Gothic Arch Challenge - School

This is the second of the new Challenge Sites I stumbled upon this week. A Gothic Arches challenge blog site. These are good fun to do! My effort uses a mixture of stamps to portray various elements that I think of for this first theme of School. The image is from one of the Tuscan Rose CD's. Some really fantastic artwork to check out on the links.

Wendy -x-

Di Hickman Template Challenge 29th August

This is another double up for me. Firstly for the Di Hickman Template challenge this week and secondly for the Circles Challenge on Technique Thursday.

Materials used:- Various Bazzill card stock, Kay and Co Basic Grey patterned papers, Cricut George and Basic Shapes Cartridge, Rubbadubbadoo greeting stamp, Versafine sepia ink pad, flower brad.

Wendy -x-

4 x 4 Page Challenge - Women

I have stumbled upon couple of new Challenge sites!! The first of which is for 4 x 4 pages. This week's challenge on 4 x 4 Friday is women.

I have a couple of pages made with various stamps, inks and paints for this first challenge. I was hoping to do something completely different but my printer decided to have an off day and I can't get anything out of it at the moment.
Have a look at the blog site and check the lovely work linked to it.

Cheers!
Wendy -x-

A Wild Rose Fairy in a Stippled Frame

I know I was supposed to be revising yesterday but I did manage to finish off a card I started the previous day!! This one is made using the Wild Rose Fairy stamp from one of the Joanna Sheen Garden Fairy sets, this belongs to the same set as the Wild Rose used previously. The detail and quality of these stamps are superb. I decided to have a go at stippling a frame onto the centre of my card using a couple of dye inks and instructions from a Technique Junkies Newsletter. I have used the Wild rose stamp around the frame and the main image is the Wild Rose Fairy coloured with pencils. Her wings have been glittered with a clear Sakura Stardust but this isn't showing up on the scan. I have also decoupaged her by a single layer and embellished with photo corners.

Now back to the revision again and in for the exam later today!

Wendy -x-

Daring Card Makers - Who's pushing your Buttons!

For this week's challenge on the Daring Card Makers I tried out something I spotted on this ladies blog - The Technique Trail. Eight tags punched from double sided paper, folded and stuck onto the base cards as petals of a flower. I have used a much larger tag and a different shaped tag to the one shown. I have attached some strips of ribbon and I then made a large wooden button but punching holes into a wooden disc with my crop-a-dile. The Button has been tied with ribbon and some yarn. Clear gems were added along with a gold peel-off greeting. A bit of fun anyways!!

Wendy -x-

Spotlighted Embossed Watercolours

After playing with my Lyra wax water colour crayons yesterday I kept them out with another technique in mind. I have used this beautiful Wild Rose stamp from one of Joanna Sheen's Garden Fairy sets. I have stamped the Rose using Fired Brick Distress ink and then I have gently washed over the image with a water brush. I have used the same stamp to stamp tone on tone onto the base card. A smaller section of the image has been coloured with the Lyra wax water colours and this has been clear embossed. The same technique has been used for the leaves in the corner. Embellished with eyelets and tied with Gold chord.

Wendy -x-

Maria's TIC #8 - Tag Along

There is a challenge over on Cards Inspired By Maria to make a card with a matching tag. This has come in handy as it is my Mother-in-law's birthday soon so I have made this with her in mind. The card is made using the Violets stamp from the Garden Fairy range of stamps by Joanna Sheen.I have water coloured the image and I have also added watercolour to a piece of card by smearing it in the paint on a piece of acetate. I have then splashed the card with a bit of bleach.

This is the matching tag for her gift. Made in the same way with water colours and embellished with the same organza ribbon.

Have a great Bank Holiday weekend!

Wendy -x-

Tanda Stamp card Challenge CC08 - Just Checking In

The challenge on the Tanda Stamp Forum this week is called 'Just Checking In'. Use any sort of checks or plaids on your card.

For this card I have used the Butterfly set of stamps from Tanda and coloured them with watercolours. Embellished with organza ribbon, brads and a sentiment tag.

All challenge cards can be viewed on the Forum in the Challenge Gallery.

Wendy -x-

Happy Birthday To You......Happy Birthday To You .....

