A Little Bit of Summer

A really quick post today 'cos it's late and it's a school day tomorrow, but I can't bear to watch Top Gear any longer. I think the Hamster is lovely, but I want to rip Clarkson's arm off and beat him with the bloody stump lol.

I don't normally like to combine challenges, but time has got the better of me this weekend, and I wanted to enter both so.... here's my entry for The Sunday Stampers and Artistic Stamper which is Something Old Something New, and Lots To Do, which is The Scenic Route.I'm hoping this counts as a Summer scene.

The something old was the childrens Pairs cards that I've altered. Now my two are 19 and 17, but I'm sure we still have most of their old toys. I suppose it's our fault 'cos we still have Neil's original Scalextric in the loft (it's so old the cars have gone from classic to vintage) and I've still got my old bear, which used to be bigger than me, but now alas I have far outgrown him.

I've used lots of gesso to cover the cards, and distress inks in shaded of yellow and green. The stamps are by Simple Expressions, and I always struggle to stamp these, but they look so nice if you can get them right. The something new is my lovely Clearz that came in my Blog Candy from The Stampman. I've tinted it with alcohol inks and stuck down with glossy accents. My bee's antena is my first attempt at wire work lol.

Hope the kids don't notice that there cards have gone missing :o) The paper on the front is from Tim's Lost and Found stack, which I've just got from The Fruit Pixie. This paper is gorgeous, but it's made me want the other stacks too now.

Clarkson's just about to drive his car at a lorry so I think I'll watch this bit :o)

Thanks very much for looking x

I'm a Believer

Yep I've finally lost the plot and made a Christmas card in July.... No this isn't me being organised it's just that the challenge over at the Sunday Stampers is Journey/Believe. Well I really do believe in Santa Clause, and if anyone in our house says any different they get one of my 'looks'
All of the images are from the same Tim Holtz set so how easy was that!
I'm really loving the distress stickles, but I keep forgetting that they come out in a bit of a blob, so my tree's well covered.
I was feeling reckless today so I've stamped straight onto the card rather than cutting and sticking lol.
You can't really tell here, but I've stamped Santa twice and coloured him in with promarkers, so he's nicely pink and jolly.
I really enjoyed making this but I don't think I'll make any more Christmas cards till mid December :o)
Thanks very much for looking x

Song Sung Blue The Sunday Stampers

Here's my entry for this weeks Sunday Stampers challenge, which is 'Blue'. I've been trying for ages to make these grungy flowers, so I put on Leandra's video on Paper Artsy's You Tube channel and tried to get my head round it :o)
The stamps and dies are from Paper Artsy, I've used card and Grunge Paper for the petals, and the leaves are metal. I'm really pleased with the result, so it's all credit to Leandra, as it's a step by step copy of hers.
It's been a lovely challenge, and thanks for looking x

Sunday Stampers - Silver Lady

This is my entry to this weeks Sunday Stampers challenge. As usual the song has been going through my head all morning, so much so that I had to go and look it up on youtube . I loved David Soul's singing but I have to I prefered Paul Michael Glazer. To this day I prefer dark haired men, but at my age any hair will do lol. (Sorry Neil if you're reading :o) ) But I digress...
My ATC has a background of Cloudy Blue, Lake Mist and Silver acrylic dabbers blended together. The stamps are by Just for Fun, and have been stamped with dye ink and acrylic paints. The little bird charm is from Elusive Images.
This has been a fab challenge, the finished item actually came out as I had envisaged - that doesn't happen often, must be the extra chocolate in the blood stream....
Have a great Easter Weekend and thanks for looking xx

Spring Is In The Air

As it was Mother's Day today, I managed to sneak away for an hour to make a card. I've had these Elusive Images stamps for quite a while, but they were still sealed in their plastic bag. I seem to be in an inky mood lately, so again no fancy papers or embelishments. Looking at the photograph I notice that I still worship at the alter of wonky cards, but then I think that straight lines are very overrated lol.
I think my card fits in with Hels' challenge at Sunday Stampers which is Diamonds, and also Stamp Something's which is Think Spring.
The background stamp is by Cherry Pie, and has been stamped with a Big and Juicy ink pad. The bird stamp has been inked with an Adirondack which I have had for years and it's still going strong. The quote at the bottom is from Serendipity.
This is the first DL card I've made for ages, and they used to be my favourite. Isn't it strange how things come and go?
Thanks very much for looking xx

