New release ~ Rubber Stamp Tapestry

This "NOEL" stamp has just been released today by Rubber Stamp Tapestry. I used the same layout as I did yesterday which was SC187, this week's sketch challenge over at Splitcoaststampers.

Please see my last post for details on the steps to begin creating the background patterned paper.

Once I created a panel of patterned paper using Rubber Stamp Tapestry peg stamps and Brilliance inks, I cut it equally into 3 slim panels as per the sketch challenge. I kept yesterday's card a bright white background but for today's I brushed the edges using Adirondack latte. I did the same to the NOEL panel.

I then decided to outline each panel with a gold pen to mimick another layer without the bulk of more card. I use Posh impressions gold pen but you can use Krylon or similar.
I like to press the edge of the card into the centre of the pen creating a V-shape in the nib. I then keep the pen for this purpose. It's amazing how straight the gold lines are.

I then outlined all 4 panels with the gold marker.

I mounted the panels on black cardstock and then green.

The green scalloped panel behind NOEL was actually hand drawn with a black pen and cut out. The NOEL panel is mounted on foam tape.

Stickles: black diamond, Xmas red and holly
Gingham ribbon to finish.

DIY Designer paper!

Well today all started with the new sketch challenge over at Splitcoaststampers, SC187 hosted by Roxie and I also received some fab new stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry. I can reveal this one today and I have another for you on Friday when RST release it for sale.
Susan Walton - the creative brains from RST is very generous and is a pleasure to work with.




Here's how I created my background panels.

STEP1

STEP2

STEP3

STEP4

STEP5

All stamps are by Rubber Stamp Tapestry. JOY is stamped in Rocket red and clear embossed.
Inks used are Brilliane, Graphite black, Rocket Red, Pearlescent ivy and Galaxy Gold.
Cardstock: White, green, black and gold mirri card.
Red striped paper is by Lasting Impressions.
Ribbon by Mayarts. Do you like my knotted ribbon effect??)
Bling by A muse (twinkle stickers in red and clear).

Come back tomorrow to see another design based on sketch SC187!

Sleepy kitten!

This is another one of those ones I coloured a few weeks back and finally created a card with it. I don't usually work this way - I often choose a designer paper and colour my image to co-ordinate/complement the paper and embellishments.

"Sleepy Kitten" is stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms, Friendly Kritters range. I coloured the image with copics and keeping my scallop rectangle nestability in place I airbrushed a very pale blue around the main image, removing the nestability die to have a white border. I then brushed some antique linen over the edges.
The 2 panels in the backgroud are textured using Cuttlebug embossing folders and brushing with antique linen too.
The ribbon is from Amuse. Flowers from Prima marketing. Dewdrops for flower centres. Corner rounder punch on card and panels.

This has a softer colour palette than usual for me but I think it suits the sleepy kitten.

I'm back!!

Well we've had a busy couple of weeks recently. The kids finished school on 27th June for a 9 week break. I think N.Ireland has the longest Summer break in the UK and yet the education on offer and qualifications obtained by students are of an extremely high standard so no argument that the holidays are too long unfortunately!!!!

We took the children for a break to Newcastle, N.Ireland and amongst other things we got lost in the maze at Castlewellan Forest Park! We had a fun sunny day out and finished off with fish and chips from nearby Kilkeel. Scrummy!
Look at the lovely view of the mountains of Mourne in the background.


Here's Abbie and her Dad after sucessfully escaping from the maze!

This is a picture of Ben enjoying a day out at "Exploris" an aquarium and sea sanctuary in Portaferry where they saw many rescued seal pups being cared for until their release back to the sea.

The centre had an area where the kids were able to do brass rubbings - never missing an opportunity to do some crafting!!! Here's Annie in a creative moment.

After a fantastic week which I didn't think could get much better, we had a kids free weekend in Glasgow! The food and shopping was great but the highlight was the Michael Buble concert. He did a fantastic performance and had everyone laughing throughout. I can't wait to go see him again.


I did do a little bit of crafting before I left so I'll do a separate post with a new card really soon.

Shop info.

Just in case you were thinking of visiting Mill House Crafts over the Summer - I'm just taking a short break and will re-open on Thurs 24th July 2008.

See you soon!

More airbrushing!

