Category: Gorgeous Grunge

Design Team, Gorgeous Grunge, In Bloom, Masks/Stencils, Oh So Ombre, Pierced Blooms, Playful Alphabet, Ribbons, Very Versailles

DT: Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge

Catherine

Hello!

Today I have a Happy Little Stampers Design Team contribution to share with you. I will admit I made this quite some time ago but stored it ready to post now as it was such a special card I didn’t want to just blog it on its own.

So the card is for the Anything Goes with Dies challenge and boy did I use a lot of dies!

So the card is one I made for my cousin to celebrate receiving her OBE. She was awarded it quite a while ago but as a result of Covid restrictions had to wait quite some time for the actual ceremony. Again due to restrictions (maybe they have always done this though I am not sure) only one guest was allowed to accompany her and my Uncle was the one who picked the name out of the hat so he got to go with her.

Anyway, the weekend after it happened I made this card, inspired by her pink and navy outfit.

Now the card came together after I had sat and turned lots of scraps of cardstock into pretty flowers and leaves. I do this quite often, save my scraps up and then have a massive die cutting session. This time I concentrated on the Pierced Blooms die set as these flowers and leaves always come in handy as embellishments. I ended up (after 2+ hours diecutting) with a big pile and a sore arm!

So I chose from the pile a selection of pink and purple flowers and pale green leaves that I could use to make a special card. I knew I wanted a bigger card so I chose a 7×7 card blank from the stash.

I cut a piece of white linen cardstock into a 6.25″ square and started creating a background. I used the gorgeous text stamp from Very Versailles, some of the splatter stamps from Gorgeous Grunge and also splashed some ink too. I then grabbed a leaf stencil, masked off some areas and added some leaf images to the background with the fabulous blending brush. I also edged the panel with the blending brush too.

Next I started inking the die cut leaves and flowers to add some depth to the colour. I also added some stamped splatters to the green.

Then started adhering them so that there would be a less populated area for me to add the sentiment.

The sentiment I went for the Playful Alphabets dies and die cut CONGRATS out twice from each colour. I stacked the dies and then using a ruler to line them up I added them so they were off the edge of the strip of cardstock I had prepared. I also added a very thin strip of Oh So Ombre paper to the panel. I stacked a few layers of cardstock behind the panel to lift it up and then added the navy ribbon behind it to frame the sentiment. I added wink of Stella to each of the letters to give them some shimmer.

When I stuck this in place I thought the background needed a little blue so added some splashes of ink. I also added the pink ribbon bow to finish off to sentiment strip.

I decided to go a bit mad with lots of pearls dotted around … but hey… it was a very special card after all!

Inside I took the sentiment from the In Bloom stamp set and added some panels of the Oh So Ombre paper to create some interest. I also added a flower and leaf cluster… after all I had got LOTS already die cut. This finished off the inside of the card.

I know I normally do something with the envelope too but this time I didn’t remember to do it, plus it was being posted to Scotland so I didn’t want loose bits getting caught in the post office machinery.

So there you go… my special OTT card for my cousin. So proud her achievements have been recognised.

Now off to see what everyone else has been up to for the Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies challenge.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

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Arrange a Wreath, Biggest Wish, Birds and Branches, Birds and More, Gorgeous Grunge, Peace & Joy, Ribbons, Stitched framelits

Happy Easter – upgrading and repurposing

Catherine

Happy Easter… whether you are a Christian or just enjoy the chocolate eggs I wish you all the best this Easter!

Back in July 2020 I made a One sheet wonder using some yellow dsp and used the Birds and Branches stamps for decorating a card…

… well I’ve never got round to using this card and I’m trying to work my way through existing cards so I grabbed this one and upgraded it and repurposed it into an Easter card for my parents.

I added some additional stamping in the background adding Calypso Coral and Pear Pizazz. Then I stamped and embossed in white on some Pear Pizazz cardstock the Happy from Biggest Wish and the Easter from Arrange a Wreath in Calypso Coral onto white.

