Sneaky Peeks & More Bluebells

Just popping in with a few sneaky peeks for Crafty Individuals' new stamp release, which will be shown this Friday April 2nd on Hochanda (which will be changing its name on Thursday to The Craft Store!) .

 

The gorgeously quirky images have been designed by the very talented Sharron Bates, and I am sure they will be very popular. I'll be posting a few more sneaky peeks before the big reveal on Friday!

In the meantime, here's another card using the lovely new "Counting Bluebells" from Crafty Individuals, beautifully drawn and designed by the equally talented Jean Hardy. I made it with the remainder of the background piece I created with Pretty Gets Gritty Explosion Powders for the card in my previous post, stamping the image three times directly on to the background (having masked off the parts of the image I didn't want to show) and colouring them with Arteza coloured pencils..

The sentiment is from the "Woodland Words" stamp. Again, I masked the rest of the stamp before inking up just the words I wanted to use, and then die cut them with a Spellbinders die. The bee and butterfly are also by Crafty Individuals.

Hope you will be able to tune in on Friday to see the fab new stamps, at 10.00am and 2.00pm!

Feathers and Paint

I've been playing with some stunning new stamps from Crafty Individuals,  Dawn Serenity and Dawn Hideaway. They were designed by Sandma, who combined various existing Crafty Individuals stamps to make these gorgeous scenes. They are all beautiful, but my favourite is the kingfisher, not only because they are amazing birds and I love their colours, but also because they were my late father's favourite birds too, and they remind me of him every time I see one.

 

I made an easel card for the kingfisher. The lake scene behind it was created with masks and Memento dye inks, the distant birds being hand drawn. The foreground grasses and the butterfly were stamped separately, cut out and adhered to the upper part of the card. The kingfisher was likewise stamped and cut out, then coloured with Arteza coloured pencils and fixed to the card with foam pads. A stamped sentiment provided the stopper for the card. All stamps used are by Crafty Individuals. The background papers are from my own photos of peeling paint on some old forestry machinery, which had the most wonderful colours and texture. 

My second card shows the lovely robin.

The background for the scene was created first, again with masks and dye inks, then the robin scene was stamped over it. It was stamped a second time on plain white card, the robin was cut out and coloured and adhered over the top of the first one. The sentiment is also by Crafty Individuals, and the background paper is another of my peeling paint photos.

These stamps have gone straight into my list of all time favourites. There are two more in the series, so watch this space!

Here's a photo of some of the old forestry machinery, which I am reliably informed are ditch diggers!

This is one of the original unedited photos of the paint. I have edited the photos for use as backgrounds.

It was a dull, damp day when I saw the old machinery, and I wasn't expecting to get much in the way of decent photos. However, a closer inspection revealed the possibilities! As well as the rust and peeling paint, various mosses and lichens added even more texture. Just goes to show that even if the bigger picture doesn't look promising, it's always worth checking out the details! 

Roll on Spring!

Well, I'm glad February is over and done with. What a dreary and dismal month it turned out to be. It is still very cold, very wet and very windy up here in the north, but there are signs of spring at last. The snowdrops are glorious, our daffodils are not far off flowering, we even have a few primroses out and the local birds have been seen gathering nesting materials. I just wish it would hurry up and get a bit warmer.

Talking of spring flowers brings me to our new challenge at Stamping Sensations, where our March theme is

* * * * * SPRING FLORALS * * * * *

We want to see lots of lovely floral creations to brighten up these dull days! To comply with our challenge rules and be in with a chance of winning, please ensure that flowers are the main subject of your project (a few tiny ones in a corner won't be eligible, flowers must be the focal image), and that they are hand stamped (or hand coloured digis).

We have a fab new sponsor this month - Thirsty Brush, who have a gorgeous range of  hand drawn stamps, along with an extensive range of accessories to complete your designs. I have used a stamp from their "Modern Floral" stamp set for my card, along with the matching die.

I coloured the image with Arteza coloured pencils, diecut it and adhered it with foam pads to a tag die from Stamps By Me. I matted the tag on to two layers of coloured card which I cut out by hand. The sentiment is also from Stamps By Me (diecut with a magazine freebie die), the butterfly die is by Cheery Lynn, and the background paper is from The Works.

My teamies have some blooming gorgeous inspiration for you over on the Challenge Blog! We hope you enjoy our March Challenge, and we are really looking forward to seeing your floral creations.

It's Feminine February At Stamping Sensations!

I have to say February is my least favourite month. Christmas and New Year are long gone, it still seems ages until spring, my favourite season of the year, and although the days are beginning noticeably to lengthen now, they are often cold, wet and grey. Just as it is this morning! There is nothing particularly exciting to look forward to in February, its only saving grace is that it is shorter than the rest!

