In her own skin

Hello and welcome

Feels good to be here once again. Yes I have a week off so managed some time in the Craft Room. I made a quick and easy tag with this fab image from Aall & Create. I very much enjoyed my usual visit to Ally Pally on Sunday and just had to buy this stamp set, just love it. 

I began by stamping out the image with Versafine Black Onyx. I stamped her again onto a piece of masking paper. Cover her with the masking paper and blend over the card with Distress Inks in Stormy Sky, Antique Linen and Spun Sugar. I used a stamp from a Stamping up set to create the water. 

I used a stencil by Aall & Create and Distress Ink in Worn Lipstick to create the wording by masking out the lines of words to pick out the wording I wanted to use. Remove the mask and colour the image with pencils softly.

Stamp the verse from the stamp set in black Versafine ink and cut out the words I wanted to use, run a black brush pen around the edges and glued on to the card.

Blend around the edge of the card with Vintage Photo and Worn Lipstick. 

I mounted my card straight onto a piece of Black Card, cut off the top corners and punched a hole for the ribbon. I used a very soft pink ribbon from my stash.

Hope you like it and as always thanks for stopping by.

Much love

Bev. xxx

I'm a rainbow sprinkle in a vanilla world

Hello and welcome

I am back today with another of my makes from my week off. I decided on a fun make with this fab stamp by Katzelkraft. He's just great isn't he. I have also decided that I am no longer going to write up such in depth instructions on how I made things due to the fact time is short and I'm also unsure how many visit my blog these days. Do people still do the blog thing I wonder? I sometimes think with all the other platforms maybe not. I'm also not here that often sadly due to work and family commitments. I will however post a photo of items used, and a quick write up :-)

See below picture for items used to make the fun card :-)

Card was created with weathered wood and antique linen. The camera was stamped with black versafine on a spare piece of card and embossed. Cut out and put aside. Stamp the photo film several times and cut out. Stamp three in a row. Mask off to stamp the face in each one. Stamp the bird again directly onto the card. Colour with any colour of choice. Glue all the pieces onto the card. Blend the weathered wood around the edge of the card. Take the lines from the PaperArtsy set and stamp around the edge of the card randomly using Archival watering can.

Mount onto black card and again onto coordinating card before mounting onto white card base.

All for now

Much love

Bev. xxx

Dream until your dreams come true

Hello again

Back today with a CAS card. I really don't find it easy making these and have difficulty with white space but I have to say that although this was a real quick make at the end of the day, I really am quite liking the simplicity of this and the story it holds :-)

Here's What I used...

Stencil Girl... S288

Bee Crafty Stamp... Hope

Inkylicious Stamp... Dreams Come True

Distress Ink... Antique Linen

Versafine Ink... Vintage Sepia

Here's What I did...

Take a piece of white card, I chose to die cut my card using a stitch die. I believe this is one of Sue Wilson's. Take the stencil and place down onto the card and use low tack masking tape to hold in place. Gently blend over the stencil with the Antique Linen using a brush until you have the desired depth of colour. Remove the stencil carefully.

Take the stamp of the girl and ink up using the Vintage Sepia. Stamp onto the card. I used a stamp platform to allow a repeat stamp to get full coverage and the depth of colour I wanted. Take the wording from the Inkylicious stamp set and ink up using the same ink and stamp in place.

To ground the girl I simply used a string of small gems. Mount onto dark brown card stock and again onto coordinating colour card. Mount onto your white card base.

Simple :-) 

All for now

Much love

Bev. xxx

Close your eyes

Hello and welcome

Well here I am again. I am really enjoying this week I have to say, although not much house work is getting done sadly. I am back again with another make using Visible Image. Just love their stamps. I have already made a similar one to this way back but this one kind of just happened. Well it's all good fun.

I have taken a photo of items used to save time listing.

Here's what I did...

I began with a piece of mixed media card. It needs to be able to take a lot of water. Spritz the card heavily with water so that there is plenty sitting on top of the card. Take a paint brush and dip into the Ink. I used Crimson and Purple. Drop and dab the ink onto the card so that it spreads out into the water. It will do its own thing. Lay a piece of paper towel down onto the card to soak up most of the water. Repeat if you feel the need until the colour is as you want it. Dry well with a heat tool. Take the Versafine ink and ink up the closed eyes and stamp down onto the card. As always I used a stamp platform for this to allow repeat stamping to get the depth of colour and a solid image. Take the nose and lips and carefully ink up the nose with the black and stamp down. Now ink up the lips with the plum archival ink and stamp down onto the card.

