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

Day 64 - Canvas revisited!

Evening!! Hope you are well. We are dog sitting for the next week - but in between walking the dog in the hail and rain, I managed a little time to play. So I went back to my canvas - the one I began thinking about back on Day 50. 

I started today, by painting the canvas with Pebeo Pearl Silk Paint, just to give the background a slightly off white and pearly finish.

Next, I used Sheena's Distress Grid stencil, with Pebeo Sun Pearl paint, and sponged it through.

This gave a very subtle effect.

I then added Copper Pearl onto this.

And then Chocolate Pearl.

The next step was to put the pieces of faux leather back on in the correct arrangement!!

Now, as much as I like random, I also like ordered. And when sticking on rows of rectangles, ordered is a must.

So out came my (rather worse for wear) Tim Holtz piercing ruler. I love this because, as well as having the measurements along one side, the other starts from 0 in the middle which allows you to line things up really easily!!

This was the result. But it looked a bit too neat. So I got out my Textures stamps - Splats and Stains, and Journal Jottings - and messed it up a bit with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

And that's as far as I've got today. Will come back to it again when I get some time.

Cxxx

Day 63 - Thinking of You

Evening all - am trying to get my post done so I can settle back and enjoy the exciting launch of Sara Davies' new Signature Collection on Hochanda!!

Today's share is one of those cards that we all hate making - but have to from time to time. This one was for my brother-in-law who lost his Mum last week - horrible at any time, but with Mother's Day this weekend, it's makes it even sadder.

I kept it simple with a Kanban Topper from a very old kit called Well Wishes and Celebrations, and teamed it with some gunmetal grey pearl card, matt black card, and white card.  The flourish is from Sara Davies' Signature Collection - Butterfly Lullaby. 

Back tomorrow,

Cxxxx

Day 62 - Playing with Aquatints

Evening! After just about getting in my post yesterday, I am a little more prepared today!! I had a little bit of time to play today. My aim was to make a red background for a card I am making - but unfortunately my attempts turned out a bit too pink - so they'll just go in my box of bits.

I still had fun doing it - although I have quite red fingers too!! So, I used my Aquatints (12, 15, 16) and wanted to try out two different techniques to see what I liked best. One is using rock salt - the other using clingfilm.

I started with the rock salt technique, using all three colours diagonally across the paper - and already at this point I could see the combination was too pink. I then added some rock salt on top while it was still wet. Once it's dry you just brush off the salt and voila! I do like this - and am sure I'll use it at some point.

For the clingfilm technique, I used lots of mostly 12 and 16 as it seemed 15 was the more pink tone. And at this point it looked a much more promising colour. 

I then covered it with clingfilm, scrunching it up in places. Once dry, I removed the clingfilm, and again, it was too pink for what I wanted. But I do love the patterns the clingfilm leaves.

So, am back to the drawing board for my background - might try my Spectrum Aquas - or even my Spectrum Noirs with my e-Brush. But that's for another day.

Cxxxx

Day 61 - Bunting!!

Evening!! I very nearly forgot to do this today - and am only just going to get in under the wire. So, as it's so late, this is a very quick post.

I made the bunting with my Janome sewing machine - using fat quarters from Hobbycraft. This matches the cushion I made for my niece too.

Cxxx