Clarity Stencil(s)

I was 'on a roll' on Friday, and made several cards, (following one disaster!) so the next one I made was for the Clarity Stamp Blog Challenge, with the requirement for Stencil(s).

I used the lovely Bubble stencil, (which makes me think of Aero chocolate bars) and blended on Distress Inks in 3 colours: mermaid lagoon; twisted citron; cracked pistachio. I then moved the stencil, and overlapped some circles, re-taped with low-tac tape to keep card and stencil aligned, and blended with Distress Ink: fossilised amber, and twisted citron.

I used the 'dial-able' stencils, and selected the man with child, which I blended ground espresso D.I. into.

I added the word D R E A M from another dial-able stencil, with capital letters, which I blended ground espresso D.I. into.

I matted and layered into a coffee-coloured Centura Pearl card piece, then onto a square white card.

I should like to enter this into the October Clarity Stamp Blog Challenge.

Watercolour - Iris

One technique I absolutely love, was taught to me by the wonderful Tim Holtz (I think it was on one of the Creative Chemistry On-line classes) and I was taken with being able to use water-based markers, spritzed with water, stamp ... and it looks as though I have painted the design ... so wonderful!

So, when Simon Says Stamp Blog Monday challenge said the next challenge would be Watercolo(u)r I couldn't resist this challenge:

This lovely huge Penny Black Iris stamp leapt out of the box, so, using Ranger Watercolor card, I used Distress Markers, and using the brush part of the marker, started with the centre of the open flower in rusty hinge, then dusty concord in parts of the stamp where the flower would be darker or an under bit, wilted violet as the main part of the flowers, with peeled paint for the foliage. I spritzed lightly with water, and stamped! (then spritzed, and stamped three more times! all lovely versions of the Iris.)

The 1st impression was stamped onto Watercolor card then when dry was matted and layered, onto coordinating Centura Pearl then onto a square card.

If anyone is kind enough to read this, I hope you feel it is worth it (and are not put off by the cats!)

I should like this to be entered into the Simon Says Stamp Blog Monday Challenge.

The Helpfulness of Cats!

I believe I have mentioned before that when I am well enough, I craft! However, I also have 4 cats! Should this make any difference I hear you ask? Well, if our cats were normal, go-out-and-play cats then they probably wouldn't care that Cj is in her craft room .... and about to create. As it is, they tend to go where I go, and get over-excited when I sit down to craft ... so I frequently have two or more cats sprawled across my crafting table, and they interfere as I try to use tools!

In desperation we put a small cat tree next to the table, filled in the tunnel in one of the spaces, so we now have two cat sleep areas next to the table ..... and it appears to be a success!