Monday 30 September 2019

* Vera Lane Studio: Cat Girl


Hello!
Happy last Monday in September!

It's time for another Vera Lane Studio project and today I have a card made with today's new release set called Cat Girl.


She has the same design as some previous VLS girl projects I made, as she is going to be decorating a cube box. 
The light is not good here as we had rain, rain and more rain over the last three days, so I haven't been able to photograph outside.
Anyhow, the image is coloured with Copics (my computer always changes that to comics!) and she is on a background created by applying pigment powders (PaperArtsy Infusions Emerald Isle) through my favourite stencil (AAll & Create #39 Lotza Dotz). Once the pigment inks were dry, I applied DO in Peeled Paint over the entire card, then added some marks with a white Posca pen and some inked-up corrugated card. The edges were inked with black archival ink.
If you love cats, then this sweet Cat Girl is for you! 


Cat Girl


I hope you'll come along and play on Vera Lane.
It's such a friendly, fun place to be!

  

Thanks for stopping by today.
xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp #66 AG 02/10
Digi Choosday #39 AG 02/10
613 Avenue Create #225 AG 04/10
*Always Fun #130 AG 05/10
Lemon Shortbread #103 AG 07/10
*Polkadoodle #39 AG 08/10
Not Just Cards AG 09/10




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Sunday 29 September 2019

* Lost Coast Designs: Get out of the Mailbox!


Hello!

I'm on the last minute this month with my entry for the Lost Coast Designs challenge. The theme is Make It Funny and I made this card:


I honestly don't know if I could send this to anyone I know! When I studied the funny lady, I noticed she has a remarkable resemblance to me! Specs, faded red, curly hair, lipstick - always lipstick and lounging in her dressing gown and slippers. I wouldn't want the recipient to think I was serious - hahaha!!

Anyhow, like I said, this was last minute, so was super quick and easy to make. I stamped the Lost Coast Designs image, called Party On, and sentiment and coloured with Arteza Brush Pens and Copics. I fussy cut them. The background is just DO inks (Shaded Lilac, Dusty Concord and Wilted Violet) applied with acetate. Some water splatters bleach out some colour and add to the texture and white Posca pen was splattered all over. I added some texture crackle stamping in Wilted Violet to the edges of the card, then inked the edges in the same and finished with black edging.
I cut the sentiment into strips and juggled around to fit it on the card in two sections.
If you like funny, snarky sentiments (and sometimes 'off the wall'!) there are plenty to be found in the Lost Coast Designs store here.



That's all for today.
Thanks for stopping by.
xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Penny's Challenges #449 AG 01/10
The House That Stamps Built #S2519 01/10
QKR Stampede #365 AG 03/10
Creative Knockouts #317 AG  03/10
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #114 AG 05/10
Crafty Creations #399 AG 08/10
Alphabet Challenge N is for Naughty 10/10 TOP 3

Cardz TV #99 AG 10/10



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Saturday 28 September 2019

* Vintage Wedding Acceptance Card


Hello!

Today I am sharing a card that I was asked to make by one of my friends. Her son is getting married and she wanted a personalised acceptance card as she knew the bride and groom-to-be were making a keepsake album. 
My friend chose a photograph which the couple had taken just after he proposed. 

Here is the card I made:


 I changed the photo to sepia to fit in with the vintage/shabby chic style. I used Anna Marie design papers and distressed and lightly inked the edges. A corrugated cardboard tag was aged with white paint and the distressed edged photograph was mounted on foam pads. Lace and pearls were added to the base of the tag and some natural twine thread through the top.


The tag was raised on foam pads and some die cut Scrapinec embellishments tucked beneath it. Little Birdie mulberry paper flowers were grouped around the tag with some cheesecloth and natural dried flowers, as well as some looped twine.


I didn't have an 'Acceptance' stamp or die, but found a kraft 'Thank You' tag that I thought was suitable. Twine was threaded through the tag hole and it was popped onto the bottom of the card on foam pads.
Finally a lace butterfly was attached and some crystal Nuvo drops added randomly over the background papers.

