Copper Beech Flowers with Lynnda's Leaves Stamp set.

How to create a flower (or two) using the Beech Leaves from the LYNNDA's LEAVES set of stamps premiered on Hochanda TV recently.

If you want to know more then head over to the OAK HOUSE STUDIO blog for all the details.
I love the deep red of the leaves against the bright green foliage and it goes to show Lynnda's Leaves don't have to be just for autumn or leaves for that matter!!

Elaine xx

 

Oh Christmas Tree!

Well here is December's page for The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge where the theme is GOLD/SILVER and CHRISTMAS TREES.

I've used the Christmas Tree stamp from Oak House Studio and embossed it in gold on some watercolour paper inked with a mix of Emerald Brushos and Citrus Lime Ink in a Bottle.  For the background I've blended some Triple Fruity Red ink over Tim Holtz's Holiday Knit layering stencil to give that Scandinavian feel.   It's just finished with the December Calendar, some gems for baubles and a Gold Stickles border.

I really need to get on with constructing my calendar but in the meantime here is a photo of all 12 pages together - all completely different but part of a set!

I'm happy that they are all done so I can make the calendar but sad this challenge has come to an end.  If you've visited over the year and maybe left a comment - MANY THANKS!  I'm looking forward to what challenges the New Year brings!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Elaine  xx

PS:  Just having a new boiler fitted so thought I'd use my time wisely and finish my calendar.  I've left it unstuck at the bottom so that I can pack it flat as a gift. It's a bit front heavy but it will be fine come April when there's 3 months at the front and back!!


  

Winter Trees

Three posts in three days must be a record but here's another sample for the HOCHANDA TV show on December 4th - 3pm and 6pm.

 

It's a simple landscape card using the Waterfall Pure Colour ink for the sky and the Oak Trees (large and small) from the WINTER TREES set.  Having made this one I decided to create another as a Christmas card adding Happy Christmas which is another Oak House Studio stamp and some Star Dust Stickles to give that frosty feel.

Don't forget Lynnda is giving away £100 of crafting goodies so to enter visit the OAK HOUSE STUDIO BLOG and comment on all the posts this week for a chance to win.  And don't forget to watch HOCHANDA TV on Friday!!

Rosy Rose

Here's a new Rose sample for OAK HOUSE STUDIO'S  next show on HOCHANDA TV - Friday 4th December at 3pm and 6pm.    Lynnda has done Roses before but here I have used the SPECIAL EDITION ROSE SET in which you get 11 separate stamps.

For this card I've used 8 of the 11 stamps but there are 2 further sentiments and a Square Accent stamp so the possibilities are endless.   Please don't forget to leave a comment on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO BLOG this week for your chance to win £100 of crafting goodies.

Thanks for looking!

Elaine xx

The Beech Tree

I've been busy making samples for the next Oak House Studio show on HOCHANDA TV - it's on Friday December 4th  - at 3pm and 6pm.  I've used both of the new stamp sets for this card LYNNDA'S LEAVES and the WINTER TREES.

Full details are on the OAK HOUSE STUDIO blog - please pop over and leave a comment and you'll be in with a chance to win £100 of crafting goodies.  Keep popping back all week for other peaks at the new stamps and projects from other DT members.

And don't forget to tune in to Hochanda - Friday 4th December at 3pm and 6pm - you can watch online or Freeview 39.

Elaine xx

Firey Sycamore

Well it's dark, dismal and wet so what better way to pass the time than use bright colours and make something cheerful.  This is for the Less is More Challenge week 249 where the theme is to use FIRE COLOURS.

I decided to go with autumn leaves as the colours have been so good this year.  I've used Oak House Studio's Sycamore stamp, inked with the Triple Sunshine Yellows Ink Pad.......but, before I stamped onto the card, I picked up some spritzed Brilliant Red Brusho to add more contrasting colour and give that watercolour look.  It's just finished with the sentiment and matted onto some deep orange card.

Thanks for visiting and I hope I've brightened your day!

Grey November - Twit Twoo

Thought I'd better make my November page for The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge  early then I might get chance to construct the calendar itself!   This month the words are GREY and OWL.  Well November has definitely started out grey and foggy so very fitting.

