Make your own background

It was my turned to chose our technique challenge at my NZ swap group.   I has seen a video at Splitcoaststampers - about making your own mixed media/collage backgrounds so that's what I chose for us to challenge ourselves to do. 

Mine wasn't quite the same as the video, but I started with a panel I had made using the Gelli plate.  I had been inspired by the amazing Jennifer McGuire to use die cuts when making my prints (see her video HERE) and had used some green oxide inks and some butterfly die cuts. 

Over top of the two green inks I added another layer of green blended through a Paper Roses Studio Spring Floral stencil.  Next came some selected stamping with an edging stamp in some grey ink.  I stamped the Altenew sentiment (from Spider Mum set) and then added the fussy cut flower.  It is an unbranded stamp that I stamped onto some Bristol paper and used Zig Markers to colour.  

I had fun making my own background paper and was really happy with my outcome.  

My first week of work has finished... it felt very long and tiring.  It's been quite warm here this past week so too hot to go our walking after work so feeling a bit out of sorts not doing much exercise.  Planning a good long walk tomorrow morning. 

Take care everyone.  Keep safe. 

Inspired by Virginia.

Getting back from holiday I struggled for a day or two to get back into stamping and creating, despite new stamps sitting on my desk.  So off to the internet to see what my friends are up to.  Virginia has been really busy with one botanical collage stamp from Penny Black and it really got me inspired.  One of my new stamps is a set from Stamp-It, an Australian company, and is a collage set.

I did two cards using the stamps in the set.

 

This first one is the bigger of the two stamps.  I coloured with Copics and then masked them and used my air spritzing tool and a Copic and a Tombow marker to colour the background.  Sentiment is from Close to My Heart.  I added some Wink of Stella.  It splattered when I shook it and I ended up with splatters, so added some more all over the card. 

 

My second card used two of the other collages.  I used a Poppy Stamps die to cut the 3x4 journal card and stamped the image.  I used some Inktense pencils and a Tombow colourless blender to colour.  The sentiment is also a Stamp-It stamp.  For the background I used the smaller collage with some sepia Archival ink and added some distress around the edge.  I layered a couple of washi tapes across.  To finish I added black pearls. 

This was just the kick start I needed.  So much so that I managed two cards today for my July posts on Die Cut Divas.  Getting myself a little ahead.  And I even went out to look at some storage ideas for the craft room.  Got some ideas for tidying up one corner with some cube storage.  Just got to wait till some repairs on the corner of the floor are done.  A while back our water cylinder leaked and the floor under it and into the corner of my room has gone soft.   The repairer is coming in this week and I've moved out some of my supplies to give them room to fix the floor.  Once it's all back I'll get the new storage in place. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  

Mixed Media Collage background.

Today I have a card to share for Little Blue Button Stamps.  I started with making a mixed media background and then used it to make the card.

 

The background is some water colour paper which I coloured with Derwent Water colour pencils.  I then used some stamps, stencils and inks to make the collage background.   

 I printed the new image called Sally.  I coloured her with Copics and fussy cut her out.  I haven't added a sentiment yet ~ I'll wait till I decide who I'm giving the card to... 

Our new challenge starts soon... be on the lookout for some gorgeous projects from the team.   

I'm sitting writing this while listening to the fireworks our neighbours are letting off.  Last night was Guy Fawkes night but due to very bad weather not many fireworks were let off.  You can only buy fireworks for 4 days from the 2nd Nov till 5th Nov. We didn't get any this year ~ now the kids are not here, it's not worth it.  

Farewell to Mygrafico.....

Usually this would be my day to share a card for Mygrafico.... but I'm sad to say that the owner,  Burcu, has decided to close down the challenge blog :-)  so no more Mygrafico.  I've enjoyed my time with the challenge blog and I say a thank you to Burcu and Tammylee for allowing me to be part of the challenge blog.

But now I'm available to do some more design work and already have something on the sidelines... more news about this next month.  

So today I will share with you a card I made in the weekend.  I had a lady from work come over on Saturday and do some stamping with me.  Suna is fairly new to card making and I invited her over to play with my stamps.   We had a fun afternoon.  She made two Mother's Day cards and I made one for Mother's Day, one for some design work and started the one I'm sharing here.   I finished it yesterday morning.

I stamped onto white card and then used distress inks Antique Linen and Spun Sugar.  I used stamps from Hero Arts, Inkadinkado and Simon Says stamp to make up my collage.  Thanks to Jacqueline,   Sally and others for their wonderful inspiration using the postcard stamp.

