less is more: White on White Christmas

The theme at less is more is White on White but with the added stipulation that it must be a christmas card.
Of course this colour theme is just perfect for christmas.

I decided to go with a vellum-effect card (I don't really use Vellum- I use tracing paper, it works just as well.)
I also decided to use the fact that torn white card looks like snow.

The Stamp is by Crafty Individuals, and I have used moonlight white brilliance ink, which works perfectly on tracing paper.

I'm back in time for christmas

I can't believe how long it is since I have blogged, but it's time to start thinking about christmas cards, so I thought I'd share this reaaaaaallly basic one layer card that I made today. The stamps are from Crafty individuals (this is a great stamp sheet for christmas, there's so much on it)

I've used crushed olive distress ink, black arcvival and loose glitter (so now I'm all sparkly too)

stamp and stitch valentine card

I've been meaning to do some chain stitch on a card ever since I did my "libby" card with back stitch on, but I didn't know what do use it on until some new stamps from Crafty Individuals dropped through the post. I love the selecion of heart stamps, they remind me of fractals or zentangles (but so much easier than drawing your own)

I am entering this card for the sunday stampers "heart" theme.

I used an insert on this card to cover up the messy stitching detail on the inside of the card, but I chose to use some pretty paper to do this. so as not to waste its prettiness, I cut out the smallest heart from the stamped image to show it.

(a quick "how-to": Stamp the image in black onto white card, with a piercing tool or sewing needle make holes around the heart at regular intervals. Using two threads (taken from a six thread) of embroidery silk, chain stitch through the holes. Cut the smallest heart out with a craft knife. Apply double sided tape to the back of the stitches and position the insert.)

gingersnap challenge: Wax

I took the gingersnap challenge of wax quite literally this week. I remember I used to be fascinated when I was younger when restaurants had wine bottles with candles in and the wine bottles were covered in dripped wax. I know they are a bit tacky but I like them.

Candles don't drip like that nowadays, so to create this effect I had to drip the candle myself down the side of the bottle.
To add a little bling I embedded iridescent bubble beads from penny wise arts into the wax (just heat gently with a heat gun and then push them into the wax)
Finally I heated the wax on the front and pushed the crown coin stamp from this crafty individuals stamp plate into it. leaving the stamp unmounted makes this really easy to do.

Craft Stamper December 2011

The December 2011 issue of craft stamper is out today, and I have a small article in it. If you know the magazine well, it's the "Stamping with..." article. I chose to stamp with.. Houses.

I used a fantastic row of houses from Crafty Individuals for all three of my cards, and tried to show three very different ways to use them. My favourite is the kite card, where I just used the top of the houses to give the illusion of sky to the rest of the card. I originally got this idea from a fabulous tag that Jo Capper-Sandon made (and gave to me) quite some time ago, you can admire it here.

GC#124 Black and Grey

This week, the new challenge at Gingersnap creations is Black and Grey. I used this fabulously spooky image from Crafty Individuals, which was just perfect for the theme.

I stamped the image in grey and then again in black. from the black one I just cut out the bed. One the grey one I created a mask for the moon and building and then made the whole background more moody with black and grey distress inks. I mounted the bird on 3D foam.

I finished with an immovable knot.

Gingersnap Challenge - Crimpers

The Challenge at Gingersnap Creations is to use crimpers.

It's always good to have an excuse to dig out old bits of crafty equipment. I made a tag using stamps from Crafty individuals, cutting out an extra birdcage and 3Ding it, and ran the end through my crimper.

I then inked it to define the crimping, added some flower soft and added it to a card.

a couple of challenge cards (2nd post of the day)

The sewing theme at Crazy Amigos couldn't have come at a better time as I have just received some fabulous sewing theme stamps from Crafty Individuals.


. I adore the thread cards and thought they'd look sweet with real thread around them.
The quote is from a different crafty individuals set.

The second card is for the less is more "seeing double" challenge. I have used some more stamps from Crafty Individuals, I've had these ones for ages but they are really useful as there are both open images and silhouette images of flowers.

I stamped the open flower in black and then the coordinating image in green and pink (chewing gum and stick candy jenni bowlin inks). the two matching stamps are my "double". (the words are not from Crafty Individuals)

did someone say brown?

you know if a challenge has brown in the theme, there's no way I'm going to be able to resist digging out my Kraft card. So as soon as I saw the challenge at Crafty Individuals, I had to take part, especially as my brand new Crafty Individuals stamps were just sitting there on my desk.

really easy card, stamped in sepia versafine, coloured with pencils, added some ultra fine flower soft, a ribbon and some sepia accents to the bird... done!

If you have this months Craft Stamper, I've done a similar technique in the gallery (animal theme, colours brown, blue and cream)

new Crafty Individuals Stamps

What a lovely surprise I had today to receive some new stamps from Crafty Individuals through the post. Of course I had to play straightaway, and as I had the One Layer Wednesday Challenge (just stamps and ink) and St Lukes Charity Challenge (black white and one other colour) on my mind I thought I'd play with them too.
This first card if for both challenges and really couldn't be easier, but I kind of like it




The second card isn't for any challenge, but was just playing. I handwrote the words over the words on the stamp, to make them jump out. and added some random dots of stickles. (I will be sending this to the st Lukes appeal along with all my spare cards at the moment.)

February Craft Stamper sneak peek

I haven't actually seen the new craft stamper yet, but it's out today and I have an article in it. Just a short one about "clean collage" i.e collage with lots of white space. Think of it as collage for beginners!!
I've used stamps from Crafty Individuals, scrolls work and Stampotique (the scrolls work and stampotique stamps are available from Happy Daze). The picture shows a small sample of each of these.

unfortunately in the magazine there obviously wasn't quite enough room to print the introduction I had written, so I will add it here for anyone who is interested

Collage is a very popular art form, but can be a bit intimidating to inexperienced crafters. The thought of covering a whole card and still making sure it all looks good together can be a bit daunting.

I like white space on my cards, so I decided to play with collage in a more controlled form. One of the joys of collage is being able to use anything on your work. If you can glue it, you can use it. As most crafters are also hoarders you will find all sorts of bits and bobs to use alongside your stamped images and papers.

time's running out, it's time to start the batch making

it doesn't matter how early I start my Christmas card making. I never really seriosuly start to make the quantity I need until the threat of December looms.
Panic started to set in and these cards were the result. I made 30 in about 45 minutes!!!! now that's batch making!
The stamps are by Crafty Individuals, and I lined the two stamps up on the same block to save even more time. I suppose if I include the time it took for the glitter glue to dry it took a bit longer.

I'm entering this for another challenge that I've just come across, fussy and fancy, where the challenge is christmas without red and green.

Cath Kidston inspired new home card

I made this card for my sister who is moving house. Having visited the Cath Kidston store this week I have been very inspired by their patterns (as you can also see on my nail art blog) This was a really easy card made with stamps from Crafty Individuals.

Article in Craft Stamper Magazine

I'm really pleased to be able to say that I have had another article published in Craft Stamper Magazine. I have made 4 really simple cards using masking techniques. I really hope people like it.
here are a couple of little sneak peeks. The first uses a stamp from PaperArtsy

and the second uses a stamp from Crafty Individuals


In the article I mentioned that this technique could be used on different types of card. I have made this next card using a slightly textured card, I chose to use the distress inks Mustard Seed, Peeled paint and Faded Jeans.

I have also taken the technique one step further. Before removing the post-it notes, I stamped the script stamp from HP1004 (paperartsy), I then used the twig stamp from HP1008 for the foliage detail.

I also had a little card in the Idea Gallery to represent Happy Daze. I used Moon Girl from stampotique for a bling theme, using pink and silver, and here's a little peek.

The magazine is out today, I'd love to here what people thought

one layer wednesday : trees

I decided to have another bash at One Layer Wednesday, where the theme this week is Trees. As luck would have it I just got this fab set of christmas stamps from Crafty Individuals.

I still find one layer cards difficult as there is no room for mistakes (that's not to say there are no mistakes on this card. there are some!)

I stamped the tree with crushed olive distress ink and the star in barn door. I would say this would be good for quick christmas cards.... if it didn't take so darn long!