Ebony, Ivory, Living In Perfect Harmony

Hello.  Welcome.  I can hear you singing it.  Go on, admit it.  Over at The Craft Barn it's the final Q&L Challenge.  I haven't managed all of the years challenges but I've joined in with quite a few.  This time I chose a lyric rather than a quote.  I've used the refrain from Ebony and Ivory, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder.  

Since I still had my brayer and paints out I decided to do another inky background.  I've gone a bit more purple, orange, yellow and heavy on the white smudges to counteract the darker colours.  Using Kaisercraft Grafitti and Unity Chickenwire stamps. 

The song talks about keyboards and people so I decided to try my very poor painting skills to give me a keyboard type thingy.  OK, not exactly the perfect rendition I had in mind and I can't believe I covered up that lovely painty background!!  Although some of it is still peeking through.  Then I realised I had a problem.  With it being all  black and white do I write with a black or a white pen??  Uhhhhh......  So I decided to write my quote with my stripes.  Then I had visions of zebras.  ???

My writing didn't come out as well as I would have liked but I do like the stripey legs and arms.  They are from a Flonzcraft stamp set called Zebra Hands and Legs.  Funky.  They look like they are dancing along.   Another fun sign for the smallest room.  

Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Faith and or Harmony
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Pick a Fave I picked anything goes
Stampotique Designers Challenge 176 - Anything Goes Week 4
That Craft Place - Anything Goes  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hope you don't get that song stuck in your head.  Hugz

2.4 Kids

Hello.  Welcome.  It's that time when my entry for The Craft Barn's Q&L challenge is due and I have to admit this was a tricky one.  The words were destiny and gift and after checking over at brainyquote I remained uninspired.  So I thought about it a bit and decided to find out what people thought was the greatest gift.  So I put that into the search engine and wow, that's interesting.  It seems the greatest gift vary widely, from the mundane to the ridiculous and serious places in between.  Luckily I decided that I liked the American author Dennis Waitley's definition.  He says

"The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots

of responsibility and the wings of independence"

Sounds good to me

I decided I was going to use Stampotique's Birdy Up stamp so I popped over to see what their challenge is this week and it's pink, purple and black.  Ooh, delicious.  So that's where the colour scheme came from.  I found a large pink card and stamped PaperArtsy feather in various shades of purple.  I stamped each colour and then clear embossed it , which allowed me to wipe off any ink and gave me a masking effect without the masks.  Then I stamped a Crafty Individuals script stamp all over and wiped any excess ink off the embossed areas. 

I cut three trees using Sizzix Tree, Green die out of some paper I brayered with black and purple.  I stamped Birdie Up on a piece of Crafty Individuals background paper and cut them out.  I liked the flowers so I left them attatched to the birdy on the left and added a couple more on the right.  The birds above the trees are a Crafty Individuals stamp and the pink flowers were cut using Cheery Lynn BAF#3 embellishment die.  I added a purple rhinestone to each

 

Getting the quote on gave me some challenges.  I didn't want to print it out on paper and obscure the background and the pens I had didn't want to write on my background.  I tried acetate, but that was only a semi-success.  Then I struck on the idea of writing on white tissue paper and gluing that on.  Perfect.  The background still shows through and my quote is legible.  

Joining the fun at

The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Destiny and/or Gift

Stampotique Designers Challenge 169 - Black, Purple and Pink

STAMPlorations October Challenge - Stamps and Embossing

Thanks for your visit.  Hope you are having a great weekend.  Hugz

We All Need A Friend

Hello.  Welcome.  Happy World Card Making Day.  Hope you are getting some crafty time in.   Lots of fun things happening in blogland today.  Here's a little whimsical entry for The Craft Barn's Q&L Challenge.  This fortnight it was Patience or Better.  Well, I've never had much patience so I went with better

I used a quote by Helen Keller

'Walking with a friend in the dark is better

than walking alone in the light'

Little Hoo Hoo is in total agreement with Helen.  Much better to have a friend on a night like this.  He's not so sure of the light bit, being a bit more of a night owl.  

