This is my hubby's birthday card for 2015 and it was inspired by a design by Sheena Douglass, and uses her stamps. I also used some stamps from Crafters Companions Textures range and one of their embossing folders, plus a few embellishments. It was a chance to play with my new Aqua Tints 'Beautifully Grunge' set too! As soon as I got these stamps I wanted to create something with a 'Frankenstein' steampunk vibe, combining the Castle Ruins and High Voltage sets. I used an 8"x 8" plain white card as the base. I painted the edges of the card in purple, then used an embossing folder to create texture. I added some gold gilding wax to highlight the embossed pattern and give a distressed look. The focal panel is a piece of white stamping card cut to size. I stamped the ruins in black Versafine, and then masked the images with drawing gum. I painted the panel using several bright colours from the set of Aqua Tints, painting straight over the stamped images. I stamped a corner collage image in two corners of the panel in black ink, and some Gothic style script. I used a stencil by Sheena to create storm clouds in the sky above the ruins by faux bleaching through the stencil. I added highlights with Lumiere pearl paint, then stamped lightening streaks in white acrylic paint. I rubbed the drawing gum off the ruins and painted them, then highlighted them with pearl paint. The panel was then matted onto black card and layered onto the base card. Taking another piece of white stamping card I stamped a dial image in black and heat embossed it with black powder. I also stamped and embossed the sentiment in the same way. I painted over the stamped images, cut out the dial with scissors and the sentiment with a label die. I stamped two more images onto acetate in black ink and heat embossed them with black powder. Next I turned the images over and painted them on the reverse with Lumiere pearlescent paint in copper and silver. When dry I overpainted them with white gesso to make the colours pop. I then cut the images out, and attached all the embellishments with dimensional glue. I used a mini vintage lightbulb to mirror the stamped one. I really enjoyed making this card, it turned out exactly as I envisaged the design in my head. This design is bright, cheerful and fun! I think it could be a good 'worker' card, suitable for lots of occasions, any age any gender.
This lovely card is my entry to the Lavinia Stamps February challenge 'Bright and Beautiful' http://blog.laviniastamps.com/. I really love these stamps and thought they would be just right for a 'sunset scene' design. The Stamps I used are Lavinia Stamps Tree Goddess 'Luna', Fairy House, Fairy Words and Willow. I used Distress Inks:- Fired Brick, Spiced Marmalade, Dried Marigold, Mustard Seed, Pesto Adirondak ink, and Versafine Vintage Sepia. I also used H2o paints. I started with a piece of smooth white card which I die cut into a nice shape. I masked off part of the panel with some copy paper that I had torn to create a hilly landscape. I brayered with Pesto ink across the panel, then moved the mask slightly and repeated that step without re-inking the brayer. I added shading and depth using the same ink and a sponge, moving the mask again several times. I then drew around a jar to create the shape of my setting sun behind the hills, and blended red DI carefully keeping within the circle. I then blended the other colours - dark to light - radiating out from the sun. I finished the sky with a touch of blue. Next I stamped the Willow fronds across the top of the panel in sepia ink using first and second generation stamping. I then stamped the fairy and the toadstool houses as a guide, placing them where the final pieces would go. I stamped the images again onto smooth white card and heat embossed them with clear powder. I painted them with H2o's and cut them out. I then cut two pieces of dark card with a larger die the same shape as the panel. I scored one of the panels about 1cm from the top. I attached the panels with double sided tape forming a shaped card. I added gilding wax around the edges of the front panel and the stamped panel. I attached the stamped panel then added the fairy and houses over the first stamped images using dimensional glue. I stamped Fairy Words onto another piece of dark card in white Stazon ink, then cut a heart shape out of the stamped card. I edged it with gilding wax and attached it to the card with dimensional glue. To finish I added some liquid pearls. I haven't made a fairy themed card for a while and I really enjoyed myself with this one!
This card is my second entry to the Crafter's Companion February Challenge, 'Add Some Bling' https://www.facebook.com/CraftersCompanion. I was fed up with the rain and the cold, and I had a whim to create something 'Spring like'. Also I was eager to try one of my new 'Textures' embossing folders! The stamps used are from Sheena Douglass' Flower Power set; the embossing folder is Basket Weave from the Textures collection at Crafter's Companion; the paints used are H2o's and Radiant Rains also from Crafter's Companion. I also used Treasure Gold gilding wax Aquamarine, ribbons and skeleton leaves from my stash. I started by cutting a piece of Kraft card to size and embossing it in the folder through a machine. I decided to use the de-bossed side, adding some gilding wax around the edges and polishing it when dry. I added a couple of ribbons to the panel, then attached it to a white base card. I took a piece of dark brown, slightly textured card and cut it with a Nestability die, then added some gilding wax around the edges. I then took a piece of Sheena's white stamping card and created a background by sponging Radiant Rains in green and yellow all over. These paints have a lovely sheen to them when dry and are vibrantly colourful. I cut the background with another size of Nestability die and added Versafine Sepia ink to the edges. I then stamped some foliage images using Sepia ink, and painted them with H2o's. Next I matted the background panel onto the brown panel using 3D foam, and layered them onto the embossed panel. I stamped several flower images onto the white card in sepia ink and heat embossed them in clear powder. I painted them with H2o's before cutting them out and shaping them with a ball tool. I also stamped, embossed, painted and cut out a large foliage swirl. I added some glitter to the centres of the flowers, then attached them and the swirl to the card using dimensional glue. A couple of skeleton leaves were the finishing touches to this card. I love all the different textures I've used in this design, I think it's a great 'worker' card suitable for many occasions and various ages.
