Sunshine

Over on UK Stampers Forum we do a monthly Postcard swap which must be sent to its destination through the post as it is.  This months challenge is 'Sunshine' , something I am sure we all sorely miss at the moment. So I made this 6 x 4 inch PC.

I used papers from Graphic 45 and the base card was first covered with an orange spotty print.

I then stamped a sunburst with a TH Stampers Anonymous stamp in Versamark ink and heat embossed with a couple of colours of Ranger opaque embossing powders.

Next I stamped a row of grungy stars (also TH) in Memento black at the top. I used some gold Precious Metal colour paint with a loose brush to extend the sunburst to the top and side edges of the card.

The sun was made from a circle of card painted with coral Precious Metal paint, stamped with spots and applied as shown. It was edged with black Micron pen.

Two strips of paper were edged with black soot Distress Ink and applied horizontally at the bottom.  Some accents were added with a white Posca Pen and the words Sun & Shine were added with Graphic 45 stickers.  The whole card was sprayed with acrylic spray to set it and protect through the post.

Sid xx

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One a Day

Here is a 3D postcard measuring 6 x 4 inches.  This one would be very challenged going through the post without losing some of its components in transit so this was done as part of a swap over on UK Stampers where we could send our dimensional postcards in an envelope or padded bag to preserve their art through the post.

The background is of teal stained wood and is a digital print I have applied some Viva gold paint in splodges to the background also on the left.  This has been embellished with some black chipboard frames with inchies behind.  I have also done some flourish stamping in Memento tuxedo black.

The flourishes are die-cut using a Sizzix die and these have been edged with a black fineliner pen.  I have also used some moss green floral Washi tape, gold Posca pen and some gorgeous green flat backed cabochons.  Finishing touches were to add some Versamagic chalk ink in touch of pesto around the edge and some faux stitches.

Nice sentiment as we all learn at least one thing each day don't we ?

Sid xx

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Making Waves

This has been in the making for a long, long time. The real scallop shell was decorated months ago and has sat around since then waiting for attention.  Because of the shells links with the sea I wanted to do some craft related to that environment so did this 3D scape.  All contained in its own shell home.

The shell was thoroughly washed and then painted with stripes in Viva precious metal colour in gold and turquoise.  It took a couple of coats to cover properly. The edges of the shell were then gone over with gold Krylon pen to neaten.  Some acrylic gems were adhered around the edge of the shell with more Glossy Accents and alternate gems coloured with the brush pen in green.

All stamped elements (apart from the waves) came from a plate of polymer stamps by Pink Paislee (Nantucket).  The shell, seahorse, word seal and words were all stamped on white card with Memento tuxedo black ink which were then coloured with Marvey alcohol brush pens before trimming out and edging with AI to cover white card edges.  A word seal and two seahorses were glazed with Glossy Accents.

The sea was made up from a border stamped multiple times on printed paper, trimmed and layered and edged with a Quickie glue pen and glittered with transparent blue water Art Glitter.

Some fused green sizal was cut into frond shapes before assembling and layering all elements as shown with hot melt glue to make a 3d seaside scene.

The shell has been supported for display using a plate holder.

It turned out just as I had envisaged it and it was great to use up that shell !!  You know what they say ......... 'Better Late Than Never'

It will also fit the challenge over on the Happy Daze Design Team blog this month which is 'April Showers' and the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge which is 'Anything Goes'

Sid xx

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Alice Can - I know she can !!

Here we go with an altered bean can !!  I am a great AIW fan and love these stamps from Crafty Secrets so I went ahead and decorated a ring pull can in that style.

The can was prepared by removing the label and painting the central region with a couple of coats of Viva coral Precious Metal Colour. The top and bottom rims were coloured black with Ranger paint dabber. Next, 4 strips of coral and blue printed paper were cut and stuck in place with photo glue at the bottom and top of the painted can.

Big bit next, the stamps were chosen and stamped on smooth white card with black soot Distress ink and dried with a heat gun. The images were then coloured with Spectrum Noir alcohol markers in a variety of colours before cutting out and sticking in place on the centre of the can with foam pads.

The lid was cut from black stout card with a die and heat embossed with the alice text stamp and detail clear embossing powder. The lid eas then rubbed over with Viva Inka Gold and polished off with a soft cloth revealing the resisted heat embossing. The cheshire cat image was stuck in place with Glossy Accents. A TH hitch fastener was screwed in place in the centre of the lid as a handle.

Red faux heart gems were then stuck in place around the top and bottom bands of the can.

Finally dots of gold Stickles were applied to add some bling.

Thought that this one would fit in with The Just For Fun challenge whose theme this week is Kitchen Finds.

That's it !! My AIW altered can.

Sid xx

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Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder !

I have entitled this little wooden shadow box 'Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder' as the framed image is one of a rather stern looking lady whilst the other images are those of  young and rather attractive vintage ladies.  Nice to contrast the two I think.