Whilst printing the image for my Music ATC from the Joanna Sheen Hollywood CD yesterday - I also printed off an image I have been meaning to have a play with - a beautiful colour photo of Marilyn Monroe with bling dripping from everywhere!

The background is made using a Saphire colour wash spray and white webbing spray. Whilst the webbing spray was still wet I sprinkled some silver embossing powder onto it and dried with a heat gun. I have also used that unmounted marble stamp of unknown make dunked in some of the colour wash. I have embellished with a Happy Birthday To You sentiment from Hero Arts stamped onto vellum and held in place with red eyelets. Plus a chipboard flourish that I have painted with Acrylic paint and sprayed with the white webbing spray. I have also added a few gems to the flourish and the corner of the main image.

Happy crafting!
Wendy -x-

Think Monday Think ATC - Music

The theme this week for the Think Monday Think ATC was Music. The beauty of these challenges is that when someone gives you a word everyone will have different thoughts and images. When I thought music I kept wanting to link to Dance as well. With this thought in mind I remembered a fabulous image of Fred Astaire on my Joanna Sheen Hollywood CD so went with that keeping it to the black and white theme. The harlequin background was made using a small unmounted stamp of unknown make. Embellished with a music note charm and die cut.

Wendy -x-

Di Hickman Template Challenge - 22nd August

This is my sketch card for the Di Hickman Template challenge this week.

Materials used are:- Basic Grey Patterned Papers, White card stock and Paper Mania fabric Flowers.

A simple card - love the sketch this week!

Wendy -x-

Bolg Candy Winners are........

I have to apologise for the delay in posting this morning - we had a couple of power cuts and then the ASDL connection was down for a time.

I must say I was surprised at the number of people who left a comment for the blog candy! Ninety one comments on the post and a couple of strays I picked up left on posts after that - an overwhelming response!

I have been writing your names out daily and adding them to the pile and I roped in my youngest Son to do the honours and pick your names out today.

The first name drawn out winning all four sets was:


The next name drawn out winning The single Mini Penguin set was:

For the Mini Dog Set it was:


The Mini New Home set was won by:

Finally the Mini Flowers Set goes to:


I will be contacting you all personally for your posting details! I hope you all enjoy them.

All that remains to be said is thanks to everyone for your suppoort and wonderful comments on a hobby that we all enjoy so much!

Wendy -x-

Aloha!

Well 70 of you have said hello to me so far on the blog candy give away post so I am saying hello to all of you! I have also decided that because so many of you have taken the trouble to leave a comment instead of giving away just one prize I will be giving away five!!

The first to be drawn will be receiving all four mini sets pictured and stated in the original post. The next four people will each receive one of the stamp sets - I bought an extra four to spread the Tanda Love!! I will list each set and the name drawn against it.

You still have until midnight tonight to say hi on the thread a couple of posts down if you haven't already!!

Don't forget to check back tomorrow to see who has won! I will be having a similar give away in a few weeks time - as soon as I have shown you four more sets - two have already appeared so only two to go!

Cheers!
Wendy -x-

The Pied Piper!

I had a bit of fun with this stamp set! As soon as I saw this Tanda Stamp Mini Set - Mice Set 1 - I thought of this Tuscan Rose Image and thought I would have a bit of a play at putting them together.

The Background card has had a straw coloured dye ink smooshed over it and I have grunged the card up with some black ink. The images have been stamped in Versafine black and coloured with the same ink as used on the background piece.

Wendy -x-

Daring Card Makers - Frilly Bits!

I have gone all soft and girlie for this week's challenge with the Daring Card Makers. The card is made using a stamp from PSX. Background Lacey stamp is from Stampin' Up. I have stamped the lace background stamp onto Lilac card using a 'Lovely Lilac' stampin up spot and the main image has been coloured with the same ink plus coloured pencils. The edges of the card stock have also been distressed with the same ink. I have added some lace to the corner and one of the background layers for my frilly bit!

Wendy -x-

Tanda Stamp Card Challenge 07 - 'Love is in the Air'

This week's challenge on the Tanda Stamp Forum is entitled 'Love is in the Air'.

