Friday Focus - Silk Ribbon

It's my turn to  do the Friday Focus over at Frilly and Funkie and this time the spotlight is on the gorgeous Silk Ribbon.  The card I'm sharing here is just one example using this beautiful product, make sure you hop over to the Frilly and Funkie blog to find out more about it. 

I've used Artistic Outpost stamps for this card and the embossed panel is made from kitchen roll, that I've spritzed with water and then embossed using an EF. When it was dry I then distressed it with DI. I must say a big thank you to Paula as I first spotted this technique on her blog using tissue paper and it got me to thinking 'why not kitchen roll?' The gorgeous rusty hearts are also from the Funkie Junkie boutique.

Make sure you check out the Friday Focus and most importantly remember that as Silk Ribbon is the product in the spotlight there is 15% off too ! 

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

•  The Pretty Little Ribbon Challenge - To die for 
• Creative Card Crew - Ribbon
• Divas by Design - Buttons and or bows 
• Fab 'n' Funky - No DP (my background is stamped)
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes 
• Crafts and Me - Embossing 
• Truly Scrumptious - Distressing & Die Cuts/ Punches 
• Craft us Crazy - Favourite Stamp company and/or inspiration ( I love Artistic Outpost stamps and Paula gave me the inspiration for the embossed panel.) 
• Paperplay - Monochrome and ribbon
• Fussy and Fancy - Punches and Dies
• Bling it on - Monochrome

Musical card !

 For my Katzelkraft DT project I made a card using the Musique stamp set.

Apologies for the poor photograph but taking photo's at night is never good ! I wanted to keep this card simple as I always seem to cover up the background when I spend quite alot of time on it ! I stamped using Versamark and then blended Pan Pastels over the top. I then stamped over the top using Cobalt Archival ink and then I used a stencil and blended more Pan Pastel over the top.

I cut the main image out using the Wonky Rectangles Nestability. The ribbon is seam binding that I dyed using Distress Stains and I spritzed it with water.

The stamps I've used are available exclsively from The Craft Barn in the UK and from Katzelkraft in France.

Well I hope it stops raining soon I'm really beginning to get withdrawal symptoms from not seeing the sun !

Re-enactment Good Luck !

The card I'm sharing with you today caused me a very big head ache ! My sister sent me a text and asked me to make a card for a friend who is leaving work and for the theme she wanted battle re-enactments ! 

So, after alot of head scratching I decided to go with the shield theme. I hand drew the shield onto a piece of card and then used it as a template to cut out a piece of metal. I used a Ten Seconds Studio mould and then lots of alcohol ink and mounted it onto black card. I embossed a piece of card using the Fleur de Lys EF and I inked the inside with different DI then rubbed over the top of it with Tea Dye DI. The text background piece is stamped with a Katzelkraft stamp and then distressed. 

The flower is made from Grunge Paper that I stuck sticky back canvas to after I'd stamped onto it. I cut it out using the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die and the Mini Tattered Florals die. The flourishes are cut using the Tim Holtz Mini Flourish die. I stamped the sentiment onto a Tim Holtz Tattered Banner. The ribbon and brad are from my stash. 

I'm entering this card into the following challenge:

• Pan Pastel - Add a flower

Embossing at the Fashionable Stamping Challenge

It's time for another challenge at The Fashionable Stamping Challenge and this time we would like to see some embossing on your projects. Now, this could be dry embossing or heat embossing or both! It's entirely up to you. Make sure you hop over to the main blog to check out the DT's fabulous work.

I started with the background and blended Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet over some DI and did the Spritz and Flick technique (I can't stop myself from using this technique at the moment!) I then stamped using Victorian Velvet DI using the text stamp from the Artistic Outpost Flapper Fashions stamp set. I then embossed some card using a Stampin' Up folder and blended more DI over it (I seem to have hidden most of it!). I stamped the defintion of a Flapper onto some more card that I'd done the Spritz and Flick technique on and distressed the edges. The car is from the Artistic Outpost Diesel Punk stamp set and the main image another stamp from the Flapper set which I stamped onto watercolour paper and painted it with DI.

The tickets are cut using the Tim Holtz die and stamped using TH stamps. The gorgeous button is from a Prima set (they are totally gorgeous!). The box pleat ribbon is from the Funkie Junkie Boutique and I've rubbed Victorian Velvet over it. The flower is made from silk ribbon and Crinoline, both of which are from the Funkie Junkie Boutique. I made a rose bud for the centre, I cut the Crinoline using the Mini Tattered Florals and then the outside layer I made by gathering one edge with a small running stitch. 

