Surprise Sweetie at the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 369

Today I am delighted to be Surprise Sweetie at the Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 369. What an honour!
I have a lovely badge....

and a wonderful inspiration photo with the theme of the Great Outdoors.

The sponsor for the challenge is My Grafico so I hopped over to their site and found several Digital Stamps that I liked. Purchases were made! I concentrated on the Great Outdoors theme for my card.

I printed off the images on two types of paper, one allowed blending with Copics but the colours were no so vibrant, the other paper was the complete reverse, vibrant colours but almost impossible to blend. Each image is cut out. The background is Distress ink, with flicked water, on watercolour paper.

Digital Stamps are from My Grafico Lady Bugs and Forest Friends Sets.

MFT Scallop Rectangle Stax.

Grass is Impression Obsession.

Sentiment Computer.

I hope you will join in the challenge.

Have a creative and safe week.

How to divide Posts into Separate pages.

Hi everyone. I have been a little troubled with my new venture into Mixed Media pieces and how they looked with 'normal' card posts. I was seriously considering a second blog (may still do this) but for the moment I found a way to at least divide them into pages using 'Labels'.
They will still appear together on the 'Home' page, however, if you only want to look at card posts, click on the 'Cards' page, same for 'Mixed Media'. I can see there could be lots more pages with some items being given two Labels and appearing on two pages IE 'Cards' and maybe a 'Christmas' page, or different stamp companies etc.

To make the separate pages work, I followed the instructions on this page exactly. It was very easy. Once the pages were set up it only took a few minutes to label about 50 posts from the archives.

You may be thinking this is a bit 'Highfalutin' for Mrs Average here. While I am generally not a 'High Analytical' (See Note Below),  I do have a need for some sort of order.

NOTE:- See what Social Style you are here, it's very interesting. Mine was done 25 years ago and it has been so useful understanding myself, and others, especially in communication breakdowns.

Hope this info. is useful and have a great week.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Things With Wings

The Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Things With Wings. As soon as I saw the theme I knew exactly what I was going to do.

I saw my wee Pinty (my furry kitty, laid to rest 11 days ago after seventeen and half years together) with wings, my dear angel. I am missing her so much. So this wee piece is for her.

I have used stenciled molding paste, glossy accents on the kitty, the wings are a cheapy gold pair that I cut apart and covered with paint and a heated (with a match) crayon for the red drips. The heart, tears and corner doodles are hand drawn.

MFT Cool Cat stamps and die set
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set, Friendship Words
PTI Sentiment
Hero Arts 'Moments'
Distress Ink and stain
Golden fluid acrylic Tit. white and black

Thanks for dropping by.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Nautical/By the Sea

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme for this week is Nautical/By the Sea.

I am so enjoying using paint and ink with lots of sticky-on bits. Mixed Media is such a satisfying medium to work in. Must do more :)

When I thought of 'By the Sea' I thought of those large rock pools that are left when the tide goes out and the wee Seahorses living in them. They are the most intriguing member of the animal kingdom, 'Something Special'. After all, they are the only animal where the male gives birth! Well, really he is only the incubator. My Seahorse is expelling bubbles, I am positive they don't do this IRL.

Shell and Seahorse Etsy Digital.

MFT Tag Stax

Cottage Cutz Die 'Greenery'

'Something Special' computer

Distress Inks, Golden Gesso and Fluid acrylic.

Glossy accents on the bubbles and the shell.

Thanks for stopping by.

My Favourite Things Color Challenge #49

This card is for the MFT Colour Challenge. Lovely, fresh colours. The designer cards are so crisp and dynamic.

As it is a MFT challenge, I do try to use at least one of their products. I have four MFT stamp sets, cats, splashes, roses and this set, Trendy Triangles. Invariably, when I pull it out, I stare at it, it stares at me, then I put it away again. This time, I was determined a card would result. After a few days of fiddling......................................

