Monthly Archives: November 2011

Art journal week39: Extravagant

art journal, extravagant, uk stampers challenge
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Week 39 of the ukstampers weekly challenges is all about Extravagance:

  • would you say you were extravagant?
  • what is your biggest expense?
  • use something extravagant on your page

I would say that I am not extravagant although I am drawn to pretty things and would love to enhance my home with beautiful furnishings, I think I am just a bit too practical and most items have to be useful.  My biggest expenses have been the house and furniture but having said that we have had the same furniture now for 20 years and most of it will last another 20 years so it has been money well spent.
I made the whole page extravagant but the most extravagant thing on it has to be the Paua (abalone?) shell inlay.

Inks:  Versamark ink with silver embossing powder
Card:  Black card, pearl and pink vellum
Stamp:  Inkadinkado Morphic bugs
Other:  Beadazzles Electric slide, TuTu and Disco ball, Cosmic shimmer Aqua lagoon, Stickles Pink, H2Os Cherry sorbet, Black orchid and Sky blue, Paua shell inlay, Diamond glaze, gems

Retirement card for a Physiotherapist

card, retirement card

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I used the same image for Joan’s card and  gift label.  I have kept it fairly simple as I didn’t think Joan would particularly like  a fussy, grungy or over-embellished style.
Although I have called it a retirement card I haven’t slapped the word ‘retirement’ over the front as I like it just how it is.

Ink:  Stampin up Soft suede
Card:  ivory card, brown card
Stamp:  Stampin up Sanded background
Other:  anatomical image from riandesign

Black and white birthday card: cooking

birthday card, black and white, card, cooking

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I love this image of a woman baking a steaming hot pie and it was just right for Grace to go along with the cook book for her birthday.
Hope you had a fab birthday Grace!

Inks:  Distress ink Black soot, Memento Tuxedo black
Card:  white card, black card
Stamp:  Stampin up Polka dot background
Other:  Image from Karen’s whimsy , Black velvet ribbon, black button, black nail heads, white silk flower, glitter pen, Plastic doily used as a stencil

Tiny knitted Santa hats

Bethany trust, knitting, tiny santa hats
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I have recently started learning to knit and crochet and so far I have only made a few granny squares, flowers and started knitting a jumper.  The Bethany Trust have been looking for people to knit some tiny hats, socks and Christmas puddings and they looked like they would be simple to do so I thought I would have a go at these.  I had to learn how to cable cast and how to use double pointed needles to knit in the round (a big thank you to Chris who kindly gave me some instruction on Saturday).  Knitting with that white fluffy wool was a nightmare but after a few practice shots I did finish 3 tiny hats.  They are only about 7cm high and a really cute.  I did add an extra couple of rows in one of them as I couldn’t remember which row I had just completed.
The Bethany Trust, just knit for charity.

Art journal week35: Sayings

art journal, sayings
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I am way behind again with these challenge pages but hopefully I will catch up soon.  I have been plagued with neck, shoulder and jaw pain these last few weeks so I have been trying to do very little and only making the odd card or two.  Anyhooooo here is my page about week 35 of the ukstampers challenge and the prompt is Saying:

  • do you have any sayings that are particular to you or your family?
  • did anyone have a catch phrase?
  • use a speach bubble and some text paper on your page.

The two that spring to mind immediately are; ‘just do it – then it’s done’ which is a favourite one of mine and,  ‘it’s not 100% but it will do’  is one I hear all the time from my other half who tends to fix things using cable ties.

Paint:  acrylic brown, ballet pink, antique white and pistachio
Inks:  Stazon Black, Stampin up Regal rose
Card:  patterned paper with text on it, water colour paper
Stamps:  Dylusions Around the edge, dragonfly (unknown)
Other:  inktense pencils, clear page pebbles, gems black pen, circle punches and a small balloon punch to make the petals

Zentangle card for dad

card, doodles, zentangle

dadZentangleSml

When we had friends up a week or so ago we were all having a go at zentangle and I have been trying to get my dad interested in it too so I promised him a zentangle card for his birthday.  Now zentangle can look a bit complicated but I have kept this one quite simple and it really is easy to do.
I used the computer to print out the word DAD using Davida Bd BT font then doodled in and around that.

Card:  white
Ink:  black pens, charcoal pencil

Tag card for mum

card, tag, tags

artTagMum2011sml

For those of you who read the Craft Stamper mag you will recognise this immediately.  I have used Helen Chilten’s article in the Craft stamper Nov. 2011 issue.   I did vary a  few of the stamps and as I didn’t have pearls I used little glass beads instead.
The top tag has an image of a woman painting and a caption up the left side saying ‘the art of painting’ which is appropriate for my mum as she is a very good artist.
You maybe can’t tell from my photo but the top tag has a portion cut away and the tag is then layered onto another with 3D pads.  Mine is not quite as 3D as Helen’s. I added another shabby tag with ribbon so it would still open like a greetings card.

Card:  Crafty individuals Tags Landscape and Shabby
Inks:  Distress inks Faded jeans, Victorian velvet, Shabby shutters, Aged mahogany, Peeled paint, Milled lavender and Stormy sky
Stamps:  Crafty individuals 207, monogram D (unknown), The Artistic Stamper Ephemera
Other:  wire, blue beads, button, ribbon