Golden Skeleton Leaves Tag

 

I had a play in the craft room for an hour this afternoon, making this tag.

I used a white tag for the base using "Rusty Hinge" Distress Ink, spritzed and smooshed over the surface, drying with a heat gun and then repeating the process.  

I then used Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink to stamp the Funky Fossil Designs "Vintage Script" stamp on the two long edges of the tag.

Next I used "Carved Pumpkin" Distress Ink through the Tim Holtz./ Stampers Anonymous THMM101 dot stencil. I used a black Posca Pen to make some splatters over the surface of the tag.

I used some Funky Fossil patterned paper to die cut the leaves.  I drew around the leaves on the tag then added a layer of glue and applied gold coloured Cosmic Shimmer "Gilding Flakes",  brushhing off the surplus, I then glued the leaves into position.

I inked the edges of the tag using "Ground Espresso" Distress Oxide ink, then mounted the tag on to a piece of co-ordinating card.

Finally, I used a gold coloured gel pen to draw around the leaves.  I put some gold coloured "Stickles" on to a piece of paper and applied tiny areas of the sparkle using my finger tip.

Tiffany Johnson Creative #100daysartplay Challenge - Day 21

This is Day 21 of the Tiffany Johnson Creative #100daysartplay challenge.  The theme for the week is "use a palette knife" and I really have found this week a challenge, having to think a bit differently about my makes and definitely taking me out of my comfort zone!

I rescued a piece of cardboard from the recycling box tore a bit off and then started peeling off some of the paper layer, to expose the ridges between the corrugation.

I used two shadess of Paper Artsy Chalk Paints for the background colour, using "Lake Wanake" and "Snowflake".

Once the paint was dry, using a palette knife I spread some Ranger "Matte Distress Texture Paste" using the edge of the palette knife to create the lines similar to the cardboard.

Over the top of the paste, I added a selection of silver and greeen/blue glitter, white beads, sequins "Crystal" Stickles and "Periwinkle" Liquid Pearls.

Tiffany Johnson Creative #100daysartplay Challenge - Day 4

This is my Day 4 make of the Tiffany Johnson Creative #100daysartplay Challenge.  Today, I have stamped with spray inks.

I used the large snowflake stamp from the Visible Image "Let It Snow" stamp set for the central image.

Using my Misti, I spritzed the stamp with "Salvaged Patina" Distress Oxide Ink and stamped the snowflake.  

I wiped down the Misti, keeping the stamp in the same position and then spritzed the stamp with "Mermaid Lagoon" Distress Oxide Spray Ink and stamped the snowflake over again. I repeated the process with "Twisted Citreon" Distress Oxide Spray Ink.

I found the whole spritzing on to the Misti a bit of a messy process and quite wasteful of ink, but you have to try different things don't you!

On a small scrap of white card, using Versafine Clair "Twilight" dark blue ink, I stamped the Simon Says Stamp "Season's Greetings" which is part of their "Tiny Words - Christmas" stamp set.  I trimmed the sentiment and added it to the centre of the snowflake.

I mounted the snowflake on to a piece of dark blue card and then on to a kraft card blank.  Finally, adding some clear gems and some dots of "Crystal" Stickles glue for sparkle.

Visible Image "Dragonfly Tranquility" card

I found a small piece of card with a Brusho Ink background in my stash that I decided to use today.  it had lovely greeny blue shades and to me shouted water.

I decided to use a Visible Image stamp set that I've not used for a long time.  It's called "Live in the moment" and has a beautiful dragonfly stamp, among others. 

I dusted the surface of the card with an anti-static bag, then stamped the large dragonfly using Wow! Clear Embossing Ink, then coated the area with "Wow! Metallic Silver Super Fine" embossing powder.  I used the same process with the two smaller drafonflies then heat set the images.

Using the Visible Image "Ripples" stencil and "Blue Atoll" Elements Inks, I created the ripples on the central area of the card.  I used the same ink to colour in the wings of the dragonfly too.

I used Van Goch Pastel Pencils to give more depth to the ripples, then stamped the word "Tranquiltiy" in Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink. The word is part of another Visible Image stamp set called "Random Art Of Kindness".

I mounted the stamped square on to dark blue card and then white card, going around the edges of the card with a silver glitter Signo gel pen.  I also added details to the dragonflies and also edged the "tranquility" word in the same ink.  I smeared some "Crystal" Stickles on to the dragonfly wings using the tip of my finger, do give a subtle sparkle.  Sadly this can't be seen in this photograph.  If the weather is brighter tomorrow, I will take a little video of the sparkles.

Finally, using the same "Ripples" stencil with "Peacock Feathers" and "Cracked Pistachio" Distress Oxide ink, I created lighter shades of ripples on the white card mount.

Funky Fossil "Folk Snowflake Die" Christmas Card

An early crafting make from me this morning, I am definitely feeling the Christmas spirit and I don't mean the type in a bottle!  I used a selection of  products from Funky Fossil Designs for this card.

I started by applying "Tumbled Glass" Distress Oxide Ink lightly across the surface of a square piece of white card.

I then lay the Funky Fossil "Snow Flurry Stencil" over the top of the card, holding it in place with a piece of low tack masking tape. I then applied more "Tumbled Glass" Distress Oxide Ink through the stencil using a Funky Fossil "Blending Brush". I then mounted this background on to a white card blank.

Next, I die cut two of the snowflake using the Funky Fossil " Folk Snowflake Die" (sadly this die is out of stock at the moment).

I adhered one of the die cut snowflakes centrally on to the prepared stencilled background. With the other snow flake, I added "Crystal" Stickles to the surface (applied with my finger tip) and set aside to dry.  

Using Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze" ink, I stamped the "Silent Night" sentiment, which is part of the Funky Fossil "Festive Phrases" stamp set on a small off-cut of white card.  I then die cut the sentiment into a banner shape. I added sticky backed foam pads to the underside.

Returning to the now dry glittery snowflake, I adhered the middle and the the four central arms of the snowflake over the top of the snowflake already on the card, leaving some of the arms free to lift up a little.

I then stuck the prepared sentiment over the middle of the snowflake and added a further touch of "Crystal" stickles around the edges of the die cut.

Here's a little clip of the lovey glittery shimmer you get from the Stickles.

Day 5 - 24 Days of Christmas Tags with Karen Telfer

Here's my tag for Day 5 of the 24 Tags for Christmas Challenge with Karen Telfer.  I really love this soft colours of this tag.

I've used three shades of Distress Oxide Inks for the background (Cracked Pistachio, Faded Jeans and Tumbled Glass).

I've heat embossed two Lavinia Stamps stamped images (one of the hares from the "Whimisical Hares"set and the "Tree of dreams"), stamped in Wow! clear embossing ink with Wow! Bright White Super Fine embossing powder.

I added snowflakes stamped in "Stormy Sky" Distress Oxide Ink.  Splattered white dots for snow by tapping a Posca Pen and then I added some sparkle by adding tiny dots of "Crystal" stickles.

Funky Fossil Designs Samples for May 2020 Hochanda TV using Funky Florals Set

Today, Sunday 10th May Funky Fossil Designs will be on Hochanda TV with a fabulous selection of goodies.

For this card, I started with a background of "Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide Ink. I've used the "Funky Circle" stencil in the background with "Faded Jeans" Distress Oxide Ink.

I used the "Funky Florals" stamp set  stamped in Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze ink.  I used a touch of turquoise coloured Stickles for the middle of the flower.

I've used the "Happy Words" stamp set for the sentiment, stamped in Versafine Clair "Warm Breeze".

Week 45 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

The prompt for Week 45 is "Circles / Bokeh"

I decided to go with pastel coloured over-lapping circles for the background of my tag.  I used a Visible Image stamp set called "You are not alone" to stamp the three sizes of circles in Versafine "Stormy Gray" coloured ink.

