Staying young

Hello everyone,

and welcome to my last blogpost for 2015... I have been busy in my craft room again and produced another art journal using Stampotique Stamps. I actually only wanted to practise my colouring with pencils but once she was finished I decided to put her on a journal page.

She's the lovely Mary by Stampotique Originals and she was coloured with Polychromos  and Pablo coloured pencils. As I said before, this is much more difficult than it looks and it also takes a lot of time. When she was done, I cut her out and set her aside to do the background. 

The background is a piece of pattern paper by Tim Holtz and I just brayered some paint over it using turquioses and grey. With a stencil and Versamark ink I created the swirls using an embossing powder by Lindy's Stampgang. I also stamped the background here and there. 

I adhered her to the page and 'grounded' her by putting some colour under her shoes. 

The quote is by Lucille Ball and I used my old typewriter to create it. 

Her are 2 more photos:

Thank you so much for stopping by today ! 

Together

Hello everyone,

I can't believe it is almost 2016 ! Hasn't this year flown by ? I think it has gone really quickly.
Today, besides about pondering about the year going by, I managed to make an art journal page and I would like to share it here:

This was great fun to make. I started out with a piece of white card stock on which I glued a few bits of printed tissue paper. I then used a stencil and some model paste to add the circles. 

When this had dried I painted the whole page with white gesso. 

Next I dried it again using my heat tool. Yes, I am very impatient... 

I then used two Lindy's sprays (Baby Blue Eyes Aqua and Afternoon Delight Denim) to colour the page. I dried this with the heat tool too. I like that you can still see some of the tissue paper underneath. I stamped the background with 'Fax to Wolfgang' but only sparingly and then stamped 'Giorgio' and the little 'chick' from the 'Starbird with chick' on white card stock. I reversed the chick as it was looking in the wrong direction. I coloured them with my Copic Markers and cut them out, removing the seashell that Giorgio is normally holding so I could place the chick in his hand instead. I adhered them both to the page and then found this quote in my 'quote book' (a lot of pieces of A4 paper full of scribbled quotes that I found on Internet and stapled together) that I thought would go really well with this scene. I typed it on my old typewriter, adhered it to the page and doodled around the strips.

I used only three Stampotique stamps for this page: 

Giorgio

Star Bird with chick

Fax to Wolfgang

Thank you for stopping by ! 

Merry Christmas

Hello everyone,

For today's blogpost for Katzelkraft, I have made some Christmas cards to say "Merry Christmas" to you all and thank you for your ongoing support ! I really appreciate the visits and comments...
So here are my cards:

Here they are in a bit more detail.

I started out with a piece of 12 x 12 card stock and used a brayer and 3 shades of turquoise acrylic paints to colour it. 

I really love the effect this gives... After it dried I cut the sheet into 4 card fronts and I had still some left to cut some ATC's for another time.

I then used the circles with the stars and stamped it randomly over the cards with VersaMark ink. I heat embossed the images with white embossing powder. 

I then drew a black line all around all the cards. I think this finished them off nicely. I then stamped all the images, coloured them with Copic Markers and cut them out. 

The last thing was to arrange everything on the card fronts, glue it and then glue the card fronts onto the white cards. 

I used stamps of the following sets:

Solo 24 - Reindeer 

Solo 25 - Tree

KTZ 159 - circles with stars & sentiment

KTZ 152 - Cats 

KTZ 119 - Accessoiries for the Cats and Birds

KTZ 151 - Birds 

Click on the links and they will take you straight to the online store... 

Thank you for stopping by today and Merry Christmas !! 

Masculin.

Hello everyone,

After I do DT work I always like to play a little. And today I played with an already coloured ATC, an already stamped Katzelkraft bird and a stamped and coloured bowler hat and made this :

The background of this ATC was made with a brayer. I make so called 'master boards' and then cut them up into different size pieces. Usually some postcards, some ATC's and also some bases for Art Journals. I liked this pretty green and stamped another Katzelkraft stamp on it to create a little more interest. I also took the ink pad and dragged it around the edges. Some of the lines of the stamp were highlighted with a white pen. The bird was coloured with coloured pencils and this time I blended them with a blending solution. I don't usually do this but is is a lot quicker than trying to blend with just the pencils. When he was finished I cut him out, placed him half on the ATC and cut off what was overhanging. I attached his hat and lastly I stamped the "masculin" which is from another Katzelkraft stamp set.....

I used stamps from the following sets:

KTZ151 for the birds

KTZ119 for the hat

KTZ86 for the wall

Thank you for stopping by today ! 

Blue yonder...

Hello everyone,

I did another postcard with pattern paper today. Just to show that it doesn't have to cost much time to make a background. I took a piece of pattern paper from a paper pack by 7Dots Studio called 'Destination Unknown', designed by DeeDee Catron. I love this paper pack...
I cut it to size (6x4) and brayered some paint on it. I used two shades of turquoise and some white making sure not to cover everything up. The paper is all over greyish with a darker print....

