CAS Mix Up Challenge .......

Hi there .......

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month ........ welcome to April folks!
I hope everyone is managing to stay safe and well.

If you could do with something to take your mind off things for a little while then, why not join in with this months CAS Mix Up Challenge ........

Loll is our Challenge Host this month and she would like us to use Bleaching on our projects.

There's a few ways of doing this technique ....... using simple household bleach, which we all probably have lots of at the moment.  I must admit it's not one of my favourite products ..... I don't like the smell!  It does give some great effects though, depending on how you use it, and your cardstock can also make a big difference.
Check out the CAS Mix Up Blog for some great video links using this technique.

Another way is faux bleaching, which is what I've used here.  I've created that bleached out look using Distress Inks and water.

I love this stamp from Simon Says Stamp ...... it's called Flora Background and it was part of their STAMPtember release last year, and would you believe, it's the first time it's been inked!!!

I stamped the design onto a piece of watercolour card and heat embossed in gold

I then blended a couple of shades of Distress Ink over the top of the whole piece of card.  I went with blue but you could use whatever colour you like ....... the darker the colour, the more of a contrast there will be.

To create the bleached effect I simply took a paintbrush and some clean water and painted over the petals.  The water reacts with the Distress Ink and you can dab away the colour using a paper towel ...... the more water you use, the more colour you can 'bleach' away

It looks so pretty.

I cut down the design to fit the front of my card blank, added a die cut frame and stamped a sentiment underneath .....

Now you know me, I don't like to waste anything so .........

 ...... this was one of the pieces I cut off,  way too pretty to throw away so, I made it into a matching tag!

One of the ways of using actual bleach, is to stamp onto black or dark coloured cardstock and then use the bleach as you would a paint to colour in the image.  This then bleaches the colour out of the cardstock.
I did try this but I think the bleach I have in the cupboard has been there forever, and it just didn't do anything so, I took a white watercolour pencil and coloured in the image instead .......

I think it looks a little like the bleach effect ...... what do you think?

See you in the gallery!

EDITED
Oh My!  I can't believe I missed this!! ...... thanks for the heads up Loll!
I'm so excited to see the fabulous NBUS Challenge is up and running again, with it's own special website ......

I'm ashamed to say I have a whole box of NBUS ...... Never Before Used Schtuff, but now I have a reason to use it, and the time to play.  Hopefully this will help to get my mojo back too!

Because the stamp I've used on the above designs has never been used before, I'm linking up to this month's challenge. 

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

Things are still a little crazy around here ...... I just can't seem to settle down at anything.  Sleep patterns are all over the place too.  I think everyone's the same.
There was so much that I was going to do ...... things around the house, catch up on stuff in the craft room like all those online classes I've subscribed too but, it's just not happening. 
I have cleaned  a couple of cupboards out, and sorted through the freezer.  I even tried moving the furniture in my craft room and clearing my desks to see if that would help with the old mojo ..... now I just can't find anything ...... well apart from the new stuff that's arrived this week (ooops!)

I also treated myself to a gorgeous new Archer & Olive journal ....... not sure what I'm going to do in there but, it's noce to look at!!

Oh well ...... time for a glass of wine I think ...... well it is Wednesday!

Stay safe everyone.

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

Produsts used:
Stamps: Flora Background (Simon Says Stamp); Sprinkles & Smiles (Penny Black) - sentiment
Inks: Versamark; Distress Inks - Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire
Others: Gold Embossing Powder (WOW!); Paintbrush; Clean Water; Stitched Rectangle Frame Die

Brand new stencil designs ......

Happy Wednesday .........

Welcome to February!

We've got a busy month coming up ..... but hey! what's new.
Everything is on schedule with the house move,  we get the keys to the new place next Thursday!!! I'd better get on with some packing I think.

Before I start boxing up the old craft room, I'm trying to get ahead of myself with all my DT commitments for this month ...... projects made and blog posts scheduled.  By the end of this week my February will be over!

