Clarity catch up

Happy Wednesday,

Can you believe it's December in less than a week ......... only 30 days off Christmas Day ..... and not a present bought! ..... oh no!!!
(Well ..... that's not strictly true ...... I have got a couple of stocking fillers but none of the big stuff yet!)

But ..... I'm not thinking about all that now .... I've just realised that I haven't blogged any of my samples from Paul's Clarity shows last weekend ...... oops!! I didn't even give you any teasers (bad DT member!)  Let's put all that right now shall we .....

Did you see the shows?..... didn't he do well!  Great new products, fab demos from Paul and lots of great inspiration from the rest of Design Team.

Here's just a couple from me using the new stencils ..... the elephant and that gorgeous, very regal looking stag.

I love the elephant, he's such a great size..... and he goes so well with the new Trellis stencil.

I simply inked through the stencil using a grey ink (Hickory Smoke Distress), onto a piece of white cardstock.  Then I used a Clear Glass Bead Gel over the top to give him some texture
(Barbara did the same technique on her blog at the beginning of this month, using a translucent embossing paste and then sprinkling Micro Glass Beads over the top whilst the paste was still wet - works exactly the same)

Once everything was dry (I left him overnight) I fussy cut around the elephant before attaching him to my card

For the background I used the Trellis stencil ..... onto a piece of white card, and then sprinkled through some pigment powders.  I used Brushos but you'll get a similar effect using the Color Bursts from Ken Oliver (must get my hands on a set of these .... I really need to try them!!) 
I then spritzed over the top with some water, let the pigments do their work for a few seconds then carefully removed the stencil.
It's a good idea to have another piece of card handy when doing this technique because as you lift the stencil off you'll find that there's still quite a bit of colour on the stencil itself.  Don't waste it, turn the stencil over ...... lay it down onto the white card and voila!  you have another background!

I also used one of the corner stamps from the Elegant Corners set just to add a bit more interest and embellishment

These are really useful little stamps to have in your collection ..... not just for corners either.  Create fab designs by just repeat stamping the same corner, turning it each time you stamp.  Just have a play with them and see what you come up with .... it's fun!

 
I finished off my elephant card with one of the Word Chain stamps.

Next up is that gorgeous Stag stencil .....

You don't always have to use the whole of a stencil ..... just use part of it like I've done here.

Like I did with the elephant, I inked through the stencil using a couple of shades of brown Distress inks (I think it was Vintage Photo and Gathered Twigs) then I applied some translucent texture paste over the top.  Once I'd removed the stencil and whilst the paste was still wet,  I sprinkled fine crystal glitter just over the antlers and then set it aside to dry.

Once everything was dry I cut around the stag using an oval die.  With the die still in place I used a touch of distress ink to add a bit of colour around the edge

I sprinkled on a little chunky white embossing powder and finished him off with a festive bow and a bell around his neck

Using the Trellis stencil again for the background, I inked through with red and green Distress inks

and then finished off with a festive greeting from one of the Christmas Word Chains.

I think this weekend I'll make a start on writing all my Christmas cards, especially the ones that need to go overseas ....... and across to the UK.  I need to make sure everyone has our new address .... again!!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day.
I think we're off out this evening ....... there's a Christmas shopping event on over at Tynwald Mills so it might be a good time to make a start on those festive purchases.  And you never know ..... I may just get treated to dinner out if I'm lucky (or if there's any money left!!)

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Ta Dah!!!!!! ......... Tag # 12 .....

Happy Sunday morning ......

You don't hear that very often on here do you!  Sunday is usually the day for a nice lie in for me but not this week.  No .... it's a nice early start 'cos I'm off out for a crafty day with the girls!!
No slaving in the kitchen making Sunday lunch for everyone ...... mine's all done, and the craft bag is packed ...... not sure I've got everything I need but hey .... we're in Jill's craft room today so if I've forgotten anything there's no doubt that it'll be in there somewhere!!!
Now all I need to do before I go is share my final tag for Loll's 12 Tags of Christmas event which comes to a close later today.

As usual, I'm on the last minute ....... but I couldn't miss the final one now could I .... so here it is ....

