Craft Barn 2013 Calendar

Here are my 12 tags for The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge made over the last 12 weeks.  I thought I'd better make something small so that I had a chance of finishing the challenge.

I decided I'd make the calendar for my daughter for Christmas - she's at University so it'll hang nicely on her pinboard and hopefully give her something bright and cheerful to look at every month.

I've also made an extra tag as a front cover - it's Walnut Stain and Salty Ocean Distress Inks, stamped with a Tim Holtz phrase and 2013 added with Making Memories glitter stickers.  I've fastened the tags together with a jump ring and used some spotty ribbon to tie it all together.

I've thoroughly enjoyed doing these tags every week so thanks to The Craft Barn for the challenge.  Hopefully my daughter has been too busy with her studies and hasn't been reading my blog!!

Thanks also to everyone that has looked at my blog and left comments - I appreciate them all.  Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and more Challenges to come!!

Christmas

I'm going to have to pack my crafting stash away so just thought I'd post one last card.
 

I'd like to wish all my friends and followers a very Happy Christmas and a very Merry New Year.   Hope you all have a wonderful time, get lots of crafting goodies for Christmas and come 2013, are all refreshed for another year of Crafty Challenges!!

December

Here's my last tag for The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge week 12 where the theme is EMBOSSING.

I've gold embossed the large Poinsettia stamp from Oak House Studio twice - once on the tag and just the central part on other card to create a layer.  It's a great stamp to decoupage but my tag calendar is getting a bit fat as it is so I've stuck with one layer!!   The background is blended Bundled Sage and Pine Needles Distress Inks with part of Darkroom Door's Christmas Word Block stamped in Emerald Green Archival.  It's just finished with the calendar and some ribbon.

Thank you everyone for looking and for your comments.  It's been an enjoyable 12 weeks!!  Next Sunday I think there'll be a link to add a photo of all 12 months - I'm looking forward to that and seeing what everyone else has created.

Meanwhile, hope all your Christmas plans are going well and items are being ticked off lists!

November

Here's my November tag for The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge week 11 where the theme is to use CIRCLES.

Back to my daughter's love of History and I had in mind the Houses of Parliament and Fireworks for November so I've used Big Ben from the Paperartsy HP1208 London set.  To fit the theme I've added the circle stamp from Tim Holtz's Bitty Grunge set, masked off Ben Ben and then bashed various Distress Stains to create the fireworks - Wild Honey, Fired Brick, Broken China and Brushed Pewter. I've edged the tag with Silver Dabber and finished it with Remember, the calendar and some seam binding.

The Brushed Pewter metallic stain look quite effective (although it doesn't show up in this photo) so if I have time this week, I may redo this on black/navy card, emboss Big Ben in gold and then use the metallic stains to create the fireworks.

I can't believe we are nearly at the end of this challenge, but I'm hoping for a nice easy one next week. I have to pack my crafting stuff away for Christmas  - I use half my dining table and I think we might be needing it!!

Thanks for looking and I really appreciate your comments!

Toy Soldiers

Here's a One Layer Card for the Less is More Challenge week 97 where the title is IN A ROW.

It took me a while to decide what to do but in the end decided on a row of Toy Soldiers.  I used Tim Holtz's Mini Blueprints stamped with Jet Black Archival, cut out a mask from scrap paper and then tried to create my row......several times!!  These were the best three, so I've coloured them with Tombow markers and added some Gold Stickles.  I've added a sentiment and created a hill using another mask and the edge of a Beech Tree stamp, both in Archival Emerald Green.

I've decided the soldiers look like 3 of the 10,000 belonging to the Grand Old Duke of York, marching over the hill!!   Hope you like and thanks for your kind comments!!

October

Here's my October tag for The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge week 10 where the theme is to use TREES.

Well I was thinking of doing halloween for October but instead decided to go with an autumnal theme.  I clear embossed the Beech Tree from Oak House Studio and then swiped the tag through Distress Inks - a mix of Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed and a bit of Pine Needles spritzed with water.  I blended Vintage Photo and Pine Needles around the edges, added some brown ribbon and the calendar.

