Distress inks and Winnie & Walter ~ A match made in Heaven.

My 2nd post of the day.  To see my Southern Girls Challenge card see this post.

I've really fallen in love with the beautiful sentiments and other stamps at Winnie & Walter and got my second lot last week.   They finally arrived in NZ after doing a bit of a detour to The Netherlands... And this week over at the Winnie & Walter blog this week, they are sharing the love with Distress inks.

You can win some distress inks and a sponge applicator simply by commenting on the post or adding a card based on the day's technique.  Day 1 was watercolouring.... always a fun technique.

I used Distress ink , DI markers and The Big, the Bold and Extras to make my card.  I stamped the background rose with Squeezed Lemonade and then used my waterbrush to move the colour around.  I coloured the outline rose with Dried Marigold marker and stamped. Once again, used the water brush.  Did the same with the leaves - Mowed Lawn and Crushed Olive, spreading the inks

I then scribbled some Salty Ocean distress marker onto my block and spritzed with some silvery Shimmer mist.  Mixing the two I did a colour wash over the rest of the paper. You can't see the amazing shimmer on the card in the photo, but believe me, it is stunning.   I then used Broken China just around the flowers.  Once the panel dried, I stamped the banner and coloured with the Broken China ink.  I stamped the sentiment words, shaping them to fit the banner.  Finished with some sequins.

I am also adding this to the Colour it challenge at A blog named Hero ( even though I haven't used a HA stamp you can still enter)

Day 2 is Ombre technique and Day 3 is Resist technique.  Hoping to get some more done over the weekend.

Tomorrow I'm off to SENZ - NZ biggest scarpbooking and papercrafting expo and this year, cake decorating.   My friend, Suna, and I have taken the day off work to go.  Looking forward to seeing all sorts of new items.  Should be a fun day.

Thanks to all my visitors.  Hope you enjoy visiting.

Bokeh Effect

Have you heard of the Bokeh effect?  I recently found out about it.  It's a photography term, and it refers to the look of sparkles that appear in a photograph when part of the image is out of focus or if light reflects.  Over at A Blog Named Hero the latest challenge is to use this effect.

I decided to make a CAS card using the Bokeh effect as my background.  I was inspired by the last photo in the above collage.

I used two stamps from Hero Arts Brush Stroke set and a variety of Hero Arts Shadow inks and distress inks together with Colourbox Frost white ink.  I added the sentiment from Winnie & Walter and finished with some iridescent sequins.

I'm really pleased with the look I achieved and this card will be going to a friend who is having a birthday later this week.  

One card ~ FOUR challenges.

I was tidying up the desk this morning and found some bits and pieces and thought I'd better use them up.... a bit of lace, some left over vellum and a piece of blue card I die cut but decided not to use.... so here's what came about

The vellum was the end of the piece I used the other day.  This adhesive vellum comes in 12" x 3" strips.  I embossed the little bit I had left to see what it would look like.  Worked well.  The blue card was cut for a card yesterday, but I decided to use some other PP instead.  Once I added the lace I found the flower which had been made quite a while ago using some hand coloured card and a Spellbinders die. The sentiment is a Simon Says Stamp one, the set still waiting to be put away. And the base card was the other half of a piece Neenah card I cut yesterday.

I used the Sketch from Fusion card challenge #15

 

I'm also entering this into the following challenges

City Crafter Challenge ~ Count your Blessings

A Blog Named Hero ~ Victorious Vellum

Simon Says Stamp (Wednesday challenge) ~ Monochromatic

I like that this card came together so quickly and now there are less scraps on the desk.

It's been a good crafty weekend for me.  Always makes me feel happy when I get some cards made. And today's weather has been much better.  Look what's in my garden at the moment.

Dare to Dream

I really liked the sketch over at CAS(E) this Sketch this week

 

I was playing around with some Gelatos.  I drew straight onto the stamp and spritzed with water and stamped onto the card that I had masked on an angle.    I used a technique I learnt on His & Hers Online class to make my line.  I masked a thin space and used Memento Peanut Brittle ink along it.   The butterflies were punched from watercolour paper that I had used Gelatos on and overstamped with an Inkadinkado flourish using Golden Glitz Delicata ink.   The sentiment is from Couture Creations.    I wanted to added some sequins but as soon as I saw the stars in my jar of mixed sequins I knew I wanted to use them.    

I've also added this to the CAS challenge over at A blog named Hero

Today was one of the coldest we've had in Auckland for quite some time.   Several big storm fronts came through.

this was taken out the window from my office at around 9.00am this morning.  You couldn't see the city ~ it moved really fast and within minutes, thunder, lightening and heavy rain.    Parts of the South Island had the first heavy snow fall of the year.  

This photo was taken by a friend in Dunedin.  The city doesn't often get snow, but today was very snowy.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Thank you at Mo's Challenge Blog

A little while ago Mo Manning had an adorable little image for free... you had to be quick (which I was!!!) but is now available in her shop (Mo's Digital Pencil)  I had it printed and coloured and was just waiting to make it up into a card.  The image is called "Thanks" and that's the challenge at Mo's challenge blog this week.

so I pulled this one together quite quickly

I stamped the banner from a Kaisercraft set across the corner of the panel and then onto some MME papers from the Happy Day pack.  I cut and pieced the banner and added my sentiment which is from a Hero Arts set.  Mounted the panel onto some dark blue card and then onto a dark kraft card base.  Quick and simple but looks so cute I think.

It's a dismal day here after a nice one yesterday.  Two anti-flamme pain killers for my knee and I managed to clean all my lounge room and dinning/kitchen window sills ~ now just to vacuum and the house work done for the day.... the bedroom sills can wait till tomorrow as I want to "play" not clean!!!

