Dreaming colours

Another colour challenge that caught my eye on Saturday was Catch the Bug.  Before working out what to do the colours had to be matched.   ProMarkers provided the matches by which time dragonflies had become the theme and this the next card in my 6 frame series.

The TH notebook dragonfly stamped and embossed in fine gold ep.   Then a light blue watercolour wash over the whole cream card.  The spaces in the detailed, embossed wing also picked up the wash as well.   Stamped the other 2 dragonflies in Memento grey and coloured in the rest.  Below are the challenge colours.

Sharing this with Catch the Bug.
Addicted to CAS - Fly
Try it on Tuesday - I believe I can Fly (2nd entry)

Then the rain set in

Well its the end of June and Wimbledon is on so what do you expect.   Lots of challenges are using theme of Summer so perhaps this should be a row of brightly coloured brollies not beach huts.

A CAS Card using a freebie beach hut image from last year I think.   The 2 end images were masked to fit the 3rd hut in and then coloured with Pro Markers.  The birds are part of a Tanda stamp with a little careful inking fitted in nicely.  It's a unisex card would suit anyone.

Sharing this card with:
Casology - Row
Cards 4 Guyz - CAS
Passion for ProMarkers - In or beside the Sea

School holidays soon, perhaps the sun will show it's face then.

Time for a little tag

On top of a larger tag.   With lots and lots of roses.

After all the messiness yesterday I was a little stumped about what to do next, and came up with this.

First challenge find the die for the smaller tag, I know it's in one of these boxes, but which one?  As always when on a hunt you come across all sorts of things you looked for before but could not find.   A hunt is useful for things like that.  Die found both tags and other but cut out.

Base tag inking, using my favourite dusters and DI, Antique Linen, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick and Victorian Velvet.   Remembering when we all used to list the colours we had used, its kinda fun.   Tim Holtz mini stencil applied first with Victorian Velvet and then again offset with Bundled Sage.   Stamped over all with a Stamp Addicts flourish, the ink this time Adirondack Olive.

After the Stamp another rummage find was some beautiful papers, not something I use a lot but have added a little from two of them here.   The label tab first coloured/distressed with Antique Linen and Bundled Sage, the image behind is clipped from one of those papers and glued in place.  The whole attached to the tag with We Are Memory Keeper findings.  To help tie the label and tag together the rose was clipped from another page and overlays them both.

Now for the little tag, coloured this time with just Bundled Sage, Worn Lipstick and Victorian Velvet.   Stamped in part with the Stamp Addicts flourish to match against the base.    Ummm need roses so off to the basket with some of the floral stamps stored in it.  Dug out the very first La Blance stamps I have from years back, before they we really known at all.   These were inked up with Whisper Pens, those old felt pens are really surviving the test of time.

More oldies, the paper roses are all that is left from some wedding invitations made for a friend years back.  The marriage did not last as long as my stash.  Sprayed these with Glimmer Mist before sticking them onto the tags.   Finally a gross grain ribbon bow, yep the ribbon has been in one of my ribbon draws for a very long time as well.  All of which proves that a good old stash hunt turns up the magic.

Sharing my tag with
Glitter and Sparkle - Tag it
Allsorts - Picture inspiration I went with the colours.
Fussy and Fancy Friday - Say it with Flowers
Crafty Card makers - Shabby Chic
Sisterhood of Crafters - Make your own background.

Now here is the Allsorts picture inspiration.

Week-end Messy

I'm just not sure which is the best photo, one taken in the craft room (resting on the Cats climbing frame) and the other hanging in the living room where it will live.  This hanger for hanging things has taken me most of Saturday and into this Sunday morning to complete.

First a wooden hanger sanded down.   Next cup hooks screwed along the bottom.  One side was much easier to set the hooks into, there is one hook less on the left hand side simply could not do it.   Time to decide what material to use.   I have a small stack of fat squares in cotton, cut 2 strips out of one to give fabric strips.  Then there are the cotton doilies from years back (I knew there was a reason I brought all my stash with me when I moved, twice now).    From the Powertex kit some Tee shirt cotton 'rope' and open weave/mesh hessian.   More Bare Necessities hessian and some paper flowers.