This is my new 'baby'. A fairly small low noise compressor that I got from airbrushpro in England. I have the Copic ABS1 system which doesn't fit directly to it so my hubby came up with a connector and some tubing from his plumbing supplies.

I've chosen another Tim Allen, Friendly Kritters stamp, "Friends don't mind" from Cornish Heritage Farms to illustrate a cloud effect. I loaded the copic "gun" with Frost blue, chisel end, and using an oval scallop nestability as a mask I sprayed the frost blue gently around the scallops. I chose frost blue as it is light enough so as not to alter the main image and it meant I didn't need to create a mask of the main image.

I then move the scalloped oval around, spraying around the scallops to form more clouds. I keep a few of these scallop cut outs for this job as I use them again and again.

My friend Jill came over today to play with the compressor too so we both coloured the same image but Jill used RV02 layered over the Frost blue and I used YG00 over mine on the right. This softens the blue and ties in better with the finished designs.


Here you can see the variations of different backgrounds.


My finished design.
(Cupcake paper by Fancy pants, A muse ribbon, border punch from Dovecraft, diamond glaze on balloons by Judikins, liquid pearls, stickles and white inkssentials pen by Ranger for highlights)

I achieved this effect on the hedgehog by dotting white inkssentials pen and then dabbing it off with my finger before it had dried so that it wasn't a bright white.

This is Jill's fabulous creation. Same paper by 'Fancy pants but also Cuttlebug embossing folder "swiss dots" and sentiment from Kim Hughes 'Tag, you're it' set for Cornish Heritage Farms.
Punch from SU for corner.

Harvest mice ~ airbrushed!

This is another cute image from the Tom Allen, Friendly Kritters range at Cornish Heritage Farms (available from Mill House Crafts if in the UK).

I had this image coloured and decided to experiment with my new compressor and Copic airbrush system. All I can say is I am loving it and can't wait to play some more. I was so caught up having fun I forgot to take some pics of the system but I will next time!


I decided to participate in Rox's sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers. SC183. I like to play along sometimes when I'm in a rut and they always get you creating again.

The main image is all coloured with copics.
This was my first time using the "wheat" stamp by CHF too and I really like it. After sponging it a little too much I lost some detail so drew some back in with a brown prismacolor pencil.
It isn't clear from the pic but the corn is glossy with diamond glaze and I added white highlights with a white Ranger inksentials pen.


Designer paper: Prima marketing
Stamps: Tom Allen, Harvest mice, Wheat and "thankful hearts" from Kim Hughes set. All CHF.
SU Oval punch.
Oval scallop nestability.
Turqoise, yellow and bronze stickles.
Judikins diamond glaze.
White inksentials pen for highlights.

Bind-it-all in action!

I've have my Bind-it-all for a while now and finally found an hour to myself to try it out. I don't think I did too badly for my first attempt. I decided on little mini books using new beer mats to form the covers, bound with 5/8" white wires from Bind-it-all. I used pink cardstock to hide where I glued the outer covers and cream cardstock (8 pages) for the interior pages. The 5/8" wire will actually hold more inner pages than this.





RECIPE
Both books are covered with a designer paper by Arctic frog. The stamped images on the front and interior pages are all by Cornish Heritage Farms.
Pink and green ribbons are by Mayarts.
Blue ribbon by A muse.
Nestabilities for the ovals and scalloped ovals.
Crop-a-dile.
Diamante from mystash.

I've included a few more snaps below for those who aren't familiar with what a Bind -it-all looks like.


There are markings on the side for cover, inner pages etc. These beer mats are 10cm square and an ideal size for one punch creating 6 holes.

This is one outer cover punched. I then needed 6 loops cut from the bind it all wire length using wire cutters. One length of wire was 24 loops ( I think) - enough for 4 mini books.


Next, I popped the wire through the holes .


As the wire diameters are 5/8", I used the guide supplied with the Bind it all to ensure the machine was at the correct setting.

These last 2 pics are a little blurry and no I didn't get free beer mats with my beer!!
Put the book into the aperture as pictured.


Pull the handle to force the wire together. The 5/8" setting prevents you from over-squeezing the handle.

Basic supplies, Bind-it-all, wires, 2 beer mats, designer paper, cardstock, glue stick, embellishments. EASY!!!