My shining star

My shining star

Thursday 31 July 2014

CC3: Painted Industrial

Hello Lovelies! I'm back!!!! Had a brilliant time in Germany - I'll share some piccies over the next few days. Starting today. Here's the first one - Penny in her favourite place. My b.i.l had this fab pool in his back garden and she really loved it! Lucy did too!!! They spent many hours in it.


In this one we were at a Luge at a town an hour away from where we were staying in Bielefeld. This is Lucy and her uncle Lee on their way up the track. It was great fun coming down. Really fast - when I didn't put the brake on. 


Now then -before todays card I want to thank you for all your lovely visits whilst I was away! You really are very kind and I will try to catch up with as many makes as I can. I'm sure you've all been very busy over the last week or so. 

Todays card is a bit rushed - I wanted to enter the painted industrial  for the CC3 challenge and this is what I have come up with. 



I used the technique described in the compendium of Curiosities volume 3. I cut my foil tape using garden greens and tattered florals dies by sizzix. The background sheet is paper - no time to make my own last night!  This is how the challenge prizes work. The Curiosity Crew select a winner who will receive a spectacular assortment of Tim’s products, courtesy of Tim himself and Mario Rossi. To be eligible to win, you must visit each of the team members’ blogs and leave a comment there.
Inspiration Emporium $50 Gift Certificate
 The Inspiration Emporium sponsor all the odd-numbered challenges, and they’re back with another wonderfully generous FIFTY DOLLAR SHOPPING SPREE for one lucky CC3C entrant. To be eligible to win, simply link your project  and include a link to INSPIRATION EMPORIUM in your blog post. 
So there you have it! I'd like to enter the compendium-of-curiosities-3-challenge-7 with this piece.
Thanks for looking today and I'll be around just as soon as I can!!
Big Hugs

Rachel xx



Tuesday 29 July 2014

Rebecca - snow queen

Morning lovelies - a final scheduled post for me today - I should return around midnight but will be having a rest tomorrow!!! Today I have a card I made using an indigo blu stamp Rebecca snowqueen.


I started with the image which i stamped in versamark then added platinum wow powders. I then did the distress background and mounted on the black and did the snowflakes using sparking snow wow powders.


I haven't added a sentiment as yet - I want to keep my options open with this one - it might be a christmas card and it might be a winter birthday!

Big hugs to you and hope you are well! Normal service will be resumed on Thursday - all being well!!

Hugs

Rachel xx

Monday 28 July 2014

Sneak peek for Imagination Crafts

Hello Lovely people - I have a sneak peek for you today for a tutorial over at the imagination-crafts.blog. Its all about shaving foam and stencils.....interested?


go on - follow the link and take a look!

Hugs rachel xx

Sunday 27 July 2014

trees at the christmas card club

Morning lovelies - another scheduled post from me today - and christmas card club ladies - I'll link this up when I get back - probably some time on Wednesday. I have 4 cards for this theme - I could have gone on and on - they're all simple but I like them.


This one includes Chocolate baroque stamps and distress.


This one is an imagination crafts stencil, diamond sparkle medium and distress.


This one is another Imagination Crafts stencil and antique bronze sparkle medium and distress.

And finally, sage green sparkle medium brayed on card and also through an imagination crafts stencil!

There you have it! I hope you've enjoyed your visit and I'll get back to you lovely christmas card ladies as soon as I get back from holibobs!

Hugs

Rachel xx






Saturday 26 July 2014

Final coffee pot make

Hello lovelies - another scheduled post today - this time its the card I made for the last coffee pot.



I think Diana's design is lovely - her original was in pale pinks - but you know me and my hot colours - I had to go with them!!

Hope you like it! Thanks for dropping by and I hope to see you again soon!

Rachel x

Friday 25 July 2014

Christines card

Morning lovelies - me again - back with another scheduled post - this time one back from June that I gave to my aunty Christine for her birthday.



I created the background using chocolate baroque stamps from the Charles Rennie Mackintosh sets - stamping in versamark and heat setting gold powder. Then I applied distress inks over the surface. Finally I added a topper and made a cornflower using a tonic die and blinged it up with a dazzler centre.

Thanks for looking today and I hope to see you again soon!

Hugs

Rachel xx

Thursday 24 July 2014

Time keeps on ticking ticking ticking .....

Morning lovelies! Another scheduled post! I have a card to share with you today I made for the time challenge over at Wow powders. I hope to remember to link this up on my return before the challenge runs out! Lol! Here it is!




The main image is from La Blanche and is stamped in versamark, black wow powders added and then heat set. Then I used shades of brown distress inks to create the background and cut out the topper. The papers are from Papermania - do crafts. The tag is made from wood and I have painted it and stamped it with a stamp from Clarity.

I would like to enter this into the wowembossingpowder challenge - time

Thanks for popping by today and I hope to see you again soon!

Hugs

Rachel x

Wednesday 23 July 2014

Summer fun at Creative Inspirations

Hello lovelies - another scheduled post! I apologise if I'm not able to get around to your blogs - I don't know how much time I will get whilst I'm away and I'll be in Germany so I won't be surfing the web on my phone! Hopefully I'll catch up with you soon.

My make today is for Creative Inspirations - we are having a summer break so you have three full weeks I think to enter this challenge. The theme is called Summer Fun and we are sponsored by Time 4 tea designs. I have used one of their images to make this card.



The papers are from LOTV and the flowers are from sweet Lilac.

Catch you soon and thanks for visiting!

Hugs

Rachel xx

Tuesday 22 July 2014

Foilplay

Good morning lovelies - this is a scheduled post - I should hopefully be in the land of nod in Germany when this goes live - hopefully I'll be in Germany anyway!!!

Today I want to show you a tag I have made for the DT at foilplay.  Its not a regular slot - I have to make 4 pieces between now and Christmas and its the short of flexibility that definitely suits me!!
I've chosen to use the double sided sticky sheets, gilding flakes and vintage foiling kit with gluepen that they sell to make my tag. I also used a couple of kanban ready foiled birds too plus the garden greens die and dylusions sentiment stamp from my own stash.



To make the tag I cut the sticky sheet to the same size as the tag then stuck it on the tag. I peeled off the second side and added the flake, rubbed off the excess and shone up with a scootchy foam piece. Then I die cut the leaves and used the pen to add detail in glue, allowed it to dry then did the foiling - I was very impressed with how easily it worked! Then I put the rest of the tag together.

I hope you like this and might give foiling a go!

Rachel xx

Monday 21 July 2014

summer colours at Lavinia

Morning lovelies! How are you today? I'm very excited as today is the day I take my two girls on their first ever flight. We're off to Germany with my mil to see my bil and his family. They are in Bielefeld which is in central germany - I've never been before and am really looking forward to it! I have scheduled posts for most days whilst I'm away - I would love it if you did leave a comment but please forgive me if I don't get around to seeing your makes - I just don't know if I'll be able to get online much at all! We'll try though!

Todays make is for the Lavinia challenge - the theme this month is summer colours and this is my interpretation of it:


All of the stamps I have used are from Lavinia - there are many different sets/stamps on there. I started by creating the background - I used distress inks to create the background - started off by doing a coat of squeezed lemonade all over then edging with dried marigold. I used a clarity mask to create the hills then started stamping.


I love the saying - it was from the free set from one of the magazines a wee while ago. 

I'd like to enter this into the laviniastamps challenge and also the challenge at paulaholifieldcrafts - albc-its-magic.

Big hugs to you and hope to see you soon!

Rachel xx




Sunday 20 July 2014

Anything goes at That Craft Place

Hello lovelies! How are you? Did you have a stormy day yesterday? We had lots of rain but not so much in the way of storms. I wonder what its going to be like today? By the time this posts I should be over half way around a 10 mile run - fingers crossed it won't be so humid! This will be my last long run before my hollibobs when I intend to do nothing exercise wise!!! Lol!!!

Today its the start of a new challenge over at thatcraftplaceblog. The theme this time is anything goes! I have decorated some pots using graphic 45 papers - french country. The pots and the papers are both available at that craft place.



I do so adore these papers and I have these pots sitting on my work desk now - one holds paint brushes, another scissors and other tools and the final one I think is things like glue pens and zig pens - things like that. It was a very simple project to do once I had worked out the dimensions! I just made a template and used it to cut out the papers.

I hope you are able to join us at That Craft Place for the challenge.

Big hugs and thanks for looking. Hope to see you again soon!

Hugs

Rachel xx


Saturday 19 July 2014

AVJ: Dies and distress

Morning lovelies! How are you today? I hope you are well. We are and had a good first day of the holidays although we didn't manage a trip to the beach - it was very windy here so we went to Happy Mount Park in Morecambe instead which is well sheltered and has a great adventure playground. It was very quiet because most schools here haven't broken up yet. I even managed to have a play myself - lol!!!!

I've been playing with my new timmy dies again - using the techniques from yesterdays post but this time I altered a mirror frame. I think I'm taking this to germany as a gift - not fully certain yet!!!


Here are some closer shots:

This one shows the echinoid die cut that I covered with distress paint then added frantage and heat set. 

The seahorses were cut from kraft card and painted with distress paints, dried and then painted with rock candy clear crackle paint. Once dry they were stained with distress stain and heat dried.