I left the middel of the paper as it was. Also in the top right corner you can still see some of the print on this paper. Anyway, next I stamped the background with the trees and the dictionary text. 

I then stamped the boys and coloured them with coloured pencils... I also used the pencils to 'ground' the trees and the boys.  Lastly I stamped the sentiment. And that was it... 

I used stamps from the latest new release:

Plate 1469 for the sentiment and the trees

Plate 1468 for the boys

19015 - Dictionary Page 

Thank you so much for stopping by today ! 

Mwah!

Hello everyone,

I have made a card today and I would like to share it with you. It is really to show what you can do with a piece of pattern paper.

The base of this card is a piece of patterned paper by Prima Marketing from their Epiphany Collection called 'Divine Exposure'. I sometimes use patterned paper when I don't have much time or when I can't think what to do for a background. 

In this case I had already coloured the horse with coloured pencils and I wanted to make a quick card with it but couldn't find anything in my stash that I thought went with it. So i cut a piece out of a 12 x 12 sheet of patterned paper. It was white to start with but had the text at the bottom and the swirls on the left. I added some acrylic paint with a brayer. I used a light blue craft paint and a Sorbet paint in blue and pink over the top. These paints are by Art Anthology and have a little glitter in them. I also used a pallet knife and scraped some white acrylic paint over the top and along the edges. This whole process took approx. 5 minutes. I then stamped the background and the sentiment and glued the horse into place. The panel was then glued onto a white card. 

I used Stampotique stamps for this:

Horse

Fax to Wolfgang

Mwah!

Blablabla

I hope I have given you some inspiration to use up your stash of patterned paper. I am sure we all have stacks of it.... :o)

Thank you so much for stopping by today ! 

A new adventure....

Hello everyone,

I am excited to be able to tell you that from January I am going to join the fabulous DT over at Visible Image. I have always liked their stamps and have quite a few of them so when a DT call appeared I had to apply. I will be joining a great bunch of talented ladies and I am really looking forward to it!

To celebrate I have made a postcard using one of my favourite Visible Image Stamps:

The base of this postcard is a piece of gelliprinted paper. I used a doily stencil and some model paste to create a bit more interest. The cat was stamped on white card stock and coloured with coloured pencils, cut out and adhered on top of the doily. I used another pencil to 'ground' him, so he wouldn't appear to be floating. I then stamped the sentiment, cut it into strips and adhered it to the card. Lastly I used a black fineliner to go around the strips and the card and I used some of the same pencils to add some 'smudges' to the strips. 

You will find this lovely stamp set HERE. 

Thank you for stopping by today !

Destination unknown ....

Hello everyone,

For my DT post on the VLVS! blog today, I have a little tutorial for you. This technique is not mine; I saw somebody do this on YouTube. It is a technique using Brusho. I really didn't like my Brusho's and so regretted buying them until I saw this technique. I suppose you could do this with Bistre and Colour bursts too. Anyway, first the finished article, which is a postcard by the way :

And here's how to make it :

First, stamp your image on your postcard. Use a waterproof ink as you are going in with water later. 

When it is dry.....

Sprinkle Brusho powders on your card, avoiding the stamped image as much as possible. I used Yellow, Orange and Crimson.

You the, rub the powder into the card using your fingers, and this is what that looks like.

 

Next, take a stamp, spray with water and stamp.....

This is what that looks like... Continue to do this until you have done the whole card, again avoiding the stamped image. I suppose you could mask it if you wanted to.

After you finished stamping, mist a little water over the card so the colours get even more vivid. Not too much though, as it will all run and become a solid coloured card. That is exactly what I don't like about Brusho's when you use them in the traditional way. Far too messy for me... lol 

After everything is dry, take some coloured pencils or markers and colour the image. I used pencils..

Here she is in all her glory !

I then took some background stamps, and stamped the background lightly.. (a list of all stamps used is at the bottom of this post).

I also used a black marker and doodled a line around the card. 

I think this just finishes it off nicely; I still wasn't happy with the background though and decided to do a little more stamping 

This time I used black ink...

Here is the result, much better I think.... 

Lastly I chose a sentiment and stamped it in the top portion of the card... and that was that. 

Here is the finished card again :

I used the following stamps :

19015 - Dictionary page

19659 - Numbers set 

19681 Whimsical tree lady nude

19019 - Destination unknown

19566 - Bubble wrap texture

Thank you so much for stopping by today ! 

ATC trio

Hello everyone,

It is my turn on the Inkadinkadutchies DT today and I have made a little set of three ATC's.

Aren't they cute ?  haha... 

