Party Paws

Are you impressed with me being back again SO soon - lol!!  Thought I would pop on and post another card before my laptop dies on me!! So without further ado here it is.......

This was created using one of the Party Paws rubber stamps along with some papers printed out from the Party Paws Christmas CD Rom and coloured with both Spectrum Noir pens and pencils.  The trees are a Die'sire die. All from Crafter's Companion.

Here's a different view of it so that you can see that it slots behind the small fir tree to create the 3D front. Once again I liberally sprinkled Shabby White embossing enamel (Stampendous) and used Stormy Sky distress ink to add some shadowing to the trees.

 

And here's the other 'side view' of the card.

Cute Christmas!!

Hi peeps!!  Well I've got to be very quick with my post as my laptop is very poorly and only lasts about 10 minutes before it shuts down for the day!!

So here goes with my card for today.

As some of you know I joined Crafter's Companion DT earlier this year and have now got into CD crafting which was totally new to me!!  I always thought that it wasn't that 'creative' but it is quite surprising just what you can do once you start adding lots of different elements from the CD Roms.

This card was created using quite a few different elements from the Christmas Moonbeam Meadows CD Rom along with the Fir Trees Die'sire die - both from Crafter's Companion.  I added some Shabby White embossing enamel to the imagery and some Stormy Sky Distress ink.

Whereas the card below (also from the Moonbeam Meadows CD) is just simply one of the images stuck to a card blank with some Stickles added to it and a couple of gems.

I honestly loved working with this CD Rom as all the images were just fab!!

I hope to be back again very soon with some more cards to show you if my laptop will allow!!  Meanwhile I have a new one on order as I can't live without one!!

A Frosty Morning

So today my computer has got to go to the 'doctors' as it's not very well!!!!  So just incase it doesn't come back I thought I'd quickly post up a card that I created last year using the fabulous Lavinia Stamps.  Just LOVE this range of stamps and I ended up doing a 'happy dance' when The Craft Barn began stocking them!!

Anyway without further ado here is the extra long card that I created which is A4 folded in half lengthways.

The background was created just by tearing bits of paper and sponged with Distress inkpads.

 As you can see when the card catches the light it really shimmers - this was down to using an Encore Silver metallic inkpad and Stardust embossing powder.

As you can see I chose to stamp the 'outer' trees with the silver inkpad too in order to make them shimmer and give the impression of 'frost'.

Here's a closer look at the middle of the card where you can see I added a touch of shadowing under the horses which was just done with a water brush.

The finishing touch was sprinkling just a little of Stampendous' Shabby White embossing enamel over the whole thing.

Hope you like it!!

All products used are available from The Craft Barn.

The Snow Cards

Helloooooooo!!  As promised here are the Snow cards with those Distress Ink backgrounds.

 

 I think out of all the cards that I did this is my favourite colour scheme which was Tumbled Glass and Weathered Wood. Once again the huge Snow word was painted with FlitterGlu and Crystal glitter was then popped over the top. For the snowflake I just added Silver Stickles.

 

Then as you can see I had once again stamped IndigoBlu's Frosted Baubles with FlitterGlu and gilded it - just love this effect!!

And here is the other Snow card this time with Dusty Concord added to the Tumbled Glass.

And of course those Frosted Baubles again gilded with leafing flakes.

I'm really hoping that I might get chance to make some of these as my Christmas Cards for this year!!

Oh and just a bit of news to share.........................I am now proud to announce that I am an Accredited Spectrum Noir Colourist!!

More Snow and Santa cards!

Here are some more Christmas cards using the huge Santa stamp again by Francoise - this time with Distress Inkpad backgrounds for a totally different look to the last posting.

Background for the above card was achieved using Victorian Velvet and Seedless Preserves Distress inks. The Santa wording was stamped onto one of the  Silent Night First Edition papers and then coloured with Copics. Dies are Memory Box.

As you can see when the card catches the light I have used IndigoBlu's Frosted Baubles stamp with FlitterGlu and gilding flakes.

This time Milled Lavender and Dusty Concord were used for the background. Santa was painted with FlitterGlu and Crystal glitter sprinkled over the top and then coloured with Copics.

Then as you can see when the card catches the light Frosted Baubles has been stamped with FlitterGlu again and gilded.

I'll be back in a few days time to show you the Snow ones with Distress ink backgrounds.

The time has come!!

Well I can't put it off any longer and I have now got to think about what design I am going to do for this years Christmas cards so with that thought in mind I thought I'd share some Christmas cards that I have made in previous years for demos/classes etc....

So to start it off I thought I'd share this one that I made last year for The Glitter Pot's Christmas Spectacular using one of Francoise's huge wording stamps along with some Memory Box dies and some pretty patterned paper that came from an 8x8 First Edition paper pad called Silent Night.

I edged the card with some leafing flakes using FlitterGlu as the adhesive which when it catched the light really sparkles.

 And here's another card using the same patterned paper but another of Francoise's huge words.

I painted the wording with FlitterGlu and then sprinkled over crystal glitter then coloured with Copics.

I also used IndigoBlu's bauble stamp which was stamped with FlitterGlu and gilded with leafing flakes.

I just love these huge wording stamps - they make such great statement Christmas cards!!
All materials used on these cards can be bought from The Glitter Pot.
I'll be back with some more cards showing these stamps very soon!!!

Last minute class added!!

Hi everyone.  Just popping on to let you know that I've just agreed to do a class at The Craft Barn on Sunday 2nd November which will be a re-run of the class that wasn't able to go ahead in September.

In this class we'll be playing around with Distress inkpads, stencils, Sparkle Medium along with some Lavinia Stamps.

This will be my last class at The Craft Barn before I hibernate for winter - lol!!!

If anyone is interested please click here to be taken to The Craft Barn's website for more details :).

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Chameleon pens

Today I thought I'd share my thoughts with you about the new innovative Chameleon pens that launched on C&C a couple of weeks ago.

As I think we all know I absolutely love my Copic markers and more recently have become a fan of the Spectrum Noir range too. When I saw the Chameleon pens (being that they are alcohol based) I was definitely interested in trying them out especially as you can get SO many tones just from one pen!!!

Below is my VERY first go with them.

The background was done with Distress inkpads but all the actual colouring of the snowmen was achieved with the Chameleon pens and nothing else. For anyone that struggles with the normal blending process using three or four corresponding markers then these pens are most definitely for you as they really do provide a seamless blend. Plus they will work along side other alcohol based markers and of course you can use pencils over the top of these too.

To be fair there is a bit of a learning curve with them, learning how long to fuse them for and getting the hang of colouring in either a side to side movement or little circles as opposed to flicking or feathering (which was always my preferred method) but it really doesn't take long to adapt to this way of colouring. Also I am not a 'great' colourist - there are people out there who are just amazing at colouring and I'm not one of them!!  I would say that I am a 'middle of the road' sort of colourer so if I can do it from following the demos on telly anyone can!!!

So far I have only had a very quick go with the complete set that I bought but I am really looking forward to trying out different images with them and having a good play!!

I am thinking about running some classes (from my home) using these pens for anyone that is interested in having a go with them so if anyone is interested in this please do email me.

Spectrum Noir pencils

I have had the priviledge of being able to play around with Spectrum Noir pencils since they were released earlier this year and I can honestly say that I absolutely love them!!! The pigment within the pencils is really rich and you are able to achieve a wonderful smooth blend with these gorgeous wax based pencils.  My current favourite way of colouring is to colour with my Spectrum Noir pens first and then add more depth and dimension to the image with the pencils.

However the pencils create great results on their own too.  This is one of the cards that I created for a class that I taught at The Craft Barn last month using the pencils onto textured Core-dinations cardstock. Even though I was colouring onto green textured card you are still able to achieve a rich vibrant result with them - this was created just using the pencils on their own without blending solution.  The white accents on the flowers are from a white gel pen.

Currently there is a fantastic Four Day Deal on Create and Craft where you can buy the whole set of these pencils (all 5 sets) at a ridiculous price. Do tune is as Leann has been showing some different techniques with them and I for one am definitely going to try the technique with the gesso as I just loved that!!

Below is a photo showing the difference the pencils can make when using them over alcohol markers.  The panda's hat on the right was coloured very roughly with my pink Spectrum Noir markers and the panda's hat on the left shows not only how you can smooth out your colouring by adding pink pencils over the top but also how much depth you can achieve to your colouring.  And yes you can use these pencils over the top of any alcohol marker :).

 

So if any of you have been thinking about giving the Spectrum Noir pencils a go and haven't dipped your toe into the water this deal is most definitely worth checking out!!  I honestly and truly absolutely LOVE mine :).

New classes just added

Oh goodness I cannot believe it has been so long since I last posted anything!!  The days just keep whipping by and nowadays I find it quicker just to pop something on Facebook so my poor blog has become a bit neglected!!  I'll try to do better!!

This morning I have been busy updating my Classes/Demos page both with classes at stores as well as a couple of Christmas based classes that I will be running from home until December 10th.

Here's some pics of them -

This first one is a class that I'll be doing this Saturday at The Glitter Pot where we will be combining Sparkle Medium and stencils with stamping and colouring.

Then in November I am back again at The Glitter Pot with A Traditional Copic Christmas.  Below is one of the cards we will be creating in this class.

And lastly from now until December 10th 2014 I'll be running a couple of Christmas card classes from home concentrating on how to colour combining Spectrum Noir pens and pencils.

 

 

If you click on my Classes/Demos tab you can find out more about all of them.

Father's Day

Hi everyone. A super quick post from me today showing the couple of cards that I made for Dad for this Father's Day.

