the next level 3

This is my entry for the latest challenge on 'the next level', where we had a sketch to work from, and a template for the arch shape - it had to include a tag as well. The base is pearlescent blue card, with the pocket printed from the Artylicious 'seasons greetings' cd. Image is a Graphicus Guild stamp stamped in distress faded denim inks, and coloured with a waterbrush and faded denim, also a few dots of ink from a marvy blending pad. Matting onto a glimmer-misted bit of cuttlebugged card - done so long ago that I have no idea what colours of gm's were used. The flowers from the Elusive Images poppy butterfly plate were stamped using the same paper and ink; the distress ink was used to colour the tag - both the tag and the flowers were then painted with a pale blue mica powder to give a bit of sparkle . Ribbon was originally white, treated with the same distress ink.

blog candy alert

there is some gorgeous stuff up for grabs on the Elusive Images blog - check it out quickly! Bit different system this time, so good luck - just remember that I NEED the trees!!

the next level 2

This weeks challenge on 'the next level' is to use a ribbon border to frame the image - this is my effort. I had to use a knife to cut the ribbon corner slots, which accounts for the quirky effect - would love to say this was deliberate, but it wasn't!

The stamp is from the Elusive Images flora and fauna plate, stamped with black versafine and clear embossed, then coloured with inktense watercolour pencils. After adding the ribbon, it was matted onto paper from the Artylicious peacock summer party cd, then on red mirri board and green base card.

the next level

There is a new challenge blog called http://thenextlevelchallenge.blogspot.com- it is a completely different format, more like an online magazine than your usual blog, with some interesting tips. the first challenge was to do a card with an aperture and lollipop flowers (tutorial included). The flowers are fiddly, and take some time to make, but could easily become addictive!

This is my attempt, using Tim Holtz and Elusive Images stamps and lots of glimmer mists.

The card was sprayed lightly with blue and green glimmers, then the foliage from the Elusive Images wild meadow and hedgerow plates was stamped in a mix of distress weathered wood and blue jeans inks, marvy blending ink in reds and finally versafine black for the big spray - the mini flowers were dotted with inksessentials white pen. The bird from the Tim Holtz urban tapestry set was stamped with versafine black and clear embossed on the inside of the card. the white patches on the bird were masked out before Glimmer mists were sprayed through a circular mask in gold, starfish and midnight to try to give the effect of sunrise.

The flowers were made from bits of leftover background papers sprayed with candy apple red in the hope that they would look like poppies - didn't quite work, but not too far off for a first try.

graphicus challenge

The themes for June on the Graphicus challenge are exotic and hot pink and orange. I had just finished clearing up some collapsed stash (courtesy of mountaineering cat!) - among the heap was a pile of alcohol-inked cards, 2 of which just happened to be pink and orange! I had been meaning to play with the flowers on the EI butterfly poppy plate for ages, never got around to it, so made 2 ATC's - I don't normally do these either, but it was a quick way of finding out which way I liked the petals curved. Background also from butterfly poppy plate, stamped in distress concord ink - the flowers are brilliance black

These may not be exotic, but definitely pink and orange!

Apologies for the photos -bottom one is more the true colours.

black & white challenge

Another challenge from Rainbow Lady - this time black & white with a silhouette. I suppose I'm cheating a bit, as this includes quite a bit of grey.....

All the stamps are from the Tim Holtz Urban tapestry set. The big foliage corner was stamped in Versamark on white pearlescent card and clear embossed, then the card was sprayed with black gold glimmer mist - I left it a bit too long before wiping clean, and the image went a delicate shade of grey - so i restamped the same image in opposite corners and embossed in detail white this time. The bird image was embossed with both detail black and detail white. Matting is on glossy black and sparkle white, then on to a very dark grey pearlescent card.

cat and poppy

This was inspired by last weeks Rainbow Lady challenge, eyes.- I never got around to doing it last week! I have been searching through my collection for cat stamps to make cards for my local cat rescue centre at the moment. I coloured the Stampenndous stamp with markers - the backing papers are from the Jayne Netley Mayhew cd from Joanna Sheen. I did make this the 4x4 size requested just to see how it worked - the Venture Farm version will end up bigger .

The second card uses the same technique of colouring the stamp - from the Elusive Images Butterfly Poppy plate - with markers. Stamped onto white card, then the colour was spread over the background wioth a water brush - I did have to add some extra colour in a couple of places, but it was surprising how far the colour will spread. The scrolls stamped onto the corners of the base card are embossed in mint sparkle EP, although they don't show up very well in the scan, and the scroll is from the EI Butterfly daisy plate