For this card I have used the Tanda Stamp open book stamp and the Wedding Set 2 (Mini). The book has been stamped twice with the top page mounted with 3D foam pads at the edges and flat at the spine. I have added some bling on the page marker, knife handle and corners. Patterned paper is DCWV.

Thanks for looking! Don't forget to check out the Blog candy post with a stamp bundle up for grabs.

Wendy -x-

Blog Candy - Time to say Hi!

I don't have a counter on the blog - I haven't a clue how reliable other stats are but I thought it was about time I had a bit of a goody bag to give away! This is my way of saying thanks for taking the time to visit and for all the encouragement and support given! The first of many! Up for grabs are four sets of Tanda Stamp Minis. I have used each of these sets for cards or ATC's in the last ten days so you will probably recognise some of the images. The stamps you will receive are all new and sealed red rubber sets. The mini sets up for grabs are:- Penguins Set 2, Dogs Set 1, New Home Set 1 and Flowers Set 2.

All you have to do is to say hello by leaving a comment on this thread - you have until Midnight on Tuesday. I will pop all your names into a box and get OH or DS to draw the lucky winner and I will let you know who has won on Wednesday morning. If you are on one of the many Forums I visit please let me know which one so that I can contact you. Don't forget to check back!

Wendy -x-

Di Hickman Template Challenge - Home Sweet Home!

This week's sketch card for the Di Hickman Template challenge - Home Sweet Home. I used another of the new Tanda Stamp Mini sets for this card - New Home Set 1. Layered with some patterned paper and a piece of cuttlebug embossing. Embellished only with a flower brad. This is a really useful set with a couple of key stamps and another text stamp too!

Wendy -x-

Think Monday Think ATC - Numbers

The Think Monday Think ATC challenge this week is Numbers. My ATC's come from deep thoughts and inspiration from colour, music and a life so precious.

Materilas used:- PaperArtsy, Tanda Stamps and Rubbadubbadoo stamps. Ranger Fired Brick distress ink, Versafine Onynx Black and white and black card stock.

Wendy -x-

A Feather in my Cap!

I had some play time at the weekend and made some background pieces up using a technique called Veined Marble from the recent Technique Junkies newsletter. I have used a piece of it here along with a Victorian Lady Elusive Image stamp. She has been painted with watercolours, mounted with 3D foam pads and embellished with feathers and a gem. I like the background technique a lot and I will be playing with that some more!

Cheers for looking!
Wendy -x-

A Wobbly Eyed Penguin!

My second play with the Tanda Stamps Penguin sets - this time the A5 sized set. This little fellow is so cute and I have simply stamped him, cut him out, mounting with 3D foam pads and embellished him with those little googly, wobbly eyes. The rest is just matting and layering with DCWV papers. The silhouette penguin line along the bottom is also on the set.

Thanks for stopping by.
Wendy -x-

Think Monday Think ATC - Tags

I thought I was going to have to miss this one - but I managed a couple anyway. Think Monday Think ATC - the theme for this week is Tags. For the above ATC I used some PaperArtsy tag stamps to stamp the background = adding colour with a a sponge and some dye ink pads. The image is Tuscan Rose and I hae embellished with some white lace and gems.

This one is made using one of the Tanda Stamp Mini sets - Flowers Set 2. The crackle stamp from the Backgrounds set has also been used. Tag tied with black funky fibres and embellished with an ant brad.

Wendy -x-

Tanda Stamp Card Challenge 06 - Friendship

The weekly card challenge over on the Tanda Stamp Forum this week is - 'Friendship'. I have been looking after my little girl this week as she has a poorly paw. She had to visit the vet yesterday and is now wandering around with a plastic collar on looking decidedly sorry for herself so I went with a doggy theme for this card. After all Chloe is my best friend and gives me unconditional love!

The new set of minis from tanda Stamps - Dogs Set 1 was used for this card along with a technique called Burnished Watercolours from the latest Technique Junkies newsletter.

Wendy -x-

Daring Card Makers - Photo Finish

Just a quickie for the Daring Card Makers - 'Photo Finish'!

Materials used - basic Grey paper, Crafty Secrets corner stamp, Old printed photo bought in an ephemera pack, pink and dark brown card, burgundy button and Papermania fabric flower.

