Thursday 23 May 2013

Up and away!

Hi all,
Just a quick post today as I'm in the middle of getting things ready for our bank holiday camping trip. Here's hoping the weather improves, it's been cold, wet & windy here today!
 I'm sure we'll still have a good time though as we are going with a good group of friends & taking lots of layers & a bit of alcohol to keep us warm!
 
My card today is one I've made using Indigo Blu stamps (again!) Grand Tour III, Map Background & Itsy Bitsy Backgrounds.
 
I'm loving their stamps at the moment & before I sent the loan stamps back to Indigo Blu I wanted to make some cards using them other than for our workshops.
 They have a scheme where when you place a trade order with them you can borrow some of their stamps so you can make samples to show along side their product. A great idea that I wish more companies would adopt.
 
I chose to use Grand Tour III as it has a hot air balloon image on it which will be perfect for my Uncle's birthday ( although not til October ) as he recently went Up and away on a balloon trip - a Christmas gift.

 
I stamped the balloon, compass & sentiment in black memento ink & colour washed the balloon with aged mahogany distress ink.
The compass was colour washed with a mix of mustard seed,  aged mahogany & brushed corduroy which I also used to distress the edges of the sentiments, background & zigzag strip which was stamped with brushed corduroy.
The balloon was cut out & attached using 3D foam & I added some D.O Chronology screw brads & metal frame around the sentiment.
 

 
I'm entering this card in Hels Sheridan's Sunday Stampers  week 258 Old/Vintage challenge.
 
That's it for now, thanks for stopping by & as always your comments are most welcome.
Back again after the bank holiday, hope you have a good weekend.
 
 
Amy x



Monday 20 May 2013

Out Of The Blue Cardmaking Workshop

Good afternoon all, first of all I'd like to say a big Hello to my newest follower Kelly.
Kelly is a good friend of mine & has just started her own blog so please pop over & say hi, I'm sure she would appreciate it very much. Here's the link.
 
My post today features photos of our workshop project last week.
We were using Indigo Blu stamps yet again ( really loving their products at the mo ) & everyone loved the card they produced using the Anenome stamp.
 
You may remember one of my previous posts using this stamp on a card for my Auntie's birthday.
 
 This time my group used purple tones & Carole's group used blue tones.
 I think you'll agree both colour ways work beautifully.

 
 

 
All the cards were made using promarkers, distress inks, various sentiment stamps & butterfly stamps & stickles glitter glue.
Everyone enjoyed adding their own different touches here & there.
 
Our next workshop is coming up in a few weeks time & we are also doing one for Chipping Sodbury Festival so we are busy designing for both of those alongside working on our own projects,
 so busy, busy, busy!
 
Thanks for popping by, as always your comments are very welcome.
 
Amy x
 
 

Thursday 9 May 2013

Good Wine

Hello & thanks for stopping by.
 Just a quick post today as I'm busy getting everything together for my shop's Card making workshop this evening.
 Tonight we will be using another Indigo Blu stamp, BFF.
 I'm loving using their products at the moment & am very excited as a new delivery arrived from them in the shop yesterday. I was creating my latest window display so didn't get a chance to peek inside the box so I can't wait to get in the shop this afternoon!.
 

My crafty friend Carole came up with her design for the workshop using double sided tape to apply the gilding flakes to. I loved this idea as it's quick & less messy than using the glue.  Here's my version.
The image was stamped with plum archival ink & heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The embossing powder actually has a tiny amount of glitter in it which was a happy accident as I wasn't concentrating & talking to my husband Nick & picked up the wrong pot!. Nevermind , I quite like the effect.
The background is stamped & heat embossed in the same colours using Indigo Blu's Itsy Bitsy Backgrounds & I've added a bit of aged mahogany DI here & there.

Hope you like it!
 
Bye for now
 
Amy x