Orange daisies...

 Hey there, crafty friends! I was playing around with inks the other day and trying to push myself out of my comfort zone...not the easiest of tasks, but I ended up creating this bright (for me!) orange background using Abandoned Coral, Ripe Persimmon and Wild Honey Distress Oxides...

 (It is actually blended better than in the photo, honest!)...I then sat looking at it wondering what the heck I was supposed to do now?! A day or so later, whilst scrolling through the old Facebook, I was totally blown away and inspired when I saw Sandi MacIver's fabulous card in similar colour tones...

 

...and this is what I came up with...

 

I used a really old Sizzix Bigz frame die and went with lots of white elements, like Sandi's creation...I was also inspired by the lovely Denise (The Crafty Den) and used vellum behind both the butterflies and sentiment dies... 

I still found it a challenge to work with brighter colour tones, but it's always good to push yourself outside of the box and have a go! 

Dies used -

 Sizzix Tim Holtz Wildfowers 

Spellbinders Yana's Layered Script Sentiments

Paper Discovery Bountiful Harvest (for the dragonfly type die)

Butterflies - old Marianne Designs or Die'sire dies 

Thanks for dropping by to have a look at my orange daisy creation and I hope I've inspired you to maybe try something outside of your comfort zone...who knows, you may even like it! 

Crafty hugs,

 

 

Guess who's back?!...

 Hi there, crafty friends! I'm back again!...

I have quite a few birthdays and other occasions happening this month and I need to try and create some quick and easy cards to send. I find that when I have spent a couple of hours on a card, I am reluctant to give it to anyone unless I think that they will a) appreciate it and b) not throw it in the bin after a day...I know that inevitably this is what happens to a lot of our creations but also know that some people appreciate handmade cards more than others!

Anyway, I created this simple embossed card using an embossing folder from my stash (think I picked it up from Amazon but not sure)...I am also trying to justify the huge amount of craft products I have by revisiting things that may have fallen out of favour and using them again...

I used another of the 'Thank You' cards from The Works as my base card and inked the embossing with Tattered Rose, Abandoned Coral, Squeezed Lemonade, Peeled Paint and Pistachio Distress Oxides before matting onto a soft brown cardstock...

 

I used a Pastel Blue Promarker to colour the tiny flowers and added small pearl for the centres. I finished off with a pretty sentiment and acetate line butterfly which was gifted in a pack of ephemera from a crafty friend...

Hope you like my simple card. It's similar to these anniversary makes I did for our local village shop...

Thanks for popping by and I hope you find inspiration in my card...

Crafty hugs,

Noel Christmas cards and a Penguin...

 Hello there, from a sunny North Wales!

I'm popping in to share the cards we made at our last workshop on Sunday...

 

The NOEL cards were inspired by a creation by Yana Smakula - Handmade Cards which I saw on Pinterest (if you're not familiar with her work, please go check her creations out - so inspirational!)...

 

...and the second uses my penguin image with a fab layout by Inge Groot...

I really enjoyed making these, especially the inked Noel cards...hence why there are four of them - just had to try them in different colour combinations!

Thanks for dropping by,

 

Crafty hugs,

Orchid Notelets...

Good morning, dear crafty friends and a Happy Easter to you all! I have a set of notelet cards to share with you today that I made using a pretty layered flower stamp set from Papercraft Inspirations...

I picked these up from the lovely Marianne when she was having a crafty clear out and have to admit that I struggled with the layering stamps and my Distress Oxides, so I decided to make a stencil from Mylar sheet and then used the outline stamp...

For my first card I used patterned cardstock and the orchid flower head and sprig, fussy cut leaving a white border. I also created a stencil using the fern leaf die from Bright Rosa that was the freebie with SC&P #202 and inked this to create a background for my second card. I added the orchid flower head and sprig and a sentiment from Altenew Beautiful Day stamp set...

For my other two cards I switched and used the orchid head as the background image and the fern leaf as the embellishment and inked a white card blank with Broken China Distress Oxide, before adding the fussy cut elements...

I really like the way these pretty cards turned out and will definitely be making more of my own stencils from dies and stamps...it gives such a different, delicate feel to the images and is a great way to colour images too (as you can see in my Daffodils card HERE)...

Thanks for dropping by and don't forget that there's still chance to play along with my eye spy 'Something beginning with B' challenge over at Passion for Markers!... 

