First flakes of snow

The Gothic Arches theme is snow. I really struggled with this theme - this is my 3rd attempt!

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Stamps: Paper Artsy Petals 6; RSTapestry Love Set; HA Snowflake

Inks: VersaColor Bamboo; Fluid Chalk Maroon; Versamark; DI Peeled Paint

Extras: Image from The Lady's Closet; Seafoam White EP; PP by Basic Grey and Imaginisce

Lady's Closet ATCs

I have made 2 very different atcs today using images from The Lady's Closet.

The first one is for Black Friday celebrations at Vintage Veranda. The challenge was to put an inchie on an atc on a card. The vintage Paper is from an old music book about Bach's St. Matthew's Passion that was in the bin at school. Of course, I had to rescue it and distress it!
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Stamps: Time to Stamp ATC set; Elusive Images ATC set

Inks: DI Dusty Concord, Antique Linen and Old paper; Versamark

Extras: Detail Silver EP; PP by Imaginisce; Image
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The 2nd atc is for the Saturday Workout theme of Mosaics.

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Stamps: Stampers Anonymous Mosaic; Stampington Recommendation

Inks: Fluid Chalk Maroon; Adirondack Lemonade and Meadow; Versafine Onyx Black

Extras: Image

A snowflake is a winter's butterfly

The theme of the Tag You're It challenge is snow is falling. Please click on the photo for a close up.

I wanted to use non-traditional colours for my snowflakes, so made a background out of dabbers, and stamped with white and purple. The butterfly panel uses the 'kissing' technique - I inked up a solid stamp and then pressed the butterfly onto it to remove the ink and leave an impression.

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Stamps: HA snowflakes; ISC All About Me; Anita's Always in my thoughts

Inks: VersaMagic Spring Pansy; VersaColor Heliotrope; Adirondack Dabbers Snow Cap, Lettuce, Juniper and Purple Twilight

Extras: Computer generated text; Sheer ribbon; PM Large Eyelet; Corner Punch

Learning Plainsong

The Art Creations on Friday challenge is to use a given background. I've used an image from Graphic Fairy which I shaded in with distress inks and watercolour pencils. I slightly distressed the edges of the 'parchment'.

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Stamps: Stampington Latin Parchment

Inks: DI Dried Marigold and Peeled Paint; Versafine Black Onyx; Watercolour Pencils; VersaMagic Night Sky

Extras: Prima Flower; Cream Brad; Lace; DCWV blue card; Given background and vintage image

Old Fashioned Santa

Santa is the subject of Theme Thursday's challenge. My image came from An Old Fashioned Christmas. I enjoyed the break from my usual bright colours.

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Stamps: Stampington Christmas Found Elements

Inks: DI Walnut Stain and Fired Brick; Marvy Pens Light Brown, Crimson Lake and Mocha

Extras: PM Domed Sticker; Vintage Image; DCWV Brown Card; PP by K&Co; Red card

Taking the road

The Lots to Do challenge is to use a quote. This gave me the opportunity to play with a colour scheme I have always liked but rarely used.

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Stamps: Paper Artsy B&M 2 and free gift

Inks: Alcohol inks Cranberry, Stonewashed and Pearl Mixative; Versamark; Adirondack Stonewashed ink; Archival Black

Extras: Grungeboard Arrow; Metallic RubOns; Vintage Button; Sheer Ribbon; BB card; Glossy Card; Brayer

Angel Joy

The Created byHand challenge this week is Christmas Music. I think the music in the background is O Come all Ye Faithful, but I haven't got my glasses on, so I could be wrong!

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Stamps: Paper Artsy xmas 1

Inks: DI Tea Dye and Dried Marigold; StazOn Midnight Blue

Extras: Paper Cellar Square Gems; Perfect Pearls Gold; BB card

Double Celebration

Firstly I'm celebrating winning 2 competitions - on Fat Cats Corner using Darkroom Door stamps. I have won more DRD stamps - fab!

I also won some stamps on the ISC site for this tag.

