Wednesday 30 July 2014

I had such good intentions!

I had planned to be hugely creative and industrious, and enter lots of challenges.  But, like all best laid plans......

My aim this week is to try to make cards for another 4 challenges.  I might even be sneaky and try to use the same cards for multiple challenges (or is that just naughty?).

This blog post, and card, is dedicated to the amazing Lavinia stamps challenge.  I am a recent convert to Lavinia, having been introduced to them by my very lovely, and equally craft-mad, friends, Kirsty and Dawn.  At the moment I am trying hard to stop myself buying too many new stamps.  But they are too beautiful!!  LOL!

So, here is the card.  The theme is "Summer Colours".


Thanks for looking!

Lori
x

Wednesday 23 July 2014

A new card and a hard blogging lesson learned

Note to self: make sure to actually click "Publish" after composing your blog post - BEFORE closing the window and going to make a cup of coffee (and getting distracted with 5 million other things)!  Groan!  I hate having to do the same thing twice.  I came back to the laptop, all ready to link my blog post to the Craft Stamper Magazine Blog Challenge only to discover that, to all intents and purposes, I'm a numpty (to anyone reading this from anywhere but Scotland, "numpty" is not a complimentary description).

Anyway, I guess *lesson learned*.  Or maybe the lesson should be "stop writing blog posts in the middle of the night when you should be sleeping".  LOL!

Here is my entry for the Craft Stamper challenge for July, based on the resist-embossing technique which was featured in the magazine (and happens to be a favourite technique of mine):


For this card I first stamped a lovely script stamp in pale pink ink onto the plain white cardstock (my intention was that the script would show through the clear embossed areas, but I think it was just too pale a colour.  You can only see it if you look really close up in good light.  Ah well).  I then stamped some foliage and flower stamps using Perfect Medium and clear embossing powder.  I then used Inkylicious ink duster brushes to apply the first layer of "Picked Raspberry" Distress Ink (everyone seems to call it "pickled" instead of "picked".  Who would ever pickle a raspberry?  LOL!).

Next I built up the layers of ink using cut'n'dry foam - also adding in some "Dusty Concord" and "Chipped Sapphire" Distress Inks.  After that it was just the finishing touches.  The card looks much better in real life than in this photo (well, I guess I would say that, wouldn't I?).  The colours look more vibrant than they do above.  I guess I'll need to get better with my camera.

Thanks for reading!

Lori
x

Sunday 20 July 2014

First ever challenge entry

Recently, I've found that my craft mojo has deserted me a little.  And I think I needed a little motivation to spur me back into action.  That came in the form of the IndigoBlu Blog Challenge.  I've never entered any kind of craft competition or challenge previously, but a couple of my crafting friends persuaded me that I should give it a try.

I actually really enjoyed messing about with inks and stamps and other bits and bobs, in order to make my challenge entry.  It reminded me of how chilled out I feel when I'm in the craft "zone".

So, here is my entry for the IndigoBlu Blog Challenge, number 17:


The background was created by stamping the "Love Is" heart stamp randomly all over the white tag.  Then applying Distress Inks in the following colours: Spiced Marmalade; Aged Mahogany and Vintage Photo.  The main stamped image is "Juliet", stamped and embossed in gold.  I used gold gilding flakes and some mica flakes to add a rich sparkly finishing touch.

Saturday 19 July 2014

First ever post! I'm now officially a blogger!

I have to confess, the Blogging world is still a bit of a mystery to me.  However, as a self-confessed craft addict, I feel it is my duty to join the ranks of the craft-bloggers.  LOL!  So, this is my first (but hopefully not only) post.

I'm hoping I learn how everything works pretty quickly.  But please forgive me if I make a few mistakes on my journey.

I look forward to sharing some of my crafty makes on here.

Lori
x