I coloured the circles using my water colour pencils and a paint brush.  I used a yellow, green, blue, pink and purple colours.  On some of the circles, I have given them a glitter finish by using Stickles "Crystal", which gives a subtle beautiful shimmer.

Once the Stickles were dry, I moved on to stamping the dog.  I'm not sure who makes this stamp, but I do recall it cost about a pound.  I stamped the image across the tag using Versafine Clair "Purple Delight" shade of ink.  Using the same ink, I stamped the words.  I've had this set of word stamps for over ten years so I have no idea who made them, apologies for that.

Have a great week.

Sam x

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Click here for more information about the challenge and the previous prompts.

Click here to go to the challenge Facebook Group.

Lavinia Stamps Design Team make for November 2019 challenge (Winter Wonderland)

The first of the month means that there is a new challenge theme on the Lavinia Stamps site.  The theme for November 2019 is "Winter Wonderland".

If you enter this challenge, your name could be randomly picked to win £40 of vouchers to spend on lovely Lavinia goodies!  

For this card, I used Distress Oxide Inks for everything but the sentiment, where I used a Versafine Clair "Nocturne" shade of ink.

Using the Oxides, I started by using a wash of Tumbled Glass and Weathered Wood to create the sky and just shades of Weathered Wood for the ground area.

I used two shade of Oxides to stamp the trees, Weathered Wood and Iced Spruce, using two Lavinia Stamps "Fairy Fir Tree Small" and "Fairy Fir Tree 2 Small".

I used Versafine Clair "Nocturne" to stamp the "Forest So Green" sentiment.  Finally, I used some Stickles called "Frosted Lace" to add a little sparkle to areas of the snow in the foreground.

Lavinia Stamps Design Team Sample for August 2019 Hochanda TV Show - Willow Arch

On 22nd August 2019, Lavinia Stamps will be featured on Hochanda TV highlighting a fabulous selection of stamps.  This is one of the cards I have made for the show.

I used a background I'd prepared previously using a gelli plate with Colorbox inks brayered on and splatters of Brusho paint to create the mottled look.

Using Versafine "Vintage Sepia" shade of ink, I stamped the "Willow Arch" twice to create a curved line.  I then coloured it with two shades of Arteza Brush Pens.

Using a "Stars 2" from the pound stamp section of the Lavinia Site, I randomly stamped the stars across the background using a Memento Ink in a shade called "London Fog".

Using Versafine Clair ink in the shade of "Chianti", I multiple stamped the "Mini Berry"

I then stamped the sentiment, called "Spirit of Christmas" and the "Mini Holly", both in Versafine "Olympia Green" shade of ink.

Finally, I added some subtle shimmer to the card using a gold Sakura Gelly Roll pen.  A white Posca pen for highlighting and Stickles for the holly berries in a "Xmas Red" shade.

Week 28 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

The prompt for Week 28 is "Sparkle and Shine".

When I made my tag I was thinking of a disco mirror ball, so decided to cover my tag with PVA glue and round discs, some are in a gold glitter and some are more of a bronze colour.  They are actually a bag of table confetti I picked up from Home Bargains shop and thought I could use somehow.

I added extra colour by adding droplets of Liquid Pearls in a "Ruby Red" shade.  I aslo used two shades of red Stickles too "Burgundy" and "Xmas Red".

Once dry, I then used a die cut from the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Thinlits set called "Wildflowers - stem 2".

I couldn't find a sentiment in my stash that suited the tag, so decided to type, print and then cut out my own, saying "Sparkle & Shine".

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Click here if you would like to know more about this challenge.  

There is a Facebook Group for this challenge where members can upload their images to the weekly prompt albums and talk to others taking part.  It is very relaxed and we'd love you to join in to.  Sam x

Design Team make for "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog" #400 "Seaside"

It's time for another challenge on the "My Time To Craft Challenge Blog" which has a theme of "Seaside" for challenge #400.

