Blog Challenge - anniversary card

I have just unpacked all my wood backed stamps out of storage and had a happy time putting them into their new unit!  It was very nostalgic, so I am playing along with Retro Rubber this week, they have a tic tac toe challenge, as below:

I have chosen the bottom row - pearls, patterned paper and embossing.  The dolphin stamp has a date of 2002 on the label and the sentiment from Stamping all Day has been in my collection for a few years now, though it is still available here, along with many other very useful text stamps.

I stamped / heat embossed both images in white and then shmooshed in a mixture of DiOx inks - Broken China, Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers and Mowed Lawn.  Then I fussy cut the dolphins and trimmed the sentiment into a banner.  The mat was die-cut (Julie Hickey) and the patterned paper placed on top, then the image and sentiment were attached with foam tape.  Two pearls at each end of the banner finished it off nicely.

It's been ages since I did any resist embossing, really must try some more :-)

keyword RRCB145

 

Cross stitch update

The boredom factor has set in, a bit.  I did so well over the 100 days, but have rather neglected it since!  More progress made on the hat and a bit of beard :-)
 

Get Well card - blog challenges x 2

I am sharing this with two challenges today - Retro Rubber and Cardz 4 Guyz.  RR has a tic tac toe as below and I have chosen Blue, Rectangles and Patterned Paper.  C4G would like a masculine get well card.

Add caption

The cogs frame die is cut from patterned paper and is from Sue Wilson.  It has a central rectangle for the sentiment from Visible Image, which is around 4 or 5 years old, and I stamped/heat embossed it in silver.  The two mats are rectangles and the light blue is also patterned paper :-)  I have picked up the silver of the sentiment by making a silver frames using peel off sticker lines.

RR keyword: RRCB140

Steampunk clock

For Day 90 of the 100 day challenge, I decorated a clock dial with gilding flakes, noting that it would at some point become an actual clock.  And here it is!
The mdf base was made by my youngest son at school in Year 8, sixteen years ago .... now I have finally got around to using it :-)
The background paper is from the Stamperia collection 'Cosmos'.  I cut panels for the front and sides, having painted around the edges of the mdf in bronze.  These were sealed with Mod Podge and allowed to dry before adhering to the clock with wet glue, so that they wouldn't bubble up under the subsequent varnish.
I then die-cut the gear corners for the front and decorative panels for the sides, dies by Memory Box and Marianne respectively.  The metal cogs/gears in both antique copper and gunmetal finishes were from stash and adhered with Cosmic Shimmer glue, which I have found to be excellent for sticking down metal.
The clock mechanism was inserted (and tested!) so that the dial could be placed accurately.  The dial is a little too big for the base, so I attached tiny feet (originally sold as dolls house furniture knobs) to increase the height just a bit.  Then the dial and hands were attached.
I felt it needed a little more and stuck a row of pearls to the top edge and some more around the cogs/gears at the front and sides.
It will now have pride of place on my mantelpiece :-)
I am sharing this with Sandee & Amelie's Steampunk challenges Summer Special and with the CraftWorld Steampunk Inspired challenge

Cross Stitch update

I had a little break after finishing the 100 days ... :-) But here is the latest update! Yet another shade of pale beige on the beard!! Half of that done, also some more red on the hat.  I have now rolled it right down the frame in order to do the upper wreath and ribbon, after they are done it will roll back up to finish the jacket trim.

Day 100: Scrapbook layout

I have made it to the end of the 100 Day challenge!! At the start I didn't think I would be able to keep it up, so I am well pleased :-)  I have started and finished projects, made huge progress on UFO's and used stash I had never used before!
Today I have a scrapbook page to share.  The main paper is from Stamperia and the central panel is made from two sheets from a 6" paper pad (acid free, I did check!) from The Works.  The reverse of the 6" papers handily had journalling lines, so I used the trimmings to form the journalling bases.
The arrow circle and title were cut on the Silhouette.
There is also some stamping on this page, although the paper has quite a lot of grunginess, I just had to add a few more splats and drops!

Day 99: Thank you card

I am sharing this with NBUS, as it is a brand new stamp set (from SU), which arrived today!  Never has a stamp seen ink so quickly!

