Fantasy at Try It On Tuesday

Our new challenge at Try It On Tuesday starts today and for the next 2 weeks we hope you will share your 'Fantasy' themed creations with us!

I make no apologies for once again playing about with my all time fave stamps - I LOVE these mermaids!

This was framed and given to a friend - who like me thinks Mermaids are one of the coolest things ever!

Ink blended background and used a Lavinia stencil for a bit of added interest.
All stamps are also from Lavinia (obviously!)

Coloured the images with my Mondeluz Aquarelle Coloured Pencils which are simply awesome - and they blend beautifully and a few highlights with a white Posca pen..

Thanks for stopping by and hope we will see lots of fantasy creations over at the challenge blog this time round! x

Inspired

Having been determined to stop dithering about and to be inspired by some of the gorgeous makes that pop up from the Lavinia Design Team, I have done several pieces which are now in frames.

A couple of my friends have granddaughters who are mermaid mad so there are 3 makes spoken for and finding their way into Christmas stockings this year - this is one and I will share the others at a later date.

This measures 11" x 9" in it's frame (which is white wood with a white mount) and to be honest I am really chuffed with myself for stepping away from the normal sized card fronts and having a go at something a bit bigger.

I have also become a stalker! I watch every tutorial from the very talented Mona Hauge who makes the most amazing scenes and is very generous in sharing her tips and techniques.
She has given me confidence to try things I wouldn't have thought I was good enough to do and I have been really delighted with the results.

For the first time I have begun to use coloured pencils to add definition and shading instead of trying to use an ink brush and I am fast running out of white pens for highlighting!
Yes, there have been mistakes, disasters and downright frustration but it has been wonderful expanding my horizons a little bit!

I am still though very nervous of trying alcohol ink backgrounds for stamping scenes (only cos the Yupo paper is so expensive) and I confess to having a Gelli plate and have never used it - but that's the next on the list! (And yes I know I've been saying that for EVER but I will get round to it!)

Thanks for looking today - I know blogging seems to be way down the list now with social media taking centre stage but I really appreciate all those of you who continue to follow my blog and leave comments.
Have a lovely day whatever you're doing. x
Sharing over at
APTTC - A/Goes
Ally's Angels - A/Goes
Crafts Galore Encore - A/Goes

Guest Designer - Fairy and Unicorn Challenge Blog

 I was delighted to have been selected as the winner for a recent challenge over at the Fairy and Unicorn Challenge Blog - (winning card is here if you've not seen it!) and was invited to be their Guest Designer for this month.

I have a bit of an Ocean thing going on at the mo and fortunately the challenge blogs'  challenges are always 'Anything Fantasy Goes'  so whilst I had all the necessary colours out on the desk (from my previous card!) I used them!

It's called       
'There's More Than One of ME??'
as Zelith and her fishy friends discover she is not the only Mermaid in the ocean and now she has someone else to swim with - if she can catch her up!

I intend to frame this eventually hence it has been left blank of any greeting. I may (or may not) add something (perhaps a small seahorse or jelly fish) to the top right before framing it!

Lots of inky blending and spattering and stamping (as my blue and green fingers will testify to!).

I used Versamagic Ocean Depth, Versafine Clair Verdant and Warm Breeze for all the sea foliage, bubbles, tiny fish etc and Nocturne for the main images.

I coloured Zelith with Oxides Twisted Citron and Salty Ocean then liberally applied Blue and Green Wink of Stella pens.
The tail of her new found friend was coloured in Picked Raspberry and Cracked Pistachio and I used Candyfloss Stickles and green Wink of Stella.

No self respecting mermaid can be seen without lots of sparkle and shimmer can they so liberal helpings of both. I was really pleased with how this turned out - but - as with all things blingy it was a bit of an effort to get a decent pic!
All stamps are of course Lavinia.

Thanks to Fairy and Unicorn for inviting me and thanks to you for looking!