Christmas Harmony

Well it's the last two words for The Craft Barn's Quotes and Lyrics Challenge and we have a choice of HARMONY and/or FAITH.  I've chosen to do Harmony and used a quote from Zooey Deschanel - not profound, but allows me to make my postcard Christmassy!

The background is a mix of Mowed Lawn and Bundled Sage Distress Stains, edged with Gold Acrylic paint and stamped with the Deck the Halls stamps from Oak House Studio.  The holly leaves are also Oak House Studio stamps, embossed with gold, painted with Emerald Acrylic Ink and hung in a bough.  I've just added some gems for holly berries and the quote printed out as usual.

My next job is to create an album for them all but before I do that I thought I'd take a photo so you can see all 25 together.

It's been a great year -  fun creating my postcards and inspiring to visit everyone else's blogs and read other quotes and lyrics.  If you've visited my blog during the year  thank you so much. If you've left a comment then an even bigger THANK YOU.   I'm looking forward to seeing what The Craft Barn have planned for us in 2015.

Merry Christmas to one and all!!

Artistic Ventures

Here's my next postcard for The Craft Barn's Quotes and Lyrics Challenge where the words this fortnight are HEART and/or RISK.   After a day or two of looking I found this quote by Matt Smith which I thought was so true but have struggled to create something to illustrate it.

In the end I've delved through my half made box of 'artistic ventures' and chose this piece.  I've used a set of Firework stamps from Oak House Studio, inked in various pigment inks and clear embossed.  It's then coloured with Chipped Sapphire Distress Stain to make the fireworks pop and finished with the printed quote.

I can't believe we have only one more pair of words to do but I'm looking forward to what the Craft Barn's Challenge will be next year.   Many thanks for looking and for all your lovely comments.

Oak House Studio 2014

Lynnda at Oak House Studio asked me to write a post featuring one of my favourite projects to end the year but to be honest I can't just pick one - the stamps lend themselves to lots of different styles so here are a few:

I started the year doing  Wedding Samples using watercolour paper sprayed with Ink in a Bottle and the Rose stamps.

I like the different looks you can achieve with few supplies.

This is my No 1 favourite ......I think.

Using the Circles and Flowers and Kiss Stamping - great fun!   It's bright, colourful and with lots of interest.

 

An inky Under the Sea journal page with the Mountain Ash and Oak used as seaweed etc.  My favourite colours - blues, greens and a pop of orange from the Shells and Sealife stamps.

 

And lastly, a Christmas one which was really fun to do using the Block Frame stamp as a window  looking in to see a Christmas scene.   So that's my 2014 round-up - thanks for looking and for all your lovely comments over the year - it makes blogging all worthwhile!!

Merry Christmas

Elaine xx

Let's Celebrate

Well it's the 200th week on the Less is More Challenge so the theme this time is CELEBRATIONS.  I can't say I'm a regular by any means but I do try to enter as much as I can.  There are always brilliant inspirational cards from the team and it's great fun to come up with simple but effective projects.

This time I've gone for a party invite using the Firework and Celebrate Stamp sets from Oak House Studio.  I stamped the Let's Celebrate first, masked it off and then went a bit wild with all the different fireworks, bursts and stars in a variety of colours!!   I could have filled the page but remembered I had to leave some white space!!

Hope you like and thanks for popping by.  Thanks also to Chrissie and all her helpers over the last 200 weeks - great challenge and great inspiration!!

Tis the Season

Here's another card for the Winter Challenge at Oak House Studio - for this I've used the Christmas Tree and the Block Frame stamps.

Full details can be found on the Oak House Studio blog.  Hope you like my project and have been inspired to join in with the November Challenge - full details are on Facebook - the Oak House Studio page and the INKspired group.  There's a £40 prize to be won as well as a personal back stamp for your cards - so why not give it a go!!

Deck the Halls

Here's my card for the week 199 of the  LESS IS MORE Challenge where the theme is JINGLE ALL THE WAY.  I decided to go with Christmas music but a different song!

