Book Worm Bookmark

Hi there

You may be glad to know (!!) this is the last of my recent bookmark makes, but I had such fun making them I think some more may be created very soon! 

This little guy has been in my stamp stash for years and I've only ever used the set once before so I think he deserved an inking!  And for this one I used the tall tag die with the fishtail which came in the duo set with the other die I've been using.

I began by stamping and colouring the book on a die cut panel of white cardstock.  This was then masked and I ink blended the background in a neutral shade and then blended through a woodgrain stencil with a shade of brown.  I then stamped, coloured and die cut the book worm and adhered him onto the book.  I stamped the sentiment and then die cut a second panel from green polka dot paper and adhered this on the reverse for a cleaner finish.  I then added some gloss to his glasses.

I finished by adding some brown grosgrain ribbon through the slot and tied this with some co-ordinating green twine.  Here is the reverse view...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Bookworm and Bookworm Additions
• Stencil: Funky Fossil - Woodgrain Background
• Ink: Distress Ink - Antique Linen, Rusty Hinge; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Tall Tag Duo; Clearly Besotted - Bookworm
• Coloured with Copics
• Accents: Glossy Accents; Ribbon - American Crafts; Twine - Hemptique

That's all from me today.  Phew!  That was a lot of posts today, thanks so much if you're still with me!

Leopard Print Bookmarks

Hi there

More bookmarks, and these were quick and easy makes.

All of these use the same animal print stencil which is the part inked in black.  The brown ink on two of the designs was added using an ink dauber.

For this traditional colourway, I cut the reverse layer from some darker brown cardstock...

Materials used:

• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Leopard Animal Print
• Ink: Distress Ink - Black Soot, Rusty Hinge
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Tall Tag Duo
• Cardstock from stash
• Accents: Ribbon - American Crafts; Twine - Hemptique

For this one, I stencilled directly onto some watercolour-effect patterned paper, and backed it with plain white cardstock...

Materials used:

• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Leopard Animal Print
• Ink: Distress Ink - Black Soot
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Tall Tag Duo
• Patterned Paper: Papermania - Capsule Elements: Pigment
• Accents: Ribbon - American Crafts; Twine - Hemptique

This one has the additional brown ink added with a dauber and the back panel is cut from the same pink cardstock...

Materials used:

• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Leopard Animal Print
• Ink: Distress Ink - Black Soot, Rusty Hinge
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Tall Tag Duo
• Cardstock from stash
• Accents: Ribbon - American Crafts; Twine - Hemptique

I hope I'm not boring you with these! lol  There are a few more individual ones still to come :)

Autumnal Bookmarks

Hello again

After creating the cute character bookmarks I thought I'd make some which weren't so time consuming.  I love how they turned out but they were a lot of work.

So, as summer is now over here in the UK, and there's definitely a chill in the air now, I chose to make some with an Autumnal theme, and all of these use stencils and Distress Inks...

This one has a reverse side using the same textured cardstock as the front but is left plain...

Materials used:

• Stencil: Uniko - Natures's Treasures II
• Distress Ink: Fired Brick, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Tall Tags Duo
• Cardstock from stash
• Accents: Ribbon - American Crafts; Twine - Hemptique

I ink blended the whole stencil here so had enough to use the design on the reverse layer too...

Materials used:

• Stencil: Sweet Poppy - Foliage
• Distress Ink: Peeled Paint, Barn Door, Walnut Stain
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Tall Tags Duo
• Cardstock from stash
• Accents: Ribbon - American Crafts; Twine - Hemptique

For this one I used cream cardstock and left the reverse layer plain...

Materials used:

• Stencil: Altenew - Leaf Burst
• Distress Ink: Forest Moss, Wild Honey, Aged Mahogany
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Tall Tags Duo
• Cardstock from stash
• Accents: Ribbon - American Crafts; Twine - Hemptique

and for this one I repeated the design on the reverse but with lighter ink shades (although I didn't note down which colours I used on the reverse - apologies!)

Materials used:

• Stencil: Funky Fossil - Leaves
• Distress Ink: Spiced Marmalade, Old Paper, Crushed Olive
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Tall Tags Duo
• Cardstock from stash
• Accents: Ribbon - American Crafts; Twine - Hemptique

I'd like to link these up at the Allsorts Challenge Blog: Week 591 - Autumn Colours.

Thanks so much for looking, more to come! :)

Cute Character Bookmarks

Hi there

I'm stopping by this afternoon to share something new I've been working on behind the scenes...Bookmarks!

