Churchyard Garden

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I feel I am becoming increasingly interested in 

mixed media creations, and have just begun to experiment in this field. This is 

my 3rd mixed media creation. I know it is fairly 'straight', but hopefully with 

time, and experience, my work will become 'looser' and 'freer'.

When I was a little girl (soooo long ago!) people used to say I was a 'very strange

child'. This was for many reasons, one of which was that I loved churchyards, and 

that love still remains today. Churchyards to some people are disturbing places, 

but I find them peaceful and beautiful, and some of the older ones have wild 

flowers, ferns, and other pretty vegetation growing in them, not to mention 

the occasional bunnies, birds, and insects.

My card has been greatly influenced by the countless times I have sat quietly

in old churchyards, not only in Australia, but in other countries too.

I distressed the edges of the kraft base, but it doesn't really show up, then

I die-cut the church window and painted the die-cut with Distress Stain

'Brushed Pewter'. To give the impression of light behind the window, I

sponged 2 yellow distress inks onto a scrap of card, covered that with

Tim Holtz' Frosty Film, then attached the window to that. 

For the brickwork, I applied homemade texture paste through a stencil.

The paste was made using the recipe by the wonderful Pamellia, who has

become a major inspiration to me...she has just started her own mixed 

media challenge blog, in addition to her personal blog. When the paste

was dry, I sprayed and sponged it with several distress sprays and inks.

After fitting the window into the aperture, I arranged my handmade

flowers and die-cut foliage, all of which were sponged, painted or 

sprayed with various inks.

All the foliage was finished with a light spritzing of liquid acrylic

pearlescent ink, but unfortunately it barely shows up in the photos...

nor does the lovely shimmer of the Frosty Film in the window.

I have had the dove die for years, and can't believe I have never used it.

It was among the many items I found when I transferred my outside  

studio to our spare bedroom. After cutting it, I roughly painted it 

with silver paint, then applied 2 light coats of 'Abalone' Opals.  

While the Opals was still molten, I carefully placed 1 tiny piece 

of  'Champagne' Glass Glitter (using a toothpick) to represent 

the dove's eye.

Challenges I would like to enter

Allsorts #310 - 'Use At Least 3 Die-cuts'

Anything But Cute #1 - 'Vintage Garden' DT Favourite

City Crafter #261 - 'Focus On Flowers'

Country View Crafts - 'Simply Scenic'

Crafty Cardmakers and More #138 - 'Make Your Own Background'

Fab 'n' Funky #258 - 'May Flowers' TOP 3

Fan-Tastic Tuesday - 'Add Some Flowers'

Inspiration Journal - 'Embossing Paste'

Little Red Wagon #288 - 'Distress It'

Mixed Media World #3 - 'Vintage'

Our Creative Corner - 'April Showers Bring May Flowers'

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' #79 - 'Anything Goes With A Twist...Add Flowers'

The Mixed Media Monthly #12 - 'May Flowers'

Dies - Sweet Stamps Elegant Leaves; Marianne LR 0106, LR 0150, Bosskut Dove

Punch - EK Success Retro Flower Medium

Stencil - Crafter's Workshop Mini Bricks

Embossing Powder - Opals Abalone

White Ink - Colour Box Frost White

Distress Stains - Tim Holtz Brushed Pewter, Festive Berries, Tea Dye

Distress Inks - Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Iced Spruce, Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Aged Mahogany, Spun Sugar.

Liquid Watercolour - Winsor and Newton Chartreuse

Silver Spray - Daler Rowney Liquid Acrylic Pearlescent

Glass Glitter - Stampendous Frantage Champagne

Frosty Film and Distress Edging Tool - Tim Holtz

Stamens are from my junk stash

It's so good to be back in blogland...thank you for visiting me, and until next time,

Hugs

Jennifer. x

Inky Fingers

'Inky Fingers' was the only title I could use for this post, as that was well and

 truly what I had at the end of the making of this card. However, I seem to be

overcoming my aversion to having messy fingers and hands, as I loved 

getting 'down and dirty', and can't wait to repeat the fun. Before I began

'playing', every single element was stark white, including the card base.

