Gothic Arches - Roses

This week on Gothic Arches the theme is Roses.
I used glimmer mists as my background colour and then added a rose that I have coloured in with my Sakura pens and then added the stamped images of a couple and lightly coloured them with distress ink. I stuck a paper rose to the mans hand and then added the stamped wording.

The theme on TGIF is red flowers so it fits in there too.

Saturday Workout - Circles

It seems ever such a long time since I took up the challenge over at Saturday Workout. Well as I was in a crafty mood today I have made an ATC. I used a CB embossing folder then I sprayed the card with glimmer mists. I then added my little girl image. Stuck the flower and button on and then stamped the words. I finally added some detail with my white pen.

Lots to do Challenge - collage

The theme this week on the Lots to do Challenge site is "Collage". I wasn't too sure as to what I would come up with but decided to collage a colour. I did a lucky dip in my bits box and pulled out a small piece of red card. So my colour was decided. I used different shades of red backing paper and stuck them on. I stuck red ribbon to the left. I cut out the RED and the swirl with my CB and there you have it!!!

Inchies

Its a free choice this month for the inchie swap on UKStampers. I have recently bought some inchie stamps from Art Journey so I just had to try them out! I stamped my images and then used distress inks to colour the card. I then used a white pen to highlight some of the areas.

Acetate ATCs and Lots to do challenge

This is my very first go at the caught in crystal technique. They are for a swap organised by Sam on UKStampers.
They will also be entered into the Lots to do challenge this week which is "Simply Stamping".

Gothic Arches - Wings

This weeks challenge on Gothic Arches is "Wings". I have used my CB butterfly for this challenge. I covered the card in distress inks in greens and blues and then stamped on the flowers (Tim Holtz) I then coloured my butterfly and stuck her onto the card slightly bending the wings and sticking them with 3d foam. I added some gems too. I finally stamped the wording and added a little bit of stickles to the flowers.

Something Completely Different - Tags - Crowns

Here's my tag for this weeks challenge. I coloured my tag with tattered rose distress ink and then added a crackle background in brushed corduroy. I then added my image and gave here a metal crown which has yellow and brown alcohol ink on. I then added a grungepaper flower. Put the wording on and finally added a ribbon.

This is also for the Lots to do challenge this week as the theme is grungepaper/grungeboard

Something Completely Different - Tags - Home

This weeks challenge it to produce a tag with the theme Home.
I was looking in my stash and came across this chipboard house so I have used it as my base and coloured the house and added the brickwork. I added a door then added the sticky flowers I have had in my stash for absolute ages - the stems were silver so I quickly coloured over them in green. I finally added the stamping "home sweet home".

Gothic Arches - Postcard

Here is my arch for this weeks challenge. My postcard is a rubber stamp I have.

Lots to do - Haberdashery

Here's my offering for this weeks challenge. I made an ATC which was lightly coloured with distress inks and then a background of diamonds was added. I added the image and then I put a thin strip of broderie anglaise at the bottom and attatched it with brads and then I made a broderie anglaise flower and stuck it to the top and added a button with some ribbon through.

Free choice week

Its free choice week this week on Lots to do so I have made a tag using cardboard and coloured it with distress inks, I then added some metal hearts using Tensecondstudio stuff!!! I added a dotty swirl and a touch of glimmer mist and finally added some sparkle with some sticky gems.

This can also be entered into the Something Completely Different challenge this week as their theme is tags and hearts.

Altered Tin Lids

Over on Lots to Do Sue is hosting an altered tin lids swap. I've never done these before and not seen many completed ones - I wasn't too sure what I was doing. I had a couple of tin lids that were ready to go in the recycling bin !!!
The one on the left has a cardboard background with crackle paint on. The bottletop is covered in 3d glaze. The one on the right has a masking tape background coloured with distress inks and glimmer mists. The images are all made with shrink plastic and it is completely covered with 3d glaze.
They are both edged with window leading.
They look much better in the flesh than they do in this scan.
Think I'd better sign up for the swap now :)

Something Completely Different - Tags - Stars and Stripes

This months challenge on Something Completely different is to use Tags. This weeks challenge is Stars and Stripes.
I cut out a tag shape and coloured it with faded jeans distress ink and then stuck some striped paper on. I added my image of Daisy which has been coloured using watercolour pencils (my first try with them!!!) and the stars were made using a punch. I added a 3d flower and finally a ribbon.