Secondly I'm celebrating reaching 30k hits. Thank you so much for visiting, and leaving me encouraging comments. In honour of this I'm offering up 2 sets of Paper Artsy stamps from the Egg and Nog range for one lucky person who comments on this post. I'll pick one name out of the hat on Wednesday 26th November at 10.00pm British time. Please leave some way of contacting you.

And the winner is: kardkrazy.

Congratulations - your stamps will be on their way this weekend.

Lighting the stable

The Gothic Arches theme this week is celebration. Jesus's birth is a great cause for celebration!

This is a tiny arch.

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Stamps: Paper Artsy Mini 16; Stewart Gill PB1; Studio G celebrate

Inks: Adirondack Lemonade, Lettuce, Meadow, Aqua, Sail Boat Blue and Denim; Versafine Onyx Black; Watercolour pencil in brown; Inkessentials White Gel Pen; Alcohol Ink Gold Mixative

Extras: Grungeboard Star

Lost in memories

I saw a challenge to use this vintage image on a brand new site called Art Creations.
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Stamps: Lakeland Ltd Ornate set; HA Treasure the Moments

Inks: DI Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint and Scattered Straw

Extras: MM Brad; Prima Flower; Vintage Image; DCWV card

Clowning Around

The Saturday Workout theme for this week is split negative. I know this is traditionally done in 2 halves - horizontal or vertical - but this stamp didn't lend itself to that, so I did inside and outside. I also had a particular person in mind for this card, which is why I wanted to use the stamp. In real life this is more red than pink.

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Stamps: Paper Artsy Pierrot 1

Inks: Archival Black; Versamark; Adirondack Cranberry, Red Pepper, Rust and Butterscotch

Extras: PM large eyelet; Glossy card; Black Paper; MM ribbon

Tim Holtz stamps swap

This is the atc that I made for a swap Sarah Schwerin at Inkurable stampers was hosting in October. I have now received the swaps, and am thrilled with them. I love the way Tim's stamps are so versatile.

In reading order the atcs are by (me), Damaris (USA), Katrina Thomson (Aus), Gail Smith (Aus), Marnie Didlick, Elizabeth, Genevieve Payne, Sarah Schwerin (host) and Rhiannon Riddell
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Stamps: Tim Holtz Nature's Moments


Inks: StazOn Saddle Brown; DI Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Tea Dye and Aged Mahogany; DI refill Antique Linen


Extras: Paper Cellar gems; Perfect pearls Bronze

Fly butterfly, fly

The Tag you're it challenge is to base the tag on a given sketch, and the ISC challenge is to use crackle paint.

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Stamps: ISC All About Me

Inks: DI Aged Mahogany; Marvy Pens Pale Yellow, Pale Brown, Coral Pink and Pastel Peach; Crackle Paint in Aged Mahogany

Extras: PP by Basic Grey and Scenic Route; Grungeboard letters; Clear EP; PM large eyelet

When they saw the star...

The created byHand challenge is to make a Christmas tag. Here's my very sparkly one.
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Stamps : Elusive Images Gold Frankincense and Myrrh

Inks: Adirondack Latte and Stream; H2Os in Gold Dust, Autumn Skies and Chestnut Brown; Versamark; DI Tea Dye

Extras: Perfect Pearls Gold; Detail White EP; Grungeboard Star; Copper wire; Sheer Ribbon

life's treasures

The Gothic Arches theme this week is silhouettes. The image came from Karen's Whimsy, where there are several silhouette images. I was tempted to add more to the arch, but decided that less was more.
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Stamps: ISC All About Me

Inks: Archival Black; Alcohol Inks Lettuce, Bottle, Stonewashed and Pearl Mixative

Extras: Image from Internet; Prima Flowers; Black Brad; Glossy Card

Soaring wings

The Saturday Workout challenge this week is thread impressions. We had to wrap threads around the background paper and cover with ink and/or glimmer mists. Then remove the threads. The thread I used left a feathery impression which suggested the theme for the card.