The background is done with Distress oxides in Dried Marigold and the new Speckled Egg, both were shmooshed over the panel and over stamped with splotches in both colours.  Then I used Memento black to stamp the SU Queen Anne's Lace and sentiment from the same set.  I didn't want to cut a mat (!) so the panel was then edged in the black ink and affixed to a white blank, I am very happy with this one :-)

See you tomorrow, for Day 100!

Day 98: Cross stitch update

Two more shades of green completed on the right wreath upper middle section and a good amount of white on the jacket trim.

This is the last update during the 100 day challenge, I am amazed by how much I have been able to do, it will actually be finished by this Christmas, with any luck! 

See you tomorrow!

Day 97: Wall Art - blog challenge

My first make with yesterday's backgrounds!  This is a piece of wall art, using a DaliArt butterfly and an old sentiment, which may be Hot off the Press, but I won't swear to it :-)

The background of the die-cut panel (Crealies deckled square) is some smooshed DiOx in Speckled Egg, Shaded Lilac and Cracked Pistachio.  I stamped the butterfly in Versaclair Morning Mist and then very quickly sprinkled clear embossing powder over it, then cut a mask so I could spray over the top.   The sentiment is just stamped, no embossing.

It will go into a black frame, as below, but it's hard to photograph without reflections!

I am sharing this Butterfly with Allsorts challenge blog, who would like something beginning with B.

See you tomorrow!

Day 96: Galaxy backgrounds

Some more play with Distress Oxide sprays ... I was aiming for a 'galaxy' look, so sprayed DiOx inks onto graphite pearlescent cardstock.  I used speckled egg and shaded lilac on the left hand card, then the same on the right hand one, but adding mermaid lagoon and wilted violet.  I don't have a red in a DiOx spray so tried a distress spray stain in abandoned coral - not sure I like it, but it might grow on me, at the moment it looks more like blood drops at a forensic scene rather than a galaxy far far away!
Now I just need to decide what to use them for.
See you tomorrow!

Day 95: Cross stitch update

More work on the trim on sleeve and hat, a start made on some red on the hat, and a little bit of jacket which I had somehow previously missed!
See you tomorrow!

Day 94: Birthday card, new distress oxide colour

I am sharing this with A Bit More Time to Craft, their theme is 'Anything goes'.
There is a new Distress colour ... Speckled Egg, which is a vintage-y duck egg blue and is gorgeous.  I bought the Oxide inkpad and the Oxide spray.
I have used a new stencil, from Darkroom Door, shmooshed DiOx inks through, in speckled egg, shaded lilac and cracked pistachio.  I then found an old script stamp and stamped that over the stencil in weathered wood, but using the second impression not the first.  The stencil was removed and a few stamped splats were added.
The sentiment is from Phill Martin, as is the script, the feathers are Hot off the Press and Elusive Images, who have since become Chocolate Baroque.
This card qualifies for both Out of the Drawer for the old stamps, all but the largest feather were unused, and also Buy it Try it, as the stencil and inkpad were used on the day they arrived!
See you tomorrow!

Day 93: Double Gatefold card - blog challenge

I am sharing this card with Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper challenge, NBUS challenge 16, and Little Red Wagon  - who require patterned paper, never before used stuff, and embossing respectively.
This is a double gatefold card, the papers are from Kaisercraft, the sentiment from Woodware and the previously unused butterfly from Deep Red.
I heat embossed in Periwinkle from Stampendous, used a scalloped circle punch for the butterfly and cut the sentiment pennant by hand.
See you tomorrow!

Day 92: Cross stitch update

More work on the right wreath and a start on the right sleeve trim.
See you tomorrow!

Day 91: Christmas card - blog challenge

I am sharing this card with Retro Rubber, Anything goes, use an old stamp.

This bells stamp has a label with a 2005 date, I started stamping in 2003, so it's one of my oldest :-)  I heat embossed in gold, along with the sentiment from SU, which is a couple or three years old.  The panel was matted onto a simple patterned paper background, which is gold foiled, but it doesn't show well in the photo.

Keyword RRCB138

See you tomorrow!

Day 90: Clock face with gilding flakes

Experimenting with gilding flakes - I have stamped with them before, but never applied them to an object. I love how this clock face has turned out and it will become an actual steampunk clock at some point!
I can't believe it's Day 90 of the challenge - only 10 more days to go!
See you tomorrow!