I wanted to offer something different in my online shop, as well as cards, while still working with my stash of cardstock, stamps, stencils, etc.  Papercraft is what I love doing, so I thought this was a good direction to go in.

I've been making a few different styles/themes and in this first post I'm sharing a little batch featuring some cute characters.

Of all the designs I created, these were the most time-consuming as they all involved stamping, masking, ink blending, colouring and gloss accents.

They were all made in exactly the same way.  I began by stamping the four characters, which were then masked before stamping the books they are sitting on.  The books were also then masked before each background was ink blended with three shades of Distress Ink.  I removed the masked and coloured the images with Copic markers.  I then die cut each panel with a faux stitched tall tag die, as well as die cutting four different co-ordinating patterned papers which I then adhered back to back to create a cleaner finish.  I then held my breath while stamping the quotes on each one (didn't want to mess this bit up after so much work!)  Each bookmark was then finished with some grosgrain ribbon and tied with twine, and I added some gloss to the glasses and eyes.

Here's a closer view of each one, and the supplies I used for each...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Wise Owl, That's Genius
• Distress Ink: Squeezed Lemonade, Dried Marigold, Abandoned Coral; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Tall Tag Duo
• Coloured with Copics
• Patterned Paper: Doodlebug - Kraft in Color: Color
• Accents: Ribbon - American Crafts; Twine - Hemptique; Glossy Accents

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Wise Owl, That's Genius
• Distress Ink: Worn Lipstick, Shaded Lilac, Salty Ocean; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Tall Tag Duo
• Coloured with Copics
• Patterned Paper: Doodlebug - Kraft in Color: Color
• Accents: Ribbon - American Crafts; Twine - Hemptique; Glossy Accents

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Wise Owl, That's Genius
• Distress Ink: Twisted Citron, Salty Ocean, Blueprint Sketch; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Tall Tag Duo
• Coloured with Copics
• Patterned Paper: Doodlebug - Kraft in Color: Color
• Accents: Ribbon - American Crafts; Twine - Hemptique; Glossy Accents

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Wise Owl
• Distress Ink: Antique Linen, Peeled Paint, Frayed Burlap; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Tall Tag Duo
• Coloured with Copics
• Patterned Paper: Doodlebug - Kraft in Color: Color
• Accents: Ribbon - American Crafts; Twine - Hemptique; Glossy Accents

I'm linking these up at Darnell's NBUS Challenge #18 as this tall tag die is a newbie and I'm loving using it! 

I'll be sharing all of my bookmarks today, in different posts by theme.  I hope you like them.

Less is More Challenge #399

Good morning

It's new challenge day over at Less is More.  For the next fortnight we have a Theme challenge for you with lots of scope, here is the cue card...

As it's a new month we also have a new sponsor for you which is the awesome Skull and Cross Buns, so by playing along in our challenges will put you in the running for our monthly prize for July!

We also have a fabulous Guestie joining us this week and I'm sure you'll know her as one of our regular participants at Less is More, the super talented Viv, who was our May winner.  She has a stunning card to share for this challenge so please do pop over to her blog to take a look and say hi.

I've had this last week off work and the weather has been glorious which is pretty rare when I book a week as holiday, so I've been out and about making the most of it, so much so that I've only had chance to make one card for you this time I'm afraid.  I'm on the Design Team for Skull and Cross Buns so when a little package of new goodies arrived from the lovely Emily I wanted to use one of the new stencils on my card project.  

So here it is...

I've not seen any other animal print stencils before so just couldn't wait to have a play with this one!  I began by using the large balloon edge die to cut a corner from some kraft cardstock. I then blended some Distress Ink in from the edge to give it some depth and then blended through the stencil with black ink.  I tied some twine around the balloon and then adhered the die cut using fun foam onto the upper corner of my card base, cut from linen cardstock.  I then used three shades of pigment ink and, using my MISTI, repeatedly stamped 'celebrate' to create an ombre effect.  The remaining part of the sentiment was stamped below in black ink.

Materials used:

• Die: MFT - Blueprints 26
• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Leopard Animal Print Stencil
• Cardstock: Neenah - Dessert Storm; linen cardstock from stash
• Ink: Distress Ink - Tea Dye, Black Soot; Versa Color - Sand Beige, Pinecone, Charcoal; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Paper Smooches - Sentiment Sampler; Avery Elle - Party Animal
• Twine: Hemptique - Earthy set

Challenge entries:

STAMPlorations - Summer Theme & Sketch Challenge - Stamp and Anything Goes

STAMPlorations - Summer CAS Card Challenge - AG CAS

Thanks, as always, for stopping by.  I hope you can join in our Celebrations challenge, the linky is open until 19 July, so plenty of time for you to pop your entries into our gallery :)

Skull and Cross Buns - Emboss Resist Baubles

Hi guys

Back to share the last of my makes from yesterday's crafty afternoon using stamps by Skull and Cross Buns.

On this card I used two of the Christmas stamps - Christmas Drop Patterned Bauble and Christmas Bauble.  The Christmas Bauble design (the round one) is currently reduced as part of the Black Friday Weekend deals so please do pop over if you want a bargain.

Here's my card...

On a panel of white cardstock I stamped the two baubles in VersaMark ink and heat embossed them in white.  I then used the emboss resist technique and blended over with three shades of Distress Ink.  I cut the panel down using a stitched rectangle die and then pierced through the top of the baubles and added some twine, securing on the reverse.  I added a sentiment in black ink and adhered the panel to the card base.  I finished by adding two die cut bows from white cardstock, and added to these some clear Wink of Stella for some shimmer.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Christmas Drop Patterned Bauble, Christmas Bauble; Paula Pascual - Christmas Messages
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Ink - Cracked Pistachio, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rectangle Stax; Clearly Besotted - Ornamental Style
• Twine: Hemptique - Vintage set
• Accent: Wink of Stella - Clear

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards -CAS Game #104 - Christmas

Crimbo Crackers - Challenge #146 - Anything Goes

Uniko - Challenge #44 - Christmas

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #269 - Clean and Simple

I still have lots of cards to share that I made while I was away at the Craft Retreat and the week that followed.  I'll be gradually sharing these very soon.

Thanks again for all your visits and support, I read and appreciate every one of your comments.

I hope to see you again soon :)

Upcycling - Notebook Cover to Tag

Hi guys

This morning I came across the new challenge over at AAA Cards where they want us to recycle something not bought for crafting, and use it on our creations.

Firstly I kicked myself as recently, in an effort to tidy and re-organise my craft cupboard, I disposed of a few bits and pieces I had collected over time thinking they might 'come in handy' one day!  But I still did have a couple of things I thought could work.

So, earlier today I made two cards, here is the first.

This pretty little tag started it's life as a plastic semi-transparent notebook cover...

I started by die cutting part of the cover using a stitched tag die which I ran through my Big Shot a few times.  I stamped a sentiment onto a panel of white cardstock and then embossed with a wave embossing folder.  I die cut the flower and adhered this to the tag. The tag die didn't include the hole so I used a single hand-held holepunch to make this (lots of brute force was needed to get through the plastic!), threaded through some ribbon and tied with some twine.  With the tag being plastic I wanted to make sure it would adhere firmly so I used Glossy Accents behind the flower die and ribbon so it wouldn't show through.  There's plenty of the plastic left and I still have the other cover too so I can make more with this :)

Materials used:

• Stamp: Altenew - Hennah Elements
• Ink: Altenew - Cotton Candy
• Embossing Folder: We R Memory Keepers - Next Level Wave
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Traditional Tag Stax; Wplus9 - Flower Doodles
• Ribbon: American Crafts - Grosgrain
• Twine: Hemptique - Ruby Collection

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - Game #73 - Upcycling

Sunday Stamps - Challenge #135 - Happy Colours

Happy Little Stampers - September Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies

Moving Along with the Times - Challenge #28 - All Kinds of Everything (Butterflies)

I'm glad I've finally got the chance to put my thinking cap on and use this.  The post about the second card I made will follow shortly.

Thanks so much for visiting today, I'd love to hear your comments.

Less is More - Two-Weeker!

Good morning crafters

There is a new challenge just starting over at Less is More.  This challenge will run for two weeks to cover the Christmas/New Year break.  We've worked our way around our usual sequence and we're back with a Theme challenge which is....

Homespun

Not an easy challenge for me but I've got two sample cards for you today showing how I interpreted the theme.  Here they are...

I stamped four different stitch designs on a white cardstock panel and topped with a faux stitched heart, stamped and die cut from some patterned paper.  I tied some twine in a bow to the back of a button, adhered this with a glue dot and stamped the sentiment to co-ordinate with the button.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Hot Off The Press - Stamped Stitches; Clearly Besotted - Love Hearts (and co-ordinating die)
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Celadon
• Patterned paper from stash
• Accents: Twine - Hemptique - Ruby Collection; Button - Stampin' Up - Subtles

And my second card...