Before it gets busy with this month's Blog challenges though I want to share with you some of the brand new designs coming up from Sweet Poppy Stencils.
Those eagle-eyed amongst you may have already seen these as they are available on the website now ....... and they've been shared on Facebook!
Anyone lucky enough to be going to a craft show anytime soon will be able to get their hands on them there too. I believe its the ICHF Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycrafts in Manchester this weekend and Sweet Poppy will be there, so if you're going pop by their stand and say Hello! ....

Here's some of my favourites from the new designs ...... just look at the gorgeous new Magnolia

This is so pretty ..... large enough to be the main focal point but still a great size for creating backgrounds.
Here I've simply used the stencil with heavy white gesso ..... let it dry, then coloured over the top using Watercolour pencils ......

The design looks great done with stencil paste too.  Sprinkled with glitter over the top whilst the paste is still wet ......

The Sweet Poppy glitters are so fine they don't take anything away from the detail of the stencil .....

A simple sentiment finishes the card off nicely ....

Another great design is the new Frame ...... I can see this one being so useful.

Black stencil paste and a simple die cut circle to fit the centre to add your greeting ..... perfect!

Why not add a touch of sparkle with those stunning Sweet Poppy glitters, for a different look

This time I've cut out the centre and added a pretty stamped image behind, before adding the words around the edges

Look at the detail on the design ..... just beautiful.

And you don't always have to use the whole stencil ........

Again, stencil paste and glitter and this time I've added a decorative centre from a piece of left over YUPO paper coloured with Alcohol inks ..... a great way of using up all of those bits.

One of the new designs I had to have was the Motorbike ....... how cool is this for men's cards, and perfect for me here on the island ... the Isle of Man TT and all that!

This is simply black stencil paste, then once it was dry I went over some of the detail using one of the Molotow Liquid Chrome marker pens ......

Look at the shine ......

A few ink splatters onto the background and a simple sentiment give the finishing touches

And finally ..... what about this fun design ....... Cocktails. Cheers everyone!

Now we all like the odd cocktail or two ...... I'm quite partial to a nice Hemingway Daiquiri now and again, or maybe the odd Aviation ... hic!  And wouldn't this be a great design for making party invites ...... hmmm housewarming maybe!

I used Distress Inks through the stencil to colour the cocktails, then applied Translucent stencil paste over the top to lock in the colour .......

A touch of crystal glitter to highlight the stems of the glasses ......

And a sprinkling of Brusho and a good old spritz with some water to colour the background.

These are just a few of the new designs coming your way soon.

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your evening.
I'm off to quickly tidy my workdesk ready for tomorrow's To Do list.

Cheerio until next time

It's One Layer Week ...... for the boys

Hello there!

Me again ...... just a quick post, I hadn't realised the time!

It's One Layer Week over at Less is More ..... and you all know how much I love those!!  And .... as if that wasn't tricky enough, the theme this week is .......

Masculine

That's right ..... it's got to be ONE LAYER, CAS ...... and designed with those fabulous MEN in mind!

OK ..... I'm always up for a challenge ..... what do you think?

Definitely only one layer ...... and I know a few guys I could send this too!

I've used this months cool, freebie stamp from the Craft stamper magazine ..... coloured using a set of the new Prima watercolour pencils ......

I made myself a mask for the camper van, put it in place and then used the zig zag stamp from the Stampin Up! set ..... Work of Art, to add a little more interest to the background.
I finished off with a few co-ordinating ink splats here and there using Distress inks mixed with water, and added the perfect sentiment ...... job done!

The inspiration for this came from a cute little VW camper van, owned by my daughter's boyfriend .... meet 'George'

Here he is parked down by the beach yesterday.
Quite the little home from home .....

Even the little man thinks he's cool .....

Perfect for making the most of those sunny days!

Thanks for popping by (again!) ..... enjoy the rest of your evening. I'll be back tomorrow with the last of this week's Blog challenge entries.

Cheerio until next time.

Linda

xx

Up in the Air .......

Helloooo, I'm back!

A little later than I'd planned, but I'm here.  

What was I saying yesterday about the sunshine ........ well I should have kept my mouth shut!  It's gone again.  That'll teach me won't it.   At least it's not raining (yet!)

