All Square

I have the results of much messed up stamping on my desk at the moment.  Another challenge will be to recycle them into finished cards.  Where there is a will there is a way.  

This is the final - unsmudged and (almost) correctly stamped - article made for ONE LAYER WEDNESDAY 110 challenge being hosted this week by Heather Telford. 

The challenge was to use SQUARES in the design. I spent most of last night searching through my stamp collection looking for inspiration.  I finally decided that I would use a foam alphabet stamp set.  Of course I found it impossible to use the stamps individually and get them positioned in a straight line.  I eventually used double-sided tape to stick them to an acrylic block so that I could stamp them all at once.  I remembered while doing this that I had used this method with these same stamps but in a square design
last Christmas. Not a case of "Great minds think alike" but rather that of "One mind thinks twice"!!

From here, I used red and green Promarkers and a gold pen to colour.  To be honest I did get as far as this with a previous card but I failed at the last hurdle because I stamped the sentiment at the bottom of the card. It just didn't look right.  Will need to go back and find one of Susan's posts about positioning.

OLW Revisited

Before I begin, I have to say that we woke up this morning to ....SNOW.... . It is quite surreal as I have been second planting my annuals and vegs in the greenhouse.  The courgettes even have flower buds!!?  I'm confused, so I don't know what the plants think.  Rant over... Back to the job in hand.

This is my first foray into the land of Challenges since I have "come back".  I thought that I would revisit one of my favourite sites.... Susan Raihala's Simplicity.

So  I decided to join in. "The OLW85 Challenge is to make a one-layer card sans sentiment." OK.... I can do that.... and here it is.

The script background is a favourite of mine from Crafty Individuals.  The butterfly is from a Martha Stewart set which I love.  ( I see that it is reduced at the moment on QVCUK).... some watercolour pencils and a little bling ( of course).....sorted.

Nothing but Blue Skies

Now you may think that I am talking about the weather outside but I'm afraid that the sky here has been filled with rain clouds on and off for the past few days, so no inspirartion there.

No the blue skies are the ones that I have been trying to incorporate into a card for the OLW 61 challenge hosted by Jennifer Styles.  The theme is Clouds this week.  I don't have a suitable stamp so off I went to Youtube to find out how to paint clouds.

Well two days later, and several discarded attempts at watercolouring with pencils and paints, I went back to have a look at how the other entrants had fared.  KathyB had used a template provided by Bev Rochester. Eureka!  So thank you to Kathy for giving the means to complete this card and for emptying the space in my brain that it has been occupying.

Back to my favourite masking technique. It wasn't allowed in last week's challenge and I was having withdrawal symptoms. I have a WRMK magnetic cutting mat which comes in handy when I need to keep things in situ like this. It came with small magnets that I placed on the mask and card. I wouldn't be without them.  It saves using tape.

So I cut out Bev's template and sponged/blended, with Rubber Stampede Ocean Blue ink and Cut and Dry foam . More sponging/blending with Versamark Fresh Green .....again masking with torn paper for the hills.  The stamps are from Lavinia Stamps- Poppies set , I think.  I used Distress Inks - Stormy Sky ( appropriate!) here and Versafine for the Hero Arts sentiment.

OLW 60 - Quick Layers of Ink

I've had a busy week, culminating in my participation in the Aberdeen Race for Life today. 

So it was great that Susan decided that this week's challenge over at the Simplicity blog had to contain only quick stamping...........no masking or sponging.

I used stamps from a set by Close to my Heart (Find Your Style)

The inks are Impress, Cerulean Blue and Adirondack, Slate.

Which way is Up?

This is what I debated before I added the sentiment.  The original plan was to have it standing up portrait syle but it just didn't look right so I turned it on its side before finally deciding about the sentiment.  The inspiration for this card came from Simplicity's OLW59 challenge where we were to use this photo as a starting point.

I used my Big Shot and a  Nestabilities circle die to cut 3 circles to act as a mask. I stamped flowers on to a post-it note, cut them out and used them to cover the stamped flowers.  This enabled a light backround to be created with a sponge dauber and green ink. While these were still in place, I stamped the leaves and the dragonfly.   I removed the masks and, because I felt that they needed sometning more, I gave the flowers centres with a Sakura gel pen. Then came the decision about the orientation of the card.

Now, I have a confession - my yellow inkpad was completely dry so, after some thought, I used a Promarker - applying it to the stamp before stamping.  I was a little worried about the effect that it would have, so I immediately cleaned the stamp.  A couple of hours later and it looks as if it is still intact. Phew!

Note to self: Buy a yellow inkpad tomorrow and use it some more.

Saturday: I just couldn't move on until I made the vertical card that I had orginally thought of.......... so here it is.

I

I made another mask and positioned the circles closer together. Pleased with this so now I can move on!

