Recycling duty

Ruth has set this week's challenge for us over at Daring Cardmakers, choosing her topic well before the current state of affairs. It might be very apt for times when we have to stay in since it's about using what you already have, not nipping out to buy new: recycling!

I decided I'd make postcards to send to my dad and brother - a bit of actual mail dropping through the letterbox might be extra welcome at this time and I figured postcards might raise a smile or two as they worked their way through the mail system.

My recycled elements are the insides of a couple of "security" envelopes (the sort that have bank statements etc in them) and the pointing fingers which came from cartons of oat milk - the printed layer of the carton peeled off beautifully so they were easy to cut out and not too bulky.

The bubble borders are painted with iridescent colours so they have an extra soap bubbly look about them but of course that doesn't come over on camera.

On a side note: if you're looking for a plant-based milk that froths well and keeps that froth for the perfect cafe latte or capuccino, I have to say that Oatly Barista does the job extremely well!

Stamps:
Bubble border (Lost Coast Designs)
Just My Type (Ma Vinci's Reliquary, no longer with us)

Paper:
Security envlopes (stuck on white card)

Ink:
Archival by Tsukineko (Cobalt Blue) 
Versafine by Tsukineko (Onyx Black)

Other:
Oatly carton
Perfect Pearls
Fine line marker

Thanks for stopping by, stay safe and remember to wash your hands!

Lucky for some

It’s my turn to set the challenge over at Daring Cardmakers this week. As it’s Friday 13th today I thought we should focus on luck - some people might believe it’s unlucky but St Patrick’s day is coming up in Tuesday so I’m hoping we can balance it out with the luck of the Irish!

Different cultures have different symbols of luck. I chose a peony as they’re widely considered to be lucky. Apparently the reason they’re popular as wedding flowers is because they symbolise good fortune and a happy marriage. I didn’t need a wedding card today but maybe I should bear that in mind next time I do!

I fancied having a go at a truly monochrome card - I used three grey Copics, two grey pencils and a black ink pad. I think it creates quite a calm kind of look. I used a silver gel pen for the stamens in the centre of the flower so there’s just the tiniest bit of glitz.

Stamps:
Peony (Paperbabe, retired)
Birthday (Letter It range by Ranger)
Essential Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper:
Bristol board 

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)

Other:
Copic markers
Coloured pencils
Silver gel pen 
Scor-It
Corner Chomper 

Thanks for stopping by!

March elements

Miri has set our challenge over at Daring Cardmakers today and as it’s the first Friday of the month of course it’s an “elemental” one - just choose at least three elements from the inspiration picture to include on your card.

That’s Crafty had a plate of Viva Las Vegastamps at a price I couldn’t resist in their end of year clear out sale - I really wanted it for the police box/Tardis image that’s on there but Brian Kesinger’s quirky illustration style should provide some fun, too!

Presumably Otto can build up a lot of speed on that penny farthing since he’s wearing driving goggles. Maybe when his tentacles get tired he just switches to a different pair since he has eight to chose from!

From the inspiration picture this month (it’s at the end of this post if you didn’t arrive via the DCM blog) I chose quirky octopus, painty strokes, little gold circles in threes, typewriter font and the colours. I stamped the image on the card just below the painty background and then stamped again on a scrap piece, coloured Otto, cut him out and stuck him on with gel glue so he’s raised up. The tiny circles are “stamped” with the little tube that’s sometime threaded on the end of a fine paintbrush to protect the bristles.

Stamps:
Otto's Sweet Ride (from Plate 909, Viva Las Vegastamps)
Sentiment from Mini Memories (Crafty Secrets, no longer with us)

Paper:
Bristol board 

Ink:
Brilliance by Tsukineko (Graphite Black)
Delicata by Tsukineko (Golden Glitz)

Other:
Copic markers
Coloured pencils
Acrylic paints
Pinflair glue gel
Stitched rectangles dies, A6 size by Paper Rose

Here's our inspiration picture this month: