J is for Jigsaw

Hello.  Welcome.  It's Sunday, which means a challenge is closing at The Craft Barn.  The Alpha/Dictionary challenge this fortnight was J with a dragonfly.   I had an idea.  Wasn't sure if it would work.  Love how it turned out.  Hugz all round.

I used PaperArtsy Winter Wonderland Plate 6.  Love this lady.  I covered my playing card with pale purple paper.  I stamped with Colorbox Plumeria chalk ink and embossed with clear powder.  Then I took a big puzzle piece, covered it with pale turquoise paper and stamped the lady again with Mermaid Lagoon distress ink and clear embossed.  Then I gave the plaid a wash with turquoise brusho and a little shimmer water.  I added a touch of turquoise to the purple layer and a touch of purple to the turquoise layer.  A couple of metal dragonfly beads for earings and the definition courtesy of the OED.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary Challenge - J and Dragonflies
Lost Coast Portal to Creativity - Women Rule 
Dare 2 B Artzy - Turquoise and Purple
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Emboss It 
WOW Embossing Powder May Challenge 

Stands On Mountains

Hello.  Welcome.  A few months ago I asked for suggestions for mixed media challenges after a couple that I followed had stopped.  One suggested blog was Things to Alter, and I have been playing along ever since.  They also have a facebook group which is filled with some really crazy gals, so I fit right in.  As a plus there is also a load of fab altered art and mixed media gorgeousness on show, so, if that floats your boat, do drop by.  

I must admit although I like altered art I don't do so much.  But I do love mixed media.  Definitions vary.  I always though you had to hit it with paper and metal and fabric and elephants for it to be mixed media, but it turns out that if you use ink and paint and brusho's then that's also mixed media.  So I have become a CAS mixed media type chick.  Then Jac, the brains behind Things to Alter asked if I would like to GDT and make a card using her MDF cuts.  Yes please!!  So here it is.  Birthday wishes from the mountain griller.

I love these MDF bits.  Surprisingly chunky, but still light.  So the card won't cos an arm and a banana to send, and they won't get crushed by Mr Post.  

I used a gold texture card base.  I ripped some paper scraps in shades of yellow and orange and arranged them on the card.  Then I cut Spellbinders Small Scallop Octagon from book paper, coloured with distress inks, and added part of it as the sun to my rays.  I cut Sizzix Mountains strip die from blue card and used part of it at the bottom of the card.

I stood Make a Wish Monkey in the mountains.  Love these monkeys.

I stamped and embossed sentiments from Rubber Dance Happy Birthday set onto Things to Alter Lolly Sticks.  It takes a bit of heat to melt the powder, but don't heat too much or it starts to sink into the MDF.  

I haven't coloured the MDF pieces.  They come this gorgeous shade of brown with extra char marks.  I think they look great 'au natural'.  

Thanks Jac for having me as a guest designer today and thank you for dropping by.  Hugz.

My wishful monkey is joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Two Weekly Challenge - Sun & Yellow
MFP Stamps Challenge 20 - Half Die Cut
Repeat Impressions DCC51 - Use Your Leftover Supplies & Paper
Our Creative Corner - Hit the Books 
The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Challenge - Collage 

Traditional and Modern

Hello.  Welcome.  I just rescued the tiniest bumble bee I have ever seen.  She wasn't even 1cm long!!  She was clinging to the asphalt in front of the house, legs full of pollen, exhausted by this wicked cold wind.  I managed to pick her up and protect her from the wind.  I carried her to the greenhouse and set her on the only flower I had there, a dahlia.  She immediately started feeding.  I hope she doesn't waste her energy flying around tonight.  I hope I will be able to let her out tomorrow so she can continue her journey.  

Tonight I was inspired by a number of challenges resulting in a CAS, asian style card with inlaid die cutting.  

I decided to go with traditional red, black and gold with the die cut, before adding the beautiful and modern girl from PaperArtsy's LPC022 set.  I die cut Sizzix Framework Chevron in red and gold mirror card.  Then I cut the black layer to give me the space to inlay the diecut.  

I stamped modern girl from LPC022, coloured with galaxy markers and fussy cut.  I added a pink bead and a couple on strings of seed beads to her hair.