Lots To Do and The Sunday Stampers

Over on Lots To Do this week the challenge is 'Wings'.
This little Tim Holtz fella was still in his packet with not a sniff of ink, so out he came. The ATC background is a piece of Thomsons Local stuck onto some mountboard, and painted with lots of diluted acrylic paint.
The same for the stamped image, then he was cut out and stuck down. A little bit of German Scrap, then some water soluble pastels around the edges. Lots of clear glaze to seal it all down and job done!
The little guy also fits in nicely with the challenge on Sunday Stampers which is boys.
A lovely messy challeng, and thanks for looking xx

http://lotstodocallenges.blogspot.com/2009/02/week-7-wings.html

http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/2009/02/sunday-stamper-week-47-oh-boy.html

Sunday Stampers & Lots to Do Challenges

I've cheated today and done a combined challenge. The Sunday Stampers challenge is Boys, and on Lots to Do it's to make a 3x3 ATC collage. This is something I havn't even heard of until today, so that's my excuse!!
I've stamped and embossed various 'boy' images, then inked over the background with so cats eyes chalk ink pads, then overstamped with whatever took my fancy.
The fun part was cutting it up then seeing what it looked like. I enjoyed making this - don't know what to do with it now though??
Hope it's ok, and thanks for looking. xx
http://lotstodocallenges.blogspot.com/2008/05/week-7-9-atc-collage.html
http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/2008/05/sunday-stampers-week-15-two-little-boys.html

The Sunday Stampers - Words

'His name is Leo and he dances on the sand'
Mmm , maybe not... apologies to any Duranies out there :o)
Here is my effort for the Sunday Stampers this week. The theme is 'Words', and as I'm in a taggy mood I decided to make another.
I painted said tag with pink and lilac crackle paints, and blended them together with er... my finger. I'm sure there a blending tool available on some web site, but my finger was nearer!! It seemed to be quite a thick layer, but it hasn't cracked that much.
The da Vinci and little squares stamps are by Cherry Pie Art Stamps, and they have been inked with various distress inks.
The Artist stamp is by Tim Holtz. I roughed up the edges with his paper distresser, and inked up with yellow distress ink. It's finished off with a thin layer of Mod Podge to blend the colours in a little more.
I realy enjoyed this challenge, hope you like, and thanks for looking xx
http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/2008/04/sunday-stampers-week-14-its-only-words.html

The Sunday Stampers - When My Little Girl is Smiling

The theme for this Sunday's challenge is 'Face', so I had to use my favourite (for today at least) stamp. She's by Paperbag Studios, and even my hubby (who hates anything 'arty') likes her.
The backing paper is Basic Grey Scarlets Letter. It only arrived yesterday and I've cut into it already!!
I stamped the image onto white card and watercoloured her face. I then stamped onto the BG, cut out her face (ouch), then stuck it over the top.
I'm quite pleased with the result - makes her look pale and interesting.
The sentiment is torn from a HOTP book. I inked up some velum in red and black, tore out the middle and inked that up also, and stuck over the top with a couple of brads.
Bit of gold Krylon and red ribbon (managed to tie the bow with a bowmaker I found at the back of the drawer) and all done.
Just managed to take the photograph before the sun sank behind a rain cloud.
Hope you like it x
http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/

The Sunday Stampers - We Are Family

The challenge this week is 'Family' I decided to go for an ATC as my stamps are quite small, and I struggle to make a card with small stamps - I freak out at the empty space :o). The background has been painted in H2O's in pink and purple, then a harlequin pattern stamped in silver. The family and sentiments have been stamped, cut out and Mod Podged.
The edges were attacked with a Tim Holtz paper distresser (what a mean tool this is!!) then inked with peeled paint distress ink.
The stamps are by Just for Fun, and Catslife Press. Hope you like. xx
http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/

