Creative Ink

 Hello, just thought I'd let you know I'm still being a good student on the Creative Ink course with Marjie Kemper, not that that's difficult as it's such a great course, and even if you know the process, it's good to revisit and see it from a different perspective, and I'm loving using such bright colours for a change.  The top piece is the Wrinkle free distress, and the next is Perfect Distress, but the Perfect Pearls in the RH corner isn't showing too well in the photo.

As well as my pics on here, I've made a note on the back of each with the ink colours for reference.

Thanks for visiting, I do appreciate it.
Have a good week.
Avril xx

Layers at TioT

It's time for a new challenge over at Try it on Tuesday and this time we would like to see Lots of Layers on  your project.  As usual it's up to you what you make as long as you make us aware of how you built up the layers.
A couple of weeks ago DD bought me some Dovecraft clear stamps that she picked up in a bargain section in a supermarket, so of course I had to use them straight away as a Thank you,  and this doily stamp was included. I stamped and heat embossed it with white EP, then used a TH flourish stencil and Vintage Photo DI, and then covered it with Frayed Burlap before stamping 2nd generation script in Frayed Burlap, and then buffed it with a tissue to remove the ink from the embossing.  After all that, I proceeded to cover it up! The TH words are stamped on vellum and there's a few stamped tickets and a tag under the PaperArtsy image.  My flowers were cut with the tiny tattered florals.
Please pop over to the main blog for all the details and some amazing inspiration from the rest of the DT.
I am entering this at:
  The Crazy Challenge - Vintage
  Cards and Scrap -  Vintage/Shabby chic
Thanks for visiting,
Avril xx

Doing my Homework

Hello, yes, I'm still here, and when I've had time, I've been doing some homework!                                    

A couple of weeks ago I enrolled on an online course run by Marjie Kemper called Inventive Ink.  I know  I've used Distress inks and stencils and stamping for years, and although I have almost all of the DI colours, a lot of them don't get used - I tend to stick to the same ink colours - boring!                                            

So I decided to enroll and use the course as if I didn't know anything and follow to the letter, AND do my  homework as instructed AND, hopefully get 'a push' to really try my hand at journalling.                            

                   So, here are my first couple of pages following Marjie's course, and on the back of each page  I've made a  note of the ink combinations, just like a good pupil should!                                                                                              

It's a great way of making me use colour and Marjie's a great teacher, so all I need now is a bit more time in the day to finish the course - it's just as well it's downloaded and you can view anytime!

Thanks for your visit today, ( just did a preview and I'm right - typing is a bit 'higgledy piggledy' - sorry)  Have a great weekend.
Avril xx

Autumn Leaves

Hello, it's great that you've called in -  you've found me playing with the leaves today - well, not literally, but I'm sure you know what I mean.
I've used the children from Artistic Outpost's Generation Redeux with Autumn colours and leaves, the background was another 'play' with the same inks and stamp from my card from the weekend,  I kept to the same colours for the background of the image, and the girls were stamped and fussy cut.  I thought the sentiment from the Diesel Punk set fitted quite nicely with the expression on their faces.  The leaves are mainly cut from Tim Holtz Autumn Gatherings strip die.
I am entering this at:
  Artistic Outpost - Show us Your Art - October
  Vintage Stamping Challenge - Use a Die/Dies (lots of die cut leaves)
  Ruby's Rainbow - Autumn Leaves
  Rubber Dance - Autumn

Thanks for visiting, hope you have a great weekend.
Avril xx

It's Frightening!

Well it's not really that frightening, is it, but it is Halloween - and that's what we would like to see this fortnight over at Try it on Tuesday and for all the details and some fabulous inspiration, please pop over to the main blog.
I've made a 9 x 4" card, I'm really liking this size at the moment, just like a tag, but a bit more useful.
My young lady, Mary the Witch, cat and moon are images from the internet, I gave here a garden wall to lean on and for the poisonous vine to grow over, the verse was printed, then masked before I started inking.  My little bats with their sparkly red glitter eyes are paperclay, The pumpkin is a button from stash.
It would be great if you could join us for this challenge, we would love to see  your Frightening/Halloween makes.
  I am entering this at:
  That Craft Place - Halloween
  Crafty Calendar - Halloween

Well that's it for now, I think if I hang around too long Mary might put a spell on me!
Take care,
Avril xx

Changing Seasons at FSC

It's time for another challenge at Fashionable Stamping and for this month it's 'Changing Seasons' and for all the details, please pop over to the main blog, where you will also see some fabulous inspiration from the rest of the DT.
Our sponsor for this challenge is Flonzcraft, who are offering one lucky random winner a $20 spend in their online store.
I've made a one layer card, which is a bit unusual for me.  I masked off the borders, then stamped my leaf with Versamark and heat embossed with Gold EP. Next came the Distress inks, Rusty hinge, Wilted Violet, Barn door and Spiced marmalade.. Lastly the script was stamped with Potting Soil Archival.  The sentiment is Inkylicious.
It would be lovely if you could join us for this challenge, but remember, we are a stamping challenge and must see real stamping that follows the theme.
It's a long time since I entered a card at Less is More and guess what - this week the theme is One Layer and Autumn, so it will be making an appearance over there.
I am also entering at:
  Stamping Sensations - Colours of Autumn
  Penny Black and More - Warm Autumn Colours
  Allsorts - No Designer paper

That's it for now, enjoy the rest of your day.
Avril xx

Pretty in Pink

Hi and thanks for visiting, and for all the lovely encouraging comments on the Beeswax piece, as I said, it must have been sitting on my desk for at least 6 months!
Anyhow, it's back to the old faithful of shabby chic today with a card I made for Daughter's 2nd Wedding Anniversary - how time flies!
The background was stamped with Stampendous Garden background using Victorian Velvet and then spritzed with Tarnished brass Distress spray. Some flowers cut the Tattered florals, a little chipboard frame painted with Snowflake fresco and then brushed with Perfect Pearls, the little sentiment was free with some magazine a long time ago.
I am entering this at:
  In the Pink - 123 - (1 butterfly - 2 stamped sentiments - 3 flowers)
  Inky Chicks - Think Pink

That's it for now, have a great weekend.
Avril xx

Beeswax Playtime

Hi, I really don't want to neglect this little blog - again, but I'm trying to catch up and work ahead with DT projects and I'm also doing a little online 'thing' which I will tell you about shortly,  so I am showing a little experiment I tried a while ago after doing the Melt Pot workshop with Hels Sheridan,  it has been on my desk for quite a while as it was something I enjoyed doing, but wasn't too sure if I should show, but as they say, warts and all!!
I started with a piece of  6" x 4" greyboard, covered it with a piece of pattered canvas paper and a thin coat of gesso.
I used beeswax to add a piece of torn napkin,  my lady was stamped onto a piece of tissue and torn to fit before adding with more beeswax, I also added some tissue music. Everything was given another coat of beeswax before stamping into the hot beeswax corners. A little brushing with  Bronze Perfect Pearls gives it a gorgeous sheen, but made it a nightmare to photo!
I am entering this at:
 Love to Create - Anything Mixed Media
 The Craft Barn - People
 That Craft Place - Anything Mixed Media
 Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting, have a good week,
Avril xx