However, it is not all gloomy, as we have a new Stamping Sensations Challenge to brighten things up, and this month our theme is

* * * * * FEMININE * * * * *

Plenty of scope here, as we want to see anything suitable for a lady or girl. Please do remember, though that the focal element of your project must be hand stamped and reflect the theme if you want to be in with a chance of a prize or top 3 place. And we have not just one, but two prizes on offer this time! Our regular sponsors Bee Crafty have donated a fantastic £25 voucher to spend in their online shop, and we also have a sponsor who is new to us, JMC Designs, with hand drawn digital images by Julia McNeill. She is offering a selection of her gorgeously quirky designs for one of our lucky winners.

I am on a mission this year to use up old stash! So my first sample this month is not a card, but an A5 notebook, which has been taking up space in a drawer for longer than I can remember, just waiting for the right project to come along! I have been having a major craft room tidy up, and came across a pack of mixed media fabrics and threads which I have had for even longer than the notebook, possibly for at least 20 years!! I decided to combine the two.

In the pack was a piece of hand dyed fabric, on to which I stamped the Bee Crafty Doodle Art dragonfly (Regular size). I coloured parts of the image with Arteza fabric pens, and then highlighted the body and wings with space dyed threads and sequins from the pack. I added a few more sequins around the dragonfly for extra sparkle. The central lines on the wings are in a sparkly thread, but unfortunately it doesn't show up well on the photo. I inserted the dragonfly behind the cut out window in the front of the notebook.

A long time ago I bought some gorgeous wrapping paper from Ik*a, and had a little bit left over, just enough to cover the front of the book. It is almost like mulberry paper, with a very subtle debossed floral pattern, perfect for a feminine project. Over it I stamped various Bee Crafty stamps from the Doodle Art Dragonfly and Doodle Art Sunflower sets and coloured them only lightly with Arteza coloured pencils, as I wanted the debossing still to show. I sponged a bit of extra colour over the background too, and finally stamped the sentiment from Bee Crafty Creativity Words set. A glittery ribbon (bought at one of the very first Stamp Magic shows 10 years ago!) around the binding added the finishing touch. As the sentiment implies, I will use the notebook for jotting down thoughts and ideas for future projects.

My second sample showcases one of Julia McNeill's delightful digis, the lovely "Marcelle".

I've coloured her with Promarkers, stamped a few hearts from the Bee Crafty Doodle Art Dragonfly set,  matted her over a floral background paper (VERY old stash!) and added some Bee Crafty Ticker Tape Words (Set 1).

My teamies have a bumper selection of stunning samples for you over on the Challenge Blog, so do go and feast your eyes on some fabulous feminine inspiration. And have fun creating your own feminine projects. We can't wait to see them!

Red, Green, Gold

Well, it's that time of the year again, you know, the one where I start to panic because it's November and I have made the grand total of 3 Christmas cards! I start the year with the best of intentions to do a few each month, but somehow that never happens. I do manage to get them done in the end. If only it could be in an atmosphere of calm relaxation instead of a frantic rush ! Oh well, maybe next year.....

Were it not for this month's Stamping Sensations Challenge, my grand total thus far would have been two! However, our November theme is to use

* * * * * TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS COLOURS * * * * *

and so my sample became Christmas card No. 3!

We would like to see your projects in the traditional colours of red, green and gold. You may use any or all of those colours, but the main focal image must be stamped and reflect the theme, otherwise it will not be eligible. This month we are delighted to be sponsored again by Chocolate Baroque, who have very kindly donated these two gorgeous stamp sets for our lucky winner.

             

I have used the beautiful Christmas rose stamp for my card.

I used the no-line colouring technique, stamping the image with Desert Sand Memento ink, and colouring it with Arteza coloured pencils. I cut it out with a Spellbinders die, sponging a little red pigment ink around the edges before I removed it from the die. I covered the base card with a background paper by Dovecraft, mounted the image to it with foam pads, and added some tartan ribbon, die cut sentiment (Britannia Dies) and holly sprig (magazine freebie) to finish it off.

I love hellebores, they are such elegant flowers, so the Christmas rose is one of my favourite Chocolate Baroque stamps. It's lovely to colour, and in fact I did manage to have quite a relaxing hour or so doing it! Here's another close up.

I must admit to being a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas, so I am really looking forward to seeing lots of entries in those Christmas colours. I'm sure you won't have any trouble coming up with ideas for this theme, but do go and have a look at my teamies' samples on the Challenge Blog anyway, just to feast your eyes on their loveliness. Meanwhile, I had better make a start on card No. 4........

The Leaves Are Beginning To Turn...

...but there's still plenty of time to enter our October Challenge at Stamping Sensations, where our theme is Trees and/or Leaves and/or Autumn.

This time I've used a stamp by Penny Black. I stamped it with Memento "Desert Sand" ink so I could use the no-line colouring method. I coloured the image with my Arteza coloured pencils. Background paper is by Dovecraft, sentiment by Inkylicious. Silk ribbon and button from my stash.