Only two more to go and I can't quite believe I've actually managed to keep up!!  Hope you like - thanks for popping by and for any comments too!!

Craft Indivduals Blog Candy

Check out the Crafty Individuals Blog - they're giving away £150 worth of stamps and goodies in their Mega Blog Candy including the new Alice Palace stamps.

I love the Puffin stamp and I have a feeling the Robin one will feature on some of next year's christmas cards.  If you want to be in with a chance to win, follow the link above.

Thanks for looking!!

Christmas Gift Tags

Here are some tags made for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge week 234 where the theme is TAGS.  The design was inspired by Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2012 December Challenge.

I decided to make some gift tags to go on Christmas pressies and have used Tim Holtz's Mini Blueprints stamps.  The tags were cut using a Sizzix die and the backgrounds (and seam binding) inked with Stains -  Broken China with Brushed Pewter,  Peeled Paint with Tarnished Brass and Fired Brick with Tarnished Brass.

I've stamped tthe images twice - on the tag and on white card which I've coloured with markers.  I've added various Stickles, stamped a Ribbon (from Oak House Studio) and used words from the Christmas Word Block (from Darkroom Door) which were embossed in Midnight Sparkle.  I've also stuck a clean tag on the reverse so there is space to write.

Each week Hels's challenges are based on song titles and she tries to get you singing along, so I have Frosty the Snowman and Oh Tannenbaum stuck in my head.  Any suggestions for the Toy Soldier?? 

Anyway hope you like my take on Tim's tags and thanks for looking.  Your comments are always appreciated.

Red & Green

Here's a card for the Less is More Challenge week 96 where the theme is to use RED & GREEN.  Such a wide brief and I had loads of ideas but thought it best to go with the first one otherwise I'll still be thinking come Friday!!

I've gold embossed the Christmas Tree (from Oak House Studio) onto some green patterned paper from my stash, cut out and attached to the card.  I've added some red paper to create a frame and finished with the gold embossed sentiment.

A quick card but I love how the camera flash has highlighted the layers on the tree.  Thanks for looking and hope you're all keeping warm.   We're watching The Muppet Christmas Carol - how sad is that !!! 

Vintage Santa

Here's another Christmas card made for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge week 233 where the theme is VINTAGE.

I've used the same Santa stamp as last week (from Tim Holtz's Santa's Wish set) - for some reason I've always done him in a clean and simple way which makes card production a lot quicker.  But this week I challenged myself - stamped him in Jet Black Archival on cream linen card and started painting.  

He's coloured with Distress Inks - Aged Mahogany and Pine Needles - the berries are red Sharpie and his hat and beard are done with a white Inktense pencil.  I've just gone over his hat with a Stardust pen to make it sparkle a little.  To create a frame I've randomly stamped the spruce with Iced Spruce Distress, torn the edges and blended with Aged Mahogany.

The background is stamped with the holly stamp in Bisque Colorbox Chalk and I've just finished the card with some burgundy ribbon and Merry Christmas.

Now for a quandary - it seems to me vintage is just using a duller/darker shade of the colours, but is that what they actually used or is that how we see it now as the colours have faded over the years.  Feel free to give me your thoughts!!   Oh and thanks for looking!!

August

Here's my August tag for The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge  week 9 where the theme is to use TEAL, RUST and WHITE.

Now this one is much easier especially as I had the seaside in mind for August.  The background has a few elements - I used Rusty Hinge Distress Ink for the sand and  Faded Jeans for the sky plus a few dabs of Picket Fence Distress Stain to create clouds.  The sea is a mix of Salty Ocean and Pine Needles Distress inks making a teal colour and I've then torn this to create the white wave edges.

The stamps are from Crafty Indivduals CI- 278.  I've stamped the beach huts on gloss card and coloured them with Tombow pens and added some seagulls to the sky.  Its just finished with the calendar and some teal ribbon.

Well it's another dull day here which makes photoing anything so difficult.  Anyway hope you like and thanks for looking!!

Glamour & Glitz

Here's my entry for the Less is More Challenge week 95 where the recipe is GLAMOUR and GLITZ.