The plain wood shadow box was first painted with one coat of Viva precious metal colour in turquoise.  Once dry I cut down some Crafty Individuals domino sized images to fill 5 of the 6 boxes.  These were then stuck in place.

I also used black Stazon and a swirl stamp to stamp the outside edges of the box.

I edged the bottom right corner of the images with diamond Stickles glitter glue to add a little more bling.

The frame is also one of Crafty Individuals and was glittered to within an inch of its life with dries clear pva and fine turquoise glitter.  Once the glue had dried all edges of the frame were coloured in purple alcohol ink pen.

The stern lady image was stamped in Versafine ink and heat embossed with Moonglow imperial crown purple gold embossing powder before trimming out and colouring with Copic in pale violet.

This was stuck in place and a small metal strawberry charm was applied.  Finally the glittered frame was stuck in place with Glossy Accents and each of the boxes edged with small dots of purple Stickles.

Sid xx

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Altered Sardine Tin

Front

I started with a plain old Sardine tin which had been thoroughly washed and dried.  The outside base and sides of the tin were given a good coat of Viva Precious Metal Colour paint in turquoise.  Once dry I applied TH tissue tape over the colour to cover portions of the outside of the tin.

Back

I added a few fleur de lys rub-ons before giving the back of the tin a coat of acrylic gloss finish to seal on the tissue tape and protect the paint. Next the inside of the tin was given a coat of Viva precious metal color in gold.  I applied a number of gold metallic Candi circles with glossy accents to the inside top of the tin to reflect the light.

Two leaves stamped with a PaperArtsy Xmas pointsettia stamp and Versafine onyx black ink were then added.  They were first coloured with green Marvey le Plume II pen and sprayed with green mica spray before applying on foam pads to raise them.

Next a Tim Holtz ticket was applied on a piece of green card, trimmed and stamped with the words Curioser & Curioser from the IndigoBlu - Alice 1 plate in Archival black ink.  This was attached over some gold glass glitter.  A metal enamelled bird was attached over the base of this with silicone glue.

Alice herself (from the same IB plate) was stamped in Archival black ink onto white card and coloured with Marvey le Plume II pens before being trimmed out leaving a mounting lug at the base.  Some crystal Stickles glitter glue was added to the blue dress for sparkle.  Alice was then mounted forward in the can on layered foam pads and Glossy Accents.

Final finishing touch was to add pale blue dew drops attached with more Glossy Accents around the inner rim of the tin.

I decided not to add a hanging device because the can stands on its end quite comfortably for display purposes.

Sid xx

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Great Cooks ATC

This ATC was made by first stamping a mask of the polymer frame stamp (My Minds Eye), then stamping again with onyx black Versafine ink onto a white card blank.  The mask was then used and a text stamp from MME was then inked with london fog Memento ink to fill in the background.

I then took a rubber stamp of a rather stern looking lady (Tuscan Rose) and stamped this into the frame centre. The frame was painted with Viva gold paint and a fine paintbrush to gild it followed by a wash of broken china Distress re-inker.  The ladies face was then coloured with a pinkish Marvey Le Plume II pen.  Two lines were drawn in fine black permanent ink to represent hanging wires and a pewter brad applied as the hanger.

The words were printed and stuck on and a self adhesive dome sticker applied as shown.  The card was finished with beige Versamagic chalk ink to the edges.

Don't know why, but she reminded me of one of those rather stern Victorian cooks so I made her a cook and she is cook No.2 in a series yet to be completed. I'm sure I will find countless other stamps of stern ladies in my collection.

Sid xx

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Clowns ATC

I made this ATC using a stamp from Zettiology and it fits in rather well with the theme for this weeks TMTA theme which is 'Groups'.

I cut a piece of thin white card to size and stamped with Stazon black, I actually used most of the stamp but didn't ink the legs of the child clowns.  I then used a Memories primary rainbow pad and a brayer to colour the whole card.  I then used bleach and a fine brush to go over the faces which turned a delightful shade of turquoise !  The same bleach was used on the rim of a small bottle to produce the bleached out circles.  The bleach was dried with a heat gun.  The stars on the hats were coloured with Viva gold paint and the buttons and bobs glossed with Glossy Accents. Finally some vellum letters were added, the card mounted on chipboard and the edges coloured with purple hydrangea Versamagic chalk ink to finish.

Sid xx

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Circle of Friends

Here is a little piece I made as part of a swap over on UK Stampers Forum entitled Creative Designs or CD for short. We had to make a piece of altered art using a CD as the base.

Here we go with the instructions:

First I took a CD (the ones that come through the door and normally end up in the bin!). and covered it with some grey pinstripe paper from Basic Grey. I used a gluestick to adhere the paper to the CD. Next I stamped a swirl stamp from Wendy Rhodes with Versamagic tea leaves chalk ink and allowed to dry. Then I applied a fairly thick coat of Ranger Distress crackle paint in antique linen around the edges and when dry rubbed over more of the tea leaves Versamagic ink.

