Silver Anniversary Card using Tina's Mandala Stamps

For my third sample using Tina's Mandala stamps from Claritystamp, I kept things clean and simple and decided on a silver and black colour palette.  The stamps heat emboss beautifully even though they are quite large.

Grunge Journal Page

It seems ages since I joined in with one of the monthly challenges over on Mission Inspiration, despite my many Quarantine Quickie tags.  This page follows the June prompts.  The theme was Grunge It Up, the suggested colours Brown, Burnt Orange and Patina Green and the suggested prompt words were Distressed, Rustic, Decaying, Shabby and Neglected.

Masculine Card using Tina's Mandala

A second masculine card using one of the new Tina's Mandala stamp sets from Claritystamp.  This time I used a stamp board shape as a starting point.

Uplifting Card using Tina's Strength Mandala

The new mandala stamp sets designed by Tina Cox for Claritystamp make beautiful cards, whether simple or intricate, masculine or feminine.  I started with an uplifting card in masculine colours.

Catch A Falling Star: A Tag

This is a very belated attempt at the July challenge over on Tag It Tuesday.  The four prompts were 1) Use a stamp in at least three places, 2) Use something you print, 3) Add a pocket and 4) Add aluminium foil.  As you can see, I managed to fit all four prompts onto my tag.

For prompt 2 I added some printed book text from Romanian play onto a #8 manilla tag, sealed it with matte medium, dried and trimmed the edges.

Next, I gave it a coat of white gesso to knock the text into the background.

For prompt 4 I used the largest Clarity nested oval picot die with aluminium foil and added it to the left side of the tag, trimming the excess.

To create a pocket for prompt 3, I stamped the Clarity New Design Club stamp #91 onto a piece of stencil card in Twilight Versafine Clair ink.

I gave the pocket a denim look by colouring it with Faber-Castell Polychromos (143, 144,151, 247).

Next, I fussy cut the pocket and added it to the bottom of the tag.

Having used a stamp once, I stamped twice more (prompt 1) using the star stamp from the Dee's Friends Patience A5 stamp set in Golden Meadow Versafine Clair ink.

Then I coloured the stars and the button on the pocket using Faber-Castell Polychromos (185, 184).

I added the word 'star' using Word Chains 11.  Stamping in Twilight Versafine Clair ink and heat embossing with clear powder.

I added the first part of the quote using my Dymo Letratag.

To finish, I added some details with a dark blue fine liner and some alcohol ink to the aluminium foil to give it more of the feel of a moon.

WOYWW 586: My Storage is Breeding

Firstly, apologies for not visiting many desks last week, by the time we got back from our last minute short break last Friday I had a large number of samples to make ready for posting today.  I also cannot comment on Wordpress blog posts - sorry.

My desk this week shows a lovely array of hand made birthday cards that I received at the weekend.  The large one at the back was from Eva and is a beautiful craft themed Groovi card.  Thank you to everyone who took the time and trouble to send a card and for all the lovely birthday wishes.

Eva made it over for our last play date of the holidays yesterday afternoon - as you can see she brought more home made chocolate chip cookies and her Groovi stuff.

Look who else I caught up with last week.  Julia (keeper of desks and organiser of all things WOYWW related) kindly did some last minute gallivanting and met up with my hubby and me near to Salisbury where we had been for the day last Wednesday (most appropriate).  We were glad to get out of the rain, although Stonehenge was particularly quiet when we visited earlier that day.

On Thursday we spent the day in Bristol, where the weather was the complete opposite of the previous day. 

We headed for home on Friday, calling at IKEA where hubby bought me some additional storage for the shed as my birthday gift.

The extra DVD storage unit and trolley have made a big difference to the state of tidiness in the shed.  All my loose stamp sets have now been arranged and labelled in the extra unit and the wall hanging unit which was difficult to get into has been removed and replaced with the extra trolley.  I will be extra good visiting this week to make up for last!!! Stay safe and Happy WOYWW.

Ideas Using Texture Stamp Backgrounds

Claritystamp have brought out a few collections of Mixed Impressions Texture stamps in the last year.  They make the perfect background for cards for all occasions and an be layered up as well, if you wish to add texture to an art journal page.  All the projects that I am sharing with you today have been previously showcased on my blog, but I thought you would like to see them in one place.

Using the Grunge Dots and Spots set from the first collection (see HERE).

A card using similar colours, but the Rust Grunge set (see HERE).

Another masculine card using the same stamp set as the journal page (see HERE).

The same focal image looks completely different against a brighter background - this time using a texture stamp from one of the nature collections - Floral (see HERE).

A different silhouette against the newer Woodland Walk Nature background (see HERE).

A change of colour with the Ocean Swirls Texture stamps creates a more feminine feel (see HERE).

The same stamps look completely different used in small sections through a stencil (see HERE).

The Innocence Texture stamps compliment the character stamps designed by Dee Fitzsimmons (see HERE).  The possibilities and permutations are endless!

New Beginnings: A JJAMMMA Tag Swap

As my swap partner for the August tag swap over on Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art has now received the tags, it is safe to share the process of their creation.  The theme this month was New Beginnings.  As usual, I found the perfect background on my inky paper pile.

