Kraft and twine !

It's time for our next challenge over at Frilly and Funkie and this time the lovely Linda has set us the challenge to have some fun with Kraft and Twine !

I started with the background and blended Broken China, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo onto white cardstock and then used the spritz and flick technique. The stamps I've used are from the Artistic Outpost sets called Diesel Punk and also Ephemera Backgrounds. I stamped the speed signs onto some Kraft card with Coffee Archival ink and also used Distress Markers to stamp the '60' sign to add some red. I mounted it onto some corrugated cardboard punched some holes and added some eyelets to thread the Jute Twine through.

I dyed the venise lace with some re-inker and punched a circle for the centre of the rusted bottle cap from some Kraft card that I stamped the Gasoline sign onto. The flower is cut using the Mini Tattered Floral die from cardboard and then I used the Cracked Distress technique.

I hope you get chance to join us in this challenge and do make time to hop over to the main blog to check out the DT's fabulous work.

I'm entering this card into the Artistic Outpost May Referral which is travel and Simon Says Stamp which is Anything Goes. 

Les fleurs !

For my Katzelkraft DT project this time I've made a card that was an order from a lady at work.It's her Mum's birthday today and she asked me to make a card with flowers on it.

I received the new Spring Distress Inks on Monday and the lemon and the lilac were just the inpsiration I needed ! I used the Musique, Automne Demie Plaque Pluie, Fleurs and Nature Quotations stamp sets. For the background I used the resist technique and embossed the images with white EP and then blended the DI over the top. I stamped the main image and then made a mask from the Tim Holtz Ideaology Mask Sheets using the Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers Mini Tickets die. While the mask was over the main image I then stamped the words from the Nature Quotations stamp set using second generation stamping. I also blended DI over it while the mask was in place.

The flower is made using the Tattered Florals die and Crinoline, which I've coloured using DI. The button is a gorgeous Prima wooden button. The butterfly, crinoline and ribbon are all from Linda's Funkie Junkie Boutique. I made the sentiment on my PC and cut it out using the Tim Holtz Tattered Banners die.

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

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

• The Pretty Little Ribbon Challenge - Blooms and butterflies
•  Die Cuttin Divas - Buttons, banners and/or birthday
• Crafts and Me - Fabulous Flowers
• Alphabet Challenge - H for Handmade flowers
• Allsorts - Buttons and bows
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Birthday card
• By the Cute and Girly - Spring is all around

Steampunk with a bit of diesel !

It's time for another challenge over at The Fashionable Stamping Challenge. This one is a first for me as this time we would like to see your Steampunk creations !

I have to be honest, I really didnt' know where to start with this one ! That's 2 challenges in as many days that have had me stumped ! So, after browsing the internet for some inspiration and asking my Mum if she had any rusty washers ! I decided to keep it simple and do a tag. I used the Spritz and Flick technique on the background and I embossed part of the tag using a Tim Holtz EF. The motorcycle stamp is from the Artistic Outpost Diesel Punk stamp set. The hot air balloon is a B Line stamp.

The main image is from the same Artistic Outpost stamp set and is stamped onto Speciality Stamping Paper then I've used Tim Holtz Distress Markers to paint it. I then blended DI around the image as it looked far too clean ! The clock face is a Tim Holtz stamp which I've stamped onto metal then distressed with black acrylic paint and added a spinner. I stamped the Diesel Punk words from the Artistic Outpost set and then cut out an arrow and used the Spritz and Flick technique again. The Speed Limit sign is also from the Diesel Punk stamp set and I wound some wire around a thin paint brush to make the spring and attached it to the tag using 2 eyelets. Last, but by no means least, are the fabulous, rusty washers donated by my Mum, who doesn't bat an eye any more when she receives random text messages asking if she's got things like rusty washers !

I hope you get chance to join us and make sure you hop over to the main blog to check out the fab work by the DT.

A card for a Queen !

We've come round to another Friday, which means it's time for the next challenge over at The Stamp Man. This time it's my turn to host the challenge and we would like to see a card for a Queen ! As usual there is the prize of a £10 voucher for the winner to spend in The Stamp Man online store.

So, to say I struggled with this one is putting it mildly ! My mojo flew straight out the window and I was left staring at my work table hoping for something to jump out and hit me ! The lovely Jill was very kind to send us some stamped images to use for this one, which saved my bacon ! Only problem was I cut the flag out a bit on the skew and didn't have another one, but I don't think it's too obvious that one side is wider than the other ! So, onto the card, I started by blending Broken China and Festive Berries DI over some card and cut out 2 different sizes of bunting. I glued these to a piece of DP and then used the Tim Holtz Regal mini mask crown and sponged Broken China DI over it. Then I used the swirl from the same set but sponged Festive Berries DI over it. I embossed some card using the Cuttlebug EF Victoria and sponged Broken China DI over and also used the ink pad direct to the card.