I've just added Ivory coloured Powertex to my supply thinking it would be an interesting contrast to the Bronze.   Started with the Ivory, the fat square strips and the doily.wrapped and draped the coated fabrics over and around the hanger.  Then the hessian cotton rope were coated in bronze and added.   Once I decided that the arrangement worked set the hanger aside for an hour or so until everything was touch dry.

At that stage I got a better look at the back and also realised that some of the hessian had not adhered to the project.  To fix it some of the willow bark (from the first Powertex kit) was used to help support the back with Ivory.   More of the Ivory Powertex used to secure the loose hessian and to add some paper flowers.   Everything was now left overnight.

This morning satisfied with the result so far the now stiff fabrics were dry brushed with turquoise/teal, blue and copper pigment.   Thinking it was finished I went so far as to take pictures.  Rummaging for a die to use in a new project (still not properly decided let alone started) I came across some Prima flowers that were saved to just this sort of project.   Poured out out a little more Ivory Powertex and added them, 2 went over flat paper flowers from the previous day, while the 3rd is just below the 3rd of the original flowers.

Now it is finished.   Soon various necklaces and pendants I've made will be hanging from those cup hooks, just in case you wondered what they are all about.   The way the Powertex adhered to the metal is also interesting and adds to the shabby chic style.

So I'm sharing this project with.

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Always anything goes.

A Gem of a Challenge - Anything but a card

Studio 75 - Flower and Chic mood board

Creative Artiste - Anything Goes

PaperArtsy - Fabric

3rd picture for the frame project.

This is the last of the portrait format 6" x 4" cards, and like the other 2 the base is coloured card this time something in between the other 2 shades.   The 3 landscape to come will use the same base cardstock.

Looking to achieve something ethereal this Clarity lady very much like a Mocha girl.   Stamped in Memento brown and again on eclipse paper to make a mask.   A Penny Black stamp provided the framing in the same ink.   Decided this dreamy lady would have white floating hair and ribbons, her dress is grey & although it does now show here her skin tone is much lighter than the base card.

Just to lift it a little some of the outlines have been traced with pink, green and gold felt pens.

I'd like to share this with
Colour Q - Colour Challenge

A little gift from me to a friend

Earlier this year on FB I ran a little Pay it Forward, a couple of people took the challenge and I've then kept them waiting the better part of 6 months!   This is the cover of a note pad made for one of them.   

The background is part of a shaving foam with Ken Oliver Ink Bursts that I've kept waiting for the right time.   The Stamps are all Inkylicious, stamped with various ep and coloured with Pro Markers. The little air bubbles were filled with Glossy Accents.

I'm sharing this with

The Sisterhood of Crafters - Make your own background

One Crazy Stamper - Anything goes

1 Box, 4 sides

I've been put this project together for a little while and been itching to share it with the world but needed to all 4 sides done first.   Here they are.

First painted all the panels with black gesso and then fixed everything together to make the box.  Using white Dreamweaver embossing paste and an Andy Skinner stencil.   Painted over the side with Distress inks and then went over it all with Indigo Blu crackle paste, the embossing paste had not quite gone off creating this erie pinky wash.   The crackle paste has to be 'set' with slap it on a sealant.

When everything had finally settled down dribbled along the bottom with stampendous shabby ep in various colours and textures.   Still not getting the effect I wanted spread down from the top Texture Paste (Black Sand) and dripped over that green alcohol ink.  Thought it was finished and then remembering the TH wings die cut out in blue acetate and lime green origami paper these were cut out and added.

 On this side the crackle stuff was used directly over the black, as this crackle paste dries white I expected an interesting result.   Some Glimmer Mist in blues and greens were added and gold paint swirled onto the still wet surface.  After 3 or 4 days the slap it on went over the top and ep sprinkled into before it dried.  Finally the blank areas were stamped in blue and the outlines picked out with white pen.

