A Inky Mess #5 and 31DOH Day 25

This month is flying by isn't it! The nights are definitely drawing in now too, seems it's darker much earlier now. And with only just under a week until the clocks go back - it will soon be even earlier!

Today I'm sharing a gorgeous Ikes Art design for Challenge #5 over at A Inky Mess. The background paper is called Poe Paper and the image is Vaguely Goth. Both can be found over at Ike's Art website where all her images can be purchased.

This is a page in my art journal - I've not done much in it of late and this image was crying out for me to do a page. I started out with the Poe Papers png which I printed out on purple card stock. I ripped and distressed the edges then edged with Stazon in Soot Black. I found another piece of paper stock from Tim Holtz Idea-Ology paper stack that coordinated with the purple, and ripped this and edged the same. I glued them onto the page, and then with black acrylic paint, I painted round and onto the papers. I used a mini rounds stencil from The Crafters Workshop and texture paste for the grungy effect. Once dry I went over the textured areas with Cosmic Shimmer gilding wax in blush to add some shine and colour.

The Vaguely Goth image was coloured using Promarkers, then I added definition in the hair, eyes, lips and neck studs with my Polychromos pencils. I fussy cut her out and glued her to the page. Using my Dymo label maker I typed an EAP quote and stuck it onto the page and outlined with my FC Pitt pen in Black.

I am entering this into the following challenges:



I hope you enjoyed this project, please do leave a comment as this means a lot to me.

Thanks for stopping by

Michelle xxx

SheepSki Design Challenge and 31DOH Day 24

Just under a week left before the spookiest night of the year...wooooooooo.

It's been a strange month for me - I'd had huge plans for the month that didn't really take off - including being able to do every day for 31 Days of Halloween. But I won't dwell on the negative, but think ahead for next year and go for it again. All's not lost. I've enjoyed looking at the others who joined in the blog hop and you can find all the entrants on the left hand side of my blog.

I'm so excited to be part of a talented digital designer's design team. I've used Andrea's designs whilst working for other design teams, so when I was chosen to be part of her team I was overjoyed. She does her challenge blog on Facebook. So this is my first project for SheepSki Designs Digital Stamps and I've used Claire Bear. If you wish to purchase Claire Bear or any other SheepSki digital stamp, you can get 10% off your purchase when you use the promo code: SKIMICHELLE10 - simply go to the shop and put the code in the promo box before checkout.

I used some coloured card stock from my stash in purple and green and cut the purplle to fit on the base card with a border showing round. I cut the green card stock in half and on the first half I embossed haunted house onto it (it's behind Claire Bear) and on the other I embossed a diamond/harlequin design. These were cut to size to fit with a border purple showing. I found a piece of ribbon similar in colour to the purple card and stuck it vertically where the join of both green pieces of card was. I coloured Claire Bear with my Promarkers and then went over with my Polychromos pencils to accentuate areas. I used a sentiment from Kenny K I had bought last month, and cut it out using a die from my stash. I stuck it down over the ribbon. I had some cool harlequin diamond washi tape in my stash so used that top and bottom of the green card. Finally I cut Claire Bear out and stuck her on the left piece of card.

 

I do hope you come join us over at Sheepski Designs Digital Stamps Challenge

I am entering this card into the following challenges:  

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget to comment to show some love.

Michelle xxx

Fantasy Crafters Challenge #4 and 31DOH Day 18

It's almost upon us!! This time of year is my favourie time - the colours of the leaves changing and that crisp feel to the air, hot chocolate and warm jumpers and of course - Halloween and Bonfire Night! Of course, my body disagrees with me but I tend to try to ignore its protests as I gleefully look forward to all things spooky and dark.

There's been a gap between my last 31DOH make and this one, due to health issues, but here's one I made for a DT inspiration, and there will be more to follow so do pop by on the blog hop.

Hannah Lynn has brought out some fabulous digital stamps just for the occasion and we at Fantasy Crafters DT had the honour of choosing from her newest spooky creations - aren't we lucky!! I chose Batty Over You. If you look ever so closely you'll see a cute little face peeking out - a tiny bat she's holding.

I used my Polychromos pencils to colour the main image in, blending with the white pencil. I wanted to add more to the scene, so chose a freebie image from Sheepski Designs called Hallow Hall and coloured that in with mostly blacks and greys, and added some warm candle glow to the windows and open door for suitable effect. I found a piece of A5 Gorjuss Girls paper that was the perfect colour so cut the cute girlie off for use another time and used the remainder as my paper background.  I fussy cut both the house/moon and the girl out and glued them on top of the paper. I needed something else... I found a cute cobweb die cut leftover from last year's stash, and printed off a suitable sentiment from a digi set I bought from Kenny K stamps. I edged the wording after cutting round it roughly, with Stazon ink in Soot Black to take away some of the starkness.

Think it came out pretty cute! What do you think? Hope you like it too.

I will be entering this card into the following:
Crafty Calendar Challenge - Halloween
Lets Craft & Create - #118 Halloween
Sasayaki Glitter - Halloween
Left of Centre - #152 Halloween
Simply Create Too - #120 Halloween
Crafts & Me - World Card Making Day
Dream In Darkness - October

Thanks for stopping by! Do post a comment to show some love.

