Flower Power Birthday Card

 I have lots of stencils in my stash, and thought it about time I used some of them.   This card is for an old college pal.  The photo isn't great, so I thought I would add some photos of how I did it!

I created the background in CAP, using one of the photos of the poured coasters which I reduced in colour slightly.  (I said these coasters would make great backgrounds in an earlier post)

Then I used this stencil with Black Soot Distress Oxide over the printed image, and added Silver Embossing Powder (confess I couldn't find my new clear powder - duh).   When I had done the silver embossing, I replaced the stencil and ran it through y Gemini machine, to give it a bit of depth.

Hope she likes it - hopefully it will remind her of our youth in the 60s.

..... and Matching Card ....

Further to the paint pouring coasters I made.  This is the birthday card I made to go with them.  I used one of the coaster pictures for the back ground, and then three other for the panel. 

As the recipient loves Giraffes, I had to include a couple of those too!

I rather like the background - that might get used again!

Finished Coasters

As you can see I finished the coasters.   The backs are painted the same colour as the holder, and I edged them with gold Pebeo Gilding Wax.  I love the way the iridescent paints sparkle on them.

These are a birthday present for a friend who loves giraffes.   I even managed to do a couple of transfer images on the holder.   A first for me - so was very pleased with how they turned out.

I am going to use part of the scanned images of the coasters for her birthday card ...... so watch this space to see if it worked!

Work in Progress - Paint Pouring

 As the title states - work in progress on some coasters.

and with the remained of the paint a small canvass

Keep an eye out for the finished results.

Painted fir cones

 Wishing all my followers a very Happy Christmas, and hope that 2018 brings you much happiness.

My daughter dropped by with some fircones she had been given the other day, as she thought I might like to do something with them.    Too right!

I painted them with various Starlight paints, and added a little glitter to a couple.  I then remembered that I had a can of Christmas snow - so I sprayed them all with that.

I had just the place for them ..... I had bought a little Christmas tree a couple of weeks ago for the tub on my porch - the cones were the perfect compliment.

Christmas Eve Birthday

Men's cards are always difficult, as are cards for Birthday's around Christmas.  Hopefully my book loving friend will like this.

A Christmas Card Experiment

 

As stated in the title this was a bit of an experiment, using a Clarity stamp and a stencil.   The candle image was stamped and coloured in with promarkers Spectrum Illustrator pens.   

It looked a bit lonely in the middle of the card, so I decided to use my free Clarity stencil and applied blue and yellow Artistry inks to the aperture.     I realised that the "holly" bit of the stencil needed defining so I went around the edges of the stencil with a micron pen.   I then applied some more Artistry inks to the holly leaves and berry.

As I said an experiment.  I shall use the stencil again, but in a different way.   I think if you turned it slightly it could look like a Christmas pudding!

Winter Birthday Card

 
It seems this sort of layout is becoming my favourite, and I couldn't resist using it again.   Created in Craft Artist.  Hopefully perfect for a late December birthday.

Acrylic Pouring

My first attempt a "string" pour.  Love the effect - need to practice more, and am thinking it would look great on a black background.

I had some paint left over so did another pour with the left over paint and blew on it with a straw.  Amazing what a different effect with same colours.

Christmas Cakes - Scandinavian Gnomes

a selection of gnomes

This year's theme for the family Christmas cakes was gnomes.   Having seen a cake in one of my cake decoration magazines, I decided that this was going to be the theme.   Well I only do simple these days!  (My daughter happened to call in a few weeks ago and saw the magazine opened at the page and said - "oo I would like those on my cake"  my reply:  "Just as well cos that is what you are getting" - lol!

For once I did the toppers for the cake, before icing the cakes, so the picture above is the selection of gnomes I made.

and now for the cakes:  

7" sugar-pasted cake with little gingerbread men around the sides
(little men are actually lighter than in photo and more the colour of gingerbread)

5" gluten free cake with Christmas roses and holly

sugar-pasted cake with a little cheat as I was getting tired -
plastic holly and robin and sugar paste christmas roses  (my cake so
allowed to cheat!)

Royal iced cake for my son-in-law.  Kept it simple, although
he did request a pond which I didn't add!

Glass Coasters

Hi there followers.  I have been very bad and not done any blogging for a while.   I have been crafting, but have just forgotten to take photos. 

However, I did remember to take some photos of these coasters that I made the other week.   I bought the coasters back in the summer and have at last got around to doing something with them.  Originally it was going to be something with etching and painting, but I changed my mind and made these.

I used an Imagination Crafts stencil for the words using Stazon.  I then applied some pattern rice paper, which I had torn into random shapes.   Finally I used Imagination Crafts Starlight paints in a gold and turquoise colour and sponged it all over.   When it was dry I applied acrylic glaze and the little feet that came with the coasters.    Everything was done working on the back of the coasters.

I think I need some more "word" stencils - as it if I attempted to do this again with stamps - it wouldn't work and I would have to stamp the word on the "front" side.

I didn't know who would get these - but my son rather liked them - so he got them!