The Sunday Stampers - Transport

I'm a bit late with my challenges this week as I visited my sister at the weekend while the boys?? went to watch Barnsley at Wemberleee - enough said (and for those who have no idea what I am talking about they lost to Cardiff in the FA Cup)
This really hasn't photographed too well, but as it's hailstoning through the sunshine, I'll put it down to bad lighting lol.
This is an Elusive Images stamp that I don't use nearly enough, with a Stampboard tile in the middle.
The backing paper is actually orange (told you it hasn't photographed too well) Basic Grey.
The grungeboard has been painted with gold and bronze acrylic dabbers. It just arrived today from that well know auction site, and I love it.
It's my uncle's birthday soon so the 'happy birthday' stamp finished it off. I'l just leave it until the last minute now to post it:o)
http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/

The Sunday Stampers

Mmmm - now first of all a little whinge. The theme this week is 'Going for Green' and Hels wanted us the hum the Going for Gold' theme tune. What actually happened was that I whistled Kermit the frogs 'It's not Easy being Green' for the best part of two hours. Now I'm a big fan of Kermit, and all things Muppety, but it seems that not everyone shares my enthusiasm!!
I have made a tag this week - didn't mean to, it started off as a card, but whoever said there are no mistakes in craft, just happy accidents needs to see my rubbish bin!!
The tag has been inked up with lots of different shades of green, and Moon Glowed with gold. The background stamp is by Elusive Images and has been inked in Adirondack lettuce.
The sentiment is by Simple Expressions. Same background stamp, but stamped onto a distressed inky background.
The flower is also by Simple Expressions. It's been stamped in lettuce, then stamped onto acetate. I embossed this with verdigris embossing powder - and it looked awful!!
BUT I turned it over, and it looked quite nice, kind of like molten glass, so it stayed :o)
The bit in the middle is another little S E stamps which was stamped in gold then ultra thick embossed.
A few prima's and a dragonfly brad and all done....
or so I thought....I couldn't let it rest, I wanted a card. So I folded a piece of acetate into a DL size, and lined it with some patterned velum (this doesn't show up to well on the photograph) I poked holes through both layers and threaded the gold ribbon through to join the layers together.
The tag has been stuck on the front, and a Serendipity sticker popped underneath.
I really enjoyed making this, but it certainly isn't easy being green....
http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/

The Sunday Stampers

The theme this week is 'Party Party' and it has to incorporate a party hat.
It gave me the perfect opportunity to try out my new Lost Coast Designs
'Waiting for Mr Right' stamp. I inked up my background using red and yellow distress inks, then stamped the ladies with black stazon. I am really unsure what inks I can use where so stazon is always a safe bet!
Then a bit of matting and layering with some K&Co papers, and some further stamping with the 'stitches' clear stamps that were in the QVC tsv last Summer.
Final background was inked up again as before, and finished off with the moonglow spritz in cactus gold.
The paper hats have been 'glossy accented' as has the clock on the party time sentiment.
I am ashamed to say that I sat at the computer waiting for Hels to post the challenge - sad or what!!
The Sunday Stampers

Sunday Stampers Laydeee

Here is my card for this weeks Sunday Stampers challenge. I spent an hour messing with my Paper Artsy 'Mother Nature' stamp, but I couldn't get her to look right, so I got out my Stamp Camp 'Mona' and had a go with her!
I have stamped with one of those huge multi coloured dye ink pads in 'folliage' colours. The corners and 'mask' are a set of clear stamps that I got from US last year on holiday.
The crown and 'smile' are both Heidi Swapp's stamped, embossed and cut out.
As Mona is a lady I have given her a set of pearls and some paper artsy 'scrap'.
I then broke with all tradition and tidied my mess up straight away as I left my Easter cards till the last minute and will have to do a couple after work tomorrow.
I am so glad I have taken part in the last two challenges, I've really enjoyed them. xx