Saturday 26 January 2013

Meadow Grasses

"Less is More": Week 104 Sketch #8

I haven't done a sketch challenge for a while and the constraint this week at Less is More is that the band is horizontal in the lower part of the card and that it is no more than 1/3 of the height of the card base. I used a 5 inch square card, approximately 12 cm. The examples on the blog are all very different, interesting work.

I masked the card so the band would be in the lower third and used Salty Ocean and Mowed Lawn distress inks to colour the band. This was then spritzed with water and blotted with kitchen roll. All stamped images are from Inkylicious sets:
Create a Collage - Meadow
Essential Scripts - Latin and French Style
The script is stamped in Smokey Grey Versafine and the grasses overstamped in black archival ink.


I am not sure of the result, maybe it would have been better not to have used a square card. Hey, ho .... I'll post it anyway.


Tuesday 22 January 2013

12 Tags of 2013 ..... January

Here is my version of Tim's Tag for January. For the step by step instructions and Tim's example, click on the link.

I didn't have the embossing folder with clock faces so I used cogs instead, I like the effect of distress ink on the embossed surface. A recent trip to a local craft shop resulted in a purchase of one of the magnetic trays for the Movers and Shakers dies so now I can use them easily in my Cuttlebug, just replace the A Plate with the tray, B Plate + Tray + B Plate, works a treat. I didn't have the film tape so I improvised and drew my own on some acetate and added a bit of black glitter just because I like it. Again, no Tim Holtz embellishments so I used metal washers from the DIY store for the centres of the cogs. The Time sentiment is such a good one.

A quick post tonight as its getting late. 
Good Night all.

Sunday 20 January 2013

Calling Time

Artful Times : Challenge 21 - Calling Time on an ATC

When I was away at Christmas I watched Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland for the second time, its a great film. I've always loved Alice and when thinking about what to do for this challenge, the first thing that came to mind was the White Rabbit.
I have an old set of Alice rubber stamps, not sure of the make, but the White Rabbit image works well for this theme. I like the clock numerals in the background. 


I used Iced Spruce and Scattered Straw Distress ink to colour the background of the ATC. The image is stamped in black archival ink and coloured with Distress markers. I add some words from a Tim Holtz stamp and used black glitter to highlight the playing card club symbols. So, having done that, my rabbit was not white! What did I do? I used beach to remove the ink and now he is white. This is the first time I have used that technique and I am pleased with the result, works well.



Saturday 19 January 2013

First Twinchie Challenge of 2013

When I saw the theme for the Twinchie Challenge 1 was Anything Goes, I thought that would be easy but no so. I have messed about for a week thinking about what to do.
I spent Saturday indoors as its freezing outside and I am not planning to go outside to play in the snow. So I produced a quick twinchie using my new set of PaperArtsy stamps, JOFY 09. I love this set, so versatile. It was a bit of a challenge trying to fit an image onto a 2" by 2" square because the stamps are mostly large but it can be done, here is my button flower.


The background is spritzed with Cosmic Shimmer Mist in Mango Blaze. The images are (carefully) stamped in black archival ink and then coloured with Tim Holtz Distress markers. Peeled Paint for the grass, Spun Sugar and Fired brick for the flowers and Tumbled Glass for the bubbles. I added a pink button from my button box for the centre of the flower. I think buttons suit the style of these stamps, what do you think?

Hope those of you in the UK are keeping warm in this freezing weather and stay safe if you venture outdoors.

Sunday 6 January 2013

2013 Black and White

Sometimes we shy away from making sympathy cards. Maybe for me it is because card making is a happy pastime which does not always fit with sad occasions. Unfortunately, two of my friends lost people close to them this week, not a good start to 2013 for them but I made cards because that is what I do and I hope they bring some comfort.

Less is More Challenge 101 is Black and White with a hint/splash of colour so I will post my card design.


The tree image is from Paperartsy Urban Snapshots Nature 1 plate and is stamped in jet black archival ink. The sentiment is from Inkylicious Wild Meadow set.
Added a green pearl for colour.