Craft Barn Dictionary Challenge 2013

Well it's nearly the end of the year with the last 2 letters of the alphabet for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge. So here they are, I and  X, plus a few photos showing all my ATCS and album.

For I, I've clear embossed the Ideogram (kanji symbol for happiness) and then inked the ATC with Dusty Concord and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks representing Indigo and Iodine.  I've chosen to do ILLUMINATION with the light bulb flowers stamp from Chocolate Baroque embossed in gold (think illuminated letter!) and coloured. As always, it's finished with the torn dictionary definition and alcohol inked Thicker.

For X,  I've chosen to do XMAS ...well it is Christmas and to be honest there were few words to do!   The background is a mix of Barn Door and Aged Mahogany Distress inks overstamped with the Christmas Words Block stamp from Darkroom Door in Vermillion Archival.   The holly and hellebore are the Christmas Corner stamp from Oak House Studio embossed in gold, coloured with metallic markers and with red beads for berries.  I've added some tinsel, the torn dictionary definition and the alcohol inked Thicker with a touch of glitter as it's Christmas!!

Here's a photo of all 26 ATCs together.

I've mounted them on 8 x 8 black card and added other torn words from my dictionary along the edge.  These are words that either mean something to me or secondary words that I've illustrated on my ATCs.  I've also included my take on the challenge so that in 10 years time I'll remember why I did what I did!!

I've thoroughly enjoyed this challenge and surprised myself by creating every single one on time.  Thanks must go to The Craft Barn for all their hard work and the design team for their inspiration.  Thanks also to everyone who has visited my blog over the year and left such encouraging comments.  I'm now looking forward to seeing everyone else's end of year posts and finding out what The Craft Barn have in store for us in the new year.

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Creating in 2014!!
 

Christmas Sparkle

Here's a quick card for the Less is More Challenge where the theme is SPARKLE.

Mine is a simple Christmas Tree (stamp by Oak House Studio) embossed in gold and then various Stickles added.  I used Lime Green along all the layers (which doesn't seem to show in the photo) and then Christmas Red and True Blue for the baubles. 

It's a tricky challenge this as I felt I should have added more layers and more sparkle but then it wouldn't have fitted the LIM brief.  Anyway I hope you like and thanks for looking.  I'm off to search out those Christmas CDs, wrapping paper and the sellotape!!

S for Stamp

Here's no. 24 ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is S.   Lots of words beginning with S but I dismissed the stone/slate, sewing  and seaside themes and have chosen STAMP
 ........how obscure I hear you cry!! :)

There are two colours - Saffron and Scarlet - and I decided to do a Scottish Tartan background using Stazon of course - Sunflower, Blazing Red and Cactus Green. I used strips cut off a new set of stamps to stamp the stripes.  

I guess you won't believe me but two weeks ago I decided I'd do a yellow and red scottish tartan background for S - I looked through the S's when I was deciding what colour to do for Q. I  also realised I only had one really bright ATC - F for Flourescent - so needed to do another bright yellow.  I had to smile when The Craft Barn had a tartan week last week!!   Great minds and all that!

I've also amalgamated Stamping (action) Stamp (inky image) Stamp (postal) and Songbird which is a Crafty Individuals stamp CI-180 on Shrink Plastic, coloured with promarkers and cut out using decorative edged Scissors!   I've added the Darkroom Door Special Delivery stamp,  the torn dictionary definition and the alcohol inked Thicker.

Can't believe I've managed to keep going with this challenge and whilst I don't want it to end, I'm looking forward to finishing my album.   Thanks for looking and for your kind comments as always!!

Snowy Village

I spotted the challenge over on The Artful Times blog and thought it would make me create another Christmas card.  The challenge is to use Lilac and Silver with a Wintry Scene.

I immediately decided to use my favourite wintery stamp - the PSX Winter Village - inked with Silver Versacolor and embossed with Holographic Super Sparkle powder.  I've added a little more detail with watercoloured Broken China and Dusty Concord Distress Inks. 

For the mat I've stamped Tim Holtz's Snowflakes in Dusty Concord and again for the background stamped in Silver Versacolour and Holographic Super Sparkle powder.  It's just finished with the Merry Christmas from another Tim Holtz set.

