Lovely Bubbly For That's Crafty

Hello everyone and apologies in advance for my project title but I couldn't resist a bit of a pun because of the effect achieved on my clean and simple card which is today's tutorial over at That's Crafty.
Hope you like it and you'll find all the details over at the blog. Here's a sneak peek.

I'll be back in a while with news of the new challenge over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog which goes live at 8am today.

See you later!

Fliss xx

Nature At Make My Monday

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a lovely weekend. It's been really lovely here, warm and sunny the whole time for once!
We have a new challenge today over at Make My Monday and this week I picked the theme and I chose a favourite of mine, NATURE. I hope you like my inspiration.

I made my background paper first with a square of thick watercolour paper which I sprayed with water and then swiped on Distress Stains in Crushed Olive, Shabby Shutters, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed and Dried Marigold. I dried this off and then stamped on the large fern leaf sprig from the Hero Arts Fern stamp and die set with VersaFine Spanish Moss. I stamped some on scrap paper first for a faded effect.
I cut a slightly larger square of recycled greyboard and inked round the edges with Distress Embossing Ink then heat embossed with Fran-tage Aged Green Embossing Enamel. I distressed the edges of my background paper with an emery board and added this to the greyboard panel.
I stamped the kingfisher on thick smooth cartridge paper with Memories black ink and then coloured him with Tombow markers and pastel pencils. I cut him out to leave a narrow off white border.
I made the distressed panel by applying Tumbled Glass Distress ink to a rectangle of the cartridge paper direct from the pad and then stamped on the Kaisercraft Wood Panel stamp with Weathered Wood DI and embossed with the Cuttlebug distressed stripes folder and swiped the ink on the raised areas.
The embellishments were made by  stamping the fern with the moss ink and the dragonflies with VersaFine Deep Lagoon. I then coloured the 2 dragonflies with Tombow markers then cut them out with the die and sponged with VersaMark ink and heat embossed with sparkly powder. The fern was die cut and because of the large white areas left, I sponged on some Crushed Olive DI to make them blend in.
I assembled the panel as you see with a mix of double sided and foam tape. I finished off with some twisted green chiffon ribbon.

I hope you can join in as we'd love to see your interpretation of the theme.

Have a great week,
Fliss xx

I'm A Believer For That's Crafty

Hello everyone, I hope you've all had a good week and hopefully less busy than mine! This is a very quick post to let you know that I have a post over at That's Crafty today with my usual Friday tutorial and this week I'm sharing a card with an inspirational message.

Here's a sneak peek and you'll find all the details over at the blog.

Have a great day and a lovely weekend and hopefully see you soon.

Fliss xx

Black And White With A Hint Of One Colour And An Oops!

Hello everyone from a rather tired Fliss. I've had a very busy weekend with family stuff and very little time for crafting which is part of the reason for my oops! I managed to miss the fact that the theme of this week's challenge at Make My Monday is actually Black and White With A Hint Of One Colour and a teeny teeny bit of yellow has crept into my inspiration - oops!
Here's what I made and I hope you like it.

I decided to ink up one of my new Santoro stamps which I couldn't resist when I saw them as they're so different to the last release and much more my style.
I stamped the main image and some of the flowers directly on my card blank together with the little bird from the set. I added colour to the flowers with a red pencil and then noticed a tiny black smudge above the flowers on the right side. This was when my oops happened as I drew a butterfly over the smudge and coloured it wtth a yellow pencil for contrast. It wasn't until I went to add it to the challenge post that I saw the one colour bit so you'll have to forgive my mistake.
I finished off with a Tim Holtz small talk sticker.

Have a great week.
Fliss xx

Lovely Leaves At That's Crafty Challenge Blog

Hello again, I'm back with news of our new challenge at That's Crafty Challenge Blog and the theme for the next fortnight is Leaves so we'd like to see one or some on your creation.

I'm sure you all know how much I love Autumn when the leaves start to turn and go wonderful shades of russet and gold so that was what inspired my creation which is a card with an Autumn wreath.

I made the background paper first by inking up a piece of mixed media paper with Squeezed Lemonade and Craushed Olive Distress inks and then stamped on a leafy frond from an Inkadinkado Stamping Gear leaf set with Wild Honey Distress ink. I then distressed the edges with an emery board.
I then made the wreath using the Creative Expressions Perfect Peony Complete Petals stamp set and die set. I stamped lots of leaves and some flowers on paper coloured with various Autumn shades of Distress ink and then die cut them with the dies.
I die cut a circle of card and then added the leaves to form a wreath using both glue and foam pads for dimension. I then added the flowers in the centre and finished them with dots of Cosmic Shimmer Twinkles by Phill Oliver in Decadent Oak.
I distressed a piece of corrugated packaging with Gesso and pale green acrylic paint together with dried paint scrapings and glued the wreath to this before gluing to the card.
I finished off with a Tim Holtz Big Chat sticker which I swiped with a little yellow ink.

