Hamish McDougal

The image used for this card is Hamish McDougal by Dr. Digi House of Stamps. Such an awesome Scotsman :)

I coloured Hamish with Copics, then masked him and created the background with Distress Inks.  A few years ago I was driving through Glen Coe in Scotland, such a beautiful historic place when Scots clans met and fought, you can still feel the vibes if you take time out and transport yourself back in time.  One this particular visit there was a lone piper standing just off the road and playing his bagpipes, I had to stop and listen to him.  Pure magic as the music from the pipes sounded so very beautiful amongst the mountains on either side of us, a memory never to forget and one I often revisit to this day :).  I tried to colour Hamish's kilt to match the background paper I was using.  The sentiment was created with hot foiling using the WRMK pen tool and my die cutter.

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

• Little Red Wagon W, #534 - Masculine
• Paper Shelter  W, 3E - Digital Image
• The Corrosive Challenges - M, 3E - Always Anything Goes

Cheshire Cat Candle

The image used for this candle is Cheshire Cat by Dr. Digi House of Stamps.

I coloured Cheshire Cat digitally and printed on acetate to make my candle wrapper.  I decorated a lot of candles in the past using the more traditional method of using tissue paper for my colouring and then using a heat tool to place the image onto the wax candle.  Guilt got the better of me and I stopped doing this a few years ago as at that time I was giving talks to new hires of the company my hubby was employed by in the Middle East on fire safety.  On our return to the UK I discovered wax battery operated candles and have been trying to place images on them in the traditional way but am not have any great success so now I am playing around with using acetate to make a candle wrapper as there is no worry regarding fire hazard.

This is what the image looked like before it was placed on the candle

You can see how the yellow/ivory colour of the candle changes the end image so I am now hunting out white battery operated candles :) wish me luck in finding them hahaha.

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

• Mod Squad W, 3E - Animals
• Simon Says Stamp W, 5E - Pets
• Show us Your Pussies - M, Cat Only Challenge-  January -  Furrything Goes/ Happy Meuow Year
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies (M, P1, E5, must have a critter) #34 - Anything Goes with a Critter
• Make My Monday  (2W, Top 3, 3E) #114 A FAVORITE FAIRYTALE  (Week 1) - Alice In Wonderland
• 613 Avenue Create - M (1st Sunday), 8E, Any Craft Accepted (check for recognition each week, top DT choices, winners, and crafter's voting by on-line community) - (January) Anything Goes w/Optional Twist: Shiny

Solo

The challenge this fortnight at I ❤️Promarkers is

 'Embossing'

and the sponsor for this challenge is  SheepSki Designs  with a prize of 3 digital images from the Sheepski Designs store.

Lots of Promarker usage on this card :), I started by printing the image along with a second copy on printer paper which I used for masking.  Next I coloured the skin but halted on the colouring there as I had chosen the green I wanted to use for the background but needed to see it over a large area not just a swatch so I could choose suitable greens for the dress.  The image was masked and I air brushed the background with Pastel Green.  I left this overnight for the colours to settle down and in the morning re-did the skin to give more depth.  The rest of the image was then coloured and once again masked so I could heat emboss the music designs with gold embossing powder along with the sentiment.  I then cut a second sheet of paper and air brushed again with Pastel Green, added a music corner by heat embossing again in gold then ran the sheet through a music embossing folder before gluing to my card which I had already covered with a black base.  The image layer was mounted on black and I added a couple of gold peel off stickers to finish off before attaching to the card base.

Sponsor

The prize is three images of choice from their shop

Promarkers used : - satin, ivory, almond, blush, dusky pink, sunkissed pink, cocktail pink, warm grey 5, umber, walnut, burnt sienna, maroon, mulberry, fuchsia pink, apricot, gold, mustard, lemon, peacock green, lush green, mint green, pastel green and gold metallic

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

• SheepSki Designs Challenges (M, P1, 3E, C10, SIO) #34 - Square Cards
• Allsorts  W,3E  - #555 - More Than A Single Word Sentiment

Fun with Packaging

 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 #75
Recycling

This fortnights challenge Monochromatic has been chosen by Sall.  I often wonder what to do  for recycling projects, add something to a card, use throw away items like plastics for texture painting etc. but never really think of using packaging to make a new item.  I love Conference pears and have been buying the ones from Morrisons which have been so juicy.  When I saw this challenge theme I just had to use the awesome recycled cardboard packaging the pears come in - nothing like double recycling lol.  I just loved the shape and in my mind could see this being turned into a dish to hold bits and bobs.  Saying as I had 2 packs of pears I had to make 2 dishes lol.

