WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC #38 - F IS FOR .................

F is for fairies, flowers, friends etc over at Wicked Wednesday Atc challenge this week. I chose flowers.

A vase full of home grown flowers to show off this little ATC.

I cut a tiny aperture in some plain card, mounted it over a real pressed flower under acetate and matted it to coloured Bazzil card. However, before I did all that, I stamped some tiny flowers on the plain card, used a white sakura pen to colour some, added gold Sakura pen to the centres and then distressed it all. I twisted some fine wire into scrolls, added a couple of sticky gems and a butterfly, card done.
I used to make a few of these ATCs several years ago and they are still a favourite of mine.

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATCs #36 - PANTOMIME or EXPRESS FEELING WITHOUT WORDS

Another big thank you to Jenn and her DT for picking me as one of their top 3 last week.
I had more fun with this week's challenge. KennyK downloads was my source for an image having chosen the theme Pantomime. My image is called Jeannie and she is perfect for an Aladin ATC.

The background is stream Adirondak colour wash sprayed through a mask, dried then spritzed with a little water to make the ink wick, dried again then over sprayed with perfect pearls. I printed Jeannie on to thin card and coloured her with metallic Sakura pens. These added a bit of sparkle. I cut the images out, used 3D foam to stick them down adding a little bit of fairy fibres behind the lamp.
This one worked well and I am pleased with how it all came together.

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC CHALLENGE

Thanks to Hazel and Gez for blogging about this new ATC challenge blog. Called Wicked Wednesday ATC, it's week #2 and the theme is Halloween. Pop over to them and have a look, but prepared to see digi images.
I rummaged through my collection and came upon quite a few images that would be good to colour, but I just couldn't re-size some of them. I bet I've saved them wrong in the first place. Anyway, I found a little witch riding the skies on her broom whilst reading the latest spell book. LOL.
Here she is:

I coloured her with Sakura pens, cut her out and stuck her over distress inked base card which I had stamped with Tim's web and bats. The word is from a little set of studio G stamps I sent to the US for. Seems to have come out ok and I had fun again.

ATC CHALLENGES BLOG #2

The second challenge over at the Atc Challenges Blog is entitled - Beach or Seaside, and you must include some height eg, decoupage etc..
I've had a go using some of my precious Brixham shells.

I used a couple of image downloads this time. The sea has been painted over with a mix of multi matt medium thinned with perfect pearl mist. I spread some glossy accents and black diamond stickles over the lower rocks and stuck the shells into it. A sprinkle of coarse gold glitter added extra sparkle.

The plane is a brass charm coloured with souffle Sakura pens and the little sign is a bit of fun.

I'll just pop over to their blog now and enter it.
Do have a look if you get chance as there is a little prize on offer.

EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER.....WOYWW

Lining.......Since my awful spell of the 'blues', my life has been busy, busy, busy.
Having been on the verge of wondering what this craft lark is all about, I've won an ATC giveaway from the incredibly talented Laura Carson, received some gorgeous, gorgeous pieces from my crafting friends and been asked to help in  preparing some pieces for the Stitches trade show at the NEC the weekend after next. How incredible a journey is that??
Have to admit, therefore, that my workspace piccies were taken in the sunshine yesterday.

I've been using alsorts of different things to colour these projects, including alcohol inks, which actually turned out one of the best mediums to use.

Coupled with Copics, Sakura pens and distress inks I've managed to create some lovely coloured backgrounds and images. Once the show is over, I will be able to  'let the cat out of the bag' -not that I could ever have a cat in a bag, much rather have it on my knee, purring away and keeping me warm!!!
That's another little buz, my new blog, which is supposed to be launching next Monday, http://craftingpets.blogspot.com/ . A place where crafters can upload photos of their Crafting Buddies every couple of weeks. Now, I was hoping to use Mr Linky but I don't yet know how to use it, plus, I got an email asking for money! I think that was a hacker though. Anyway, watch this space on Monday, or rather, the other one.
I am not sure how many desks I will get round to over the next 2 weeks, so please don't be mad at me if I don't call. Our wonderful leader Julia says, it's the taking part that matters not the getting round everyone - or words to that affect.
I will be travelling down to Newport Pagnell 2 weeks today - yeeeek! - for my once in a lifetime crafting experience with the king of craft himself, Sir Tim and the utter talented duo, Lin and Leandra. I don't think it's hit me yet, but as soon as I have to pack (what on earth is that - packing a bag) I will be a quivering wreck.
Thanks for stopping by today. I'll leave you with a look at a tag made for me by a super friend, willing me out of the blues..........

CHRISTMAS ATCs

In between all these doctor and hospital appointments that 'peg leg' has just now, I keep popping into my little room and trying to 'create'. He has another trip to the hospital today - would you believe after 5pm! - for yet another pre-op test.
I thought I should make a few Christmas ATCs to swap when I see any of the girls, especially as my stock has virtually disappeared.

I noticed on Tim's blog that he had made a tag which looked 'scrunched' and distressed. However, on closer view it was checkered. No idea how he had done it unless it was a texture fade embossing folder. Anyway, I folded some card kind of concertina-like both ways, then using frayed burlap, I distressed over it. It kind of worked. I stamped the trees in archival black, quite lightly, then painted over them with forest moss and pine needles. The forest moss ones then had a coat of glossy accents. I 'flicked' pearl mixatives over the whole thing, added a reindeer charm, some cord and edged the card - after sticking it to mount board - with walnut stain.

This was fun. I had a Santa image from my free download folder, which I cut round so I only had his face and shoulders. I had kept all the little bits of Tim's paper from his retro grunge stack after having cut out loads of small flowers. I simply stuck bits all over some mount board using matt medium. The swirl piece in the middle is a 1" square from  the stack. I stuck Santa in the middle and also the torn dictionary Santa Claus definition. I then used distress embossing ink all round the edges and sprinkled it with cinnamon powder. Boy does that smell good when you heat it. Some rock candy stickles on the words and some Xmas stickles on Santa's hat finished it off.

This one was inspired by the stamp that I found in my 'scrap' drawer. I used my quickie glue pen to draw lines on some heatable acetate before sprinkling black embossing powder on and heating it up to form the basis of my stained glass. I left all the little bits of powder instead of brushing them off. I then used Sakura pens to colour each area on the reverse. Once dry, which was after the first episode of Corrie and before the second!!!!!!!!!! I stuck it to some mount board using a small amount of glossy accents around the edge. Some black stickles round the edge of the top covered where the glossy accents had taken the Sakura off. Then I simply stuck the stamp on - job done. Not sure when I shall get the chance to make any more as this and next week are chaotic.

WEDNESDAY AND WOYWW ONCE AGAIN

Don't these Wednesdays come around quickly?

I look forward to the Copic Colour challenge every Wednesday but where the other 6 days go is beyond me. Anyway, Wednesday now also means 'what's on your work desk' where you can join in and post photos of your crafty area and give other crafters an idea of what you are up to.

Because the link to WOYWW in my sidebar is hard to follow (thanks to IE8) have a look at: http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ if you want to join in.

I thought my little space looked similar to last week so decided to give you a little look inside one of my wall cupboards. There's glues/tapes, Sakura pens, Xyron, wire/cutters, Prima flowers, light box, brads etc, crop-o-diles, stationery, beads, silent punch/setter, treasured swapped ATCs etc. etc. But what is on the doors is the best bit - Toby keeping an eye on that bloomin' parrot of Heathers!!!

PEARLS

http://dareu2digistamp.blogspot/ challenge #32 i s - PEARLS.

I wanted to have a go at this over the weekend but never had the time and now I'm full of a cold and feeling rotten so it's taken me a whole day to produce this entry.

I used a 6x6 cream base card and one of my new distress inks - victorian velvet - around the edges. I also distressed the patterned papers which I bought from the US years ago. The pink paper has been punched with a MS punch but the green lace is a ready prepared one. Again I used my Nellies frames to cut around the digi image which I have coloured with metallic Sakuras. I added a Prima flower which had pearls in the centre, pearls to the punched border and finally, a little key which I bought from Lily of the Valley.

As soon as my pal Hazel (didos) is settled in her new house, she will receive this as a welcome for better times to come.

BLOSSOM

First of all, may I say a big thank you to Artyjen for replying to my plea of where to buy a project pan for my melt pot. I've ordered one from Graphicus and it's already on it's way. Now that's service.

Only 3 more lots of penicillin to go to clear up this skin infection that suddently appeared on my cheeks - face cheeks that is LOL. I thought this year was going to be illness-free after the awful time I had in 2009, but so far, I've had that awful stomach bug and now this infection. Anyway, I will not be pulled down again by illness, just 'cos I get my prescriptions free now doesn't mean I have to have any!!! Onwards and upwards I say!

Back to crafting. The challenge this fortnight on Lily of the Valley #47,(http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/) is a lovely sketch. I love these challenges because, for me, half the work is done. This is my entry. I've used PM papers, Prima flowers, a peeloff I coloured with a white Sakura souffle pen, ribbon and buttons from my stash, my Nellies frames, the beautiful Sugar Nellie stamp - Blossom - hence the post title and my Copics - of which I now have a grand total of 142!!!! Whoopee!

I have used this weeks Copic Colour Challenge #52 colours; C3 - cool grey, R11 - pale cherry pink, G21 - lime green. Click on the link on the R/H of my blog to see their challenge blog and, hey! have a go.

3 CHALLENGES IN 1

Firstly, I hope the picture is clear enough. I've tried with 2 cameras but can't get anything decent in this wintery daylight.

The Copic Colour Challenge #47 requires the use of these 3 colours:

B97 - Night Blue

YG07 - Acid Green

W-5 - Warm Grey no. 5

Even though I didn't have any of these colours, it gave me the excuse to go and get them!!!! I know. Anyway, I managed the top and bottom colours but it seems that the Acid Green is not a Ciao pen but another Copic type which A. I couldn't get and B. costs about £4+. Instead, I substituted that green for YG06 - Yellowish Green.

As I really need to make some ATCs, I decided to do that instead of making another card.

The background is a Tim Holtz component ATC stamp which I stamped using Old Paper Distress ink. I then used the Copics to highlight and colour the stems, bullrushes, flower heads and butterflies. A few beadazzles, a Sakura glaze on the bullrushes and a light distressing round the edges, finished the ATC.

As I have used 4 NEW items - the Sakura glaze pen and Copics, I am also entering this into the Craft Garden challenge for this month. Aparently, multiple entries are allowed.

Also, I have used 3 OLD items - Tim Holtz stamp, beadazzles, Distress ink,

and at least 1 NEW - Copics

therefore, I will substitute this ATC for one of the others I made for Heather's 'Out with the Old, in with the New' challenge.

Phew!!

OUT OF THE SHADOWS

I've had a picture of a lion's head for ages. I think it was from a Paignton Zoo brochure. It's so hypnotic'

Hard to do, but I cut it in half - quickly so he didn't mind!! - and chose card to matt each piece on to. On the red based card, I used a Sakura Gelly Roll clear star pen to highlight his whiskers. On each I gave a glint to his eye with a white inkassentials pen. I then glued a couple of skeleton leaves to each one to make him appear to be watching from 'out of the shadows'. Both are ATCs.

WOW! LUCKY ME

I went to a local garden centre yesterday where the lovely Lindsay Mason was demonstrating Sakura pens in their craft shop.

Intrigued as always by her talent, I tried to take in all the techniques she was showing us and made a few notes inbetween. However, I believe in the saying 'don't keep a dog and bark yourself' so I took my hubby along and told him to watch Lindsay carefully and remember everything she was doing!! I will test him later when I try to do some stamping using the pens.

I did however, take some ATCs to swap and Lindsay agreed on 4. Just look at my 'booty'. How lucky am I to have such gorgeous cards. Not only do I have 4 fabulous swapping buddies but I'm also building quite a collection from the experts too.