Cherish the Moments

I can't believe we're more than halfway through January and my aim of being more productive blogwise seems to be failing, so time to take matters in hand and try again!
I've used a PaperArtsy stamp that I've had for a while and never inked, shame on me as I think she's rather pretty and I think she's a girl who likes to enjoy herself and travel, so she has been layered on to some tickets  from  her journeys.  The background was made with Re inkers in Spun sugar and Tumbled glass with random stamping using the Correspondence stamps,  The flower, and every girl has a flower to cherish,  was made with the TH Tattered florals die.

Thank you for visiting,  and I'm off now to catch up on some visiting myself,
Have a great weekend,
Avril xx

Not the Usual!

Anyone who visits here regularly will realise I don't do men's cards very often - in fact only 3 a year!  This main image is Crafty Individuals, a stamp I must have had for 2 years and this is the first inking!  I stamped the 'gent' a second time and covered him with Glossy Accents before layering him on foam pads.  The background, sentiment and clock -  which was also coated with GA,  is a PaperArtsy stamp that I won at Rhedd and Rosies challenge the other week.

I am entering this at:
  Vintage Stamping Challenge- It's a Man Thing
  Crafty Cardmakers - This is a Mans World
  Cards & more - Men only
  Make it Monday - Anything Goes
  Allsorts - Colours beginning with B -mines BROWN
  SanDee&amelie's Steampunk Challenge - Time Machine

That's it for now, but if you are in areas affected by the storms, stay safe - you're in our thoughts.

Avril xx

Altered Photo Album

I'm back again - and this time I'm showing how I altered the little 6" x 4" Photo Display book that was in my DT pack this month from Shernocky Crafts.

 I decided to give it a vintage look - well you know me!

I started by distressing a piece of 4" x 6" corrugated card, then painted what was left of the top covering with PaperArtsey Fresco Finish in Taupe, and although its not showing, I distressed this with Vintage Photo DI.   Then a Gold embossing ink pad was swiped over the edges, and heat embossed with Gold powder.
My letters were die cut and stamped with the script part of one of the PaperArtsey Hot Picks HPXT02 stamps, coated in Glossy Accents, before being randomly pressed into the gold pigment ink pad and then sprinkled with gold EP, some of which was brushed off for a distressed finish, and then heat embossed.

For the inside covers I used white card, distressed with Tumbled Glass and Frayed Burlap DIs, I then inked the script with Tumbled Glass DI and stamped without an acrylic block.  The small brown envelope was given the same treatment, but with Frayed Burlap.

The back cover was painted with the Taupe FF and then distressed with Vintage Photo and some random stamping, again without the acrylic block.  To give the appearance of an old book, I used the jute to cover the middle edges.

Materials used
 PaperArtsy Hot Picks HPXT02
 PaperArtsy Fresco Finish - Taupe
 Jute Trim
 Snopake PolyView Photo Display Book
 Small Kraft Money Pockets (all available from Shernocky Crafts)

I am entering this at:
  Anything but a Card - Get Messy
  Come and Get it - Masculine

Thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Masculine Project for Shernocky Crafts

Hi folks,

I don't know about you, but after a holiday I sometimes loose track of time in the month,  I had intended this project to be for Fathers Day inspiration but.........well that has been and gone!  So it's now for a 'male birthday card and gift.

In my June DT pack for Shernocky Crafts was some lovely jute trim and some PaperArtsey Fresco Finish paint in Taupe.  Taking that as a staring point, I cut a  2" piece of  jute, spread some paint onto a craft sheet and stamped a background onto some brown cardstock with paint.

Build up the pattern  by pressing the jute 'inked' with paint , randomly onto cardstock.

To keep all colours the same, I  painted a piece of cardstock with the Taupe for backings and also a border on my card base.
The jute was attached to the  painted  cardstock (with a Crafters Companion Tape runner, included in last months kit - it stuck really well and doesn't show), then adhered to the card, before adding the sentiment.
My image, started as one of the flower stamps (PaperArtsey Hot Picks HPXT02) stamped in Black Archival. I die cut and embossed it with a circle Nesti.  I then stamped with Versamark, and heat embossed with clear EP, twice, for a lovely glossy finish.  I cut a larger mat from the painted cardstock and heat embossed this too.

For the bookmark, I cut a square of cardstock 5" x 5" and scored this at 2 1/2"

Cut out one of the squares and, opposite the corner you have cut away, cut that square on the diagonal (if you wanted, you could also use some fancy scissors on this edge).

Apply d/sided tape to one square on the reverse, then fold and stick.  Decorate as required.