Again crackle paste and glimmer mist, liking this for an underwater theme the sprays were applied directly onto the paste, before the slap it on.   The grunge board flourishes  were coloured with Gelatos having a lot of fun with those.   The fish are inkylicious embossed with fine detail ep.

The final side has been Powertexed.   Using various bits and bobs from the draws and shelves there is papyrus and hessian card die cuts embossing powders and a strip of tissue paper.

Great to use so many different things and compare the results.  Loved re-discovering the Glimmer Mists and Grunge Board.  Not impressed with the Crackle paste, think it was given a good try out but it has to be quite thickly applied and then it takes days to develop the cracks.  It you want it to be coloured you have to mix it with acrylic paint which might or might not result in the effect you want.

Minx thinks its a nice box she sits in it.

Challenges
Deep Ocean - Wood or Metal
Things to Alter - Anything Goes
2 Creative Chicks - Anything Goes
Altered Eclectics - Anything Altered Goes
Country View Challenges - Crackle

Red, White & Blue

There is a lot of it around at this time of year!   And this year, at least until tomorrow, it is proving to be significant here in the UK.   Trouble is we not always understand what it means.   The Union Jack is made of 3 national flags, The Cross of St George, England.   The crosses of St. Andrew, Scotland and St Patrick, Ireland.   Wales is not represented on the flag, but those 4 nations comprise The United Kingdom.   Geography they are located on the British Isles, the 2nd largest is known at Ireland.  The largest occupied by Scotland England and Wales, is known as Great Britain.   Great Britain is the name of the island not the 'nation' inhabitants of these islands are known as British.  Complicated, maybe, but I get frustrated when people especially British people refer to Great Britain as a nation not an island.

Red White & Blue

  Necklace, bracelet and earrings made with Quartzite beads.    Just a little fun with the colours.

The Cats Pyjamas - Red, White & Blue with a touch of Sparkle (Crackle Quartz and Silver)
Craftin Desert Divas - Red, White & Blue
My Sheri Crafts - Red, White & Blue.

Or maybe you just prefer Blue, A Fluorite pendant also recently wired up.

Did someone say Tag?

Now this was wonderful messy fun.   A week or so ago I took out a subscription to Craft Stamper mostly because the subscription gift was soooo tempting.   It was/is a selection of Thats Crafty Surfaces, thats MDF and white lined grey board cut in to hearts, tags and ATCs as well as a set of mini masks.  Not to be passed up and unlike similar offers in the past it was delivered within days.

I've already talked about the Be Creative Wonder Crystals and watching them on Hochanda the other day I learnt how effective they look on hessian.

Another product promoted on Hochanda recently was Powertex.  I've seen this before and been intrigued by it, so the starter kit became another must have.   Knowing that was on it's way I've been collecting lots of natural fabrics and other things to use with it.

Those then are all the elements.   Yesterday the Powertex arrived.  A marriage of the grey board some hessian and the fabric stiffner was quickly arranged.  Throughly coated the basic elements and assembled them, they then have to be left for at least an hour before the next stages.   The kit includes pigments and a fixative that is dry brushed onto the project.  Using these pigments it was magical to see how the colours picked out the folds and textures.    Next morning the stiffing process had continued (It takes 3 weeks for a fully coated project to be fully hardened)  Feeling that it needed a little more lightness I applied some pigment ink and sprinkled Wonder Crystals over the tag, heat softens Powertex so the melting process had to be done carefully but it was another moment of magic as the crystals became part of the project.   Left it alone for another 24 hours not quite sure if it needed anything more and if it did what.   Today I decided to just do a little more dry brushing using the turquoise pigment.

Watch out for more Powertex experiments.

For now I'm sharing this with
Tuesday Throwdown - Distressing
Artistic Inspirations -  Always Anything Goes
613 Avenue - Create a Tag

nite nite

Tangled Bird's wing

Not something I expected to post today as it is not often that I share my tangles.   I do still follow some of the sites especially The Diva and her fabulous family.

Yesterday the lovely lady set her challenge for the week and this time it was a colour challenge.   Usually a tangle is left in black ink allowing the patterns to speak for themselves, but by chance she had used a red pen and been brave enough to go on the journey and see where it took her.

