A Peacock and Gardens

Hello everyone !

I hope you had a great weekend and getting a chance to watch some of the Olympics.   I haven't had time for crafting recently - it's summer & we are busy, but I thought I would post a card today that I created recently for a friend's birthday.

She likes Peacocks so I took out my Chocolate Baroque -  Peacock Fan set along with Impression Obsessions - Peacock Feathers 3065-SM to create this card. 

The background was created using Tombow markers, water & salt on watercolour paper.     This one was created by using left-over paint on my craft mat so the colours are subtle.      The Peacock, Feathers & Centre were all embossed with gold, coloured with Tombow markers, cut out and adhered to the background.  A few rhinestones, and layers of cardstock and it's done !  

I've been able to garden a little more as my knee is doing much better :)  I'm so lucky.    It's not 100% but I'm happy to get back into physical activities again.    I thought I would share some photos of our gardens here.

Our sweet boy Archie (our male kitty) likes to hang out & watch me as I make my rounds.  Above he is sitting on the patio as I'm taking a photo through the gardens.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.
Shirley

Friendship

Good evening everyone !   I hope you've had a great week.    I had so much fun with my Sister who left this morning.    It's hard to say goodbye but we had a wonderful visit.    Another Sister who lives in Amsterdam will fly over next month so I have that visit to look forward to :)

I'm a little tired today but was 'itchy' to create something.   I pulled out my Dylusions Inks again (still experimenting) and created this card using stamps from Designs by Ryn.   I'm enjoying using the vibrant spray inks & stencils which create a different 'look' for me :)

Designs by Ryn Stamps used:  CMF15 Leafy Branch & CMB5 Tsuki . 

The background was created with Turquoise, Lime & Grape Dylusions Ink on Watercolour paper.   I used the Mini Chicken Wire Stencil from Crafters Workshop.   

I stamped Leafy Branch several times with Black Ink and then highlighted the leaves with Mustard Seed and Picket Fence Distress Markers.   Picket Fence appears to be illuminating, it's great.  

The Moth (Tsuki) was stamped on watercolour paper, embossed in black and coloured with my Tom Bow markers.  I cut him out and adhered to the background.   The 'Friendship' image is from the great Fiskers set "Friends Forever Quotes".   I use this set frequently, it's a great value which I purchased at Crop Circles in Peterborough (for those that live in this area).   I used Picked Raspberry Distress Ink around the Friendship image. 

Designs by Ryn Stamps used:



CMF15 Leafy Branch



CMB5 Tsuki



Well that's all for this evening !   Thanks for your visit and enjoy the rest of your week.

Shirley 

Fly Away with Impression Obsession

Hello crafty people !    I hope your week is going well.   We broke a record for the hottest day on Tuesday, it was 37 Celsius & with the Humidex factor it felt like 45.  TOO hot for me.    Meanwhile Bloggers overseas in the UK & Europe are talking about the cool & wet season they are having.  I so wish we could trade some heat & sun for a little rain.  Just even it up a little and make it more pleasant for all of us :)

Today I'm participating in Impression Obsession's 'Fly Away' Challenge.    I dug out a stamp yesterday, that hasn't seen ink for a long time which has a butterfly in the middle of the image.  Another one by Leigh Hannon, it's a fun image to colour, lots of detail.

Impression Obsession Stamps:  F2267 Butterfly Round & CC018 Cover A Card Greenery
Spellbinder Dies: S4-114, S4-124

I coloured the image with Prisma Pencils & distressed around the edge with Broken China Distress Ink.   I added rhinestone & diamond stickles.   The scallop die cut and dark mat are both purple not black as it looks on the photo.  

I stamped CAC Greenery, using my IO Mega Mount on the Peacock blue card stock with Whisper Grey Colorbox Pigment Ink & embossed with Clear which gave it a rich texture.   I have a lot of CAC stamps, I love them all, but tend to use this one a lot !   The folded cardstock is quite shiny.

Well that's all for today.    One of my sisters who lives in Hong Kong, is arriving this afternoon and staying for a week.  We plan to have fun & will probably relax with an occasional Martini or glass of wine :)    I won't have the chance to craft or blog.   

Thanks for your visit.  I'll be back here in a week :)
Shirley

Crealies Lady

Hi everyone, I'm back already with a card created with Crealies.     My sweet (& much younger) Sister who lives in the Netherlands mailed me a couple of the new Crealies stamps that she purchased at the Zeist Stamp Show.   The stamps are designed by Miranda of Miraculous Art.

I love this beautiful lady image as she has Crealie flowers & leaves in her feather-hair which are so much fun to co-ordinate with Crealies Die cuts :)   Visit  Crealies in the Netherlands for more information on their products.   

I stamped the lady with black Stazon ink onto white paper that is suitable for Copic markers.    I used one of my favourite Spellbinder Nesties (S4-347) to cut the shape around the image.   I traced around the die on purple card stock and then cut it out to create the mat.   I coloured the image with Prisma Pencils and added some stickles to her forehead jewels and flowers.    I blended a little Mowed Grass Distress Ink around the edge of the die-cut.   I am loving the LE Summer Distress Ink set, the colours are so vibrant ! 