Have an awesome weekend all

Shabby Chic Butterfly

The current challenge over at A Blog Named Hero is all about Shabby Chic or Vintage style cards.  I like this genre but an not always as successful at it as I'd like.  I find the layering of many layers difficult to do.  But a challenge is a good thing....

I have a My Mind's Eye PP pad called "Follow Your Heart" and the papers are just perfect for this genre. I used this one as my base for the card. I cut a doily die from Die-Namics from cream card and stamped Hero Arts Starburst in Antique Linen distress ink. I punched a second piece of the PP and laid it across my card with some ribbon. The two butterflies from a HA stamp/die set stamped and cut from some more of the PP. I edged with Worn Lipstick ink and layered the two together with some gems ( saw Betty do the other day.) Stamped the sentiment and added the silver bling flourish.

The ABNH have been giving some great inspiration and instructions on how to make shabby chic/vintage cards.  Well worth having a look at their blog.

Not sure what is going on with blogger.... last night I had major issues with it... so if you didn't get to see my post about Paula's scramble, feel free to pop over here.

And did you see my little sneak peek about over at Die Cut Diva's blog... I'm hosting March's challenge and we've managed to secure a sponsor....  can you guess who?     Hop over to the blog on Friday to see what the challenge theme is and who our sponsor is....

Thanks for stopping by today.

Dawn

It's a White Christmas

or at least on my cards.  I've been busy making some Christmas cards that use white.

I got a new Sizzix embossing folder the other day and I've been using it to make some cards ~ all using the same design

This one used a Hero Arts sentiment from Wishes Come True.  The poinsettia is made with a Spellbinder die set.  I used one of the biggest flowers to make the leaves.  I sponged them with Cut Grass distress ink and finished with a yellow gem.    I made a few other using other sentiments from Hero Arts and Inkadinkado.   I entered this card into White Out challenge at A Blog Named Hero.

And then yesterday I made another one

This one used a number of the smaller stamps from "The Greatest Gift" set to set a little scene.  The sentiment is from another set " Merriest Christmas Wishes"  I finished it with a red ribbon and bow.  Also entering into the ABNB challenge.

Also entering into Moxie Fab World's Christmas cards.

It's going to be an early morning tomorrow in our household.  Hubby is being picked up at
6.00am to head off to Palmerston North to the BMW drivers school for the day..... It's an hour's flight on a charter flight, then a helicopter transfer to the raceway.  They get to drive in a V8 for some Hot Laps, get instructions on good driving,  ~ a really fun day.  He won't be home till very late as the charter flight doesn't get back to Auckland till 10.00pm.

Dawn 

More Pink and Aqua.

A couple more of my weekend cards.... using the pink and aqua theme again.  And another Z-fold card

I finally got the Z-fold half die cut in the right place on my card.  The PP is from a Pink Paislee 6x6 pack.  I used a second sheet to cut the oval to fit inside the Floral oval.  The sentiment is from a Hero Arts set.

And my second card is made up of scraps from the other cards.

I trimmed down the kraft card to fit my pink scrap of paper.  I used a Fiskars punch to edge the top.  The blue oval was cut out for the previous card, but I decided to use another piece of the PP.  The Floral oval was cut in black as a mat.  Added a sentiment from Kaisercraft.  The die cut words are a Simon Says exclusive.

I have entered the second card in A Blog Named Hero's Krafty challenge.

I am going to leave you with a picture of the orchid that is flowering on my back deck

Dawn

Hero Arts Sketches

One of the challenges over at Hero Arts for August is to use one of the three sketches

I decided to use the bottom right sketch to make my card.

I've had the Lattice stamped piece sitting on my desk for ages.  It was made by white embossing the lattice stamp and using distress inks and perfect pearls water to colour.  I used Jennifer's tip of adding a thin strip of card each side of the panel to give the look of layering.   The flower was white embossed and then coloured with Raspberry Fizz and Cut Grass distress ink and cut out.  I added some Stickles to the centre of the flower.  I stamped the sentiment in Salty Ocean distress ink and trimmed out.

I've added this card to a couple of challenges as well as Hero Arts
A Blog named Hero ~ Freestyle
Gael Creative Circle ~ using spray mist.

I've got some exciting news but can't say till Friday... so do pop back then.

Off to watch "Castle" ~ I really like this programme.   My little bit of escapism on a Wednesday night...  I did manage to get a card started for Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger but had to wait for some watercolour paper to dry so not yet finished.

Can't wait for the weekend... work really disrupts my creativity!
Dawn

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.

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 

 

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.



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.)



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

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

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

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                      

Windows.....

There is another new challenge blog out in blogland that celebrates all things Hero Arts.... it's called "A Blog Named Hero".  Their latest challenge is " Cards with a View".

  I LOVE Hero Arts products and have quite a few of their stamps and love the quality.  So I just had to create a card for this challenge.



I started my window panel by stamping my sentiment ( from Stamp-It) and then cutting out the window.  I then embossed the panel with Swiss Dots.  I then stamped on the cut out piece.   I started with Silhouette Grass inked up with Shabby Shutters and Rusty Hinge.  Over this I stamped one of the flowers from Real Garden Flowers inked up with Mustard Seed and a dark green Tombow marker.  The little red butterflies are from Antique Engravings set.   The window panel is raised on pop dots for some dimension.

I am also entering this into Die Cut Diva's monthly challenge ~ Embossing
and Lily Pad Cards ~ Flower Challenge

Glad that first week back at work is over.  It's been LOOONG.  Hoping to get some time in the craft room over the weekend.  I want to redo some of the tags  I made for Tim's Creative Chemistry classes now I have his Tag Die ~ it makes nice big tags and I only used little tags.

Hope your weekend is full of fun.

Dawn