Friday 29 January 2010

IMAGE SWAP

If you have a look at this blog, http://gedalovitch.blogspot.com/ you will find details of an image swap called:

Ruth's pay it forward image swap.

The idea is to email your interest in taking part - be quick though, there are only 20 places - and if successful, Ruth will email you her address so that you can participate. You have to stamp at least 10 images, send them in and you will receive 10 back. This will run 'til February 14.

Just off to stamp mine and get them in the post.

COPIC COLOUR CHALLENGE #49


I struggled a bit with this weeks challenge because I've used a cartoon digi image which I found a bit difficult to colour. Some of the more detailed stamped images are a little easier because you can do more shading. Also, because I am only doing these colouring challenges in order to learn how to use my Copics properly, it's a big learning curve for me. Hey! it's fun.


So week #49 uses colours:

E00 - skin white

E33 - sand

R02 - flesh.


I didn't have the sand coloured pen so substituted it for E31 - brick beige.


This card is A5 from my stock which I probably bought from Croppers at Burneside Nr Kendal. The paper is nonsense from We R Memory Keepers, paper butterfly was from Lakeland, the paper flowers, brads and epoxy dome stickers are all from my stash but I can't remember where I bought them.

Thursday 28 January 2010

MORE ARRIVALS


Sharon sent me 4 lovely ATCs. Have a look at these.

Butterfly Backgrounds is one of the cards Sharon wrote about on her blog. I really wanted one of them and I am more than happy with this little beauty. Aren't the colours gorgeous?

Travel incorporates a couple of rub ons. The Parthenon has also been highlighted with glitter. Very effective.

Now then, Boys on the Beach just has to be the best. I mean 4 lots of 'eye candy' on one card. What more could a girl ask for?

Anything with pusscats on goes well in my book, so Cute Kitten hits the spot. Not sure about the dunces hat though. He obviously has been a bit naughty!

Thank you Sharon.

I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU WILL CREATE




Oh crumbs!


Sharon (ATC buddy) sent me some of her backgrounds and exclaimed her interest in what I would create with them. I struggle so much with the ones I produce so imagine my heartbeats when I saw these. Still, not one to be beaten if at all possible, I decided to give a go.


They will be winging their way back to you Sharon as soon as possible.

Wednesday 27 January 2010

FLOWER GIRL




I have spent most of today and a couple of hours yesterday, making these 6 ATCs. Why do I keep challenging myself like this? It's the cutting and colouring that takes most of the time. I will just have to either revert back to making cards one at a time, or making them more simple. I know that thought won't last long!!


Anyway, I kind of had fun. I certainly did not have fun trying to get the backs off the 3D foam. The batch I have is from Stix2 and I hate them. I've thrown most away because the backs will not come off cleanly. They simply pull all the sticky bit with them. I coloured the image with watercolour pens because I had stamped them using Archival ink and that bleeds when you use Copics. At least I used scraps of patterned paper instead of starting on a new piece which is one of my naughtiest faults and hence the reason my scrap drawer never closes!!


The other picture is of one of 6 ATCs I made a few days ago. It's a rotten photo I know, but no matter how I try, I can't get a good one. Must be the stickles and acetate shining back at the camera. I called this one, Fairy Dreams. The background was made with the extra ink on my craft sheet following the making of one of the 12 tags of Xmas, and the fairy was left over from Heather's ornament challenge. That bloomin' parrot ATC of Heathers gave me the idea of using some net and sticking it down with stickles. Sorry Heather, I adore it really, x.

Monday 25 January 2010

ANOTHER POSTAL DELIVERY



I received some cards from Hazel on Saturday and some from Sonia a few days ago, but this is the first chance I have had to look at them properly and share them with you.


The first 3 are Sonia's. 2010 is my favourite because Sonia has been practising with her new Distress inks and Tim Holtz mask. A great job here Sonia. La Belle Epoque is so neatly done. I remember her buying the art deco peel offs at Dawn's when we went. Lay of the Land just shows how inventive Sonia is. I could never have produced anything so amazing as this landscape by simply tearing different papers. Wow!




I think Hazel has been on a roll because all 5 cards are dated within 2 days of each other. Out of all 5, my favourite is Monochrome Flowers because I love the little stamp and the simple lines. Make a wish is another very neat card. I wish I could be as neat as this but I tend to think 'oh that will do'. I must stop that. Spring Time is a chipboard flower and again, quite simple, but doesn't it look good? Summer Buzzin has been carefully and cheerfully coloured, and the little bees have gorgeous sparkly wings. I love the colour of the flower and if you look closely, each petal has been highlighted with a white pen. In total contrast to the others, Way Back When is a vintage design. Both the background and lady image have been stamped and I love both images.




Altogether, a fine group of ATCs. I am so lucky to have them. Thank you ladies.

Friday 22 January 2010

LILY OF THE VALLEY CHALLENGE #45


I found this challenge on one of the blogs I follow and thought I could have a go because it is a sketch challenge.


I used a 6"x6" base white card, K & Co papers, a gorgeous digi image which I cut out with my nestabilities, Prima flowers, DCWV ribbon, water colour pencils and a copic pen, 3 flower brads, stickles, a piece of embossed card from one of my ATC swapping buddies and a length of purple ribbon cut from a t-shirt!

I enjoyed this one very much.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE


I've had a go at this weeks Copic Colour Challenge #48. The colours for this are:

G21 - Lime Green

B45 - Smokey Blue

R85 - Rose Red

Guess what? I had them all this time so no trip to the craft shop for more.

