Sew

Created for the Make a Moo Card Challenge. The background was sponged with Vintage Photo Distress ink, then stamped with a tape measure background in the same ink. The collage image was applied, then the card was machine stitched around the edges in black. The word sew was stamped in black and tiny buttons added to embellish.

Hats

Created for the Theme Thursday Challenge. The background was created by sponging Distress Inks onto matt cardstock in Weathered Wood & Dusty Concord. This was then spritzed with a little water, and dabbed with a tissue to lift the colours and produce lightened speckles. Next a background was stamped in Weathered Wood. Torn background papers were added with the edges sponged in Dusty Concord. Next the collage image applied, the hats stamped, coloured and added to finish.

Laugh, Smile, Dream

Created for the Wednesday Stamper Challenge where the theme is Orange. The background was coloured with Adirondack colour wash sprays in Cranberry and Butterscotch. This was then spritzed with a little water and dabbed with a tissue to lift areas of colour in random places. Next it was stamped with scratches in Mountain Rose, and large numbers in Versafine Black. Torn book pages was added, sponged with Butterscotch and Mountain Rose, then the collage image and text applied.

Ink Splatter

Postcard for the Created By Hand Challenge where the theme is blobs & splatters. The background was created by sponging Adirondack Latte ink onto matt card stock, and then stamping over it in the same colour. Torn book pages were also sponged with Latte ink and added randomly over the piece. The collage image was applied, and a little hat stamped and added. The ink splatters were stamped ink black ink to finish.

Timeless Beauty

Created for the Crazy Amigos Challenge where the theme is Colourful Vintage. I started off by tearing old book pages and attaching them to matt cardstock. I then painted over these with a thin layer of gesso. Next, I sprayed the pages with Cosmic Shimmer in Lava Red and Aqua, along with some sticky fingers spray in Buttercup. I added a little more gesso, and a little more of the sprays until I was happy with the colour, then stamped over the piece with a text stamp (due to the fact that I had covered up most of the text on the old book pages I started with). I added yet more colour and gesso, then a final coat of gold spray, so the piece is quite shimmery in places, especially in the creases of the torn paper edges. Next I added the collage images of the girl and the bird, and the whole thing was given a couple of coats of gloss lacquer spray. German scrap pen nibs, borders and a corner were coloured with alcohol inks in Stream & Denim and added to embellish. The text was computer generated and coloured with Lava red & Buttercup colourwash, then sponged around the edge with Distress ink in Broken China.

Cars

Created for the TMTA Challenge. The background is Distress inks in Vintage Photo & Peeled Paint. This was stamped with the main image in black (Queen's Dresser Drawers), and gesso swiped over it randomly.

Beach

4 x 4" created for Mixed Media Monday. The background was created by sponging matt cardstock with Distress Inks in Tea Dye & Broken China. All images were stamped using Versafine black. The lady was stamped first (Lost Coast Designs) and masked, then the Deckchairs (Oxford Impressions), followed by the sea (Cherry Pie), and finally the birds (Tim Holtz).

Time

Created for the Sunday Stampers Challenge. I used versamark on glossy card to stamp the background, then brayered over this firstly with Vintage Photo, then with Faded Jeans to create the Green colour. The collage image and papers were added, then computer generated text which was sponged in coordinating colours. A small clock charm was painted with acrylics and added to the bottom of the piece.

Chocolate

Created for the Gothic Arch Challenge where the theme is Chocolate. I decided to use chocolate colours, rather than the product itself. The background was sponged with Adirondack inks in Latte & Mushroom, then stamped with a script in Mushroom. The collage image was then applied and the words stamped in Versafine Black. A few black speckles were also stamped, and Prima flowers added to finish.

Fly

Created for the Sunday Postcard Challenge where the theme is Butterflies. The background was created by sponging Adirondack inks in Clover & Denim. This was then stamped with a script using Brilliance Moonlight White. The collage images were then applied and grungeboard letters at the top. The grungeboard was first painted with gesso, then coloured with Distress Inks in Spiced Marmalade and Fired Brick. It was stamped over using StazOn Black.