Day 89: Cross stitch update

Just a little bit of work on the right upper ribbon - I have neglected this a bit over the last couple of days in favour of other projects:-(  Note to self: do better next week!
See you tomorrow!

Day 88: Pear Upside Down cake

I'm not fond of pears and DH had bought some but not eaten them, they were on the way to being inedible .... so I winged it to make this cake.  I generously buttered the base of a loaf tin, sprinkled soft brown sugar all over the butter, then placed the cut up pears over the base.  The cake itself is a standard sponge mix - for every egg, use 2 oz each of self raising flour, caster sugar and margarine or butter.  I estimated that my tin would take a 3 egg mix, though as it turned out, 4 would have been better!  But it still turned out really well and I will probably make it again, I rather liked the cooked pears :-)
See you tomorrow!

Day 87: Resin cast seashells

When I was a kid I used to make things using Plastikraft - I don't think it's around any more, but it was basically a resin casting kit of the 1970's.
I have been meaning for some time to take it up again and recently bought some resin to have a go, then found that I had some identical resin bought previously (about 5 years ago!), so am using the older one first.
The shells are from trips to the beach when the boys were young, so around 15 - 20 years old, I found the box of shells when we moved.
It's not a great first attempt, there are far too many bubbles, but I like them :-)
See you tomorrow!

Day 86: Cross stitch update

Not quite as much progress as I would like - it has been so hot in my craft room! Left upper ribbon is done, as is all the white in the hair and hat trim.
See you tomorrow!

Day 85: Steampunk butterfly card - three blog challenges

I am joining three challenges today: Cardz 4 Galz, Sweet Stampin' and Crafty Cardmakers.  SS and CC both ask for a 'create your own background' and C4G would like a feminine steampunk card.
the background was created using a swirly embossing folder to create the panel and then shmooshing ink over it.  I then added the three lattice die cuts (Marianne), the sentiment tag (Apple Blossom) and steampunk butterfly (Robert Addams) - the latter was cut twice, once in plain brown for a 'shadow' and then in a bronze cardstock to which the photo does not do justice!  The bronze butterfly is only affixed at the centre so the wings are free.  The sentiment is so old I am not sure of the make, perhaps Hobby Art.
See you tomorrow!

Day 84: New Home wall art gift

This is some wall art for my niece and her fiance's new house.  If they don't like it they can hang it in the loo, when I come to visit ... LOL.  It's difficult to photograph in the frame due to all the reflections in the glass, so I have shown it unframed as well.
The swirly heart and the letters are done on the Silhouette and adhered to a wood grain textured white card background.  The frame is from Wilko, I thought it was a deep box frame originally, but it is actually a normal photo frame, says so on the label, I just didn't read it properly!!  So it's perfect for this flat project :-)
See you tomorrow!

Day 83: cross stitch update

More work on the left wreath and all the white in the beard finished.
See you tomorrow!

Day 82: Mono-metallic Christmas card

Another day, another blog challenge!  This time I am sharing with Sparkles Christmas Challenge, who would like a card featuring bells.
I bought some paper pads from The Works recently, and this is one of them, called Metallic Mono.  Shades of black, white, silvery grey and gold, several papers are gold foiled, it is beautiful and will make many many cards, not only Christmas but I think it will do for masculine ones year round too.
I found this bell stamp, it's from 2005!! The sentiment is SU, as is the punch used to cut it out.  Both were heat embossed in gold.  The paper panel is die cut with a deckle edge die from Crealies, the plain black mat and the image are done with square dies from Tonic.  I inked round the sentiment tag rather than mat it.
See you tomorrow!

Day 81: Shaped Christmas card - blog challenges

I am joining three challenges today - A Place to Start and Jingle Belles both of whom are asking for a shaped card, JB also being a Christmas card blog - also Christmas Card Throwdown who would like some snowflakes featured.
I started by cutting a card blank using Nesties Label 28, then cut another panel for the topper.  I already had an inked piece of card, so used the next sized die down, to create the mat.  The base of the easel card ie the half without the fold in, was run through a dotty embossing folder - I find that most Nesties have too big a border to just leave blank and embossing is an ideal filler.  Then I embossed the top panel and attached the mat to it, then attached to the folded hinge side of the card.
The snowflakes and sentiment are from an SU stamp set 'Flurry of Wishes', I heat embossed in silver and cut out using their matching punch.  The sentiment was done with a washi tape punch and forms the stopper for the easel.  Both snowflakes and sentiment are attached with 2mm foam for dimension.
I am pleased with this one, though it did take me ages to get three decently stamped/embossed snowflakes!
See you tomorrow!

