International Art and Soul Challenge 88

Now, I know it's July, but the challenge for this fortnight is to make a Chrismas card based on a song or carol. When I had  a think about this, I thought of all the songs and carols about snowy wintertime and couldn't quite bring myself to start creating a snow scene. And then I thought of Oh Christmas Tree  (which I actually know better in French since that was what I learned first ... Mon Beau Sapin).

 But that's beside the point. So, I headed for my stamps to find a Christmas tree and came across one that seemed perfect.

Which has first (and occasional second) lines of several Christmas songs/carols. I think it's from a Creative Expressions set that I've had for quite a long time.

To start, I prepared two background sheets using Brushos in scarlet and yellow, and then added a little Pixie powder in green. I stamped the tree on to the smaller piece, and some music and texture stamps on to the larger. I matted, and completed the result with some stick-on lace from Tiger.

And that's it. Quite straightforward, but the end result seems to me to be quite bright and cheerful.

I do hope you can jjoin us this time.

International Art and Soul Challenge 86

The challenge for this fortnight is 'Blue as Main Colour'. So, not too hard!

I made a card that I can send without having a special reason.

I started by making a background with Brushos and Pixie Powder. When that was dry, I added some stamped images using stamps from a variety of manufacturers including Creative and a couple from Creative Stamping Magazine. I used Versacraft, Versafine and Versafine Clair inks because they are the only inks I have that are opaque enough to stamp over such a strongly coloured background.

I do rather like the result, but then I love the shades of blue I've used - they're so vibrant!

I hope you can join us this time.

International Art and Soul Challenge 81

The challenge for this fortnight is an unusual one: we want you to use a single word sentiment multiple times. I was initially stumped for this one, but looking through my stamp collection, I came across several versions of the word, 'happy', so I decided to see where that took me.

And ... I've finally bought some Brushos. I've seen the results people have got with them, and wondered, and finally decided to splash out. (Although, my initial wish to go straight to the manufacturer failed when their website insisted on using a Captcha that was almost impossible to decipher, resulting in multiple attempts at registering. When I finally did that, I discovered they wouldn't take Paypal. Now, I don't like giving my credit card details to small companies whose security I don't have any information on, so I decided to save myself some money and go to Amazon instead. It's such a shame, but smaller companies that want to compete with the Amazons of this world really need to either do Paypal or Amazon pay. Anyway, back to the card.

I created the background with (mainly) Brushos, although I added a little Perfect Pearl in Interference Red and then some red Pixie Powder too. It's probably slightly more obvious in the next photo.

It did add a little understated sparkle.

The background stamping used stamps by Sweet Dixie and AlteNew. The central stamped sentiment used a stamp from Creative Stamping magazine, and I coloured it with some Brushos dissolved in a little water. The ink used throughout was Versafine Clair.

And then, I cheated (just a little)

The stamp here came from Craftwork Cards. I just couldn't leave it as a single word because that just doesn't make sense to me, at least for the word, 'happy'. But, Happy, happy, happy .... Birthday makes perfect sense to me!

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.