I've used the Deck the Halls set of stamps from Oak House Studio inked with Vermillion and Emerald Archival Ink, matted onto some red card and added a little Xmas Red Stickles around the edge.  The solid Holly Leaves are from the Big Christmas Collection, again inked with Emerald Archival and dots of Stickles for the berries.

A simple card that is easy to replicate - just what we need when there is only one month before Christmas Day.   Thanks you for your visit and comments - they're always much appreciated.

Circle of Friendship

Here's my 23rd postcard for The Craft Barn's Quotes and Lyrics Challenge where the words are JOURNEY and/or FRIENDSHIP.   Lots of quotes this time but I decided to go for this one by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin - a 'well-known' French Philosopher.

I know World is mentioned in the quote but I've done so many blue/green ones I wanted to go for a  different colour scheme.  I've chosen Valentine, Pumpkin Orange, Golden Yellow and Lemon Yellow Pigment Inks and a selection of round palette stamps from the  Journalling Circles and Circles and Flowers sets from Oak House Studio.  I've just randomly Kiss Stamped the circles and inks to create the background and added the typed quote to finish. 

I can't believe we're on the 23rd challenge already which means we only have 3 more to do - I must start thinking about making an album for them.   Meantime, thanks for looking and for your lovely comments on my Bombers' Moon postcard last time.

Elaine xx 

Firework Baubles

Thought I'd have a go at the November challenge on the Craft Stamper's Blog - Take It, Make It - the theme is to use non-Christmas stamps to create a  Christmassy image.

The card I've made using Oak House Studio's Firework Stamps.   The baubles are card painted with Sapphire Acrylic Ink, gold embossed with the big chrysanthemum firework and a little Gold Stickles.  To create the spruce branch at the top I took the spray top off a bottle of Golden Oak Ink in a  Bottle and just drew across the page.  I then used the 2 different sizes of the thinner firework stamp inked with Forest Green Pigment Ink to create the clumps of spruce foliage.   I've added the Celebrate in Forest Green again........so no real Christmas stamps at all!

Hope you like my creation and thanks for popping by.  I'm off to see what everyone else has made...

Five Beeches

Here's my take on the LESS IS MORE Challenge week 198 where the theme is MORE THAN ONE TREE.   I've been stuck in a blue rut recently so decided to use green.....and maybe too much of it!!

I've gold embossed the Block Frame stamp, cut out the middle to create a window frame and then placed this over a tree scene.  The Beech Tree is stamped with Emerald Archival and I've just grounded them with Meadow Adirondak painted with a waterbrush.  The sentiment and extra Beech Trees are stamped with Versafine Onyx Black.  All stamps are from Oak House Studio.

Apologies for the state of the photo - it's a bit dank and dark this afternoon but it does give me the excuse to stay in and create.  Thanks for popping by!!

Merry Christmas Wreath

My day over on the Oak House Studio blog with another Wintery/Christmassy card.  This time I've used the Big Christmas Collection - a set of 17 stamps with poinsettias, hellebores, holly and baubles plus a fir sprig and curly flourish.

I did actually design this set of stamps about 7yrs ago for inchies and twinchies but as you can see, they build up easily to create a full wreath.  The flowers and leaves are all coloured with Acrylic Inks which give a bright cold colour scheme.  

Full details are on the Oak House Studio blog. Lynnda has also made this set Stamp of the Week so they've been reduced to £14.50 - a bargain for 17 stamps!!   Many thanks for looking and for your comments - they are always much appreciated!!

Starry, Starry Night

Having a quiet afternoon watching the tennis and creating my entry for week 197 of the Less is More Challenge - it's a ONE LAYER week with the theme of STARRY NIGHTS.

For this I've used the Big Ben image from Paperartsy HP1208 London set, inked with Onyx Black Versafine and clear embossed to enhance the black.   The stars are small Hero Arts peg stamps clear embossed.  I've just masked off the panel and blended over with Broken China, Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire to create the moody sky.

Hope you like and thanks for popping by.......back to the tennis!!

How to use the Christmas Wreath set

Another post from me - that's three in  a row!!   Anyway just a heads up that I have my card on the Oak House Studio blog today.

