From Little Acorns...

Another 2 stamps from the Lovely as a Tree stamp set by Stampin Up, I used one (the leaf) to make a background and the other ( the oak tree) as a main focal point.

A bit of matting and layering some patterned paper a ribbon and a couple of brads to finish the card.

Attention to detail...

After stamping the image with a water based inks, I took a damp paint brush and lightly blended the tree and shadow underneath it. It gives the impression of a watercolour painting.

Talking of little acorns Lauren stopped by with Jack, he was 3 weeks old on Thursday.

Jack was weighed and he is now 9Lb 11oz he's a Hungry Horace and loves his tucker.

Grandad took him out for a walk and on his way back he popped to the cemetery and introduced young Jack to my Dad Great Grandad Jack, I thought that was so sweet of him.

He said he was talking away to them both much to a ladies amazement who was there visiting a loved one.

In Bloom

In Bloom stamp set by Papertrey Ink, I love how this has come together.

A bit of sponging, a bit of water colouring and a bit of matting and layering.

Of Course once I'd finished one then I couldn't stop and had to make another.

Summer by the Sea - Boating Lady

Another from the Stamping Up set Summer by the Sea.

This one is a lady just dipping her toes into the water a very relaxing image.

I stamped the image with distress inks, the background stamped onto the base card is a flourish from silent night Papertrey Ink stamp set a few pearls some die cutting with the Nestabilities and a spiral punched card stock and tied together with a lush green ribbon.

A closer view of the image the shading was done with a paintbrush and the same distress ink.

Stamping Up - Sand Castle

Summer by the Sea stamp set by Stamping Up was used to stamp the the little boy building a sand castle sketch and the sentiment both stamped with Chocolate Chip ink.
I also used a spriral punch to create the the notebook edges.
This is the second card in a set of 3 cards that I have planned

I used a Kraft coloured base card then cut a smaller cream square.

Using the Chocolate Chip ink I water coloured the image, I used the spiral punch down the edge of theis and 2 other papers one in a dark chocolate colour and the other a sepia script paper then tore all of the edges abd used the ink and sponged all of the papers I then layered it all together before adding the knotted rafia.

Summer by the Sea - Couple

Summer by the Sea stamp set by Stamping Up was used to stamp the couple sketch and the sentiment both stamped with brocade blue ink.

I also used a spriral punch to create the the notebook edge.

This is the first in a set of 3 cards that I have planned

I stamped the white base card with a dandilion stamp in the blue ink then cut a smaller blue square and used the swiss dots embossing folder and ran it through the Cuttlebug using a white ink pad I swiped it over the embossed dots then distressed the edges of the blue square.

Using the blue ink I watercoloured the image and layered it all together before adding the flower decorated with crushed glass glitter.

I used 3 Sakura Flower Punches by Carla and added crushed glass glitter to the edges before layering them on top of each other.

Don't forget to enter to win the full set of Flippin' Men Decoupage your last chance will be Friday 30th January see here for details

Bridge Over troubled Watercolour

I stamped the bridge by Art Impressions onto watercolour paper then painted the scene in with distress inks I love watching it develop into a scene.

Most of the painting is trial and error and I find myself painting a little bit and then walking away from it for a while before going back and painting in a little more.

In this shot you can see how I have embossed the base card with the scalloped oval Nestabilities then cut out the watercolour painting with the plain oval and glued it on top.

I used liquid pearls to dot around the painting.

Watercolour Village Mens Card

This clear unmounted stamp is made by Art Impressions and is called AI Clear - English Countryside Garden set 2 I stamped the row of houses with distress inks then set to with a paintbrush, it was quite fun painting my own trees as I didn't really know for sure how it would turn out but I have to say I quite like the results.

Stamped Beach Scene Card

Simply stamped an shaded with a little watercolour, the edges were distressed then inked with the ocean tides ink by PTI, I found some raffia in my craft stash and plaited it and adheared it to the card,

I Punched out a couple ofstar fish with craft punches and coloured with watercolour pencils the compass is from the Father knows best Stamp set by PTI.

Floral Craft - Cymbidium Orchid

A hand made orchid made from Craft Punch shapes although this one was made specifically for the Cymbidium Orchid.

I used the label nestabilities die cut shapes to mount the orchid onto and stamped some quotes from PTI Stamps.

I scored the base card and rounded the corners with a corner rounder punch then tied a top notch ribbon around the center of the card.

A close up view of the floral punch craft Orchid. you can see how I painted the petals on this view.

Hero Arts - Dandelion Stamp

This every day card was made using the Hero Arts Dandelion Stamp.

Make a wish then blow!

I coloured it with water colour pens misted it with water and stamped onto smooth white card, depending how much you spray the stamp will depend on the effect you get, this one was sprayed 3 times, you can get a more abstract effect by spraying more.

I used a background paper by Anna Griffin and glittered it with stickles glue.

I layered it together using nestabilities for the scalloped rectangle and tied it all together with a ribbon and a couple of pearls.

I finally managed to get a card put together (decorating to blame) I was panicking not knowing when I would get back to my card making.

Penny Black Stamp - Mother card

A watercolour technique is used to create the Penny Black Curlicue real flower stamp image that you see on this card, I used water colour felt tipped pens to colour directly onto the rubber stamp I then sprayed the stamp with a fine mist of water a couple of sprays then stamp onto the card, this gives the effect of hand painted flowers, now isn't that amazing?

I layered up with Nestabilities and a pretty Once upon a time paper.

I used a previously made up blossom and added a ribbon to finish.

Christmas Pudding Card

I used a Pink Petticoat image for this card, I thought it would be a perfect Christmas card for Lauren my Daughter who is expecting our first Grandchild.

Isn't it a fun image?

I coloured it with Tombo oens and layered it up ontop of Nestabilies die shapes, I printed the wording and holly directly onto the card from publisher on my computer.

I ribbon and a bit of stickles glue to finish.

Floral Craft - November Blog Hop (Floral Frenzy)

I was thrilled when I saw the theme for this months Blog Hop as most of you will know I have been adding making and adding flowers to my card making for a few month now.

I used the Silent Night Flourish By Papertrey Ink to stamp a background onto the white base card, I made up the Flower (instruction's are below) and added in to the top corner of the card,

Using the Nestabilities Label Die I cut out the 2nd largest shape and folded it in half and stamped the Everyday Blessing sentiment on the front

I attached the label onto the card and tied a ribbon around the bottom of the card and knotting it.

This is the inside of the Nestabilities folded Label, I cut paper with the next size down Label die and stamped sentiment from Everyday Blessings inside

Making the Flower

Cut out all of the pieces from the template (template at the bottom of post).

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1. First to make the stamen colour on both sides as shown in the template and snip with scissors to fringe the edge starting at the thin yellow end add a small amount of glue to the edge that wasn't fringed then tightly roll from the thin end finishing a the thick end of the shape the glue will hold this in place. once the glue is dray open(splay) the fringing so it looks like the stamen in the picture below.

2.Cut out 8 of the large petal shapes then using water colours paint the colour shading onto the shapes starting at the blunt end getting light to the pointed end you can see this shading in the picture below.

Once dry cup them by rolling an embossing tool inside the petal shapes. Then pinch the the blunt end of the petal this is the end you will glue onto the daisy shape petals.

3. Take the daisy and push into the center with an embossing tool then add a little glue to each of the daisy petals and attach the main coloured flower petals leaving a little gap in the centre now add the stamen by adding glue into the centre of the flower.

4. Cut some leaf shapes and score with a pointed tool (darning needle) the leaf veins and attach these to the bottom of the flower

Of Course I needed a box for the card so used the same method as the card I made a smaller flower for the top.

Flower Petal templates

Brother Birthday - Stamped Tin Bth

I just love this Tin Bath Stamp (my own)I gave it another airing as it is my Brothers Birthday and although I can vaguely remember the tin bath I am sure he will have memories of it as there is 11 years difference between us.

I stamped it in black versafine ink then used my watercolours to paint it I used K&Co background paper and distressed down the edges. The sentiment is by Papertrey Ink and I used a cuttlebug ribbon slider to add it to.

Azalea's - Floral Craft

Although my head is still filled with blancmange I thought I would get back to my Floral Craft and make a couple of Azalea's, they are made using the large balloon punch and colouring the shapes with water colours then adhering them to a strip of paper and rolloing the paper up, then the odd tweek here and there and then adding leaves.

A simple stamped vine on the base card and a couple of nestabilities label shapes and finished with a ribbon.

A close up view of the flowers

Teal Beauty

Started with a 15 x15cm card stamped in ocean tides ink by Papertrey Ink and a feather image by Clarity Stamps and created a background for the base of the card, I used a teal and pink paper by HOTP down one side and stamped the lady image onto cream card stock with the ocean tides ink, I used the same ink to colour the shawl added a pink ribbon and a floral craft blossom and a couple of pearls to finish

The Old Boot

Such an easy stamp for a mans card, the old boot stamp is a clear stamp by Dimension Forth, stamped in black versafine then coloured with water colour pencils & layered onto cream card a black base card, scored with the Scor-Pal a bit of torn paper and a ribbon to finish

Floral Punch Craft - Hourglass Flowers

Lots of parts to each one of these flowers starting with 6 petals all to be water coloured and shaded, 1 base to attach the petals to after shaping them, 1 calyx cut and shaped and a stem which I have to say was a tricky little beggar.
The instructions for the flower can be found in Floral Punch Craft VI by Leone Em.
I used a white 15 x 15cm base card and stamped the leaves using Papertrey Ink Beautiful Blooms stamp set I used the oval Nestabilities to cut out the plaque to site the flowers onto and I embossed the top oval with the Swiss Dots folder, I made up the flower arrangement and tied it secure with a thin white ribbon then tied the Spring Moss satin ribbon around the base of the card.

A closer view at the flowers