Hougie weekend.

See 'Art Deco card' post for how to make this card.

Hi, a new week and a new score board! I just adore my Hougie board. Karen, Sheila and I bought one each at Ally Pally. I am not sure what they think of it but it is one of the best bits of 'kit' I have purchased for a long time. I love using scored lines on my cards and this board makes it so easy to get the right spacing without the need for measuring...suits me.

The 'Art Deco' card base was demonstrated on TV using the board and I felt it was a bit different ...I used a Clarity Stamp called Madeleine and after embossing with clear embossing powder I coloured 'her' with my Copic pens. I was lucky to receive some Spellbinder Nestabilities for Christmas last year so I used the octagonal set as a base for my lady. Some red peel offs, gem type brads and a red feather and it's almost finished except for a dab of glossy accents to highlight the flower in 'Madeleine's hair.

 I really enjoy using my Butterfly Shapeabilities and this card was also made fairly quickly. White card stock and a Cuttlebug embossing folder called Distress Stripes, one white oval 'nestie and one pink scalloped 'nestie, along with some butterflies, cut, embossed and stencilled in the die, using chalk ink pads.  My Tuesday has been fun, I hope yours has as well...sunny too!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Eileen xxx

My kind of Friday...part two.

A couple of years ago I went to a 'letters' class where Gayle Bond, a very talented designer,showed us all how to make cards from letters and numbers.... this is one of my efforts. I made this card for a relative who's name is ......Paul... and who loves.....football! It was fun to make and as you can use any letters you like it's ideal for any occasion or age of person, male or female.

I have had a play with my new 'Hougie' board but I am still  in 'design' mode so no card to show at the moment.

My walk with Daisy this morning was brilliant...I saw and heard so many birds. Pied and grey wagtails,a black cap,a song thrush that was singing it's heart out and best of all I heard my first Cuckoo for this year.

The sun was very warm and as we walked into a small wooded area near my home I saw a large dog fox, so handsome, sitting in the middle of the path ahead of us enjoying the sunshine and having a snooze!

He was not pleased to be disturbed and turned up his nose as he stood up and walked slowly into the undergrowth. I got the impression that he was thinking ' why can't that human woman and her dippy dog clear off somewhere else'!

We left the wood and moved over the fields where Daisy tried to chase the rabbits and loads of Swallows were zipping around catching insects ....Finally, I saw a group of Gold Finches feeding ....a group of Gold finches is called 'a charm' and that was what my walk was this morning ...charming.

Thanks for dropping by.

Eileen x

Chill out Thursday.

Today is another sunny day and I've been out walking with Daisy. We've had a great time enjoying the warm spring sunshine and watching all the birds who are very vocal!

 I spent some time cutting the back lawn and Daisy was not impressed with the noise of the strimmer! Daisy has been digging holes all over the garden so we have decided to leave the back garden free of bedding plants this year ...just keep it tidy but not bother too much till she is older and not so lively! Suits me ...I am not keen on gardening and would rather spend my time crafting!! 

The cards I've posted today again feature the Agapanthus Cluster stamp I used a day or two ago.Stamped with Versamark ink and embossed with white embossing powder ....some white ribbon completes the cards.

The weekend is almost here and I have a crop to go to on Saturday.

Thanks for looking today x

Eileen xx

Black & White

Hello,  I'm so glad I can show you this card today cos I've had such trouble up-loading an image to my blog... sorted now, I hope! 
So here is my first picture using this stamp in monochrome ...I plan to make more in different colours and post these as well. I love Black and White and feel it looks elegant.
I used Versamark ink to stamp the image and embossed with white embossing powder.
The stamp is called Agapanthus Cluster and is made by Stampendous

The Sun is shining, the birds are singing and all is right with my world ...I hope it is with yours too ...have a nice weekend. I'm off to Ally-Pally tomorrow to spend some money ....woohoo!

Thanks for popping by...
Eileen x

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder and a Penny Black Stamp.

I hope you had a good weekend. Mine was busy but very enjoyable. I love F1 racing so I got up really early to see the Australian Grand Prix ...and Jensen Button WON...oh yes!
I found time to make the lilac card using my new Cuttlebug Embossing folder and a Penny Black stamp called 'firework' I used Adirondack Inks and a few brads plus a ribbon ..job done.

 I made the butterfly card a long while ago but I like it very much. Peel-offs coloured with Gel -Pens and mounted on some Bazzill card along with  a rub -on sentiment  to finish it off.
Thanks for being with me today...have a good week.
Eileen xx

Clarity Stamps and Adirondack Inks

Hiya, I had a very busy Friday. It was my birthday. My family and friends made sure I had a super day...thank you all for the cards and presents ...more Spellbinder 'nesties' great stuff!

