MFT sketch challenge

This week I'm playing along with the My Favorite Things challenge, and it's a sketch.

I stamped the Space explorer images onto Crafter's Companion Neenah paper, cut them out and colored them with Spectrum Illustrator and Noir markers.

for the background I masked off a rectangle and applies Distress inks ( chipped sapphire, blueprint sketch and wilted violet) I think these work together so well as the blues have a purple hue in them. Then I splattered Dylusions spray white linen, brushed pewter and Talens ecoline white onto "space".
I didn't really go all out on a galaxy this time as I though I'd use just a few layers in the planet and astronaut.for the bar at the

bottom I masked it off again and applied Distress inks hickory smoke. It's not a solid bar as in the sketch, but I think you can see it. I wanted it to look like the door of the spaceship is open and the explorer is wandering out into space. I hope that comes across.

The sentiment is from the same set and I stamped it with my Stampers Friend and Versafine onyx black ink.
Applied foamtape to the little guy and the planet and taperunner to the stars, I know they're inside, but I figured they could be posters, I mean you have to embellish rockets too ;-)..lol...

For more information on the MFT (My Favorite Things) see this

Everyday Christmas #11: embossing with water,with video

For today's card I thought I would show you how you can use water to make the embossing powder stick to your project. And it did, but after heat setting it, I could just wipe it off, not sure if it wasn't wet enough, if it was the paper, or the Wow glow in the dark embossing powder.

For the background I chose on of my recipes and it used Distress ink Chipped sapphire, seedless preserves and  mustard seed.

The blue and purplish red with blend perfectly, the purplish red and the yellow not so  much. My trick is to saturate the paper well with the yellow and then go back with a light hand of seedless preserves.

then I let it dry completely, even used the heat gun. This is important of the embossing powder will just stick to every wet bit. which makes the next step even weirder...as it usually sticks everywhere, why not on my water droplets? I splattered clean water with a brush and sprinkled the embossing powder on top, then heat set it and I could just wipe it all off...So I opened the Ranger emboss it dabber and splattered that ink onto the card and repeated the process.
The glow in the dark embossing powder works better with a light background, so I should probably have started with that...oh well...
I diecut the memory box enchanted deer collage from 110 pounds cardstock and stamped the sentiment on the from. It's from Studio light (sl154), with Versafine onyx black ink.

Then mounted the panel with foamtape and adhered it to the card.

Stamp maintenance and different Shammy review voice over redo

Webshop Margo haul - voiceover redo

How I store my Sequins - voice over redo

how to cut foamtape the easy way voiceover redo

Snowman

The Simon Says Stamp work it Wednesdays  challenge is to use our favorite stamp as Stemptember is about to commence. It also runs for two months this time.

In The Netherlands, Action stores sell the brand Craft Sensations, they're sold elsewhere too, not sure where though, UK for sure. (ref no. CR0360K/A).

Anyway you can make this card with any stamp and coordinating die. Penny Black has similar ones.
I diecut the snowman from a panel to get a  window of some sorts.
Stamped my favorite Merry Christmas stamp (Hero Arts classic Christmas borders). it's an oldie, but I love that font, I stamped it with Versafine onyx black ink and heat set it.

Then I stamped the snowman with Simon Says Stamp intense black ink on hot pressed watercolor paper and  colored it with Talens Ecoline. Fixed it with fixative spray, then used the Nuvo shimmer pen (clear gloss on the hat and scarf).
Mounted the watercolor panel with red tape and adhered it to the card.
To position it I held it behinde the panel and pressed both down.
Mounted the panel with foam tape so you get depth behind the opening.

For more information the Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesdays, or to play along, see this.

Back to school

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is : back to school, showcasing Avery Elle products.

For my card I used the Avery Elle party bus and the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp back to school set.
I stamped both with Versafine onyx black ink on hot pressed watercolor paper.
I usually use the intense black from SSS but it's going dry and I forgot how I didn't really like Versafine on wc paper...but hey I rolled with it, stamped in on the back as well, the  Talens Ecoline and also Distress inks tends to wick out when I use this stamping ink, not sure why.

I colored the party bus yellow as I thought it would look like a schoolbus of sorts and the

kids are just happy to go back...

Added some washi tape on the bottom as the wc panel in narrower and mounted the panel with foamtape to the cardbase.