I embossed a white cardstock panel with a patchwork quilt design.  I then stamped the sentiment onto a strip of white cardstock and the image onto some gingham patterned paper.  I swirled some jute twine and anchored it in place when adhering the image on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Embossing folder: DoCrafts - Boofle
• Stamps: Woodware - Home Sweet Home
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Patterned Paper: DoCrafts - Boofle
• Accents: Jute twine from stash

We'd love to see how you interpret this theme.  And don't forget, this challenge will run for a fortnight, with the next challenge starting on Saturday 2 January 2016.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pearlescent and Pink

Hi guys

This card was made for a friend who wanted a card for a wedding tomorrow where she is a bridesmaid.

The bridesmaids' dresses are pale pink so I incorporated that on this card, as well as a request for the names of the bride and groom, and the date of their special day.

I recently purchased some pearlescent embossing paste and I was itching to use it so I die cut a heart from some scrap cardstock which I then used as a mask and applied the paste through a stencil.  I printed the names and date and cut this out with a tag die, together with another tag from pale pink vellum which I adhered offset behind.  I adhered the tags and then added a sequin and some twine, which I adhered with Glossy Accents to ensure they wouldn't shift.  I die cut the word love from some pale pink cardstock and adhered this across the stenciled heart, and finished off with some silver gems.

Materials used:

• Dies: Xcut - Nested Hearts; Clearly Besotted - Tag Along and Love Word Die
• Stencil: Memory Box - Scraped Paint
• Embossing Paste: Dreamweaver - Pearlescent
• Twine: Hemptique
• Sequin: Doodlebug
• Gems, vellum and cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

Just Us Girls - Week #291 - Twine

Brown Sugar - Challenge #144 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create - Challenge #121 - Anything Goes


Thanks for popping by.  I now have a week off work so hopefully I'll find time for more crafting than I have of late.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and even better if like me you have a bank holiday on Monday :)

Less is More - Guest Designer!

Hi there

Eeeek...I'm very excited this morning as I recently received a happy email and I've been invited to be a Guest Designer at Less is More!

I absolutely love this challenge as it was one of the very first I discovered in blogland and I try to enter as often as I can so I'm absolutely honoured to be joining Chrissie, Sarah and Anne this week.

So, without further ado, this week the challenge is...

Add a Tag

Here is my card...

I stamped the flower on vellum and heat embossed in white before fussy cutting it out.  I then drew some sketchy lines on the reverse using a white Inktense pencil.  I then used the same vellum to die cut the leaves.  The tag outline and sentiment was also embossed in white on kraft cardstock and die cut with the co-ordinating tag die.  I cut a kraft panel and punched out some notches before wrapping around with some thin green twine.  Next the elements were layered up with more twine and the flower was adhered with silicone glue so the adhesive wouldn't show through.  A scattering of gems were added to finish.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Tag Along; Uniko Studio - Beautiful Blooms II
• Dies: Clearly Besotted - Tag Along and Leafy Accents
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Derwent Inktense Pencil - Antique White
• Cardstock: Neenah - Desert Storm
• Twine: Hemptique - Vintage
• Gems from stash

There are lots of ways to incorporate tags into your projects so we would love for you to join us and can't wait to see what you come up with.

A Thank You

Before I go I'd like to say a massive thank you to all of you that sent lovely messages about my little fur baby, Elmo.  He came home later on last Sunday and is recovering well from his surgery, it's amazing how quickly animals bounce back from medical procedures. Nothing was done during the surgery but he was given antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to calm down whatever was causing him the pain.  The vet said there's lots going on that doesn't look good so, unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done other than taking biopsies of various organs that are abnormal and giving him treatment which might not even help him, or possibly harm him elsewhere.  He also has a lymphoma and treatment for that is highly likely to be unsuccessful, not to mention extremely expensive. So, as long as he's pain free, that's my main priority right now.

He's been having lots of gentle cuddles.  I need to be careful as he has lots of stitches in his tummy which will be coming out next week.  Apart from being a bit tentative about climbing up on the bed and sofa, etc. he doesn't really seem bothered about the wound at all.  I find it amazing how resilient he is!

I'll leave you with a little pic...here he is, back in his favourite spot on my bed, such a brave boy xxx

Thank you so much for popping by today, I hope to see you again soon.