AECP - Magical Markers Techniques.

I'm slowly getting to the end of my Level 2 classes.  Today I had a go at the Magical Markers Technique class.  I originally took this class some time ago, but only recently purchased some Altenew Markers.   The class was lead by Sara Naumann and it was all about Markers.  Not just using them to colour in with, but lots of incredible techniques for other ways to use your markers.    Each lesson gave different ideas and of course, Sara explained and demonstrated them beautifully.   I went through every lesson again and came up with a card that used several different ways to use my Markers,

So what did I do?  First off I used my ruler and the R217 Velvet marker to make the frame around my panel.  Next was to make the splatters. - How you ask?  Well it's quite easy.  Scribble some maker onto a craft sheet and spritz with Isopropyl Alcohol.  Quickly use a stippling brush to pick up and flick the colour onto the card.

I used the R217 Velvet, R705 Midnight Violet and some Black Copic marker.  Just love the misty look I achieved.

My final technique was again to scribble some of the markers onto the craft mat and spritz with the Isopropyl Alcohol and then taking some glossy card stock, smooshing it on the mat.  This give an amazing watercolour look.

I was very impressed with the idea of doing this for backgrounds.  My next step was to stamp a flower from the Wallpaper Art stamp set onto the pink piece.  (actually was the Velvet ink but the diluting with the IA makes it softer)  I added clear embossing over the stamping and carefully used the heat gun to set.  I fussy cut it out.

I added a leaf from the Wallpaper Arts set with some Industrial Diamond ink and a sentiment from the Leaf Canopy set.   I don't have a small Hello from Altenew so cut one from another die I have.  A few pink sequins and I called it a day.

I learnt so much from Sara and this class.  Alcohol Markers can be used for so many different techniques and ideas other than straight colouring.  This class was excellently presented and I can highly recommend it.

I am entering this into the Anything Goes challenge at The Flower Challenge.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.  All visitors are welcome.  If you liked this post, feel free to leave me a comment.  

Aloha, thinking of you.

Hi there.... hope your Christmas was fabulous and you got all the crafting goodies you asked Santa for... I did.  I got a set of 48 Prismacolor Pencils... very happy girl for sure.

Anyway it's my day to share over at Die Cut Divas.

I've used some dies and an embossing folder that come with a magazine.  I used a Spellbinders die cut oval as well.  The sentiment came with the dies and folder.  Bonus when you get great freebies with your magazines.

Entering into the Anything Goes Challenge at Simon Says Stamp 

I've scheduled this as we will be away for a few days between Christmas and New Year, hopefully enjoying some nice weather.

Happy New Year...

More "Stenciled" action

I have another card I created CASEing a card from Debby Hughes on Day 3 of class

I started by spritzing some Perfect Pearls mist in Heirloom Gold and a pinky colour I had made myself.  Once it dried I used used some Wendy Vecchi Embossing paste over a Mr Huey Chevron mask, just down one side.  I then worked on the flower embellishment.  It is a digi from Bugaboo.  I printed it out twice and used some chalk inks to paint the flowers.  I then layered the flower centres with some dimensional tape.  I then used some pearlescent paper and cut two leaves pieces using a Sizzix die.  Added all the elements to the card together with the sentiment which is Simon Says Stamp  and was white embossed onto black card.  I added some pink and white pearls to finish.

I also made a lovely felt flower tonight.  One of my FB friends saw a die set I posted last year and asked me about it and then another one want to know what size it was... so I made it up to show Anita and Lilian

That's it for me tonight.  Time to head to bed

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.

"Beat the Heat"....

that's the current challenge over at Penny Black.... not so much heat here in NZ... but not too cold either!

 I've finally got around to inking up some of my new Penny Black stamps.  I shared the first one on Saturday (here) and this is one is my second one

I started by stamping the large flower from Floral Applique in Memento ink and coloured with Copics and fussy cut.  The background was made by sponging Peacock Feather distress ink through a The Crafter's Workshop Punchinella stencil and then sponged with the ink.  I did an edging with Golden Glitz ink.  The sentiment is from Montargo.  I popped the flower up and added a few sequins.

And I am happy to say I've fixed my comments.... so please feel free to leave one for me.  I appreciate them all.

CAS-ual Friday challenge - take 2

I'm entering this card into CAS-usal Friday's dies/punches challenge, but not too sure if you can really count it as CAS... what do you think?



There aren't many embellishments, but there's not a lot of negative space either!  I had my idea for this card in the middle of the night so as soon as I could, I got into my craft room to create it this morning.  I used some Hero Arts watercolour paper and Distress inks to make my background rainbow.  The adorable sentiment is from Inkadinkado ~ a set called "Friendly Advise".  I stamped it in black ink and clear embossed.  I finished with a rolled rose (my die cut for the challenge)

As it is an encouragement card, I have added this to the Paper Crafts 2012 Gallery Idol open auditions and Simon Says Stamp ~ CAS cards.