Another weathered background ....... this is one that didn't quite crackle enough all over when I was doing the last tag, but you know me, I never throw anything away (there's another one lying around on my desk too ready for a future project)

Crackle background, using PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints along with their Crackle Glaze.
Then I stamped the gorgeous Clarity Lone Spruce tree using a green Archival ink onto one side of the tag

I added some torn bits of card to the bottom to create some dimension and gave then a touch of fine crystal glitter

I die cut the fabulous Tim Holtz stag from chipboard ... I actually cut two and glued them together for added depth.
It was then given a coat of paint and finished off with a little Distress Ink around the edges to add some shading (Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain)

I stamped and embossed in white, some pretty snowflakes onto the background and also onto the back of the deer.
Some fine crystal glitter onto the antlers and of course the famous red nose finish him off nicely

Again ......  not wanting to waste anything ..... I came across the words on my desk, already stamped and embossed (left over from a previous tag no doubt!) A touch of Weathered Wood Distress Ink around the edge, matted onto a piece of co-ordinating card and voila! ...... tag is done!

Phew! ........ that's all 12.
Why not pop over to Loll's blog and take a look at all the fabulous tags that have been entered into this year's event.  Or ...... if you've not already joined in the fun there's still a little time left to play along. There's some fab prizes up for grabs too.  Mind you I wouldn't want the job of choosing the winners ....... good luck with that one Jeremy!!!

Thanks again to Loll for hosting this fabulous event and for inviting me to be one of this year's Guest Designers ....... it's been fun!!

Oh well .... must dash .... PJ's and slippers is not the ideal outfit for a day crafting ..... not in someone else's craft room anyway!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy your Sunday.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx 

PS  ...... almost forgot!  I'm also linking this up to the Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media Challenge where the theme is TAG

and also the HLS Christmas Challenge because their theme is also TAGS

Cheerio (again!) xx

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer ..... or not!!!

Happy weekend to you,

I do hope you have a nice one planned.   A quick post from me before I dash out, to share my entry for this week's Merry Monday Challenge ..... it's been a while!!

The theme this week is ...... to use a reindeer

OK .... maybe I'm pushing it just a little bit .....

One Crazy Bird who thinks he's a reindeer .... and doesn't he look so cute!!!

CAS design ..... stamped and coloured using Distress Inks, then his antlers (from the Wonderland stamp set from SU) have been stamped, fussy cut and coated in glitter .......

How festive does he look!!!

A sprinkling of Chunky White embossing powder adds the finishing touch

That's it for now .... we're off down to Castletown, to the butcher's ...... time to stock up the freezer.
We had our first dusting of snow last night, up on the mountains. The sun is shining now though, but it's freezing cold! Winter is coming!!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the weekend.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Santa Claus is coming to town .......

Happy Friday,

Another week closer to the start of the festive season .... although it seems to have already started in some places.
Christmas lights are being switched on .....  the shops are full of Christmas decorations, gift ideas and yummy festive food ...... and I've just ordered a new frock for the Christmas do!!!  Bet it won't fit when it arrives!!!

Anyway ..... it's the start of the weekend and I haven't got a lot of time left to get my entry in for this week's Less is More challenge.
Unfortunately I missed last week's (sigh!) ....... a case of too much to do and not enough week to do it in.   I wasn't missing this week's though ....... it's One Layer Week ....... whoo hoo!!  and the theme is the big man himself .........

SANTA

One layer cards ...... don't you just love 'em!  Great for posting though!

I've used my all time favourite Santa image ...... Santa Collage  and the sentiment is an old Penny Black stamp.

A really quick and simple design (quick if you don't keep getting black marks on your card that is ....... 4 times I had to do this!  Like I said OL cards ...... !!!!!)

I cut myself an oval aperture in a piece of copier paper and used it as a mask to stamp the image through .....

I added a touch of colour to his cheeks, his eyes and his hat using Distress Inks ......... and a touch of sparkle to his glasses with a Stardust Gel Pen

A little bit of white embossing powder along the rim of his hat, and I finished off with a touch of fine crystal glitter around the edge of the oval ...... Ho! Ho! Ho!

Well I said it was quick!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day, and have a lovely weekend.
I'm looking forward to a nice fun day on Sunday ..... it's time to get together with the crafty bunch again ...... no doubt there'll be cake ..... yum!!

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

A little bit weathered .....

Hello there .... me again!

I braved the weather and made it to the Post Office on time ..... that's my Clarity samples on their way across to the UK.

Just a quick post this evening so that I can link up my Tag #11 on Loll's 12 Tags of Christmas event.
The event has actually finished but the link is staying open until the 22nd (Sunday) so if you haven't been tempted to join in the fun yet there's still plenty of time.

