It's All In The Background - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

I am pleased to report I had my second vaccine yesterday.  I'm a little worse for wear this morning but nothing compared to the after effects of the first one where I was out of it for a few days.

I set the Daring Cardmakers challenge this week and thought we'd have some fun creating backgrounds that can be the star of our cards.

I used alcohol inks, stamps and stencils with my gel press and had fun creating my background.  I kept the card simple by simply adding a black die cut circle frame, stamped and coloured butterfly and a sentiment.

I hope that you will join in with the challenge as I always love seeing how others interpret the challenges.  More inspiration and link to join can be found HERE.

Have a great weekend and see you next week,

Shabneez

Products Used:

Aall & Create Lotsa Dots Stencil

Aall & Create Stamp Set #45 designed by Tracy Evans

Aall & Create All Measured Up Stamp #235 by Tracy Evans

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Metallic Sentiment Stickers

Ranger Alcohol Inks

Gel Plate

Everything else from my stash

Whoopsie Daisy - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy July!

I'm a little late this week as I've been out of town so had a lot to catch up on my return.  As it's the first Friday in July it is of course the elemental challenge over on the Daring Cardmakers.

I've used a new die and sentiment stamp on my creation.  I love the sentiment on this and it went so well with the image of the little hedgehog I thought.  My background was made using a couple of stencils and distress oxide inks.  I kind of got fed up with the normal background colours so went for something different.

The image was stamped and coloured in using my Chameleon pens.  I then used a die to cut out the frame and another die to cut out the sentiment strip.  

You can see lots more inspiration from the DT HERE and below you'll find the mood board from which you need to use 3 elements or more.  I chose the circle, daisy and frame.  I hope you'll join in.

I managed to get lots of gardening done last Friday evening and Saturday afternoon so I intend to catch up on some crafting this weekend after a new school uniform fitting.

Have a great weekend,

Shabneez

Products Used:

Time for Tea Designs Woodland Critter Stamps

Heffy Doodle Fancy Nancy Frame Set

Heffy Doodle Everyday Sentiment Duo Set

Heffy Doodle Stitched Strips of Ease Dies

Time for Tea Designs Masking Circle Stencil

Time for Tea Designs Sunnyside Up Stencil 

Distress Oxide Ink Pads

Everything else from my stash

How To Use Stencils with Liquid Watercolours - CrafTangles DT

Happy Wednesday!

The boys have gone back to school and it's so quiet in the house.  I do miss them.  We had a really good break, taking the opportunity to recharge our batteries whilst catching up wth friends and family.

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog today using liquid watercolours with stencils.  I'd never thought to use this combination before, probably because I tend to rely on inks with my stencils! 

I truly enjoyed creating these cards as when I first started out I didn't know what I'd accomplish.  It was exciting lifting the stencil to see the creation - doesn't take a lot does it?!

First up, I used the Dream Big stencil and a few colours of inks.  I managed to create a slight ombre effect with the lettering from dark to light blue then added splashes of yellow and pink. 

I finished the card by adding Tonic Nuvo drops which I treated myself to from the Create & Craft Birthday event.  I absolutely love the shades and the texture you can create with them.

Next I used just 2 colours of liquid watercolours and painted through a corner of the Net Lace stencil.

The effect that was created reminded me of tie and dye.  I spattered egglant watercolour to finish and die cut a part of it to stick on my card.  I added some washi tape and a sentiment to finish.

For my final creation I remembered to take a photo of my creation before I took the stencil off!

From this you can see how I've taped down the watercolour card onto my glass mat and used the left over colours on my mat to make this creation.

Being such a fan of rainbow colours, I couldn't bear to cut this one up other than to matt it on to black card to make it pop.  I added a die cut sentiment to finish.  It's definitely my favourite of the three.  So tell me, which do you like the most?

Enjoy the rest of your week,
Shabneez

Products Used:
CrafTangles Liquid Watercolours
CrafTangles Dream Big Stencil
CrafTangles Net Lace Stencil
CrafTangles Geometric Bursts Stencil
Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops
CrafTangles Cardstock
Everything else from my stash

CrafTangles Wanderlust Papers With A Twist

Happy Tuesday!

How's your week been so far?  Has the snow stayed away?  It's been chilly my end but the sun has made up for it - having said that, it is wet and very windy today!