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Lost Coast Portal to Creativity - Women Rule!
Twofers Challenge 19 - Asian
Happy Little Stampers May CAS Challenge - Inlaid diecutting 
AAA Cards Game 64 - Inlaid Die Cutting
Happy Little Stampers May Mixed Media Challenge - Shine  I used mirror card
Stamplorations May Challenge - Sketch and Anything Goes I was inspired by the sketch but simplified it, so maybe it's just AG!  Hugz

It's Your Turn

Hello.  Welcome.  I feel like Mr Mojo has been all bottled up and suddenly he's free and the ideas are wizzing around.  Hope I manage to catch them all before they fly out the window.  Ha Ha.   

Have you ever tried the Retiform technique?  I've used it before but I had forgotton what fun it is.  You can find a fun tutorial by Pat here.  I decided to get out my MFP Tiger stamps and combine blue and yellow. 

Yup, it's that tiger again.  Gotta love him.  I even managed to use the Yin/Yang stamps that also come in this set.  And the cute chinese proverb.  The butterflies are DRS 3 Butterflies stamp.  I used Versamark Aegean Blue chalk ink for the lines and Blueprint Sketch distress for the background stamping.  The tiger is black embossed on basic grey pp.  

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
MFP Stamp Shop Bugs and Butterflies Blog Hop
DRS Designs Challenge 226 - It's a Guy Thing
Lost Coast Portal to Creativity Challenge 24 - Splash of Neon or Brights 
Twofers Challenge 19 - Asian
Penny Black and More May Challenge - Anything Goes 

Log Jam

Hello.  Welcome.  I'm back.  Sigh of relief.  The visitor from England has gone home.  The new greenhouse is up and in the process of being filled with plants.  The grill cabin foundations are in place and I have found some time to craft!  Hurrah.  I've missed being here.  Look out for a bit of a blitz.   

Saw this fun tutorial by Sandy at MFP on making a pop out flower card.   

I was going to go with the Rubber Dance Challenge colours of pink, blue and brown but my pink went red, and my blue was not dusky, so I changed it up to red, white and blue.  I used Cheery Lynn Spring Flower Burst doily and angel wing to make my pot.  I folded the angel wing to make my pot pop out.  The flowers are from Rubber Dance Antique Botanicals.  I stamped, black embossed and coloured with Ost Red Brusho's and Stormy Sky distress ink.  I sponged a square of Salty Ocean distress ink, added my pot, arranged the fussy cut flowers and added a couple of Cheery Lynn Mini Dimensional Butterflies. 

If you want to buy Rubber Dance Stamps you can get

15% off with my code gail2016 

So nice that you dropped by.  I'll be back soon I hope.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
MFP Stamp Shop Bugs and Butterflies Blog Hop
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 229 - Red, White and Blue
MFP Stamp Shop Challenge 19 - CAS and Spring 
Hjerteboden Mai Utfordring - Bruk Blomster 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Flowers 
Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday April 2016 - Flowers 

Owl Be Your Friend

Hello.  Welcome.  I am proud to be a link in Deborah's Card Chain Challenge.  Here's the card I sent to Jane in the UK last month.  

I was sort of inspired by the sketch, and cats.   OK, maybe friendship.  But that's a wonderful thing to be inspired by, I'm sure you will agree.  The owl is Unity Journaling Owl coloured with distress inks and sharpies.  The sentiment is from Crafty Individuals

If you would like to make a card and send it to someone on planet earth and get a card from someone on planet earth then sign up for the May exchange HERE
You can see the whole April reveal HERE

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
Nordsalten Hobbyklubb #138 - Fargelegging 
Crafty Individuals Challenge - Anything Goes 
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny Black and More Challenge - Anything Goes

S is for Siren

Hello.  Welcome.  Just a quick post for another altered playing card.

I kept this one pretty simple.  I used two mdf pieces from Things to Alter, the small mermaid and the circle flourish.  I have coloured with distress inks.  Mustard Seed hair went yellow.  Blueprint Sketch skin looking a little smokey.  Mermaid Lagoon tail looking very green.  Interesting.  I strategically added a small shell and the dictionary definition from OED.  I am looking at the second definition - dangerously fascinating woman - but maybe that shell has multiple uses........

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Joining the fun at
The Craft Barn Alpha Dictionary Challenge - S and a shell
Things to Alter Challenge - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes