ATCs: B is for...

The prompt for the monthly ATC swap over on Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art is the letter B.  As I have worked on that prompt before, I had to be mindful not to repeat myself.  All stamps used are by Claritystamp as always for my ATCs.

Nature is pleased with simplicity: Art Journal Page

This page was created in response to the April prompts - set by guest controller Linda Simpson - over on Mission Inspiration.  The colour palette for the month is pistachio, yellow and blush (pink).

Pop Art Celebration!

This page was created for the Explore Your Creativity (challenge 10) over on the recently renamed Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art.  The group has just welcomed its 4000th member so I decided to use that in my piece.  The prompts were Pop Art; Marker pens; Red.  However I also feel that it meets the March prompt on Nina Ribena's Art Journal Prompts and More: Friendship.

Tri-Fold with a Difference

This is a card which I made quite some time ago; I would probably decorate it differently these days, but I like the fold/structure.

JJJ and Mindful Art Challenge 11: Red, Orange, Brown and Strength.

I was really proud to chosen as the winner of challenge 10 on Junk Journal Junkies and Mindful Art.  What I hadn't realised, is that I would be responsible for choosing the next set of prompts.  I am delighted with all the fabulous art that has been created this week with my three minute panic thoughts and this is my contribution.  It is a fantastic group; the members are all really supportive and membership numbers have been exploding over the last couple of weeks.  Thanks to Louise Withers for starting the group and Jane Telford for adding me as a member.

Driving Test Congratulations

There is nothing that makes you feel quite so old as one of your children taking their first driving test.  Mind you, once number two son gets his own car, he will be able to start chauffeuring me around for a change. Unfortunately he takes after me and managed to fail his test right at the end!  I only hope that getting this card ready in advance wasn't a jinx.  He's already booked the next one, so better luck next time.

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.

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. 

Patchwork Background

This card was made for my son's birthday several years ago; I recently came across it when going through a box of old cards.  The laptop definitely fits the bill, but the can is a Diet Coke as he doesn't drink.

End of School Year!

The school year ended yesterday and I finally have some time to blog again.  I seem to have spent the last few weeks on a never ending track of reports, school residential visit, being ill and catching up with marking!  Now I can finally relax, if only for a few days, before I start on the planning and paperwork ready for September.  It's also the time of year when we say goodbye to colleagues who are moving on to pastures new or retiring and over the next few days I'd like to share some of the cards that I made to help say farewell.
The first card was made for the Y7 and Y8 pupils to sign for a well liked and respected pastoral leader.  He will be very much missed and we all wish him well in his retirement.

Clean and Simple Congratulations

I am so proud of my sister, who recently passed, with flying colours, her last exam (a three hour diagnostic practical) to qualify as a GP.  I made this card to congratulate her and decided after a bit of thought and playing with different layouts and die cuts, to keep things clean and simple.

Alcohol Pens on Acetate

I finally finished the background for the tag that I made last week.  I had tried an effect with masking and blending distress inks on white card - sorry I don't have a picture - but really wasn't happy with the effect.  Then I happened to see someone demonstrating alcohol pens and blending solution on acetate and loved the effects.

Hello Sailor!

This card came about from a piece of ribbon that I had.  A great card for someone serving in the navy, although I know the uniform isn't perfect.  A mixture of dies and alcohol ink on acetate. As it is a nautical theme, I am entering it in the SimonSays Stamp Monday Challenge - Something beginning with N.

Fantasy Film Fairy WIngs

I have had the wooden back stamp of this image for ages.  I think it is the perfect image to play around with Fusible Film.  Then all I needed to do was sort out the layout of the card.

Brusho Blossoms

The inspiration for this card came from Kay Carley in the July 2015 edition of Craft Stamper.  I had just bought some Brushos and happened to have the same colours that were used in the example in the magazine.  I used ProMarkers instead of Copic pens and replaced the stamps used in the original with the Stylised Flowers by Indigoblu.

A Window with a Difference

This is an alternative way to present an image, rather than just sticking it on the front of a card as a topper.

Double Twisted Easel Card

A masculine theme for this card - but the style can be adapted for any occasion.  It looks complicated but using a scoring board or a ruler makes the construction far more straight forward.

We Support Our Local Team!

As a season ticket holder at our local football (soccer) team, Stoke City: currently languishing at the foot of the Premiership - but not for long; I always find that cards which reflect that support go down really well.  This particular card is easily adapted to fit whomever your local team is (or your sporting preference)!

We love you city, we do!