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Thursday 27 February 2014

A Silver Blizzard



This lovely design uses techniques  featured on previous cards, but by changing the colour scheme and materials  it looks quite different.  The base card is white, with a snowflake border stamped along one edge with clear versamark ink and heat embossed with silver glitter embossing powder.  The background panel is a piece of silver mirror card that has been embossed in an embossilicious folder through a machine.  Afterwards glitter is added to highlight the pattern.  The snowflakes are created in the same way as before    ( Dimensional Snowflakes).  The background panel is matted on to black card and layered on to the base card.  The snow flakes are added with dimensional glue and sticky backed gemstones in the centre to complete the design.

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Guilded Bamboo

This is a simple elegant design with an oriental feel to it.  The base card is white linen textured card.  The background panel is a piece of dark card that has been embossed in a folder through a machine.  The pattern gives the effect of an oriental screen.  The focal panel is a piece of contrasting coloured card that is stamped with an image of bamboo using flitterglue.  The image is then covered in guilding flakes, and the excess flakes rubbed off with a textured sponge.  This process reveals the fine detail of the image.  Both panels are matted on to gold mirror card then layered on to the base card, the focal panel is attached with dimensional glue.  The corners of both panels have been shaped with a corner punch that compliments the pattern of the embossed panel.  The swirl embellishments are created out of waste, they are the slithers of card left after trimming the matting cardstock!  True crafters never waste anything!

Autumn Trees



I thought I would post this card to show that this lovely design can work just as well using different colour schemes.  The design is created in the same way, using the same techniques as a previous post, 'Night Trees'.  I love the autumnal rich colours of this card, and as you can see, by changing the sentiment this design works for all sorts of occasions.

Monday 24 February 2014

Festive Red and Gold


 


This design is very simple and quick, yet still has an oppulent feel to it.   The base card is red, with gold mirror card used as a mat.  The focal panel is centura pearl snow white card that has been embossed in an embossabilities folder through a machine.  This folder has three large baubles as it's main focus, and gold guilding wax is rubbed over them to colour and enhance.  The ribbons are coloured with a red glitter pen,  the background snowflakes are glittered.  Two bauble images are stamped on to red pearlescent card and heat embossed with gold powder, then cut out and glittered.  Gold ribbon is threaded through them and attached to the back of the main panel.  A die cut greeting completes the card. 

Sunday 23 February 2014

Christmas Forest


 


This is a lovely festive design in traditional green and gold, although it would work in another colourway.     The base card is green.  The background panel is created from snow white centura pearl card which has been embossed in an Embossabilities folder in a machine.  Glitter has been applied to the snowflakes and the branches of the trees.  'Dries white' glue has been used with the glitter to enhance the snowy effect.  When dry the panel is matted on to gold mirror card and attached to the base card.  Three sizes of Fir trees are die cut and embossed in a machine, then glitter is added.  A sentiment is stamped on to white card in green Brilliance ink, heat embossed with clear powder, then die cut and embossed into a label shape.  It is also colour tinted around the edge with ink.  It is then matted on to gold mirror card.  A couple of holes are punched, and some ribbon threaded through.  Glitter is added to highlight parts of the image, then the sentiment panel is attached to the card as are the trees with dimensional glue. 

Snowflakes Revisited



This design expands on the last project and has had a few elements added.  A larger white base card is used, and it has been colour blended around the edge in Mediterranean Brilliance ink.  A snowflake border image is stamped along the top and bottom edges with Versamark, and then heat embossed with silver glitter powder.  The rest of the design is created in the same way as the previous one(Dimensional Snowflakes).

Dimensional Snowflakes


 



This is a lovely design that makes good use of my various snowflake dies.   The base card is snow white centura pearl.  The background is a panel of dark blue card that  has been embossed with snowflakes in a machine.  Blue glitter is added to the snowflakes to highlight them.  White pearlescent paper is used for the snowflakes.  Several sizes of snowflake dies are used to cut them out, then each one is highlighted with glitter.  When dry three different sized flakes are layered together to make one large 3D snowflake.  The embossed panel is colour tinted around the edge with white Brilliance ink, and a ribbon is added with a bow and attached on the back of the panel.  Then it  is matted on to silver mirror card and attached to the base card.  The snow flakes are added using dimensional glue, and little gems are applied to the centers of them.  A sentiment is added as a finishing touch. 