I've used a new Lili of the Valley stamp, some free papers from Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine, some of my gorgeous Prima flowers, my Martha Stewart edge punch - doily lace, some beads and my nestabilities.

Apart from entering the Copic challenge, I am putting this card in this month's Craft Garden challenge - NEW.

Monday 18 January 2010

ONE-EYED PEG


I wasn't sure whether to show you these or whether to wait until I had sent them to my swapping buddies. But, considering I have just spent the most of the last 4 days making these ATCs, I thought, why not.

I wanted to make little characters but make them silly, a bit of fun no less. This is what I came up with.

Their heads are squashed bottle tops mounted on a spring and topped with a bit of knitting yarn for hair and a 3D hat. The bodies are simply a bit of paper-covered card and the legs, which swing away, (this keeps the whole thing to 3.5" long) are from some Paper Artsy Christmas stamps. I had just enough wobbly eyes to make all 6 but unfortunately, 1 eye has disappeared!!! Hence 'one-eyed Peg'. The rest don't have a name as yet, but I'll think of something.

Hope you had a laugh at them.

Thursday 14 January 2010

3 CHALLENGES IN 1


Firstly, I hope the picture is clear enough. I've tried with 2 cameras but can't get anything decent in this wintery daylight.

The Copic Colour Challenge #47 requires the use of these 3 colours:

B97 - Night Blue

YG07 - Acid Green

W-5 - Warm Grey no. 5


Even though I didn't have any of these colours, it gave me the excuse to go and get them!!!! I know. Anyway, I managed the top and bottom colours but it seems that the Acid Green is not a Ciao pen but another Copic type which A. I couldn't get and B. costs about £4+. Instead, I substituted that green for YG06 - Yellowish Green.

As I really need to make some ATCs, I decided to do that instead of making another card.

The background is a Tim Holtz component ATC stamp which I stamped using Old Paper Distress ink. I then used the Copics to highlight and colour the stems, bullrushes, flower heads and butterflies. A few beadazzles, a Sakura glaze on the bullrushes and a light distressing round the edges, finished the ATC.

As I have used 4 NEW items - the Sakura glaze pen and Copics, I am also entering this into the Craft Garden challenge for this month. Aparently, multiple entries are allowed.

Also, I have used 3 OLD items - Tim Holtz stamp, beadazzles, Distress ink,

and at least 1 NEW - Copics

therefore, I will substitute this ATC for one of the others I made for Heather's 'Out with the Old, in with the New' challenge.

Phew!!

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS

Over on http://pezadoodle.wordpress.com , Marti is celebrating her 1,000th blog hit with an amazing giveaway.
She is interested to know which craft tool you have but don't use, either because you can't or don't like or whatever other reason. This lady is amazing because she seems to craft and blog every day, she runs a business AND looks after a little tearaway!! What energy.

Tuesday 12 January 2010

I'M CHALLENGED!


I've decided to have a go at the Copic Colour Challenge which is renewed weekly. Click on the link in the side bar for details.

This week, which is #46, asks you to use the 3 colours :

G00 - Jade Green

RV21 - Light Pink

B32 - Pale Blue


I love Copics but am in the process of learning how to use them so thought this challenge would help me and also give me an excuse to increase my stock!! Ok, I know that's an excuse, but it's a good one.

This little card has surprised me because I feel really happy with how it turned out. I used K & Co papers, DCWV ribbon, Petaloo flowers, Nestabilities cutting frame, some brads and a little bit of malibu feather. The main image is a new addition to my craft stash and is by Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.


As I have used something NEW, I am also entering this card in the Craft Garden's January challenge, NEW. Again, the link is in my side bar.


Now I've had a little play, it's back to the decorating!!

DON'T BE ENVIOUS NOW!!!!


A few posts ago, I told you about the fabulous giveaway from the Artistic Stamper. Jennie, was going overboard with Tim Holtz 'candy' so I just had to join in being such a Tim fan.

Guess what? I won one of the prizes - yippeeee!

This wonderful parcel has just arrived. Thank you so very much Jennie.

Monday 11 January 2010

OUT OF THE SHADOWS


I've had a picture of a lion's head for ages. I think it was from a Paignton Zoo brochure. It's so hypnotic'

Hard to do, but I cut it in half - quickly so he didn't mind!! - and chose card to matt each piece on to. On the red based card, I used a Sakura Gelly Roll clear star pen to highlight his whiskers. On each I gave a glint to his eye with a white inkassentials pen. I then glued a couple of skeleton leaves to each one to make him appear to be watching from 'out of the shadows'. Both are ATCs.

Thursday 7 January 2010

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW...


Heather's new challenge is designed to use some old crafty stash together with a little bit of new. You have to make 3 ATCs each with at least 3 'old' crafty bits and 1 new.

Unfortunately I don't have a lot of time to craft just now because we have ordered a new bed and there is a lot of work to do in the bedroom before it arrives, which should be next week. The weather may delay it's delivery. I have been decorating and will take a few days before the final touches. DH has helped with dismantling wall cupboards, replacing coving and stripping wallpaper, but we also had to go out to buy new materials. Therefore, my crafting time is stiffled just now.

I made these cards for Heather's challenge, but will not send them just yet incase I do find more time later.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

A SPECIAL DAY


Today is a very special day for some people close to my heart.

They are about to embark on a very difficult but exciting journey which will bring untold happiness tinged with many tears of both frustration and laughter. I have a lump in my throat thinking about them all but my heart is singing.

I can't give any more away except to say, that life has just changed.