Deep Red "Drum Set (SKU 3X404216) Card

Looking round my craft room, I knew I wanted to create, but had no idea what.  I decided the first stamp that I see on my shelf I would use.  It happened to be this little Deep Red cling stamp called "Drum Set (SKU 3X404216), which I paired with a couple of tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous layering stencils.

I stamped the drum set and the Simon Says Stamp "Tiny Words" sentiment in Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink.

The two Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous stencils I used were THMM178 which was part of a Christmas stamp and stencil set and THS103 "String Layering Stencil" which I used with two shades of Ranger Archival Inks "Sky Blue" for the string layering stencil and "Peat Moss" through the dots section of the Christmas stencil.

I painted the drum set using different shades of Distress Oxide Inks, adding some pencil and black fine liner pen for the shadows.

Lavinia Stamps "Vine" Just For You card

 

A quick clean and simple card made using Lavinia Stamps.  I used the Lavinia "Vine" stamp with Versafine Clair "Hawthorne Rose" ink.  I stamped the sentiment in the same ink.  The sentiment is part of the Lavinia Stamps "Heartfelt Verse" sentiment stamp set.

In the background, I have used "Sky Blue " Ranger Archival Ink through the Lavinia "Waffle" stencil.  I finished the card by adding white dots of Ranger Enamel Accents.

52 Wek Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2025 - Week 27

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2025:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The prompt for Week 27 is "In the pink"

For my Week 27 "In the pink" tag, I started by covering a plain tag with a piece of patterned paper with a leaf design on it.

I then lay the Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous "Mosaic Layering Stencil" over the tag and lightly applied "Spun Candy" pink Elements Ink through the stencil using a blending brush.  I then added some "Sap Green" Ranger Archival Ink on the edges of the tag.

For the butterflies, I used some Tim Holtz "Ideaology Transparent Wings", glued to the tag.  I used a Tim Holtz Ideaology Metallic word sticker for the sentiment then added some dots of "Prickly Pear" Ranger Liquid Pearls to the surface.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2025 - Week 17

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2025:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The prompt for Week 17 is "The Face"

I used a background I had made using water colour paints in shades of yellow and orange. I used a stencil with "Tiger Lily" orange archival ink to make the patterned background.

Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink I stamped the Woodware FRS043 "Eyes" clear stamps. I then stamped the eyes on to a piece of white card, coloured in the eye with water colour paints then fussy cut the eyes, glueing them into position on the tag.

Finally, I added some splatters of turquoise, white and black Posca Pens and added a "Hello" word sticker.

Lavinia Stamps "Vine Candelabra" card

 

I had a further play with my new Lavinia Dreamatorium collection of stamps making this card.

I started by stamping the Lavinia "Vine Candelabra" and "Mushies" in Versafine Clair "Nocturne' black ink.

Once dry, I used the edge of the packaging from a Lavinia Stencil to apply "Chrome Yellow" and "Sky Blue" Ranger Archival Ink to create the rays of colour from opposite corners of the card.

I used "Tea Rose" Ranger Archival Ink through the Lavinia "Feather Leaf" stencil just around the edges of the card.

Finally, I added some yellow around the candles and yellow Posca Pen to the base of the "Mushies" to replicate flowers.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2025 - Week 6

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2025:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The prompt for Week 6 is "Love"

•••

For my Week 6 "Love" tag, I used a plain white tag for the base.

I used Versafine Clair "Medieval Blue" ink to stamp the large and small Lavinia Stamps "Hummingbirds" off the edge of the tag, but with their beaks close to each other.

I used a Lavinia Stamp "Moon Mask" with "Sky Blue" Ranger Archival Ink for the spotlight area in the centre of the tag.

I then used ink left on my blue blending brush to give a hint of colour through the Lavinia Stamps "Leaf Trellis" stencil to the top left and bottom right of the tag.

Next, using a ruler and a black fine liner pen, I drew some vertical lines through the centre of the tag. I then used Versafine Clair "Medieval Blue" ink again to stamp the word "Love" which is part of the Lavinia Stamps "Live the life" stamp set.

Moving on to the finishing touches, I used the "Mint Leaf" Derwent Inktense pencil, applied with a paint brush to colour the wings of the birds.  Once dry, I then added "A Wink of Stella" over the top of the colour to give a lovely subtle gold shimmer.  Finally adding a few dots of black Ranger "Enamel Accents".

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2024 - Week 44

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2024:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The prompt for Week 44 is "Knitting and Stitching"

***

For my Week 44 "Knitting & Stitching", I used a cream coloured tag for the base.  Using "Chrome Yellow" Ranger Archival ink through the "Knitted Background Stencil" by Funky Fossil Designs.

