International Art and Soul Challenge 115

 This fortnight, the challenge is being hosted by my team mate Maggie, and she wants something Clean and Simple.

Of course, whether something is CAS is a very subjective judgement. If you normally create something with multiple embellishments, your CAS might be someone else's complicated! I went for something without embellishment, but with matting and layering.

This is one of a series of cards I made while playing with some media plates (John Next Door). All the backgrounds shading uses either Distress Ink or a similar product from Izink. First I created the circular background using the media plate, and stamped the image using Versafine Clair. The stamp is from Studio Light. I added some texture to the background using a crackle stamp (rubber, I think Crafty Individuals). The lower background was created with the same inks and crackle stamp, but I added  splotch stamp which came with an issue of Creative Stamping magazine. I matted and layered and added the result to a gold coloured card from Tattered Lace.

Another card from the same series is:

Different colours and a square format, but only Distress Ink for the image background here, although I did use a stencil on the plate after inking but before printing. The effect is very subtle, but does add a little texture. In this instance, I used a background paper from a Papermania pad I've had for a LONG time!

I do hope you can join us this time.

International Art and Soul Challenge 93

The theme for this fortnight is to use Autumn colours. The project can be anything you want, any theme, so long as the colours are autumnal.

I recently added to my collection of Brushos, and several of them seemed to be earth tones, so they seemed to be an ideal starting place for this challenge. I used several colours, and stamped over the result using Versafine ink. The result was two pieces of backing card for six by six inch cards.

The predominant colours on this piece were browns and dark greens, but the overall effect was a little darker than I had been hoping for. To counter that, I added things that would 'brighten' the overall effect. The main image (from Creative Stamper magazine) was stamped using a Kaleidacolor ink pad (cappuccino), and I stamped it on to some woven-patterned paper. The ribbon has been in my box for ages and I'm really not sure where it came from!

The predominant colours in this part were more the dark green and red, and again, I wanted to lift the overall effect. The image was stamped using an Indigo Blue stamp, and coloured with Promarkers. The lace is some of the 'stick on' variety that I got in Tiger (at least that's what it was called when I bought it!)

Stamps used in the background are from Poppy Stamps, Crafter's companion, and an issue of Creative Stamper magazine.

I do hope you can join us this time.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 252

The theme for this fortnight is Green.

I have a son with a birthday at this time of year, and since there's normally a 'green' challenge around now, he seems to always end up with a green birthday card. And this year is no exception.

I started with some card which I treated with Distress Oxide ink in a variety of green shades. When that was dry, I took the larger piece and added some Pixie Powder in Peacock Green. The smaller piece I stamped using green Versafine ink. The stamps come from a couple of Creative Stamping magazine issues. To finish the card, I found a border die which I think was made by Crafts Too. and that's it! I do hope you can join us this time.

International Art and Soul Challenge 78

The challenge for this fortnight is one I found hard: Use a Photo. I found it hard because I don't like to post photos. I use them when crafting, but since they're normally of people, I don't then put them on my blog. So, I had to do some thinking.

And here's the photo I chose. Not at all personal!

When I got a new laptop, I decided to say goodbye to Photoshop Elements which I've used for many years and try Gimp instead. Let's say the learning curve has been rather steep, and I've barely scratched the surface of its capabilities. But I've tried hard to work out how to do some of the things I used to do regularly, and one of my favourites is making a background out of an area of an image. I often do that when I want a background for a digital image, but I've never used one of my own photos before. So, I digitally cropped a small section of the flowers above, shrank the cropped image, mirrored it so that the edges all matched, and tiled it to make a background. And this was the result!

I printed the result on to photo paper, and with the addition of a stamped image and some matting, this was the final result.

The background to the image was shaded with Distress Oxide inks, and then I stamped the image (stamp from a recent issue of Creative Stamping) and embossed it in white. I added a little green to the leaves, brown to the trunk and red to the pendants using Promarkers and completed the card with a little lace.

And that's it. I hope you can join us this time. So long as you use a photo, it doesn't matter how you use it!

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 242

The challenge for this fortnight is to Add a Critter. That critter can be any you want, and the project can be any format at all.

I chose to make a couple of Christmas cards using some stamps from Creative Stamping magazine.

I stamped using Memento ink, using a mask to add the llama after stamping the jumper. The image is coloured with Promarkers, and the banner below with Sakura Stardust pens. I added a bit of background texture, again using Promarker.

And another one - or perhaps the same llama with a different jumper. The techniques and products used were the same.

I do hope you can join us this time.