Wednesday 27 January 2016

Ghost Stenciling

Wow it's been a few days since I've posted.  Auckland has been having a bit of a heat wave and it's been very warm at night so haven't felt much like crafting.  I come home from work and walk down to the beach for a swim (as I can't swim very well, I do some water walking) for about 25 mins and as it's still warm ( usually around 5-6pm) I soak up some rays... that means that dinner is a bit later than normal...so my night is shorter and not much time to craft.

Anyway I am taking a couple of online classes.  First is StampNation's Technique Toolbox Stenciling class and the second is Online card class - watercolor intermediate techniques.  I have watch Day 1 and Day 2 videos but no time to practice yet.

I have done a few stencil cards - one was for my CCC partner Cat... She has received it so I can share it now.
I used a stencil that came with my StampNation Friendship kit.   I did an ombre inking with Distress ink, moved the stencil and stamped the little hearts from a Hero Arts set in the middle of the stencil.  I added Glossy Accents to the hearts.  The sentiment is from the same Hero Arts set as the hearts. 

My next card is a Ghost stenciling technique.

For this one I used a Penny Black stencil and first layer was white pigment ink.  Once it dried, I moved the stencil slightly and then used some dye ink for the second layer.  This technique looks best on kraft card stock, but I don't have any at the moment... so used some buttercream card.  Added some gold pen around the edge and a new Hero Arts wooden sentiment.  A few sequins to finish. 

It's still very warm at 10.15 at night and humidity is about 80% - very hot and humid so sleeping is difficult.  Hoping for a cooler change in the weather over the weekend.   It's a long weekend so I might get some time to try out the watercolour class.  Invested in some high quality watercolour paper today and some new brushes. 

Thanks for stopping by. 



Dawn

Friday 22 January 2016

Have a Happy Day

Hi there. It's time for my share at A2Z Scrapbooking and I have some more glittery goodness to show you.


Is  not that one stunning butterfly.

Here's a closer look


 A big thank you to Arlene who sent me this beauty. It's the Hero Arts Butterfly Fancy Dies DI078   I liked it so much I ordered it... so should you. Just follow the link above to A2Z Scrapbooking. I added a sentiment from Hero Arts Layering Happy Days Flowers CL864 Of course, I added some different coloured gems to draw in the colours from the background. That was made by using paints, Zig markers and Lindy's Gang sprays.

 Remember if you are in need of any items from the  a2z Scrapbooking store you can use code Dawn15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more. (before tax and shipping) And don’t forget that we are on  TwitterInstagram and Facebook. Follow us on these different social media outlets so you won’t miss out on any fun promotions.

Dawn

Thursday 21 January 2016

Happy Anniversary

Today is our 38th Wedding Anniversary.  Time just seem to have flown by.   I made a card for him using a stenciling technique I saw on Jennifer McGuire's blog.


I covered my white card with Blueprint distress ink and using a Tim Holtz stencil and some Silver Shimmer Spritz over it.  Added a touch of blue/silver glitter paper down one side.  The balloon and elephant are a WPlus9 stamp and die set coloured with Zig makers.

As I've used a critter I'm entering into the challenge at Simon Says Stamp 

Thanks for stopping by

Wednesday 20 January 2016

Prima Flower box

One of my work friend's celebrated her 65th birthday on Monday and I made her a box card.


I used some Kaisercraft PP together with Prima Flowers.  The edging is a Martha Stewart punch.  

Here is a close up of the flowers I used.    The butterflies are a EK Success punch.

My friend was thrilled with the box card.  She also received two other cards I made... I keep a box of my cards at work to sell and two of the other team mates bought cards to give her.  

Summer is intermittently here in NZ, the last few days have been nice and hot... I've been for a swim after work at the beach both yesterday and today.  And it's been sunny still at 5.30pm so I've been soaking up some Vitamin D as well.  So crafting has taken a bit of a backseat....  I have done some DT work for February and made hubby an Anniversary card for our 38th wedding anniversary tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.

Dawn

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Vintage Roses

Last week I spend a bit of time watching some some videos on Altenew Layering stamps.  It's a free class available at the Altenew Academy (HERE)  I liked the way the stamps layer.  I do have a couple of them but decided play with a WPlus9  set.

I used Coming Up Roses together with some distress inks and some generation stamping

 I still need LOTS of practice but was reasonable happy with my results.  I embossed the sentiment across the centre using a Clearly Besotted set.  And of course a few Pretty Pink Posh sequins.

Back to work this week and it was hard going yesterday.  Slightly better today.  Luckily the weather has been a bit iffy so don't feel so bad... but not good for the parentals who are still staying with us.  Today they came into Takapuna for lunch with me even though it was raining.  They are here till Saturday before heading back to the Gold Coast.

Have a great week.

Dawn

Thursday 7 January 2016

Congrats....