Lots to do challenge - charm-ing

The lots to do challenge this week is "Charm"ing.
This WAS a challenge for me as I had never made a charm before.
I did know that somewhere in my stash I had some mobile phone "thingies" so I decided to use some of my free stamps from craft stamper and some shrink plastic. They are all strung together with silver jump rings. I'm pretty pleased with the way its turned out!!!

Bling and Dazzle ATCs

Sam is hosting a Bling and Dazzle ATC swap on UK stampers.
My ATCs are all made with glimmer mists as the background colour and then different stamps added to them. On the first one I have simply edged the ATC with glamour dust. The centre one has gems to the left and in the centre of the flower and the right hand one has gems along the middle of the image.

Twinchie Bird challenge

There is a challenge site called Something Completely Different and this month they are challenging you to make twinchies with different themes each week. This week the theme is twinchie and a bird.
I have done a wood burning of my free Hels Sheridan stamp from craft stamper and used distress inks to colour in the twinchie.

Altered Backing paper swap

BeforeOnce again on UK stampers there is a swap going on called altered backing papers. You have to take a piece of 12x12 patterned paper and alter it in any way you like. Once you have finished you have to cut it up into 9, 4 inch squares. I took some christmas paper and went mad with the crackle accents, pearl pens, glitter glue, gold, silver and white gel pens. Finally I added some gems randomly across the paper. The scan hasn't come out too well but it is very glittery!!!

After

Stampbord Fridge Magnet

On UK stampers there is a swap going on and the theme is to make a stampbord fridge magnet.
I have lots of 1inch square pieces so I put 6 together and coloured with assorted distress inks and then spritzed with water. I then used some glimmer mist in candy apple red and walnut gold. I then stamped on top of this with a postcard design. I added a couple more postmark stamps. I then spread crackle accents all over the piece. Once it had dried I added some clear epoxy domes over the larger postmarks.

Altered Peg Swap

These are the pegs I have altered for a swap on Lots to do. The one on the left was coloured with distress inks and then some chipboard flowers were added, these were coloured with acrylic paints and then glitter glue was added as a finishing touch. The one on the right has some simple wood burning on it. Both pegs have magnets on the back.

Lots to do Challenge - Travel in Style

This is my ATC for this weeks challenge. A background of a road map an image of a car which was printed twice and the car is 3D. An image of a lady who looks dressed to go travelling.

Gothic Arches - Garden Sprite

This weeks theme on Gothic Arches is "Garden Sprite", this is my version of a sprite, I printed out an image and traced around it on a piece of card. I cut that out to give me a window. I stamped all over the top piece with leaf shapes and stuck the image to the bottom card. I stuck the top card on with 3d foam and then added a butterfly and a shrink plastic dragonfly. This can also be entered into the Sunday stampers challenge this week with the theme of wings.

Lots to do challenge - Cracked It!!!!

The challenge this week is to "crack it!".
I have made an ATC and stamped a background of my crackle effect stamp from CI. I then stamped my main image which is an Art Journey stamp onto cream card and then added crackle accents to it. Once it had dried I tore round the image and then went over the card with tea dye distress ink to enhance the "cracks". I then added the stamped wording "Nature" at the bottom.

Lots to do - Tags

Sam is hosting a tag swap on Lots to do. No theme so I have made identical tags using my new collage stamp from butterfly kisses. I used clear embossing ink on the stamp and then chalked over the top using 3 different colour schemes.

Domino Swap - Crafting Corner

Ju is hosting an altered domino swap on Crafting Corner. I used terracotta and bottle alcohol inks for the backgrounds and then using my metal I stamped the faces and using one of my metal working tools I traced over the stamping. I edged the dominoes with window leading. I then added the words which I had printed out on the PC.

