FIRST ATTEMPT AT MASKING, DAUBING & STENCILLING

Hello

Back from work and decided to post a couple of cards I finished off last night ....

In line with this week's theme at Less is More here is my very first creation using a masking, stencilling and sponge daubing technique and I'm quite pleased with the result - will have to try it more often. The only issue is the photo - it wasn't easy to get a good image and it's ended up flat on the table which gives it a weird look like it's suspended in mid-air!

I've used my Memory Box Tilda Floral die as a stencil - I love this die and if you're a regular you may have spotted it a few times on the blog but not used in this way before!

To begin with I die-cut the floral die in basic card stock and used the negative to mask my card blank. I then placed the cut image inside and sponged with 2 inks using some sponge daubers that have been in my stash 'un-used' forever! It seemed a bit bland when I removed the mask and stencil so I rotated the die so that the petals sat in between the original ones and repeated the daubing. Think I went a bit mad then as I daubed up the edges of the card!!!

To finish off and add a bit of glam I've glitzed up the edges of the petals with glamour dust.  I decided to cut a circle in the flower centre and stamped 'hello' on the insert, but essentially it's a one layer card which means this can also go into the CAS on Sunday challenge.

Products Used:

Memory Box - Tilda Floral die
X-cut - Circle Die
Sentiments & Scalloped border die: Clearly Besotted
Enamel dots: Doodlebug from Craft Mojo


My next card is to enter challenges at The Paper Players and Addicted to Stamps and More (Anything Goes).

Still in the masking mood I die-cut a large circle in basic cardstock to use as a mask then stamped inside with flowers from the Uniko Studio Flower Power range. The sentiment is Clearly Besotted stamped and heat embossed in white onto vellum with a couple of Doodlebug pearl accents from Craft Mojo.

So that's all for now and time to catch up on your blogs.

CRAFT TURN-AROUND

Hi All

Happy Sunday - this is a scheduled post as the in-laws are up today and not sure when I'll get a minute to blog!

My first card is / was a disaster and somehow I managed to turn it round in about 5 minutes! Quite pleased with myself. It was initially a combined entry to CAS(E) This Sketch and Colour Throwdown. I decided to have a go at re-inserting die-cut bits into my Memory Box Piestra Tile die having seen this technique around on a few blogs ... BIG mistake. This particular die is far too fiddly and it took forever trying to pick up the teeny little snippety bits, aching back and eyes etched with concentration! It was heading for the garbage until I picked up a new little 6x6 pack of design papers from Doodlebug (as recommended by Michelle Short at The Card Grotto) and it all came together.

Now I did mention snippety bits and I've realised this card would certainly deserve a trip to the playground (Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground) and I'm feeling a bit guilty as I've not been there for a week or so. Simply ran out of time so today I'll go and check out the playmates.

                                    


Card Recipe:

Image & Sentiment: Clearly Besotted - Butterfly Wishes Additions & Dandelion Dreams, In the Frame dies
Papers: Papermania & Doodlebug
From my Stash: Doodlebug pearls
Other Tools: MFT Die-namics - Fishtail Flag Stax & Sizzix Circles

   


My next card is another commission - this rugby-mad teenager is certainly keeping me busy and this time his sister asked for a card - specifically with a white teddy and tartan scarf! Unfortunately the tartan clad teddy was too difficult to manage but I did find Snoozing Louie from Digistamp Boutique and I've fussy cut the armchair onto some tartan paper from my stash. It has made the card look a little Christmassy but it's definitely a birthday.

I've followed this week's Sketch Saturday Sketch so I'm heading over there with it and as it's a Digistamp Boutique image I can enter it in their monthly challenge here.

Card Recipe:

Image: Digistamp Boutique - Snoozing Louie
Sentiments: Clearly Besotted - Geometric Style, For Everyone & Basic Numbers
Tools: Retro Circle embossing folder, X-cut Corner Punch, Clearly Besotted Balloon dies, Promarkers
Papers: From my stash

 


Ok that's all for me today - hope you all enjoy whatever you are doing today especially if it's crafty work.

