Tuesday 31 July 2012

Playing with Alcohol......

Inks that it is!   Sunday I was surfing the net and came across Ranger Industries website and on their project page I found this project using Alcohol inks.  It made me want to try it... so I dragged out the inks and had a play.

Alcohol background


I started by putting some colours and bronze mixative onto my craft mat and laid and twisted the card.  As it didn't have quite the look I wanted, so I pounced some more inks onto the piece.  Much happier with it then.  I cut out the floral oval from Spellbinders and trimmed around the dots to make the centre panel.  I cut another oval out of white glossy card and layered the two together.  The sentiment is from Penny Black.   The base background was made by adding Pearl, Copper and Silver Mixatives onto one felt pad and pouncing onto the glossy card.  Love the beautiful shiny look it made.  Added all the layers to a blue base.  I punched out some butterflies from a slightly lighter part. 

And now I'll share a cute card I made for a commission.... the request was something Kiwiana...

I found a pile of images from the internet and put them together on  a card.  Added the sentiment.  The person who ordered it was thrilled with it...It was for her sister in Singapore...

Off to ice the cupcakes I made for my team's planning day tomorrow.  We are having an all day meeting and going out for lunch at an Indian restaurant near our office.

Dawn

Monday 30 July 2012

Mygrafico Monday Feature~ Any goes



This week the Design Team got to choose any Mygrafico set to inspire you.... I chose to use a Fancy Flower set by Lindsay's Stamp Stuff

 I really love the lines of these flowers.


I wanted to do a real watercolour look, so I took some watercolour paper and printed the image onto it.   I cut it will a Spellbinders label and embossed it as well. I then got the paper quite wet and took my distress inks and using my watercolour pen touch the ink to the paper allowing it wick.   The sentiment is from a Hero Arts set cut into a banner at one end.  Added some Liquid Pearls to finish.  Pop over to blog and have a look at what the others came up with...

Don't forget our "Baby/Pregnancy" challenge is still underway here... would love to see you have a go.

Had some fun with alcohol inks last night, so pop back tomorrow and I'll share the card I made.

Take care and hope you have an awesome week...
Dawn 


Sunday 29 July 2012

One for the Boys......

or should I say Three for the Boys.... as today I made 3 very quick masculine cards using a card kit I recently bought.  It was a Cardmaking in Easy Steps kit... a magazine and lots of bits and pieces and if you pop over to the website there are some free downloads of the PP's used in this kit and some of the earlier kits.  I used the magazine samples as the basis for my cards, just slightly adapting and changing a little

First up
Olde Timers Club


This one used one of the decoupage elements, and I stamped the ticket.

Boat Birthday


For the second one, did some stamping... used white ink to stamp the ships wheel numerous tmes for the background.  The rest was a die cut, some circles cut with a Spellbinders die, some of the PP from the kit.

One for the boys


My final card did not have any stamping at all.... just PP, die cuts and some gems.

So now I've started to build up my supply of masculine cards.  Still got lots of pieces left over yet so more cards to make.  I've scanned the hessian piece so I can print off some PP to give an impression of actual material.  I read about doing this somewhere on the internet.

Have been watching some of the Olympics.  We watched Archery, Weightlifting, Shooting and Bike racing.  It is interesting to watch sports you usually don't.    It's been a cold winters day so being inside crafting and watching the Olympics is a great way to spend it.

Dawn


Saturday 28 July 2012

Damask Background

I get a lot of inspiration from visiting blogs and websites all over the internet.... and none more so than when I visit Anne Gaal....Anne's blog Gaal Creative is wonderful.  Anne is not only a talented card maker but also a fabulous scrapbooker, mixed media artist, painter and photographer.   Anne is also very generous, giving details of how she makes her cards so if you want to try out her techniques, you can.   Anne recently used a Penny Black Damask stamp and some Kaleidacolor ink to make a fabulous card.  I was inspired to try this technique as well.