I used Versafine Clair "Chianti" dark red ink to stamp the thread and sentiment, sorry I don't recall who makes the stamp, I've had it for some years.

I used a "Red Wine" coloured Posca Pen to add the stitchec detail around the edge of the tag.

Stampscapes Windmill Christmas Card

 

I received a very large order of new Stampscapes polymer stamps licenced to Sweet Poppy Stencils, so I of course had to make this quick card.

I used "Sky Blue" Ranger Archival Ink through the Sweet Poppy "Triangle Stencil".  I then lay the "Harmony Backplate Stencil" over the top and applied the same coloured ink through the stencil to create the two tones patterned diesign/Christmas Tree.

I used the Stampscapes new polymer "Large Windmill" stamp to stamp the windmill image, using Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink. I then used the same ink to stamp the sentiment, which is part of the Sweet Poppy Stencil "Festive Phrases" stamp set.

Finally, I used a gold shimmer pen to draw around the stamped areas and also the pattern on the Christmas Tree.  This provided a beautiful subtle shimmer, which sadly doesn't look as good in the photograph as it does in real life.

Engagement Card (inspired by Manja Nelan)

We received some wonderful news a few days back, that our younger son and his girl are now engaged.  We are absolutely thrillled for them.

I am really not in crafting mode at the moment, due to packing up for a house move.  My crafting mojo seems to have been replaced by all things moving!  So I was really struggling with ideas for a card to make.

I remembered seeing a card on the Lavinia Stamps facebook group that I thought was very clever, so I searched for it and found the one I was looking for, it was by Manja Nelan from 2021, so I decided to give it a go.  The card above is inspired by Manja's card.

Using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the two Lavinia Stamps trees, they're called "Tree of courage" and "Tree of hope".

I then found my Visible Image "Love is love" stamp set, with two profiles.  I stamped them on to a piece of card and then fussy cut the face profiles. I used a pencil to lightly draw around the profiles on the edge of each tree.  I then used the central area between the stamped face image as a stencil, colouring and blending the face with "Fern Green" Ranger Archival Ink.  I've shown a photo of what I mean.

I used the same ink with a blending brush and a Lavinia Stamps "Hill Mask" to create the land that the trees are based on.

Next, I used a fine liner black pen to add extra branches to fill in the empty areas of the faces. I  then used a brown Derwent Inktense pencil with a paint brush to colour the tree trunk and some of the thicker branches. I added gold coloured dots within the tree branches too.

Finally, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink I stamped the word "love" between the foreheads, using part of one of the "Heartfelt Verse" sentiment stamps from Lavinia Stamps.  I used the same ink to stamp the word "Congratulations" which is part of a Clarity Stamps stamp set called "Entwined Sentiments".  I mounted the card on to a piece of dark green card and then on to a 8x8" card blank.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2024 - Week 36

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2024:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The prompt for Week 36 is "How do you relax?"

***

For my Week 36 - "How do you relax"? I started with a piece of patterned paper with a shades of cream and beige zig zag pattern, which I stuck on to a plain tag.

I then used Ranger Archival Inks through the Funky Fossil Designs "Chatty Cups Stencil".  The ink colours I used were Thistle, Tiger Lily, Coffee, Poppy and Vibrant Fuschia.  I also used Vibrant Fuschia to ink the edges of the tag to brighten it a little.  

I used a stamp from the Funky Fossil Designs "Coffee & Friends" stamp set to multi stamp the definition, using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.  I then mounted the tag on to a piece of dark brown card and trimmed the edges.

Over a piece of plain white card, I lay the Funky Fossil "Coffee Cup Stencil" and coloured it in using some orange ink that was left on my blending brush for the right hand side and then used "Pebble Beach" Ranger Archival Ink for the left hand side, blending towards the middle so that the colour was very light down the middle of the cup.  I then fussy cut the cup and inked the edges of it using "Pebble Beach" ink again.

I used Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink to stamp the sentiment on to the cup.  The sentiment is also part of the Funky Fossil stamp set called "Coffee and Friends".  I then used foam pads on the back of the coffee cup to stick it to the tag.

52 Week Mini Art Card - Tag Challenge 2024 - Week 29

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2024:

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The prompt for Week 29 is "Modes of transport"

*****

This is the tag that I have made for the Week 29, it's a clean and simple design after the rather busy tag from Week 28.

Using Versafine Clair "Twilight" dark blue ink, I stamped the boat/liner off the edge of the tag.  The stamp was part of a set that came free with Issue 54 of "Creative Stamping Magazine". I then stamped it again on a post-it note, fussy cut it and used it as a mask.

