Butterflies

The Craft Barn Fortnightly Challenge theme is Butterflies (plural), an opportunity to play with my butterfly stamps is always a pleasing pastime.
Here is a Thank You card from me.

The stamps are by Altenew from a set called Painted Butterflies.
I used Memento dye ink dew drops in Lulu Lavender, Lilac Posies, Canteloupe and Peanut Brittle and the sketchy outlines are stamped in black archival.

Thank You for dropping by x

Alpha/Dictionary Challenge 2016 : J

My Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary Challenge 2016 page is done. This time we have been given the letter "J" but have to include a dragonfly. I chose Jigsaw for my dictionary word.

Stamps used:
Hobby Art Butterfly Kisses - Art's Collage
Hobby Art Anna's Collection - Just for you (the tiny dragonfly from the set)
Clarity Stamps - Jigsaw

I stamped the collage image with Memento dye inks in Potters Clay, Peanut Brittle and Paris Dusk twice. Then stamped the jigsaw puzzle image on top and from one of the panels cut three jigsaw pieces. I added the tiny dragonfly to the main image and coloured him with a silver Wink of Stella pen. The definition is outlined with a gel pen.

This was difficult as I really wanted to choose Juggler for my "J" word and do a circus themed page but I couldn't get my brain around that dragonfly. I don't actually have a decent dragonfly stamp, only the tiny sketchy one I used on this page and a similar bigger version. This is odd considering the vast collection of stamps I have greedily accumulated over the years!

Mail Art

The Artful Times Challenge 55 is Mail Art. I just realised that Artful Times is sponsored by Oyster Stamps and since the Oyster Stamps people were so nice to me last weekend I thought I'd make the effort to do a challenge, haven't done one for a while (which is frustrating because I like blog challenges, they make me think).

This is my decorated envelope which I will enter for the challenge:

I started by masking a border around the envelope and masking out an oval for the address. The stamps used are Cardio Majestix Emily's Garden, a lovely set of miniature flowers, foliage and a butterfly. Starting with the larger flower I stamped the flowers with Adirondak Stonewashed dye ink, first, second and third generation stamping. Then added the smaller flower in Memento Paris Dusk. The leaves and foliage are stamped with Memento New Sprout and Olive Grove and then the masks removed.

The butterflies are added last after stamping the Daisy Post stamp which is a very old one from my stash by Stampendous, I used to use that a lot so it was nice to re-discover it for this little project. I guess I should make a matching card to go in it ..... I might just do that.

Mannequins

I was in the mood for playing with geometric patterns this weekend, in particular, using my Inky Doodles Print backgrounds stamp set to make some patterned backgrounds. I love the way you can build up patterns in so many ways with these stamps.
The first attempt reminded me of fabric patterns so the focal image I used on the cards were Kraft card die cut mannequins.

Martha Stewart deep edge punch

InkyDoodles stamp set Printed Backgrounds 2

Memento ink pads : Peanut Brittle

Archival ink : Blue Violet

Mannequin and cardstock - Craftwork Cards

Memento Ink Pads : Peanut Brittle, Potters Clay and Rhubarb Stalk for the background. Pear Tart, Summer Sky and New Sprout for the panel.

The flowers where stamped in Rhubarb Stalk, cut out and mounted with Pinflair glue.

InkyDoodles stamp set Printed Backgrounds 2.

No distress ink used anywhere ..... how unusual! I was tempted, very tempted, but on this occasion I left them alone.

I had fun with these and have my Mother's Day card made well in advance just in case that day job gets in the way of me finding time for crafty things.

Masking with Flowers

Where does all the time go? It has been a couple of weeks at least since my last post. I haven't been entirely idle on the craft front although the day job has got in the way of any real creativity.
Last weekend I was playing with a set of Sizzix dies and stamps that I purchased at The Glitter Pot back in May. See how the time flies, I hadn't even got round to opening the packet!

Here are two cards using the same set : Sizzix Framelits & Stamps - Flowers, Scallop.
The first was and exercise in masking which can be quite addictive and is certainly effective. I have quite a stash of post-it notes now as I picked up a few advertising ones at a recent work exhibition and they are perfect to use for masks. Interesting to note that Tim's Tag for August uses the masking technique so I want to have a go at that when I get some spare time too, the examples are fabulous, I bet I don't have any of the materials so I'll have to improvise (or shop?).

Stamped with Memento Angel Pink, Rose Bud and Pear Tart on white cardstock and mounted on fuschia pink card from Craftwork Cards.

The cardstock is from Craftwork cards, as is the dotty paper. The flowers are stamped using the Memento Angel Pink ink pad and die cut and mounted with foam pads. A few gems added and the sentiment and the simple card is done. Its OK, I prefer the first one as there is more stamping and less bling but thats just my personal taste.

Have a great weekend and thank you for dropping by.

Julia x