Take the words stamp and ink up with the black versafine ink. I wanted to separate the words. To do this, mask off the bottom two lines while you ink the stamp, then remove the masking tape and stamp down. Repeat this process to enable you to stamp the bottom two lines at the bottom of the tag.

Blend around the outside of the tag with the distress ink to darken the edges. Once happy with the colour, take the circles stamp from the Ripple Effect stamp set and stamp down using the Magenta Hue archival ink pad. Do this all around the outside of the tag. Take the white posca pen and gently line the inside of all the circles partially just to add highlights.

Mount onto a piece of black card and then onto coordinating card before mounting onto a piece of white card. Snip off the corners to create the tag. Punch a hole for the ribbon. I took a piece of white ribbon and coloured it with the distress ink to create a matching ribbon.

Hope you like it.

All for now

Much love

Bev. xxx

Let your vivid colours light the world

Hello again

I'm back with a nice quick card. Another gel print with this great stamp by Inkylicious. Just love their stamps. Inspired by the lovely weather I have enjoyed this week despite it being February. I have actually had the doors and windows open. Perfect :-)

Here's what I used...

Inkylicious stamp... Leopard Prowl.
Inkylicious stamp...Willow Twigs.
Visible Image stamp... Your Vivid Colours.
Versafine Ink Pad... Black.
Archival Ink Pad... Fern Green.
Distress Inks... Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Spiced Marmalade and Abandoned Coral.
Fine Liner Pen... Black.
Gel Press.

Here's what I did...

Make a print using the gel press. Mask off the sun before applying the inks listed. Remove the mask and brush over lightly with the spiced marmalade until happy with the depth of colour.

Take the leopard and ink up with the black ink. This stamp is open so I like to give it an outline. Do this with a fine liner unless you prefer the stamp left as is.

Take the willow twig and ink up with the fern green  and stamp across the bottom of the card. Take the words and stamp at the top of the card using black ink.

Mount onto black card and again onto a piece of coordinating card. Finish by mounting onto your card base.

That's all from me today.

Back soon.

Much love

Bev. xxx

Courage

Hello

I am back again. What a fab week I am having. Must say it has flown by way too quick but then it does when you are having fun. I hope you have all had a good week and maybe got a little crafting done too. Well I have changed up the mix a bit and gone back to a card for a change.

Here's what I used...

Stampers Anonymous... Tim Holtz Sea Life.
Visible Image stamp set... Dare to Swim.
Stampin Up stamp set... High Tide.
Versafine Ink pad... Onyx Black, Vintage Sepia and Spanish Moss.
Distress ink pads... Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon, Mustard Seed and Wild Honey.
Posca Pen... Yellow.
Cuttlelola Dots Pen... Black
Round Gel Press.

Here's what I did...

Create your back ground using the gel press and distress inks. I use one of my embossing plates to attach the gel press so I can press in down exactly where I want it just like you would with a stamp.

Take the octopus and ink up with the black versafine ink and stamp down. Repeat stamp until happy with the image and depth of colour. I used a foliage stamp to the left of the card, I am not sure who the stamp is by as it is very old and no packaging but any would do. I stamped this with the versafine spanish moss. To make sure I kept within the circle I made a mask from a spare piece of card. I did the same to the right of the card with the foliage stamp from the same set as the octopus using the versafine vintage sepia. Now take the fish from the visible image stamp set, and using the versfine spanish moss, ink up and stamp down just below then octopus.

Now take the wording. Again I don't know the make as there is no packaging and I have had the set a long time. You can choose any appropriate verse for this. Stamp using versafine black ink to the top left. I used the birds from the stamping up set, again using black versafine and stamped these bottom right. I used the dots pen to ground the birds. If you don't have one then you can ground the birds any way you choose for the same effect.

I chose to die cut my card with a stitch die. Mount this onto colour coordinating card and then mount onto your white card base.

I decided I wanted the eyes to stand out a little more so used a yellow posca pen to do this.

A nice easy card to make but quite effective. I hope you like it and even better, maybe got inspired.