I hope you get chance to join us for this challenge.

Shabby Chic at The Stamp Man

 So, is anyone else not liking the new look Blogger ! It's taken me 3 times as long to write this post. I suppose I'll get use to it but I just need to share my frustration !

Anyway, it's time for another challenge at The Stamp Man, Brenda is the hostess and has chosen Shabby Chic Vintage/Distressed. As usual there is the prize of a £10 voucher to spend in The Stamp Man online store.

 I bought this letter wrack a few weeks ago as I never have anywhere to put bills that need paying so I thought I could kill 2 birds with one stone and make something that was useful ! I started by painting the wrack with white Gesso. I blended DI over an A4 sheet of white card stock and spritzed and flicked water over it. I then stamped with Coffee Archival ink using the text stamp from the Tim Holtz Papillon set. I then stamped the butterfly and flowers from the Aspects of Design set with Jet Black Archival ink on each panel. I glued the panels in place then used Tissue Tape around the edge and distressed it with DI.

I made a small rose from the same card and then used my Melting Pot to make it into a Porcelain rose. I cut a leaf using the Tattered Leaves die and gave it the same treatment. I added a Memo Pin and Type Charm. The word 'letters' is made from the Stampendous alphabet and I punched out each letter with a small circle punch and then covered each one with Glossy Accents. 

The main text is from the Tim Holtz Good Thoughts set and the script is from the Tim Holtz French Marketplace set stamped onto card which has had DI blended over and I've punched holes down the side and ripped them with a pokey tool. I coloured the small piece of lace with re-inkers and added a clip and a pen nib. 

 I'm also entering this project into the following challenges: 

• Charisma Cardz - Shabby Chic
• Cute Card Thursday - Metallica 

I hope you get chance to join us for this challenge.

Recycling at Frilly and Funkie !

We've zoomed through another 2 weeks which means it's time for the next challenge over at Frilly and Funkie. There were loads of fabulous entries into the 'I'll take your word for it' challenge, make sure you check back on Monday to find out if you've won ! Remember, it's still a great time to do some shopping in the Funkie Junkie Boutique with the 50/50 offer on shipping if you spend over $75 until the 30 April. Even if you're in the UK it's still worth picking up some goodies, it's easy to pay with PayPal and your parcel won't take much over a week to reach you.

So, onto the new challenge which has been set by the lovely Anita and here is what she would like you to do:

We all live on Mother Earth and have to do our part to keep her healthy, not just on Earth Day but always. As paper crafters it's very important not to waste much. For this challenge, use at least two repurposed items to create an upcycled paper project, and don't forget to list what they are. Extra kudos to you if you can depict Mother Earth in some way as well.

I hope you're sitting comfortably as this is a bit of a long post ! Maybe a good idea to have a cuppa and chocolate too !


I'm always on the look out for bits and pieces that I can rescue and use on a craft project, so when I saw this challenge I had a rough idea what I wanted to do. The 2 things that I have recycled are, tissue wrapping that my goodies came in from Linda's Funkie Junkie Boutique and some plastic ideaology packaging from Tim Holtz's Type Charms. With all of my projects I always start with the background, so the first thing I did was to use Old Paper Distress Stains on the canvas so it wasn't so clean and white ! Then, I took the tissue wrapping and I used my Pan Pastels and Versamark ink with a stencil. I then stamped onto it with Coffee Archival ink and blended Vintage Photo DI around the edge. You can't actually see much of it, which is always the way things seem to happen with my crafting ! Then I used Artistic Outposts Ephemera Background stamp and stamped onto white card and also onto Crinoline. The two young girls are also from an Artistic Outpost set called Birds of a Feather. I stamped them first then masked them off and stamped the Post Card stamp, from the Ephemera set, over the top.

The small canvas has also been given the Old Paper Distress Stains treatment and then the egg stamp from the Birds of a Feather set has been stamped onto card that I've blended DI over and used the Spritz and Flick technique on too. The cage has been stamped onto watercolour paper and I used Aged Mahogany and Gathered Twigs DI to stamp it and then I cut it out. The Birds of a Feather text is stamped onto a Tattered Banners die cut and then I've blended DI around the edge and added the 2 wings from the metal collection from Linda's Funkie Junkie Boutique. The little key is also from the same collection. The piece of ribbon at the side of the small canvas is a piece of the Tim Holtz ribbon and I've rubbed Aged Mahogany DI over the top.


The clock is a Kaisercraft Wooden Flourish and I've rubbed DI over it then I tried to do the rusted enamel technique, but I think I need a different embossing powder, mine is too fine so the effect isn't as visible.