I stamped Stampotique's Little Hoo Hoo and DRS's Spooky Eyes Background and embossed with white embossing powder.  I really need one of those anti-static doo dahs!! It was a nightmare, bwahahahahaha, getting all the excess white powder off the black card.  I wrote my quote with my trusty white gelly roll pen and also added a bit of something for Monster to stand on.  I mounted the panel on a grey pearlised card base.  

Joining the fun at

The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Patience/Better 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Finishing Touch 
Virginia's View Challenge 8 - CAS 

Thanks for your visit.  Hugz

Autumn Angel

Hello.  Welcome.  As usual things have taken longer than I expected but I am pleased with the finished result so maybe that's all that matters.  Unless the linky closes before I get this posted!!   Then I will be slightly disappointed.  But not so much.  I really enjoyed creating this in response to The Craft Barn's Q&L Challenge of Childhood and Cheery Lynn wanted Things With Wings.  I thought the quote I used and butterflies go well together.  I always think the change from caterpillar to butterfly is pretty secret and mysterious too. 

I used Basic Grey Indian Summer Brandied Melon paper, which is quite red in the real, but I can't seem to adjust my levels so they don't look pink.  I'll try another photo tomorrow under natural light.  Just think autumn reds LOL.  I stamped Cornish Heritage Farm Sweet One Collage in black archival and made a frame using parts of Cheery Lynn Southern Charm Valance.  I cut Cheery Lynn Dream Catchers #2, Dandelions, and Mini Dimensional Butterflies from the same paper and also some Sizzix leaves.  I wrote out the quote

Childhood has it's secrets and it's mysteries,

but who can tell or who can explain them

This is a quote by to Max Muller, a German educator who died in 1900

This ended up A4 size!  I am getting quite a few nice signs for my wall with some really good quotes.    

Joining the fun at

Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 150 - Things With Wings
The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Childhood/Easier 
Stampotique Designers Challenge 165 - One Stamp 
The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Challenge - Autumn Colours
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday August 2014 - Stamping

Thanks for your visit.  Hugs

Grateful For Small Mercies

Hello.  Welcome.  I was working on a little something for Stampotique, where I haven't had much chance to play recently, and also for Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, cos I do like Simon.  Then The Craft Barn published their new challenge and, lo and behold, it fits perfectly.  So I will be able to link there in the first few hours, rather than the last few, as usually happens.

 
I stamped Stampotique's Birdy Up onto kraft card and masked.  I used Hero Arts Lotus Background stamp with VersaMark ink and white embossing powder.  I cut family using Sizzix movers and shapers family die.  The other words were stamped using Anita's woodblock letters.  I added some white highlights to my bird family and cut a bow from the same embossed card for the daughter of the family (first from left, in case you weren't sure)  

I used the quote 'Insanity runs in my family'  Although I was almost certain that me and my sister have said this at some point, according to brainyquotes.com the only person in the world ever to have uttered these words is Cary Grant.  Way to go Cary. 

Joining the fun at
Stampotique Designers Challenge 159 - Bows
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - In The Family 
The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Family/Thing
A Blog Named Hero Challenge 49 - Die a Little
WOW Embossing Powder August Challenge - Monochrome 

Thanks for your visit.  Hugs

Signs Of Life

Hello.  Welcome.  So glad you could join me.  A special hi to Dangina who has just joined my lovely followers.  I value you one and all.  Big hugs all round.  

We have just had a little storm with a bit of thunder and lightning just to make it interesting.  Some rain as well.  The plants are really enjoying that.  It's cleared the air a little although it's still roasty toasty in my little crafty space.  Working on my entry for The Craft Barn Q&L challenge whilst also taking advantage of inspiration from Kate Yetter who has been wowing us over at PaperArtsy this week.  Here's mine....