I added these sentiments on foam with the scrap of green and white twine behind. Then added the gems to add some bling.

I think this is a nice upgrade and also good to repurpose the card and get it used!

We are off to see my parents for Easter lunch today so hopefully they will like the bright and cheery card.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Beautiful Brocade, Birds and Branches, Birds and More, Chevron, Decorative Dots, Gorgeous Grunge, Honey Bee, Jar, Jar of Flowers, One Sheet Wonder OSW, Petal Palette, Petals and more, Ribbons, Studio Calico, Watercolor wings

DT: Craftyhazelnuts patterned paper challenge

Catherine

Another month has passed so quickly… and it’s time to use up some patterned paper for Craftyhazelnuts challenge. I chose to do another one sheet wonder challenge.

I chose a graphic black and white paper and used the following template I had drawn up…

And I set to with the paper and black card to mat each layer.

Next I added some coloured cardstock as bases.

Then with white cardstock, ribbons from the stash and stamped images I made them up into fun cards.

Card 1:

Card 2:

Card 3:

Card 4:

Card 5:

Card 6:

Card 7:

Card 8:

Card 10:

Card 11:

Card 12:

Card 13:

Card 14:

Stamps used… Watercolor wings, petal palette, Birds and Branches, jar of flowers, Honey Bee and Gorgeous grunge.

Also used coordinating dies for images where I had them and the accompanying dies for Petals and More and Birds and More for the added elements.

Love how these all came out!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Canvas and Mixed Media art, Fancy Phrases, fresco finish paints, Paperartsy, Gelli Plate, Gorgeous Grunge, Masks/Stencils, Scalloped tag topper, Tap tap tap, Timeless Textures, Washi tape

Junk journal background page share and a make for mine!

Catherine

OK let’s talk about sleep, laziness and fatigue….well only for a moment… skip over it straight to the craft if you like!

This past week sleep has not been great at night. I’m finding myself waking lots of times, albeit for only a few mins at a time, resulting in me getting up in the morning feeling far from rested. So I’ve had a few fatigue issues which I think are as a result of covid but in my head I keep getting feelings of guilt that I am being lazy. Does anyone else get like this?

My hubby has often called me a bed based life form as I do love a nap … but this fatigue feels different. It’s like all the muscles in my body have a dull ache and like my brain is in a bit of a fog. I really hope this is a temporary symptom and I can get myself back to my normal energy levels. I also need to work on that negative self talk and remember that this awful virus kills people so count myself lucky.

Anyway … this explains why the blog post last night missed out on a slice of life… I just didn’t have the energy to update the blog post that was scheduled before it went live!

Today’s slice of life was a lie in, a big family task of a kitchen inventory and then meal planning, a food shop and then more rest! There was a bit of crafting too (tomorrow’s blog post in fact!) but to be honest the big job of tidying up and cleaning the fridge, freezer and food cupboards and then the trip to the supermarket was more than enough activity.

This year I’ve joined a few friends to do a junk journal. I’ve never really done a junk journal as such before and I suspect mine will end up more as a mixed media journal but never mind!

First challenge was to make a journal… well I’ve decided on a loose 7×5 journal rather than a bound one and will put the journal together at the end instead. So first task didn’t get done.

Second task was to send some bits and pieces to a swap partner for using in their journal. I got lots of lovely bits and pieces from my partner and sent lots in return.

Next task was to make a background piece of a4 landscape that another person can use in their journal. And now this is something I can share a pic of…

I used my Gelli plate and fresco finish paints to create the background and then stamping and stencilling and modelling paste and washi tape. Love how it came out. I used another piece of cardstock to wipe off my brayer etc and this then became a second piece which will work in my journal.

This was how the background looked before I made it into a page.

And the finished article…

I used book print and a peach envelope from the swap pile of items and also the ribbon on the tag. Everything else, including rub ons, stickers, chipboard and the tag came from the stash.

