Black & White Swap

I set this swap up to celebrate the return of Circle of Crafters - the Creator of the Forum is incapacitated at the moment and the Forum was unable to continue for some months but CUP has taken over the running of the Forum so we are very happy folks again!
I had two folks join in the swap, but I think I did not explain the theme very well as you will see.
I only have photos of the cards in a group so I am sorry if the photos are not very clear.

For my cards I wanted to try using the masking technique and I thought black and white would be the easiest. Hah!
So I sorted out my stamps, and I thought I knew what I would do.  Hah!
Let's start with the Mermaid.
I stamped the mermaid and then made the mask.  I attached the mask and then added the rope along the side of the card.  I used a leaf stamp as coral and stamped along the edge of the card.
Now we have a London scene. 
I stamped the taxi in white ink and then in black on copy paper.  I attached the mask and then stamped Big Ben and the lamp post. Some of Big Ben had not printed so I used a white gel pen to complete it and, without thinking, started to paint round the taxi.... so now I needed to continue to make it look like part of the road!
The next card was to be a Parisian scene. 
I stamped the lady with her dog and then again on spare paper to form a mask.  I attached the mask and then stamped the shop front.  I painted the edges of the shop in black.
What I am not going to tell you is how many times I created the mermaid card ..... or the taxi card ...... but .... I only stamped the Parisian scene once ....... so I must be getting better at this technique!!  lol

I received the following cards.
A beautifully silver embossed card on blue.
Some black stamped butterflies on a mixed media background.
The black stamping is behind clear acrylic film and framed with copper.
Thank you Sandy.

The third swap cards were black on white stamping.  Butterflies were out in single file again!
Thank you Val.

Well done girls and thank you for joining in the swap.

Valentines' theme

Not being a Valentine's Day fan this swap was very challenging.
I tried is all I can say.


I stamped some hearts on white paper and added some peel offs on top.  I left a space on the lower left side of the card which I covered with a flower printed vellum which I had fussy cut round the flowers.

A dry wipe splashed with some Brushos in red formed the background to this card.  I added a diecut heart and flourish over the top.

A red flowered frame over some Chinese script was centred on a piece of red card.  I had ensured that the script was down the right side of the frame so that I could place a gold peel off within the frame to complete the card.





I received these very intricate cards back:













Thank you Val.

Spring theme

This was not a technique that was as advertised as much as it is now.  I thoroughly enjoyed creating these cards.



I stamped each card on watercolour paper and heat embossed the design with clear embossing powder.  


I painted each design with watercolour paints, spending a lovely peaceful afternoon - just the radio and me and my paints.

Val and I are members of an online craft group which started up way back in the day (2009) as an Iris Folding Group.  There are lots of us original members who still wear our badges with pride.

Val sent this lovely selection of cards - her Autumn is my spring.  Thank you Val, they are much appreciated.

Circle of Crafters - Christmas b

These are my cards from Valerie.

Vintage style is ok with me.

Love everyone of them ....

..... angels .....

.....poinsettia ....

..... Carol singers!

Thank you sooo much Val for a great swap.

Circle of Crafters - Christmas a

I received these cards as my part of the swap.
They are so beautiful .....

This card uses the sunburst technique in a way I haven't seen before, with embossed papers.  It is cut perfectly, the details wonderful.

Glittery material sets off this cross stitched tree to perfection.  It is stitched so neatly and the card is finished with the same attention to detail.

Now this is what I call Iris Folding, it puts mine to shame!!  the shape was cut out of a die cut and then metallic papers were used for the bauble.
Superb!

They came inside this beautiful card, handmade of course!

Thank you Sandy.

Circle of Crafters Christmas

I used three jigsaws for the Christmas Swap, I wanted this swap to be special.

I bought a packet of Christmas embellishments and set to work.  

I closed each jigsaw and attached a sticker right across the opening adhering it to one side only.  I then cut the sticker to shape and attached the cut off to the other side of the opening.  

I cut an old Christmas card to fit the inside of two cards, and used the back to fit in the third card.  I love recycling!!! 

I brought out the Peel Offs and added sentiments.  

On the third card I added a Nativity Peel off, which sat in the centre of the card perfectly. 

I added a few stars and angel peel offs to the sides of the jigsaw to complete all three cards.

Circle of Crafters - Cities of Choice

Paris!
There is no other city for me!


I printed out a page of stamps to size and then decorated with gold peel offs.

I printed out the Eifel tower and then over-stamped with words and flowers.  I placed a glittered lilly peel off in the corner.

This one is Paris!   
Eiffel Tower, couture, feathers, hearts and roses.

I have received the following ATCs wrapped with a very clever card from Karen:-


There are two 3D Decoupaged scenes, one with the mountains decoupaged



and one with a Bridge across the river decoupaged.  



The boulders are also decoupaged 
(I have tried to show the decoupaging with a side view but I am afraid it is not all that clear).

 It looks a fantastic place to live ...............   

BTW ....... 
it is in Denmark!  

Karen enclosed a little note to me inside this wonderful card............



Front view...........

..................back view

and one of the note. 

I love all of it!  Thank you Karen

Circle of Crafters World Wide Swap

Lynsey is very kindly running the World Wide Swap on Circle of Crafters and has requested to swap with me so I have selected the following cards.

This is one of the Bingo cards, one of my first ones made way back in April.

 This is a Lacy Sunshine image - Jamie.  I stamped the background and embossed with clear powder.  Thinking Circus -   I then added a strip of fine paper and some paint as it  looked pretty boring to me!!    I coloured the image with watercolour pencils and gave it all a brush with water.  After it had dried, I fussy cut and adhered him to the background. 

 I love him...... except for that yellow blob ........ maybe it is someone's  balloon floating away!!!





One from my 'Eclectic me' set completes the three cards needed for the swap.








UPDATED: - 22nd June



Received today - aren't they just the cutest!!! 
I never thought to make Pyramage for ATCs ........ how excellent are these.
Thank you Lynsey


Gotta have a go haven't I?  Maybe my Pyramage days are not over .....................

Circle of Crafters ATC Swap - New Beginnings

Lynsey is hosting this swap at the Circle of Crafters and I entered with these ATCs.  
I took as my focal point the New Library being built in our City Centre.  The design has caused a lot of discussion on the web and in the streets.  After looking at the ATCs as I worked on them I am getting to quite like the building!!

I added suitable text to each picture and then embossed.

 On this one I clear embossed the whole picture and then added both black embossing and glitter using my glue pen.  It suggests trees..................

I added the ricrac braid to bring all the ATCs together.



The clear embossing is only on the the right hand side and the black embossing all along the bottom.  Once again I added the ricrac and also some  ribbon braid along the bottom.



I clear embossed the left half of this one and added black embossed tree outline with the glitter falling down.............
Ribbon braids added the finishing touch.




Unfortunately the real world took over and they were relegated to the 'to be posted' box.  Today I received the following ATCs from my swap partner Judy - ooops! - after an apology via the Circle my ATCs will be in the post tonight!!



A really peaceful scene followed by 

a 'hanging' one and 

a definite 'new beginning' suggestion.


Well done Judy!  I love them.