I had a trip to The Craft Barn at the weekend and treated myself to some bits and pieces including this Leaf Swirl Stencil from Imagination Crafts and some Diamond Sparkle Medium.  Well I had to have a play and it certainly looks glitzy!!  

I've just matted the panel on some teal card, added some teal eyelash fibres and part of an earing (see this post) that I bought especially to take to pieces!!  I thought I'd leave the sentiment off until such time as I have opportunity to use the card.

Hope you like and thanks for looking.

July

Here's my next tag for the Craft Barn Calendar Challenge week 8.  The theme this week is CHILDREN/CUTE. 

I thought last week was a challenge but I don't do cute and I have no children stamps ............. but as the whole calendar is going to be a gift for my daughter I'm hoping I can get away with it. 

She's studying History so I've used the medievally looking Lynne Perella stamp from Paperartsy LPC008 inked with Olympia Green Versafine and coloured it using a waterbrush with Rusty Hinge and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks.  I've masked the image, blended around with Mowed Lawn and Bundled Sage Distress Inks and then splattered it with water.  It's just finished with some ribbon and the calendar.

In medieval times, things were maybe a little darker, but this is my July tag so I went for bright greens and orange!! I have to say it is brighter in real life - it's so dull today to get a decent photo!!  Anyway it's getting harder to fit the theme with the months left but I shall persevere!!

Hope you like and thanks for looking.

Faces

Here's a quick Christmas card made for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge week 232 where the theme is FACES.

I love the face stamp Hels has used but it's not something I think I would use much and I don't have any people stamps either .....so what to do??  Then I realised I had Santa.....who obviously has a face!!  I know he's covered in whiskers but I'm sure he fits the theme!!

I've stamped Santa (from Tim Holtz's Santa's Wish set) in Plum Archival, edged the card with Silver Dabber and then added some Silver Stickles to create a frame.  I've used a silver base card, added a strip of plum card and finished with some ribbons.

Another christmas card to add to the pile - yeh!!  Hope you like and thanks for looking.

Silver and Blue

Here is my entry this week for the Less is More Challenge week 94 where the theme is to use HARDWARE of some sort.

I had several different ideas in my head, but really this looks like none of them!!   The flower is cut with Tim Holtz's Tattered Floral die - 2 layers fastened with a crystal brad.  The background is stamped with a Kaisercraft Checker Plate stamp (keeping the metal theme!) and sentiment in Archival Jet Black.  I was thinking of alcohol inking the flower but really I think it's quite striking as it is ...... and this is a less is more challenge!!

Anyway, thanks for looking and for any comments you leave.  They are always very much appreciated.

Snowy Scene

Here's a very quick twinchie for the Show us Your Twinchies Challenge week 10 where the theme is to use just TWO COLOURS.

I was inspired by Linda W and her pretty little scene.   Tidying my table I came across my PSX Snowy Village stamp - inked a small section with Olive Versacolor and embossed it with Holographic Super Sparkle powder.  I've just added a red wreath on the front door, a red star on top of the tree and edged the twinchie with Olive to finish. 

Thanks for looking!!

June

Here's my June tag for The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge week 7 where the theme is CANDLES.

This one was certainly a challenge!!  I have no candle stamps, diecuts or chipboard shapes so I had the idea to melt a candle with my heat gun to make an embellishment - that didn't work!!  So I've wrapped a candle in card. tied with a bow and fastened onto the tag - it's my daughter's birthday in June and she'll still be at Uni so she can buy herself a muffin and she'll have a candle put in it and light!!

The background is a mix of Picket Fence Distress Stain with Broken China and Salty Ocean Distress Inks spritzed with water and mopped up.  I've overstamped this with Happy Birthday in Manganese Blue Archival, added some Faded Jeans Distress Stickles and finished it with ribbon and the calendar.

I had problems with the photo - it's not straight and I'm not sure it's in focus.  Maybe too much blue!!   Anyway I hope you like and thanks for looking!!

Christmas Birds

Another Christmas card done - yeh!!  This one fits with Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge week 231 where the theme is to use BIRDS. and with the Crafty Individuals Challenge for November which has the theme of FESTIVE SPARKLES.

