I'm Late!

Hey. I have another quick post. My Mum is back in hospital, so I've been spending time with her. I'm trying to keep on making cards when I'm home, because it's relaxing and a very needed distraction.

I was making this card for Casology {Style} and a couple of other challenges, but I've missed most of the deadlines. I have based it loosely on the sketch at Case this Sketch, which is still open - yay!

The stamp is from Art stamps America and the background was made with a Studio Calico stencil and pigment ink. I've used a neon glitter pen for the details on the image so I am also entering the Inkspirational Challenge {Neon}.
Simon Wednesday Challenge is Anything Goes.

From Places Abroad take 3

Hello there - TGIF and end of term!!!

I've been having a play with some new stamps from Altenew. It's the Vintage flower set and there are so many possibilities. For this card I decided to stamp some blossom, since you Northern Hemisphere peeps are celebrating Spring.

I was inspired by the 3rd photo in the Altenew March challenge and got the idea to stamp on pattern paper from Virginia. You can see her amazing card here.

The branch and flowers are from Altenew's Vintage Flower, the leaves are from Vintage Rose and the sentiment is from Label Love.
This was made with a NBUS stamp set soooo I am entering this in Darnell's 4th NBUS challenge.
ETA: I'm also entering this in the Color Throwdown Challenge.

 I have 2 more cards to share, using the same stamps and different paper.

I'm entering this card in the Simon Monday Challenge - One Stamp , Many ways. If you look closely, I've used a light ink to stamp some of the flowers as part of the background and then in the bright colours to be the highlight image.  Also entering the Simon Wednesday challenge - Anything Goes.

ETA: I'm entering my tag card in the Tag You're it challenge - thanks Nancy!

Sending Sunshine!

Hi there to all you folk still experiencing cold, I'm sending you some of our Aussie sunshine with a sunflower card.

I was inspired by the sketch challenge at STAMPlorations and love the sunflower from the STAMPlorations Bloom Sketches set.

I have used a Penny Black stamp for the foliage and the flower and sentiment are both from Stamplorations.  I you look closely I have used a texture plate from Papertrey Ink on the base card. The DP is from Prima. I've used a combination of Distress inks, Gelatos and Memento dye inks.

I am also entering my card in the Anything Goes challenge, which is to use STAMPloration stamps and also the Simon Wednesday challenge Spring Pinspiration.

She Art

I altered the photo in Pic Monkey to remove the background and then using TAP  Paper,  I printed it and transferred it to a piece of calico fabric. Then I scraped some Gesso over the rest of the panel and then some distress paint. When dry, I used a stencil and gold Color Shine for the background. Then I stamped the images which are from Stampers Anonymous (sentiment) and Prima. Next I used a black marker and added some journalling. I was reluctant to do this, because I have terrible handwriting - but it's mine, so it will have to do lol!
To finish,  I dry painted some black paint around the edge for a rough frame. I was thinking about adding some stitching and more stamping, but for the moment I am going with 'less is more'.

Hi there. Sorry I've been quiet on my blog, but I'm still spending a lot of time with Mum, trying to settle her back in to home, after a spell in hospital.

Today I want to share something I created, although I'm a bit shy about doing so. I've never really been in to scrapbooking or journalling, but 2 things inspired me to create this. Firstly this photo of my beautiful daughter and secondly the 'She Art' challenge at Inkspirational.

Inspired by Tim

Hi there. I have a quick post to share a tag inspired by the Tim Holtz's March tag.

I'm staying with my Mum for a few days. She's been in hospital for a few weeks and we're hoping she'll be able to settle back in to home with some extra care.  Anyway, I only had a few supplies with me, including the Stampers Anonymous Perspective set - so I decided to play along with the things I had.

I didn't have any distress paints with me, but I had distress markers, so I went with a more watercolour look. Instead of using a stencil and embossing paste, I used a stamp and gold embossed. I didn't have any ephemera, so my tag is more CAS, but I did find some string in Mum's kitchen, so I added a bow! I am in love with this stamp set, especially the butterfly! A girl can never have too many butterfly stamps!!!

So I'll enter this in the 12 Tags of 2015 {March}, even though it's not following the technique exactly - I have another go when I get home. 
I'm also entering the Simon Monday Challenge - Lions and Lambs (creatures) and the Craft Stamper Take it, Make it challenge {Anything Goes} and the Simon Wednesday Spring Pinspiration Challenge (I was inspired by the colours).

ETA: I just noticed that the delightful Darnell has another NBUS (never before used schtuff)
challenge - yippee! It just so happens this stamp set is a NBUS, so this is my first entry for the challenge.

Another card inspired by Places Abroad

Hello again. I've been good today and took my dogs for a brisk walk (or should I say, they took me) as part of my new get healthy regime! So I'm feeling pleased with myself! Did I mention what lovely Autumn weather we're having here at the moment (sorry Northern Hemisphere buddies who are hanging out for Spring)!

After my walk, I had an idea for a card for one of the other inspiration photos in the Altenew March Challenge.

The stamped background was made with a very old Stampin Up stamp, using Versamark and Pan Pastel.
The other stamps are all from Altenew.
The flower is from Peony Scrolls and the leaves are from Lacy Scrolls and Vintage roses.
The sentiment is from Magnolia's for Her.

I am entering this in the Altenew March Challenge and the Craft Stamper Anything Goes (use stamps) Challenge.

Going Green!

Monday again! Yay! Ha, ha - I'm sorry to those of you who hate Mondays, but I'm lucky enough to be able to stay at home and I always enjoy the peace of a Monday morning! Creative time and speaking of which, I have a card to share.

It's coming up to St Pat's day and everyone is celebrating with a green theme! I went through my stash for some scraps of green DP and this is what I found. I decided purple looks nice with green, so I stamped these cute little flowers from Stamplorations Vignette: Eclectic Florals  and the sentiment from Bloom Sketches.

I'm entering this card in the Addicted to CAS challenge - Codeword *Green* and Stamplorations Anything Goes Challenge.

Tulips for Mum

I was having a little play with the Silhouette today and decided to make this shaped card for my Mum.

I was inspired by the picture in the Card Concept Challenge, but went with the bright blooms. I dry embossed a pattern on the vase and added the ribbon and lace. The tulips are made from Kaiserfcraft dp and the leaves have been coloured with Lime Color Shine, distress inks and colour pencil.
I was also inspired by the blooms in the Fusion Card Challenge.
I decided I would mount the card on a canvas and give it to Mum, who is still in hospital. I hope it is still ok for these challenges, because technically it is a card.

Can Mixed Media be Elegant?

I think so. I hope so! This is what Wikipedia says "Mixed media, in visual art, refers to an artwork in the making of which more than one medium has been employed." So I guess it can be. Sometimes though, I feel that I'm faking and should be sloshing and slopping paints and texture paste around more. What do you think?

In this card, I have slopped some paint about using my Gelliplate. I then die cut the bird with the finished result. I find that a fun way to use my Gelliplate - just playing around and using it with dies. I also got messy with the background too - I embossed a piece of white card and then swiped some versamark ink over it, missing a few places, heat embossed it with Pearl embossing powder and when it was dry,  sprayed Heidi Swapp gold Color Shine over it.  I made the gold button embellishment with paper clay and a mould from a cake shop and when it was dry I coloured it with Delicata ink.

So it is definitely Mixed Media and I think it is elegant. I think I will always be leaning toward CAS, even when I get messy!  I definitely had fun making this card!

I would like to remind you about this month's challenge at the Mixed Media Card Challenge. The theme is Spring and the optional element is *bird*. You have until 25 March to play.

I am also entering my card in the following challenges:-

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge - Birds of a Feather

Virginia's View Challenge - All Things Embossed (double embossed background and sentiment)

Simon Monday Challenge 'Bis for ...' (Bird)

Simon Wednesday Challenge Things that Fly

A Gentle Whisper

I recieved this gorgeous stamp from Penny Black a few weeks ago and it's been sitting in my box of 'must use' supplies. So today I had the great pleasure of playing with it and I'm in love!

The bloom stamp is Gentle Whisper, the background is Friends from Hero Arts, embossed with Pearl powder.
The vintage tamp is an oldie from my stash. I coloured the flowers with a combination of Memento dye ink, distress inks, Twinkling H2Os and Heidi Swapp Color Shine (white) . The background was sponged with distress ink. The dragon fly die is one of my favourites from Penny Black and is coloured with Twinkling H2Os, distress ink and Wink of Stella for extra shimmer.
I added some micro beads to the centre of my flower, a pearl on the dragonfly and a jute bow for a bit of bling.
I would like to remind you about the current challenge at Mixed Media Card Challenge - the theme is Spring and the optional element is *bird*. You have until 25 March to play.

I'm entering my card in the following challenge:-
Craft Stamper Take it, Make it Anything Goes
Penny Black and More Challenge - Blooms & Bows
Simon Monday Challenge 'B is for ...' (bloom)
Simon Wednesday Challenge Things That Fly
Virginia's View All things Embossed
Fusion Card Challenge - floral Fusion 

From Places Abroad : Altenew

Today I would like to share a card I made for the Altenew March Challenge.  They have given us 3 photos of beautiful artwork from abroad and I have taken my inspiration from the second photo for this card.

I couldn't believe how hard it was to get a decent photo - the paper I have used is a pearlised/marble and so I was trying to capture the shimmer and texture without reflection.  I stamped the persian motifs and embossed with silver powder. I used Faded Jeans distress ink and Liquitex Acrylic irredecent gold ink to watercolour the images. The background paper was coloured with the matching distress ink.

I will also enter this in the Craft Stamper Take it, Make it challenge Anything Goes (stamping) and the Monday Simon Challenge 'B is for ...' (Blue).