If you have a moment, please do pop across to the blog to see the other fab makes by my fellow Design Team members.

I decided to do something a bit different for this make by using lots of little bits and bobs I had floating around my work desk.

I had a piece of stamped card with a woodgrain effect, which I had given a grey wash to make it look like weathered wood, so decided to use that as a base.

I knew the colours that I wanted for the sea, so used Distress Oxide Inks in the shades of:  Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Broken China and Salty Ocean and roughly applied it to card, filling the white areas using a paint brush.  

Once it was dry, I ran it through a Crafters Companion embossing folder which gave a nice wave look texture.  I ran a clear embossing ink pad across the surface then covered with a white/silver embossing glitter so that the raised areas sparkle like the sun catching the raised waves, then heat set.

In my embellishment stash, I found a balsa wood sentiment saying "Sun, Shells & Sand" so decided to colour the sea weed and star fish using my Arteza brush pens and then added some Stickles glitter glue to give it a bit of sparkle.

I tore a piece of cardboard box to add a colour and texture like wet sand. 

Finally, I assembled all the components and added little pearl like beads to the sand and small shells,  I also added a handful of clear sequins to the card to give added sparkle.

Week 18 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2019

The prompt for Week 18 is 'Just One Stamp".

This prompt sounds really easy, but actually I found as soon as there is a restriction on using stamps I found I wanted to use lots of them.

The background of the tag was created using Colorbox Inks brayered onto a Gelli plate and then speckled with Brusho.  Once dry, I used a Tim Holtz Distress Ink in the shade of "Peacock Feathers" through a Stampers Anonymous stencil (THS003 Rays).

I stamped the Visible Image bird (part of the "Life Is Beautiful" stamp set) using Versafine Clair "Nocturne" shade of ink.  I inked the edges of the tag and then mounted it onto black card.  Finally, I added some Green Stickles glitter to replicate the sheen that can cometimes be seen on birds with dark feathers.

Lavinia Stamps March Monthly Challenge - Sample #3

Every month, Lavinia Stamps have a monthly challenge.  The challenge for March 2019 is "Pink, Purple and Blue".  As part of the Design Team, we are asked to produce three samples based on the challenge theme.  This is my third of the three samples needed.

I started by using the brayer with three shades of Distress Oxides "Picked Raspberry", "Wilted Violet" and "Shaded Lilac".  

I used the Lavinia Stamps "Fern Leaf" stamped in Versafine Clair "Purple Delight" ink.  I then used "Small Fairy Fir Tree" stamped in Versafine Clair "Monarch" shade of ink and "Small Fairy Tree 2" stamped in Versafine Clair "Fantasia" shade of ink.  I then stamped the Lavinia Stamps "Sparkle" sentiment using Versafine Clair "Medieval Blue" shade of ink.  

After mounting the image with complimentary coloured layers, I finished the card using a "Crystal" coloured Stickles.

Design Team Make - 25th August 2018 (Christmas in August) - My Time To Craft Challenge

The prompt for the "My Time To Craft" challenge for 25th August 2018 is "Christmas In August".  Please do pop over and take a look at the other fabulous makes by the Design Team and maybe take part yourself?

It seems very odd to be creating Christmas cards at this time of year.  I tend to leave it till late September/October time, but it does allow me to re-visit my festive goodies that have been packed away for months.

I started off by masking a moon and then painting the sky using three shades of Distress Inks.  I then removed the moon mask and gently dabbed a pale yellow and dark grey shades of Distress Ink.

The deer image is part of a Stampin' Up set called "Christmas Deer" which I stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia ink.

I tore card to create an uneven snowscape at the base of the Deers feet.  I then used a Memorybox die called "Frostyville Border" to cut the intricate frosty detail.

I added extra star/snowflakes to the card and then some dots using a white Signo pen to replicate falling snow.  I added some dots of Stickles to give a subtle glitter to the snowflakes and the decorative border (I'm not sure it shows in this photograph).

Finally, I added a sentiment using a sentiment from another Stampin' Up set called "Winter Memories".

Lavinia Stamps "Moon Pod" Card

This is a really pretty card, but unfortunately photographs don't seem to pick up the full shimmery look of the card.  I may try to video it later when the sun comes out.

I made the background for this card using blended pink/purple Distress Inks.  I then splattered water across the surface to give a more mottled look.

I used Lavinia Stamps "Moon Pods" stamped in Versafine.  Using the same ink I stamped the sentiment which is by Sweet Poppy.

I used a white Signo pen for the dots on the "Moon Pods" and a gold Sakura Jellyroll pen for a shimmer to areas of the pods.

I used a Lavinia Stamps "Pound Stamp" for the stars.  To give a more shimmery look I stamped the stars in a Brilliance Ink called "Platinum Planet".  I then added a mauve coloured Stickles to the middle of the stars for extra shimmer, which can be seen in certain lights.

IndigoBlu "Splattered Heart" Card

Today my friend came over to learn a few techniques with Tim Holtz Distress Oxides and Distress Inks.  After she had left, I continued my play making this card.

I started by using Distress Oxides to make the coloured background.  I then used a die to cut the relief area on the bottom left of the card.

Using Versafine Ink, I stamped the heart using IndigoBlu "Splattered Heart" and then the sentiment using a Woodware "Thank you for..." stamp.  Finally I added dots of pink and purple Stickles and white dots using a Signo pen.

Week 22 - 52 Week Mini Art Card Tag Challenge 2018

The prompt for Week 22 of the challenge is "Anything Goes".

It's raining and thundery here today - so much for Bank Holiday sunshine, but it does mean that I'm home playing with inks and stamps.

For this weeks tag, I started with a piece of yellow cardstock cut to a tag shape. I used a Crafti Potential "Messy Watercolour Background stamp" to create a mottled look in two shades of Distress Inks.

Using assorted Lavinia stamps, I stamped the black foliage/flower images using a Versafine Ink. The "Love" word is part of a Stamper's Anonymous set called "Graffiti".  

Using a white Signo pen, I added dots.  Using the thin end of a Promarker I made up a heart background in dots.  Finally, using the tip of a pin, I added small amounts of Stickles glitter to the long flowers.

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If you would like to know more about this challenge, please click on the tab to the side of the "Home" button above.

We also have a Facebook Group where you can share your images and talk to others taking part in the challenge.  All are welcome, the more the merrier :)   Sam x

Week 18 - 52 Week Mini Art Card / Tag Challenge 2018

The prompt for Week 18 is "Mythical".  For my tag, i decided to go for a mermaid, but I also toyed with the ideas of pixies, dragons and a fairy too.

I used a Stampendous mermaid tag, stamped in a StazOn ink.  I coloured the mermaid using Promarkers.

I made a little circle mask for the moon, then painted the background using a paintbrush and diluted Distress Inks.  After I removed the mask, I then used a white Signo pen to add moonlight to the sea,  I also used Stickles on this area and also on the mermaid herself to give a shimmery wet look.

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If you would like to know more about the challenge, then click on the button at the top of the page (to the right of the "home" button".  It's a really relaxed challenge where people do as much or as little as they want to.

I would love it if you joined in with the challenge.  We do have a closed Facebook group, where members can share their challenge makes and chat etc, so why not pop over and say hello.  Sam x

Dance To It Tag

I played with the stamps that came with the Creative Stamping magazine (issue 52), again this morning and made this tag.

It has an oxide ink background.  In hindsight I should have used the normal Distress Inks as I would have got a more vibrant colour instead of the muted shades I ended up with, but we live and we learn.  All the stamps are from the magazine set and have been stamped using Versafine ink.  I've also used some green Stickles glitter glue to lift the colour a little.