Christmas?

Two apologies today.  Firstly for not posting for nearly two weeks - just been busy and making things that I can't tell you about.....yet!   Secondly, I know it's only May but I've made my first Christmas card for the Less is More challenge week 117 where there is a sketch to follow.
  

As soon as I saw the sketch I thought of my Darkroom Door Christmas Word Block stamp - so the background is stamped with Vermillion Archival and the Jingle all the Way strip in Emerald Green Archival.  I've just added a little jingly bell.

I'm also entering this into the Artful Times Challenge 28 where the theme is Clean and Simple. 

Many thanks for looking!!

White Willow

Here's my next ATC for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge - the letter is W and we have to use CIRCLES.

Well this one made me think as not many of the words I found in my dictionary seemed to go together and I'm still not sure the circles fit!!  Anyway I've chosen WILLOW.  For the background I've clear embossed the Circles stamp from Tim Holtz and then watercoloured my ATC with Walnut Stain Distress (keep the woody theme).  I only have the re-inker so added extra to make some of the circles really dark.  I've stamped the pussywillow from Chocolate Baroque's Spring Foliage set in  Cocoa Bean Brilliance and finished with the dictionary definition and White vinyl Thicker.

Now the sticks are in fact White Willow.  We visited the Willow Farm in the Somerset Levels last year and I picked up some samples of the willow (for scrapbooking purposes!). Apparently you get natural, green and white Willow using various processes and that gives the patterning on willow baskets etc.  I've just woven a little thread to tie it together.

So another educational week and I'm now off to see what everyone else has created.  If you are reading this, then thanks for looking!!

The Mask

Here's my card for the Less is More Challenge week 115 - a ONE LAYER card inspired by a FILM.

This is a great theme but what to do.  I did think of Diamonds are Forever but I think I've overdone diamonds recently (see last 11 posts!!).  My children suggested Startrek: Deep Space Nine and then Mary Poppins - I was struggling to see how I could change my Brolly Man stamp into Mary Poppins.  So then I thought The Colour Purple - my first attempt was Dusty Concord but that went in the bin, so I've chosen The Mask and used green!!

I masked off the top half of the card and then blended Mowed Lawn Distress Ink through a flowery That Special Touch mask.  I've just added a Hero Arts sentiment and dragonfly from the same set.

No idea why I chose The Mask, other than masking is a good technique for one layer cards.  I hate the film and the actor...whose name escapes me ...and I hate him in Ace ventura too!!  Never mind, the sun is out and Spring may be on it's way!!   Thanks for looking!!

Enjoy Spring

A Spring card this time to brighten up your day....made using the Decorative Diamond stamp for Oak House Studio's ONE STAMP event.

Another simple card with a two tone background.  I've inked the Decorative Diamonds and the Enjoy stamp with  Colour Chemistry Spring Green Pigment Ink Pad and clear embossed. 

ONE STAMP CHALLENGE
Lynnda has been at the Oak House Studio all weekend crafting  for 24hrs with just this one stamp to show how versatile a stamp can be.  She's been stamping on card, wood, glass, metal, silk etc. Follow the event online, I've been posting here all weekend, the Design Team have projects  on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO BLOG and others have been posting on the ONE STAMP page on Facebook.

This is my last post....unless I make something else!  Hope you've enjoyed looking at my projects and thank you for your support over the weekend.  Lynnda still has another 90 minutes to go so I'm sure she'll be posting later!!

Christmas Diamond Bauble

An early Christmas card with the Decorative Diamond from Oak House Studio made for the ONE STAMP event.

For this one I've used Raspberry Versacolor and clear embossed the Decorative Diamond stamp.  I've added a little sparkle with a Sakura pen and some gems.   The bauble is hanging from a fir branch - the Fir Stamp is from the Christmas Collection, stamped with Laurel Versacolour and embossed with Holographic Super Sparkle embossing powder.  The card is just finished with the Christmas Blessings stamp.

ONE STAMP CHALLENGE
Lynnda will be at the Oak House Studio all weekend crafting  for 24hrs with just this one stamp to show how versatile a stamp can be.  She'll be stamping on card, wood, glass, metal, silk etc.  If you are local (East Yorkshire) you are welcome to pop along to the Studio between 10am-4pm today and join in the fun.  Otherwise follow the event online, I'm posting here all weekend, the Design Team have projects  on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO BLOG and others are posting on the ONE STAMP page on Facebook.