Now the challenge to us is to include red and a bit of fun.  Well frankly my tangles are always just a bit of fun and this one came out nothing like the idea in my head, how usual.   It is however probably the best mocha I've done so far.

Got to this stage and decided to stop anymore would spoil it and besides to me this is the wing and tail of a bird.  So I'm also sharing it with Try it on Tuesday, who believe they can fly!

Another 6x4 card for the project

I like having projects to work on, something long term with lots of elements.  Rather like the set of playing cards I'm  making for the Twofers Challenges.   I've also started a set of 6 6" x 4" cards to go in a photo frame.   Here is the 2nd one.

Another stamp I've had forever and a week, tidied up after and not sure who it is by.   First off this is cream card a mask used first with various DI inks applied with those brushes darker n the edges getting lighter toward the centre.   Then the image was stamped and coloured with Chameleon Pens, love these pens because you control the intensity of the colour and can develop light and shade.   When the colouring was complete another mask was laid over the top and Dreamweaver clear embossing paste spread over.    

Be Creative Wonder Crystals sprinkled over and heat applied, these powders are fun applied as the makers show you can get fabulous enamel cover and or make pictures similar to sand pictures but heat set.   I've been playing with them in other ways like this one and then not melting them smooth, the results are textural subtle.

Sealed the whole of the card with a matt glaze, this re-activated the DI blending them across the surface adding an ageing effect to it.

Thought I'd share this with

Fashionable Stamping - Beautiful Blooms

Addicted to Stamps - Anything Summer

Stamplorations - Anything mixed media must use stencil/mask

Now what mischief can I go and get into?

Masked Dragonflies

This week at Less is More the challenge is Faux Bleach.   Like everyone I know the methods with water, both of which have been very well represented there.   So I thought I'd offer an alternative using masks.

Firstly where the images were to be places I light dusted the card with a pale blue (Lake Mist) and pale green (Willow) this stopped the images from being stark white which if bleaching were involved they would not be.   Then the Crafty Individuals masks placed over and more inks dusted over, Stormy Sky and Peeled Paint.   Then the sentiment Dragonfly Dreams was stamped in Mustard Seed. Seems to have worked quite well.

Sharing this with

Less is More - Faux Bleach
Crafting With Dragonflies - Dragonflies or Butterflies
Inkspirational - Masking

Think Its time for some gems and wire now.

First Canvas for a long time

It's proved to be an interesting Saturday.  Harley seems to have earned his hunting chops with a sparrow, he is enjoying the great outdoors now how to get him to take full advantage!  Still hunting is good, yes really The Orange aka Pounce often brought his toys him and if it stops Harley chewing on me I can live with it.

Met up with a colleague from Evolve, we used to share our drive to work and had really great chats in the car.  Now I've retired we both kinda miss that it was a really nice catchup over coffee and cake.  Already looking forward to next time.

Back in the playroom I finished this canvas.  It is the first one I've done in longer than i can remember!

It is 20" x 8" not an ideal blog size sorry about that.  The inspiration is Swanage in Dorset and came to me on Thursday evening.   The idea to use papyrus came to me from The House that Stamps Built challenge.

Primed the canvas with white gesso.   Next layers blues, greys, white, yellow and red acrylic paint, If you know Dorset you'll know it is hilly driving into Swanage you go down quite a steep hill as you do to almost all the harbours on the Jurassic coast.   Driving round the bay and then looking back across the water you face a hill side with property on top.   The coast line curves back around behind this well small cliff.  I've aded Old Harry Rock with his wife on the canvas but you cannot actually see them from this vantage point.

So basic impression of land and bay mapped out a piece of natural fibre ribbon stuck in place to define land and water.   Using gilding glue Be Creative Wonder Embossing Crystals melted on to give depth to foreground, water and sky.   Papyrus torn and stamped Inkadinkado seagull, Tanda Holiday in Dorset ad.  Glued these on without sticking the edges down finally added some gritty dimension paste down the left and for Old Harry + Mrs.  Then I went to bed.   Why the Seagull?  They are scary in Swanage big gulls who assume that bag of fish and chips you just got is all for them and they will take it all.

