Messy monoprinting ...... Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge

Happy Friday everyone,

What a fabulous week it's been ..... busy, but hey! that's how I like 'em.

I'm absolutely thrilled to be posting my first project as part of the new Design Team for the Craft Stamper Take it Make it Blog Challenge

The challenge is now running monthly and each one will be based around one of the techniques featured in the latest edition of the magazine.
For this month's challenge you'll find the chosen technqiue on page 6 of the brand new ..... on sale today .......  April issue.

It's all about creating backgrounds with acrylic paints and monoprinting, using an Acrylic Block. So for those of you that don't have gelli plates, the lovely Trish Latimer shows how to get the same effect using something that we all have in our craft stash.

Here's what I've come up with for you ....

I had fun playing with the PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics and the JOFY stamps.

I used Trish's step by steps, which are really easy to follow, and  applied the paints directly onto the acrylic block ..... the colours are Sky, Pansy and a touch of the Snowflake white.

I used a brayer to spread out and blend my paints and cover the acrylic block, then I took a piece of bubble wrap and dabbed it over the paint  before taking my first print, this gave the look of some texture to the background ......

After taking the first print there was still a little bit of paint left on the block, so .... not wanting to waste anything I took some cling film, scrunched it into a ball  and then dabbed it over the paint.  I took another print giving me a completely different look, which I used to make some accent pieces for my project.

The background card for my sentiment (JOFY14), and also to stamp the cute scalloped border (JOFY13) .....

Once all the paint was dry, I started on the rubber stamping.  Everything on the background card was done using Onyx Black Versafine ink

The stamp I used around the edge is from the JOFY12 set, along with the spikey flowers.  And I added in the daisies from JOFY 13
I then stamped the flower heads again and the leaves, onto white cardstock, using Black Memento ink and added a touch of colour with Copic Markers ......

These were then cut out and overlayed onto the stamped background.

I added the words and the scalloped border, then to finish off I dotted some PaperArtsy Orchid Acrylic paint onto the background and highlighted the spikey flowers using a white gel pen.
A bit of matting and layering using co-ordinating cardstock and then the whole thing was attached to the front of a large square cardblank.

I always like to finish the insides of my cards by taking elements of whats on the front ......

As you can see, I've used more of the stamps from JOFY13, coloured with the same markers, and added another of the scalloped borders.
I've dotted the pink paint too, just to tie it all in with the design on the front.

Hope you like it, and that I've inspired you to give this month's challenge a go.  Go on, get out your acrylic blocks and get messy with your paints ..... it's fun! The winner of this months challenge will be announced on Friday March 28th ..... Good luck everyone!

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the Design Team have been up to you'll find links to all their blogs on the Challenge post.

Thanks for looking ..... enjoy the weekend
Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

What a busy day ......

Happy Thursday evening,

No I haven't been suffering with a hangover all day after celebrating with too much of the bubbly stuff last night - although it was Walmsley Wednesday ..... and my birthday so I'll forgive you if you thought that was the case. 

Thank you all for your birthday wishes yesterday ...... I had a lovely day ..... got thoroughly spoiled rotten.  There were cards and presents .... even hubby remembered this year!!!  Although I can't have my main present from him until later in the month ....... they're hanging in a gallery until after the 20th .....

I saw these a few weeks ago and fell in love with them. They're by an artist called Remi Labarre

and they're currently hanging in the Genesis Gallery in town.  Can't wait to collect them.

I was however, treated to coffee and cakes out and then spent the afternoon with a great bunch of ladies on a craft workshop with the lovely Jill Poole again. 

We got messy with paints and created beautiful stamped pearlescent toppers ......

A great technique,  really fun to do and no two will ever turn out the same.
We stamped onto acetate, turned it over and mixed pearlesent acrylic paints on the back.  Added a piece of white cardstock over the top, and then die cut it to get these beautiful little toppers .....

Just look at the sheen ..... so pretty and so easy to do.  Thanks Jill, will definitely being doing this again.

We also had time to squeeze in a couple of cards too ... one of which was this little Windmill shaped card  from Cardmaking Paradise

How cute is this!!!
Jill had used the template to cut all the pieces and then we coloured them and put them all together.  A certain little man was very pleased with this when I got home!

Hubby also treated me to dinner out last night ... told you I'd been spoiled!  We had a lovely meal at a place called Macfarlane's in Douglas ...... crab cakes, follwed by the best fillet steak I've had in a while, followed by creme brulee - nom! nom!  And to finish off the evening it was cocktails down at the Bath and Bottle - Cheers!!

Ok ...... I'll admit I was a little on the delicate side this morning but I've been in the craft room all day -  busy!
I had to get all my IndigoBlu samples finished and in the post before 5 this afternoon.  Kay's back on Create & Craft on Sunday ...... 9am and 3pm.  They're all done and should be in the hands of the Royal Mail now - phew!!
Tune in on Sunday to see the brand new designs, you won't be disappointed!

Ooops .... sorry, am I teasing .....

Oh, there goes another one ..... I'm going to be in trouble!!!

No more now ..... you've seen enough. Tempted yet!!!  Well .... if you can't wait until Sunday check out the IndigoBlu website ...... you'll find all the new stamp designs on there.

Thanks for popping by, it's always nice to see you.  Time to put my feet up and catch up on some TV I think. 