Crafty hugs,

Wax paper resist technique...

Good morning, crafty buddies! I have to say, I am on a bit of a roll at the moment and it is a VERY long time since I have managed to get as many posts in between my Passion for Promarkers challenge posts!...

Today, I have a couple of cards to share, using a technique reminded to me by the talented Gina K... wax paper resist. I saw this technique a good few years ago and promised myself to have a go, but have never really been in the right frame of mind to just play...but yesterday, that was different!

The first try I had ended up a little psychedelic...

The wax resist worked great, I just went a little over board with my inks and created a rainbow...I'm sure they'll get used for something and it's amazing what a difference adding a black mat can make...

These were the cards that Gina made, so on my second attempt I just used 2 colours per background...

I had this cutie already printed out on my desk and thought he looked lovely on the tonal background (Abandoned Coral & Wild Honey Distress Oxides edges with Vintage Photo)...

...and then for the other, I used my Wild Rose digistamp (again!) printed to 6 x 8cm (wallet) and coloured with my Promarkers - Primrose, Yellow, Gold, Apple and Forest Green, with Salty Ocean and Pistachio Green Distress Oxide background edged in Vintage Photo. The Taylored Expression embossing folder is the one I used and I love the batique style finish that the technique gives, one side being slightly more subtle than the other...

So how do you do it, I hear you ask? I found this quick tutorial on Pinterest, although the link doesn't seem to work, so here's the picture...

I didn't use glossy paper, but a cardstock that I know will take ink relatively well and it worked fine...

I really enjoyed making these backgrounds and am sure will be making more in the future, but for now, I hope you like them and if you're inspired to have a go, please send me a link to have a look...

The Fox image and Wild Rose images are available to purchase in my Esty store...and if you're on Facebook, be sure to send me a friend request - you can find me HERE

Crafty hugs,

Playing with Oxides...

Good afternoon, my lovelies! I have been saying for a while how I need to find some time to play with my distress Oxides...it seems lately as though I only craft out of necessity, either for card orders, design work or for workshop, so yesterday morning, I sat and had a play for half an hour...

(some of you may have seen my post on Facebook)

Within minutes, my table looked as if there had been an explosion of inks, paint and mica powders...but I thoroughly enjoyed it and quite liked the end result...

Although this was the state of my fingers!...

I inked a second piece of card and die cut some cogs in preparation, then had to clear my table so I could sort out kits for this Saturday's workshop...

I managed to grab an hour or so in the evening and this is how my project turned out...

Now the critic in me can see that there isn't enough contrast in colours, but all in all, I was reasonably pleased with the result...although, I feel that I still need some practice and maybe to be a little braver with my colours...but it's a start and it was nice to make something, just because...

I created this photo frame with this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme in mind and after being encouraged by my lovely, crafty friend Jane to just have a play and being inspired by her backgrounds...and the amazing work of both Emma Williams and Kath Stewart (if you haven't seen any of their work, you should seriously go check them out!) I decided to play along...

Right I'm off to cook some tea...feeling a little Hank Marvin...oh, that sounds wrong?!! Ha,ha!
Hope you can find some crafty time, just because...
Hugs,

I'd like to enter my frame into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which has the theme of Transport It

Workshop cards...

Good morning, Blogger buddies! I know...it's a bit of a shock to see me here between challenges these days, especially with my crafty motivation being at an all time low, but I thought I would pop in and share the cards that we made at workshop on Saturday...

We started with a nice, simple wedding/anniversary card, using pastel papers and embossing for texture...and then we got all inky!...

...I love the way these turned out and thoroughly enjoyed starting with a blank piece of white card and adding layers of inking and stencilling to create a unique background...don't know why I don't do it more often?!
I'd like to enter my butterfly cards into the following challenges :

Alphabet Challenge

Y for Your Choice closes tomorrow

Crafty Catz

Layer it Up closes tomorrow

The Paper Shelter

Hot or Cold colours (I have one of each!) closes 20th

(If my card doesn't qualify because I haven't used an image, please feel free to leave me out of the draw!)

Everybody Art Challenge

Anything Goes closes 26th

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, whatever you're doing...and maybe even find the time to get a little bit crafty!
Hugs,

Inked background flower card...

Good afternoon, dear Blogger buddies! Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend!
I'm here to share one of the cards that we made at workshop yesterday...

