Monday, October 31, 2016

First play with Illustrator by Spectrum Noir

Hi!
Limited play time today but I have managed to give my new pens a first try out!
I used a Christmas image from Stampingbella called "Rudolph with a present on top".. lots of fine detail plus a lot of browns .. and I have to say I'm loving my new pens!   Need more practice but really pleased with this as a start!




Friday, October 28, 2016

Illustrator by Spectrum Noir

Oh I am sooooo excited!  Courier delivery today was all 96 of the brand new launch from Spectrum Noir - their new artist quality alcohol markers - "Illustrator".  A wee bit expensive to get the full range in one go but I deserved a treat!


Not had a chance to play yet but have had a little scribble and have sorted them into their colour families and initial impressions are very good!  They blend very well and they are easy to hold.


A brilliant range of colours - probably edging slightly more towards the lighter shades.. but that's not a problem as these will compliment my Copics and ProMarkers.  I think I might be tipping 500 now (ooops!), and that's not counting water based pens etc. 

Time to play this weekend - and a whole extra hour on Sunday!!

Have a lovely weekend!

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Autumn gold

Hi!   Taking some inspiration from the colours of autumn for this next card and trying out some different techniques with some old and new stash!

Starting off with some Infusions coloured stains - a mix of 5 colours which I thought were kind of autumnal.  I used a make up sponge to spread a glazing medium over some mixed media cardstock (250gsm). Then dried it with a heat gun. 


I then spritzed with water and sprinkled the stains randomly.  Spritzed again and then used the heat gun to dry and move the colours.
This is before the heat gun..



I then used Tim Holtz Thinlits "Garden Greens" to cut some leaves from the random colours.
Then I found this lurking at the back of a drawer.. Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes.  So out with the 2-way glue and some dabbing of the flakes with a hard paintbrush around the edge to give a gold frame.


Here's the end result. 


And a close up of the leaves.  I love the randomness you can get with the stains and the walnut in each is so earthy.


I'm going to enter this card in the following challenges:


Diagonal Gatefold

Hi!

Thought I would share a really different card fold that I found on YouTube by the wonderful Dawn Griffith (Dawn's Stamping Thoughts).  It's a really easy make and the end result is just that little bit different and quirky!

Not claiming this design as my own. Check out Dawn's instructional video here.  There's loads of great ideas on her blog!

The only problem I can see with this card is.. how to photograph it (as you will see from my very poor attempt!)

Have a lovely day!


Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Celebrate.. with Bella and Friends

Hi,  been playing with a new die from Neat and Tangled - Celebrate - the die set comes with the word and the shadow which is great fun to play with!  This was just a quick card so I kept it simple with an image from Stampin' Up! Bella and Friends.  Stamped in Stazon the coloured with Stampin' Up! inks and a blender pen.


I'm going to enter this card in the following challenges:


What to call this post?

Hi! I really don't know what to call this post.  I was thinking about AWOL, or Can't See The Wood for the Trees.. and the reason?  Well, I've been a little bit light on the posting front, and on the creative front for that matter!   I have kept up with my DT cards but that's about all.  The reason is simple.. two things.. work and holidays!  It's been a very busy month and the October holiday was much needed.   It was all about relaxing in a wee bit of luxury.  Defining luxury for this holiday was all about space, peace and quiet, a view to die for and some family time. Nothing better.  And where?  Well, somewhere not too far away (6hrs) but it felt like half way round the world.  The Hebridean island of Skye.

Here's a wee snapshot...

Quite happy to pose for the photo!!


The Old Man of Storr (taken from Portree)

Sunset view across Loch Snizort, from the cottage.  Set off perfectly with a lovely glass of Talisker Skye and the fresh pine smell from the log fire. 

The holiday didn't end there though, we went to see Nickelback (again!!) at the Glasgow SSE Hydro last night.  Amazing!

And now that we are back to reality I thought it was time to clear away all the recent makes..










Now, time to play with the new stuff!

Have a lovely week!



Friday, October 21, 2016

Crafting With Friends New Challenge!

Hi! It's challenge time again at Crafting With Friends.

I've been lucky enough to have this gorgeous digi from Moonflower to play with!  She's called Sakura Maiden.  I've coloured her using Copics and kept the embellishment on the card quite simple as there is so much lovely detail on the image!

Why not pop on over and join in the challenge!

Sunday, October 16, 2016

It's Challenge Time At Lil Patch of Crafty Friends!

Hello!

Well here we are in mid October already and time for a new "Anything Goes" challenge over at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends.

It's Design Team B's turn for an outing and I was lucky enough to have a lovely digi from Fabrika Fantasy to play with. It's called Winter Games.  I used the .png file this time so I could lay the image over some patterned paper - not something I usually do.  Then coloured with Copics and added some sparkle.


Why not pop over to the challenge blog and get involved!  We have fantastic sponsors and great prizes!




Monday, October 3, 2016

Some watercolouring

Hello! Another Monday already!  The weather's getting colder.. I've given in and put the heating on.
There's not been much crafty time for the last few weeks. But I have managed to tidy up the craft room (a bit!)

I thought I would have a bit of a play with the watercolours today.. and the most amazing stamps from Kim Dellow.