Monochrome Flowers

 International Art & Soul, a challenge which has been put together to incorporate any type of craft, paper, wood, flowers, recycling, glass - the world is your oyster :).  Come on over an join us with you artwork :)

Challenge #63
Monochrome

This fortnights challenge Monochrome has been chosen by DT sister Josephine.  I just love monochromatic cards, I think that is because I can put thoughts of colour matching to one side and just play big time with textures and techniques.  Just before making these cards a little bit of happy mail fell through my door, some stencils and a layered peony rose stamp which I ordered from Crafters Companion.  What better excuse to play with the stamp than this challenge :).  I started off by choosing 6 colours for my card bases and checked that the Altnew inks I had matched up.  Next I embossed the each of the bases with a large background stamp and heat embossed with white.  Up next was to die cut the embossed layer 6 times, one for each card lol, the the plain mount.  Finally I die cut my stamping layer, again 6 times and set about doing the stamping using the Tim Holtz stamping platform. Have to say, this stamping platform is one of my biggest buddies in my craft room, until I got this I could not stamp for toffee. I had such a lovely afternoon making these and am so pleased with the outcome, pretty and full of texture cards.

Challenges entered:-

• Daisy Chain Challenges (M, P5, E3) #32 - Flowers
• Happy Little Stampers Dies (M, P9) July- Always Anything Goes with Dies
• The Flower Challenge (M, P4, C6, E5, must use flower image/stamp) #34 - Pretty Pastels
• Lavinia World Challenges - 2W, SIO - #5 Anything Goes Using Rubber Or Clear Stamps (No Digis) (W1 of 2)
• Die Cuttin' Divas W, must include a Die-cut - #429 - Embossing (heat or dry)
• Get Creative Challenges  (M, 1st Mon, 3E) #82 ANYTHING GOES with optional/ MONOCHROMATIC

Pyrography Keyrings

I have always enjoyed doing a bit of pyrography, nothing special but I find it lovely change from card making :).  Today I am sharing with you some keyrings I have made for the Aurora Wing FaceBook July challenge, there is still time for you to enter this challenge, just a couple of things to mention -  the challenges is Anything Goes but you must use an Aurora Wings image.  Aurora Wings FaceBook Challenge.

One of the problems about pyrography for me was finding a suitable way to transfer the images to wood, until now I have done it the old fashioned way of pencilling the back of the design and then tracing the image onto the wood but with arthritic hands that has always been a bit much for the old bones :).  I was browsing different things on the net one day and started searching for way to transfer the images and came across a video showing the use of pure acetone and laser printed images and had to give it a go.  You just needed to print you image in reverse, using a paintbrush and working in small areas apply the pure acetone gently.  Rub over the area with the back of a tea spoon until the paper appears dry and you will find the laser ink has been transferred to the wood - pure magic.  I so wanted to give this a go and had a few heart shaped keyring blanks that would be an interesting project to do.

6 different Aurora Wings images were used, firstly being resized to what I wanted on the keyrings, then printed.  I also created sentiments to go on the back of each keyring.  Next I transferred the images and then using my finest pyrography tool set about the wood burning on both sides of the hearts.

Still in an experimenting mode I then coloured 3 of the images with Prisma Colour pencils before varnishing.  Last job was to attach the keyring chains.  So happy with the way these have turned out and they will make great wee gifts for my friends, hope you like them too.

Detailed images of the front and back of each keyring

 I am entering this project in the following challenges : -

• Crafty Creations  2W,2nd/4th Wed, 2E - Always Anything Goes 
• Lemon Shortbread 2W, E3, no digital projects - #98 - Always Anything Goes (Week 1)
• Get Creative Challenges  (M, 1st Mon, 3E) #82 ANYTHING GOES with optional/ MONOCHROMATIC  (ENTERING THE THREE UNCOLOURED KEYRINGS IN LINE WITH MONOCHROMATIC - thank you)
• Stamping Sensations - M, 3E, Winner + Top 3, must use stamp (no pre-colored digis) Stamp must be focal point of project – (July) Earth Laughs in Flowers
• The Corrosive Challenges - M, 3E - Always Anything Goes
• We Love 2 Create  - 2W (ends Tuesday) - Always Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes
• A Gem of a Challenge  2W, 3E  - #13 - Anything Goes (W2 of 2)

Ruby Bubble Trouble

I am joining you today with my very first creation for the I ❤️Promarkers Design Team. When I first started colouring several years ago and was on one design team I used to set myself my own wee challenge each week or so and head over to Paper Playful to find challenges that would fit in with my 'enter 5 challenges' plan.  I would choose 5 challenges,  a colour challenge,  a Promarker challenge,  a sentiment challenge, an embellishment challenge and one other then I would make a card that would fit the 5 challenges.  Always a bit challenging but great fun and it was a super way to focus in the early days when the craft world felt like a very big place and rather daunting at times :).  I never dreamed in those days I would be on this awesome team and feel very privileged to be here now.

The challenge this fortnight at I ❤️Promarkers is

 'One For The Girls'

and the sponsor for this challenge is Bugaboo Stamps with $12 gift code for the Store 

For my design creation I have used the Bugaboo image Ruby Bubble Trouble after all, which girl does not like a lovely bubble bath to ease the aches and pains of the day and a glass of wine (or in my case coffee) to make the whole experience one of total delight :)

I have coloured the image with Promarkers (now that was a bit daunting as it is ages since I only used Promarkers on an image lol) and used Pan Pastels for the background.  The image layer was then cut and mounted on black.  Next I created the sentiment layer and lacy border using a Tattered Lace die and the HB2U stamp from Creative Stampers magazine.  I then coloured the sentiment circle and lacy border with the same Promarker used for Ruby's towel.  Next I coloured a bit of card with, you guessed it, the same pink Promarker and then embossed this using Crafter's Companion snake skin die as it at the effect of random bubbles lol.  Finally I mounted all the layers onto my card blank which I covered with a gelli print background I made a while ago and also looks a bit like bubbles.

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

• Sisterhood of Crafters 2nd/4th Wed,3E - Birthday
• Crafty Sentiment Designs W, 1E, SIO - Add A Sentiment
• AAA Birthday (M, 1st Mon, Birthday cards only)July - #3 - FOR THE GIRLS

Merry Christmas!!!

 International Art & Soul, a challenge which has been put together to incorporate any type of craft, paper, wood, flowers, recycling, glass - the world is your oyster :).  Come on over an join us with you artwork :)

Challenge #62
Christmas in July

This fortnights challenge Christmas in July has been chosen by DT sister Jennie.  Christmas cards, not my favourite thing to make but I suspect that is because I tend to go down the traditional route and at the back of my mind is a bit of a hum bug - the amount of paper and cheap tacky cards that become waste at this time of year, it just seems a bit hypocritical.  I don't tend to send Christmas cards out, instead just making a few very special ones for family.  Anyway, enough moaning lol.  This year I thought I would try a get my head onto a new level and as I have been playing so much with my gelli printing thought a few Christmas cards made using papers I created would a bundle of fun to do.  Oh so much fun, I loved making these and went on to make a couple more sets up in different designs.

For these cards I used acrylic paint for the background gelli printed papers and also for the sheets made to cut the trees out of.  The fir tree branch stamp is from the Creative Stamper magazine as is the sentiment.  To finish off the trees I added Stickles and Liquid Pearls.  The design of this card is not original, after hunting on the Internet for inspiration I used this video by Trompke - Making a Christmas Card (no.8) DIY (gelli plate) and then added my own spin.

Challenges entered:-

• Crafty Calendar M,3E  July - Christmas in July
• Kitty Bee Designs - 2W,2E, C10 - No.146 -  CHRISTMAS IN JULY  (W2 of 2) 
• Simply Create Too - M July - No. 151 - ANYTHING GOES + TWIST: USE PATTERN PAPER  - Ends July 26th  
• Winter Wonderland - M, 3E, July - MUST be Christmas - CHRISTMAS OR WINTER BUILDINGS
• The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - 2W, C15, E3 - #52 - Anything Christmas Goes (Challenge will last until July 28)
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' M, 2nd Wed, 2E, Anything Christmas with Option of nontraditional Colors 
• ARTastic Challenge (M, P1, Winners P8, C3) July - Use Paint

Remembering Aletha

I did not know Aletha very well only having a short spell when we were on a DT together at Sweet Pea Stamps but I have heard so much of her, the encouragement she gave fellow colourists, the willingness to help with advice any time and most of all her love of art.  Her passing to the the next world came as a great shock to so many, so sudden, so hard to understand.

This hop is happening in conjunction with a very special celebration of her life and her art that her husband Bob is holding in her home city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Please join us in honoring our incredibly creative friend Aletha.

Aletha was on the Aurora Wings DT and in her name Mitzi, of Aurora Wings has drawn this adorable digi, a wonderful Passion Flower Sprite.  Aletha loved the colour purple and had a passion for art and life so this wee sprite couldn't be more perfect with her beautiful colours and artists palette too.

I used a photo of a Passion Flower which I edited digitally for the part of the background and then coloured over it with Pan Pastels after printing.  Pan Pastels were also for the rest of the background and the texturing using a feather stencil.  The feather does not show as the stencil was overly large but no matter, the feather had to be used as feathers appear when angels are near and Aletha is a beautiful angel now.  Passion Flower Sprite was coloured with Promarkers and the sentiment topper was created digitally.  I used gold to mount the finished image which I embossed with a sun rays embossing folder and then was mounted onto purple hand made paper made from amongst other things, torn up bits of newspaper which somehow seemed very fitting for this card.

Sleep tight Aletha and thank you sweetheart just for being you.  Aletha's blog is still active if you would like to pop on over and enjoy some time browsing her amazing artwork  - 

Aletha's blog - AJ's Design Artz

Blog Hop

Alison Heikkila

Mitzi Sato-Wiuff

Suzi Baker McKenzi

Marion Lones

Silvia Sencaka

Ann-Marie Johansson

Jane Bradshaw (you are here)

Creepy Glowbugg

Donna Mundinger

Susan Slayer

Cristena Concialloni-Bagne

Jan Thomson

I am entering this card in the following challenges :-

• Passion For Promarkers - Make It Square

Do I Look Bothered

IKEsWORLD

Challenge 122
Gingham/Plaid

Welcome back to the IKEsWORLD challenges :)  do pop on over to IKEsWORLD to join in the challenge, it is always so much fun and  Ike produces the most amazing stamps, everything from off the wall to cute and fluffy :) :) :)

Such a fun card to make with this fabulous image by IKEsART.  I am not a lover of pink but pink and grey are an awesome colour combination and worked perfectly for this card. The image was coloured with Promarkers and then cut with my large square die.  I used a Happy Birthday embossing folder for the next layer and then used pink gingham to mat each of these sections.  All the card need was a bit of bling ribbon and some flowers which were white but I coloured them with Promarkers to fit in with the card better lol and the card was finished.

Ingredients:-

• image - ANOTHER BIRTHDAY by IKEsART
• colouring medium - Promarkers 
• other items - ribbon, flowers embossing folder

I am entering this project into the following challenges:-

Duncan Disorderly

Just a bit of fun today using a fabulous image by Dr. Digi called Duncan Disorderly, isn't he awesome.  Finding images for male cards is sometimes a bit hard especially if you want something a little different from the general run of the mill.

The digi is coloured using Prisma Colour pencils and the background Pan Pastels.  A simple black mount worked perfectly with the black pipes I created using a die from Memory Box.  The Happy Birthday stamp is from Creative Stampers, stamped on a Pan Pastel background and also mounted on black card.  The text by the digi was created in my software before printing and colouring.

I am entering this card in the following challenges :-

• Kleuren Met Potloden (M, P10, E1, C6, Coloured Pencils) June - Men/Boys
• Let's Craft & Create Challenge (M, P5, F, E3) #148 - Anything Goes + option You're the Man
• Pearly Sparkles Challenge (M, P1, E3) #41 - It's a Mans World
• TIME OUT Challenges 2W #138 To Be Funny (W1 of 2)