Tales From the Sofa

Hello Nomad friends.  2nd of the month and time for the Card Chain Challenge Reveal.  It's the culmination of much work by many artists and it is truly a thing of beauty.  Anyone have any ideas about why the Card Chain Challenge 'sidebar' has relocated itself as a 'footer'.  Jo, Head of Technical Services has been trying to work it out, but no joy.  My idea of 'maybe it will fix itself??' has been of little use bwahaahahaaaa.  Anyway, enough IT nonsense, lets get to the important things.....

 Update.... Ooooh, see I knew Jo was a technical genius.  Fixed.  Well done Jo.  Hugz 

I got a beautiful card from Mia in Greece and my card is winging it's way to Joanne in the UK, via two holes in the ground, a slow boat to China and a whole flock of confused pigeons.  I used the options of Postal and Friendship. 

 This evolved far from my original idea, but I hope Joanne likes the final result.  This glorious lion from Funky Fossil was actually supposed to be on another project, but once he dropped on the desk onto of that retro scrap with a couple of arrows pointed at his head it all seemed serendipitous.  The arrows and postage stamps are from an ephemera pack and the heart and sentiment are Lost Coast Designs stamps.  I coloured the lion with distress markers.

If you would like to see all the amazing card that flew around the planet for May check out the REVEAL POST. 

If you would like to join the fun SIGN UP HERE. 

Thanks for dropping by.  HUGZ

Joining the fun at
Hobby Vision Challenge 154 - Alles Mag
Show Us Your Pussies Challenge 124 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Add a Rainbow of Colour

Charlie and Friends

Hello Nomad friends.  I have been really inspired by the Crafty Individuals challenge of black and white.  I have been a follower of Crafty Individuals for many many years and love their detailed rubber stamps.  So I am sad to tell you, if you don't know already, that Jean has announced they will be closing.  Sad that another industry old friend will be departing.  The fiasco with the bankruptcy of the TV channel last year, which left many small businesses seriously out of pocket, and the continued problem with copied designs are two major factors.  I know some people still don't accept that buying cheap stolen designs from chinese sites has an impact, but it does.  Many of these familiar brands are small family owned companies.  Maybe just one or two people trying to make a living from their art and designs.  It doesn't take much to tip over the apple cart.  I will be sorry to see Crafty Individuals fade away, but I am sure I will still be using their lovely stamps for many years to come.  

Here's the card I  made today using Crafty Individuals beautiful Full Steam Ahead collage style background.  The blokes are a different stamp, 3 Wise Gentlemen, collaged onto the collage background.  I used a Paperdesigns die which is a generic happy greeting covering birthday and other celebrations, and cut a black glitter circle in two and added it for some sparkly interest.

If you would like to help Jean and Malcolm out, and get yourself a bargain, you can use the code THEBIGSALE and get 35% off your order at Crafty Individuals.

Thanks for dropping by. Hugz

Joining the fun at
De Egel Challenge 196 - Men
Stamping Sensations Challenge - AG opt. hand coloured image
We Love Stamping Challenge - Not Square opt. AG
Scrappelyst Utfordring for Januar- Gamle Skatter old favourite stamps, old favourite die, a scrappy glitter circle that has been kicking around my desk for ages.
Allsorts Challenge 814 - AG opt Pairs

May The Blue Butterfly Of Happiness Fly Over Your Birthday Cake

Hello.  Welcome. Week 12 of Claudine's Altered Playing Card Challenge and the cards themselves are pretty simple.  Take some patterned paper, stick it on your card and do some doodles.  Then Claudine added some titles and space to journal.  Now that's not really something I do.  But in the interests of getting out of the comfy chair........  Claudine's cards for week 12 are HERE

Don't know the maker of this paper.  The bird and butterfly are cut from Crafty Individuals miniature images book.  I die cut an 'I' to start my list of things I am thankful for. 

I used Prima Craftsman paper for my base, another CI butterfly and die cut 'T' to start my list of really important things.  