One-Layer Wednesday 58

This is my first entry to one of Susan's challenges for a while. I'm "back in the groove" at the moment so here we go!  However, today is Monday so I am a bit late getting round to it.

This week's One-Layer Wednesday is to use yellow, orange, and aqua on a card. So out came one of my very first stamps.  It's wood mounted so it must be old.  I masked out the bottom of the stamp - it had Happy Birthday about 5cm below the image that you see here.  

I used Promarkers to colour the balloons so it didn't take long to complete. I resisted the urge to glaze the balloons with Crystal lacquer because I'd probably end up with a splodge and spoil the card.  Will make another one and try this though.

PS. I would like to say thank you to Susan for favouriting my dandelion card over at SplitcoastStampers this week. It gave me such a warm feeling when I saw it.  What would we crafters do without the internet giving us the ability to share our work across the world.

OLW 39 Challenge

I struggled a bit with this week's One Layer Wednesday Challenge. The requirements are to use a border stamp, an image, some bling and no sentiment.


I chose the the monkey image first then couldn't find a border stamp to match. My solution was to create one myself with a single leaf and using masking to give a continuous line.


I coloured using Promarkers but had a wobble when I couldn't see where to fit the "bling" ( an unusual problem for me!!) I added the butterfly purely so that I could use some acrylic gems for the body.

Resources:
Stamps- Stampabilities, lil' Monkey ; butterfly - Dawn Bibby Designs.
Promarkers

OLW 38 Challenge

This week's One Layer Wednesday Challenge was a sketch. I haven't entered many sketch challenges because although at first I usually think that they are quite easy, I seem to find that I spend ages looking through my stamps to find something appropriate.

However, I have succeeded this time and this is the result.

resources:

Ink: Distress Ink Dried Marigold, Mimento Tuxedo Black

Stamps : Poppy -Lavinia Stamps, Sentiment -Hero Arts, Butterfly - unknown

OLW 37 Challenge

It has been some time since my last entry to the Simplicity One Layer Wednesday Challenge. I knew what I wanted to do as soon as I saw what it was.The challenge was to use only sentiments in the design.


As I am in Valentine Card mode anyway and had already gathered together sentiments that were suitable for this topic, it seemed an obvious choice. When I revisited Susan's blog today I saw that others had had a similar idea. Is there such a thing as original thought?

I resisted the urge to embellish it in any way - not even a little "bling" but I know that I will produce other variations on this theme.



Speaking of variations on a theme - I produced a couple of other attempts with the addition of ink smudges. We don't not make mistakes in cardmaking - we only create opportunities to expand the boundaries of creativity??!!! Here is the result of one of mine.



Guess where the smudge was.

OLW19

I thought that I would have to give the One Layer Wednesday Challenge a miss this week as I have been so busy and as a result, have been struggling for inspiration. I have been watching the other entries as they are uploaded and part of me thinks that I shouldn't do this until I have a clear idea of my own design.

It never ceases to amaze me how many talented cardmakers are out there and it seems that Susan attracts a good proportion of them to her challenges! Anyway here is my black and white design with a spot of colour.

I used Alphabet Stamps and mounted them together on an acrylic block. I did try and stamp them individually but couldn't get then lined up properly. I then stamped the holly and coloured it lightly with Promarkers before applying Stickles to give it ever such a tiny bit of "bling".

Oh well, at least that's another Christmas card made. I'm ahead of myself this year!!!

OLW18 -Trees

This week requires the use of a tree stamp but Susan has allowed for those of us who don't own one by saying that a branch or leaves would do.



So.... I have used my Winter Pine Border peg stamps to create the branch effect. The conifer branch is tiny and I had to "build" the branch by repeated stamping. It seemed only natural to make this into a Christmas card. I folded the card to make it landscape A6 with a vertical fold. It's nice to try a different orientation every so often and I feel that, in this case, the card complements the design. However I think that I will try other folds and shapes to see how these will influence the design of the stamped image.



One of the best results of following Susan Raihala's blog is that she forces you to think carefully about the basic design of cardmaking. I am much more aware now about the relationship between different elements on a card. Choosing the right colours have also become important to me. One of my reject cards was discarded because I felt that the green ink that I had used just didn't work. This was odd because it was much closer to the colour of the real thing.

OLW17

It has taken me a few days to get round to making a card for this week's challenge at Simplicity. Work gets in the way!

This week we had to create a one layer card with a border stamp. I decided to use a rollagraph wheel that I have had for some time and have not really used much at all. I saw it demonstrated at a craft fair and, as usual, the demonstrator made it look very easy. However, I still need a lot of practice to get the pressure even. It is particularly difficult when applied to a one layer card as I find that it is almost impossible to get the design symetrical. You can imagine what this pile of spoilt cards looks like, I'm sure! I did trim a little strip from this card to make it look OK.

