International Art And Soul Challenge 36

Jane is hosting this challenge and she wants us to something with an Art Nouveau  theme.

Now, I'm sure I've mentioned before that I love things with a Rennie Mackintosh type look, so that's what I've gone with this time.

Here, I've used a stamp by Pretty Quick. I stamped with Memento ink and coloured with Promarkers.

Tom complete the card, I've used a Sue Wilson Striplet die to cut into the card base. I've always felt this die has a very art nouveau/art deco feel to it. (I'm never really sure what the difference is - I just know I like the style(s))!

I hope you can join us this time.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 214

Our challenge at Crafty Cardmakers this fortnight is hosted by Peggy, and it's to use embossing - either 'wet' or 'dry'.

I had to make a gift box for a friend, so I chose to add some embossing to that.

I used the Tonic Kaleidoscope box set with a hexagonal lid. I cut the basic box in some very thick card, then completed with panels in black and silver mirror card.

I used a Crafter's Companion folder to do the embossing. It's ideal for this project because, while it has some fairly large flowers in its pattern, it also has a section with much smaller elements which was perfect for the smaller, side panels.

I considered adding some embellishment to the top, but decided I liked the embossing too much to cover it up!

I hope you can join us this time.

International Art and Soul Challenge 35

The challenge for this fortnight is to make something which has a sentiment as its main focus. Obviously a card will work for this, but anything else is welcome to enter providing it's all about the words!

I'm gradually adding to my stash of Christmas cards for this year, and decided to something a little different (for me).

 I cut a circular aperture in the card blank and backing paper (Dovecraft), then cut a wreath and accompanying bow. The circles are Spellbinders, but I'm not sure whose wreath it is! I then added some Cheery Lynn flowers to which I added a seed bead as a centre. At this point, I wished I'd added a second layer of wreath before the flowers as it looked a little bare, so I cut a second wreath and cut leaves from it which I added.

The sentiment was stamped inside using a stamp from Pretty Quick using Versafine ink.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 213

When I went to Ally Pally in April, one of the stalls had lots of very reduced stamps, including some from Studio Light - which isn't a brand I was previously familiar with. I bought several, and thought this one would be perfect in a birthday card for my son.

The image background and background papers were made by 'smooshing' Distress Ink in various shades of blue with water. For the background, I then added some texture using a variety of stamps, including ones from Inkylicous, Crafty Individuals, and Creative Stamping magazine.  I added some very soft blue repeats of the owl itself, but they're hard to pick out in the photo. Finally, I added a sentiment in Versafine ink.

The image was also stamped in Versafine, and I added some pencil in a goldy shade to warm up the paler ares of the bird, and some grey to the branch.

I do like that stamp. It's a lovely image, and there's so much detail on it, it needs very little to bring it to life.

I used Kraft card for matting. The colour was perfect for this, although I've got to say, it's not my favourite card. I can't help trying to hide the imperfections inherent on this type of card!