WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC #52 - DARK FLOWERS

I have a very eerie skull image which is just perfect for this weeks challenge over at Wicked Wednesday, but can I find it  ---  NO. Instead, I've used the wonderful Fashion Witch image from Rick St Dennis.

My camera is having a day off today and doesn't want to take nice photos so I'm afraid the colours on this card are a bit 'wishy washy'. I used Copics to colour the witch and black soot alcohol ink on the roses.
Finally my big craft project is finished and a new shelf has been put up to accommodate it. I hope to start blogging photos tomorrow if you want to pop back.

ATCS WITH ATTITUDE #24 - YELLOW/RED/ORANGE or ANYTHING GOES

I was a little concerned I wouldn't make my DT sample for this fortnight's challenge following an unexpected spell away, but I did in the end albeit by the skin of my teeth.
I chose my image from Delicious Doodles, who incidentally are offering the winner 4 digis, it's called Fire Woman.

The photo is a little light (no pun intended) because I put a flickering tea light behind my card to add to the mystery of this gorgeous image. She is coloured with Copics and then cut out. I decided to leave the bit by her hand as I thought it may become a bit unstable, but really I think I should have gone ahead and cut out the card.
Anyway, we also have another sponsor, Floppy Lattee who is offering a $10 voucher to spend in their shop.
Please join in with us this fortnight. All the info can be found HERE.

WW ATC #49 - LOVE TO LEARN (NERDS/GEEKS)

I did my usual trick of checking out the future challenges over at Wicked Wednesday ATC challenges before I went on holiday in July, and managed to complete several of them in readiness. This week's challenge has now got nerds and geeks as a little extra. My card however, is just 'love to learn'. Hope it's ok:

I went to a Copic colouring get together last year where we took our own pens but could use the stamps which were there. This is made from 2 Magnolia stamps and a stamp block which allows you to line up one stamp against another image giving the illusion of one sitting, standing, leaning etc on the other.
I tried really hard to blend reds - which isn't easy - so Magnolia has a red dress on. I think it worked ok.

ATCs/CARDS WITH ATTITUDE #22 - BUTTONS/BOWS or ANYTHING GOES

Another 2 weeks have flown by which means we have a fresh challenge for you over at ATCs/Cards with Attitude.
Our sponsors this time are:
Delicious Doodles - there are 4 digis for the winner
and
Lej - who has 3 digis for the winner.
Pop over to our little blog and have a go. Remember, if you make a card you can enter it into our sister challenge blog too. All the deets are on the link above. Here is my ATC this fortnight.
La Rosa Muerta from Delicious Doodles -

I used Copics to colour her before adding some rock candy distress stickles to her hair.
Looking forward to your entries.

JUST SOME LINES - A LITTLE TUTORIAL BY ME!

Earlier in the year I was asked by Jenn, from Just Some Lines, if I would like to be a guest designer for JSL and do a couple of simple tutorials for them. I was honoured to say the very least after all, I'm a hobby crafter certainly no professional or anything similar. This tutorial is #3 and the last of this amazing DT spot.
A big thank you to Jenn for the experience. Made my day did that......

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Wednesday, 29 August 2012 Glue & Seal Mask by Joanne


Hello JSL fans! I am happy to report that today we have Joanne returning with us as a guest designer! This week, Joanne is sharing her "Glue & Seal Mask" tutorial with us, enjoy!

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Glue & Seal Mask



(*Note from Jenn - this tutorial requires a product called "Glue & Seal" which is an all-purpose, waterproof glue and sealer. I found the Ranger version of the product online here. I do believe that Mod Podge is the same type of product.)



Step 1.



Decide which image you want to use and the size of card. I chose Bucket Full of Posies from Just Some Lines and an 8" x 8" base card.

Print your image (Bucket Full of Posies pictured below):

Step 2.



Colour your image. For this one I used Copics. You can use any colouring medium you like but be aware that some water-based ones may run:

Step 3.