I painted the crown using Tim Holtz Distress Markers. The flag is embossed with gold EP and I cut it out (albeit crookedly!) using the deckle edged Nestability and sponged some Walnut Stain DI around the edge. The lace is dyed using Antique Linen re-inker and a watercolour paint brush.

I hope you get chance to join us and please make sure you check out the other DT members fabulous cards.

Stencils & Masks at Frilly and Funkie !

It's time for the next challenge over at Frilly and Funkie. There were some fantastic altered items for the last challenge, make sure you check back on Monday to see if you've won ! For this next challenge the lovely Marjie has set the task to use stencils and masks on your project. 

The photo doesn't show the detail too well so it's hard to see that I've used a stencil and a mask on the background. I had the urge to use aqua and pink on  this card for some strange reason ! Not my usual colour preferences at all ! I sponged Broken China DI over the mask and then moved it slightly and sponged Tattered Rose DI over it. I also used a stencil to make a border along the bottom and used some more Broken China DI. For the background panels I used a Katzelkraft post mark stamp and on the other I used the Stampin' Up En Francais background stamp. I used a mask over them and sponged some more Broken China DI. The main image is a Crafty Individuals stamp and this is it's first outing !

The flower is made from watercolour paper which I've dipped into Tattered Rose DI that I stamped onto my craft sheet and then spritzed with water. The ribbon is seam binding that came as part of the packaging from some goodies I ordered from The Funkie Junkie Boutique and was the perfect colour for this project. I dyed the lace using Linda's technique of picking up some re-inker with a watercolour brush and just painting it with the colour I wanted. I added a Tim Holtz pen nib and clip and the buttons are from my stash.

I'm entering this project into the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge of Anything Goes. 

I hope you get chance to join us for this challenge and don't forget to check out the fab creations of the rest of the DT.

Katzelkraft tag

For my Katzelkraft DT project I've made a tag using the Musique, Transportation, Mode and Paris Monuments stamp sets.

I blended Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet and Gathered Twigs DI over the tag then used the Spritz and Flick technique. I stamped the images with Coffee Archival ink and masked off the corner stamp and stamped over it using the splatter stamp.

I stamped the car and the woman's head on to card that I used the same DI and Spritz and Flick technique, then cut them out. The flower is made from Watercolour paper using the Tattered Florals and Mini Tattered Florals dies and I sprayed it with Marshmallow Glimmer Mist.

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

I'm entering this tag into the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge which is to use your favourite stamp, my favourite stamp is the woman, I've had it for ages and I absolutely love it !

Cities Around the World !

It's time for the next challenge over at The Fashionable Stamping Challenge. We've loved the guesses that you've been making from the sneak peaks so it's time to reveal that the challenge this time is Cities Around the World !

Now, I have to say I really struggled to get my ideas going for this one. I don't have any London stylie stamps (which maybe I need to rectify!) and I thought I ought to give Paris a rest so my thoughts finally rested on this stamp of the Taj Mahal. This is high up on my list of places to visit and it is in the city of Agra in India.

I started with the background and used Speciality Stamping Paper and then Pan Pastels (which don't work so well on this surface) with a mask. Then stamped the swirl from the Stampin' Up Baroque Motif set with Versamark and blended some more PP over it. The little flower is also from the same set and I've stamped it with Fired Brick and Walnut Stain DI. The embossed panel is also made with SSP and I blended Fired Brick DI over it first. After I'd embossed it using the Paisley Cuttlebug EF I rubbed Versamark over the top and then used Gold embossing powder. The main image is stamped onto SSP that I've used the Wrinkle Free Distress technique on. After I'd stamped the image I then used some bleach to highlight some of the areas.

I painted some card with gold acrylic paint then cut out the swirls with a Sizzix Sizzlet Die. The flowers are all cut using the Tim Holtz Mini and Tattered Florals dies. I've then used the Shattered Stains technique on them as well as on the butterfly. For the largest flower  I also went around the edge with a gold marker pen.

I'm entering this card into the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge which is Show a Kaleidoscope of Colour and the Pan Pastels challenge which is Anything Goes.

What's your favourite technique ?

Happy Friday everyone ! A long week end on the horizon, I just hope the weather is a little kinder to us all. So, it's time for the next challenge at The Stamp Man. The challenge we've got for you this time is to use your favourite technique. Now I'm a little bit addicted to techniques, I can't get enough of them, so to choose a favourite was extremely hard ! So I guess I've cheated a little and used more than one, couldn't resist!

I started by blending different DI's over some Speciality Stamping Paper and then doing the Spritz and Flick technique. I have to say the results on this paper are fabulous !