I hope you can see the detail in the snowy village - it was a devil to photo but that may have been the fault of the sparkley powder......but it is for Christmas!   Thanks for the challenge - I'm off to see what everyone else has done!!

Build Your Own Poinsettia

You'll be pleased to know I've made another Christmas card - this one uses the Bumper Winter Leaves Stamp  set and the Christmas Wreath Stamp set.

Full details can be found on the Oak House Studio Blog. Lynnda has lots of other Christmassy (and non-Christmassy)  stamps on the website so go check it out HERE.   There's still plenty of time to make cards and if you've done all your cards, then there is gift wrap and tags to make too!!

I hope you have enjoyed my cards this week.  I'm happy as I've now got 3 cards I can post this year!! I've also got lots of leaves left over from the original A4 sheet sprayed green and A5 sprayed red so I'm off to make more. Many thanks for looking and your lovely comments!

Boughs of Holly

Another Christmas card featuring the Deck the Halls Stamp set from Oak House Studio......and yes, I am still singing!

This card uses two of the word stamps in the set plus the Holly Leaves from the Bumper Winter Leaves set.  I've tried to create a bough of holly, with ribbon and red beads overlying the fir sprig base.

Full details are on the Oak House Studio blog and all the stamps, inks, spray inks and embossing powder can be bought from the Oak House Studio website.   

Many thanks for looking!!

Tis the Season!

Ok it's getting colder so maybe I can start thinking about Christmas now and besides a new set of stamps fell through my letterbox so I just had to play.  It's the Deck the Hall Stamp set from Oak House Studio - they're a great set and I couldn't help but sing whilst making this!!

Full details are on the Oak House Studio blog and all the products can be purchased from the shop.  I've used:
Deck the Hall Stamp set
Bumper Winter Leaves set
Ink in a Bottle - Bobby's Grey and Citrus Lime

Hope you like and thanks for looking!

The Quaver Queen

Here's my 23rd ATC for The Craft Barn Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter this fortnight is Q. Quite a tricky one as there are not that many words - Quaver and Queen stood out along with Quayside but I really couldn't see how I could fit all three together!!

There are no Q colours so I started off with brown to contrast with my P and R ATCs either side. The background is a mix of Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo Distress Inks overstamped with a Music stamp from Oak House Studio inked in Cocoa Bean Brilliance.

The Queen is from Paperartsy's Lynne Perella set LPC008  inked with Majestic Blue Versafine.  I've added some Waterfall Stickles to make her crown shine and edged the ATC with it too to brighten it up a bit. It's just finished with a Quilled Scroll made with brown card, the torn dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.

I'm sure there'll be loads of Queens this time as the choice is so limited.  Thanks for looking and for your wonderful comments last time.  I'm off to see what others have been up to!!

Northern Lights

Here's my 22nd ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter this fortnight is N. After a quick read of my dictionary I found a few words but decided to go for Northern Lights against a Navy Night sky.

The Aurora Borealis background is done with embossing powders - I love the technique of painting a picture with powders. I've used Versamark and Faded Jeans Distress Ink along with Golden Lime Blaze (neon green!!), Gold, China Red, Irish Spring (dk green with glitter) and Clear embossing powders in about four layers, heating as I went and blowing the loose powder about a bit. One word of warning, remember to throw the spare embossing powder away as it'll be a bit of a mixture....or save it for another project!

The background actually came out better than I envisaged in my head which makes a change!! I didn't want to cover too much up so just added a shrink plastic compass (Tim Holtz stamp) to find the north for navigation, the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked Thicker.

I can't believe we are nearly at the end and I've managed to keep up - my album is nearly finished too. Thank you once again for all your lovely comments!!

L for Lighthouse

Well I think I'd better apologise to my readers and my blog for neglecting you.....not sure where the last two weeks has gone. I've been working and watching all Tim's 102 videos but my hands have stayed clean. Terrible isn't it!! Anyway today I've had chance to create my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is L .... but there is a twist, we have to include a WINDOW.