Why not take a look at what we've been up to and leave a comment or two!!  Come back later for more inspiration - she still has 3 hours to go!

Diamond Wedding

A more literal take for Oak House Studio's ONE STAMP event  - I've used the Decorative Diamond for a Diamond Wedding Card.

I wanted to have a go at an all white card using plain, linen and hammered card but decided it would be difficult to photograph so I've added a hint of colour.  The Congratulations and the Decorative Diamond are stamped using Polar Versacolor and embossed with Holographic Super Sparkle - to add to the sheen I've painted the diamond with Pearly Silver Ink in a Bottle.  It's added more sparkle through some sequin waste and finished with some white ribbon and glitter card.

I know I chose Diamond White for this card but just change your ink colour for a Golden or Ruby Wedding card etc.

ONE STAMP CHALLENGE
Lynnda will be at the Oak House Studio all weekend crafting  for 24hrs with just this one stamp to show how versatile a stamp can be.  She'll be stamping on card, wood, glass, metal, silk etc.  If you are local (East Yorkshire) you are welcome to pop along to the Studio between 10am-4pm today and join in the fun.  Otherwise follow the event online, I'm posting here all weekend, the Design Team have projects  on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO BLOG and others are posting on the ONE STAMP page on Facebook.

Why not take a look at what we've been up to and leave a comment or two!!  Come back later for more inspiration and many thanks!

Little Black Book

Another project with the Decorative Diamond stamp from Oak House Studio - this time a little notebook.

Firstly I randomly sprayed an A3 sheet of white linen card with Colour Chemistry Ink in a Bottle - Citrus Yellow, Citrus Orange and Glorious Gold.  I then cut it up to create 9 pages, some with pockets, and backed it with orange and white card.  I stamped the pages with Colour Chemistry Pigment Ink Pads - Lemon Yellow and Daffodil - and used various Oak House Studio stamps - the Decorative Diamond, Small and Large Harlequins and the Small Squares and Tag Palette Stamps.

I've used Decorative Diamonds (embossed with Midnight Sparkle Embossing Powder) to create tabs on the section dividers and also to decorate the cover.  The little book is held together with ring binders and decorated with ribbon.

ONE STAMP CHALLENGE
Lynnda will be at the Oak House Studio all weekend crafting  for 24hrs with just this one stamp to show how versatile a stamp can be.  She'll be stamping on card, wood, glass, metal, silk etc.  If you are local (East Yorkshire) you are welcome to pop along to the Studio between 10am-4pm today and join in the fun.  Otherwise follow the event online, I'm posting here all weekend, the Design Team have projects  on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO BLOG and others are posting on the ONE STAMP page on Facebook.

Why not take a look at what we've been up to and leave a comment or two!!  Come back later for more inspiration and many thanks!

Plum Bookmark

Another make for the ONE STAMP event using the Decorative Diamond stamp from Oak House Studio.

I've clear embossed the Decorative Diamond stamp on either side, silver embossed on some spare card for the middle one and coloured all three with a Sakura Stardust pen.  On the reverse I've stamped the Walesby Flourish and again coloured to give a little sparkle.

ONE STAMP EVENT
Lynnda will have just finished her first 12 hour shift at the Oak House Studio as part of her crafting for 24hrs with just this one stamp.  She's been stamping on card, wood, glass, metal, silk etc.  If you are local (East Yorkshire) you are welcome to pop along to the Studio between 10am-4pm tomorrow and join in the fun.  Otherwise follow the event online, I will be posting here all weekend, the Design Team have projects to post on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO BLOG and others will be posting on the ONE STAMP page on Facebook.

Hope you've enjoyed the first day.  Why not take a look at what we've been up to and leave a comment or two!!  Come back tomorrow for another 12hrs of crafting!!

 

Christmas Decoration

A glittery Christmas Decoration made with the Decorative Diamond stamp from Oak House Studio.

I silver embossed 4 Decorative Diamonds on gold card and coloured and glittered them with Stickles.  I glued the diamonds together and used some gold ribbon with a bell attached (off a Lindt Bunny!) to hang it up.  Apologies for the out of focus photo!!