Gothic Arches - Peace

The theme this week on Gothic Arches is "Peace". I have used some of my metal and coloured it with green, blue and orange inks. I then traced over a dove image which is by Picasso and then cut around the image. On the arch I used broken china and faded jeans distress inks and then used some sequin waste and used some ultramarine staz-on. I then printed out my quote and stuck it over the arch.

ATCs with my New Stamps

I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself today - I woke up with a cold and as the day has gone on I'm feeling worse :(
So I went into my craftroom for a play and have made a couple of ATCs with my new stamps from Art Journey. I can't help but smile when I look at the little boy on the left!!!!

Lots to do - Working with wood

The challenge this week over on Lots to do is to use wood in your project.
I have had my wood burning tool out again and made this domino sized piece. I stamped the wood and then burned the ink away. I then gave the piece a little bit of colour by wiping some distress inks over the top. I edged the piece with some window leading that I had run through my cuttlebug with one of the embossing folders.

Gothic Arches - Little Girl

This week the challenge is to make a gothic arch with the theme of little girls.
I made my own backing paper with the rhyme "What are little girls made of?" and inked it up to age it I then tore it to fit the arch. I added a little girl and then a flower.I added one of my BG stamps to the edges of the arch. Finally I added the wording once again "What are little girls made of?"

Lots to do challenge - stripes or lines

This weeks challenge is stripes or lines.
I used my forest branches embossing folder and then lightly wiped several distress inks over the embossing. I stamped my main image and coloured it in. I then finished it off with some gems and an epoxy dome. I added a large chinese coin to the bottom.

Lots to do Recipe Swap - May

I host a recipe swap on the lots to do forum and this months recipe is:
1 Skinny
2 ATCs


You must use:
1 die cut shape
some ribbon
your background must be handmade
Any colour

Houses Swap - Lots to do

These houses are for a swap being hosted by Andrea on the Lots to do Forum.
The only rule for this swap is that one house had to have a woman on. One house had to have a man on. One house had to have a child on. The final house had to have an animal on.

Sunday Stampers - Happy Birthday

I used mustard seed and spiced marmalade distress inks to colour the card and then used different stamps to make the background. I cut a butterfly with my cuttlebug and then coloured that with spiced marmalade ink. I added some gems and then a Happy Birthday stamp on some card and popped that in the top corner.

Lots to do challenge - Faces

This weeks challenge for Lots to do is "Faces".
I have made an ATC. I found an image of a line drawn face by Henri Mattisse and drew it onto some metal which I had coloured with lots of different inks in blues, oranges and greens. I used one of my tools to emboss the image. I then sanded the embossing to bring out the silver colour. I then edged the metal with an edging tool. For the card I lightly stamped a diamond background from CI and then added some colour with sequin waste. I finished it off with the word "Beauty" again a stamp from CI and a paper flower attatched with a brad.

Gothic Arches - Chocolate

Ellen is the host this week and she has chosen "Chocolate" as her theme. My background is an image of melted chocolate. I found some more chocolatey images and added those. I then added a flower at the bottom, a large metal arrow and two eyelets,

Lots to do challenge - All in a name

This weeks challenge is "All in a name".
I have made an atc and have used all scraps from my bit box. The name is a printed label that came off a pair of jeans. I put my metal through the cuttlebug with the diamond embossing folder and then coloured my metal background with olive green and jet black staz-on. I then went over the metal with a burnishing brush and added the other metal embellishments which I had coloured black.

Another wood burning ATC

I am really getting addicted to my wood burning tool. Here's another ATC made with a clock background stamp. I used spiced marmalade and tea dye distress inks to bring out the grain of the wood on the front when I had finished the burning.

Slide mount box

After seeing a tutorial on the technique zone by Sam for her slidemount box - I really wanted to have a go - there was just one problem - I didn't have any slide mounts. My problem was solved by Ellen who kindly sent me some slidemounts to have a play with.

The picture doesn't show up very well, its a bit blurred.
I have made another and that has a stamped black and white image.
I used window leading for the edges.

