Woodware - Crafty Card Makers Challenge

We are back this week with another challenge with Crafty Cardmakers

 

So jump over and take a look at what they have on show to inspire you!

This is a fun challenge which you should all try at home. It’s 1 – 2 – 3, use 1 stamp, 2 pieces of patterned paper and 3 embellishments.

Apologies again folks for my late post. I have been having computer problems. My computer which I inherited from my daughter has been on it's last legs for sometime. Last night it kept crashing and after a tirade of verbal abuse, which did no good whatsoever, I gave up and went to bed. Fingers crossed it seems to be behaving tonight so I will get this post finished before it changes it's mind!!

For my 1 -2 -3 challenge I used a much loved Stampendous stamp "Happy Couple" as my stamp. I layered it up with two patterned papers and my 3 embellishments were punched daisies, pearls and a bit of organza ribbon. 

I used a glue pen and some fine prisma glitter for the brides dress.

 

My daughter has set a date for her wedding in June 2015. So I seemed to be a little preoccupied with weddings at the moment. Presently I seem to be swaying between excitement and sheer panic at the amount of money that will have to be spent to have this special day!! At least we have nearly two years!! And on that note I have made macaroni cheese for tea tonight, best to start economising now!!

Thank goodness it's Friday. Next week I am off on my holidays so I will be having a month off the Woodware challenges. The very talented Kim Reygate is stepping in again to cover my absence so I hope you will drop by to see her fantastic projects.

Woodware - Punches on Parade

I am last up this week at Woodware for our theme using punches. I have to admit I don't use a lot of punches in my cards so I ended up keeping it very simple. I was all set to sit down and create something a little more involved like a spray of summer flowers. Then my daughter phoned to ask if they could come up for a while that evening. She and her boyfriend Sean were just back from a week's holiday in Tunisia. So I thought she wanted to show us her holiday pictures. And I have to admit I was less than enthusiastic on the phone claiming I had a lot to do that night but sure they were welcome to come up for a wee while. Anyway it turned out they had got engaged when on holiday. So a couple of glasses of wine later I suddenly remembered I needed to get this card made as Dorothy (our team leader was going away) and needed stuff from us early.
So I literally made this card in about 20 minutes. Most people have circle punches or dies so these flowers are so quick and easy.

 Once punched out I just roughen up the edges with my scissor blade and sponge the edges with a darkish ink to give them a distressed look. Then I use a large ball embossing tool on a foam mat to give them a bit of a cup shape to make them stand out a bit.

I like to finish them off with some buttons and pearls. I quite like the rustic but contemporary feel to the flowers. I also added a few punched out leaves to the hand drawn stems.
Well it looks like it's going to be another cracking weekend. Hope it's a good one for you. I am now counting down the days to our holiday ... only two weeks to go!!!! Boy do I need this holiday!!
Siobhan x

Woodware - The Great Outdoors

Whoops!!! I am a little late posting this. I completely forgot last night that I was first up this week for Woodware. This week our theme is the "Great Outdoors". I was about to reach for my trusty Stampendous Tree Poem stamp when I thought I had better use something else instead. I have used that stamp several times recently and didn't think Dorothy, our team leader, would appreciate another version.
So I had a rake through my Dreamweaver stencils and found another tree!! This is called Cedar Tree. I love oriental style cards and haven't made any for a while.

The tree was stencil embossed by running it though my die cutting machine. Then I coloured it with pigment inks and stencil brushes. I also found another stencil of cranes that had a bamboo border and used the bamboo down the edge of my background paper. I blended a little Antique Linen Distress Ink over the top to help make it stand out more.

Here is the finished card.

 

To finish of I used an embossing folder on bronze card and wrapped some garden twine around. I couldn't find my rafia!! Then I found a chinese coin and used some beads to dangle off the ends.

 

Simple but effective!!
I have no idea what the other girls will come up with for this theme. Should be interesting!! Check them out at the Woodware blog.
Have a good week!!
Siobhan x

Woodware - Sketch 25

We are on to sketch 25 over at Woodware this week. How the time flies. When this appears on my blog I will still be in Ireland. I am visiting my Dad and sister and her family with my daughter Catriona. I am looking forward to a few days of doing very little. The weather is meant to be good!!! Work has been a bit full on since I got back from Vancouver and I am still very tired. So I am hoping to recharge my batteries and come back full of energy and ready to go again ..... wishful thinking on my part. I put all my current ails down to the menopause!!
Here is the sketch:

 



And here is my sketch challenge card. I killed two birds with one stone here as I was asked to make an engagement card for a couple soon to have their first baby. 

