Thinking Holiday Inking

Have you checked out Jennifer McGuire's new Thinking Holiday Inking video series?  It's now in Week 5 and so inspirational.

I had never thought of using alcohol inks on watercolour paper before.

The bauble stamp is clear ink stamped onto watercolour paper, heat embossed with clear powder, then alcohol inks with gold mixative and blending solution pounced on top.  The inks sink into the watercolour paper leaving the mixative on top.

The bauble was stamped again with olive green ink onto white card then clear embossed several times to give a glossy finish.

This has been entered in Thinking Holiday Inking Week 5 - Alcohol Inks and Watercolour Paper

Paper: docrafts Forever Friends Cosy Christmas
Scalloped border: docrafts Hampstead borders and icons
die-cut sentiment: docrafts Henbury Lane paper pack
Stamp: Hero Arts cling bauble stamp
X-Cut Scallop Scissors, Large
Glitter glue, string

I am also entering this on:
One Stop Craft Challenge 105 - Embossing
Make it Monday - Share your Creativity!
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge: Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge 30: Anything Goes

My very first blog awards!

I'm really thrilled to get these awards!

The first is from Sally Atkins.  I've been following Sally's gorgeous blog for some time and I just love her colourful creations.

The rules for this award are:

• Thanks the person who gave me the award - Thanks, Sally!
• Put the award on my blog
• List three things I like about myself

1. I'm generally cheerful and optimistic.
2. I'm a big softie and cry far too easily (not sure if I like that after all LOL!)
3. At 51 my hair is barely going grey!  Superficial, moi???

Post a picture I love:

I know the quality isn't great. I tried to adjust the brightness.  This is me with my two sisters on a weekend in Glasgow last November and we had a blast. Sisters are wonderful and I have the two best sisters ever!

Now, to pass the award on to 5 other lovely bloggers with that little bit extra: (this is hard, there are so many inspirational blogs out there!)

1. Edna
2. Deirdre
3. Pinky
4. Eileen
5. Chris

The second award comes from Dianne who I began following recently.  I struggle to make a card some days and she makes HUGE batches!  You go Dianne!  Wish I had your mojo!

Beautiful Blogger Award

The rules for this award are to tell you 10 things you'd probably not know about myself, and to pass the award on to 10 more Beautiful Bloggers.

1. I was born in Scotland.
2. I married at 19, that was 31 years ago.
3. I have six children.
4. I love to cook and prefer cooking at high speed to the leisurely type!
5. I am more energetic in the mornings and not worth tuppence after 10 p.m.
6. I love cats.
7. I'd love to own a very talkative parrot.
8. I believe every single person is creative but everyone expresses it in different ways - it might be their home or garden or baking a yummy loaf of bread.  
9. We have moved house more than 10 times since we got married!
10. My favourite drink is dry white wine.

My 10 Beautiful Bloggers are:

Debbie
Val
Jackie
Lulu
Julie M
Julie
Sandra Dry
Sarpreet
Wendy
Leann
 
Ger x.

Hampstead

How did I not notice these lovely paper packs and embellies before?  Had fun making some quick cards last night.

Papermania Hampstead Papers and embellishments
X-Cut Scissors Scallop Large
Tim Holtz Tattered Florals (arrived yesterday! Yay!)
Brad from stash, altered colour with alcohol inks

Thanks for looking

Ger x.

Bon Voyage

Sometimes, the idea you have in your head translates straight onto the card.  This was not one of those times!  I'd be ashamed to tell you how many sheets of glossy card ended up in the bin, or the names I called the brayer which very nearly went into the bin as well.

In the end I went for the fake brayer technique with Big and Juicy Mountain Meadow.  The sentiment is computer generated and embossed by dumping embossing powder onto it as soon as it came out of the printer, then heating. This is a Bon Voyage card for my sister who's off to Abu Dhabi shortly.  I'd also like to enter this card into this week's Scrapbook Sisters Card Challenge - Tick Tock.  Then I think I better go to bed before I do any more damage.

Thanks for looking!

Ger x.

Black & White Christmas

The inspiration for this card came from this beautiful card.

The stamp is from docrafts Classic Christmas, embossed in black, some glitter glue added around the reindeers' feet and to their spots.

I am entering this card into Bah! Humbug Challenge: Elegance


Ger x.

Old Stash

Morning all.  This card was made for Clare's Photo Inspiration Challenge over at docrafts and I managed to use up some of last year's papers yay!  They are from docrafts A Christmas Carol.  The candle is from Sheena Douglass Christmas Day, stamped with Vintage Photo, colour pulled out with a paintbrush.  A little copper glitter for the centre of the poinsettias and some ribbon.  The date stamp is from docrafts Silent Night stamp set.

Ger x.

Crafters Companion SWALK Blog Hop

Hi all,

I haven't posted in a while and now that I have cards to post I don't have my camera till next Monday!

In the meantime here is the Crafters Companion Blog Hop to celebrate the release of SWALK Collection Volume 2, with some lovely inspiration along the way. 

You need to start at Jacqui's Blog

Ger x.