I have only one Owl stamp - this one is Chocolate Baroque - and whilst I did look for a more realistic one, most of the ones I found were a bit too cute for me.  I decided to stick with a black, white and grey theme so just stamped the owl in black.   For the background I created a border with Pearly Silver Ink in a Bottle and just sprinkled on a little Black Brusho.  I then sprayed Bobby's Grey Ink in a Bottle through a brick wall stencil and drew branches with the spray tube straight out of the bottle.  It's just finished with the Owl and November calendar.    

Hope you like and thanks for visiting. Apologies for the photo - it's a grey day and grey project. Maybe I should have added some green leaves.   I'm so looking forward to December when the words might involve Christmas in some way and we can finish the year with some bright colours!!

Elaine xx

TV Special

So the reason I haven't posted much recently is that I've been busy making samples for Oak House Studio - yes, Lynnda will be back on the TV but this time it's HOCHANDA Freeview 39.

Wednesday October 21st

11am  Roses

2pm    Double Daisy

6pm   Best Bits

There are some classic designs plus lots of new stamps, new triple ink pads and Pure Colour inks. My fingers have been every colour of the rainbow - here is one of my cards:

I've used the Pure Colour inks to spray the background, painted the Rose with it and coloured the twill ribbon. The new Rosebud Border looks fab stamped with the Triple Meadow Greens and the words are from the Friends Words set.

Check out the Oak House Studio blog for more inspiration from the Design Team and don't forget to watch .... Wednesday 21st, first show at 11am.

Elaine xx

Autumn Colour

I'm not sure where the time has gone but at last I've had chance to make a card for the Less is More Challenge week 245  - ONE LAYER and with the theme AUTUMN.  I do love this time of year - cold, crisp, sunny days with all the trees in their autumn glory!

I received a box of new goodies from Oak House Studio so that's what I've used.  I've masked a panel and blended on inks from the Autumn Triple Ink Pad.  Over that I've stamped the Beech Leaf and a phrase from the You are my Rainbow set.

Thanks for visiting!!

Elaine

October so it's Pumpkins!

Here's my October page for The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge where the theme is ORANGE and PUMPKINS.   I thought orange was a bit too close to last month's so I've gone for a purple background with a splash of orange.

The base is a wash of Shaded Lilac Distress Stain edged with Purple Colour Chemistry ink.  I've also used the Purple ink for the stamping - some Tim Holtz, some Chocolate Baroque.   The pumpkins are the BOO! set from Oak House Studio - a round circle which I used to create the moon, the pumpkin outline and then you get a choice of scary faces!   It's just finished with the October calendar and the bat. 

My blog seems to be suffering at the moment but I have been making stuff although I can't show you yet.  Come Monday all will hopefully be revealed. 

Thanks for visiting and for all your lovely comments!.  Can't believe we only have two more months to go!! 

Wishes

Here's a quick card for the Less is More Challenge - week 241 is a ONE LAYER card with the theme WISHING/WISHES.

Lots of different ideas popped into my head but I went for some masking and my favourite colour scheme of blue and black.  The Wishes is a free stamp from Crafty Individuals and the Chevron background is a Kaisercraft stamp inked with the Triple Sky Blue pigment ink pad from Oak House Studio.  This stamp arrived in the post this morning so I thought it would be rude not to use it - don't you just love those distressed edges!

I was just about to publish this post when I realised this is my 500th post --- so here's wishing another 500!!  It's taken 5yrs but it's been fun and I hope some of my visitors have found something of interest.   So a big THANK YOU for your support!!

Elaine xx

Autumn is here!

Sorry readers for not posting but I've been away on my hols and then Mr Mojo went on his too!  However here's my next square for The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge where the words for September are BROWN and TREES/LEAVES.

For the background I've used Rusty Hinge Distress Ink and then sprinkled around the edge with Dark Brown Brushos.  Over this I've stamped the Sycamore Leaf stamp from Oak House Studio with Rusty Hinge again.   The Beech Tree is also Oak House Studio, inked with Potting Soil Archival and clear embossed.  I've used a script stamp from 7Gypsies with Emerald Archival to ground the tree and finished with the calendar.

I'm also entering this is the Craft Stamper Magazine's Take It, Make It challenge where anything goes and I've definitely used stamps!!

I can't believe we only have 3 more months to go so guess I should start thinking about construction - it's going to be an A shape calendar but not sure whether to bind it at the top or use rings....   Anyway thanks for visiting and thanks for commenting - they are much appreciated!!

Elaine  xx

On the Boardwalk

I was just looking through my card box and realised I'd never blogged this card so thought I'd do that today.  I made it for a challenge where the theme was Boardwalk and using Kraft, Turquoise and Orange colours.

I dry brushed some white acrylic paint through Tim's Woodgrain Stencil to create a boardwalk type feel and added some stamping from Crafty Individuals stamp sets.    I hand cut a surf board shape, stamped some flowers from Oak House Studio's Spring Bloom set and coloured them with markers.  The turquoise I did in stripes to make it look like waves.

Hope you like and thanks for popping by.  Please be honest and let me know if my surf board looks more like an ironing board - both my daughters thought so!!

Elaine  x
     

Turquoise Beads

I thought I'd show you something different today. A couple of years ago I bought a string of turquoise beads but found they weren't long enough so at last I found the time to re-string them.

I have a few lampwork beads in my stash so I've used one as a centrepiece and then added some Miyuki Cube beads and silver spacers.  I kept some of the turquoise beads back to make a matching pair of earrings. 

I quite enjoyed making this so watch this space, I might make some more!!

Elaine xx

Through the window

Here's another card made using the Vintage Blue Inks from Oak House studio - both the Ink in a Bottle spray and the Pure Colour Chemistry Watercolour Ink.  

I started by spraying some watercolour paper with Vintage Blue Ink in a Bottle and added a little Delicious Damson too.  I silver embossed the Block Frame stamp, painted the frame with Vintage Blue Pure Colour ink and cut out the sections.  To add a little more interest I painted Pure Colour ink onto a small acrylic block and stamped this to create the mottled 'brick' pattern.   The flowers are from the Spring Blooms set (as is the sentiment) - these were silver embossed onto some card sprayed with Delicious Damson and Paris Pink Ink in a Bottle and arranged in a plant pot.  The net curtains are the Mack Rose stamped with White Brilliance onto vellum.

I'm loving playing with these new Inks - they're so intense and allow you to create the shade you want.  I'm looking forward to getting some more colours and having a mixing session in the lab....lol!!

Elaine x

Sepia Tones - Poinsettia

I managed to get my hands on some of the new inks from Oak House Studio namely the Pure Colour Chemistry watercolour inks - they are extremely intense so a little goes a long way and they lend themselves to painting, misting, mixing and writing etc etc!

Here I've just used the Sepia tones to show the different products available.

 

 

I started by spraying a sheet of watercolour paper with Vintage Sepia Ink in a Bottle and then overspraying with the Glorious Gold.  If you don't have Ink in a Bottle then why not buy an empty spray bottle and water the Pure Colour down.   I used half the background over stamped with the English Garden Text. The rest I stamped with the Build Your Own Poinsettia set of stamps (3 bracts and a centre) and gold embossed.  The outer leaves I painted with Vintage Sepia Pure Colour Chemistry - a deliciously rich ink I have to say - and then glued it all together with silicone glue to give some height.  I glued beads to the centre too.

 

 I've stamped the Friends Like Fruitcake with Chocolate Pigment Ink and clear embossed, sponged a little Vintage Sepia Ink in a Bottle and then matted this on some card painted with the Pure Colour Chemistry Ink.  To finish I created some stripey ribbon by just dragging a paint brush with the intense ink along one side and heat drying to crinkle.

 

I love all the shades you can get from just one bottle of ink and can't wait to acquire more colours.  Pop back on Monday for a look through the Vintage Blue window! 

 

Elaine xx

 

 

Steampunk Sparrow

Here's my card for the Less is More Challenge  week 236 where it's ONE LAYER cards and THE EYES HAVE IT.  I know I must be mad but I love one layer cards as they are indeed a challenge.

