Monday 27 April 2020

* Vera Lane Studio: Be You


Hello!

I hope you are safe and well!

Today is my DT day at Vera Lane Studio and I have made a card with a set called Be You which was released a few weeks ago.


I coloured the image with Copic markers and fussy cut her. I left the scalloped border uncoloured. The background is stamped with Verasmark and heat embossed with white powder. Distress Oxides were smeared over the top and then water was sprinkled to bleach out a little colour and allow oxidisation. The edges of the background are inked in black and I also stamped some mesh in black. 
The scalloped border was trimmed to size and acts as grounding for my girl and the small, left over piece was adhered to the side. I cut the sentiment into strips, inked the edges lightly in black, and glued it to the background.



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:

*Creative Fingers #184 AG (2/3) 30/04
Stamps + Fun = Creativity #366 Cute 03/05
Jans Digistamps Challenges April AG (3//5) 03/05
Crafting Happiness #46 AG 03/05
Pammies Inky Pinkies #2017 AG 10/05
MMM Challenge #121 Use a digi 10/05


***

Monday 20 April 2020

* Path of Positivity: Flower Yin Yang Notebook


Hello!

Happy Monday!
I hope you are staying safe and well.

Today is the midway post for the April Path of Positivity challenge.

This month the theme is Anything Goes with the optional twist of Style.

**We all have our own unique way of doing things.** 
This month create a project that reflects your own unique style or one that connects to style in general.

Prizes this month include:
  • $10 gift certificate from Lunagirl Images our guest sponsor for this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all qualifying entrants. 
  • ONE image (value of $5 or less) from Scribbles Designs, for the post or project that the team deems most inspiring of the bunch based on all qualifying entrants.
  • One digital image from Creative Bug Digital SnapShots for each person chosen as a DT Delight.

Please remember in order to be eligible for the prizes your project must be positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some way. 

I received an image from our ongoing sponsor, Scribbles Designs, for this post and I chose the Flower Yin Yang digistamp. 
 I chose this symbol because I love the fact that the two halves make the whole; we need a bit of Yin and a bit of Yang to become whole and balanced. Strong, fearless and beautiful are attributes I would use to describe most of the women I know. In order to be so, they need a balance of Yin and Yang. 

I decided to alter a notebook cover and this is how it turned out:



I started be measuring the notebook cover and cut a piece of smooth 250gsm card to make into the new cover. First, I smooshed Distress Oxides onto a piece of acetate and spritzed it with water. I then transferred the colour to the card. Using the acetate gives you a little more control over where the ink goes. I let each layer of colour dry before adding the next layer. I used bright, sunny yellow palette; Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Fossilised Amber and Spiced Pumpkin. These colours represent positivity, happiness and optimism. When the inks were dry, I added some stencilling using Fossilised Amber and Vintage Photo to give the circles a bit of depth. I then stamped over the card using Vintage Photo, Spiced Pumpkin and Fossilised Amber. I added black archival ink stamping to the edges of the card for some definition and framing. Splatters of orange, yellow and white paint were applied and the edges were inked in black.



I adhered ribbon to the back of the card to act as a fastener and adhered the cover over the original notebook cover. I decided not to add colour to the Flower Yin Yang digistamp, as the symbol is always displayed in black and white. I matted it onto black card and adhered some gold trim around it. The sentiment called Strong, Fearless and Beautiful, is from Scribble Designs and is free.  I cut it into strips and inked the edges.



Many thanks to this month's guest sponsor,  Lunagirl Images. 



and to Scribbles Designs as the ongoing sponsor of the challenge


We would love to see your creations! 
Just make sure that your entry is positive, inspirational, motivational or encouraging in some way!
The link up is here: Challenge #79 Path of Positivity.


 

That's all for today! 

I'll be back with a Path of Positivity project at the beginning of May.

Thanks for stopping by today!
xoxo

                                                                                                                                            
I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Scribbles Designs Challenge (Gallery)
Inkspirational Challenges #211 Paint Splatters 30/04
Crafty Cardmakers #255 Anything but a card 02/05

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

xoxo

* Vera Lane Studio: Stitches


Hello!

Happy Monday!
I hope everyone is keeping fit and well.