MFT Trendy Triangles

Avery Elle Handwritten Notes (my absolute favourite font for sentiments)

PTI Double-ended Banner die

A little aside!! I was looking at the MFTs 'You've been Spotted' cards. All are amazing.

I was very taken with Sandy's card. Her Tiki Party design is fabulous, and her colouring is so beautifully done. See her card here. I am blown away!

Time to get dinner ready for a hungry hubby.

Stay cool those of you who in heat waves. I really feel for you.

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge 367 - Tropical

The Cupcake Challenge has a Tropical theme for this week. I love the pineapple decorations.

I was very inspired by Carol's gorgeous card. I used distress inks to colour the background 'nod' to a pineapple.

Take a look.

Hero Arts Four Flowers Cling Stamps.

MFT Oval Stax, Leafy Greenery 

PTI Circles Cover Plate Die

Avery Elle Handwritten Notes

I am so grateful for Card Challenges at this time. They are a great distraction.

Have a great week.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Use Flora and/or Fauna

It is absolutely bucketing down outside with very strong winds. Miserable, but perfect crafting weather. I am joining in with the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which is to use Fauna and/or Flora in your project.

I finally relented and purchased Tim Holtz's Bird Crazy. I just love these mad critters and enjoyed creating this scene.

The image is a bit washed out as I had to take it in the early morning light.

Tim Holtz  Bird Crazy Stamp and Die Set, Birch Trees Die (branch), Lost and found (background birds in flight)

Impression Obsession Grass Die

I am helping a friend's School teacher daughter in her classroom in a few hours. It's school holidays so she is taking the opportunity to redo her display walls. I had better get some sleep!!

Hope the weather is good in your end of the world.

Color Throwdown 401

This card is made for the Color Throwdown Challenge.  The colours are gorgeous! I have to say they look much darker and less vibrant on the Ipad I use in the craft room.

The post stamp and a couple of sequins are peach coloured...hard to tell in the photo.

Papertrey Ink - Stamps and Dies 'The Sweet Life' and 'Hands of Time'.

This card came with many tears as it is made in memory of our dear sweet Pinty, our little torty (calico) cat who we lost this week. Her mobility had been deteriorating over the last four months due to some sort of neurological issue, maybe caused be Kidney disease. While quietly sleeping in her chair beside us she lost all function in her hind quarters. We had her put to sleep the next day. I am completely heart broken, she was my constant companion for seventeen and a half years, and essentially my child as I never had children. Much more than a cat, she was a smart and loving family member, and we will miss her so much. This is one photo from a set of six I took (using a remote) of the two of us last December. The only photos taken of her and me together. We have many more photos and a few videos to remember her by.
RIP my dear wee girl.

Thanks for stopping by.

Viva la Verve July Sketch 1

This card is for Viva la Verve July Sketch 1. I love the layout for this sketch, and it has a bow!!

Verve Joyful Blooms
Avery Elle Petals and Stems
MFT Stitched rectangle Stax, Fish Tail Banner Stax, Stitched Scallop Rectangle Stax, friend.

Until next time, have a great week!

12 Tags of 2016 - July

This is the first time I have joined a Tim Holtz anything! This tag is for the 12 Tags of 2016 - July
Go to my new mixed media blog for the August 2016 TH tag. Puddling With Ink and Paper

I watched the two technique videos then set about creating a tag. I replaced the 'Memoirs' part of the stamp with a label off an old dynamo labeller. The wee girl got a DP dress. 

Tim Holtz Lost and Found Stamp Set, Friendship words die. Crushed Olive, Walnut Stain inks

Discover Die ? IO I think.

Tit. White Golden Fluid Acrylic, Bronze Mirror Board 'Discover and Twine eyelet.

Happy Creating.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Red White And/Or Blue

 Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is to use Red White And/Or Blue in a project. I love the SSS designer art pieces, they are so inspiring.