For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, or to play along, see this

using real objects...

..that's the challenge this week over at Less is More.
For my real objects I thought to pull out my buttons again. Haven't used them in ages, so thank you LiM!
At first I wanted to make a bear (polar bear would have been nice) but I didn't have the right colors and or sizes, so whilst rummaging in the button collection I came across these pretty butterflies and I thought I could use them on my card, and I did lol.

I stamped the grass border from Joy Crafts in Memento gray flannel as well as the sentiment from Clearly Besotted (brushed greetings 2).
AS I like thinking of you cards to be subdued and tranquil, with just a pop of color that is provided by my cute buttons, I attached

them with glue dots.

Coming up with the card took longer than making it ;-)

For more information on the Less is More challenge, or to play along, see this

Woodware party pigs, with video and Ali Express haul

I tried to find as many of the dies as I could, some are gone really quickly but others appear with many different sellers.

They disappear quickly, I put an item in my favorites one day and the next it's no longer available, so I'm sorry if any links aren't working anymore.


The other items are two stampsets from Woodware: succulents and party pigs.
I picked them from a catalog my craftstore gave me....dangerous stuff...there was no size, but the price was the same as the Woodware flowers, so I ordered them and found that there's one too many pigs to fit on a standard card size.

So I started by scoring and folding a full size sheet in half, then measured it to the envelope and stamp and it turned out almost 9 inches long! 22.5cm and 10,5cm tall.

I also had a little panic attack as I was worried it wouldn't fit in my Stampers friend tool, but it did, phew...
I used Simon Says Stamp intense black and as it was a new stamp I had to stamp it three or four times. I heat set the ink after that as there were many layers of ink,but it still smudged a bit. It tends to do that more with particular colors, like CR3 that I used and yellow, remember my teeny bikini coloring?

I left the smudges in, I can see them, but any recipient, won't look that closely, I'm sure or I'll say "hey they're pigs, it's mud ;-) "....lol
I used Spectrum Noir markers and Nuvo Shimmer pen (clear gloss) in the glasses/shades.
The sentiment is from the same set.
I didn't ground the pigs with any color as I felt they're jumping in the air with joy, exp the tilted one.

Squirrel, fox and raccoon set

Cartoony Batman

Spiderman head

Penguin set is no longer available from this seller

Cartoony helicopter 

Pick up pencils

AAA Cards Challenge #97: masking, with video

The AAA cards Challenge #97 this fortnight is : masking.

Our sponsor this week is:Stamplorations - $15 gift certificate the winner + $5 gift certificates each to 2 randomly drawn participants + 10% coupon offer for players.

I don't have a striped stencil, if you do, please feel free to use that. Instead I made my own masking with Inkadinkado masking paper and I cut 1 cm strips.

I measured and marked 1cm stripes on the card base with a pencil.
I then put on all the masking paper bits.
If you have finger daubers, you probably don't need to mask off as much as I had to with my mini ink blending tools.
I also messed up the first card, see video if you want to know how ;-)

I used Distress inks for my ombre rainbow. The ombre starts on the left hand side and I wanted the colors to fade into the white.
I use: candied apple, carved pumpkin, mustard seed, twisted citron, mermaid lagoon, chipped sapphire and wilted violet.

After all the ink blending I peeled of the masking paper and erased the pencil lines.

For the sentiment I used a Simon Says Stamp set called You matter and used two bits to make "happy birthday to you". I used Versafine onyx black ink for this. Heat set it.

Then I pulled out some homemade enamel dots and also homemade glue dots and stuck them to the card.

For more information or to play along with the AAA cards Challenge, see this

Masculine card

The Male room challenge this time is: drinks.

For my card I Stamped the beer mug from Simon Says Stamp (adult beverages) with Simon Says Stamp hybrid black ink on Crafter's Companion Neenah paper and I colored it with my Spectrum Noir markers.

Then I used a Versamark pen to add "foam" to the beer by using Wow! Diamond white embossing powder.

The sentiment is from Riley & company (RWD 551) and I stamped it with Versafine onyx black ink.

Mounted the colored panel on a cardbase with tape runner

For more information on the Male room challenge, see this

I'm also adding it to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, that is bling and I thought my glittery foamt would be enough bling bling ;-)

Perfect Holiday...

