September Theme - Egyptian

I had quite a bit of fun with this swap.

I did all these cards the 'proper' way...... not!!!  

I started out well, I sorted out all my backgrounds and images from the internet and some bought images.  Then it started to fall apart ......

I sized this background to fit the ATC and then resized the image.
OK
Taking my metallic gel pens I proceeded to colour the image .... some like the paper...... some don't!   As I coloured, it didn't matter which pens I used, the ink was streaking but as it dried I liked it better, after all the original sarcophagus was centuries old and must have lots of dents!
I had printed several sentiments in gold and silver colour, tore round the text making them ready to attach to the card.  
Once I had secured the image to the background then I attached the sentiment (The barking of a dog does not disturb the man on a camel) to the bottom edge of the card.

I applied the same techniques to this card but used a gold pen and watercolour pencils.  The colouring was very detailed but I did enjoy it.  I placed the sentiment (social media is like ancient Egypt: writing on walls and worshipping cats) along the right side of this card, swiping it with silver ink pad.

I love this image but used the wrong pen to colour the dress, I managed to contain the damage by using pencils for the rest of the image.  I placed the sentiment (examine what is said not he who speaks) along the left hand side of this card.

I loved this swap especially as this time I managed to find the right sentiment!!!


I received the following cards by return:



Gold Peel Offs on a black background.
Thank you Margaret.

Love the all round 'sandiness' of this card.

Thank you Liz R.

The background on this card is stunning!  The camera does not show the brilliance, it sparkles in the light.

Thank you Jan.

Easy Animal Stamp

I discovered that my camera has a film over the lens so my photos are not as clear as they used to be, a shame but at least I have an idea of what I made.

After I had spritzed the background, I stamped one of my 'some bunny loves you' stamps in the lefthand corner of the card and coloured it with watercolours.  A small dot of silver stickles in the centre of each flower finished the corner.
I masked the image and then stamped the tree so that it appeared behind the rabbit.

I used another some bunny stamp in the righthand corner of this card.  Using a mask again I stamped a houses background, leaving just the outlines.

I think I am getting to understand how this masking technique works now!!!  I stamped the hen, masked it and then stamped another behind.  I inked up the baby chic in yellow and then added some lovely green grass around the place!

I am now in to my stride ......
Let's stamp a panda in black, give him some green bamboo by his side, perhaps one stalk half eaten by his feet and then some cherry blossoms over his head!!! 
yeees! 
This  has to be the hostie! (and it was!!)

I have received the following cards:


Thank you Dragon 597.

Thank you smallgirl.

Thank you Tisheray.

Thank you Mouseit  for the sweet card and interesting papers - like metallicised crepe paper.  I have never seen any like it before.

September Swap

The monthly swap comes round so quickly ..... I used three  cards from my stash.


Beautiful wallpaper, 3D effect and purpled over.  The beautiful button came from part of my stash given to me by me daughter ..... so long ago now.



I used one from my Saturday / Sunday Workout, how I love these cards.  I know I made to give away but ..... how I love these cards......



I used a stencil and texture paste for this card.  I really am trying out this mixed media .......  I used one of the background papers from my kit, used one of the rose stencil and spread it through with my fingers.  After the paste had dried I tore round the sentiment and placed it down the left side.  I waited once more for the card to dry, sprayed the whole with the green spritzer and waited for it to dry, blanked off the rest of the card leaving just the rose flower free and spritzed it with red mica.


I received these great cards from Rubes.

Lovely monochrome card with shiny flowers. 

This card is a symphony in blue!

I just love this card, stamping, decoupage, it's great.

Thank you Rubes.

Emboss to Impress

I am not good at stamping .... I know I go on about it and I know that practise makes perfect so ...... not just stamping but embossing as well!!!  Practise, practise, practise ........

Actually I feel that I cheated a bit as I used a magazine article for inspiration.  The October issue of Craft Stamper had an owl stamp as a free gift and lots of exciting samples, one of which i wanted to try.
I cut my card as a long piece and started to work.
I sorted some pieces of paper from my PIF bag and placed them at various angles across the card, rubbed some gesso over the whole and left the card to dry.  
I chose various stencils from stash, some acrylic colours (never used before by me!) and laid them out ready to decorate the card. 
I applied dark blue through one stencil, light green through an alphabet diecut negative, added a light blue HUG or two - cut from a birthday card - and used lemon through a daisy stencil. 
While this was drying I stamped my owl stamp several times onto watercolour paper and heat embossed with black embossing powder.  I created a long strip of owls using some leftover paper and I am soooo glad I did as my embossing gradually improved along the way!!!!  
I printed some owl sentiments in various texts & colours and chose four to attach to the cards.  I tore each sentiment, spritzed each strip of paper with colour and attached along the edges of each card. 
I chose the best four owls and watercoloured them in colours to match the background and then fussy cut the owls and attached one to each card.