Damask background
I used a Hero Art background stamp and some cream glossy card.  I clear embossed the stamp and then used Kaleidacolor ink "Fruitcake"  I used a Penny Black sentiment stamp and some cream cardstock to make a banner for the front of the card.   I matted my background onto some black card and then onto a pink base. 


Did you get to see the Olympics opening ceremony?  Wasn't it awesome.  I really enjoyed it and got quite a thrill to see the New Zealand team marching in.   Not sure how much I'll get to see live as we are 11 hours ahead of England.  Most of the sports will be on overnight.

Well, I've just returned from playing Taxi Driver for my son and some of his friends.  He and his girlfriend are staying here overnight and got me to drop them all off in Takapuna for the start of a night out.   Told them though, Mum's Taxi stops running at 10pm  ( not long after I dropped them off)  No calls will be accepted after this!

Thanks for stopping by.... enjoy the weekend and watching the Olympics.
Dawn

Tuesday 24 July 2012

Inspired by Hero Art's Artists.....

Over at A Blog named Hero the challenge is

Inspired by Hero Arts Artists!

 

I've been very inspired by a number of the Hero Arts Artist's during the Stretch Your stamps on-line class and not more so that Shari Carroll ~especially her beautiful card on Day 11

Here's my take on her card.

Stretch your stamps Day 11

I used a page from an old book about Roses, so old it's very yellowy.  I used Hero Arts Wet Cement ink and Flower Bird Garden stamp.  I added some white seam binding and a button and mounted onto white and pink and then onto a black card base.   

So am entering this into 
A Blog named Hero
as well as CAS-ual Fridays ~ Back in Black.

I'm heading to bed super early tonight as I have to be up at 4.15am to get to work by 5.00am to meet up with some colleagues to head out to the airport to fly to Wellington ( an hour's flight) to go to a workshop.  I am a Workplace Assessor ~ assess assignments that some of our staff are doing towards a qualification.  The WPA's are getting together tomorrow from all round the country.  But oh such an early start!   Plus won't get home till after 9.00pm ~ so forgive me if I don't get to comment over the next few days... think I will be a bit tired for a few days>

Take care
Dawn 
 

Monday 23 July 2012

Mygrafico Challenge ~ Pregnancy/Babies



Another week of babies over at Mygrafico.  This week we got to work with a lovely set from Woofy World



I did a congratulations card for an expectant Mum


A very CAS card.  Do pop over to the blog to see what the other's have come up with... some innovative ideas using this set of images.  And I'd love to see what you come up for our challenge....

Dawn 


Sunday 22 July 2012

Jen's 90 minute Scramble

Today Jen was our challenge master over at the Hero Arts Flickr group.  She challenge us to produce a card that
~ used "filler" stamps  (you know those little bitty stamps you find on stamp sets) as a focal point
~ stitching -real or faux
~ create you own sentiment.....

Quite a bit of a challenge.... but I knew what I wanted to do..

Scramble 22/07/12

I drew a circle in pencil onto my card and using some of the little bitty stamps and some of the bright distress inks and stamped around my circle.  I made my sentiment by only stamping part of a sentiment stamp and adding a little heart.   I did some faux stitching around the edge of my panel.  This is a great way to stretch your stamps as well....

I've also added this to Anne's giveaway challenge (HERE)  Anne is celebrating her 4th Blogoversary.  Congratulations to Anne on this achievement.

Am feeling tired tonight.... the weekends are never long enough to do everything I want to do... so off to bed for an early night.


Dawn 

Friday 20 July 2012

Inspired by....Jennifer McGuire

..... yes I have been very inspired by Jennifer and her Stretch your stamps on-line class.  Today I am sharing two cards that have been inspired Jennifer and her classes.

First up a card using ~ background stamps, flower stamps and label stamps.