The main mirror first had shells and string stuck to it then painted with white gesso - then distress paints and distress inks and distress stains.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

AVJvintagejourney dies-and-distress: Dies and Distress
Frillie and funkiefrillyandfunkie: Cool water
Pan pastelpanpasteluk: Inspired by Tim Holtz

Thanks for looking today and I hope you have enjoyed your visit! Big Hugs! Rachel xx



Friday 18 July 2014

Tims tags July

Morning lovelies! Wow - schools out and don't I know it! Bliss!!!! Off to mums this morning - haircut and fun day - hopefully at the beach!

I'd like to share my Tims tag for July with you today - this has to be my fave tag so far this year - its gorgeous - it has so much on it in terms of techniques - I have tried to follow most of it but there are one or two areas where I had to do my own thing due to lack of equipment!!! Here's a link to tim's original tag - and here's a picture:

DSC00428

And here's my tag:



So I followed tims method as much as possible - the seahorse was done the same - the first change is the echinoid - I used the larger one from the Bigz die - it is larger than Tims  but I think it looks okay. I used distress paint and frantage on the diecut to create the texture - I did a similar this with the seastar.
The background was created in a similar way but my colours are darker than tims - the acetate was embossed using a sheena folder - I didn't have tims - and the sandy bottom mixture wasn't quite the same but had the essential ingredients in it. I used the garden greens die to make the seaweed and cut alternate leaves to make it look a bit more like the one on Tims tag! I'm very pleased with how this turned out!

I'd like to enter this into timholtz -12-tags-of-2014-july.

I hope you have a great day and thanks for dropping by - I have another make using these dies to share with you tomorrow - loving them! Hugs rachel xx

Thursday 17 July 2014

down by the seaside

Good morning Lovelies! I hope you are well today and also happy! We are all smiling and trundling ever closer to the end of term - at 3.30pm today school's out!!! Yay! Very exciting!!! Looking forward to lots of fun!

Today I have a card to show you that I made for the artistic stamper challenge - the theme this month is 'By the seaside'. I always slip into singing the Led Zeppelin song at this point - hence the title of my post. I've used stamps from Sheena Douglass to make up the background using the emboss resist technique. I've used wow powders in a variety of colours and then used distress inks to fill in the background. The main image comes from Crafty Individuals. I must confess to loving this card - and its evolution was very enjoyable too!


I've also stamped with some more crafty individuals word stamps too once the background was dry, overstamping in black archival.


I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Artistic Stamper:theartisticstampercreativeteam By the Seaside
Craft Stamper: craftstamperTake it make it July Challenge: Emboss resist
mmcsmymumscraftshop: summer
allsortsallsortschallenge: splish splash splosh
FSCfashionablestampingchallenges: Dreaming of summer

Thanks for looking today and I hope you enjoyed your visit! Thanks also for any comments you leave!

Big Hugs

Rachel x

Wednesday 16 July 2014

Distressing at Creative Inspiration

Hello lovelies! How are you today? I hope you are both well and happy. We had a lovely day yesterday with good weather and a end of year play/assembly that was really fabulous. The end of term really is in sight .. the girls finish on Thursday and we are all ready for a break! Roll on!!!

Today I have news of a new challenge for you over at creative inspirations. The challenge this week is all about distressing. Here's what I did.


I made the background using a variety of green distressing inks - including bundled sage, mowed lawn, evergreen bough and pine needles - and a variety of stencils from Mr Holtz.


The main stamp is from Crafty Individuals. I love this little stamp - expect to see that often in the future! 

So why not join us this week? We would love to see all your creations with a distressed look!


This week's prize is from STAMP & CREATE and is a $20 GIFT CERTIFICATE!


I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

allsortschallenge: Splish splash splosh
Pan pastelpanpasteluk: Inspired by Tim Holtz
thats craftythatscraftychallenges: Masks, stencils, templates
CVCcountryviewchallenges: Stencil it

Hope to see you soon and thanks for joining me today!

Big Hugs

Rachel xx




Tuesday 15 July 2014

Midway post for Imagination Crafts

Good morning all! How are you today? Did you get that rain last night? Wow - it was pretty wet here. But we do need it. I wonder if it will remember to stop? Here's hoping. Thanks for your comments yesterday - you seemed to like the peacock - I did too and I really enjoyed the process of making it.

Today I have another make to show you highlighting products from Imagination Crafts and also to remind you about the current challenge which is anything-goes. You do need to use Imagination Crafts products in order to stand a chance of winning a prize in the challenge - but the prize is a fabulous one - £40 to spend in store!

Here's what I did:


Check out that sparkle!!! Its my new blog diary!  Here's a close up:


I created the background by brayering candyfloss sparkle medium onto white card and allowing to dry. Once dry I added antique pink sparkle medium on top through the swirly heart stencil

I hope I have inspired you to join in the challenge! 

Big Hugs to you!

Rachel xx

Monday 14 July 2014

Resist at Craft Stamper

Good morning lovelies! I hope you are fit and well this morning. We are all good - Penny has a trip today - Forest school.. this basically involves making dens in the local woodland - great stuff - I wish they had done that when I was at school!!!!

I'm off to the last Coffee pot this morning - I'm not on duty today - I'm just going as its the final one - Diana is in charge today - I wonder what we'll make!!

I have my first entry for the resist challenge at Craft stamper magazine this month. Here's what I did:

I used the clarity stencil and versa marked through it then randomly added blue and purple wow powders then heat set. Next I set about adding distress peacock feathers to the design and added some black soot too and finally the white gel pen dots. I then fussy cut the circle.


Then I made the background - I stamped the CB image in versa and added black wow powders then heat set. Then I added a combination of peacock feathers and black soot and highlighted with the white gel pen.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

craftstamper- take it make it July: Resist
Stencil itcountryviewchallenges: CVC
Thats Crafty:thatscraftychallenges Masks, stencils or templates

Thanks for dropping by today and for any comments you choose to leave!

Big hugs

Rachel xx




Sunday 13 July 2014

Fairytale scene at Craft a scene

Hello there - second post of the day - and I'll keep it brief - its the second week for the challenge at Craft a scene - we would like you to create a fairytale scene. Here's mine for your inspiration - I call it - the blessing.....


The stamps are from chocolate baroque and unusually this time I stamped and coloured these first then covered them with glue and seal before creating the scene around them. I have seen Lindsay Mason doing this but never tried myself. Its a different way of masking for sure. 


I think the scene works though - don't you?

I'd like to enter this into the following challenge paulaholifieldcrafts - albc-its-magic

Thats all for today - thanks for dropping by and for any comments you choose to leave!!

Hugs

Rachel xx


Christmas teddy at Christmas card club

Good morning lovelies! How are you today? I hope you are okay. We are all good and enjoyed the play yesterday - we've got a lot of work to do to get it up and running for October - it certainly gave all involved food for thought. We've got another busy day today - Jujitsu grading time again this morning - I'll be doing my long run  (9and 1/2 miles) whilst Lucy and Penny do that - then its off to my mums for lunch and we need to decorate rocks for the teachers farewell and thankyou presents.

I got a some excellent news on Friday winning the Allsorts challenge with my Fairy card and also getting in the top 5. I also got more good news yesterday - along with my blog buddy Mags - I got to be GDT at Little Claire - very excited about that and looking forward to making some cards to inspire you!!

My blog hop prize from That Craft Place has also been won - its you catherine! If you would like to email me I'll get it out to you ASAP!


Now onto the Christmas card club. I have  a trio of christmas teddy cards - there were more stamps to choose from too! Here they are:


I used distress in Christmas colours to create a background and made all three up in the same way.


This first one uses an LOTV image coloured with spectrum noirs and cut with an Xcut die.


This next one includes an image from Crafty Sentiments as does the final one.


This one is my fave - I love that sweet image!

I would like to enter my cards into the following challenges:

Winterwonderlandchristmasblogchallenge - three of three - three cards - delete me if this doesn't count!
sweet stampinsweetstampinchallengeblog - christmas in July

I'll be back at 4 with my craft a scene post - hope to see you then and thanks for dropping by for this post. 

Big Hugs

Rachel xx


Saturday 12 July 2014

CC3: Altered Burlap Panel

Hello Lovelies! How are you today? I hope you are well and happy! I am hopefully still asleep when this post goes live - I will have been out on Friday night with the PTA for a meal and a few drinkies - so I'm hoping for a lie in - I doubt I'll get it but you never know!!! Still the day is going to be quite peaceful - the only thing we're doing is going to see the BFG for the matinee performance - the girls are in a production that we're putting on in my village so they will get to see how its done more professionally!!

Today I have an altered burlap panel to share with you - its the latest challenge for the Compendium of curiosities 3 challenge. As always there are two prizes,the first is chosen by the DT and is a fantastic collection of Tim’s products, courtesy of Tim himself and Mario Rossi. 
The Funkie Junkie Boutique
The Funkie Junkie Boutique is back to sponsor Challenge 6, and lovely owner Linda Coughlin is offering a fabulous $25 shopping spree to one very lucky CC3Cer! For a chance to win this prize you need to link your project to the CC3 challenge page and mention The Funkie Junkie Boutique in your blog post. Be sure to check out the shop– it’s great, and stocked to the brim with all our favorite crafting goodies!
Okay dokey - here is my panel - I'm not overly happy with this but I don't have time to do another just now - I bought a pack of two so when I get back from my holibobs I will do another one although it will then be too late to enter into the challenge!!!


I used the technique given in the book and followed it completely. In addition I used some TH papers and distress paints, some TH tissue wrap and numbers and dylusions sentiment stamp.


Here's something I am happy with - I did my onion harvest yesterday and here's the evidence:

Photo: been a good year for the onions x

Thats all for today - hope you have a great Saturday! 

Big hugs

Rachel xx