With the mask in place and another post-it note across the tag to create a horizon line, I coloured the sea are around the boat, using "Forget Me Knot" blue Ranger Archival Ink.

I used three shades of Distress Oxide Ink, applied with a paint brush to create the mottled sky, uisng Tumbled Glass, Speckled Egg and Weathered Wood colours.

Using Versafine Clair "Twilight" dark blue ink again, I stamped the "Bon Voyage" sentiment and also the compass.  Finally I added some touches of white gel pen to the water around the boat and then mounted the tag on a teal coloured card.

Funky Fossil "Beauty's Garden" Tag

The other day, I attempted to make a tag and towards the end, I managed to drop an ink pad face down on to my pretty tag.  I attempted to rescue it, but it just wasn't what I had in my head.  Today, I had another attempt at it.

Starting with a white tag, I lay the Funky Fossil Designs "Urchins" stencil over the top and added Ranger Opaque Texture Paste through areas of the stencil.  I then set it aside to dry.

Once dry, I used a Funky Fossil blending brush to apply colour to the tag, using "Rose Madder" Ranger Archival Ink, which is a pretty coral/rose colour. Then, using a black Posca Pen, I tapped paint across the surface of the tag.

On a separate piece of white card, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the vase, which is part of the Funky Fossil Designs "Beauty's Garden" stamp set. For placement, I also stamped the vase on the tag.  I then stamped the flower, which is also part of the same stamp set.

I shaded the vase stamped on the piece of white card using Derwent Charcoal Pencils and a white gel pen.  I then fussy cut the vase, sticking foam pads on the back and then placed in position.

Finally, using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" black ink, I stamped the word "Miss You" which is part of the Funky Fossil "Small Print" stamp set.

***As a matter of interest, here is the tag that I first made, where I attempted to recover half of the original inky tag after I had dropped an ink pad on it.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2024 - Week 22

This is a weekly challenge. I provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2024:

The prompt for Week 22 is "Footwear / Footprints"

*****

This is the tag that I have made for the Week 22. 

I started with a plain white tag, using "Shadow Grey" Ranger Archival Ink through the Clarity Stamps "High Heel Shoe" stencil.

Next, I stamped the two shoes and the sentiment, all are part of a Hero Arts clear stamp set called "High Heels - CL303".  Stamping in Versfine Clair "Fantasia" purple ink for the top shoe, "Glamorous" pink ink for the lower shoe and "Nocturne" for the sentiment.

I stamped the shoes on the tag itself and then on a piece of white card.  I coloured the shoes on the white card using a purple Posca Pen and a pink Derwent Inktense pencil.  Then fussy cut and stuck the shoe shapes on to the tag.

I inked the edges of the tag using versafine Clair "Glamorous" pink ink. Mounting the tag on to a piece of purple card.  

I felt the tag needed more, so I used a grey Posca Pen and a pink Gel Pen to add dots in between the grey shoes in the background to finish the tag.

Funky Fossil "Polite Society" stencil sympathy card

Sadly, it's time for another sympathy card, so I've gone with a  clean and simple sympathy card design.

I've worked straight on to a white card blank for this card, using Ranger "Sky Blue" Archival Ink through the Funky Fossil "Polite Society" stencil, fading the colour our towards the top and the left hand side.

Using Versafine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink, I've stamped the flower from the Funky Fossil "In the meadow" stamp set and the greeting from the Funky Fossil "Stripped Back Sentiment" stamp set.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2024 - Week 10

The challenge for 2024 is weekly.  I will provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2024:

The prompt for Week 10 is "Clouds"

*****

This is the tag that I have made for the Week 10.

I decided to create a whimsical theme, so started with a white tag and used the Funky Fossil "In The Clouds" stencil with "Sky Blue" Archival Ink to create the sky.

I moved on to the landscape, using the Lavinia Stamps 'Hill Mask" with Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" and "Rain Forest" green inks.

I then stamped the fir trees in the distance, using Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" green ink in first and second generation stamping using the Lavinia Stamps "Small Fir Trees" stamp set.

I then used the Lavinia stamp set called "Jas & Seb's Houses" for the toadstool, stamping in second generation stamping using Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink.

I used Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink again with the Lavinia "Small Branch" stamp to stamp the branches off the edge of the tag.

I stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Berry Leaves" in first and second generation stamping, at the base of the tag using Versafine Clair "Shady Lane" green ink.

To colour the toadstool, I used Derwent Inktense pencils applied with a paint brush.  I then added touches of Posca Pen and black fine liner to details of the tag.

Finally, I inked the edges of the tag using Versafine Clair "Medieval Blue" and "Rain Forest", I then mounted it on to a piece of dark blue card.

