Sew much fun!

I have mentioned this before - I have never been fond of sewing. But I have been trying out some hand stitching on cards recently and actually enjoyed it! Here are a few cards which I have made.

On the first one I have kept it fairly simple using a stamp by Artemio on a background using pigment inks and then adding a small zig-zag of stitching with black thread. The coloured 'squares' on the base card were made using Tim Holtz's scratches stamp in both directions, and then I coloured in some of the spaces using Distress Markers.

This card has a stitched border around the edge of patterned paper which I first stamped and clear embossed the flowers and butterflies by Hero Arts, then sponged Distress Ink over and around the embossing. I've finished it off with a lace flower, ribbon and a tiny tag.









For my third card I have used a Dina Wakley stamp on a background of waste paper that I had used underneath various other projects. I layered this onto red card and added a line of wonky (deliberate) stitching in red. I have used the 'crinkled ink' technique on the base card, stamped the quote (by PaperArtsy) which I covered with a strip of Tim Holtz film strip, and finally added two Hero Arts butterflies decorated with Indian bindis.

 

Create with abandon

Sorry it's such a long time since I posted anything here - I had a few problems after the Blogger upgrade, but all seems OK now. 

So here are a couple of cards I've just made using stamps by Dina Wakley. The first one using the fab 'create with abandon' stamp in which I created a colourful background by dabbing dye inks around the edge of an acrylic block, spritzing with water and then pressing onto card. The second card has a background using the wrinkle free distress technique with some added texture and glitter by adding some holographic embossing powder. The 'boys star' stamp has been embossed using gold and silver ep.

Mother's Day Card

This is the card I have made for my Mum for Mother's Day on Sunday. I guess most of you will recognise the famous Tim Holtz stamp I have used! I had this lovely background paper which is printed with vintage dressmaking images, so I dug out this stamp (which I haven't used for ages) to go with it. Then I just added a couple of hearts, a flower, some ribbon and buttons to complete the card... easy peasy. I think Mum will like the colour scheme - her favourite colour is beige!!!

SDC 49: purple & pink with black

A colour challenge this time for the Stampotique Designers Challenge ... and in some of my favourite colours! I've used Stampotique's Arty for this card on a background which was created by dabbing Distress Inks on an acrylic block, spritzing with water and then pressing onto card.

The flowers were made using die cut scalloped circles, inking, 'cuttling' and then layering. I have used some of the new 'newsprint' card candi for the flower centres. I love these especially as the text printed on them contain words about flowers and plants.

Tiny houses

The other stamps I recently bought from Crafty Individuals are these gorgeous little houses. Joanne Wardle used them in a recent edition of Craft Stamper and I just had to get them! Crafty Individuals usually send you some free small stamps with an order, which is always a wonderful surprise.


On the first card I have used one of the stamps and coloured the houses individually using Pro Markers. The faux wall was made simply using small strips of paper and an old book page, the edges inked with brown, and then glued on 'brick' style (I saw this idea in an Australian card making magazine and thought it would work well on this).


For the other card I decided to go for a clean and simple design.... as a complete change from my usual style!! This time I stamped the houses onto patterned paper, added a scalloped border and then glued to the card. I used one of the free stamps I received along the bottom of the card. To finish, I used this Craft Stamper freebie chandelier stamp at the top, and added a few tiny gems.

SDC 48

The latest Stampotique Designers Challenge is to CASE a Stampotique designer - standing for Copy And Steal Everything. This was not as easy as it sounds!!! It took me ages (not to mention a few dud trials) to decide which of the designers to CASE and eventually went for Kate Crane. Here is my poor effort which is not a copy of one particular piece of Kate's work, but using some of her ideas. I have used various sprays on the background, acrylic paint and gesso to create the circles and rings. See more of Kate's MUCH more superior work at The Kathryn Wheel.

Adding a bit of glitz!

This background on this card was inspired by another idea in Craft Stamper. I used the 'wrinkle free distress' technique on the central panel and dried it using a heat tool. Then I dipped the card onto the craft mat again and sprinkled some glittery embossing powder over it and heated. This creates some nice random texture and glitz on your background. The stamped images I've added are some new stamps that I've just bought by Crafty Individuals.