I have no face or eye stamps but then realised it would be good opportunity to use my new Deep Red Rubber stamp - the Steampunk Sparrow.   He's just inked with Onyx Black Versafine and coloured with Tombow markers.  I masked him off and created a panel using the cog stamps from Chocolate Baroque's Punky Flowers set.   I drew a couple of lines and finished with the Oak House Studio sentiment.

I'm also entering this into:
Happy Little Stampers Challenge - CAS and MASKING
The Craft Barn's weekly challenge - COLOURING
The Craft Stamper - Make It Take It - PENS and PENCILS

Hope you like and thanks for visiting - you're always welcome!!

Elaine xx

Vintage Blue Heart

I was lucky to get a couple of the new Pure Colour Chemistry Watercolour Inks early so thought I'd have a play!!  Here  I've used Vintage Blue Ink in a Bottle with Vintage Blue Pure Colour Chemistry.

I first sprayed a stripe of the Ink in a Bottle on a sheet of watercolour paper and immediately held it upright to create the drips - this is a bit experimental as I sprayed ink and water a few times.   Once this was dry I drew a line of  the Pure Colour Chemistry Ink and held this upright and allowed more drips to form.

 

 

 

I've used the Scroll Frames set of stamps - 4 stamps that fit on the block to create various scroll frames. 

 

 Using all 4 stamps to create the larger heart, 3 for the smaller one and then rectangular and oval frames and a scroll background......a very versatile set of stamps!!

Once my background was dry I silver embossed the large scroll heart and then used a very small paintbrush and coloured in the sections with Vintage Blue Pure Colour Chemistry Ink.  I've matted and layered and to finish added the Creativity sentiment stamped in Midnight Pigment ink, coloured with Ink in a Bottle and on a mat painted with the Pure Colour.

I'm loving these new inks as you can control the depth of colour so easily!!  The Pure Colour Chemistry Inks are on pre-order till launch on 14th August.  Why don't you pop over and have a look - loads of lovely colours!

Elaine x

August and Pink Butterflies

Well here is my August calendar page for The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge where the words this month are PINK and BUTTERFLIES.  I'm doing 14cm squares that will be mounted on black A5 card as a flip calendar.

I didn't want to do too much pink so decided to create a wildflower scene - the background is Tumbled Glass and Mowed Lawn Distress Stains and the stamps are from Crafty Individuals set  CI-395 - Build a Meadow.  I randomly stamped with Leaf Green Archival and used a white Posca pen to highlight the daisies.   To give the ground some texture I've stamped the Without Change (Oak House Studio) in Leaf Green Archival too. 

I've silver embossed the Charming Butterflies (Oak House Studio) and coloured the smaller ones with Seedless Preserves and the larger one with Picked Raspberry.  I've just stuck the bodies down and bent the wings up for a bit of movement.  To finish the August calendar is matted on some Picked Raspberry card.  I'm hoping there is enough pink on this!  

Thanks for visiting and thanks for all your comments on last month's calendar challenge - they're much appreciated!!

Elaine  x

Berry Colours

Here's my card for the Less is More Challenge week 235 where the Colour scheme is BERRY COLOURS.

I've used the Harlequin stamp from Oak House Studio inked with Distress Inks - Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries and Dusty Concord (think Blackberries!!) to create the border and then finished with the Friends like Fruitcake sentiment stamp.  They're not really my go-to colours but I kind of like them all together.

I chose the Harlequin stamp as I'm also entering this in the Craft Barn's Weekly Challenge where the theme is Diamonds.

Hope you like and thanks for popping by.

Elaine x

Time to Celebrate

Well it was definitely a stay in and craft day yesterday so thought I'd enter a few challenges so here are a couple of cards.

For the first one I've used Oak House Studio stamps - Fireworks and the Celebrate Words sets - and I've stamped with their Colour Chemistry Pigment Ink Pads - Triple Fruity Reds and Triple Sky Blues which give a great ombre effect.  I stamped the sentiment, masked it and then randomly stamped the fireworks, sprays and added stars etc.

