Under the sea..

Hello fellow Crafters,

and happy humpday to you... Today's challenge was set by the lovely and very talented Arwen and her theme is "Under the sea".  This is what she said :

"Who doesn't remember - Arielle the little mermaid :) I love the sea and the residents there. Mixed with fantasy and mysticism, a perfect theme for a Stampotique Challenge! Let me see what your underwater world looks like.
xx Arwen"

Why not play along and have a chance to win a $30,- voucher to spend in the Stampotique Online store at the end of the month. Just remember: only one entry per person per challenge and NO digi's.
I made a postcard:

I started with a piece of card stock that was cut to the size of a postcard. I painted the top with Distress Paint in Broken China. The bottom is pattern paper. I stamped the bottom of the  'Ocean' stamp on it and cut around the stone Hazel is sitting on. I adhered it to the base of the card.  I used the Journal Collage stamp over the top of the card. I used Broken China DI for the top and Pumice Stone for the bottom. I then used Copic Markers to darken some of the edges. Next I stamped 'Ocean' on white card stock. Doesn't Hazel look fab as a mermaid...
I coloured her with Copics and cut her out. I drew the scales on her tale and adhered her on her stone. Next I stamped the 'Ocean text' on the same pattern paper and cut it out. I adhered it to the left side of the card.  Lastly I stamped part of  'Scalloped Lace Border', coloured it and cut it out. I adhered a few bits to the top and the bottom left of the card. Lastly I added some Liquid Pearls as air bubbles.
I used the following Stampotique stamps :

Journey Collage

Ocean

Ocean Text

Scalloped Lace Border 

Thanks for stopping by !

Hope you like it....

Round Robin... the last two.

Hello fellow Crafters,

As some of you know I have been participating in an Art Jounrnal Round Robin. This was organised by Sonja Boom via de Craftorij and it was a lot of fun. Now it has ended with these last two entries.  There will be a reunion for everybody that has participated at the end of September and I might just go to meet all the other participants.

This journal was made with Dylusions, stencils and stamps of course. I also used black and white ink and a fineliner.

This one has a background made with gesso, water-soluble crayons and some patterned paper. I also used stamps, washi tape, white ink and a black fineliner. 

Thanks for stopping by !

Hope you like them......

From Oz to Wonderland....

Hello fellow Crafters,

Yesterday I spent a happy afternoon in the land of the Wizard of Oz. Today I decided to visit Wonderland. Unfortunately I didn't see Johhny Depp anywhere but I did meet Rabbit and the real Mad Hatter ! Here's my makes :

First I made this tag :

A few days ago I made some tags and postcard bases with Gesso through a stencil, thinking to use them as a resist. With this one I decided to go with Pan Pastels as I hadn't used them for a long time. Of course the clock faces only came out in relief and not as a resist. I fixed this by colouring the tag first and then putting the stencil back on an using some white ink to make the clock faces more visible. I used 'Fax to Wolfgang' with Distress Ink and 'Barcode'  with black Archival Ink in the background.  Also I splattered some white Dylusions for a bit more interest. Next I stamped 'Rabbit' on white card stock and coloured him with Copic Markers. I cut him out and adhered him to the tag on some washi tape. The sentiment is from the book and I typed it on my old typewriter (such fun), cut it in strips and doodled around the edges before glueing it to the top of the tag. Lastly I used a Tim Holtz rub-on of a clock and divided it in three bits around the edge of the tag. A bit of ribbon and a black mat finished it off. 

Next I made a mini Art Journal:

Started with my brayer and 2 shades of pink and one shade of yellow acrylic paint. I stamped (part of)  'Crow Line' at the top of the page and used a fineliner to extend the line. I used a scroll stamp and some purple ink around the edges. Stamped off twice before stamping on the page so it is nice and subtle. Here too I used 'Fax to Wolfgang' and this time I used grey Stazon ink. 'Mad Hatter' was stamped on white card stock, coloured with Copics and cut out. I adhered him at the bottom of the page. The sentiment is handwritten. That was it ! 

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you like it....

I'll get you.....

Hello fellow Crafters,

Today I did another instalment in my Wizard of Oz series. I've  had the Wicked Witch stamp for a while but I hadn't used it yet. So today was the day...

I couldn't get the colours quite right in the photo, whether is was the light (bit autumnal here) or the color combination on the pages I don't know.

Anyway, I brayered lilac and purple Distress Ink over the pages and liked the effect. I then used a stencil (roman letters) with the same colours of DI. With grey Archival I stamped the text and the heads in the background. Next I stamped 'wicked' also in the same DI colours randomly on the pages. On the right side of the page I stamped (part of) the 'calendar squares' and used white rub-ons to put the words in them. Next I used a white pen to colour the little eyes of the heads. The Wicked Witch was stamped on the page and on white card stock, coloured and clear embossed. I cut her out and glued her on top of  her image in the journal. The sentiment is from the 'Wizard of Oz' film and I typed it on my recently acquired old typewriter. I again used the same DI and a bit of the grey Archival around the edges and glued the words down on the page. That was it, I really enjoyed doing this one.

These are the stamps I used (all from Stampotique):

Wicked (text)

Wicked Witch

Calendar Squares Cube 

Fax to Wolfgang

Heads

Thanks for stopping by !

Hope you like it .....

Enjoy life

Hello fellow Crafters,

After I finished the rabbit art journal (see post under this one) I had some time left and made a postcard with another of my new Crafty Individual stamps; the Party Puffin !

I coloured the postcard with water-soluble crayons. I just scribbled them on and rubbed them with a baby wipe. I then scribbled some more and blended everything with my fingers. I did some background stamping, not so subtle today...  Next I drew two lines around the edge. The puffing was stamped on white card stock and coloured with Copic Markers, clear embossed and cut out. I went round the image with a black marker to get rid of the white edges and adhered it on the card. I cut some triangles from pre-coloured paper and adhered them as bunting. Lastly I stamped the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you  like it.....

Live, Laugh, Love

Hello fellow Crafters,

Today I had a very enjoyable day crafting with some recently purchased Crafty Individuals stamps. I did and art journal. This is it :

I apologise for the weird angle of the picture but I had great trouble catching the true colours of this journal; it only seemed to work at this angle. Anyway, last week I really enjoyed putting ink on the paper with a brayer so today I did the same with acrylic paint. I like the result. I did some background stamping and splattering. The rabbits were stamped on watercolour paper and water coloured with Distress Inks. I glued them on the page and put some twine underneath them for some added interest. I also stamped a butterfly on the background 3 times and decided I didn't like it. So I had to think of a way to get rid of them. That is why there are circles on the page, I cut those from a gelliprint that had the same paint colours on it. I adhered the three biggest ones on top of the butterflies and the little ones randomly. I used different bottle caps to stamp the circles with india ink around the circles. Lastly I stamped the sentiment which is part of a free stamp that came with a Craft Stamper.

Thanks for stopping by !

Hope you like it....

Bees at Tag Along

Hello fellow Crafters,

Over at the Tag Along Challenge blog the theme this week is bees. Here's mine:

I glued some texted pattern paper on a #8 Manilla tag and stamped it with Stampotique's 'Splattered Mug' stamp. I also aged the edges of the tag, first with Distress Ink (Pumice stone) and later with black Archival ink. I then tore a piece or corrugated card and aged the edges in the same way. Next I cut a piece of kraft card stock, stamped it too with the 'Splattered Mug' stamp and aged the edges. I also stamped the bees on it. A bit of string was put between these two layers and I sewed them together with my Sewing Machine which I got to work again ! Yay ! Next I glued this piece onto the tag. After this is was time to stamp Stampotique's 'Medium Bee' three times, on white card stock this time. I coloured and clear embossed them. Lastly I glued them on top of their images on the kraft paper and put a few bits of ribbon through the hole.

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you like it....

Flowery birthday card ..

Hello fellow Crafters,

Yet again it is Wednesday and that means another challenge over at the Stampotique Designers' Challenge blog. This week it is Kristen's turn and she chose 'flowers' as her theme. This is what she said :

' We may be nearing towards the end of summer, and for most, the flowers are fully bloomed, but for me, some of the best flowers are yet to come.  I love the gigantic sunflowers and the autumn mums, and for that reason, I challenge you to use flowers in your creations this week. Have fun !'

