Author: Catherine

I’m glad after the week I’ve had that I make more than one project when I sit down to craft so I can save projects up to blog at a later date. I’ve been poorly this week and had zero energy for crafting! Hoping to get some more energy to make some more stuff this weekend. Today all I’ve managed to do is die cut scraps sat on my bed … it’s something, but not exactly fun and creative! Ah well … onto todays project I can share …

I made a second background whilst I was playing the other day and added inks and created a card from it.

Once again embossed dots all over … but this time blues and yellows to make a lovely background.

I turned the background so it was landscape and then added into the background some of the stamps from the Concord and 9th butterfly set that goes with the stencil lens butterflies.

I then stenciled the butterflies and die cut them choosing one for the front. I used the Biggest Wish stamp for the main sentiment onto some cardstock I used the same inks to keep the colour scheme the same.

I added the turquoise gems and then mounted the background onto black before adding it to a white card blank.

I also added glossy accents to the centre of the butterfly.

Love how this was finished. Fun but also pretty.

Maybe I will regret it but I did make the decision to get rid of the circle stamps … but I think I’ve come to end of my thoughts on using them … so the hard decision was made to add them to the sale pile!

Entering it into the anything goes challenge at Through the purple haze

Happy crafting!

Catherine

I found a stamp set that I have not used in some time so decided to make a background with it.

I embossed all the stamps and created a lovely background which I then added some blended distress inks in yellows, pinks and oranges.

I also found some random stamps on the desk to add some other patterns into the background. I also added in some splatters of shimmer ink. I don’t think you can see that on any of the photos but you can in real life.

I then grabbed the die cut pierced blooms flowers and decided they could be a a lovely cluster around a sentiment.

I used some ripped Kraft cardstock to create a contrast to the flowers. I then layered the background onto a layer of Kraft to frame it and wrapped some paper twine around it.

I then added a stamped sentiment which again is one of the random ones I came across whilst tidying up.

I added foam behind it to give it dimension. I then added some sparkly gems from the stash as a finishing touch.

Quite a pretty but also funky card.

Entering into the anything goes challenge at Paper Funday Challenge

Happy crafting!

Catherine

This month for the tag swap I went a little grungy but also a bit cute!

I decided to use the Art By Marlene beach house stamp and to do some paper piecing but with the base on Kraft cardstock. I then decided to add some white ink behind the main image, some splattering and some stamping using a random wood mounted stamp from the stash. I then decided everything needed a coating of ink to make it blend… this turned my pretty cute house into a cute but grungy house!

I then added more white pigment ink through stencils around the edge but used the sticky embossing powder in the hope that I could add gilding flakes to those sections. This didn’t work well so they look only a little gilded and mainly white and textured. But I like the effect so I didn’t mind.

I stamped and embossed and inked the sentiment from Art Journey nl and added that.

I then used my inktense pencil to add some shading and definition to the image, the sentiment and around the edge of the tag.

I added some ribbons to finish off and decided it was a finished piece ready for the swap.

The first few photos were taken at night with flash, this is the tag in daylight.

It was good to use the Beach house stamp in a different way. It is such a cute set of stamps and I don’t think I’ve ever gone grungy with them before!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

I’m back with another Craft Stamper magazine stamps sort out project … this time using this cupcake image.

I stamped and embossed it and then coloured with my stampin write markers before fussy cutting it out. I had already decided by this point that it was unlikely to stay in the keep me pile but it was time to make use of what I had created regardless.

I decided to use one of the spray backgrounds that were on my desk still from a few weeks ago. I added some stencilling to it to add some more interest and then started adding it to a piece of the zingy Parakeet party cardstock. I also added some washi tape strips that I thought complemented the cupcake colouring.

Next I went with some piercing to add a bit of something to the washi strips. But then I covered most of that up with the sentiment. I used Happy Celebrations which I stamped and fussy cut out but the addition of the black meant I needed to add more balconies so the punched circle and the black embossed rest of the sentiment and then finally added a layer of black to the background panel too.

I think originally I had thought it would be a pretty pretty style card but it ended up turning quite funky!

I added it all to a bright orange card base to keep the brightness going in contrast to the black. I actually like the final card but the stamp I can’t see me using so it’s going to the get rid pile. You win some, you lose some as they say!