Imaginary Friend

Created for the In My House Challenge. The background uses Distress Inks in Weathered Wood and Antique Linen. Stamped with a text background also in Weathered Wood. The collage images were applied and then computer generated text which was sponged with Antique Linen and edged with Faded Jeans. The whole card was also edged with Faded Jeans.

Dream

Created for the Saturday Surprise Challenge. The background is the Wrinkle Free Distress Technique using Tea Dye and Weathered wood. This was then stamped with a postcard background in Weathered wood. The collage image was added and the word dream stamped in Versafine Black.

Quotes

Created for the Moo Card Challenge where the thme is quotes. The background was made by sponging Tea Dye Distress ink onto matt cardstock, then stamping in Walnut Stain. The collage image was then added and the quote stamped in black onto paper sponged with tea dye. It was then cut up, edged with Walnut Stain and applied to the card.

Fishes

Created for the TGIF Challenge. The background was sponged with Distress Inks in Faded Jeans and Tea Dye, then stamped with a postcard background in Faded Jeans. The collage image was then applied and the text stamped in black, onto paper that had been coloured with tea dye, then edged with Broken China.

Elizabeth Taylor

4 x 4" piece created for the Theme Thursday challenge where the theme is Famous Faces. The background used the Wrinkle Free Distress Technique in Broken China ink. This was then sponged over with VersaMagic Chalk ink in Thatched Straw. A postcard background was stamped over in Broken China, and the collage image of Elizabeth Taylor applied. Dymo text and star brads were added to finish.

Earth

Created for the Wednesday Stamper Challenge. The background uses Distress inks in Milled Lavender and Walnut Stain, sponged onto Matt Cardstock. This was then stamped with a faux linen stamp, also in Walnut Stain, and then with a floral stamp. The collage image and wings were positioned and attached, and finally a few butterflies and the text were stamped using Versafine Black.

Proverbs

Created for the Crazy Amigos challenge where the theme is Proverbs & Sayings. The cardstock was sponged with Distress Inks in Broken China & Vintage Photo. The inks were dragged across the card bother Vertically and horizonally. Next the main image was stamped in Versafine Black.

This was then masked and wild flowers stamped in the background using Vintage Photo. Next the smaller birds were stamped in black, and the proverb added, which was sponged using the same colour inks.

More Transparent Foil

I really liked playing with this technique, so made some more. This time I stamped my images onto white paper, scanned them and printed them onto a transparency. This way the images are a lot clearer than stamping directly onto it. The Geisha card uses Butterscotch & Current, the Blackbird card uses Stream, Denim, Eggplant & Butterscotch and the Man Card uses Latte and Denim.

Transparent Foil

Created for the TMTA Challenge. Where this week's theme is the Transparent foil Technique. I started out by stamping by image onto a transparency, then cutting it to ATC size. Next, I turned the image over and applied alcohol inks to the back in Raisin, Denim and Butterscotch. I cut a of card stock to ATC size, and applied a layer of kitchen foil over the top. I crumpled the foil first to create texture, then straightened it out. I added some torn book page to the top and bottom of the foiled card, then adhered the transparency over the top of it. Some areas were then highlighted with a white Signo pen, and the card was edged with gold Krylon. A little clock charm was added to finish.

Mermaid

This is an 8 x 6" piece created for the Mixed Media Monday Challenge, where the theme is mermaids. I started out by covering a piece of mount board with matt gel medium & tissue paper, layering it up to create texture and spraying with colour wash spray in Aqua, BlueBell and Grass Green. Next I applied the mermaid image to the centre and coated it with a layer of gel medium, then continued layering tissue and colour around it. Next I added some cheesecloth to create the illusion of fishing net. This also was sprayed with colour wash, and adhered with gel medium. I placed some tiny shells under the net at the bottom of the piece, and scattered some pearls around it too. I also added some pieces of fantasy film here and there, crumpling it up, attaching with gel medium, and heating with my heat gun. I added some silver and clear accent beads, and a little white pearl acrylic paint. Finally, a couple of coats of gloss lacquer to finish.