I found quite a few L words that fitted together so think I've managed 8 this week. I've naturally used Lilac Linen cardstock - die cut the arched window using 2 oval dies and inked an ATC sized piece with Ice Blue Chalk Ink to create a Lavender background. I've cut another piece of card for the Ledge (or sill) of the window frame and added the view - a Lamp in the Lighthouse in a Landscape with lots of other windows too. The stamp is a Michael Powell one called On the Lookout which I've watercoloured with Aquash (adding a bit of Lemon and Lime etc). My ATC is just finished with some Lace, the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked Thicker.

Not sure I like this one - the colours are a bit too pastelly for me and my lighthouse must be suffering from subsidence as it's not straight but it's a great contrast with my K and M ATCs.

I can't believe we are on fortnight 21 which means there are only 10 weeks to Christmas.....don't panic!! I'm hoping The Craft Barn have a plan for another year long challenge for 2014 as this one has been great. Anyway thanks for looking and I'm off to see what others have created - I love how everyone chooses such different words!

Jet Jewellery

Here's my 20th ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where this fortnight the letter is J.  I thought I was going to struggle but actually I've been able to include lots of Js - the main one is JEWEL.

The ATC base is just dark brown card but black embossed with the spots from the Inkadinkadoo Animal Skins set to represent a Jaguar (see photo below). The Whitby Jet Jewel is Jet Black UTEE melted and then poured into the frame.  I've die cut a Jade Jigsaw piece and fastened the jewel to it with Jute.  And as ever, it's just finished with the alcohol inked Thicker and the dictionary definition.

Don't you just love this Jaguar?  We were at Edinburgh Zoo in the summer and he was just dozing in the sunshine at the front of his cage.  Whilst Jaguars look plain black, they are in fact spotted like Leopards and I managed to get this great photo.

I'm really enjoying this challenge and seeing how many words I can cram on an ATC.  It's getting more difficult to choose a design and colour scheme so that my ATCs look varied.  This one is very dark and green again but my K is light blue and we haven't done I yet!

I'm off to see what everyone else has done so thanks for visiting and leaving comments - they are always very much appreciated.

One Stamp Giveaway

Last weekend was Oak House Studio's ONE STAMP event and the team created 35 projects for the blog with others on facebook!    To thank everyone for their lovely comments Lynnda is having a draw and giving away stamps so head on over to the OAK HOUSE STUDIO blog to see how to enter.

The draw will be on October 5th so you have a week to look at all the posts and choose your favourites (or comment on them all for more chances to win).   Please spread the word amongst all your crafty friends and GOOD LUCK.

My first Christmas Card

Well I had some Poinsettias gold embossed and cut out so what better way to use them than make my first Christmas Card!

 

The Poinsettia and Happy Christmas stamps, gold embossing powder and Glorious Gold Ink in a Bottle are all from Oak House Studio!

 

This is my last project for Oak House Studio's ONE STAMP event - I think I've done 10 projects and the other DT members have made lots more.  Not everyone likes the same things, but I hope just one of these projects gives you an idea to create something for yourself.  Many thanks for looking and for your comments!

Shabby Chic?

I spotted a strip of corrugated card and decided to go for a shabby chic hanging with browns and blues for my next Poinsettia project for the ONE STAMP event.

 

I've used Glorious Gold Ink in a Bottle and white and gold acrylic paint for the bases and various stamps on this - the Enjoy What You Do stamped in Sea Green Pigment Ink, the Walesby Flourish stamped in Midnight Pigment Ink and the Winter Garden Text stamped with gold acrylic paint. Obviously I've used the large Poinsettia stamp inked with Midnight Pigment Ink on card sprayed with Totally Turquoise Ink in a Bottle.

For full details and to check out all the projects go to the Oak House Studio blog and see other projects on the One Stamp facebook page.  Hope you've been inspired!

Calendar Tags

Here's another idea for using the Poinsettia stamp - as December's tag for a  Calendar.

I've gold embossed the large Poinsettia stamp from Oak House Studio twice - once on green card for the base and again on red card sprayed with Glorious Gold Ink in a Bottle. . For full details and to check out all the projects go to the Oak House Studio blog and see other projects on the One Stamp facebook page. 