This Stampendous image is one of my favourites. I haven't used it for a while so high time it got an airing. I coloured the card stock first by blending Distress inks. The rest doesn't need any explaining. I stamped a script (also Stampendous) on the brown layer behind the birds.

I finished off with a simple punched flower embellishment and some pearls.
Hope you are having a good week. 
Siobhan x

Woodware - No Paper, No Problem

This week at Woodware the team has been challenged by Jill Tuck of The Stamp Man to make a card from scratch - using no pre patterned paper. Anytime I visited The Stamp Man in Skipton I was alway so impressed with Jill's work. She always made the most fantastic background papers from spritzing inks and mica powders and scrunching up paper etc. 
I am afraid my offering doesn't quite live up to that. But I do a lot of background techniques anyway with Distress or other dye inks. 

I have used several browns, rust and orages for this masculine card. I wanted it to have a more summery feel than my usual dark and grungy backgrounds. Splattering the blended backgrounds with a little water always gives a nice distressed feel. 
My main image is this fab Stampendous steamer which I stamped in black onto another piece of white card with the same blended colours. 

For a bit of texture I added a border of Aged Gold and Aged Black frantage powder. Whilst hot I sank a few cog and gear stamps for added interest. They don't really show up well in the photo but look quite good in the fleash, as it were!!

 
 The sentiment is another Stampendous stamp that I stamped twice and cut out as two tags. I also found these screw brads which I thought perfect to finish off. 
Be sure to check up on what the other girls have come up with this week at Woodware. 
I am off on my travels again on Friday. This time to Ireland to see my Dad and my sister and her family. So if I manage to make next week's project I hope to schedule it to appear while I am away!! Oh the pressure ......!!
Siobhan x

 

Woodware - Cats and Dogs

I have often wondered where the saying "It's raining cats and dogs" comes from. Well there are plenty cats and a dog over at Woodware this week. I am really a dog person, having two myself. But when it comes down to doggy stamps I don't have many at all. So I have gone with this lovely cat stamp by Stampendous. Our DT member Pam has already used it this week in her lovely card!!
My offering is far simpler. I have made some book plates and a matching envelope. This very studious cat is just perfect for these.

 I made 6 of each colour and cut them out using a rectangular die to keep them all exactly the same size. I am trying to source some nice thick paper that is already gummed on the back. But for the moment I just used Lick'n'stick on the back so the recipient can stick them into a book.

 The little envelope was adapted from a template I use for a longer coin envelope. I cut it out of some scrapbook paper.

The fastener was simply a large brad positioned so the envelope flap can tuck under it to hold it in place.

 The same image was used on the front of the envelope.

 

Then just pop in the book plates along with a book shop gift card and you have a nice little gift.

Have a good weekend everyone. I am catching up with a friend on Saturday then it's into the garden hopefully to get some planting done. 

Siobhan xx 

Woodware - Sorry you are blue!

This week are theme for Woodware is "Sorry you are blue" . I think this week my catchphrase has been "Sorry I am tired!!" . I am back from a one week trip to Vancouver for a work related conference. Now I really enjoyed it, both the conference and getting to see my son who is currently out there. But every one of the four flights was delayed. We sat on the tarmac on the flight for Vancouver for over 4 hours while they fixed a temperature gauge. The flight back was also delayed over 4 hours as the PA system wasn't working!! So I was kind of shattered before I got there, then it was pretty full on for the week. So to cut a long story short this week has been about catching up with sleep and trying not to fall asleep at work!! 
Vancouver and Victoria are both beautiful cities and I hope to go back one day when I have more time to explore!! 
So a quick card today using the gorgeous little Stampendous "Lone bird". I used a brush less water technique with TomBow brush markers. After all the years I have been stamping this is still very much one of my favourite techniques.

As we are meant to be feeling blue I used blues on his belly. This is the nearest I will ever get to doing a watercolour picture!!
I then layered up the card on a couple of shades of blue Bazzill card stock. I punched out a few flowers out of the light blue background layer before sticking to the darker blue layer. 