Well there are lots of robin stamps out there but I have none and in my search I came across this Crafty Individuals stamp CS180.   The black sparkle embossing powder was on my table from my previous post so I used that - the first thought was to colour the bird a little to make it robin-like but I decided to use the image as it is and carry on the black, red and white colourway.   A piece of red card, some black ribbon and the sentiment stamped in Vermillion Archival. Quite simple but sparkly!! 

Thanks for looking and thank you all for your kind comments - they are always much appreciated.

The Village

Here's a One Layer card for the Less is More Challenge week 93 where the theme is Houses.

Another tricky challenge for me as I don't seem to have many house stamps - it was a choice between a row of beach huts or this snowy scene from PSX which includes several houses!!  I have to admit this is my favourite christmas stamp as it is so detailed and it looks good in various different colourways.  This time, it's just embossed with Black Sparkle powder with the sentiment stamped in Vermillion Archival. 

Maybe it would look better as a 6" square card but as we need to leave plenty of white space, I've left it as A5.  Hope you like and thanks for looking!

May

Here's my next tag for The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge week 6 where the theme is to use FELT.

There is always lots of blossom out in May so I went with a pink theme and some May Blossom.  The background is a mix of Picket Fence Distress Stain with Picked Raspberry and Aged Mahogany Distress Inks spritzed with water and splattered and dried etc.  I've stamped the Mountain Ash in Picked Raspberry at the bottom and clear embossed the Sycamore at the top - both stamps from Oak House Studio. 

I cut the felt blossom flower with my Tattered Floral die and added a brad covered with seed beads etc. It's just finished with ric rac and the May calendar.  I'm not sure why it's so pink - it's not my favourite colour and my daughter hates it too!!  Nice and bright and cheerful though!!

Halfway through now and last week I had a chance to finish off my previous tags. Here are the previous 5 - I've added a little more stamping in places and double matted the calendars to make them stand out more.

I've covered the backs with plain card, inked the edges and then added Journalling Spots so my daughter has somewhere to write.  The stamps are from Autumn Leaves - there are 6 different stamps in the set so I stamped them all twice on white card and then randomly stuck them on the backs.

What colour next week......decisions, decisions!!    Thanks for looking and leaving comments - they are always very much appreciated!

Blue Christmas

I'm carrying on my campaign to make a few Christmas cards and this one fits Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge week 230 where the theme is BLUE.

I still had my Holographic Super Sparkle embossing powder on my table so thought it would be rude not to use it again!!   The main image is a PSX stamp - not sure what it's called, Snowy Village maybe - inked with Indigo Versacolor and then embossed.  The background is Oak House Studio's snowflakes stamp, again inked with Indigo and embossed. 

Nice and sparkly for Christmas!!  Hope you like and thanks for looking!

Pink Christmas

Here's a card for the LESS IS MORE colour challenge week 92 where the theme is to use PINK.

Well I promised myself I'd attempt to do christmas cards for challenges but Pink and Christmas don't go together in my head and my selection of pink card is very limited........ and having used this piece, it's now non-existent!!!

Anyway I've used Oak House Studio stamps - the fir has been stamped very randomly with Laurel Leaf Versacolor and then embossed with Holographic Super Sparkle.  The diamond and the sentiment were stamped with Raspberry Versacolor and again embossed with the same powder.  I've coloured sections of the diamond with a pink Stardust Sakura pen, added gems and just drew a line up to the fir bough.  If it wasn't Less is More then I think another couple of diamonds would look great.

It's a bit of a dreary day here so it's nice to use a bit of sparkle!!  Thanks for looking!

April

Here's my April tag for The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge where the theme is to use Paper Tape.

I wasn't sure which month to do but then I got an email from my nephew to say he's getting married next April in Amsterdam so I went with an orange theme  - colour of the Netherlands and tulips!  Anyway the bright background is a mix of Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door and Mustard Seed Distress Inks spritzed with water and mopped up with the tag, edged with Barn Door and stamped with a Hero Arts sentiment. 