This project took a bit more patience than I was expecting, I am not very good at doing something over several days hahaha.  To begin with I used several layers of PVA glue on all sides of the cardboard trays over several days, making sure each layer was totally dry before adding the next.  This was mainly to make the trays stronger and more durable.  Next was a couple of coats of Gesso so I had a good white base to work on.  I did take pictures of both these stages but must have been having a couple of senior moments as they are not on my phone or camera memory card grrrr. Next I covered each tray with a solid background blue for one and green for the other.  Stippling with different colours came next then the addition of mica powder dabbed onto the damp areas to add a bit of sparkle.  For the blue dish I added mica gold flakes with a dob of PVA glue and for the green tray I used metal gilding flakes.  To finish off I used Windsor and Newton glossy glazing medium, so impressed with this, just one coat sealed beautifully and left a high gloss finish without disturbing the acrylic paint below.  The blue/mauve tray is going to be used in the spare bedroom for guests, hand tray to place jewellery etc. on at night and the green tray is for my daughters study for her bits and bobs :)

Challenges entered : -

• 
  

Caligula

The image used for this card is Caligula by Dr. Digi House of Stamps.

I coloured Caligula with Copics the masked him so I could use Distress Inks to blend the background.  Next with Caligula still masked I stamped the xoxoxox heart stamp in red Memento Ink.  Sentiment and image layer were then mounted on black then red before being attached to the card with foam tape.  To finish off black flat back pearls and a red heart.  Simple but I do love how this turned out.

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies (M, P1, E5, must have a critter) #34 - Anything Goes with a Critter
• Let's Craft & Create Challenge (M, P5, F, E3) #155 - Anything Goes + option: Love is in the Air

Hummingbird

Just a quick post with my card using the gorgeous Hummingbird Sprite by Aurora Wings.

I coloured this image ages ago then put it to one side (and mislaid it lol) - now found it seemed like a good idea to make it into a card.  The image is coloured with Prismacolour pencils and the background and backing paper have been coloured with Pan Pastels then stamped with a Sarah Davis stamp and Altnew inks.  The backing paper has also been sprayed with Crafters Companion Gold Glitter varnish but it is not showing in the photo other than giving a blotchy appearance which is a bit of a shame as in real life it is so sparkly and has a wonderful texture when holding the card.

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

Schrödinger Pyrography

The image used for this card is Schrödinger by Dr. Digi House of Stamps.

Something a little different from colouring this week.  Time to play with the pyrography iron again and make a picture using Schrödinger by Dr. Digi House of Stamps.  I designed my picture on Illustrator as I find this the easiest program for this type of work.  Once I had the designing done I reversed everything and printed.  Next I sanded down an A4 sheet of plywood I had and placed my reversed image printout in position so I could use acetone to transfer the lines to the wood.  This is such a cool technique and lends itself wonderfully to placing digital images onto wood.  Once the transferring was done I removed my paper and completed the picture.  I am only a very basic pyrography creator and shading is not something I really do, much more just line work so this was a challenge and a half and the opportunity to play with several different tips.  Once I reached a point that I thought I better not do any more (knowing when to stop is pretty hard at times), I then stained the wood with some brown ink diluted with water and then rubbed down with a wet one, this brings out the grain of the wood a bit more.  Hope you like the end result and I bet all you lovely cat owners are having a bit of a laugh over the rules lol

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

• Fab n Funky W,1E, #463 - No Designer Paper
• Show us Your Pussies - M, Cat Only Challenge-  January -  Furrything Goes/ Happy Meuow Year
• Make My Monday  (2W, Top 3, 3E) #113 ANYTHING BUT A SQUARE (Week 1) 
• Crazy 4 Challenges W,1E - #516 - Try or Use Something New  - PYROGRAPHY SHADING
• Alphabet Challenge - 2W, 1E -  T IS FOR TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT (Product/Technique)  (W1 of 2)  - PYROGRAPHY SHADING

Bath Time Deirdery

The challenge this fortnight at I ❤️Promarkers is

 'Anything Goes'

and the sponsor for this challenge is Dr Digi's House of Stamps with a prize of 2 digital images of the winners choice.

For my design creation I have used the Dr. Digi's House of Stamps Bath Time Deirdery image, what a fun image she is and so perfect to remind up that a hot bubble bath after all the 'highs' over the past weeks with Christmas and New Year celebrations is just what the doctor ordered :)

The image is coloured with Promarkers and the sentiment was printed digitally when I printed the image ready for colouring.  After my episode with my air brush attachment exploding a few weeks ago the new generic one the hubby ordered for £7 arrived yesterday - with a wee bit of modification it now works with my Promarkers so I am one happy bunny.  The image was masked and then, using Baby Pink a quick blast of air brushing for the background which I then stamped a design on to represent rather a bad taste in wallpaper hahaha.  Embossed and die cut papers were used for the card base and the final bit of bling was added at the end.

Promarkers used : - soft peach, dusky pink, almond, ivory, champagne, baby pink, mint green, pastel green, powder blue, chestnut, caramel, walnut, ice grey 1 2 4, ruby and red.