Using a fine brush, gently dab over your image with a small amount of Glue & Seal. Either Matt or Gloss will work depending on the finish you want. Also, in an image like the one I am using, don't be too careful about going over the lines. However, should you want a more professional look, then take extra care. You will see why in the following step:

Step 4.



Once dry you can distress or colour your background. The Glue & Seal will have made a mask over which you can distress without compromising your design. Brilliant for the intricate images because it saves having to cut them out!

Step 5.



If you are happy with the result, create your card and sit back and admire.

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Thank you so much, Joanne! I hope you've all enjoyed this tutorial - have a great week!

ATCs/CARDS WITH ATTITUDE # 9

Pop over to our challenge blog HERE for all the details on this fortnight's challenge. After all, there is a prize of 4 digis up for grabs.

I just couldn't resist this image from our sponsors Delicious Doodles. She's called Pirate Polly. I printed her onto card suitable for my Copics which I used to colour her. After very carefully cutting her out, I used 3D foam to mount her on some pre-coloured card (I just swiped a distress ink pad over it) to which I had glued tiny shells, pearls and a brass lighthouse coloured with alcohol inks.

SDC #43 - NON TRADITIONAL XMAS CARD

And that means, no reds or greens either. Wow, Stampotique came up with a corker of a challenge this fortnight. As it's the 4th Wednesday challenge in the month, it also meant you could only use their stamps too.
I gave it a go.

Here is 'the crafter', scissors in hand, totally fed up of wrapping Xmas presents. Just like I get actually. don't mind buying them but hate wrapping them.
I used Adirondak spray paints and biscotti perfect pearls spray for the background, distress inks to colour the image, peel-off stickers for the parcels and a black Copic pen and white inkssentials pen.
The best bit was, I only got ink on my middle finger and thumb!!!!!

AN EMPTY WOYWW

That's right. There's nothing, zilch, nowt, not a thing, zero, an empty space.

Apart from my reading glasses that is, my little space is devoid of crafty goodness.

It's all clean and waiting to get messy again next week. Why so long? Well we are going to the Woodvale model flying show again. I didn't go last year, and to be honest, I don't want to go this year either, but with 'T' just having had his operation and still not able to lift, stretch or do anything like that, I need to keep an eye on him so have to 'suffer' the boredom (for me) once again. This is definitely the last time for me.
Now don't get me wrong, this show is a fantastic weekend of fun, flying and all manner of things for the whole family. It's just we have been going for the last 9 years or so and I've had enough.
I'm taking some stamped images with me to colour with my Copics. Should keep me busy for  a while I hope.
Well, our lovely leader Julia will have posted her entry for today along with dozens of you around the globe, so I will post this little ditty and fly off to yours for a look around.

BLUE CANVASS

Had this little 4"x4" canvass for some time and wanted to make it into something 'nice'. I tried hard and came up with this.

You would not believe how long this has taken me.
The base canvass is covered first with Claudine Helmuth's traditional tan paint before being sprayed with Craftynotions walnut and delphinium inks. I used Tim's tissue tape around the edges and then randomly distressed everywhere with walnut stain and frayed burlap inks.

I sprayed and dabbed the flower ribbon with the same inks and left them to dry. The rossettes are the new mini ones cut from Tim's papers and layered on top of a grungepaper cog, again cut using Tim's gadget gears die. The wings are from the heart wings die covered in gold dabber and then rubbed over with pool dabber so that the blue went into the embossed areas which I had done after the gold had dried.

I made the tear drop bead and the pin at the bottom with the round pearl. The swirl is grungepaper cut with the elegant flourished die and then sprayed with delphinium and highlighted with beadazzles. The philosophy tag was covered with pool dabber and wiped over so that the colour only went onto the words.

Before I assembled it all, I stamped some butterflies using DIs but they didn't come out very well. I then went round the edge with a Copic multi liner pen and added some rock candy crackle paint.
Considering I didn't have a clue what I was doing, I reckon it's ok. Another fun time anyway.
I think I will enter it into the Sunday Stampers challenge this week which is to use embossing folders which I did on the wings - Tim's Dot Matrix no less.