 

I've used the  Christmas Wreath Stamps  - it's a set of 7 stamps including a Happy Christmas stamp, solid Holly & Ivy stamps and some branches so you can build your own wreath.  Full details are on the Oak House Studio blog.  Please pop over, leave me a comment and maybe have a look what other Design Team members have been creating for the Winter Challenge.

Bye for now!

 

 

Bombers' Moon

Well another 2 weeks has gone by and the new words on The Craft Barn Quotes and Lyrics Challenge are SENSATION and/or MOON.  Lots of good sensation quotes but no images popped into my head so I've chosen Moon and these lyrics from Bombers' Moon by Mike Harding.

For those that don't know Mike Harding aka The Rochdale Cowboy is a folk singer, writer, comedian etc who had TV series in the late 1970s.  His father was a Navigator in the RAF and was killed in WWII.  I thought the words were very poignant as we  are so close to Remembrance Day.

I've used the Poppy stamp from Chocolate Baroque's  Flora and Fauna set, inked with Onyx Black Versafine, clear embossed and then coloured with markers.  I've then masked the flowers with a circle to create the moon and blended over with Faded Jeans and Chipped Sapphire Distress Inks.  The lyrics were just printed off the computer.

Thanks for looking and for your comments.  I'll leave you with a photo I took of the poppies at the Tower of London - this was late September, all the grass has now been covered with the 888,000+ poppies and the last one will be planted on the 11/11.

Christmas Wreath and more!

The new Oak House Studio Challenge for November has the theme of WINTER - so winter scenes, Christmas etc etc.  I've made a few cards that hopefully will inspire you to have a go - there's a prize to be won.

For my first card I've used the Christmas Wreath set - 7 stamps including branches, holly leaves and ivy plus a sentiment.  It was designed so you can build your own wreath but in this case I've just created a corner of foliage.    I've used buff card and stamped with Yummy Chocolate, Forest Green and Green as Grass Pigment inks.  The Wishing you a Merry Christmas sentiment is gold embossed and I've added some Stickles for berries.

My other card is totally different and uses the Block Frame stamp - I saw someone use it as a window frame looking out to a moody sky but I decided to look from outside in.   I've used Yummy Chocolate Pigment Ink for the frame, and then using a Brick Mask stamped Winter Words and blended ink through to create the outside of the house.  Inside the net curtains are the Mack Rose stamped on vellum, the wallpaper is linen card and I've coloured both with Paris Pink Ink in a Bottle.  The Christmas Tree is embossed with Black Sparkle and coloured with Citrus Lime Ink in a Bottle.  I've added a few gems which caught the flash on my camera and I hope you'll agree it definitely looks Christmassy!

Pop over to the Oak House Studio blog for more inspiration throughout the month - I have another card to show you on Wednesday!   You can find further details on facebook - the Oak House Studio page or the INKspired group - its a closed group purely to keep spammers out so do ask to join.

If you have any Oak House Studio stamps and inks, then please enter the Challenge and keep an eye out for new stamps including Fireworks and Celebrate words!

Merry Christmas

Got my chores done in double quick time today so I've had chance to make a simple card for the Less is More Challenge week 195 where the recipe is to use NEWSPRINT.

I decided to use this big Holly stamp which was the first stamp I ever bought and I have to admit it's very useful for making Christmas posters etc.  This time I've used Emerald Archival and stamped on my card to get the flourishes and then a couple of times on newspaper.  I've cut these out (can you see the deliberate mistake?) and glued these on the card, added some Stickles for the berries and stamped Tim Holtz's Merry Christmas in Vermillion Archival.

I'm thinking it would make a simple Christmas card with the Holly stamped on some papers with a small design too.  Thanks for popping by and many thanks for your comments.

Nowhere Man, Please Listen

Another fortnight and another set of words for The Craft Barn's Quotes and Lyrics Challenge - this time HUG and/or NOWHERE.   There are many good quotes for both words but no image popped into my head and then I thought of Nowhere Man by The Beatles.

