Layers on Layers: Oxides, Archival inks and Gold Embossing

 This is one of my most popular blog posts and looking back one of my favourite projects too.  I wanted to use a layering technique on a card, using Distress Oxides for the base layer.  At the time, I had also received the fabulous Peacock and Peacock Feathers stamps designed by Linda Williams for Claritystamp and wanted to see how the new extra fine line art worked with embossing powders.  The results were amazing and the photos really don't do the card justice!

A Rainbow of Frames on a Card

This has got to be one of my favourite Maya Angelou quotes, so I am glad it was chosen for one of the new poetry frame stamp sets from Claritystamp.

Archival Ink Card Starting with a Gel Print

This card was made for the girlfriend of one of my sons.  She is a cat lover so one of my favourite stamp sets sprang immediately to mind.  Although I started with my gel plate, I decided to use Archival inks for everything on the card.

A Clean and Simple Good Luck Card

I like the additional small stamps and sentiments which come with the Circus stamp sets (designed by Leonie Pujol for Claritystamp). They work really well for a clean and simple card.

Thank You Gift Tag

I enjoy making tags to try out different products and techniques, but they also have a practical use.  This one could be used to accompany a thank you or congratulatory gift.

Repeat Stamping: A Clean and Simple Christmas Card

After I made the journal page which I shared yesterday (see HERE),  I decided to use the repeat stamping technique to create a topper for another Christmas card.  With a change of colour scheme and sentiment, this card could be used for a multitude of occasions.

Creating Depth through Different Generations of Stamping: A Birthday Card

The idea for the layout and techniques used on this card are from Maria Moorhouse.  I attended her latest workshop last weekend and one of the cards we made used this technique, but in different colours and using different stamps for the background.  Thanks Maria, here's my version.

Layer upon Layer: Oxides, Archival Ink and Heat Embossing

Following the journal page that I created recently (see HERE), I wanted to use a similar layering technique on a card, but this time using Distress Oxides for the base layer.  I had also received the fabulous Peacock and Peacock Feathers stamps designed by Linda Williams for Claritystamp and wanted to see how the new extra fine line art worked with embossing powders.  The results were amazing and the photos really don't do the card justice!

ATC Challenge: Circles, Beginnings.

An additional mid monthly challenge has been added into Tag It Tuesday this year.  You have to create an ATC or altered card instead of a tag, but still using at least two of the four monthly prompts.  The four prompts for January are Circles; Add fabric; Beginnings; Drips.  I chose circles and a quote about beginnings as my prompts.  I attempted to add drips with the Distress Oxides, but didn't like the effect, so went back over the background to try and hide them.

Live Like Tomorrow Doesn't Exist

This page was created for week 41 of Art Journal Prompts: Use Q Tips/Cotton Buds.  The gorgeous, grungy stamps from Visible Image went beautifully with this prompt.

Blown Gelato Background

I have a friend of mine to thank for this technique.  She was using it when crafting with me in the shed the other day.  I tried a couple of backgrounds, but preferred the one with a little more white space and made it into a card.

Make Art Not War

I made this tag in response to a challenge by the inspiring Barbara Gray on her blog. There is too much hatred in this world, yet I have always felt positive vibes from all the different art communities that I am part of.

art journal prompts Week 1: My Word for 2017

I'm working in a totally random order to catch up with these weekly prompts from 'art journal prompts'.  This is the third that I've completed of the ten set so far this year, but if I work on two a week for the next seven weeks, I will have caught up.  With this in mind, and my determination to craft and share daily this year, I chose the word 'Create' as my word for 2017.

Journal52 Week 9: Emerge

I had the stamp set in mind for this page even before I found the quote!  The prompt for week 9 of Journal52 is emerge.

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 Dad!

It's my Dad's birthday today.  We celebrated yesterday as no-one had to go to work today.  Even my brother who lives in Canada managed to join in as we played a family game together over Skype; if you've ever had to shout out instructions to diffuse various modules on an electronic 'bomb' via the internet you can understand the atmosphere.  Brother following instructions; Mum on morse code duty; one sister counting coloured wires; brother-in-law dealing with coloured buttons; other sister dealing with mazes and word codes; nephew on 'Whose on First' duty; son dealing with 'Simon Says' and myself on complicated wire duty dealing with the Venn diagrams because no-one else will touch the job.  It was a hysterical couple of hours; Dad just enjoys watching and listening to the mayhem.  Any way - Happy Birthday Dad, I made these cards especially for you.

Secret Santa Door Hanger

I was so pleased when I picked the name of the Head of English out of the bag for the Secret Santa at work.  I knew immediately what I wanted to make for her gift.  Every day at our middle school we Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) for 15 minutes at the start of one lesson, so the theme of the door hanger was an easy one to come up with.