I thoroughly enjoyed making these, even though I wouldn't class myself as a stamper or particularly inky when it comes to cardmaking.  There was just something nice about starting with a white piece of card and building up all the layers to create a background with lots of depth and colour.
I started by randomly inking the two colours on an A6 piece of white cardstock, then spritzing with water and a toothbrush to create a fine mist, to soften the blend. I laid some lace over the top half of the card and inked through using the darker of the two inks, I also did the same with the negative of the sprig die cut to add some interest at the bottom.  I inked the edges with Vintage Photo and randomly stamped a small text stamp using Walnut Stain, then assembled the card.
I really liked the way they turned out and may have to try and get a little more inky in the future.
Thanks for dropping by,
Hugs,

Altered frame...

Good afternoon, dear Bloggers!  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend?  We certainly did!  I had a workshop on Saturday morning and then Sunday was a nice relaxed day, pottering about the garden in the glorious sunshine!  I managed to overhaul my bench, which had succumbed to the harsh Welsh winters and replaced the seat slats and gave it a fresh coat of Lavender stain.  I fancy getting a couple of cushions, or maybe even making some (!), in a patchwork style...you never know, watch this space!?!  I got all my washing done and hung out to dry and called at a friend's for a cuppa whilst  little man and hubby went for a drive, up the mountain, in the buggy.  My big man is very rarely at home these days, being 15, the last place he seems to want to be is in our company - we tend to see him in a morning and at feeding times and that's about it!  He's usually hanging out with his mates or kicking a football around the field! (At least it keeps him fit!)

Today has been spent crafting (it should have been spent ironing after all that washing, but I might do it later - it's called prioritising!)  I decided to have a go at an altered frame.  I had some small wooden frames in the cupboard that had been given to me by one of the teachers in school and thought it was about time I did something with at least one of them!  This is how it started out life...

...a bit boring, I know!  I removed the glass from the frame and set to work with the transformation, and this was the result...

...From the picture you will see that I have a new toy...I treated myself to the Martha Stewart Clay starter kit - this stuff is addictive!  I made the little ornate frame and corners, then inked them with Distress Inks...

...I inked the little frame with Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder and added some Stardust Stickles to the corners.  After covering the wooden frame with some embossed champagne coloured paper, I attached some pearl string to the edges between the corners and a mixture of paper flowers to the corner beneath the frame.  Everything got a bit of inking with either Vintage Photo or Victorian Velvet Distress Inks, including the flowers...

...as you can see, I used 2 of the gorgeous pearl pins that I won from the lovely Mandy (thanks again, Mandy!)  I put the word 'Home' onto triangular bunting and created the other parts of the sentiment in PS.  I am quite pleased with how this little frame turned out and shall be attacking another one in the near future!  Thanks for dropping by to see my crafty creation and I'll be back tomorrow with Passion for Promarkers 4th Anniversary Challenge!  Hugs, Lisa x

I also have to say a big thank you to the girls over at 'As you Like it Challenge' blog for choosing my CAS Precious Hearts card in their Top 3!  They are a new Challenge blog with a great theme and some fab prizes, so why not hop over and see if you can join in!
I'd like to enter my frame into the following challenges :

As You Like it Challenge

Favourite 2 Colour Combo & Why

My favourite colour combo is pink and anything!  Those of you that visit me regularly will know that if you asked me what my favourite colour was, I would probably say pink - I don't have any pink things in my house or very many pink clothes, but when it comes to crafting, I LOVE pink with any other colour and it's so pretty with this brown!

MilkCoffee Challenge

Shabby Chic/Vintage

By the Cute and Girly

May - Flowers

Whismy Stamps

Anything Goes

Charisma Cardz

No Digis Allowed

Some more Rustification!...

...Ooh, I do love this technique!  I had a couple of hours free last night, so decided to please myself and spend some time sat at my now very messy table and play!  I'm not normally a messy crafter, in the sense that I tend to just stick to paper and a bit of Distress Ink, but my crafty table is now covered in Mica Boss, embossing powders, ink pads, mica powders and glitter and I had so much fun!  I think I'm getting into this messy crafting and it's all thanks to the guys over at Simon Says Stamp and Show!

So, I found another of my frame cards already made up in my pile of 'stuff' that lives on my worktop - I have run out of places for a home for it all, so the pile keeps getting bigger!  The frame was printed with a pastel plaid paper, rather pretty, but not what I wanted...