Thank you everyone for looking and for your comments.  It's been an enjoyable weekend and I hope you've been inspired!

Wedding Gift

Here's an idea using the Medium Poinsettia stamp from Oak House Studio.

I've used some white pearl card, embossed the Poinsettia three times with silver powder and then cut different layers. I think the white and silver gives a sophisticated look and would be great for a wedding gift or a bridesmaid's present etc. You could match it to the wedding colours too....maybe colour the bottom layer or just add coloured beads to the centre.

For full details and to check out all the projects go to the Oak House Studio blog and see other projects on the One Stamp facebook page.  Hope you've been inspired!

That's a Wrap

Another project for Oak House Studio's ONE STAMP event and this time it is Christmassy. Wrap your presents in plain paper - this is brown paper but with red on one side and just add a Christmassy flower and ribbon.

For full details and to check out all the projects go to the Oak House Studio blog and see other projects on the One Stamp facebook page.  Hope you've been inspired!

Delicious Damson

Here's another idea for using the Poinsettia stamp for Oak House Studio's ONE STAMP event.

I've silver embossed the Medium Poinsettia three times on white stamping card and then painted it with Delicious Damson Ink in a Bottle. 

For full details and to check out all the projects go to the Oak House Studio blog and see other projects on the One Stamp facebook page.  Hope you've been inspired!

Poinsettia Charm

Here's another idea for using the Poinsettia stamp - use Starlight Silver Brilliance on black shrink plastic to create a little charm.  I also stamped the Mountain Ash and Sycamore stamps to add to the design.

 

 

For full details and to check out all the projects go to the Oak House Studio blog and see other projects on the One Stamp facebook page.  Hope you've been inspired!

 

 

White Wedding

Avoiding red and green and keeping it white,  I've made a Wedding Invitation with the Medium Poinsettia for Oak House Studio's ONE STAMP event.

I've randomly stamped the Poinsettia on white pearlised card and embossed it with Silver. For full details and to check out all the projects go to the Oak House Studio blog and see other projects on the One Stamp facebook page.  Hope you've been inspired!

Poinsettia Table Decor

My next project using Oak House Studio's Poinsettia stamp and I decided to make a place mat for the table.

The Poinsettia was silver embossed on some pale blue card that had been sprayed with Jubilee Blue, Peacock Green and Pearly Silver Ink in a Bottle.

 

Don't you think these would look great on the table for that special meal with matching coasters maybe and serviette rings or place names etc.

 

 

Not just for Christmas!

Here's my first post for the ONE STAMP event - Lynnda at Oak House Studio has challenged us, herself and anyone else who wants to join in to make as many projects as you can with the one Oak House Studio stamp - the POINSETTIA. I lie because there are actually 3 different sizes!

Anyway first up are a set of gift tags - some Christmassy but some not. Whilst poinsettias are considered Christmas flowers, they don't have to be and they look great coloured in all colours not just green and red!!

 

Full details can be found on the Oak House Studio Blog  but I've used lots of spray inks - Peacock Green, Jubilee Blue, Pearly Silve,  Glorious Gold, Citrus Yellow and Citrus Orange Ink in a Bottle along with sentiment stamps, embossing powders (clear, gold, silver and midnight sparkle) and Forest Green Pigment Ink pad all from Oak House Studio.

 

 

This is a 24hr event using just the POINSETTIA stamp - they say you should only buy a stamp if you can think of at least 5 ways to use it.  The DT are posting all day today and tomorrow so keep popping back for more inspiration and check out the ONE STAMP facebook page too as others will be posting there!



24hours of Stamping

Lynnda at Oak House Studio is once again spending 24hrs using just the POINSETTIA stamp (well 3 sizes of it) to show just how versatile this stamp can be. I'm joining in here and have done a little preparation although I have no idea what this will turn out to be.

The DT have been busy and there will be inspiration galore over on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO blog starting at 8am in the morning with regular posts till 8pm Sunday night. Others who have this stamp will also be joining in on the ONE STAMP event page on facebook.

I appreciate everyone is busy but please pop back from time to time to see all the projects and hopefully you'll realise that a Poinsettia doesn't have to be just for Christmas. Thanks in advance for looking and for any comments you leave!