Thanks for stopping by.  

Simple Frame Collage.

Today has been very busy.... getting the cleaners in to clean the stain on the carpet, off to the car dealership to sign up for a new car, doing the grocery shopping, home to do the housework... and finally some time to stamp.

First I'll tell you about the car we are buying.... Hubby currently has a Nissan Maxima that we bought from new in Sept 2002... yes~ nearly 9 years ago... so he thought it was time to upgrade.  He went to the dealership on Thursday as they were having a HUGE sale.. and they did come up with a great deal... So he decided that he wanted one in Amethyst Grey.  It had to be ordered in.  Today we went to sign up and had a look at it...it has arrived, but needs to be valeted, and have the paint protection added so it will be Tues or Wed before we pick it up... Very exciting... nothing so nice as the smell of new leather in a new car.  Can't wait.

And on the stain front... the cleaner was amazing and has managed to remove all of the stain. A big sigh of relief from me!  He did such a good job I'm going to get him back to clean the whole of the downstairs carpets.

Now for my Frame cards..  I started by inking up the Simple Frame stamp with Brushed Corduroy and stamped it twice.

 
For my first card I masked the frame and then used some distress inks to colour the background.  My inspiration for this was the wonderful backgrounds produced by Jill Foster   She does amazing backgrounds with distress inks and uses water splotches a lot.  My colours are more muted than she uses.  I then stamped the Hero Arts Antique Background in Wild Honey ink.  I stamped it again on some scrap card and used my aqua brush to colour in the Butterfly and Dragonfly and cut them out and added to the card for dimension.  I layered the panel onto some orangey card that I had stamped the Envelope pattern onto.  Added a sentiment in the Brushed Corduroy to finish.

My second card using the frame used similar techniques.  I masked around the frame and used the Envelope Pattern as well.  This time I used Hero Arts Timely Bird Collage.  I stamped it again to get the bird to 3-D.  I painted the background bird and flower with some distress inks mixed with Iridescent Medium.  I trimmed the panel and distressed with Tea Dye ink and layered onto dark brown and then onto the cream card base.  I had made a few crochet flowers sitting watching "Country Calendar" after dinner this evening, so used one on the corner of the card with a button I made with my new molds from Mold Muse ( here)

Well it's now time to hit the sack.  Hubby went off about 20 mins ago but I was still wanting to finish this post. 

Enjoy your weekend all

Cheers

Dawn

Collage Fun.... and a Wedding Anniversary Card

The new Hero Arts catalogue has a whole heap of lovely collage images.... as I write, my Timely Bird cling is winging it's way to me from the USA.... meanwhile I thought I'd try my hand at some collage stamping and masking of my own.....

I started by stamping the butterfly from the Antique Engravings set into the middle of the card.  I then made a mask and laid it on top.... then using post it notes I did lots of different stamps and ink colours ( mainly in the softer distress colours) around it.... Music background, Magical Background, Silhouette Grass and Flower Wood Background from Hero Arts and a script and grid stamps from Rubadubadoo ( a NZ stamp company) I then removed all the masks except the butterfly and used various distress inks with an ink blender.  I then used Copics to colour my butterfly.  This made it the focal point being much brighter than the background.  I layered it onto a nutmeg coloured card after making a corner with a Fiskars punch.

I scored some really good prices on the punch and some Fiskars stamps.  I found a clearance shop which sells all sorts of things..... called Ike's Emporium, that had the big 8 x 8 stamp sets (35-36 stamps on each) for $2.95 each.  I am not sure how they managed to sell them so cheap..looking on the website for Fiskars these are over $16.. I got 2 of the Girlfriends set and 1 of the Sentiments.... I'll keep the other set for a give away at some time... plus I got the cut and emboss corner punch for $7.95 and Shape Template (Tags-1) for $1.95.  Love getting a bargain.   My non-stamping friend was laughing at how excited I got when I saw these....

Tomorrow is my wedding anniversary so I won't be blogging.... going out to dinner to celebrate 33 years of marriage.... but before I go I must show you the card my Mum and Dad made for us....

that's Hubby and Me 33 years ago... my don't we look like so young!!!!!!!!! Inside the card, there is a photo of our hands with our rings.... certainly brings back memories...  thank you Mum and Dad for this wonderful card!!!!!

Have a great rest of the week everyone.