Polka Doodles Competition

Polka Doodles are holding a MEGA colouring competition. The winner will receive a full set of Aqua Markers (40 pens in the set). Check out their site for full details. http://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/2010/07/week-29-challenge-christmas-in-july.html

This is my entry below - only the third try to get it to work! I have deleted the other two so hopefully won't clog up their site. I must find out more about linking blog stuff! 

This was originally a card for my dad on father's day. A bit different for a man but he likes flowers and butterflies. To make the card I started off making the background using Ranger distress ink (I made two). The second one I used to stamp the flowers on (Creative Expressions plate). All the stamping was using the perfect medium ink and black embossing powder. Once the matting and layering was done I overstamped the background with flourishes and added the cut out flowers. A little stickles glitter glue finshed the centres. The Elusive Images butterfly was also painted using distress inks, then glued only on the body allowing for a little movement. Finally I added more flowers and a base plate, cut using a Wizard die, with Happy Fathers Day to act as a stop allowing the card to stand open. On the back I added a further plate Wizard die cut with my sentiment.   On refection I should have added a further flower in the opposite bottom corner, but too late now!

Peacock ladies

Peacock ladies were made using a stamp plate from Graphicus. The lady is so beautiful and with bling even better. The first two pictures are of course of the same card, but with the front flaps in different positions to show each of them.  There is no colouring on this one, just as it stamped (ok with just a little colour)

The blue and pink cards with the semi circle were inspired by a  friend asking for something in the art neuvo/deco style.

The last one used a silver shimmery paper (in reality if reminded me of non slip flooring!) The lady is decoupaged onto the front. The main element is all the bling, I really went to town with the gems - a bit overdone?

Weaving

I first saw this technique some years ago. It was demonstrated by Stephanie Scheetz of Kodomo. It is quite a simple technique if rather fiddly. The first card is made using one of  the Kodomo rubber stamps and is in a pale colour. The other two are family members, the first being my mum and dad's wedding anniversary and the second is my stepson and his wife.  To produce the weave you simply take two identical images, cut one image horizontally and the other vertically - both equidistance. Then start weaving one into the other. I found it easier to low tack one section down and use the other for the weaving itself. Once completed stick DST over the back to hold it all in place. Trim the edges as necessary (if you want the jagged edges as in the first/last card just trim with either patterened scissors or tear.) Once this is completed mount onto a suitable card blank decorated to suit.

Oldies

Here is a selection of 'Oldies' all from stamp sets from Creative Expressions and coloured with Cosmic Shimmer watercolours.  Most of the papers were from a stash I have had for a long time and thought it was time to use up! Some backgrounds have been stamped. Embellishments are mainly Spellbinders diecuts.
Hope you like them.

50 Years

I was asked to make a card for my friend's relative's 50th wedding anniversary.  I thought the Glitter Girls tall stories embossing board fitted the bill. I used shiny gold card and printed some pearlised paper with words and '50' then embossed it all. These were then used to emboss and cut out for the main body of the card. Using a very old group photo (50 years actually!) I managed to isolate and enlarge them. This was copied several times so I could decopage them. Using another of the Glitter Girls boards I made a flower with 50 in the centre. The small 'book' from the board was used to accent their names and wedding date, this was also embossed. Finishing touches were the gold bows and the line of gems.  A matching box was made to house the card.

NB Computer printing then embossing onto pearlised card works quite. Just remember to coat the paper with an anti-static bag and work quite quickly.

Farmyard

This is the first card I made with Sheena Douglass' create a scene stamp set 'farmyard'. It did start off as a much larger 'creation' but due to some odd painting! it became this smaller DL card. It was all painted using cosmic shimmer watercolours. The basecard is a brown slightly corrugated card with some pre-patterned leaf paper. Finally it is finished off with a Spellbinders symbology die cut and some leaf brads.

The second card is using the same stamp set but I managed to make it a larger scene by using the farmer and his dog and sheep. The wall with the owl was just stamped on. I think I will try to mount a cut out one next time.  The flowers on the left are from a Sheena Douglass stamp set which I find myself using time after time.  The owl finishes the scene off.

The blue card is the same scene with a frame over the top.  The tractor is stamped, coloured and mounted separately. Three punched flowers finish the right hand edge (and fill up the gap)

Bring on the Clowns

A few clown card samples. Made using a stamp plate from Creative Expressions and coloured with Cosmic Shimmer watercolour paint. A few gems and bits and pieces and voila!