Gothic Fairy Arch

I've finished my Gothic fairy arch and have a few pictures to share with you and I'm also going to add it to one of the monthly challenges at Gecko Galz.

To begin with I die cut my arch from card to make a substrate and then  gave it a coat of gesso. 

I used the Pretty Gothic Window A5 die from Pretty Gets Gritty. They do some really cool dies that are great for making your substrates for projects.

With a small pallet knife, I scrapped  some sand texture paste across my arch. Then  I mixed a little acrylic paint and kept dabbing until my arch started looking a bit aged and rusty, drying in between the layers.

I then dry brushed with some grey acrylic paint - well gesso mixed with some black acrylic to dull it down a little. 

Next it got a spritz of frozen  toffee pretty pearl spray and then I edged the arch with rose gold wax. I was quite happy with how it turned out and told myself that i could leave it alone now!

I went on a search for some rice paper as I wanted the background of the arch to be transparent and found a leftover piece from one of my cardmaking projects that I had printed off.

I had also made a batch of cogs up a while ago. They were die cut from soup carton packaging and then I'd added some sand mixed into my acrylic paint. They were finally edged in copper wax.

The pearl spray has highlighted the texture in the arch a lot more and I then started to add some texture to the edges of my fairy image too, using a little coloured sand texture paste and seed beads.

I chose an image from the Gecko Galz Pixie Dream land Kit for the focal point of my gothic arch. These are really lovely images and I was spoilt for choice.  I also added a few butterflies from their Butterfly Wings Digital Collage Set too.

My paper flowers have also been edged with a little metallic gold paint and the tiny translucent flowers have  micro beads in their centres. I also thought that the wording was very apt for my project.

This was a fun little project to make.

What have you got planned for the day? Whatever it is, I hope it is a good one for you.

Challenges

Creative Artiste - AMM

Let's Craft & Create - Add a butterfly

Ally's Angels - AG

Crafts Galore -AG

Classic Designs - AG

Creative Fingers - AG

Ellibelles Corner - I spy with my little eye - something with wings

We Love to Create - AMM

Crafty Galz Corner - AG

Unicorn - use dies

A Place to start - add one or more flowers

Path of Positivity - AG - Use your wings

WOYWW #777

Happy 'What's on Your desk Wednesday!'  WOYWW

This is my first contribution to the blog, that I came across the other day, so I thought I'd give it a go.

I craft at my kitchen table - its a good space with plenty of natural light and I just bring down what I need to craft with, which is normally in a draw or box that I can just stick on the table or floor. My mess is kept at the end of the table which is big enough....sometimes ha ha.

So, I decided to make a gothic arch for an ethereal Spring challenge on Gecko Galz this month. I die cut my arch from card to make a substrate and then  gave it a coat of gesso.

With a small pallet knife, I scrapped  some sand texture paste across my arch. Then  I mixed a little acrylic paint and kept dabbing until my arch started looking a bit aged and rusty, drying in between the layers.

I then dry brushed with some grey acrylic paint - well gesso mixed with some black acrylic to dull it down a little. 

Next it got a spritz of frozen  toffee pretty pearl spray and then I edged the arch with rose gold wax. I was quite happy with how it turned out and told myself that i could leave it alone now!I 

I want a transparent background on my arch, so I think I will find some rice paper in my draw to stick on the back of my arch.

I had made a batch of my cogs up a while ago. They were die cut from soup carton packaging and then I'd added some sand mixed into my acrylic paint. They were finally edged in copper wax.

I have a fairy image which will be my focal piece for my project and I'll then start adding all my embellishments.

I'm quite a slow crafter and some projects can take me a while to finish but hopefully I will crack on to finish this little one off.

Where I sit is also perfect for me to look into my garden, the other place I prefer to spend my time. It's small and wildlife friendly and a lot easier for me to tend to these days - a haven for me.

We've got some robins nesting in our bird box again this year so hopefully we'll see them fledge in May, which is a lovely sight.

Have a great day,  whatever you have planned for yourself 

Birthday Card #brave

A quick share today: two cards I made towards the end of last year but not shared.

I used the same fabulous stamp by Visible Image and just used different colourways.

I used the Visible Image No Filter & Background Vision stamps with my distress oxide inks for this 7 x 7 inch card. I stamped and heat embossed the image with black VersaFine Clair ink and added some stencilling in the background.

My second card was a little bit bigger finished, as an 8x 8 inch card, using warmer colour tones and adding some background stamping and a little stencilling too.

Visible Image's style has always been unique and they are very good quality stamps that I always come back to, as they are so easy to work with, especially for me, as I'm not a colourist.

Have a great day,  whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting

Challenges:-

Try it on Tuesday - Lisa Stansfield - All Woman

Incy Wincy - song - Lisa Stansfield - All Woman

Fab n Funky - add a sentiment

Creatalicious - something new - stamp

Ellibelle's Corner - ATG

Simon Says Stamping -Monday Challenge - make your own background

Allys Angels - AG

Addicted to stamps - Make your mark

Classic Designs - Birthday

Crafts Galore - AG

Mirtillamente - ATG

Creative Crafters - AG

Creative Fingers - AG

Pammies Pinkies - AG

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - AG

613 Avenue Create - splash of colour

Crafty Corner - AG

Easter Cards

I have a few Easter cards that I'm sharing today and I've been using the Signature Series Digital Florist Everything Anemone Cardmaking, Flower Forming and Papercrafting Kit by Opulence by Design Crafts.

This is a huge kit, comprising of 25 x A4 pages from topper, tags, panels, card front designs, flower forming sheets, leaves to sentiments, bows, floral inserts and backing papers.

Have a peek at the sample of just what is in this kit as I have only used a fraction of it.

My first Easter card is a diamond flip shaped card and I used a 8 x 8 inch white card base that had unfortunately been squashed in my draw but as it was going to be chopped up it came in very handy.

I used one of the toppers from the kit and some square dies from my stash to die cut the layers for the diamond flip topper. I layered it up with the purple block paper from the kit and then a piece of gold satin mirror board.

Inside the card I've added a posy of flowers to accompany the insert and added a few leaves too. I have also added this to the front of the card too.

I've used one of the sentiments and added shimmer to my card and blooms using

my Sakura stardust gel pens. This card measures 8 x 6 inches.

My second Easter card is a hexagonal stair stepper and when I saw the hexagonal topper sheet, it inspired me to make a stepper card.  My card measures 11 x 6 inches.

I used the purple block paper on the panel of my card, as I thought it would really make the toppers pop. I then die cut my toppers using hexagonal dies to create the layers and then mounted them on foam tape to add a little dimension.

I also decoupaged the flowers on the toppers and added two of the bows to the largest topper. Using my sparkle gel pens, I've highlighted around the flowers.

My card folds flat but I have made an envelobox  for it as I did add a little dimension on the toppers.

I've left a space on the back for the message.

My third Easter card is a double staggered Z fold card  and this one measures 9 x 6 inches.

I cut one of the insert sheets into strips and then layered them onto the yellow card strips

that were to form the front of my card.

I've added a few tulips in the corner and two of the purple bows for a little dimension.

I used one of the beautiful floral sheets for the centre panel of my card.

This card will also go flat into an envelope and I have added an insert on the back for me to write a sentiment. This is a bumper kit that will cover so many occasions to take you through the year.

It's really easy to add sparkle and shimmer your cards and projects made from these kits. I have a growing collection of Stickles glitter glue but I also love using Sakura stardust gel pens. They are really effective for outlining the edges of your projects as well as highlighting detail too.

There is much inspiration for card styles and folds on Mix It Up Craft by Sam Calcott and lots of these you don't need even need to use dies for. 

If you would like to check out Amanda's YouTube Channel for cardmaking, flower making and inspirational craft videos  you can find her gallery here or even follow on Instagram:  

Flower making has always been one of my favourite things.

https://www.youtube.com/c/opulencebydesign

https://www.instagram.com/opulencebydesignca/

Have a great day,  whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting

Challenges:-

Beautiful Blossoms Floral/Mood Board  (Top Pick)

TripleB - Blossom

Little Red Wagon - Florals   (Featured Project)

Doubletrouble  

Lets Craft and Create -AG     (Top 3)

Love to Scrap - AG

Love to Craft- AG

Cards Galore AG

Classic Design -AG

Creative fingers -AG
Crafty Calendar - more than 1 fold 

Pennys -AG

Ice Queen Poppies

I'm sharing two little cards that I have finished and these beautiful poppies that I have used on both of my cards are for different occasions.

First, I made a sympathy card  with a few handmade white poppies, poppy heads and some variegated ivy leaves.

For the card base, I used the dainty trellis die set from one of Tattered Lace's retired collections.  Between the white card base and lattice layer, I added a die cut piece of white vellum.

I used the Digital Florist Ice Queen Poppy print, cut and form set with 2 colour plain sheets, by Opulence by Design Crafts to make my flowers. These flowers are so very pretty just as they are.  I just enjoy to add dimension to my blooms.

On this card I have just cut into the petals and layered 3 flowers up to add some dimension and then finished them off with some diamond Stickles glitter glue in the centres.

I have also added a few of the Variegated Ivy leaves and 2 of the Digital Florist Poppy Heads  (which have been reduced in size), also from Opulence by Design Crafts. 

Finally, I've edged my card with a clear sparkle overlay pen, for a touch of shimmer.

Sympathy cards are not easy cards to make and although this one wasn't made for a significant time, I thought the white poppies would suit this theme well.

My second card is a birthday card and I've used the retired Fresco collection by Tattered Lace for my card base and to build up the layers to use the papers that came with the poppy download. I really like hues of green that come in these downloads sets, as I find I can match up my colours a lot easier and I never run out. The right shade of green card can be hard to find sometimes.