I created puddles of various D.I.s, dragged my cardstock through them several

times, drying with a heat tool each time. Then from a height, I sprayed with

Picket Fence distress stain. When that was dry I sprayed with a little

Pearlescent Liquid Acylic diluted with water, creating a stunning 

shimmery effect, which unfortunately barely shows in the photos. 

When the base was completely dry, I softly stencilled swirls all over, using

portions of butterfly wings on a 12x12 stencil, then sponged around the

edges. 

The flowers are made using EK Success punches and D.I.s, and the

seam binding was stained with several D.I.s.

The bird in flight (as with the little birdhouse) was embossed with Chunky

Blue Frantage, and a tiny sprinkling of lavender Opals. The stamped bird

and sentiment are from a set of clear stamps I have had for about 5 or 6 

years, and never used. I found them (along with quite a few other sets, and

many other items) when I moved my craft room from the old stable to the

 house. Shame on me! The good thing is though, it's like having new stash.

At this stage I have not decorated the inside of my card, as per usual, but

if I decide to do so, I will edit this post.

Challenges I would like to enter:-

Artistic Inspirations #128 - 'Anything Goes With A Twist of Flowers'

Craft For The Craic - 'Bingo' (flowers, ribbon, die-cuts)

Creative Card Crew #84 - 'Handmade Flowers'

Frilly and Funky - 'Put A Ribbon On It'

Fussy and Fancy #135 - 'Girly'

Inspiration Journal - 'Spring Blooms'

Mixed Media World #1 - 'Anything Goes'

That Craft Place - 'Easter/Spring'

The Crafter's Cafe #109 - 'Spring Flowers'

The Shabby Tea Room #248 - 'Beautiful Blooms' (photo inspiration)

Dies - Spellbinders Grand Classical Lace Border; Memory Box Woodland Branch; Sweet Stamps Elegant Leaves; Couture Creations Baby Dove; Marianne LR025, LR0106, LR0107

Stamps - Inkadinkadoo
Punches - EK Success Retro Flowers Medium and Large
Stencil - Crafter's Workshop Butterflies 
Frantage - Stampendous Shabby Blue
Opals - Lavender
Inks and Stains - Versamark; Brilliance Archival Pearlescent Lavender, and Jade; Adirondack Denim; Daler Rowney Pearlescent Liquid Acrylic; Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain Picket Fence; Tim Holtz Distress Inks Scattered Straw, Antique Linen, Gathered Twigs, Bundled Sage, Dusty Concord, Milled Lavender, Tumbled Glass
Seam Binding and Stamens are from my junk stash

Me thinks I had better go and attend to boring tasks like housework, so thank you for visiting. I have some very exciting news to tell you soon, but at this stage I have to 'zip my lips', so in the meantime, I wish you "Happy Crafting".

******

I would like to mention too that at Winter Wonderland we have a DT Call. We are looking for 2 new teamies who are enthusiastic about making Christmas cards. For full details, pop over to our challenge blog, and if you are interested in joining us you have until 10th April to apply.

******

Hugs
Jennifer. x

Warm Winter Wishes

It's Friday, and that means the Icicles Team at Winter Wonderland have a new 

challenge for you. Our theme this week is 'WARM WINTER WISHES'.

We want to see your characters dressed warmly, and ...

please remember, your project must be for Christmas only.

Our lovely sponsor this week is 

Several of the techniques I used to create my card are way out of my

comfort zone, but I really did enjoy the process. 

For some time now I have felt that my card making has wanted to change 

direction somewhat. I have always hated getting messy fingers, but after

making this card that is going to change. If you look below at the list of

 items I used, you will have some idea of the 'mess' on my desk and hands.

My card took many hours to create, but I hope I will become quicker and

more adventurous as I become more familiar with the products

and techniques. Of course I will still regularly revert to 

my more usual style of 'clean and neat'.

I fell in love with this lovely image the first time I saw it, and for

reasons unknown to me it is now sadly discontinued. I used

chunky white Frantage and a tiny sprinkling of blue 

Opals around the image and sentiment.

