Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone, I hope the Goblins & Ghosts don't 'come to get you' :)    We will enjoy watching the little ones dressed up and 'trick or treating' tonight.  My husband hopes that we don't run out of candy because he wants to eat lots of 'left overs'.

I have a Journal Page to show today that is a little different, but since it's Halloween colours I thought I would post it.   As Ryn advised, creating in your Art Journal should be free and spontaneous :)

I used Design by Ryn's new Fiddle Head Set along with her famous Water Droplets.

I also used favorite stamps from Chocolate Baroque.   I created texture in the background with a fragment from Texture Fragments, 'Art' is from Artistic Expressions and the sentiment is from Artistic Affirmations.   

The background is Dylusions Inks, I also added a little Distress Ink after it was dry.   I stamped with black ink and highlighted with a white Gelly Roll Pen.   The border is TCW-Chequered Dots Dylusions Stencil which I added with black Acrylic Paint.   I also used TCW-Ferns which is hard to see  and a solid leaf stamp by IO - Hydrangea Leaf H8466 in the background.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day,
Shirley

Blue Christmas

Hello everyone, I hope you had a great weekend.

I have two 'Blue' Christmas cards today, using beautiful stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque.  I used the new Reindeer Landscape set for the card below along with a couple of beautiful Memory Box Dies.

I used a favourite Dylusion ink combo (Calypso Teal, After Midnight & White Linen) on the background.  I stamped the trees from Reindeer Landscape with Deep Purple Archival Ink and added lots of glitter.    Believe also from Reindeer Landscape, was stamped with black Versafine Ink.   I used Memory Boxes Dies - Deer Trio & Snowflake Corner (they cut like a charm!) with black cardstock.    The Deer Trio is great as the bottom doesn't cut so you can cut to whatever shape you need for your design.    I added lots of glitter to the trees and snowflakes.

I used the new Fancy Flourishes clear set along with an older favorite Christmas Flourish for the card below.

The above background was created with the same three Dylusion Ink Sprays.    I spritzed a little water to blend, blotted with a paper towel roll and added a little sea salt before it was dry to create 'stars' in the ink.  When dry, I used TCW stencil - Star Fall with Picked Raspberry & Peacock Feathers Distress Inks and white Acrylic Paint.

I stamped the Flourish from the new Fancy Flourishes set with Salty Ocean Distress Ink around the border of the background.    The sentiment from Bold Christmas Words and the Christmas Tree from Christmas Flourish were stamped with Black ink.   I added stickles to the tree. 

Thanks for your visit and have a great day!
Shirley

Be Happy

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.   I would like to welcome the new followers and again thank you to everyone for your visits and kind comments, they are appreciated.

Also a big thank you to all of you that left me tips on stamping over alcohol inks & glossy papers, I'll be playing again with them :)

I recently had a chance to use a wonderful whimsical stamp set that was designed by Marja (of Marja's Stamp Addiction) for Kico Stamps in the Netherlands.      Even though we are well into the Fall Season, this makes me think of Spring :)

I'm joining the challenge over at Rhedd and Rosie Challenge Blog as the theme is "Anything Goes".  

Stamp set used:   Kico Stamps-  Diverse (2) Plate 51 (designed by Marja de Visser).

The background is with Dylusions inks.  I stamped the circle design with Distress Ink.   I stamped all images with black Stazon & coloured with Dylusions inks (I dab a little on my craft mat and use a brush & water).   I decoupaged as shown and highlighted a little with a white pen.

Have a great day... be happy !
Shirley

Playing with Alcohol Inks

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I finally succumbed and bought alcohol inks.  I've resisted for a long time because I have so many other mediums but after seeing amazing designs at Marja's, Alie's & Maria's Blogs, and Pinterest I had to buy some. 

I'm enjoying playing with them but I'm having trouble stamping over the glossy papers without smearing the ink.   On the design below I used glossy cardstock, but I have also had fun trying landscapes on Yuppo (plastic coated watercolour paper).

If you have experience with alcohol inks and can give me tips on what inks stamp without smearing (or how) on Yuppo & Glossy paper I would greatly appreciate it.   I've tried Dye, Stazon & Archival Inks, probably Archival works best.  I used Dye ink on the card below and was able to rub off any images that didn't come out sharp. 