Please click on the image to see all the detail.

Blog Award

I have been given this wonderful award by Lynn of http://www.hercreativespirit.blogspot.com/. Thank you so much Lynn!

This award was created by Peter Breeze and these are his words to describe it:
The coveted Breese Award is given to six inspirational individuals; since most blog awards cater to odd numbers, this particular award was designed for the more even keeled folk. These six should be a collection of bloggers that have helped you, either directly or indirectly, to stay creative.

I will have to have a think who I would like to pass it on to, and update this post accordingly.

Home is Where The Heart Is

Created for the Gothic Arch Challenge. I started by sponging distress inks onto the card stock (Vintage Photo & Faded Jeans) using a piece of cut n dry and dragging the ink vertically and horizonally. Next I stamped the house image and added some gesso around it. I added more Distress inks over this, then stamped scratches in Vintage Photo, and speckles in black. The borders are German scrap coloured with acrylic paint in Burnt Sienna & Expresso to give a rusted appearance. I did the same with the Grungeboard letter, key and keyhole, though these were painted first with gold before adding the brown colours.

Journey

Postcard created for the Sunday Stampers Challenge where the theme is cars. I started by stamping the car, masking it and then stamping the tickets. Next I sponged colour around these using StazOn ink pads in Sunflower Yellow, Cactus Green and Blazing Red. I then masked the car and tickets to stamp the newsprint background using Blazing red and Cactus green. The word Journey was stamped in black, and black ink was also sponged around the border of the card. It was then highlighted with a white Signo pen to finish.

Pierrot

Created for the Sunday Postcard Challenge. I created this on mat card stock. To begin with I took 3 Distress Inks in Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord and Peeled Paint and used a piece of sponge to drag the colours across the card both vertically and horizontally. When I had a light covering, I then stamped the Pierrot stamp and masked it off so I could darken the colours around the outside of the image. I also stamped a background text (the story of Pierrot). Finally I stamped the large text at the base of the card in Versafine Black.

Thought I'd share the text on the background stamp as it's a really touching story:

"There is a story about the Pierrot which relates to how a small naked boy was found outside the gates of Heaven. It was Winter, and as St Peter picked up the child and blessed him, the snow on his body turned into a suit of pure white clothing. St Peter adopted the child and gave him his own name - Little Peter or Pierrot - but there was one condition, Pierrot was not allowed to play with any of the human children he might come across as he wandered outside the gates of Paradise. Of course, this was almost impossible for a small boy, and on his return from just such a meeting he realised that his new white suit now had black marks on it where the ordinary children had touched him. They proclaimed his guilt, and Pierrot was excluded from Paradise forever more."

Friends

Created for the Lots To Do Challenge where the theme is black and white. I started by sponging an old book page with gesso and attaching it to cardstock. I also used some scripted background paper which was torn and added across the bottom of the card and in random places. Next I added a black and white collage image, 3 prima flowers and a rub on text transfer. The border is German Scrap that has been painted white.

Treasure

4 x 4" page created for Saturday's Workout where the Challenge is to use a Muslin cloth background. I took a piece of Muslin Cloth and spritzed it with Sticky Fingers Colour Wash spray in Lilac. I then placed the cloth over card stock whilst still wet and brayered over it. Next I sponged over this with some Peeled Paint Distress ink. The main image was stamped in Versafine black ink, which was then masked and the background stamping done in Peeled Paint. Finally the word Treasure was stamped at the top of the card in black.

Ancient Wisdom

Created for the In my House Challenge where this week's theme is The Orient. I started by sponging the background with Old Paper Distress Ink, then stamped the main image in black. Next I sponged around the image in Peeled Paint Distress Ink, then masked off the geisha image and stamped an oriental script around her also in Peeled Paint. To finish I stamped the words Ancient Wisdom at the top in Versafine Black, and the Oriental flowers in Fired Brick.

