The eyes which see reality

Hello and welcome. I just could not wait to play with this awesome stamp from Lavinia. Isn't it just amazing. The possibilities are endless. This piece didn't quite go to plan but I kept going anyway. A little too rushed but the end result was okay.

Here's what I used...

PaperArtsy Smooth White Card... 240gsm.
Lavinia Stamp... Simmi.
Visible Image... Live in the moment.
That's Crafty... Inspirational Quotes - Set 1.
Tim Holtz Stencil... Splash.
Clarity Stamp Stencil... Double Sprig.
Versafine ink... Onyx Black.
Tim Holtz distress inks... Dusky Concord, Seedless Preserves, Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint and Mustard Seed.
Ranger Enamel Accents... Electric Lime.
Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium... Gold Shine.
Imagination Crafts...Starlights Metallic Paint... Diamond.
Polychromo pencils.
Wink Of Stella... Clear.
Bling from stash.
Masking paper.

Here's what I did...

I began with a large piece of smooth white card. I reverse stamped the eye using versafine as this not only gives a crisp image but stays wet long enough to reverse stamp the image exactly where you want it. It's best to stamp the reverse image first as it will be much easier to line up the second eye. Stamp the dragonfly facing down using the same ink. Now stamp all the images again onto making paper and cut out carefully. You only need the actual eye part and eyebrow of Simmi and the wings of the dragonfly. Place these carefully over the images.

Now for the blending. This didn't go exactly to plan and my colours should have been brighter and more defined but as time isn't kind to me these days and rushing, it kind of got spoilt but I refused to bin it and carried on anyway. I used all the colours listed above and blended using brushes. I then took the Splash stencil and a baby wipe to take some of the colour back off around the edges and brushed back over with the Mustard Seed. I wanted a little sparkle so took the smaller dragonflies from the set and dabbed it with the Starlights Metallic Paint and stamped them onto the card.

Now remove the masking and colour the eyes and large Dragonfly wings with the pencils. I used the black Posca pen to sharpen the outer eye and a few lashes. Once happy add the bling. Take the verse from the quotes set and stamp at the bottom with versafine ink.

More bling needed I felt so took the Sparkle medium and pushed it through the Double Sprig stencil at random around the edge of the card. Take the Enamel Accents and carefully dot down from the eyes covering the black dots already stamped from the image. Brush over the large dragonfly wings with the Wink of Stella.

Now mount onto the gold card leaving just a tiny border showing and then onto a complimentary colour card. I chose the pink to pick up the pink on the eyes. I hope you like it. I have to say I'm loving Simmi. It is in my opinion by far the best eye stamp so far and so many ways you can bling it up. I just hope I can find some more time soon to have another play but I think my next make will be with the Lavinia Seahorse because that in my opinion is the best seahorse stamp so far.... smiles. All from me for now.

Enjoy the rest of your week and happy crafting.

Bev. xxx

Change our story

Well hello and welcome once again. I am feeling quite chuffed to have found a little more time to spend in the craft room. This time I couldn't resist playing with the stamps from the latest edition of Creative Stamping. The stamps are just fab and the elephants go so well with the elephant stamp I already have perfectly. This is based on a card I made a while back so just had to put them together.

Here's what I used...

Multi media card stock... 115lb

Stamps from Creative Stamping Mag... Issue 57

Deep Red Stamp... African Elephant

Lavinia Stamp... Tree but no name on packaging

Inkylicious Stamp... Bare Trees

Sheena Douglass stamp set... Change

Stamping up stamp set... High Tide

Versafine Ink... Onyx Black

Ranger Archival Ink... Fern Green and Orange Blossom

Tim Holtze Distress Inks... Weathered Wood, Black Soot, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey, Abandoned Coral and Mustard Seed

Blending Brushes and Foam

Cuttlelola Dot Pen... Black

Masking Paper

Polychromo Pencils

Sue Wilson Die.. Stitched Rectangles

Inkylicious Stencils... Reflections and Scenic Clouds

Gabreille Pollacco Stencil... Mini Moving Vines

Dreamweaver Embossing Paste... No name on this but believe it is their original paste

Here's what I did...

I began by workng out the size I needed to create by scene at the same time as working out which dies I would need as I wanted to cut a frame which would have a depth deep enough to incorporate the elephant. In order to have the elephant as part of the frame, stamp the elephant onto the card first using the versafine ink. Place the die over the top and work out the placement. Using a sharp craft blade, gently cut around the elephant to enable you to tuck the die behind the image and tape in place with low tack tape and then run it through the die cutting machine. You will now have a nice frame with the elephant as part of it which will allow him to stand out from the finished piece.

Using a die from the middle of the two used, cut this onto an A4 piece of card and take out the middle to give you a stencil to tape down over your card stock which will allow you to work within and have a neat edge. Stamp the elephants from the Creative Stamping set onto the card and also stamp it onto masking paper. Carefully cut out and place over your stamped image.

Take a piece of paper and lay across the card and begin blending over the greens to create the grass area. Once happy turn your paper round. Cut a mask to create the sun and then blend over the inks to create the sky. Remove the mask creating the sun and gently brush over with Mustard Seed until happy with the colour.

Take the Reflections mask and brush through with the Black Soot distress ink across the card to create the mountains. Using the same mask move it around and blend through with the Weathered Wood distress ink to give a look of depth to your horizon. Take the Scenic Clouds stencil and using Rusty Hinge distress ink, pounce through with a sponge to create the clouds. Once happy with the blending and the scene is created, take the tiny grass stamp from the High Tide stamp set and using Fern Green and Crushed Olive ink, stamp it randomly over the grass area to create a feel of tufts over the field. Use the Cuttlola Dots Pen to add more interest and help ground the elephants.