See you soon

UP UP AND AWAY ...

Back again with a second entry to the Clearly Besotted Challenge - In Flight

Card Recipe:

From Clearly Besotted: Going Places - Balloon stamp & Die
Sentiments: Going Places
Numbers: Basic Numbers

Papers: Papermania
Other Tools: Memory Box - Country Landscape border & Clouds
Cheery Lynn - Picket Fence
Coloured with Promarkers

Another commission card for an 18 year old with no special requirements this time so I could go with whatever I fancied.

Ok thanks for stopping by but off for a bit more crafty time - lots to catch up on.

HAND'S UP IF YOU LOVE FUCHSIAS ...

Well I certainly do and I've gone completely overboard with them in the last few days ... I'm talking about the newly released set from Clearly Besotted which I only got around to playing with this week. Wow so perfect for Mother's Day and lots of other occasions.

This card is for a commission where lilacs and butterflies were requested. I went all Clearly Besotted out on this one with:

Images: Fabulous Fuchsias stamps and dies
Sentiment: Happy Days

Sadly when it came to the butterfly from CBS Butterfly Wishes Additions it just didn't work and I'm kicking myself that I didn't buy the Elegant butterfly set on release day!

Anyway I've used my new Joy Crafts Vintage Flourishes Butterfly from Craft Mojo so I'm hoping this will still count in the CBS Challenge where the theme is 'In Flight' but just in case I've another offering in a minute!

I'm really pleased with how this one turned out so I'm heading over to Simon Says Stamp too where the theme is Mothers Day / Special Girl this week.

OVERBOARD ON PINK DAY

One more mega quick post and this one is another one for Simon Says Stamp where it's Mother's Day or a Special Girl. Well this one is for my special Auntie who lost her husband too soon and very suddenly just a few weeks ago. She doesn't check out my blog so should be ok posting this in advance of her birthday which is later this month. Understandably she's having a pretty rough time right now but hoping my card will give her a little smile - she loves bling so I've showered it with glitter and gems!

I've used the Beautiful Blooms stamp set from Uniko Studio and I nearly burst with excitement at the start of the week when Beverley announced she was launching matching dies for this fantastic set. Sorry but I just couldn't wait to get my hands on them as I'm not a great fussy cutter! They are BRILLIANT.

Other bits and pieces used: Sentiment from Clearly Besotted - Fabulous Fushias, Scalloped edge stand-alone die also Clearly Besotted and some bakers twine from my stash.  I even got a bit carried away and stamped the envelope too and it's just peeping out from behind the card.

Next up and last one for today is an entry to Sketch Saturday #300 - well done ladies.  Another commission; this time a Christening card. I had to slightly alter the front strip on the sketch so as not to cover the beautiful dress in the image.

Card Recipe:

Image: LOTV
Sentiment: Computer generated
Tools: Lattice embossing folder, corner punch, scalloped stand-alone die from Clearly Besotted, Sizzix circle dies
From my stash: twine, pearls, glitter card



Right must dash it's tea-time. Catch up with you all again soon and thanks for popping by.

THURSDAY MADNESS

I'm really just dashing in with a couple of ultra quick posts as time is short ...

At the moment I seem to be snowed under with commission cards - not that I'm complaining but they all seem to come at once and not often ideal for challenges :-(

Anyway I've a couple to show that might just sneak in;

First up is for a rugby mad teenager hitting a 'special' birthday. Having raided my stock I couldn't find anything rugby related. After a bit of web-surfing I came across this image on the internet that's quite fun. I'm entering my card into the Seize the Sketch challenge. It's a great sketch this week and I've been looking at it for the last week or so wondering whether I'd ever get around to using it...

Card Recipe:

Papers: Pink Petticoat & Echo Park
Sentiment: Computer generated
Tools: MFT Die-namics - fishtail flags, chevrons & high rise numbers
Sizzix Framelits - stars and circles
From my stash: silver twine, glitter card and button plus I've added glossy accents to highlight some of my rugby player.




