Turkish Fold Pop out Insert in a Birthday Card

I wanted to make a card with a difference and came across the idea of a Turkish Fold for the insert.  I am grateful to Susan Angebranndt for the instructions for this fold, which can be found on her blog HERE.  I used a piece of copy paper and decorated it using stamps by Claritystamp.

The finished insert

The outside of the card

Learning from Mistakes: Gel Plate Experiments

I was determined to create a layered background using my large gel press plate and the Charge of Lancelot stencil from Claritystamp.  I ended up with something I was proud of  in the end, but it was a very bumpy journey!

Changing the Shape of a Stencil

Just because a stencil is a particular shape and size, doesn't mean that it is the only way it can be used. By combining a framer stencil with a picture stencil, elements can be chosen to highlight. This is what I did with the new Charge of Lancelot stencil from Claritystamp.

To start, I stamped the dragon in Sepia Versafine ink onto stencil card and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.

I covered the stamp with matching mask. Next, I laid the oval stencil outer from the Framer Shapes (1) set over the card and tried the Charge of Lancelot stencil over the top until I was happy with the layout. I taped the stencils down and brushed Tea Dye Oxide through the apertures.

 Next, I added Vintage Photo Oxide around the edge and in certain areas with a Spot On sponge. The stencils were removed.

For the next step, I laid the oval inner over the image leaving the mask in place over the dragon. I added a Tea Dye Oxide halo with a Spot on sponge round the oval and the dragon.

The mask and oval inner were removed and the knight on horseback outlined with a brown fine liner.

The dragon was coloured using Distress Marker Pens in Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo and Brushed Corduroy.

For the sentiment, I stamped ‘Thank You, You’re so great’ in Sepia Versafine ink and heat embossed the words in clear embossing powder (Mini Word Chains 17&18 and 19&20).

To finish, the stencil card was trimmed to 16.8cm x 16.8cm and added to the front of a 7” x 7” kraft card blank.

Colour and Heat Embossing over Fibre Paste: A Masculine Birthday Card

This was the first sample that I made for Maria's shows on Hochanda yesterday (12pm and 4pm) where, among other items, she introduced the Clarity wizard and knight stencils.  The shows can still be seen on catch up for a while if you missed them.  I came up with three completely different looks using various techniques with the same stencil.

WOYWW 515: Playing Away from Home JJAMMMA Meet Up

For once I am actually writing my WOYWW post on a Wednesday, the perks of the school holidays lol.  I even took a photo of my desk this morning as I unpacked from my gallivanting yesterday afternoon and the latest arrival in the post.

I admit to indulging a little in the recent Spring Sale over on Claritystamp.  I have even purchased my ticket for the open day in Leyburn which isn't until September,. I was determined not to miss out this year.
Yesterday I had the most fabulous afternoon, meeting up with fellow JJAMMMAs Jane Telford, Lou WIthers and Kaz at the monthly JJAMMMA get together in Stockport.  It is rather like a WOYWW crop minus the cake: far more laughter and chatting than crafting, but worth the journey for the company.  There weren't as many there as usual this month due to illness and prior commitments but a fun time was had by those who made it.  I actually travelled quite light for a change.

And I actually managed to get some work done too (Ecoline pens and a water brush on water colour card).

Kaz is shy, so I haven't taken her photo.  On the other side of the desk however Jane and Lou were quite happy to share.

Jane was working with her Gel Press Petites making card toppers and Lou was prepping for an up coming One Day Special on Hochanda.  Thanks for your company yesterday ladies (Kaz too).

I am enjoying the school holidays and have managed some shed time every day so far.
JJAMMMA = Junk Journals and Mindful Mixed Media Art.
WOYWW = What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday? a weekly blog link up hosted by Julia over on The Stamping Ground for nearly 10 years now.  Please do pop over and visit! 

A is for Acorns and what else?

I made this tag for a friend as a swap.  Each month the JJAMMA group has a swap for a tag, journal page or ATCoins. We are working our way through the alphabet and I decided to use Acorns as the theme for the letter A.  I also managed to fit the letter A onto the tag in other ways, can you spot them all?  Keep reading and I'll let you have all the answers.

Layers and a Rust Effect gives an Industrial Effect

I haven't taken part in the Tag Tuesday challenge in quite a while.  The current theme is Anything Industrial which allowed me to try out various techniques.