AAA Cards - #92 Resist Technique

Lots of excitement today over at AAA Cards as we start a new challenge and introduce six new team members! YAY!

I have a bit of a thing for messing up when I use heat embossing, but it always looks so cool on cards I see around blogland that it's a technique I'm working on improving.

Here's my card with a quote thats seems very relevant:

I made sure I used one of those dusting pads before I stamped the quote using versamark ink and heat embossing it in sparkling white.  At the same time I stamped and embossed the flower and stem. The technique might have been out of my comfort zone, but to compensate I stuck with my favourite colours and smooshed distress ink over the embossing.

I then die cut the whole thing with a stitched rectangle, but changed my mind and re-cut it with a smaller rectangle, if you look carefully you'll see the double row of stitching on the left that this caused. I then used a small spiro circle die for the flower head and raised it on pads for a little dimension.

Supplies:
Stamps: Visible Image, Thank You set & Take Chances
Inks: Ranger distress, picked raspberry, wilted violet, cracked pistachio; Versamark, clear
Embossing: WOW!, Sparkling Snow
Die: Lil'inker, stitched mats rectangles; Xcut, spiro circle 

Want to see more fabulous resist technique creations? Well of course you do and this is where you'll find them - AAA Cards. And you'll be spoilt for choice this fortnight with our increased Design Team!

Huge thanks for visiting today, I really appreciate sharing your time.  And keep crafting!

Happy Little Stampers - ATC Challenge June

I'm super excited to have you visit my blog today as I've joined the DT in a brand new ATC challenge that is making its debut at Happy Little Stampers. This is going to be so much fun!

Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) are very popular and there aren't a lot of challenge blogs available for you to get inspiration from and link up to. So Happy Little Stampers is here to help to fill this gap!

Never made an ATC? Well let me tell you they are tremendous fun and quite addictive. So why not join in with this new monthly challenge?

  What are Artist Trading Cards?

Artist trading cards (ATCs) are miniature pieces of art that are traded around the world. Artists create, trade and collect art at organized "swap" events, either in person or online. The only official rule for an ATC is the size: 2.5" x 3.5"

source Strathmoreartist.com

The theme for this first challenge is FLOWERS and here's what I came up with:

I used a piece of smooshed watercoloured card and stamped the background flowers on top. I inked all round the edges of the card with black soot distress ink - really defines and finishes off such a small card. I then added a strip of washi and a handcut flower and leaves.

The addition of some nuvo drops and enamel dots was my final touch.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Fun Flowers & Background Blocks Doodle Flower
Inks: Ranger distress, cracked pistachio, blueprint sketch, peacock feathers, mermaid lagoon, black soot; Veramark, clear; Versafine, onyx black
Embossing: Ranger Superfine, black
Embellishments: Nuvo drops, midnight blue; Now & Then enamel dots; washi from my stash


And did I say these cards are addictive? Mmmm, well seems I've got the bug. So here's another two in my flower series.

As the whole point of ATC cards is to swap I'm happy to send these out to three of you. Just mention in the comments that you'd like one. If there's more than three of you I'll make a random draw and announce the winners in my next ATC Challenge blog post on 11th July.

There is loads more inspiration for you over on the HLS ATC blog - HERE.  Go take a look and then get creating. But remember the size rule - 2.5" x 3.5"

Huge thanks for looking today, hope I've inspired you to play along.  And keep crafting!

Uniko Design Team Inspiration

Hi all! Just popping in to let you know I'm over on the Uniko blog today with some cards showcasing the fabulous Uniko stamp and die sets.  Hope you'll come join me - HERE.

Here's some sneaky peeks at what I've been up to:

Thanks for looking, but be sure to hop on over to Uniko to find out all the details. And keep crafting!

The Male Room - #62 Off The Edge

A super theme for the new challenge at The Male Room - Off The Edge. Wow, that's something to think about!

I immediately thought about stamping right on the edge of a card with some of the stamp not showing - sort of half a stamp. I've done that before and think it looks really cool, but then as i was looking through my stash I came across this bicycle stamp. Ping! The lightbulb moment happened.

I used a strip of washi to suggest a road or path for the bicycle to go along and added an arrow to point the way. Loving that sentiment, who knows what might happen next!

Supplies:

Stamps: Reverse Confetti, Boho Vibes; Clearly Besotted, Good Times

Ink: Versafine, onyx black

Washi from my stash

OK, that's me all done and now it's your turn to go off the edge. Adventure awaits you - HERE - where the rest of TMR DT have inspirational creations to help you on your way.

Thanks for looking today, I really love that you visited my blog.  And keep crafting!

CAS Colours & Sketches #226

A new month and I'm back from taking some time out at CAS Colours & Sketches. We're kicking off the month with colours selected by Cathy.

Here's my card:

I've used the totally delicious new Uniko lily stamp, such a joy to colour, looks amazing and gives so much impact to any card.

Supplies:
Stamps: Uniko, Pure Florals Lily & Background Blocks Horizontal Stripes
Inks: SU, crumb cake
Promarkers: ivory, tea green, burnt orange, tan

Can't wait to see how you use this subtle colour combination, but if you need a bit more inspiration go check out the rest of the DT cards - HERE. 

Thanks for visiting today and keep crafting! 

Happy Little Stampers - June Christmas Challenge

Hi all! I'm here today sharing my DT card for the new Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge. And you're going to love the twist for this month - TREE

And who hasn't got a Christmas tree stamp or two or three in their stash? The hardest thing about this new challenge is going to be deciding which one to use!

No brainer for me! I used this quirky and totally fabulous stamp from Wonky Tonk. Even the name sounds fun! And seeing as it is such a fun and different sort of tree I decided to ramp it up even more and chose my favourite purple and pink colour combo - and a touch of green, well it is a tree and Christmas.

Supplies:
Stamps: Wonky Tonk, Meet Me Under The christmas Tree & A Jolly Holly Christmas
Inks: Memento, tuxedo black 
Pens: Colorista, cyan, sorbet, magenta

So will you twist with us? And which colours are speaking to you right now? Can't wait to find out! The rest of the HLS DT have made cards to inspire you, check them out HERE and then get creating.

Thanks you so much for spending some of your precious time looking at my blog today, I really appreciate your visit.  And keep crafting!

Saturday Slot

Hi! today I'm sharing a scrapbook page I've made using a sketch from Stuck?! Sketches. This is a totally new challenge for me, discovered by connecting with Åsa one of the new AAA Cards DT.

And here's the page I created using that wonderful sketch.

Here's a closer look at the journalling - such a delightful and funny thing to watch him in the bath. Oh to be so young and totally without any fear of admiring your reflection!

The background was achieved by using a blending tool and distress ink and then stamping on top with same colour. I added a couple of washi banners and some die cuts from the same Bella Blvd collection as the 12x12 paper.

Supplies:
Paper, Die cuts & Washi: Bella Blvd, Secrets of the Sea
Stamps: SU, Gorgeous Grunge
Ink: Ranger distress, blueprint sketch 
Enamel dots: MME, Now & Then

I'm so pleased you dropped by my blog today, always a pleasure to have some company.  And keep crafting!