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