Saturday 28 June 2014

Live Every Moment - Card from Water Colour Class

Evening Everyone,

I hope this finds you well and enjoying the weekend.

I'm still here! A full week since I last posted ... where does the time go? The EM is still suffering with sciatica,  very frustrating for him as he is able to do a lot less than usual - and he's not a man to sit around doing nothing. The antibiotics have done the trick for Bonnie, The Boss,  and she seems to have recovered well from that nasty ear infection. And, me? I'm just so busy I don't seem to be able to find a great deal of time to do any crafting ... even for the water colouring class. Fortunately, I can pick it up later when things have settled down again.

Talking of the water colouring, this is the last piece I managed to do a couple of weeks ago. The colours are much bolder than previous samples due to using Ranger's distress inks instead of the water colour paints, Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed and Peacock Feathers. The effect is created by squishing ink on a stamp block, spritzing with water, then 'stamping' on to water colour card.


It's a very simple card. Once the ink was dry I stamped the sentiment (IndigoBlu) on to it and then matted it on to black cardstock (Papermill Direct). This was then mounted, using dimensional adhesive, on to a card base made from the same black cardstock. Amber gems from stash decorate the card.

And that is that - I said it was easy - and apart from the drying time, quick too.

Must go ... I have a cup of tea going cold. Hope to be back again soon ... that is, sooner than a week next time.

Take care and happy crafting,

Saturday 21 June 2014

Roses, Roses, Roses

Hi Folks,

Hope this finds you well and enjoying the weekend. We're going through a busy phase at the moment, visits to the dentist, the vet, open gardens, friends and family! No time in the craft room ... well, I did alter some trousers, for a friend who has lost so much weight nothing fits anymore, but that's all!

Even time in the garden has been limited but I thought you might like to see all the roses that have suddenly burst into bloom since I posted the first one last week ... what a difference a few days can make :) Warning! This is going to be a photo heavy post.

The first three are from the rose bed in the back garden.
This is Patricia Kent, a scented shrub rose that is modern but looks nicely old-fashioned.
Simply the Best ... planted in the EM's honour because he is :) It's a hybrid tea, scented too and apparently makes long-lasting cut flowers.
L'Aiment, again! Described as a floribunda with old-fashioned charm, it is wonderfully fragrant of course - just like the perfume that shares it's name.

This next one is the first rose I planted in the long border, also in the back garden.
Carefree Days is a lightly scented patio rose. I've planted it near the Sambucus Black Beauty - a particularly gorgeous black elder that is a gift from friends - where it looks perfect.

We don't know the names of the roses that follow ... if you can put a name to any of them I'd be most grateful.

This beauty is a climber that was already growing in the garden when we moved in. The flower head is big and it has a lovely perfume.

The following are all growing in the front garden - every label blew away during the storms earlier this year.
This one in a delicate pink shade has a lovely old fashioned look about it and a beautiful perfume.
This photo really doesn't do this rose justice! The petals are dark red and velvety looking and, of course, with a heavenly scent ... we haven't planted a single rose that isn't scented!
And, finally, the EM's favourite - absolutely stunning!

And there we have it! A lovely bunch of roses for you ... hope you enjoyed them as much as we do :)


I'm going to link up with Annie's Friday Smile - Week 74 - too, hoping to 'make the world a happier place' with roses :)

Wishing you all a happy weekend.

Wednesday 18 June 2014

WOYWW 263 - escaping the sun ...

... boy, is it hot, hot, hot out there!

We are enjoying temperatures of 81°F (over 27°C) here ... unbelievably hot! So I've come in to the craft room to avoid heatstroke :)

After the scare she gave us, I'm delighted to see Julia back with WOYWW again - that's What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday of course. Welcome back Julia ... great to see your desk again :)
And for the What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday record this is my desk today. It hasn't altered much since the weekend when I started to put this scrap layout together ... a case of too many distractions preventing completion. As you can see the page in process is for a large photo ... not the easiest photo size to scrap but I think the page is beginning to look okay. To the right are the leftover bits of patterned paper and the alphas which, along with the ink pad and glue tape, were used on the layout. I have several more of those over-sized photos to scrap - that's the pile to the left under the water colour pad - which I intend to work on over the next few weeks, because if they don't get scrapped now, I fear they never will!
That water colour pad is a very recent acquisition ... as recent as yesterday. An appointment at the dentist (hygienist) yesterday enabled a visit to my local craft shop which is just around the corner ... my reward to myself :) The basket pictured holds some of the watercolour stuff for the water colour class I've been working on recently. Although, sadly, that's stalled too ... the sunshine is to blame :)
I can't go before showing you a close up of the gorgeous card and WOYWW5 ATC just received this morning ... it's from Anne at Copper Beech Crafts. Those flowers are just so pretty and I love the inky spattered background. Oh, and the ATC is delightfully scented ... the base was made using the shaving foam technique. Thank you Anne, both pieces are lovely.

