Crafty As L

    Recently, my Mum has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  The doctor said that learning new things could be good for her so I invited her and my sister round to make some Christmas cards.  My mojo is still not in full flow so I wanted to something relatively easy so decided to try out a new product I’d bought to make some foiled cards. We started by blending a variety of Distress Oxides to make the background for our snowflakes.  After blending, the card was spritzed with some water to create the distressed look. Next, the Newton’s Nook Snowfall stencil was taped in place before applying a thin layer of Deco Foil Transfer Gel Duo.  The stencil was removed and the gel left to dry, when it will be clear but it is still sticky.  The duo part of this gel means that it can be used to foil either the usual way with heat in a laminator or by pressure using a die cutting machine.  For the snowflakes, I used the pressure method....

This week’s post is inspired by another YouTube video for Lavinia stamps, this one by Eileen Godwin.  The main feature of the card is the silhouette of the cat, Mooch; I just love him! To begin, I used my brushes and a combination of grey and pink inks and the Lavinia Charming stencil. I was aiming for a rough heart shape. Next, I stamped mooch using Versafine Clair Nocturne ink. Lastly, I added the Star Cluster, also from Lavinia around Mooch’s head.  I realised that this stage that the layout of the card didn’t sit quite right so I added some text using Inkylicious Background Text stamp and a Stampin’ Up! sentiment.  This panel was then mounted on a cream 4” square card base.   For the other card, I kept it simple and just cut it down into a smaller square and layered onto a pink mat. Which do you prefer? I think the second, simpler one is my favourite.      

  I’ve not been well for the past 6 weeks or so and as a result, my creative mojo has disappeared.   When I’m empty of ideas, I use other crafters on YouTube to inspire me.  These cards were inspired by Jo Rice’s tutorial for Lavinia Stamps – a recent, new find for me; they have some beautiful stamping goodies! To begin, I stamped the dandelions around two diagonally opposite corners in black ink.  I used Versafine Clair in Nocturne for the first time and I love the intense black of this ink.     Next, I added a touch of colour by stencilling gently with some pale blue ink. To finish, I added a sentiment and heat embossed with some clear powder.  I also added a few tiny dots of glue onto the dandelions and sprinkled on some glitter, although you can’t really see this on the photo. I’ve also been trying out Distress Oxide inks so for my second card, I did the stencilling first as using Oxide ink over stamps, the ink sits on top as...

  Another new Colorado Craft Company Anita Jeram stamp is the feature of my post this week, this time the Anniversary Mini.  As the name says, it’s a small stamp but very cute! To begin, I stamped the image and sentiment and then coloured with Copic markers, flicking a few splats from the markers onto the background. I had planned on a ‘white on white’ but the uber plain wasn't grabbing me so I dry embossed the mat layers. To finish the toppers, I rounded the corners with the Crop-o-dile and backed with black card. The mat and topper was then mounted on a black card base and some heart embellishments added.