentiment called "Let Your Spirit Take Flight".

Finally, I added some grass tufts below the mushrooms using a black fine line pen and white highlights to areas of the card using a Signo Pen.

Lavinia Stamps New Stamp Release October 2019 - "Sirlus"

I feel so excited to be able to share with you, some fabulous new stamps that will be launched on 4th October by Lavinia Stamps.  

This card features one of two Pegasus.  This one is called "Sirlus" and is stamped on a Brusho background.

I have created the landscape that Sirlus canters on using the torn edge of a piece of paper and used Distress Oxide "Black Soot" across the edge.

I have stamped "Sirlus" in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.  I have stamped the "Tree of Faith" and the "Mini Meadow Mushrooms" which are also an October release, in the same ink.

I used the Lavinia "Willow" hanging from the top of the card, stamped in Versafine Clair "Tulip Red" shade of ink.  Using the same ink, I stamped the stars, using a "Pound Stamp".

Finally, I added some gold shimmer using a Sakura Gelly Roll pen and some white high-lights using a Signo Pen

Lavinia Stamps New Release - October 2019 - Monochrome Meadow Mushroom Scene

There has been much excitement for the past few days as I received some fabulous brand new stamps from Lavinia Stamps to play with.  Within a few minutes to receiving them, I started to make this card.  The detail on these mushrooms is amazing and they stamp beautifully too.

For all the stamping on this card, I have used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

I started this card by stamping both sizes of the Meadow Mushroom.  I then stamped the mouse which is part of the Lavinia Stamps "Woodland Mice" set.  I then stamped the fairy, which is part of the Lavinia Stamps "Fairy Foragers" set. I then stamped the butterfly, which is part of the Lavinia Stamps "Butterflies" set.

Finally, using the edge of a torn sheet of copy paper, I created the hill side that the image sits on using a "Black Soot" Distress Oxide ink.

Week 40 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

The prompt for Week 40 is "Favourite Colours".

Some of my favourite colours are greens and blues, add a little purple then it is spot on for me, hence the colours I have used on my tag.

For my tag, I used Dylusion Spray inks in London Blue and Fresh Lime.

I used a Distress Oxide Ink in the shade of Wilted Violet through a Funky Fossil stencil called "Circle Blast".

Across the surface of the tag I have adhered Cosmic Shimmer gilding flakes in shades of gold, silver and copper.

I've added dimension with dots of Liquid Pearls in the shades of White Opal and Blackberry.

Finally, I added a ClarityStamps word sticker to the base of the tag saying "Surround Yourself With Colour".

~~~

Click Here for more details about this challenge and the previous prompts.

Click Here for the challenge Facebook Group.

Gothic Grave Yard Halloween Card (Fuky Fossil Stencils and MDF shapes)

Another Halloween make, this one is a bit less in your face. I don't think I have ever made so many Halloween items in one year!

For this card I have used two stencils by Funky Fossil.  The first is the "Birch Forest" where I used a Distress Oxide Ink in the shade of "Faded Jeans" to create the background colour.

The second stencil was the "Gothic Grave Yard" where I used Distress Ink in the shade of "Black Soot" to create the image at the base of the card.

I used a couple of bat shapes from the Funky Fossil MDF bag of shapes called "Spooky Elements" and covered them with a black Sharpie pen.

Halloween Card (Funky Fossil Crooked Webs Stencil and MDF Shapes)

I've continued my festive makes with this Halloween Card.  I've used a lime green card for the base with Distress Oxide Ink in Wilted Violet shade of ink through the Funky Fossil "Crooked Webs" stencil.

I printed out the sentiment of "Happy Hauntings" from the computer onto green cardstock and cut to size.

I used the Funky Fossil bag of MDF shapes called "Spooky Elements".  This is a surprisingly large bag of assorted pieces and well worth the money.

Using a Distress Oxide in the shade of "Carved Pumpkin", I added colour to the two pumpkin MDF shapes.  I then gave them a green tint around the edges using the "Peeled Paint" shade.  I also used a gold pen to add a few lines to it.

I used a black Sharpie pen to colour the bats and the spider MDF shapes, adding some white outlines to the bats using a white Signo Pen.

Noel Holly Wreath Christmas Card (Funky Fossil Designs)

I can't believe how these weeks and months are flying past, Christmas will be upon us in no time at all, so my thoughts are just tip toe-ing towards making Christmas cards, starting with this one.

I have used Distress Oxide Inks in the shades of "Evergreen Bough" and "Forest Moss" through the Funky Fossil Holly Wreath Stencil. 

Using the Funky Fossil Fa La La clear stamp set I added extra fir branch details to the wreath, stamped in Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" green ink.

Using the same stamp set, I stamped the word "Noel" within the wreath using a red Versafine Clair Ink called "Tulip Red".

I added some berries to the wreath using a "Ruby Red" shade of Liquid Pearls.  

Finally, using a small X-cut snowflake punch, I punched some vellum snowflakes to fill the background.

Lavinia Stamps "Midnight Meandering" rabbits Birthday Card

I made this card for a special lady who has two house rabbits, so the Lavinia Stamps "Midnight Meandering" rabbits seemed to be the ideal choice for her card.

I started by creating the background using various shades of Distress Oxide Inks:  Antique Linen, Bundled Sage, Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass, Peeled Paint and Twisted Citron.  I apply the ink starting with swooshing the card through the ink and then applying additional inks with a paint brush.

I stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Skeleton Trees" in two shades of Versafine Clair ink:  "Misty Morning" for the distant trees and "Nocturne" for those in the foreground.  I also stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Midnight Meandering" rabbits and the "Flutterbies" in the darker ink.

I created the dark landscape at the base of the card, by using the torn edge of a piece of paper to create the undulations, by dragging "Black Soot" Distress Oxide ink on a blending tool across the torn edge.

Finally, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Meadow Grass", "Silhouette Thistle" and "Mini Slender Mushrooms".

Finally, I used a white Signo pen to add highlight areas and a gold shimmer Sakura Gelly Roll pen to add some interest to the thistles in the foreground.

Week 39 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

The prompt for Week 39 is "Sorry".

For my tag, I masked off the moon and started with a background of Distress Oxide Inks to create the night sky in Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire and Blueprint Sketch.

After removing the moon mask, I filled the circle with Antique Linen Distress Oxide ink.

I created the landscape at the base of the tag, by using the torn edge of a piece of card and Distress Oxide Ink, dragging the ink along the torn edge.

Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the "Spring Trees" by Lavinia Stamps.  

Using the same ink, I stamped the word "Sorry" which is part of the Funky Fossil Designs "Pugs and Hugs" clear stamp set.  

Using a Versafine ink called "Vintage Sepia", I stamped the image of the Pug dog on an off-cut of card, colouring it with Arteza Brush Pens and a black fine liner pen.  I cut out the shape of the dog and adhered onto the tag.  I added highlight edges to the dog image using a white Signo Pen.  I coloured the eyes black and then covered the eyes with Glossy Accents so that they appear more realistic.

Finally, I added some stars to the sky and some high lights to the trees using a white Signo Pen.

~~~

Click Here for more information about the challenge and also a list of the previous challenge prompts.

Click Here for the challenge Facebook Group.

Ring of Roses using Abstract Beauty stamp set by #FunkyFossil

This is one of my first Design Team makes for Funky Fossil Designs:https://www.funkyfossil.co.uk/


To celebrate being part of the Funky Fossil new Design Team, Sarah has generously provided a discount code that I can offer to you.   A 15% off coupon code to be used from now, till midnight on Monday 23rd September 2019.  Quote the code "FFSAM15" to claim the reduction.

As the Funky Fossil Designs "Abstract Beauty" stamp set was on my desk, I decided to create a totally different card using the roses.

I stamped the roses several times on to white card using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" a shade of grey ink.  I coloured the roses and the leaves using a selection of Distress Oxide Inks applied with a paint brush.  I used Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick and Picked Raspberry for the flowers.  Twisted Citron and Shabby Shutters were used for the leaves.

Using a blender and a Distress Oxide Ink called "Peacock Feathers" I coloured a white piece of card to create the background.

In the middle of the background, I used the central section of the "Leafy Mandala" stencil with white ink to create a little subtle pattern.

I cut out the roses and leaves and then adhered them on to the background in a circle shape.

Using an off-cut of the coloured background I stamped the sentiment (Hobby Arts Ltd - Greetings For Friends CS158D) using a black Versafine Clair Ink called "Nocturne" and then added it over the cetral area of the ring of roses.

Pop Art Card using "Abstract Beauty" stamp set from #FunkyFossil

This is one of my first Design Team makes for Funky Fossil Designs:https://www.funkyfossil.co.uk/


To celebrate being part of the Funky Fossil new Design Team, Sarah has generously provided a discount code that I can offer to you.   A 15% off coupon code to be used from now, till midnight on Monday 23rd September 2019.  Quote the code "FFSAM15" to claim the reduction.

I've been playing with a new stamp set from Funky Fossil Designs called "Abstract Beauty" and a stencil also by them called "Random Rectangles" to create this pop art style card.

I started by stamping the face (Funky Fossil Designs, Abstract Beauty stamp set) image in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink on white card.  I coloured the eye and the lips in a glittery Sakura Gelly Roll Pen, unfortunately this doesn't show up very well on a flat photograph.

I cut the image down to a 3"x3" size and then coloured the background using Arteza Brush pens.  I then mounted this image on black card to give a dark frame.

For the main background, I used a Distress Oxide Ink through a Funky Fossil Designs stencil called "Random Rectangles" using a red colour called "Candied Apple".  I again framed in black card, then mounted it onto the white card blank

Halloween Bunting using "Crooked Web" stencil from #funkyfossil

This is one of my first Design Team makes for Funky Fossil Designs:https://www.funkyfossil.co.uk/


To celebrate being part of the Funky Fossil new Design Team, Sarah has generously provided a discount code that I can offer to you.   A 15% off coupon code to be used from now, till midnight on Monday 23rd September 2019.  Quote the code "FFSAM15" to claim the reduction.

I was inspired to make some Halloween Bunting using the Funky Fossil Designs "Crooked Webs" stencil.

I used five shades of Distress Oxide Inks through the stencil to create the pennants:  Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Chipped Sapphire, Twisted Citron and Carved Pumpkin.

I die cut black discs and yellow letters in cardstock.

I cut the stencil shapes to the desired size and shape and mounted them onto black card to make the colours pop more.

I then stuck the yellow letters on to the black discs, and then onto the point of the pennant.  I added the plastic spiders using a small blob of silicon type glue.  Because they stand proud of the card base, they look incredibly realistic in real life, even casting a shadow.

Finally, I punched small holes in each corner of the pennant, adding a small bit of double sided sticky tape to the middle of the back and then threaded ribbon through, sticking the ribbon to the tape on each piece to each flag didn't move.

Halloween Card using "Crooked Webs" stencil #funkyfossil

This is one of my first Design Team makes for Funky Fossil Designs:https://www.funkyfossil.co.uk/


To celebrate being part of the Funky Fossil new Design Team, Sarah has generously provided a discount code that I can offer to you.   A 15% off coupon code to be used from now, till midnight on Monday 23rd September 2019.  Quote the code "FFSAM15" to claim the reduction.

This was a nice quick card using Distress Oxide Inks in the shades of Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet and Chipped Sapphire, through the Funky Fossil Designs "Crooked Web" stencil.

I die cut the web using a square die with a stitched detail around the edge.  I adhered the coloured square on to black card, using the next square die up in the nest I cut the shape and adhered it to the middle of the card.

Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink, I stamped the "Happy Halloween" sentiment which is part of a Papertrey Ink stamp set (Tag-its #7).  Finally, using a small blob of silicon glue, I stuck the plastic spider to the front of the card.

Invitation Card usiing the "Bold Damask Stencil" from #funkyfossil

This is one of my first Design Team makes for Funky Fossil Designs:https://www.funkyfossil.co.uk/


To celebrate being part of the Funky Fossil new Design Team, Sarah has generously provided a discount code that I can offer to you.   A 15% off coupon code to be used from now, till midnight on Monday 23rd September 2019.  Quote the code "FFSAM15" to claim the reduction.

~~~

In the process of tidying my craft room, I came across abackground paper off-cut.  It was too good to bin, so I decided to use it for this card.  The colours are made using wet Brusho paint, saturating the card and then blotting with a paper towel to remove the excess water.  

Top Tip:  Before you apply your embossing powder, remember to drag an anti-static bag over the surface you will be embossing.  It helps to stop stray specks of powder sticking to areas where you don't want it.

I decided to use the Funky Fossil Designs "Bold Damask Stencil".  I used a Wow! Clear embossing pad, through the taped down stencil.

After removing the stencil, I covered the surface with a Wow! Embossing Powder called "Silent Night" - it is made up of black and silver.  Shook the surplus off onto a sheet of paper and then used a heat gun to set the embossing powder.

This is the result I got.  I've taken two photos so you can see the difference in the card when the light hits the embossing. In the lower photo you can just make out the black flecks within the silver.

I used a Spellbinders die called Renaissance Jubilee Tags to cut the intricate black background for the word invitation.

Whale of a Time Stamp and Shoal of Fish stencil card from #funkyfossil

This is one of my first Design Team makes for Funky Fossil Designs:https://www.funkyfossil.co.uk/


To celebrate being part of the Funky Fossil new Design Team, Sarah has generously provided a discount code that I can offer to you.   A 15% off coupon code to be used from now, till midnight on Monday 23rd September 2019.  Quote the code "FFSAM15" to claim the reduction.

For this fun card, I have used Distress Oxide shade of ink called "Salty Ocean through the Funky Fossil Designs "Shoal of Fish" stencil, to create the fish spiral.

I used the Funky Fossil Designs "Whale of a Time Clear Stamp Set" to stamp the sentiment in the top left hand corner, using a Versafine Clair ink called "Twilight" which is a dark blue shade of ink.  Using the same ink.  I stamped the whale on an off cut of green card.  I used a couple of Sakura gelly roll pens to colour the whale with some lovely shimmery colours, then carefully cut around the fish and adhered into place.

Thinking of you card using a "Leafy Mandala Stencil" from #funkyfossil

This is one of my first Design Team makes for Funky Fossil Designs:https://www.funkyfossil.co.uk/


To celebrate being part of the Funky Fossil new Design Team, Sarah has generously provided a discount code that I can offer to you.   A 15% off coupon code to be used from now, till midnight on Monday 23rd September 2019.  Quote the code "FFSAM15" to claim the reduction.

For this card, I used a base of Kraft cardstock (kraft feels a little bit like a recycled product).  I used a Brilliance Ink called "Moonlight White" through the Funky Fossil Designs "Leafy Mandala Stencil" to create the background image.

In the bottom right hand corner, I stamped the sentiment, which is from a Hobby Art set called "Greetings For Friends - CS158D), stamped in Versafine "Olympia Green" shade of ink.

Using two shades of green card, I die cut the Creative Expressions foliage pieces and adhered into position.  I used some paper flowers I had in my stash, adhering them into position using a Docrafts Stick It Silicon Glue.

Finally, I added some sticky back pearl gems to various points of the mandala.

Bon Voyage Card using the Fierce stencil from #FunkyFossil

This is one of my first Design Team makes for Funky Fossil Designs:https://www.funkyfossil.co.uk/

To celebrate being part of the Funky Fossil new Design Team, Sarah has generously provided a discount code that I can offer to you.   A 15% off coupon code to be used from now, till midnight on Monday 23rd September 2019.  Quote the code "FFSAM15" to claim the reduction.

A couple of weeks back, I had assorted colours of Distress Ink left on my glass mat.  I hate just to wipe it away with a cloth, so pulled out a page from an old hymn book, the page was very thin and yellowed in parts.  I swooshed the page through the ink on the mat, picking up most of it on the page, hence the mottled coloured background.  It has sat in my stash of backgrounds since, but it was the first one I thought of when I decided to use the word stencil.

I used the Funky Fossil Designs "Fierce Stencil" to create the words.  I used low tack masking tape to hold the background and stencil in place, using a blue Distress Oxide Ink in the shade of "Chipped Sapphire" and a blending tool to colour in the words.  I inked the edge of the coloured background with the same ink.

I mounted the coloured background onto Kraft card (it's a bit like a recycled brown type of cardstock) and then inked the edges of that before I mounted it onto a dark blue background.

Using Versafine Clair "Twilight" shade of dark blue ink, I stamped the words "Bon Voyage" using a Woodware "Bon Voyage - ADS105" set, in two corners

Exciting New Design Team News and a discout code too!

There has been huge excitement in my house for the past few weeks, which I have had to keep secret.

I have been invited to be part of a brand new Design Team for a young British company, called "Funky Fossil Designs".

I feel honoured to be asked and am totally over the moon about being part of their expanding crafting family

Funky Fossil is run by Sarah Gray, who produces a fabulous selection of stencils, stamps and MDF shapes, she also offers great customer service too. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will have seen me mention the company in many of my previous posts.

Discount Code - Sarah has very generously provided a 15% off discount code which is valid from Saturday 
21st September to midnight on Monday 23rd September for any of my crafting friends and followers to use.