Holly Baubles

 



This is another simple design that works well in different colourways.  The baubles are the 'waste' from the aperture cards in the previous posts 'Frosted Fir' and 'Quick Christmas Cards'.  The base cards are either white or cream textured card.  The corners have been stamped with a holly corner image using distress inks, and pens to colour the berries.  The edges of the base card are tinted with distress ink.  The background panel is a piece of printed paper from Artilicious Christmas CD rom.  Glitter has been added to the holly leaves both on the paper and on the baubles.  The baubles have been colour tinted around the edges with distress ink, so have the panels.  Gold and silver Krylon pens have been used to edge the panels, giving the appearence of a layer of card underneath.  The panels are then added to the base card, and the baubles are positioned off center and attached with dimensional glue.  A little bow and a greeting completes the design.   

Quick Christmas Cards

 
 

These cards are all made in the same way as 'Frosted Fir'.  


Frosted Fir










This simple design is easy and quick to make, brilliant for batch making.  The base card is blue and it has been embossed with snowflakes in a folder through a machine.  A bauble die is used to cut an aperture in the front of the card.  Glitter is added, white to the snowflakes and blue to the edge of the bauble.  A Fir tree is die cut from a piece of centura pearl card, the edges are tinted with Brilliance ink then glitter is added.  The edge of the base card is coloured with silver Krylon pen.  The tree is suspended in the aperture on a piece of acetate, which is in turn is attached to the inside front of the card.  A sentiment is stamped and heat embossed inside the card. 

Winter Wonderland



This design is a slight twist on one  I have posted previously( A Snowy Country Christmas) .  A couple of the stamps have been changed, a die cut Christmas tree  and a layered die cut pointsettia with foliage added to create a simple but elegant black and white card.  As it doesn't actually mention Christmas on the front, I think it would work just as well for a winter birthday. 

Saturday 22 February 2014

Tempus Fugit




This is a nice design for  men of any age, although the colours could be changed and some ribbon and glitter added to make it more feminine.  Black card is used for the base card, and fob watch images are stamped around the edges in silver Brilliance ink.  Another piece of black card is embossed in a machine using a stencil of clocks and watches.  The panel is then coloured with H2O's, and guilding wax is applied to give a metallic look to the panel.  It is then edged with silver Krylon pen and matted and layered on to the base card.  Two fob watch images are stamped on to black card in clear ink and heat embossed with silver detail powder.  These are cut out and attached to the card with dimensional glue.  A sentiment is added to complete the design. 

Blue Destination


 


I have got in to Steampunk a bit more now, and I have built my Steampunk stash up a bit!  The base card is white, a background stamp of assorted cogs has been used  to create a border around the edges of the card in Peacock Feathers Distress ink.  Then the edges are tinted with a blending tool using the  same ink.  A piece of black card is embossed using a stencil of cogs in a machine.  The edges are torn and guilding wax is applied to highlight the raised pattern.  There are screw heads in each corner of the stencil, these have been glazed to give them a raised shiny appearence.   The wax also gives the card a metallic look.  The panel is matted on to a piece of paper that has been coloured around the edges with a silver metallic marker pen, then stamped in Black Soot Distress ink with the cogs.  The edges are then torn to match the panel.  A piece of white card is coloured with the distress ink using a blending tool, then the cogs background stamp is used with water for a faux bleaching effect.  An altered image collage stamp is used as the focal image, then it is stamped again on a piece of white card.  The face and the clock hand are cut out and glazed.  When dry they are decoupaged on to the art work.  The edges are torn and then it is matted on to some silver satin card that has been die cut and embossed in a machine.  A sentiment panel is created in the same way as the focal panel.  Both panels are then attached to the card. 

Peacock Celebration



This is another lovely 'worker' card, suitable for any celebration!  The design starts with a scalloped edge white card.  Using a blending tool blend Peacock Feathers Distress ink around the edge of the card.  A swirl image is stamped using the same ink over the colour blending.  A large Nestabilities shape die is used to cut a layer of turquoise card, then embossed, and colour tinted with the distress ink.  A piece of white card is embossed using an embossing folder in a machine, then glittered.  The image of a peacock is stamped on to a piece of turquoise card in black ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Then the image is coloured with H2O's.  Another piece of turquoise card is die cut with a smaller Nestability, embossed and colour tinted.  The swirl image is stamped around the edge of the panel.  A greeting is stamped on to the small panel.  The embossed panel, focal panel and greeting panel are matted on to black card, then all the panels are layered on to the card. 

