Sunday 7 August 2016

August at Stamping Sensations

We're keeping up our easy challenges for the summer months at Stamping Sensations, although up here in the frozen north one might dispute that it's summer! Ok, I exaggerate a bit. Not quite frozen, but a few nights lately have come close. Actually, we did have summer the other week. Just the one day. The temperature on our outside thermometer hit 30C, in the shade, but the next day it reverted to type. Since then it's been cool, grey, wet, misty, with just the odd dry and bright spell. Still, at least the midges haven't been quite so bad as usual here. Always a silver lining!

Anyway, our August Challenge couldn't be easier, since it's

* * * * * ANYTHING GOES * * * * *

So, whatever you like, with the one proviso that as we're a stamping challenge, we need to see stamping - rubber, polymer or digi (not pre-coloured) - as the focal part of your project.

I always find it quite difficult to decide what to do for an "anything goes" theme. Too much choice! So this time I thought I would close my eyes, pull out one of my stamp binders at random (I keep my stamps in A5 ring binders on shelves), and use a stamp or stamps from the first page in the binder. As luck would have it, I picked my Penny Black binder, and the first page contains the "Enamor" set which I bought some time ago but hadn't yet used. Been dying to get the stamps inked up, as they are so pretty, but hadn't had chance. Next question was how to use them.


One of my favourite techniques is to stamp with Distress Inks and colour the image by pulling the colour from the image lines with a water brush. However, this time I decided to add a twist. Instead of colouring in, I pulled the colour away from the flower image to make the background, leaving the image itself uncoloured. The butterfly and sentiment are from the same set. I mounted the picture on to a Spellbinders diecut and backed it with patterned paper by Prima. Nice and simple, job done!

Here's the finished card.

I'm hoping to see lots of gorgeous entries this month to brighten up our dull days! And with the prize on offer, there's no reason not to get busy with your projects! Our lovely sponsors for August are Foil Play, who have donated a fantastic £35 voucher to be spent in their online shop. They have a huge selection of items for your cardmaking and crafting, not just foils. What's not to like? So get those entries in and good luck everyone!

7 comments:

brenda said...

Hi Lynne,

A very striking focal panel and it blends so well with the backing papers.

B x

kiwimeskreations said...

What a gorgeous card - a very subtle hint of summer there Lynne :-). Love your purple background to the stamped flowers, and the dp behind that panel.
We are facing a forecast -4oC frost tonight so I appreciate the sense of summer and warmth.
Blessings
Maxine

Dora said...

the stamping and the papers perfect match.
Beautiful made.

pinky said...

Gorgeous card Lynne, the background is beautiful and the centrepiece really pops out from it.

Sally H said...

A stunning creation, Lynne! I love it! Beautifully done, I'd never have thought of water colouring it that way round. I think we are getting our sunshine at last Two and a half days of it so far!

Tracy said...

Hi Lynne
This is so pretty, I love the image you’ve used and the design too.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Greta said...

What a cool technique & perfect stamp to use with it! Love your card! Wish I could send you some of our sunshine--too hot here!