I ended up doodling with a black Pigment Pen over the alcohol ink background as I could 'see' flowers in it.   I also stamped a little with Design by Ryn's famous Water Droplets.  I highlighted with a white Gellyroll pen and added some liquid pearls to some flower centers.  Hello is from Impression Obsession (A3579) - a favorite little sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Blue & Green Fancy Flourish

Hello everyone, I hope you had a great weekend.

Chocolate Baroque has introduced another beautiful Clear Stamp set, Fancy Flourishes that includes nine elegant images.   I've used one of the large designs for the card below:

I stamped the beautiful large Flourish with brown Dye ink on green designer paper that has a slight pattern.   I coloured the image with Prisma Pencils and added lots of bling.      I die cut the paper and layered onto white card stock that I embossed and edged with a gold leaf pen.  I used the same designer paper as one of the mats.

Spellbinder:   S5-160 Opulent Ovals
Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug Acanthus

Here is a look at the Fancy Flourishes Clear Stamp A5 (half sheet) set that is currently offered at a introductory price.

Glenda (owner of Chocolate Baroque) is giving away a Fancy Flourishes set.  All you need to do for a chance to win is leave a comment at her blog post here.  Good Luck !

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Fiddlehead Spirals and Bubbles

Hello everyone, I hope all is well.

I have a design today using the new Fiddlehead Set from Designs by Ryn along with other favorites.  

The background is again Dylusions Inks (Teal, Midnight & White) spritzed with water to blend.   I sprinkled sea salt while the ink was wet.   I sprayed a little more water where you see the large water 'spot'.     

I stamped the amazing Rising Bubbles with Black Archival Ink and Sea Bubbles with Seedless Preserves and Mowed Lawn Distress Inks.   I embossed the two smallest Fiddlehead spirals  with black, bleached the ink & painted a few with Dylusions ink.  I also painted the rising bubbles with Purple Dylusions ink using a brush & water.  I used a white Gelly Roll pen to highlight.

The sentiment is by Impression Obsession - C13073.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous day!
Shirley

Holly Edges with an Angel

Hello everyone, I hope your day is going well.

I have a design today using the beautiful Holly Edge from Chocolate Baroque's new Christmas Edges and an Angel from Gothic Angels stamp sets.

The background is Seedless Preserves and Festive Berries Distress Ink using the Acrylic Block technique.   After it dried, I flicked a little water over it.   I stamped the Holly edge and sentiment with Seedless Preserves Distress Inks.  I embossed the pretty Angel with silver and coloured her with Inktense pencils.   I cut her out, attached to the background and added glitter to the bottom of her dress, wings & halo along with the pearls on the background.

Thanks for stopping by,
Cheers,
Shirley

Reindeer Landscape

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I'm back with Christmas again!   Chocolate Baroque recently introduced another beautiful Christmas set, Reindeer Landscape which is offered at an introductory price during the month of October.   

 

I sprayed Midnight, Teal & Linen Dylusions Inks to created the background.  I over stamped with a snowflake from Reindeer Landscape with Moonlight Brilliance & Peacock Feather Distress Inks.  It's a ltitle difficult to see them in the photo.     I stamped the Reindeer scene on separate smooth water colour paper with black Stazon Ink and coloured with my Tombow markers.   For the sky I added lots of water to create the water marks for clouds.   I also added lots of glitter in the snow, but again it's hard to see in the photo.   I matted it over the background which I edged with a silver leaf pen.

Here is a look at the complete Reindeer Landscape set, lots of potential for elegant and quick cards and as Judith from the DT showed with this beautiful design this isn't just for Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by and to my fellow Canadians reading this post, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Shirley 

Just Because Funky Spirals are fun !

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well,  It's a beautiful sunny day here in Ontario, Canada.

I have another design to show you using one of Designs by Ryn's newest stamps.   I had a lot of fun with the background :)

I started with a large sheet of mixed media paper and sprayed Midnight and Cheery Pie Dylusions spray inks.  I misted with water, blended a little, let it dry and then mopped up some ink splats from the craft sheet.     I used half of the background as a double mat.

On the other half of the background, I stamped with Ryn's Sea Bubbles Set with white ink which is a little difficult to see in the photo.   I also used TCW Mini Star Fall stencil with Salty Ocean Distress Ink and white Acrylic Paint.  Next I stamped the largest Spiral from Ryn's new Spiral Set with Seedless Preserves Distress Ink.

