A bit of silver and blue

 This week's Crafting Time theme is Silver and Blue, and I instantly thought of Christmas trees!!!  Don't ask why I am not sure myself.

I love all things IndigoBlu so thought it would be a perfect excuse to play with this fab Christmas tree, Merry Christmas.  For both cards I used navy blue and silver cardstock.

 For my first play, I mean sample, I simply stamped the image in versamark ink and then embossed using silver embossing powder before layering up onto silver card and the card blank.

 The second card using the same stamp, but this time I used IndigoBlu gilding flakes. You basically apply glue to your stamp, stamp and then rub the mega flakes over and scrub until you get a smooth finish - it is FAB!!  I love the change from mess to smooth perfection!!  You can either buy as starter kit, or buy the glue and different gliding flakes spearately - look here for the full range.

Supplies:

 Image: IndigoBlu Merry Christmas

Sentiment: IndigoBlu Merry Christmas

Colouring medium: 

Papers: SU Not Quite Navy, Silver

Embellishments: 

Tools: IndigoBlu starter kit

Challenges:

 

Bottle tops ...

Helen from the Crafting Time DT sent me some bottle tops to play with.  Now I confess to never having used bottle tops nor ever having the urge to rush out and buy some ... but I do like a challenge!!

So this is what I did with them ...

 

 I used them as centres for Christmas tree decorations.  The dies are from Spellbinders Snowflake pendant 2011 , and I cut 2 of each out onto smooth cardstock.  I wanted something more robust than plain glossy photo paper, something that would stand up to being on a tree with 3 interested cats around!!

I used alcohol inks (cranberry, red pepper, water melon, gold, lettuce and bottle) and plenty of blending sollution to get the ink to blend smoothly on the card.   When they were thoroughly dry I spritzed then with some gold glimmer mist to add that bit extra sparkle.  Finally I layered them up and added the bottle caps and some gold trim to hang them with.

Crafting Time DT post

 This week's DT theme is a sketch.

I stamped this gorgeous Inkylicious Christmas tree directly onto the Bo Bunny Christmas paper using versamark ink, before embossing it with gold embossing powder.  I stamped the baubles in versamark and again ebossed them using gold embossing powder, before cutting them out.  Finally I added a sentiment and some red gems.

Supplies: 

Image: Inkylicious Christmas tree flourish, LOTV Christmas Icons

Sentiment: LOTV

 Colouring medium:

 Papers: Bo Bunny Rejoice

Embellishments: gems

Tools: 

 Challenges:

Make it Monday 
 Christmas Stampin' All Year Round - traditional colours
Pile it On - holidays, any holiday
ABC Christmas Challenge-Anything Goes
 Keep On Creating-Christmas

 

Christmas treat cone

This week's Crafting Time DT theme is Trick or Treat.  Not being the biggest of Halloween crafters I went for a Treat Cone for a Christmas pressie.

This cone is really easy to make - it is just a triangle simply fanned round 4 times and then scored and glued.  I made the cone up using Bo Bunny papers and then pleated green crepe paper round the top, securing it on the inside.  I added some lace and then stamped the Christmas tree onto white cardstock using pine needles distress ink.  I added a bit of bling to finish it off.

Inkylicious' Christmas Tree Flourish or IndigoBlu's Merry Christmas, or Funky Circles would work equally as well.
 

Supplies: 

Image: LOTV Christmas Icons

Colouring medium: pine needles distress ink

 Papers: Bo Bunny 12x12 Christmas Stripe

 Embellishments:  bling

Tools: Scorpal

Challenges:

Make it Monday 

Simon Says Stamp - glimmer and  sparkle

Charisma Cardz - Badda Bing

Anything but a card - anything goes

 

Crafting Time DT

This week's theme is a sketch ... I have adapted a wee bit to make it a little more card friendly.  I have also used my latest crafting addiction on it - mega gliding flakes and FlitterGlu - you can get a starter kit here.