The flowers are all cut using the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die and the Mini Tattered Florals die. I've cut the majority from Crinoline that I've dyed using Antique Linen re-inker which I've spritzed with water. I was aiming for a lighter colour than how they've turned out, but I kind of like the darker, grungier colour. I cut one large flower from the Ideaology plastic packaging and then used Alcohol inks on it. I cut the leaves from the same packaging and used Alcohol inks on them too. I love how the plastic becomes really pliable when you heat it and if you don't like the shape you can just re-heat it and start again ! The gorgeous metal heart and little flowers are from the vintage metal collection from Linda's Funkie Junkie Boutique, I added a little blob of Sepia Glossy Accents to the centre of the flowers. The branch is cut using the Tim Holtz Holly die and I've cut it from corrugated cardboard. The robin is from the Artistic Outpost Birds of a Feather set, stamped with Coffee Archival ink. The buttons are from my stash.

I'm also entering this project into the following challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything goes
  
• Cupcake Craft Challenge - In at the deep end
  
• Craft your Passion - Die cuts and punches
• Moving Along with the Times - Shabby Chic and/or Vintage
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Buttons
  
• Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Freebie week - anything goes
• Artistic Outpost Referral - Birds
• Divas by Design - Anything but a card
  

I hope you get chance to join us for this challenge and look forward to seeing what you can find to recycle !

New Home !

I was asked to make a card by a lady at work but the brief was it had to be pink and white ! After my initial thoughts of ' Pink and White !!!', I then thought I could go down the route of 'shabby' pink and white !

I kept it quite simple and started by blending Tattered Rose DI over some white cardstock and then tearing the edges and blending some more ink around the edge. I did just tip the card with some Vinage Photo DI (I couldn't resist!) The embossed layer is made using a Stampin' Up folder and I blended a small amount of Vintage Photo DI around the edge. The main image is a vintage digi image and I have to confess I looked at some many different sites I can't remember where I found it ! I blended Tattered Rose DI over it and then tore the edges and blended Vintage Photo around the edges. The butterfly and swirl are both Tim Holtz mini dies. I dyed some seam binding with Tattered Rose DI and spritzed it with water.


The text is all done on my PC and the tag is cut using my Quickutz. The frilly ribbon is from Linda's Zibbett boutique and I've rubbed Victorian Velvet DI over it.

Fortunately, the lady who ordered it was thrilled to bits so my 'shabby' gamble paid off ! Phew !

If you've not checked out Linda's Zibbet Boutique make sure you do ...soon ! Linda is not only stocking some gorgeous vintage goodies but also alot of the Ranger products. The prices are really good and Linda has an offer on shipping at the moment, if you order $75 worth of goods then the shipping is half price ! Also, as part of the spotlight week there is 15% off all Venise laces.

It's been a bit of a mixed day here today, it started off with beautiful sunshine and we did manage a short walk, but then after lunch the April showers returned, so perfect chance to get back in my craft room ! Hope you're all having a good week end.

Katzelkraft tag

For my Katzelkraft DT project I've made a tag using some of the Tim Holtz techniques that were covered in the Creative Chemistry 101 classes.


I started with the background and blended lots of different Distress Inks, colours I used were Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet, Aged Mahogany, Pumice Stone and Seedless Preserve. Then I did the 'spritz and flick' technique. The flowers were stamped with black Archival ink and then I watercoloured the image with Distress Inks and re-inkers using one of the fab watercolour brushes. For the label I used the Wrinkle Free Distress technique and then stamped the sentiment with black Archival ink.



I cut the butterfly from watercolour paper using the TH Mini Butterfly die and then used the Brushless Watercolour technique to stamp the butterfly onto the die cut. The lovely ruffled ribbon is from Linda's Zibbet Boutique and I've rubbed Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet DI over it. The ribbon at the top of the tag is seam binding, which is also from Linda's Zibbet Boutique, that I've dyed with Tattered Rose DI.

I'm entering this tag into the Simon Says Stamp and Show a Tim Holtz technique challenge.

The stamps I've used are available exclusively from The Craft Barn in the UK and from Katzelkraft in France.

Nautical at Fashionable Stamping Challenge !

Happy Easter everyone !

It's time for the next challenge over at The Fashionable Stamping challenge and this time the lovely Paula has set the challenge of Nautical. I have to say that this really stumped me, and the first attempts went in the bin ! But then I saw this little box that I'd saved from being thrown away just sitting on the shelf waiting to be altered ! I even remembered to take a photo before I altered it....well almost, I'd only painted the lid before remembering !


So, I painted the whole box with Gesso giving it 2 coats and letting it dry completely.