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog today with a beautiful new paper pad called Wanderlust.  As you can imagine from the title it's a travel themed paper pad but it incorporates some stunning florals as well.

For my first card I went all out on the travel theme and made a postcard using one of the papers which I cut to size then used glimmer paste through a stencil to create the 'Carta Postale'.  I stuck this on another of the papers and fussy cut some images as decoupage.

I went around the sentiment and postcard with distress ink sofly to create a more vintage look.

For my next card I chose a fresh, floral paper and used my favourite fairy dust glimmer paste through a leaf stencil to get a textured background.

I decoupaged the camera in the top left corner and added a sentiment to finish.

For my final card I used a damask stencil on a predominantly Italian themed page.  The damask just made me think of the embroidery and material prints I'd seen when I'd travelled around parts of Italy.

To soften the black gesso I'd used through the stencil I added some copper art wax.  I love the sentiment on this on - Take Me Anywhere!

See you again later on in the week,
Shabneez

Products Used:
CrafTangles Wanderlust Paper Pad
CrafTangles Glimmer Paste - Denim Blue
CrafTangles Glimmer Paste - Fairy Dust
CrafTangles Black Gesso
CrafTangles Art Wax - Copper Penny
CrafTangles Stencil - Damask Delight
CrafTangles Stencil - Autumn Leaves
CrafTangles Stencil - Vintage Label
Distress Ink in Brushed Corduroy
CrafTangles Denim Cardstock
Everything else from my stash

Pastel Valentines Collection

Happy Weekend!

It's been a great week and I'm really looking forward to having no deadlines this weekend for a change.  I even managed a day off in the week and met up with a very dear friend of mine who I've known for about 15 years now - it was a novelty walking around the shops and having a leisurely lunch before the school run.

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog today with a collection of pastel Valentine cards.  I don't know about you but I tend to associate red with Valentines and fancied trying something a little different.

For all the cards I designed I used distress inks in soft shades to make my backgrounds with a variety of love themed stencils by CrafTangles.

I added die cut shapes to stamp my sentiments on - all with black ink to make them pop!

For my final card I decided to make a shaker using a nesting die set and I think it's my favourite.  I'd love to know which yours is.

So there you have it - a collection of pastel Valentine cards all ready to be posted!  There is a more in depth tutorial of how I made these cards on the CrafTangles blog HERE. 

I hope you have a good weekend whatever you do!

Shabneez

Products Used:

CrafTangles XOXO Stencil

CrafTangles Heart Mesh Stencil

CrafTangles Quilted Hearts Stencil

CrafTangles I Love You Stamp Set

CrafTangles Love Story Stamp Set

CrafTangles Valentines Day Stamp Set

CrafTangles Cupcake Pink Sequins

Distress Inks in Cracked Pistachio, Shaded Lilac and Milled Lavender

Versafine Black Ink

Sizzix Stitched Oval Dies by Tim Holtz

Everything else from my stash

Using Stencils to Create Christmas Card Toppers - CrafTangles DT

Happy Weekend!

I'm so very glad the weekend is here although I'm actually teaching for most of the day today.  I'm up on the CrafTangles blog with a post on making your own Christmas toppers for cards.

I had a bit of a production line going and to begin with I die cut some shapes and made all the toppers using images from a stencil together with distress inks.

For all the cards I used the Trimcraft First Edition Jolly Holidays papers as backgrounds.  It's definitely one of my favourite paper pads this winter.

So for my first card I gave the Christmas tree and ombre effect and added washi tape, lime green card and a sentiment to finish.

For my next card I used the fun candy cane image and created 3 toppers adding a sentiment to finish.

My final card uses the deer image which I inked in milled lavender and weathered wood distress inks.  I really liked the subtle effect it gave to the topper.

I finished off with a sentiment and co-ordinating papers.

There's more of an in depth tutorial HERE if you want to know more about how I created these cards.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and hopefully see you next week!

Shabneez

Products Used:

First Edition Jolly Holidays Paper Pad

CrafTangles Christmas Elements Stencil

CrafTangles Christmas Ornaments Stamp Set

CrafTangles Seasons Greetings Stamp Set

Ranger Distress Inks in Abandoned Coral, Peacock Feathers, Weathered Wood, Milled Lavender, Mowed Lawn and Twisted Citron

Everything else from my stash

Christmas Cards with a touch of Sparkle! - CrafTangles DT

Happy Thursday!

