Damn Men!

This fortnight's challenge at Try It On Tuesday is MAKE IT MASCULINE.

Man cards...I struggle so much with them! I try to come up with something different and original but in the end always revert back to the easy option - which is usually something rusty looking in the shape of cogs or clocks!

So here is the inevitable 'cog card for a damn man'!

Some time back I was gifted by a fellow blogger a couple of pieces of Tim Holtz shimmer card which is specifically for use with alcohol inks. This was the first piece I used and I must confess the shimmer is fantastic (which is probably why the pic is so bad!)

Once I'd covered the shimmer card with alco ink I took a cog stencil and inked over it to give a bit of depth to the background.

I used gilding wax to colour the die cut cogs.
Hope you can find time to make a man themed project this time round - and if you're seeking inspiration the rest of the DT and our Guest Designer have some for you over on the challenge blog!
Thanks for looking. x

Excited!

A couple of weeks ago I was asked by the TIOT team to join them.
TIOT has been a challenge blog that I have tried to link up to as often as I could so I was super excited to have been asked!

So here's my first effort as part of the DT for this week's challenge which is 'Let's Get Messy'.

I can get messy when I have to - but getting messy and producing something which actually looks OK is a bit more difficult!

I love Alco Inks and simply don't use them enough so this was the perfect challenge to wipe the dust from them.

I stamped a large Hydrangea (For the Love of Stamps) onto vellum and heat embossed then carefully cut round it before popping it on the top of the inky panel, then  wrapped it up with a vellum strip (word from the same stamp set).

Please pop over to the challenge blog and check out what 'mess' the rest of the team have made 😊
and thanks for looking here today - hope you will join in our challenge too! x

Absent

 I've scheduled this post as I wanted to share another make for the challenge at CAS Mix Up which is to use Alcohol Inks on Vellum. My other posts for the DT are here and here
Also sharing over at  MMM - Trees

My vellum sky was done using Watermelon, Orange Sunset and Citrus alcohol inks, mixed with a liberal helping of blending solution.
The trees were popped onto the base card and the vellum piece with 3d foam and it has quite a good dimension in real life.
The sentiment was inked in Memento Canteloupe which is not a bad match at all!

I will be absent from blogland for a while as I'm taking an enforced break from crafting.

We have sold our house and are having to move into a rented property on 21st July as the purchase of our next home will not be completed until September.

 

So the craft room has been finally all packed away - I am hoping to be able to do a little whilst in the rental as I will get withdrawal symptoms if I have to wait till September to get out the card and inky stuff!

 

We also are in the process of the sale of mum-in-law's flat and purchasing a new apartment for her so as you can imagine we are currently meeting ourselves coming back and I can honestly say it is now official - I HATE CARDBOARD BOXES!🎁
I will visit you all as soon as I am able to! x

CAS Mix Up Mid Month Reminder

 Half way through our challenge this month at CAS Mix Up and the challenge is a mixed media one set by Coni who wants us to use Alcohol Inks on vellum.
I had a little bit of inky fun using some of the blues from my AI collection and came up with this.

I was a little apprehensive about heat embossing the sentiment - thankfully the vellum behaved itself and didn't warp!

This wavy stitched die is one of my more often used.
I stamped and heat embossed the shells and starfish then fussy cut, a couple of heat embossed seagulls finished it all off.

I rarely use my Alcohol Inks so it was good to dust them off for this challenge and it reminded me that I do like making an inky mess from time to time!

I'm particularly happy as the vellum used was a left over piece as were the 3 wavy die white pieces - so it's off to visit Miss Di in the Playground too!

We have some great cards done by the DT and in our gallery - lots of inspiration to be found. Grab that vellum and come along and join us!
Also sharing over at
Krafty Chicks - CAS

CAS Mix Up July Challenge

 It's time to get inky!
Our challenge this month at CAS Mix Up is a mixed media one and has been set by Coni who wants us to use Alcohol Inks on vellum.

Using AI on vellum is something that although I have done before, is one of those techniques that I don't do very often, so this was a lot of fun for me!

I started by die cutting my lovely Crocus in vellum and mixed some Purple Twilight AI with a few drops of blending fluid to colour the flower heads and did the same with the stems using Lettuce AI, then just put them to dry then dropped a teeny amount of gold AI on the flower heads.

I covered my card blank with another sheet of vellum and used Stencil Sparkle Paste for the butterflies and heat embossed the sentiment.

A gold Posca pen was used for the butterfly bodies (and the antenna which you can't see on the pic!) when the paste had dried.

I finished by using Cosmic Shimmer glue to stick my die cuts onto the vellum base.

We have the wonderful  Hannelie  as our Guest Designer this month, please go visit!
Lots of inspiration too from the rest of the Design Team and we really hope you can have a go with this technique this month!