I've kept it 'Clean and Simple' to fit in with The Craft Barn's weekly challenge, used 'Something Blue' for the Oak House Studio Challenge and 'Take a Stamp - Anything Goes' for the  Craft Stamper Take it, Make it Challenge.

My second card is even simpler but took ages!!  It's for the Less is More Challenge week 234 where the recipe is to use a SNIPPET in the design.   I think this is a great idea - I'm sure we all keep the smallest pieces of leftovers and it's nice to use them.   I used the same sentiment stamp and then used the balloon die that came with the latest Simply Cards magazine.  I cut 5 balloons from various snippets of sprayed card and then I dithered, arranged them, re-arranged them etc.  In the end I've just added one ...well the challenge is less is more!!

Anyway thanks for visiting and please feel free to leave me a comment - they are much appreciated.

Elaine xx

Life's a Beach

I've been so busy I haven't had chance to enter this challenge for a month or two but today is the day.....so here's my card for the Less is More Challenge week 233 where the theme is LIFE'S A BEACH.

I've used stamps from Crafty Individuals - CI278 and CI379 - and just inked with the new Distress Ink - Blueprint Sketch.  Love it as a blue so thought I'd keep my card monochrome - I just used a water brush to add the sea.   Having looked at this again there is not much beach so just think of sitting on a beach and this is your view!!

Thanks for visiting!!

Tim's Tag - St Swithins

Don't faint....I'm here with another post.  I suddenly had a idea for Tim's July Tag - I had nothing to do his USA tag with but yesterday here in the UK  was St Swithins Day so I've gone along that theme.....and yes it did rain!  All details are on  Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2015.

Whilst Tim did stars and stripes, mine is vaguely based on the design of a Union Jack so diagonals, triangles and red lines.  The Union Jack and the English Rose stamps are from Oak House Studio, coloured with Tombow markers and torn etc.  The words and 15th July are printed on the computer with the date attached to a fragment and then stripey crinkled seam binding to finish.

Thanks for visiting and if you leave a comment, then thanks once again - they are very much appreciated.

Elaine xx

Turquoise and Beach Huts

I do apologise to all my followers - my blog has been suffering from lack of attention.  This is mainly due to 7  weeks of exam invigilation (well I have to get my stash cash from somewhere) and then we've had a week away in the New Forest, there's been Wimbledon on the TV and Mr Mojo went on his hols too.....need I say more.

So today I've had chance to make my July page for The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge where the words are TURQUOISE and BEACH HUTS. 

A simple one really - I have one Beach Hut stamp so like several others I'm using Crafty Individuals set CI - 278.   I've just stamped them with Onyx Black Versafine and coloured with markers.   The background is sprayed with Inks in a Bottle (from Oak House Studio) - I've used Totally Turquoise at the top and added some Jubilee Blue for the sea.  I've torn this to create the white waves, added a strip of sand scrapbook paper and some greenery to ground the huts.  To finish I've stamped the gulls from the same stamp set and added the July Calendar.

Hopefully I'll get chance to enter a few more challenges ..... but first the ironing!! 

Thanks for popping by.

Dragonfly Dreams

At last I've had chance to make something for The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge where the theme for June is DRAGONFLIES and LAVENDER.

Lavender is a funny colour as the flowers can be pink or blue - I've gone for a bluer version with the background coloured with Shaded Lilac and Tumbled Glass Distress Stains.  I've stamped the foliage from Tim Holtz's Fairytale Frenzy set with Pearlescent Lavender Brilliance and then added the dragonfly. 

I was looking for a realistic dragonfly stamp but had no joy so I invested in Tim Holtz's Dragonfly die - not only do you get a die, but you also get an embossing folder too.  I cut three layers - the base out of  some silver glittery card, a black body and some acetate wings which I embossed and alcohol inked.  I took the photo with flash so you get to see the full shimmer!!

So we're halfway through the year so thought I'd show you the first 6 altogether.   Hope you like and thanks for looking - I'm off to see what everyone else has made!!

And now for something different..

Still One Stamp weekend but here's something a little different - this time blue!!