I keep getting reminders from various online retailers advising me on the countdown to Christmas so I thought I had better increase my card production as I send so many.  Of course, there's nothing like having to write a Design Team post to give me a gentle nudge!

I'm up on the CrafTangles Blog HERE with a selection of sparkly Christmas cards.  I just couldn't resist and it gets better as my sparkly products increase.......

I took the opportunity to use my Chameleon pens together with the colour tops on some of the images - they really make it easy to blend.

For my first card I've used the man in red himself and I just love the sentiment don't you?!  The iridescent sparkle was added using glimmer paste through a christmas tree stencil.

Next up heat embossing in gold - it gives such a luxury feel to a card in my opinion.  I bet you think I'm so odd - haha!!! I used acrylic paint flicks on the background and added sparkle in the form of glitter card.

For my final card I used the cute bear stamp set that I'd used at the beginning of the year.  The sparkle comes again from glimmer paste, this time in silver for the background.

I'm hoping to be back again tomorrow but it kind of depends if I can whip up a project in time.  No guarantees I'm afraid - you'll just have to watch this space!

Shabneez

Products Used:

Chameleon Pens

CrafTangles Holly Jolly Stamp Set

CrafTangles Bearing Gifts Stamp Set

CrafTangles Merry Christmas Stamp Set

CrafTangles Snowflakes Stencil 

CrafTangles Tree Background Stencil

CrafTangles Silver Glimmer Paste

CraFtangles Fairy Dust Glimmer Paste

CrafTangles Cardstock

Versamark Pad

Ranger Gold Embossing Powder

Everything else from my stash

Celebratory Cards Using CrafTangles Products

Happy Tuesday!

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog today with a selection of cards using their October new release products.

I actually had to investigate the warli stamp set I was sent as I'd never heard of the warli tribe that are featured on it.  So I learnt warli painting is a tribal art form and the warli tribe originated from the mountains on the coast in northern India.  The warli style reminded me of paintings done in caves.

The stamp set went well with a tribal stencil in my mind so that's what I used!  I made a distressed oxide background then used oxides through the stencil too.

My next card was funnily enough made using an Eid stencil to make a Diwali card!  A versatile stencil for sure!

Once again I chose to use distress oxides through the stencil on black card this time, finishing with a gold heat embossed sentiment.

For my final card I chose a red background and silver glimmer paste through a stencil.  I wanted to keep it simple so just added a sentiment to finish.

I have more in depth details on how I went about making there cards on the CrafTangles blog HERE.

See you again soon,
Shabneez

Products Used:
Distress Oxides
Versafine Black Ink
CrafTangles Glimmer Paste
CrafTangles Tribal Stencil
CrafTangles Eid Stencil
CrafTangles Diwali Stencil
CrafTangles Warli Borders Stamp
CrafTangles From All Of Us Stamp Set
Everything else from my stash

1 Stamp 3 Ways - CrafTangles DT

Happy Monday!

How was your weekend?  I had a hectic weekend, teaching on Saturday and then my Trimcraft Christmas demo on Sunday which was really good - lots of crafters, both new and advanced.  I think I need another day off but it's Monday so no rest for the wicked!

I'm up on the CrafTangles blog today using one stamp 3 ways.  This is something I enjoy doing as it makes me think of different ways to use a product.

It's only now that I look at what I made that I realise how you can't tell I've used the same stamp due to the way I've used it!

For my first card I've used the stamp through a balloon stencil.  I thought it was an unusual way of using the stamp and works well.  The background is smooshed and I've added bows and twine to embellish.

Next up is a mixed media creation using the stamp as a background.  I've distressed a paper pad using ink then stamped over to create the background.  I used black gesso through a stencil and some art wax to add shimmer.  It picks up the texture of the gesso so well.  To finish I added a die cut circle and sentiment.

My final card uses the stamp as a border.  I do love the background on this one - a very fresh and modern card!  I've added a fussy cut stamped cake and sentiment too.

So there you have it - 1 stamp used in 3 ways!  A more indepth tutorial for all the cards is on the CrafTangles blog HERE.

Have a great week and see you on Friday!
Shabneez

Products Used:
CrafTangles Old Newspaper Stamp
CrafTangles Ombre Watercolor Paper Pad
Tim Holtz Distress Inks
CrafTangles Beehive Stencil
CrafTangles Flourish Stencil
Versafine Black Ink Pad
CrafTangles Black Gesso
CrafTangles Art Wax
CrafTangles Balloon Stencil
CrafTangles Birthday Girl Stamp Set
Everything else from my stash

CrafTangles June 2018 Blog Hop - Foils

Happy Weekend!

The CrafTangles June Blog hop is underway and the winners of the last blog have also been announced HERE.

If you'd like a chance at winning one of two goody bags please hop along:
Paru
Rahmat
Shabneez - YOU ARE HERE
Swapna

In order to be eligible for a prize you must visit all the blogs above and leave a comment.  CrafTangles will choose 2 winners who will each get a goody bag!  It is open worldwide.

The theme of this month's blog hop is Foils and we've all used them in different ways.

For my first card after stamping the image and colouring in with pencils I decided to die cut the sentiment and punch out the hearts from a sheet of foil that I had adhered to some card with a double sided adhesive sheet.

For my next card I used the stunning rainbow foil for both a background and also for die cutting the lettering.

Finally I paper pieced using foil.  I hadn't seen it done before so thought I'd have a go and it worked!

I hope these have inspired you have a go at using foils.  All you need is double sided tape or an adhesive double sided sheet.

Good Luck with the Blog Hop!
Shabneez

Products Used:
CrafTangles Cardstock
Versamagic White Ink Pad
Versafine Ink Pad
Everything else from my stash

1 Stencil 3 Ways - CrafTangles DT

Happy Monday!

How was your weekend?  I certainly heard a lot of cheers from the neighbourhood on Sunday afternoon when England scored all those goals!

I'm up on the CraftTangles blog HERE with cards using the CrafTangles Rainbows and Clouds stencil. 

As you can see I've managed to create cards using limited supplies - stencils, distress inks and card!

For this first card I went all out using the largest rainbow on the stencil with distress inks.  I then sprayed on water and left to dry.  For the stars I used distress oxides as I prefered the chalky effect they gave.  I finished with a sentiment.

Next up I used a soft grey for the clouds and the raindrops stencil to create a border.

For the final card I actually had a little girl in mind who I'm sure will love this card.  I used the smaller of the two rainbows on the stencil and added clouds and stars before matting and layering.

Stencils don't have to be used just for backgrounds - they can just as easily be used as focal points for cards as well.

See you again later on this week,
Shabneez

Products Used:
CrafTangles Rainbows & Clouds Stencil
CrafTangles Raindrops Stencil
CrafTangles Cardstock
Hero Arts Stamp & Die Set
Everything else from my stash

Feeling Blue - Daring Cardmakers DT

Happy Friday!

Well, what a week it's been.  Bit of a whirlwind but at least the boys are now back at school so I can work without feeling guilty.  They happily get involved with what I'm doing but I still get those pangs of guilt.  Working from home takes juggling your home and work life to a whole new level and you'd think I'd have got used to it after all these years but it's not the case. 

Yesterday, I was invited on Create & Craft yesterday as a Guest Presenter to showcase the Darice dies.  One of the samples I made just happened to fit with this week's Daring Cardmakers challenge of using blue.  How lucky was that?!  I just love it when I can use one project for two purposes!

 I've used the new Darice dies that you can use to die cut, emboss and stencil. 

For the white glittery butterflies I used Darice glitter paper and for the others I simply cut, embossed then coloured with my distress inks.  The 'Hello' sentiment I cut, embossed then used the die as a stencil to add the different shades.  I adore butterflies and could happily use them on all my projects but then you'd be bored of seeing them I'm sure!  The royal blue background makes the elements pop.

I hope that you'll join in with the Challenge and see all the wonderful cards that my fellow DT members have created HERE.

I'm very much looking forward to the weekend as my sister in law is visiting and we're planning on having a BBQ - making the most of the sunshine while it lasts!

Have a lovely weekend,
Shabneez

Products Used:
Darice Butterfly Dies
Darice Sentiment Dies
Tim Holtz Distress Inks
Everything else from my stash