That's all for today.
Thanks for stopping by.
xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Creative Inspirations Sept Lace & Pearls 01/10
Cute Card Thursday #601 Sentimental 02/10
Crafty Catz #476 AG 03/10
Creative Knockouts #317 AG 03/10
Crafty Friends #119 Special Occasion 04/10
Scrappers Delights Sept AG 04/10
Crafty Creations #399 AG 08/10
As You Like It CAS or FAF 09/10
I choose FAF! With vintage or shabby chic distressed cards, I think the more elements, the better!
Moving Along With The Times #107 Wedding/Anniversary 09/10
Cardz TV #99 AG 10/10



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Thursday 26 September 2019

* Vera Lane Studio: 'This is me' Postcard


Hello!

This month in the Vera Lane Studio FaceBook group, DT member Stephanie is hosting a postcard swap. The theme is to show the VLS character that most resembles ourself. I chose Contessa in her jeans and with untamed hair and set her in a garden on a lovely, dry day.


My character has her black cat, Casey, next to the tree that he hides under and the birdhouse with the lovely flowers and grasses and bluetit birdies. Of course, because this is the NW of England the sky is a little dark and has clouds, since rain is never far away!

I coloured the images with Copic markers and added some white highlights. My postcard is 10 x 15 cm and is coloured with Distress Oxides (Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron , Stormy Sky and Faded Jeans) blended with a sponge, then splattered with water to take some of the colour away and to add texture.

The images are adhered directly onto the background and I chose the lovely sentiment (from 'Willow' and available on request) because this is what makes me most happy and content when I am at home relaxing - just being outside, watching nature in the garden and listening to the birds singing, is sheer bliss!

Contessa               Fat Cats                     Birdy
           

I hope you'll come along and play on Vera Lane.
It's such a friendly, fun place to be!

  

Thanks for stopping by today.
xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Classic Design Team Challenge #9 AG 29/09
A Bit More Time To Craft #100 AG 29/09
Pammies Inky Pinkies #1938 AG 30/09
Papercraft Challenges #46 No Designer Paper 30/1/09
Simon Says Stamp #66 AG 02/10
Digi Choosday #39 AG 02/10
613 Avenue Create #225 AG 04/10
Lemon Shortbread #103 AG 07/10
Crafty Creations #399 AG 08/10
Not Just Cards AG 09/10



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Monday 23 September 2019

* Vera Lane Studio: Mix n Match Vases


Hello!
Happy Monday!

It's time for another Vera Lane Studio project and today I have a card made with the versatile Mix n Match Vases.


There are 3 vases, 2 flowers and 4 sentiment sticks in this digi set. Here I feature just 3 of the images. I used Copic markers for colour. The background is brayered Distress Oxides, in Picked Raspberry and Peeled Paint. I brayered both horizontally and vertically to give a plaid effect, then sprinkled water droplets on to bleach out some of the colour. Next I placed a mask over the top and applied white chalky paint with a sponge. I added some script stamping in Peeled Paint and some white paint splatters. I edged the background with Picked Raspberry ink and finally black archival ink. Some torn washi tape grounds the vase.


Mix n Match Vases



I hope you'll come along and play on Vera Lane.
It's such a friendly, fun place to be!

  

Thanks for stopping by today.
xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Paperbabes Samps #102 AG 27/09
A Perfect Time to Craft  #9 AG 27/09
A Bit More Time To Craft #100 AG 29/09
Creatalicious Challenges #171 AG 29/09
Love to Craft #38 AG 30/09
Love To Scrap #125 AG 30/09
Scrappers Delights AG 04/10 WINNER

Creative Crafters #20 05/10
Not Just Cards AG 09/10



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* Artsystamper: Perfect Pansies


Hello! 
Happy Monday!