The sentiment was done on the computer and then cut out with an oval die or punch.Thank goodness it is Saturday tomorrow. I am so looking forward to not having to get up early for work. Have a good weekend!!
Siobhan x

Woodware - Sketch 24

It's a really quick card from me this week as I am away from home. So this had to be done and dusted before I left. But sometimes the cards you make in minutes are just as effective as ones you spend ages on!
It's Sketch 24 at Woodware this week. I don't know where Dorothy gets all these sketch ideas from, but at least it takes the worry about layout away from you. 
Here is the sketch :

I have used one of my favourite techniques which is water stamping. I blended some blues and greens (dye inks) onto white card stock. Starting with quite a dark background gives you the best contrast. The stamp I used is an all time favourite by Stampendous called "Agapanthus cluster". I have had it for years and still love it.

I inked the stamp with Versamark first. This helps retain more water on the stamp. Spritz generously with water and stamp. When you lift off you are left with this beautiful negative image. I also find if I press really firmly and hold for a few seconds, the paper starts to break down a bit and you get a texture to it as well. 

 The background panel uses the same stamp but using Cotton White Staz-on on vellum. I love that effect too.

 So apologies for being a bit lazy this week using techniques I have used many times before!! I hope to be a bit more creative next time. 
Have a great weekend. I don't think I will see much of Sunday as I will most likely be jet lagged!!
Siobhan x

Woodware - Father's Day Creations

93 3RD JUNE - FATHER'S DAY CREATIONS

Hosted by Feebs
It's Father's Day on the 16th of June and  I'd like to see anything you've created for or have been inspired to make by the father figure in your life. It could be anything from a card, a scrapbook page, a knitted scarf or a piece of altered art. It does not have to be specifically for Father's Day ( I don't want you spoiling a surprise for anyone) but let us know the inspiration behind your work.

We are pleased to again be playing along with the CraftyCard Makers this week, the challenge will be open on their blog for two weeks. If you would like to play along with us please check the Crafty Card Maker rules then use the link on the Crafty Card Makers Blog to add your card or if you are not a blogger yet you can e-mail your card to Dorothy as usual Dorothy@woodware.co.uk  and she will post it and add it to the Crafty Card Makers Blog.

As you can see we are teaming up with the "Crafty Card Makers" this week. I am heading to Vancouver later this week for a Nuclear Medicine conference for work. Sounds pretty boring doesn't it until you realise it's in Vancouver. Usually we occasionally get to go to Brighton or Birmingham. But this year I was one of the lucky three to be picked to go to Vancouver. Also my son is there at the moment on his travelling/working trip and it is nearly a year since I saw him. I am hoping to spend a bit of time with him too!!

Hence the need to try and be organised for Father's Day before I go!! My father loves trees and I just had to use (again) one of my favourite stamps of the moment .....Stampendous Poem Tree. I am sure Dorothy groaned when I sent the images to her and thought "not again!!"

Here is my card.

 The leaves for the background came from an old clear Stampendous set of leaves and embossed with gold powder.

In Ireland where my father lives you sometimes get amazing sunsets. The sun goes down behind the trees like a big ball of fire. So I am hoping this will remind my Dad of that.

I also decided to cover a note book to go with his card which I will take over in July when I go over to visit him.

Same stamp but just a bit distressed. The corner embellishment and the book plate I embossed with Aged Gold embossing powder. I also filled in the book plate with glossy accents and left to dry over night.

So that's it from me this week. My next post will be when I am away, provided I get a move on and make and schedule it!! Think I am going to be busy this week.
For more inspiration for Father's Day, be sure to check the Woodware blog daily this week.
Hope you continue to enjoy the better weather.
Siobhan x

Woodware - Backgrounds

This week at Woodware we are playing with background techniques. I used to spend so much time looking through my paper stash for the perfect background for my main image. I have since learnt it is often easier to make your own. I like to layer images for backgrounds and this ghosting technique is a perfect starting point.

 For the first layer I stamped seashells (all Stampendous stamps) onto white card stock with white pigment ink. Once dry I blended over Robin's Egg, Baby Blue, Seaglass and Sky Blue over the top. I really like this subtle resist as a first layer.

 With the same stamps I stamped first and second generation inkings over the top with aqua and my background is ready to use.

The perfect background for my little Stampendous mermaid!! I added a little Shabby White embossing powder to look like a sandy seabed and to ground the image. And then I found the little seahorse in my stash as a finishing touch!!

Do check out the Woodware blog to see what the other girls are up to with their background techniques this week. 
Where did the sunshine go!! Well at least we had a nice couple of days at the weekend!!
Have a good week.
Siobhan x

Woodware DT - Colours of the Earth

This week our challenge at Woodware is "Colours of the Earth". I have been playing around with alcohol ink backgrounds. The plaid effect is a technique I came across on Tim Holtz's blog. I think it was his second year of doing the "Twelve Days of Christmas" tags. I love alcohol inks and this is a lovely technique once you get the hang of it.