Hope you can enter!

Have a great weekend,
Fliss xx

Born To Stand Out For That's Crafty

Hello everyone and apologies for my lack of visiting this week as I haven't yet caught up from my hols and have been working full time since Wednesday with very little time for blogging (also have a dodgy internet connection!).
Today is my day to post at That's Crafty and this week I've made a bright tag featuring another of Sir Tim's quirky and crazy birds and I think he goes really well with the quote too.

Hope you like this and you'll find all the details over at the blog if you'd like to hop over.

I'll be back in a bit with the details of our new challenge today at That's Crafty Challenge Blog.

See you later!
Fliss xx

Something Beginning With An F

Hello everyone, I'm back from my holiday to Lake Garda with a slightly late post for our new challenge today over at Make My Monday mostly due to a dodgy internet connection over the last day or so.
I'd like to say welcome here to our new DT members Amy, Martina and Shawna and a big welcome back to Caz who has returned after a long break. Lovely to have you with us ladies and you certainly rocked Marina's chosen theme of Something With An F which if you hop on over to the blog will show you there are loads of options for this one.
My inspiration is the card for my mother in law's birthday tomorrow and is floral in her favourite shades of pink and green.

As you can see, a fairly simple creation for me as I wanted to showcase the gorgeous gerbera daisy flower die by Susan Tierney Cockburn for Sissix. I die cut the flower section from 2 shades of pink card and sponged and stippled the petals with Spun Sugar and Picked Raspberry Distress inks. I then used several embossing ball tools to score, bend and shape the inked petals.
I die cut the stamens and flower centres from deep red and grey card and shaped these with the embossing tools before gluing all the flower sections together. I then used Cosmic Shimmer Twinkles by Phill Oliver in Decadent Oak to add dots to the flower centre.
I die cut 2 large and 2 small leaves fron 2 shades of green card, stippling these with Twisted Citron and Mowed Lawn Distress inks, scoring and shaping as before with the embossing tools.
I added a strip of pink and green K and Co paper to my white card blank then glued on the flower and leaves.
I finished off with a Flonzcraft sentiment stamped on pale pink card with Archival Olive ink, matted on deep red paper, corner trimmed and added to the patterned paper panel.

Ciao for now and will be round to visit as soon as I can.
Fliss xx

Finding Time Art Journal Page For That's Crafty

Hello there, this is a scheduled post as I'm currently on my hols in Italy so I'm hoping Mr Blogger doesn't let me down.

I have my usual Friday post over at That's Crafty and I hope you'll pop over to see the whole thing as this is just a sneak peek. Hope you like it!

I'll be back at the weekend and will hopefully have some pics to share as we're at Lake Garda and lakes and mountains are one of my favourite things (apart from cable cars that is!!!)

See you soon.

Fliss xx

Alphabet Soup At That's Crafty Challenge Blog

Hello again, I'm back with my second post today which is all about our new challenge over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog which for the next fortnight has the theme of Alphabet Soup.

My inspiration is rather different to my last post as it's a masculine card this time with a slightly steampunk flavour.

I made the background paper with vintage shades of Distress Ink and I then stamped on a Carabelle Studio alphabet collage stamp. I then used 2 That's Crafty Dinky Stencils with the same ink.
I stamped on some of the elements from an Oxford Impressions steampunk stamp set and stamped the Einstein (I think!) image on a tan tile and trimmed to a panel. I added this to a dark grey mat.
I attached the panel to a grey card blank and added the image panel to finish.

I used:
Carabelle Studio Cling Stamp - Une Plume Sur Mon Carnet
Oxford Impressions Unmounted Stamp Set - Steampunk
That's Crafty Dinky Stencils - Grid Background, Arrows
Distress Inks - Wild Honey, Fossilized Amber, Vintage Photo, Pumice Stone
Archival Watering Can Ink

There's a fab prize of a £20 voucher for the online shop up for grabs if you enter and do hop over to see my DT mates creations which are totally fab too!

Have a great weekend and week and see you when I get back!
Fliss xx


 

Freedom For That's Crafty

Hello everyone, I'm here today after a very difficult week with my post for That's Crafty as it's my turn today to share a tutorial which this time is a much needed bright and cheerful mixed media art panel.

