Asia

The weather here has been dreadful today so I have spent my time making some Christmas cards, - all made using different embossing powders with a Papermania 'Bauble Decoration' stamp! The stamp is a popular one this year and I have to confess I really like it - will post some pics when I feel a bit more 'Christmassy'!

When I became bored (and believe me it wasn't long), I turned my attention to something else - this Asian themed card was made using Elusive Images stamps. The blossom background was done using just the edge of the stamp omitting the branches and I gold embossed both blossom and quote before mounting the quote on a black border and adding a strip of black card behind to give it some definition. The fan is a fabric one which I bought at the NEC last year and although a bit too pricey to use on a card I decided it was worth the expense - the pic doesn't show the embroidery very well as I am trying to take pics in artifical light which is never a good idea - maybe I will retake the pic over the weekend...(if I remember!)

I have submitted this card into two challenges this week - Wednesday Stamper's theme is Asia and Theme Thursday's challenge is 'Borders'.

Fairy Dreams

Had a couple of hours today so whilst watching the weather alternate between torrential downpours and brilliant sunshine I sat here and made messy! Have made this ATC for four challenges.

The theme at Wednesday Stamper was 'Dreams', Created By Hand was 'Faeries', Lots To Do had set their challenge as 'Collage' and TMTA's subject was 'Fly'.

I confess to recycling on this ATC! The butterfly stamped on acetate was sent to me on a birthday card and had decided to fly away from the card during it's journey so I rescued it from the envelope and put it to one side thinking (as all us crafters do) 'that might come in useful' !!!!

So the background paper is from Crafty Individuals, (another part of my recent spending spree!) and I stamped the corner with pearlescent Ice Blue ink and heated using a little clear embossing powder. The image was printed on glossy photo paper and I added the lace, word and recycled butterfly.

Tag

Today it is Maureen's birthday - she is 21 again. LOL

It was Maureen who persuaded me to move away a little from 'safe' card making and to explore altered stuff.... she keeps finding me 'large things to alter'. Amongst other things she's sent me massive match boxes, huge jigsaw pieces and enormous playing cards!

Some time ago she sent me a very large luggage tag so I decided she would get it back - can post it now as she's opened it! I sponged the background then added various mica powders in blue, green, gold and copper. I tried to give the background a smooth textured look so dotted 'blobs' of the mica powders and heated with the heat gun.

I thought the little mermaid's expression looked like she was dreaming of doing other things - maybe being able to stand selling sea shells instead of just swimming amongst them? Out came the 'shell' box - some of these shells were brought back from Florida - and I figured if they'd survived travelling that sort of distance they could survive Royal Mail!

I edged the image with gold ink and stuck it on the tag then stamped the words.

I stuck some blue, green and gold fibres along the bottom of the image and put a small pearl bead next to the large shell.

Finally I embossed the entire edge of tag in gold, adding some more tiny blue and green beads, a moon snail button and little gold starfish and of course some more shells. Please enlarge the pic for a better view!

Happy Birthday Maureen!!!

(Oh - and I have entered this into Wednesday Stampers theme of 'Colourful' and I hope it also is acceptable for the challenge of 'friends' at Tuesday Taggers)

More Pink and Brown!

This week's there was an 'open' theme at Wednesday Stamper but it had to be done on a 'skinny'. (3" x 5"). I was so happy to have made the front page photo show with last week's silhouette ATC but time was at a premium as I have several family birthdays approaching and need to make cards not just for me but for Mum to also send - so I made my 'skinny' and popped it on the front of a brown pearlised card!

This Chinese Cherry Blossom stamp is a favourite as I think it's really versatile, looks OK either on it's own or with other Oriental images, and can be used as a variety of greetings with the right background and colouring.

I stamped the image onto white cardstock, sponged with Tattered Rose and Frayed Burlap inks and coloured in the image with watercolour pencils. I put a dot of 'Cotton Candy' stickles in the centre of each flower which gives the middles a tiny bit of sparkle and mounted onto the card, finishing with some pink organza and brown shoestring ribbon.

It's strange that I very rarely have used this colour combo before but here this is my second post this week!

Silhouette

Wednesday Stamper's theme was 'Silhouettes'.

I am not sure if i like this ATC or not! I wanted the red heart to highlight the kissing couple but think it's placement leaves a lot to be desired! it was well stuck by the time I thought it might have been better put elsewhere on the card!

The background was lightly sponged with Whispers Starry Night ink, then the wording stamped and embossed over.

I stamped the silhouette couple onto blue cardstock and used 3d foam pads to attach to the ATC.

The Kiss

I made the front page of the blog on Wednesday Stamper with my entry into the Handbag theme set last week. I was chuffed to bits!

So here is the entry for this week which has the theme of Kiss Kiss! I think this image of the 2 cherubs kissing is beautiful.

I decided to use it to make a journal page, so I used pearlised card for the background, then stamped and distressed and used some vintage lace, ribbon and a heart button with a pearl centre.

The wording on the tag reads ' The treasured heart you keep inside will keep my dreams away from harm'- (if you click on the image you get a better overall view - it is definitely not a day for taking photos- too grey and dark!)

I added some paper flowers to the top of the tag and distressed these using 'Tattered Rose' colour.

Tres Chic

The Wednesday Stamper theme was handbags. I sat and thought about using some vintage papers and making that the basis for my project but after a while decided to try something a bit different (well for me anyway!).

I had a card template in a handbag shape so used that. The only rule with Wednesday Stamper is you must use at least one stamp! The little dress stamp I have had since I don't know when and never used and the words were on a fashion plate stamp again bought ages ago and never used!

I highlighted the edge of the black card with white ink and poked about in the ribbon drawer (another thing I must get round to tidying!) till I found the spotty ribbon. The crystal buckle was meant to give the 'bag' a bit of 'haute couture'!!