Ginger, Green and Gold

Here's  my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is G.

Quite a few choices but I've decided to do a Green and Gold Garment on a Ginger background!!  The ATC base is a mix of Rusty Hinge and Old Paper Distress Inks and the Dress Form stamp (from Oak House Studio) is gold embossed (gilt) on card inked with Pine Needles Distress Ink and sprayed with Peacock Green Ink in a Bottle.  I've added some ribbon with green gems for a belt, the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl thicker. 

Don't you think it's a glamorous and gorgeous gown!   Sorry must stop using any more G words!!  Thanks for looking and for all your lovely comments on my previous ATCs.  Only a few more weeks left.....starting to wonder what The Craft Barn have up their sleeves for next year's challenges!

Off to see what words other people have chosen!

Rusty Owl

Here's a quick card for the Less is More challenge week 136 where the colours to use are Dark Green and Rust.

The Owl stamp is a favourite of mine from Chocolate Baroque and the colour scheme made me choose to use it yet again! I've inked him with Brilliance Pearlescent Rust and matted him on some dark green card. He's just added to the linen card base with some dark green ribbon and a sentiment also inked with Pearlescent Rust. Simples!!

Many thanks for looking!

Autumn Leaves

Following on from my last autumnal post I spotted a Design Team call from Papermilldirect on facebook so thought I'd have a go. The theme is Autumn Colours - reds, yellows and oranges.

Most of my card is from Papermilldirect anyway - the Red and Cream Hammered are and I've used their Primrose Yellow for the base of my leaves. I've sprayed an A4 sheet with Citrus Orange, Citrus Yellow and Glorious Gold Ink in a Bottle and then added a mist of Fired Brick Distress Re-inker. I clear embossed the Sycamore stamp from Oak House Studio four times and blended over with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink - this shows off the leaf veins a little better and allows you to cut them out a whole lot easier!! Also using yellow card helps to blend the cut edges in rather than stark white. I added orange ribbon, a sentiment and attached the leaves with a foam pad to show off their natural curl.

Hope you like and thanks for looking. The Design Team Call ends in 10 days so you have plenty of time to have a go. All the details are HERE or on facebook HERE and you can buy your card HERE - they provide great service and great card!!

Autumnal Cards

Just been out and bought Craft Stamper magazine and found both my cards on the Ready, Set, Stamp pages. I made them in April, forgot to take photos before I posted them and forgot all about them too. So here they are:

They are both made with papers from a Bo Bunny 6x6 paper pad and various stamps - the blueprint stamps above are Tim Holtz and the Sycamore leaves below are from Oak House Studio.

Apologies for the blurriness but I took photos of the glossy magazine pages!! Full details are in the magazine so go take a look - an even better deal this month as it comes with a free Scrap 365 magazine too.

Abbey to Zoo

Here's my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is Z. Surprisingly there were a few words to choose and I've actually made two different ones. Firstly I've gone for Zodiac....think Gemini and Age of Aquarius!!

For the background I've used a Zigzag stencil from Studio Calico with Oak House Studio Ink in a Bottle sprays. I sprayed Regal Claret through the stencil onto the ATC, left it to dry, moved the stencil to cover the claret and then sprayed with Citrus Orange. Very psychedelic, 60s and Aquarius don't you think!! For Gemini, I've used the lady (twice) from a free stamp that came with Craft Stamper magazine. As always, my ATC is just finished with the torn dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.

I've also made a little progress on the cover of my Dictionary Challenge Album with a second ATC for A and Z.

For A I've chosen to do Abbey against an Azure sky. Whitby Abbey is from Crafty Individuals (CI-227) and I've stamped this with Onyx Black Versafine and clear embossed it. The background is mostly Salty Ocean Distress Ink with a little Mowed Lawn blended at the bottom. This is overstamped with the seed head stamp from Crafty Individuals (CI-207)inked with Pearlescent Ivy Brilliance.

For Z I've chosen the word Zoo. The background is a mix of Rusty Hinge and Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink and I've used various spots and stripes stamps from the Inkadinkadoo Animal Skins set inked with Onyx Black Versafine. Both are finished with the torn dictionary definition and a plain white vinyl Thicker.