As a Scot, I am understandably attracted to Celtic designs. Much of the Celtic Art that we see nowadays is inspired by the Book of Kells which I would love to see in real life. Youtube will have to suffice in the meantime!

I have decided to attach a ribbon to this card although it is not now a one layer card without embellishment. I have spent today with a desire to add another element so I gave in. I am still happy with the original card but again I am surprised at the difference in the two cards. That's why I craft!!!.

resources:
Rollergraph -Celtic Border
Sentiment - HOTP, ink - memento tuxedo black
Scoreboard

To reply to questions about my method of using the Rollagraph system, I have added a post with information here.

OLW16 - Stamp a Scene

The weekend is here and its a beautiful day (for now) so I must get out to the garden for some tidying up. I have just time to upload my entry for this week's One-layer Wednesday Challenge at Simplicity. The subject is Stamp a Scene so I have gone for masking a rectangle shape then sponging a background again using masking but this time with torn paper and a punched circle. The poppy stamp completes the scene.

Of course, as usual, I have several attempts and I have decided to upload this one too - same techniques - different colour palette.

The sentiment is slightly wonky so I almost discarded it.

I have added a post that details one of my rejects from the challenge
here.

Resources:
inks - 1)Memento Tuxedo black, Rubber Stampede - Ocean Blue, Impress - Cerulean Blue 2) T H Distress - Pumice Stone, Old Paper
Stamps - Poppies - Lavinia Stamps, Sentiments 1) Hero Arts, 2) HOTP

OLW15

This week's challenge over at Simplicity was "challenging" to say the least. We had to use "unexpected colour schemes" to produce a card. I chose my favourite Lavinia dandelion stamps and selected colours that I wouldn't normally use...although the foliage is the usual green.

One-layer Wednesday 14

This is my second post today. I completed my entry for Susan's OLW challenge 14 last night so I thought that I may as well submit it. The requirements this week are for a square card and an outline stamp.

I have had this stamp for ages and I really like it but I am always reluctant to use it as I find it difficult to get a clear image. This time I placed a mouse mat underneath the card and it has worked better. The centre was just crying out for a bit if "bling", so I obliged.

In her post, Vicki Dutcher noted the importance of placement on CAS cards and I agree with everything that she says. I am pleased with the positioning of the stamps. but , as usual, I want to experiment and find other versions that work. I have taken to cutting copier paper the same size as the card and using this to play around with my designs. It saves having a pile of cards that I have to find another use for because my results just don't seem right.

Resources:
Stamp - Sugarloaf Inc, Scribble flower
Sentiment - Hero Arts
Ink - Distress Ink- Chipped Sapphire, Impress - Cherry Pink
Pink acrylic gem


Update:

I really liked Bonnie's entry to the challenge, in particular, the framing with a fine line so I decided to have a go with the card that I have already submitted. I have seen Susan do this before and I can see that it prevents the eye from straying "off the page". Will use this again.

Christmas in July

Christmas seems so be a topical theme in Blogland with lots of challenges asking for festive entries. Making Christmas cards this early is not my thing really. I had to get the stamps that I wanted to use down from the loft. I pack them away with the decorations and it is always a pleasure to renew their acquaintance. This is the card that I have made for the Simplicity OLW 13 challenge this week. I have had this stamp for several years and enjoyed using it in a different way.

I used a fine line black pen and a template to create the rectangular frame, stamped the image, then masked it before stamping the flourishes. Tried Promarkers to colour but I felt that the result was too intense so, as my watercolour pencils were to hand, I used them. A little bit of bling, using acrylic gems and stickles for the star, finished it off. The photo is a bit dark but I wanted to get the bling to shine.

Was on a roll so I made some more.

With Susan in mind I simplified one much further. Single stamp with a silver star which has a very tiny acrylic star in its centre.

Resources:
Main stamp - Anita's Sugarloaf, Flourish - Inkadinkado
Inks - Memento Tuxedo black, Versafine - black
Watercolour pencils and water brush
Acrylic gems

OLW12 Using Watercolour

This week's OLW challenge was to use some form of watercolour on your card. I enjoy working with this medium very much and, prior to purchasing my Promarker collection, it was my favoured method of colouring images. I am able to get a subtlety of colour that I find difficult to achieve by any other method.

Susan used watercolour crayon applied directly on to the stamp before spritzing and stamping. I have never tried this before but I have added it to my list of things to do.

The stamp is a digi from Sketching Stamper, beautifully drawn, and is capable of being resized quite large without losing definition. I applied a very pale blue wash as a background which doesn't show up too well in the photo.

Now..... confession time. This card did start out as a 6" square card but, true to form, I managed to get a watermark stain in on it. So I just sliced off the top. Still works for me!!

