Monday 2 November 2015

Clocking In

I've finally finished the mixed media clock I was working on and had it photographed. I bought it in a sale after watching an Indigo Blu mixed media demonstration on one of the new UK craft channels Hochanda.com using one of their clock kits. My purchase was £3, the Indigo Blu kit costs £7.99!  
 
 
It's taken me weeks because I've really only been doing a few minutes here and there. I've been a bit unsure about what I've been doing and my arthritis has been playing up but I have to now admit that I am hooked on this mixed media clock décor thing and it looks as though I may have some Christmas present ideas milling around.
 
I used a number of Indigo Blu products, including the paper (from the "Vintage Memories" paper stack), clock numeral stencil & "Good Times" A5 stamp.
 
I managed to find a supplier of MDF and Ply shapes with reasonable prices so sent off for a heart and a teapot . This next clock is intended for my sister and her husband - so far I've got the blank gessoed, the paper, from Indigo Blu's "Emporium of Curiosities", stuck on and am currently at the sitting, staring "what now?" stage. 

As for the teapot . . . well, it seemed like a good idea at the time!
 


 
 
 

I missed the deadline for last week's Freshly Made Sketches but I think I might just manage to clock in, in time, this week! 
 
For this week's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge I decided to flip the design onto it's side and hang up some stockings.
 
 
Once again I have used some of the lovely freebie Winter Wonderland stamps, Norwegian patterned stockings, from Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine (craftstash.co.uk also stock various stamps from the freebie sets as Apple Blossom Craft Collection).
 
 
The stamps were each inked using 3 different Versafine pads:Smokey Grey, Crimson and Olympia Green then fussy cut and shaped before mounting onto the background. The background was inked with Distress Inks Evergreen Bough and Peeled Paint, the holly was stamped with each of the three inks.







 
Cardstock:
PayPer Box - Kraft
PayPer Box - Ivory Hammered

Stamps:
Apple Blossom Winter Wonderland Stamps - Norwegian Patterned Stockings
 
 

Monday 19 October 2015

Krafty Poinsettia

For anyone who didn't see the Scotland v Australia Quarter Final at the Rugby World Cup - we wuz robbed! A penalty kick awarded to the Wallabies in the final minute of the match, for something they did (if Ref went to the TMO he would have seen it!) and the Aussies won by a single point. I think the whole of Scotland was gutted for those lads who gave it their all!  The way the Ref sprinted off the pitch as he was blowing the final whistle was probably the biggest clue that he knew he'd made a huge mistake - the rude so and so never even shook hands with the Team Captains!

Ah well, there's always the Six Nations to look forward to in the New year!

Still not got a lot done regarding Christmas cards but I have been experimenting using Kraft paper with clear embossing powder and came up with a poinsettia that looks like it's made from spun caramelised sugar! I decided to use it for this week's entry into the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #208
 
 
The Christmas bauble in the background of the photos is a work in progress. I used the Darice Ivy Corner embossing folder to create a strip detail instead of a ribbon.
 
These filigree dies are lovely but all the chads that come off are a pest. I have found that putting in a poly bag (zip-lock best) and giving a sharp tap on the edge of the table frees them from the die without going everywhere. If they are still stuck within the die cut, again put it in a bag and try using one of the rotating brushes on the market seem to free them without them making a mess!
 
 
 
 
 

Cardstock
 PayPer Box - Kraft
PayPer Box - White Linen
 
Embossing Folder
Darice - Ivy Corner
 
 Dies 
Sue Wilson Creative Expressions - Filligree Poinsettia












Stamps
Magazine Freebie
 
Inks
 Versafine - Antique Sepia
Distress Ink - Evergreen Bough

Monday 12 October 2015

It's Started!

It's Started!

Last week I decided to get a shift on and get some crafty stuff done for Hallowe'en, I've made up some goodie bags for the bairns out Guising*, for the neighbours children I've made and filled some decorated boxes.

 
Anyway, after sorting out Hallowe'en I have given in and started making stuff for Christmas - a load of baubles! I also thought I'd make a start on some cards and ended up only making one because I couldn't decide what to do!

The one I did make is based on this week's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge
 

although it didn't start out as what I had originally planned to make for it! My original plan for the Christmas card went awry when I unknowingly had managed to get ink on my fingers and smudged a part of it - aarghh! Then I remembered the sketch and decided to chop off the bits that were ok and re-arrange them and add another panel.
 


  

All the stamps used this week came as a free gift with the latest Creative Stamping Magazine. They were classed as Christmas stamps but there are several which can be used at anytime of year - especially for making cards for the male of the species, including a rather nice stag's head.