Back soon.

Much love

Bev. xxx

Time, you can't turn back the clock

Hello

Here I am again using these fab stamps by Visible Image. There really is so much you can do with these stamps. They say crafting reflects your mood and what's going on in your life and I think that shows with my makes this week. I have to confess that having made this one, I do wish I had made it in another colour but it still tells the story well I think. That is the great thing with crafting, anything goes really so happy days :-)

I have saved time listing again with a photo below of items used to make this tag.

Here's what I did...

I began with a piece of mixed media card and blended over the whole tag with Mustard Seed distress ink. Take the stencil and place on the tag to the top right and blend through with Festive Berries distress ink. Do the same again with the stencil placed at the bottom left. Take the same ink and blend around the edge of the tag. 

Take the fab swirly stamp from the first stamp set called Ahead of our Time and ink up with the versafine ink. Repeat stamp if needed to get a good dark image. Take the birds and stamp at the top right. Take the words from the second stamp set called Somewhere in Time and stamp these using the versafine ink pad. 

To create the the edges of the tag I used the sides of the large splat stamp. Ink up the sides of the stamp and stamp all the way round the tag. Take the black soot distress ink and blend lightly round the edge of the tag. I wanted to grunge it up a little so took a blending sponge and very lightly blobbed it over the yellow to dull it down a little.

Mount onto black card and again onto a piece of coordination card and then mount onto the tag base. As always I used a piece of plain ribbon and coloured it with the festive berries distress ink to make a matching ribbon.

As always, thanks for dropping in. 

Much love

Bev. xxx

The future is in your hands

Hello and welcome

I am very much enjoying a well deserved week off work so where did I end up? You've got it, the craft room. It has been a while since getting in here and getting mucky and it has been great fun I have to say. I decided on this fab stamp set by Visible Image for my first make. How true is that saying...The future really is in your hands.

Here's what I used...

Rather than list it all I have saved time by taking a photo of items used for this make. The only thing I missed was the Ranger Texture Paste in Opaque Matte, Clear Embossing Powder, and a the stencil used for the texture around the edge. I have no idea on the make or name as its in a folder with no packaging. Any stencil of your choice will do :-)

Here's what I did...

I began with a piece of white card stock and just swiped the first three ink pads down the card and then blended over the entire card with the Antique Linen. 

Take the first hand stamp and ink up with the Versafine Ink pad. I used a stamp platform to allow two or three impressions. Quickly sprinkle over the clear embossing powder and heat until melted. Repeat this with the second hand. 

Take the wording from the same stamp set and stamp this with the black Versafine Ink in between the two hands. Take the word discover from the second stamp set and stamp this using the Archival ink pad in Magenta Hue.

Take the stencil and texture paste and apply randomly around the edge of the card. I like to heat set this as it bubbles up slightly to give a slightly bubbled finish. Once this is dry, take a blending foam and the Abandoned Coral and blend around the edge of the card to darken the edge. 

Take the Treasure Gold in Brass and apply gently with a finger tip over the texture paste and around the edge of the card to give a soft gold shimmer. Take a green brush pen, or any colour you prefer to give the eye some colour.

Mount the card onto black card and then a piece of coordinating card and then onto your white card base. Remember to leave plenty of extra at the top to cut the corner to make the tag shape. Punch a hole and die cut the reinforcements. I had no matching ribbon so used a white ribbon that I coloured with the inks used on the card for the perfect match. I must admit I tend to do this most of the time as it saves on money buying many different colours that don't often match. 

I hope you like it and as always, thank's for dropping by.

Will be back again real soon with another make. No stopping me while I am enjoying time off work.

Take care

Bev. xxx

How fragile we are

Hello and welcome

I hope you are all well. I decided to have a good tidy up in the craft room which very quickly led to a quick make while in there. It is almost valentines day so with that in mind, this was the result.

Here's what I used:

MDF Upright... Note Pad.

Visible Image Stamp Set... How Fragile.

Distress Inks... Black Soot, Weathered Wood, Aged Mahogany, Fired Brick and Tattered Rose.

Archival Ink... Jet Black.

Posca Pen... Red and Silver.

Heart Die.

Gesso... Black and White.

