All Tagged Up

 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 #68
Tags

This fortnights challenge Tags has been chosen by me, I haven't done much with tags for such a long time and thought this would be a fun way to use up a few scraps.

We all know what brain freeze is like, well my froze completely making these, totally my fault as so little planning, all I knew was I wanted to play with some foiling. I love my TODO for foiling but for the life of me I can't stop the dies from slipping when using it. I have tried taping them, tried also with washi tape, tried with double sided tape on the back but nothing is easy and more bother than it is worth.  The dies are all magnetic but it appears my TODO plate which I just assumed was otherwise not much point having magnetic dies is not.  Anyway, for this reason my TODO has not been used much but sits there looking very pretty.  I now have a magnetic sheet of steel, only 5mm thick coming via good old Amazon so once cut will give that a go and see if it solves my problem.  Back to the tags, with not being able to ensure the dies don't move the tags seemed like a great plan, the foiling can go over the edge or be squint to its heart delight and I would not care lol.  After choosing my coloured card I set to with the foiling and then looked at what had been created - rubbish, the foiling was super cool but the tags were 'flat', no character at all.  I left my craft room with my brain freeze, consoled myself with yet another cup of coffee, had a shower, made dinner, had more coffee, watched TV, sorted next years card schedule and then went to bed, still with brain freeze regarding the tags.  A new day and a new idea, lift the flat card with Distress Oxides, brill that worked but I still did not like the tags, I could not think what to put on them, should I stamp some words, should I mount them on a contrasting card, should I put them in the bin and cry.  And then, oh yes, a bit 'THEN' I remembered Natasha, my daughter, in the Range the other day was nosing through the cheap £1:00 box with mini dies in looking for Birthday etc for me when she found a fairy - would that fairy which ended up in my basket work - I think she looks awesome on the tags :) :).  Next a small With Love die cut with black card like the fairy and just the right size.  Back to the tags, I used some Crafter's Companion Spray and Shine, mounted them on black card and then added white card behind ready to be written on.  At last, the final hurdles, attach the fairies and text then add the ribbons. All done, after what I thought would be a lovely quick project my head is 'nipped' but I do love how they have turned out.

Challenges entered:-

• Die Cuttin' Divas W, must include a Die-cut - #439 - Tags
• The Fairy and The Unicorn M, 1st Sat, E3, Mythical and Mystical - September - Anything Fantasy Goes
• Everybody-Art-Challenge 2W - #454 - Use Dies (week 1)
• Dream Valley Challenges  (2W, 3E, C10) #210 THINGS WITH WINGS (WEEK 1)  

Fast Food Frankie

Time to share another Dr. Digi card.  I love karma as I am not a great fan of confrontation and would much rather sit back and hope life gets it own back on the offender in one way or another.  So, for my card this week I have used the fab image Fastfood Frankie and linked him to karma as sometimes a long wait for karma to take place is a bit of a pain hahahaha.

I designed the backing paper digitally then used the same symbol I used to create the pattern and converted it to a drawing so I could save it as an .svg ready for my die cutter.  The same karma symbol was also used to create the border for the sentiment.  The image was coloured with Copics and placed on the card with foam tape.  I am not sure if I really like this card or not, hoping it will grow on me or is it karma getting its own back for me having mean thoughts :) :) :)

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

Morag the Moo

Todays card uses the  image Morag that Moo by Dr. Digi House of Stamps.    Oh how I love highland cattle, there really is something so special about them and their stunning coats.

Morag was printed, coloured with Copics and then fussy cut and placed onto the watercolour background which I created with watercolour pencils.  Next I designed some backing paper using the Morag the Moo image and a tiling program I have called Patterno - certainly a task as I wanted the colours to match the coloured image so opted to print the background paper in black and white and then colour with Copics.  I did think of creating the backing paper with Morag fully visible and identifiable but rather liked the effect of the pattern, not obvious at first glance but something that will be noticed by the recipient at some point :).    Oh such a bad sentiment but hopefully you will take it as a bit of fun as it is pretty common slang where I live and not meant in malice.  To finish the card I mounting Morag and her background on plain black and then added the four die-cut corners.