Sunshine Daisy



This is yet another 'worker' card, a lovely design to suit many occasions.  The base card is yellow 'linen' textured card.  A piece of white card is embossed in a folder in a machine, then glittered.  The embossed panel is cut with a large Nestability die, as are pieces of yellow and white card, in different sizes.  The shaped layers are also embossed in a machine and colour tinted around the edges with Mustard Seed Distress ink.  Using more of the yellow and white card several flowers and flourishes are die cut, glittered and colour tinted.  A couple of butterflies are also die cut from the same card.  The flowers are layered up creating 3D embellishments, the centres are decorated with liquid pearls on one, a gem stone on another, and a butterfly on the third.  The card is assembled by matting and layering the various panels, then the flowers and flourishes are added using dimensional glue.  Finally the other butterfly is added to complete the design. 

Friday 21 February 2014

First Steampunk Card

 This design is my first venture in to Steampunk, so I just used the limited products and materials that I had to hand.  Black card is used for the base card.  The background card is a piece of texture printed card that has been embossed in a machine and lightly sanded back.  Guilding wax is applied over the embossed panel, picking up the raised areas.  Micro beads and glitter rocks are added for more texture.  The panel is matted on to mirror card.  A fob watch image is stamped on to some card that has been colour blended with distress inks, using black ink.  The image is then cut out, the whites of the eyes are coloured with a white fine liner pen, and triple heat embossing is used to glaze the watch.  It is then attached to the panel with a brad, and a couple more are added as embellishments.  A sentiment is stamped on to card that has been colourblended with distress inks.  The side edges are torn and coloured with a silver Krylon pen.  Silver liquid pearls are added on three corners of the sentiment panel.   A piece of silver mesh is cut to size, the background panel is layered on top, then the sentiment panel is layered on top again.  A brad and some pinflair glue are used to attach both panels and the mesh to the base card.

Christmas Cutie




Another Christmas bauble, this time for a little girl.  The MDF bauble is coated with white gesso, then acrylic paint is applied all over.  A fairy image is stamped on to white card in black ink, and heat embossed with clear powder.  The fairy is then coloured with pro-markers, and multi coloured glitter is added.  Frosted Lace stickles is dotted all over the bauble to look like snow.  The fairy is attached with dimensional glue.  The other side of the bauble has been painted in the same way, a large swirl stamped on it in flitter glue, and guilding flakes applied.  The little girl's name is then added.  A ribbon is threaded through the bauble and a little bow completes the project. 

Thursday 20 February 2014

A Bauble of Joy



This is a little project I did for my new grandson's first Christmas, and I thoroughly enjoyed making it!  As with all my previous MDF projects this one starts with the bauble being coated in white gesso.  Then acrylic paints are used to create a simple snow scene.  The stamp used is by Indigo Blue, it is stamped using flitter glue and covered in guilding flakes.  The excess flakes are burnished off with a rough textured sponge.  Two colours of stickles are used to give the effect of snowfall.  Some ribbonn is threaded through the top of the bauble and a bow added.  The back of the bauble is decorated in the same way, but my grandson's name and date of birth replace the stamped image.

Autumn Mini Canvass



This project uses a mini canvass about 3 or 4 inches square.  This one was made for a dear friend using her initial, but several mini canvasses could be linked together to form a name or word.  The canvass is first given a coat of white gesso as a base.  Then two or three colours of acryllic paints are used with a wide, stiff brush to blend them on to the canvass and add texture.  As my friend and I both love using leaves and trees in our crafting that is the theme for this canvass.  Once the paints are dry trailing vine leaf images are stamped along the top and sides in sepia ink, then the edges are distressed with the ink.  Using flitter glue(or similar) more leaf images are stamped in the corners of the canvass, and guilding flakes are applied.  In one of the corners the glue is just dabbed on to the artwork and flakes applied.  A large  letter outline image is stamped on to white card that has been painted or inked to co-ordinate with the paints used on the canvass, using pigment ink and gold embossing powder.  It is then heat embossed and cut out.    The same leaf image that was used around the edge is stamped on to the letter in sepia ink.  Then the letter is given a coat of glossy accents.   Some small leaves are punched out of the same card and glossy accents applied. 

Hey Diddle Diddle


 


As I mentioned on a previous post I became a grandma again in 2013 and the sex of the baby was kept a surprise until the birth, so this is the other card I made!  The base card is white, and baby themed peel offs have been used as stencils to create a border around the edge as before( A Few of my Favourite things).  Blue Brilliance ink is used over the peel offs leaving a white image when they are removed.  Another stencil is used to create the background panel.  Firstly it is embossed in a machine using white centura pearl.  Then leaving the stencil on the card, sweep the blue ink over the whole panel using cut'n'dry foam.  When the stencil is taken away it leaves an embossed pattern in blue and white.  Using a set of large Nestability dies  three shaped panels of different sizes are cut and embossed, the largest in pastel blue pearlescent card, the next size from the background panel.  They are matted and layered on to each other, with some ribbon being added to the background panel.   Then they are attached to the base card.  The smallest shaped panel is the focal panel.  The stamp used in this card is a set of four images telling a nursery rhyme.  The images are stamped and heat embossed on to the panel, then coloured with pro-markers.  The panel is put back into the die and blue ink is added to the inner edges.  Another much smaller panel is cut and embossed from the blue card and a sentiment is added.  The focal panel is attached to the card with dimensional glue as is the sentiment panel. 

For the Nursery



This project is only my second using MDF pre-cut shapes.  As I was making it for my new grandchild without knowing the sex I wanted to use colours that were appropriate for either sex, that had a slightly vintage feel and were colourful enough for a baby's room.  To start the project the MDF is painted with a layer of white gesso, back and front.  Then acrylic paints are used to colour the letters, with low tack masking tape protecting one colour from another.  The teddy bear is treated in the same way, choosing a colour from the ones used on the letters.  When all the paint is dry a pro-marker is used to add a mock stitching detail to the letters, and features to the teddy bear.  I chose to use the same stamps for this project as I used for the baby cards.  The images are stamped and heat embossed on to white card, then coloured with pro-markers.  The images are cut out and distress ink added to the edges.   The tiled images and the centre panel are glazed with triple heat embossing with clear ink and powders.  Some gingham ribbon is added along the middle line of the artwork to cover the edges where one colour of paint meets another, and a couple of buttons are threaded with ribbon and attached to each end of the central ribbon.  A piece of ribbon is added to the teddy bear to give the effect of a bow around it's neck.  The stamped pieces are attached to the artwork with dimesional glue. The teddy bear is attached with more ribbon to complete the project.

Saturday 15 February 2014

Night Trees



This is a lovely design, I loved making this one!  Another'worker' design.  The base card is white textured card that is colour tinted with Broken China Distress ink. A corner swirl image is stamped on to the card then mica powders are brushed over the image.   The background panel is dark blue Co-ordinations card that has been embossed with a folder in a machine, then sanded back.  Glitter is added to create the effect of moonlight hitting the trees.  The smaller panel is made using a colour blending technique on to black card.  The black card is covered in PPA glue, then small amounts of mica powders are blended in to the glue with your finger.  Three colours of powder are used.  When dry, the panel is randomly sprayed with spray webbing, in black and silver.  When that is dry the panel is matted and layered on to silver mirror card and black card, as is the tree embossed panel.  The leaves are made from black card.  A solid leaf image is stamped on to the card using clear Versamark ink.  While the ink is still wet the  mica powders are applied with a brush.  When dry the leaves are cut out and covered with a glaze medium.  The glaze is best left to dry overnight, after which they have curled a bit and look like real leaves.  They are added to the card with dimensional glue.  A word or text stamp is also used on the base card and brushed with mica powders.  A very elegant design.