I decided to go vintage on this occasion and made a birthday card.

Why not have a go as well. You could win one of two $30 gift vouchers to spend in the Stampotique Online Store. Just remember : only one entry per person per challenge and no digi's.

Here's mine :

I started with a piece of kraft card stock that I inked the edges of, with Distress inks in Vintage Photo and Walnut stain. Next I tore a page of dictionary paper in about the size of the card panel and distressed that too with the same inks. I glued it to the card panel.  Next I put the 'splattered mug' stamp on it. I then stamped the 'Sunflower Large' three times on white card stock and coloured the flowers with Copic Markers, clear embossed them and cut them out. Next I adhered them on top of the dictionary paper. I then tore a bit of corrugated card, inked it and adhered it over the bottom of the flower stems. I then wrapped some twine around the panel and attached the little craft panel with the birthday wish with staples. Lastly I adhered the panel to a card. 

I used the following Stampotique Stamps:

Happy Birthday

Sunflower Large

Splattered mug 

Thanks for stopping by !

Hope you like it....

Birthday Fishes...

Hello fellow Crafters,

As you probably know my style is anything but Clean and Simple. But every now and then I like to try and make a card in that style. So when I found the Less is More Challenge Blog on the internet I thought why not give it a go ! The theme is 'animal'.
So here is my card:

I started with a white card blank and used a stencil to create the sea. I then drew the line around the edge and stamped the sentiment. The fishes were stamped separately, coloured and cut out. I adhered them to the card and lastly I stamped the bubbles above their heads.

All stamps I used are from Paper Smooches.

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you like it....

Los tres caballeros

Hello fellow Crafters,

A short while ago one of my favourite stamp brands started to have a monthly challenge. As you know I do love a challenge so today I thought I play along. The stamp brand I am talking about is Lost Coast Designs and their stamps are pretty awesome. I don't own many yet, but the ones I have I use again and again. Anyway this months theme is text/letters and this is what I made :

I started with some card stock which I coloured in a totally new way for me. I used a brayer and three colours of distress inks. I just rolled them over the paper. I like the effect and I will do this again some time. I then did some background stamping with a text stamp and used a bottle cap to make the rings with white and black India Ink and also did some splatters. I planned to take the sewing machine around the edges but it has stopped working so I had to rely on my fineliner. I stamped the Tres Caballeros on some texted paper and cut them out. I separated the text from the main stamp. I matted both stamped pieces on black card stock. Next I stamped a white doily with the same text stamp and used a little bit of it underneath the main image. I also added a bit of bakers twine. Lastly I adhered everything to the pages. 

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you like it....

Fly..

Hello fellow Crafters,

This afternoon I had loads of fun with my Gelli plate. I made a lot of prints. When I was finished I though I might as well use a bit for this weeks Tag Along Challenge where the theme is 'butterflies'.

I glued this strip of gelli print onto a #8 tag to make it a bit more sturdy. I used the 'splattered mug' stamp by Stampotique to do some random background stamping, not too much as the background had lots of interest any way. I also drew some thin lines along the edges. Next I stamped the large Stampotique 'butterfly' on white card stock and coloured it with alcohol markers in different shades of turquoise. (I also stamped the antennae directly on the tag.) Next I clear embossed it, cut it out and adhered just the body to the tag so the wings are free. Lastly I used a sentiment stamp from an Artistic Outpost set. A few bits of ribbon stapled to the top finished this tag off. 

Thanks for stopping by !

Hope you like it.....

Hit me baby....

Hello fellow Crafters,

This week's challenge over at the Stampotique Designers' blog is 'Music as inspiration'. It was set by the lovely Kathi and here's what she said :

'I love music and enjoy most genres ranging from liturgical music to rap, from classical to head-bangin' rock! Music fills my soul and moves me emotionally and physically.
Let's see how music inspires you! Use song lyrics, music notation, or words associated with music in your project and share it with us!
Have fun! I can't wait to see what you all create!"