Day 80: Cross stitch update

Good progress on the beard, a new left side wreath section started and more of the left upper ribbon done.
See you tomorrow!

Day 79: Christmas card - blog challenges

I am playing along with three challenge blogs today. Retro Rubber, Double Trouble and Craftyhazelnut's Christmas challenge.  RR and DT are partnering with each other, RR has a sketch and DT a recipe and optional twist. Craftyhazelnut has an 'Anything Goes' Christmas theme, with an optional twist of using washi tape.

 Ingredients:  3 - Colors 

                           2 - Embellishments   

                           1 - Seasoned Stamped/Digital Sentiment 
                                (clear or rubber stamp more than 
                                one year old)

Using the sketch, create a project using at least one angular shape without round corners, i.e., triangles, quadrilaterals such as square, rectangle, parallelogram, rhombus, etc.

I think I have managed everything .... LOL. 

The triangle on the sketch immediately suggested a Christmas tree, so I picked one of the SU Christmas releases from (I think) 2018 or possibly the year before - Snow is Glistening.  The sentiment comes from the previous year's set, Flurry of Wishes.  I heat embossed in gold and cut out, mounted on 2mm foam for dimension.

The background paper, which I found in an old magazine freebie set, has nothing but angular shapes on it :-)  More than 3 colours - black, white, aqua and gold. 2 embellishments - ribbon and tiny gold pearls on the tree. 1 or more old stamps.

I haven't used actual washi tape - but the sentiment is punched out with a washi tape punch .....does that count???

I needed a 7 x 5 card to fit everything on!  I really enjoyed this one and finding that this particular sentiment fits that punch so perfectly was an added bonus :-)

See you tomorrow!

Day 78: Lemon bars

These are delicious, I have been making them since 2002 and they are very popular at work!

250g plain flour
120g icing sugar
170g butter / margarine
3 eggs
350g caster sugar
5 tbs concentrated lemon juice from bottle, not fresh
3 tbs plain flour

The original recipe used a 9" x 13" tray-bake tin, which is a standard USA size, I don't have one so make it in a 7" by 11" tin, it comes out fine.  Lakeland do a 12" by 9" tin, which would also work.  Make sure the baking parchment comes over the top edge of the tin, so you can lift out the completed bake more easily.

Preheat oven to 175C / 160C fan / Gas 4 / 350F.  Mix the flour, icing sugar and butter/margarine into a soft dough.  Place in a 1" deep baking tray lined with parchment and spread out the dough so that the whole base is covered evenly.  Bake for 20 minutes.
Whilst the base is baking, make the topping.  Whisk the eggs, caster sugar, flour and lemon juice until frothy.  When base is baked, pour the mixture over and return to the oven for a further 20 - 25 minutes, or until light golden brown.  Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then lift the entire bake in its parchment and transfer to a wire rack, it will cool much faster out of the tin.  Cut into bars when completely cold.

Day 77: Cross stitch update

More progress on the upper ribbons.

See you tomorrow!

Day 76: Chocolate choc chip muffins

250g caster sugar
290g plain flour
2.5 tsp baking powder
6 tbs cocoa powder
1 packet (around 100g) choc chips, white look good in this recipe
pinch salt
2 eggs
200ml milk
100ml sunflower oil or melted butter

Preheat oven to 200C / 190C fan / Gas 6 / 400F.  Mix all the dry ingredients into a large bowl.  Combine the wet ingredients into another bowl.  Make a well in the dry ingredients and mix in the wet until just mixed, batter will be lumpy.  Put mixture into muffin cases, it will be enough for 10 or 11.  Bake for 18 - 20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Cool on wire racks.  You can make these as mini muffins, add another 50 ml of milk as the minis dry out more, and shorten the cooking time to around 10 - 12 minutes, though your oven may vary.

Day 75: Anniversary card

DH suddenly (and casually!) announced that our friends' wedding anniversary is coming up.  Those of you who have seen my previous blog will know that this is a recurring situation...... :-)

I had no anniversary cards in my box!!!  So I rummaged in the 'partially made' collection and found this base - an overlay die on a shmooshed ink background.  I punched out the scalloped circle and went through some stamps, found this swirly heart from Deep Red, which I had never used.  It fit the circle perfectly, so I added the sentiment from Stamping all Day and heat embossed in two shades of blue.  The darker blue hasn't come out so well, but it can pass as being a bit grungy, so that's ok!  I plan to make up several of these in different colours, now that I have found such a useful stamp, I really don't know why it has never seen ink!!  I actually have half a dozen or so stamps from this brand and had only used one previously, so will be having a play with the others too.

I am sharing this with NBUS challenge blog  

See you tomorrow!

Day 74: Cross stitch update

Sleeve trim finished and a little more progress on the beard. I have also rolled the frame down and started on the upper left side ribbon.
See you tomorrow!

Day 73: Father's Day card

I used another new overlay die from Lisa Horton.  The paper underneath is from a Kaisercraft paper pad and the sentiment is a very old one, I can't remember the brand - it comes from a set of 12 circular sentiments for various occasions.

See you tomorrow!

Day 72: Birthday Card

I wasn't feeling very inspired today, mojo has completely left the building!  So I found this stamped Woodware image and coloured with alco markers, then assembled a card.

See you tomorrow!

Day 71: Cross stitch update

Lower left side wreath section completed, sleeve trim in three different shades of pale beige plus white is going well, though it's very hard to see the difference between such pale shades!

See you tomorrow!

Day 70: Thank you card

A thank you card today - SU stamp, coloured with alco markers and matted onto patterned paper.

See you tomorrow!

Day 69: Gingerbread Christmas Trees

Gingerbread Christmas trees for my FIL who likes the tree shape even though it isn't Christmas!!! I don't have a metric recipe, it's all ounces because I have been making them for so many years.

8oz plain flour

4 oz soft light brown sugar

2 tsp ground ginger

pinch cinnamon

4 tbs golden syrup

2 tbs milk

4 oz margarine

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl and make a well at the centre.  In a small saucepan, gently heat the margarine, milk and syrup until the fat has melted.  Cool for a few minutes, then pour into flour mixture and mix until a soft dough is formed.  Chill in fridge until firm enough to handle (or place in freezer for 30 minutes).  Roll onto a floured surface to about 1/4" or 5mm thick.  Cut out Christmas tree shapes and place on baking sheets lined with parchment, making sure they room to spread a little.  Bake at Gas 4 / 180C / 170C fan / 350F for 10 - 12 minutes.  Leave to cool on the tray for a few minutes to firm up, then transfer to wire racks too cool completely.

Day 68: Cross stitch update

Almost finished a left hand wreath section and more work on the sleeve trim.

See you tomorrow!

Day 67: Get Well card

Get Well card, SU set Dandelion Wishes and some Daliart butterflies.  I had a pre-done inked panel, so matted the image onto that and added a ribbon.  Confession time ..... I made an error in the embossing of the dandelion, so that is why there are butterflies on there - one to cover the error and the others for balance!

See you tomorrow!

Day 66: 7 x 5 flower birthday card

Another outing for the SU Butterfly Basics set flower stamp. Also a new 7 X 5 background die from Card Making Magic, sentiment from Woodware. Coloured with alco markers.  The die looks greyish in th ephoto, but is purple IRL.

See you tomorrow!

Day 65: Cross stitch update

More work on the left hand wreath and a start on the sleeve trim, which is quite difficult because it is so hard to see!  There are four shades: pale beige, even paler beige, extra super pale beige and white!

See you tomorrow!

Day 64: Hexagonal Christmas cards

The assembled hexagon cards.  I die cut the blank from an existing square one.  The sentiment (Stamping all Day) was added to the centre of the wreath.  To save a lot of fiddly gluing, I put the stamped panel flat to the mirri, but raised the mirri onto the base with foam tape, which creates a bit of a shadow effect and looks very nice :-)

See you tomorrow!

Day 63: Face mask

First attempt at a face covering! Pattern at bigcommunitysew.co.uk  I went through my patchwork fabric stash and found this rather nice material.  The lining is winceyette, because I thought that would be soft, which it is, but it is also rather warm, so I will have another go with a lighter weight lining like an old bedsheet or something.

See you tomorrow!