Altenew and Copic Practice

I've just returned from our beach house and I'm playing catch up with some challenges.

I love the colours in this month's Altenew Inspiration Challenge and since I've invested in Copic Markers this month, I thought I should have another play with them.

I learnt something whilst making this card. Some Copic colours are easier to blend than others and reds are definitely harder for me. I used Altenew's 'Totally Tropical',  'Parrot Paradise' and 'Painted Greetings'.  

I'm entering the following challenges:-

                                                     

Clean and Simple (almost)

Anything Goes

Panda Love - Cheers!

Here is another card for the Ton Stamps January challenge.

I used a Hero Arts background stamp to include the word prompt and then The Ton stamps cute 'Panda Can't Even'. The sentiment is from The Ton's 'Magnificent Magnolia'. I shaded the Pandas with Copic markers.  

Honey Bears Cheers

Here is a fun card for the Ton Stamps Challenge. At first I was a bit stumped, because I didn't have any The Ton stamps with the word 'cheers' or even close to it, but then I had an epiphany and this is what I did...

I used Zig markers and an Aquabrush to colour the gorgeous Honey Bears. I'm in love with these bears! I have a new Iphone 7 Plus and the photo quality is so much better - so much so, that my blending looks bad!!! I looks better IRL:) Anyway, the brainwave was to use chipboard letters, which were buried deep in my stash!

I'm entering the following challenges:-

Add a sentiment

Theme - BALLOONS

Spotlight Stamping Technique

Hi there. Sorry I've been absent from my blog. I've still been making cards, but I've been sharing them on Instagram, because I was staying at my beach house and only had my Iphone. You can see them here.

I noticed a lot of cards around blogland and Instaland using the 'Spotlight Stamping' technique and I've never done this myself, so thought I'd give it a try. This is my card...

I used a beautiful Penny Black collage stamp and then cut out the centre panel and coloured that part only.

I'm entering the following challenges:-

Add a sentiment

and ALLSORTS CHALLENGE (Butterflies)

Something New (new technique for me)

A Christmas Thanks

Just popping in with a card I nearly forgot to share.

This is actually not stamped, it's made with  L Letterpress plates, using their inks, the special platform and the big Shot.
The die is from MFT and the striped paper is from Kaisercraft.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:-

Feeling thankful to have Christmas in our newly renovated

beach house with extended family

Use patterned paper

It's a Twofer (Feathers)

Have you seen the 'Twofer Card Challenge'? It's the brainchild of Darnell of DjKardKreations.
This is what Darnell says about her challenge ...

"The goal is to stretch your creativity as well as your stamps and dies by making two distinctly different designs using the same prompt stamp or die! 

In order to stretch your design skills, try a different style with your second card! In order to stretch your schtuff, try using the prompt stamp or die in an unexpected way on your second card!"

So that is exactly what I've done! 

My 1st card uses feather die cuts from an Alcohol Ink background - they are yummy and organic looking.

First I used a few alcohol inks on Yupo to create the 'paper' for the feathers and when dry, I diecut the feathers.
Next I stamped the 'chicken-wire' background and gold embossed and the the sentiment and embossed that too.
I 'strategically' placed the feathers and sequins and matted the white panel on a black base card.
The feather die was a magazine freebie, the chicken wire stamp is from Kaisercraft and the sentiment is from Stamplorations.

My second card was more challenging, because shakers are not easy for me! I prefer mess to fiddling with finer detail!

I used the negative of the die cut and an embossing folder to create texture. I cut this about 5 times and layered them to get the dimension and then I put the shaker together, using sequins from SSS and random seed beads.
The paper is from Kaisercraft and the sentiment is from SSS.

                                    So I am entering my cards in the following challenges:-

Use Patterned Paper - it is a watercolour pattern, although hard to tell.

Delft Monochrome Copics

Of all the amazingly beautiful cards I've seen around the internet, using Concord & 9th's 'Hello Lovely', my absolute favourite is this stunner by Sandy Allnock. You can see her video here.


So today I watched her video several times and decided to attempt a similar card, but using Delft Blue colours. It is so much harder, for me, anyway, to use the same shades on the whole image, than using different colours. I know I have been told that 'we're our own harshest critic', but hey, someone has to be and it just means I aim to improve, each time I try.

So although I can see lots of mistakes, I had lots of fun making this and intend to have another go soon.
The die is from CUTplorations.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges.

Winter Blues

Music and Flowers

Here is another card using the gorgeous blossoms from Clearly Besotted 'Happy Everything'.
This time I added another layer and dimension, but I think it's still CAS.

I fussy cut the blossom and mounted with foam tape, over the heat embossed music script from Kaisercraft.
I also added liquid pearls to the stamen and a bit of 'splatter'. The word die is from SSS and the frame die from CUTplorations.

I'm entering the following challenges:-

Inspired by the flowers, colours and musical instrument:)

My First Concord & 9th Stamp

Did you see this month's challenge at Where Creativity Meets C9? They want us to use our f1st C9 stamp. Well I bought a few items at the same time, but I think 'Hello Lovely' may be the first one I inked up and I would never miss an opportunity to to use it.


It's difficult to be original with such a popular stamp, but no matter how it is used, it's gorgeous!

I coloured with Copic Markers and decided to leave some of the leaves uncoloured to make it more CAS.

I'm entering the following challenges:-

Winter Blues

Hoopla Cat Love

My New Year's resolution was to break out as many of my unused stamps as possible, before buying any more.  I'm doing ok so far. I've used 3 NBUS stamp sets and only bought one new set (which was the cutest set ever!).

The hoop stamp is from Neat and Tangled 'Hand Stitched' and I have used this one before. The Cat and XOXO stamps from Taylored Expressions 'Stitch by Stitch', have been waiting to be inked for a very long time!
I used Zig Markers and Versafine Onyx Black Ink and embossed to give impression of stitches.

I'm entering the following challenges:-

Just in case you're wondering which stamp set I bought - check this out!

I'm sure this can be used at any time of the year!

Copic Blossoms

Hey! I'm still practising with Copic Markers and this time I'm even happy with the result, although it could do with more shading. Sometimes when I add that little bit more, I stuff it up, so this time I stopped.

The Blossom image is from Clearly Besotted 'Happy Everything' and the the sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp 'Flower Friend'
Pink Rv00, RV11, RV34
Green G000, GG24, G85, G94
Yellow Y21, Y02
Grey W1, W3, W5
Outline BG00


I'm entering the following challenges:-

Coz friends need hugs!

Be the Light

I have another card to share. This time it is a masculine card.

This is another Copic Marker card, but I wanted it to look sketchy, like the stamped image.
I need more yellow refill, because I had trouble with the graduation of the light and had to use my colourless marker tip to tip to try to get more shades.  I will try this again using watercolours I think.

I'm entering the following challenges:-

Never-ending Challenge