International Art and Soul Challenge 102

 The challenge theme for this fortnight is Off to Dinner. I chose to use a stamp depicting two very glamorous ladies drinking cocktails as I imagine their next stop will be dinner somewhere very exclusive.

The stamp is from Crafts and Me which I've had for several years. I know the company went out of business a while ago, and I don't know if the image is available from anyone else now. I coloured with watercolour pencils and added some glittery accents with Sakura Stardust pens. I gave the background area an extra glitz with a Crafter's Compaion glitter marker.

The background started as a simple smooshed piece with Distress Oxide inks, but I wanted to add something to it, so I added a gel press impression with white acrylic paint and a stencil.

I do hope you can join us this time.

International Art and Soul Challenge 101

 This time at International Art and Soul, the theme of the challenge is Hearts. You can interpret that as you wish. I decided to make a card using a Gorjuss stamp I bought a few years ago.

I coloured the image with pencils - my newly-purchased Koh -i-Noor Polycolor pencils. I'm by no means an expert at colouring with any media, but I was reasonably happy with this effort. I envy those who can see where to shade darker and lighter and do it successfully, but I do struggle with that.

The bacground uses plain black card and a piece of embossed and Distress Oxide shaded card which was left over from a previous project. I do hope you can join us this time.

International Art and Soul Challenge 100

 The theme for this fortnight is Winter. I must say, I do like winter. Yes, it can be cold, and it can be wet but it's lovely to feel cosy inside when the weather's bad outside. And snowy landscapes are gorgeous to look at.

When I'd almost finished my Christmas cards last year, I came across a text stamp I haven't used for some time. As it's perfect for this theme, I used it to complete my Christmas makes. The text stamp is one I've had for quite a long time but I honestly can't remember whose it is. It might be an Inkylicious stamp, but I don't think it is. If anyone recognises it, I'd love to be reminded! The other stamps used come from Craft Stamper Magazine.

For both cards, I stamped the image and then gave the background a Distress Ink wash. In the case of the second card, I also added some white pencil to key areas before the ink wash as a type of resist. I gave them some different matting, and, for very simple cards, I think they're quite effective. 

In case you can't read it, the verse reads, 'Winter waves a magic want over the world and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful'

I do hope you can join us this time.

International Art and Soul Challenge 99

 The theme for the first fortnight of the year is Landscapes. I'm hosting the challenge, and I'd love to see a landscape for any season. With that in mind, I made some Christmas cards using a range of stamps and stencils from Inkylicious, Creative Stamping Magazine and John Next Door. The background shading was done in Distress Ink, while the darker parts use Versafine Clair.

I did several of this style for last Christmas, and I do like the results, although I have to say I have a significant failure rate with several attempts going into the bin!

The trees here use stamps from Circa Design that I've had for many years.

And finally, for this one I added some heat embossed foliage.

I'm looking forward to seeing your landscapes, so please join us!