I'm not feeling that cheerful myself as you may not know that I live just down the coast from where the tragic accident happened at the Shoreham air show last Saturday and in common with everyone round here I'm still rather stunned by it.
It's affected my whole week as with the A27 being closed on the Shoreham flyover, the alternative route is a huge loop which is unfortunately my current route to work in Steyning which is just above Shoreham. I'm not actually complaining as the reason for the diversion is so very sad, it's just very tiring queuing every day to get to work.

The good news is we're off on our hols tomorrow which are much needed in my case and we're headed for Lake Garda in Italy which is hopefully warmer than here as yesterday felt like Autumn had already arrived!

Here's a sneak peek of my art panel which I hope you like and all the details are over at the blog as usual.

I'll be back a bit later with details of our new challenge over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog which goes live at 8am.

Fliss x

Crazy Together For That's Crafty

Hello everyone, hope you've all had a good week. Sorry for my lack of visiting lately too, things have been very busy here and I haven't had much time for creating, let alone blogging!
My post today is to let you know that I have my Friday project over at That's Crafty and this week I've been breaking out the Brushos again for a bit of serendipity involving rather too much water but the result was a riot of colour which I rather like!

Here's a sneak peek and you'll find the whole thing over at the blog is you'd like to see how it came about.

Aren't these birds just too cute!

Have a great day and a fab weekend and see you again soon.

Fliss x

Going Under The Sea At That's Crafty Challenge Blog

Hello again, today sees the start of a new challenge over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog and for the next fortnight we'd like to see your creations featuring an Under The Sea theme.
The Design Team have really rocked this challenge as I said earlier and you really should hop on over to see for some fabulous creations.
Here's my inspiration which I hope you like.

This is actually a greyboard wall hanging even if it looks more like a tag!

I covered the panel with a scrap of leftover Gelli print paper which was made with blue and green Paper Artsy acrylics and my 8x10 Gelli plate. I had applied the paint a little too thickly so I misted on some water and this paper was the result - serendipity strikes again! I sandwiched the ribbon in between to form the hanger.

I then used the Bubbles Dinky Stencil by That's Crafty to apply bubbles with an olive and a white pencil to draw inside the stencil shapes.

I stamped the Deep Red Seahorse with VersaFine Olympia Green ink and heat embossed it with clear powder. I then painted the image with acrylic paints and cut it out. I also stamped an image from the Carabelle Studio Ombrelines Aux Pistils Par Azoline stamp set, stamping twice with VersaFine Spanish Moss and Satin Red inks then clear embossed as before and painted them with green and purple paints. I then cut out just the central area of the green image and glued this on top of the purple one. It was inspired by a picture of a sea anemone I saw in the TV Times.

I made the seaweed fronds from Gelli print scraps using a branch die and glued all the elements on as you see.

Hope you can join us for a chance at a fab prize of a £20 voucher for the online shop where you'' be spoilt for choice.

Have a great day and a lovely weekend.

Fliss x

Positivity For That's Crafty

Hello everyone, hoping you've all had a good week. Mine has been very busy as I've been doing studying at work in the form of rather tiring webinars and a lot of reading up online in order to get ready for my Xero accounting software accreditation test which I managed to flunk on Tuesday (I had to get 80% and only managed 76% - darn it!). Happily yesterday I took it again and this time got 92% - yippee! I now have Xero certification (yes, I know I should be certified!) for a year and then it all starts again.
This is my first post of the day which is to let you know that I have my Friday project over at That's Crafty Blog which this week is another page in my A5 size journal using my new Dina Wakley stamps which are fabulous for journals. Here's a sneak peek to tempt you.

You'll find all the details over at the blog and I'd really love it if you'd pop over.

I'll be back a bit later as we have a new challenge for you today over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog and I think the Design Team have really rocked this fortnight's theme!

See you in a while,

Fliss xx

Be Outstanding For That's Crafty

Hello everyone and welcome to my post today which is to let you know that I have my usual Friday tutorial over at That's Crafty Blog which is a card for someone who might be in need of a bit of encouragement.
Sadly at the moment that could be me as my eyesight problems continue as after 5 weeks I still can't see my computer screen at work which is an arm's length away from me! I have to admit to have had a very polite tantrum in the optician's yesterday resulting in a talk with the manager and I have to go back today!
Hope you like my project - sneak peek below and you'll find all the details over at the blog if you'd like to visit.

Have a great day and a lovely weekend and see you soon.

Fliss xx

Purple Passion

Hello again, it's time for the new challenge at That's Crafty Challenge Blog and I'm here to share my Purple Passion inspiration which I hope you like.

You'll have to excuse the slightly dodgy pic as I had to scan the card having managed to mess up my camera settings when I dropped it when I went to take the photo - what am I like!