 
I used this Christmas IndiogBlu stamp Merry Christmas Deer, and FlitterGlu to 'ink' up the stamp before stamping it onto the black cardstock.  I then rubbed over the inked image with mega gliding flake in Winter Dawn, and rubbed them off using my fingers and then a scrubby thing aka scoochy foam!  I matted the image and Bo Bunny papers up onto red and black cardstock.

And here is a closer look at those gorgeous, sparkly deer.

  

Callenges:

Make it Monday

Simon Says Stamp and Show - for the love of sparkle 

Crafting Time DT - Family Traditions

Family traditions was a difficult theme for me - not sure we really have many traditions - trail blazer is my hubby's motto!!!!!
However, he and the children absolutely LOVE the seaside ... have done since they were babies.  Beth loves to get all wet and sandy, and Ellie is partial to a big sandcastle!  Blackpool is a favourite haunt of the girls, as is Millport.  I have a bit of a thing about sand ... hate the stuff!!!  So rockpooling is about as seasidey as I really like to get LOL!!

 I thought I would record some of our sseaside memories on a scrap page - something I haven't done in ages, having been bitten by the SMASH bug!!

 I used Basic Grey 12x12 paper and added Coredinations cardstock over it, tearing and sanding the peices to create a weathered look. Before adding the matted photos I added hemp twine and cheesecloth, again to give that seaside texture and feel. The lettering was created using Tim Holtz grungeboard Alphabet set, and painted with denim dabber before sanding it. I added some blue organza ribbon, ruffled, under the lettering. Finally I die cut some sea shells from Marianne Creatible, sanded them, and added them and some real shells.

 

Crafting Time DT

 For my DT post this week I have used some products sent to me by the lovely Nina and Helen from Crafting Time.  They were just perfect for using as the starting page for my holiday SMASH book.

I am using the black Mod SMASH book as its got quite plain pages that can be used for pretty much anything.  I used the text stamps from the Foam Stamp Words set, Vacation, and stamped the suitcase that comes in the set onto blue cardstock and cut them out.  I used a Saturated Canary image and coloured her using my promarkers and flexpens before cutting her out.  I added some words from All My Memories Twill saying sets, before adding some embellishements, including a SMASH I need label.  I asked the rest of the family what they were looking forward to and wrote them on pages from the blank SMASH pad (I cut the tops off and will use them elsewhere!  Finally I added my to do list - I am a big list maker!  I used one of the SMASH pads for that too.

Crafting Time DT

After a little break, and with some fab new DT members Its Crafting Time are back with a weekly theme.  This week's theme was a bit of a killer for me ... that dreaded pink with black!!!

I coloured the Saturated Canary image, Jules, in using promarkers and flexmarkers.  The design paper is Basic Grey Kissing Booth, and I matted it onto black cardstock.  I added some layered paper flowers, with a card candi dot coloured with my black promarker at the centre, ribbon, and some gems.  

Make it Monday 
Simon Says Stamp - inspiration photo
Charimsa Cardz - pink + 1
Craft your passion - anything goes
The Crafty BLoggers Network - pink and black

Crafting time DT post

 The theme this week is back to nature

I stamped the IndigoBlu Anemone corner using archival ink onto watercolour paper and then coloured it using my distress markers and  waterbrush.  Once the ink was dry I distressed over it using distress inks and stamped the sentiment from the IndigoBlu's Wild meadow set.

I created the background using distress inks and then stamped over the silohuette background stamp from IndigoBlu's Poppy Meadow set. I stamped the butterfly stamp from IndigoBlu's Wild Meadow set directly onto the card using archival ink, and then coloured the stamp in using distress markers before stamping it twice onto white cardstock.  I cut them out, moulded them and popped them onto 3d foam pads.  Finall I stamped the sentiment from IndigoBlu's Grand Tour III set.  Finally i added some teeny pearls.

 Make it Monday

Alcohol inks and metallic promarkers galore!

I love playing around and messing, and I am trying to combine more of my inks with each other - so I had a play with alcohol inks and metallic promarkers (I confess to loving my metallic markers!) whilst making up my samples for Crafting Time.