Next I stamped the medium Spirals with black ink and embossed the smallest Spiral around the background with silver and purple glitter embossing powders.    I bleached the colour from the black spirals, added a little Dylusions Inks, Luminate Smooch Ink and then Glossy Accents over top.

"Just Because" is from a 2009 Basic Grey mini stamp set.   I think this card would work well for a young or older person's celebration.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day !
Shirley

Ornate Leaves and a Special Visitor :)

Hello everyone, I hope your week is starting off great.  

Ryn of Designs by Ryn was able to make a trip to my area, we had a wonderful visit and even had time for creativity!  I've been blessed to be on Ryn's Design Team for two years (already).  Every moment playing with her stamps is a joy.  She is an amazing and talented young lady with a big heart.   Her stamps are very high quality and her designs are hand drawn.

Ryn's newest stamps are up at her website (effective Oct 11th).   Each design is more beautiful than the next, I cannot pick a favourite.   To check them out, please see her blog post here.

Below is a quick card using her new Ornate Leaf Set. (I used the two smallest of the 3 in the set). 

Update Oct 10th, I'm entering this design into the challenge over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges as the current theme is to "use a mask or stencil".    It's a great theme and the DT have posted inspiring creations at this site.

The background was created by spraying Dylusions Inks including White Linen.   The flowers were created with the Cornflower Stencil by TCW and light molding paste.  When dry, I outlined them with a black pigment pencil and rubbed some blue & purple Inka Gold gloss paint over top.   You can see it better in the close up below.   I stamped the leaves, coloured them with Dylusions and highlighted with a white water based Sharpie paint pen.

The sentiment is by Impression Obsession - B13027.

And here is a photo of Ryn and myself outside (in dreary weather unfortunately) by one of our gardens :)

Ryn & I

Thanks for dropping by and have a great day!
Shirleyx

Joy is not in Things

Happy Weekend everyone !

I have a quick post today.    I worked in another page of my Gelli Plate Art Journal with a 'self-made' lady stencil.   Again I'm joining in at the Art Journal Journey as October's challenge is "She-Art" or Feminine.

Stamps:   Designs by Ryn - Leafy Branch , the swirl is a 'freebie' from Craft Stamper magazine.   Sentiments are by Chocolate Baroque- Words of Inspiration.   


Coming soon new stamps by Designs by Ryn........ can't wait to play with them :)


Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Snowflake Edges with Glitter and Flourishes

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a terrific week.

I have a few more Christmas designs to show you today using Chocolate Baroque's new Winter Edges set.

To create the background above I sprayed Calypso Teal & Linen Dylusions Inks, spritzed with a little water and added a little sea salt here & there.   When dry, I embossed the Snowflake & Village edges from Winter Edges with Wow-Black Twinkle which has lots of glitter.    I added little holograph circle stickers to the centers of the snowflakes.  Warm Winter Wishes is from Warm Christmas Greetings.  

I also used the fabulous Snowflake Ornament from Snowflake Flourish for the card below.

I created the background with Salty Ocean and Mowed Lawn Distress Inks using the Acrylic Block technique.   Both snowflakes edge stamps from Winter Edges were stamped with Salty Ocean Distress Ink.    I also stamped a snowflake from Snowflake Flourish with Mowed Lawn Distress Ink.   The Ornament from Snowflake Flourish was embossed with a blue glitter powder on separate card stock and coloured with a Tombow marker.  I added lots of rhinestones to the centers of the snowflakes.   Merry Christmas is also from Warm Christmas Greetings.

I have one more design using the Snowflake Flourish & Winter Edges sets.

The background is London Blue & Vibrant Turquoise Dylusions Inks.   I stamped the Snowflake edge on the left & right hand sides with Salty Ocean Distress Ink.   When dry I embossed the beautiful snowflake flourish with silver.    I also embossed the Ornament, coloured with Tombows markers and decoupaged it onto the background.  I added lots of Stardust Stickles and rhinestones.
 
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirley

Another ZenDoodle Lady

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I took a break from Christmas designs and have another Zendoodle lady to show you :)   Art Journal Journey's challenge for October is to create something Feminine or She Art.    So I'm joining in the challenge with my zen lady :) 

I used pigment pens to draw her face & the tangled inspired doodles.   I painted her face with Neocolour II crayons and her hair with Inktense Pencils.

Thanks for stopping in and have a great day!
Shirley