I realised that the Simply Skinnies theme this week is air travel, so I've combined the two. The same thread was used as an embellishment, and you can see it was the basis of my colour scheme.
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Stamps: Time to Stamp For the Birds; Paper Artsy Wings 2

Inks: DI Fired Brick and Tea Dye; DI Refill Tea Dye; Adirondack Slate

Extras: Knitting Fibre; Perfect Pearls Gold

Grungeboard Sketchbook

The Awfully Big Art Adventure theme this week is a collection of inchies. To this I've added a challenge on the Innovative Stamp Creations blog to make a mini notebook using grungeboard as the cover.
I wanted to create a bleached out effect with the background, so blended the dabbers with my fingers.

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Stamps: ISC All About Me

Inks: Adirondack Dabbers Lemonade, Snow Cap and Lettuce; Adirondack Inks Bottle and Caramel; Marvy pen Bottle

Extras: BIA; Plain Grungeboard

Red and green

These are the colours for the Tag you're it challenge. It's a shame you can't see the glimmer!

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Stamps: Stampington xmas found elements; Elusive Images 3 Wise Men

Inks: DI Aged Mahogany, Fired Brick, Peeled Paint, Black Soot and Pine Needles; Versafine Onyx Black; Alcohol ink Gold Mixative

Extras: Grungeboard Star; HOTP Red Ribbon; PM brads and eyelet; Perfect pearls gold; Copper Wire

Blue Bird

The Theme Thursday challenge for this week is birds.

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Stamps: Time to Stamp For the Birds; BLine Design Botanical Fern

Inks: Ecoline Pastel Blue, Turquoise Blue and Light Green; Versafine Onyx Black; VersaColor Cyan

Extras: Prima Flower; Turquoise Brad

Boys of the Light Brigade

The Created byHand theme this week is alcohol inks. I have continued my tribute to those who died in the process of serving their country in honour of Remembrance Day.

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Stamps: Stampers Anonymous background and Flourish; Paper Artsy At Home 5

Inks: Alcohol Inks Denim, Stonewashed, Eggplant and Pearl Mixative; Versamark; Archival Black

Extras: Detail Silver EP; Glossy card; Prima Flower; Silver Brad; Black Paper

We will Remember

Today is Remembrance Sunday in the UK. A day when we commerorate those who have died in service to their country. To anyone whose parent/child/relative/friend is currently serving their country I dedicate this card to them, grateful for their willingness to give.

The Gothic Arch theme is buttons and the Lots to Do theme is remembrance.

The Fimo Buttons were an RAK from SammieJay

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Stamps: HA A Real Poppy and Fanciful Leaf Filament; Paper Artsy One Penny 2

Inks: VersaColor Rose Red, Old Rose, Topaz and Raspberry; H2Os in Garnet and Pink Arthurian; Marvy Pens Jade Green, Crimson Lake and Plum; Fluid Chalk Maroon; DI Walnut Stain; Brilliance Moonlight White

Extras: Fimo Buttons; DarkRoom Door Wordstrip Venetian; Waterbrush; Letraset RubOns

Hearth and Home

This is the title of this week's Simply Skinny challenge. I haven't been to look at the other contributions, but I'm sure this stamp will be featured quite a bit, as the quote fits perfectly.
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Stamps: Paper Artsy Silk 1

Inks: Adirondack Cranberry, Lemonade, Butterscotch, Ginger, Sail Boat Blue, and Denim; Archival Black; green watercolour pencil

Extras: Perfect Pearls Gold; Waterbrush

Musical imprint

I have to confess that I borrowed the idea for this card from A Stampington Inspirations magazine. I would never have thought of embossing a CD myself. The DarkRoom Door stamps lent themselves to the layout perfectly, which is very close in design to the original.


I sanded and coloured the CD with black pigment ink. Then I triple embossed the CD with Amazing Glaze, and double embossed with Black EP, pressing the black inked Music stamp into the melted powder while it was still hot. When it dried I rubbed gold metallic Rubons into the impression, and blue and copper around the edges. I sealed it all with hairspray.