52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2024 - Week 7

The challenge for 2024 is weekly.  I will provide you with a prompt/theme each Sunday morning through out the year.  The challenge is very relaxed.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  You can create cards, tags, Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) or index cards, the choice is yours. You just go with what ever is in your head at the time.  You can stamp, get inky, use patterned papers, texture, embellish it is all down to you.

There is a dedicated private Facebook Group, with a lovely bunch of people who are already sharing their makes from previous challenges.  You can find the group by clicking this link.  I'd love you to join in.

The Crafting Niche 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2024:

The prompt for Week 7 is "Pastel Colours"

***

This is my Week 7 tag, working to a prompt of "Pastel Colours"

For the tag base, I used one of the Clarity stamps "Printed Post Card Quotes", cut in to a tag shape.

Over the top of the printed alphabet, I used three shades of Ranger Archival Inks (Prickly Pear, Violet and Forget Me Not), applied with blending brushes.

I dusted the surface of the inked tag with an anti static chalk bag before laying a Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous stencil over the top.  I used the "THS032 Flourish" stencil.  Then using a Wow! Embossing Ink Pad, I pressed the ink over the surface and through the surface.  

Once I was sure there was enough coverage of sticky clear ink, I then coated the tag with Wow! "Sea Mist" Embossing Powder and heat set.

Next, using a fan shaped paint brush, I splattered Dr PH Martin's white bleed proof paint over the surface of the tag so there were lots of small speckles of white across the surface.

While the paint was drying, I die cut the flowers using a Sizzix / Tim Holtz die set called "Wild Flowers #2".  I used plain white card to cut the flowers then fixed them into position using a wet glue.

I mounted the tag on to a piece of white card, finally adding dots of white Ranger "Enamel Accents"  to break up the background colour.

Day 18 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" Challenge

This is my Day 18 tag of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge.

For this tag, I blended two Distress Oxide colours, using "Mustard Seed" and "Festive Berries" to cover the tag base.

I used white Gesso through the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Tiny Poinsettia Stencil THS165", applied with a finger dabber.

I then splattered white paint from a fan shaped paint brush to create the white dots.

Next, I used Ranger black "Archival Ink", applied with a finger dabber through the Tim Holtz / Stampers Anonymous "Poinsettia Duo stencil THS153".

I mounted the tag on to a piece of black card, finally adding some white dots of Ranger "Enamel Accents" to the middle of the flowers.

Penny Black "Sparkles 40-625" Heart Christmas Card

 

Another Christmas card, this time using a selection of products from different manufacturers.

For the hanging heart,  I have used one of the Penny Black baubles from their "Sparkles 40-625" slapstick/cling stamp set, stamped and coloured in "Festive Berries" Distress Oxide Ink.  I gave it some brush strokes of "A Wink of Stella" to give it a lovely gold shimmer to the surface.

I used "Shadow Grey" Ranger Archival Ink through the Sweet Poppy Stencils "Holly Backplate". 

I mounted the card on to a piece of red card and then on to a white card blank, finally adding the  sentiment of "All I want for Christmas is you", which is part of a Simon Says Stamp set called "Tiny Words - Christmas", stamped in Versfine Clair "Morning Mist" grey ink.

Day 14 of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tags 2023" challenge

 

I'm an early bird getting my tag done and out of the way today.  This is my Day 14 tag of Karen Telfer's "24 Days of Tage 2023" challenge, with a theme of "vintage".

For the background, I used a page from an old second hand Welsh hymn book.

I used Versafine Clair "Acorn" brown ink to stamp the Stampscapes "Pines & Rocks 195G" image.  I used a pale blue Derwent Inktense pencil to add touches of colour, then I inked areas using "Coffee" Ranger Archival Ink.

I edged the tag with Versafine Clair "Pinecone" dark brown ink and then used a "Destress Tool" to roughen up the edges, before I glued the tag on to a piece of blue card.

Sweet Poppy Stencils "Small Bell" Christmas Card

 

More play with Sweet Poppy Stencils making this Christmas card.

I've used Versafine Clair "Chianti" dark red ink through the Sweet Poppy "Small Bell" stencil. 

I then masked off the edges of the card, using low tack tape.

Next I used "Shadow Grey" Ranger Archival ink through the Sweet Poppy "Holly Back Plate" stencil, lightly adding ink around the edge of the masking tape, to give a subtle line of colour.  I then removed the masking tape.

Finally, I used Versafine Clair "Chianti" dark red ink again to stamp the sentiment, which is part of Simon Says Stamp "Tiny Words - Christmas" stamp set.  Then added some touches of gold gel pen to areas of the holly to give a lovely shimmer.