Did you know there are two chances to win a $30,-- voucher at the end of the month. You can spend it in the Stampotique Webshop.  
All you have to do is take part in the challenge, but remember no digi's and only one entry per challenge.
I made this art journal page:

I started with some vintage music paper and coloured it with Dylusions, Fresh Lime. Calypso Teal and Dirty Martini. I then used a flower stencil and sprayed water through it. After a little while I mopped up the water which leaves this cool pattern. I dripped some white ink on the page. Next I stamped Fofe, coloured him with alcohol markers, clear embossed him and cut him out. I then drew a base ball bat for him to hold. It fits nicely in his hand. I stamped the Scalloped Lace Border and coloured it in similar colours, cut in in three bits and glued it on the page with some of the same but uncoloured music paper. I then glued Fofe on top. Lastly I used a label machine to make the sentiment which was sung by Britney Spears.....

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you like it.........

August Challenge by Viva Las VegaStamps!

Hello fellow Crafters, 

I couldn't resist the Viva Las VegaStamps! challenge as I just purchased some VLVStamps... I made another postcard for this challenge and this is the mood board it is based on:

Here is my Version:

I started with a postcard and used yellow and orange water soluble crayons to colour it. I then used a text stamp (VLVS!)  all over the background. I used orange ink for this. I then stamped the rays with brown archival ink which I also used around the edges. Next I stamped this wonderful stamp of 'Whimsical kids in futuristic hats' (VLVS!) and the sentiment that says 'Are we having fun yet?' also by VLVS!.

Lastly I dribbled some black ink on the background and that was it ! 

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you like it....

Circus

Hello fellow Crafters,

I like a challenge and I found a blog on the internet called 'Make my Monday' where the theme this week is Circus. I remembered I have a set of Vintage Circus stamps from Oxford Impressions and thought that this would be a perfect occasion to get them out. So here goes:

I used the curtains, the dog, the clown, the ticket and one of the words from this very nice stamp set. I started with stripy paper from a 6 x 6 pad which I cut to size and grunged it up a little. I then stamped the images, coloured them and adhered them to the card. That was all ! 

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you like it...

Another little postcard

Hello fellow Crafters,

I am quite addicted to making postcards at the moment. So today I made another one. I used another one of Janet Klein's Digi's; they are so lovely. She sells them in her Etsy shop 'VeraLaneStudio'.
This is what I made:

Last night I was bored and went to my craft room to make some backgrounds. I used different Dylusions Inksprays and this card was one of the results.  This morning I used a stencil and water on it and it created this bleached out pattern. Next (after drying) I splattered some black and white ink on it and used a number stamp and white ink to stamp it.  I then chose the digi's I wanted to use and coloured them with Copic Markers. I cut them out and placed them on the card but decided that it needed something else. So I decided to use Janet's Flower stamp to complete the picture. This stamp is from Stampotique and is called ' Carol's Flower'. It is the small version. I stamped it on some paper that was coloured in the same way, cut them out and glued them on the card. Lastly I did the black and white border around the card. 

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you like it...

ATC with bits lying on my desk..

Hello fellow Crafters,

I found a few bits on my desk that were left over from other projects and decided to turn them into an ATC. This is it :

I tend to save every bit of paper and scrap and then used inks and paints on them. Some become postcards, some become ATC's like this one. I had this bit of card and put pink India Ink on the top and sprayed it with water and let is run. I then cut it to ATC size and put it away. The lady (Rearview Mirror) was stamped on book text, clear embossed and not used. So I dug her out as well. 

I stamped 'Heart Vine' on the card and coloured the stems with a black fineliner. I then coloured the hearts with a Big Brush pen. I had already put 'Rearview Mirror' on double sided tape and cut her out so all I had to do is adhere her to the ATC. 

That was it really.

I used only Stampotique stamps:

Rearview Mirror

Heart Vine  

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you like it....

New Tim Holtz stampset...

Hello fellow Crafters,

I have not been blogging very much lately. I was busy holidaying and we had some visitors from the UK last week. I have missed crafting so hopefully from now on I can do a bit more again....
I received a new TH stamp set last week and today I had time to use (some) of it.
I made a postcard :

The background was done with blue Bister and a bit of Distress Ink. I stamped the gears from the set on three corners with Archival Ink (Potting Soil). I also stamped the man on the card and again on white card stock. I coloured him with copics and cut him out. I adhered him to the card and that was it ! 

Thanks for stopping by !

Hope you like it ....

When in doubt...

Hello fellow Crafters,

Happy Wednesday everyone.

The lovely Jackie has set today's challenge and she wants us to use a bow on our projects. Here's what she said :

"Ribbons have been around since the Middle Ages. Merchants travelled the world, buying and selling ribbon, many of which had gold and silver in the silk. ribbons were a sign of nobility and worn only by the rich. By the  seventh century ribbon was part of the fashion industry and was part of clothing.

Today ribbon has numerous uses, and it is a favourite crafting accessory, I have lots of it! 

You can make fabulous bows with it to adorn your cards, scrapbook page,  tags, journals etc.

So I would like to see you adding a bow to your project, if you don't have ribbons, bows can be made out of many mediums such as paper, clay, string to name but a few!

I looking forward to seeing your creations with a bow!"

If you fancy playing too then go over the Designers' Challenge blog and read all the rules. You could win a $30,-- voucher to spend in the SHOP. 

I did an art journal and this is it :

I am really liking these 'rhubarb and custard' colours at the moment and couldn't resist using them again today. I used water-soluble crayons for the background and then stencilled over the top with distress inkt in similar colours. I splattered some black ink over it and used the same ink and some white paint to stamp the rings. Lastly I used 'fax to Wolfgang' to stamp some text. Next I stamped 'Miss Snottie' three times, coloured her, cut her out without her original bow and replaced them with real bows. I glued all three of them on the pages and lastly created the sentiment with sticky letters. To finish off I drew a line around the pages and used some charcoal around the sentiment and faded it a bit with a blending stump.

Thanks for stopping by !

Hope you like it .....

Round Robin

Hello fellow Crafters,

I made another Round Robin journal recently. This is also coming to an end soon and I really enjoyed this experience (another first for me). This one is for Lisa van Hengel and this is what it looks like:

I coloured the pages with Dylusions in Calypso Teal, Fresh Lime and Dirty Martini. I used a stencil with some water to lighten up some areas. I also used a stencil and white ink to create the polkadots. Next I did some background stamping and ink splattering before putting the main image on the right page. It is a stamp from Lost Coast Designs. The chandelier is also a stamp, don't know who by. The sentiments are Tim Holtz rub-ons. I think that was it ! 

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you like it ....

Craftorij Zomer Challenge day 56 - 61

Hello fellow Crafters,

Unfortunately we are at the end of this challenge. I really enjoyed this one. There will be a reunion at the Craftorij on the 30th of August where I will be going. It will be so nice to meet some of the ladies in real life.
Anyway here is the last helping :

Day 56 - Sky-clouds-heaven

Day 57 - Zentangle

Day 58 - use sticker(s)

Day 59 - Something from your living room

Day 60 - Think Pink

Day 61 - your own design

And last but not least a picture of all of them together !

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you like them...

You'll never fly unless you try

Hello fellow Crafters,

It is the 1st of August already and that means time for another DT post from me. I love Roc's stamps and have great fun creating things with them. I you like them too you can find them HERE.
I did an art journal for this post and this is it :

I finger painted the pages with 2 shades of yellow, 2 shades of pink and some white. Next I splattered some white ink on it.  I then used the 'When pigs fly' stamp in the background, yellow on yellow and pink on pink. Unfortunately it doesn't show up very well in the photo.  I also used the 'Heart Vine' and the 'Scalloped lace border' along the edges and doodled some lines and dots. Next I stamped the 'Flying pig', 3 times with wings, three times without wings and also some wings separately. I coloured them, cut them out and stacked the ones without wings on top of each other and topped this 'pile of pigs' with a pig with wings. I then used the extra wings on the two pigs on the left. Lastly I wrote the sentiment. 

I used the following Stampotique stamps designed by Roc Nicholas :

When Pigs fly

Flying pig

Scalloped lace border

Heart Vine 

Thanks for stopping by ! 

Hope you  like it....