Mid Month Anything Goes at Uniko!

Having won the April challenge over at Uniko I was invited to be their Guest Designer this month for their theme of 'Anything Goes' with the option of  'Bright and Happy'

My first card for the challenge is HERE if you want to go and look!

My background was created using Wild Plum and Watermelon Alcohol Inks on Yupo.

I dried a little with a heat gun then took a small piece of Deco Silver Foil and pressed it down and rubbed my finger randomly onto the background.

This is a fun technique as  after each press down and rub, when you lift off the foil piece some of it has transferred to the AI (usually where the 2 colours have 'pooled' together) and gives a 'marbling' effect.

I stamped and heat embossed the flower (Flower Power Set #8) and fussy cut, and used the sentiment/die from the Kindness Blooms set.

Much as I like this AI/Foil combo it is a nightmare to photograph but I hope that you like my bright background and my happy flower!

There is still time to enter - and you don't have to use a Uniko image - so with a great prize on offer why don't you link in?!
You may be lucky like me and win!

Happy Crafting! x

Inks and Powder

Blue skies and sunshine (but cold) here today after all the rain yesterday - mad when you think just across the Pennines 40 minutes drive away they once again are experiencing floods. Although one of the downsides of living so high up on the top of a moor means you experience high winds 💨and snow ⛄ the upside is at least you don't get flooded out💧⛆🌊!

Because the weather was so bad yesterday I spent a very nice cosy time in the craft space doing what I do best - making messy!

I have never tried hot glue embossing but continuing with my decision to try out new techniques and re visit old ones and after seeing a similar card to this on Pinterest the small piece of metal left on the desk from my card here seemed to say 'Use Me'! - So I did!

I ran the metal through an embossing folder and then dropped some Alco Inks on it and simply let them run.

Out with the glue gun! Confess don't use the glue gun a lot (cos I am VERY messy), but am really pleased that I only managed to get the glue where I wanted it and not all over everywhere else!
A few blobs, then gently heated again to make warm, added some gold embossing powder and heated again.
Once finished I matted it onto an off cut of gold card before putting on the card base and stamping the sentiment.
Another 'man' card I think?

Liked doing this technique so the glue gun is still out........😏😏

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 Mid Month

Half way through my first month as member of the CAS Stencil DT and I have another card to share.

The challenge this month is being hosted by Cathy and she has chosen Alcohol Inks/Alcohol Lift.

As I did the 'lift technique' with my first card, I decided to try some basic use of the inks with a stencil by simply applying with a piece of felt on an applicator onto Yupo paper.

I used Butterscotch first then spotted a teeny bit of Orange Sunset onto the pad and just dabbed over the honeycomb stencil.

The mottled effect turned out fine (I think😌)

The bees were stamped, the larger one fussy cut and both were coloured with watercolours.
I used some Glossy accents on the wings and they really DO shine!

A curvy die and a couple of black gems finished my card.

The ladies at CAS Stencil have some amazing examples of how to use your stencils with Alcohol Inks - please pop over and leave them some comments - and of course - get your own inks and stencils out and join us!
Other challenges -

CAS on Friday  - 'Use a Stencil'
Addicted to Stamps - CAS Summer card
Thanks for looking today! x 

Complete Overhaul (and a long post!)

A week since my last post. I sit now in a completely overhauled craft 'studio' - taken almost a week to do, but it has been worth it as the room had become cluttered and untidy and a revamp was long overdue!
It's not quite finished as it needs painting but at least now I have all my crafting stuff neatly to hand and dear husband has a proper area now for his electric piano to sit  alongside his iPad and laptop. Just to the right are his main PC and 3 screens (don't ask - but apparently they are an ABSOLUTE necessity when you command the Starship Enterprise😵 or are a General in War Planet Online😉😉!).

Having been able to actually sit at a desk yesterday I spent my time making up a few cards from my saved 'practice' bits.
I had messed about on some small pieces of Yupo with Alcohol Inks trying out different colours. I put them to one side to dry then promptly forgot about them until we began the big re-vamp! So here's one -  I topped it with a NBUS die cut (another odd bit!) and a gold metal butterfly.
Gold embossed the sentiment.
Quick, easy and more bits used up so am calling in on my good friend Di at Pixie's Playground with this make and also sharing at the CAS challenge at Allsorts.

Whilst my first DT card at CAS Stencil involved Alcohol Inks, (my card is HERE)  the challenge at CAS Mix Up called for  Alcohol Ink Lift Technique.

I found this technique much easier using a dry baby wipe with blending solution wrapped round a stamping block and applied to the stamp rather than using the Lift Ink Pad.  

Easier ?  Yes but happy with the results? Not really!!

My seahorse and seaweed stamp design looked so much better in my head!
But I will have another go at this I think as I like the soft etheral look  that is achieved using the blending solution to lift off the colour (and I have LOTS of bits of Yupo to use!)