It's a new release day at Vera Lane Studio and my DT day. Janet has released Stitches, a 4 digi stamp set which is perfect for all the ladies who love to sew. I made a card featuring one of the girls and the sentiment:


My little Stitches is in a bit of a tangle, but at least she managed to thread her needle! 
I coloured Stitches with Copic markers and placed her on a gelli print background. Some tiny hearts were stamped in Seedless Preserves Distress Ink. Zig-zag machine stitching was added as a border and the edges were inked in black.  I added a piece of torn washi tape to ground Stitches who was popped on foam pads. I threaded her needle with cotton thread and scrunched thread to rest behind her. The sentiment was cut into strips, inked and adhered directly onto the background.


Stitches


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:

Crafting Happiness #45 AG/Option Purple 25/04
A Perfect Time To Craft #4 27/04 ******
Pennys Challenges #469 AG 28/04
Corrosive Challenges #4AG 30/04
Creative Fingers #184 AG 30/04 TOP 3

Incy Wincy Designs April: Use embellie starting with your initial 02/05
C = cotton thread
Stamps + Fun = Creativity #366 Cute 03/05
Jans Digistamps Challenges April AG 03/05


***

* Artsystamper: Hello Beautiful


Happy Monday!

Today sees the start of a new challenge at the Artsystamper Challenge Blog
Each challenge runs for two weeks and starts on the first and third Monday of the month. 
The theme for this challenge is Springtime
I hope that you can find time to join in the fun!

The winner will receive the stamp set of their choice from TheArtsystamperShop. The Top 3 will also receive an image of Beverly's choice!
Beverly Cole’s selections offer stamps and sentiments in each set as well as pre-coloured images for easy, last minute cards. Why not take a moment and check out what she has in store!

Also this time we are partnering with Double Trouble Paper Crafting whose challenge this time is 'Spring and Things' If you enter our challenge and theirs you get an additional chance to win their random draw.

Here is what I made using the Hello Beautiful Stamp and Paper Set:



I arranged the grey paper from the pack with single blue flowers added to form a border and extra large peach flowers for the corners. The lady in peach png was overlaid onto the paper before printing. I also printed out an extra lady in peach.
I added more colour to the flowers using Copic markers and some white Posca pen dots. More Copic colouring was added to the extra lady which then I fussy cut and decoupaged onto the original. I added Glossy Accents to her earring. 
I went around the flower border and lady with two shades of grey Copic markers to add some shadows. 
The edges of the paper were inked in Vintage Photo and matted first onto kraft card and then onto black card. The whole was then adhered to a 7 x 7 inch white card base.



The sentiment is a Tim Holtz Small Talk sticker.



Hello Beautiful


That's all for today! 
I hope you will hop on over to Artsystamper Digitals Challenge Blog and enter! You will also see more inspiring designs from the Artsystamper Addicts Design Team ... so much fun.

Don't forget to pop over to Double Trouble and enter their challenge too.

I'll be back with another Artsystamper project in two weeks time.

Meanwhile, please check out:
Artsystamper Digitals Challenge Blog

Thank you for stopping by today!


I'd like to support the following challenges:

Pammies Inky Pinkies #2016 AG 26/04 Honourable Mention

Make My Monday #120 Spring Flowers 26/04
Classic Design Challenge  #4AG 29/04
613 Avenue Create #232 AG 30/04
Double Trouble #55 Spring Things 03/05
World Wide Open Design Team Challenge 12/05
The Paper Girls #198 Girl Time 20/05



***

* Gecko Galz: Spring Muse Notecard Set


Hello!

I hope that you all safe and well. 
If you need a distraction, then why not take a look at the Gecko Galz daily challenges. Just use one GG product to be in with a chance of winning a daily prize and everyone who plays along gets a collage sheet.

The April customer challenge at the Gecko Galz blog is Spring's Muse. We would love for you to join the challenge using one or more products from Gecko Galz.

Here is what I made for my DT post:


It is a set of 4 note cards with a Spring Muse theme.
I used the beautiful Dreams of Spring mini paper pack and distressed and inked the edges. I added images from various collage sheets and trimmed the cards with lace, pearls and burlap flowers.


I decided to make the cards into a gift set by making a wallet for them to rest inside:



Ode to the Muse        Colours of Spring
  
Dreams of Spring


I hope you'll join our Spring's Muse 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 monthly $1 deals!

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

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



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

Here's all the info you need:
***
Thanks for stopping by today.
xoxo

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

Angies Digitalstamps #41 AG Spring 24.04
Pammies Inky Pinkies #2016 AG 26/04
Classic Design Challenge  #4AG 29/04
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #130 AG 02/05
Double Trouble #55 Spring Things 03/05
World Wide Open Design Team Challenge 12/05
The Paper Girls #198 Girl Time 20/05

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

Saturday 18 April 2020

* Toadstools


Hello!