I began by coating the MDF upright with white gesso. I used two coats. I decided where I wanted the main image to go and then cut a piece of acetate roughly to give me the outline. I used the inner piece as a mask to allow me to blend over the aged mahogany and fired brick. Once happy with the colour, take the the black soot and gently blend out from the acetate to give a darker shadow. Then take the outer piece of acetate to cover the pink and blend over the weathered wood . I used the black soot once again to darken the inner edge. Lightly brush over the center with tattered rose to give a soft pink area where the hearts are to go. The outline was not quite dark enough so I used a black colouring pencil to add more depth. I mixed some black gesso with water, and using a fan shaped brush, flicked some black over the lighter area. Before this dries, take a paper towel and wipe down the upright to smudge the dots. Colour the upright base with the aged mahogany and fired brick to match the upright.

Take the visible image stamp and ink up with the archival ink. Stamp down onto the MDF. I used a stamp platform to enable me to repeat stamp to get a good strong image. Using the shattered glass stamp from the same set, stamp randomly over the whole piece. Using the red posca pen, colour the centre pieces in red and the outer pieces in silver. Now take the wording and stamp this as the bottom of the center piece. Cut out two hearts from a piece of red card. Glue the first heart flat onto the upright and then use dimensional glue for the second heart to raise it up slightly.

A very easy and quick make when time is lacking. All good fun. Hope to be back soon.

Much love

Bev xxx

Christmas Baubles

Hello and welcome

Well here we are at the end of another year. Where has it gone? Time seems to go so fast I can't keep up with it, and as for time, well there never seems to be any with life being so busy. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I thoroughly enjoyed mine and it was all over way too quick before being back at work.

So before we slip into 2019 I thought I would share this very large tag which I made for the Hochanda Christmas TV shows last year whilst on the design team for That's Crafty. It ended up being entered into the Mixed Up Media mag which was a very proud moment for me, and therefore I was unable to share it. It wasn't until I was having a little tidy up on my phone that I found it. There is a short explanation of how I made it, and products used on the third photo down which was taken from the magazine. 

Well I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a fabulous New Year. I hope you all get what you wish for. For me it will be more time to craft as I am missing it terribly. We all need time to do the things we love as without it life becomes very boring and quite draining. 

Take care of yourselves and happy 2019 to you all.

Much love

Bev. xxx

Black ice... Honor the Seasons and Bloom and Grow

Hello and welcome

I can't believe we are in October already and it's whizzing by so quickly too. Quite scary. This really is my favorite time of year and on a long drive out yesterday as passenger instead of driver, I was able to take in the beauty of all the amazing colours as the leaves on the trees are turning. Stunning. I really to need to make something with those colours. For now though it's all about the cracked ice technique.

I managed to grab a little time earlier in the week and have been wanting to re visit this technique. I managed to find one piece of silver foil and made these two cards along side each other. So quick and easy but I must admit I'm not as in love with the look as I was when I first stumbled on the technique.

All that's needed are stamps of your choice, black archival ink, versamark and embossing powder.

Here's what I used...

Stamp Set... Leaves. Both sets are very old and I believe they are by Creative Expressions but any you have will do.

Stamp set... Bloom and Grow by Visible Image.

Archival Ink Pad... Black.

Versamark Ink Pad.

Embossing Powder.

Heat Gun.

Black Card.

Here's what I did...

Cut the silver foil to the size you would like. Take the black ink pad and holding it lightly, drag it down the silver foil. repeat all the way across the card.  Turn the card top to bottom and repeat. To darken the edge just gently drag the ink pad down a few times and do the same at the bottom.

Take the verse from the leaves set and stamp it into the middle of the foil. Take two or three of the leaves and using the same ink, stamp randomly over the foil. My ink pad is drying out so the solid images were not easy to do. I did use my stamp press which helped as I was able to repeat stamp. Set aside to dry. I did the second card exactly the same but using the Bloom and Grow set.

Once the ink is thoroughly dry, take the versamark pad and very gently and without pressure, drag in down the card in the same way as the black ink, making sure you try and keep it even across the foil. Apply the embossing powder and heat set. This gives the look of ice. Quite effective and the photos really don't do it justice.

I mounted onto black card and then onto white. I then mounted once again onto black before mounting onto the card base.

I hope you like them. I think you either love this look or hate it but if you've never tried it have a go, it's all good fun :-)

All for now.