There is a reason for my choices - I've been digging into my family history and I've got as far back as the 1680s in the Whitby area, and to bring it up to date, my daughter has just passed her A levels and is starting a Zoology degree.

I'm off to see what other words people have found. I guess there'll be other Zoos and Zigzags and Zodiacs but it's interesting to see how everyone interprets them differently. Thanks for looking and for leaving comments - they are always appreciated!!

Autumn already?

Here's a quick card for the Less is More Challenge week 135 where the theme is to use a Rubber Stamp and Watercolours.

The stamp I've used is the Flower Flourish from Hero Arts and the inks are Mowed Lawn, Spiced Marmalade and Vintage Photo Distress Inks on a messy mat and spritzed with a little water. I started off inking the stamp with Thyme Brilliance and then swiped into the Mowed Lawn. Next I swiped the stamp through the Spiced Marmalade and finally added a bit of Vintage Photo. I stamped quite a few adding other colours but ended up using a strip of the first three fixed to a red square card and gold embossed the Warm Wishes from Darkroom Door to finish.  I know it's only the 2nd of September but love the autumnal feel of this.

I think I  have to apologise for being missing in action.  I can't remember when I last entered this challenge - I keep looking and have ideas every  week, but just run out of time.  I have no idea where the summer has gone but I promise I'll try better in the future!!   Thanks for looking!

Orange Owl

Here's my 17th ATC for The Craft Barn Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is O. Another week where there are a lot of Os but not many stood out for me.

I created an Oblong ATC from linen card, blended with Ochre Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink and stamped the Ivy Corner from Oak House Studio with Thyme Brilliance. I cut an Oval from Orange card and stamped the Owl on this from Chocolate Baroque's Birds of a Feather set - it's inked with Onyx Black Versafine and clear embossed to enhance the image. It's funny because I was actually doing Ornithology, but the only bird that would fit the oval sensibly was the owl....oh yes, that begins with O too!! So I went back to my dictionary and tore out the Owl definition and added the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.

Unfortunately little other crafting has got done this week - no idea where the time goes - but I have made another ATC for A and Z for my cover which I'll show you another time. Meanwhile, thanks for looking and I'm off to see what everyone else has been doing!!

Damson Dragon

Here's my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is D. Interesting as there are 46 pages of Ds in my dictionary but very few nouns - Damson is the only colour so I've gone with that, then decided to choose DRAGON protecting a Diamond (DD's idea).

The background is a mix of Dusty Concord and Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink spritzed with water for the damson colour. I've stamped the small Harlequin stamp with Dusty Concord in 2 corners and doodled in the other 2 corners with a purple Sharpie. I've used the ATC Dragon from Oak House Studio inked with Onyx Black Versafine and clear embossed to make him stand out more. I've added a Diamond brad, the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.

As I said before, I only noted a few words - one was Decorative Arts and the other was Digerati which is someone who uses computers a lot....I think both words describe most of us who blog. Anyway hope you like my ATC and thanks for looking!!

Holidays and Magazines!!

Apologies for the lack of blogging but I've just got back from 2 weeks away and with no internet connection whatsoever!! It's not been very relaxing but great fun - we travelled up to Edinburgh to see the Zoo, shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and sat on Edinburgh Castle one beautiful night to see the Tattoo. Now I just need to unpack and do 2 week's worth of washing and ironing.....!!

Whilst I was away I bought the September issue of Craft Stamper magazine and was thrilled to see my Deco Diamond Bezel in there - made with Oak House Studio's Decorative Diamond stamp and Ice Resin. For full details you'll have to buy the magazine!!

Craft Stamper also published one of my pink, yellow and orange cards - this one used Darkroom Door stamps.

I also made one using the Punky Flowers from Chocolate Baroque - for this one I used Lightning Black Brilliance embossed with clear powder to create a bronzey look and coloured with Tombow markers. Apologies for the photos but they were done quickly before I posted the cards off.

Now I'm back home for a while so hopefully I can get some crafting done - I have my Craft Barn ATC to do this week.......the letter is D so I'd best find my dictionary out from under the ironing pile!! Thanks for looking.

