Maelstrom

Rainbows are very popular in the UK at the moment, as a symbol of hope for a better time and just to cheer people up with bright colours.

I took up the challenge(s) and this image evolved as the combination of the sense of being blown uncontrollably by a whirlwind and the hope that there are better days "At end of the rainbow".

I thought the Visible Image stamp set Ahead of our Time had everything to represent my idea!

I created my rainbow colours background with Gelatos on a piece of card prepared with Gesso.
Then I used the Visible Image Stencil Strobes to remove colour.
I added the "clock" stamp with Versafine and embossed it with clear EP.


I stamped the falling people with Brilliance Graphite Black as I wanted the image to stay matt but wasn't sure Versafine would dry on the Gesso'ed and Gelato'ed surface.
And although I had aimed for solid black silhouettes, the Gelatos had an odd effect on the ink, which I decided was a good thing!

Finally, also a mishap I accepted to live with, I stamped and embossed the "Future" with Wow Yellow EP only to realise that the colour wasn't opaque as I'd thought.... I overstamped with Versamark and applied Vanilla on top, which allowed the image to show but does give a grainy look...

Let's hope for better days...

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the SSS Monday, Addicted to stamps, Stamping Sensations challenges.

Sunset and zebras

Today I am back on the Country View Challenge blog with another inspiration make. The theme is "Animal Magic" chosen by  Corrie.

Like my previous make for the challenge, I have gone for a CAS design and a realistic look, but, the brayered background gives a totally different feel.

I stamped and masked the zebras (Imagination Crafts Art stamp) on glossy card,  and brayered some dye inks for the sky and water.
I added the sentiment (Creative Stamping issue 57) embossed in white.

Again a simple creation where stamping takes the center stage.

Over to you now to create something with an animal, real or fantasy, and join us in our April challenge for the chance to win a £ 20 voucher!

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the Unikostudio, Craft Stamper TIMI, Penny Black and more challenges.

Old, new and outright weird

Vintage Journey are encouraging  us to use our Gelli plates and with more time to play these days (!!!) I thought I would oblige...

And even though I have many stamps perfect for mark making and creating backgrounds, I selected tools from my collection of found objects:

You will recognise most of those, including the sequin waste and bubble wrap, more weird are the nerf gun "bullets", which can be used on both sides for mark making. As I did several layers of paints some of the texture got lost in the end but here goes:

 

At this stage I added some proper stamping, especially since I had to test some new rubber… starting with Just the Ticket Border stamp from Crafty Individuals (CI-498) and the old(er) Crackle background (CI-116).

I then die-cut a square from my Masterboard and added the Perching Robin (CI-507, also new in my collection) once coloured with pencils and fussy cut.

Finally, I used one of the die-cut words from the Thinlits Adventure Words set (Sizzix/Tim Holtz).

Do tell me what you think in your comments!

Thanks for coming by,
I am also entering the Allsorts, Penny Black and more, Craft Stamper challenges.

Flying to the stars

Mid month already and time for  second dose of inspiration for our April STAMPlorations Theme & Photo Prompt challenge.

You can choose to follow either the theme or the sketch, and of course both, for the chance to win a prize! If you'd like to be considered for the prizes, please make sure you're linking back to the challenge post and displaying the challenge graphic.

I chose to go with the theme only and made this card:

My "sky" is patterned paper (brand unknown) my hills are Core'dinations cut with the one of the Stitched Snow Hills die and lightly sanded.

The plane from the Born to Roam set is simply stamped with black dye ink on white card and I added the sentiment from the Art Marks set.

After a total ban of travelling one can dream to take to the sky and reach the stars, no?
 

***

Whenever you shop for STAMPlorations products you can get 20% off with my code: STAMPGIRLCRAFTY

***

For more inspiration hop on over to the Stamplorations blog, you still have 2 weeks to create something for the challenge and be in with a chance to win a prize…

Thanks for coming by,


     

Seahorse

I should have been showing you rabbits, chicks or hens today but... Seahorses have been popular in the stamping world recently and I had valiantly resisted buying one. Then, I saw this cute one from Lavinia and caved... I love the delicate filaments of this design.

My background is Gelatos on a polymer rectangle sprayed with water (wouldn't recommend this method, inks work much better for this).

I then stamped the Seahorse with black Versafine and overstamped with Versamark, using my stamping platform.

I needed the base colour of black for the Seahorse to be visible when in the shade, but in the sun... it's the silver mica I applied over the Versamark that is visible :

I added a wooden anchor (old stash) and 2 sentiments from the Sizzix Thinlits Vacation Words by Tim Holtz.