Now to add Paper Tape!! It's not something I possess and I didn't have any standard masking tape...... but then I suddenly realised I had some Eclipse Masking Tape which is nice and white.  I've stamped it with Oak House Studio's Mack Rose in Vermillion Archival and stuck the strip down the side of the tag.   It's just finished with some ribbons and the calendar of course.

Really enjoying this challenge - the 5 I've done so far are all so different but hopefully will make a nice gift come Christmas.  Next job is to tidy all the backs up and maybe create a space for writing notes.

Thanks for looking once again!!

Snowflake Trio

The challenge on the Less is More site this week (91) is to follow the sketch below:

I decided I really need to make a start on my christmas cards so chose a wintery, christmassy feel. 

The snowflake is from Tim Holtz's Mini Blueprints set - I've stamped and silver embossed it three times and egded the squares with French Blue Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink.  The background strip is just pale blue card, lightly spritzed with Colour Chemistry Spode Blue Spray Ink and then randomly stamped Tim Holtz's snowflakes again in French Blue Chalk Ink.  I've matted this on some silver card and fastened to the linen card base.

I may well add a sentiment at a later date but i love it's simplicity for the moment.  Anyway thanks for looking and for any comments you leave!!

September

Here's my next tag for The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge week 4 with a theme of DOODLING.

I don't really doodle these days as the laptop gets used too much and I couldn't decide what to do that had any meaning for April.  I have a few ideas for other months so I've just plumped for a Doodling September!!   

I've clear emboss the dots and checks from Tim Holtz's Bitty Grunge set and the Rosette stamp from Oak House Studio and then inked over this with Salty Ocean, Broken China and Evergreen Bough Distress Ink spritzed with Faded Jeans Re-inker.  I've doodled around the edges and added a tag so my daughter can add her doodles too!!  It's just finished with the calendar and some distress inked seam binding.

Loving this colour combination with the white stamping and black doodles - thanks for looking!!

Honey

Here's a tag for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge week 228 where the theme is Honey Colours/Honeycomb.

I decided that I'd try and make some christmas cards in the challenges but really Honey and Christmas don't really equate in my head.......so what to do??  I'm still eyeing up Tim's Mixed Media set of stamps with the honeycomb stamp, I have no bee stamps and so I've just used Wild Honey Distress Ink.

The background is Wild Honey and a smidge of Aged Mahogany swooshed onto a craft mat and mopped up.  When it was dry I took my annoyance at the weather out on the piece and splattered it with Wild Honey Distress Stain - made me feel better and my tag looked better too!!

I've stamped the Poppy Heads from Elusive Images/Chocolate Baroque with Versafine Olympia Green, edged the piece with Aged Mahogany and added a ribbon and Oak House Studio quote.  Not my usual colour scheme but I quite like it.  

Thanks for looking!!

Autumn

Here's a card for the Less is More Challenge week 90 where the theme is AUTUMN.
 

I couldn't decide what leaves to use etc but in the end used the heart as I love Autumn and it's many colours.   The background is swooshed with Distress Inks - Pine Needles, Barn Door, Vintage Photo, Spiced Marmalade and Mowed Lawn  - to create a nice mixed autumnal colour.  I've clear embossed the Heart Palette Stamp from Oak House Studio over the top and then blended Pine Needles over the top to make it stand out.   It's just finished with some gold dabber around the edges, matted onto gold paper and a rub-on added.   Apologies for the photo - it looks a bit hazy!

I do love this time of year when it is cold and sunny and the trees are looking beautiful.  This weekend has been grey and rainy and today the forecast is mist, cloud, mist and then fog......joy!!

Anyway I thought I'd stay in and get inky instead - thanks for looking!! 

Spooky Twinchies

I've been having a play today and made three Twinchies for the Show us Your Twinchies Challenge number 8 where the theme is to make something SPOOKY!
 

I don't really do Halloween but I thought I'd buy Tim Holtz's Mini Blueprint set of stamps so that I do have some spooky stamps (and I used the autumn ones last time!).  For the first one I've swiped some gloss card with Faded Jeans and Stormy Sky Distress Inks leaving a pale circle for the moon, but then inked it a little so it looks a bit cloudy.  I've just added a bat inked with Silver Brilliance.