Today is my DT day for Artsystamper, a relatively new digital stamp company owned by Beverly Cole. One of the things I love about Bev's digital stamps is that you get a great selection of stamps and sentiments in each set and also pre-coloured ones for those quick and easy, last minute cards. Please pop over to the Etsy shop, TheArtsystamperShopand see what she has in store.

My tag has a mixed media background. 
Here it is:




I cut a tag from 300 gsm smooth card and blended Fossilised Amber and Wilted Violet Distress Oxides with a sponge. Once I was happy with the blending, I added water splashes and blotted them up to remove some of the inky colour. I used a text stamp to add some texture, inking with the same DOxides in tone on tone style. I inked around the edge of the tag in Ranger black archival ink.
The beautiful pansy is the pre-coloured one. I fussy cut it and ran a black marker around the edge to hide cutting imperfections and to mask the white card. In doing so, I accidentally cut through the stem of the bud, so I simply popped the bud behind one of the large leaves.
I added some snippets in the form of textured white trim and woven raffia ribbon to the bottom edge of my tag, popped the pansy on foam dots for dimension and added a Tim Holtz Small Talk sticker quote. I decided to stamp the word Fleur in black.  To finish, I added a small hemp bow at the base of the pansy and threaded thicker hemp twine through the top of the tag.

I absolutely adore the colours in this pansy!



Here is the TheArtsystamperShop product I used:

Perfect Pansy


That's all for today! 
I'll be back with another Artsystamper project in two weeks time.

Meanwhile, please check out:

Thank you for stopping by today!


I'd like to support the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts #316 AG 26/09
Simply Create Too #153 AG 27/09
A Perfect Time to Craft  #9 AG 27/09
Pixies Snippets Playground #361 AG 28/09
Classic Design Team Challenge #9 AG 29/09 Best Technique

*A Bit More Time To Craft #100 AG 29/09
Love To Scrap #125 AG 30/09
613 Avenue Create #225 AG 04/10 WINNER

Dare 2B Artzy Favourite Colour 04/10
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #114 AG 05/10



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Sunday 22 September 2019

* Gecko Galz: Autumn Glories


Hello!

Today is my DT day at Gecko Galz and I  have some autumnal projects to share. I love the colours of autumn on crisp, sunny days, but I'm not too keen on the damp and cold that often accompanies it here in the North West of England!

My first project is an autumnal coloured card:


I used papers from the Autumn Harvest paper pack and the main image is from the Pixie Magic collage set. I distressed the edges of the papers and inked them with Vintage Photo. I added a doily, some cheesecloth and lace and then the image on foam pads. I made a little cluster of flowers and leaves and fibres along with a clock embellishment and finished by adding a brad and some gem stones.

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Next I have a couple of tiny scalloped edged kraft cards, perfect for holding gift cards:



I used the Autumn Colours Paper Pack and enlarged images from the Thankful for Fall Jewel It sheets. The paper and images were distressed and inked. Black lacy trim was adhered across the patterned paper and the images are raised on foam pads for a little dimension. Some bronze thread was added behind each image for some texture and shine. The die cut kraft paper flowers were secured together with a metal brad. Tim Holtz Small Talk stickers were added as sentiments.

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The next projects are decorated embellishment boxes. I made these to go with my Happy Mail for the runners-up of our Facebook page give away.



The boxes are the standard plastic trays with a lid. I decided to make a topper to tie around the box. On the back of the topper is a strip of green ribbon, held in place by more patterned paper, that ties at the side of each box, keeping it secure for mailing.
I cut a piece of kraft card and used Fabritack glue to adhere some gathered lace trim around the edge. Patterned paper was distressed with scissors and adhered on top of the card and lace. Tiny gems were adhered around the outer edge of the paper. Alpha stickers representing vintage typewriter keys were added to make  the words 'Bits & Bobs' and 'Craft Box'.
The images are from  the Thankful for Fall Jewel It and were cut with a circle die and inked around the edges. Die cut mats were cut from antique gold paper and a pearl, ivory doily acts as a frame. The image and doily were glued onto the patterned paper with a strip of twine ribbon beneath it. Finally the sentiment, one of my favourites, was distressed, inked in Vintage Photo and adhered to the topper.