There may not be a large amount of embossing on these cards but what there is has impressed me!  
I feel I have 'come of age' with these cards, not just with the stamping but also with the embossing and the mixed media background.  
Now perhaps I will be able to produce work to the standard I so much want to attain.
I thoroughly enjoyed creating these cards even though it was scary at times, but I have now used:
- acryllic paints - yeah!!!!  Not nearly as bad as I thought they would be.
- embossing powder, clearly and evenly.
- Stencils - with acryllic paints if you don't mind.  
I have to admit that this didn't go quite as well as I wanted, I think maybe I used the wrong brush to apply the paint - more research needed there!!!

I am really impressed with what I have achieved making these cards - Thank you so much Cinlan for a really challenging swap.

I received the following cards:




Embossed cups on the background!
Thank you ThouArtDelyrias.

Embossed wall background.

Thank you Suntrade.

Beautifully embossed silver unicorn.
Thank you Mouseit.


Spoiltpup enclosed an embossed 'Thank you' in the envelope.
Thank you for a Great Swap.

Fan Out Swap

FAN OUT! ATC Cards that Open and Close - Hand Drawn/Painted ATCs

Fans are brad-jointed ATC cards that when folded will fit into a regular ATC sleeve when folded up. 

This is the Challenge ....something different .... may have to engage the brain .... I had some ideas and then they went away.   Then the muse struck .... I quickly grabbed a pencil and jotted everything down .....

1) A Totem Pole three heads opening out.  

I don't want to offend anyone here, I hope that if you know another name or feel offended, that you will contact me.  I am fascinated by them and their histories.

2) A Flower - Butterflies open out from the flower head.

3) A hand with a lace glove - each finger opening out.

4) A House - with a tree in front and an angel appearing from the roof.

That's the plan .....

A month later and I have found time to sit and think about this challenge a little deeper.  I look at those sketches and think  .... what??!!

So let's make a start with the totem pole.  

closed fan

I have my watercolour paper cut to size so grab a pencil and start sketching, three different faces.  I am using some paper that I had in my art class so have had to be careful how it is cut, I need to use the colours so they make sense as backgrounds.

second fan open

I painted all three cards with the basic head shapes, adding shades of brown, building up the design.

After they had dried I took a good look at each one and then went to work adding details.  I highlighted the nose shape, drew in the eyes and mouth accentuating the shape.

Full totem pole

I then moved onto the second card, looking to see what features were there and then using the white pen to accentuate.

I have decided that my third head will wear the crown, beautifully carved and painted.  Now I need to connect them so I sorted through my trusty container of brads, selecting some leaf shapes - wood, trees, leafs, that's how my brain works!

I had an idea for the second card as I scanned through some card samples for another swap - opening clouds.

Closed card

I added some rushes to this sunrise scene, cut out a cloud shape from some of the blue from another piece of card.  

opened first fan

I used a white pen to write the words - Here comes....' on the cloud and '..the sun..' above the rushes on the base card. 

I painted up a third piece, cutting it in a round shape, and painted with golden yellow, highlighted with yellow mica and a few 'rays' added with lead pencil.

I used jewel brads to connect these cards, blue for the cloud and lemon for the sunshine.

second fan open

I went outside to have lunch with PJ and as we sat talking I knew what the third card would be - A lily pond!

Three cards became two water lily leaves and one Koi in a pond. 

open the first leaf

closed fan

I drew out the leaves and the used a waterbrush to paint the the waterlily leaves, highlighting the edges of each leaf with yellow mica paint.


 I drew out the koi and coloured the fish with watercolour pencils - Inktense!  I used a waterbrush to wash over the fish adding some yellow mica paint to highlight a few of the scales. 

both leaves open to show the Koi

Once the cards had dried I cut  out the leaves and edged them with a green Promarker.  I found some dragonfly brads to connect up the fan.

The ice cream man came along now so downstairs I went again, sitting in the sunshine to eat my cornet , I just knew that I would make a tree!

closed card

Back in my room I painted a tree view on the front card cutting the sides to shape.  

first fan open

The second card had a closer view of the leaves and apples, same technique but this time I cut the other side of the card.

 I took another piece of watercolour paper and drew out my apple, I used the watercolour pencils again to draw out my apple and little bug - see him waving???  no?  neither did PJ - I won't repeat what he thought it was - definitely need a bit more detail here!! 

both fans open to show the apple

They are now all folded and posted - can't wait to see what I receive back!!!

Blogger is now playing up so please excuse the layout!!!

August Theme - Steampunk

At last - a chance to use my Chocolate Baroque Punky Flowers!



I stamped and dry embossed the watercolour cards, adding a spritzed colour to each card.  I painted the cards. each 'flower' and metal channel. 


I love these stamps and wish I could think of more ways to use them.

I added small decorations to the lower corners and gold décor paper to the orange one.

Added embossed lavender 'gears' to this one.







I received these magnificent cards by return:




Proper gears this one!
Thank you Philippa.

Very neat and marvellous gear.

Thank you Kate.

The ultimate Steampunk!

Thank you Beth.