Bev. xx

Sing your own song

Hello and welcome

Back here again. Grabbing any spare moment I can to create something at the moment. This is a very quick and easy one and way smaller than my usual makes. It seems to be all about words and feelings at the moment. I think of or choose wording and find something to put with it. 

I have taken a pic of the items used to create this card once again to save time :-)

Here's what I did...

I began by blending over the spun sugar over the whole card and then darken the edges with the victorian velvet. Take the dinky stencil by That's Crafty and a baby wipe and take off some of the ink in a couple of places. Blast with a heat tool to ensure dry before placing the stencil back over and blending through randomly with victorian velvet until happy with the look.

Take the Visible Image stamp and ink up with Archival Rose Madder and stamp onto the card. Take the microphone from the Sheena stamp set and ink up with Versafine Blck Onyx and stamp onto the card. Take the verse from the same stamp set and stamp with the same black ink. No stamp for the other wording so I used my P-Touch to type out the wording. I stuck the wording to white card and trimmed. Glue into place on the card and draw round the edge with the black Posca pen.

Mount this onto black card and then onto a piece of matching pink card stock and then onto a card base.

How easy was that. So no matter what people think... Sing your own song.

Thank you for dropping by and enjoy the rest of your week.

All for now.

Bev. xx

Focus

Hello and welcome on this lovely sunny Sunday.

I hope you are all well and enjoying the weekend. I had a little spare time yesterday and really wanted to visit a past technique which I have been thinking about all week but found I had run out of the main item needed to make what I had planned. I even tried a substitute material which was going quire well until I had to heat it. Sadly it all went wrong so made this very quick tag instead. It's all about the words for me lately and had these words in my head so this is this is the result.

To save time listing, I have taken a photo of products used to make this tag.

Here's what I did...

I began with a piece of card and blended the Tea dye and Bundled Sage over the tag until happy with the depth and blend. I took the Harlequine stencil and using a baby wipe, dabbed through the stencil randomly to remove some of the colour. I did the same again dabbing through with the Tea dye. Working out roughly where the camera was to sit, take the PaperArtsy stencil and applly Tea dye and Weathered Wood at the bottom of the tag. I took one of the elements from the Seth Apter stamp set and the Victorian Velvet ink pad and stamped part of it all the way around the edge. Then blend around the edges with Vintage Photo to darken.

Stamp the camera onto a spare piece of card using Baked Brown Sugar ink and sprinkle over the embossing powder and heat. Once cooled take the Antique Linen and blend over the whole camera. Cut out carefully. Glue the camera in place on the tag and set aside.

I did't have a stamp for my chosen wording and I didn't want to use an alphabet stamp so typed wording into the P-Touch and printed. I didn't want to stick this directly to the tag so applied to spare card and cut out. Glue in place on the tag and draw in some stitching using a black micron pen.

I found a little flower in my stash so glued this to the lens of the camera. To give the look of shadow in front of the camera I used the dots pen. I have to admit this is one of my favourite tools and use it all the time. Fantastic for shading and shadows :-)

Mount on to brown card and then I chose some card to pick up the colour of the rose. Mount on to tag base. Punch a hole for the ribbon.

No matching ribbon in my stash so used a piece of off white ribbon and applied Tea die and a little Vintage Photo to a craft sheet and spritzed with water. Dragged the ribbon through and dried. Thread a piece through the hole and then make a bow.

So make sure you focus on what you want and maybe you will get it. I hope you like it and as always, thank you for dropping in. 

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and have a fabulous week ahead.

All for now.

Much love, Bev. xxx

People in Life

Hello and welcome

I have made another quick and easy card. I didn't actually know where I was going with this. Had an evening to myself last night and had this verse that I really love and just stamped it to the side on a piece of card and went from there. This was the result. I wasn't that keen at first and it very nearly went in the bin but I thought no, keep going and see what happens.

Here's what I used...

Inkylicious stamp... Some People in Life.

Deep Red stamp... Alice Standing.

Inkylicious stamp... Moon complete with stencil and mask.

Carabelle Studio stamp... Rabbit from Alice and Wonderland I think. Had ages and bought as is.

Leonie Pujol stamp set... Feathery Flourish.

The Crafters Workshop stencil... Mini Microbial.