Take the Lavinia Stamp tree and stamp it to the right of the scene with the black Versafine ink and the tree from Inkylicious to the left so that once the frame is added just a small part will show. Take the verse stamp and stamp this top left. I felt the mountains were a little too crisp against the sky so I brushed a little Weathered Wood over the top to darken it slightly. 

Now happy with the scene it's time to work on the frame. Cut a mask and place over the elephant. Using the Twisted Citron and Spiced Marmalade, brush over the entire frame. Then take the leaf stamp from the free stamp set and stamp it around the frame in Orange Blossom and Fern Green. Take the Mini Moving Vines mask and push through the embossing paste just on one vine down the left of the frame. Blast with a heat tool so that it lifts and bubbles a little. This paste is great for this effect. Gently brush over the Twisted Citron.

Now remove the masks from the elephants on both the frame and the scene and colour with shades of grey Polychromo pencils. Add a touch of brown to the tree and you're done.

Mount the scene onto some matching green card, making sure you have a depth deep enough to allow a border once frame added. Use mounting foam to allow the frame to stand up from the finished piece and carefully place it onto the card. Mount onto your card base. I used an ivory card for this.

Well that's enough typing...phew. A bit long winded so you may be bored by now haha. That's all from me and I hope you like it and maybe got inspired.

Enjoy the rest of your week and see you all again soon.

Much love

Bev. xxx

And so the adventure begins

Hello and welcome. I'm here today with another quick and easy make. I just can't leave these stencils alone and always seem to find something to fill then with. Today it is this beautiful horse by Stamp Addicts.

Here's what I used...

PaperArtsy Smooth White Card... 240gsm

Stamp Addicts rubber stamp... Horse SA-7087

Tim Holtz Stamp Set... Phrases 3

Visible Image Stamp Set...Destination Unknown

Clarity Stamp Stencil... Winter Tree

Momento Ink... Tuxedo Black

Versafine Ink...Onyx Black

Distress Ink... Mustard Seed and Faded Jeans

Masking Paper

Inkylicious Blending Brushes

Alcohol Markers

Fine liner pen... Black

Here's what I did...

I began by taping down the stencil with low tack masking tape. Place this onto a stamping platform and stamp the horse with the momento ink. I used this ink for the horse as I wanted to use alcohol markers to colour the horse. Stamp the horse once again onto masking paper and carefully cut out the image. Out of the waste I punched a circle to use in order to create the moon. Carefully place the mask over the horse and the circle to create the moon. Use the fine liner to create texture for the grass. Take the blending brush and brush mustard seed over the grass area. I used this colour so that I could brush the faded Jeans over the whole area creating the sky and the grass (the blue over the yellow creates a really nice shade of green). Once happy with the the colour, take a baby wipe and gently dab areas of the sky to create the look of clouds. Using a sponge gently push all the colour that has collected on the stencil onto the card. This saves waste and also gives a good sharp edge to the finished look.

Carefully remove the stencil and the masks. Take your chosen colour of markers and colour the horse. I chose shades of grey for this image. Once happy take the words from the Tim Holtz stamp set and stamp it using Versafine ink in the top left corner and the words from the Visible Image stamp set in the bottom right corner. Trim the card to your desired size then mount onto black card. Mount this onto some blue card before mounting onto your white card base.

I do hope you like it. That's all from me today. Enjoy the rest of your week and hope to be back soon.

Happy crafting

Much love

Bev. xxx

Just because your path is different

Hello and welcome. So here I am again. I'm feeling quite shocked that I managed to be back so quick. I found myself with a little free time so managed to make something quick and easy. I've had this verse for a while and not yet used it and I really like it so needed something to go with it. After a good old rummage I dug out one of my old favorites which I felt suited it well. 

Here's what I used...

Paper Artsy Super Smooth Card... 240gsm.

Sheena Douglas stamp set... A Different Dream.

Indigo Blue Stamp Set... Lost In Benidorm.

Indigo Blue Stamp Set... Light and Sound Borders.

Bee Crafty Inkables stencil... Unsure of name but it looks like a chain link fence.

Versafine Ink... Onyx Black.

Momento Ink...Tuxedo Black.

Ranger Archival Ink...Orange Blossom.

Tim Holtz Distress Ink... Faded Jeans, Broken China and Weathered Wood.

Alcohol Markers.

Posca Pen... Red.

Here's what I did...

Stamp the image of the man onto the card using the Momento ink. I used this ink as I'm using alcohol markers to colour the image. Stamp the image again onto masking paper and cut out carefully. Stamp the verse onto the card using the versafine ink. I love this ink for stamping as it gives a really crisp detailed image. Take the mask and place it over the man carefully. 

Take the Broken China and brush over the stamped image lightly, building up the colour gradually. Take the Faded Jeans and do the same again around the stamped image to allow a darker colour directly around the image. Once happy, remove the mask. 

Now take the stencil and place in on the card and brush over the Weathered Wood lightly around the outside of the card. Take the arrows element from the Borders stamp set and stamp it onto the card using the Orange Blossom. 

Now happy with the background, take your chosen colours of alcohol markers and colour the image. I decided to use a Posca pen to colour the verse as I thought it would give me a slightly shiny look but it didn't. Hey ho, it coloured it well so all good. 

I did think of adding some dimension to the card using embossing paste but decided that it might spoil the look as I felt it was ok as is so left it there. Mount onto some navy card and then onto a white card base. Hope you like it.

All for now. Thank you as always for dropping in. Enjoy the rest of your week. Hope to be back again soon.

Much love

Bev. xxx