To create this effect you need alcohol inks, a felt applicator and some glossy card. Chose 5 or 6 colours of alcohol inks that you think will go together. Squeeze a drop of each colour into the pad side by side. For a thin stripe keep the dot small, for a wider stripe make the dot wider. I like to sprinkle a few drops of blending solution onto the inks just to lighten them a bit.
Work firmly and quickly swiping the applicator across the glossy card in one direction. Move down the card always swiping in the same direction until it is covered. Turn the card 90 degrees. Do the same again and see your plaid appearing. 

 
And there you have it .... a nice plaid background to stamp on to. If you find colour combinations that you like then write them down in your notebook so you can reproduce them quickly when required.
Over stamp with a permanent ink like Memories, Versamark or Archival for best effect. And I use my heat gun to set the ink just to be sure.

The leaves were punched from copper foil. I covered them with Versamark ink then used a combination of Aged Gold and Aged Bronze embossing powders. The "Poem Tree" is a recent release from Stampendous and it looks great on this type of background.

Here is a different set of colours. The leaves were stamped with a Brilliance pad which also dries well on top of the glossy card and gives a lovely shimmer in the light. This one is for a friend's birthday that's coming up. As I had my alcohol inks out I made a batch of backgrounds for quick cards later on.
For loads more inspiration check out our blog at Woodware. 

Woodware - Cards for Men

I always struggle a bit for men's cards, especially when it is someone you make cards for regularly like your hubby or Dad. So when I saw these two new Woodware clear stamps with the fishy words and the angler I couldn't resist buying them. Sadly my Dad nor my husband go fishing, but I know other men that do!!

I stamped the background words in a soft beige ink onto white card square then simply over-stamped the fisherman in black. So simple. I layered up with some beige and gold card. The background paper is from my stash and is from MME. It is double sided and as I loved both sides used both in my card layout. "Great Catch" came from the background stamp (I like to get my money's worth from a stamp!!).

The birthday wishes is from the Fisherman set and a very useful one for more masculine cards. I finished off with some bronze card candi and the lovely little metal fish charm that has lain in my charm box for years!!
If you are looking for ideas for men's cards then hop over to the Woodware blog for lots of inspiration.
Siobhan x

Tagtastic Group Meeting

On Saturday I met up with the girls in our "Tagtastic Swap" group. As always it was lovely to catch up with everyone. The theme we chose for this swap was "dry embossing" either as a background or on some element of the tag. The girls certainly didn't disappoint and produced such a great variety of tags. So as I am one of the few in the group with a blog, I like to post our tags so we can keep up with what everyone has made.
So here goes, in alphabetical order :

ERIN

 ISOBEL

 

LIN

 

LINDA

 

LIZ

MAGGIE

 

PAT 

 

 SIOBHAN

 

SUE

 As you can see, they are a talented bunch. We are having a break now until August. When we meet next we will hopefully have 3 tags each to swap. I better be on the ball that day to avoid total chaos!! Our next 3 themes are :

• Alcohol inks
• Brush less Watercolour
• Stencils

I had a day off today and decided to take a trip to Stirling to look at sewing machines. I have been doing quite a lot of research and had narrowed it down to two. The lady in Pemberton's was very helpful in demonstrating the machines. So decision made I came back with a Husqvarna Sapphire machine that is amazing!! I went by train and carried this thing all the way home as I couldn't wait to have it delivered!! Now I can maybe finish some of the many sewing projects I have on the go!!
Have a good week everyone.

Siobhan x 
 
 
 

 

Woodware - Sketch 23

Time for another sketch challenge at Woodware this week. This is our 23rd sketch!! Anyway mine is very simple.
This is the sketch we were given :

 

And here is my sample card.

I stamped the Stampendous fresh bloom with Versamark and embossed with white powder. Over the resist I rubbed ink from the Brilliance ink pad "Aurora". The three colours work well together.
The sentiment is from a Woodware clear set by Jane Gill. A useful sentiment for several occasions I thought!!

 
Our tag group meets on Saturday. So I will be posting our latest efforts over the weekend. The theme this time is "Dry Embossing". I always look forward to meeting up with the "girls" for a natter and see what they have all made.
Hope you have a good weekend!!
Siobhan x