Friends

Background was stamped with the Lattice stamp and Wet Cement ink.  Next a strip of dotty paper was layered with a thin strip of black card to emulate a mat.  I stamped the label in the middle and then again onto some scrap cream card.  The flower was also stamped onto scrap card, coloured with watercolour pencils and de-constructed.  It didn't fit where I wanted it, so but cutting all the bits and pieces out and re-constructing how I wanted them worked so much better... I stamped the sentiment onto the label and cut it out, leaving off the flourish bits and the dots.... and stuck it over the other label.    This card is for my July CCC (see this post from Deborah over at Society of Stampoholics)  I've gone for the Friendship theme.

My second card is using Jennifer's idea of partially cut with a die.... ( this idea actually was in Jennifer's class ~ A Cut Above~ but fits the Stretch Your Stamps techniques as well.)

Happy Birthday

I partially die cut the Dogwood and then stamped it.  (Note to self: ink first, then die cut)
I did some watercolour painting with some markers that I got today from Smiggles   I drew onto an acrylic block and picked up the colour with an aqua brush.  I trimmed the card a bit to make it still the same size as a normal card.  The script is actually some washi tape.  I used three strips of tape and then edged it with thin strips of black card.   The sentiment is from Kaisercraft.

I am entering these cards into the challenge over at A Blog Named Hero.

Enjoy your weekend.
Dawn

Wednesday 18 July 2012

One stamp.... Two cards


Last Friday I did a card class at the SENZ Expo.  One stamp~ two cards plus instructions for two more!.  The stamp that came with the class was this one from Darkroom Door

Butterfly Garden - Collage Stamp - NEW 

Here is the first card we made

class sample # 1

The background was made by smooching distress inks onto a craft sheet and spritzing with perfect pearls mist and dipping the card into it.  Once dried, the collage stamp was inked and stamped with green Stazon.  Then we took a piece of cold laminate and stamped just the butterfly part of the stamp with the Stazon.  Removing the backing, Perfect Pearls were dusted over the back and then cut out and added with some dimensional tape.  The leaves were coloured with the distress inks as well. 

And the second card.

Class sample #2

For this one, the background was again stamped with green Stazon.  The butterflies and the fern were coloured with markers and then some glitter was added around the edge.  Then I tore some strips of vellum and folded over the card and wound the gold thread around the card.  
I haven't made up the other two cards as I lost the instruction sheet somewhere on Friday.  I have all the bits for one of them so will just have to put it together... fairly simple and I know the other one had the butterflies cut around and popped up.... but there are just so many ways to use this stamp..... perfect for me to try out some the techniques I've learnt in Stretch Your Stamps classes.

Hope the week is going well for you.... I've been staying late at work this week as I've been on assisting at our customer counter.... quite a challenge for me....  

Dawn

Tuesday 17 July 2012

More S-T-R-E-T-C-H-ing your Stamps

I've been really enjoying watching the videos and looking at the wonderful creations that Jennifer, Kristina and the other tutors are showing us during the classes.  I've been trying to find time to try out some of the techniques.  Today I will share a couple with you... both inspired by cards make by Jennifer....

First up from day 2

Stretch Your Stamps ~ Day 2


I had some watercolour paper in my stash, so made myself a collage background using a number of stamps from a Pink Paislee set. I added them all together on a Fiskars stamp press and inked them with some brown ink.  I used Jennifer's  idea of making an embossed frame and adding some vellum.   I used a cream card stock to soften the look of the card.

And from Day 6

Stretch Your Stamps ~ Day 6


I used a Memory Box die to emboss my yellow strip.  I added it to the card before doing the partial cutting but in future I won't do that... the cutting of the die caused the embossing to flatten..... but it still looked okay.  I die cut a butterfly and coloured it and stuck it inside as Jennifer showed in her video.  I used a sentiment from Penny Black.   I added some strips of paper and card but decided not to add any other embellishment.

I'm entering this card into A blog named Hero's challenge to be inspired by one of the Hero Art artists.... obviously Jennifer really inspired me with both of these cards.

Today's class uses my favourite roses stamp from Hero Arts/BasicGrey.  I really love using this stamp and just love the samples shown.    Hopefully in the next few day I'll get time to make a card or two.

Now off to watch NCIS.