Of I also used some yellow star gems I had in the stash to embellish.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Todays card was inspired by a piece of mount board I found on the desk and a decision I wanted to play with blue inks… and then I just went with it!

I added inks to the acrylic block, sprayed with water and used it as a stamp. This gave it a fun background. Once it was dry I then added some stamping using a background wooden block stamp.

Then I took the fancy phrases stamp and stamped it using the stamp platform in both the brown and the black archival. This made it quite a dark brown colour as my black archival is very dry.

I used my watercolour pencils to add some more colour to the image.

I decided the Kraft cardstock would make a nice base for the card and also added the sentiment to some leftover cardstock and made a banner.

I know it doesn’t show in the photos but I also added wink of Stella to the flowers in the image to give some sparkle.

To finish off I added the sequins as embellishment and then decided it was done.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Last weekend I grabbed a stack of distress inks to make a background inspired by Jennifer McGuire but ended up not using the two that I made originally but instead the ‘fail’ background and made that into a card. If you fancy watching it come together I did video the whole thing.

If not … read on!

So the background was made by using distress ink resist mono print type technique. But this one didn’t come out very clearly so I decided as it was pretty to carry on playing with it regardless and come up with something. It ended up quite grungy and I love it!

I used the Gummiapan alphabet stamp and then lots of splatters. Then the Stampendous stamp that had been used as the resist pattern originally.

Then I picked out some new to me dies (I know no spend but I bought these with the money I had used selling stash so I’m not counting it as spends! – yes I’ve found a loophole in my no spend resolution I’m willing to work with!)

Anyways I die cut some leaves and the circle in white and stacked them up.

I grabbed the denim blue ribbon and added that before adding the banner and sentiment. I also die cut the little circles from the same cardstock and die set and added wink of Stella and used them as gem type embellishments.

I used Rich Razzleberry as the base and added a layer of white to frame the background panel and added white inside to make sure it was good for writing on (but didn’t decorate the inside).

Really pleased with this inky card and what’s more from the play I ended up with another three backgrounds to play with.

I did end up using one of them straightaway and filmed another video but I’ll blog about that once I’ve got round to editing and uploading it!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Hello February! And as its the first day of the month it is time to play with patterned paper. Like last month I actually prepped for this card quite a while ago by choosing a piece of dsp and going to town with fussy cutting!

This one ended up with a panel of the green and a pile of flowers (and of course a pile of rubbish.

So what to do with this… well I went for a funky green base and the fun Heffy Doodle sentiment die.

I decided to use a couple of strips of the flowers, one of which I raised up a little to give it some dimension.

I did stack the sentiment a little with 2 layers, and then added another flower onto the top!

I also added foam between the card base and the topper which gives a lovely finish.

Still got some flowers left in the pouch for another project or two. Really like this paper so good to get some use out of it!

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else makes with their patterned paper stash.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Todays card is one of those where I wanted to try and use a product up … admittedly one panel isn’t going to do it but it’s a start!

I no longer feel the urge to do art journaling so I am looking at some of my supplies and trying to find ways of using them … for example these Art by Marlene collage papers. Not all of them work on cards as the designs are quite large but I thought this one worked as a background to a larger size card blank like this one.

But then it needed something quite bold to work with it as the paper is so bright and so busy. So I cut some panels of cardstock and then used die cuts to tray and create a focal point above the busy background. I think this along with the stamped and embossed and fussy cut sentiment worked quite well.

I added in the little pearlescent flowers too to add a different texture.

So I’ve not exactly used up my collage paper stash .. I’ve still got a fair few pieces left but at least I found a use for one panel and quite like the card I created using it! Now what to do with the rest?

Happy crafting!

Catherine

This card was sort of inspired by both Jennifer Maguire (her video made me grab the stamp) and instagram YVON0202 who I had seen using this stamp with a few colours … but I did go for a different style in the end so inspired by but far from copied!

I used stampin write markers to colour the image in using lots of different greens and some water spray which helped to blend them. If you want to see how I made it I did video it!

I decided to then use the Forever Flourishing dies and Biggest wish stamp set for the main elements with an embossed white panel behind the focal image. The twine and the sparkly gems finished it off.

I took some pics the night I made the card but this next one shows the colours better in the daylight.

Love that twine bow and the colour mix in the background and love even more that I have a second background yet to be used.

Once again I also videoed the process which you can watch if you fancy it!

Happy crafting!

Catherine