This week I have made time to play with inks and stamps and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

You may know that I love the work of Tracy Evans, one of the designers for AALL & Create. Tracy is an excellent teacher and very generous with her tips and techniques.  She has recently been hosting Facebook Live demonstrations to keep her followers motivated and connected during the difficult times we are facing.

I made this card using some of Tracy's techniques:


I used the toadstool stamp from the Nature Elements A4 stamp set. The background is a gelli print using the lovely Florastella stencil and PaperArtsy Chalk Paints in Sage, Khaki and Chalk.  I added some Heartfelt stamping in Wilted Violet Distress Oxide and lightly inked the background edges the same colour.
 The toadstools and their numbered background were stamped directly onto the background. They were also stamped onto some book paper and portions were torn to glue as a new layer over the original toadstools. I added some colour to the toadstools with Polychromo pencils. 


Torn black and white washi tape was used to ground the toadstools and a piece of hessian trim was also adhered at the base of the toadstools along with a copper coloured brad head. The legs of the brad were cut off and adhered around the edges of the card, along with some snippets of the washi tape.


To finish off the project, I added some white and gold paint splatters. I stamped a sentiment from the Eclectic Stems set onto a scrap of paint 'braying-off' card. After inking the edges with black archival ink, I placed this over the bottom portion of the toadstool stems. 



The final touch was to add a twine bow to each toadstool and to mat the background onto black card.

Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo

                                                                                                                                            
I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Crafty Catz #502 Paper Piecing 23/04
Stinkin Inkers Crafters Choice 26/04
613 Avenue Create #232 AG 30/04 TOP ROCKER
Mix It Up Challenge #36 AG 30/04
Not Just Cards April AG 10/05
I'd really love some feedback :)      
I read and appreciate all your comments. 

xoxo

Friday 17 April 2020

* Vintage Pen Knibs


Hello!

This week I have made time to play with inks and stamps and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

I love the work of Tracy Evans, one of the designers for AALL & Create. Tracy is an excellent teacher and very generous with her tips and techniques.  She has recently been hosting Facebook Live demonstrations to keep her followers motivated and connected during the difficult times we are facing.

I watched one of Tracy's You Tube videos (these are recordings of her Facebook Live Demos and fall under the 'Comedy' category!) where she created a card that really appealed to me and one that I thought would be very useful as a masculine card, something that I have the utmost difficulty in creating!
Thank you for the inspiration, Tracy!

Here is my card:


The background is smooshed Distress Oxides in Fossilised Amber, Scattered Straw and Vintage Photo. The Pen Knibs (one of the stamps in the set Knibs and Mushrooms) were stamped, then a spotlight made with a die cut circle and Vintage Photo ink. I added a tiny amount of stencilling using the Lotsa Dotz stencil and Vintage Photo Distress Oxide. 
The Pen Knibs were stamped onto book paper and a piece torn off and glued directly over the Main stamped image. A small die cut circle was also stamped and patched over the knibs. Some of the pens were fussy cut from the stamped book page and were paper pieced over the original knibs, whilst others were stamped onto Vintage Photo sponged card and fussy cut to be adhered to the main image.
Background stamping was added with the Heartfelt stamp and white paint spaltters were applied. I liked the splatters so much that I added some gold ones. I finished by adding 3 white paint circles with a paint pot top. The edges were inked and the background matted onto black card.


Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo

                                                                                                                                            
I'd like to play along in these challenges:

Crafty Catz #502 Paper Piecing 23/04
Stinkin Inkers CraftersChoice 26/04
Classic Design Challenge #4 AG 29/04
613 Avenue Create #232 AG 30/04 TOP ROCKER
Not Just Cards April AG 10/05 

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

xoxo

Thursday 16 April 2020

* Gecko Galz: Black and White


Hello!

Gecko Galz have a daily challenge throughout April. 
All participants receive a free digital collage sheet, just for entering, and the winner receives a special prize as well.
Everyone can enter as long as their project follows the daily theme and contains at least one Gecko Galz product.

Today's theme is Black and White.

Here is my digital card:


I have no new digital collage learning to report today. The weather has been fine, sunny and warm and I made the most of it by spending time in the garden pruning, weeding and relaxing.
I used digital papers from Pretty Grafik, a Stamp from Gecko Galz's Beautiful Backgrounds Stamp Set and words from GG's Charming Words collage set. The pearl embellishments and the mask around the stamp are from Pixel Scrapper.

Beautiful Backgrounds                    Charming Words
  

Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo

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