I have a couple of plants to pot up outside then I am planning to enjoy my lovely new 'studio' (and use up the rest of the bits on the desk!)
Thanks for looking - enjoy your day whatever you're doing. xx

CAS Stencil July Challenge and NEWS!

So - here I am - with my very first ever post as a member of the Design Team at CAS Stencil!
Scary eh?????
Am petrified!

But was very, Very, VERY excited to have been asked to join another team with such incredibly talented crafters and an opportunity too good to miss!
It also makes me deliver CAS cards which I have been leaning more towards and of course to use Stencils which I have never used a lot of before.

The challenge this month is being hosted by Cathy and she has chosen Alcohol Inks/Alcohol Lift.
Here's my contribution -

 I used Raspberry and Sunset Orange Alco Inks on Yupo paper.
I am still very much learning with Alco inks despite having had them for a long time - I have found that Yupo paper (although not cheap) is the easiest to work with when using Alcohol Inks.

My stencil is a 'Morrocan Tile' Effect and using the 'Lift' technique I carefully removed the  colour from the inks using blending solution sponged through the stencil.

Once finished I blotted with a paper towel and then carefully removed the stencil (Holding my breath!).  Some solution had run under the stencil on one side but I simply trimmed the piece slightly.

Mounted the finished piece when dry onto basic white card to give a bit more stability to the Yupo, chopped in two and after stamping the sentiment direct onto the card base stuck on my two 'Tile' pieces using foam pads.

If you're new to stenciling or using Alco Inks check out the video tutorials over at the Challenge Blog and also see the beautiful cards from my teammates and our July Guest Designer,  Janet.

I hope that you will come along with me whilst I travel down the road of CAS Stencil and maybe we can learn to use our stencils in different ways together!

Shocking!

Shocking PINK that is!
I mentioned that I'd been messing with Alcohol Inks again so here is the first completed card.

Have made rather a mess on the table with these inks.... and a mess on my hands!
LOVED IT!

I followed Loll's technique of scribbling the inks onto foil then smooshing the Yupo through it.
I used two separate pieces of Yupo.

The first piece is really dark (saved for another  time) and this is the result with the 'second pass'.

Flicked some white acrylic paint here and there before adding the two die cuts, (cut from some odd leftovers - so it's the Christmas visit to the Playground for me....!)
The sentiment was shadow stamped using my Misti and Versafine Smokey Grey then Versafine Black. It looks a little out of focus on the pic!

I suppose everyone is mad busy getting ready for the weekend... one of the plus things about there just being the 2 of us is there is no mad running about at Christmas. We've done our (small) food and (large) drink shopping, wrapped a couple of pressies up for each other and are ready to hibernate!

I did though manage to get my tree up a week early this year - as for some unknown reason I wanted it to be Christmas (for the first time in YEARS - normally I am full of Bah Humbug and the tree makes an appearance around the 24th December!)

Hope you're all surviving the pre Christmas panic - and thanks for taking the time to drop in. x

Joining in over at -
SOS - Gah Pink!
Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
Crafty Gals corner - Anything Goes
Craftaholics R Us - Anything Goes
CRAFT - Anything Goes

Quick Christmas 2

Getting on with some Christmas cards and made a few using leftover card.
I often am inspired by my blogging buddy Loll who makes simply beautiful cards and once again this one comes from Loll's ideas.
Loll also provides the tutorial for making the background!

Yupo paper and Alcohol inks in Sail Boat Blue and Stream with a teeny bit of silver additive. I used a large piece of Yupo and made a few cards like this and another which will be revealed in the New Year.

Simple dies cuts for the trees and the stitched frame and I ran a silver gel pen round the outline of the trees as I thought they needed to stand out more!
Dabbed a white gel pen on the background (not sure it looks like snow.... LOL) and added the sentiment in Silver Ink.

Another one which isn't too bulky to post and another few made for my stash - although am a long way off from the number I need......
I can feel a visit to the supermarket may be necessary!

Linking up to
ATSM - Make your Mark
Xmas@SS - Anything Goes
Cardz 4 Guyz - O Christmas Tree
Hope you are all having a good day. Thanks for visiting! x
  

Inlaid Dies

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. I spent mine getting to grips with some paperwork and then had a little time for myself in the craftie space.

When I am able to I try to take part in the CAS Mix Up Challenges. I find it easy to add elements onto fussy cards but trying to make CAS ones with the required elements taxes me a bit and I like the challenge!
This month it's 'Inlaid Dies + Stamping +Your Choice'.

I have had this Poppy die for a long time and think it was one of the first I bought. Bright idea to use it with some left over Alco Inked paper and white card.
At this point I think I should make a 'Note to Self' - think about how long it is going to take you to inlay all the fiddly bits before starting!!