Michelle xx

Ike'sworld Challenges #74 Girl Power

Hi again!

It's been a while - in fact, it's been far too long, since I last picked up a pen/pencil or papers and glue and I've missed it so much, and have to admit to feeling completely sorry for myself.

But in light of what month it is and indeed, what we are focusing on for this month's challenge at Ike'sworld Challenges, I am very grateful for what health I do have still.

This month is Think Pink, specifically 16th October and we have a special theme

Girl Power.

For my Design Team inspirational project I chose the lovely freebie everyone who is a follower of the challenge can download and use (not just for this challenge, and indeed, you don't have to use it to enter). She's such a strong image I just had to use her. She's called Think Pink.

I printed the digital stamp onto Copics marker paper and used my Promarkers to colour her, then went over her hair and face with my Polychromos pencils to add definition. She was fussy cut ready to add to the card once I'd finished layering it up. I used papers from my Wild Rose Studio Vintage Rose paper pack, and used a spellbinder die to cut the two pieces of paper out. These were glued to a pink 6x6 card. I added a pink doily in the middle and placed my fussy cut Think Pink image in the middle. I added Botanica minis in Pink from Petaloo to the bottom of the image and I cut the sentiment from the die set Just a Note to Say by Frantic Stamper.

I'm so excited to be part of Ike's team and would love to see what you make for this month's challenge. Please go to week 1 to download the free image if you wish to use it for this or any other project, but do enter for a chance to win £15 worth of digital stamps from Ike's shop, or a cherished Top 3 badge if you're chosen by the Design Team as one of their favourite entries for the month. Just choose a stamp or digi that features a woman and it would be lovely if the colour pink featured somewhere, but that's optional.

I will be entering this card into the following:
The Corrosive Challenge Blog - #10 Pink for Awareness
Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 385 Pink October
Unicorn Challenge Blog - #14 Pretty Pinks
Dragonfly Dreams - October Think Pink
World Wide Open DT Challenge -  #15 AG
Daisy Chain Challenges - #1 Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness 
Creative Craft Cottage - #73 Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
Your Scrapbook Place - AG - Ikes Art Image

Thanks for stopping by - don't forget to leave me some love by way of a comment, I love to hear from you.

Michelle xxx

Ike'sworld Design Team

It's a happy happy day - not only is the sun shining and I managed to get 5 hours sleep (that's a lot for me), I found out last night I'd been offered a place on Ike'sworld's design team.

Thank you so much Ike for this opportunity and I'm looking forward to my first project as part of the DT.

My first DT project will be on the blog on 18th October, but remember, there's a challenge every fortnight on Ike'sworld Challenge Blog so do pop on over to take a look at all the lovely creations by the entire team.

Thanks for stopping by.

Michelle xxx

31DOH - Day 2 and Challenge #4 at A Inky Mess

Here's my DT inspiration piece of the latest challenge over at A Inky Mess.

This month's challenge #4 is sponsored by Oddball Art Co by Lizzy Love and I've used Jasmyn No. 67.

This is also my Day 2 project for 31 Days of Halloween. You will find the blog hop with links over to your left in the side bar to visit the other participating members.

So here's my make. I used a 6"x6" base card in orange, and layered a piece of fussy cut wallpaper on to it, and using a Distress Crayon in Dark Grey I added some grunge around the edge. I used Distress Ink in Old Paper with my finger to add some patina to the wallpaper image.

I coloured Jasmyn in with my Polychromos pencils -using orange, black and greys to coordinate with the base card and the background and then fussy cut her and her cute bats out before affixing to the background. Here's a close up of her.

Please do pop by to A Inky Mess and join in with Challenge #4 - it's anything goes as long as mixed media. And don't forget to pop over to the other blogs that are in the 31DOH blog hop.

I shall see you tomorrow with my next make!

I have entered this into the following challenges:
World Wide Open DT Challenge #14 - AG

Michelle xx

31DOH - Day 1 (ok ok I'm late hehe)

Well hellooooo - yep, it's that time of year again...the nights draw in and the crisp Autumn air fills our lungs,, the smell of bonfires, acorns and falling leaves. I adore this time of year, and being of the more ancient traditional bent, I have always celebrated Samhain (or Halloween if you like). So when I found out about the 8th 31 Days of Halloween, I really couldn't pass up the chance to join in. Now you may be wondeering where I was last year - well I'm a relative newbie to the world of blogland and it's the first year I'd heard about it. I'm so excited to be a part of this fab festivity!

So without further ado - my first project for 1st October is a pocket letter I made using some of my favourite papers for the spooky season. I couldn't resist adding some embellishments including Mr Batty and some pops of orange. A friend gave me some super cute die cuts of the witches washing line - it's so adorable and the die is on my wish list.

I've made litereally dozens of pocket letters and it's given me immense joy over the past oooh almost 2 years to swap with so many creative and talented people. I don't do as many as I used to though, but still love creating ATCs - more on this a bit later.

My second post for 2nd day will be up a little later (when I've finished the project - come back later please!!!).

Thanks for stopping by.

Michelle xxx