...I suddenly remebered to take a 'before' picture part way through transformation, hence the inky bits!  Over at Raise the Bar this week, the challenge is 'Hey Pumpkin!', so I printed off the pumpkin png from my A Year in Cards disc and decided to make an Autumn frame card...

...this is how it looked when I had finished!  I truly rustified the frame starting by inking with Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint and Tuxedo Black ink pads, then stamped with a My Mind's Eye texture stamp and embossed with copper EP and Mica Boss, rubbed with Autumn Rose gilding flakes...

...I found this lovely little verse online and thought it was so apt for the time of year.  The key is a Die-namics die called Attic key, which I inked with Versamark and dusted with Mica powders to give a metallic look...

...I printed off 3 of the pumkpins using Windows Picture Viewer, 9 to a page size and decoupaged to give more dimension.  I added a Marianne swirl die and some Marianne leaves cut in diffferent Autumn shades, I cut down some of the leaves and then added glitter and Stickles for a bit of bling...

...I finished with die cut letters to spell the word Autumn and attached them to acetate before cutting around and adhering to the frame so that they look like they're floating.  A lovely Moss green satin ribbon and bow made a hanging loop and a couple of pearl and diamante details finished it off.  I am really pleased with the finished result and hope you like it, too!  Enjoy your weekend whatever you are doing and if you get the time, why not do some messy crafting?!!  Lisa x

I am entering this card into the following challenges :

Raise the Bar (Friday)

Hey Pumpkin!

Simon Says Stamp and Show (Monday)

Rustification (2nd entry!)

Craft us Crazy (Thursday)

Fall into the Season

Crafts and Me Challenge (Wednesday)

Anything Goes

TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING THIS AUTUMN FRAME, LEAVE ME A COMMENT ON MY NEXT POST TITLED 'DATE FOR THE DIARY AND A CHANCE TO WIN' AND I'LL DRAW A WINNER LATER IN THE WEEK.

Rustification!

I have to say, I love the challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show, and every now and then, I try to join in with one of their challenges to make myself have a go at something different.  Their theme this week is Rustification! and you should see the DT work...OMW, there are some fabulous pieces!  The last time I played along, I was inspired by the work of the lovely Candy C and she went and did it again with her amazing book of spells...I was in love with it when I saw the front on the Simon Says blog, but after visiting her blog and seeing the inside, I HAD to go and play!  What I have created is nowhere near as expert as Candy's, but the main thing is, I LOVED making it!  I turned a piece of plain leather embossed grey cardstock from this...

...to this...

...oh, I had such fun with this!  I was quite limited to the products I could use, as I don't have paints, alcohol inks, or the likes, so had to rely on my old faithful Distress Inks and some embossing powders!

 ...To start with, I sponged the gravestones with Tuxedo Black Memento then inked the edges with Walnut Stain DI and overstamped with a My Mind's Eye texture stamp and Walnut Stain DI.  I found this cute Halloween poem online and printed off in Chiller font then mounted onto slate coloured cardstock...

...I used the bat digistamp from my A Year in Cards disc and printed it onto cream parchment card then inked a misty sky with Weathered Wood and Walnut Stain DI - I highlighted the moon and details with a white gel pen (not sure if this shows very well!) and wrote the RIP by hand.  And then for the rustification!  ( I just love that word!) I printed off a large bat and cut 4 MFT photo corners in black and stamped with a My Mind's Eye texture stamp, then embossed with copper EP, I restamped with Versamark, embossed with Mica Boss then rubbed over some dark green chalk to give an aged look.  I used the same technique on the hinges on the opposite page...

...The spider started off life as a wooden ladybug but got attacked by a Black Promarker and some copper wire!  The pumkpin is one from the Scarecrow set of A Year in Cards and I just cut out a face and attached some bright orange card behind. (You can see a close up of my rustification on the photo corner and hinge)  I did so enjoy making this (despite the fact that I have 3 card orders to make!) and hope that I've inspired you to join in with a challenge that you wouldn't normally do!  Thanks for dropping by and have a great day!  Lisa x

I'm entering this card into the following challenges :

Simon Says Stamp & Show

Rustification

Totally Papercrafts

Let's see those shapes!

The Paper Shelter

Distressing