Wednesday, 31 August 2011

Crafty Individuals

Well where does the time go - not had chance to do any crafting yet again so my blog has been neglected. Never mind on a happier note my Whitby Abbey bookmark was chosen as a winner on the Crafty Individuals August Challenge so here's my winner's logo.
I'm sure someone out there can tell me so how do you include it down the left hand side of the blog and how do you add a link to it. I've tried but.....

Whilst writing has anyone else had problems leaving comments on blogs using Google Accounts - I seem to end up going round 3 times and then it won't work. It's a shame as sometimes I see other people's creations and I'd like to praise their work.

Any helpful comments would be gratefully received!!

Thursday, 18 August 2011

White

Here's my art for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 167 with the theme of WHITE. Thought I'd start a set of A5 pieces that can be bound together to show various techniques.


I had no idea what I was going to do but started off swishing some Snow Cap Dabber on a mat together with some Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress Stains to create a background. I haven't any Picket Fence Stain yet so tried watered down acrylic instead - not sure it mixed well enough but...! On top of that is more Snow Cap Dabber and Broken China Stain slammed on top - love that effect. On top of that is a white acrylic Hessian stamp and one of Tim's sayings in stain again.

Apologies once again for the photo - the light is so bad today, in fact it's nearly dark already. Anyway I'm not sure whether I like what I've done - I'm a bit too exact a person and doing random splodges is difficult. But I guess that is what challenges are all about!!

Well today has been a long day already - we were up early for A level results. Thank goodness my daughter got what she needed so will be off to University to study History. Congratulations KT.

Thursday, 11 August 2011

Whitby Abbey again!!

Yes, I know this is the third recent post featuring the Crafty Individuals Whitby Abbey stamp CI227 but this birthday card for my dad is the reason I bought it. My family history research has got back to the 1680s in the Yorkshire Wolds and then the 1700s in Whitby and Fylingdales. So when I saw this stamp I knew I had to buy it!!


I've embossed Whitby Abbey in copper and then tinted it with Shabby Shutters and Stormy Sky Distress inks. I've used Tim Holtz's compass mask on the background and blended over it with Stormy Sky and Vintage Photo.

It's for these sort of cards I'm looking for a map stamp - one that doesn't feature the Pacific Ocean!! Anyone know of any UK map stamps?? Please let me know if you do.

Anyway I'm hoping my dad will like his card and has a happy birthday.

Sunday, 7 August 2011

Wish

Here's a card for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 166 with the theme of WISH.


I wish it would stop raining.... having said that the sun is out now but this morning the showers were very heavy!! Not got a lot of time this week so had a quick look in my bit box and found some ready made backgrounds. Tim Holtz's Brolly man and the WISH quote from the Stuff to Say set were stamped onto gloss card that had been sprayed with glimmer mists. Chose that as it looks like rain!! The background is distress inks overstamped with The Artistic Stamper's flourish.

I've linked this to The Artistic Stampers challenge too which this month has the theme of MEN. As it was sunny when I first saw this challenge I thought I'd turn brolly man into parasol man with a nice straw hat and bright clothes. However I think having the die cut would make that a bit easier.... one day I'll have a go!

Thanks for looking!!.

Wednesday, 3 August 2011

Bright and Beautiful

Here's a bookmark I've made for the Crafty Individual's August challenge with the theme of Bright and Beautiful.


I was inspired by Helen Chilton's use of Stazon as a bright background - here I've swiped Cactus Green and Sunflower Yellow across a piece of glossy card and then dabbed Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick and Stormy Sky Distress Inks through a handcut mask to create a sunset effect. I've used Crafty Individuals stamps - Whitby Abbey CI227 and a bracken from CI207 - and tried to make it look as if you were viewing the Abbey across the moors.

Hope you like!!

Tuesday, 2 August 2011

Sunset

Here's my piece for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 165 with the theme of Sunsets. It's inspired by a post I saw on the Chocolate Baroque blog about sunsets and the Crafty Individuals latest challenge to use bright colours too.


It's very simple - I just swiped Green and Yellow Stazon across a piece of gloss card and then sponged Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink (as I don't have an orange Stazon) through a hand cut mask to create the sun's rays. Whitby Abbey is a Crafty Individuals's stamp inked with Jet Black Archival.

My first attempt had Whitby Abbey elevated off the ground so I had another go - then I've just matted the better version over the top of the mistake to give a frame. I'm leaving it as it is so I can write on the back and send it as a postcard.

Hope you like it and thanks for looking.