The medium sunflower is clear embossed and then a selection of blue inks were blended over the top.  I've used the Script Sentiments to finish - its a great stamp set with 6 different sentiments in a very useful font!

That's my last project for the day.  Hope you've found some inspiration here or in the group so keep stamping and inking!!

Elaine xx

Sunflower Z-card

Another Sunflower card - apologies for the shadow on this one!!

This is a concertina/Z card using dark green A4 card folded in 3 and cut on a diagonal.  I've stamped the large Sunflower on white gloss and added to the card with some ribbon.   It's just finished with some Script Sentiment stamps and a Sunflower charm made with shrink plastic.  Don't you love this - it's so cute!!

 Thanks so much for visiting!

Sunflowers

Day  2 of the ONE STAMP weekend and here's a card featuring.....yes, you've guessed it....  SUNFLOWER stamps.

 

 

I used the large Sunflower stamp inked with Yummy Chocolate Pigment Ink and painted with Bottled Sunshine Ink in a Bottle.  The inky background is a swooshy mix of  Vintage Green and Bramley Apple Inks in a Bottle.   I've added the Bamboo Trellis  from the Oriental Stamp Set - inked with Yummy Chocolate on some brown paper - and the same with the small Sunflower Border added over some hessian.   To finish I've stamped the Great men sentiment with Chocolate, clear embossed and painted over with Bottled Sunshine and matted the whole piece on brown card.

Thanks for visiting and please leave me a comment and tell me what you think.

Elaine x

Sunflower Canvas

Here's another project for the ONE STAMP event - I decided to get painty and inky and create a mixed media canvas with the Sunflower Stamp as the main feature. 

Firstly I sponged two shades of Fresco Chalk Paint on the canvas - mainly Limelight but with Hyde Park round the edges.  I then sprayed it with Bottled Sunshine and Glorious Gold Ink in a Bottle and dripped some Bramley Apple down the canvas.

I then randomly stamped the English Garden Text using Pumpkin Pie Pigment Ink and used a plastic card to add the lines using Yummy Chocolate Pigment Ink to create the trellis effect.

Over that I smoothed some Grungepaste tinted with a little Hyde Park through a leaf stencil, removed the stencil to wash it and immediately added some  Welbeck Green and Gold Embossing Powder to the paste.  Once it was dry I heat embossed it.  It was a little too white so I added the stencil again and sponged on some Green as Grass Pigment ink.

Next I stamped the Sunflower on some cream cotton fabric 3 times withYummy Chocolate Pigment Ink and clear embossed - this acts as a gutter to stop the ink seeping.   I then painted them with Citrine and Amber Acrylic Inks.  As I knew cutting them out would be fiddly I overpainted them so I wasn't left with any cream edges.

I stamped the Sunflower 3 times on some aluminium with Stazon and cut out inside the lines.  I stuck the fabric to the metal and shaped them to give dimension to the flowers.

My canvas is just finished with the saying printed on the computer, outlined with orange Sharpie.

All the Stamps, Ink in a bottle, Ink Pads and embossing powders are from Oak House Studio. 

Elaine x

Great Men and Wine

It's ONE STAMP weekend at Oak House Studio and this time the stamp is the SUNFLOWER.  There are a few Sunflower stamps - large ones, medium ones and a border so lots to choose from.  As it's nearing Father's Day here in the UK I thought I'd make my dad a card representing the things he loves......yes Gardening and also Wine.

For all the stamping and blending I've used the Wine Pigment Ink Pad from Oak House Studio.  The background is the Medium Sunflower, the 'ribbon' detail is the Sunflower Border clear embossed and the sentiment is Great Men.   I've matted onto some Maroon 'Leather' card to keep it manly!!

Hope you like and thanks for visiting.   Pop back later for another Sunflower project and have a look in the Inkspired Group on facebook for more inspiration!

Elaine x

ONE STAMP - Sunflower

Lynnda at Oak House Studio is hosting another ONE STAMP WEEKEND - 24hrs of crafting with just the SUNFLOWER stamp - to show you just how many different ways one stamp can be used.  Please visit Oak House Studio and  the INKSPIRED group on facebook for inspiration throughout the day.