First, stamp the images on the cards. Make masks and cover up. Then rub dry Brusho Powders into the paper with your fingers. Wet your favourite background stamp and stamp the cards. Mist a little more water over the paper to make the colours even more vivid. Not too much or it will change into one coloured mess. 

I used coloured pencils to colour the figures after the cards dried and the masks were off. I also lightly stamped the background and doodled a one around the edges.  

That was it ! 

I used the following stamps:

ATC Grunge set

Misc. anthropomorphs set 

Dream Magic Love Dictionary

You can buy these stamps at www.lost-coast-designs.com or if you live in Europe at www.Inkadinkadutchies.nl

Thank you so much for stopping by today ! 

Santa race

Hello everyone,

Today for my Katzelkraft DT post I have made another art journal. Yes, I know boring but it is my favourite thing to do. I did try to put some humour in it though and hopefully it will make you chuckle a little ...

I started with the sky. I took a piece of paper and put some Distress inks on it with a blending tool. I used Broken China and Weathered Wood. I then stamped the sky with the cloud stamps and white ink. As it didn't stand out much and also didn't want to dry quick enough I poured some white embossing powder over the top, making part of the clouds nice and white and drying the ink at the same time! 

Next I tore two pieces of white paper and adhered them to the bottom of the page. These are the snowbanks. I added some Distress Ink and some white paint to make it look more like snow. 

I then stamped all the Santa's on the snow and on a separate piece of white card stock. I coloured the ones I stamped separately with Copic Markers, cut them out (without the ski's and the sticks) and adhered them on top of the ones on the snowbanks. The flags and the "Santa Race" board were hand drawn and adhered too. 

I used the following stamps:

KTZ150  Nuages

KTZ 159 - Noël - Keep Calm

Thank you so much for stopping by today ! 

Alphabets

Hello everyone,

and happy Wednesday. This is the last challenge for this year for Stampotique. Where did the time go? Seems like only last week that it was Christmas. Anyway, this week's hostess is Claudine and the theme is "Alphabets".  Here's what she said :

"Use your alphabet stamps or images to create a letter of the alphabet" 


So I created the "C" for Corrie or (wonky) Chandelier lol....

I started with a piece of Mixed Media paper on which I drew the "C". I used one of those cardboard letter that are used to make words in interior design and drew around it. I then cut it out so I had a 'stencil'. I put this 'stencil' on my paper and stamped the flowers through the hole. I also stamped the flower twice on masking paper so I could stamp them behind each other. When the "C" was full I took the mask off and coloured everything in. I used Copic Markers and Pencils. 

Next I coloured the background with my Pan Pastels. I hadn't used them in ages so that made a nice change. I then used two different stencils and a background stamp to make it all a bit more interesting. I did use the "C" that I cut out to mask off the coloured "C" on my page as not to get any ink on it. 

I then decided to stamp the chandelier, thinking I would use my home made stamp positioner but still didn't use it so it got on there wonky ! Never mind.... I coloured it with pencils and I used a white paint pen for the candles. I then I stamped Mela, coloured her, cut her out and adhered her to the page. Lastly I drew two black lines around the page. 

I used the following stamps:

Carol's flower small

Journey collage

Mela 

Gothic Chandelier

Why not play along with us this week. You could just win yourself $30 worth of Stampotique stamps. Just remember, only one entry per person per challenge an no Digi's. Have fun ! 

Winter wonderland

Hello everyone,

I have made a card for the latest 'de Stempelwinkel' Challenge where the theme is Winter/Christmas. I had enough of making Christmas cards so I tried something different. Also I don't own very many of the lovely "de Stempelwinkel' stamps so I had to improvise. On my card is only one stamp from them, the happy couple,  and it is from plate 135.

I hope you like it ! I am not sure..... 

Thanks so much for stopping by today ! 

A bit of Sunday Colouring fun !

Hello everyone,

I spend today practising my colouring with coloured pencils. It is not as easy as it looks ! But I like it and I am determined to get better !
For today I used ATC sized pieces of paper,  one cut from pattern paper on which I brayered some paints and doodled a bit and one pre-painted with Lindy's Stampgang Sprays.

This is Morty, he is by Vera Lane Studio. Isn't he adorable... He was coloured, cut out and adhered to the ATC made from pattern paper. 

You can get these lovely Digital images HERE 

This one is a stamp by Katzelkraft; one of the newer sheets with birds. He was stamped, coloured, cut out and adhered to the ATC which was pre coloured with Lindy's Sprays. 

These fantastic birds stamps can be seen HERE.

Thank you for stopping by today.

When the rain begins to fall.

Hello everyone,

For the monthly ATC swap over at the Craftorij,  organised by Wini, I made these ATC's for the theme "rain".

