Robin gift bag

Hello lovely peeps.

I found a lovely card on Pinterest by Minna0402 and it inspired me to do something similar with some kraft paper bags that I bought last month for decorating.

First I stamped the snowbird (Stampendous) onto Kraft card with Black Archival Ink and coloured it in with my new Gansai Tambi paints

I used some Artemio stamps and Timber Brown Stazon to add some interest around the edges

and then splattered on white acrylic paint to make it look snowy.
I attached a snowflake charm (Dovecraft) by wrapping white twine around and then matted and layered onto a Kraft bag with red and white card

It's finished off with a Christmassy red bow and some white pine sprig die-cuts (Impression Obsession)

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:-
Simon Says Stamp (Wed) Christmas to die for
Crafty Ribbons #177 Christmas..with ribbon
Creative Corner Winter
Penny Black and More Christmas
Live & Love Crafts Challenge #53 White Christmas
Noor! Designs UK #24 Winter
A Snowflakes Promise  #33 AG/optional theme seasons
Sweet Stampers #1 Christmas
Open-Minded Challenges #11Christmas/Hannukah 
Sparkles Forum Challenges # 86 Christmas is coming

Thanks for stopping by,

Katrina x

Happy Movember for Leonie

Hello lovely peeps

Wow, that week went quickly. Hot on the heels of my trip to Cornwall to see my family, my sister-in-law arrived for a few days and I had my first day back at work ☺

This week is a bit quieter though, so I'll be getting a couple more blog posts in. 

While it's still November, I thought I'd share my Movember card that I made for Leonie's sale shows last Wednesday/Thursday

To do the greeting  I stamped some of the Message Ribbons onto white card with Black Memento Ink

and cut them up to get the words/letters I wanted

Next I covered a 6x6" card blank with papers from the 'He Said, She Said' paper pad by Teresa Collins

To do the face I took some black card and cut the eyes in the 'Looking Good' die set and then the Big Heart Base, which I cut up to make the moustache. I arranged them on a square of more patterned paper and layered it up on the card with the sentiment.

It's finished off with black enamel dots (Ranger Enamel Accents)

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:-
Crafty Catz #346: Anything Goes (Optional twist --use red)
Creative Moments #106 Anything Goes
Creatalicious Challenges #103 - Anything Goes with optional use a sentiment  
613 Avenue Create  #191 Anything Goes
Crafting With An Attitude  #21 Anything Goes Always
Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies Challenge November 

Thanks for stopping by,

Katrina x

Rusty clock for Leonie

Hello lovely peeps, and welcome to my new follower :o)

There's a 'better than half price' One Day Special on Hochanda tonight and tomorrow, featuring Leonie's Mixed Media dies, Entwined Heart dies and associated stamps. The team* have made some new samples to inspire you.

*We have some new additions - please welcome Anne Dimitriou, Anne Richardson, Diane Ingram and Nicola Clegg. I hope you will spot their work on the TV shows.

Nicola doesn't have one yet, but I have added everyone else's blog links on my sidebar ------>

For my first sample I've 'rusted' something.  Ever since Andy Skinner was on Hochanda a few months back I've been dying to have a bash at this, and I'm quite chuffed with the result.

The clock started life like this:-

but I've made it look a bit different with the aid of these

First I painted three coats of white gesso on, to smooth out the texture a bit and hide the markings. The fourth coat was Titanium white mixed with a smidge of Buff Titanium acrylic paint.

Next I splattered on Payne's grey and Quinacrodone Gold mixed with Payne's Grey

While that was drying I cut Leonie's 'In a Spin' die from grey card and slapped on a bit of Matte Medium. I put this aside to dry as well.

I randomly painted on some Quinacrodone Gold and a bit of Transparent Yellow Oxide then sprinkled with a bit of table salt before allowing it to dry.
 

I glued the die-cut onto the clock base using Collall Tacky Glue

The clock hands were painted with white gesso to prime them and then I painted on watered down Payne's Grey and sprinkled on salt. Once this was dry I rubbed off the salt and added the Quin Gold and Yellow Oxide paints.

Now for the outside frame...

I cut another 'In a Spin' die-cut from card and used it as a stencil. I sprayed Stick and Spray over the back and placed it over the frame before stencilling Matte Medium through.

Sorry for the pictures at this point - the sun was streaming through the window.

Once this was dry I painted on Paynes Grey and a smidgy of the Yellow Oxide, then sprinkled with salt.

I added Quin Gold and salt to the inside edge, let it dry, then covered with more diluted PG and salt.

For the 12/3/6/9 o'clock positions I stamped and embossed the screwhead from the Gimme Texture

Mixed Media Stamps with Versamark and black embossing powder.
I also stamped one of the sayings from Hey There Dreamer around the frame with Black Archival ink.

