Never Black and White

Morning Friends ad Crafters, Today I am sharing a very simple card with you. Everyone needs a fast card every now and then and this one is just perfect for that. It would make a fantastic Birthday card, Well actually a card for any occasion, just by changing the sentiment to suit. Just adding a splash of colour using a few of the Brusho's.

You will Need:

Craftascope A5 Media Profile Stamp set 2

Craftascope A5 Media Stencil Collection 'Trent'

Basic Rectangle Die

Black Fine Liner (Waterproof)

Copier Paper

White card 7 x 5''

Black Card Base

Archival Black Ink Pad

Pebeo Drawing Gum

Washi Tape

Brusho Yellow, Red, Blue and Violet

Step 1: Cut a rectangle from your copier paper to act as a mask, Keep both Parts.

Step 2: Position your mask over your stamping card, place your stencil over this.

Step 3: Ink through with Archival Black Ink using phat foam or similar.

Step 4: Remove the copier paper and stencil.

Step 5:  Use your fine liner to mark a frame around the image. Use the Archival Ink to stamp your sentiment. Protect the edges of your design with Pebeo Drawing Gum.

Step 6: Use Brusho and a water spritzer to add splashes of colour on your card.

Step 7: When dry remove the drawing gum and mount onto your black card base, leaving a narrow border.

Another thing, here is a 30% off voucher to use on your first order (anything) from Hochanda, use code FEY5JBP7.

As you know I love writing my blog and helping as much as I can, well I would really love for you to add you support by adding me as a favourite blog. All you need to do in that section is choose other and add my blog address nickinbarnsley.blogspot It would be great to get a mention even if I dont come anywhere.

Here is the link to add your support for all of the categories. 

https://www.britishcraftawards.com/

Thank you ever so much for joining me today, I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial along with the finished card. I hope you will pop by again very soon to see what else I have to share with you. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Pop Goes The Teasel.

Morning, Another beautiful day, I always like September here in Bulgaria when the weather turns cooler, it's always so pleasant to be able to have a drink outside without cooking. Today I am sharing a project I made using the wonderful MDF set that Bev from Bee Crafty launched on Hochanda 'Live' from Alexandra Palace. I do hope you managed to get hold of them, they were so popular that they sold out twice during the show.

After coating my card with Acrylic Paint, (here I used Vanilla from Pebeo). I sprinkled purple Brusho's over the surface and dragged over the surface with a painting knife. 

I then decided to add some subtle colour down the mid section, so I sprinkled some Orange Brusho's onto the acrylic paint I had on my mat, placed the card face down onto it to transfer some of the colour.

When this was dry I stamped the 'Teasel' using Royal Purple Versafine. I then used Blue Lagoon to Stamp my sentiment and Birds.

To finish this project I secured it onto my MDF with Cosmic Shimmer glue from Creative Expressions and painted the base with Grandma's Teacup Acrylic paint from Indigo Blu and assembled.

I am so pleased that you have visited today. I hope you have enjoyed me step by step and the finished piece. I hope to see you very soon. Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Dandelion Clock

This is a project I was really excited about so I am really pleased to be sharing it with you today. The base is made from the large 8' circle MDF that Bev from Bee Crafty launched at Alexandra Palace live on Hochanda. I used the dandelion set of stamps, it's a really wonderful set and I am sure I will be using them in a lot of different project, I am sure you will too.

To start with I took a sheet of tissue paper, slightly bigger than the MDF and stamped the dandelion seeds with Versamark to act as a resist. I wanted to get as many layers as possible to add interest to the finished piece.

Having spritzed the tissue thoroughly I sprinkled Brusho's over the surface, I used Emerald Green and Cobalt Blue.

I then saturated the tissue with water to blend and make pools of colour, then put it outside in the sun to dry.

I took my clock stencil and drew around it onto copier paper, cut out and set aside. I would use this later to protect the work, it makes it a lot easier.

Next I mixed some white Gesso with a coupe of teaspoons of plaster, I find this gives a much nicer surface for stamping onto than Gesso on it's own and the results are much nicer. I painted this onto the base and left to dry.

Using Black Versamark, I stamped some of the dandelions and seed heads from the collection onto the MDF base. 

I left this to dry before applying the tissue to the base using Cosmic Shimmer Matt Glue, Seal & Glaze from Creative Expressions. When this had dried overnight, I stamped more dandelions on top using Versamark and embossed with white fine detail powder to add another layer. Next I took some Decoart sand Texture Paste and coloured it using some black Brusho's

I placed my clock stencil in place and then added my copier paper to protect the other areas. Using a painting knife I spread the  Sand Texture Paste onto my project and removed the stencil and paper.