This morning realised that the cliff needed to be darkened and the lie of the land defined, more acrylic greys and green.   The gritty stuff was also painted green and a little more papyrus used to represent the pier.   Actually the pier at Swanage has a bend far to complicated for me to represent, if you are interested you can learn to dive from this pier.   Didn't want to get messy (meeting friend for lunch) so left it there.

Final stages  Rogue Redhead designs sail boat stamped onto paper and coloured with Pro Markers, used more gilding glue to attach it and also some dots and dashes of gilding flakes.   Terra paste spread over ribbon, oh and 'pier' coloured with brown Promarker.   And we are done, I think.

Here is a picture of Swanage and apart from the cliff I think I'v captured the sense of it.   BTW that smudge on the horizon of the photograph is the Isle of Wight.

Sharing my Summer Seaside Mixed Media Canvas with:

The House that Stamps Built - Inspiration picture

Take it Make it - Lets get Inky

Creative Artiste - Mixed Media, Anything Goes

Vintage Journey - Texture/Embossing Paste

Definitely getting into retirement thing so many things to do.

Twofers - Tea, Coffee or Me?

Our friend and teamie Christi is still recovering but are going to run with her theme for Twofers again this time.  It is another fun one, Tea, Coffee or Me?  quite a choice.

I don't like tea, but could not find a single coffee stamp in the stash.  So probably one will be right at the top of the box tomorrow.  In the mean time did have two terrific Tea themed ones, difficult to work them into the remaining gaps in the pack of cards but I've tried.

7 of clubs a Tanda Stamp from one of their vintage plates, she sorta makes that cup of tea look sexy don't you think?  Stamped in Sepia with the image of a steaming cup stamped over using a latte colour.

9 of clubs came a little more naturally, this is and Crafty Individual stamp.   There are 9 little cup cakes on the stand bottom right and all the things that make an old fashioned high tea.

Now Jane's project that is a proper tribute to tea.  What is your cuppa tea or coffee?   There is $15 to spend at Alleystamp for the winner all we ask is that your project is entered around our theme and you use a stamp and ink.

Starting a New Project

I've always looked at doing more than cards and using more mixed media arty crafty ideas.   Love texture, blending and getting my hands into it all.   But I do still like comparatively smaller formats.   The Range carries all sorts of picture frames or photo frames that take several pictures.  Well it could be pictures of the cats or small pieces of experimental art.

Size 6" x 4" Caramel coloured uncoated card stock.  The first mark made with Ranger resist ink and a new to me Tim Holtz flower stamp.   The resist ink is intended to be used with glossy coated card and the old big and juicy ink pads.    I was interested to see how it would work with this card,  stamped the image and then blasted the card with heat gun.  Next up those fabulous inkylicious ink dusters, do not know how I would get on now without them, and bright Distress Inks.

The flower head did get a little lost under all the inks so to bring it back out picked the detail out with a water brush.   Water repels distress ink lightening the areas of the petals.   To my eye this was now fabulous but could not leave it like that for the project in mind.

Ferreted out an old Create and Craft butterfly stamp, inked with Versamark and Stampendous fine gold ep.   Although some time had passed since the original stamp was used it was a surprise that the petals near the top large butterfly also grabbed some of the ep.   Now very reluctant to add much more and settled on some Stampendous rust ep.  Did not quite follow the directions, which are to just sprinkle the product on the card surface and then heat from below no need to use ink.  Instead I applied Versamark and Sakura glue pen to selected areas and then heated it above and below to get an effect I like.

All that heating caused the previously applied fine detail gold ep to sink into the card so the outlines still have the reflective quality but are completely smooth to the touch.   Not being sure how well the butterflies would stand out the water brush was used again to pick out detail on 3 of them.

I got some really interesting results on this card, thinking it might be the start of a floral, butterfly and underwater theme for the complete frame.   I'll share the rest as and when they are made.

