Lace flowers & a Faerie

Hi everyone, I hope you are enjoying the weekend.    All week we enjoyed above seasonal temperatures and sunshine.  But we've had a change - strong winds brought in frosty weather this weekend, and we have light snow coming down !  Yikes I wasn't ready for snow !

I created this card that reminds me of summer using Designs by Ryn stamps.    I used Ryn's two beautiful Flower Lace stamps together with one of her Faeries from the Dancing Faerie Set.   I find it amazing that she hand drew the lace which looks like the 'real thing' when stamped as you can see below. .

The background was created by stamping Flower Lace 1 with Brilliance Platinum Planet Ink over dark purple card stock.  The light is catching the lace at the top so it appears lighter than the bottom, but it's not.

I stamped Flower Lace 2 using Colorbox Midnight & Boysenberry pigment inks, then embossed with clear and cut the flowers out.   The Faerie from the Dancing Faerie Set  was stamped with the Boysenberry Ink and embossed with clear.   I coloured her with Stargazer Micacolor paints.  Her skin is painted lightly which is difficult to see in the photo.  

The leaves are from a Crealies Die - CL CP 06 (actually creates a flower, but I've seen Miranda using them for leaves & I love them).  I also painted them with the same Micacolor paints which are beautiful, mica powder gives a shine that again you cannot see in the photo.

If you have a chance, please stop by Miranda's and Eileen's Blogs, both with lots of inspiration,  who are also on Ryn's Design Team.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day !
Shirley

Let it Snow !

Hello everyone,  I hope you are having a great week and NO I don't want it to snow ..... Not yet !  I was raking leaves again today, it's sunny & above seasonal, beautiful.   I would like to wish our friends south of the border a very Happy Thanksgiving & Happy Shopping tomorrow ! 

I created this Christmas card a while ago using a cute snowman stamp from Inkadinkado.   I think this image would make a great Clean & Simple one layer card as well.    I also used one of my favourite Cover a Card stamps from Impression Obsession to create the background.

Stamps:
Inkadinkado - 99462 Snowman "Let it Snow"
Impression Obsession - CC035 Cover a Card Snowflakes
 
I started by using the large Snowflake CAC and embossed with white.   I blended Aged Mahogany & Broken China Distress Inks over the background.

The snowman was embossed with silver.   I stamped & embossed the hat twice and cut it out to pop it up.   I blended broken china around the snowman, painted the hat with a red Tombow, added red stickles and holograph glitter.

I layered with red & a rich royal cardstock as shown (that was in my stash and I can't seem to find anywhere), added a rich blue bow & red half pearls.    The centre red piece was embossed with the Snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder, hard to see in the photo.

Thanks for your visit and I hope we don't see snow until Christmas :)
Have a great day, Shirley

A Pair of Silver Chocolate Pears

Hi everyone !   Hope you enjoyed your weekend.

I have another Christmas card to share today !    All of the images are from the beautiful Pears & Baubles set by Chocolate Baroque.     I love this set, it includes so many beautiful stamps to create a variety of cards.

I created the background by blending Pool, Azure & Silver Fox Smooch Inks.     After making sure it was dry (I used my heat gun to help speed drying) I over stamped and embossed the pretty tree with silver.

On separate card stock I also embossed the two pears with silver.   Using the Acrylic Block technique I added  Peacock Feathers & then blended Picked Raspberry Distress Inks to add color.    Pink added to blue created the purple.    I also used the wet ink to dye white gauze ribbon to match.

I stamped Happy Christmas with Midnight Colorbox Pigment Ink, embossed with clear and then blended the same two DI over top.    I also blended a little Picked Raspberry DI around the edges of the background.

My post with a tutorial to create backgrounds with Smooch Inks is here.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.    I hope to 'see' you here again soon !
Shirley

Canvas Collage Workshop

Hi everyone I'm back for a second time today !  My previous post was for the IO Challenge.

I enjoyed another workshop, this time creating a collage on canvas with Karen Ellis owner of the Art House Studio.    Karen designs for The Crafters Workshop & My Stamp Box.  She is also a contributing writer for Canadian Scrapbook Magazine.  It was great to take a class with her, I learned a lot, she coached me along to create something that I am happy with.  Her first words of advice "stop thinking" :) 

I've never done any canvas or collage work so this was a new & exciting experience !   Karen's design for the class used the same Asian Lady (cut from Graphic 45 paper), but everyone's work turned out different.   Karen's sample is stunning which you can see here.    I chose similar colors as I love the vibrancy of them.

This is an 8 x 10 inch piece and it's hard to see all the detail,depth & texture in the photo.  We started with canvas board, added Gesso and then built up in layers.   It's fun to get very inky & gluey.   We used molding paste, joint tape, embellishments, Silks Acrylic paints and more.       It needs to be framed & matted with white which pops the colors.  (Karen had one on hand for us to 'test')

Thanks for your visit and have a great day !
Shirley

Starflowers & Leaves for Fall

Hello everyone, I'm back again today with another card.

I haven't had a chance to participate in the Impression Obsession Challenges for a little while, but today I'm entering into their 'Happy Fall Y'all' challenge.   This card is a little different than my previous Fall themed designs that had a lot of orange, red & browns.  October in Ontario was so beautiful this year, the colours were especially gorgeous.    Sadly our leaves are all down but we've enjoyed time raking in the cool Fall air.     

The folded card stock is purple not black, and the right hand flower is purple not blue.  I have trouble capturing purples, it's my ongoing frustration.  

Impression Obsession Stamps:   Cover a Card Flourishes CC027, Starflowers 3066-LG, Hydrangea Leaf H8466, All Seasons C3534 (quote)

Dies:  Crealies CL CS 02 (flourishes)

I started with adding Dried Marigold and Scattered Straw Distress Ink using the Acrylic Block technique on the background.     Next I  inked up the Hydrangea Leaf with Boysenberry Colorbox pigment ink and 'stamp-kissed' the leaf with the Flourish CAC and then again several times using Colorbox Chianti ink.

The Hydrangea Leaf is a great solid stamp that I "had to have" after being inspired by cards at Miranda's Blog using it.   When I won the $25 shopping from IO at a previous challenge, I included it in my order.  

I stamped & embossed one of the starflowers from the set twice with black, colored with my Tom Bow markers and cut them out and layered with Flourishes Die cuts.

Thanks for your visit and have a great day !
Shirley

Celtic Stars, Ghost Stamping & an Award !

Hello everyone, Happy Wednesday !    

A couple of days ago I received the Honor of the Liebster Blog Award from Sue at OlliesMam.      Thank you Sue for thinking of me, I appreciate it !   I've been fortunate to receive this award a few times and have passed it on.  But if you have chance, please visit Sue's Blog to see her beautiful cards.  She is a sweet lady and is on the Design Team for Splodge Away (UK). 

I have another sample for Designs by Ryn using her Celtic Stars again.     This time I tried the Ghost Technique on the background.

I stamped one of the small Celtic Stars from the Celtic Star Set CM-C7 with white Colorbox Pigment Ink.   Next I blended Mowed Lawn, Picked Raspberry & Peacock Feathers Distress Inks over top and then rubbed the images with a paper towel.     We learned this technique at the Magenta workshop but we used Pigment inks and maybe they work a little better.     I don't have the small ink pads but maybe a sponge will work, will try next time !      I stamped over the background with the same star using Colorbox Harbor Pigment Ink.

I embossed the large Celtic Star 3 CM-C5 with black and sprayed green Dylusions ink to color.  I highlighted the star with pink Dylusions Ink using the fine tip Ranger water brush.    I used a small strip cut from the background under the star with black matting.  I have some nice bling in my stash which I used for a finishing touch.  You can see it better in the close-up below.   I also added some holograph glitter with a glue pen in the centres of the stars.  (which look like snowflakes don't they?)   Merry Christmas is from Penny Black 3900H.

So again these are not traditional colors for Christmas but they are fun.

If you have a chance, please stop by Miranda's and Eileen's Blogs, both with lots of inspiration,  who are also on Ryn's Design Team.

Thanks for your visit and hope to 'see' you again soon !
Have a great day,
Shirley

Workshop - "Magenta Style"

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a great weekend.  We are looking forward to sunshine and 14 (Celsius) today.   Will continue to rake leaves :)

I'm excited this morning, I have 100 followers today !  Thank you Miek for joining as the 100th. !  I also would like to give a big thank you to all my loyal followers and visitors.  I appreciate every single visit and all your kind comments.  I didn't know that blogging was going to be so much fun and that I would 'meet' so many kind & talented people all over the world !    I've been so inspired by all of you, thank you again.

I was very lucky to attend a wonderful workshop yesterday at Crop Circles with Nathalie Metivier from Magenta.   If you are familiar with their stamps, you will know they offer elegant designs.   They also held a 'trunk sale'.... which means, hundreds of stamps etc to tempt us. It was a great workshop and all the ladies in the class are so much fun to be with.   Such a special day !  

I love all the designs & techniques that we worked with.   We were able to choose stamps & colours and used Nathalie's designs.  She is a fantastic teacher !   We created six cards, but finished the last one at home.      All images are Magenta with the exception of the first, it's by Crafty Individuals (distributed by Magenta)

This one I finished last night at home.  Background created using Magenta Stencil & Pigment Inks.  Images coloured with Prisma Pencils.   Butterflies Decoupaged and highlighted with Stickels and Glossy Accents.  The image with the young girl was stamped separately and cut out.

Background created with Nathalie's "Ghost" Technique..... will be using this lots, love it !   The background behind the Weed Image was stamped on Glossy paper after creating a 2nd background with Alcohol Inks. 

Background created with Alcohol Inks and over stamped with Magenta flowers.   Main Image coloured with Prisma Pencils

Hard to see the colours in this one.  We used Perfect Pearls on the background of the tag & coloured by blending Pigment Inks.   The flourish on the tree highlighted with white Prisma Pencil.  The flourish was created also with Perfect Pearls.   Little birds coloured with Distress Markers and highlighted with Glossy Accent.

This was so much fun.  We used chipboard & peel-off stickers, then coloured with Micacolor Paints.  Again we choose our own colours  Everyone's card was different and all had beautiful results.  The background of the frame was coloured with Pigment Inks and over stamped on one side. 

Cool design for opening.  Two folds.

The background again was created using Nathalie's Ghost Technique.  We started with white cardstock !  The image was stamped on glossy paper and coloured with distress markers, water (on craft mat) and brush. 

Well that's "all" for today !    I hope to be back soon.
Thanks for your visit and have a great day,
Shirley

Smooch Background Tutorial and another Heart of Lights

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a great week.  It's crispy cold here in Ontario, cooler than normal, but we enjoyed sunshine today.        

I've had another 'play' with Designs by Ryn's beautiful Heart of Lights and Celtic Star Set.   Again the heart design is very unique as the 'wires' from the Christmas Lights have been drawn into a Celtic Heart. 

I've been asked frequently for instructions to create Smooch backgrounds so I've included a photo tutorial today.  

I embossed the Heart of Lights with black and blended Distress Inks around the image (Milled Lavendar, Shaded Lilac and Dusty Concord).  I used a black Distress Marker around the outside edge after cutting it out with the heart die (Nellies Multi Frames - MFD 022).   I colored the Celtic Heart of Lights with Smooch Inks using the little applicator and added Glossy Accents to create dimension.

The quote is from Impression Obsession (C3505 Miracle). 

Creating backgrounds using Smooch Ink:  

I used Grape Soda, Sugarberry & Pool Smooch Ink.  The bottles may look small, but they seem bottomless.  I've been using the same ones for 2 1/2 years except "Pool" which I've replaced as I use it the most.

I always use a non-stick craft mat under my work. (mine is well used and has spots from using over a rough surface, but it's still fine).    You will need Versamark ink, Smooch inks, Colorbox stylus with the black moldable tip and smooth white cardstock.   I use paper intended for Copic markers.  Baby wipes work well to clean up the applicator after you are done.

Cover the white cardstock with Versamark Ink direct from the pad.  This keeps your surface 'wet' to allow you to blend the inks as they dry quickly.

Start with your lightest colour, Grape Soda.  Shake the bottle well and add the ink using the applicator direct to the stylus.

You need about this much on your stylus.

Start adding to your paper by blending in circle motions.  I leave white spaces for the next color to 'grab'.

I added Sugarberry next.  This is the darkest but since Pool (blue) is an accent, I used it last.  I don't clean my applicator between colors.

 This is what my sheet looked like after adding the second color (Sugarberry).

This is what my background looked like after adding the third colour (Pool).   Smooch Inks have a beautiful sheen as it catches the light.     The colors are not showing true in this photo, it's much more purple. 

Next I stamped with one of the stars in Ryn's Celtic Star Set using Brilliance Platnium Planet Ink over the background.

Then I stamped the star over the background using Versa Magic Perfect Plumeria Chalk Ink.  And above is the finished background.  Certainly not traditional Christmas colors.

 

I stamped the quote direct to the background with black Stazon Ink.   After this was done, I wished I had embossed it so that it stands out more.  I added the heart, ribbon and mats.    

If you have any questions, please leave me a comment and I'll reply on the comment page.   I find that if I leave my email address on my blog, I get too much 'wierd' Spam.   I won't talk about what kind I've received.

If you get a chance, please stop by Miranda's and Eileen's Blog who are also on Ryn's Design Team.  They have beautiful blogs with lots of inspiration.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day !
Shirley

Just having Fun !

Happy Weekend !

I'm brave to share this Art Journal page.    My intention for the page was to look 'funky' but it could be mistaken for one of my drawings when I was 5 years old :)     

I was happy as a child while spraying inks, using molding paste for 'brick's', acrylic paint for the clouds, Viva Inka Gold for the 'shingles' and drawing with a Pen & crayons !  Well they are Watercolor Neocolor Crayons, so not the children's type.  I used several stencils as well.

The 'Happy & Joy" expressions are stamped with Black Stazon ink & are from Chocolate Baroque's - Artistic Expressions Set.

I showed this page to my husband and he asked - "what's it for?"  My answer - "for me,  I was just having fun".

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend !
Shirley