Now I'm off to catch up with what fellow deskers are doing and leave as many comments as I can.

I hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday - have a great week too.

Happy Crafting,

Monday 16 June 2014

Bright and Cheerful Get Well Card - with a little matting and layering trick thrown in

Hello Folks

Hope you've had a merry Monday. We've had wall-to-wall sunshine today so most of it has been spent out in the garden just enjoying the warmth. That being so, the card shown in this post is one that was made some time ago.
This colourful card is the result of a personal challenge I gave myself to make one as bright and cheerful as possible using mainly snippets, that way if it didn't work or, more likely, I didn't like it, not much material would be wasted! An added bonus is that I've also manage to incorporate another NBUS ... the little floral wood-mounted stamp is another of my very first stamping purchases.

It's a really small card made with a leftover scrap of fuschia pink card measuring 8½" x 4¼" folded in half. The floral  image was stamped in Archival black ink, coloured with H2O's and then cut out with a square-shaped die. The yellow matting layer was cut using the faux die method of tracing round the die and then cut out with scissors. The green layer is a die-cut.  Floral ribbon, yellow coloured gems and yellow glitter glue embellish the card. 

The final touch is the punched greeting label which is also matted on to yellow and green card. Each layer is made with the same punch ... a wee trick I've mentioned in past posts. However, for anybody new to cardmaking I thought this time I'd put together a little photographic record of how I do it here.

To make the greeting label these are the materials need - cardstock, stamp set and ink pad and a suitable punch ... for this sample I used the Word Window label punch from Stampin' Up but other shapes work well too - ovals, circles, squares all work well for this technique. 
Start by punching out the labels that will be used for the matting layers ... for this label I punched out one each in yellow and green.
Next, the greeting is stamped on white card and then punched out with the same label punch.
This photo shows the three labels I used to make the greeting. I should point out that how many layers you add is optional ... I've made a greeting with just one matting layer for other projects.
Before adhering the labels together cut in half, as shown, the punched pieces that will be used for matting.
To put the pieces together, apply adhesive to the back of the greeting then two halves of the first layer are manipulated into place in such a way that a tiny edge of colour showing. The process is then repeated with the next layer.  
This is the finished greeting label. As you can see, the effect is as though three different sized punches were used instead of the one ... a neat trick don't you think :) 

I think the same technique could be done with some dies instead of punches ... I have a set of oblong dies that would be ideal - will have to try that out some time. 

As the card is made almost entirely from bits found in the snippet drawer, I'm off over to Di's at Pixie's Snippet Playground - Week 129 ... second time this week and it's only just begun :)

Hope you found this post useful ... especially if you have never seen this trick for creating several layers from one punch before.

It's late and The Boss will be in any moment now meowing loudly, telling me it's time for bed :) 

Hope you have a good night.

Happy Crafting,
Materials used: scraps and snippets of pink, green, yellow and white cardstock; X-cut square die set; stamps - three flower stamp - no indication of make or name, Hero Arts Classic Messages stamp set; Celedon and Just Peachy H2Os, Summer Fun set; yellow Stickles; Archival black ink pad; Stampin' Up Word Window punch; yellow floral printed ribbon; yellow sticky-backed gems  

Sunday 15 June 2014

Polka-dot Tea Cosy with Applique Hearts - A Sunday Snippet Make

Afternoon Folks

Yes, really, snippets of fabric and ribbon! Which means I will be skipping over to Di's and joining fellow snippeteers at Pixie's Snippets Playground for Week 129.
In yesterday's post I wrote that I was planning to do a bit of sewing. I've been meaning to make a new tea cosy, to replace the tatty old one we've had for years, ever since we moved here, and yesterday seemed to perfect time to stop procrastinating and get on with it.

