Happy World Cardmaking Day ........

Happy weekend ......

Welcome to October!

It's World Cardmaking Day today ..... how are you celebrating?

I've actually been in the craft room for most of the week ........ finally feeling human again after my last bout of Covid!!

 

I've been busy making samples for the next Sweet Poppy Stencils TV show coming up later this month.  There's some gorgeous new Christmas designs coming ......... but, if you can't wait for the TV show then check out the Sweet Poppy website because they are all available to buy now!  And guess what ....... if you place an order of £20 and over this weekend, use the voucher code SPCREATE10% at the checkout and you'll get 10% off your order total (not available on sale items or the Star Buy though).  This discount code is valid all weekend up to midnight on Sunday (2nd Oct) ..... UK time.  Go on, why not treat yourself!

You will have to wait a little longer though to see what I've been creating with them!

I've also been playing with some of the latest Sweet Poppy stamp designs.  I was away in the van when these came out so it's the first time I've used them.

They're from the Designs by Amelia range, and they are so much fun!  

What do you think of this little guy .........

Now I'm not a frog person at all but, this one is just too cute!

All the stamp sets are A5 size, and you get a nice large main image along with a few extras, and a selection of sentiments included.  (the 'kiss me I'm a prince' is not included with the Tree Frog stamp set though, it's from my own stamp stash)

The stamps are easy to use and the images are so detailed.  

As I always say, even though the stamp is large, you don't always have to make large cards.  This is a standard DL card and as you can see, he fits nicely.

I coloured him using the new Sweet Poppy Watercolour Brush Pens ...... these are brilliant, and so easy to use. 

I stamped the leaf again and fussy cut, then attached it with foam pads to add a touch of dimension

A few ink splatters in the background and a sentiment from the stamp set to finish ......  as I said, the one underneath is an old stamp of mine by Magnolia, I just couldn't resist using it. (I've kissed a few frogs before I found my prince!)

Another one from the same range is the Elephant ........

Again stamped and heat embossed, and coloured with the brush pens

A few extra leaves added, and a touch of gold splatter

to tie in with the stamped sentiment ....

And finally the Chameleon .........

Just think of all the colours you could use for this image.  

I chose to use pearlescent paints and I did fussy cut him ........  a little fiddly, but nothing too bad!

I love how striking he looks against the black card.

Here he is again ....... different colours this time 

Stamped, embossed and coloured with pearlescent paints.  Fussy cut just around the bottom edge this time ......

and then attached over a simple painted background

I really love how these have turned out.  I'm not usually a fan of colouring in large images but these just seem to work.  Wouldn't they make great cards for teenagers!

Dont' forget that voucher code if you're shopping at Sweet Poppy this weekend.

SPCREATE10%

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and have a fabulous weekend.

I think we're off to make a start on the Christmas shopping tomorrow ...... oh joy!  Well, I suppose there is only 12 weeks to go!! 

Cheerio until next time ......

CAS Mix Up Challenge ...........

Happy Tuesday ........

Belated Happy Valentine's too 💕 ....... I hope you had a nice day!

It's the middle of February, so that means we're half way through this month's CAS Mix Up Challenge. 

It's a Mixed Media challenge this month.  Susan's our host, and she's chosen Faux Cloisonne as the theme .......

If you're thinking ...... what's faux cloisonne? (like I did) then don't worry .......

 Susan's Message

For my challenge I would like you to recycle glossy Magazines, Advertising material or you could use Designer Paper that has been hiding in your stash.  Most cards I have seen are embossed with Gold embossing powder but you could use other colours too. 

 

You can also check out the CAS Mix Up Blog,  where you'll find links to some videos showing how to use this technique.

Now I don't buy that many glossy magazines so, I had to really look hard for something to use.  In the end I found a couple of pages in one of our motorhome club magazines.

The next problem I had was deciding on which stamp to use.   Before I ran out of magazine pictures to use (it's not often I throw things in the bin but, boy was this a challenge!!) ..... here's one that survived the cut

(Faux Cloisonne, Stamping,  & Watercolouring)

I stamped my image onto white card, watercoloured the little bunny and the background,

and then used the faux cloisonne technique for the bunny's umbrella.   

Stamped the umbrella part onto my magazine page, heat embossed in gold and fussy cut.  I then paper pieced the umbrella onto the stamped image ...... 

A simple, fun technique, and a great way of adding extra colour to your designs.  I will definitely be using the faux cloisonne technique again ...... I just need to get my hands on some glossy mags!!

Another way of doing Faux Cloisonne is to use pearlescent paints with your gold embossing

(check out the link to the Lindsey Weirich video on the CAS Mix Up Blog)

Here's my take on that .......

(Faux Cloisonne, Stamping, Heat Embossing, & Ink Splattering)

Black card stock, and a pretty Altenew stamp ....... love it!

Go on ..... why not give it a go and join in with this month's challenge. 

You have until the 24th of the month to get your entries in.  Just remember to include the Challenge Theme, Rubber Stamping, and at least one other Mixed Media technique on your entry.

Happy stamping!

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

Cheerio until next time ........

Supplies

Card 1

Stamps: All weather Friends (Anita Jeram - Colorado Craft Co.)

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Delicata Metallic Ink - Golden Glitz; Versamark; Distress Inks to watercolour with 

Others: Gold Embossing Powder (WOW!); ZIG Markers to Watercolour with; Magazine page

Card 2

Stamps: Everlasting Happiness (Altenew)

Inks: Versamark ink; 

Others: Gold Embossing Powder (WOW!); Pearlescent Paints

Be your own kind of beautiful ........

Good morning
Happy Thursday folks ......

How's your week been going?

The old craft room is back up and running as normal ...... whatever that is!  I've made a start on next month's DT commitments even though Mr Mojo is still putting up a fight, but ..... I think I'm winning finally. I'm ready for the blog challenges at the beginning of next month at least which is better than I was last week!  Although I'm still having fun (if that's what you can call it!) playing around with a new camera ....... photos are taking a little longer.  Why is nothing ever easy!

I must admit that I'm looking forward to having time to play with all the lovely new stash that's arriving in the old craft room.  New stamps ..... oooh!  A few new stencils ....... lovely!  Gorgeous new Finnabair paints ..... so pretty!  And the new waxes .... can't wait to try those!  I'm also making a start on a shopping list for the craft show at Port Sunlight at the beginning of May.  My tickets arrived last week .... whoo hoo!! So looking forward to that, can you tell ..... it'll be the first time I've been off the island this year.  Can't believe I've lasted this long!!  Mind you, I am grounded a little now since the airline that flew into Blackpool went into liquidation!
Luckily I didn't have any flights booked like I normally have ..... hubby had one and we're still trying to get the money back for that!

In between all the DT/challenge stuff  I have managed to have a little play in my journal again ...... sorry about the photos, what with the bad light and the new cameras I'm not sure that I've captured these pages properly

Lots of Prima goodies on these ..... the pretty doily stencil, used randomly off the pages with texture paste .....

Lots of shimmery pearlescent paints from the Finnabair range, in pretty pastel shades, brushed across both pages and also used to paint the butterflies

More butterflies stamped, painted and fussy cut before being added onto the page

And of course some words ...... stamped and clear embossed.

Lots of splatters across the pages to finish off ..... using black, white and gold paint

Not sure that the true shimmer really comes across in the photos, it looks so pretty and delicate in real life ..... the pastel shades are gorgeous.  I'll get the hang of the camera ....... eventually!

Oh well ..... must dash.  I've got a busy day ahead.

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

Cheerio until next time