Next up is to head over to Simon Says Stamp where the theme is Mother's Day or Special Girl card and this is a Mother's Day card for my MIL. During the week I placed a little order at Craft Mojo and this beautiful butterfly die from Joy Crafts just jumped into my basket so couldn't wait to have a play with it when it arrived earlier.

Card Recipe

Image: I've stamped dandelion heads from the Clearly Besotted Dandelion Dreams set onto vellum then heat embossed with white embossing powder. the flower heads are then drizzled with glossy accents, mini beads and glamour dust.

Sentiment: Clearly Besotted - Fabulous Fushia stamp set

From my stash: Pink leafy paper, bakers twine and pearls

DOLLY MIXTURE BLOOMS

Happy Sunday All and hope you are well and enjoying a touch of Spring ... fingers crossed it's here to stay.

I've had a hectic week and hardly surprised that my last post was Tuesday! YIKES!

Anyway to make up for it I've 3 cards to share with you which have taken a while today. Grrr that always seems to happen when I miss a few days of crafty-time.

So grab your sun-shades and here goes with a card to enter the Color Throwdown and Freshly Made Sketches challenges.

Card Recipe:

Image: Clearly Besotted - Fancy Florals stamps and dies
Papers: Echo Park Dots & Stripes
Sentiment: Uniko Studio - It's a Gift
From my stash: button, twine, Doodlebug Sprinkles, Josy Rose Nail Heads
Tools: Stand-alone Scalloped Dies from Clearly Besotted

   

Next up the ideal colour combo at ColourQ this week for a St Patrick's Day card and I needed one so an added bonus! The sketch I've used is from Retro Sketches so I'll be skipping along there too.

Card Recipe:

Image: Shamrock made up from hearts using the Clearly Besotted - Love Hearts stamps & dies
Sentiment: Clearly Besotted - Geometric Shapes
Stem of Shamrock: Also Clearly Besotted - Dandelion Dreams stamp set
From my stash: Button, Twine, Dotty paper
Tools: Cuttlebug - Retro circles embossing folder & Stand-alone Scalloped edge die from Clearly Besotted


   


Last one for today is to enter the CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge where it's a colour challenge this week and to be honest I wasn't sure about these colours. The purple tones I love but mixed with yellow! The jury is out on that one!

Card Recipe:

Image: Uniko Studio - Beautiful Blooms stamped and fussy cut then drizzled with glossy accents
Background Blocks - Clearly Besotted
Sentiment: Love the new Clearly Besotted Fabulous Fushia set and the sentiment is from here
Doodlebug Sprinkles
Tools: MFT Die-namics Sentiment Strips and Fishtail Flags



Ok I'm off to see who has won the Dancing on Ice competition and a little drool over Mr Selfridge! Thanks for stopping by and would love to receive your comments if you have time.

ANOTHER FLY-BY BLOG POST

Hi All

A late one tonight ... phew what a crazy day I've had! Just non stop work then some commission crafting plus two mega quick cards for a couple of challenges. Not sure I'm happy with them but can't guarantee more crafty time until the weekend so here goes ...

First up is to enter the Less is More Challenge where the theme is a colour combo of Green and Yellow. I have to say they aren't my immediate 'run to' colours but it's fun to experiment!

                                   

I've used a pre-coloured digi stamp from Clearly Digi Stamps then added a good helping of glossy accents to the flower heads to make them 'pop', the sentiment and scalloped border are from Clearly Besotted 'In the Frame' set and Stephanie's new stand-alone scalloped edge dies. A wrap-around of twine from my stash and a few 3d foam pads to raise the front panel and that's it.


Next up is a joint challenge for CAS Colours and Sketches and Addicted to CAS where the theme is 'Baby'. It's my gorgeous Clearly Besotted that jumped off the shelf again! The 'In The Frame' stamp and die set with the 'Baby Love' stamp set for the sentiments. Final bits and bobs from my stash are the design papers and enamel dots.

Right I am desperately in need of a strong brew and a catch up of TV so hope to catch up with you all again at the weekend. Enjoy the rest of your week and thanks for stopping by.