 I needed to make a box to put a friend's birthday present in, but confess to be rubbish at making boxes so I used a naked secret book I had waiting to be altered. Crafting Time have a fab range of binderie, naked and altered art products.  I used my alcohol inks - eggplant, stonewashed and silver.  I used my blending tool, and worked up the colour and mottling over 4 layers of ink.  With patience you can get the ink into all the nooks and crannies!!  For the inside I laid down a vase using my amythest promarker and then used my metallic promarkers and airbrush to build up the mottling, as the blending tool was too big to fit inside easily!

Finally I made the rolled flower using the Spellbinders bitty blossoms die, securing the base with glossy accents, before layering it up onto paper flowers. Finally I added a pearl to the centre of the flower.

The earrings and drop pendant were made by my cousin, who did glass blowing as part of her Art Degree.

And for something else - very different for me ...!!!

I bought this  mask ages ago to do for a party, and have never got round to doing it!! I used my alcohol inks - eggplant, stonewashed and silver.  I used my blending tool, and worked up the colour and mottling up the colour using different combinations of the inks on my blending tool.  I used  the fancy swirl stamp from IndigoBlu's Wild Meadow stamp set, and stamped it over the mask using silver, blue and purple metallic promarkers. Finally I added some little pearls for decoration.

The side ...

 And the other side ...

 And Ellie wearing it - but only for the photo - its MINE!!!

 Challenges:
Make it Monday
Simon Says Stamp - anything but  card
Simon Says Stamp n Show - depth of distress

Its Crafting Time DT post

This week's theme for the Its Crafting Time design team is music.  I decided to alter a tin to hold the girls' recorders and whistles ...

I cleaned out a used can of baked beans and measured some white cardstock to go round it.  I stamped over the cardstock in black archival ink using the Music background from the Artistic Stamper, and then distressed it in old paper and linen distress inks.  I scrunched the cardstock up and swipted over the wrinkles with frayed burlap distress ink.  I added some Tim Holtz tissue tape (symphony) and stained some cardstock using black soot distress ink, before cut some musical notes out using a Marianne Creatible die.  Finally I painted the notes using rock candy crackle paint to give them a distressed look.

 Make it Monday
Secret Crafter Saturday challenge - anything but a card
 

Its Crafting Time DT project

 There are a fabulous range of stamps at Its Crafting Time, and personally love the IndigoBlu stamps.

I used a tag from Ranger, and inked it in victorian velvet, vintage photo and walnut stain distress inks.  I used stamps from IndigoBlu's Sewing Mends the Soul set, and coloured them in using distress markers - victorian velvet, black soot and frayed burlap, before stamping them onto watercolour paper and cutting them out.  I stained some vintage ribbon and some tulle using Victoriaan velvet, and added the tulle to the bottom of the corset.  I stamped the tape measure onto the tag using sepia archival ink, and the sentiment using black archival ink, beofre adding the images, a steampunk pair of scissors and the vintage ribbon.

 And a bit of fun ...

I love the new limited edition spring distress inks, very bright and fresh.  I have used squeezed lemonade and peacock feathers to create this tag.  I blended the 2 inks to create the green colour.  I stamped the butterflies using peacock feathers and a Unity butterfly stamp I have had for a long time.  The sentiment is also from the same set. I distressed Prima canvas resist butterflies using the inks and stained the seam binding, before adding a butterfly charm.

Challenges
Make it Monday
Oldie but a Goodie - things with wings
Charisma Cardz - metal embellishments

Its Crafting Time DT cards

 The theme for the Its Crafting Time DT this week is black and white ...

 I cut three flowers out using Tim Holtz's Sizzix Paper Rossettes die, 2 out of white cardstock and one out of black cardstock.  I used the scroll from the IndigoBlu sentiment set Discover your passion, and stamped over the white flowers using black archival ink.  I stamped the sentiment out using the same ink.  I made the rossette flowers up, and layered them up, using card candi at their centres.  The card candi was originally white, but I coloured it black using my promarker.  I also coloured the flat backed pearls black before adding them.