I then applied a variety of paper flowers in cream and white from Hero Arts with glossy accents and filled the centres with Pearly Doodles cream dimensional paint from Sticky Fingers. I also used some Viva gold metallic paint applied to highlight the flower petals as shown.

The final metallic 'Friends' word in green gloss finish was stuck in place with more glossy accents. A folding stand for the back of the altered CD was made from board and hinged with masking tape to support the piece in a display position.

Sid xx

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Simple Beauty Tiled Plaque

Here is a tiled plaque I have called 'Simple Beauty'. It is 8 ins x 9 ins in size. I have made the tiles mainly from Fimo Classic polymer clay. The base is made from mountboard which has had a piece of old book paper applied after tearing the edges. Pale blue acrylic paint was added and wiped off in places to let the text show through. The whole board was then given a very watered down coat of translucent gold glaze and allowed to dry.

All the other tiles are made from black classic Fimo apart from six small glass mirrored beads made by Guttermann. The clay has been rolled out through a pasta machine to condition before adding mica powders with my finger to leave the black deboss of the stamped design. I have used various stamps in text & swirls, cutting the shapes out with a thin clay blade. The tiles were then baked at 130C for 40 minutes and allowed to cool. The design was layed out on the base board until happy with the overall effect.

All the square tiles are made from black opaque glass, some have been painted gold with Viva metallic paint and some left unpainted. Some of the others have been embellished with faux pearl cabochons.

The main central picture was stamped (Cherry Pie Stamps) on plain copier paper, coloured with watercolour and a coat of transluscent gold glaze. Once dry cut out to size and stuck on the base board.

All other tiles were then stuck in place with clear glue gel as shown.

The two swirls were made from grungeboard and were treated with Viva gold crackle paint applied thickly and unevenly with a palette knife. Once this had dried dark blue chalk ink was applied direct from the pad to obtain a roughly coated finish. That crackle paint just looks like gold leaf once dry and adds a different texture to the swirls.

These were then stuck in place with Glossy Accents and the whole piece edged in the same dark blue chalk ink.

Sid:-)

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Egyptian ATC's

Here are three ATC's I made to swap with my friend Diane in the USA. I have used stamps from Tanda and Judikins along with printed papers Versamark, Brilliance, Chalk, Versafine & Stazon Inks. Embossing powders and Viva metallic paints were also used including Krylon gold pen.

Hope she likes them ! :-)

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Queen ATC

This weeks TMTA theme is King/Queen so I thought I would do a little abstract version as my Royal style entry.

I used 4 stamps. All stamped in black Stazon on a white card. The body stamp is from Cherry Pie, the face is from Invoke Arts and the crown and border from PaperArtsy. The background colour is Nick Bantock inks in chartreuse leaf, chrome yellow & sapmoss green (applied with a sponge) .The border stamp was inked with sapmoss green. The crown was stamped onto a separate piece of card and cut out. The remaining colours on the crown & face were from Marvey le Plume II pens and a waterbrush. The crown also has some gold paint (Viva) and some Stickles glitter glue applied. The crown has simply been stuck into place at a jaunty angle.

Hope you like it :-)

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'Bling' ATC's

These ATC's have been done for a monthly swap over on UK Stampers Forum. This months is 'Bling' and I have decided to do a blend of blingy finishes instead of stamping.

I used Bedazzles, flatbacked gems and cabochons, Stewart Gill byzantia, Viva gold paint, Stickles, violet twinkle EP and Sakura white opaque pen to decorate with little swirls. The only stamp used was a swirl. The base was made from white card and coloured using a Tim Holtz stencil and homemade mica spray made with spiced marmalade distress reinker and cosmic shimmer iridescent pigment in cinquefoil red. This was mixed and applied with a mini-mister.

The ATC's were edged with dark brown chalk ink.

Hope you like them :-)

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Summer Twinchies

Here are a set of Twinchies I have made for another monthly swap on UK Stampers Forum. The June theme was 'Summer' so I thought what is more Summery than flowers and foliage?

I chose pale blue card as the background and a single outline stamp from Rubber Stampede (All Over Floral) inked with black Stazon. Quite a big stamp this so I stamped several times and then cut out the twinchies on a rotary trimmer before hand colouring.

I used a waterbrush and Adirondack inkpads where I transferred some of the ink from the pad onto a non-stick craft sheet and used this as a palette with the brush. Colours used were: butterscotch, bottle, meadow, pesto, eggplant & cranberry. The stamens of the flowers and parts of the butterfly wings were gilded with a fine brush and Viva gold precious metal colour. The butterflies were additionally coloured with lilac Tiara Gelly Roll pen. The twinchies were then finally edged with Krylon Gold.

Just liked the simplicity of these.....they also have a slightly Oriental look about them don't you think !

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