To finish off I added a thick coat of clear crackle glaze to the clock face. I'm not sure why there's a little bit of white 'bloom' in places - maybe the glaze reacting with traces of salt? I couldn't do much about it and I guess it adds to the aged look so I'm calling it a happy accident :o)

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:-
 Left of Center Creative Challenges #156 Inspired By (Andy Skinner's rusting technique)
A Vintage Journey - Cracking Up (inspired by Andy Skinner)
613 Avenue Create  #191 Anything Goes
We Love 2 Create #23 Anything Mixed Media Goes
Creative Moments #105 Anything Goes w/optional twist Thanks
Creative Artiste Challenge #20 "Anything Mixed Media"
Just Us Girls  #369 trend week - metallic
Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies Challenge November 

 Leonie is on Hochanda this evening at 8pm GMT and again tomorrow (Thursday 17th November) at 9am, 12pm, 4pm and 7pm.

You can watch Hochanda live online, Sky channel 663, Freeview 85 or Freesat 817.

Thanks for stopping by,

Katrina x

Special Birthday Wishes

Hello lovely peeps, and a very warm welcome to my 2 new followers :o)

I made this card for one of my crafting friends for her 75th birthday, using a stamp by Dawn Bibby.

First I stamped onto Sheena's stamping card with Black Archival ink and then covered up the roses on the dress with Pebeo drawing gum

 I added water to some Crimson Brusho on my craft mat and used it to watercolour the dress.

At the bottom I used the wet-on-wet technique to give a soft shadow

I cut down some pink papers from two different pads to fit a 7"x7" card and distressed the edges with my scissors.

then layered them up with a Memory Box die-cut and some dark pink wired ribbon (this was attached with Collall 3D glue gel - I put a weight on while it dried)

The sentiment is from the Sketchy Wishes set by Lili of the Valley

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:-
Squirrels Not-So-Random Challenge #2 one colour
The Ribbon Girls November Anything Goes (Card)
Crafty Gals Corner #97 Use a sentiment 
My Time to Craft #333 distress it 
Southern Girls  #147 Anything Goes 

Thanks for stopping by,

Katrina x

Autumn colours

Hello lovely peeps

It's the first Saturday of the month which means it is time for a new challenge at Crafty Calendar. The theme this month is

 'Autumn Colours'

and the sponsors are

and

For my inspiration card I have used Brushos and stamps/dies from Issue 11 of the Crafters Companion Inspiration magazine

First I stamped three types of the leaves onto watercolour card with Versamark ink and sprinkled on Detail White embossing powder (Stampendous) before melting.

I sprinkled Dark Brown, Crimson and Orange Brusho powders onto the card and spritzed with water

I used the corresponding dies to cut the leaves out and cut a Happy Birthday from watercolour card using the Butterfly Lullaby Signature collection

I cut another 6" square of watercolour card and sprinkled more Brusho powders in the centre before spritzing with water. I wrapped red and brown organza ribbon around the card and tied with a knot before attaching it to a 6"x6" card blank. The sentiment and leaves were attached with Cosmic Shimmer/Pinflair Glue Gel. 

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:-
Crafty Ribbons #174 Anything Goes..with ribbon or lace
Deep Ocean Challenge #141 Use die-cuts or punches
Artistic Stampers  Autumnal
Tinker- Dream  #46 fall/halloween
Crafty Catz #345: Anything Goes (Optional twist --Add Snowflakes)

Thanks for stopping by,

Katrina x

Icy Hugs for LOTV

Hello lovely peeps, I hope you are well.

It's the start of a new challenge today on the Lili of the Valley Facebook page and in honour of Remembrance Day we have this lovely colour palette for you to follow.
.

 Your make must include a Lili of the Valley image and at least one of the colours from the palette. Easy peasy! There are 3 prizes on offer and the winners will be drawn at random from all the entries;
1st - £20 LOTV voucher
2nd - £15 LOTV voucher
3rd - £10 LOTV voucher

For my inspiration card I have used Icy Hugs and two of the Christmas Sentiment Tag stamps

To start off I stamped Icy Hugs onto Sheena's stamping card with Black Archival Ink and then coloured it with Spectrum Aqua markers.
  
Rather than colouring the image directly with the pens, I scribbled the pens onto a white tile and picked up the colour with a small paintbrush.

I did the shadows and skin first (Charcoal and Peach)

 

then added the rest of the colours:
Her dress: Desert
Her hat/scarf: Begonia
His hat/jumper: Slate
His scarf/gloves/trousers: Navy

(I did add some Begonia directly onto the card for the darkest areas of red since the colour wasn't intense enough otherwise).

I layered up the finished image onto a 6"x6" card blank with 'Frosted Winter' papers from Trimcraft and a bit of cheesecloth. The snowflakes and Christmas trees were die-cut from white card (Joy crafts and Sizzix dies)

As a finishing touch I added some Glamour Dust glitter to the ice

and Ranger Enamel Dots in the corners

 I would like to enter this in the following challenges:-
Allsorts #387 - Let's make a start on Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas #305 Anything Goes
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge #84 trees
Noor! Designs UK #24 Winter
One Crazy Stamper fall/winter fun
Art Impressions Stamp Challenge   #196 prepare for Christmas
Winter Wonderland Frosty or Well wrapped Up 
Simon Says Stamp (Wed) Anything Goes
Deep Ocean Challenge #141 Use die-cuts or punches
Live & Love Crafts Challenge #53 White Christmas 

Thanks for stopping by,

Katrina x