I used an image and sentiment from the IndigoBlu set, Sewing mends the soul, and stamped them in black archival ink onto white cardstock.  I embossed the white cardstock using the budding vines embossing folder, before adding a band of gingham ribbon. I pushed a fancy pin through the centre of the bow and added a button.  Finally I coloured some flat backed pearls using a black promarker and added them to the card.

Make it Monday
My Mum’s Craft Shop – embossing
Divas by Design – monochromatic
Stampavie and More – monochrome 

Its Crafting Time DT post

This week's theme is embossing folders, and the Its Crafting Time store has a great selection of embossing folders, including Tim Holtz texture fades, which I used for this card.

I used coredinations cardstock from the nostalgia and whitewashed ranges, and embossed them using Alterations Texture Fades Embossing Folders 2PK - Clock and Steampunk Set by Tim Holtz and Alterations Texture Fades Embossing Folders Rays and Retro Circles.  The edges of the cardstock have been distressed using Walnut Stain distress ink and a paper distresser.  I added some navy blue organza ribbon and a stamped image, stamped in blue memento ink.  


Make it Monday 
Craft you Passion - lots of texture
Crafty Cardmakers - one for the boys

Crafting Time DT - blue

 Blue is this week's theme ...

 I created the blue evening/night background using tumbled glass, broken china, faded jeans and chipped sapphire distress inks.  The hills and moon were created by using paper masks while distressing.  I stamped the balloon and sentiment from the Grand Tour III stamp set from IndigoBlu.  Finally I misted over the card using Perfect Pearls mixed in water, to create a shimmery look.

Crafting Time DT - paint

 This week we are featuring paint on our projects. I decided to decorate a couple of stacking wooden tubs.

 I used gesso to prime the wooden tubs and then painted them with a couple of layers of pink acrylic paint. The crackled effect was created using an IndigoBlu crackle stamp and gold acrylic paint.  I added some pretty lace, seam binding and a layered flower to decorate the larger tub, and just a layered flower for the smaller one.

 The smaller one isn't quite finished - needs some lace adding to the inside ... the tubs were for my Gran for Easter, but sadly she died on Thursday night and I haven't been able to finish off the smaller tub.  I will get round to it, just not yet.

Make it Monday

Crafting Time DT - sketch

I stamped the IndigoBlu train stamp onto kraft cardstock using archival ink, cut out using my nestibilities and distressed the edges.  I stained some chipboard cogs using perfect pearls and water to create a mist.  Finally I stamped a Tim Holtz tickets stamp to replicate train tracks.

I coloured Lambing Pip from Sugar Nellie in using my promarkers, and cut her out using nestibilities.  I added some punched butterflies, flat backed pearls, paper flowers coloured using orchid promarker and buttons to at their centres.  Finally some ribbon and a bow.

 Challenges
Make It Monday
Allsorts - say it with flowers
One Stop craft - Mother's Day with ribbon
Totally Gorguss - Anything goes with buttons
I love Promarkers - ribbons and bows
Passion for Promarkers - Mum/female relative
My Mum's Craft Shop - Spring is Springing
Moving along with the times - cute as a button
Divas by Design - favourite things (Sugar Nellie, promarkes, pearls, flowers, ribbons!)
Simon Says Stamp - Mothers Day/ special girl
Cupcake Craft - going dotty


Before I go and get some jobs done, its ...

Pop over to the Sugar Nellie blog to find out all the details .. .there is soe candy on offer!

Crafting Time DT - distress ink

 

 I coloured the Sugar Nellie image, OhLaLa, using dusty concorde, broken china, tattered rose, worn lipstick, vintage photo and walnut stain distress ink pads.  The tag was stamped using a Tim Holtz stamp in versamark and then embossed using clear embossing powder.  I distressed it using dusty concorde and broken china distress inks.  I also distressed the adage tickets in dusty concorde distress ink, and added seam binding, lace and some flat backed pearls.

Challenges
Make it Monday
Charisma Cardz - Love is in the air
Colour Create - lilac, blue, white, kraft