Are you enjoying your weekend.  After a busy day cleaning, including the insides of the windows, I did get some time to craft.  Made my card for Hero Arts Spring Exchange and I also got to look at days 1-4 of A Cut Above on-line class.  You can purchase just the Part 1 or just Part 2 or the combined package.  Part 1 suited me so got it... go here to purchase.  Well worth it!  As I don't have an electronic cutter, it was great to just be able to purchase the part that related to manual machines.  Thanks On-line classes for doing this.  Now off to have some lunch before finishing the course and trying out some of the ideas.

Dawn 

PS don't forget to enter my give-away  HERE

Lots of Punch.....

Hero Arts Punch Ink that is..........  I got this awhile back but only just used it to ink up some stamps.  I have been watching with interest to Tina and Martha who are challenging each other to use various stamps/techniques.  For their third challenge they CASE'd a card of Tina's.  Their cards inspired me to make this card

I don't have the Sunburst stamp they used, but have a lovely doily stamp from Tea with Eloise by Kaisercraft.  I started by stamping it with the Punch ink directly onto the corner of my card.  Next I stamped Layered Flower by Hero Arts onto some scrap white card and cut it out.  I left it white only adding a red heart gem.  I added some ribbon and then popped the flower over the top.  I added the sentiment from Hero Arts in the top corner.  I masked off the word "made"  At this point, I stopped and looked at the card... I want to enter it into CAS-ual Friday's Flower challenge so had to be CAS ~ but it looked unfinished.  So a row of little red gems and I feel like it's now finished and still CAS enough!

It also reminded me of the picture for Virginia's View over at Lily Pad Cards and it fits the criteria for Paperplay Challenge ~ monochrome with ribbon.  Plus I'll throw it into the mix at Simon Says Stamp Challenge ~ anything goes

I've just got some Banana Nut Bread in the oven.  It's a recipe I haven't tried before, so hope it turns out okay.   If I make Banana Cake, it seems to not get eaten with just the two of us home these days, but I think the loaf/bread will.   I might even freeze some of it.

Hope you all have a great weekend.  The weather forecast is for overcast showery weather... perfect for inside stamping!
Dawn

Purple Haze

I am a huge fan of PURPLE.... any shade or tone.... and recently bought a bottle of Tim Holtz Color Wash in Purple Twilight.  It is a very pretty deep purple colour.  I spritzed it onto some white card stock and used it to make a flower for this card

I started with a soft yellow card base and stamped it with Hero Arts Antique Flower background inked in Old Paper distress ink.  I added some purple washi tape (from SSS April kit) and then added a sticker from EAD ~ found these again in my tidy up ~  I stuck a doily in the bottom right corner and trimmed the excess off.  For my flower I stamped Hero Arts Raindrops in white ink Once it all dried I used the Hero Arts die from Bold Pop Flowers to cut 5 flowers.  I scrunched and then separated the layers and just used the top layers to make the flower.  I found some lovely lilac buttons that I then used on the flower and the tape layer.  I then added some punched leaves and the two heart stick pins.   This card is currently winging it's way over to Australia for my SIL's birthday.

I'm really pleased how this turned out and hope Julie likes it.  Had a giggle as I bought the stick pins in Perth, carried them home and now have sent them back to Australia.  I have entered this into a challenge I found called CES ~ this week to use buttons

Tonight I am enjoying some ME time as Hubby is out with "the boys"  ~ a group of guys he know through the shipping industry in which he works.  They all work for different companies in the industry and every 4 - 5 weeks get together to network over a few drinks.  And I get control over the TV remote  ~ not that there is much worth watching on a Friday night!!   So I get to craft and blog to my hearts content.  I'm redoing the tags I did for Tim Holtz Creative Chemistry class.... I have made some Bigger Tags with the TH die... so I'm working my way through the classes again.

So glad the weekend is here. Hubby's office is moving to a new building over the weekend and I'm getting a new chair for my craft room... albeit an old one from his office... no more pillows on the chair to get me to the height I need, no more towel over the back were the covering is ripped.... Yeah!

Well that's me for now.
Dawn

Woodgrain Flower

Yesterday while blog surfing I came across this post from my friend Virginia, showing the card she had made for CREATE challenge ~wood grain.  Well it got me thinking...
I have a Hero Arts stamp that is called Woodgrain Flower.  I could enter this challenge - there was just time... so a quick little card came about.

I stamped the image with Versafine Vintage Sepia onto white card stock and used a large Spellbinders scallop die to cut it out.   I gently coloured the flowers with watercolour pencils as I knew I wanted to pop the big flower.  The red and blue felt flower has been sitting in my container of flowers for some time...just waiting for the proper moment to get used.  The flower was cut with a Spellbinders die and joined with a sparkly brad.  I cut the Chocolate SU card to fit the circle  (4 3/4 x 4 1/4 in).

Well I was pleased to see today, this card made the cut for the CREATE showcase.  It's quite exciting when someone else likes you card!   So a big thanks goes to Virginia, for reminding me and inspiring me to enter.