I made the background paper by using my Gelli Plate with Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Paints (Lilac and Moonlight) with white card.

I then stamped on the Carabelle Studio Femme et Oiseaux image with VersaFine Imperial Purple ink directly on the painted paper. It didn't quite stamp properly (I think due to the painted surface) but I managed to sort out her hair with a soft brush which gave it a slightly misty look that I rather like> I added a little colour to the lips, eyes and birds with coloured pencils.

I used the Distressed Harlequin Dinky Stencil with Paper Artsy Fesco Finish Paint in Pansy to add a pattern to the paper and finished off with the text from the Carabelle Studio Every Bird stamp set.

I distressed the edges and then added the paper to a card blank to finish.

Have a great weekend.

Fliss xx

All You Need Is Love (And Stencils)

Hello everyone and welcome to today's first post which is to let you know I have a project to share over at That's Crafty.
This week it's a fairly simple graphic type card in bright colours which is really quite easy to make. You'll find all the details over at the blog.

I'll be round to visit over the weekend if I haven't yet got to you - sorry, but things are still busy and tomorrow I have yet another trip to the opticians to look forward to - not!

See you in a bit with news of the new challenge at That's Crafty Challenge Blog.

Fliss xx

Flower Garden

Hello all, hoping you had a lovely weekend despite any adverse weather as yesterday here was a total deluge for most of the day! Also so cold I had to resort to a scarf to keep out the draughts!
It was good for crafting though and this week we're going floral at Make My Monday as the theme Suzi chose is Flowers and I'm sure you all know how much I love those.
My Flower Garden stamps came out again for this one and hope you like my inspiration.

I made the background paper with some DecoArt Spring Green paint which I applied to an acrylic block, spritzed with water then smooshed on some cartridge paper.
I dried off with a heat gun (I'm impatient you see!) and then stamped on the flower text from the Carabelle Studio Pretty Like A Flower set with Archival Fern Green ink. I then stamped on part of the Kaisercraft Honeycombe image with the same ink in the gaps.
I stamped the flower head on some paper from my bits box which was coloured with Picked Raspberry Distress Stain. I used Archival Watering Can ink for this. I then cut the image out.
I stamped the leafy stalk on the background paper with the Fern Green ink and coloured it with Inktense pencils.
I distressed the edges of the paper with an emery board and glued it to a card blank. I added the flower head with foam pads and finished off with the Carabelle text stamped on cartridge paper.

This is our last challenge until September as we're all taking a well earned rest for August to recharge our creative juices. Hope you can join us.

Have a great day and a lovely week.
Fliss xx

Illusions For That's Crafty

Hello everyone, I hope you've all had a good week. Mine has been so busy I can't wait for the weekend!
My post today is to let you know I have a project to share today over at That's Crafty Blog. This week it's an art panel with a nature theme which I hope you like.

I've used one of the fab new white/grey board panels for my project and I've been playing with the brand new and exclusive Dinky Stencils again and one of them has been used in a slightly unusual way. Please visit the blog to find out how!

Have a great day and a lovely weekend.
Fliss xx

Steampunk at Make My Monday

Hello all, hoping you had a lovely weekend with some sunshine as we did. Mine was also very busy with family stuff as we had my younger one home for the weekend after the lucky thing had been to the Alexander McQueen exhibition at the V&A so I'm sure you can guess I'm a tad green with envy!

We also had my parents in law over for lunch yesterday as my father in law had a minor op on Friday so we thought it would cheer him up and also today is his 90th birthday although you'd never guess if you saw him.

I've been a bit of a cheat with my inspiration for the Steampunk challenge at Make My Monday this week yet again due to lack of time so hope you like it even if you have seen it before. It's the favourite of the steampunk cards I've made over the last few years which is partly why I am sharing it.

This was made with the Creative Expressions Sam Poole steampunk image which I coloured with Aquamarkers. I then inked the edges of the panel with blue Distress ink.
I inked up a panel dry embossed with the X Cut clock folder with Wild Honey, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress inks.
I then dry embossed a kraft panel with the Cuttlebug gears folder. I painted some chipboard cogs with blue paint and assembled the card adding a metal cog and stamped text to finish.

Hope you have a ood week.
Fliss xx

Stencils and Masks At That's Crafty Challenge Blog

Hello again and yes, you guessed right as our new challenge today over at That's Crafty Challenge Blog, in honour of the launch week of the Dinky Stencils is Stencils and Masks.

Here's my inspiration and I'll be adding the details later today as my eyelids started drooping when I started writing this last night!

Have a great day and a lovely weekend.

Fliss xx