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

• Crafty Gals Corner  M, 2nd W, E3, #199 - Fall colors
• Paper Shelter W, 3E, #398 - Use a Digi
• Always Fun Challenges - (W, 3E, Top 3 Awarded)  #128 FALL COLORS*
• Crafty Cardmakers  (2W, C15) #241 AUTUMN COLORS (Week 1)
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies (M, P1, E5, must have a critter) #30 - Anything Goes with a Critter

Purrrrrrrfect Cuppa

The challenge this fortnight at I ❤️Promarkers is

 'Cats'

and the sponsor for this challenge is Knitty Kitty Digis with a prize of Prize 3 single images to the winner (or one set).

For my design creation I have used the Knitty Kitty Digi Kittaccino and Cattaccino (duo) image to decorate a box.  I printed two lots of each digi and coloured with my Promarkers, the images were then fussy cut and put to one side while I made the box.  Although I have not filled the box yet it will be filled with some nice biscuits and think will be given to my daughter when she pops round for a cuppa :).  Hubby was once again his awesome self and made me the lumps of sugar and then my further request for a cup and saucer were made.  We got a 3D printer a few weeks ago so it is rather nice that he can make me some bits and bobs with it along with the brackets, window lock so we can open the windows but our cats can't get out along with several other useful things lol. The coffee cup was not quite right so I cut the bottom off it and then filled it with PVA glue which I had mixed in some coffee coloured acrylic paint.  Shame it has cured so dark but never mind, there is plenty of sugar there to sweeten the coffee lol.

I am entering this box into the following challenges: -

• Passion For Promarkers Challenge W - must use promarkers - #511 - Use 3 of Something THREE WORDS
• Show us Your Pussies - M, Cat Only Challenge-  September - Furrything Goes
• 2 Sisters On The Blog (M, P1, E10) - #31 - Something with the letter S  SUGAR
• Crafter's Cafe (2W, P1/15, E5, F, C10) #227 - School related OR Tea or Coffee

Foiled Owl

 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 #67
Things With Wings

This fortnights challenge Things With Wings has been chosen by me, a nice easy theme with lots of different options from birds and flying bugs through to angels and aeroplanes.

For this card I used the We Are Memory Keepers foil quill which fits perfectly onto my Silver Bullet.  I love the effect of foiling and invested in the heat foiling dies but so far, for the text, I am finding what has been manufactured very large and really wanted the ability to make smaller text in heat foil.  The foil quill certainly solves this for me.  I used an svg. design for the background from Monica's Craftroom and then found a free colouring page of a owl which I then re-drew on Illustrator so I could get the very fine lines I wanted.  Next was a couple of hours doing the foiling and keeping my fingers crossed it all worked out.  This card was created for my eldest daughter who has just graduated her Level 5 foundation degree which she has been doing part time while also working and bringing up her son.  Hubby and I are so very proud of her, it has been a real juggling life experience for her to keep a balance between her son, work and study.  Next year she will be doing her level 6 and so another card will be needed when she graduates with her full degree.

Challenges entered:-

• Craft Rocket Challenges M 1st Thurs #63 September - Monochrome

Peony Bouquet

For my card today I have used Aurora Wings Peony Bouquet.  It has been a while since I coloured some flowers and I fell in love with this stamp and just had to have it.  Do you get days when no matter what you do nothing comes together, that was me the day before completing this card.  I had coloured the image and pretty pleased with how it turned out and set to making the card - boy oh boy, 3 hours later and no further forward except I ended up fussy cutting the image as I hated how things were going, nothing was working.  I then put it to one side and started something else and blow me that all went wrong too.  Time to give up for the day or should I say by then, early evening.  Hopefuly a new day will bring enlightenment lol and I think it did.  Everything fell into place beautifully and even the second project I was attacking turned up trumps too.

I coloured the image with PrismaColour, fussy cut it and sprayed with Crafters Companion spray varnish.  Next I used Pan Pastels to colour the background and stamped a really old corner stamp I have which had peony roses on it around the corners. Next I heat foiled the sentiment and kept my fingers crossed the die would not move - phew - it stayed pretty straight.  I attached angel hair to the lower section of the card and placed the fussy cut flowers on top along with some silver pearls to hold it in place.  Oh I love how this turned out, not too fussy but it makes me smile each time I look at it :)

Image used - Peony Bouquet by Aurora Wings
Colouring - PrismaColour and Pan Pastels
Other items - corner stamp for stamped border, AltNew ink pad, hot foil and hot foil die, angel hair, silver pearls.