Nice and simple for this one ....... acrylic paint, crackle glaze, gilding flakes and embossing powder

I wanted a bit of a weathered wood look to the background ..... so I painted my tag with a layer of dark brown acrylic paint and let it dry.   Applied a thin layer of PaperArtsy Crackle Glaze over the top ..... if you follow the link there's a fab video on the website showing you how to use this.  It always amazes me how fast the cracks start to appear!

I like to use an old credit card to spread the glaze, and I applied it in one direction trying to get it as even as I could, in one swoop so as to get the look that I was after.  Once it was dry (you can use a heat tool to speed this up) I painted over the top with PaperArtsy's Fresco Finish paint in the Chalk shade

 
Using Flitter Glu, I stamped some of Tim Holtz's new Snowflakes onto my tag and then added some gilding flakes over the top

To finish off I stamped and embossed a festive greeting using stamps from the HLS Everyday Sentiments

Well .... that's eleven done ..... only one more to go.  Hopefully I'll find time to share it before Sunday.

I'm also linking this up to the Happy Little Stampers Mixed Media Challenge which is all about Tags

...... the HLS Christmas Challenge which is also Tags

 and ......... the HLS CAS Challenge where the theme is Gilding

Thanks for popping by .... again!

Cheerio until next time.

Linda

xx 

An afternoon spent paper piecing ......

Happy Wednesday!

How's your week going?  It's a bit wild and windy over here, but at least the rain has stopped .... for now anyway!

Last week I had a lovely afternoon crafting with a couple of ladies doing some paper piecing.
I do like our little get togethers ..... we chat ...... we craft, and there's always cake involved at some point.
We usually end up learning something new ...... we bounce ideas off each other, swap tips and techniques, and even when we're all using the same products, the end results turn out so different.

One of the cards they made was a design I'd done previously for the Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge back in October, using one of my favourite Clarity stamps ...... the Birds and Flowers

How cute are these little guys ..... and great for paper piecing ......

There's also a little one on the inside too .....

We also did a cute butterfly design ......

One of my favourite butterflies from the HLS Butterfly Birthday set of stamps, paper pieced using scraps from my bit box ......

Again, following the design through to the inside of the card too .....

And to round off the afternoon we finished with a Christmas card ..... well it is only 36 days away! (36 days ..... is that all!!!)

No paper piecing on this one though ...... it is one of my favourite Christmas stamps and someone had requested that we used him .....

Nice and simple ...... one of my 'go to' combinations .... black and white with a hint of colour.

He was simply stamped using black Versafine ink, then using a torn piece of copier paper as a mask to get that nice tree line in the background ..... I stamped the trees using a grey ink.

A sprinkling of Chunky White Embossing Powder to give the look of falling snow and a touch of coloured glitter to the wreath and he was all done

A festive sentiment and a bit of edging with a gold leafing pen adds the final touch

Oh well .... better dash.  I need to get to the Post Office before it closes and the sky is starting to look very grey again.  I don't really fancy getting caught in the rain!!

Thanks for popping by ...... enjoy the rest of your day.
I'll be back later with Tag #11 for Loll's 12 Tags of Christmas event .... yes I'm still playing catch up on that one!

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Do you Believe? ........

Happy Sunday,

Just a quick post today with my Tag #10 for Loll's 12 Tags of Christmas Event   It's been so much fun playing along with this event ..... the twelve days are up today but .... the link up stays open until the 22nd so there's still time to join in

One of my Crazy Birds had to make an appearance at some point ..... so here he is

I inked the background with Distress Ink, and created a little woodland backdrop using a torn bit of copier paper as a mask to create the hills

I added Santa and his reindeer flying across the night sky (Ho! Ho! Ho!)  

and sprinkled just a touch of Chunky White Embossing Enamel to give the look of falling snow

The bird was stamped directly onto the tag, and then again, twice onto a piece of white card.  He was then coloured, cut out and attached onto the tag (saves cutting out those thin little legs)

His eyes and beak have been layered over the top, and his little Santa hat (doesn't he look festive!), and the gift are both from the Crazy Things set of stamps ..... love these little accessories, there's something for every occasion.

The words were then stamped and embossed onto a piece of vellum, which I then tore around the edges and attached onto the tag

A touch of glitter and a festive red ribbon finish it all off nicely.

Well that's 10 down .... 2 more to go.  Then I just need to buy my Christmas presents for them all to go on!

I'm also linking up to the Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge which is all about Tags

and their Mixed Media challenge which is also Tag themed

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx