Hanging Basket

Time for another challenge over at

IKEsWORLD

Challenge 82
Anything Goes with an optional TWIST .... Nature

{create something that speaks from your heart and soul and screams you with the images you use

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 :) :) :)

I wish I could do clean and simple but boy do I struggle with the concept. I think this is as clean and simple as I have managed to date hahahaha.  The image was coloured with Polychromos, I then die cut the square and distressed the edges, added my ribbon and gems and there we go, all done.

Ingredients:-

• image - Hanging Basket by IKEsART
• colouring medium - Polychromos
• from my stash - Spellbinder scallop edge die, ribbon and gems

I am entering this project into the following challenges:-

• Crafting When We Can - 2W, 2E, C5 -  #137 Flowers  (W2 of 2)
• Allsorts  W,3E  Hearts and/ or Flowers
• Creative Corner - 2W, 3E  Perfectly Pink (W2 of 2)
• Morgan's Art World - 2W, E3, - No 3 - (W1 of 2) - Add Flowers
• Creative Knockouts W,2E,C8 #180 Flower Power

Love is in the Air

Today is an exciting day with the launch of the new challenge blog - 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 :).

Challenge #1 - Love is in the Air

For my first design team creation for this new challenge I have decided to do a bit of pyrography.  My youngest daughter was married on January 4th of this year and this was a wee personal gift from me to her and her partner.  My daughter was born in Kenya and we lived on the slopes of Mt. Kenya.  Hubby and I recently returned to Kenya for a holiday and I thought it would be rather nice if I could find a piece of wood from 'home' and make it into a wall plaque for Nicole and Meesh.  It was only a few days before we were due to fly home that I found the perfect piece of wood - cut from an old cedar fence post.  You are not allowed to cut the cedar trees on Mt. Kenya now as they are protected but this old fence post was cut some 60 years ago, well seasoned and legal.  Thank you so much Anne from Suyian Soul for letting me raid you wood pile :) :) :) This piece of wood along with two similar pieces were put into my suitcase and boy were they heavy hahaha and brought home where I burned the saying into the wood, added names and dates and varnished.  The plaque then had hooks and chain added ready for hanging but I needed to get a photo taken before this was done as time was short.  My daughter was in tears when she saw it the day before her civil partnership to Meesh and her only words spoken as she caressed it was 'A bit of home' :) :) that is the exact reaction I so wished for so you can imagine how I felt inside.  Both my daughter and her partner are in the British Army and, Meesh is a medic and travelled a fair bit on exercise etc. It turns out she has been to Nanyuki, Kenya (on the slopes of Mt. Kenya, and where we lived) twice and was on exercise on the neighbouring ranch to Suyian Soul where this piece of cedar wood came from.  How cool is that, the plaque has meaning for both of them, both knowing where it came from, both having walked the same land even though it was years apart :) :) :).  So as you can see, this plaque really is a 'Love in in the Air' creation and I hope you like it.

To make the plaque I first created my design on Illustrator taking into account the placement of the holes and markings in the wood.  I then printed my design on tracing paper and transferred it to the wood.  It was then out with my pyrography tools to do the wood burning and to finish off a couple of coats of varnish.

I also made three wedding cards for Nicole and Meesh, one from hubby and I, another for my mother to give them and one for Nicole's eldest sister to give.  The wedding theme colour was navy blue with orange flowers so this colour scheme was carried through with the cards.

Card from hubby and me

Card from my Mum

Card from Natasha, Nicole's eldest sister.  I saw this idea on the net and thought it was perfect but for the life of me I don't know the source - sorry.

Challenges entered:-

• A Bit More Time to Craft (2W, P1/15, E3) Always Anything Goes
• A Perfect Time To Chraft (M, P1, E3) - Always Anything Goes
• Crafter's Cafe (2W, P1/15, E3, F) #166 - Recycle Something (recycled old fence post for pyrography wall hanging)
• Crafts and Me (M, P1, SIO) February - Anything Goes
• Crafts Galore Encore (M, P1, E3) February - Anything Goes
• Creative Craft Cottage Digi Creations (2W, P1/15, E3) #66 - Add a Heart
• Delicious Doodles Challenge (M, P1) February - Anything but a card
• Dies R Us Challenge (2W, P1/15, E3, die cuts) #66 - Hearts
• The East Wind Challenge (P1/15, 3E, no digital coloring) #70 - Love and Romance
• Creative Fingers -  2W , 3E, No totally digital projects - No.124 - (W1 of 2) Anything Goes
• Simply Create Too - M - February - Love
• Craft Rocket Challenges 2W,3E #32 It's A Love Thing (W1 of 2)
• Crafting With An Attitude M,1st Thurs,3E Always Anything Goes
• Crafty Girls Creations M, 3E Anything Goes - Feb
• Crafting By Designs - W, F, 3E - Anything goes
• Creative Moments - 2W, 3E - #110 Anything Goes (Week 2 of 2)
• Mod Squad Challenge- W, 3E, F  Use Both Hearts and Flowers

DayDream

Time for another challenge over at

IKEsWORLD

Challenge 81
Anything Goes with an optional TWIST .... BE YOU

{create something that speaks from your heart and soul and screams you with the images you use

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 :) :) :)

Today sees the start of the new IKEsWORLD challenge - AG with optional twist, Be You.  LOL - be me, where do I start, use a bed image as I love to sleep, use a horse image as I am in love with my horse and love being at the stables, use flowers as nature is always close to my heart and I marvel at the colours and textures of flowers . . . . and the list to go on and on.  However, I am really trying this year to make things that have a use as I find many of the items I put together don't really have a use and just sit there.  So my first question was not 'Be Me' but what can I find a home for hahahaha.  Not that difficult, a birthday card for my daughter, next question, what do we have in common as this is also following the twist - Be Me - well we are both Capricorns.  Now I have the outlet for my creation I am a happy bunny.  So how is this card me - well, as mentioned I am a Capricorn and the traits of a Capricorn pretty much sum me up (only putting the nice ones on the card though) :) :) and at this moment in time I do have blue hair!!!  When hubby saw me colouring this his first comment was "Ah you are doing your hair" so yep, the colours are pretty close to what mine is like but mine is longer than the image!!!!

I coloured the image DayDream with Polychromos and then used Pan Pastels for the background.  Next I used a Tim Holtz stencil and airbrushed with Promarkers to get the texture.  A silver birthday sticker was coloured with a black Promarker and added to the card, the rest of the text was written by hand.  For the dark green layers I used backing paper, the top layer was embossed with a Crafter Companion Hessian folder then both layers were sprayed with some gold glitter varnish also from Crafters Companion.

Ingredients:-

• image - DayDream by IKEsART
• colouring medium - Polychromos and Pan Pastels
• from my stash - Tim Holtz stencil, green backing paper, birthday sticker, Crafter Companion gold glitter spray and hessian embossing folder.

I am entering this project into the following challenges:-

• Digi Choosday Challenge -W,E2, - #5 - Anything Goes
• Lemon Shortbread 2W, E3, no digital projects Always Anything Goes (Week 1)
• Through The Craft Room Door W, 2E - Always Anything Goes
• Artistic Inspirations - 2W, E3, F - (Week 2) Always Anything Goes
• Color Inspiration Monday - W, hand colored images - Always Anything Goes with hand-colored image
• Crafting from the Heart - W, E3, F - Always Anything Goes

Gypsy GIrl

Time for another challenge over at

IKEsWORLD

Challenge 80
Anything Goes or add a TWIST .... USE A BOW

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 :) :) :)

Today sees the start of the new IKEsWORLD challenge - AG twist, use a bow.  I love a challenge like this :) :) For my creation if have made a card for my mother (handy as I snail mail her every couple of weeks, she won't use email, txt etc. and I often don't have mega amounts so say so a card is about the right size to keep us all happy lol).  When Ike brought out the gypsy images I was in love, so beautifully drawn and this gypsy girl is awesome :) :) :).  For my bows, well they gave me so many problems, for the life of me could I tie three bows the same grrrrrr, then I thought to stamp bows using the pink as the background to match the card which was done using Pan Pastels and then stamp the bow in black until I realised the pattern on the bow was holly leaves and rather obvious hahaha.  In the end I used a bow die to make my 3 black bows :) :) :) (at least they are all the same size!!!)  Hope you like the end result.

Ingredients:-

• image - Gypsy Girl by IKEsART
• colouring medium - Promarkers and Pan Pastels
• from my stash - black ribbon, bow die, black liquid pearls, heart gems, rubber stamp sentiment

I am entering this project into the following challenges:-

• 
  

Maasi Warrior

Time for another challenge over at

IKEsWORLD

Challenge 79
Anything Goes or add a TWIST .... MODERN or VINTAGE

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 :) :) :)

A very speedy card for this first challenge of 2017 - Happy New Year everybody, hope you all have had a magical Christmas holiday and send you bundles of love that 2017 is an awesome year for you :)

Yep, this really is a speedy card, time is a little short at the moment hahahaha.  I was so excited when I saw the Africa Set by Ike, Africa is the home in my heart having lived for many years on the magical continent.  For this card I hunted through my photos and have used an image I took recently in the Masai Mara (which I thought would be perfect for the image Maasai Warrior) of one of the many beautiful sunsets seen on a regular basis.  I added the image (png version) and coloured this digitally.  The saying was found on a general net hunt but I have no idea who it is by - it is very true though, there is something magical for so many people about the African Continent that when you place you feet on the land and smell the air (especially when it rains) you have warm fuzzy feelings of belonging within you - that is what happens to me anyway hahaha and I know some folks who will say the same even though they have only visited once :)

I added a few plant life border die cuts just to remove the flatness of this card, a bit of dimension always helps. Now I must apologies for the shortness of this post and I must dash off again, got a wedding to prep for in 3 days time :) :) :) (no not mine, my daughters) and still recovering from last nights New Years Eve party :)  Hugs for now everybody and keep smiling :)

Ingredients:-

• image - Maasai Warrior by IKEsART
• colouring medium - digital
• from my stash - background photo, red mulberry paper

I am entering this project into the following challenges:-

• 
  

Snowman

Hello folks.  We have another challenge at One Stitch At A Time so how about popping over to see all the fabulous creations by the design team.  The prize this month is a $10 coupon to spend in the store :)

Challenge 277 Theme 

'Anything Goes with LOTS OF SPARKLE'

My final creation for the OSAAT design team for 2016,  a layered card in white with silver accents in keeping with the theme 'Lots of Sparkle'.  The image used is Snowman by Coosty Creations.

This challenge will run for a whole month to give the DT a wee break over the festive holidays so you have plenty of time to join in :)

 To begin with I printed and fussy cut the snowman then coloured with Promarkers.  Next lots of silver and white glitter :).  The card base was edged with silver, just for a bit more dimension.  Two lots of die cutting using Spellbinders Victorian Medallion 3 and Tonic Studio Trellis Circle.  Both these die cuts were embellished with and/or Silver Stickles and clear glass gems.  I used a rubber stamp sentiment for the centre of the circle and used silver ink.

Once all the die cut sections were complete and in place I added my snowman using a wobble - should have taken a picture of him wobbling as he is rather cute :) :) :) but I forgot and now the camera is put away grrrrr.  

When die cutting the Tonic Studio Trellis Circle left with a pretty border circle die cut so instead of throwing it away I coloured it in silver and used it to frame a writing area on the inside of the card.  The addition of a Tattered Lace Snowflake and another glass gem brought everything together perfectly.

Ingredients:-

• Image -Snowman by Coosty Creations
• Colouring medium - Promarkers
• Dies - Spellbinders Victorian Medallion 3, Tonic Studio Trellis Circle, Tattered Lace Snowflakes
• From my Stash -  Silver pen, silver Stickles, glass gems, wobble attachment, google eyes, white and silver glitter

I am entering this card into the following challenges:-

• 
  

Thanks for looking and hope you have a happy crafting day:)

Parthenon Horse

Time for another challenge over at

IKEsWORLD

Challenge 78
PHOTO INSPIRATION

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 :) :) :)

Oh I had such a fabulous time making this card, an image in my head and it all fell into place just as planned for once.  Gelli printing, oh how I love Gelli printing :) I have a wee Gelli plate which I bought a wee while a go to see what I thought of the process and now the hubby has treated me to the 12 x 14 inch plate I am in my element as it means I can create whole sheets of paper at a time instead of the small square areas. This card is the christening of the large plate and I am smiles all over lol.

To begin with I created my background by printing an A4 sheet of linen card using colours from the photo inspiration.  Next I used a card shape die cut I have and cut with my electronic cutter. Next I printed two of the Parthenon Horse , coloured with Promarkers and Polychroms and then fussy cut.  One of the horses was for the front of the card and the other for the inside (it was a mirror image).  I did this as I did not want the white card of the image I coloured to be visible through the cut out area when you looked inside the card.  Next I use the Tattered Lace Berries die and cut three from scraps of my Gelli printed card and edged each with red, green or gold glitter.  The final bits, were a lace border die cut with gold ribbon threaded throw, a gold bow and the Merry Christmas text die cut with matt gold card.

(I left the cut out sections on my cutting mat and then using transfer tape placed them colour side up on the inside of the card.  I did loose a three bits and no matter how hard I looked to find them I couldn't, the fairies stole them is my final conclusion so I then closed the card and used the cut out sections as a template to draw round onto the inside of the card with a gold pen and coloured in the sections. With the second of the Parthenon Horse images I coloured in place a wee lace border out of the last bits of my Gelli printed card was cut and used to finish off.

And just because I took a picture of it lol here is the back of my card showing my Gelli printing :)

Finally. here is the photo inspiration for you to follow in the challenge - lots of wonderful seasonal colours :)

Ingredients:-

• image - Parthenon Horse by IKEsART
• colouring medium - Promarkers, Polychromos
• from my stash - ribbon, glitter, gold pen

I am entering this project into the following challenges:-

•