 
 
 
Cardstock
 
PayPer Box - Kraft
PayPer Box - Ivory
 
Stamps
 
Creative Stamping - Woodland Christmas
 
 
Inks
 
Versafine - Vintage Sepia
 
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads:
Faded Denim, Peeled Paint & Evergreen Bough
 
 
* Guising - The verb to guise comes from Old French (se) déguiser, meaning to disguise oneself, is a practise not only associated with All Hallows Eve but also, in days of yore, with Yule. 

On the last Tuesday of January  each year, at Lerwick in Shetland Islands the men  participating in the Viking Festival of "Up Helly Aa" are known as Guizers, chief among them being the "Guizer Jarl")

 
Photo of Up Helly Aa  - Burning the Dragon Ship from http://www.shetland.org/things/events/culture-heritage/up-helly-aa

When I was younger going Guising at Hallowe'en wearing an old white sheet with holes cut for eyes sufficed as a ghost but these days, as the rather commercialised import of Trick or Treat seems to steal a march on guising, it seems the shops are full of more theatrical style costumes. 

Another tradition was the long, labourious, and a bit smelly, task to hollow out a tumshie (swede) and then carve a scary face into it but with the candle lit turnip (neep) lantern it was off to knock on the doors of friends and neighbours. The tradition was to do your party piece (tell a joke, sing a song, dance or recite a poem) to receive your fairins (presents, especially sweets, apples, nuts although you may be lucky to receive some money) rather than modern, imported, demand  of "Trick or Treat".


"Canty dame wi kindly looks,
Ye hae fairins in yer neuks,
Aipples reid, or aipples green,
Up, and gie's oor Hallowe'en!"
 
 
 


Monday 5 October 2015

Dear Santa . . .

Autumn is now upon us, the cherry trees out at the front of our house are turning shades of red and gold whilst the fallen pine cones seem to be attracting the local squirrels. My apple tree has so far produced enough apples for some pies and crumbles with more still to come - will check later once the rain goes off as it has been windy enough to get some fallers.

It's been a few weeks since I took part in the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge
so thought it was time to try and get back into the swing of things.  Unfortunately my photos aren't too great as I've had to use the camera on my phone (put the SD card reader for my proper camera in a safe place - well, you know the rest!)

 

 
I've used a combination of Tim Holtz and Dyan Reaveley stamps to come up with this bird that's got itself in a bit of a mess:
 
 
Now that it's a getting a bit close to Chrimbo to be misbehaving and making messes about the house, this little bird has decided to write a letter to Santa - just in case!
   

 
 
The card uses with Tim Holtz Bird Crazy and Dyan Reaveley's Christmas Words stamps with the Splats courtesy of a Tim Holt stencil and Distress Inks.
 
 
 
Cardstock
Image Supersmooth  -White
PayPer Box - Kraft
 
Stamps & Stencils
Tim Holtz - Splatters Layering Stencil
Tim Holtz - Bird Crazy
Dyan Reaveley - Christmas Words

Inks
Momento Tuxedo Black
Versafine - Onyx Black
Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Spiced Marmalade
Tim Holt Distress Ink - Faded Denim

Sunday 20 September 2015

Be You!

Not blogged for about 2 weeks, unfortunately when my son had our wee Jack Russell out for a walk it was attacked by a the same Husky that attacked him almost 3 years ago and it has left him rather traumatised so I've been having to look after him. My boy rather shaken especially as they were chased all the way into our front garden with the Husky's owner hauling it off Jack on our doorstep! Whilst he wasn't as badly injured this time he's still been in a lot of pain and it was nearly a week before he was able to go for a walk/hobble outwith the back garden.

The Police, actually came out to get a statement this time because it was the same dog who had attacked him before, that and the fact he was being walked by a youngster when it happened. The PC said that a report would be sent to the Fiscal.  The local Dog Warden has  also contacted us and told us that there will now be a Control Order put on the Husky. Shortly after the last attack it was seen with a muzzle on and was kept on the lead but that didn't last long, hopefully this time they'll take heed.  We've certainly noticed that they have changed the route they walk and no longer pass our house!

A couple of days ago my son announced it was one of his friend's Birthday and there were plans that some way or another there would be a party. This particular friend is embracing his inner Emo/Goth look at the moment and has a habit of "borrowing" his sister's eye make-up. We have had discussions on the merits of eye pencil over liquid liner etc so I thought for his Birthday I would treat him to some eye-liner and related bits and bobs of his very own. I also thought I'd make him a card using one of the Tim Holtz Bird Crazy Stamps combined with a Dyan Reaveley sentiment that I think sums up individuality - "Be you, the world will adjust".