Cosmic Shimmer ATC

I recently purchased some Cosmic Shimmer Sprays, and this is the result of testing them out. I sprayed purple & Lava Red onto paper, then crumpled it up to merge the colours and create wrinkles. I then straighted it out and ironed it flat. I stamped a music background over this (Crafty Indviduals) and applied the collage image. The text was stamped and sprayed in coordinating colours, and gold Krylon was added to the edges of the card. Cosmic shimmer sprays are highly pigmented and add real depth of colour and sparkle (not really caught by the scanner).

Believe

The background was created using Lumiere and Adirondack acrylic paints. The numbers stamp (paperbag studios) was then stamped over this in StazOn Teal. Next I tore some background papers into strips, sponged them with chalk ink and stamped a script (Tim Holtz) over the top in StazOn Timber brown. Finally, I added the fairy and stamped the word believe.

Tim Holtz Masks

ATC using my new Tim Holtz masks. I sponged ink in Weathered wood onto the ATC, then put on the mask, and responged the card with Frayed Burlap ink. Next I lifted the mask and stamped a postcard image over the top of the whole card using Weathered Wood ink. Finally, I added the collage image.

Home

Created for the Moo Card Challenge. The background is glossy card stock. I sprayed cosmic Shimmer Sprays in Golden Mist and Aqua Lagoon onto a non-stick craft sheet, then placed the glossy card on top to pick up the ink. The background has a lovely shimmer effect, but this hasn't shown up in the scan. The little house was then stamped in Archival Black and areas highlighted with a signo white pen. Finally, the word home was stamped, sponged with a little ink in Stream and Butterscotch, then attached to the card.

Umbrellas

Created for the TGIF Challenge. The background was sponged with Butterscotch ink in the centre, then with Tea Dye Distress Ink over the top. The surrounding areas were sponged with Distress Ink in Peeled Paint. The main image was then stamped in Versafine black, and masked while a script was stamped over the background in peeled paint. A few ink splatters were stamped around the edges in black to finish.

Glamour Girl

This is a 4 x 4" page created for the Theme Thursday Challenge where the theme is Glamour Girls. The main is by Time To Stamp, and was stamped using Versafine Black ink, then masked. Butterscotch and Currant inks were sponged around the image. Next the text was stamped, again in Versafine black, and then the little dice (Invoke Arts) in currant. Finally some tiny ink splatters (Tim Holtz) were stamped both in Butterscotch and Currant randomly around the card

Altered Postcard

Created for the Wednesday Stamper's Challenge. I printed my postcard from the internet, added a thin layer of gesso, then chalk inks in Sea Breeze & Aquatic Splash. Next I stamped a crackle background over the whole postcard using Vintage Photo Distress ink, then rubbed over the image with a issue before it had chance to dry, so that it would fade into the background. Next I stamped the text in black, added the flourishes in Broken China, and applied the collage image. You can just about see the original postmark stamps and detail if you look carefully.

Pear Collage

4 x 4 page for the Created By Hand Challenge where the theme is fruit. I used Versafine Black ink to stamp the images, masking where necessary to make a collage design. After stamping I sponged inks over the top. I used StazOn Sunflower Yellow, Pumpkin, and Distress ink in Peeled Paint. After this I used a signo white ball pen to highlight areas of the design, and finally masked off the word imagine and sponged a little black ink above and below it.

Butterfly Post

The main image was stamped onto canvas paper using VersaFine Black ink. This was then watercoloured with Lyra watercolour crayons. The background was then stamped with a script and small butterfly stamp, and the smaller butterflies also watercoloured.

Art ATC

I used Distress inks for the backgroun in Mustard Seed, Fired Brick and Faded Jeans. These were applied to matt cardstock using a brayer. The main image was then stamped using black ink and the background in Fired Brick, and black.

