New Beginning

Morning everyone, Today I have a mini 'How To' and a couple of extras, all done with the Spectrum Noir Metallic Markers. The markers are great for using on Black or Darker card, Saying that I have also used them to great effect on white card as well.

You will Need:

Spectrum Noir Metallic Markers 'Antique Elements'

A little bit Magical by Sheena 'From the Ashes'

Black Card

Antic Static Bag

Versamark Ink Pad

Precious Metals Centura Pearl

Clear Embossing Powder

Step 1: Wipe over your card with an anti static bag.

Step 2: Stamp and Emboss your design and sentiment

Step 3: Colour your design, Here I have used Aged Copper 

Step 4: Use the flames from the same stamp set to edge your card, emboss this and colour using Aged Copper and Rose Gold.

Step 5: Mount your card onto Precious Metals Centura Pearl, then onto your black base card.

Here are a couple more cards using the metallic markers to stamp with rather than colour in.

Thank you so much for joining me today. I do hope you enjoyed the 'How to' along with the finished card and the extra cards. Another thing, here is a 30% off voucher to use on your first order (anything) from Hochanda, use code FEY5JBP7.


I hope you will pop by again to see what else I have to share with you. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx

Butterfly

Morning Friends and Crafters, I am sharing one of the cards I made for the launch of the Spectrum Noir Metallic Markers on Hochanda. I have kept the card fairly simple using the markers to colour the butterfly. Just take a look at just how well the markers stamp, I used them to stamp the sentiment.

You Will Need:

Spectrum Noir Metallic Markers (Antique Elements)

A Butterfly From the Sheena Collection

Sentiment from 'A little Bit Scenic' ''Flying Colours'

Dandelion Stamp

Black and White Embossing Powder

Anti Static Bag

Versamark Ink Pad

White Gesso

Centura Pearl Purple (Darks Collection)

Black Card Base

Black Card

Step 1: Wipe over your card with an Anti Static Bag.

Step 2: Stamp the butterfly and the dandelion clock with Versamark ink. Cover the Butterfly with Black Powder and the dandelion with the White. Then heat to melt the embossing powder.

Step 3: Colour the Butterfly with Antique Pearl and Vintage Satin Metallic Markers.

Step 4: Mask the butterfly, Then add a very small amount of water to some white Gesso, add quite a lot of fine white splats, I find the easiest way is to use a fan brush.

Step 5: Mount a piece of the purple Centura Pearl onto your Black Card Base, Stamp your sentiment onto a piece of black card with the Rose Gold Metallic Marker, mount onto a piece of purple.

Step 6; Secure your finished image to the base using Tacky glue.

Step 7: Add your layered sentiment onto the card with 3D Glue Gel.

Here is the finished card: Another thing, here is a 30% off voucher to use on your first order from Hochanda, use code FEY5JBP7.

Thank you ever so much for joining me again today, it's been great having the company. I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial along with the finished card. Please do pop by again very soon as I always have something to share with you. For now Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx

Oriental Parchment

Hi Everyone, This morning I am sharing one of the samples I made for the launch of the Kinetic Cards by Crafters Companion. This one is the Circle Pop Out base, the shows should still be available on 'Rewind' via the Hochanda website.

To start with, I cut some heavyweight parchment, large enough for me to secure behind the outer frame once I had cut it. I then used the stamps from Sheena's Oriental collection to create my design on the parchment using white Stayzon ink. After the white work was compete I coloured the images using Spectrum Noir pencils.

Next using ll of the base dies, I cut the thin frame twice so I could sandwich the parchment between them.

I then cut the 'Sending my Love' sentiment in black and to create the layer I cut some Ivory Centura Pearl covered with a Wonder Sheet with the circle die. I stuck the sentiment in place and then covered the remainder of the sheet with AB glitter. As I had cut so much weight away by removing the centre I stuck a penny behind the sentiment panel so the card would easily stand.

I wrapped a narrow length of pink satin ribbon around the centre and added the sentiment which also covered the ribbon join and inserted the parchment, sandwiched between the black frame.

Thank you ever so much for taking the time to visit today. I do hope that you have enjoyed the step by step and the finished card. If you do enjoy reading my blog and the things I share then I would love your nomination for best blog in the International Craft Awards, the link is here:
http://www.craftsbeautiful.com/awards/

Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

It all kicks off this morning at 10 AM

Morning everyone, Well it's all kicking off this morning at 10 am on Hochanda. The kinetic cards are coming along at 10 am for the Bank Holiday Weekend Wow. These really have been fun to use, give wonderful card blank designs all ready to decorate. We all love adding the embellishments and papers to make them unique, so these give you the ideal base card.

I will be sharing mu step by steps after launch, I do hope you will visit to see what I have done. In the meantime, Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Time - Showing us what Matters

Hello, I've got something a little different to share with you this morning. Yesterday Kim from Paperbabe Stamps brought her Male Mixed Media, stamps and stencils to Hochanda. I bought them a little while ago, they really are fantastic. I never been able to draw a successful face so these have really been amazing to use and have allowed me to try something new. If you didn't see the shows, they will be available on 'Rewind' via the Hochanda website.

For this I used the 'Side Swept Bangs' template, the instructions are super easy to follow. I used Stick n Spray from Crafters Companion on the back of mine to hold it in place. Next I positioned the facial features, using the coordinating stamps. For the eye's I used Blueprint Sketch Distress ink.

Once completed, I used a 0.3 & 0.5 black Copic Multiliner pen to darken the lines before rubbing out all of the pencil markings.

I started building up the skin tone with my alcohol markers, blending to add shape to the face.

I continued to blend, darkening around the sides of the face and hairline. Below the shoulders, I faded to the lightest shade.

I took a warm golden base for the hair, my chosen hair colour was dark brown but I like to start with a lighter base, after adding the darker colours the tones does show to give a more realistic look.

Next I took my 2nd beige colour to start the blending. Working with the hairs natural movement, blending from the root and from the tips, leaving a bridge in the mid-lengths. 

I continued with a deep warm brown applying in the same way.

Lastly, I took my darkest brown to add even more depth and tone before blending with the warm brown I had used previously.

Then using copier paper, I made a mask to cover the whole image.

The colours I used for this background were Blueprint Sketch, Dusty Concorde and Chipped Sapphire. I wanted to blend areas while still keeping some white without it starting to look patchy.

I made a stencil from the clock die from the 'Time Traveller' collection by Sheena. I also used another from Clarity, stippling through with Blueprint Sketch and Chipped Sapphire.

With Memento Black ink, I stamped a sentiment stamp from Bee Crafty, using the 'Time' part on the left had side and the rest in the top right hand corner. I next took the Hourglass stamp from Sheena's Time Traveller collection and stamped using Blueprint Sketch Distress ink.

I finally removed the copier paper mask.

Many thanks for taking a look today, I do hope you have enjoyed this step by step and the finished piece. If you would like to do something similar, I would highly recommend the stencils and stamps from Paperbabe, they have really helped me to do something that I have always wanted to do. Hope you will join me again soon, Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

City Christmas

Morning, Hochanda have been celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas and sadly today is the last day. They have shared a wonderful mix of crafts and offers. Today I thought I would make a Christmas Wall Plaque. For this one I used a selection of stamps from Sheena Douglas.

I took a canvas board measuring just over 5 x 7'' and stamped with Memento black ink the Cathedral Scape from the 'A Little Bit Festive' range, this one is City Christmas.

Next I took the holly sentiment corner from Bah Humbug and again stamped with black Memento.

Then I took the beautiful Santa's Sleigh and Reindeer from Bah Humbug 2 and used the same ink.

I started by masking all of the stamped images with Pebeo Drawing Gum. Then blended the night sky using Faded Jeans, Blueprint Sketch, Chipped Sapphire and Dusty Concorde Distress Inks. I then removed the drawing gum and coloured the images with a selection of alcohol markers. I stamped my sentiment in the cartouche. I then highlighted some areas with glossy accents and added some snow in the sky with my Sharpie white fine liner pen. To finish, I punched holes for the ribbon hanger, added the burgundy ribbon and Santa's Magic Key.

I really hope you have enjoyed my step by step today and the project I have shared. Thank you ever so much for taking the time to visit and for all of your comments here and on Facebook, I really appreciate your support. Take care xxx

Autumn Sunset

Morning, I wanted to share a card, made using Leonie's Dies in a different way. If you did miss the Launch shows for Leonie's Stamp and Die collection on on Hochanda, It is still available on their website via the Catch Up facility on the TV Schedule (8th & 9th June). Don't wait too long as it will soon disappear.

To start I cut the 'Entwining Branches' Die from copier paper to make myself a mask. Then positioned and secured to my Velvet cardstock, which measured 6'' Square.

I built up my landscape first, using a selection of distress inks and masks. You can use torn copier paper to make masks for the hills and mountains. For this I used: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge and a small touch of Aged Mahogany. I blended the colours to leave very pale colours at the bottoms of the hills and mountains to add a feeling of depth.

I then added my trees to the landscape sizing them to add to the perspective of the land. The are tree stamps Drawn by Sheen Douglas.

I positioned a circle mask, which would become my sun and coloured the sky using mainly scattered Straw, blending the edges with a little Wild Honey Distress Ink.

I removed the mask from the sun and added a small amount of Scattered Straw Distress ink to take away the starkness of the white. I then added the 'Be Happy' stamp. I finally matted this onto Satin Gold card before mounting onto my base card.

I hope you like today's project along with the step by step I have included. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and I hope you will be back again, Bye for now, Take care and hope to see you tomorrow for more.xxx

Autumn Sunshine

Morning. I have called this card, Autumn Sunshine. It's made using the Big Heart, Entwining Branches from Leonies' Collection of dies. I have also used the leaf stamps from her new stamp collection launched on Hochanda on June 8th.

To start with I cut the die into copier paper to act as a mask and also cut four of them from Cream,Satin Gold,Satin Bronze and Burgundy cardstock.

I cut some cream card to a 7'' square and cut the die out of it. I placed it slightly off centre towards the top left hand corner to allow for the embellishments I was adding later. I took a smaller sheet of velvet white card large enough to fill the mask and still allow for securing to the back of my die cut sheet.

I started creating my landscape with hills and mountains. I used Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, and Aged Mahogany to achieve this.

I then added some tress, using stamps from Sheena Douglas with Black Archival.

I then placed a circle in the sky, slightly overlapping the mask I had made and blended the sky colour using mostly Scattered Straw Distress Ink, With a little Wild Honey around the edges.

I then peeled off the circle mask and slightly shaded the sun using the smallest amount of Scattered Straw so it wasn't stark white. I secured my die cut aperture to the landscape using Cosmic Shimmer glue. Then layered up my die cuts, each slightly twisted from the last to add dimension, using 3D Glue Gel. I then set these aside.

Next I stamped a selection of leaves and added autumn colours randomly blending to make them more natural looking once cut out. I used Scattered Staw, Wild Honey and Aged Mahogany.

Then cut out the leaves.

I then arranged the leaves around the bottom right hand corner and secured them with 3D Glue Gel.

Lastly I stamped the banner stamp and added the word ''Wonderful'' with black Archival ink. I blended this using the same selection of Distress Inks, keeping it lighter in the centre to give a curved 3D look.

I used 3D Glue Gel to secure the sentiment and finished the card by adding Glossy Accents to the Leaves and sentiment Banner.

Thank you so much for joining me today and seeing the step by step I have included for how I made this card. I hope you have enjoyed it and will visit again soon. Take care and hope to see you tomorrow. xxx

I just found out that they are now taking nominations for the International Craft awards and they have a category for best blog. If you think I deserve a nomination I would be over the moon and extremely chuffed. If you could take a minute or two to nominate, the link is: crafts-beautiful.com/award You could also win a nice prize in the draw. Thank you ever so much xxx