Really really enjoyed making both the background paper and the finished journal page.

Such fun and so relaxing to just play and create.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Distress oxide ink, Gorgeous Grunge, In the Pines, Pine Woods, Stitched framelits

Stampin Up Sunday … In the Pines cards

Catherine

Today for Stampin Up Sunday I have some little cards I made a few weeks ago for the lovely ladies who joined me for some Christmas crafting via Zoom.

I went with 4×4 cards and then created a little scene using Distress oxide inks and embossing and the stamps and dies from the In the Pines set.

Love how cute these are… and such simple little cards to make using the snow bank dies and then the little tree.

The background I made using the splattered stamp with white embossing from the Gorgeous Grunge set. There is a snow stamp in the In the Pines set but for speed it was quicker to use the other one as it would go across the whole panel in one stamp!

After I stamped and embossed the snow I added a post it note circle and then used the Blueprint Sketch and Peacock Feathers oxides before going over it with Black Soot to create a lovely night sky.

The snow banks I layered up, but first brushed the edge of them with a stencilling brush that had a pale blue ink residue on it. I just added a little definition.

The tree I stamped with Pear Pizazz and Mossy Meadow.

Once I had layered it up I then die cut it with the stitched shape square… I love this finish to the panel.

The card bases were made from Mossy Meadow which gave a nice rich finish to the little cards.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Art Alchemy paints, Artist Trading Coins, fresco finish paints, Paperartsy, Gorgeous Grunge, Joy, Masks/Stencils, Peace & Joy, Wonderland, Wreath Builder

Final advent coins 19-24

Catherine

Today I have the final advent coins I made. These I made all in one afternoon and chose to make them in pairs to make life easier for myself!

I also used the same old number stamp set to finish them off.

My favourites are definitely the black with white embossing background. Just wish I had used slightly smaller number stamps rather than the large ones. Have to admit these were inspired by the samples Martin made for the Artisan blog hop.

The ones with the text background were also inspired by this blog hop… but by the banner on the card made by Hélène. For both of these the Peace and Joy (My current favourite Christmas stamps ever!) Stamps and dies. I also added a die cut tree scene with the glimmer paper.

Then to contrast I made the more natural ones using the pointsetta die from the Wreath Builder die set. I also added some texture in the background using the Gorgeous Grunge set.

So there you go… my advent coins for this year done… except it’s not exactly true because numpty Catherine sent the first bundle of coins (days 19-21) without a stamp on the parcel … so I had to make more!

These are the ones I made…

This time I went for a different look completely… I went with coins with a stencilled layer of stars and then layers of Fresco finish paints and alchemy paints. Then I chose three different ways to decorate them, but kept to the same colour and number stamps.

I added stamping to each coin using archival ink so each was different.

I used die cuts from the wreath builder dies and some stamped twigs.

I also used some Stamping magazine stamps for the holly and the little winter house. I added sequins for the holly berries and flock for the snowy roof.

Love how different they all came out. Looking forward to next years challenge (we are back to Twinchies and some have been made already! Yup I got organised ahead of time for once!)

Happy crafting!

Catherine

For My Family, Gorgeous Grunge, Petals and more, Ribbons, Wreath Builder

Stampin Up Sunday – wreath builder dies

Catherine

So it turns out that Wreath Builder dies were what I needed to make me use dies as a basis for card making… and here my example is a card I made for my friend Michelle’s special birthday!

I made her a gatefold card using the dies and the bright lime and cerise cardstock in my stash!

I added Gorgeous Grunge splatter and a stamped sentiment from For my Family, a ribbon bow and a label die from Petals and More… but really it’s the dies that do all the work in this card.

Super happy with how this bright and cheery card turned out. Inside the gatefold I put a panel with some more die cuts…

I delivered this card a few weeks ago now so this is a belated happy birthday wish to Michelle… but as it was a special birthday and we’ve agreed to forget this year and celebrate properly next year I am sure she will get another special card then too!

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Art by Marlene collage papers, Art doll, Gorgeous Grunge

Hello doll cards

Catherine

Today I have the cards I made to send the Russian art dolls to the swap recipients… they include papers from the stash swap challenge I shared over the past few days… and of course are Russian art doll themed!

I used the same template as I used for the dolls… but this time I cut them from patterned paper in the stash.

The faces were from the Art by Marlene die cuts and I added doodling and shading and a little pics of doily for the frill on the headscarf.

I also added the sticky embellishments as buttons.

I adhered both dolls to a piece of card I stamped some texture into the background and doodled the border. I also added the hello sentiment.

I decided to use red card blanks to give the white panel something to contrast against.

Cute and super simple little creations with the use of the Art by Marlene faces.

Lovely way to round off two projects in one.

Happy crafting!

Catherine

Canvas and Mixed Media art, Ellen Vargo, Gelatos, Faber Castell, Gorgeous Grunge, Masks/Stencils, That's the Ticket, Timeless Textures

Art Journal page for me!

Catherine

Another Art journaling page in my Dylusions journal just for me, with no pressure, love it!

I started with sticking things on the page that had been randomly on my desk either as left over bits from other projects or things I’d not got around to using yet.

This included the stamped flower on the left hand side, a piece of sewing pattern instruction, a stamped tag and the gelli printed circle.

I think the page also had some wipe off from another project on it as the gelatos had some different reactions in a few areas.

So I added gelato to the page with the exception of the flower panel that had already been coloured. I think it was distress inks used on that.

Next I added the iridescent texture paste through a stencil to the right hand side of the page and left it to dry.

I then added stamping using some different stamps… Gorgeous grunge, that’s the ticket etc. I also added some splashes of green acrylic ink and copper acrylic ink.

Next I worked on the flower that I stamped from a Creative Stamping magazine and coloured using promarkers to create a soft, no line effect. I fussy cut it out but decided it needed something between it and the background.

I had a hunt in my stash and found these stickers that I think were meant for scrapbooking.

After adding them and the flowers it was time to add doodling and the sentiment stickers. I also found the orange gems in my stash and stuck them down too.

I decided the flower on the left needed pushing back so added some gesso using my fingers and blending it on that panel and a few other spots.

I also took the Twisted citron distress oxide and did a little bit of stamping to add a little lime green onto the page too.

Once again it was fun to create with no pressure of time or finished product. The photos in the daylight show it off so much better… shame most of my crafting is done in the evening so I don’t enjoy the cokours quite as much when creating… maybe I need to invest in a proper daylight lamp?!?

Happy crafting!

Catherine

fresco finish paints, Paperartsy, Gorgeous Grunge, Inktense, Derwent

Eyes ATCs for UK stampers forum swap

Catherine

The theme of the swap was eyes so I decided to use the Jane Davenport face stamp where you can choose the features. I’ve not used this stamp much but loved creating these three ATCs using the stamps.

I started with some mountboard cut using the Bigz die and gave it a coat of gesso. Then I dry brushed on some neutral colours of Paperartsy fresco finish paints (buff and taupe). I also added some of the smoked paprika so break up the background and because I knew I wanted to incorporate that into the hair colour too.

I then stamped using sepia ink the face and then the features using different eye stamps for each girls but keeping the lips and nose the same.

Then I added in hair for each using a mixture of browns and oranges. I also added colour to the lips and then the eyes I chose a teal/blue colour that really stood out.

I then used Inktense pencils and a waterbrush to add more definition to the eyes and some shading.

I also added a bit of subtle stamping to the background using yellow archival and a Gorgeous grunge stamp and then added the sentiment from a magazine set in the sepia ink.

I finished by edging them with archival ink to frame the panels.

Love how these came out. So different from everything else I have made recently.

Happy crafting!

Catherine