Having visited Wikipedia I see Nowhere Man was written 49years ago this week and was The Beatles first song not about love, but written by John Lennon with a more philosophical bent.   Tricky to depict a Nowhere Man so I went for a 1960s kaleidoscope of colour - a never ending wheel to nowhere etc etc.  The background is a mix of all the bright Distress Inks I own, blended and spritzed with water etc.  I've then used my Studio Calico Circle Graph Stencil - inked through with Versamark, clear embossed and then inked over with Faded Jeans Distress.

I love it - not sure it has anything to do with The Beatles and the swinging 60s but I think it's bright and cheerful!!   Thanks for visiting and for all your comments on my last entry - very much appreciated!!

PS. Having linked this up I saw Helen's page using the same lyrics and thought mine was definitely missing a man. I rummaged and found my man stamp (freebie from Craft Stamper) so I've added my Nowhere man too!

101 ways with the Block Frames Stamp

I was given the Block Frame stamp by Lynnda at Oak House Studio and asked to write a post about it.  As the great man himself would say, there are endless possibilities with this stamp......if you don't like faffing then there is a very nice Christmas version (on the right) but I saw the empty frame and thought it was very versatile - add an image, a sentiment, whichever way you like and it obviously frames your work.

 

Clean and simple, inky and messy, you can do whatever you choose.  All the details are over on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO blog so please go and take a look.  Meanwhile I'll leave you with a few cards.

 

Ok I admit I haven't made 101 cards but I hope you get the idea - you can use the stamp whichever way up you like and for whatever occasion - as they say, it's not just for Christmas!   All Stamps, Inks in a Bottle, Pigment Ink Pads and Embossing Powder is from OAK HOUSE STUDIO.

 

Thanks for looking and I hope I've given you some ideas for the Borders and Frames Challenge.

 

 

Christmas Corner Decoration

Today is  ONE STAMP, ONE DAY over at OAK HOUSE STUDIO where the Design Team and anyone else who wants to join in make projects using just one stamp.  This time it is the CHRISTMAS CORNER stamp - a mix of Holly and Hellebores. It's one of the first Christmas stamps I drew about 8 years ago when Oak House Studio was born.




For my project I've made this Christmas hanger using the Acrylic Inks on Acetate and full details are on the Oak House Studio blog today.


The Acrylic Inks dry beautifully on the wood and acetate so I'm thinking they'll be great for metal and glass painting too.....and they are such a deep vibrant colour.




I've also made an Inchie necklace using a 1" square piece of Stambord - a new product on the Oak House Studio website.   For this I stamped a section of the Christmas Corner, painted with the Acrylic Inks and sealed it with 2 layers of clear embossing powder.

The Christmas Corner is lovely for making cards too and here are a few more ideas.

 

 

 

As you can see it is detailed enough to just stamp for quick and easy cards or it can be layered and beads added etc.   For more ideas please visit the Oak House Studio blog (8am-8pm) or take a look on Facebook - at the Oak House Studio page or  Inkspired by Oak House Studio - this is a closed group to keep out the spammers but if you would like to join, just ask!

Many thanks for looking and I hope you find some ideas ready for those Christmas makes!!

A Gift to be Simple

This is the 20th set of words for The Craft Barn's Quotes and Lyrics Challenge - DESTINY and/or GIFT.  For my postcard this time I decided to go for this hymn as it was the first song that popped into my head.  I've recently been re-watching Alias Smith and Jones on TV and this is one of the songs Pete Duel sings in that.   

I've just used 3 lines on my postcard but there are a couple more verses below - I was thinking of doing the valley of love and delight or friends but decided to go for the easy option and just do a set of gifts.  The stamps are the Christmas Parcel set by Oak House Studio coloured with markers and the background is a mix of  Distress Stains.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.

I've managed to catch up with week 17 too where the choice of words was PEACEFUL and/or GRACE - I chose this quote by Maximillian Degenerez  and used various inks and stains to create a peaceful riverside setting ......well that's what it's supposed to be!!

Thanks for popping by and leaving comments - they are always appreciated!

