Woodware - Acetate

Acetate is one of those things in my stash that I rarely use. However at Woodware this week I have been asked to use acetate. It probably took me as long to find the acetate than actually make the card ...... such is the life of a crafter!!

Staying on a dragonfly theme I used this gorgeous Stampendous cling of a dragonfly. I stamped it on to a piece of acetate with black Staz-on. Once dry I pressed a clear embossing pad on the inked side. Then I brushed on some mica powders, I used perfect pearls but any make will do. Be sure to "pounce" it well with a flat brush to make sure ti sticks to the acetate, then lightly brush off any excess with a soft brush.

Once you turn it over the mica powder shimmers through the mica but both stamped image and powder are protected behind the acetate.

Sadly I found it hard to capture the shimmer on the camera but it is lovely when it catches the light.

I also die cut a dragonfly from acetate and used the same technique on the wings. I also used the same dragonfly stamp to gold emboss onto gold metallic card for the background panel.

I am first up this week on the Woodware challenge blog. So it will be interesting to see what the other girls do with their acetate. Hope you have a good week. 
Siobhan x

Dragonflies

I actually managed to finish the mirror I started at the retreat last weekend. Thanks to the lovely Anne Hunt's inspiration I went a bit grungy. We were also talking about the Stamper's Anonymous stamp "Odonata". This stamp was given to me by a very special lady and friend Jean who sadly is no longer with us. She brought it back from a trip to the States because she knew I loved dragonflies. I think it makes the perfect centre piece for my altered frame.

I am looking forward to having another go and experimenting more with texture paste. 

I must use this stamp more often ... I had forgotten how beautiful it is. 
Have a great weekend whatever you are up to.
Siobhan x

Woodware - Spring Flowers

This week's theme over at Woodware is "Spring Flowers". Spring seems a bit late up here in Scotland and I am only just beginning to see daffodils coming out. I was recently given this newish Stampendous cling CRW 122 "Cherry Bird"

I coloured the bird then added some splatters of gold from one of my US Artquest mica palettes by flicking the paintbrush. I also added some detail by stitching beads onto the main blossom.

Then I punched out two sizes of sakura flowers and some ash leaves from a Leon-M punch. After shaping I stuck them down and added the pearls. I also stamped and embossed with detail gold powder some of the oriental writing that is on the main stamp. 
Remember to visit the Woodware blog for some great ideas.

Siobhan x

Retreat in Yorkshire

My friend Linda and I are back after our little trip to Beamsley in North Yorkshire for the Beamsley Babes craft retreat. We had a great weekend crafting, eating, laughing and catching up with our fellow crafting friends from all over the place. The theme this weekend was backgrounds using Tim Holtz products. We got a lovely goody bag to start us off. The folder was an ideal place to store our finished tags and will be a great little reference library of all the techniques we tried.

I thought I would share some of the tags I made.

This was blended distress "Spritz and Flick" and probably my all time favourite technique for making quick backgrounds. We were also using a lot of the new Tim Holtz masks. And I just adore these Paper Artsy fish.

This was made using Distress Stains and adding water to let the colours run into each other. I just finished it off with an Indigo Blu stamp. 

These were made by applying Distress paint through a mask and then adding colour on to. The paint acts as a resist.

I love the elephant stamp and just had to use it somewhere!! And I bought the spider charms which I also just had to use.

The bunny was covered with Picket Fence Crackle paint. Once dry we used Distress Stains to add colour and really show off the crackle. I will definitely be using this technique again.

This technique is called marbled stains and done which Picket Fence and 2 or 3 other colours. I liked the sort of chalky effect with this finish. 

Liz Smith gave us a little tutorial on Zentangling. I always struggle with this but today decided to have a wee go. I hope to improve with practise. But I like the idea of having the little notebook in my bag so I can doodle anywhere. So Liz thanks for inspiring me to have another go.

And finally on Sunday morning we had a go at decorating a white Ikea mirror. Mine was made using a mixture of die cuts and texture paste through a mask. It is very much a work in progress and once finished I will post it.

So Ann thanks so much for your class and inspiration. Linda and I managed to get the barbed wire die on the way home!!
So as you can see a busy weekend. I really do not want to go back to work tomorrow as I just want to stay at home to play!!
I will back tomorrow with this weeks project for Woodware. Luckily I made it before I went away....!
Have a good week.
Siobhan xx

Woodware -Sketch 32

It is sketch time again over at Woodware this week. The simple sketch we have been given looks like this: 

A nice easy sketch. My sister and her family are horse lovers. So I couldn't resist using this lovely Stampendous "Filly sketch" . I am sure this will get used several times!!

I stamped the horse's head onto white cardstock that I coloured first with blended dye inks. I then masked the horse and over stamped with the text stamps.

I stamped some single words around the edges in black.

A very simple layout. I stamped text onto the darker brown background card the added the sentiment and some candi to complete.
My friend Linda and I are heading down to Yorkshire this weekend for our craft retreat. A weekend of crafting, chatting, friendship and cakes!! And hopefully a trip to Embsay Crafts for a little retail therapy. I have been doing some sewing lately so might pick up some new fabrics as well. I might even see a nice backing fabric to complete the jelly roll quilt I am working on.

 I am so looking forward to it!!
Siobhan x

Woodware - Mixed Media

This week's challenge at Woodware is "Mixed Media". I started off making a grungy tag with lots of products and techniques then decided that I really didn't like it. And by that time time was running out for starting from scratch. I must admit I am struggling to find any creativity at the moment. The joys of being in my fifties, tired, overweight and going through the menopause!!! So in a bid to perk up my senses I made a lavender bag.

I stamped the image of the poppy field onto fabric and coloured in with alcohol markers. I had intended to embroider the design but just didn't have enough time.

This pretty stamp is an old Stampendous wood mounted stamp called "Scenic Poppy". I stamped onto a fabric canvas with black ink before adding colour.

I trimmed the fabric and frayed the edges. Then I stitched the panel onto a bit of green checked fabric before making up the bag.

Then all that was required was to fill the bag with dried lavender and tie the bag with a ribbon. Smell and relax!!

That's all for this week from me but remember to check out the Woodware blog for lots of great ideas.

Siobhan x