Crafting corner - Variety swap - Memo board

This is the first time I have participated in a variety swap. You had to make a memo board out of something you had in your stash - mountboard, cardboard, polystyrene, cork anything that could be made into a memo board.
I had some mountboard so I used distress inks to cover it and then added the letters and tape measures. I gave it a coat of mod podge and then added the wording "things to remember" onto tissue paper and then gave another coat of mod podge. When it was dry I added two eyelets at the top and threaded some ribbon through and added two brads at the bottom which I used to attatch the bulldog clips this has now gone to Ju and I know she has received it so I can now blog it.

Lots to do challenge - Black and white

This weeks challenge is black and white. I have made an ATC using some stamps which are all time related. I then masked the stamps and added a background of spots using sequin waste.
Inks used were black staz-on and black soot distress ink.

Another wooden ATC

As you can see I think I have another obsession :)
Made another balsa wood ATC this time it has Daisy on it. I used exactly the same method as before. I really like this technique - think I am going to be making a lot more ATCs - well my stocks are very low ;)

Wood Burning ATC

Been playing about with my new toy again today and made this ATC from Balsa Wood.
I lightly stamped onto the wood with some of my Tim Holtz stamps and then burned away the ink!!!!
I then lightly wiped over the front with tea dye distress ink to bring out the grain of the wood.

Still not sure if I'm doing it right but am having great fun trying.

Bottlecap swap

These are the bottlecaps I have made for the swap being hosted by Sue on the lots to do forum.
I flattened the caps with my wizard and then the thinking really started. For the top three, I had some chipboard flowers so I painted them with acrylic paints and added the bottlecaps to the centres. I then stamped some faces onto card and lightly went over them with distress inks. Finally I added some sparkle with some glamour dust. The bottom left is simply some chipboard wings covered in glamour dust with a face in the bottlecap and this has crackle glaze all over it. The bottom right is a piece of stampboard that has been coloured with distress inks and a flower stamped onto it with black staz-on. I stuck the bottlecap where the flower head is and added the flower to the centre (which was stamped onto card and coloured with the same distress inks).I then added some glossy accents to the bottlecap.

Wood Burning - attempt number 2

This is my second attempt at wood burning. I stamped an image onto my wood and then used the wood burner tools to add the detail. I finally had a go at writing so the wording is freehand.
Thanks to Sam and Hilda for the tip on stamping the image onto the wood first!

Wood burning - 1st attempt

My friend Sam has bought a craft soldering iron/wood burning tool and after seeing her fabulous pieces I thought to myself "wouldn't mind having a go at this" so after sweet talking my hubby into buying me the iron I have had a go.

Lots to do Recipe swap - April

These are the pieces I have made for the recipe swap I am hosting on Lots to do.
The ingredients for this months recipe were:
a stamped image
yellow
2 brads

and you had to make a skinny, fat page and ATC.

I used mustard seed distress ink on my card and then stamped different images with black staz-on and then added 2 brads. Really easy and very quick to do.

Lots to do Bandana technique swap

These are the ATCs I have made for a swap I am hosting on the lots to do forum.

Lots to do challenge - numbers

This weeks challenge is "numbers".
I have made an ATC.
I used my cuttlebug embossing folder for the background and then added tea dye distress ink to the embossing.
I stamped a paper artsy image and lightly coloured that with broken china distress ink and then used 3d foam to attatch it to the card.
I then printed the words out on the pc "Age is just a number" and coloured it with broken china distress ink.
Finally I added a metal arrow.

Sunday Stamper - bird

I have used Hels' fantastic stamp to make my ATC.
I stamped it on my card and then added the swirls to one side and then added a background stamp. I coloured the bird in and stamped it twice more onto card and coloured them in. I layered the stamping up and added some gems to the tail. I finally added a flower to the bottom which is held together with a pearl brad.

Lots to do Challenge - ART

The lots to do challenge this week is "Art".
I have made an ATC. I used distress inks in scattered straw, broken china, shabby shutters and dried marigold for the background and then stamped a crackle on top with black staz-on. I then used an image of Monalisa and mounted that on copper card. I added the word "art" which is metal put through my wizard and then finally added terracotta alcohol ink all over.


Is it art????? I don't know but I do know that I like it!!!!