I am entering this card into the following challenges : -

• 
  

PHEASANT

IKEsWORLD

Challenge 129
M is for Men

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 :) :) :)

Men cards are always lovely to do but I really don't do enough of them.  For this card I cut a circle of water colour paper and stamped the scene.  The pheasant was coloured with Prismacolour pencils and fussy cut.  That was as far as I got with my planning and that is also when I became totally stuck, what background to use.  Could not go with patterns as that would be over the top busy grrrr.  In the end I opted for a sheet of Mulberry paper in brown, sounded great but boy did it look dead.  By now I was seriously confuzzled on what to do and in a moment of desperation picked up my fan shaped paintbrush and some gold paint and stroked that over the Mulberry paper - perfect.  I love the finish and will be doing this again, just enough texturing without being fussy.  The sentiment was cut out with gold vinyl and mounted on foam tape and the pheasant was attached last.  Do like the simplicity of this card and the 'nature' feel that is carried through all be it unintentional :)

Ingredients:-

• image - PHEASANT by IKEsART
• colouring medium - Prismacolour pencils, gold paint, water colour paints
• other items - physical stamps, birthday die cut

I am entering this project into the following challenges:-

• Seize The Birthday 2W, 3E, C5  #180 Birthday + Option: TBA  (W1 of 2) 
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies (M, P1, E5, must have a critter) #34 - Anything Goes with a Critter

Elegance with Vellum

 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 #74
Monochromatic

This fortnights challenge Monochromatic has been chosen by me. Sometimes I just want to play without thinking big time on what colours to use and monochromatic is my go to when in this mood.  I also find it is a great way to get me out of my comfort zone of blues and purples lol. My personal challenge with this card was to use vellum.  3 attempts later I gave up on stamping on the vellum with the flowers as it just was not working the way I wanted it to but I was determined vellum would be used somewhere so settled on the sentiment.

For this card I used a Sheena Douglas stamp called Dalia which I stamped with embossing ink and then heat embossed with white WOW powder onto a pale mottled peachy cream background paper.  To lift the colour in the flowers I used Copic E00 and to create the very pale shadows around the flowers E000. The label was a nightmare, I wanted the colour paper as an underlay with the text stamped and heat embossed on vellum with a fancy border.  Alas I did not have a die that worked for this, even trying over the edge dies with lacy edges, looked pretty but not the right size in the end, to big.  Eventually, about 4 hours later and lots of scraps in the bin I used a small border die and cut 3 of them then very carefully attached these to a vellum rectangle which I embossed the text on and was then able to put my coloured paper underneath.  It was pretty hard trying to match up the corners at the right hand side so I could disguise where the joins were but am pretty happy with the way it turned out. A very simple looking card the certainly gave my brain cells a workout lol.  The finishing touch of a few flat backed pearls was the final life the card needed.

Challenges entered : -

• Allsorts  W,3E  - #553 - Soft Pastels
• The Flower Challenge (M, P4, C6, E5, must use flower image/stamp) #39 - Use a Die
• Seize The Birthday 2W, 3E, C5  #180 Birthday + Option: Layers  (W1 of 2) 

Curly

Just a very quick post with a card I have made using Curly by Sheepski Designs, isn't he just adorable with all that wonderful fur :)

I coloured Curly with Copics and just darkened a few places with my brown Prismcolour.  The background has been coloured with Pan Pastels and a Sheena Douglas stencil.  To finish off I just had to play with a new tool my daughter treated me to yesterday for my birthday - Antex R6L82TW00 Foil Master Craft Kit.  I have had the WRMK battery operated one in the past but was so disappointed, could never really get enough heat from it and it broke in no time at all.  This new one is main operated, a bit bulky to use and will take some getting used to but does the job :)

I am entering this card in the following challenges :-

• Sheepski Designs Challenges, Challenge #34 "SQUARE CARDS"
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies (M, P1, E5, must have a critter) #34 - Anything Goes with a Critter

Desmond the Dodo

The image used for this card is Desmond the Dodo by Dr. Digi House of Stamps.

Such a fun image and equally as much fun to colour which was done using Copics.  Desmond was fussy cut and placed on the prepared background which I had created using Distress Inks. The text was printed on my image layer before colouring and the Happy Birthday was also printed before being coloured.  3 strips were finally cut, coloured and the black Memento used to stamp the textures on.

I am entering this card in the following challenges : -

• Little Red Wagon W, #529 - Something Never used Before - NEW digi and texture stamps
• Cardz 4 Guyz 2W, 3E - #235 - Blue Is The Colour
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies (M, P1, E5, must have a critter) #33 - Anything Goes with a Critter
• Animal Friends Challenge (M, P1, E3, must have an animal) #81 - Birds