The second one is the spiders web again stamped in Silver Brilliance.  I've sanded the edges of the black gloss card and inked it with Vermillion Archival.  Sorry for the fuzzy photo of this one!!

The last one is the skull stamped in Jet Black Archival and cut out.  I've used the tails from a Butterfly from Tim Holtz's Fairytale Frenzy set inked in Vermillion Archival to represent dripping blood.  Think I like this one the best!!
It's a great way to use up your scraps but beware they are addictive.

March

Here's my March tag for The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge week 3 - the theme is to use WHITE, GREEN & YELLOW.

Well they're the right colours for Spring but I have no daffodil or tulip stamps - besides my daughter is not really a flowery girly-girl.  So I've resorted to going with Mad March Hares - a free stamp with Craft Stamper magazine.

The background is Sunflower Yellow Stazon and Mowed Lawn Distress Ink swiped across the tag to give a good coverage.  I've then overstamped this with the sun ray stamp from Tim Holtz in Sunflower Yellow Brilliance, the Hares in Onyx Versafine and the edges of an Oak House Studio winter Beech Tree in Pine Needles Distress Ink to create a bit of grassy texture.  It's just finished with a white calendar matted onto green card and some green fibres.

Hopefully I'll get to finish all 12 and it should be a nice bright calendar.  Anyway thanks for looking!!

Spread your Wings

Here's a One Layer card for the Less is More challenge week 89 where the theme is WINGS.

Wings covers so many things - aeroplanes, birds, butterflies etc - so I went searching my stamps to find inspiration.   I love this butterfly stamp from Tim Holtz's Fairytale Frenzy set so inked it with Vermillion Archival - a Red Admiral maybe!!   I added the sentiment underneath then stamped the Ivy Corner from Oak House Studio in Thyme Brilliance.  I'm not sure it's quite right but i'm going to blog it before I turn it into More than Less!!

Thanks once again for looking and for your comments - they are much appreciated!

Plato's Jalopy

Here's a tag made for Hels and her Sunday Stamper Challenge week 227 which has the theme of METAL.

Well I had no idea what to make until I found some metal charms in town this morning.....when I saw the chequered flags, I knew it would be motor racing themed.

The background is Distress Inks - mopped up Mowed Lawn spritzed with Bundled Sage  and then Pine Needles blended through a Tando Creative Distorted Harlequin Mask to represent tyre tracks. Unfortunately I don't have any racing car stamps so used Tim Holtz's Jalopies inked with Archival.  Do you think Jason Plato would be happy in his blue car number 99??   It's just finished with some chequered ribbon, the chequered flag metal charm and Hels's favourite saying - Go Plato Go! 

Guess we'll be glued to the TV on Sunday then - motor racing is an accepted sport in our house!!  Thanks for looking.

Snowflakes

Here's a card for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge week 226 where the theme is SNOWFLAKES.

Well I did distressy style snowflakes last week for a calendar challenge so this week I thought I'd do something a little different.....and start my Christmas cards at the same time.

I've used an ATC sized stamp from Tim Holtz's Holiday Collection (note the snowflakes in the background) and inked it with Mediterranean Blue Brilliance.  I've silver embossed the edges, matted it onto navy and silver mirri card and added some tartan ribbon and fibres.  One down, fifty to go!!

Thanks for looking and for any comments you leave - they are always much appreciated.

February

Here's my February tag for The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge week 2.   I was going to do snowdrops but the theme was for BRIGHT so that's what I've done.

For the base I've used Colour Chemistry Spray Inks (Regal Claret and Precious Purple) mopped up with the tag and then inked through a Tando Creative Distorted Harlequin Mask with Dusty Concord Distress Ink.  The edges are blended with Picked Raspberry to continue the pinky/purpley theme.   It's just finished with some turquoisey blue ribbon and the calendar.

Hopefully it'll brighten up a dull February day!!

Silver & Squirrels

Well on this gloomy afternoon I thought I'd make something silvery to cheer myself up so here is a card for the Less is More Challenge week 88 where the theme is the colour SILVER.

