Secrets in the Forest

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I created this page in my journal for  the Art Journal Journey for October Challenge which is "Deep in the Forest".   I almost didn't show it as it's such a quick make, but I wanted to participate and time is running out.  If you have a chance to visit their blog, you will see lots of wonderful artwork by the talented participants in the challenge.

I recently received a gift from my dear Tante in the Netherlands - a new stamp set designed by Marja for Kico Stamps.   In the set is a mysterious tree and I thought it would work well in a forest 'scene' and could be a little 'spooky' for this time of year.    

I also used Design by Ryn's Flowing Branches stencil and her Leafy Branch stamp. The tree and mushrooms are from the Kico Stamp Set Plate #60 (designed by Marja).

I wonder what other secrets are in the forests?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day,
Shirleyx

Christmas Magic with a Stencil!

Hello dear blog friends, I hope you are doing well.

All is well here and I'm enjoying more time in my craft 'studio' this week.  It's still pink but my sweet husband has built me some great shelving to store my inks on my desks.     When the room is painted and reorganized again (not sure when that will happen) I will take photos.  I love to see photos of your craft spaces so I will share some here as well.   

One of the cards I made this week was this very 'quick make' for Christmas using Design by Ryn stencil and stamps.  At the bottom of this post is good news for Ryn :)

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I used a tip from Maria to create the background.  I took a circle die cut and blended Distress inks around it (move it around the page and change colours).     I then used a larger piece of cardstock with a circle cut out as a mask and stenciled inside the circle.   I traced the circle with a Gelly Roll Pen and drew the topper.   Next I stamped around with Patio Stone and Sea Bubbles.   Quick & easy!

Design by Ryn stencil:  Floral Spirals
Design by Ryn stamps:  Patio Stone and Sea Bubbles
Distress Inks:  Evergreen Bough, Mowed Lawn,Squeezed Lemonade, Salty Ocean
Sentiment is by Impression Obsession - B3585

Also good news for Design by Ryn - Her unmounted sheets of stamps and stencils are now sold in following retailers across the world.   You can still order single mounted stamps and stencils from her web store.

Austria: Elisabeth's Bastelhaus - http://www.bastelhaus.at/
Germany: Stampellaedle - http://ssl.stempellaedle.de/shop/
Germany: VR-Creativ - http://vr-creativ.com/
Japan: Zu's Studio - http://zusstudio.typepad.jp/blog/
Netherlands: De Stempelwinkel - http://www.de-stempelwinkel.nl/
Switzerland: Atelier Rägeboge - http://www.stempelseite.ch/
United Kingdom: "Oyster stamps" - http://www.oysterstamps.co.uk/
United States: Susana's Custom Art and Card Design - http://www.susanascustomartandcarddesign.com/
Australia:  Marker Maniacs: http://markermaniacs.com.au/

That's all for today, thanks for stopping by
Shirleyx

Spooky Halloween

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.   

Chocolate Baroque recently launched three fabulous Halloween sets and while I don't make many Halloween cards I couldn't resist ordering Book of Spells while I was on a break from the DT.  The spider web corner fragment is awesome and I think it would be fun in non Halloween designs as well.

The sentiment is from Bewitched Moonlight and the rest of the images are from Book of Spells.  The background is Distress Inks and I used a lovely stencil by Tim Holtz.   I used Inktense pencils to add a little colour to the haunted house and lots of glitter on the roof and ghosts.     

Thanks for your visit,
Shirleyx

Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge #4

Hello dear blog friends, I hope your week is going well.  I still have family visiting and don't have much time for visiting blogs this week.  I will get caught up eventually!

I have a card today that I designed for Chocolate Baroque's Colour Challenge #4.   I love the colours for this challenge and enjoyed working with them using CB's Indian stamps.

The background was created using the Acrylic Block Technique with Picked Raspberry, Persimmon, Rusty Hinge and Mahogany Distress Inks.  I also stamped the designs from Indian Textiles with Distress inks.  The elephant from Indian Elephant set was embossed with gold and coloured with Distress Inks (on my craft mat with water & brush).    The die cut flowers are by Crealies - CL CF 18.

If you have time we would love if you could join in the fun and for a chance to win £15 gift voucher at Chocolate Baroque.  All the details for the Challenge Blog can be found here.   Below is the gorgeous colour inspiration (designed by Lesley) for the current challenge:

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Shirleyx

Christmas with Pink & Blue 'Twins'

Hello dear blog friends, I hope you are doing well and enjoying the weekend, it's sunny and cool here.   I'm enjoying a visit with special family from overseas :) 

I have a couple more Christmas designs today that are 'twins' but not 'identicle' and a change from green & blue :)

The background is Raspberry & Peacock Distress Inks.  I used two stencils by Memory Box and also Gesso with TCW Circle Explosion stencil (which has been one of my favorites since I discovered stencils, it's 'well used').

I over stamped using the negative snowflakes from Chocolate Baroque's A Child is Born, I love the effect they give on backgrounds.   The star die cuts are also by Memory Box and Merry Christmas is from Chocolate Baroque's Bold Christmas Words.  I also added a little sparkle embossing powder here & there.

And here is the 'twin'

Thanks for your visit and have a great day,
Shirley

Chocolate Baroque Colour Challenge #3 and a Free Download!

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.  I'm sorry I'm behind visiting blogs. 

I have a design today for Chocolate Baroque's Colour Challenge #3 using this month's free digital download for the background.  

If you would like the two beautiful FREE downloads just head over to CB's Colour Challenge Blog to 'pick them up'.  We would love it if you joined us in the challenge as well. 

I used both Autumn Base and Autumn Overcoat for this design.  It was quick to make this card, the flowers took the most time which I coloured with Distress Inks (Walnut and Rusty Hinge).  I also added a little Rusty Hinge DI to the bottom background.   The Fairy was stamped with Coffee Archival Ink and is from the  October Fairy set.

 
The die cuts are Crealie CL CF25 and CL CS 02.

And here is the gorgeous Colour Challenge Inspiration design (by Lesley):

Thanks for your visit and have a great day,
Shirleyx

Jingle Bells in Green and Blue

Hello dear blog friends, I hope you are enjoying the weekend.   We woke up to frost this morning, the above normal summer temperatures have left us.  Fall has arrived with cooler and wetter weather, it rained a lot over the last couple of days.  Sorry that I'm still behind in blogging,  I will get caught up eventually :).

I have another Christmas design today that I made last week using the same blue & green Dylusions ink background.  

I used white Acrylic paint and Distress Inks with stencils by Memory Box over the background.    I coloured the bells with Prisma Pencils.  The stamps are from Chocolate Baroque:  A Child is Born and Christmas Magic (sentiment).

Thanks for your visit and have a great day,
Shirleyx

Autumn's Vibrant Colours

Hello blogging friends, I hope you had a great weekend.   We enjoyed 'summer like' temperatures and lots of sunshine.   The leaves are showing gorgeous vibrant oranges early this fall.    It must have something to do with our cool wet summer and recent cold nights.

I used a couple of Design by Ryn's fabulous stencils and a Fairy stamp to create this Autumn design.   

The background was created with Distress Inks using the Acrylic Block technique.  I blended Distress Inks over the Flowing Branches stencil and  bronze Viva 3D Decor Modelling Creme over the Maiden Hair Fern stencil.  I stamped Dragon Fly Faerie with coffee Archival Ink, coloured with Prisma Pencils, cut her out and attached over the background.  I also added holograph glitter to her wings. Autumn is from Chocolate Baroque's November Fairy set. 

Thanks for your visit and have a great week,
Shirleyx