I then stamped over the background using Tim Holtz stamps and used the text stamp from the Papillon set. I used the stamp without an acrylic block so that it didn't stamp a perfect image using Coffee Archival ink. I then stamped over that using Black Archival ink. I tore a page from an old book and then distressed it using Gathered Twigs, Aged Mahogany and Walnut Stain DI. The main image is a Stampedous stamp which I've stamped onto watercolour paper. I then painted it using Barn Door re-inker and Fired Brick Distress Stains and a little Bundled Sage re-inker for the leaves.

I used the wear red stamp from the Darkroom Door 1920s Chic set and attached it wth an eyelet and added some thread. The post mark stamp is is from the Tim Holtz French Marketplace set. The rose was made using the Mini Tattered Florals die and I used my Melting Pot to coat it with UTEE. The ribbon and lace are from my stash and I dyed the lace using Black Soot DI which I pressed onto my craft sheet then spritzed with water and dipped the lace into it.

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

Alter it at Frilly and Funkie !

We've flown through another 2 weeks so that means it's time for the next challenge over at Frilly and Funkie. It's my turn to host the challenge and I chose 'Alter it! ' I have really fallen in love with altering different, ordinary items. I just love how they can look so totally different from their original state.

We've all got ordinary, everyday items in our homes that would benefit from some love and attention, right ? So, this is the challenge, take an ordinary item, doesn't matter whether it's been bought especially to alter or if you've got something sitting on a shelf that you've had your eye on just waiting for the right moment. Using your craft products, transform it into a piece of art,  let your imagination run wild ! Alter it! 

For my project I chose the wooden box that I keep my alcohol inks in. I've been looking at it for ages, thinking what I could do with it, so this challenge was the perfect time to go for it ! 

I started by giving it a good coat of Gesso, then a coat of brown acrylic paint then a coat of black acrylic paint. Then I sanded it, mainly along the edges so that the brown acrylic paint showed through the black (I rather liked it just like that!) 

I then made the metal panels to cover the bottom part of the box. I used a Ten Seconds Studio mould and rubbed Black Stazon ink directly over the raised part of the metal. For the word 'inks' I hand drew the letters onto tissue paper and then used a scoring tool to draw the letters onto the reverse of the metal. I did some freehand doodling and then used the Pearl Mixative to highlight the letters. I think that letters are something I need to practice as they didn't have quite the impact I was after.

Then I made the top panel and I used Speciality Stamping Paper for the first time. I have to say it's not quite what I expected BUT I love it ! The Spritz and Flick technique is amazing on this paper ! So, I blended DI over the background piece and stamped using the Stampin' Up Friends background stamp using Archival Sepia ink. I also used the butterfly from the Artistic Outpost Flower Market stamp set. I then added some Tissue Wrap across the diagonal, scrunching it up and sticking it down with Claudine Hellmuth Multi Medium Matt. 

I tore a page from an old book and distressed it with DI's. The main image, which is from the Flower Market stamp set, was masked off using a Post It note then stamped over with the music stamp from the Artistic Outpost Ephemeral Backgrounds stamp set. I then cut it out using a Nestability, watercoloured the image using re-inkers and then blended more DI around the edge.

I stamped the small flower and butterfly from the Flower Market set and then stamped the sentiment over the top. The butterfly is my second attempt at the Shattered Stains technique, definitely 'more is more' when using the Crackle Paint.

The flowers are cut using a combination of the Mini Tattered Florals and the Tattered Florals dies. I was inspired when I saw Linda's flowers recently to not make a rose but just die cut the flowers and then use my Melting Pot. The little metal flowers in the centre of 2 of the flowers (I ran out!) are from the Funkie Junkie Boutique as is the gorgeous metal butterfly. I dyed the Venise Lace, which is also from the Funkie Junkie Boutique, using Antique Linen reinker which has been spritzed with water. The swirls are cut from Grunge Paper and dyed using Wild Honey Distress Stains. The filligree metal corners are also from the Funkie Junkie Boutique.

For the panels that go around the top half of the box, I used Speciality Stamping Paper again. I blended DI over it and stamped using the small butterfly and flower from the Flower Market set and distressed the edges with my scissors. 

Finally,  I added a Tim Holtz lock to the front and also Tim Holtz feet (well not literally his feet, but you know what I mean!) 

Remember there's a $15 gift voucher to spend in the Funkie Junkie Boutique and with prices already very good it's got to be worth entering.

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

• Craft your Passion - Texture 
•  Anything Goes - Things with Wings 
• Papertake - Anything goes with option of lace ( I've used lace on the lid)
• Top Tip Tuesday - Anything but a card (Tip - When making a 3D project with feet, make sure you leave them till last to stick so it's easier to handle and avoid's you knocking them off!)
• Moving Along With The Times - Gardens of Flowers 
• Crafty Catz - Anything goes