Just a Tag

Hello there,

It seems like ages since my last blog post, so I thought that I'd enter a couple of challenges today with a tag that I've made.  Now it's very unusual for me to make something that isn't stamped, so this may even be a first!

I started by blending various Distress Inks onto a white tag, then I ran my tag through an embossing folder.  To ensure that the embossing showed up a little more, I dusted over it with a very light touch of Tea Dye Distress ink.  Once I was happy with the result, I added some Tim Holtz silhouette die cut flowers and a black tag.  Ordinarily, I would have stamped the tag with a sentiment but I made the mistake of adding it before it was stamped.  I'll just put that down to all the heat we've had!  I looked at adding a ribbon to cover the tag hole but is was too close to the flower and it just didn't look right so I've just left the hole showing on this occasion.

Mid-Month Inspiration at Stamping Sensations - July 18

Hello to you all and I hope that life is treating you kindly.

I'm here today to offer some mid-month inspiration over at Stamping Sensations and here's that card that I've made :

Featuring: CI-472

I started by creating a background with Brushos and Distress Inks onto peach card and then stamping the image using Versafine Black Onyx.  I then stamped the image again with StazOn ink onto acetate and reversed the image to give a mirrored effect.  I then used a finger dauber with orange ink around the edge to create a soft border.

Don't forget that we are very generously sponsored this month by Jean and Malcolm over at Crafty Individuals who are offering a £25 voucher to spend at their online store.

Jean Hardy from Crafty Individuals will be back on Hochanda with some fabulous stamps and other crafty products on the 3rd and the 4th of August, so I do hope that you'll be able to catch the shows.  I've had a great time making lots of samples for the shows which I'll be able to share with you as soon as the shows have aired.

  I hope to be back with you all soon but until then, take care and be happy x

Next To You

Hello there,

I hope that you're all keeping well and happy.

I'd like share a couple of cards with you that Jean Hardy posted on the Crafty Individuals blog yesterday.  

The first card was made using one of my all time favourite CI stamps of the little girl and boy holding hands.  I took a photograph of two of my grandchildren last year and as the photo reminded me so much of this stamp, I knew that I had to use it for my Daughter's birthday.  She absolutely loved it and it's now been framed.

The background was made using Brushos and distress inks and the image was coloured using Derwent Inktense pencils.

The second card is similar to a larger one that I made earlier in the year for my crafty friend Leanne's birthday.  I really love the CI baroque stamp, so I've made quite a few in different colours to help build up my birthday card stash.  The sentiment stamp was a freebie with a magazine and the butterfly die is by Memory Box.

 I'll be back with you on the 18th with some mid-month inspiration over at Stamping Sensations but until then, I hope the sun shines for you and that you can do a little of whatever makes you happy :) x

Poppies In Summer

Hello there on this lovely sunny Sunday morning.

I can't believe how hot it's been and for how long here in the UK, we're just not used to it are we.  I remember the summer of 76 with it's plague of Ladybirds, so I'm just wondering if we will get something similar with this heat wave, hopefully not.

Now I'm not really a football fan, sorry Viv if you're reading this but I did watch the England match last night and they were fabulous, once the game actually got started.  I'm feeling more nervous about the next game though as Croatia seem to have quite a lively team but I will be watching from the edge of my seat, as I'm sure most of the country will be too!

Onto the matter in hand now and I'd like to share a card with you that I made as a sample for one of the recent Inkylicious shows on Hochanda:

All the stamps that I've used are by Inkylicious and the sentiment is one of my favourites as it's so true.  I think it's a reminder to us all that we should all stop for a while and treasure the little moments in our lives as they tend to be the ones that we look back on with the greatest affection.

I stamped the image using Desert Sand and then coloured it using Distress inks to give the image more of a water colour look.  The two butterflies were printed and then fussy cut out to complete the scene.  I coloured and blended the background using Spectrum Aqua pens and a touch of glycerine.

We're 'In My Garden' at Stamping Sensations

Hello there my crafty friends,

It's time for a new challenge over at 'Stamping Sensations' and the theme this time is 'In My Garden,' so we're hoping to see lots of beautiful floral creations.

Here's the card that I've made using some beautiful stamps by Crafty Individuals.

                                                    Featuring: CI-415, CI-491 CI-493

I've used CI-491 stamp to create my background paper by stamping with a blue ink onto pink paper.  The main focal image was stamped with Versafine Black Onyx and then heat embossed to avoid any smudging.  I then coloured the image with Distress Inks and Inktense pencils.  I finished by adding a few hanging flowers to complete the scene.

That's all from me for now, so I'll wish you a happy and peaceful day x