 

I spritzed with dilute FF Peacoat and some orange paint.  I applied DI Walnut Stain through a mask, sent to me by LaVon, that she had cut with her Silhouette.   Thanks LaVon.  The script stamp is from Crafty Individuals.  The lady is from PaperArtsy LPC001 coloured with ColourBox Chalks.  The quote is from Albert Einstein.  I thought it went well with my lady, who looks like she has somewhere to go, and also covers both the Q&L words.  I added a doodled border that I have decided to call Signs Of Life.  

 

I liked it so much I made another one.  The same but different.  Using a stamp from LPC003 and another quote from Mr Einstein.  Did you know Einstein translates as 'one stone' in Norwegian??  The mind boggles........

Joining the fun at

PaperArtsy 

The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Logic/Imagination 

Country View Challenge - Stencil It 

Papirdokkene Utfordring 61 - Vi To Hører Sammen 

Thanks for dropping by.   Got to go and do a bit of work now.  It's a bit late but luckily it stays light till around 11o'clock still so I should be able to see the pesky thistles.  Take care.  Hugs

Game On

Hello.  Welcome.  An extra special Hi to LaVon who has joined our merry little following.  So glad to have you along.  Despite the simple appearance of this ATC it did take a lot longer than it should of to put together.   I'm admitting this cos it sometimes seems that people throw 50 elements at the page and they all fall in perfect order and a wonderful project is born.  If you are one of those lucky people for whom design comes easy I am glad for you, and a little bit jealous.  

Over at Wicked Wednesday the theme was clouds.  The tricky bit came when I wanted to cover The Craft Barn Q&L challenge.  Not so much space on an ATC so I needed a quote that fitted, both the theme and the space.  I think I like the result.  Always nice to get out of the comfort zone. 

I used two Memory Box dies, Calm Countryside and Golf Club Landscape and pink and white card.  The quote is by the French Novelist Anatole France.  There wasn't space to write her name as well but I am starting to think it's a bit like the three monkeys and the typewriters.  Have I said this before??  Anyway, the theory was, now disproved, although how you prove or disprove this I do wonder!!!  Oh yes, the theory was that if you gave three monkeys, probably the three wise monkeys, typewriters and enough time they would eventually write the bible.  I think that must have been a bloke that thought that one up.  A woman wouldn't even waste time formulating such a stupid idea, or even wondering at the possibility.  The reason I mention this is because I am fairly sure that anything we say has already been said so either it's all quotes, or it's all new.  I mean, if someone said it already am I in breach of copywrite when I talk!!!  It's enough to make the midnight brain cell roll it's eyes in exasperation.

I was going to delete all that nonsense but maybe someone will agree, or disagree.  Maybe it will at least generate a comment or two.  Just in case the art doesn't.  LOL  ROFL  Oooof!

Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Path / Horizon
Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge 144 - Clouds
7 Kids Challenge 103 - Anything Goes 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugs.  Oh, Teddy says thanks for all the lovely comments.  Although we mustn't let stardom go to his head.  Even as cute as that is. 

Splish Splash Splat

Hello.  Welcome.  An extra big welcome to my newest follower Larelle-Susanne.  So glad you have joined our happy band.  

So, when is a splash not a splash?  When it's a splat.  Or a sploosh.  Or a splish.  Hopefully this is a splash.  I think so anyway.  There have been heated discussions on the matter.  I blame it on the cake.........   

I found a great quote for The Craft Barn Q & L Challenge for the word Unique.  I have also been thinking about the CASology challenge where the cue card says Splash.  Hence the previous discussion.  I really like 'simple' but often find 'clean' to be the biggest challenge.  Messy crafter at work.  Anyway, I tried really hard and, by Jove, I think I got it.   
 

My quote is from Margaret Mead, listed as an American Scientist.  If what I've read is anything to go by she sounds like a very sensible woman.  Good on you.  I've used 'Always remember that you are absolutely unique.  Just like everyone else.'  Fabulous advice.   So I used red acrylic paint for my splash of colour.  Every splash is also very unique, so I figured it was perfect. The letters were hand written by me.  Keeping it simple.  

Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Unique/Fame 
CASology Week 95 - Splash 

Thanks for dropping by.  Have a great evening.  Hugs

Shoes Or Chocolate?

Hello.  Welcome.  Another sunny day here in Norway.  Despite the cold wind blowing I was very good and did some weeding so the crafting has taken a back seat today.  That said, it's Saturday.  The Craft Barn's Q&L Challenge is closing in a few hours so here's my idea.  I went to brainyquotes to look for a suitable quote for either of the challenge words.  I found something about a little bit of chocolate doesn't hurt.  That took me to give us your money and nobody gets hurt and a cat with a pistol.  But that's a line from a movie and a total nother story but it reminded me of shoes.  Sorry but yes my brain does work like this most of the time.  Are you still with me???   Where were we?  Oh yes, shoes and an embossing folder.......

I've used a piece of patterned paper that had a big shoe on it (manufacturer unknown) and one of the Docrafts Born to Shop embossing folders.  Some fancy work with the top plate on the Bigshot and I managed to just emboss the words onto the patterned paper.  I went over them with a black sharpie and then decided to outline with white pen to make them stand out.  I almost forgot to photo but this halfway step is quite cool I think.  I have also distressed the edge and gone round with different colour DI.  Usually I stick to a single colour but I really like this effect.    

I embossed the Shoe Shopper on white card, coloured her with DI Dried Marigold, Picked Raspberry and Salty Ocean and fussy cut her.  Then I mounted the panel on a base card made from patterned paper from DCWV Cherry Limeade Stack.  

Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Knowledge/ Hurt
Bunny Zoe's Crafts April Challenge - Distress 
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday April 2014 

Thanks for your visit.  Something else to blog later.  Once I finish it LOL.  Hope you are having a fun, sunny, crafty weekend.  Hugs

Left Right Straight On

Hello.  Welcome.  Hope you are having a great day.  Has spring sprung with you yet??  We've had lots of weather today.  Rain, wind, sun, sleat, hail, thunder.......   That's what the weatherman calls changeable!!  Hope it changes for the better soon.   Over at PaperArtsy Ellen Vargo has been wowing with some great techniques.  I decided to combine this with my entry for The Craft Barn Q&L challenge where this fortnight the words are Art and Road.  I found a quote I liked (thanks Brainyquotes) by Les Brown, an American businessman,

'Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life' 

I started with a brayer background.  I wanted to keep it light so I used pale yellow, bright yellow, orange and burnt umber.  Then I stencilled with white acrylic using PaperArtsy stencil PS007.  I also stamped with some plaster board tape to give the broken net effect. 

 

For full details on how to get here you need to check out Ellen's posts.  I have stamped leaves from ELBo4 in black and added some ripped map paper.  I used a black tripaint pencil to outline the map paper.  These are water soluble like the ones Ellen used.  Then I had to get brave!!  I did a sketchy circle with my black promarker and then the first bit of the quote.  I missed out the 'the' but can't do anything about that now!!  It still makes some sense.  The only white pen that wanted to play this afternoon was a Gelly Roll.  Then I added some arrows and the jalopy cut using Sizzix Movers and shapers set.  The jalopy is embossed and coloured as per yesterdays post.  This is quite big to be a card.  May have to frame it.  I like the lettering but definitely something to practice. 

Joining the fun at

The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Art/Road

PaperArtsy

ALBC - Are We There Yet?

Die Cut Diva's - Embossing

Thanks for your visit.   Love reading all your comments.  Keep 'em coming.  Whatever you feel like saying is OK by me.  Hugs

Having a Brayer Moment

Hello.  Welcome.  I've been getting all painty again with my brayer.  Brayer times are good times.  If you haven't tried this technique you should give it a go.  I find it's very liberating. 

Grab some paints and brayer away.  Then I added some white paint through the new Memory Box Shine stencil and some white stamping using a script stamp from PaperArtsy LPC003.  Sorry, forgot to photo.  Having too much fun.  But here's the finished card....