I'll be back tomorrow though with my first DT post for the Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge - whoo hoo!!!

I'm so excited ... can you tell.  Please take a look, and let me know what you think.

Enjoy your evening.

Cheerio for now ......

Linda

xx

Less is More ..... on a Tuesday!!!!

Morning everyone,

A bit of as flying visit today I'm afraid.  I'm doing 10 jobs at once ....... going at 100mph but hey! things are getting done - yeah!! (Thank goodness)

The dancing has stopped and it's back to work.  Thank you all, by the way, for your comments and congratulations on yesterday's news.  I've actually sent off my first DT project for the Craft Stamper Take It Make It (TIMI) Challenge (whoo hoo!).  No sneaky peeks I'm afraid ...... you'll have to wait for that one.

In amongst the chaos that is currently going on in the old craft room, I did make time yesterday to enter this weeks Less is More challenge ........ a bit early in the week for me I know, but I'm trying to get organised!!

It's Colour week and the ladies have challenged us with a taste of spring ......we have to use

Yellow and Green

Hmmmm ..... not the first colours I go for but, I gave it a go .......

What do you think?  You can just about see in the background, the sun is shining again this morning.  It's a bit on the chilly side, but spring is definitely in the air.

The pretty daisies are from a Stampendous Perfectly Clear set (Daisy Stem Trio) and they saw their first ink pad when I made this card .... goodness knows how long they've been in the old stash.  

They've been stamped using Memento ink and then coloured with Copic Markers.  I added just a touch of fine crystal glitter to the centres, for a bit of sparkle.

The dotty ribbon was from my bit box (love the colour) and I added a cute yellow button to finish off.

The 'hello' sentiment was from the same stamp set

Of course I've stamped the design on the inside too........ a nice finishing touch I think

I'm beginning to like yellow and green .... looks clean and fresh.  Maybe I'll start using it more often.

Oh well, back to the craft room it is.  It's more IndigoBlu samples today ....... new stamps (hehe!) Kay's back on our screens at the weekend ...... Sunday 9th March, I think it's 9am and 3pm (I'll confirm this later in the week though).  I'm going all out today to try and get them finished ..... well it's my birthday tomorrow (oops! another hint there!) and I don't really want to spend the whole day in my craft room ......

Thanks for popping by today .... enjoy your Tuesday.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

BREAKING NEWS!!!!! BREAKING NEWS!!!!

Hi everyone, Happy Monday!

Just a quick post .......and what a way to start the week ........ I'm so excited (can you tell!?)  I've been sitting on this news for a few days waiting for the official announcement, and the time has finally come when I can SHOUT IT TO THE WORLD!!!!!
I've been asked to join the Design Team for the Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge over on the Craft Stamper Blog .....and I'm absolutely over the moon!!!

It is the best craft magazine on the market ... in my opinion, and to be working with such a fabulous team is just ...... well, I'm thrilled ...... they're such a talented bunch! (dancing around the craft room doesn't come into it!).

As of this month, the challenge now runs from the first Friday EVERY month ...... that means there's a new one starting at the end of this week.  Check out the Craft Stamper blog on Friday, see what technique has been chosen this month and join in the fun.

Well, this week has definitely started with a bang ..... birthday celebrations will be getting underway early I think.  For now though, I'd better get in the old craft room  .... things are not going to create themselves. 

Enjoy your Monday

Cheerio for now......

Linda

xx

A Pinch and a Punch for the 1st of the month .....

White Rabbits!!!

Happy St David's Day.
No daffodils here I'm afraid ........ I've come over all festive again.  It's time for my Merry Monday challenge entry for this week.
It's challenge #97 and we have to ........ Sparkle & Shine using the colours  Aqua, Silver & White

I do like this colour combo for Christmas cards ..... it always creates an icy look I think.  Here's what I came up with .....

I used a mix of snowflake stamps from Tim Holtz and Inkadinkadoo, and stamped using the new 'Forget Me Not' Archival ink by Wendy Vecchi along with Smokey Grey Versafine.
The sentiments, both inside and out, are from the Penny Black 'T for Transparent'  Christmas Cheer stamp set.

You can see the Fran-tage has been out again ..... I love this on Christmas cards (can you tell!).  There's also something on this card that I don't use very often these days ...... mirri card (that's where the silver bit comes in).  I've used just a touch in the matting and layering ......

My sparkle is not very much I'm afraid ...... I've added a single gemstone to the centre of the large snowflake

I think that's all it needs ... but that's just me.
As always, the inside has been decorated to match ..... it's even had the Fran-tage treatment (actually it was to cover up a mistake but we won't say anymore about that!)

Well, that's Christmas design number 7 done and it's only March.  I must say I'm feeling rather pleased with myself.
Thank you to everyone that popped over to my blog last week, and for all your lovely comments.  This challenge really is fun to be involved in.

I've noticed that I've got some new followers this week too ..... Hello and Welcome, it's nice to have you along.

Thanks for popping by today ...... have a lovely weekend.   I'm off to get the old craft room organised for what's looking to be a very busy month.  I need to get off to a good start this next week because I'm away for a few days the week after.  And it's my birthday on Wednesday too .... looks like I'll be spending it working (if that's what you call it!)

Until next time ...... cheerio folks!

Linda

xx