 This one is a photo that I took on our recent holiday to the Norway Fjords.

And this one is made using an image from Crafter's Companion's Halcyon Days CD Rom. Love the imagery on this!!!!

Scruffy Little Cat - Ashleigh

Been sooooooooooooooo busy with creating cards that I just haven't had the time to post anything for ages so I thought I'd make up for it now by posting a few different looking cards that I recently created for The Craft Barn's Extravaganza Weekend using just one of the new stamp releases by Crafter's Companion from the Scruffy Little Cat range called Ashleigh.  So here goes........

 Papers are from the Vintage Spring paper pad by Maja Designs.

A closer look at the colouring which was achieved using Spectrum Noir pens and pencils which I am just loving!!  As most of you know I've always been a Copic girl but I can honestly say that I am loving the new generation Spectrum Noir pens - I haven't put any of the interchangable brush tips into mine yet but am achieving a good blend just with the bullet tip.

 

 

This is my take on a clean and simple card using this image - again coloured using Spectrum Noir pens and pencils with Pumice Stone Distress ink for the background around Ashleigh.

 

Another simple card using just the Grand Labels Four die from Spellbinders to give a different feel to the card. Papers again from the Vintage Spring paper pad.

 

A closer look at the colouring again - I used the same colours as the clean and simple card - mainly warm greys and golden browns from the Spectrum Noir range.

I have a class coming up at The Craft Barn at the end of July featuring how to colour these sort of images using Spectrum Noir pens and pencils. If anyone is interested click here for more details :)

The Glitter Pot Spring Spectacular

Helloooooooooooo!!!  So this weekend it is The Glitter Pot's Spring Demo Weekend with lots of lovely demonstrators. Once again I am honoured to be part of this fabulous event and will be there on both days showing how you can take your stencilling to the next level using Imagination Crafts wonderful Sparkle Gel along with stencils, distress inkpads, copics and mica powders.

 

These are the cards that I will have on display showcasing this technique. 

I'm really looking forward to be able to share this brand new technique which I developed a few months ago so I really hope that you will be able to stop by my table.  

Also on Saturday 21st June I have an all day class at The Glitter Pot where I'll be teaching how to make one of these cards and showing you all the techniques involved.

Heart Barkley

As promised I'm back with another Barkley card that I made for Crafter's Companion :)

This time I used the Barkley acrylic stamp set along with a Tonic heart die to make this super cute heart easel card.

 As you can see I embossed the layered heart with the Barkley Flowers For You embossing folder and then tinted it with my brand spanking new Spectrum Noirs!!!  Now I know that I am normally a Copic girl and this was my first venture into Spectrum Noirs and I can honestly say that I found them really easy to use :) 

I coloured the stamped image with my new Spectrums too. You'll be seeing a lot more Spectrum colouring from me from now on ;)

Barkley Has Arrived!!

Well the 4 Day Deal featuring Barkley has now finished on Create and Crafts website but the good news is that all the products featured can be bought direct from Crafters Companion.

Below are a couple of cards that I used the Flowers For You embossing folder along with papers and imagery from the Papercrafting Kit and the wonderful Epoxy Stickers which I just couldn't stop using!! I absolutely loved working with this kit as the pastel colours really appealed to me.

 On this card I embossed acetate with the embossing folder.

And this card features the Dottie embossing folder and shows how you can make a really simple but stylish and classy looking card just by layering up the fabulous Centura cardstock.

I'll be back soon with more Barkley :)

So did any of you spot these cards on the telly - I was glued!!!!

How Long Ago????

Oh goodness I can't believe that it was September when I last posted anything here!!!  Is there anybody there after all this time????

Well it's all been happening here and I am so proud to announce that I am now part of Crafter's Companion fabulous DT!!  I've admired their products for some time now and am thrilled and honoured to be able to work more closely with them.

Talking of which I have a sneak peek for you of Crafter's Companion 4DD starting this Monday at 8am on Create and Craft.

This is Barkley!!  And they are extending their range of this super cute dog with a set of acrylic stamps, paper pads, embossing folders and papercrafting kits to complement the pre-existing CD Rom. My Sky+ is already set at the ready to catch all of the shows.  I have seen some of the card samples that the rest of the DT have made and they are all amazing!!

Tomorrow I am off to The Craft Barn to teach a Lavinia (stamps) based class.  I hadn't realised at the time when planning this class that it would fall on Mother's Day - still I'm taking my Mum with me so we will still spend the day together!!

I have been loving playing around with the Lavinia stamps.  Again I have admired these for soooooooo long so I was absolutely thrilled when The Craft Barn started stocking them.  I won't spoil the surprise as to what the cards look like that we'll be making tomorrow but here's a taster of the sort of thing we will be doing.

Just love the whimsicality of these gorgeous stamps.  Check out The Craft Barn for these stamps and more besides - for this weekend The Craft Barn are offering free postage too!!