Joining the fun at 
Claudine's Art Corner Altered Playing Card Challenge Week 12

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

And Then There Were Three

Hello.  Welcome.  A special hellooo to Viera.  Welcome to the following.  Well, I finally got around to trying a technique I saw ages ago and though it looked interesting, if a little scary.  Basically you stick lots of bits of this and that on a canvas or card and then paint the whole thing black.  Gosh, it seems a little extreme but the effect is a total wow.  I recommend giving this a try.  It's also a great way to use up your scraps.....

I started with a piece of corrugated card that used to be packaging and ripped it in various places to expose some corrugations.  Then I stuck lots of different die cut bits and pieces on it.  Dies used on the background were all from Cheery Lynn: Hearts n' Gears, Spider Web Mesh Border, Pocket Watch, Snowflake 2, English Tea Party Doily and Spring Flower Burst Doily.  

So the scary part.  Paint it all black and.....Wow!  The texture pops.  The paint looks matt on the flat areas and glossy on the slopes of the corrugations.  Fantastic.  I didn't take a picture of the next part but I added some orange paint and then wiped the surface with a paper towel to take most away, just leaving it in the negative texture.

I cut Cheery Lynn Spider Web Border in orange and put one up each side.  I cut my owls using the brand new Cheery Lynn die Owl with Gears.  Aren't they just the cutest steampunk style ever.  These were only released a few days ago but I just had to have them.  There are both sizes in the set.  I cut them from orange patterned paper and then backed them with black glitter card.  The nest is ripped orange glitter paper.

The orange and black rose buds were made using a bead and a flower paper punch and were inspired by Irina's tutorial. 

I've put a card frame around my collage until I can get a proper frame.

My collage is joining the fun at
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 102 - Black and Orange
Papirdokkene Utfordring 52 - Orange
Die Cut Divas - Animals and Autumn
Papertake Weekly - Happy Halloween Hues

Thanks for dropping by.  Leave a little love and you might be lucky. 

Bring on The Clowns

Hello again blog friends, followers, happy hoppers.  So glad you could join me.  It's nearly the weekend and the end of the month so working hard to finish up some projects and get them posted.  Over at Altered Pages the challenge this month is Green.  What a great colour.  What a great idea.  Let's go green....

I started off by upcycling some wooden domino's I found in a charity shop.  It's the green thing to do ;-)  These places can be little treasure troves.  You never know what you will find.  I found these....

Hey 99p how can you go wrong?  Actually they are quite cute but I was thinking more the altered art possibilities......   So I sanded a few and painted them white, cos the cows were quite difficult to get rid of.  The rabbits went whoosh, but those cows were a bit persistent.   

Then I added the green collage background from Altered Pages Time Collage Backgrounds 1724D

Some patterned tape involving elements of green

Some clocks from the same Altered Pages collage sheet

Some dots of Pebeo Fantasy Prime in Emerald. 

A clown from Altered Pages Victorian Clown Collage Sheet 1153D.  I have to admit at this point that this is the second clown I used, and the second domino.  I took pictures of my first one but they were so blurred I decided to make another and try and get some better pictures second time around.  

Back to my first choice clown, because he was wearing green.  I wrapped my domino with copper tape.  This is called new wave I think.  It comes with one edge cut to a nice wave pattern so stained glass artists can look really fancy.  I bought this in the US many years ago and it wasn't available in the UK at that time.  Maybe it is now.  You have to love the bling.  I covered it all in glossy accents. 

I made a little chain of polished jade chips so he can dangle.  Very pleased.  As mentioned I made a second.  I managed, despite best efforts to get a couple of air bubbles in the glossy accents.  I pop them if I see them but these little blighters stayed hidden til it was too late.  Any tips gratefully received.   Is there another product out there anyone would like to recommend that gives a good glossy cover and is hard wearing.  I thought this would make a good key chain or dangle but don't know if the glossy accents will survive being in a pocket with keys etc.  Maybe I'll give it a test run.  I'm sure if it survives me it will do well anywhere.  

 

Here's my clownish pair.  What a great little gift.  I can see me making a small pile of these.  Must check out Altered Pages for some more fun collage images.  

Joining the fun at
Altered Pages - Green
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge -  Dotty
Craft-room Challenge - Something New this is the first time I have altered dominos
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challange - Anything Goes

Thanks for dropping by.  All comments  welcome and any tips on the glossy stuff gratefully received.  Have a great day.