The die cuts are mounted onto Green Basic Grey paper from the Kioshi collection.    I used Crealies CL CF 20, CL CS 11, CL CS 12 to die cut the flowers & leaves.  Rhinestones were added to the flower centres.

Thanks for your visits & kind comments, they are appreciated.
Have a great day, Shirley

Summer at the Sea Twinchie - Challenge #2

Hello everyone !   I hope you enjoyed your weekend.   It's HOT here again with high humidity.  We also have lots of flowers blooming, I need to get out there with a camera when the lighting is right.

I'm happily participating in the Show us your Twinchie Challenge #2 - "Summer" that runs until July 31st.   I think these tiny (2 inch x 2 inch) creations are going to become "habit forming" as I found I was anxiously awaiting the next challenge theme  :)    It is challenging to create designs in such a small space, but they are fun.   Since this challenge is "Summer",  I was able to come with a little 'Summer at the Sea' Twinchie using a my IO Seaside sets that include tiny little stamps !

I used the following Impresssion Obsesssion stamps:  MC183 Angelfish & CL182 By the Seaside both by Leigh Hannon.    A lot of my IO stamps are by L. Hannon who has great designs. 

The mini background was created with Distress Inks using the Acrylic Block technique.   I stamped the tiny fish & sea plants from the Angel fish set directly onto the background and the Seahorse from the By the Seaside set on separate cardstock.    I coloured all with Distress Markers and then cut out the Seahorse and popped it up.   I decided on a very narrow black mat to pop the colours a little more, so I cut a tiny bit off the background so that it would fit inside a 2 inch square mat.      

I created a card with the Twinchie using designer paper from a set from S.E.I "on the coast" collection.   I played around with adding a quote/poem from the sets but it just wasn't working for me.    I also used a die from Nellie's Multi Frames.

Well that's all for now,   I'll be back later with a design using Crealies :)
Thanks for your visit and enjoy your day !
Shirley

Designs by Ryn meets Dylusions Inks

Hello crafty people !  I hope you are having a great week.

I'm still having fun experimenting with the vibrant Dylusions Inks, but gosh your hands become an inky mess :)  I should find some surgical gloves to use with them.    I decided to use Design by Ryn's stamps together with these spray inks for this card design.

Ryn is a talented Canadian Artist and her unique stamp designs are hand drawn.  Her rubber stamps are high quality &  deeply etched which allows them to be applied to a variety of surfaces.    If you haven't had a chance to check out Ryn's stamp designs, please visit her website at  Designs by Ryn .   She ships overseas and south of the Canadian Border :)   You can also find her on Facebook - Designs by Ryn

I used the following two Designs by Ryn stamps for this card:   CM-T7 Circle Custer Set & CM-F3 Black-eye Susan.   She has many wonderful textured stamp designs that make great backgrounds.

The background was created with the Blue & Lime Dylusions Inks (one of my favorite colour combos).     After drying the ink I used the 'Ghost' technique with Crafters Market - Reversed Mini Ringlet template on the top half.     When dry, I stamped the Cluster Set with Salty Ocean Distress Ink.

Oh yes of coarse I bought some templates which are great to use with spray inks.     I was inspired to purchase the Ringlet template after seeing Marja, talented artist & card designer at  Marja's Stamp Addiction , use it in one of her beautiful designs.

The Quote is from the Fiskers- Friends Forever Quotes, a wonderful clear set that I bought at Crop Circles.   

The Black-eye Susan's were stamped on watercolour paper and embossed with black.  I coloured with Tombows:  126, 133, 452, 535 - which are obviously not 'true' Black-eye Susan colours, or they would be called something else such as 'Blue-eyed' Susan's :)  I carefully cut them out and mounted onto the background.

This YouTube Video features Dyan Reaveley, Ranger Signature Designer,  demonstrating the 'ghost' technique: Dyan's Ghost Technique

Designs by Ryn  stamps used :

CM-F3 Black-eyed Susan

CM-T7 Circle Cluster Set

Thank you for your visit and have a great weekend !
Shirley 

Flowers Feed the Soul - FYI #33

Hello everyone,  I hope you had a great weekend.

The gorgeous photo (at the bottom of this post) from the For Your Inspiration Challenge Blog inspired me to create this card for their Challenge- FYI #33.    Visit their blog to be inspired by the DT creations !  

I used stamps from both Bold Bloom and Fresh Bloom Sets from Chocolate Baroque to create this card.  I've been in love with these designs since I first saw them last Fall at Miranda's Blog: Miracle 'art' Inspirations.   I bought them recently & was excited to use them for this challenge as I could 'see' the shapes matching the inspiration photo.   However this card was also inspired by Miranda :)  

I embossed all the images with Silver and coloured with Tombow markers:  245, 249, 452, 493.     I stamped the large flower 3 times to decoupage the center pieces.   I used Mowed Lawn Distress Ink around the die cut (Spellbinder S4-143).  I  stamped the small flower at random on the blue card stock with Wisper Grey Colorbox Pigment ink.  The finishing touches includes silver border stickers & a few rhinestones.