Versafine Ink... Onyx Black and Smokey Grey.

Ranger Archival Ink Pad... Shadow Grey.

Ranger Distress Inks... Squeezed Lemonade, Broken China and Weathered Wood.

Posca Pen...Gold.

Signo Pen... White.

Here's what I did...

I began by stamping the verse on the right of the card with black ink. Then stamp Alice to the left and the moon between the two. Stamp Alice onto masking paper and carefully cover the stamped image. Now use the mask for the moon and carefully cover that. Using the distress inks in squeezed Lemonade and Broken China, blend gently using brushes to get a soft even colour blend, leaving it very light over the wording. Once happy with the colour take the stencil, place over Alice. Take theWeathered Wood distress ink and blend across the stencil to give some interest.

Remove the masks from Alice and the moon. Place the negative of the moon stencil over the moon so that you can easily position the moon stamp. Stamp the moon using the Shadow Grey. Now take the rabbit and stamp him onto the moon using the Smokey Grey ink pad. Brush over very sofly with the weatheredd wood.

Colour Alice using any medium you have. I used Whisper water colour pens. I felt I wanted a border for this card so took one of the elements from Leonie's stamp set and stamped around the edge of the card with black ink. Take the small flower from the same set and stamp one in each corner of the card. 

I found a clock in my stash so decided to hang this from the moon. Glue into place and then draw a gold chain using the gold Posca pen. Add some white highlights to Alice using the Signo pen.

Mount onto a piece of complimentary blue card stock and then onto some lemon card. Mount onto the blue again before mounting onto the card base.

A very easy card to make and shows this awesome verse off well. I am sure we all have someone in our life that fits with this verse and I hope we can all be one of those people. Life is way too serious sometimes.

Hope you like it. Thank you for dropping in and have a fabulous weekend.

All for now. 

Much love, Bev. xx

Life Is Too Short

Hello and welcome

Well this is getting a bit of a habit lol. I am back here again with another really quick and easy make. I have to say it has really done me good to get back in the craft room. I need to try and find more time throughout the working week I think. 

Here's what I used...

Large lolly sticks from my stash.

Inkylicious stamp... Birds on a wire.

Inkylicious stamp... Life Is Too Short.

Stampin Up Ink pad... Basic Black.

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics... Nougat, Smurf and Blueberry.

Here's what I did...

Take a scrap piece of card and glue the lolly sticks onto it. Using a dry brush, blend over the lolly sticks with a good coat of Nougat. Blend in some Smurf out towards the top and bottom. Now blend in some Blueberry very lightly. Go over again with some Nougat and keep layering until you get the look you want. Blast with a heat gun to ensure the paint is dry.

Take the birds and ink up with the black ink pad and stamp onto the lolly sticks. I used a stamp press as I knew I would need to repeat stamp. Do the same with the verse. This stamp is one stamp so I masked off the bottom part of the stamp before inking up so that I could split the verse in half. Repeat this when stamping the bottom part of the verse.

Stamp a small love heart top and bottom twice and draw in the line with a black micron fine liner to hang the hearts. Add some red colour with a felt pen.

My original plan was to make this a hanging but changed my mind so mounted onto a matching piece of blue card stock. I then mounted onto black card before mounting onto my card base.

I really love this verse and it's a good way of thinking if you can. I sure need to take note. Anyway that's all from me today. I hope you like it and may be got inspired.

I hope you all have a great week ahead and hope to be back soon.

All for now.

Much love, Bev. xx

Believe

Hello again :-)

Well there I was filing away my new stamp used in my previous post when I came across the Leopard Prowl which I have had forever and not actually used. It's quite scary when you start rummaging through your stash, just what you have and often haven't played with. Well I had to have a go and decided on this very quick and easy make. I rather quite like the look on this Kraft Card. Gives it an organic feel I thought. 

A quick pic of the items used to make this card to save time.

Here's what I did...

I began with a piece of Kraft Card and placed the stencil onto the card to give me a rough idea where to stamp the leopard. I used the stamping press so that I could remove the stencil and have the stamp exactly where I wanted it. Remove the stencil and then stamp the leopard onto the card using the black ink pad.