First Blog challenge of the week (might be the only one unless I get a wriggle on!) - Less is More
I am getting earlier with this challenge though, I had this week's done on Monday, just haven't had time to Blog it.

It's week 107 and the theme for this challenge is .....

Up in the Air

Chrissie and Jen want to see aircraft, balloons, rockets etc.  Things that go up in the air.  Here's what I came up with .......

I've used a cute little Happy Hoppers stamp from House Mouse called 'Balloon Journey', and the sentiment is an SU stamp from the Up, Up and Away set.
The little bunny and his balloons have been coloured using watercoloured pencils, and I've layered the balloons to add a bit of dimension.

I've inked the clouds in the background using Tumbled Glass Distress ink and a hand cut mask that I've had for absolutely ages - it's well used! 

It's so simple to do.  I had a comment over on the Indigo Blu DT Blog last week asking how I did this, and I said I would do a 'How To' on here.  I haven't forgotten, I just haven't time to do it yet - watch this space!

Speaking of the Indigo Blu DT Blog (ooh ..... nice link there!).  As it's Wednesday, it's the day for my regular weekly post. 
Kay is back on the telly at the weekend, which means lots of new goodies.  I've been busy making samples this week and I've posted some sneaky peeks if you fancy a look.  Just follow this link. 
If you read the IB blog regularly you'll know that the DT have been hinting about something BIG happening soon on the Blog.  Well the wait is over, tomorrow is the big day - oooh ..... exciting!  All will be revealed.

It's back to the old craft room now.  I have to parcel up all my show samples ready to post in the morning, and then it's time to tidy up the mess.  I can't actually see the floor in places, and seeing as we've got visitors at the end of the week I think I should do something, don't you.

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

Cheerio for now

Linda

x

It's Twinchie Time

Happy Wednesday everyone,

Another quick post today.  Loads of things on the go in the old craft room.  I've made a start on a few projects at least - not finished anything yet though.  Not sure if this was a good idea or not - multiple things on the go -  there's stuff  EVERYWHERE!!!!

One thing I have done though is my Twinchie for the Show Us Your Twinchie  Blog Challenge.
A twinchie is a 2 inch x 2 inch  little 'work of art'.  I know it sounds small but once you get started you'll be surprised what you can get on there.

It's Week #2 and the challenge is SUMMER

Now in my dictionary it says .... summer  the warmest season of the year, between spring and autumn, extending from May to September (yeah right)

I don't know about you but my summer so far has been a warm week sometime in May, a mixture of cold, windy, rainy days since, with the odd bit of sunshine here and there, and the heating still on in June - what's that all about?!
Mind you the weather here can be a little bit, shall we say changeable even at the best of times.  We've been known to get all four seasons in one day on the Isle of Man. 
However, the weathermen are now predicting that it's all going to change next week, SUMMER is finally going to arrive.  Hmm ...... we'll see.  Not putting the raincoat and brolly away just yet.

Anyways, here's my twinche ........ my bit of summer

I can just about remember what the sun looks like.
I used Mustard Seed and Dried Marigold Distress Inks to create the sun and rays sponged onto the piece of card with the edge of some paper as a mask.  The birds are from a Timmie clear set of mini stamps and the grasses at the bottom are just the tip of a Stamp Addicts Wildflower stamp, coloured with Distress Markers.
It made me dream of summer days anyway.
 
Ooh, here's yesterday's Altered Art Dictionary page too (I only managed the one).  The word is bathe

bathe

I've used an old Penny Black stamp I've had for ages, called 'It's you Day' and it's coloured with watercolour pencils, without the water.
I'm so used to reaching for Copics these days I'd forgotten how nice it is to use pencils.  The colour doesn't bleed through the paper either.
I also added Glossy Accents to the bubbles and the champagne glass.
I'm going to try and do at least one of these pages everyday, it's so much fun.   And, you should see the artwork from some of the others doing this, it's stunning.  Why not give it go.

As it's now lunchtime (where has this morning gone!) and I still haven't made a start in the craft room I'd better get a wriggle on.

Have a lovely Wednesday.  I do hope the sun is shining where you are.  Hopefully I'll get something finished this afternoon.

Bye for now

Linda

x