Day 71 - "Messy" Crafting

Evening!! My intention had been to share a picture of what I was working on today - some messy crafting for my ongoing canvas. But I have decided to do that tomorrow. And that's because as I went back to my craft area after starting to cook dinner this afternoon, the mess gave a whole new meaning to Messy Crafting! Quite funny, as I'd been watching Sheena on Hochanda with her "Messy Crafting" CDs!!

I have to admit that when I am messy crafting, I end up with piles of stuff out as I suddenly think "Oh, I could use that!" Hence the paint, inks, stamps, dies etc scattered around!! It's all packed back away now! 

Tomorrow I'll share what you can just about see on the table.

Cxxxx 

Day 70 - Preparation!

I am trying to get ahead on family and friends things as, once I hit May, there are loads and loads. So, I have just about had time today to prepare a few bits for a card I will be making. 

You may spy the Die'sire Square Accordion card overlay, a bit of Downton Abbey patterened card, along with the green card from a very old DCWV Luxury Cardstock stack. And of course red card from Papermill for the base!! 

Cxx

Day 69 - Experimentation!

So, after yesterday's quick play with my new Memento and VersaFine ink pads and Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens, I had another play with some other relatively new items.

I love my Distress Inks and the most recent addition to the collection has been Picket Fence. I used Sheena's "All a Flutter" stamp again - and stamped it twice onto Crafter's Companion Matt Black Card.

For the one on the left, I used Pebeo Dyna paints just to roughly colour in - Iridescent Red Blue, Iridescent Silver, and Iridescent Orange Yellow. 

I then used Distress Glaze on the one on the right. My understanding of this is that it is designed to make Distress Ink waterproof so you can use other water techniques over it and the ink won't run. It's a little pot with a solid cream like substance that you apply over your stamped image with your finger. You then buff off the excess.

As you can see from the image, it really dulled down the Picket Fence ink. And when I watered down the Pebeo paint it did sit on top of the image - so it does waterproof it. The Pebeo paint did go on when I used it much more thickly. 

I have to say that I prefer the one on the left - and am going to have to do some research on the Internet to see some techniques with the Distress Glaze.

Cxxx

Day 68 - A little playing!!

Have had a little play today - with a couple of my new ink pads, and with my Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens. I stamped Sheena's "All A Flutter" stamp onto Sheena White Stamping Card - one with Memento Sky Blue, the other with Versafine Habanero.

I then coloured them in with my Sparkle Pens. The Memento Sky Blue was coloured with Soft Jade, Cosmos and Moonstone from the Spring/Summer collection. The pens did change the ink colour - but I quite liked that as it gave some purple tones, and darkened the blue!

The VersaFine Habanero was coloured with Aquamarine, Harvest Moon and Smoked Quartz from the Autumn Winter Collection.

Neither are particularly neat - but I just wanted to have a play - so not too bothered!
Cxxx

Day 67 - A few ink pads!!

I love all sorts of crafting, and dabble a little in most things. I love digi stamps and colouring with my marker pens. But, despite the fact that own a lot of rubber and acrylic stamps, it's not something I do a lot of. Mostly because I never get good images - which doesn't matter too much when I'm doing canvases, mixed media etc. But I rarely stamp for colouring in - or for sentiments. 

So, I decided that I seem to have all the necessary bits and pieces - except perhaps the right inks. I am a Distress Ink person - and own the lot. They do all the things I like doing - including distressed style stamping, and edging. But they don't give a crisp stamped image. I also own brown, black and grey Stazon, and brown and black Memento and Archival inks. But that's pretty much where it ends. I rarely use embossing powders - although I do own a Perfect Medium pad.

My idea was to get myself a range of coloured ink pads that would cover a few jobs: clear, detailed stamping; stamping images for colouring with my Spectrum Noir pens; stamping for images to use with my Spectrum Aqua pens and AquaBlend pencils. 

I consulted with all my fellow DT members, and decided to get myself a selection of Memento Dew Drops, and the mini VersaFine pads. After a perusal on the web, I came across a lovely site called Sticky Tiger! And I found rather a lot of ink pads just falling into my basket. Oops!!  Oh - and their customer service is superb! I had a phone call from Nicola as she realised I wanted them quickly but wanted to discuss the postage solution for my parcel - she was concerned my selected option would not be the best one! 

Anyway, it seems that when it comes to colouring/coloured items (inks, pens, pencils, paints, coloured cardstock, gilding waxes etc) I have this need to have the complete set - all the colours available. Apparently it makes me a "completist"! It's strange, but I don't have same need with dies or embossing folders or stamps. Just things to do with colour! And it's really niggling me that they didn't have the Smokey Grey VersaFine - I'm going to have to track that down pretty soon as it will irritate me no end!! 

Been too busy to play so far - may have to wait until Friday!!
Cxxx

Day 66 - Mother's Day!!

Evening - just popping on to share the box card I made my Mum for Mother's Day. I used Crafter's Companion "A Country Life" CD - and just printed and assembled the Pop Up Box card.

I created the sentiment on the computer - and decorated with flat back pearls.

Cxxx

Day 65 - A bag for my Mum!

Evening!! Just a quick post today as we have family round and I am absolutely shattered after a very busy day!!

I made this to go with the other bits and bobs for Mother's Day tomorrow. It's the reversible tote bag from Debbie Shore's Sew Inspired Magazine 2. I made it up very quickly - so there are a few little mistakes I made - but I'm happy with the way it turned out. And all from pieces of fabric I already had!!
Back tomorrow.

Cxxx