This side-on view provides a better glimpse of the snowflakes I

created with a stencil and translucent texture paste. Unfortunately

you cannot see the wonderful sparkle on the snowflakes, having 

smothered them in Rock Candy glitter while the paste was still wet.

I coloured the seam binding with several blue distress inks, and

die-cut the greenery from cardstock that I had sponged with

several green distress inks. Before attaching them to the card,

I sponged the tips with Gathered Twigs D.I. Likewise,

the twigs were sponged with several brown D.I.s.

I painted my die-cut lamp post blue, then embossed it 3 times,

using a sprinkling of blue Opals and silver embossing powder. 

Challenges I Would Like To Enter

ABC Christmas - 'F Is For 'Frosty' '

Christmas Cards #15 - 'Photo Inspiration - Blue and Silver Ornaments' (TOP 3)

Crafting For All Seasons #98 - 'Pastel Hues'

Crafty Catz #271 - 'No Design Paper'

Crimbo Crackers #76 - 'No Printed Paper'

Deep Ocean # 99 - 'Vintage'

Fan-Tastic Tuesday #77 - 'Anything Goes (with a twist) Make It Square'

Mixed Media World #1 - 'Anything Goes'

Penny's Paper Crafty #219 - 'Favourite Embellishments' (die-cuts,glitter,coloured images)

Sparkle N Sprinkle - Anything Goes with glitter/embossing powder/flocking (Honourable Mention)

Sweet Stampin' Christmas - 'Blue Christmas'

Top Tip Tuesday - 'Buttons or Bows'

Vintage Stamping #30 - 'Olde Worlde' Honourable Mention

Whimsy Stamps #81 - 'Use A Die-cut'

Image - Lili of the Valley All Wrapped Up

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Lili of the Valley Christmas Greetings-Small

Dies - Spellbinders Classic Ovals; Tim Holtz Holiday Greens; Memory Box Woodland Branch; Couture Creations Lucky Lantern 

Inks - Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Antique Linen, Gathered Twigs, Bundled Sage, Iced Spruce); Momento London Fog

Embossing - Opals Franklin, Bluegum; Stampendous Frantage Chunky White; Art Stamps Australia Silver

Stencil - The Crafter's Workshop Mini Flurries

Texture Paste - Dreamweaver Translucent

Glitter (dry) - Tim Holtz Rock Candy

Jewelled Brad - Stampin' Up

Seam Binding is from my junk stash

My Icicle teamies at Winter Wonderland have created some stunning cards, so why not pop over there, have a look, and then enter your own creations in our 'Warm Winter Wishes' challenge.

Until next time, thank you for visiting, and happy crafting.

Hugs

Jennifer. x

Flutterbyes

Gosh, aren't the weeks disappearing rapidly, and therefore it is yet again time

for the Pink Fairies at Crafty Little Fairies to invite you to join us for this 

week's challenge, the theme of which is always such a popular one -

'THINGS WITH WINGS'

You may interpret this one anyway you like e.g fairies, butterflies, 

dragonflies, birds, or even aeroplanes.

A big THANK YOU to our 2 wonderful sponsors this week. They are

and

I made this card for a dear little girl who will be turning (no prizes for 

guessing...) four years old soon. I hope it is 'girly' enough for her, with a

combination of a fairy, butterflies, flowers, and buckets of glitter (perhaps a slight

exaggeration!). The '4' was in a big packet of wooden numbers

I bought years ago - I painted it blue then embossed it with about 

4 or 5 layers of Opals E.P., finally sprinkling it, while hot and

 'sticky', with Martha Stewart Ultra-fine glitter.

I LOVE my new Butterfly Border die!

A closer look at the little fairy and her flowers. The fairy is by PSX, and 

this stamp is one of my oldest. PSX stamps are of such high quality, but 

sadly the company ceased production many years ago.

Inside my card. The blue cardstock and the ink for sponging are a much

closer match in reality (would I tell a fib??!!). Seriously though, isn't it 

strange how colours often do not photograph true, particuly reds.