It's my turn to share my card at A2Z Scrapbooking today, with a card I've made for my husband's niece.  She is getting married in a few days and with this month's challenge being all about glitter, glimmer and bling... I thought I'd try out using some Heidi Swapp metallic foil.

Congrats

This product is activated by heating it onto Toner ink through a laminator.  There is a special laminator called a Minc machine, but I used a normal little home laminator.  I firstly stamped the sentiment onto some paper and took it to my local bookstore and for 20cents got it photocopied onto my card stock (I took it with me) Once home I used the silver foil to laminate.  Not totally perfect, but not too bad!  I added the obligatory bling and a shiny mirror card Spellbinders Heart.  A very simple but elegant looking card.

Supplies:
Hero Arts DC149  Congrats Stamp & Cut  (Note:  This set is currently Out of Stock at a2z Scrapbooking, however you can CUSTOM Order it in the Store. Just click on the REQUEST CUSTOM ORDER form on the store HOME Page!  This goes for pretty much ANY Hero Arts products that is still available.  If you can’t find it in the store, please feel free to ask!)

Spellbinders: Lace Hearts

Remember if you are in need of any items from the a2z Scrapbooking store  you can use code Dawn15 at checkout to receive 15% off your purchase of $25 or more. (before tax and shipping)  And don’t forget that we are on TwitterInstagram and Facebook.  Follow us on these different social media outlets so you won’t miss out on any fun promotions!

As the foil is NEW to me (got it for Christmas) I'm entering into the Wednesday Challenge at Simon Says Stamp.

Edited:
Thanks to the heads up by Karen, I am entering this into the Anything Goes at WordArt Wednesday.
Dawn

Wednesday 6 January 2016

playing with smooching...

I was playing around with some distress inks and my acrylic block the other day and made a couple of backgounds.  - one in blues and one in oranges.  And here's how they ended up

First up the blues with a bit of inspiration from Pinterest

 This is a slightly smaller card - 4' x 4 1/2"  Cut with some leather texture card.  I made a frame with Spellbinders square dies.  The black leaves are a CAS-ual Friday die and the the butterfly is an EK Success punch.  Added some gems and the sentiment from the matching CAS-ual Friday's stamp set.

and the orange one
This one used a black die cut I got from one of the ladies in my stamping group.  Not sure if it was a die or cut with an electronic cutter, but it was perfect as the focus against the orange background.  Once again I used a sentiment from the CAS-ual Friday stamp set with the same textured card stock.  

Not much crafting in the last couple of days... went to the Zoo yesterday and today did some shopping for paintbrushes for the upcoming Online Card Class - watercoloring intermediate techniques.  I found my tubes of paints so hope these will work.  Can't wait to start the classes.  

Got a wedding come up in the weekend.  My hubby's niece is getting married on Saturday in Hamilton.  Look out for the card I made for them... it's coming up soon.

Take care
Dawn

Monday 4 January 2016

Happy Birthday to my Mum

Today January 4th, is my Mum's birthday.  She is still staying with me so I got to celebrate with her today.

Here's the card I made for her


I used a Bugaboo digi stamp  coloured with some Copics and some blue chalk ink.  The dies are from Lil'Inkers for the card and matt, and Britannia for the sentiment. 

We had a quiet day.  I took Dad with me to do my grocery shopping, our son and his fiance came round to visit with his Grandparents and we just sat outside... the rain has stopped.

thanks for stopping by.

Dawn

Sunday 3 January 2016

Iron off embossing

Happy New Year ... already nearly the end of the 3rd of January.   We have had family here for Christmas and New Year and this morning we said farewell to our daughter and her husband, on their way home to Perth.  I got hubby to take a picture of us


I need to update my current photo and will get this one printed.  Next time I see her, she will be a Mummy!  I can't wait!

Our New Year's Eve was spend with our friend's at their place in Managawhai with my parents and our friend's twin grandchildren (Odin and Sophie aged almost 4)  I had forgotten how energetic almost 4 year olds are!  Worse was it started raining New Year's Eve and was steady all day.  We left around 2pm to head home.    It then rained most of the 2nd and again today - on and off.    So what to do when it rains.... create cards!  I got all my January ones done for A2Z Scrapbooking- one for Die Cut Divas and the one I needed to make for my NZ technique swap.  I chose the theme - watercolouring with resist.


I used a Hero Arts Silhouette Poppy - stamped in Versamark and clear embossed.  I then used my Zig Markers to colour the poppies.  Once they dried, I used my iron to take off the embossing powder.  This gives a smooth surface.  I used a Hero Arts Hello die, together with a sentiment from another Hero Arts set.  

This afternoon, we took my parents with us to see the 3D version of Star Wars - The force awakens.... totally worth it.  I really enjoyed it.   

Wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year - full of crafting and creating.

Dawn