Then I painted the box with a pale blue acrylic paint and used a baby wipe to knock it back a little. Then I used a darker blue and sponged it around the edges and corners just swiping it over the surface and using the baby wipe if it went too dark. For the bottom of the box I used Olive green metal and a Ten Seconds Studio mould. I then sanded the surface of the metal and used Alcohol inks in Aqua and Denim. Around the top of the box I stamped the shells with a Rubbadubbado stamp onto white cardstock and stamped twice with the same ink application to get a paler second impression. The metal studs are nail heads that I've coloured with Espresso Alcohol ink. I stamped the words onto the tape with Cobalt Archival ink, the stamp is by Katzelkraft. The fabulous nautical charm is from Linda's Funkie Junkie Zibbett Boutique. For the feet I used Tim Holtz Hitch Fasteners.

On the top of the lid I used a piece of metal that I scribbled all over using a Ten Seconds Studio plastic nib tool then went around the edge with a wheel. I used acrylic paint to colour and distress it. The ship is by Tanda Stamps and is stamped with Cobalt Archival ink onto a piece of card that I've dipped into Distress Ink that's been spritzed with water on my craft sheet. The seagull is a Rubbadubbado stamp, stamped with Cobalt Archival and then cut out.

I'm entering this project into the following challenged:

• Totally Stampalicious - Anything but a card
• Anything Goes - Anything Goes
• Creative Craft - Anything but a card
  
• Papertake - Anything goes
  
• Craft us Crazy - Altered items/ Anything but a card
• Unruly PaperArts - Quest 1 - Sponging Spectacular
  

I hope you get chance to join us for this challenge.

Vellum at The Stamp Man

It's time for the next challenge over at The Stamp Man and this time we want to see what you can do with Vellum ! As usual there is the prize of a £10 voucher to spend in The Stamp Man online store.



I cut a tag using the TH tag die and blended DI over it. I then ripped strips of TH Tissue Wrap and glued it to the tag. I then tore a strip of Kraft Glassine paper and scrunched it up, flattened it out and attached it to the tag with some brads.
The main image is a Stampendous stamp called I Love Paris. I've blended DI over it and then flicked water at the image and painted the flowers with Tattered Rose DI. The frill down the side is made from TH Tissue Tape.


I blended Vintage Photo DI over the Vellum and then stamped with Coffee Archival ink the text stamp from the TH French Marketplace stamp set. The flower is cut using the TH Mini Tattered Florals die and added a button to the centre.

I hope you get chance to join us in this challenge.

I'll take your word for it at Frilly & Funkie !

Welcome to the next challenge for Frilly & Funkie ! We've had a really fantastic response to the first challenge, if you didn't get chance to join in well now's your chance as we're starting the new challenge today. Linda (The Funkie Junkie and F&F blog owner) is hosting the challenge this time round and here is what Linda has to say about this challenge:

Words can be kind, comforting, encouraging, supporting. I especially love motivational quotes. For this challenge, let your sentiment take center stage and be the focal point of your project.

Don't forget that the prize is a $15 voucher to spend in Linda's fabulous Funkie Junkie Boutique.


I LOVE using sentiments on my work, so when I saw this challenge my biggest dilemma was which one to use ! My Mum also loves 'lovely words', as she calls them, so I think this card may well be one of the Birthday cards that I need to make for her ! As is my usual style, I started with the background. I joined the Creative Chemistry 101 classes and feel like I've re-discoverd my Distress Inks all over again ! So, the technique I used is the Brushless Watercolour technique. I've used a PaperArtsy stamp and stamped it several times. I then used a Wendy Vecchi text stamp and stamped part of it over the image. I used the Tim Holtz Baroque die and rubbed different colour DI's on my craft sheet and spritzed with water and then dipped the card into the ink. I dried it off then used a mask and Crushed Olive DI over the top. The swirls are cut using the TH Mini Flourish die. The embossed panel is cut using a Nestability and then I've rubbed DI over the top. I've used a Nestability Tag on top of the embossed panel and just blended DI over it.



The centre panel is cut using the TH Mini Labels die and I stamped it with the Sanded Stampin' Up stamp. The sentiment is made using the Wendy Vecchi Sentimental Art stamp set. The ribbon is seam binding that I've dyed using Shabby Shutters re-inker and water. The gorgeous key and flower is from Linda's Funkie Junkie Boutique. The butterfly is cut from Grunge Paper using the TH Mini Butterfly die and I've covered part of it with a piece of a page from an old book before blending DI over it and adding a TH Spinner.

I do hope you get chance to join us for this challenge.