  

October Challenge - Borders and Frames

Just a heads up about the new challenge over on the Oak House Studio blog. For October the theme is Borders and Frames so quite a wide choice - why not enter and have a chance of winning some goodies.  All the details are HERE and there'll be posts on the blog all month from the Design Team for inspiration.

My first card uses the Scroll Frames set of stamps - 4 individual stamps that can be placed together on your acrylic block to create a heart.  (More of my ideas for this set of stamps will be on the Oak House Studio blog on Friday).  Mine is embossed with Pearl Silver powder and painted with Delicious Damson Ink in a Bottle.  Round the edge I've stamped randomly in Purple Pigment Ink and then blended with Orchid Pigment Ink.   I coloured the seam binding with all the leftover ink on my mat and finished with the Evening Invitation sentiment from the Wedding Words set.

My second card is much simpler - I've stamped the Oak Tree and Leafy Scroll Border in black and clear embossed.  I've inked round the edges with Forest Green Pigment Ink and coloured the leaves too.

My final card uses the Men's Tools and Men's Words stamp sets along with the Thoresby scroll backgrounds.   The wooden frame is created using the Plank of Wood stamp inked in Yummy Chocolate Pigment ink and painted with Chocolate Ink in a Bottle.  I just mitred the corners and backed it with the Thoresby Square (Positive).  There is a negative version designed for silver clay and polymer clay projects.  I've stamped the large Thoresby scroll onto the card with Powder Blue Ink and added a row of tools.   Perfect for that man in your life!!

Hope I've inspired you to have a go and enter the challenge this month - thanks for visiting!!

The Inventors

At last a wet morning when I can't go out or garden so I've actually got my inks out and created something!!  This is my 19th postcard for the Craft Barn's Quotes and Lyrics Challenge where the words are PATIENCE and/or BETTER.

This quote by Herman Melville appealed to me - I don't look what others have made or the words they've used till after I've finished mine.  So my choice is original (well in my head anyway)!   I had a rummage through my stamps and decided to use Tim Holtz's Steampunk set with the 3 men as Inventors.   The background is sprayed with Oak House Studio's Citrus Orange Ink in a Bottle and the stamping is Fired Brick and Pumpkin Pie Pigment Inks with the Inventors in Onyx Black Versafine.

Well that's one piece done - now I have week 17 and 18 to catch up with and about 5 weeks of journal pages to do.  Not sure what colour my fingers will be by the end of the day!!   Thanks for popping by and for any comments you leave - they're very much appreciated.

Autumn again!

I can't believe it is 2 weeks since I last posted anything.  I've decided that I'm a winter crafter....October to May I'm fine, otherwise life gets in the way.



Just thought I'd post this tag (made previously for a Calendar Tag Book) using autumnal inks and the Beech Tree to remind you of Oak House Studio's Autumn Challenge.

It ends on 30th September so still time to create something!!  

Full details can be found HERE.











Since coming back from holiday I've packed and delivered  my daughter back to Falmouth in Cornwall where she is at Uni.  Over 300 mile trip so we stayed for a day or two and ate Cornish Pasties and Fish and Chips and had a lovely walk through Glendurgan Gardens in the sunshine. The wind on the coast was wicked but in the gardens it was very sheltered and beautiful - well worth a visit!

The only crafting I've done is going to Ally Pally on Saturday to buy more stash.  Do I really need more?   I have to admit I only bought a few bits off Leandra at Paperartsy.  I was tempted by the MDF Man but really didn't want to carry much as I went by train.  The show itself seems to be going downhill with fewer stands every year but I love the setting.  This is the rose window in the Great Hall.

Also my other daughter and I were off to the Tower of London to see the 888,000+ poppies.  She's just finished a history degree and had never been so we spent 3 hours walking the walls, queuing to see the Crown Jewels etc.  We came away with lots of useless information - did you know King Henry lll had a polar bear and he used to let it fish in the Thames on the end of a rope!!   Bizarre but true.

Hopefully this week I'll get out the stamps and inks and create....after I've caught up with household chores etc etc.  One day.........

