ATCs and Xmas tags, pocket letters and embossing

Wow it's been a while since I wrote here - sorry about that - I have been crazy busy with crafting, summer holidays and doing normal stuff - just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day right now.

So what have I been doing recently? Well, I made a few items I've never attempted before, some came out okay and others I'm more pleased with.

Firstly I did my first attempt at ATCs - the theme was animals. Never having done them before, I read up -and plenty of people used old playing cards, so I rummaged and found some dubious cheap 'tarot' cards and thought they'd do. I covered the one side with various pieces of DS papers I had in my scrap pile that I tore up and then layered it with stamped images and various die cut pieces like a frame, butterflies, flowers etc, then I covered with Mod Podge and added the little metal embellies. Okay for a first attempt.

My next project was for a set of three Xmas tags - in July. Hmmm I wanted something a little different and had seen a technique I really liked the look of on You Tube - triple embossing - and thought these tags would be the perfect thing to practise on. So I used pignment inks to stamp on paper and then with clear embossing powder I heated it up three times and on the third time I used a rubber stamp with white or gold ink to press into the molten embossed powder to form a pattern and left to cool. I made a mistake and used pigment ink on part of the reverse (little cute baubles at the bottom in different colours) and had to emboss those to set them - but it started to melt the front so I did it quickly and hoped I didn't ruin the fronts. Again, this project went okay.

Next, I did a pocket letter swap - I had never heard of these and so again, used the internet and You Tube to research. It took me a long while to get going with this one and it took a whole afternoon to do, but I actually really enjoyed it once I got going! These are playing card sized cards again - so ATCs but simplified. You choose a theme, and then using that theme you choose items to add to decorate the cards, but also what little gifts you will put in the various pockets of your letter. One pocket is reserved for the letter to your swap partner, but the rest can be filled with ribbon, pegs, stickers, die cut pieces, etc. I loved finding bits to add - and even added a tea bag which is a traditional item used.

 Lastly and more recently, I produced my first embossed card - I didn't know what to use - I am limited to what embossing folders I have - so I scratched my head and again - used one of my favourites - butterflies and a lovely trellis pattern I have. So I used two embossing folders and a lovely set of papers which have a thick luxurious feel and a glittery look on some of the pages. Again not my finest work, but I'm pretty pleased with my first attempt and it's being given to a friend of mine so I hope she likes it.

That's it for now - and no challenges to enter right now - although I'm hoping to be entering more in the following days and weeks.

Bows and Lace

It's been a while since I last wrote on my blog. It's been a busy week or so, what with school finishing and catching up with some card making and craft challenges I've entered.

I've created two cards and for the first time, a set of 3 ATCs. I'm happy with the cards - they are familiar territory - but not entirely convinced about the ATCs, but more about those later.

My first card that I created was for a challenge that was to include lace. love the Shabby Chic style and thought I'd use that style for this card. I used some lace that I recently purchased, which is a lovely cream colour, plus I layered card and paper that coordinated with the lovely bird and nest image I found on some card I was given. I'm pretty pleased with the result.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge #143 Things with Wings 

Inspiration Destination Challenge #43 Anything Goes

Sketch Saturday Challenge #371 with The Paper Shelter 

Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge #90 Anything Goes with a Twist - Icecream Shades

My second make is a card for a challenge that the content needed to begin with G. I was limited in time so i chose a lovely image I've not used before. It's from the Gorjuss range, and it's a little decoupage set I was given when i bought some stamp sets. I adore this little girl and this image is just so cute with her bunny. I layered her up - it was a gloomy day so neither of my images came out really bright, but I think you can see enough detail.

I'd like to use this image for the following challenges:

Trimmies Craft Challenge #321 Wish you were here 

Crafty Gals Corner Challenge  #29 To Die For

Book Inspired Challenge

What a week! My son has been unwell and off school since Wednesday - and so close to the end of term too! Been nurse and porter for him for the past three days so not much time for crafting.

I managed to do a little mixed media heart hanging decoration this evening for a challenge in a Facebook group I admin on - Flourishing Crafters. It caters for all different crafts and experience. Novices and professionals alike and everyone in between are welcome. Our latest five day challenge was to create something with the theme of our favourite book. We had some lovely entries and I decided to create something other than a card for a change and went with this.

I used acrylic paint to coat the heart and then layered up with paper and stamped images, die cut pieces and some felt shapes and finally a brad holding a little key. Can you guess what my favourite book is? The stamps I used were Indigoblu's Alice II and the scraps of paper were from Kanban's Mechanica paper pack.

I really enjoyed making this and shall carry on experimenting with different mediums and methods! I hope you like it too.