Dawn                      

Monday 16 July 2012

Mygrafico Monday Feature ~ Hey Baby



This week we are all about babies!  We are featuring a super adorable set of Baby Stamps by Zenware Designs.  The design team has some great projects to share.  Who doesn't love baby stamps?

I decided to make two cards.... one for a boy and one for a girl, using a similar design on both... 



I used some 12x12 papers that I've had for a number of years. For the boy card I kept it fairly simple.  Die cut the printed image and coloured with Copics.  Sentiment is 2 stamps from a Fiskars set.   For the girl card I did a little paper piecing for the little bundle and folded a length of punched edging (a la Debby

Pop over to the blog and see what the others came up with.  Some beautiful work.   And our wedding challenge is still underway here.  We would love to have you join us.

Wishing you all a good week..
Dawn

Saturday 14 July 2012

All Things Tim....




At SENZ ( Scrapbook, Cardmaking and Craft Expo) I took a class called "All things Tim".  It was taught by Sue Smith from Scottie Crafts.  It was an altered canvas.  I took the class as it really isn't my usual thing...
 The class kit
 Sue walking round with her canvas
The talented Sue

and here's my finished canvas

All things TIm....

Isn't it just stunning... We used Distress Stains, Tag die, Embossing folder, Pine cone die, Stamps, bird die, branch die, Distress inks and some embellishments. The class was 2 hrs and we needed all of it to get this done.   The stamp set we used was this one

*Tim Holtz Cling Rubber Stamps PURELY RANDOM Stampers Anonymous
I am thrilled with the results and plan to make a few for gifts...

Today I spend 10am to 4.00pm at Stamp Group and only got 2 cards done!  But saying that, I did get another one almost finished.  I really was slow.... I had to redo one card as the ink bleed when I added glossy accents and then it wasn't quite dry when I came home and the glossy accents got smooched.... did manage to save but changing up the design....   There were only 4 of us there today and as Judi ( the owner) has been quite ill, she only stayed a few hours, before leaving us with a friend, hence finishing early.  Sue (aka Scrumplecrunch) was working on a card for Our Creative Corner and we all added our 2 cents worth to her final card... I can tell you it is STUNNING.... you'll get to see it in due course....Linda made two amazing cards and Glenda did the sweetest little thank you card in white and soft blues.... So a fun day had by all.

We are meeting up with our son and his girlfriend soon, to go out for dinner.  Haven't seen him for about a month so will be nice to catch up.

Have an enjoyable weekend
Dawn

Friday 13 July 2012

S-T-R-E-T-C-H Your stamps.....

I'm taking Jennifer and Kristina's Stretch Your Stamps online class, but haven't had much chance to try out the techniques they are sharing.... but did get a chance to try Jennifer's double stamping the other night

You are my Sunshine


 Used HA Lattice and inked with Kaleidacolor Autumn leaves ink and double stamped it,  Made an interesting background... not sure I like the way it turned out... but went with it.  Stamped the flower from Sizzix/Hero Arts Bold Pops onto yellow card with squeezed lemonade distress and die cut it for my sun.  Added a button, some twine and a gem or two coloured with a Copic.  Sentiment from Ali Edwards Technique Tuesday "Bring on the Sun" one of the sets we are going to use in the class. 

Got lots of ideas but still need to get some time... maybe tomorrow at Stamp Group....

Today I got up nice and early  (40 minutes earlier than usual) to drive for 2 hrs down to Hamilton to attend the SENZ expo.  What a great show.... so many wonderful stamps, papers, embellishments, make'n'takes, demos.  And the classes.... WOW!  I took two classes ~ one I had pre-booked and one I book at the Stampzone stall.... The Scottie Crafts "All Things Tim..." was AMAZING.... We did an off-the-page canvas frame.. with chicken wire..... I'll take a photo in the next couple of days.... was dark by the time I got home after the drive back.  The second class was a card one, using a pretty Darkroom Door collage stamp.  We made two cards and got the kit for a third and instructions for a fourth.     I did get to meet Maxine and say hi to her... see pointing me in the direction of a stall where washi tape was $2.50 a roll, gems $2.50 a pack and spools of twine for $2.50 as well.   Needless to say, some of all of them ended up in my carry bag together with a flower mold and some resin, along with a couple of stamps, a number of dies including a mini honeycomb one which I can't wait to play with.    So many goodies, so little time!