Challenges

An Oldie But A Goodie - 'Spring Has Sprung' (everything except Butterfly Border die)

Crafters' Cafe #54 - 'Flowers'

Crafting For All Seasons #72 - 'Spring Into Spring'

Cupcake Inspirations #251 - 'Butterflies'

Hobbybook Designer #1 - 'Make It Girly'

Milk Coffee - 'At least 2 Flowers'

Paper Shelter #149 - 'Fairies'

Papertake Weekly - Bingo (Gems,Die-cuts,Flowers; and Die-cuts,Free,Glitter)

Passion For Promarkers #238 - 'Butterfly Kisses'

Squirrel And The Fox #65 - 'Autumn or Spring'

Image - PSX 

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper - First Edition Spring Drop

Sentiment - Wild Rose Studio Cute Greetings

Dies - Spellbinders Labels Eight, Classic and Scalloped Ovals; Joy! Crafts Butterfly Border

Punch - Martha Stewart Branch

Embossing Powder - Opals

Tiny butterflies - from a $2 shop

Flowers and gems are from my junk stash 

For a chance to win one of two lovely prizes, why not visit us at Crafty Little Fairies, 

and enter our 'Things With Wings' challenge, but please remember that to be eligible, 

you must use a stamped or digi image.

Until next time, "happy crafting",

Hugs, 

Jennifer. x

2nd Birthday

I have a special request for many of you out there...please, please, please

remove those Christmas countdown clocks and blinkies from your blogs!!!

They are freaking me out!!! (lol). Yes, I know Christmas happens at the same

time every year, but this year, the weeks (not to mention the months) are

just flying by at what must be warp speed 10. Many of you I feel are 

also starting to feel alarm at how close Christmas is, judging by your

 notes on your blogs.

Birthdays are also occassions that occur on the same dates every year, but

somehow I seem to be making birthday cards at the last minute too. Each New Year I

promise myself that I will be better prepared, but somehow that thing called

LIFE keeps getting in the way of my good intentions.

Those of you who have been looking at my blog since its early days may

remember me blogging about a dear little baby boy we have nicknamed

'Tiger', as he is such a little fighter. He has had an incredibly difficult start

to life, but on Thursday he celebrated his 2nd birthday, and this is the

card I made for him. Russell's big sister, Connie also had her birthday

on Thursday, but I will show you the card I made for her in a 

later post.

The '2' was in a bag of wooden numbers I bought years ago, and I have 

embossed it with 3 layers of red Opals, sprinkling blue Opals 

into the 3rd layer.  

This adorable bear has 2 other co-ordinating bear stamps

that were among some of my earliest stamp purchases.

Likewise, these 3 Cuttlebug dies were purchased soon after my

much-loved Cuttlebug came to live with me. I cut out 3 of each of

the dies - 1 red, 1 black, 1 yellow. I then adhered tiny pieces of 

double-sided tape on the back of the red ones and with tiny 

tweezers inserted the 'hubcaps' and windows.

Inside my card matches the front, and I added some punched out

trains for added interest.

Challenges

Corrosive #186 - 'Tic Tac Toe' (DP,Image,Sentiment)

Creative Card Crew #48 - 'Teddy Bear's Picnic'

Crazy #157 - 'B is for...' (Bear, Blue, Bow-tie)

C.R.A.F.T. #231 - 'For The Boys (0-150)

Ready-Teddy-Go #28 - 'Use Embossing'

Die Cuttin' Divas #139 - 'Anything Goes'

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' #1 - 'Emboss It'

Stampavie and More #197 - 'Bear'

LEJ Designs #77 - 'Anything Goes'

Image - Stamp-it Australia

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Computer Generated

Paper - First Edition Family Ties

Dies - Spellbinders Classic Rectangles; Cuttlebug -  Engine, Caboose, & ?

Punch - Martha Stewart border - Train

Embossing - Opals Waratah, Blue Lake

Thank you  for visiting, and I hope to catch up with visiting and 

commenting on all your lovely blogs very soon, so until next time,

"Happy Crafting"

Hugs,

Jennifer. x

Buttons and Bows

My goodness, we are experiencing horrendous weather conditions here

in New South Wales, Australia. We are having record-breaking high

temperatures, gale force winds, very low humidity, and serious drought...

all combining to create perfect conditions for massive bushfires, of which 

there are almost 100, with 30+ out-of-control. There are several of these

quite close to us, and we have been on evacuation stand-by for about a 

week. Needless to say, we have been sleeping very lightly each night. The

men and women in the Rural Fire Service are incredible...they say they don't

want to be called heroes, but that is what they are. Almost all are volunteers. 