Place the stencil back onto the card and tape in place using low tack tape. Now take the distress oxide inks and an ink duster and blend over the wild honey, taking it over the top part of the stencil. Make sure to apply a good amount of ink. Do the same with the peeled paint at the lower part of the stencil all the time making sure you don't go over the stamped image.Take some spiced marmalade and a blending tool and blend around the edge of the stencil to darken the edge slightly. Take the ink duster and pinch the brush tightly to apply a few darker lines through the wild honey.

Once dry take the verse stamp and stamp at the top left using the black ink pad. Take the willow twig stamp and using the black ink pad, stamp along the bottom edge of the card using just the top part of the stamp. To give a little depth, do a few second generation stamping impressions too.

I decided the edges needed a little interest so I had a little look for something simple and decided on one of the elements from the Seth Apter Mark Makers set. Again use black ink and stamp just part of the stamp all the way around the outside edge of the card.

I felt the leopard needed an outer edge which the stamp doesn't have, so simply take a black micron pen and very carefully draw around the leopard. This actually makes quite a noticeable difference to the end look so rather pleased I did it.

Mount onto a piece of black card and then a piece of complimentary card stock and then onto a white card base.

I hope you like it and appreciate you stopping by. 

All for now.

Much love, Bev. xxx

Believe in the Magic

Hello and welcome.

Well here I am on a weeks break from work. The weather is not bad but blowing a gale today. Sadly this seems to be the only real time I ever get to play in the craft room these days. Felt a bit lost and couldn't find half my stuff since a lot of it has been moved around but couldn't resist a play with a new stamp purchased at Ally Pally at the weekend. Yes I still went although a don't get the time to play. Hard habit to brake after 10 years plus. Never miss it. So here I am with a play with this awesome unicorn stamp from Inkylicious.

Here's what I used...

Inkylicious A5 Stamping Card... 350gsm.
Inkylicious Stamp Set... Unicorn Wish.
Inkylicious... Believe in the Magic.
Lavinia Stamp... Birds.
Lavinia Stamp... Moon.
Inkylicous Mask...Twin Peaks.
Inkylicious Masks...Hills I think, Unsure as very old.
Ranger Distress Inks... Worn Lipstick, Victorian Velvet, Spun Sugar, Milled Lavender and Seedless Preserves..
Versafine Ink... Onyx Black and Imperial Purple.
Vellum Paper.
Cosmic Shimmer... Silver Lustre.
Stampendous... Silver Halo Mix.

Here's what I did...

I began by brushing over the whole card with Spun Sugar. I then began building the foreground using different pinks and the hill stencil. I masked off the moon before building colour for the sky. Taking the Twin Peaks I began building the mountains in the background. Taking the Seedless Preserves and a blending sponge, blend around the outside of the card. Once happy with how it looked, I removed the mask for the moon and stamped a moon using the Imperial Purple, second generation stamping so as not too dark.

Now to stamp the Unicorn. I decided to try this out on vellum and emboss with ball tools from the back to whiten the image and give depth and texture. I think it worked quite well. I stamped first with the black versafine. Turn over and emboss from the back and cut out carefully.

Now stamp the wording and birds using black versafine. Allow to dry for a moment and then glue the unicorn into place. Dab lots of silver lustre and sprinkle over the silver halo mix and tap off the excess.

Mount onto black card and then onto matching card stock. Finally mount onto the card base.

A nice fairy tale card with a little bit of magic.

I hope you like it and thanks for dropping by.


All for now, Bev. xxx

Beauty goes far deeper

Hello and welcome

Yes it has been a while again, but I am enjoying a much needed break from work right now. The week is whizzing by way too fast but I have managed a little play in the craft room. Sebastian again. He has escaped the acrylic piece I last made.

Here's what I used:

Lavinia Stamp... LAV496 Seahorse.
PaperArtsy Stamp set... ESC12.
Visible Image Stamp set... Dare to Swim.
Woodware Singles... ADS503 Netting.
Seth Apter Stamp set... 3180-LG Mark Makers.
Versafine Ink... Onyx Black and Imperial Purple.
Archival Ink... Watering Can and Garden Patina.
Ranger Distress Inks... Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Seedless Preserves and Dusty Concord.
Ranger Perfect Medium.
Creative Expressions Cosmic Shimmer Embossing Powder... Brilliant Sparkle Clear Mirage.
Polychromo pencils.
Posca Pen... White.
Nuvo Crystal Drops... Ivory Seashell.
White ribbon from stash.


