20/20 vision

This is my card for the June postcard swap on UK Stampers. We have a new host this month and for her debut theme, Jill chose "numbers".

It's absolutely not what I was planning but it evolved from stuff on the desk when the original plan scored a bit fat fail. The idea of 20/20 vision survived from the original thought and I tried to bring out her eyes to tie in with that. Her face has pale Copic colouring with just a little bit of blush on her cheeks and lips.

I used Memento Luxe to stamp the face and I'm happy to report it performed beautifully on the large solid area (the hair) as well as with the Copics. The oddity is that the wet ink on the stamp looks completely different to what you expect -this is Espresso Truffle and it was a sort of greyish, murky, mid-brown rather than the deep, rich black coffee colour you'd expect from the name and way the pad looks. So, if you're using Luxe inks: don't panic when you ink up, it will be fine once it's on the page!

Stamps:
Jane by Indigo Blu
A&P Numbers by Ma Vinci's Reliquary (retired)
Alphanumber backgrounder by CHF (retired)

Ink:
Memento Luxe by Tsukineko - Espresso Truffle
Brilliance by Tsukineko - Graphite Black
Tim Holtz Distress ink by Ranger - Tumbled Glass

Other:
Copic markers

The swap's just finished but if you fancy joining in for July, the details will be up at the start of the month - just make a card that can be sent "naked" through the post and you'll get one in return. It's a fun size to work with and it's nice to rise to the challenge of making something that can be posted with no protective envelope.

Thanks for stopping by!

Camper van!

We had a camper van when I was a kid - not quite like this one (ours wasn't old enough to have the split screen) but near enough for this stamp to bring back some memories of family holidays in Devon/Cornwall and Scotland. I thought that might make it a good choice for a father's day card for my dad.

I went for clean and simple with just the stamped image (coloured blue since that was the colour of our van) and some stenciled chevrons.

I added just a touch of textural interest by using Grunge Paste through the stencil and then colouring over the raised bits with Copics once dry and cutting out the body of the van and raising it a tiny bit on some gel glue over the same image stamped on the card base. I added a tiny bit of doodled detail on the coloured chevrons, too.

Stamps:
VW Bus by Deep Red Stamps
Father's Day Centers by CHF (retired)

Ink:
Brilliance Graphite Black by Tsukineko

Other:
Hearts and Arrows stencil by The Crafter's Workshop
Grunge Paste by PaperArtsy
Copic markers
Fineline marker
Pinflair Glue Gel
Corner Chomper

Thanks for stopping by!

Funky flower birthday

A quick birthday card for my sister-in-law eased me back in to some crafting after a holiday in France and the inevitable creative slump that seems to follow a fortnight away from your craft supplies!

I flicked ink onto a card blank to start and while that dried I stamped and cut out the flowers and leaves, using two ink colours and the rock-n-roll technique for the stamping. I stamped a few dots in the paler green to balance the background and added some black enamel accents to the stamped flower centres for a touch of texture.

I have no idea why but it was surprisingly difficult to get a decent photograph of this - not sure I've succeeded even now!

Stamps:
Funky Flowers and Big Day Today (both Waltzingmouse Stamps)

Ink:
Tim Holtz Distress ink by Ranger (Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint)
Adirondack dye ink by Ranger (Cranberry)
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)

Other:
Enamel Accents by Ranger
Corner Chomper
Pinflair glue gel

Thanks for stopping by!