Merry Christmas Everyone

Merry Christmas and a BIG virtual squeeze to you all 🎄🎄🎄

Have a Veggie Merry Christmas

Well hello there!

Today I have a very non-traditional Christmas card to share with you, made especially for a fellow allotmenteer.

The veggie stamp set was from Clearly Besotted but I'm not sure if it's available anymore. I used Versamagic Chalk inks. They're old inks, but probably one of my favourites as they are really creamy, don't blotch and stamp perfectly first time.  They're aren't many colours but I highly recommend them.

I went for a loose, veggie wreath theme with the images. The sentiment was from Winnie & Walter and I finished with some glittery sticker dots and silver glitter highlights.

Random, I know...lol

I hope your preparations for the big day are coming together and you'll soon be able to sit back and relax.

Have a groovy weekend.

Distress Oxides on Photo Paper

Ahoy and Festive Greetings!

Not long now until the big day .... Yay!

Today's cards were made using Distress Oxides, glossy photo paper and stamps from MFT. The reason for using glossy photo paper is that you get that intensity of colour from the Distress colours rather than the chalky look.

These are the colours I used and the technique was simple...just rub ink onto your craft mat, spray on water and then smoosh the photo paper in to the colour. Do one colour at a time and air dry or heat dry in between each layer of colour.

When you're all done you are left with a chalky mass of colour (interesting that some of these colours produce greens or purples in their chalky state). Grab a wet wipe and 'clean' the paper to reveal an intensely coloured, glossy look. 

*left side not wiped on above image*

Ta-Da!

I much prefer the zingy, bright colours to the chalky look but you can only do this on glossy photo paper.

Next job was to fussy-cut a heap of skiing polar bears from MFT's 'Polar Bear Pals'.

Wish I'd bought the matching dies...this killed my hands...lol

I chopped up the photo paper into smaller rectangles, stuck them to my card base, hand drew a wiggly frame then added a sentiment and my bear.

Of course, you can't have a festive card without a splash of glitter so I added Nuvo Crystal Drops in Silver Moondust for snow...

...and some Wink of Stella sparkle.

So if you like the brighter look, give glossy photo paper a try.

Meanwhile...just 8 more sleeps to go....SQUEEEEEEAL! 

Be Your Beautiful Self

Welcome back.

Today I have thrown everything PLUS the kitchen sink (hidden behind that big, white flower..lol) at this project.

I started with a white, gesso'd heart and smooshed it with the most gorgeous of green Impasto paints from Prima /  Finnabair, Green Apple.

There's all sorts on here... glass stones, wooden pieces, microbeads, flowers, beady bits.

These Impasto paints are brilliant...you can use them with stencils as a kind of paste or add water to dilute and make the colours flow. 

Finding just the right sentiment is the hardest part but I love this one...

'be your beautiful self'

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you have great weekend.

Prima / Finnabair - Don't Forget To Fly

I made this tag a while back, inspired again by the sentiment in Prima /  Finnabair's beautiful stamp set 'Don't Forget to Fly'. 

I made some of the embellishments with paper clay and silicone moulds.

There's also metal, brassy elements, glass beads...

.... glass glitter, micro beads, Nuvo Drops....

... and vellum butterflies.

I like that tags have so many uses, whether it be on a present or as a gift in itself with an inspiring, encouraging message.

Have a great weekend x

Alcohol Inks - No 15

An uber quickie from me today.

Introducing the imaginatively named 'No 15', using a selection of autumnal coloured alcohol inks.

There...told you I'd be quick 😉

Mixed Media - Puppy Love

I can't believe it's been 4 months since my last post here. 

I've been super busy with my day job as a gardener, plus I have now got an allotment patch (insert high-pitched 'Squeal!'...lol), which has been keeping me occupied and outta mischief.

I have had a couple of framed, mixed media commissions over the summer, which I was thrilled to make, and I am now able to show you the first one today.

I was pretty much given free rein on this piece, so I went for floral and colourful.

The background paper was a beautiful 12 × 12 sheet from the First Edition 'The Promise' collection. This is such a classy selection of papers, very muted, delicate patterns that don't steal the limelight but are essential backgrounds.

I started with my image, a photograph of the recipients beloved pooch, and then gathered up my bits n' bobs to coordinate with the photo's colours.

I used Altenew's 'Floral Flurries' washi tape, sticking about a foot of it on to white card first before fussy cutting the flowery images... a very relaxing job.

I also used flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts ...

...and one of my favourite stamp sets 'Beautiful Day' from Altenew.

I spent ages ...and I mean AGES...shuffling bits around before the final stick down.

I also added a wooden 'Love' sentiment, beaded pieces and some Card Candi dots, which I haven't used for ages (slaps wrist) but definitely will in the future. 

To finish, a few glittery highlights and some glassy embellishments.

Thank you for stopping by and I'll be back soon.

Have a groovy day xxx

Mixed Media Birdhouse

Ahoy!

Another little mixed media birdhouse today.

This one was covered with crackle paste, art stones and microbeads before being drizzled with colour.

I also used glass stones and tiny flowers.

It's actually more lime coloured than it has photographed.

I made those little curly decorations from the stems of the flowers by winding the wire around an embossing stylus.

A little wooden bird in the doorway to finish et voila!

Mixed Media Heart-Shaped Gift Box

Ahoy!

I hope you've had good week and, if in Blighty, managed to enjoy some of the beautiful weather we've had. 

Today I have a little heart-shaped gift box, which started out rather plain before I got my grubby, mixed-media mitts on it...lol.

Embellished within an inch of its life, I really enjoyed transforming this little box from an ugly duckling.

Have a groovy weekend.

I intend getting my knees out and catching some rays.

Enjoy!