From side on this has quite a sheen, as the silver card and gold embossing reflect the light too. I found this all to be quite heavy so the fold is at the top.


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Stamps: DarkRoom Door Melody and Harmony

Inks: Archival and Pigment Black; Versamark; Brilliance Platinum Planet

Extras: Metallic RubOns; old CD; black abd white paper; Silver card; Amazing Glaze; Gold and Black detail EP; Hairspray

Angelic Praise

I am so disappointed with the photo of this card. No matter what I did with the camera I couldn't get the colours close enough to the original card. I couldn't scan it as the bottle top might have scratched the surface of the scanner. Never mind! Click to enlarge for more detail.

The Saturday Workout challenge is antique paper, and I have based it on a Christmas theme with the addition of a bottle cap and beads (which I placed in the bottle cap) for Inkurable Stampers.

The music/words paper is from a really old music book that was in the bin at school, so I 'rescued' it! I then aged it more with distressing inks, spritzed on a craft mat.---

Stamps: Stampington Angelic Host and Latin Parchment

Inks: DI Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Old Paper and Antique Linen; Archival Black; Watercolour pencils

Extras: Diamond Glaze; Vintage paper; Bottle top; BB purple card; pale yellow beads

Birthday card

This is for the Theme Thursday challenge to use the words happy or happiness. I used a metal embellishment, which I pressed into Archival black. I think I shall go and punch the outer corners too, now that I've seen it on the screen.

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Stamps: Elusive Images 3 Wise Men; HA Happy Birthday Message

Inks: DI Spiced Marmalade and Vintage Photo; Archival Black; DI Refill Tea Dye; Versamark

Extras: Perfect pearls Bronze; Clear EP; PM Metal flower; Orange Brad; Corner Punch; Sheer Ribbon

Tic Toc

The Tag You're it challenge this week is to use timepieces or clocks. I clear embossed the clocks before sponging the inks on, and coloured the photo corners black.
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Stamps: Elusive Images Scripts and Timepieces; Paper Artsy SchoolDays 1; Clarity Stamps Quote

Inks: Adirondack inks and Color wash Sprays in Wild Plum and Denim; Archival Black; Versamark; Marvy Pen Black;

Extras: MM eyelet; Black ribbon; Paper Photo corners

Guitar Rhythm and Blues

The Created byHand challenge is Black and Brown. Here's my atc.

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Stamps: DarkRoom Door Venice

Inks: Archival Black; DI Vintage Photo and Black Soot

Extras: Clear EP; Black Ribbon; PP by Basic Grey and Debbie Mumm; DarkRoom Door Music Filmstrip and Wordstrip

Live out loud

This is my contribution for the Lots to Do challenge using only black and white. It gives me the chance to use one of the photochips Rachel Greig sent me as a thank you for being guest designer for DarkRoom Door.
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Stamps: Darkroom Door Harmony

Inks: Archival Black

Extras: Darkroom Door Music Collection Photo Chip and Wordstrip; MM ribbon; PM sparkly brads; black and white paper

Two friends

The Gothic Arches theme for this week is vintage children. I stamped the image of the children onto some tissue paper so that they would be a little lighter than the background.

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Stamp: Crafty Individuals 147 and 84; SugarLump Studios; Invoke Arts Backgrounds; ISC All About Me

Inks: DI Shabby Shutters, Broken China and Pine Needles; Marvy Pens Bottle Green and Black; Archival Black

Extras: Tissue Paper; Vellum Glue

Simplicity

I went everywhere today to get waxed paper for the Saturday Workout challenge. In the end I managed to find little discs in a jam pot pack. I then cut squares out. I would really like to try this technique again.

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Stamps: Time to Stamp Leo's Plate; HA Fantastic Flourishes

Inks: Adirondack Wildflower, Bottle, Meadow and Stonewashed; Versamark

Extras: Prima flowers; PM Buttons