Technique

I have been trying out some techniques - some have been successful, some not!
This was one that isn't perfect but am not too disappointed.
I tried this technique last year and thought I should try it again. I forgot though the one thing I learnt last time - DON'T PRESS TOO HARD WHEN SWIPING THE INK PAD'!!!

I think practice may make perfect on this 'Black Ice' technique and no doubt I will try it again on another scrap of mirri card.

This is not a big card - it only measures 4" square. The mirri card was just an odd piece, as was the black linen textured card, both left over from something and put onto a white card blank. (Playground for me then!)

The tree stamps are Inikadinkadoo and the stag is Inkylicious.
I watched this video from the Serene Stamper - and looking at her finished cards compared to mine - more practice required!!

Thanks for looking  - we woke up to the first frost this morning and as usual after a frosty start we now have clear blue skies and sunshine! Have a great day whatever you're doing! x
Sharing over at -
MIUBC #30 - A/Goes with Open Technique
Just Add Ink #430 - Add a Technique
Double D - Silhouettes
Dragonfly Dreams - Use Black

A Foiling First!

I have been trying out some new to me techniques the last couple of days and I confess I am now hooked............... on.................. foiling! I am sat here now waiting for some new stash 😊😊 after buying some teeny samples to see if I could master/like using foil.
I have a laminator (very old but works!) and I have also made some cards using that too and been happy with the results for first attempts.
This share is a card made without having to use a laminator!

I am dead chuffed with how this turned out (although those of a nervous disposition should not have been in the room when I was trying to take the photograph!)

Red Pepper and Lettuce Alcohol Inks onto a scrap of Yupo and just let them mingle together.

Allowed to dry for a short time then laid over a small piece of gold foil and rubbed with my finger. Where the 2 colours meet and leave a marked 'join'  the foil simply sticks to whilst it is tacky!
Simples really!

My trees were done by using double sided tape on another odd piece of card and putting the foil over. Rubbed lightly with a bone folder and then die cut.

Here's a close up -  I L💗VE it!!
 
Stamped a greeting in Metallic Gold Ink, die cut an oval frame and done!

CAS Mix Up's challenge this month is Foiling so am linking up to the gallery before the challenge closes in a couple of days.

Allsorts challenge is Add something gold/silver

It's dry here but a little overcast today.
I am off for some fresh air and a little walk round out local dam and then intend to foil, foil and foil some more!!
Have a great day whatever you're doing! x

CAS Stencil - October Mid Month reminder

We're halfway through our October challenge at CAS Stencil where Loll set us the theme of 'Patterned Paper'.
My paper comes from a vintage themed pad called - ?????  No idea 'cos I lost the front cover but it is full of scripts/roses/newspaper print/old franking machines and ink and pencils!

I used one of the lighter coloured and less fussy sheets for this make.

The newspaper print, pencils and word 'Perfect' is actually part of the sheet and I just stamped the other words round it after heat embossing in white through this pretty corner stencil.

I dabbed a little bit more embossing powder round the edge before matting onto grey card.

Finished with a couple of scored lines and a bit of twine.

So - you have time to come and join us oif you haven't already done so - and even if you have - MAKE ANOTHER!!!
Our Guest designer Gundi and the rest of the team have some great makes to inspire you!

October Mid Month at Stamping Sensations

The 'Trees and Leaves' challenge is half way through at Stamping Sensations, so here is my reminder post.
We are sponsored by Stamp Addicts and full details of the wonderful prize are shown over on the challenge blog - please follow our rules so you can be in with a chance of winning!

Having done a bright rainbow card for the start of the challenge(which you can see here) I have reverted back to traditional Autumn colours for this one!

I randomly sponged some Antique Linen DI over a piece of card first.

The stamps are from a Stampendous set called 'Summer Leaves'.
Used Tea Dye, Rusty Hinge and Dried Marigold and the fern stamp was inked in Bundled Sage.

The script stamp is from Indigo Blu and is second generation stamping with Pumice Stone.

Sponged the Pumice Stone lightly round the edges and stamped the sentiment and a tiny leaf onto some cream vellum and heat embossed.

Matted onto Kraft card before placing on the cream base card.

If you haven't already done so, stamp up a 'Trees and Leaves' project and come and join us! The prize is worth having!

Am sharing my Autumn Leaves over at
SOS - Pumpkin Spice
Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - Stamp It
Let's Create - A/Goes with option Fall Colours

Happy Crafting! x

CAS Christmas - October (Part 2!)

My Christmas cards are coming along - I am still  needing a lot more but I am currently away visiting my friend in a nice warm country🌞 (and attending meetings about an event we are running next year - so it's not all sun and pool lounging!). Unsurprisingly I really can't get my head round snow and ice at the minute. No doubt when I get back in a few days the British weather will soon change that.
I made these before I left when I was in Christmas card mode! It's very rare that I make 2 cards that are almost the same, and to be honest that was not the intention with these - the one on the left was a 'practice run' and I full expected to at least smudge it - but although I made a few changes when I came to do the second one as I looked at the first I thought it wasn't too bad- so onto a card it went!

I used the solid branch stamp from an Altenew layering set called Cherry Blossom, partly inking and adding bits of it to main branch in Versafine Smokey Gray.
The sponged background is Pumice Stone DI liberally splattered with water and once dry added my two Inklylicious birdies stamped in Crimson Red.

I used Iced Spruce on the base of the first card (not happy) and Tumbled Glass on the second - (much happier) before adding a little bit of glitter.
The 'snow' on the branches done differently too - the  left one had Nuvo Crystal (too thick) and I used a white gel pen on the second one!

Sharing these into the gallery at CAS Christmas where the theme is 'Winter Scene'.
Thanks for looking today - will catch up with you all in a couple of days when back home with the heating on! x

CAS Christmas - October (Part 1)

Even though I didn't manage a make last month, taking part in the CAS Christmas challenge as often as I have been able this year has managed to give me a few more cards than I usually have at this time of year. I'll still be panicking come the start of December as that has now become part of my normal build up to Christmas!

This month the challenge theme set is a 'Winter Scene'.

I have actually made a couple of cards for this challenge and will pop them in the gallery when I can but thought I'd share this one first.

I bought this stamp over 10 years ago - and as with a lot of my stash, think I used it once!

Stamped and watercoloured and a liberal amount of glitter on the chimney top and roof.

Oh and I used the tiniest blob of Nuvo Crystal drops on the reindeer's nose! And I am a little pleased with myself 'cos it looks cute!

Thanks for looking - have a great day! x

October Challenge at Stamping Sensations

This month our Stamping Sensations challenge fits in nicely with Autumn as it is -  'Trees and Leaves'.

We are sponsored by Stamp Addicts and full details of the wonderful prize are shown over on the challenge blog - please follow our rules so you can be in with a chance of winning!

My card has been inspired by the colours from 2 other challenges -
(Pin)spirational (pic shown here on the right) and Colour My Heart Dare #362.  (Photo at the end of this post)

Using a piece of bright white card, I heat embossed the leaf stamps (which are from the Altenew Spring Bouquet set) before inking over it.

After inking the background I spattered some water drops and mixed some gold Perfect Pearls with some water and spattered a few tiny drops.
This has given a little shimmery effect to the tiny gold spots.

Matted it onto black card before fixing it to the white base card.

I added a white heat embossed sentiment from Technique Tuesday.

Hoping that you can come and join in with us this month at Stamping Sensations.

Have a great day! x

CAS Watercolour October Challenge

CAS Watercolour is celebrating their THIRD Birthday🎂🎂🎂 this month (time has certainly flown!). Loll is hosting and she has set the challenge of  'Maple Leaves'. 

So here's my card!

I coloured some watercolour card with Distress Inks in shades of Rusty Hinge, Fossilized Amber and Spiced Marmalade and then die cut 3 maple leaves.

A stitched frame over another piece of watercolour card (a scrap but I thought the colour blended OK) and then arranged 2 leaves and cut the third up and tucked it behind the frame.

The die cut and the stamped sentiment is from Technique Tuesday

If you play along this month you will be in with a chance of winning a prize and all you have to do is create a card with a watercoloured Maple Leaf ( or Leaves) and make sure to keep your design CAS (clean and simple) with lots of open space.  Simples!


There's a few Autumn themed challenges about so am sharing my card at -
Die Cut Divas - Fall Colours
HLS (Watercolour) - A/Goes/Botanical
Stamplorations October CAS - Shades of Orange

Thanks for looking today - have a great weekend! x

CAS Stencil - October

Our challenge at CAS Stencil this month is 'Patterned Paper' and has been set by Loll.
Loll seems to think that we all have patterned paper mountains lying about.. have no idea where she gets that idea from...............😄😄
So here's my DT card -

I recently had a mass purge of patterned paper and got rid of a lot but I did keep some odd sheets from pads which I knew I would definitely use!

I used a small hearts stencil and heat embossed - white ones first leaving the centre red one till last.

Placed onto a die cut piece of black card.
I heat embossed the die cut sentiment and it is really shiny in real life! (Saving this card to give to my other half!)

Stencilling onto patterned paper was another first for me and I hope that will have a go and join in with us this month - 'cos I know you're all now looking at your paper pads!!

Lots of inspiration over on the challenge blog too - my talented teamies have so many wonderful ideas!
AND - we have a wonderful guest designer this month - Gundi- who has made a fantastic card showcasing her stencil and patterned paper!

Am sharing my make over at -
CHNPP - A/Goes
The Male Room - CAS
CAS on Friday -  Masculine