And here is a sneak peek at some of the embellishments in the box:



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For the September Customer Challenge, I created two Steampunk Autumn cards. All the details can be found here.






I hope you'll join our Steampunk Autumn Challenge where the Winner will get a 
$25 shopping spree 
at the Gecko Galz shop.



The only rule is that you must use at least one Gecko Galz product 
(this can be one of the freebies or, of course, you can buy at the Etsy store!) 
Also if you sign up for the Gecko Galz newsletter, you'll be able to claim a free collage sheet each month and get first claim on the weekly $1 deals!

Please pop over to the Gecko Galz blog to see the fabulous designs by the very talented DT.

We also have a Private Facebook Group where there are 4 monthly challenges, each with a collage sheet prize
Come and join us!

I'll be back on the 1st October with more Gecko Galz projects.

Here's all the info you need:

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Thanks for stopping by today.
xoxo


I'd like to play along in the following challenges: 

Autumn Layer Card
A Gem of a Challenge #18 AG 24/09
Crafty Calendar Lots of Layers 28/09
Crafting with an Attitude #55 AG 29/09
Classic Design Team Challenge #9 AG 29/09
Aud Sentiments #236 AG 30/09
Creative Inspirations Lace & Pearls 30/09
Ceativ Fusion #14 Autumn 30/09
Crafty Gals Corner #199 Fall Colours 08/10

Pair of Autumn Cards
Penny's Challenges #448 AG 24/09
Cardz 4 Galz #105 Welcome Fall 25/09
CRAFT #528 Autumn/Weather 25/09
*Cardz TV #98 AG 26/09
Crafty Cardmakers #241 Autumn Colours 29/09 TOP 5


Embellishment Boxes
Crafters Castle #21 AG 29/09
Love to Craft #38 AG 30/09
Brown Sugar #293 AG 01/10
Corrosive Challenges #9 AG 03/10
Not Just Cards AG 09/10

I'd really love some feedback :)      
I read and appreciate all your comments. 


Monday 16 September 2019

* Vera Lane Studio: Blondie and Sabrina


Hello!
Happy Monday!

Once again it is my DT day at Vera Lane Studio. We have a new digi set release today called Blondie and she is one sassy girl! You can find here here.

My project is only 4 x 4 inches:


I coloured Blondie with my usual Copic markers and made her background with Sunset Beach PaperArtsy Infusions through a stencil (AAll & Create #39). Once dry, I inked the white background with Carved Pumpkin Distress Oxide, concentrating more colour around the edges and finishing with black archival ink. I added some white Posca paint pen spots and some black inky lines. The sentiment comes with the set. I cut it into strips, inked the edges and glued it and Blondie directly onto the background.

My next project features Sabrina who was released last week:


Sabrina is another of Janet's bold, spirited girls. She exudes attitude and she makes me smile! She was coloured with Copics and the background was made in the same way as the one above, this time using Blackcurrant Infusions and Shaded Lilac Distress Oxide.

There are a few more sassy characters to be released in the next few weeks and you'll probably see that I have a theme going on, as I have a little project in mind ...

Blondie                  Sabrina
     



I hope you'll come along and play on Vera Lane.
It's such a friendly, fun place to be!

  

Thanks for stopping by today.
xoxo

I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Cardz TV #98 AG 26/09
Polkadoodle #37 AG 23/09
Creative Fingers #170 AG 20/09
Pammies Inky Pinkies #1937 AG 22/09
Always Fun #128 Fall Colours 22/09

Crafting With An Attitude #55 AG 29/09
Get Creative #84 AG 30/09
Corrosive Challenges #9 AG 03/10



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