ONE STAMP CHALLENGE
Lynnda is at the Oak House Studio all weekend crafting  for 24hrs with just this one stamp to show how versatile a stamp can be.  She'll be stamping on card, wood, glass, metal, silk etc.  If you are local (East Yorkshire) you are welcome to pop along to the Studio between 10am-4pm tomorrow and join in the fun.  Otherwise follow the event online, I'm posting here all weekend, the Design Team have projects  on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO BLOG and others are posting on the ONE STAMP page on Facebook.

Why not take a look at what we've been up to and leave a comment or two!!  Come back later for more inspiration and many thanks!

Art Deco Hotel

Why not use the Decorative Diamond stamp on a scrapbook page - an Art Deco style to go with the photo of the Art Deco Hotel on Burgh Island in Devon.

The Decorative Diamond stamp was stamped with Midnight Pigment Ink onto card sprayed with Spode Blue, Jubilee Blue and Pearl Silver Ink in a  Bottle.  The words were printed on the computer and the page was just finished with the Checker Board Border stamp in Forest Green Pigment Ink.

ONE STAMP CHALLENGE
Lynnda will be at the Oak House Studio all weekend crafting  for 24hrs with just this one stamp to show how versatile a stamp can be.  She'll be stamping on card, wood, glass, metal, silk etc.  If you are local (East Yorkshire) you are welcome to pop along to the Studio between 10am-4pm tomorrow and join in the fun.  Otherwise follow the event online, I'm posting here all weekend, the Design Team have projects to post on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO BLOG and others are posting on the ONE STAMP page on Facebook.

Why not take a look at what we've been up to and leave a comment or two!!

Batik Diamond

Another Decorative Diamond card for the ONE STAMP challenge - this time in my favourite blues!

I started by clear embossing 9 Decorative Diamonds on white card and then sprayed with Colour Chemistry Ink in a Bottle - Spode Blue at the top, then Jubilee Blue with Peacock Green at the bottom.  I then blended some Colour Chemistry Pigment Ink in places - Powder Blue towards the top and Forest Green at the bottom.   Lastly I ironed the card to remove the embossing powder and make the images pop more.  The card is finished with Best Wishes stamped in Forest Green, some green wired organza and silver mirri card.

ONE STAMP EVENT
Lynnda will be at the Oak House Studio all weekend crafting  for 24hrs with just this one stamp to show how versatile a stamp can be.  She'll be stamping on card, wood, glass, metal, silk etc. If you are local (East Yorkshire) you are welcome to pop along to the Studio between 10am-4pm today or tomorrow and join in the fun.  Otherwise follow the event online, I will be posting here all weekend, the Design Team have projects to post on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO BLOG and others will be posting on the ONE STAMP page on Facebook.

Many thanks for looking!

British Life

Another card using the Decorative Diamond for the ONE STAMP event at Oak House Studio.

The Decorative Diamond is inked with Indigo Versacolor, clear embossed and then coloured with red Tombow marker.  I've folded 3 over some bakers twine to create pennants and used 2 either side of the sentiment.  To add to the red, white and blue feel I've cleared embossed the Union Jack stamp on the background.

ONE STAMP
Lynnda will be at the Oak House Studio all weekend crafting  for 24hrs with just this one stamp to show how versatile a stamp can be.  She might make a few cards, but she'll also be stamping on wood, glass, metal, silk etc.  If you are local (East Yorkshire) you are welcome to pop along to the Studio between 10am-4pm today or tomorrow and join in the fun.  Otherwise follow the event online, I will be posting here all weekend, the Design Team have projects to post on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO BLOG and others will be posting on the ONE STAMP page on Facebook.

Why not take a look at what we've been up to and leave a comment or two!!

Fly High

Here's a very quick fun card using the Decorative Diamond - the ONE STAMP for Oak House Studio's 24hrs of crafting.  

I've embossed the Decorative Diamond and coloured it with Tombow pens - the brightest I had - to create a kite.   The tail is the Curly stamp from the Christmas Collection!

Lynnda will be at the Studio all weekend crafting  for 24hrs with just this one stamp to show how versatile a stamp can be.  She might make a few cards, but she'll also be stamping on wood, glass, metal, silk etc.

