Autumn Easel Card

I made this card for a swap, my first one, and couldn't post this until now as the recipient has received it.  I used the dreamweaver stencil and black embossing paste.  When that was dry I used the crackle paste on top and when that was dry I used a stencil brush and brilliance ink pads to colour it. After rounding the edges I used distress ink to tone down the white. The background paper is some gorgeous Japanese style paper, it's really lush.  As I went to stamp the acorn I dropped the stamp and couldn't find it amongst my debris laden floor!  so I drew one and used copics to colour it and then embossed it in UTEE.  In case it sounds like I'm a slob, I usually make a big mess when crafting but I do clear up at the end!

The little sentiment is a clear stamp but as usual, can't remember where it is from. It's on a nestie with distress ink on the edge.  I have added amber and brown rhinestones on the corners throughout.

The leaves are handmade paper coloured with distress inks and stuck on with pinfair glue gel to give a bit of dimension.  As usual, not 100% confident with this effort.  I thought I would try doing some swaps as I dont usually do challenges and it's a way to connect more personally with another crafter.  As soon as I know I am doing one my confidence goes out of the window and my mojo takes a holiday! Still, can't take it too seriously, it's only a card!!!!

Thanks for looking and any comments very much appreciated .

Anne :)

Tarted up handbag holder

I  have wanted one of these for ages and saw a box of these with odd names on today and thought I would have a go and change it.  It took all of 5 minutes!

I used the stamp in the photo above and applied the emboss markers direct to the stamp. stamped onto white card.  Applied a coat of normal clear embossing powder and heat set.  Then covered the whole thing with versamark ink (I happened to pick up the dazzle one but it would work with any clear pad) and a coat of UTEE, heat again and punched it out using a circle punch.  I used Glossy Accents to stick it on.  I must say Glossy Accents is a fabulous quick drying and very strong glue, it dried in seconds.  I did another coat of versamark and UTEE because I wanted a thick glossy surface.  That was all there was to it.  Not bad for a £1.

I should have done a before photo but didn't intend to post it, but am so pleased with it I thought I would.
Here it is in action!

Thanks for looking :)


I am entering this into all my crafts challenge

Crafty Individuals Fairy

This is one of my cards that didn't go to plan but I just kept going with it and although I'm not 100% happy with it, I still like it.

This is a rubbish photo because you can't see the shimmer but anyway trust me it looks better in real life!   The fairy is (another!) one of my favourite stamps, she is stamped in cosmic shimmer EP  onto mulberry paper which is on top of a piece of black and silver UTEE (in Dawn's melt art technique where you cut a piece of  Craft Sheet  to fit into your Melt Pot, heat a ton of UTEE and stamp into it with an inked stamp).  The problem with this particular one was you couldn't see the image clearly enough, despite going over it with mica powders which is why I did the piece of mulberry paper on the top.  I like the way you get the spiky edges with the melted UTEE.

That is then mounted onto a piece of  purple card with the fairy stamped randomly in black and sprayed with glimmer mist.  I've just noticed that this piece of card is upside down!  Oh well, too late now! It is edged with a silver leafing pen.  The white paper flower is stamped with a text stamp in black with black soot distress stickles and a button with silk thread.  The black paper flowers are glimmer misted and have silk threaded buttons as well..

The background card piece is glimmer misted and stamped with small flowers in champagne metallic ink.  The corner lacy papers are just torn and stuck on.  The 'hello' is made using alphabet stamps and edged in silver leafing pen.

Although it's not a perfect card,  it is one that I enjoy picking up and looking at it!  Sometimes you have to look past the faults and just accept your work as it is.

If you're still reading this thanks for that!!!!

blue birthday

This was a birthday card for my daughter.  I melted some UTEE on a piece of non stick craft sheet in the meltpot and stamped into that with dark blue ink on my Crafty Individuals stamp.  The flowers are inked to match  with blue buttons threaded through.  I have used my Martha Stewart lacy punch on the edges of the folded A4 blue card.  The front piece was trimmed and punched and another piece of punched card mounted on that with a slither of silver card to cover the join.  The corners are the waste from a fleur de lys corner punch.  Thanks for looking :)

Melt art fairy

This is done using Dawn Bibby's melt art technique, which is great fun to do. You need to cut a piece of non stick craft mat to fit inside the melt pot, and put the UTEE on top of it so when it melts you can stamp into it and remove it reasonably easily in one piece.  It has feathery edges and is such a great technique.  This is what I have done here with the Crafty Individuals fairy stamp.  I have stamped again on blue card and white embossed, and mounted the UTEE piece over that after tearing the edges.  The main card which is a scalloped edge square Craftwork Cards card has been stamped in dark blue versamagic and embossed in clear ink.  The white paper flowers are finished with buttons ties with dark blue thread.  This technique is on Dawn Bibby's DVD Stamps, Stickers & Stencils, it's such a great DVD with lots of demos.  I hope you like the card :)