PaperArtsy ATC

Created using Adirondack inks in Rust & Stream. I used a circle template and sponged ink through it in Rust, then masked it and sponged the remainder of the card in Stream. Images were then stamped in black and a little water colour applied the the face and shells. All stamps by PaperArtsy

Silence

Another 4 x 4" page for the Crazy Amigo's Nature Challenge. Made in the same way as the first one, using a background paper and stamped in black. Stamps by Cherry Pie, Tim Holtz & PaperArtsy.

Nature's Spirit

4 x 4" page created for the Crazy Amigo's Challenge where the theme is Nature. I used a background paper to stamp the images. Stamps by Cherry Pie & paperArtsy.

Vision

Created for TMTA. I stamped the eye portion of a face stamp, then watercoloured the ATC. Next I stamped the vision text in black and finally used a black pen to add the details to the eye and the swirls to rest of the card.

Nesting Time

This is a 5 x 5" piece created for the Mixed Media Monday Challenge where the theme is Easter. I started out by spraying a large piece of tissue paper with colour wash in pink and lilac, leaving some areas without colour, then heat dried it. I used gel medium to glue the tissue paper onto mount board in layers, building it up to form a circular frame around the centre. Next I added some Lumiere paint in Pearl White to highlight areas of the tissue paper, especially those with no colour. The image was printed onto matt photo paper, and adhered with gel medium. A little pearl white acrylic was painted onto the wings. A lilac glaze was then painted over the whole piece and some silver accent beads added. Once dry, a little more white pearl was added where glaze had dulled it more than I wanted. The little eggs were made from MDF. These also had tissue paper added, colour wash and pearl acrylic. Grungeboard flourishes were added to embellish. These were painted first with gesso, then a mixutre of the sprays and pearl acrylic before being added to the piece. Finally, the little piece of text was added to finish.

Please click on the image to enlarge and see texture detail.

Hope

Skinny Card created for the Sunday Stampers Challenge. The background was made using the wirnkle free Distress Technique in Frayed Burlap & Dusty Concord. This was then sprayed with Sticky Fingers Silver Spray. (unfortunately this hasn't shown up in the scan). Next, the piece was stamped with a text stamp (PaperArtsy), and a collage image applied. The border was achieved by embossing some ranger Memories silver foil and swiping over with a little black acrylic to age it a little.

Counting Eggs

Created for both Sunday Postcard where the theme is Easter and the Lots to Do Challenge where the theme is numbers. The background was made using the cling and scrunch technique on matt cardstock with colour wash sprays in Delphinium & Aqua. This was then stamped with the numbers background using StazOn Ultramarine. Collage images and text were then added.

Easter Twinchies

Created for the Small World of Inchies Challenge. The backgrounds were created using chalk inks - Thatched straw, Aspen mist& Purple Petunia. Stamping done to coordinate with Tim Holtz flowers stamp. Collage images were applied and text.

Stone Angel

Another piece for Saturday's Workout using the rest of the background I made. This time an ATC. The sponged over the background with a little eggplant, then spritzed it with a little water to create more speckles. I stamped a corner in eggplant (Tim Holtz stamp) and added the Angel image.

Inspire

Created for the Saturday's Workout Challenge, where the challenge this week is to use the Fossil Stone Technique. The colours I used for this were Adirondack Lettuce and Eggplant. I then sponged on a little more lettuce after the background was made, and stamped it using StazOn Olive ink. I then added some torn book page, the Stone Angel collage image and the text in a metal name plate, attaching it with brads.

Spring Beauty

Created for the In My House Challenge where the theme is Spring. I started with mat card which was spritzed with Sticky Fingers Colour Wash Sprays in Aqua, Bluebell, Lilac and Pink. This was then stamped with a French Script (Stampin' Up) in Dusty Concord Distress ink, and once dry I sprayed over it with a little Glitz Spritz in gold. Next I applied the collage image, and embossed around the outside with Opals UTEE in Valentine and Bubblegum. The hot UTEE was stamped into with a flourish stamp. Once cool, I put a little gold rub on over the top to enhance the raised areas. Finally, I added the text and 2 Prima flowers.