Once again I loved working in shabby, distressed mixed media, however for me, it's definitely a challenge with an uncertain outcome. I have given myself permission to explore and enjoy the journey no matter what I end up with. 

My blue, red and white  8" x 10" flat canvas looks more ATC size in the photograph. It has lots of layers obliterated by layers of gesso. The flowers and leaves were stamped on 1ply of serviette tissue and applied to the canvas with a clear medium. The tissue edges totally disappear.

The flowers and leaves are Hero Arts Blossom Art.

Tim Holtz 'Enjoy the Journey'

Words from Inkadinkadoo and PSX 

Happy creating :)

Color Throwdown #400

Color Throwdown has lovely fresh, red and green for their challenge colours this week.

I wanted to use my new MFT Tag Builder Blueprints 5 dies. Such a lovely set. The flower is watercoloured, the leaf is sponged.

MFT Tag Builder Blueprints 5, 'you'

PTI Beautiful Blooms 2 Flower.

Simply Graphic - Dies Coutures 

Leaf ?

Happy creating!

MFT Color Challenge 48

MFT Color Challenge has four gorgeous colours to play with this week.

For my card,  I have used a stamp set that came as a free gift with a Papercrafts magazine purchased several years ago. I love owls so was delighted to get this set.

MFT Stitched Rectangle Scallop Frames Die

Spellbinders circle die

Woodware Owls

Sentiment is Hero Arts

Hand punched flowers

Copics

Hope you are having a great week!

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

My card today is for the SSS Wednesday Challenge with the theme of Anything Goes. What a popular Challenge this week. I will be the 758th card linked, woohoo!!

I have finally purchased some cutie pie animal stamps. It had to be cats because I am a cat girl. We have three, two torty's (calicos) who are both seventeen and a half years, and one black and white boy who is nearly nineteen. I loved the MFT Cool Cats Stamp and Die set. This is their first outing.

MFT Cool Cats Stamps and Dies, Shadow Ovals Dies and Stitched Rectangle Scallop Frames
Lil' Inker Dotted Tag Die
Impression Obsession Grass Die
My Creative Time Stitched Round Speech Bubbles
Copics

SSS Monday Challenge - Tic Tac Toe

Yesterday, I nipped over to the SSS Monday Challenge. to check out the theme for the current challenge. To my very great delight and surprise, my humble wee tag for the last challenge had been chosen for Designer Spotlight! See tag here.

The theme for the current challenge is Tic Tac Toe

For no particular reason, I chose Stamp, Cardboard and Washi. I decided on another tag, this one with a Christmas theme.

It amazes me how, in my old age, the most mundane of tasks can be so relaxing. My brain deciphered cardboard as corrugated, my spray box sat nearby with its flap extended, so off it came. I then sat for the next 20 minutes quietly removing the top layer of paper. I now have enough corrugated board for three tags. Very satisfying. I like fussy cutting images too. LOL

The washi is black and white zig zag at the bottom of the tag, and the stamping is a flower over the corrugations (so the pattern is lost) and the round frame under the flowers is also stamped.

I pulled out my old, black-edged, box frame to photograph the tag. To use it for photography and changeable art, I have removed the glass and replaced it with a piece of solid art framers mat (or is that matte) board. It has a wee square of sticky-backed velcro in the middle. The tags (or other small pieces) also get a wee square. 

Stamp on round frame is Bo Bunny ROUGH IT UP (one of three)

Foliage is a Silhouette cut I made from a pine branch photo, an old hand punch and Cottage Cutz Die 'Greenery'.

Flowers are MFT Rolled Daisy backed with a hand punch daisy.  The smaller  flower is purchased.

Merry Christmas is SSS

Round frame is old Maya Road?? Came in a tin with many other pieces.

I have used Golden Fluid Acrylic Tit. White, Distress ink Mowed Lawn and Forest Moss, Versacolor Lime Pigment ink and Black Versafine. Dabs of Glossy Accents on the flowers.

Thanks for dropping in and taking a look.