...is the theme over at Less is More this week. 

I don't go on holidays, I rather buy craft supplies ;-)

No well actually I have cats and a vegetable plot, and those are my responsibility so I stay home.

I went to visit my dad for two days and man I missed my furries ;-)...

Anyway December 18th is my birthday and that's just a week from Christmas. I try to combine the both and go all out on Christmas, for me that's the perfect holiday.

So for my card I inkblended Memento inks (lulu lavender and summer sky) through a mask I made with a circle die.

I then stamped the Merry Christmas strip

along the "horizon" with Versafine onyx black ink. The stamp is from Studio Light (stampsL154).

The Polar bear is from My Favorite Things (polar bear pals) and I stamped him with MFT hybrid black ink, colored him with Spectrum Noir markers and then let the Scan N cut cut him out. Mounted him with foam tape.

For more information on the Les sis More Challenge, see this

Update September 1st: 

MFT camp create 2017 series 2

I combined three of the camp create challenges into one card.
Magnificent masking
monochromatic magic
awesome ombre.

Now I did diecut the dragon, made my own background as well, but not sure they would qualify for those, so I'll be making a few more cards ;-)...

I started by stamping my dragon from MFT (magical dragons) with the hybrid black ink and colored him with my Spectrum Noir markers. Cut him out. I think it's a him ;-)

I masked off the background to expose only a circle and I inkblended Memento inks in an ombre fashion (lulu lavender, sweet plum

and elderberry), then I splattered on some water and spritzed the panel with Shimmer spritz (sparkle), lifted the mask and let it dry.
I like how Memento dew drops blend and they also react to water!

Then I stamped the sentiment from the same set with Versafine onyx black ink.
Mounted the dragon with foamtape in front of his "planet". You know he's camouflaged perfectly ;-)

For more information or to play along the MFT camp create challenges, see this

Thank you

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is: add a sentiment, with Impression Obsession products.
For my card I used the Impression Obsession cling stamp E20163 "thank you".
I stamped it with Versafine onyx black ink on the cardbase.
For the leaves I used a generic die set. I watercolored a panel of Schut classic wc paper with Talens Ecoline in all sorts of browns, reds, yellows and oranges...you know autumn colors, as I thought this could be a nice Thanksgiving card.

I let the wc panel dry overnight and then diecut it and also I punched a few circles with a handheld puncher, mounted those onto gluedots and used the Nuvo shimmer pen (clear gloss) on top then added Glossy

accents to  make matching "enamel" dots, let those dry.
I spritzed the leaves with Shimmer spritz (sparkle) and heat set it.
Mounted the two maple leaves with tape runner and the oak leaf with foamtape on top.
Sprayed it with fixative.

For more information or to play along with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this

water coloring on acetate, with video

I cut a strip of acetate, not a very sturdy one, I would suggest a thicker one, but hey...I scribbled on different colors or marker and then spritzed it with alcohol, so the colors would move and mingle and create a watercolor effect. Heat set it a bit and then let it air dry.

So I cut the front of the card base to accommodate the "window"and then cut the same for the inside, but from thinner card. This way you won't see any  red sticky tape and or how it was assembled.


For the sentiment I used Simon Says Stamps painted thanks die. I cut it from black card with Stick it on the back so it becomes a sticker and applied it above the "window".



This time I used a thicker acetate, we call it mica, but that wasn't as heat resistant as the "floppy"one, which I believe is overhead projector film, it was given to me, but as those machines tend to heat up I thinkit's made more heat proof.
Shame, as my panel warped, but I will weight it down under some books and see if it straightens....I'm thinking no, but we'll see.
It all adds to the handmade feel ;-) haha.

Mini Milka or After 8 mints treat envelopes, with video

I made the black ones for a Simon Says Stamp Challenge a few weeks ago. People liked them so much, I thought I'd show you how I make them.

You need the WRMK punchboard, or the SU one, and 4"x4" pieces of card. If you use a 12x12" paper you'll get 9 out of the one sheet, with no left overs.
Once you've cut your pieces align in the envelope punchboard at the 2"mark, punch and score and repeat for the other sides.
I glued mine with gluedots, but you can use any glue you like, hot glue, liquid glue and or tape, just make sure it's strong enough.