And below is the gorgeous photo inspiration, wouldn't it be a wonderful place to visit ?   I've used the photo colours in my card, including the grey from the walkway in the silver embossing.   I see the curve of the cedars in the leaves and the same shape at the top of the structure openings on the points of flower petals.    

Thanks for visiting and enjoy the rest of the week !

Shirley

A Peacock with Paisley Wings

  Good Evening !    It's a HOT day here in Ontario, 35 degrees (Celsius) but over 40 with the humidex factor.   It was a good day to be in my craft room with AC.     

I'm entering this card into this week's "The Dies Challenge" at IO.  The challenge information and awesome DT creations are all here at Impression Obsession's Blog.   For this challenge we are asked to use at least one Die & all IO stamps. 
I was determined to create something with this Peacock design by Hannah Davies.  I love her designs, they are fun & whimsical.    The image is fairly large, I don't have any Nestabilities that would fit around it properly, so I decided to use a lace & tag die.  

IO Stamps:  Peacock H10028, Cover a Card Sm Paisley CC037 and Hello A3579.

Spellbinder Dies:   S5-029 Lacey Pennants & S5-034 Parisian Accents.

I embossed the Peacock with black, coloured with Tombows: 245, 636 & 665 and blended with water.   I blended  Picked Rasberry Distress Ink around the background of the Peacock (from the LE Summer Collection, wow these are bright colours, love them !)  I also blended the same ink around the green mat and 'Hello' tag.

I stamped Cover a Card Paisley, using IO's Mega Mount with Black Soot Distress Ink on purple card stock.  It's difficult to see the paisley image on the purple in the photo above, but the close-up below shows it a little clearer.    I popped up a 2nd Paisley wing to add a little dimension.   I also added rhinestones and lots of Magenta Stickles which doesn't show well in the photo.

Well that's all for today !   Thanks for stopping by, your visits & kind comments are appreciated !
Stay cool & have a great weekend
Shirley

Cards created with Twinchies

Hello again,  I hope your week is going well.

I'm back with two cards that I created today with the Twinchies from my last two posts.    If I had thought to make them earlier I would have included them with the posts.

These cards are a simple symmetrical style which hopefully 'showcases' the 2 inch (5 centimetre) square in the centre. 

Also, a little 'injury' update.   My index finger is doing extremely well and my knee has improved but still giving me trouble.    I can move around much better and thankfully able to craft (obviously) again, but not able to get into my regular physical activities.   I was advised this morning that I have accelerated an existing arthritis problem (oh the joys of getting 'mature').  Time will tell how it goes.

Thanks for visiting, Enjoy the rest of the week,
Shirley

Zentangle Twinchie

Hello everyone, I'm finding my mind is going back to those tiny pieces of artwork called Twinchies.   I can see this could be come a habit-forming :)   I thought it would be fun to do a teeny tiny Zentangle and since the current challege is Anything Goes at Show us your Twinchies Challenge Blog now is the time to try !  
   

  
The background was cut from a piece of leftover watercolour using Tombow markers, water & salt .  I can't part with any of the leftovers.      I doodled a flower and then drew some Zentangle to fill it in and doodled the sentiment.  I used a 005 pigment pen as the image is quite small.   I layered the watercolour paper onto the black mat to give it a frame.

Below I show the measurement in Metric.      Twinchies are a 2 inch or 5 centimetre square.  It's SMALL !   One of my blogger friends tells me there are Inchies...oh my, that would be even more challenging.

I still intend to get back to creating cards and will be back soon.  Thanks for your visits and kind comments, they are appreciated.

Shirley

Have you heard of Twinchies?

Hello everyone, I hope you had a great weekend.  We celebrated Canada Day with gorgeous weather, I can hear fireworks outside tonight.       

Have you heard of Twinchies ?    I hadn't until Eileen, whose beautiful creations I've been following at Eileen's Crafty Zone, talked about them on her Blog.   She is a DT member at their new Challenge Blog: Show us your Twinchies.

I thought that ATC's were a challenge since they are so small at 2.5 x 3.5 inches but Twinchies are a bigger challenge with just a tiny 2 inch square to work with.  I decided I would create one to enter into their first challenge - Anything Goes as it's fun to try new things. 

I took my Dylusions Ink sprays out again to experiment with the background which is actually not as dark as this photo.  The small image is Dandelions PS0478 by Hampton Art.    I think this is the first time I've used it.   I stamped it off a few times.    I decided to use a brush pigment pen to create a border after it was finished to make the colours pop.    I had some very tiny rhinestone butterflies in my stash, I guess this is what I've been saving them for !
  
OK that's all for tonight !   Thanks for your visit and hopefully I'll be back soon with a card. 
Shirley