Luckily I had enough leftover fabric from all the cushions I've been making for the girls in the family ... already posted here and here. Debbie Shore's book, Half Yard Heaven, provided the instructions, though I adapted the measurements to suit our teapot for two and I used some heart-shaped dies as a template for the applique. In fact, it took longer to measure, cut out and prepare the pieces, than it did to sew everything up on the machine. A dinner plate, as suggested in the book, made the perfect template for shaping the top of the cosy.

The heart shapes were traced out on to iron-interfacing which is then ironed on to the fabric and cut round to create the applique pieces. Next, the smaller white/black dotty heart was stitched to the larger black heart using a close zigzag stitch and then the two hearts were applied to the front piece of red dotty fabric. After that it was just a question putting all the pieces together, including a loop of black/white dotty ribbon at the top, sewing it all up and finishing it off by following the instructions in the book.

The EM is delighted ... the cosy looks perfect with our chosen colour scheme - white units, very pale grey walls with pops of red from the window blind, pot holders, red kettle and a few poppy decorated bits and bobs ... and I love it, it's so Minnie Mouse dotty :)

Now I have to scoot. We are off to visit another open garden this afternoon. It's been touch and go whether we would because it rained this morning but the sun is out now and everything is drying up nicely - just in time :)

Hope you are having a sunny Sunday too.

Happy Crafting,
Materials used: fabric - red/white polka dot for top, plain black for lining and larger of the two applique heart shapes, white/black for smaller heart shape; wadding/batting;  X-cut Homespun Heart die set to use as templates; iron-on interfacing, white pencil and an air erasable pen; black thread 
Tools: sewing machine, cutting board, rotary cutter, scissors, tape measure, pins, and snips

Saturday 14 June 2014

Just For You - a NBUS project

Morning Everyone,

It's the weekend - yippee!!! The EM and I have decided to give ourselves a break from painting and decorating the hall ... this is turning out to be a mammoth project! So, as long as there are no interruptions I'm planning to get a bit of crafting done :)
In the meantime here's another card made previously which features a little stamp set that I bought many years ago, perhaps around 2006, just about when I started cardmaking. They were going for a song in the reduced bin at my local craft shop. I think. It was so long ago I can't even remember that accurately :(

The problem then was what to do with the stamps ... I hadn't a clue! I knew nothing about colouring back then, indeed all I had was one black ink pad, and I knew even less about card design. So, sadly, they really had never been used - NBUS as Darnell over at DJ Kard Kreations, calls them. It was Darnell who introduced me to NBUS and spurred me on to dig out the neglected, unloved and forgotten crafty goodies lingering in my stash and now, to celebrate reaching 500 followers, she has launched her NBUS challenge ... just the thing to spur me into action :)

The three images were simply stamped on to a leftover scrap of smooth white card, cut to shape with a square die, and painted with distress inks to match the background.
The background was made by swishing white card through distress ink, in shades of pink and red, and then spritzed with water several times to create an interesting texture ... well, I hope it's an interesting texture :) The card is finished off with one of my favourite greeting stamps and a few black sequins sprinkled here and there. As usual now, I'll list the materials used down at the bottom of this post.


If you have a collection of NBUS tucked away in you stash, and what crafter hasn't, now's the time to get them out and, like me, join in with Darnell's challenge - just click the link above or on the NBUS button to find out all about how to enter. She'll be happy to see you there :)

I'm off now to tackle the first project planned for today. Sewing, I think ... it's a wee while since I got the sewing machine out.

Whatever your plans are I hope you are having a great Saturday.

Take care and happy crafting,
 
Materials used: smooth black cardstock trimmed and folded to create a tent style card; smooth white cardstock for background, Ranger's distress ink colours, Picked Raspberry, Fired Brick, Spun Sugar and Iced Spruce; stamps - the wood-mounted stamps, there's no indication of name or maker on them, and Ladybug Crafts It's Only Words 2 for the greeting; Archival black ink pad; X-cut Square die set;  black sequins for decoration

Friday 13 June 2014

Another Christmas Card for a Child

Hi Everyone, again,

Yes, it's another post, the third today and another quick one too.
The topper is an upcycled image cut from one of the cards we received last Christmas, matted on to a snippet of red cardstock. To stamp the front of the white card base, three small snowflake stamps were placed together on one block before inking and stamping twice ... the first time, I stamped off on to copy paper before stamping on to the card to give a faded impression, then the second time I just stamped straight on to the card ... to give a darker impression, if you see what I mean.