 

I've used a quote I found at brainyquote.com for the Craft Barn Q&L Challenge Strong.  The tree I cut using Memory Box Frosted Christmas Tree and MME Quite Contrary Paper.  I shaded the embossed areas with green ink and then cut two more trees in dark green to offset above and below the front tree to give a shadow.  It also gives a nice chunky raised embellishment.  

My not so Christmas tree  joining the fun at

The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Strong/Miss

Country View Challenge 12 - Painty Pleasures

Thanks for your visit and your kind comments.  One more project I hope to get finished as tonight we have been invited to friends for dinner.  Isn't it lovely when someone else is doing the cooking?  Take care.  Hugs

Painting On Silence

Hello.  Welcome.  Well, two weeks has wizzed by and there are only a few hours left to post over at The Craft Barn's Q & L Challenge.  This time the words were Silence and Dazzle.  I immediately thought of Simon and Garfunkel and The Sound of Silence but despite racking my little noggin I wasn't sure how to make that into a card.  So still feeling musical I found a great quote by Leopold Stokowski, a British conductor of Polish descent.  Here's my depiction of 

"A painter paints his pictures on canvas.  But musicians paint their pictures on silence.  We provide the music, and you provide the silence"  Leopold Stokowski

I embossed a piece of silver cardstock with Sizzix Carnivale folder.  I stuck a piece of velum to the same cardstock and cut a long triangle and added it to the embossed card.  I printed the quote onto white card, after messing about a bit with the fonts, distressed the edge and added DI Vintage Photo.  The notes were cut with Sizzix Music Notes die, coloured with various DI's and stamped with ColourBox Imperial Achival Dye ink using a script stamp.  I used the same ink around the card edge and smudged it around a bit.   The bee is a Crafty Individuals stamp. 

This card joining the fun at

The Craft Barn Q & L Challenge - Silence Dazzle

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes 

Thanks for dropping by.  Back soon. 

In a Beautiful Balloon

Hello.  Welcome.  It's a little bit windy here.  Can't-stand-up-in-it-windy.  It's been howling and blowing for two days and they say we will have two days more!!  Oh, goody.  Time to craft. 

At the end of 2013 a few challenges I regularly joined finished.  So I have been looking around and found a few new ones to join in with.  This opens up new opportunities to be inspired by new DT's, by fellow crafters I may not have previously met and to see new ways to use items in my stash.  One blog I came across is running something called the Card Chain Challenge.   It's an interesting idea.    You make a card using a wide range of criteria set by Deborah.  Then you link up.  The card you make you send to the person who linked before you on the list.  The person who links after you sends you a card.  Everyone wins!!  I thought I'd give it a go.  It's always nice to receive snail mail and this will be surprise mail from someone you probably haven't met.  What fun.  So I have linked up and will be sending a card to Greta in Oregan.  Hi Greta.  Still a couple of days to link up.  Check it out and join the fun. 

I have completed one of the many unfinished projects on my desk.  I made a card using an image from Paper Smooches and the colours from their picture inspiration...

 

I downloaded a couple of free digi images from Paper Smooches, one of which was a very cute squirrel.  He was hanging from a Hi but I thought he really needed a balloon.  This then gave me an idea to include The Craft Barn's Q & L Challenge.  

 

I used a piece of ds cardstock from The Little Yellow Bicycle for the card base.  I added a layer of yellow construction paper embossed with Sizzix Rays and added a hint of a tint.  The balloon was cut using a DoCrafts die and embosssed with Sizzix Cirque.  I distressed the edge and used Memento London Fog on the edge and also on the embossed area.  I printed the squirrel onto white card, coloured it very lightly with pencil and cut it out. 

I attached him to the balloon using dark grey embroidery thread and added some computer generated words.   That's the famous song 'Up Up and Away', lyrics by Jimmy Webb, sung by lots of people......... I did think it was called "Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon" but turns out that's the first line but not the title.  You probably knew that.........

My card joining the fun at
Paper Smooches SPARKS - Picture Perfect Challenge  
The Craft Barn Q&L Challenge - Smile/Up 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Emboss It 

Thanks for your visit.  Hope your aren't having too much weather.  Take care, have a great weekend.