Here's what I did...

I began by blending over the distress inks, keeping the seedless preserve to the edges. Once happy, blend the dusty concord around the very edge just to darken it slightly. Give the tag a quick spritze with water and blot with a paper towel. Take the octopus and ink up with the watering can. Being a grey it will give the look of being in the background slightly and allow my main image to pop.

Take the versafine ink and stamp the seahorse, do the same with the verse. Colour the octopus with pencils. Take the posca pen and add highlights to the eyes on both the seahorse and octopus. Also add white dots to the body of the seahorse.

Take the netting stamp and using imperial purple, stamp parts of it at random around the tag. Take the lines element from the Mark Makers and stamp randomly with garden patina.

I felt a little delicate sparkle was needed. Using the bubbles element from the Visible Image stamp set and the perfect medium, stamp at random and then sprinkle over the embossing powder and heat. Take the Nuvo drops and dot randomly over the tag making sure they are all different sizes.

Mount onto matching card stock and then onto white card base.

Take the peacock feathers and seedless preserves and press onto a craft sheet, spritze with water and run a piece of white ribbon through to pick up the colour. Dry with a heat gun. Punch a hole in the top of the tag, die cut two hole reinforcements and glue in place. Cut a piece of ribbon and push through the hole and then tie a ribbon with the remainder and glue to the top of the tag. I like to use a hot glue gun for this.

I hope you like it and thanks for dropping in. Hope to be back very soon.

Enjoy the the rest of your week with this gorgeous weather we are having and don't forget the sunscreen :-)

Much love

Bev. xxx

A Simple Life is a Beautiful Life

Hello and welcome.

Well here I am with this awsome stamp by Lavinia Stamp. Sebastian the seahorse and isn't he just gorgeous. I wanted to use up an acrylic stack that I've had forever so thought I would give it a go with this stamp. Great fun to create but you just need to plan carefully what's to be stamped where in order to build up the stack and depth of dimension. I have to say that the picture really doesn't show all the sparkle and dimension and it really does look amazing in real life.

Here's what I used...

That's Crafty... Acrylic Stack
Lavinia...Sebastian
Visible Image... Dare to Swim
Visible Image... The Ripple Effect
Studiolight... Summer at the Beach
Indigoblu... Rain Droplets
Kaisercraft... Old Mac
Stazon... Jet Black
Stazon... Olive Green
Stampin Up... Pacific Point
Ranger Archival... Fern Green
Imagination Crafts Starlights... Zinober Gold
Art Alchemy Metallique Paint... Emerald Green
Stampendous Glitter... Halo Mix
Posca Pen... Green, Yellow, Red, Gold, Silver and White
Dina Wakley Gel Medium
Pale blue dotted paper from stash
Holographic Foil salvaged I think from a bunch of flowers

Here's what I did... 

I started with what was to be my top piece of acrylic and stamped Sebastian with black stazon. Then take the metallic paint and paint it over the image, adding a touch of Zinober Gold over the eye. Once dry, colour over the metallic paint with the gold posca pen. Set aside to dry.

Take the base of the acrylic stack and pale blue paper and glue over the base with gel medium. Set aside to dry.

Take the next piece up, I chose the thick piece for this and stamp the large open circles from the ripple effect and the fish from the summer at the beach set in black stazon. Stamp the seaweed from the summer at the beach set with fern green archival. Use the white posca pen to add highlights to the circles and starlight paint to the fish. Add some clear glue to the circles and sprinkle on the halo mix. Set aside to dry.

Take the third piece of acrylic and stamp the sand and sea shells from summer at the beach with black stazon and the small fish from dare to swim set in olive green stazon. Colour sand and shells with the posca pens and add some silver to the back of the fish with a silver posca pen. Set aside to dry.

Go back to the base piece now dry and stamp the rain droplets in Pacific Point. Take the gel medium and cover thinly and apply the holographic foil, pressing down flat. Set aside to dry.

Now that the third piece is dry, turn over and stamp the wording from old mac and stamp with black stazon at the top of the acrylic piece. Take the screws and bolts that come with the stack and screw all four pieces together. As I said above, the pictures really don't show the sparkle and dimension but I hope you like it. All for now. 

Much love 

Bev. xxx

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