I stamped the zebra on the ATC and on some masking paper. I then cut out the one on the masking paper and stuck it onto the one on the ATC. Next I stamped the drops over the top with Versamark ink and embossed it with white embossing powder. Still leaving the mask in place, I  took a blending tool and some Distress inks in greys and blues and coloured the background.

Next I took off the mask and coloured the zebra lightly with colour pencils. I then stamped the sentiment on a piece of separate card stock. I only used part of it. I cut it apart and coloured rainbow colours on the word 'rainbow', also using colour pencils. 

Lastly I glued the sentiment on the ATC. 

I used stamps from :

Katzelkraft, for the Zebra and the raindrops

Carabelle for the sentiment

Hopefully the recipients will like them. 

Thank you so much for stopping by today ! 

Shake baby shake ..

Hello everyone,

and happy Wednesday to you. It being Wednesday can only mean one thing : a new Challenge over at the Stampotique blog. Yay !!

It is the lovely Val's turn to host today and she chose the theme "Sequins". This is what she said :

'Lets see where your creativity takes you! Sequins come in every size and color and can be used in so many ways. Where will they end up in your project? :)' 

I decided to make a shaker card. I think they are very cute and a perfect way to use sequins and also little beads...

I started with the card front. I painted it with my fingers and pink and turquoise acrylic paints. Next I used a stencil and white paint to add the polkadots. I then cut out the window, using a die. 

Next I stamped the background. There will be a list of stamps I used at the bottom of this post. 

I also doodled around the edge with a black pen. 

Now it was time to work on the shaker part. First I glued some acetate behind the hole. I had already put the sentiment on the acetate with sticky letters. 

Next I used dimensional tape to 'build a wall' around the window to make sure none of the sequins would fall out. I used two layers. I then filled the room behind the acetate with sequins and beads; using a piece of pattern paper to close it off. Next I put the same amount of dimensional tape around the shaker part so it was the same thickness all over, added some normal adhesive on the back of the shaker part and adhered the whole panel on a white card base. 

Next I stamped Schmurfy, coloured him, cut him out and adhered him half on and half off the window.

I used the following stamps:

Barcode

Fax to Wolfgang

Heart Vine

Schmurfy

Why not play along with us this week and show us how you use sequins. There are two $30 vouches to be won at the end of the month. Just remember : Only one entry per person per challenge and no digi's... 

Thank you so much for stopping by today ! 

More mailart !

Hello everyone,


It's my turn to try and give you some inspiration for the new Challenge over at VivaLasVegaStamps! 
I have to say that I had a little trouble with this one as red is really not my colour. So this mailart piece you see here is actually my second attempt. The first one ended up being torn up and thrown away... So here it is:

It is based on this inspiration board:

Words to go with this board:  red, stripes, cream, white, christmas, mail, mail art, stamps, letters to santa, glitter, handmade, diy, santa, belts and belt buckles, wishlist, etc. 

I really like this inspiration board but as I said I don't really like using red and I hardly ever do in my crafting. But for this one I took a white envelope, masked off the address area and sponged the red stripes on it with Distress Inks and a blending tool... I used Barndoor and a bit of Fired Brick at the edges. Next I stamped the stitching around the address area and typed the address with my old typewriter. I then looked for a suitable postage stamp and found this one in my stash. Yes, I do collect stamps but only to use in my crafting ! Next I stamped the "Tis the season to be jolly!' around the edges (part of a stamp;  and yes, I cut it up; a full list of stamps used is at the bottom of this post), the deliver to and the staples on/off the postage stamp. The last think I did was stamp the little girl without her crown, drew the Christmas hat on her head, coloured her with Copic Markers, cut her out and adhered her to the envelope. 

I used the following stamps:

10571 - Tis the season

19578 - Six staples 

19562 - Deliver to

19642 - Stitching lines

19536 - Girl in princess costume  

Thank you so much for stopping by today and I hope you will participate in our challenge this month! 

Keep calm and I will tell you who's won !

Hello everyone,

Today I chose a winner for this postcard :
Vandaag heb ik de winnaar van deze ansichtkaart gekozen:

Of course it was done very scientifically ! 

Natuurlijk heb ik dit op een hele technische manier gedaan !

First: write down everyone's names.....

Eerst alle namen opschrijven.....

Fold up all the bits of paper .....

Alle papiertjes opvouwen.....

Close your eyes and draw one ! 

Doe je ogen dicht en neem er een ! 

So, Willy, congratulations ! You are the winner. Please send me your address, either via a PM on Facebook or via de e-mail option here on my blog. He will be flying your way soon ! 

Dus Willy, van harte gefeliciteerd ! Jij bent de winnaar. Stuur je me even je adres via een PB op Facebook of via de e-mail optie hier op mijn blog; dan stuur ik hem z.s.m. naar je op ! 

Thank you for stopping by !