I've silver embossed the Calligraphy Stamp from The Artistic Stamper and matted this onto lilac card.  The Thanks is a metal word from Making Memories, again added to lilac card, and it's finished with a flower and filigree brad.  Very simple, but pretty I hope you agree.

Couldn't help including this photo too.  I haven't seen a squirrel in my garden for years and yet over the last couple of weeks this one has been feeding on the peanuts.  The funniest thing is watching a pigeon try and copy the manouevre by standing on the top and trying to bend himself in two - needless to say he fell off before I could get my camera!!

Thanks for looking!

Autumn Twinchies

Just had a quick play and made a couple of twinchies (2" by 2") for the Show us your Twinchies challenge no 7.   The theme is anything goes but as it's getting autumnal I thought I'd go with that.

The background is an oddment of green card swooshed through some leftover ink on the mat - Vintage Photo, Spiced Marmalade, Mowed Lawn and Barn Door Distress Inks spritzed with water.    I cut them to size and then gold embossed the images from Tim Holtz's Mini Blueprint set.  Luckily all the stamps on this set are less than 2" square so I'm sure they're all going to come in really useful!!

I've finished by blending some ink round the edges and adding a little more colour to the images with a waterbrush.

Hope you like and thanks for looking.

January

My crafting has been so sparse of late I thought I'd better make an effort to enter a few challenges.  Just started is The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge (a month a week!) so here is JANUARY - the challenge was to use VELLUM.

I thought I'd make a tag for each month, fasten with a jump ring and give it my daughter for Christmas - it'll be small and light enough to hang on her pin board at Uni.

So for January I've gone for Snowflakes!!   The background is a swooshy mix of Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky, Broken China and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks and I've overstamped this with fir trees from Tim Holtz's Reindeer Flight stamp set.  I've also used the snowflakes from the same set, stamped with Snowcap Dabber on the tag and on the vellum.  I've used Snowcap Dabber to edge the vellum (and hide the glue) and rubbed some Faded Jeans Distress Stickles in the sky above the trees.  I've just finished it with some silver ribbons and a calendar. 

I'm still looking for a nicer calendar so that bit may change but overall I'm happy!!  So with a happy heart I'm going to enter this for Hels Sunday Stamper week 225 challenge too!!

Thanks for taking the time to look.

Wedding Flourish

What a great choice this week on the Less is More challenge week 87 - it's Love and Marriage.   I've just made a few samples for a friend's wedding so thought I'd post them for the challenge. 

Quite a quick card using Oak House Studio's Walesby Flourish inked with Raspberry Versacolour and embossed with Pearl Silver powder which creates a lovely subtle pearly pink colour.  It's just finished with the words matted onto silver mirri and some dusky pink DCWV embossed card.

The place setting card above uses the smaller version of the flourish and again uses the same card for matting and the evening invitation below is a little different but uses the same combination of stamps and card.

Makes a change to get a challenge done on the day.  I don't know where the time has been going but at least I have got something made this week.  And I have the base of a Christmas card done.....maybe I'll get that finished before christmas!!

Anyway thanks for looking.

Ovals

Here's a quick card for the Less is More challenge week 85 where the theme is to use OVALS.

Well I've had a busy weekend, Mr Mojo is still missing and I have no oval dies so I've been trying to decide what to do.  Then I came across this 'oval' frame mask from Tattered Angels - I know it's not a true oval but it's the best I can do!!    I've just blended over this with Broken China and Faded Jeans Distress Inks and added the Tim Holtz sentiment.

Hope you like and thanks for looking!!

Sycamore

Apologies for the bad blogging - what with the Olympics and Paralympics, and going away on holiday and and and..... I seem to have lost the crafting bug!!   So today I'm trying to make amends and make something.

Here's a card for the Less is More challenge week 84 which is to make a One Layer card with Foliage. 

I've used an Oak House Studio solid stamp of a Sycamore Leaf inked with Mowed Lawn, Pine Needles and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks and finished with a Hero Arts sentiment.  I'm sure it needs more, but I have no idea what......so I'm just going to post it and let you all decide!!

Thanks for looking!