If you are local (East Yorkshire) you are welcome to pop along to the Studio between 10am-4pm today or tomorrow and join in the fun.  Otherwise follow the event online, I will be posting here all weekend, the Design Team have projects to post on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO BLOG and others will be posting on the ONE STAMP page on Facebook.

Why not take a look at what we've been up to and leave a comment or two!!

300th Post!!

Well it's a special day today - MY 300th POST!!  It may have taken me 3 years but it's been an amazing experience - I've met some great people, been inspired by some wonderful artwork and hope that you've enjoyed visiting my blog too.  So a big THANK YOU to all my followers and readers because without you this would be pointless!

Today I've made a card for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge week 252 where the theme is SQUARES.  I decided to use up some bits of card left over from other projects - all coloured with Ink in a Bottle Spray Inks - Peacock Green, Jubilee Blue, Spode Blue and Pearl Silver.  I was going to do a nine square background but it didn't look right so I've just used 3 squares, randomly stamped them with the Decorative Diamond stamp from Oak House Studio and mounted them onto card.

Having watched Hels on TV last week weaving her magic with the Melt Pot, I dusted mine off and switched it on!  I added a bit of this and that (think witch's cauldron) and poured it over my Decorative Diamond stamp.  They're made of a silicone polymer so it's perfectly Ok to use them with molten embossing powders.  A bit of experimentation and I achieved the diamond above using clear Utee with Teal Zircon and Mystic Blue Polished Pigments.  The photo doesn't do it justice...it's very shiny indeed!!

And now for something slightly different...... you know the adage that says if you can't think of 5 ways to use a stamp, then don't buy it.  Well Lynnda at Oak House Studio is spending 24hrs over this weekend (April 13th &14th) working in her studio with just the Decorative Diamond stamp.  She'll be stamping on card, wood, silk, glass etc making cards, scrapbook pages, mini books, jewellery and a host of other things I'm sure.  If you live locally (East Yorkshire) why not pop along and join in the fun.  Alternatively check out the projects on the internet!   I'll be posting my creations here over the weekend and there'll be regular posts on the Oak House Studio Blog and also on the One Stamp page on Facebook. 

Thanks once again for visiting my blog and for taking the time to comment - each and every one of them is much appreciated!! 

Lime and Black

Here's my card for the Less is More Challenge week 114 where the colour theme is LIME and BLACK.

I had the pleasure of visiting The Craft Barn in it's new premises on Saturday and I spotted some Cosmic Shimmer Golden Lime Embossing Powder so I thought it would be rude not to use it for this challenge.   The Calla Lily stamp is an Elusive Images/Chocolate Baroque stamp and the sentiment is from Hero Arts - I embossed both onto black gloss card to make the lime powder pop. 

The pearlescence in the powder also left a golden sheen on the card - it looks lovely in real life but was very difficult to photo.  I apologise.....my own fault for using a two-tone powder and gloss card.....maybe I should have added some mirri card as well to make it even more difficult!!

Anyway I hope you like my card.  Thanks for looking and for your comments - they are as ever much appreciated!

Spring Twinchie

Here's my twinchie for the Show us Your Twinchie Challenge for April where the theme is SPRING.

What can be more spring-like than the Crocus - mine flowered one day and then got covered in snow the next!!  However this one should last!   It's an Elusive Images/Chocolate Baroque stamp which I've embossed with Golden Lime embossing powder and then watercoloured with Inktense Pencils.  I've added a little Sakura Stardust to the flower and edged the twinchie with Treasure Gold to add to the shine.

Hope you like and thanks for looking!

Rosy Rosebud

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

Quick read of my dictionary and I decided to choose Rosebud with a rosy colour scheme.  The background is Regal Claret Ink in a Bottle with stamping in Picked Raspberry Distress Ink - the Radiating Lines and Round Ring stamps from Tim Holtz's Bitty Grunge set.  The Rosebud itself is from Oak House Studio, embossed in silver and coloured with Tombow markers.  I've added green Ribbon, the dictionary definition and the alcohol inked letter R.

It's amazing how many other words you can actually include with your main word.  I'm also surprised how many metals are silvery white - here we have Rhenium, Rhodium and Ruthenium - so that's why I did silver embossing again. 

It's a fun challenge and very educational too - hope you like my creation and thanks for looking!