Ink in a Bottle

Just a quick reminder that Lynnda is giving away some Inks in a Bottle over on the Oak House Studio blog.

Not only can you spray with them, but you can paint with them, use pipettes to create splatted backgrounds, mix your own colours etc.  As the saying goes, the possibilties are endless!! 

I've lost count of how many colours you can choose from - she keeps adding new ones - but there are a range of colours plus metallics so I think you might need them all.  And they are definitely good value for money!

The GIVE AWAY ends on 31st July so pop over HERE and leave a comment for your chance to win.

Good Luck!

Tessellations and a Tree

Here's my next ATC for The Craft Barn Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is T.  Loads of words to choose from this time but I think that makes it harder!!  I've chosen TREE and three colours - Turquoise, Tangerine and Terracotta.

I sprayed my ATC with a mix of Peacock Green and Jubilee Blue Ink in a Bottle (Oak House Studio) to create a Turquoise background and then stamped the Beech Tree (also Oak House Studio) in Onyx Black Versafine.  I also sprayed two smaller bits of card - one with Citrus Orange Ink in a Bottle for Tangerine and the other with a mix of Citrus Orange, Jubilee Red and Brazil Nut to make a Terracotta colour. I clear embossed them and cut them into tiny squares to create a Tessellated tile border.  It's just finished with the dictionary definition and the vinyl Thicker coloured with silver (plus a bit of orange) alcohol ink to represent all the shiny silvery white metals ie.  Tellurium, Tin, Terbium, Titanium and Thuliam!

Hope you like and thanks once again for looking and leaving such lovely compliments.  I'm struggling with time and inclination at the moment...and the heat isn't helping either.  I know we shouldn't complain about the sunny weather but a little rain would be lovely too!!

Butterflies!!

As some of you may have seen, I'm thrilled to say I had a card published in the August issue of Craft Stamper magazine. The re-mit was simple cards that take about 15-20minutes to create, using butterflies and yellow, sage and pink.

Here's a close-up shot of the card published - if you want to know how I made it, then you'll have to look in the magazine!! I also did a second card which you can see below. It uses Oak House Studio's Charming Butterfly stamps and the Without Change sentiment and the inky panel was created using Citrus Yellow Ink in a Bottle sprayed over clear embossing.

Hope you like and thanks for looking!!

Yellow Yacht

Here's ATC number 14 for The Craft Barn Alpha Dictionary Challenge where the letter is Y and the twist is we have to use YELLOW. The Yellow is fine - I've been trying to choose a colour, technique and subject for each letter. The problem is the subject - there are just so few Y words so I've chosen YACHT but also taken note of ytterbium and yttrium - white/silver/grey elements!

For the background I've used Tim Holtz's Sunray stamp, inked with Sunflower Yellow Brilliance and clear embossed. I've blended over this with Salty Ocean Distress Ink - lighter at the top for the sky and darker at the bottom for the ocean. The 'Yacht' is a Crafty Individuals stamp (CI-295) - not a simple yacht, but it does have sails and it was the only boat image I had!! I've embossed this in silver and then watercoloured over the hull and between the sails. My tag is finished with blue ric rac (think waves), the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked vinyl Thicker.

I probably made this harder for myself by choosing a subject beginning with Y - I could have done yellow flowers etc - but hope you like and thank you for looking. I'm off to see what everyone else has been doing!!

Shades of Grey

Haven't had chance to enter many challenges recently but thought I ought to get Mr Mojo started again!  This card is for the Less is More Challenge week 127 where the theme is SHADES OF GREY.

Well I haven't used 50 shades - just 3!  The flower stamp is from the Punky Flowers set by Chocolate Baroque - I inked it with Starlight Silver Brilliance but it didn't look nice so I inked it again with Memento London Fog.   The sentiment is from Hero Arts - I chose Stazon Smokey Grey but it seemed too dark against the flower so I used London Fog again.  Funny as one looks to have a blue tinge in real life and the other green.

Anyway I hope you like - grey wouldn't be my first choice of colour but it does lend itself to sympathy style cards I think!!  Thanks for looking.