The challenge runs until 30th October, and my lovely teamies have even more gorgeous inspiration for you over on the Challenge Blog. We have some beautiful entries already; why not add yours and be in with a chance of winning a fab £25 voucher from our sponsor Stamp Addicts. Please just remember, though, that the focal element of your project must be stamped and fit the theme, otherwise it will not be eligible for the prize.

Easy Peasy With A Floral Touch

Well, we're into September now, about which I always have mixed feelings. Sad that the summer is coming to an end, happy that the autumn colours will soon be in evidence, and sad again because once the summer holidays are over it feels as though we're at the start of the slippery slope to winter and (sshhh!) Christmas! I'm one of those people who wish they could hibernate over the winter and wake up in spring, my favourite season. I hate the cold and the dull, gloomy days. But at least the long dark nights are the ideal excuse for more crafting!

But not quite yet, though. Hopefully there will still be a few fine days to come, and we've given you a nice easy challenge this month at Stamping Sensations, for which the theme is

* * * * * ANYTHING GOES WITH FLOWERS * * * * *

An easy topic, but please remember that our usual rules still apply. Your subject matter can be anything you choose, but your project must include flowers and the main element/focal point must be stamped or a hand coloured digi. For full details of the rules, please look on the challenge blog here.

We have a very welcome return visit from our fabulous sponsors Bee Crafty, who have generously donated a £25 voucher for our September winner. They have the most amazing and eclectic range of stamps, stencils and card making accessories, some of which I've used for my card.

I decided to use the "Daisy" set from the Beautanicals range. This set also includes the Serendipity sentiment, which turned out to be very appropriate! I made the background first by dotting drops of Distress Oxide inks (from reinkers) on to my glass mat, misting them with water and laying a piece of watercolour card on top to pick up the inks. The inks are very concentrated, so I blotted the card with a piece of kitchen roll to lighten the colours. The result of this was that the dotty embossed pattern on the kitchen roll transferred itself to the card, which I have to admit was quite unintentional and very serendipitous!

Having got this unexpected bonus, I didn't want to cover it all up. I used one of the discs from the Inkables "Texture Discs Set 2" to stencil a few areas with pink pigment ink,and stamped the daisy three times down one side, masking where necessary. I added a couple of butterflies (Birds & Butterflies Set 1) and coloured them and the daisies with Arteza coloured pencils. The sentiment completed the picture, or so I thought. However, I wasn't happy with it, it seemed a bit lifeless. This is how it looked at that stage.

I often find the hardest part of a project is determining, in the first instance, what you're going to make. The next hardest is knowing when to stop! I didn't want to introduce another element in case it spoilt it. After some pondering, I decided to define the flower centres with Nuvo Crystal Drops, and to bling up the butterflies' wings with a clear Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen (a bit hard to see in the photo). Still not sure if it made enough of a difference, but it is certainly better than it was before.

Anyway, I hope you like my serendipitous card! There is some gorgeous inspiration from my teamies over on the Challenge Blog, and I will look forward to seeing lots of lovely entries to keep these last few days of summer bright and happy!

Blue, Purple, Turquoise

It's hard to believe, but already we are halfway through our 2019 challenges at Stamping Sensations! This year is flying by! We've had some great themes so far, and loads of wonderful entries, and there are plenty more to come.

For June we would like you to

* * * * * SHOW YOUR TRUE COLOURS * * * * *

By, that, we mean use your favourite colours in your project! This is a nice and easy theme, and one you probably shouldn't have to think too hard about. However, please do remember that your entry/entries must still follow our challenge rules, which you can read here on the challenge blog. 

We are delighted to welcome back Visible Image as our fab sponsor this month. They are offering a super £25 voucher for the very lucky winner to spend in their online shop. I'm a big fan of their amazing stamps, several of which I have used for my card.

My favourite colours have always been those at the cool end of the spectrum - blues, purples, turquoises, and greens. Shades of the sky and the sea, and of the earth and the trees. Calming and soothing hues. I think one of the reasons I feel so much more relaxed living in this beautiful rural area than in the city which was our previous home is that I look out every day over rolling green fields, majestic trees and distant hills, with stunning big skies overhead, although the latter are looking pretty grey at this moment!

My card reflects those heavenly colours. The circle background was done on a gel plate, with Distress Oxide inks, then I used a fan brush to flick some diluted Brushos over the whole square. I stamped elements from Visible Image's "Creative Chaos", "Wings of Change" and "Random Art of Kindness" sets, using Versafine Clair ink, and coloured them with Arteza coloured pencils (my new favourite art medium!). I sponged the edges of the picture with pigment ink to define them before matting it onto a background made with alcohol inks. No, I hadn't intended seeing how many different media I could use on one card, that's just how it turned out!

Occasionally I like to challenge myself and tiptoe outside my comfort zone with a different colour scheme, but I did so enjoy creating this card! I can tell by my teamies' beautiful samples that they also enjoyed indulging themselves, and I'm sure you won't be disappointed if you nip over to the Challenge Blog and have a look at them. I am looking forward to a rainbow of entries!