For my flowers I have just cut into the flower where you can see it is shaped and gently given the flower some shape. For the second and third layer of the poppy, I have simply given it a little bit of shape before sticking them together.

It isn't visible in the picture, but I have added a little shimmer to the centres of my blooms and the edges with a Sprectrum Noir clear sparkle overlay pen. These poppies have just a sheer hint of pink in the petals and I think that the shimmer just highlights the flowers.

I have also used the Poppy Leaf Fussy cut set also by Opulence by Design Crafts. You can print the pale green paper from the poppy download on the back of your poppy leaf sheet if you would like your leaves to have colour on the reverse side when you cut them out, or just simply ink them. You don't have to be too precise cutting them out, I just went over the edges with a little ink which adds some tone to them anyway.

I have also added a few of the variegated ivy leaves and poppy heads too on my card and downsized the poppy heads for my projects. Using a gelly roll stardust pen I have outlined the variegated ivy leaves and the tips of the poppy heads, which again isn't visible in the picture but I just like adding that fine detail to catch your eye.

Also, I don't worry about adding a sentiment to the front of my cards if I don't have a suitable place for one. It can be handy sometimes as some recipients like to display their cards past the occasion that it was sent.

If you would like to check out Amanda's YouTube Channel for cardmaking, flower making and inspirational craft videos  you can find her gallery here or even follow on Instagram:  

Flower making has always been one of my favourite things.

https://www.youtube.com/c/opulencebydesign

https://www.instagram.com/opulencebydesignca/

Have a great day,  whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting

Challenge

Crafts Galore - AG

Classic Designs - AG

Lets Craft and Create - AG

A perfect time to craft - AG

Krafty Chicks - AG

Love to Scrap - AG

Love to Craft - AG

Pennys Challenges - AG

AllysAngels - AG

Simon Says - AG

CD Sunday Plus - AG

Bright Lights Maeve

Sharing a diamond point birthday card made for my Sister-in-Law using the Bright Lights Maeve digital mini kit by Opulence by Design Crafts.

I have been meaning to  make one of these card shapes for sometime since I first saw this design made many times by Carol  the Crafty Stamper who is also a  very talented crafter. Pop over to her blog and follow her, she makes some amazing projects.

I used a 7 x 7 inch white card blank to create the card shape and I used one of the backing papers from the mini card making kit with some mint green mirror board.  For this card I also used the second topper that came with the sentiments on the sheet. 

As the background on the topper was a different colourway to the paper that I was using, I cut around Maeve and placed her onto a die cut square of matching paper to co-ordinate with my project.

The Bright Lights Maeve PDF digital collection download mini kit by Opulence by Design Crafts, comprises of toppers, sentiments and 4 fabulous design sheets to use with your projects.

I also thought a small band of pansy's/violas would look pretty at the top of the card, so I made a few of the Digital Florist Purple and Lemon Pansies and  few Digital Florist Pink and  Lilac Violas with some Pansy leaves in between.

My flowers have been reduced in size a little and I have also added some glossy accents to the centre of  blooms.

If you would like to check out Amanda's YouTube Channel for cardmaking, flower making and inspirational craft videos  you can find her gallery here or even follow on Instagram:  

https://www.youtube.com/c/opulencebydesign

https://www.instagram.com/opulencebydesignca/

Have a great day,  whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting

Challenges:-

Beautiful Blossoms - Flowers

Crafts Galore - AG

Make it Monday - Fun Folds

Classic Designs AG

A Perfect Time to Craft

Krafty Chicks- AG

Love to Scrap - AG

Pennys Challenge AG

Allys Angels - AG

Simon Says - AG

Paper Funday - AG - challenge #62

C.R.A.F.T Challenge - Female

SecretStamper - Fun Folds

Retro Postcards

I've been meaning to get around to making these little postcards for a little while now and I really like these sassy retro digi images from Gecko Galz that I thought would look great made up into postcards.

I used some of the Say What Digital Collage Set digi images by Gecko Galz and layered them up with some of the backing papers from the Retro Home Front Digital Craft Kit.

I found a small pack of postcards in my craft stash whilst having a sort out a while ago and decided to use them for some stamping projects but I also scanned the back of one so that I could use them for my postcards on this project.

I have added 'make more postcards' to my list. They are a simple little project  - 'happy mail'  - that you can pop in the post at the price of a 2nd class stamp.

These images really made me smile as I was die cutting them, they are just perfect for journals, tags and cards too.

Gecko Galz offer loads of inspiration on their blog along with challenges to enter and free images to download to craft with.  Pop over to their page follow and subscribe to their monthly newsletter. They also have lots more on their Etsy page.

Have a great day,  whatever you have planned for yourself.

Happy Crafting

Challenges:

Crafts Galore Encore - ATG

CD Sunday Plus - AG  (Top 3)

Lets Craft & Create - Polka Dots

Classic Designs - ATG

Creative Fingers - AG

Digi Choose Day - AG  (Winner)

We love to Create - AG