In the mean time I'd like to share this with.
Butterfly challenge - Must always have a Butterfly, with O for Olive or Oval I've used Olive Green
The Crafty Addicts - Anything goes/Summertime  If my little project does not say summertime I don't know what does!
HLS Mixed Media - Texture
ABC Challenge - Just as you like

So many ideas spilling out of my head at the moment, the hardest task is selecting one and then holding onto it long enough to actually see it through.  could be a while before I get back to this 'photo frame' which has 5 more spaces to fill.

Black and White

That is all we have been asking for this fortnight at Twofers.  It could be black ink on white card or white ink on black card  a rubber stamp and no digital stamps.   We have a terrific sponsor Alleystamp who give the winner each time $15 to spend at the shop.   Just 2 people have entered so far so here I am trying to get some more interest.   There are no style restrictions just do your thing.

For this card which will be used as a notelet to accompany a little gift.   A little Tim Holtz corner stamp in Archival ink, a stamping' up sentiment in the same ink.   Black Sakura Glitter Pen to draw the 'frame' and a black flat back gem.

Sharing my little quick make with:
Create and Inspire - Anything Goes
Lemon Shortbread - Anything Goes (no digital projects)
Crafting from the heart - Always Anything Goes
Where the HeART is - Anything Goes
2 Creative Chicks - Anything Goes
Classic Design Team - Always Anything Goes
Creative Ladybirds Creations - Anything Goes
One Crazy Stamper  - Anything Goes

Hope you like my card and if you are tempted to join in with the Black and white you have until 23:00 UK time on Friday.

'Tis the season

For long hot summer days of sun, birds and bees wafting in the warm breeze.   Ice cream and sun tan cream, paddling pools.   Yes its summer, but the blue skies are looking a little grey you might still want a cardigan or coat and the must have accessory is an umbrella.         Nothing to stop us dreaming though is there?

A format I'd all but forgotten about, a couple of years back at work our business calendars came in stand up holders.   When the year was over I collected quite a few, they make great picture holders and a good size for stampers.

Started with a inkylicious dusters and the residual ink on them, blue, yellow, pink and green.   Then for a little more depth a selection of Distress Inks and Adirondack dye based inks dusted over to deepening some of the background.   Clarity Poppy stamped in brown memento ink, a Stamping' up bee added in the same ink.     Images coloured with Chameleon pens, so far so conventional perhaps a little play.

Imagination crafts glitter paste pushed through a TH mask (Getting a lot out of those masks) after the poppy image had been masked off.   The paper mask had to be removed quickly and then the piece left to set.  Not enough dimension, stamped the main image again cutting out just the foremost petals.   Coloured to match and added over the top.   Glossy accents applied, one more project left to set.

Still not quite enough or perhaps I just wanted to experiment more.   Using the same green as blended earlier a swirl/flourish randomly stamped around the edges.   Gilding paste, rose and green, touched top and bottom.   Sakura glitter pen traced the edges of the images and some of the shaded areas of the petals.   There I stopped, well at least on this piece.

I'd like to share this with
Creative Inspirations - Spring into Summer
Work it Wednesday - Sunshine
Crafty Sentiments - Summer

Love Poppies

Settling nicely into new none routines, and all sorts of ideas are re-surfacing or introducing themselves.   Poppies are a recurring love of mine this is the time of year when they are in bloom and I love the sight of wild ones growing in un-expected places.

This tag uses a TCW stencil a new acquisition and an old un-marked stamp that I treasure.  the background was coloured with Adirondack and Inkylicious dusters and blending sponge.   Then the main images stamped in brown Memento and coloured with Chameleon pens.

I created this just for fun but there are one or two challenges who might enjoy it.
Penny Black and More - Flower Power
Dragonfly Dreams - Say it with Flowers
Addicted to Stamps - Flowers

Then it just got Silly

Have resisted the TH cats until last Sunday, being them irl they became a must have and jumped into my bag.   Well  they are cats and you simply cannot have to many.