Resources:
Digi stamp - Poppies - Sketching Stamper
Watercolour pencils
Water brush
Sentiment -Hero Arts
Ink - Memento
Update:

Was slightly frustrated that I had to cut the card down because of my splodge so I have made another one. I have orange Oriental Poppies in my garden just like these. They don't last long and unfortunately, they invariably come into flower when we have rain and wind. So it is nice to be able to create a more permanent memory.

Updated 17th July

Thank you for the kind comments. It is encouraging to know that my work gives some pleasure. Keeps me motivated too.

Susan asked in her comment if I had any tips to share about blending colours. I find that the stamps usually have some indication of where deeper colours and shading are required. I apply small amount of crayon at the bottom of the petal ( always in the direction of growth) then use the water brush to blend. I continue to do this until I feel that I have got the right depth of colour. I tend to use one colour.

I viewed Harriet Skelly's beautiful embossed and watercoloured card (OLW12) and followed the link that she gave for her inspiration. Here it is. Amazing! It occurred to me that this was a lesson in itself on colouring and blending. Hope that this was useful.

I have also entered this card into the Stamp Something Challenge where the requirement was to use a digital image.

Flower of Scotland

Scotland is a very beautiful place to live at any time of the year. I can't imagine being anywhere else. Here in Aberdeen we have reasonably quick access to a variety of different landcapes - sea, mountains, rivers, forests, rolling hills. We are a very partiotic nation and the Scottish flag is a symbol of our unique identity. This thistle is our national flower and its colours always remind me of the purple heather covered hills that can be seen in many areas of our countryside.

For these reasons, I have used both of them as symbols for my entry to this week's One-Layer Wednesday Challenge over at the Simplicity Blog where we were asked to submit a patriotic card. I am late in completing it and I would have like the flag to be more defined but..hey ho..

The song "Flower of Scotland" is our chosen alternative to the British National anthem and it is sung at events both large and small, at home and abroad, so I have used the title as the sentiment on my card.

I created the flag by cutting a stencil and colouring with a Promarker. Probably not the correct colour but it will do.

materials used:
Stamps - Lavinia Stamps , Alphabet - Hero Arts
Ink - Encore Metallic Purple, Adirondack lettuce
Promarker- Aegean

Update

I really wasn't happy with the first attempt so I just had to try again. Better pleased with this one, although the lettering is still not right and I wish that I had a more accurate colour of green for the foliage. This time I used a water colour pencil and a water brush to get a better result for the flag. 3rd attempt????

PS
Although the Thistle is classed as a wild flower, I have allowed one to grow in my garden because it makes such an architectural statement. Here it is - not in flower yet but still lovely.

OLW9 Challenge

Took a while this time to find inspiration for this week's Simplicity One Layer Wednesday Challenge. Shouldn't have been difficult, as the only requirement was to use a flourish in the design - but sometimes the mind just goes blank. I decided to start with a mask which was last week's challenge. Out came the brayer! From there it became easier. I have been looking for an opportunity to use the silhouette fairy stamp for a while and the sentiment just seemed to complete to design. The bling ? - Susan's influence!!

We have had no internet connection for most of today - Switching services is the reason I'm told. I really missed it. Had to look up the phone book for a number; couldn't have access to a recipe that I was going to use;couldn't check my work email; couldn't enter this challenge; couldn't publish this post...................... However, I managed to get through a massive amount of housework undistracted and even did some gardening ! A glimpse of life before the internet.


I used:
flourish stamp - from a set from HOTP
fairy - Personal Impressions
sentiment - Hero Arts
inks - Adirondack - denim. Impress - Cerulan Blue

OLW 8 / New Challenges ahead

This week, in Simplicity's challenge, we had to use a mask in the background design of our cards. I haven't got the new stamps out of my system so I incorporated them into one of my cards along with my trusty dandelion friend. Couldn't choose which one to post so have included both.



Susan's challenges are helping me to develop my approach to cardmaking. They focus the mind make you "think outside the box". All to often I sit for ages with lots materials in front of me and end up with something that I am not fully satisfied with. It's funny how one word like "repetition" or "mask" or "overlapping" is enough to get the creative juices going.

I work in education in Scotland and we are going through curricular changes at the moment. The purpose of the new curriculum is to challenge children to think creatively and to employ critical thinking skills across all subjects and to encourage them to take charge of their own learning. Communication, collaboration and co-operation are also key factors that are high on the priority list.

And my point is??? Susan's work stimulates me to think creatively and critically. Blogs and the internet foster the three Cs too. I am able to put myself in the position of the learner which, in turn, allows me to set meaningful, challenges for pupils. I realise that these don't have to be complex in nature to meet the curricular targets.