Happy Easter!
I am entering the Allsorts, Craft Stamper TIMI, Penny Black and more  and Addicted to Stamps challenges.

Guest Designer at Creative Artist

And now for something special... and a long post!!! Back in December I was the winner of the Creative Artist Challenge and I was invited to GDT this month.

Unless they are useful storage items,  I seldom venture in 3D makes, but on this occasion, I felt the talented DT and the readers of the Creative Artist Mixed Media challenge deserved my getting out of my comfort zone!
I seem to come back to this theme regularly, not sure why, but a house garden idea imposed itself and I set about getting it into a 3D creation.

I first created a recessed panel out of cardboard and wrapped it with embossed Core'dination using Sizzix 3-D Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Lumber by Tim Holtz.


For the wall of my house I took some thick cardstock and sprinkled some Infusions in Rusty car and Brusho in Moss Green at the bottom, spraying with water until happy.

For texture, I embossed the panel with the Sizzix/TH - Bricked Texture Fades.

The floor has been painted with acrylic paint both with a brush and some spatters.




I created a window by partially die-cutting a piece of white cardstock with a door die (Grand Madison by Memory Box). I coloured the window panes with alcohol markers and gave them a few coats of clear embossing powder.





On the left I have some sort of  a trellis, which is in fact a honeycomb pattern from the Sunflower Bee die set by Julie Hickey Designs. I used it repeatedly on a piece of aluminium and then used several colours of embossing powders to get to the desired look.
I stuck die-cut leaves (Memory Box tender leaves) and drew stalks and flowers with enamel accents.
 


Further vegetation has been created with die-cuts and enamel accents :








Some small vials have been recycled into pot plants with sand and gel medium for texture and a coat of acrylic paint for colour.
The plants themselves have been die-cut with Memory Box Adelaide stems and Sizzix/TH  Thinlits Wildflower Stems #2 and given the Flower soft treatment.

A house need people and of course Tim Holtz dolls are perfect.

As a final touch, I added mica flakes here and there for a gravel effect .

 Phew... If you want more detail on anything let me know.

Many thanks to Creative Artist Challenge for inviting me , it was a pleasure guesting along this talented DT!

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the Memory Box, SSS Monday and SanDee & amelie's Steampunk (OK this one comes in under the Vintage banner)  challenges.

Born to fly

April's fool day!  I hope this day will find you well and bearing up with the confinement etc..

The first of April is also the start of the Theme & Photo Prompt challenge at STAMPlorations where the Theme and Photo are:

 

 

You can choose to follow either the theme or the prompt, and of course both, for the chance to win a prize! If you'd like to be considered for the prizes, please make sure you're linking back to the challenge post and displaying the challenge graphic.
 

I chose to go with the theme and took inspiration from the circular shape of the citrus fruit slices and their colours.

I used Versafine inks and my Gelli plate to create the background, stamping the scribbled circles from the Art Marks set directly on the inked Gelli plate before lifting the print. For an in depth tutorial of this technique hop to this post I did last month on the STAMPlorations blog or watch this short slide show.

My focal point is one of the bird from the For the Birds set stamped in Versafine and die-cut with the matching die (For the Birds CUTplorations). I gave a branch to my bird to rest on by stencilling just the branch portion of the Some Birds - ARTplorations.

The sentiment embossed in white is from Trendy Birds 2, and I added sequins (White Frost - ShakerBlends) for no other reasons that they add a little something without distracting from the main image.
Lastly I added a piece of sticker from Newsprint Backgrounds #1.

***

Whenever you shop for STAMPlorations products you can get 20% off with my code: STAMPGIRLCRAFTY

***

For more inspiration hop on over to the Stamplorations blog, you have a whole month to create something for the challenge and be in with a chance to win a prize…

Thanks for coming by,






             

Left Hanging

April's fool day is a good day to show a "funny" card and today happens to be the start of our new Country View Challenge where the theme is Animal Magic, chosen by the lovely Corrie.

Any type of animal will do, mammals, insects, fish and even unicorns as long as they are the main feature of your make.

Mine is a sloth who is barely awake but definitely hanging! An advice we should all heed in these troubled times...

I have stamped the image and sentiment from Creative Stamping magazine (issue 57 from 2018) with  dye inks (Memento) and coloured the sloth and branch with pencils.

Simples... a meerkat could do it! So, have a look at what my DT mates have created on the theme, and join us in our April challenge for the chance to win a £ 20 voucher.

Thanks for coming by,