Some great cards to check out on the site!

Wendy -x-

You're A Classic!

I made this card for a mate at work who loves motorbikes - his being a bit more up to date than this one!

The old motorbike and compass stamps are from Tanda Stamps. The Paper I have used is Basic Grey and I grunged it up even more with some ink and a crackle background stamp. The Text is from Rubbadubbadoo and Stampin' Up.

Wendy -x-

Di Hickman Template Challenge 8th August

This is my Di Hickman Sketch card for this week. I have used Bazzill card stock, patterned paper is Basic Grey Infuse, stamped flower images are Stampin' Up, the kittens in a flowerpot is a Tuscan Rose image and the greeting is a rub on from Letraset.

This will also double up as a card for a friend who loves cats!

Wendy -x-

Typical Bloke Card!

A simply stamped card using a Rubbadubbadoo image. The image has been coloured with watercolour pencils. Paper is DCWV from their Xmas pad - I saw a challenge somewhere to use Xmas paper on an ordinary card and thought this would be a good cheat!

Having a couple of busy days again - I need to be revising right now for the Spreadsheet module of the ECDL before I take the exam later this morning!

Have a good day!
Wendy -x-

A Birthday Card for a Friend using Modern Grid Technique

A friend asked me to make this card for a lady called Carol who loves to travel especially to Cyprus! So the two things she really wanted on the card was a reference to Cyprus and to personalise it with her name. I went with the Modern Grid Technique - I originally learnt this from a Technique Junkies newsletter but I have also found instructions on a very inspiring blog
called Distinctive Touches if anyone would like to have a bash. I have linked direct to the instructions for this technique but it is well worth taking the time to browse around this talented lady's blog and there are many more techniques explained.

Stamps used on this card were:- Tanda Stamps Postage Set and Judikins Seashore Cube.

Wendy -x-

Tanda Stamp Card Challenge 05 - Blue and Green should never be seen!!

The Tanda Stamp card challenge this week is a colour challenge. We are challenging the old saying 'Blue and Green should never be seen'! I love this colour combination and I think it works well.

For this card I have used some old DCWV Christmas papers, green bazzill card base, white and blue card stock along with the solid Christmas tree stamp from Christmas Set 6 and a greeting from the Christmas Greetings Set. Embellished with blue gingham ribbon and the top left hand corner has been paper pricked.

Wendy -x-

Daring Card Makers - It's About Time!

As I was in ATC mode today I have made one for this week's Daring Card Makers Challenge - 'It's About Time'.

The pocket Watch stamp is from theTanda Stamp background set. I have decoupaged a pocket watch image over the top of one of the background images, glittered it up and popped a chain through the link. The black timepiece embellishment is from an old watch that I took to bits.

A fun challenge!

Wendy -x-

Think Monday Think ATC - Lovers

This is my ATC for this week's Think Monday Think ATC challenge - Lovers. I went for the gentle approach! Stamps used are a basket weave background stamp from Rubbadubbadoo and the flowers are made from the Tanda Stamps Flourishes set. I have used a Memories Mist in Merlot to colour the card. Gems attached to centre of flowers and a heart charm for embellishment.

Wendy -x-

DCM - Sorry

This is the card for this week's little extra dare from the Daring Card Makers. I have made this 'Thinking of you' card for someone who has lost somebody. The Sweet Williams picture will have more meaning to the person receiving it than Lilies as the person they have sadly lost was called 'William'.

Wendy -x-

Di Hickman Template Challenge 1st August

My card for the Di Hickman Template challenge this week. Ladies are stamps from hero Arts and the Friendship text stamp is from Stampin' Up. Other materials used:- Pink, black and white card stock, DCWV patterned paper and some white lace.

I am having a couple of days rushing here there and everywhere! Off to get my hair trimmed now, then on to see my niece and finally to work!

Wendy -x-

A Quick Birthday Card for my Friend!

This is a bit of a fun card today made for my friend who works with me as a Reach Truck Driver! Made using a sizzix Doll and a bit of clip art!

Background was inked up with Ecline and stamped over the top.

Wendy -x-