Stepper Card and Butterflies

Hello crafters, 

A quick post as I am aiming to enter the Allsorts challenge where the theme is "Show us your folds". Paper construction is not my forte but stepper cards are within my reach, albeit with help from a die...

The die is Step Card by Presscut, the set comes with dies to cut decorative papers for each section as well as the card base and I used some old magazine freebies to decorate the panels.

The stamp in the focal portion of the card is Crafty Individuals "Beautiful Butterflies" (CI-231). I stamped and embossed it, then I applied dye powders, a blue Brusho and Cerise Infusion (Paper Artsy). I should have known better... The strength of the powders overwhelmed the piece so much I had to tame it with Distress Oxides and white pigment ink.

I will add a sentiment, probably die-cut words, when required but I am not sure if I should place it in the middle of the background or at the bottom on the pink card. Suggestions welcome!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield               I am also entering the SSS Wednesday and 

                                                                   Stamping Sensations challenges

Brushos and Gelli plate

Hello bloggers,

Today I have 2 cards that could either be Christmas, or as I plan New Year cards. Both use Lavinia stamps and the oval and circle backgrounds have been printed using the Gelli plate. 

I made the background by inking the circle plate with light blue dye ink and sprinkled a tiny bit of brushos, Turquoise for the sky and Moss green for the "hills". Using my stamping platform, I stamped that first circle. Then I inked the plate with pigment ink and over stamped the background for a foggy effect. 

The Fairy Fir Tree (LAV478) was then partially stamped 3 times.
A few die-cuts to finish (Sizzix). 

The background was made the same way as before, except I splattered some acrylic ink for snow instead of stamping pigment ink.
The oval die-cut is from Craft Companion.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield         My first card is entering the Lost Coast challenge.

Winter sentiment

No this is not an old post... Untypically for me I have started Christmas crafting early... well last year I hardly had any time to craft, resorting to actually BUYING some cards! 

This card fits our Country View Challenge blog where the theme is "Be Sentimental" (not just romance but any sentiment, phrase or inspirational quote): 

I just had to test some of the supplies I grabbed during the fabulous Advent Calendar sales at Country View Crafts (if you've never heard of it before, Susan does a special offer from the 1st to the 24th of December). 
I die-cut the Paper Panda Craft Die - Meadow Frame (Creative Expressions) and used the inside oval as a shield to my brushos when I created the background. The paper I used for the die-cut is a specialty Self adhesive paper, thin enough that it will die-cut without too many passes. This is a game changer for these detailed dies and at less than £10 for 25 sheets a bargain to boot! 
When that dried I simply stamped the Sentiment (STAMPlorations) in Versafine Black. 

Then I peeled off the backing of my die-cut and applied to the background before sticking both onto my base card. 
I am so pleased the stamp fits so well in that frame and I am planning a series so I will not be caught out without hand made cards next Christmas... 

Over to you now, visit the Country View Challenge blog for more inspiration, the DT posts every other day for the first 3 weeks. and join us by linking  your project here for the chance to win a £20 voucher for the Country View Craft shop, just make sure you follow the rules!

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   I am entering the Allsorts (I love playing with new supplies...),   

  Stamping Sensations and SSS Wednesday challenges                                

Mellow Fruitfulness

Welcome to my second inspiration post for our Country View Challenge! The lovely Debs has chosen the theme  "Season of Mists and mellow fruitfulness" and thinking about fruits and harvests I decided to make this this journal page: 

I stamped and masked the pears (Perfect Pear by Rubber Dance) with coloured inks, and over stamped with the screen stamp (Mixed Media Marks #1) also from Rubber Dance, which I embossed in white EP.

For colours,  I used brushos on the background and watercolours for the pears.

The sentiment is from the stamp set by Katzelkraft stamp (KTZ 135).

Time for you to create something for our Country View Challenge for the chance
to win a £20 voucher for the Country View Craft shop, only 2 weeks to go so hop to it!

Thanks for coming by,

Craftyfield      I am entering the Paperbabe, We  Love Stamping challenge

Thursday Throwback - Stencils and powders

Welcome to my second Thursday Throwback posts on the STAMPlorations blog. 
Here are my takes on Shirley's card. 

Card 1 supplies;  Flutter Zen 1 Layering Dies and ARTplorations stencil Senecio 1 

Card 2: same as before: Flutter Zen 1 Layering Dies and ARTplorations stencil Senecio 1 

Card 3: Beyond the Trees – ARTplorations Slimline stencil and For the Birds Dies - CUTplorations. 

Do hop onto the STAMPlorations blog for the full details.

Thanks for coming by,

 Craftyfield   

Shimmering wreath

Welcome to my second inspiration piece for the STAMPlorations Theme & Photo Prompt challenge !



Today's inspiration make  is a Christmas card where I used non-Christmas themed supplies to complement the die-cut sentiment.

I started with the circle in the middle which I stamped with a Gelli plate inked with Versafine, sprayed lightly with water and sprinkled with Brushos.

I then stamped the wreath using 2 images from the Wooded set.

I stencilled the background with ink first, then with Versamark before applying mica powders for that shimmer effect... The stencil I used is Abstract April Showers

The Jingle All The Way Phrase Die was die-cut from white cardstock which I also transformed with Versamark and mica powder.

Here's another photo taken in the shade so you can see better the colour and shape of the stencilled motifs:  

The STAMP girls are showing inspiration for all the challenges on the STAMPlorations blog so pop by and don't forget there are prizes to win if you link up to our  Theme & Photo Prompt challenge ! 

***

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

***

Thanks for coming by,

I am entering the Allsorts, Lost Coast Designs challenges.

 

Under a cloud

Welcome to my second inspiration post for the STAMPlorations Theme & Photo Prompt challenge where the Theme and photo are:

For once  I am really happy with how my design idea turned out and I think this is because the Birds of Paradise never fail to make me smile, especially when I place them in humorous situations. Today one of them is under a confetti cloud to the utter amazement of everyone...Seriously! And I can hear him say: why me????

I stamped the focal bird and masked him before creating a "wet" ground with a mix of Brushos, Infusions and a dash of Perfect Pearls.

I stamped the other birds and coloured them all with markers and set about creating those raindrops/confettis. The  Blue Shimmer shaker blends would have been ideal but I only had the White Frost so I improvised... and tested for you... I placed a few sequins in a small plastic bag, added a few drops of alcohol ink in Stream, Sailboat and Cool Peri (Ranger/Tim Holtz). The result aren't bad, if not uniform, but I had to spend 15mns separating the sequins that stuck together using my craft knife and tweezers. Not worth it...

I placed my Seriously Word die-cut on the card and then painstakingly glued all of the sequins to finish.

***

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…

I hope my birds made you smile too,
I am entering the Stamping Sensations, Penny Black and more and SSS Monday challenges.



     

Wild Nature

Hello faithful followers and crafters, Time for our March

 Stamplorations Theme and 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 followed the theme and created a wild meadow with the Healing Herbs stamp set.

First I stamped and embossed one of the stems with green embossing powder.

Then I embossed in yellow the next image by mixing the 2 powders directly on the stamped  Versamark.


Next, since I didn't have a light green EP, I used Distress Oxides to stamp and embossed in WOW Skinny Chai Latte. The last sprigs are stamped and embossed in vanilla white (they will show up in the next step).


With all the embossing done and my grasses effectively protected, I sprinkled some Brushos powders on the background and sprayed water lightly until I was happy with the look. (I was aiming for sky and field colours).

I used the Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle die set to cut the card and matted it on a blue card base.

I liked it as it was so I added the smallest piece of cardstock for my sentiment from the Fond Expressions 2 set, stamped and embossed on vellum.

***

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,
I am entering the SSS Wednesday,  challenges.
     

Crackled powders

Today I am on the STAMPLorations blog with a tutorial taking you through my process with Crackle paste and dye based powders (Brushos, Infusions, Bistres etc...).
This is the first of 3 Mixed Media tutorials I am putting together for STAMPlorations.

So, hop on over to the STAMPLorations blog to read up all the details and I will be back next month with another Mixed Media tutorial.

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the SSS Wednesday challenges.




       

Chocolate box Christmas

For those of you who came for the chocolate, apologies… I am only talking about to the picture on the box! Today's offering is a Christmas card which I had great fun creating.

I wanted a brightly coloured night sky, a bit "Northern Lights" and used a mix of Brushos and Infusions (Violet storms) to create it, adding shimmer splatters for stars.

I used paper masks and masking fluid to protect the hills and the stamped cottage before applying the powders.

The small trees on the hill are from Lavinia (Tree Scene set) and both Cottage (CI-460 Build a Landscape) and foreground tree (CI-209 Winter Trees) are from Crafty Individuals, stamped in black Memento ink.

I added watercolour in the foreground for snow and acrylic paint for the snow on the trees and roof.

Let me know what you think...
I am entering the Penny Black and more, Polkadoodles, Paperbabe, Craft Stamper TIMI, Unikostudio, Addicted to stamps and SSS Wednesday  challenges.

Bird's Nest

Today STAMPlorations are kicking off a new Theme & Photo Prompt challenge!
You can link any makes, not just cards, as long as you include some stamping and follow either the theme or the photo inspiration (or both for even more of a challenge!)

 

I was inspired by one of my favourite ARTplorations stencils, the Retro Circles and used it with both standard gel medium and crackle medium on a vanilla tag to create a background.

I applied colour with Brushos in Moss green and Purple as well as some Rusty Car Infusion (Paper Artsy). The crackled circles trap the crystals and concentrate the colours whilst the standard gel medium creates an effective resist.

My focal point is a bird from the For the Birds stamp set stamped with Blue Versafine Clair on coloured paper. I placed in on a mat with wrapped "wool". Top left,  I added the other die-cut birds from the Matching For the Birds CUTplorations set and bottom right a sentiment from the same stamp set.

Your turn to create something with 3 colours or less and/or following our photo inspiration. There are prizes to be won... a $15 gift certificate to the winner and $10 to the runner up chosen by a DT member as well as a $5 gift certificate each to three randomly drawn players.
***

And don't forget, whenever  you shop for STAMPlorations products you can get 20% off with my code: STAMPGIRLCRAFTY

***

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the Craft Stamper and SSS Wednesday challenges.