A newspaper photo of exhausted volunteers asleep on the road has gone 

viral on the internet. We desperately need rain, and plenty of it, to 

end this dreadful nightmare.

Onto more pleasant things...

At Penny's Paper Crafty, it is time for another challenge, and this

week our theme is one I am sure you will love -

'BUTTONS AND BOWS'

Our 2 wonderful sponsors this week are

and

We were all given some lovely images to play with, and I was

thrilled to choose Inky Impressions' Kitty With Bow.

It is amazing how so many colours are perfectly matched IRL, but look

completely different when photographed. The kitty's bow, and the Bazzill

Bling cardstock are a perfect example of this. The button is a metal one

which I sponged with white ink, then embossed it with Alabaster Opals.

I punched the butterflies from scraps of the Bazzill Bling, then sprinkled

them lightly with the Alabaster Opals before heating them. I added tiny

dots of Liquid Pearls to their 'bodies'.

A closer look at this too, too cute kitty. I have had those

silver skeleton leaves for an embarrassingly long time.

Inside my card.

This is the first time I have used the lovely Martha Stewart PATP Pansies

punch. I have been wanting it for about a year, and when I saw it on sale

recently, it had to come home with me.

Challenges

Deep Ocean #63 - 'Button It Up'
Passion For Promarkers #221 - 'Give Me A 'P' '
(Pussycat, Pink, Pearls, Pansies Punch, Promarkers)
Rhedd and Rosie's #18 - 'Anything Goes'
Ruby's Rainbow #65 - 'Button It'

Image - Inky Impressions digi Kitty With Bow

Colouring - Promarkers

Sentiment - Inky Impressions digi

Dies - Spellbinders Floral Ovals; Cheery Lynn Wreath Strip;

Punches - Martha Stewart PATP Pansies, Butterfly Trio

Embossing - Opals Alabaster

Flowers, Skeleton Leaves, Button, Bow, Liquid Pearls, 

         Silver Corner Peel-off stickers are all from my junk stash

For a chance to win great prizes, why not visit Penny's Paper Crafty and enter our 'Buttons and Bows' challenge.

Until next time,
Hugs,
Jennifer. x

Sunny's First Birthday

Hello fellow crafters,
It's time for another challenge at Penny's Paper crafty where our theme this week is

'WET OR DRY EMBOSSING'

Our sponsors this week are

Stamping Dragon Designs

http://stampingdragondesigns.blogspot.com.au/

and

Saturated Canary

http://saturated-canary.myshopify.com/

How quickly a year can fly by...a dear friend's first little granddaughter, Sunny,

will turn one in two week's time. It  feels as if it was only a few months ago

that I was making her a 'Welcome To The World' card.

A closer look at the flowers.

A close-up look at the digital image, coloured with Promarkers.

As usual, I have decorated the inside of the card.

Challenges I would like to enter are:-

A Gem of a Challenge #63 - 'Wet or Dry Embossing'
Totally Paper Crafts - 'Embossing of Any Kind'

Sparkles Monthly #40 - 'Die Cuts and Flowers'

Allsorts #190 - 'Flower Power'

Image- Stamping Dragon Designs (digi stamp) Rupert's Birthday'

Colouring - Promarkers

Paper and Cardstock - Stampin' Up
Dies - Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Ovals; Cheery Lynn Wreath Strip

Punch- Carl Sakura
Embossing (dry) - Cuttlebug Happy Birthday

Embossing (wet) - Opals Mountain Berry

Flowers, chipboard '1', Stickles Star Dust, tiny gems and beads, all from my junk stash

For a chance to win some great prizes, why not visit Penny's Paper Crafty, and enter our challenge.

Until next, happy crafting and thank you for visiting.

Hugs,

Jennifer. x