Layered Blooms

Hello again,

I haven't been able to play along with Freshly Made Sketches for a while so made this card using the colours from Colour Throwdown and the prompts from Time Out (pastel and floral):

I don't use pastels often - I much prefer brights and bold colours so this is about as 'pastelly' (is there such a word?) it gets. Lots of older products on this from PTI and W Plus 9. 

I'm also popping it over to Seize the Birthday where the topping is 'layer it' - I love a few layers and layered the card stock and flowers to fit the challenge. 

Apologies if you've left a comment recently - I've got family over from the UK and looking for a new job which is a full time job in itself! I will get there eventually.

Happy stamping!

Claire

Happy 11th Birthday Time Out

Hello again,

Time Out's celebrating 11 years of challenges with a challenge to CASE Donna's beautiful card:

 

Apparently CASE means 'copy and selectively edit' - I always thought it meant 'copy and share everything' so I guess I'm doing both here! Lots of lovely elements to inspire from Donna's card - I created a stamped background with snowflakes instead of flowers from CAS-ual Friday's Snowy Sayings.  I also added some embossing on the frame and a simple sentiment against a white background. 

Thanks for popping by!

Claire

Playing With Lavinia Stamps...Again

Hello inkers,

The heat in Sydney is absolutely blistering today at 38C and the humidity is almost unbearable. So, what better way to cool down but playing along with Lavinia Stamps December Creative Challenge which themed 'snow is falling.'

 

              

 

We had family arrive from the UK last weekend which meant I could put an order in directly from Lavinia Stamps and have them bring it over to me. I loved this tag that Tracey made so I CASEd it using some of my new stamps and tools. I've been hankering after the stencil brushes for ages and they are worth every penny!

The first card isn't just for the LS challenge, I'm also linking over to Addicted to CAS where the theme is 'brrr' and to Time Out's photo inspiration challenge that features lots of snow.  I used a mini Pipin the hare and blended a selection of inks for the background , added some pretty foliage, some sparkle and a scattering of snowflakes using a Posca pen (yet another great tip from the LV videos).

If you're in Australia, hope these cards cool you down!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Freshly Made Sketch #663

Hello folks,

Sneaking in with a card for Freshly Made Sketches:

I can't get enough of these Merry Moose's from MFT - coloured with Copics with some added sparkle on his collar and cuffs. 

This one's also going over to Time Out's 'Inspired by Words' challenge - 'there truly is not an occasion that is not improved by wearing something festive.' You couldn't improve an occasion more than by having moose dressed as Santa!

Happy stamping!

Claire

 

Cozy Colours

Hello bloggers,

Quick post for a couple of challenges - The Paper Player's colour challenge and Time Out's 'cozy' challenge:

 

  

 

What could be cosier than toasting marshmallows by an open fire? Even if you are a moose!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Time Out Guest Designer Challenge #275 - Baking/Sweet Treats

Hello inkers!

I'm delighted to be guest designing over at Time Out for this week's challenge. It's a theme challenge - 'baking/sweet treats.' Who doesn't love a sweet treat? Unfortunately most of us love them a little too much:

I chose a sweet MFT Pure Innocence image for this one. Christmas cake reminds me of Christmas growing up in the UK - my Mum would make the cake weeks in advance and like every kid I'd savour the good part which was the thick layer of marzipan and icing on top and very begrudgingly ate the fruit cake underneath!

This challenge is being sponsored by the wonderful Lawn Fawn with a $25 voucher up for grabs - you have to be in it to win it so check out the DT's designs which are always inspiring and get inking!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Lavinia Stamps September Creative Challenge

Hello again,

I completely forgot to post this one which I did for Lavinia Stamp's September challenge.  I posted it on the last day of the challenge and it was a combo of Time Out's 'inspired by words' and Lavinia's Autumn themed challenge:

 

I made the background using my Gelli plate - it's something I'm still getting used to. My clean and simple nature means that a lot of my backgrounds get thrown in the bin as I just don't know what to do with them. I could never be a mixed media artist! 

No sentiment on yet - I'll add that when I find a reason to send it! 

Enjoy your weekend and happy stamping!

Claire

Autumn Hues

Hello folks!

It's that time of year - the leaves are turning, the temperature is getting crisp and the nights are drawing in. Except they're not - Down Under the very opposite is happening having just gone into Spring! That hasn't stopped me from making a few Autumnal themed cards though:

 

There's quite a few Autumnal challenges in the world of ink at the moment - AAA Cards 'anything goes with the optional twist of Autumn colours', Time Out's 'inspired by words' and CAS on Friday's theme of 'leaves.'

I made a very CAS card using a tiny maple stamp with a trio of maple leaves from Lavinia Stamps and each cluster has been stamped in a different coloured ink. The sentiment's from PTI and I dotted some gold pen around the wreath so it's actually quite sparkly IRL.  Who knew I had so many autumnal hues in my ink stash? 

Thanks for popping by,

Claire

Feeling Fruity!

 Hello bloggers,

There's a fruity theme happening in blogland at the moment - both The Paper Players and Time Out have a fruity inspiration pic to play with:

My inky mojo has escaped in the last few weeks and even this CAS one was a bit of a struggle. I grabbed a couple of very old Whimsy Stamps sets and stamped/coloured away.  The sentiment's from an equally old Waltzingmouse set. 

Happy stamping!

Claire

Time Out 'On Vacation' - Guest Designer

Aloha!

I'm so thrilled to be Time Out's guest designer for their newest challenge. Whilst everyone is sunning it up over in the northern hemisphere, those in the south are rugging up so it was good to be reminded that Summer's just around the corner as the theme for this challenge is 'on vacation:'

 

Of course,  a vacation doesn't necessarily mean sun and warmth but that's what I always think of,  so I inked up MFT's Polynesian Paradise. 

I often get Ralph Tyndall's card making videos popping up in my Facebook feed - they're great because they're not overly long and this one was no exception. I love how he used the stencil for the sea and some embossing paste for the waves. So clever!  (Clearly, I'm not quite so clever as I put the paste on before die cutting the panel which meant it squashed the paste after it had dried.)

The challenge is being generously sponsored by Varada Sharma who is offering $25 store credit - there's also the opportunity to guest design at Time Out for a future challenge. 

The DT over at Time Out always have some great cards to inspire so go and check them out!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Playing with Lavinia Stamps

Hello again!

A couple of weeks ago I went to a craft show where my once local craft store had a stand - unfortunately they closed the shop a few years ago which is probably a good thing for my wallet but not for my stash! I bought quite a few bits and pieces from the Lavinia Stamps  range and I've been watching lots of their tutorials - I really enjoy them as they're in real time rather than sped up which makes it so much easier to learn a new technique:

These two cards have both been entered into their monthly creative challenge, the theme being 'Summer Moon.

The cards that the Lavinia DT produce are like small works of art - I'm amazed at what they come up with but I've realised I find it easier to work on a smaller scale rather than cover an entire card front.

I'm adding the second card to Time Out's 'seeing stars' themed challenge (I added several using a white Posca pen.)

I didn't bother with sentiments - I'll add them another day when I decide who I'm sending them to!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Altenew June Inspiration Challenge

Hello again,

I'm all recovered now from Covid so it's time to up the inkiness, this time for Altenew's June Inspiration challenge:

I've used Ornate Foliage which I think may be retired as I can't find it in the shop. I made a very sparkly background with the Beach Towel Stripes Stencil and Embossing Paste, then sprinkled over some white glitter and set it with some hairspray so it doesn't shed. 

I'm also popping it over to Time Out's brand new Inspired by Words challenge with the quote 'there are always flowers for those who want to see them.' It just so happens that this week's sponsor is Altenew.

Happy stamping!

Claire

MFT Sketch Challenge - #700!

Hello folks,

So I'm in the throes of Covid unfortunately - I've managed to avoid it for the last couple of years so can't really complain, but it's definitely taken more of a toll than it did first time round. 

In between resting, Netflix and not much else I've managed to make a couple of simple cards. The first is for MFT's whopping 700th sketch challenge and colour challenge #237:

Lots of MFT products on this one - Hanging with my Gnomies, Drawn by Hand Background Stamp, Small Brick Wall Stencil,  Essential Sentiments and a Stitched Rectangle Frame to finish it off. 

 

The card above is my second one for Time Out's 'magical' challenge using Lavinia Stamps sweet fairy, Pan. I love doing these ink splattered backgrounds on my gel plate - they're so random and I'm never quite sure how they're going to turn out. The purples/blues worked well - the greens and yellows not so much and the background looked like a sheet of mouldy paper!

Time for a rest...again!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Time to be Magical

Hello folks!

My Gelli plate has been out again, this time to create a background for Time Out's 'magical' challenge:

 

I've been watching lots of Lavinia Stamp's YouTube tutorials recently and used this one for some background inspiration. I didn't have Brushos so used Twinkling H2O's which has given a very different look to the one in the video. 

I used Olivia (small) and the foliage is Technique Tuesday with a sentiment from Poppy Stamps.  

Thanks for popping by!

Claire

Say it With Stripes

Hello inkers,

A very CAS take on Time Out's theme of 'striped.'

 

I used PTI's Background Basics: Super Stripes and CASual Friday's Shenanigans.  Always good to get the older stash out and give it a re-ink!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Time Out/JUGS Collaboration Challenge: Birds of a Feather

Hello bloggers!

Here's a card for a joint challenge with Time Out and Just Us Girls where the theme is 'birds of a feather:'

 

It's always good to have an excuse to start the Christmas cards early isn't it, so I reached for these Sweet Holiday Penguins from MFT. 

I've used the sketch from MFT's latest challenge but switched to a mini slimline size as it seemed to work better with the design.  The polaroid dies are MFT Die-namics, long retired,  and the dp is from one of their older 6x6 pads. 

I'm also linking it up with the Ready, Set, Christmas challenge. Fours Christmas cards down - plenty to go!

Happy stamping!

Claire

Paper Players Sketch Challenge

Hello inkers!

I do love a sketch with lots of layers so this is my take on Anne Marie's sketch challenge over at the Paper Players:

All those layers gave me the opportunity to use up some of the many 6 x 6 paper pads I have in my stash - I was a huge fan of My Mind's Eye when I did scrapbooking and bought so many of these pads. I miss using them so I'm glad I got the chance to dust them off a bit.

In looking for some inspiration I saw Time Out also has a new challenge this week - this little frog sitting in a die cut pocket is from Taylored Expressions and hasn't seen ink in quite a while. I have to say I think he's a lot cuter the one in the pic - those red eyes really look quite evil!

Happy stamping!

Claire