Well I can hardly keep my eyes open so I'll sign off for now.
Enjoy the weekend.

Dawn 
                          

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Hello Sunshine.

I've been able to say that for the past few days.... albeit that the temperature hasn't been warm...the sun has been shinning.  So much so that during the weekend, we even sat at the outside table to have our lunch.  This morning was sunny ~ and I was stuck in bed with a horrendous headach :-(  and now, mid afternoon, the sun has disappeared and it's very grey and cool....

Summertime is the challenge over at Penny Black Saturday Challenge   Things have changed a bit on the blog.... the challenge is now monthly.

IMG_5727

I had stamped the little hedgie ages ago and she was sitting forlornly on my desk. Perfect challenge to use her. Coloured with Copics and cut with a Nellie Snellen die which was offset on a PP die cut. The PP's are from a pad by Craftworkcards called "Vintage Rose" The top stripey one reminds me of wallpaper. A touch of lace along the join. The sentiment is from Ali Edwards Technique Tuesday stamp set. Finished with a sizzix leaf diecut and flowers I made using a Cherry Lyn die.  The leaves were coloured with Mowed Lawn distress to give a nice green similar to the card base.

Also entering this into the following challenges:
Everybody loves Art ~ Summer
Loves Rubberstamps Challenge ~ Sweet Summer Days
Penny Black and More @ Allsorts ~ Summer Blooms

I've started the Stretch Your stamp classes, but no time yet to have a play.  I've got some ideas in mind, so might just save them up for Saturday.  It's stamp group again... missed last month so am looking forward to it.


I'm might even will have some new goodies to play with!  I'm off to SENZ~  NZ Scrapbook, cardmaking and craft Expo... down in Hamilton, on Friday.  Up early to get there by 9.00am and then I'm taking a class at 9.30am - Everything Tim Except for Him with Sue Smith.  
I popped into Scottie Crafts the other afternoon to get some ink and actually meet Sue which was great.  And I'm hoping to see Maxine (aka Kiwime Kreations) who I believe is also taking the class.  No doubt with 27 exhibitors I will find a little lot that I like/need!!!!!  

Enjoy the rest of your week.
Dawn  

Monday 9 July 2012

Mygrafico Challenge ~ Weddings


Summer in the Northern Hemisphere means summer weddings.... so this week we start our fortnightly challenge ~ Weddings.

The Design team got to work with this wonderful set from Olillia

 They really came up with some lovely projects..   Pop over to the blog for a look.

I decided to make a little wedding favour box.



 I used an online tutorial (here) A really quick and fun little gift box to fill with something nice.

We'd love to see the wedding creation you link up for the challenge.  Remember to link up only your project, not your entire blog.  Also link back to the blog!
Thanks for popping in for a look today.  Your comments are really appreciated. 
Dawn

Sunday 8 July 2012

Scramble Time again..........

Ger (aka Cards n choc's) was this mornings 90 mins scramble hostess, over at the Hero Arts Flickr group.  Her challenge was Encouragement with an optional challenge of Masking.  She provided an awesome sample card which I took my inspiration from.

As Ger lives in Ireland so when she set the start time as 8pm Western Europe Time... I knew I COULD wake by 7am.... even though we had a night out (great dinner with friends) and late to bed..... well I made it by 10 past,... leaving hubby and our friends Roger and Prue asleep... They had stayed overnight as they live about an hours drive away....