To claim your discount, all you need to do is enter "FFSAM15" in the coupon code section at checkout to receive your reduction.

I hope you can take advantage of this offer and that my future Funky Fossil creations inspire you to get crafting.

Sam xxx

Lavinia Stamps Barric The Crow Hexagonal Card

Here's a card I made using a Julie Hickey "Layers, Frames & Banners Hexagon" Die with Lavinia Stamps.

I used Distress Oxide Inks (Tumbled Glass and Twisted Citron) for the background colour.

Stamping has been done in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink or "Picked Raspberry" Distress Oxide ink.

I built the image up using the following Lavinia Stamps for this card:  "Barric", "Tree Branch", "Lunar Buds", Pound "Mini Leaf 5" Stamp.

Design Team make for "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog" #406 - Birds

It's time for a new challenge prompt on the "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog".  The theme for #406 is "Birds".  If you get the chance, please do pop over to the blog and take a look at some of the fab makes by my Design Team colleagues

Here's the card i've created: a snowscape with a crow on the fence post.

For the sky, I masked off a circle and filled it with three shades of Distress Oxide Inks, using the shades of Antique Linen, Mustard Seed and Wild Honey.

I then covered the moon shape with a mask and coloured the surrounding sky, using the following Distress Oxide inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral and Chipped Sapphire.

For the fence post, I used a stamp by Lavinia Stamp that actually has a pheasant sitting on the top of the fence post, so I stamped the fence post using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink on an off-cut of card, then cut the shape of the fence out.

I created layers of the snow landscape, cutting hills and adhering onto the card.  I gave the snow a pink/orange blush to create a slight reflection of the sky on the white snow.

I used one of the crows from the Lavinia Stamps "Crows Set" stamping it over the moon and snowscape.  I then adhered the fencepost below the claws of the crow.

The birds in the sky, is a stamp also by Lavinia Stamps called "Birds"

The "Winter Wishes" sentiment is part of a Papertrey Ink set called  "Winter Hills", again stamped in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink.

Week 38 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

The prompt for Week 32 is "Autumn Colours".

I started my tag by making the background using an assortment of Distress Oxide Ink, (Vintage Photo, Antique Linen, Wild Honey, Tea Dye, Spiced Marmalade and Crushed Olive).

Using a fan brush, I splattered water droplets across the surface and then blotted them with a kitchen towel, this leaves a bleached look to the area where the water droplets have been.

Using a Stampin' Up set called "Gorgeous Grunge", I added foxing marks using a splatter stamp and a Versafine Ink called "Vintage Sepia".  Using the same ink, I stamped the "Autumn Verse" at the base of the tag, this is a stamp by Sweet Poppy.

Using a Versafine Clair ink called "Chianti", I stamped the Lavinia Stamps Vine around the top and the right hand edge.

I stamped the basket in a Versafine Clair ink called "Shady Lane".  The basket, the pumpkins in the basket and the acorns in the border are all part of a Papertrey Ink stamp set, I'm not sure what the set is called, but it is  the "Tag-its #7" set.

I stamped the pumpkins, I used coloured pencil to give them colour, cut them out and adhered them to look as if they are in the basket.

Male Birthday Card using the Funky Fossil Mini Cube Stencil

I often struggle making cards for males.  Considering they are half the population I don't know why it is so difficult, but I find it so, especially if you don't want to go the typical route of sport and beers.

I used a Distress Oxide Ink in a blue/green shade called "Peacock Feathers" through Funky Fossil Designs stencil called "Mini Cubes".  I did it first on a pale blue background card and then again on the front of a white 5"x5" card blank.

I stamped the birthday sentiment on the pale blue background, using Hobby Arts Ltd stamp set called "Greetings for a friend - SC158D" using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink, which is a lovely black ink to use.  I then cut the panel down and mounted it onto black card before adding it to the top of the patterned front of the card.

I always clean my stencils after each use.  I usually use an off-cut of card to rest the stencil on, but this time decided to open up the card and clean the stencil on the inside right hand side of the card.  

Using a wet wipe I gently wiped the ink away, in doing so the ink on the stencil fills the pattern gaps creating a toned down replica of the stencil pattern, so it nicely matches the front cover.

I used a Papertrey Ink stamp from their "Stylish Sentiments" set for the internal sentiment, again using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" ink.

Flying Hummingbird Tag (Designs by Ryn - Flying Hummingbird)

I part made a tag last week, but didn't finish it till this morning.  It is a tag of many layers!

I started by using two  Distress Oxide inks: - Antique Linen and Tea Dye using the swishing through the ink on the mat technque to cover the surface.

Using the "Peeled Paint" Distress Oxide, I stamped the Stampin' Up "Crackle Paint" stamp over the beige background.  

I used a Crafters Companion Script stamp in Versafine "Vintage Sepia" shade of ink on top of the cracked surface.

Using Versafine Clair "Chianti" ink, which is a deep red shade I stamped the Designs By Ryn "Flying Hummingbird 2" stamp.  I masked the bird off, then stamped random circles using a Visbile Image stamp set called "You are not alone" and the "Hope" word which is part of another Visible Image stamp set called "Peace, Love and Hope".  I then used a lines stamp from a Stampin' Up set called "Gorgeous Grunge" stamped using the same "Chianti" ink.

Finally, I inked the edges of the tag and coloured some of the bird using a gold metallic pen.  I used a white Signo Pen to highlight the bird and some of the "Hope" word.