Scandinavian Look Repeat Pattern Hearts

I really liked the repeat pattern that this stamp from Linda's Queen of Hearts set made.  The red and white gave the card a Scandinavian look too.

Pretty Paper Panel Romantic Card with Linda's Hearts

Sorry I am a little late posting this morning.  It's my birthday and I actually had a lie in.  Today also coincides with my 1500th blog post!  So here it is for today.  The King and Queen of Hearts stamps by Linda Williams work so well for a variety of cards.  Here I used one of the Queen of Hearts stamps on some pretty designer card to make a romantic card.

Quarantine Quickies #95 & #96: Arm Candy / Message in a Bottle

Only four more tags to complete to respond to the first 100 quarantine Quickie prompts over on Mission Inspiration.  I have decided to stop at that point.  I have had such fun playing though.

Triple Heat Embossing on Stamp Board: A Birthday Card

This time I used one of the stamps from the King of Hearts set by Linda Williams to decorate a stamp board shape and a frame to match.  A masculine look to the birthday card resulted.

WOYWW 585: Still On My Own

This week is a week of anniversaries.  Last Saturday was my fifth blogiversary and next Saturday marks my 55th birthday and, coincidentally, my 1500th blog post.  I bet LLJ likes those number patterns along with this week's WOYWW palindrome.  I am sharing my desk as usual with Julia and her gang over at Stamping Ground where many other desks may also be visited.

My desk this week shows the only two companions I will have until Eva joins me again next Tuesday.  Also my second birthday present: one of Tilly Tea Dance's gorgeous sunflower limited edition pieces.  I couldn't resist them.  I am not showing the other item which arrived in the same package, as it is a belated birthday present for one of my sisters.  Aren't the postcards which accompanied the package pretty too.  The items were wrapped in tissue paper and are perfect for gifts.  Thanks Maxine (an Jo) for your fabulous work.  As you can see peeking out on the left, my neck fans arrived just in time for the change in weather lol.  It will be the weekend before I make my visits as we are off gallivanting for a couple of days, leaving #3 son to house sit.  Stay safe and happy WOYWW.

Quarantine Quickies #93 & #94: Celestial Body / Fur Baby

The latest instalment towards 100 tags, following the prompts on Mission Inspiration.  I found the perfect paper towel mop up sheets on my pile to use as backgrounds for these.

Silver Wedding Anniversary Card using Linda's Hearts

Having used these stamps for a wedding card and a sympathy card, I decided to make an anniversary card next.

Woodland Walk Texture Stamp background with Framed Focal Image

The large Mixed Impressions Texture stamps from Clarity make the perfect background for silhouette images.  Here I used the Woodland Walk set with the Love is in the Air stamp.

Quarantine Quickies #91 & #92: Hole in One/ Spider's Web

I can't believe that it is five years today since I started this blog.  For the first couple of years, my posts were a little sporadic, but I have been posting daily now for over three years and thoroughly enjoy being part of a wider community.  2020 seems to be the year of the tag for me, so it is only fitting that I share two more today.
I always seem to find the perfect background paper on my inky pile for these tags.  I am following the first 100 quarantine Quickie prompts over on Mission Inspiration.

Sympathy Card with Linda's Hearts

These stamps designed by Linda Williams are so versatile.  They can be used on a card for any occasion.  In this case, a sympathy card.

Quick Wedding Card/Invitation using Linda's Hearts

This card using one of the new Linda's King of Hearts stamps from Clarity would make a great wedding invitation.  It is clean and simple and could be batch made easily.  The colour could also be adjusted to match the theme.

WOYWW 584: Crafting Alone

Another week flies by, I can't believe it is the fourth week of the holidays already - all down hill from here lol.

As you can see,  I was on my own in the shed yesterday.  The washed, empty cookie box sits waiting for Eva's return on the other side and I was contemplating opening up the package to start the online workshop with Maria Moorhouse that I have had sitting in the shed for a few weeks.

I was, however, interrupted by the delivery of an early birthday present.  I may be some time stroking, sniffing and making colour swatches lol.

This is my desk this morning with the first swatch complete.  Hope you are all OK following the spectacular thunder storms last night.  Don't forget to join in with What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday with Julia over on Stamping Ground.  I may not be round to visit today as hubby has a couple of weeks off and we are popping in and out a great deal. Stay safe and happy WOYWW everyone.

Faux Water Colour Stamping

For this card, I used some pens that I have had  for ages but not used for quite a while.  I forgot that you can get lovely faux watercolour effects using a direct to stamp colouring technique.

Quarantine Quickies #89 & #90: All Systems Go / Pearly Gates

I haven't used my Cricut Expression machine for a while, but it came in handy for the second of my latest set of tags in the Quarantine Quickie series, following the prompts over on Mission Inspiration.  Only 10 more to share after these!

Pergamano Christmas Poppet Card with Fairy Light Frame

There are lots of stencils that I could have chosen to frame this lovely image designed by Marina Fedotova, but I went with the fairy light wreath.

A Clean and Simple Birthday Card with Enamel Accents

Sometimes I like to keep things clean and simple with a small number of colours.  For this birthday card I opted for black and silver, with a pop of red glossy accents.