Stamped in brown Memento and coloured with Chameleon pens.   Both cat and bottle of milk ate TH the splatter is stamping' up stamped in Adirondack.  Tried to think of a sentiment but cannot decide if it should be 'Don't cry over spilt milk', or 'Sorry' so will chose one when I use it.

Sharing this with

Less is More - Splatters
and
Crafty Catz - Animal Magic

Tag Inspiration

Came across an inspiration tag/card yesterday and it got me thinking of ways to replicate it.  Not something I normally do inspiration projects as copies preferring to do my own thing but here it is.

Texture on the base card scored on an old Hobby Arts board.   TH tag die cut, TH mask coloured with Adirondack inks 2 shades of green and 2 of blue.  One of the Blues used to colour the edge of the tag lifting it from the base card.  A little blue ribbon and a butterfly charm.    Hello is stamped in green (yes really the picture washed the colour out a little bit) color box chalk ink.

Naturally I'm sharing this with the inspiration site, Tag your it.

Also sharing this with:
My Sheri Crafts - Tags Tags and More Tags
Crafting with Dragonflies - Dragonflies and Butterflies

Getting back into the zone

1st week of full retirement passed in a flash.   Sunday in Doncaster for Craft Magic at the Dome, few technical problems my iPhone decided I was not connected to the internet.   Fortunately I still had my old Tom Tom reached the destination spent money and came home.  Monday Tuesday basically chilling at home feeling a little odd no plans or demands chasing my tail just a wonderful expanse of time there for me to fill.   Wednesday the mobile disconnected a couple of calls so off to the Apple shop in Leeds new phone, new iPad both with max memory and an Apple watch.   Still sorting all that tech out.   Thursday new windows fitted and feeling far more rested time to play in the craft room.

Well actually this was today, I've been working on another wooden box that is still a WIP to be shared another time.    

The colour pallet for this came from a Wednesday Challenge ColourQ I love the cool colours.

I don't have the actual listed shades so I've used as close as I can find in my ink pads and pens.

First off a 3.7" square box coloured all over with Weathered Wood distress ink and Inkylicious dusters.   A new to me TH mask used with Peacock Feathers DI and a song applicator.    Around the sides of the lid I used tissue tape (thinking of the soft suede) which was sealed.  

A piece of white card cut down to 3.5" square and stamped with a new Inkylicious stamp set, the bird and sentiment.  "Your wings already exist all you have to do is learn to fly."   They were stamped in Memento London Fog.   Promarkers used to colour the image using colours that approximate the challenge pallet.  The topper glued in place and covered with Dreamweaver dries clear crackle paste.   The stencilled sides of the box have been sealed with spray and shine.

Beside ColourQ I'm sharing this with.
Creative Carte Blanche - Winged things
Craft Stamper - Lets get Inky
A Vintage Journey - Texture or Embossing paste

I like this new freedom, the journey has begun so bring it on.

Twofers - In black and white

I started my post for this fortnights Twofers challenge referring to the long daylight hours in the northern hemisphere at this time of year.  I neglected to point out that they are not sun filled clear blue sky days but wet autumnal feeling days.   Still it does save on electric light.

My challenge this time at Twofers, inspired by someone who has played along with us a time or two and my own enjoyment of black and grey.   Simply called In Black and White.

Don't forget as ever our Sponser, Alleystamp. is giving $15 voucher to spend at their online store.  I shop at Alleystamp and can tell you the prices are great, the service excellent and the owner an angel who takes in abandoned kittens fostering them until their forever home is found.   Even without the great prices I'd support someone who did this.

The Jack of Spades is an Inkadinkado stamp, just stamped in black in and grey brought in with Whisper Pens, it might be my favourite playing card so far.  It is certainly right up there.

Sharing Jack with

Allsorts - The Great Outdoors

Craft Rocket - Monochrome

Thats Crafty - Under the sea or by the sea

7 of Spades, the base card was covered with Do Crafts printed tissue, the spades were then stamped 7 times in the shape of a 7.   White pen enforces the 7.

I would love you to join in with our challenge this time, please just remember to use a rubber stamp.