I like to score the flaps, then put the treat inside and glue it shut. The treats are very snug in there, and it's a bit easier, but you don't have to.

Decorate your little treat with ribbon, flowers, diecuts, twine, whatever you fancy.

Might be cool for Halloween to hand out at the door.

Vehicles...

Vehicles is the theme over at Less is More this week, also ONE layer! 
I used a digital image from Lili of the Valley (under the bonnet) and I sized it in Photoshop, where I also added the sentiment.
Printed it on Crafter's Companion Neenah paper and cut and folded it. It didn;t centre properly. so this card is actually narrower than usual at 10cm instead of 10,5cm, no biggie.
I colored the image with my Spectrum Noir markers.
And as they seep through I added a bit of card on the inside to mask that.
I thought to add some shimmer pen to the headlights, but didn't as I see this as a masculine card and, well, they might not take well to glitter haha.

For more information on the Less is More challenge, or to play along, see this

Happy Summer with Teeny Bikini

For today's card I used some left over colored diecuts from previous videos and the C.C designs Teeny bikini for the girl, starfish and shell and the sand details.

For the scene I used a palmtree border die I got it from Aliexpress, is also comes with the wave and dune I believe. Or I used the dunes from another set, also Aliexpress.
The sun is from Lawn Fawn (spring showers).
The seagull is from My Favorite things, the dolphin I think is Marianne design, the turtle too I think, I can;t be sure as I had those sets on loan from the craftstore to make them some examples.
I made a stencil with the lawn fawn stiched cloud borders and sun. There's three cloud borders in the set, so I left the fourth side of

the card straight, for horzons p.e.
I've inkblended Mermaid Lagoon from Distress inks on the cardbase and the wave diecut, Antique linen for the sand. Lucky clover for the palm tree leafs and the trunk is gathered twigs.
The clouds are tumbled glass Distress inks.
To stamp the sand detail I used Memento desert sand.
then I splattered on some water as it's Distress inks and I can't resist ;-) Also makes the diecuts less flat looking.

I assembled everything with glue and one two or three layers of foamtape.
The frame was made with a rounded rectangle,  and the sentiment is from the C.C. designs set and I used Versamark and the Be creative stampers friend tool.
Tucked in the critters and the girl supporting  then with foamtape if needed.
Nuvo shimmer pen (clear gloss) on various lements, for some glorious shimmer.

You are all kinds of wonderful....

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge is: for a Child, showcasing Neat and Tangled products.

I thought to slip in a few Neat and tangled sequins I have, but they were too big compared to the little heart breeze (from SSS).
So Sorry no Neat and Tangled this time.

I did use the Heart breeze die on a panel, kinda traced it's placement onto the cardbase. I swiped Distress inks in a rainbow order on the cardbase for the vibrant look and feel (candied apple, carved pumpkin, mustard seed, twisted citron, mermaid lagoon, wilted violet and picked raspberry).

The sentiment is from Paper Smooches (fun and flirty) and I stamped it with Versafine onyx black ink.


The Fairy is from My Favorite Things (fairy happy) and I colored her with my Spectrum Noir markers. I used SSS intense black ink to stamp her on Crafter's Companion Neenah paper and let the Scan n Cut do it's magic cutting it out.


I was thinking the heart breeze might look like a trail of fairy dust she leaves as she  flutters by....

Adhered the panel with taperunner to the cardbase and I also used taperunner to adhere the little mermaid.

I don't have kids, but I thought this little encouraging card would be cool for a birthday or even a little note on a low day, lunchbox maybe? Well I don't know, but I hope they'd like it.


For more information on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, see this

Oldie but goodie #13: art Impressions and Decotime Markers, with video

For this oldie but goodie card I used the Art Impressions stamp from the Whoots! series (Umm4120) and I stamped it on Crafter's Companion Neenah paper with Simon Says Stamp Intense black ink.
I diecut the panel with a rounded square die with stitched detail.
I colored the image with the cheapest alcohol markers I've ever encountered: Decotime, they work out at 33 euro cents each! And frankly they work a treat, so I pulled them out again to show you, you don't always need to get the most expensive tools.
They're hard tof ind though, always sold out, and that's not a surprise. I got mine at Action and lately all they seem to stock is the pink and red ones.