September Challenge - Autumn

Sorry for the lack of blogging but we've been on holiday - a week or so in the Norfolk Broads so lots of windpumps, fens, boardwalks and dragonflies.  Now trying to catch up with life and the new challenge over on the Oak House Studio blog.  The theme is Autumn - so colourful leaves or just autumnal colour schemes.  Here's a few of my makes to inspire you to join in the fun - there's a prize to be won!

This first one Lynnda at Oak House Studio would say is typically me - inky leaves but a bit graphic and with strong colours.  I started out spraying some card with Golden Oak, Citrus Orange and Citrus Lime Ink in a Bottle - I then clear embossed the Sycamore stamp in various places, blended over with Yummy Chocolate and Pumpkin Pie Pigment Inks and cut out.  This gives a great crinkly effect and hopefully realistic autumn leaves.  I've cut the green card diagonally across the front and then stamped the Sycamore with Pumpkin Pie onto the orange card at the back.  It's just finished with a Script Sentiment.

The next one is a bit more inky - I've used the Double Daisy stamp to create Asters which are an autumnal flower.  I inked the solid daisy with Orchid Pigment Ink, lightly spritzed with some Paris Pink Ink in a Bottle and stamped quickly.  A real watercolour effect!  I just coloured the centre yellow and then over stamped with the outline daisy in Purple Pigment Ink.  It's just finished with the Bloom stamp again inked with Purple Ink.

My last sample is a door hanger inked with Citrus Orange and Yummy Chocolate Inks in a Bottle.  I've used the Build Your Own Poinsettia set of stamps (also found in the Bumper Winter Leaves set) - the largest stamp gold embossed on green, and then all the stamps gold embossed on some red card sprayed with Glorious Gold Ink in a Bottle.  I've layered it all together with silicone glue and added beads to the centre.  The sentiment is from the Peace & Joy set.

The challenge can be found on the Oak House Studio blog and all products used can be found HERE.
Entries are being put in an album on the Oak House Studio Inkspired group on Facebook.

OK....so back to the washing!!

Spring Blooms

 

Here's my entry for the Less is More Challenge week 186  - for a change there is a simple sketch to follow.   My first thought was to stamp some flowers in the larger box and just add the sentiment underneath but  in the end I decided to do things differently!!  

 

 

 I've used the Spring Blooms set from Oak House Studio (Stamp of the Week this week) and clear embossed the sentiment using Midnight Ink.  I used a deckle edged frame as a mask and stippled ink through this with a mix of Powder Blue, Midnight and Golden Yellow Pigment Inks.  The flowers and leaves are also clear embossed over Midnight Ink and coloured with Lemon Yellow, Golden Yellow and Pumpkin Pie Pigment Inks and the leaves with Spring Green.

 

Thanks so much for popping by and for your lovely comments - they are much appreciated.  Hope you are all enjoying some crafting whilst it's so wet out!!

Smell the Roses

Just popping in with a quick reminder of the Words, Letters & Numbers Challenge over on the Oak House Studio blog.   All the details can be found HERE - and to cater for those people that don't have a blog, entries are via the facebook group this time.

I've used the Large Rose stamp and water coloured with Aquash and a water brush.  Once this was dry I masked off the rose and then stamped with the Take Time to Smell the Rosess sentiment.  I did the Spring Green one first and clear embossed that to make it stand out more and then filled in the rest of the card with the same stamp inked with Golden Yellow.

The challenge finishes next Sunday so you have plenty of time to enter - just use one Oak House Studio product!!

Mr Rudolf Reindeer

Had chance for a little play this afternoon so I've made a card for the Less is More Challenge week 185 where the theme is ANIMALS.   

Well I don't have many animal stamps at all so thought I'd use this deer/reindeer stamp from Crafty Individuals (CI-332).  I've stamped him with Onyx Black Versafine and then watercoloured him with Aquash.  I got a bit carried away with his red nose....he now has a red muzzle!!  I just matted him on red card to match  his nose and then mounted it over a spray of Snowflakes (Oak House Studio) inked in Powder Blue Pigment Ink.   A quick and simple Christmas card with the addition of a sentiment at a later date. 

Thanks for visiting and for your comments - they are much appreciated!!