I used the same technique of heat embossing with one of the smaller flower stamps and a scalloped circle for a mat.  I also added an extra scalloped circle of brown cardstock for strength before attaching to my
bookmark.

Materials used
  PaperArtsy Hot Picks HPXT02
  PaperArtsFresco Finish - Taupe
  Jute Trim    (All available from Shernocky Crafts)

Brown and White Cardstock
Versamark Stamp Pad
Clear Embossing Powder
Heat tool.

I am entering this in:
  Crafting for all Seasons - One for the Guys
  Sisterhood of Crafters - Masculine
  Crazy Amigo Challenge - Mens Cards
  Creative Creations - Masculine
  Dream Valley Challenges - Fathers Day/Male theme

That's it for now,  and thanks for looking, I do appreciate it.  I am still trying to get back to normal with visiting your lovely blogs, but time is a bit limited at the moment as Wedding Invitations  are taking over a lot of my 'spare' time, so appologies if I miss any of your lovely creations.

Avril xx

Shernocky DT Post

Hello - it seems such a long time since I posted anything 'real-time', but I am  back to normal now after my break away - had a lovely holiday in Lake Garda, Italy.   I think Mr. Mojo missed the plane back as I couldn't seem to find him for a few days - but we're back together now, thank goodness!

I had a lovely package waiting for me when I returned - my DT pack from Shernocky Crafts, and such lovely goodies too.

The PaperArtsey stamps were shouting out to be made into flowers, so that was my starting point.
I stamped the three sizes onto tissue papers using Memento Rich Cocoa, cut them out and coloured them in sets,with Distress Inks Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet and Spun Sugar.

They were then layered, scrunched and held together with a small stapler, before adding the Hobby House pearl brads, which were part of my DT pack last month.

I gave my lovely Hobby House Ribbon (again from last months pack) the 'heat' treatment for a vintage look.
Don't know if you have ever tried this on organza ribbon -  you make your bow then use your heat gun and gently heat the ribbon till it curls and shrivels - but be careful not to get too close as it will burn and you get holes - also use tweezers as it gets very hot!

I coloured a tag with Tumbled Glass, Tattered Rose and Bundled Sage DI's and then spritzed  with water - love this effect.

 I added the image, which had been stamped onto tissue paper, and the outline torn off, using watered down PVA, when dry I gently distressed with inks to 'blend' it in.  The words were stamped onto vellum, torn and distressed with Vintage photo DI.  My tag was matted onto brown cardstock before I layered my flowers onto gauze which was dyed with DIs

If you live in the Manchester/Cheshire area, the store is definitely worth a visit as they stock a fabulous selection of craft supplies and have a huge vintage range too. They also run workshops at weekends, just wish I lived closer!!

Products used:
  PaperArtsey Hot Picks HPXT02
  Hobby House Ribbon
  Hobby House Pearl Brads - All available from Shernocky Crafts

  I am entering this in:
    Crafting Musketeers - Used a Stamped Image
    Make It Monday - Anything Goes

Thats it for now, I need to do some catching up in Blogland and see what everyone has been up to!

Avril xx

A Different Kind of Valentine for TioT

Hi Folks, well today sees the start of a new challenge at Try it on Tuesdays and, yes, as Valentines Day is approaching, we thought you might like to make a start and create something with at least 1 heart!
I had a lovely 'play day' when I made the background on this tag. I embossed the Leaf Swirl with Stencil Paste and then PaperArtsy Fresco paints -  Snowflake, French Toast and South Pacific, (bought these in October at GNP and its the first time I've used them - shame on me). I wanted a shabby look, so didn't completely cover the white stencil paste, which I had heat dried and gave a rough texture. I applied Treasure Gold in Aquamarine on the raised leaves, and then applied some gold rub on around the edges of the tag, which when polished up has given a lovely rich sheen.  The dress form was distressed with Faded JeansDI  and then stamped in FJ, the tulle and vintage seam binding were also dyed with FJ ink. Her little heart was distressed and then embossed with Gold EP and a little heart crystal added.  The sentiment, embossed with gold EP is Tim Holtz.
The rest of the DT have some fabulous inspiration for you, so please pop over here to take a look, and as this is the last of our January challenges, we are sponsored for this month by Crafty Embillies.
We would love you to join us in this challenge, but remember, you can only link your creation up to 5 challenges including ours to be in with a chance of being picked for our Top 5.

I am entering this at:
  Addicted to Stamps - Use Material
  Crafty Ribbons - Love/Anniversary/Romance
  DragonsDream - Dress To Impress (dress form)
  Creative Craft Challenge - Bling it Up
  Make it Monday - Anything Goes

That's it for now and thanks for looking.
Avril xx