Sunset with Distress Inks

It was time to get out my brayer as its been a while since i used it, because of the lovely pink shade in the new summer limited edition distress inks i had the idea to create a sunset scene, the colours of distress i used for the sky were

Picked Raspberry

Spiced Marmalade

for the grass i used a mix of

Shabby Shutters

Mowed Lawn

Scattered straw

The stamps ive used are all from an inkadinkadoo set, a hobbycraft set and artist impressions set ive stamped with versafine black.

The pearls are from wild orchid crafts courtesy of Sue Jimson

Flutterby

Yesterday was a demo day at Suzicraft with the wonderful Annette Lee, unfortunately i wasn't able to get there as i had to work i would of really liked to make it not only to watch Annette but also because there was lots of new stock in the shop. I knew they had the new summer limited edition distress ink pads in and i really wanted them and they are a great price at only 14.50. but i needn't of worried because my crafting buddy sue had me in her thoughts and had put a set away for me and not only that but she also dropped it of for me on her way home (she is far too good to me, in fact shes far too good to everyone shes such a kind sweet person, thanks sue xx) 

I was really tired after working all day i couldn't even muster up the energy to craft but then at around 10.30 last night i went to turn off the lights in my craft area and my eye caught the distress inks and i thought ill just have a quick stamp to see the true colours, well that quick minute turned out to be an hour and i ended up creating the card shown.

I used Tim hotz craft resist card and blended the limited edition distress ink on to it with the SplodgeAway mat, the butterfly is a crafty individuals stamp and Ive stamped it onto easy ink card and blended ink around the edges.

The white butterflies on the resist card were created by colouring the stamp with a white distress ink, it looks invisible when stamped but then as it dries it becomes a true white. Even when i had finished the card i was unsure of it, it felt kind of rushed just because i couldn't wait to get my hands on the inks, but the more i look at it the more accepting of it i become although its not one of my better kind. 

Christening with Graphic 45 little Darlings

When i was asked to make a christening card i knew exactly which papers i would use, I bought these papers ages ago but havnt really used them much because they are too nice to use! (we all have that feelling with gorgeous papers) the christening card was a perfect excuse to cut into them.

The image is a lili of the valley stamp as im sure you all know ive used it many times before, ive coloured it with promarkers and the edges of the card have been tinted with stampin' up ink.  The pin is fancy pants and ive added lots of glossy accents, liquid pearls and stickles. After taking the photo i also added the personal information as requested (name date etc)

Im a little tired today as i stayed up to watch the Olympics opening ceremony  it was absolutely fantastic, i couldnt take my eyes of the screen. iIalso had to go to work this morning so to say i feel worn out is an understatement, but the tiredness was well worth watching the event live as it happened.

Tranquil days

Oh i do wish i was on that beach right now, it looks so calming, i can just imagine smelling the sea air and the breeze through my hair, oh well back to reality and the real life of work, work, work.

I bought some Tim Holtz craft resist card stock and i love it ive used my splodgeAway mat to blend lots of different inks over it to colour it, i also used a SplodgeAway meenie cog mask in the corner and sprayed it with dylusion inks. The sea scene was watercoloured used adirondack ink pads. the blue/white mat is whitewashed coordination's card which ive embossed using a stamps away mask then sanded back, i also inked through the hessian with walnut stain distress ink to give the net effect, i then used the hessian over the corner and attached a couple of nautical brads. Ive coloured the base card with tumbled glass and added a little definition by inking soft clouds in the background.

Happy Anniversary Dear Hubby

So yesterday was our 18th Wedding Anniversary, and as always i left the card till the last minute so it had to be a quick one, the hearts were cut on the cricut, the sentiment is papermania and lots of liquid pearls and stickles.

Tonight ive been working on a few design cards for the SplodgeAway blog, lots of distressing and adirondack inks, ive also been playing with some of the Tim Holtzcraft resist card and i love it , it takes the ink so smoothly and when used with the SplodgeAway mat you cant help but get good results.

Gifts Galore

I finished my epic gift making last week for the teachers leaving pressents, i had already made some of the cards, but then i had the task of decorating the note book/planners and the gift bags and tags. Ive included many pictures in this post as i couldnt get a good photo of everything all together.

Everything matching card, bag, book and tags

 The bag

 The book

 The outside covers

 The inside covers showing the little pockets

 The tag place keeper

 One for the men

 Inside cover

 Outside covers

 The matching card

 a few of the bags

 one of the tags

The teachers loved them they were a success, so all the hard work was worth it. And now you know why ive been absent from my blog for almost a week.

Today is my 18th Wedding Anniversary, we have had a fun day out bowling and shopping with the kids and tonight we are having chinese, we were going to go out a celebrate with a few drinks but my early start at work in the morning put paid to that!

I will be back tomorrow to post the card i made for my dear hubby.

Say it with flowers - splodgeAway

This week over on the SplodgeAway blog its all about flowers, and different ways of creating them, my card is on there at the moment so go and check it out along with yummy things by the other designers.

Making backgrounds

Ive been using my splodgeAway mat to make some backgrounds for cards, i inked up some stamps with versamark and then embossed with white embossing powder, i then painted the flowers with distres inks and also added a few drops from the reinkers to the white space, i then spritzed with water before dabbing and drying, i do quite like the effect, then i over stamped with a small inkadinkadoo butterfly stamp, a few pearls, stickles and layers of bazzill later and viola a card was created!

fun with Cricut

                

I had a last minute card to make, well i say last minute it was ordered well in advance but for some reason i kept putting off making it, so with only hours to spare, i switched on my trusty cricut and made a real simple but effective card, you cant beat the cricut for making fast cards.

The papers i used were all from October Afternoon i used the george Cricut cart and lots of stickles. The glue dried in double quick time i just made delivery on time by the skin of my teeth!

Last night i spent a lovely evening out with the hubby and today im a little tired (read that to say hung over!) Todays definatly going to be a pyjama day, later this afternoon im going to craft and then snuggle down to watch a movie with the family.

Birthday Boy

Today is my Nephews 9th birthday so last night i set about making a card for him, and this LOTV image was just perfect, the papers are the same as the yesterdays as they are perfect for the image. 

sorry for the photo quality again, ive took them with my phone and because of the weather the lightingd not good.

with the left overs i made a very quick simple card for him from his cousins.

Today i popped over to suzicraft and its a hive of activity with all the orders coming in, the original website crashed because of the volume of visitors, but there has been another set up so if you need to order a SplodgAway mat or masks visit the new website here

Little bears and Stamping bella

Where has the time gone, it feels like only yesterday i made my last post, but 'twas Friday, i have been crafting but unfortunately i havnt had the time to update my blog, ive been busy doing my real 9-5 job (or that should read sometimes 6.30 am till 6pm),you know the one that pays the bills and lets me indulge in my craft hobby!

So i managed to get all the teacher Thank you cards finished, they were not all the same, some were similar here ive shown another 2 of the 8 i made.
The teddy bears are Lili of the valley stamps that my very sweet kind craft buddy sue jimson bought for me.

The yellow/green floral  card is made using create papers and my little shoe box flower die cuts. 

Now onto the 21st card, ive used my favourite stamping bella stamp, and all the papers are making memories SAM collection, lots of stickles, glossy accents and liquid pearls. All the cards have some element of distress inks on them and of couse ive used my trusty SplodgeAway mat, its the only way to get such suble results from your blending.

Thanks so much

Its almost the end of the school term so time to get cracking on the teacher thank you cards and gifts, this year I've gone for something quick and simple, each year i seem to have to make more as i cannot leave anyone out and as well as making things for my sons Teachers and TA's  i also make them for my nephew and nieces Teachers and TA's too.

I will make different variations of the card shown except for the only make teacher i will have to think of something else, something sporty as he is big on sport.

 For the gifts i plan to make decorated planners/journals. I bought some plain craft A5 planners so i plan on decorating them very similar to the cards although the flower will be on a tag attached to ribbon on the spine of the book so it Can be used as a book mark, because if the flower was to be attached to the front of the book it would be too bulky when writing in the planner.

Once I've got them finished i will post them on here for all to see. 

The leaves are cut on the cricut , the rolled flowers are diecuts from my little shoe box, the card is from suzicraft, the sentiment is stampin' up. ive also used my splodgeAway mat with walnut stain distress ink, and as always ive edged elements in stickles and liquid pearls.

As Seen on Create and Craft

Today was the day SplodgeAway went live on create and craft. Tom (aka Mr SplodgeAway) did a wonderful job and did not appear nervous he was a true natural. Maria also did a stirling job keeping calm and compossed, you did the products proud.

Myself and my design team buddy sue jimson were sat at my house watching with bated breath to see if we could catch a glipse of the design team sample cards, not only did they show sues cards but they also mentioned her by name as the jimbo machine mask was actually named after her. We were in fits of laughter and after that her phone never stopped buzzing, shes a celebrity now (i will nominate myself as her agent for 10% commission!!!!!!)

At the end of the show they showed lots more samples and the 3 i made for the show appeared and my name was mentioned, so a little tip to the rest of the design team make sure to label the back of your cards, then your sure of a mention. I use a lovely label designer for my cards and get them from a local supplier here roseberry labels if you order any be sure to tell them i sent you.

Id just like to say a big well done to the design team for a the lovely samples made, we all made a big effort to get things done and sometimes at short notice, it made it all worth while to see them on TV.