I am entering this card in the following challenges :-

• Just Add Ink – W - No. 474 - COLOR CHALLENGE*  
• Seize The Birthday 2W, 3E, C5  #174 Birthday + Option: It's Just A Number (W1 of 2) 
• Papercraft Challenges 2W must stamp C5 -  #45 - Handmade/Stamped Flowers (week 2)
• Dragonfly Dreams - M, Winner + Top Picks – (September) Happy Birthday
• Stamping Sensations - M, 3E, Winner + Top 3, must use stamp (no pre-colored digis) Stamp must be focal point of project – (September) Anything Goes with Flowers

Stan's Stolen Sandwich

Where I live the seagulls are a total menace, not only stealing chips and sandwiches but anything else they can see that they think they can eat - even stealing things out of babies prams.  They are pretty lucky they are a protected species or I suspect many would be leaving this world on a permanent basis.  We have a pair nesting on our roof top every year and they are very protective with their young and rather aggressive so I keep a good eye on our cats if they are outside.  They are also so very dirty and constantly crapping on our solar panels along with our car and their poo stinks to high heaven.  Oh well, enough complaining about these pests but I think  you get the picture as to why I have chosen to colour this image this week :).  The image is Stan's Stolen Sandwich by Dr. Digi House of Stamps.

I used some old wrapping paper for the background which worked so well with the image and stamped around the edge with a texture stamp.  I added an image of the bridges where I live and did a bit of Photoshopping on them to give them a more drawn look and added the text too, Stan was then placed in over the edge of the centre section and printed.  Stan with his stolen sandwich was coloured with Copics along with his seagull thief.  A bit of hunting on the net to find the free to use seagulls on the left of the card which I printed out on card (3 sets) fussy cut them all and then glued the three matching ones together to make super strong embellishments.

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

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Roadworks Reg

Those dreaded potholes, think it is time for Road Works Reg to get to work fixing them hahahha.

How cool is this image, Road Works Reg from Dr.Digi I just love him, fun to colour and awesome theme.  You know when you have an idea in your head and somehow things evolve in a different direction throughout the creating process, well that is the case here.  I started with the digi and sentiment and build the card around that.  Initially I was going with a smaller digi size, (this size is by accident and I love how he is stepping off the white background) and creating some sort of construction background but my head was getting so confused I put that plan in the bin and went with the yellow and black 'warning' background instead. I printed Road Works Reg along with the pothole sentiment and once coloured cut my white square area with the exception of the bottom half of Reg which I cut with scissors.  I then created a simple diecut to go behind the image layer using SCAL and my die cutter.  The background paper was designed on Illustrator, nice and simple lol and the sentiment was also printed digitally as I could not get my yellow ink to be vibrant enough on black card.  Hubby then was called into action and I asked him to make me something on his new toy - a 3D printer so with the help of a bit of clipart hubby made my spade and pick-axe for me in brown and I used oil based paint to colour the silver bits.

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

• Tuesday Throwdown W -   #439 - Stripes (week 2)
• ARTastic Challenge (M, P1, Winners P8, C3) September - Use Humour
• Crafty Friends Challenge 2W, 3E, - #117 - Add Embellishments (W2 of 2)

No Prob-Llama

The challenge this fortnight at I ❤️Promarkers is

 'Use 3 Layers'

and the sponsor for this challenge is Oddball Art by Lizzy Love with a prize of $10 coupon to spend in the store.

For my design creation I have used the Oddball Art image No Drama Llama 557

Isn't this the most adorable llama and he shouted to me 'wobble card'.  I have not made a wobble card in ages so had lots of fun and after all, that is what crafting is about.  The llama was printed and fussy cut 3 times with one of them coloured with my Promarkers and the other 2 used to make the image much stronger when clued behind the coloured image.  As this challenge is 3 layers I did the following:-

• layer 1, card backing paper which I created with Distress Oxides and then stamped a border.
• layer 2, square and circle die cut also coloured with Distress Oxides and the circle die cut edged with a black edging die cut
• layer 3, the llama on a wobble

I didn't use the sentiment from the No Drama Llama set but one I have had for a wee while and was perfect for a birthday. 