Exciting times in New Zealand today.... tonight is the opening ceremony for the Rugby World Cup.  Thousands of tourists have arrived to follow their teams.  20  teams from all round the world have converged here to play...( including USA, England, Ireland, Wales, France, Japan, as well as some smaller nations)  Rugby is BIG here in New Zealand and it's hoped our team ( All Blacks) will win... but we'll just have to wait till 23 October to see who makes the finals.   Tonight as part of the opening, there is going to be a 12 min Fireworks display.  We are heading to the carpark at Hubby's work to watch.  His building looks out over the harbour so we should get a good view.

Well time to head off for another walk!   Did .9km ( just over half a mile) this morning and will do it again this afternoon.  Plus had a outing this morning.  Yvonne took me to get my bloods done and we pottered around some shops and had a coffee.  Luckily the weather is superb.  Very warm and sunny.  Long may it last!!!!

Take care

Dawn

What IS my style? What's Yours?

Well, that's a good question.   Over at Die Cut Diva's this month, Hannah set the challenge ~ "Show off your style".... this got me thinking.   I'm not sure if I HAVE a style. I like trying different things... but I know I like doing cards with a bit of embellishment but also not too much... a bit graphic but not to CAS.... does that make sense?   I've tried Shabby Chic... lots of hard work! but oh so pretty....  Love using my Distress inks to paint,
On the whole, I think I like things reasonably simple.  Yes, that's me

So here is my first entry in the challenge.

I used my Sizzix Die to cut the leaves. Martha Stewart punch, papers from a pack by Craftworkcards which came free with Simply Cards magazine. And a Hero Arts stamp - got it last week and this is the first time it's been inked up. The flowers were a bargain. I bought a posy of flowers for $2.50 and pull all the flowers off the stems.... got around 20 flowers and even some leaves.  Just glued them onto a tiny punched circle for stability.

I am entering this into Hero Arts flower challenge ( even if the flower isn't a HA stamp), CAS-ual Friday's Text challenge - hope it fits okay there.

So what's your style.... or are you like me.... have fun trying all sorts!

Happy Birthday Mum

Yesterday was my Mum's birthday.  I sent her a card but due to NZ having it's public holidays on Monday and Tuesday after Christmas and New Year, it didn't make it on time...... I suspect it will be a few days.... so Mum..... here is your card!!!!

Using my new Small Striped  Flower cling and inspired by this card by Tiffany.

I spoke with Mum yesterday morning which was nice.  She said that the morning was going well....

I also sent them a card for their anniversary which was last week.

this one used another of my new Hero Arts stamps.... Classic Fabric Design.  I stamped it in black on some silver translucent paper and cut to size. The base card was made with some Bazzil. I then stamped a chandler onto white card ( stamp by Teresa Collins) and cut it out. Once it was stuck to the background added some Glossy Accents to make it shine and a small piece of peelcraft for the chain. I used the computer to print the sentiment and cut with a Spellbinders die. Added some little blue gems ( free gift with my last Simon Says Stamp order)

I also managed to get a card done for hubby's niece who was 13 on the 2nd of January.  One of The Greeting Farm stamps I won from Kelly was a Friday stamp, which I thought was perfect for a teenager.  I kept the card fairly simple.

We are having a great summer here now... hot and sunny.  My friend Sue has described Auckland summers perfectly in her post here.  Go have a read and see her wonderful picture of the morning sunrise......   I'm off to enjoy the rest of the day.... and finish off a card for January's challenge on the HA blog....

Barb's 90 minute Scramble....

I was able to take part in the 90 minute scramble today because it started at 9.00am NZ time.  In the past it was middle of the night for me....
So there I was at 9.00am sitting in front of the computer with my stuff around me,.. still in my PJ's, cuppa tea and jammy toast beside me... ( Sunday is my sleep in day and it's normally awake at 8.00 with cuppa tea and the morning papers and up at 9.00am)
Barb's challenge was to make a Christmas card with a non-traditional flower...... so I was off and racing. Grabbed the cuttlebug and cut out some yellow and blue flowers.... then couldn't find any papers or card to match - so scrapped that idea.... so what next.  Quickly searched through my stash of paper and found a nice snowflake background in blues and purples.... that will do.... now stamps?  Love my Music background.... and so it went.... got the background done, stamping around the edge of the base card,... got the sentiment stamped.... oh my gosh what about the flower!!!!!

Now I've been trying to make rolled circle flowers like Jennifer McGuire showed in one of her videos.... but alas they have always look awful and never worked out... always in the bin... but thought I'd just have one more try ........  well worth persevering - got one to work - yeah!!!!
Used some felt leaves I cut out and finally got it all together.... just on the hour.... then to photograph, load up onto Flickr and link to the discussion thread.... woohoo... made it.

so there it is..... and this is what the desk looked like at the end.....

Now on to the big clean up.....
Thanks Barb for such a fun challenge and doing it at a time that was good for me.


Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone.