The Stamp Man Challenge - A Card for a Queen

It's a new challenge today over at the Stamp Man. Sue is hosting this one and she has chosen "A Card for a Queen" as the theme. With the diamond jubilee and the Olympics fast approaching, this is the perfect theme.
 I decided to use a fairly new set from Stampendous called "Damask Chair". This is a clear set that I bought from the Stamp Man last year along with another Stampendous set called "Elegant Borders" The two sets work perfectly together.

I started off by blending Tumbled Glass, Broken China and Dusty Concord distress inks onto white card stock and a white tag. I then used a large flourish stamp (this one is a Hero Arts one I use a lot). I inked it with Versamark and spritzed with water then stamped onto the background to remove some colour to give the water mark or faux bleach effect. I built up some soft stamping on top with the same flourish and a music script background stamp.
The rest was just stamping some of the elegant borders down the sides and across the base of the tag. I embossed some with gold for a touch of opulence and gold embossed the edges of the tag. My chair was stamped in purple onto white card and cut out. 

I found a silver Tim Holtz charm in my hardware box. To make it fit my colour scheme I inked it with gold ink and embossed with detail gold powder...which worked a treat. I added some little pearls to finish it off. Then a bit of seam binding and a sparkly jewel button. 

And there you have it ... A card for a queen!!
There are some gorgeous samples from the other girls in the team so be sure to check them out. And remember if you enter with your creation you could win a £10 voucher to spend with The Stamp Man. 
I won't be blogging quite as much for a while. I need a bit of time out to recover from an ongoing health issue and so have given up some of my DT commitments. I will still of course be visiting some of my favourite blogs but just won't have too much of my own stuff to share for a while. 
Let's hope the weather improves for the weekend. I think we could all do with some sunshine!!
Siobhan x
 

Woodware DT - Cards for Children

Now that my children are grown up I don't often get to make a card for a child. So this was a fun challenge to do for Woodware this week. I used an old Woodware set called "In the Jungle" FRCL089
This is a great clear set for kids. I love the gecko on the branch catching a fly!!
For my card I used the frog.
I used a 6 x 12 inch piece of card for my base and scored it at 6, 10, 20 and 24 cm. This creates a centre panel that stands forward of the side panels. But when folded it will still fit into a 6 inch square envelope.

The frogs were stamped and embossed with gold powder on black card. I stamped the leaves with versamark and embossed with Jade powder. I painted the frogs with paint from my pearl-ex palette. When you turn the card in the light they look a shimmery green. Unfortunately the camera just didn't seem to pick this up.
On the side panels I used Lettuce and Jade embossing powder to give a two tone effect to my leaves.

For the birthday greeting, I stamped Happy Birthday onto a strip of vellum with gold ink and embossed with gold powder. I tore the long edges then wrapped it around the front of the card. I added a couple of punched leaves and googly eyes for the frogs. 
As a child I lived in Trinidad and this reminds me of the tree frogs we saw at night. Sometimes one would venture into the house and I would have to get it out while my mother and sister were screaming!!
Hope you are having a good week.
Siobhan x

Creative Expressions - Home Tweet Home

I am a bit late posting my latest sample using Sam Poole's lovely Birds set for Creative Expressions. I wanted to use the bird cage this week as it is such a pretty one, The background paper was one I found in my scrap box. It is an old Basic Grey piece but I liked the colour and that set the theme for the whole project.

I used toffee Versafine to stamp onto the paper to create my background. I then used Archival Coffee for the birdcage centre piece and cut out using Spellbinder Labels 9. I added toffee and coffee swirls around the edges. All this talk of toffee is making me hungry!!

I added a nice bit of ribbon near the base of the card and stamped "Home Tweet Home" in coffee ink. Then as a finishing touch I stamped the bird cage onto a bit of shrink plastic to hang at the bottom of the label. A few gems to add a touch of bling and it's done.
I hope you are having a good week. I had a day off work today which was nice. But back to normal tomorrow. Better go and get my uniforms ironed!!

Siobhan x

Woodware DT - Red, White and Blue

This week at Woodware,  we are using red, white and blue. Many of us seem to be getting caught up in the build up to the Queen's diamond jubilee and the forth coming Olympic games. Even in Scotland we are seeing lots of red, white and blue merchandise appearing in the shops. So Fran from Stampendous has made us a stamp especially for the occasion. 
 Stampendous  CRW075  London
So this week on the blog you will see at least 6 ways to use this stamp!!
Here is my version.

For my background I printed off a map of the London Underground on to white card stock and then sponged blue and red inks over the top.
I stamped the image twice so that I could decoupage the bus, Big Ben and the London Eye.

I also used glossy accents on the letters to make them stand out. Then to finish off I made a little bit of bunting. Be sure to drop in to see what the other girls have been up to on the Woodware blog.
Hope you are having a good week!!
Siobhan

Creative Expressions - Love Warms Every Nest # Project 2

Hope you are all enjoying the holiday weekend. We had a lovely day here yesterday with lots of sunshine, but it looks like the rain is back today. Never mind, it's just lovely to have some time off work to recharge the old batteries.
For this week's project using the Creative Expressions Bird plate I have reverted back to my favourite colours of blues and browns.

For the background I have used Distress Inks (Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Tea Dye and Vintage Photo) after stamping the bird corner and embossing with white powder to act as a resist.
Add a few splatters of water and stamping with the little leaf swirl and it's ready to go.

I used my newest circle Spellbinder nesties S4-345 Picot Edge Circles to frame my centre piece. Very simple I know but I don't seem capable of much more at the moment. 
Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I am away back to bed with a cup of tea and my book!!
Siobhan x

The Stamp Man - A Favourite Technique

Over at The Stamp Man there is a brand new challenge. Angela has asked us to use a favourite technique. I have decided to go right back to basics with this very simple card. The thing that attracted me to rubber stamping was the whole idea of how you could use them for so many techniques, especially proper rubber ones. I have found recently that I have gone down the route of complicated layers and die-cuts and embellishments with not as much stamping so it's good to get back to actually stamping a card.
So I have chosen this beautiful Hero Art stamp Silhouette Flowers. I really like these "negative images" because you can do some really nice techniques with them. I have used a technique called mono printing or "kiss stamping" as it seems to be called these days.

I have inked up the stamp with Brilliance Tiramisu ink. This tri-colour pad works well for this technique, and you do need a pigment ink that is slow drying. Once the stamp is well inked then press a clean foliage stamp on to the surface and lift off to remove some ink. Wipe the stamp clean and repeat as required. Then stamp the main image onto smooth white card. It just gives an extra layer to your image.

To finish I used some wild flower silhouettes from an Artemio clear set along the base of my card. A bit of garden twine and a metal flower to finish. I know it's simple but I like the technique. 
Over at the Stamp Man blog you will see lots of other gorgeous samples from the rest of the team showing off their favourite techniques. And if you want to join the challenge you are in with a chance of winning £10.
Siobhan

Woodware DT - Buttons and Bows

This week at Woodware we are using buttons and bows. I thought I would use a technique I have done before as I think it's a great way to use buttons to make a quick contemporary card. 

I attached some double sided adhesive film to a piece of white card stock. Then I punched out a large heart. Peel off the backing and attach a selection of buttons. Woodware have bags of coloured buttons which are ideal for this. These are from the lilac pack. I added a few pearls to finish the smaller areas. Then I covered the whole thing with Stampendous ultra fine lavender glitter.

 I thought this would be nice for a wedding or engagement card. I kept the layering simple. I used a Dreamweaver stencil "Borders Combo" to add the little floral detail in the two opposite corners.
Check out the Woodware blog for lots more buttons and bows>
Siobhan

Claim to Fame - Sort Of...!!

I was recently asked to make a 40th birthday card for someone who works in the same hospital where I work. She apparently is very girly and likes pink. Easy I thought, I will make one of my Hero Arts shoe cards...they always seem to go down well.
Here is said card.

I handed over the card and thought no more of it. A few days later I was told that the recipient managed to get it signed by none other than Jimmy Osmond!!! They were appearing at Perth Concert Hall. So there you go. Mind you I would have been a bit more excited if it had been Donny. It looks like Carol had a good birthday. 
As many of you know I love my two dogs and am always taking pictures of them. Here they are the cheeky pair waiting for their dinner last night....it was Sunday so they usually get some chicken as a treat!!

 Hope you have a good week.
I have added my two little treasures to Brenda's Tuesday Treasures (on her invitation!!). Rory (the Westie) always lies at my feet in the evening if I am at my craft desk and is quite often covered with bits of stuff or glitter. Whereas Alfie lies on his cushion in my room watching me from under his eyebrows. They are both little rogues at times but we love them to bits!!

Siobhan x

Creative Expressions - Happy Bird Day # 1

               

We have a new set of stamps to work with for Creative Expressions. It's a lovely A5 birdie set designed by Sam Poole

My first project uses distress inks and Cosmic Shimmer powders to create the background.

I used the little leafy swirl stamp for the background and to frame the little bird an the Spellbinder Label (Labels 8). 

I used three colours of Cosmic Shimmer embossing powders ( Dark Bronze Lustre, Bright Gold Metallic and Ancient Copper Metallic) around the edge of the card and also on the Spellbinder border. I really like the effect this gives. 

The flower was made using one of the flower dies from the Spellbinder Carnation Creations set and text paper from an old book. To colour the flower I swiped Wild Honey Distress Stain on my craft mat and spritzed well with water then dragged the flowers through it to colour. Once dry I put them together with a brad. I love the little sentiment on the stamp set to finish it off.
Be sure to check out what the other girls have been up to for lots more inspiration.
Looks like a lovely day out there this morning. So it will be in the garden today not crafting!!
Have a lovely Sunday!!
Siobhan