Autumn Leaves

This is the next postcard in the monthly challenge over on UK Stampers Forum.  This months theme is Autumn.  I started by cutting a 6 x 4 inch card blank from mottled brown card.

The stamps are from Lavinia and are a set of three layered leaf stamps. All were inked and stamped with Adirondack dye inks in butterscotch, espresso, redcurrant & pesto in different configurations.  Once stamped they were dried with a heat gun and sprayed with cheap hair lacquer to seal the inks as the card will be posted as is to the recipient.

The letters spelling out 'Autumn' were pre printed and edged with black stazon ink before sticking in place with Glossy Accents.

Each of the letters were then covered with a coat of Glossy Accents to give them a raised glaze.  Once dry the card was edged with barn door Distress ink applied with cut'n'dry foam.

Sid xx

Keeping Up Appearances

I have an owl fixation at the moment, especially these collage elements from ARTchix studio.  Whilst on my owl 'roll' I made an A4 background from stout white card.

The base was made with Distress Stains in scattered straw, spiced marmalade, barn door & pine needles applied directly from the bottles onto a water spritzed card.  These were then dried completely.

I then used a plastic scraper and applied a lightly spread coat of grey Dylusions paint - this knocked back the colours slightly and provided a nice matt surface.  Some more Dylusions paint in magenta was added and scraped selectively over parts of the background with some added using the edge of the scraper to form lines. 

I then used a filigree glimmer screen mask and sprayed with Moonglow Glitz Spritz in royal emerald fire and desert moon purple sage.  The mica effect is subtle and can't be seen easily in the pics.  This was completely dried again before stamping.  I used more Distress stains and a brush to add shadows in the arrows and colour some of the flower petals in walnut stain.

The arrows (Prima), flower border (Elusive Images) and the seedheads (PaperArtsy) were stamped as shown in Archival black ink. The owl, eyes and hat were stuck in place and the printed words coloured in barn door and edged with black Posca pen before adding and edging with white Posca pen.

More of the white Posca was added to highlight elements of the stamped images.  The whole piece was then edged with barn door distress ink added with cut'n'dry to finish. Hope Hyacinth Bucket is not offended !!

Sid xx

What a Hoot !!

This weeks challenge over on the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog is to make an  'ATC'.  This is mine ...........

I started with a base of mountboard cut to ATC size and used Dylusions paints in grey and moss applied with my fingers to cover.

I next took a swirl stamp from Paperartsy and inked with Memento bahama blue and stamped randomly as shown. The left hand edge is punched out of patterned paper with a Martha Stewart edger punch and stuck in place.

The main image is a collage made from ARTchix images. I love the specs, eyes and hat ......... don't you?  Next I added some little circles (using the lid off a quickie glue pen) inked with rich cocoa and bamboo leaves Memento ink.

Final touches were added with a Posca opaque white pen and barn door distress ink around the edge applied with cut'n'dry foam.  The owl words were added finally with a set of office letter stamps and onyx black Versafine ink.

This ATC also meets the challenge over on Fun with ATC's where the theme is 'Circles'

Really enjoyed making it too !

Sid xx

You're The Best

Here is a card made to meet the Stampotique Designers Challenge for this week.  The challenge is to make a piece of art with 'Black, White and a HINT of Colour'

The card blank is made from card cut and scored to make a 135mm square card.  I used black Impress Ink and stamped 'Hunk' from Stampotique (Daniel Torrente), text saying 'You're The Best' from PaperArtsy and a row of daisies from Inka stamps.

I used a Marvy Uchida Le Plume alcohol brush pen to colour a limited amount of each stamped element.

Simple but effective I think !!

Sid xx

Spooky !

Here is a little spooky Halloween offering I made using digi images from ARTchix Studio.  The image elements have been mounted on heavy card in two layers.

The top layer has been spritzed with a blue mica spray to add sparkle and has been mounted over another plate on foam squares.

All edges have been edges in fired brick Distress Ink.

A couple of small orange eyelets threaded with orange silk threads allow it to be hung and some pewter brads have been added at each corner to finish the piece.

Sid xx

Hang on Puss

I have never made a Moo before, but they are 1-1/8 x 2-3/4 inches in size and these were done as part of a swap on UK Stampers Forum with a theme of '4 legs'.

The main climbing cat stamped image is from Lost Coast as is the text stamp both stamped in onyx black Versafine ink.

The background is made from 6x6 papers from the Basic Grey Lauderdale paper pad stuck onto card cut to size.

The bottom border is a digi print from ARTchix Studio punched out with a Martha Stewart punch.  I have added a few light grey accents on the puss and top of the Moos with Sakura Souffle pen and they were edged in moss green Colorbox chalk ink to finish.

Sid xx

All for You !!

This little altered matchbox was done as part of a swap over on UK Stampers Forum.  The theme was freeform so I decided on a green and maroon colourway.  The contents of the box was decided upon 'on the hoof' and evolved as I looked at my stash of things to put in.

The box was first covered in a printed paper from Stella Rose - Mabel design adhered with tacky PVA glue.  Once applied I used stamps to add a mini ruler, a flourish and the words 'All for you' in fired brick, pine needles and Versafine onyz black.  All edges were finished with fired brick Distress Ink applied with cut'n'dry foam.  Some pale green flat backed gems were added to finish.

The inner matchbox tray was coloured on all sides with fired brick Distress Ink and the base of the tray lined with a spotty Mabel paper.

The handle on the front of the tray was made using a green square brad and a green seed bead used as a spacer.  The contents (homemade plastic beads, spotty button, red bead, leaves, gold metal butterfly, green jingle bell, pearl green micro beads and a metal washer with the word 'reminisce') were selected and stuck in place with Matte Medium and Glossy Accents.  Some maroon stickles were added to embellish.

Do hope the lady who receives it is pleased.

Sid xx

Wow !! That's Hot

Here are a set of 6 Twinchies (2 x 2 inch squares) done as a swap for UK Stampers Forum.  The theme was 'Firestorm' so I made a suitable HOT set.  I used printed backing paper stuck onto card cut to 2 inches square.

The flames were stamped in Versamark Ink and heat embossed with Tangerine iridescent Blonde Moments embossing powder.  The colouring was done with cut'n'dry foam and Distress inks in fired brick, spiced marmalade & mustard seed.  The letters are rub-ons.

Each twinchie was then edged with red chalk ink to finish.

Think I ought to go and cool down a bit now !!

Sid xx