On Wednesday I posted my Fairy Coach card and said I would make another card from the scrap paper I had used to take off the excess ink from my brayer. I liked the colours so much.

Well ....here it is. Because I used just cheap copy paper I had to back it with a stronger white card then I stamped and heat embossed in black, both of the Clarity leafy swirl stamps.
After slicing the finished image into three and mounting each of the sections onto dark purple card stock, I mounted them onto a white card blank and added three cut,embossed and stencilled ( with dye based inks) Spellbinder butterflies...I am pleased with it and from now on will look closely at any sheets of copy paper I use with my brayer before I throw them away !

Enjoy the rest of your weekend & thanks for looking.

Eileen x

Lavinia Stamps, Adirondack inks and Brayer

This card is very similar to one I made last year and entered in a competition held by Quick Cards Made Easy Magazine..I was one of eight winners and I was over the moon to receive a load of crafty goodies on Christmas eve.

I started with some white,Matt card stock that is very smooth. It is difficult to blend the dye inks on some card stock so you must find the right stuff ...I buy mine from Lavinia Stamps.

I blended Lettuce & Pesto Adirondak inks along the bottom of the card & Purple Twilight & Eggplant along the top, meeting & fading together in the middle ...a light touch is required for blending, please do not be tempted to press down hard on your brayer ...soft, light, flicks only, adding more ink as you go but always take off any excess ink first on cheap copy paper ( I am making a card this afternoon with the scrap paper I used this morning ..I just loved the colours ..I will post it tomorrow if it's not rubbish!)

I inked the Fairy Coach stamp using Adirondak Pitch black & rolled my brayer up the stamp to get a reverse image ...TWO important things here ...I always use a Speedball soft rubber brayer ...I have others but for this technique they do not work like the speedball ..also I only ever use dye base inks with my brayer ...other inks stain the brayer and will not come off ! I always use baby wipes to clean my brayer and I am careful how I lay it down because the rubber can get dented and ruin the surface...I use a mug tree to store my brayers on ... ( see pic above )

Place the brayer about half way down the page and with a quick flick your image is there..don't worry if it looks a bit blurry it does not matter as it is supposed to be in water or ice! I inked the stamp again using Versafine onyx black and stamped it touching the reflection... a few thin lines of pitch black again using the edge of my brayer completes the water or ice effect... I used a third generation ink impression for the trees and Versafine Imperial purple & Olympia green for the vines & bullrushes ....a bit of ribbon...gold liquid pearls &  some stickles to finish ...hope you are not asleep cos I will be asking questions !!

Thanks for being with me today

Eileen x

Reflections with Clarity Stamps

Hi, I bet you are surprised to see a Christmas card! Well ....I am still making wedding invitations and wanted a change!

This card is so easy to do. I inked up the 'Deer' stamp with bottle green Adirondak Ink & 'rolled' the brayer over the stamp (up the stamp)

Position the brayer half way down your white card stock and with a quick flick lay the image down.
Ink the stamp again and stamp the image in the normal way so you touch the 'reflection'!
Clean the brayer and then ink up the very edge of the roller just a VERY thin line of ink needed & flick this over the card stock to make an 'ice' or 'water' like effect. Stamp your words and along with the star this completes the card. Takes just a few minutes ....trust me!! All the stamps used are Clarity stamps.

Thanks for popping by my blog.
Eileen x

A March Monday

Hi,
What a busy weekend! The Allhallows Crop on Saturday ...a fab time with lovely people, supper with our friends Karen and Ian and Sunday spent with my husband lugging furniture around ! My back is a bit ouch today.

I spent some time in my craft room this morning making loads & loads of wedding invitations ..so no new card to show you but I made this one using Clarity Stamps some time ago.Three of the stamp -stamps and the pocket watch stamp along with the verse 'What is life if full of care.....' This design is shown on a Barbara Gray, Clarity Stamp DVD and is a project that I really enjoyed doing.
Thanks for dropping by ...have a good week.
Eileen

Tidy Tuesday

Hello, strange day today....My new grandson went back to hospital for some tests ...all proved to be well, thank goodness and he is back at home with his mum, dad, & brother Ethan ... a fine healthy boy ... while all this was going on, I kept busy ...as you do!!

Daisy & I went for a long walk in the warm sunshine..... and later I caught up on loads of boring jobs that I needed to clear ...then it was back to crafting.

I love Clarity stamps & for this card I used seven of them! Chipboard squares were covered in a Gesso base then painted with various colours of acrylic paint ...left to dry overnight before stamping with the Clarity stamps using Versafine Onyx Black.
Pale yellow,orange & black card stock along with some ribbon completed the card.
Thanks for stopping by
Eileen x