First up was this card

You're Special


this was actually the second masking as I stuffed up the stamping of the fern.  Used the wrong colour... something to do with putting the wrong lid on the wrong ink pad... must have been still half asleep! So started again.  I found a negative die cut sitting on the desk and decided that was meant to be... used Mustard Seed, Shaded Lilac and Mowed Grass distress inks for the background.  I started by doing a one layered card on the textured card base, but it really looked so plain.  Trimmed and layered and looked so much better.  Then decided to add a butterfly.  Again a page of printed HA butterflies sitting in my scrap pile made a great start.  Coloured with the Lilac ink with a touch of Brushed Corduroy and some Sakura glitter pen.

Then decided to make a second card as everyone was still sleeping

Hang in There


Another negative die cut in my scrap pile.  I used some dark kraft as my background, and stamped the Garden Bouquet in Cup'o'Joe ink and added a bit of Mowed grass distress and some faux stitching to anchor the panel to the base.  Then I noticed a smudge of the green in the corner of the card, so distressed the rest of the outside edge to hide it.  The sentiment is from Kaisercraft.  I added the butterflies punched from the very first masking ~ waste not want not~   Wasn't overly happy with this one.... thought it was a bit dark looking so decided to upcycle it......

Upcycled scramble card


I cut the panel out and layered onto the cream textured card left from trimming the first card's panel.  Made another of the dark kraft bases and added the layering.   Much happier with this card.  What do you think? 

Now it's not even lunch time and I feel like I've done heaps.... And this afternoon I'm going to work on a project I'm doing for Mygrafico ~ for sometime in August... something a bit different for me... so hang in there..... I'll be able to share in due course.

Thanks for stopping by
Dawn 


Friday 6 July 2012

Hero Arts ATC Swap

A while back Karen in Canada set up an ATC swap over at the Hero Arts Flickr group.  I decided to enter this swap.  My ATC's are now in Karen's hands and in due course she will mix them with all the other's and send out 8 cards to each participant.

I decided to make  4 different designs with 2 of each ATC

ATC's for Flickr swap

Butterfly


For this one I use Hero Arts Antique Writing background stamped in green distress ink and distressed with the same ink.  The butterfly is a great favourite of mine which was also coloured with distress inks.  I added a Martha Stewart punched trellis and the sentiment from Kaisercraft.

Dreams


More distress ink in #2 ATC.  I sponged a variety of colours and then liberally spritzed with water.  Once dry I added the little letters, flourish and the Hero Arts Bird.

Enjoy the journey

My favourite ATC of the lot... Again lots of distress ink and Hero Arts stamps.   I started by sponging the inks onto the white card and spritzed with Shimmer spritz in silver.  Started with the Postcard stamp, the postmark, the Pennyfarthing and then the sentiment. Finished with the Fiskars Threading water punch.  

Friends Forever

This last one uses a Tim Holtz stamp for it's main image with a Hero Arts sentiment.  Distressed with a mixture of Pumice Stone and Mustard Seed inks.  Finished with three little peelcraft dots

As this weeks challenge over at Simon Says Stamping Challenge blog is "Tags or ATC's" I'm entering these.

Hope your weekend is going to be full of fun and some crafting time too...
Dawn                           

Thursday 5 July 2012

Flash Flood....

No card today as I've had a busy week.... Tuesday our part of Auckland was hit by flash flooding... we were not too badly hit, but the house in front of us was.... all the bark from the bank down the edge of our shared drive ended up in their garage.  The garage is underneath their house and the water was about 3 feet deep.  The car was pushed sideways with the weight of the water.  A real mess

 this one was the bank up near our garage that washed onto the drive

 The neighbour's garage door... all twisted

 Here you can see the line where the water level was up to

And this one is the tide line along the car....

The neighbours were away on holiday so today came home to the mess.   The car was still full of water.

Tonight I am watching a very funny British comedy called Mrs Brown's Boys.  I have tears streaming down my face from laughing so hard.... You can watch it on You Tube (here) but warning~ it is a bit crude.

The weekend is nearly here.... where is the year going?    We've got plans for the weekend... meeting some friends for dinner on Saturday night.  Looking forward to it.

Take care
Dawn