 

This is a card I've shown before but I love the effect.  The Large Sunflower is stamped with Jet Black Stazon on acetate and then painted with Alcohol Inks - reds, oranges, gold etc. 

A great bright start to the day - keep popping back over the weekend as I have a few other projects lined up.  Bye for now!!

S is for Sea Life

My poor blog is suffering (exams and lack of ideas!) but I can now show you this card - I made it in January and today it's in the new Craft Stamper magazine....yeah!!   I got my subscription copy today -  it's on sale next Friday I think.

It's in the Ready, Set, Stamp section - so made in 20 minutes, the colours were Blue, Orange and Yellow with a By the Sea theme.    A while ago Sizzix had 75% off their Sassy Serif letter dies so I bought 4 (M, E, K and S for my family) so S is for Samantha, sun, sea, sand and shells etc.   All the stamps and inks are from Oak House Studio and full details can be found in Craft Stamper magazine.

Elaine x

Tim's Tag for May 2015

Well I've done all my chores so thought I'd have a play at Tim Holtz's Tag for May 2015.  If you have no idea what I am on about then click the link and see.

Looking through my stash I came across this photo of Winston Churchill and with all the coverage of the VE Day 70th Celebrations I thought I'd follow that theme.   The base is like Tim's in that I stuck some hessian to a tag,  added some Grungepaste through a stencil and inked that with Vintage Photo Distress.   I also used that to colour some seam binding.   Otherwise I've just added various images found on the net - a newspaper headline, a 1945 calendar - and I printed off the words to use. 

My daughter helps in the local museum and they had a party yesterday afternoon - she mocked up some ration books and they had paste sandwiches etc.  They also had small cakes with little Union Jack flags so I pinched one of those to carry on the patriotic feel!!

Hope you like my interpretation and thanks for visiting.

Elaine xx

May and it's Magenta

No exams this morning so thought I'd have a go at my May page for The Craft Barn's Calendar Challenge - the words this month are MAGENTA and FLOWERS.   I'm using 14cm squares which will be stuck onto A5 black card and bound at the top to create a flip calendar.

I'm not really a pink person but when the theme is magenta then you have to go the whole hog!!  The background is a pale mix of Picked Raspberry Distress Ink which I also used to stamp the Clematis Tower (from Oak House Studio) in the top right corner.   For the main image I stamped the Clematis Tower with Onyx Black Versafine, clear embossed it and coloured with Pentel Colour Brushes.  To tone down the pink a bit I've edged it with Seedless Preserves Paint and framed the May calendar with purple card. 

It's a bit crinkly I'm afraid but I'm sure it'll straighten out before the year's out.  I think you'll agree it fits the bill of magenta and flowers!!  

Thanks for popping by and for any comments  you leave - they are much appreciated. 

Elaine x

Orange and Blue

Here's my card for the Less is More Challenge week 222 - it's a colour week and the theme is to use OPPOSITE COLOURS on the colour wheel.

On this type of challenge my choice will always be Blue and Orange and having seen Sarah's bold design, I thought I would go bold too.   The flower are from the Spring Blooms set from Oak House Studio - I've stamped with Onyx Black Versafine and coloured with markers.  The sentiment is also from Oak House Studio and stamped with Majestic Blue Versafine to match the blue hammered card - a bargain from Papermilldirect!

Thanks for popping by and I hope you like my card.  Tomorrow sees the start of the exam season - I have over 40+ exams to invigilate over the next 7 weeks - so my poor blog is going to be neglected somewhat but I'll try and do some challenges!!

Bye for now

Elaine xx

By the Sea

Here's my card for the Less is More Challenge where week 221 the recipe is to use a TAG.

I've just got back from a quick weekend down to Cornwall delivering my daughter back to University and to be honest I'd have loved to have seen this view.   Alas it was misty, foggy and raining.....but at least it was better than the forecast thunder and lightening.   I've just created a little scene on the tag using stamps from Crafty Individuals (set CI-397) and the waves are Mermaid Lagoon Distress blended through a Studio Calico Chevron stencil. 

Sorry about the photo - the light is strange today - but thank you for visiting my blog.