Spectrum sparkle

Colours, Sketch, Feminine

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Hello again, everyone. I have made a card with more die-cutting than stamping today. The colours were inspired by Color Throwdown and Watercooler Wednesday, and the layout by Freshly Made Sketches.

I have a fad for orange at the moment. It seems to have been in my crafting for a few months now, and I really have to try to move away from it – but then Color Throwdown used orange as part of the colour scheme this week. Yay!

I used a spellbinders die for the large circle, and the ‘beautiful’ word die from Stamps By Me, as was the ‘Birthday Wishes’ stamp. This part of it was actually quite easy. Now for the more complicated part…..

I wanted to use a rose die from Stamps By Me, which comes with the intricate rose, plus a larger border die. I didn’t want the bits to fall out of the rose, so turned to some Glad Press ‘N’ seal which my sister gave from when I went to Canada.

20171005_215529 v2Once I had cut the rose out of Kraft card, I managed to release the die cut without many pieces falling out, used the press ‘n’ seal on the front of the rose, glued the back of it all, then picked it up with the press ‘n’ seal, and placed it on the larger rose outline die, gently removing the press ‘n’ seal, leaving the rose stuck down onto the outline. I didn’t fancy piecing all those bits back in, so I am glad not many of them fell out!

I then added some Spectrum Sparkle around the rose outline, and stuck it to the circle with 3D foam pads.

Challenges I am entering with this card:

Color Throwdown – Orange, Kraft, White

Freshly Made Sketches – Sketch

Watercooler Wednesday – anything goes feminine

 

 

CAS Christmas Reindeer

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Hi there. I have finally found time to play with my Mama Elephant ‘Little Reindeer Agenda’. Finally! I bought this set and the Santa set a few weeks ago from Seven Hills Crafts, and just haven’t been in the mood to play with them. Today, that changed. No idea why, but it means I have a couple of cards to share with you.

I stamped eight of the little reindeer in black Versafine, and coloured them with my Zigs. I added some shading to the reindeer, even though they are very small, but used a flesh colour, and a light tan colour – just a little dimension. I used the matching dies to cut them out and then tried to decide the lay-out.

That problem was solved by the current challenge from AAA Cards. The sketch they have – I thought – was ideal for a lay-out using all my reindeer. I then decided not to put them straight, but the put them a little ‘wonky’, which could mean movement, but it actually means you don’t have to line things up perfectly. 🙂

One sentiment is from the Little Santa Agenda set, and the other sentiment is from Avery Elle ‘Brring on the Joy’ – a set with penguins I may use very soon – now I’m feeling I need to make some more Christmas cards.

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I covered the reindeer with my glitter pen, and added some Nuvo Drops to noses – they are all Rudolph (artistic license), and another three drops for some added colour. Can you see the little ‘personal’ touch on the second card? The larger drop wasn’t quite dried when I stood the card up to photograph it, and it started to droop just as I took the photo……slightly less than round now…….

 

I will be entering the following challenges:

AAA Cards – sketch

Christmas at Sweet Stampin’ – anything Christmas

Crimbo Crackers – Reindeer

Addicted to Stamps and More – make your mark

Winter Wonderland Challenge – anything goes Christmas

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – anything goes with a creature/critter

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas 

 

Fantasy Fairies

 

 

I have been playing with my Brusho’s again……I seem to create quite a mess – on the card and off of it! I was inspired by three challenges today – Cards In Envy, Fab N Funky Challenges, and Stamp with Sarah Kay. The first two challenges were to create fantasy cards, and the third challenge was for a water-colour background.

I started to get my Crafters Companion water-colour card – I had used the last of it! Now what do I do? How can I do a water-colour background without water-colour card? It won’t flow as well. I was in crisis mode! Luckily, their Chesterfield store is a mere 10 minutes drive away…………on with the make-up, did my hair, got in my car – and was back home within the hour. Of course, one has to look around the shop whilst there, doesn’t one? Guess what I found? These lovely, adorable fairies from Lavinia Stamps…..ideal for what I wanted to create. They are quite solid, but adorable. Out with the old idea, in with the new!

So – water-colour card cut square to fit my 7 inch square white card base. I used my Misti to stamp my two images facing each other, one higher, in Ranger Perfect medium. Misti because with the textured card I usually need to stamp twice. Added white embossing powder and heat set it. Then to the background. I thought the white embossing would resist the colours, so I just went on in there.

I wet down the card – both sides – taped it down, and sprinkled my chosen Brusho colours onto it. Turquoise at the top, Crimson in the middle, Lime Green at the bottom. A sort of sky and sunset and grass thingy going on here. Until they ran together! Blinking tape didn’t keep it flat! I mopped up extra colours, tried to stop the red running into the green, then the blue ran down – muddy colour in the middle! Wet it down again, kitchen towel to mop-up some colour, added one colour at a time, dried it, added the others. Don’t you just love kitchen towel??!!

I then used black Versafine to stamp some floral elements from Stampin Up ‘Flowering Fields’ stamp set. An older stamp set, but I like the little images – very versatile. I think it looks like the fairies are playing in a fantasy sunset field, dancing on the flowers – well – that was the look I was going for, anyway.

Attached the watercolour card to black, then added to base card. Of course, I added some glitter, and I think I’ve managed to catch this in the photo – Spectrum Noir clear sparkle pen. Pushed a little extra out and just flicked it onto the card.

I think I’m getting the hang of Brusho’s – I mean, you actually can’t plan very much where they are going to spread to. There may be a knack to them – but I’m enjoying exploring their capabilities…….