Inside and back have been stamped with the snowflakes too.


Again, I'm submitting this card to Hazel's challenge over at Crafty Hazelnut's - CHNC 180 - for a child.

And also to Hazel's other challenge - CHNC Challenge Extra for June 2014

And because of that snippet of red card I'm hopping over to Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 128  ... every little bit helps and it gives me a chance to see what all the other snippeteers have been up to too :)

Still no time to do any crafting what with all the painting going on. In fact, this card was made on Sunday and this is me just getting round to posting it! 

I've just noticed that it's Friday 13th ... lucky for some or Black Friday for others ... so I hope that nothing untoward has happened to you and that you are now looking forward to a weekend of fun.

Happy Crafting,
Materials used: square white card base; Papermania Noel Urban Stamp set; Ranger's Weathered Wood distress ink; upcyled card image; snippet of red cardstock; red gingham ribbon from Meiflower; red and green Craftworks card candi. 

Friday Smile - Week 73

Hi Again,

Another quick post but I just had to show you this rose. It's the first to bloom in the newly created rose bed and much to my delight it's L'Aiment - the name of my late mother's favourite perfume. Isn't it beautiful? I couldn't have chosen a better rose in her memory. That shade of pink is stunningly gorgeous and, of course, it has a lovely perfume.

What's caused you to smile this week ... pop over to Annie's, A Stitch In Time, and share a smile. Like Annie say's, make the world a happier place :)

Christmas Card for a Child

Hi Everyone,

Just popping in with a quick post ... we are still up to our eyes in gloss paint here at Casa Worthington ... with a card for Hazel's challenge over at Crafty Hazelnut's - CHNC 180 - for a child.
I've used a decoupaged topper - made up some time ago, ready and waiting to be used for just such an occasion as this. It's just been matted on to some pink textured card, trimmed with a strip of paper ribbon and decorated with pretty pink gems.
It's from an old Christmas kit from Papermania - Henbury Lane Poinsettia.


The paper ribbon trim and the greeting used on the inside and back are from the same kit.

I'm also submitting the card to Hazel's other challenge - CHNC Challenge Extra for June 2014

Must get back to the painting ... I did say it had to be a quick post!

Happy Crafting,
Materials used: white card base; Docrafts Papermania Henbury Lane Poinsettia Christmas kit; pink Papermania textured cardstock; sticky-backed pink gems 

Wednesday 11 June 2014

Painting of a different kind ...

... and even more WOYWW5 ATCs!

Yes, we are painting the hall, stairs and landing this week so the desk has been swapped for the EM's WorkMate. And on it is a paint kettle containing a tin of undercoat at the moment and a couple of paint rags, and a screwdriver - for prising the lid off the tin. There's a paintbrush too - just out of shot.

All this means I won't be joining in the desk hopping over at What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday (WOYWW) this week. This fun hop is normally in full swing over at the Stamping Ground by now but there seems to be a bit of a glitch cos there's no linky there yet!

Edited Note: It's Wednesday evening and I've just discovered the reason for no WOYWW post ... Julia has been taken ill whilst on holiday and is in hospital. Both the EM and I wish her a rapid recovery and hope she is up and about again soon. For further information, please pop over to Lunch Lady Jan's who will be keeping us posted. 

 Despite my non-attendance, I just had to show you the lovely ATCs received this week.
Are they gorgeous or what??? From the Sewing Sisters, Twiglet and Wipso (aka Jo and Annie), I just love all the stitchwork  - beautiful :)

Hopefully all the ATCs I sent out have reached their destination by now so here, for the record, is a pic of the digital card I made to accompany them.


Using Serif Craft Artist 2 and two digikits - Pebbles Floral Lane for papers, ribbons and flowers and Playground, a free kit from Daisytrail for the birds. To create the 'topper' I had a go at digital punching the papers and adding shadows to each item creates the illusion of dimension.
After printing out I added orange and blue gems from Anita's gem wheels to give a little bit of real dimension. 

Even the insert and the back were created digitally... 

... as was the ATC.


Well better get back to the painting.

Have a great day and a wonderful week.

Happy Crafting,