Rudolph Day - February 16

Hello,

I'm here with a card that I've made for this month's Rudolph Challenge.

The stag and large trees are by Inkylicious, small trees by Sheena Douglas, Poinsettia by Rubber Tapestry Stamps and the bold stamps that I've used to make the border were freebies from a magazine last year.

Inks used:

• Impress - Slate Grey
• Impress - Garnet
• Adirondack - Butterscotch
• Versafine - Black Onyx

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• Rudolph Days Challenge - February 16
• Pixie's Snippets Playground - Anything Goes
• TWOFERS - Anything Goes

Anniversary Waltz

Hello,

I hope to find you all well and happy and I'd like to welcome my new follower......Kanda :)

It's our Wedding Anniversary this weekend and I'd like to share with you a card that I've made for my lovely Hubby.

The stamp is by  'Papermania' Urban Stamps and I thought that as it has an Art Deco feel to it, that I would try to continue this in the background and with the colours and dies. I've coloured the stamped image with Spectrum Noir markers.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• Stamping  Sensations - Anything Goes
• Penny Black and More - Anything goes with a Stamp and a Die
• Addicted to Stamps Challenge - Die Cuts
• TWOFERS - Anything Goes

Playing With Mixed Media

Hello,

I hope you're all enjoying a peaceful Sunday afternoon and I'd like to welcome my new follower.....Lynne K.

I'm here today to share with you something that's completely new to me.  I've been in absolute awe recently; looking at some pieces of mixed media art work. I've watched lots of tutorials on Youtube and I've created a new board on Pinterest to give me some inspiration.

Whilst shopping in York yesterday, I came across some 5x7 inch canvas boards and decided that I would bite the bullet. As I had quite a few flowers that I had previously made up, I decided that would be a good start. I didn't have a plan so it was all trial and error! My intention was to layer it up and add some stamping but that just didn't happen.  Here's the canvas as I left it to dry last night:

I was actually quite pleased with the result and was quite temped to just leave it as it was, but this morning, I was ready to have a go at giving it some colour.  I really love the dramatic, vivid colours that are used in mixed media but I though I would start with something a little more delicate, given the subject and here is the finished result:

What I can say is that I've learned many lessons whilst making this first piece, like painting the flowers and leaves before they are added, using the gilding wax on the die cut before adding the flowers, and the list goes on.  I did try spraying but I only have a few Starburst stains and they didn't seem to work as I wanted them to.

The thing  I love about crafting is that it is a journey and we all have to start somewhere.
Thank you for your visit today and I look forward to your comments and any hints or tips that might help me in future.  I may not be around for a while as my craft room looks like it's been hit by a bomb and I can't find my desk lol :)

I'm entering this mixed media piece into the following challenge and I've definitely used lots of snippets:

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 217

Sunrise/Sunset

Hello there my crafty friends and passers by.

Before I start today's post, I would like to say a big 'Thank You' to all the kind people who sent their good wishes in reply to my last post, it really meant a lot. I'd also like to thank my wonderful friend Ruth, who sometimes takes a sneaky peak at my blog; for her steadfast friendship and support. Ruth, you're a star :)
I'm very pleased to say that my Husband is so much better now, thanks to the wonder of antibiotics.

I would also like to welcome my new followers: Laura Holland, Princess Nettie, ShazInOz, Barb Williams and LinzAd. Thank you for joining me on my crafting journey :)

Right then, on to business!  It's time for a new challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenge and this time it's my turn to choose a theme.  As I was thinking what topic I might use, I looked out of the window and saw the most amazing sunrise and so that was it...... Sunrise/Sunset.

For my own piece, I decided to do a scenic sunset and here it is:

I created the background by masking off the water and the sun and then creating the sunset.  Once I was happy with the colours, I then masked off the sky and created the water.  I tried to reflect the colours in the sky and then spritzed a clean Ink Duster and dragged it accross to give the water some movement.  This tends to work better on silk art card as it doesn't dry quite as quickly as when using matt card.  Once again, when I was happy with the water, I then stamped my scene with Versafine Black Onyx ink.

I used the follwing inks to make the background:

• Adirondack - Butterscotch
• Adirondack - Peach Bellini
• Adirondack - Mountain Rose
• Adirondack -Denim
• Memento - Lulu Lavender
• Impress - Old Rose

All stamps used are by Inkylicious

You don't have to limit yourself to scenic cards, you might want to do something abstract using sunset colours, so the world is your oyster.  Get out your stamps and inks and let's see what you create.  Please remember that we are a stamping challenge, so please don't use digital images, just good old fashioned stamping.
We are, as always, sponsored by Leo over at Flonz Craft and one lucky random winner will recieve a $20 vouscher to be used online.  There will also be a Top 3 spotlight, chosen by the Design Team, so I'd really love you to join me in this challenge and I look forward to seeing your amazing works of art.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
• Country View Challenges - Make your own background

What a week!

Hello my crafty friends and followers.

This one hasn't been the best of weeks for me but I appreciate that it could have been so much worse.

My Hubby and I have both been under the weather over the last three weeks but unfortunately, my husband took a turn for the worst on Sunday when he started again with a high temperature, shivers and sickness. To cut a very long story short, after further complications, we went to A & E on Monday where he was diagnosed with pneumonia.  He was given a course of antibiotics and sent home to rest.  I'm very pleased to say that he's now starting to feel better and I'm one relieved and happy wife!

I'm sorry that I haven't had the time to comment on your blogs this week but I'm sure that you'll now understand why.

I hope to catch up with you all very soon but until then, I wish you all a happy weekend X