Silver Wedding

Over the summer, it was my sister and brother-in-law's silver wedding anniversary! I made them this boxed card using Kanban Love and Marriage toppers.

Purple is my sister's colour (I know - I had to wear the bridesmaid's dress!) so most of the cards I make for her are purple. The base of the card is made using one of the Crafter's Companion A3 double sided card packs - can't remember what the name of the pack is though.

I used the Kanban topper (perfect colour), and cut circles of purple, lilac, white and silver card using my Spellbinders Grand Decorative Circles 1. All finished off with a big bow!

I also made a matching box!! 

That's all for now. Back soon(ish).

Cxxx

Wooden Heart

Here's something that's really quick to make - and looks so effective. I picked up the wooden heart for a couple of pounds in The Range, and the letter tag in Hobbycraft for a quid.

I used Rice Paper 418 as it provided a nice background with no focal image.

I turned the paper over, drew around the heart and then used water to outline it, so I could tear the heart shape out. This was then stuck onto the heart. 

I covered the wooden letter tag with Rich Gold Starlight, using a stencil brush.

I applied Chocolate Shabby Chic Texture Paste through the Inky Script stencil.

And also added it to a paper rose.

Flat backed pearls were added to the tag.... 

... and the heart.

And finally the tag and the flower were attached to the heart. As I said, not overly complicated - but very effective. 

Cxxxx

Catching Up!

Afternoon. Am on a catch up to blog the backlog of cards I have not shared. So, I have a quick post today. 

This card is made from a Hunkydory topper and card collection - can't for the life of me remember the name at the minute. 

I've used a ribbon and sparkler for embellishment - and cut the letters using Crafter's Companion Essentials Only Word Alphabet dies. 

As I said, short and sweet today!!

Hopefully back fairly soon!!
Cxxx

True Love Forever

I have been amassing a few gorgeous trinkets to alter from my local car boot, but in the meantime, I have a box canvas created using a load of Imagination Crafts goodies - and an old pre-used canvas.

I have used:

Off cuts from rice papers - 339 and 446

Starlights - Hot Pink, Clotted Cream

White Gesso

Decoupage glue

A4 Art Stencil - Crosshatch Elements

Structure Paste

Other

Box Canvas

Lace

Red Liner tape

Doilies

Art Basics Heavy Body Gel

Paper flowers, fabric flowers, wooden hearts, Card Candi, UTEE flowers

I decided to use up some scraps of rice paper and a box canvas that I had previously used and over-painted.

I played around with the pieces I had, until I was happy.

I painted the canvas with white gesso.

I then brushed Hot Pink and Clotted Cream over the canvas with a bit more gesso.

Using Decoupage glue, I stuck the rice paper to the canvas.

The lace trim was stuck on using red liner tape.

I added a quarter of a doily to each of two corners, using decoupage glue.

A mixture of structure paste and Hot Pink Starlight paint was mixed, and applied through A4 Art Stencil - Crosshatch Elements.

I then had a rummage through my stash to find some embellishments and stamps and played with the arrangement of them until I was happy.

At this point I decided to add the structure paste to the edge of the canvas . 

I glued more rice paper to a whole doily.

The first layers of embellishments were added using Heavy Body Gel.

I had a go at making some embellishments using the Structure Paste and moulds. It did take quite a while for the paste to dry in the mould - the thinner the piece the quicker it dried.

I added these onto the canvas.

And covered over with white gesso. The paper flowers really didn't want to be covered - never had that before - the colour just kept seeping through even after several layers. Lesson learned - and I don't think it shows too much.

With a dry brush, I added Hot Pink and Clotted Cream Starlights and more gesso.

I gessoed the wooden hearts, painted them with Hot Pink Starlight, and then dabbed Clotted Cream Starlight over the top with a dry baby wipe.

Having painted Clotted Cream onto a piece of card, and then I stamped using Crafter's Companion Textures word stamps. I cut the pieces into banners, and edged with some of the pink structure paste.

I added the hearts to the canvas.

And then the words.

The words don't show up so well on the final photo - but hopefully you get the ide.

Back soon

Cxxx

Time to relax

Afternoon! Haven't been on for a while as we've been away on our hols, and I got a bit busy before we went. While we were away, I had the opportunity to take part in some watercolour sessions - something I haven't done in over 20 years!! it was great to be able to do something creative purely for myself - not for friends or family, or for allocations or demonstrations. 

They are not great works of art, but I found it so much fun that I don't mind. There were challenges along the way - like being bolder with colour, which I finally achieved with the parrot, and the portrait - which I found really difficult. So here they are! 

Back soon

Cxxx

Out of fear of seeming ridiculous, we often end up not tackling the challenges around us. John Ruskin

Creativity takes courage. Henri Matisse

Black Butterflies!!

Well, I know you don't normally see black butterflies, but I like the silhouette against the bright background.

Imagination Crafts: 

Mix Media Inks - Fuchsia and Sunshine

Magi Blend

Art Stamps - Distress Set 1

Other:

Gesso

Glycerine

Memento Tuxedo Black

Watercolour and Black Card

Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Overlay pen

Acetate - from Sara Signature Flutterby collection

Dies - Botanical Butterfly, Trio of Wings, Simplistic Sentiments from Sara Signature  Flutterby Collection

I started by masking off the bottom of a piece of watercolour card, as I only wanted the colour on the top. I used a bit of wax paper and low tack tape.

Next, I sprayed some of the Mix Media inks onto my craft mat, then using a sponge applicator, I mixed them with some glycerine to blend for the background - creating this lovely warm orangey colour.

I used more of the sprays, but this time mixed them with a bit of gesso and some Magi Blend, because I wanted to paint them onto the printed acetate. It's hard to see on the finished picture, but one of the layers of the large butterfly was made from this. 

I also used this mixture to stamp onto the background. 

I then stamped over this with Memento Tuxedo Black - stamping more than once each time to get different depths of colour.

The background was mounted onto black card, and I used a thin black ribbon across the bottom of the inked part to define the edge. 

The die cuts were covered with Clear Sparkly pen, and both the large butterfly and the sentiment have a layer cut from the painted acetate.

Haven't had a chance to craft and get messy for a while - so not sure when the next post like this will be - but I will have hopefully have some quick cards to share in the meantime.

Take care

Cxxxx