I would suggest trying some from Aliexpress, there are great reviews on Youtube about them, there's different kinds and I had good luck with the fake zig ones, honestly.
The only drawback to these markers is that there's not a big range of colors, but you can mix and match them with your own markers, maybe to fill up your collection quickly and cheaply.

The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp and I wanted it to look like a banner hangign from the branch. In the Birthday balloons set there's a curved one and I thought that was perfect, I stamped it with Versafine Onyx black ink.

I notched the cardbase so I would add some embroidery thread in the same colors as the party hat. The notches keep the tread in place.
Mounted the panel with foamtape.

Rainbow thanks

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, is celebrating their 7th anniversary, 7th! I feel we just did the 6th, but hey, time flies when you craft lol....

They want us to showcase their own Simon Says Stamp brand and I used the thanks on a line.


I used this to say thank you to SSS for their wonderful webshop and blog and challenges and Youtubes...so thank you!

I put Stick it behind some black card and diecut it.

Then I made a rainbow with Talens Ecoline ( a fluid watercolor that SSS now carries), for this I used the classic Schut watercolor paper, too rough for stamping, but super for this kind of thing.

I attached the diecut and them mounted the watercolor paper with foam tape.

As my wc panels are always narrower I used washi tape on the side. I thought B&W would be a nice contrast to the rainbow.

Then I mounted the panel on top and added a few (homemade) enamel dots with (homemade) gluedots.

For more information on the SImon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, or toplay along, see this

Talens ecoline, Woodware stamps and a desk organisation tip, with video

For today's card I pulled out the Talens Ecoline and one of the new Woodware stamps, I'm enjoying coloring them very much, especially with Ecoline as it is such a vibrant liquid watercolor.

I stamped the image (long tall flowers) onto Schut hotpressed watercolorpaper and the sentiment is from Circle flowers, both stamped with Simon Says Stamp intense black ink and with the use of the Stampers friend tool.

I put my fluid watercolors in icecube trays and let the fluid evaporate, you can then reconstitute the paint with water, but it's much easier to take with you...no spills.

For reference I use my swatch list.
After all is colored I used the Nuvo shimmer pen in clear gloss on the red flowers, for some glorious shimmer.

As the panels are always slightly narrower and taller than my cardbases I used a black and white washi tape on the side and to mount the watercolor panel I used a bit of foamtape.

After filming I went outside to spray fixative on the card as Ecoline will reactivate, say if it rains when the postman does his rounds, or if someone's hands are wet...so be careful.

I bought this CD tower on a second hand website (Marktplaats) and it was only 5 euro, you can also find similar ones at thriftstores or goodwill stores.
Mine has two rows though,which I never seen, but it was perfect for my desk.
I did have to saw off it's feet to make it fit, and rebuilt it as it came in pieces, but an hour later it was lying on my desk, usually these towers stand, but I lay it on it's side on the edge of my desk. I did secure it on the back, so it can't move and or slide off!.

I use all the cubbies for my  most used supplies, like black inks, Versamark, tapes, pens, scissors etc. I'm sure it will change still over time, when I've worked with it a bit, but for now it's so perfect and for 5 euro...ha, who could resist even if it's not white and a dark purplish blue on the inside and out...5 euro...think 5 euro ;-) lol...

Adapting your stamps

The less is more challenge this week is: tropical fruits.
The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is: food and or drink.
The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is: splatter it with Ranger products.

I combined them all as I'm running out of time.
It also took some thinking as I have one drink set (from Simon Says Stamp) but no tropical fruits, strawberries but nothing else.

I went through all my stamps in case I missed an image somewhere and found this rat eating cheese. I decided to turn the cheese into a watermelon, which is rather tropical I think, right? A food in any case ;-)

I used Ranger Distress inks for my watercoloring (mowed lawn, picked raspberry, pumice stone, tattered rose and ground espresso). I stamped the image with Versafine onyx black ink and also the sentiment from Clearly Besotted (brushed greetings II)
The rat is from Katzelkraft (les rats des ville).
I used Schut hot pressed watercolor paper.

The cheese has holes, but I made them look like watermelon seeds with the ground espresso.

Splattered mowed lawn as if a leafy canopy in the background.
Mounted the panel with foamtape and used a green washi tape on the side to fill the gap as my watercolor panels are always slighlty narrower.