May Colour Swap

This colour certainly made me think ...... peach, not pink, not coral, not orange .....

I mixed up some watercolour to peach and washed the cards, adding a copper spray to the second card and varying the strength of the colour on the third.  After printing out the image onto a text background, I gave that a colourwash and fussycut the image.  Once she had been attached I edged the image with some fancy ribbon.  A ticket added as a sentiment completed the first card.

I cut out the sentiment for the second card as a straight oblong and attached it to one corner so that I could add the fussy cut the peaches on a plate to the lower left.  I added some acrylic lacquer to the peaches.

After the spray had dried on the third background, I wrapped the ribbon round the right side of the card and added two fancy bows on the right side.



I received this lovely selection of cards:



Lovely printed and fussy cut images.
Thank you JanS.

There is a beautiful sheen to this paper fan which the photo does not show.

Thank you SueF.

This card is so adorable, the image set on a darling backing paper.

Thank you Beth.

Dandelion Wishes

I love dandelion clocks!  
When this Swap came up on ATCs For All forum then I knew exactly what I wanted to create.


I sorted out all my dandelion stamps - I think I have three!

I painted out my masterboard with some blues and greens and left to dry.  

Once the paints were dry, I cut the master boards into ATC sizes and I started my stamping.  

I thought each design out and then stamped away..... not once, maybe twice, three times on one of them ..... once completed I realised .... they needed a sentiment.  

I stamped the sentiment onto the first card but it didn't look right.

I stamped some more sentiments on the leftovers from the masterboards and attached three of them to the rest of the cards.

This is not right, the stamping is still all wrong!  :-( 

I used some of the Versafine ink as a paint and 'cleaned' up the stamping a bit, but could not alter the smudged areas.

I really didn't know what to do so I posted them on the Forum and asked for help .......

...... Barkesm came back at me with suggestions - love that lady! - followed by VickiZ - love her too!

Back into the craft room I went ....

I took one of my acrylic blocks and, using washi tape, covered the sides so that an ATC size was left.  This meant that I could now arrange my stamps on the block before stamping.   Why didn't I think of this before?!?!

I repainted the masterboard, this time using watercolour paper, and cut to ATC size.

I added my stamps to the block, following suggestions from Barkesm and VickZ and voila! 

I am really happy with these cards.  Yes! I know the background is brighter but it is the quality of the stamping that is better, one happy bunny round here!

UPDATE: 24.09.32016

I have received the following cards.....

 Beautifully drawn and stamped.
Thank you Dnewton972.

Superb watercolour background.

Thank you RaeK75.

Gorgeous sunset colours.

Thank you missxkay.

May Swap

I thought I would use some of my ready made ATCs this month.
I made these with a copper theme in mind. 

I collected some copper coloured papers together, copper embellishments and ribbons.
I added the paper to the background card, wrapped a ribbon round on one side.  
After adding the embellishments and looking at the finished cards I was surprised at the variety, made on the same theme, but each one different.

I received the following cards from Roseann.

This card is so bright and shiny.

This card is beautifully matted.

A really cute image on a corrugated background.

Thank you so much for this great selection of cards.

A Day for Daisies and Challenge #151

When I saw the July 2016 Club kit at A Day For Daisies, I just knew I had to have them!!!
Me and Fairies ..... what's that about you ask?  
This is the girl who grew up reading all the Fairy books - Green, Yellow, Red, etc. - all read and digested.  This is the girl who stitched fairy clothes out of leaves and flowers and left them in the hedgerows......   
......I was also brought up as an only child just after the war so that's my excuse .... we had to make our own entertainment!!!

Back to the Fairy Queens ......

I duly sent off for the fairy ladies and printed them in ATC size.   While I sat mulling over what colours to paint them, I looked back at the posting for inspiration.  Such great designs but wait ....The Challenge is two colour ombre ...
... never done ombre ......but I painted them up with my ever faithful 'left over children's paint set', my idea of ombre which meant dresses that go from pale to dark .....
I also painted some backgrounds suitable, in my opinion, for Fairy Queens and left all of them to dry.
After I had spent some time fussy cutting the Fairies, I attached them to my backgrounds and added some small details such as:
Painting wings with Blue Violet Mica paint - I added details with thicker paint of the same.
Painted fairy crowns with Tim Holtz Distress Spray in Tarnished Brass.  I puddled the spray on the work surface and used a fine brush to colour the crowns.
I then used some corner punches to add a finishing touch.
I am very pleased with the results.  I am no artist but I really enjoyed painting up these gorgeous designs ..... I think there will be a few more Fairy Queens floating around this place!

I am entering this group into the Challenge so .... wish me luck!

June Theme Swap

Buttons and Bows.

I was inspired by this ATC on this Blog.

I sorted out my material, bought a long time ago from the Works.  Found some free printable spools and pattern pictures. opened up my Button Tin, sorted some threads and sewing accessories, and sat down at my desk to create. 

I attached a piece of material to each card blank, cut out a pattern image and attached to the base.  
I added some wondaweb strips along the edges, it's not very visible in the photos but it's there!!
I added different size and colour buttons to the left hand sides.  I cut out the spool pictures and wound various threads round each one, adding a glitter thread to the main colours.  I attached two gold safety pins to the red card, a tartan bow and needle threader to the fawn card and a silver safety pin, pearl headed straight pin to match the cream bow on the cream card. 

I love these cards and am soooo glad I visited Kelly's blog before I started creating!!!  You should take a trip through her blog, there's lots more to see.

I received the following beautiful cards:




Baby's Friend  - so cute.
Thank you Liz.

Love the embossing on the background.

Thank you Phillipa.

A great big bow ... or is it ...bow!

Thank you Pat. 

April Theme Swap

Mermaids!  
Thought I would try something different  .... mermaids in silhouette!
I printed some backgrounds which I had sized down to fit the card, cut some printed mermaids out of different patterned papers and used some raffia and threads.

Once I had attached the background papers to the base card, I spritzed them with pearl spray in the hope that this would give the cards an oceanic glow!!!


I attached the mermaids and then added the threads along the lower edges as seaweed.
Pretty pleased with the whole effect, especially as the spritzed worked perfectly.




I received the following cards by return:





Love this arty mermaid with her pearl crown. Thank you Mel.

Beautifully pyramaged to the corner.

Thank you MargaretC.

I recognise this little decoupaged mermaid.

Thank you BarbaraB.

April Colour Swap

I have received the following cards:

There's a superb button on this card!
Thank you Gerry.

Three pearlised paper butterflies.

Thank you JudithAnn.

Just love that corrugate fence!!

Thank you Pat.