N for Needlework

It's only Tuesday and I've made my postcard for The Craft Barn's Alpha Dictionary Challenge where this time the letter is N.  Mind I did struggle...I read through my dictionary three times before an idea popped into my head.

I've chosen to do NEEDLEWORK and yes I could have added real stitches but decided to stamp an old-style Sampler.  The background is stamped with a Hessian stamp (Kaisercraft) and the Sampler itself uses Stitch in Time stamps (Oak House Studio) and my initials and date are done with the Good Alphabet  (Hero Arts).  I've used the triple ink pads from Oak House Studio too and tried to make it look a bit faded. Having said that I dated it 2016 - I really need to think things through!!  As usual it's finished with the dictionary definition and the N Thicker.

As I said I struggled to find a word this time so it will be interesting to see what others do.  Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment!

Elaine x

Shabby Chic Wedding

Still having a go at some wedding card samples - these are based on a shabby chic type feel but romantic with the roses too.

The base for all of these was a piece of watercolour paper sprayed with the new colours of Ink in a Bottle from Oak House Studio - French Wine and French Mint - torn and used on various types of cream card.   I've added some gold embossed Cross Stitch (from the Stitch in Time stamp set) too.

I've used all 3 sizes of Oak House Studio's Rose stamps and watercoloured with the Inks in a Bottle - the large Rose makes a nice focal on the wedding invitation and the Rose Bud is just the right size for a place card.   If you don't fancy all the painting and cutting out, then you can just emboss it onto a rectangle of card and use that as shown on the Order of Service.   I've added the gold embossed  Wedding Words stamp set and inked some satin seam binding to match.

All the stamps, inks and embossing powders are from Oak House Studio.

Spots and Stripes

Well it's dull and cold again so thought I'd make a bright card to cheer everyone up - this is for the Less is More Challenge week 110 where the theme is a ONE LAYER card with SPOTS and STRIPES.

I've used the Satin Ribbon stamp from the Stitch in Time set (Oak House Studio) to create the stripes of grass and flower stem, and added a few small buttons in between to ground these.  For the flower, I've used a solid circle stamp (well it's a big spot!!) inked in orange and yellow with a button flower centre and just handrawn around the edges to define it.  My card is just finished with the Cute as a Button sentiment.

Thanks for taking the time to look and hope you're all keeping warm....it's trying to snow here!!

Christmas Gift Tags

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

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

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

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

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

Ribbons and Lace

Here's my tag for The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog challenge for April with the theme of Ribbons and Lace.


The background, stamping and seam binding is all coloured with Bundled Sage and Broken China Distress inks. The Swirl Flourish is from The Artistic Stamper, the Satin ribbon is Oak House Studio and the WISH is Tim Holtz.

The mini book plate is a Tando Creative one inked with Broken China and topped with Bundled Sage Distress Stickles. I've added some lace at the bottom - I only had white so inked this with Vintage Photo to make it fit the vintage feel of this piece.

Apologies for the photo - it's a bit grey today and the colours are not so true!! Hope you like and thank you for looking.

Stitch in Time

Here's a quick card for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 193 with the theme of Stitch in Time.


Well as Oak House Studio have a stamp set called Stitch in Time I just had to use them. Here I've just stamped the stitching ones and the cross stitched sentiments with Brilliance inks to create a sampler style card, but there are buttons in the set too. Check out the post below as I used the same set on last week's Less is More challenge too!!

Now I'm off to do h@*@@**k having been away for a few days - oh the joy of it all!!

Less is More - Stripes 2

Here's another One Layer Card featuring Stripes for the Less is More challenge 54.

Whilst rummaging for the tiger stripes I came across this Oak House Studio set called Stitch in Time - I've used a variety of inks with the satin ribbon, cross stitch and blanket stitch stamps to create the stripes and then added Best Wishes in cross stitch font from the same set.

This set makes a great sampler type card for anyone with stitching friends!! Thanks for looking.

Buttons

Here's a little card I've made for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge 138 with the theme of Buttons.


Still busy with exams at school so my crafting time is a bit limited, however I just thought I'd make a little card which would be suitable for a birthday or a thank you. The fabric hearts and button stamps are from Oak House Studio's Stitch in Time set.


Whilst we're talking about buttons I've just received this little piece in the Craft Stamper Trade It swap. It's by Sarah Ford, but there is no other information so if you ever read my blog, thank you Sarah - love the sentiment!!

Next TV Show

Just to let you know Lynnda will be on Create and Craft Freeview 36 next Wednesday - that's May 5th at 12 noon - so make a note in your diary.
I'm not exactly sure of everything in the programme but as well as some Oak House Studio stamps, she'll be demoing pen pots and desk organisers together with ink pads, embossing powders etc.

Here's a card I've made with the Stitch in Time set of stamps which includes 6 fabric hearts, 3 rows of stitching, 5 buttons and some words. I just used the buttons with primary coloured inks - it makes a great card for young children or as here, a congratulations card for a new baby.



Anyway the sun's shining so I'm off out to make the most of it!!

Show Dates

Well I hope you all had a good Easter weekend - it seems so long ago already. I've been busy this week motivating my daughters to get on with their homework. Wasn't very successful as they seem to need the internet for everything these days and ours has been slow to non-existent. A quick poke of the router with a cocktail stick and things seem to be back to normal!! Now it's just a case of getting them out of bed....
At least with the computer down I've been making a few cards for the next TV show - it was going to be next Friday but it's just been moved to May 5th at noon I think....I'll confirm nearer the time. Along with pen pots and desk organisers will be a selection of stamps including the Stitch in Time set - 6 fabric hearts, 5 buttons, 3 rows of stitching and words.


Here's one of my cards at a very jaunty angle - note to self: mirri card is difficult to photo without getting a view of me and my camera too!! Anyway the card uses the largest button embossed in Colour Chemistry Midnight Sparkle, the cross stitched Best Wishes and the satin stitch clear embossed over Colour Chemistry Powder Blue Pigment Ink. My favourite colours - turquoise, black and silver.....hope you like it too!

So the next job is get organised for Ally Pally and the Big Stamping and Scrapbooking Show this weekend. Luckily I live too far away to help load the van but I'm sure Lynnda and Martin will have everything organised by the time the show starts at 10am on Saturday.
If you've never been before it's a great show with lots of stamps, inks and scrapbooking papers to tempt you in a beautiful setting, Come and say hello!