I added my sentiment using Black Versafine and added some Pebeo Gilding wax to the clock and edges.

To finish I added the clock hands and my project was finished.

Thank you for visiting today, I hope you have enjoyed this step by step and like the finished article. Hope to see you again soon. Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Sending Love at Christmas

Morning, Today I want to share a Christmas Card with a twist. I have made this using the stamps and dies that Leonie launched on Hochanda. Please try and watch the shows, if you missed them or just want some more inspiration. They will be available on the Hochanda website via the catch up facility.

I took the wordy background stamp, using Black Archival, I stamped all over a piece of tissue paper.

Next I took a selection of Pixie powders and Brusho to create the background. I used Cobalt Blue Brusho with Silver Dream, White Pearl and Purple Violet Pixie Powders from Creative Expressions. I sprinkled more of the Cobalt Blue Brusho and Purple Violet first and then added smaller bursts of the Silver Dream and White Pearl. I then saturated the tissue paper and left to dry. Where the pools had settle it gives a lovely texture while still allowing the stamped images to show through. I actually used this technique last year to decorate my hallway and it's easily transferable to card making.

Next, using white Centura Pearl card I cut a frame, approximately 6 1/2 x 5'' I was using the  plain side but I know that this card embosses exceptionally well and take the ink nicely too.

I cut a rectangle for the cartouche and sentiment and rubbed an anti static pad over this and the frame. I stamped both using Versamark with Ultra fine silver detail powder. For the frame I used one of the swirly stamps from Leonie's collection.

I took my card and covered it with my backing paper, it is best to overlap this to the back rather than trim as you will get a much neater edge. I wrapped a burgundy satin ribbon around this and secured at the back with red liner tape. I then mounted this onto Silver Mirri Card giving a 1/4'' boarder.

I used one of the strip stamps to create my corner sentiment on each corner of the base card. For this I again used Versamark and the silver embossing powder. I prefer making my own corner sentiments as you dont get any upside down elements.

I blended around the edges of my backing card with Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink to coordinate with the main card.

I then cut out the Entwined Snowflake Base twice using Centura Pearl 'Hint of Silver' and attached to the back of my frame. I secured this to the card using foam tape to lift it from the base.

Finally I added the sentiment, which I had also blended with Blueprint Sketch and backed with Silver Mirri Card. To finish the card I added a matching burgundy satin bow.

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit today. I hope you have enjoyed the step by step I have shared with you and the finished project. Take care and hope to see you tomorrow. Happy Crafting xx

Four Seasons

Morning, Sorry for the missing post on Monday, I am afraid I was under the weather and just couldn't manage to post. Today I wanted to share a colourful card to spread a little cheer. I love this sentiment from Bee Crafty and along with the additional words from the textures stamps from Crafters Companion, I think it says it all.

To start with I cut 4 squares approximately 3 1/4'' using a basic square die. Then with Black Archival Ink I stamped the tree from the 'Tree and Branch' set from Bee Crafty, I stamped part of it on all of the squares, two on the right hand side and two on the left hand side of the squares. Then I stamped the words at the bottom of each of the squares using the same ink.

I then cut out a rectangle,using a basic die approximately 3 1/4 x 2 3/4'', then using Black Archival I stamped the lovely sentiment from Bee Crafty.

Taking each square in turn, I used distress inks to blend colour from dark to light from the edges. I used Mowed Lawn, Scattered Straw, Rusty Hinge and Faded Jeans.

Then I took the sentiment rectangle and blended the colours from the bottom left hand corner, using Scattered Straw about 2 thirds of the way up, then Rusty Hinge and finally Fired Brick. Then from the top right I blended with Blueprint Sketch part way into the Scattered Straw to give the green. I edged the sentiment by stamping part of the tree tops around the edge using Archival black ink.

For the background I took a selection of Brusho's, Cobalt Blue, Prussian Blue, Violet and Ultra Marine. I also added a little Lava Red Pixie Powders from Creative Expressions before spritzing with water. I wanted a spotty ook rather than swathes of colour so was careful not to flood the card.

I layered all of the elements onto black card and secured with Cosmic Shimmer Glue from Creative Expressions.

I also layered the background card onto black and secured with Cosmic Shimmer glue.

I arranged the squares around the corners of my card, leaving a 5 mm gap and used 3D glue gel to secure so I could raise this from the card. I then secured the sentiment in the centre, also using 3D glue gel to lift this from the squares.

I hope you have enjoyed my step by step today and the finished card. Tomorrow will be very exciting s Leonie will be Launching her Brand New One Day Special on Hochanda at 8pm. I will be sharing some of the cards I have made in my preview post tomorrow evening at launch. Would love you to come and see them. Many thanks and take care xx