Sunday 9 February 2014

A Few of my Favourite Things

 


















In 2013 I became a grandma again, and as we did not know which it would be until the birth, I made two cards!  This is the card for a baby girl.  The base card is white, some baby themed peel offs have been used as stencils around the edge and pink Brilliance ink applied over them.  The peel offs are removed and can be used again.  The effect is subtle but very pretty.  The background panel isa piece of centura pearl card that has been embossed in a machine.  The panel is then cut with a large Nestability die, and matted on to a piece of pink pearlescent card that is the same shape but slightly bigger, and attached to the base card.   Before glueing the panel on to the pink frame a piece of ribbon and a bow are attached.  The central focal panel is created by stamping a suitable image on to white card in sepia ink and heat embossing with clear powder.   The image is coloured, then cut  to size and shape with a die.  It is also embossed and tinted around the edges with the Brilliance ink.  A panel of  pink pearlescent card is die cut and embossed, the edges tinted and glitter added.  A sentiment is added, then both the panels are attached to the card using dimensional glue.

My First Canvass


 In this project  I have copied the design used on the card 'A variation on a Great Design' on to canvass.  This is the first canvass I have ever done, and I'm really pleased with it.  As before this project is inspired by Sheena Douglass who makes lovely art on canvass.  I created this art work using the same techniques as on the card, but this time I used acrylic paints instead of Radiant Rains, and guilding flakes with flitterglue instead of heat embossing with powder.  I embellished the canvass with a vintage style plaque and skeleton leaves.  The paints are best dabbed on with a brush and blended as one colour goes in to the next.  As it is a stretched canvass I used a block of wood underneath so that I had a stable surface to stamp on.  The ink used for stamping is black Versafine. 

Homage to Middle Earth


 


This design is the one that I am most proud of so far.  I LOVE all things of Tolkein's Middle Earth, and this is my homage to the Hobbit.  There are several techniques used in this design, and I enjoyed every minute of them!  Most of the stamps used are current except the 'Elvish Script' which I have had in my stash for 10 years or more.  The base card is white and has been coloured around the edges with two or three distress inks blended together.  A trailing Ivy image has been stamped repeatedly along the top and bottom of the card.  Another piece of white card is cut to size for the focal panel.  The hills or mountains are created using a brayer and torn copy paper, as in previous cards (Lakeside Trees, Misty Morning).  First and second generation ink is used to create perspective.  Some small fir trees are stamped over the darker hills, also in first and second generation ink, to create wooded areas.  A larger single tree is stamped to create a foreground.  The same trailing vine image is stamped across the panel to create an 'edge' to the landscape.  The round door image is stamped with the trailing Ivy framing it.  Two colours of distress ink are blended around the edges of the panel adding both light and shade to the scene.  A large corner swirl image is stamped on the left in clear ink and heat embossed in gold powder.  Glitter is added to create highlights.  The Elvish script is stamped and heat embossed in the same way on the right.  The door is coloured with distress ink.  Some Ivy leaves of various sizes have been stamped and cut out, then each leaf is covered in glossy accents.  The trailing Ivy image is stamped around the edges of the panel as before, and dots of glitter added.  The panel is matted on to dark card then layered on to the base card.  Acorns and Pine cones are die cut from coloured card and glazed like the leaves.  When dry the leaves, acorns and pine cones are added using dimensional glue. A lovely piece of artwork, you almost  expect to see Bilbo coming out of the door!

A Variation of a Great Design














 
This card is my version of a design by Sheena Douglass which she demonstrated on T.V.  I have  added a few embellishments of my own, but the design, stamps (except the tree), and techniques are all Sheena's.  I shall be making a section on this site for 'practise and experiment' photos at a later date, which will feature different stages of development for some of the cards including this one.   The base card is white and has been coloured with Radiant Rain Pourables around the edges using a piece of sponge to blend the colours.  When dry, a large decorative corner image is stamped in clear ink and heat embossed with gold detail powder, in opposite corners of the card.  Another piece of White card is used to create the background for the central focal panel.  The edges of the panel are tinted with black soot Distress Ink.  Start in the centre of the panel with the lightest colour, using a wet sponge to apply the Radiant Rains,  moving out towards the edge of the card blending the colours and finishing with the darkest colour.  When dry a large tree image is stamped in the centre of the panel, using black ink.  The tree can be 'grounded' using a black fine liner pen to draw the ground beneath the tree.   Some text is also stamped in black, randomly across the panel in second and third generation ink.   The panel is aged and distressed by stamping with Sheena's 'Ageing Beautifully' stamps and heat embossing in gold powder.  When finished the focal panel is matted on to some mirror card and layered on to the base card.  As a finishing touch A few skeleton leaves are added in one corner, and some die cut acorns are added which have been cut from card coloured with Radiant Rains.