 
 

 
 
Cardstock:
PayPer Box -  Kraft,
Image Super Smooth - White 300gsm
 
Stamps:
Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz Bird Crazy,
Ranger - Dyan Reaveley - Laugh Til You Leak,
Crafter's Companion - Moonbeam Meadow
 
Ink:
Memento - Tuxedo Black
Letraset Promarkers

Monday 7 September 2015

Oh Joy!

Okay some may say I'm leaving it late because they've been at it since January but to me this is soon enough to start thinking about C*******s cards - oh joy! Don't get me wrong, I like C*******s I just don't like the commercial hype in the run up to it - even seen decorations & cards in a shop already!

Now the schools are back, Hallowe'en and Guy Fawkes night are approaching so I reckoned it's perhaps about time to start thinking about designs. Last year I had my heart set on the Creative Expressions Filigree Poinsettia dies but left it so late they couldn't be had for love nor money so this year I've made sure to get them and they arrived at the weekend. Also in the package was the IndigoBlu Flitglu starter set and two pots of gilding flakes - something else I've been promising myself. What better excuse to try them out than this week's 
Freshly Made Sketches Challenge:


 
I think the gilding flake panel gives an unintentional an Gustav Klimt-esque look to the card that may become intentional in other cards!
 
 




CardStock:

PayPer Box - Pearlised White
PayPer Box - Matt Bronze

Dies:


Creative Expressions Sue Wilson - Filigree Poinsettia Set
Creative Expressions Sue Wilson - Snowflake Striplet Die

Other:


IndigoBlu Flitglu
Cosmic Shimmer - Gilding Flakes - Persian Dawn
Stamp - Christmas Words from (Magazine) Freebie Set








 





Monday 31 August 2015

HB 2 Ewe

Ah well. that'll be that then, today is the last day of Summer (what Summer?) and that's the rain on once again! It's been a rather strange season warm and wet I think sums it up best!


This week's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge certainly got me thinking about what that "Any Shape" could be and after a search through my dies I decided that I would use a fussy cut stamp instead.


 
 
 
I originally got this cute Rachelle Anne Miller "Love Ewe" stamp to go with the Lawn Fawn Hippo Birdie stamp & die set to make a Birthday card for my friend and thought it would be a nice shape to use for this design.
 
 
 
 
 
I created two backgrounds, a sky for the rectangle and a hillside meadow on the strip, using Tim Holtz Distress Inks and some torn paper masks.
 

 


Cardstock:
Image Supersmooth - White
Crelando - Blue

Stamp:
Crafter's Companion - Rachelle Anne Miller "Love Ewe"

Inks:

Memento - Tuxedo
Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Evergreen Bough, Faded Jeans











Monday 24 August 2015

Congratulations!


What could be more apt for Freshly Made Sketches 200th Challenge than a Congratulations card!


 
Didn't think I was going to be able to post anything for this week's challenge as I have been having laptop problems which meant I had to revert to my old, on it's last legs (will be lucky to last till the end of this post), one! On top of that I couldn't get my photos transferred from my camera as I couldn't get it to upload to the computer or find the SD adaptor (aargh!) in the end I had to resort to my smartphone and take the photos with that.
 
 
 
I decide for such a simple sketch I should try white on white with a hint of silver.




I've used a pearlised white cardstock throughout with the embossed front panel raised off the base with foam tape to highlight the die cut panel.
 
The centre of the flower embellishment was created using a glass mat, a hot glue gun and some glitter. I squeezed out some hot melt glue onto a glass mat where it formed a blob and while it was still hot, sprinkled on some silver glitter and allowed it to set.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cardstock:
Payperbox - Pearlised White
 
Dies & Embossing:
Spellbinders - Arched Elegance
Spellbinders - Jewel Flowers & Flourishes
Spellbinders - Congratulations

Darice - Vine Flourish
 
Ribbon:
Club Green - White & Silver
 
 
 
 
 


 

Thursday 20 August 2015

Marbles

It's hubby's Birthday today and even although I'd been planning on what cards to make, as usual I left it to the last minute to actually sit down and make them! I talked it over with our teenage son and it was decided that for his card it was to be Crazy Birds with one of Dyan Reaveley's amusing sentiments from her "Laugh Til You Leak" set. This is what I came up with:
 
 
   
 

I used the Tim Holtz "Splatters" layering stencil and Distress Inks to create the background and used my Brother Labeller to make the "Happy Birthday Dad". I used the matching Sizzix dies to cut out the birds and layered it onto the front of the card. The first half of the sentiment was added along with some coloured pearls to represent the . . .  as marbles!







 
 

 
Cardstock:
Image Super Smooth White
 
Stamps & Dies:
Dyan Reaveley - Laugh Til You Leak,

Tim Holtz Bird Crazy, Sizzix Thinlits Bird Crazy,
 
Inks:
Tim Holtz Distress Inks,
Memento - Tuxedo Black
Promarkers
 
 

Monday 17 August 2015

Just Saying . . .

 
Good grief we've actually had a couple of consecutive days of sunny weather so Summer must be here at last . . . just in time for my son going back for the start of the new school term on Wednesday!
 
 



For this week's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge I decided to keep it quite simple - a background using Distress Inks onto some watercolour paper and a stamped image from the Tim Holtz Flower Garden Set. I inked the stamp with Memento Tuxedo Black and stamped three images from a single inking. The background was placed onto some black cardstock and finished with a piece of DS Satin ribbon and a small banner which was inked with Barn Door Distress Ink to match the background.







Cardstock:
PayPerBox - Black
Water Colour Paper

Inks:
Tim Holtz Distress Inks -
Barn Door, Mustard Seed,
Dried Marigold

Memento - Tuxedo Black






Stamps:
Stampers Anonymous -
Tim Holtz Flower Garden

Sizzix Framelits - Hello Jillibean Soup



 
 
 
 



Thursday 13 August 2015

Time to Try Tim's Tags!

Whilst searching online for Tim Holtz products I kept coming across references to his 12 Tags projects so finally decided to investigate further.  I found the Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015 and his tutorial for the August one and decided it was perhaps time to give it a try. So I can now answer one of his "Way with Words" stamps "When was the last time you did something for the very first time?" with "Today!".

 
I've decided that if you like to get messy whilst crafting then this sort of thing is made for you and, oh boy, did I get into a mess! Fun whilst I was making things but a pain to tidy up afterwards - I managed to get glue everywhere but fortunately was able to sort it out before hubby got back!
 
I don't have a lot of Tim Holtz products although I do have some Distress Ink pads, Bird Crazy Stamps & Dies and his "Way With Words" sentiments set so used those as a base to start with. As I don't have any tags I made one from some of my usual cardstock.

For his tag Tim used a series of word dies to cut into the top layer of his tag which was then backed by a printed page and another tag to hold it in place, as I didn't have any suitable word dies I decided to use some heart, star, arrows & flourish shapes instead - unfortunately the camera doesn't seem to be picking up the areas where these are.
 
Once the basic tag was made I took some pieces of a fine tulle netting and a piece of courser net from a bag of lemons and glued them into place before applying white gesso. Once the gesso had dried I used "Peacock Feathers", "Picked Raspberry" & "Mustard Seed" Distress Inks to add colour.  The sentiment "Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful" was stamped and embossed before being coloured with "Peeled Paint". The die cuts were coloured using the same inks as the background, the flourishes were over stamped in Tuxedo Black using a small ivy stamp.
 

 
 
 
The Bird was coloured with Promarkers and once all the die cuts were in place they were coated with pva glue.

When I ordered the Bird Stamps from Art From The Heart they arrived in a lovely little parcel of red tissue paper tied up with some twine which had a double heart charm attached to it so it I decided it was appropriate to use these on the Tag.

To finish it off I added some bling gems coloured with Promarkers to the die cut stars and some smaller gems added to the crown and arrow tips.
 








Cardstock:
PayPerBox - Ivory
 
Inks:
Tim Holtz Distress Inks
Letraset Promarkers
Memento - Tuxedo Black
 
Stamps & Dies:
Stamper's Anonymous - Tim Holtz Bird Crazy
Sizzix - Tim Holtz Bird Crazy
Sizzix - Hello Jillybean Soup












Sunday 9 August 2015

Cute Monkey - Hello There!

While we're still waiting for summer to get here I decided to take my son & my friend over to Glasgow for a day out.

As always on our trips to Glasgow our first stop is the Chinese bakery for a supply of pork buns (yum!). This was followed by lunch at one of our favourite restaurants in Saracen Street before heading off to the shops. School clothes shopping with a 16 year old male of the species is such a joy - not! I swear that it was easier taking him shopping when he was a toddler that it is now he's a teenager! I haven't decided if it's a male thing or a teenager thing but either way it's hard work!
 
For this week's Freshly Made Sketches Challenge I decided to use the small "Cute Monkey" Hot of the Press stamp set I bought in a sale a while ago but had yet to use it to make something - I thought this sketch seemed ideal.
 
The stamp set consists of the main "Cute Monkey", the "Hello there!" sentiment, a single leaf and a banana. I coloured a small piece of card using pastel yellow Promarker and used the wee banana stamp to make a background for the rear panel. The single leaf was stamped onto a small strip of cardstock for the banner behind the main embellishment. 
 
 
 
 
Cardstock
PayPer Box - Ivory
Stamp
Hot off the Press - Cute Monkey Set
Inks
Tsukineko - Brilliance Tiramisu
Letraset Promarkers