I made this card for the Crafter's Companion February challenge 'Add Some Sparkle', and because I wanted to create a piece of artwork using some of my favourite stash! https://www.facebook.com/CraftersCompanion. I wanted to create something bright and colourful, something to cheer everyone up on these dull cold days. I also wanted to do something with an oriental theme as it's quite a while since I did so. The stamps used are from Sheena Douglass's 'A Little Bit Oriental' collection, ( Lanterns and Sakura) as is the embossing folder. I started by making the floral panel blending Distress Inks onto Sheena's smooth white card; Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, and Worn Lipstick. When dry I stamped cherry blossom branches in black Versfine ink, creating a border around the edges of the panel. Using a soft brush and water I faux bleached the flowers. I then painted the flowers using H2o paints in various shades of pink and purple. I took some matt black card and embossed it in a folder through a machine. I applied Treasure Gold gilding wax to the raised pattern and polished it when dry. I used this as my base card. I took another piece of matt black card and sprayed it with Glimmer mists in gold and hot pink. I then embossed the panel using a different folder. I edged this panel and the floral panel in gold gilding wax, then matted and layered them onto the base card. I had earlier stamped and heat embossed several separate flowers in black and painted them. I cut them out and shaped them with a ball tool and set them aside. I stamped three large lantern images onto acetate in black ink, then heat embossed them with black powder. I stamped the lanterns again onto white card in black ink, and cut out all the lanterns. I glittered the acetate lanterns on the reverse side, and when they were completely dry I attached the card lanterns over the glitter to make the colours pop. I then attached the lanterns and flowers using dimensional glue. This is a lovely, cheery card design which is an excellent worker card, useful for most occasions.
This large piece of artwork is based on a card I made several months ago (Rainy Day Card) and I decided to re-create it for the Country View Challenges February challenge - Drips and Drops http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/, with a few 'tweaks'. The stamps used were Water Effects set from Designs by Ryn, and Through the Rain by Sheena Douglass. I created the background by first blending three Distress Inks - Dusty Concord, Broken China and Weathered Wood. I then spritzed some water into my hand and flicked it onto the background as droplets. I blotted the droplets (faux bleaching) with tissue, then stamped images of splatters, raindrops, a rainstorm and a small ring that I placed over some of the faux bleached droplets, using the same inks. The beautiful larger raindrops were stamped in Black Onyx Versafine ink then faux bleached as well. I then took a pearlescent blue acrylic paint and applied it in several places at the top of the artwork, letting it run freely. When the paint was dry I added some Glossy Accents to the larger raindrops to really make them pop, and add more texture to the piece. I also added GA to the ends of the paint drops to emphasise them. Next I stamped the sentiment onto acetate in black ink and heat embossed it with black powder. I wrapped the acetate around the bottom of the artwork and secured it on the back. I added some ribbon in coordinating colours and matted the whole piece onto black card. I really enjoyed making this as I love the design, the stamps and colours used.
This card is my second entry to the current Chocolate Baroque colour challenge http://chocolatebaroquechallenge.blogspot.co.uk/. The stamps used are: CB Design a Tree-Orchard, and foliage from the Thistle Butterfly and Eastern Grasses sets. I have used Brushos to create a background: Lime Green, Burnt Sienna, Terracotta and Yellow Ochre. I also used Burnt Sienna acrylic paint, gold embossing powder and Sable glitter. I am very new to working with Brushos but they are so versatile and give such lovely effects that I cannot resist playing! I started this design by creating the background panel; taking a piece of watercolour card, spritzing it with water and sprinkling with Brushos. I let the crystals spread and do their own thing, adding a little more water here and there as needed to get the result I wanted. I was trying to re-create a blazing Autumn sunset where the sky is a beautiful mix of reds, golds, blues and browns as dusk falls. I wanted the tree and foliage to look brown and dormant. When the Brushos were dry I stamped the tree image using the acrylic paint, then over stamped it in second generation paint. I stamped the grasses and foliage using the same paint, first and second generation stampings, to create a border along the bottom of the panel and add perspective. I added the glitter to the grasses and foliage as highlights in the sunset. I then finished the panel by edging it with gold marker pen. The base card is smooth terracotta cardstock. I stamped the thistle and small grass images around the edges of the base card using Versamark ink, and heat embossed them with gold embossing powder. I matted the background panel onto dark brown card and matted it onto the base card. This is a lovely design that I think is a great 'worker' card, suitable for either male or female cards and lots of occasions.
