Mission Inspiration: December 2016

I'm taking a break from the hobby coaster posts (last part tomorrow) to share my last Mission Inspiration page for 2016.  I wanted to make sure that I finished before the new year.  Although I only started my MI journey in August I have completed each month since so didn't want to fall short right at the end of the year.  I have thoroughly enjoyed following the prompts and will certainly be continuing the journey in 2017.  Thanks to Mike Dean!

Hobby Coasters: Part Two

The coasters that I'm sharing today were made in honour of my Mum's enjoyment of knitting and drawing/colouring.  I can still remember receiving letters with hand drawn pictures as illustrations from my Mum when I was little and she was in hospital for a short time.  I have lost count of the number of fabulous jumpers she has knit over the years as well as a set of dolls clothes on e Christmas.

Hobby Coasters: Part One

These coasters were made for my mother's birthday.  In total there are six; one for each of her main hobbies.  Today I will share the two relating to sewing.

Happy Birthday Mum - First Groovi Card

This card was made a few months ago using the Groovi system by Claritystamp, but I couldn't share it until today as it was made for my Mum's 75th birthday today.   It was the first time that I had made a card using this system and, although I made a minor error, I am really pleased with the outcome.

Happy Birthday Dad

This card was made for my three sons to give to their father for his Christmas Eve birthday today. My eldest and youngest sons look very similar and are sometimes mistaken for each other; the middle one has a panama hat which he wears in the summer, so the Marianne dies were particularly appropriate.

Happy Birthday - Bright Brusho Background

I made this card for my husband's birthday tomorrow, but as he rarely looks at my blog, I think it's safe to post the step by step today.

Secret Santa Coasters

These were made as a Secret Santa gift for a colleague.  It didn't take him too long to work out who they were from as I used many of the same stamps which I had used to make a card for another colleague who was leaving.  I enjoyed making them.

Bon Voyage

This card was for a colleague who is leaving for Australia on New Year's Eve and will be gone for quite a while.  I like to theme the cards that I make for all my colleagues to give to another and had great fun making this one.  Bon Voyage - we will miss you.

One Stamp - Eight Cards

It's been a while since I blogged, but that's what comes of making so many of my gifts at this time of year; they can't be shared without spoiling the surprise.  At least after Christmas I shall have plenty to post.  I had eight cards to make for a great group of ladies who craft with me regularly, so I decided to use the same stamp for each card, but shake up the colour scheme and finish.  These are just four of the finished cards, but as you will see from the toppers, each one was unique.

A Snowflake Puzzle!

Hi everyone, I'm back after a week's break with my latest card.  Once again I used some of the jigsaw pieces to create a topper for a Christmas card with a contemporary colour scheme and theme; I hope that you like it.

Mission Inspiration November 2016

I've had a lovely relaxing day, crafting in the company of a good friend, working on the November mission for Mission Inspiration.  I didn't have a clue where I was going when I started, but once again, everything came together and I love the finished page.  The only pieces which I had to die cut/punch out were the book text leaves and the heart behind the doves; everything else came out of my stash.  The quote is one I found online having completed step 7 and which helped me decide on my focal image.

Naming Ceremony Blessings

This card was made for my son's friend, whose baby was being received into the Church of the Latter Day Saints.  I'm not really familiar with the ceremony, so did a little research before I created it.  Can you guess the name of the baby?

PASC #1116

Here is my latest Pick a Stick Challenge for November 2016.  I must confess that I haven't completed the October Challenge yet, but I have left a page for it in my PASC art journal.  This time I felt really inspired by the steps and, having been feeling rather ill over the last few days, decided to use the process to help me feel better.

WOYWW #388 - Trying to Find My Muse

Rounding up supplies

Hello everyone - the week has certainly gone quickly.  I am trying to get on early today as I also have loads of work to do for tomorrow and I wanted to try and get some crafting in first.  This was the only chance to share my workbench with you (Thanks, Julia for playing host each week), before it gets covered with exercise books!

Extra bits and pieces.

As you might guess.  I am getting ready for an art journal challenge and have my list of prompts ready, as well as some of the supplies that I will need.  I have decided to go with a blue and white colour scheme as it is so cold this morning.  I doubt whether I will have time to finish my journal page today, but I will try and share it soon.
This is the finished card that I was working on last Wednesday.

Groovi Christmas Wreath

This card is the result of my first attempt using the fantastic new Christmas Wreath Groovi plates designed by Linda Williams for Claritystamp.  I used a mixture of the Woven Wreath and Twiggy Wreath plates, together with a banner from the Christmas Banners set. Even though I personalised it for my parents, the colouring, matting and layering took longer than the parchment and white work.

Big Birthday Bra

This card was made for the special birthday of a long time acquaintance of mine; a lovely lady who has been cutting my hair for more than half her life!  She is back at work having battled serious illness and I admire her strength.  This card was meant to reflect this.

WOYWW - Not My Day Off After All

My desk this morning ready to finish a card.

I'm late sharing today with WOYWW (led by Julia) - or rather what was on my workbench yesterday while crafting with my regular crafty companion.  I did take a picture of my desk this morning, but I haven't much time to share as I have to go into work today for some compulsory training.  As you can see, my Craft Stamper magazine arrived this morning and I have everything ready to mat and layer the Groovi image that I was working on yesterday.  I don't have time for a detailed step by step today as I have to leave for work soon, but watch out and I'll share soon. 

This was my desk yesterday when I had just finished outlining the image and was about to move onto the white work. 
I also took a picture of my friend's side of the desk.  Much neater than usual, working on stamping and colouring some die cut images of vegetables and herbs.  Notice the unique colour applicator tool!  Must dash, hope to visit everyone else's desks soon.

Relax and Enjoy Your Retirement

Back to work next week, but there will be one fewer colleague there.  A lovely lady who retired just before half term.  This is the card that I made for her.  I have been really getting into the Groovi system by Claritystamp and decided to use it to create the card.  The background is a Gelli print on a simple piece of copy paper.

Creating A Scene!

This is the finished card from my last post.  It took a lot longer to complete than I had first estimated, so I decided not to bother with a fancy insert.  All the die cuts  used Sheena's Stamping Card and were coloured afterwards using either ProMarkers or Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Polish.

Blended all over with Old Paper

Tea Dye through the stencil

The background was created using a piece of A5 stamping card, Old Paper and Tea Dye Distress inks and the fantastic 7" x 7" Brick Wall Stencil by Claritystamp.  I moved the stencil across the page in order to cover the whole background with bricks, you can barely see the join!

I used the door and window from the Home for Christmas die set by Crafter's Companion, as well as the wreath from the Christmas Fireplace set and two of the panels from the Fence and Gate set.  The choristers were die cut using the Trio Choir die from Cottage Cutz.  I added a 2cm strip of dark brown card along the bottom of the wall background and glued it to a landscape card blank, made from a piece of A4 dark brown card, scored and folded in half.  The door was coloured in the Cardinal Red Promarker and a panel added behind the window coloured in Pastel Yellow to emulate a light in the hallway.  The wreath was coloured in Holly and dots of a red Stardust Sakura pen added some sparkle.  

The window frame and fence panels were decorated using Chocolate Bronze Gilding Polish from Creative Expressions.  A panel behind the window was coloured in the same way as the door panel and then stamped using part of the Swirly Christmas Tree stamp designed by Sue Dix for Crafty Impressions in Olympia Green Versafine ink.

The choristers were the most fiddly to colour, stamp and glue together, but the final effect was definitely worth it.  The faces and hands were coloured in Satin, the cassocks in Ivory, the sashes in Cardinal Red and the shoes in Umber.  The cheeks were added in Blush and the collars and music left white.  Each chorister was stamped with a different face from the set in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and the hair coloured in three shades of brown (Cinnamon, Chestnut and Burnt Sienna).  All that was left was to put the card together and glue each item in place.

WOYWW #386 - Company Today

I won't spend long with today's post as it is half term and my crafting friend has come over today, with another play date planned for Friday.  Looks like I'll have to spend all day tomorrow catching up with school work.  So, just time for a quick share of my Workbench for WOYWW.  I have just started getting a card ready for my Saturday morning class.  I shall be creating a brick wall background for the door, fence and window.  Three choristers will be carol singing under the window.  The insert will be stamped with the words from the IndigoBlu stamp with the Judikins angels for added decoration.  I like to die cut everything in white and add colour later.  Also in the picture are some of my 'mop up' pieces of kitchen towel from playing with Brushos and Pixie Powders.  I intend to split these into separate layers and glue them to card to create a background for some other projects.

My tidy desk!

The new units + marking!

I was very productive earlier in the week sorting out some new units in my shed and tidying round.  You can see my boxes of marking on the floor - my project for tomorrow.  I also hoovered the floor and wiped over the desk ready for my friend's arrival today.

Groovi Shepherds

Once again, I finally got round to using something that I have had for ages and never used.  This is actually my second card made with the Groovi system by Claritystamp, but I will not be posting my first effort until after my Mum's birthday at the end of December, as I don't wish to spoil the surprise. 

Gelato Night Sky

I was inspired to make this card after watching Kay Halliwell Sutton demonstrate the Faber-Castell Gelatos on Hochanda this morning.  I have had some for ages, but, just like really beautiful paper, never wanted to use them; I would just admire them in their boxes!  Having had a play, I don't think that I'll be able to stop using them.

Made into an easel card.

WOYWW #385 - Happy Birthday Son

Brushos and Pixie Powders

Playing with my new Gelli Petites

As promised last week, I am sharing the birthday card which I made for my youngest son, whose birthday is today.  It is not so much a case of WOYWW (hosted by the fabulous Julia) today, but What's on Your Floor Tuesday, as I am sharing some of the fabulous papers made by my friend yesterday during one of our regular Tuesday get togethers.  Next week she will be coming to visit on Wednesday and Thursday as it is half term, so I will be able to share my Workbench in all its messy glory.  My photo is a bit of a cheat, as it was taken yesterday morning; you can see the results of my labours here.

Mini Gelli Plate Play

Circle Gelli Petite and Rings mini stencil

It's Tuesday!  This is the day when I do most of my crafting as my friend comes over to keep me company.  Today I played with my new Gelli Plate Petites Bundle from Claritystamp.  This is no longer available as a bundle, but I was lucky enough to get the full set of mini stencils, the two sets of Gelli Petites, two mounts, two sets of 7"x7" card and the stencil storage binder while the offer was on.  I used some of my Artistry inks also, as well as the Claritystamp Word Chains and Word Chain Alphabet.  It was such a lot of fun and really productive.
For my first attempt, the celebrate card front, I used the Artistry Fine Wine ink pad alternatively printing directly through the Rings mini stencil, followed by a ghost print from the remaining ink.  I loved the borders which Barbara Gray made using post it notes to hide the centre panel, so used the same method to add a border round all 4 sides.  All it needed was a Word Chain 'Celebrate' stamped in Black Soot Archival ink (I love the Tim Holtz Archival ink palette!)   

WOYWW #384 Getting Colder

Welcome to my contribution to WOYWW; to find out what it's all about you can visit our hostess Julia.  Once again the picture was taken late yesterday afternoon after a session crafting with my friend.  I spent the time fussing over the card which I blogged yesterday (HERE) and you can see the finished card, the stamps that I used and some of the tools.  

Winter Holly Merry Christmas

This card is my interpretation of one made when taking part in one of the fantastic Craftathon events hosted by Phill Martin.  As you can see, I changed the colour scheme and the central focal point as well as other minor changes to the layout.

My version

The card that I made at the Craftathon event.

Bubble Blowing Birthday Boy

Apologies from the start; I know that I had the idea for this having seen a similar layout in a magazine, but I cannot for the life of me remember which one to make the appropriate acknowledgement.  I was really struck by the idea of placing the sentiment along the side of the focal image so that it sticks out like a tab. 

WOYWW #383 New Stash

My friend's organised chaos!

This week's contribution to WOYWW is a bit of a set up as it is currently covered with boxes of exercise books for marking.  Tuesday is my main crafty day as that is when I have my friend for company.  I took a picture of her side of the workbench yesterday; she was joking that she always spreads out within half an hour of beginning to craft, whereas I completed a complete art journal page and my side remained very neat and organised.

Mission Inspiration October - Danse Macabre

I must learn not to judge my efforts at art journaling until the page is actually complete.  For the third month in a row I followed the Mission Inspiration prompts and really didn't like what I was doing until I had completed step 8.  The last two steps just put the icing on the cake.  I actually love the finished piece even though I'm really not really a Halloween person!

Sugar Skull Birthday

This card was a commission, but as the recipient's birthday was yesterday it seemed safe to share.  I was given the brief of purple as a main colour and sugar skulls as a theme.  I recently bought some of the stamps, dies and embossing folders from the Day of the Dead collection by Sheena Douglass and Crafter's Companion, so these seemed to fit the bill perfectly.

The photo looks blue, but was definitely purple!

WOYWW #382 More Brusho Backgrounds

Hi and welcome to What's On Your Workbench Wednesday as hosted on Julia's Stamping Ground.  This is my desk as it looked late yesterday after a day's crafting with my friend.  She was batch making toppers for Christmas cards using Brushos and Pixie Powders as a background.  I loved the look of what she was doing and had a go myself.  The result: one complete card, a topper and an amazing background sheet.