I used Raspberry and Red Pepper for the flower heads and Lettuce, Meadow and a teeny bit of Citrus for the stems and base.
Although it took quite a while to piece it all back together (particularly the white bits) I am happy now it's finished! Cut it out using my cross stitch die then popped it back into the original square pice before mounting it onto the base card.
The sentiment was stamped in Certainly Celery and heat embossed and I added a couple of teeny sparklies to finish it off.

Have no plans today excepting to pop over to the Playground to catch up with everyone then make a few more cards! Thanks for stopping by - have a great day whatever you're doing. x

Other Challenges -
CASology - Cue Word 'GROW'
The Crafty Addicts - Anything Goes/Sentiment
Dragonfly Journeys - Square
HLS CAS April - Blend
Cut It Up - CASE (and I CASE'd Loll (AGAIN!!) Her card is here

Alcohol again

Just a quick post from me today and a quick CAS card to share made when I was playing with Alcohol Inks and inspired by Loll!

Used some ivory linen card as the base card this time as I thought it went better than stark white with the leaf.

The leaf was cut from a scrap piece of Yupo and the colours were Stream, Lettuce and Citrus.

I used the left over from the base card for the embossed wood panel and the frame.  I cut the inset of the frame with a nestie and stamped the sentiment in Lucky Limeade ink.

The 3 buttons were from my stash as I thought that rather than use sparklies, if I used buttons this could be a 'man' card!

Quite happy with this, although on reflection I perhaps should have used a die which had broader leaves so that more of the colours of the alco inks could be seen.
Might try this again!

Challenges -
Pixies Snippets Playground- Week 269/270
Addicted to CAS - Wood
HIMCR - Embossing
Alphabet - You for You Choose

Thanks for looking today. Have to brave the wet weather and do some shopping so will catch up with you all later - have a great day whatever you're doing. x

More Alcohol

I was having a lovely time last week until that damn virus which I had before Christmas decided to put in yet another appearance. Not as bad this time but enough to make me feel more than a little fed up with myself....!
So the title of my post does not mean I used the coughing as an excuse to lubricate myself with drink (not that I need much encouragement) -  it means that I have made another card with the neglected alco inks!

I am beginning to enjoy just being able to chuck liquid inks onto a sheet of paper and have them all merge into yummy colours.
I am though struggling as to what to use the coloured sheets for but this one shouted Autumn Leaves.

Ivory linen textured card used as the base.
Colours on Yupo were Butterscotch, Caramel, Ginger and Latte.

I am hoping that these 3 shades are close enough on the colour wheel for me to join in at Less Is More this week. They are celebrating their 6th Birthday so I thought that a 'Thank you' to those who run the blog was called for!
The leaves actually have some distinct embossed veins which don't show up too well in the pic, but are quite effective.

The left over snippet was used as a dimensional panel - waste not, want not. So I am also taking my coughing body into the Playground - but will wrap a scarf round my face to keep my germs to myself!
Going to spend today catching up in blogland so will be visiting you all soon! xx

Alco Inks - 1.

I have had bottles and bottles of Alcohol Inks for years. I have used them exactly 5 times ......... 😕..........Until now.😀
I have always used them on metal (OH used to supply the beer cans!!) when I was doing a lot of mixed media and not a lot of card making. In recent times I have forsaken the mixed media side of things (although I still have tons of stuff/canvases/modelling paste etc etc) and concentrated on cards - mainly because time is at a premium and also I can sell the cards and the money goes in the charity pot!
BUT - being an avid follower of Loll's blog, I saw the beautiful cards she made using Alco Inks so off to Amazon I went and ordered some Yupo paper.

It arrived and I spent yesterday playing about with the dusty inks.This is the first of 3 cards made yesterday - the other 2 are not Christmas related!

I used Lettuce, Watermelon and Red Pepper colours and after watching Loll's tutorial used some tin foil to mix my colours then dragged the paper through.
Sprayed some Alco Ink blending solution in a mini- ister and when it dried this piece reminded me of Christmas colours - Cue the poinsettia die.
The sentiment is from Stamping Up's Beautiful Season set and I used Encore Gold Metallic Ink. 

The stitched frame was a bit of a mistake. I meant to emboss and ended up cutting! Rescued it by putting it back inside the already embossed outer frame!

I am secretly quite pleased with myself for finally using the long neglected inks. AND I am secretly quite pleased with the result!

Challenges -
Christmas @ Sweet Stampin - A/Goes
Sweet Stampin - Dies
Paper Players - CAS/Use a flower
C+GI - No designer paper
ABC Christmas - A = Anything Goes
Time Out - Pic Inspiration  here - and I used the red/white/green colours as inspiration!

Thanks for looking and I also thank you very very much if you have left me a comment - I appreciate them all!
Have a great day whatever you're doing! x