Hi, hope you are all warm and safe - the weather is not very good here in North Staffs - it's freezing what snow we have left (mainly on the paths) and walking is a tricky!

I have been very busy this week working on my new blog which I hope to open tomorrow (fingers crossed) but in the meantime thought I would post a card that I did last year for CB and was not able to show.

Materials used:


Cardstock: A4 burgandy, A6 white glossy, gold mirri, extra white card
Inkpads:
Distress inks: forest moss, peeled paint, aged mahogany, antique linen
Clear Embossing Powder
Shimmer mist:
CB Stamps:
Texture Fragments
UA4SP0339 Essence of Nature Sentiment - floral spray
Joy Craft border, butterfly dies
Ribbon, gems, foam pads glue gel

I'm not used to using texture stamps and my first few efforts ended in the bin, but in the end I was pleased with my sample.  This combination of colours works really well.

Thanks for dropping by.

Less is more challenge - Week 4 - Squares

I have just had a lovely, but very busy three days with my daughter and two granddaughters.  Caitlin and Megan just love getting their hands on my crafting stamps and inks, so no crafting for me!  Hence, a little later than usual for the LIM challenge which this week asks for 3 squares.    Now squares are a fav of mine, but just what to do with them????  Looking for something a bit different I decided to do this.....

I've used a technique called masking to create an illusion of depth and inked straight onto my card. 

 

First fold a sheet of A4 copypaper into 4, then cut with a Nestie Square size 3 (l being the smallest) to make a template.

   

You can play with the cutout shapes to decide on the best pattern

Leave the first cutout in place

Cover with the template and slide the sticky edge of a post-it under each side lining up to the square

When you remove the template you have your square ready to colour.  I used distress inks starting with dark at the bottom and working lighter.

When the first square is completed, cover with one of the square cutouts and repeat the process to complete squares 2 and 3.

    

 I used one of the stamps from the Elusive Image theme plate called Essennce of Nature (UA4SP0339.

By varing the shades of ink you can see all three squares -

masking the ikki way - easy, effective, and perhaps worth a try?

Later today I will show you some other examples of this technique.

Favourite techniques of 2010 - Stamping, Masking and Distress Inks

At the start of a new year I look back at what I have been doing to see if I'm getting in a rut, and if so where can I go?!??!?to keep my crafting fresh.

At the beginning of 2010,  I found that by looking at a few challenge blogs for ideas, I would like to try my hand at stamping, masking and colouring with Distress Inks.

This was one of my first attempts in January (inspired by the talented Barbard Grey from Clarity Stamps)and I was well chuffed to received a prize!

With my prize.....

the result remains in my card box - at the time I couldn't decide what to do it - now I don't want to do anything with other than look!

Later in the year, after visiting the NEC and buying a set of stamps from Elusive Images, this is card appeared in the Cupboard....

I did do something with this one, I submitted it along with a few others to EI when they were looking for new members to their DT. 

I feel now that I have improved my technique using make-up sponges, cut'n'dry and a blending tools, that brayering would be the next move, but this seems a bit too difficult so I'm going  to try using brushes???? Now waiting for arrival of my parcel....watch this space to see if I can incorporate this technique  with cuttling!?!??!?!?