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

Polar Bears

IKEsWORLD

Challenge 124
Icy Christmas In September

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 :) :) :)

For this months challenge them I have chosen to use the polar bear image which is part of the INUIT Set of 6 - World Tour Series, such an adorable family group of these stunning bears.  I printed the image and shaded some areas with Promarkers and then added a few layers of Sheen Douglas clear glitter pen to get a get a pretty glitter sparkle when seen in real light.  The image was then fussy cut and put to one side while I created the background.  Gelli printing is such fun and I usually do it with acrylic paint but I thought I would give it a go with alcohol inks a few weeks ago and it worked a treat.  Now I am a bit of a 'tight' crafter and hate spending loads of precious pennies when I think I can get away with spending less.  In the case of my alcohol inks I own a black, a red, a yellow and a blue as I guessed I could make most of the other colours from these 3 primary colours and black.  Not the easiest of methods but challenging and fun and a great way to learn a medium without spending a fortune.  Anyway, the one colour missing was something like a white, just diluting the blue with isopropyl alcohol mixed with glycerine did not give the icy blue I needed for this challenge.  Thinking cap time - alcohol - (yes I could have done with a glass of something at this point in time lol) but can you guess what came to mind - alcohol inks = what I bought in bottles and also my beloved Promarkers.  Would the promarkers work.  I raked out a few of the blue colours and scribbled all over my gelli mat then added blobs of alcohol blending solution, finally I took my card base and placed it on the gelli mat front side down and let it sit there for a few minutes.  Hurray, it worked, just perfect for what I wanted. When I knew it was dry I stamped the sentiment and snowflakes and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  To finish off, an organza ribbon band and bow and some icy blue diamond glass gems.  Oh I nearly forgot, I did do one more thing as the bears needed to be sitting on some ice, I had tried to draw this in but not the right effect so I went totally non eco friendly and used some nasty plastic which is meant to simulate snow I bought for the grandson last year for a school project.  The plastic is all chopped up into small bits - yuk but with some nice strong glue it did the job perfectly.  Yes, I do feel guilty about it being plastic but the gems are a plastic too and the ribbon, well no doubt it probably has a plastic in it and as for the embossing powder that sure looks like it has a plastic in it as well.  So here is a very 'plastic' card being created while showing the endangered polar bear and her next generation.  Oh dear, saying it all like that kinda shouts hypocrisy doesn't it.

Ingredients:-

• image - INUIT Set of 6 - World Tour Series by IKEsART
• colouring medium - Promarkers and Promarkers
• other items - alcohol blending solution, nasty - plastic show, white embossing powder, ribbon and gems.

I am entering this project into the following challenges:-

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies (M, P1, E5, must have a critter) #30 - Anything Goes with a Critter
• Papercraft Business Challenge (M, P1, E3, any papercraft) #22 - There's a Bear in There + optional Anything Goes
• Pearly Sparkles Challenge (M, P1, E3) #44 - Add a ribbon and/or bow
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin' M, 2nd Wed, 2E - Anything Christmas with Option of Snow People 
• Cute N' Crafty Christmas  M, #17 Christmas/winter, Anything Goes

Japanese Ladies

 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 #66
Layer It Up

This fortnights challenge Layer It Up has been chosen by DT sister Christine.  I am not a paper piecing addict but I have had this super cute set from My Scrap Chick for some time and decided to make 3 cards using the Japanese ladies.  Within the set is also some cherry blossom but I decided I wanted different background for each card so created the .svg cutting files I needed.  Oh so many layers in these cards lol.  I always cut my pieces in white card and this time, with so many layers that was a mistake, I should have use a heavy duty paper but at least the ladies are strong, almost as strong as chipboard :).

This final card is a little different, instead of using paper for the kimono I coloured the sections with my trusty Promarkers then stamped a pattern on in gold.

Challenges entered:-

• Seize The Birthday 2W, 3E, C5  #173 Birthday + Option:Square Card (W1 of 2) 
• Creative Moments M, Wed 3E, #175 - Anything Goes Optional Twist: Lovely Ladies