The Colour Purple

Hi there folks,

Well, we had a fantastic time up the east coast and believe it or not, we had some fabulous weather too (I even came back with a bit of a suntan!) Lol. Lots of rest and relaxation, along with trips to the seaside (and way too many calories to count!) Best get back on that diet! Lol.

Anyway, we have a brand new challenge over at Fantasy Stampers today and the theme is

'THE COLOUR PURPLE'

This just happens to be one of my favourite colours - here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I was spoiled for choice with this one as I love anything purple, but was still in a 'magical' mood after my post on Tuesday so dug out this little 'Fairy House' stamp from Lavinia Stamps.

I stamped it first in black Versafine ink, then masked it out and added a moon mask to the background. Next I began inking to make the sky and hills using three different coloured distress inks in 'Milled Lavender', 'Seedless Preserve' and 'Dusty Concord'.

I coloured the little houses with Promarkers and glitter pens, then added a little extra glitter around the stamp for some more sparkle. The stamped sentiment is from another set from my stash and the border around the edge was stamped using the bottom section of an Inkylicious stamp.

Lots of layering to finish off and some purple adhesive pearls in the corners.

I hope you will come and play along with your own purple creations - remember, it doesn't have to be a card.

Hugz, Jan xx

Myth and Magic

Hello there,

This one was scheduled, as we are enjoying a little sunshine along the East coast (hopefully!) - so I hope it arrives where and when it should! Lol.

We have a new challenge starting over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Caz has chosen the theme of

'MYTH & MAGIC'

Here's what I created for my DT inspiration ...

Now, this is a topic that I love - anything mythical, magical (or fantasy for that matter) - so away I went to see what I could find. I decided to use this gorgeous little dragon image by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff and coloured it with just a graphite pencil, shading it with a paper stump. I have also picked out some tiny areas with colour too, just for highlights. 

It started out as a card, but while I was colouring my daughter came home and popped her head around the craft room door to see what I was up to. 'Ooo, I like that - what's it for?' she asked. I told her it was for my blog 'And then what?' she asked, grinning! Needless to say, it has now turned into a little hanging plaque which will end up in her room (as she also shares my love of the theme)!

I hope you will come and join us over at the challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

No Design Papers

Good morning,

Well, I'm off on my holidays up to the East Coast today - fingers crossed for some nice weather (and yes, I did sneak some crafty stash into my bag too)!

Over at the Alphabet Challenge we are up to the letter 'N' and Helen has chosen the theme of

'NO DESIGN PAPERS'

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

This one was made for a friends birthday - hope she liked it. 

I cut a scalloped circle into a piece of copier paper and used it as a mask to create an area to ink through. Using a Clarity stencil (brick wall) I inked through with three distress inks - Picked Raspberry, Shaded Lilac and Peacock Feathers. Next I stamped the silhouette image (from Stampin' Up Serene Silhouettes) using black archival ink.

I cut the bottom section of the card away and replaced it with a piece that had been passed through an embossing folder, then covered the join with a piece of co-ordinating ribbon. A stamped greeting and a couple of adhesive crystals finish of the card.

Why not pop over to the blog and see what the team created too - hope you can come and play.

Hugz, Jan xx

Time Flies!

Hi there everyone,

I'm back with news of the next challenge over at CARDZ 4 GUYZ and this week Joan chose the theme

'IT'S ABOUT TIME'

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration using one of my embossing folders ...

I began with a piece of plain white cardstock, then added some distress ink in Faded Jeans and Tea Dye using my inkdusters. Next I passed it through an embossing folder to create the clock background. I brushed gently over the top with some Gathered Twigs distress ink, just to highlight the embossing a little, then cut the whole piece into four smaller pieces

The pieces are layered on kraft card and then a background. The little topper is made using an old set of stamps - I cut out the 'Time Flies' part and then stamped and cut out the wings, adding them to the topper before layering it on to some more kraft card. It also has a little metal timepiece embellishment to finish off.

I hope you will join us over at the challenge.

Hugz, Jan xx

Boys Rule!

Good morning,

Well, I'm not liking this rain, that's for sure - where did the sunshine go?

We have a brand new challenge starting today over at FANTASY STAMPERS and for the next two weeks the theme will be

'BOYS RULE!'

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I used up some of my paper scraps on this one, together with 'Scooter Boy' stamped image from LOTV which I coloured with my Promarkers. The sentiment is also LOTV and I added a few die-cut stars to embellish.

Hope you will come and join us with your own male themed projects.

Hugz, Jan xx

A Numbered Birthday

Hi there,

I'm back today with the next challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week it was my turn to choose the theme. So, we would love to see your male themed projects for a

'NUMBERED BIRTHDAY'

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

There were lots of possibilities for this one, but I decided on a child's birthday card using a new set of Kanban stamps which I recently purchased online.

Why not pop over and see what the design team did with the theme - hope you can join in too.

Hugz, Jan xx

Design Team Calls

Happy Sunday,

I hope everyone is having a great weekend and enjoying some sunshine.

I've just popped on this morning to let you all now that we are looking for some new Design Team members at both my challenge blogs, so if you are interested, or know anyone who maybe, check out the links below:

FANTASY STAMPERS - two projects per month

http://fantasystampers.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/design-team-call.html

THE ALPHABET CHALLENGE - one project per month

http://alphabetchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/design-team-call.html

We are a friendly team on both blogs, with some overlap of DT members - so please share this information with your friends for me.

Big hugz, Jan xx

Little Mermaids

Good morning,

I hope everyone has had a good week - today brings me to the end of the third week of my summer break, I can't believe it's already half way through (where does the time go?)

I have some DT inspiration for you today for our next theme over at the Alphabet Challenge and this weeks brings us to the letter 'M'. Caz chose the theme of 'MERMAIDS', so here's what I made using one of my many LOTV stamps ...

This one was made for a work colleague who turns 40 when we return to school in September - that's organised for you! Well, that sure makes a change! Lol.

It is made using a 6"x6" scalloped card blank and the pretty design papers are from the LOTV 'Heartfelt' paper pad. The image is called 'Little Mermaid Friends' and is coloured with my Promarkers and a little added glitter for some sparkle. The sentiment was printed on my pc.

I hope you can come and join us with your own 'Mermaid' creations.

Hugz, Jan xx

A Little Gift Tag

Hi everyone,

I'm back today with the next challenge over at Cardz 4 Guyz and this week Andrea has chosen the theme of

'ORANGE & BROWN'

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

It's a little gift tag which is folded to give a 3D effect, but it doesn't really show in my photo. The stamp is from Woodware and is coloured with my Promarkers. The little greeting banner was printed on my pc and the embellishments are from my stash.

Hugz, Jan xx

Lots of Layers

Good morning,

We have a brand new challenge starting today over at my challenge blog 'FANTASY STAMPERS' and for the next two weeks the theme is

'LOTS OF LAYERS'. 

Here's what I made for my DT inspiration ...

I decided to stay monochromatic, one of my favourite themes, and used up lots of scraps of papers for the layers on this one. It measures 8" x 8" and the main stamped image is from a 'Swalk' set by Crafters Companion' called 'Thinking of You' - she is coloured with my Promarkers. All other embellishments are from my stash.

I hope you can pop over and check out some more fab inspiration from my design team - hope to see you at the challenge with all your own layers.

Have a great weekend,

Hugz, Jan xx