A couple of challenges x

Over on Keep it simple this week we are challenged to make a card using a swirl -this gorgeous Stampin up swirl immediately came to mind although I do have a number of swirl stamps. I decided to stick with Christmas again so embossed the swirl on green in gold then added the glass patties pretties. Ive used a small happy holidays greeting stamp with is a cling stamp but is not with its set so dont know who makes it.

and on Tag You're it the challenge is in the fairy garden - well who can resist Lavinia fairy stamps. These were a subscription offer with Craft Stamper and although I know my playing is nothing like Tracey Duttons I am improving each time I play. I have teamed the stamps with distress inks for the background applied with a shaving brush. I have had many questions about using brushes so will give a quick run down on my method.

I bought my brushes from Boyes (technically my pals Georgina and Bee picked them up for me) They are ordinary shaving brushes and cost 99p each. I have seen colour dusters made by Judikins on sale at Joanna Sheen and these are made for the job but are smaller.

I trimmed the ends of the brushes and have a brush for each colour - orange, red, green etc. After use I clean them on a babywipe and this stops the different shades from contaminating each other. I use them with all my dye ink pads adirondack, distress and stampin up using the same brushes for all the inks.

I swish the brush on the ink pad in a motion as if I was lathering soap for about 10sec then transfer it to the paper using the same motion. At first the colour can be quite pale so build up the layers of ink until you are happy with the colour.This can give a similar soft look like it has been brayered but it much easier and faster to achieve. You can use paper or other masking techniques just as with brayering and get very similar and quite instant results without much practice. * update - Graphicus have some fab brushes for the same price in packs of 6 and 10*

Hope that description helps a little :0)

So do hop on over to Keep it Simple to see some gorgeous swirls and Tag You're it for some lovely fairy tags

I am off to Harrogate show for a whistle stop visit to meet up with my lovely docraft friends Bobs, Cazro, Horners corner and Ribbon lady so have my little gifts ready and a few atcs to swap. I hope I am not tempted too much as there is definately too much month at the end of the money with going back to Uni and school stuff to buy! We may be on beans for the rest of September!

Hope you have a fun packed day ahead too!

The Stamp man Challenge - Distress!

You may remember back in August I made a wedding card for a couple getting married at Gretna Green - well apparantly the card was picked out at the reception to show people!The originalcard can be seen here just scroll down a little! As a result I was then asked to make a card to hold a cd with the wedding photos on it. So this is what I did.
The card is a 6inch square card - I have used the Scottish wishes set from woodware for all the stamping - I love that pine cone stamp! As woodware is based in Skipton The stamp man can get most of whats in stock quite quickly so do bear that in mind about woodware products.
For the distress bit I have smudged the edges using peeled paint distress ink which I think works really well.

Inside I left a black space for them to add a computer generated greeting - the paper behind the black is actually what was left from the original card!
My team mates have made some stunning distress cards for this weeks challenge so do stop by and see them here

Have a great Friday!

Tuesday Taggers - based on a book

Hot on the heels of her last challenge Michelle has chosen again this week this time a theme of books. The hardest part of this challenge is which book to choose - so many have influenced my life and continue to do so. In the end I have chosen a book I have read many times and my daughter is named after the heroine in the book.

The book is called the Thornbirds and is written by Colleen McCollough an Australian novelist. A short summary of the book can be found here

though I bet many of you remember the short series made from the book starring Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward. The main female character is called Meghann and this is exactly where the spelling came from for my daughters name - I just left off an N. Because of reading this book I believed that this was how to spell Meghan however I now know that the way it is spelt in the book is an Irish spelling and the way I have spelt it is a Welsh spelling - complicated for a Yorkshire lass!

Anyway the tag was easy to do having this gorgeous bird on a thorny branch by Tim Holtz in my collection! The distress inks have been applied using a brush - Ive used a crackle stamp in the background also by Mr Holtz. The follow your heart stamp has no brand on it but is a wood mounted one and I thought it described what Meghann did in the book - she followed her heart no matter what the pain was to do it.

So whats on your book shelf to inspire you? Hop on over to Tuesday Taggers where my team mates have some fabulous literary projects to share with you!

A challenge or two

Time for a new Tag swap over on Tag You're it! This time our lovely Teamie Sam, has chosen the theme of Autumn Gold. I have been dying to use this gorgeous pear stamp from The Stampman which I have embossed in gold. The leaf stamp is a freebie from ages ago off a magazine and the cute squirrel is by Sugar Nellie. The card stock is stampin up with some gold paper from Kanban to matt it.
The Tag You're it swap is a fab way to get inspiration from fellow crafters and we are also looking for Guest designers to support our challenge every week so do hop on over and take a look here.

The next one is of course the wonderful Keep it Simple challenge which this week is "take a leaf". I tried every which way to just use these ivy leaves but they just didnt look right so I added the flower too. Sentiment by Anitas, December calendar by Tim Holtz.

We have a new addition to our wonderful team this week which is Cazro - So glad she has decided to play along with us as I admire her crafting so much. Check out the KIS blog here.

A very special wedding

Today I am at a very special wedding of two very dear people - Liam and Felicity. Both have Downs Syndrome and have pledged their love and commitment to each other in a most beautiful ceremony. Liam is the son of my special friend Midnight Crafter and she and Felicitys Mum have been busy supporting their Son and Daughter to have what most of us take for granted. I know Liam quite well, his devotion to Felicity is evident every time he looks at her and speaks about her - she is one lucky lady having the love of such a committed young man. The wedding is in the centre of Harrogate and their reception at the world famous Betty's of Harrogate. They are to live in a garden mews built in the grounds of Felicitys parents home where they can be supported if needed but live as man and wife and make decisions for their lives together.

This is the card I made - I didn't want it frilly or fussy so practised the Keep it Simple look! It did take under 30 minutes to complete and yep there is a peel off!

I think Liam and Felicitys parents have done a wonderful job raising such independant adults - if only the rest of the world was as willing to give people with learning disabilities the right to make their own choices in life. - I raise my glass to them - Have a wonderful life together Liam and Felicity - Give yourselves a huge pat on the back Michelle, David and Sarah - today is a very special one and you made it happen xx

The Look - Stampman ATC swap September

Inspired by the freebie stamp designed by Tracey Coates the September Stampman swap is called "The Look". You can interpret the theme anyway you wish so even if you dont have the stamp you can still play along.
I've used distress inks for the initial background and then inked further through some sequin waste. The eyes stamp was stamped in black archival then I have waterbrushed the whites of the eyes before colouring them with a marker and adding some twinkly highlights.
The flower stamp was another CS freebie a few months ago. Ive added a ribbon tie and a brad before mounting the whole thing on black atc sized card.
Its a really fun stamp to play with and is still available at The Stampman if you are quick you could still get a copy!
Do stop by The Stampmans atc blog the design team have made some stunners for this months theme.
Have a great day!

Tuesday Taggers - Ours is a nice house ours is!

This must be a line from a song as I remember my mum singing it to us when we were young! Over on TT its my turn to choose so here is my theme "Houses"

Now honestly I didnt mean to go all Christmassy again but when rooting through my stamps (I really must have a stamp cull soon) I found this Lily of the Valley one just begging to be shown the light of day!

So here is my house - a bird house - coloured with promarkers, flower soft snow and the pine branch is a Tim Holtz one. Sorry picture is a bit wonky - Ive only just noticed that one!

This week we are sponsored by The Craft Barn so one lucky Tuesday Tagger will have £15 to spend this time next week! Will it be you we ask ourselves????? Hope on over to The Tuesday Taggers blog to check out my team mates and find out more :0)