TRY STAMPIN ON TUESDAY - DOUBLE TROUBLE PARTNERSHIP #512

A full on challenge for you this week as we partner with Double Trouble again - here's our sketch for Try Stampin on Tuesday - if you want to be able to join in with Double Trouble also here are all their details.

Thing 1 Trouble Maker 

says, "Twisted Sister has often referred to me as being a square and out of touch with the current trends. She tells me it's better to be a circle because it's cool and groovy. Whenever this happens I sing 'It's Hip to be a Square' and, at least for a while, she stops calling me a square.

Talking about squares and circles, our partner for this challenge has a great sketch.  Following the sketch, include at least two squares or circles on your project using dies, frames, paper, embossing folders, stencils, etc., and show us whether you are square, groovy, or both.  

Note: Feel free to change the orientation of the sketch... rotate the sketch or use its mirror image. You may also modify by using a mix of squares and circles as long as the basic sketch is visible in your project.  

Thing 3 Twisted Sister will be embossing, dry or heat embossing. 

Optional Theme: Embossing

I started off by using an embossing folder from Stampin Up called Painted Texture for my background card stock.  I then rubbed a small Tim Holtz Distress ink pad over it in Pear Pizzazz to add the extra darker green.

The stamp is from Chocolate Baroque called Garden Wall and was coloured with Distress Inks and I added a cut out stitched framelit as the border.  The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp set.

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS #CC366

Here is our colour challenge for you this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  Such gorgeous colours that scream summer I think.  I found this very old stamp in my stash of a flower wreath and thought it was time it needed inking.  I started off by using the yellow ink and a blender brush to cover the background.  I then stamped the wreath with some VersaFine Clair in Nocturne - my new go-to black ink.  

I used a water brush to water colour in the flowers using the coral and the jade.  The sentiment in the middle is a new one from Visible Image stamps called Express Yourself. I added some yellow to the middle and some Wink of Stella to make it shine.

I used a Clearly Besotted stencil of the umbrellas to go over the background in the same yellow.

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments - AG plus sentiment 

Through the Craft Room Door - AG 

A bit more time to craft - AG 

Sparkles Forum - Floral Extravaganza

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Beautiful Blooms 

The Flower Challenge - CAS

SEREN

The challenge over at Allsorts this week is Magical Worlds.  I have only recently found Lavinia Stamps and don't have many but I managed to make this scene with the ones I have.  The stamp Seren immediately spoke to me as it means Star in Welsh ( I am Welsh) and it is the name I have in mind for my next Welsh Springer Spaniel! 

Here I have combined her with the Toadstool and Sebs House stamps, together with the footpath stamp.  

TRY STAMPIN ON TUESDAY - TSOT510

Here is this week's challenge for you from Try Stampin on Tuesday - I chose to go with just the sketch this week.  I used the cat from the new stamp set by Anita Jeram called Thank You Kindly.  I part stamped him in Versafine Clair in Acorn so that I could watercolour him.  I left off the part of the stamp that has the present on it.

I used Tim Holtz distress inks in Gathered Twigs, Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade and Faded Jeans for the cat image, with a touch of Salty Ocean for the background.

My background paper was one I found in my stash which I had done a while ago with some Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  Just goes to show always keep any bit of paper as they do come in handy.

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

Through The Craft Room Door - AG 

Shopping our Stash - Fur Babies

SUYP - AG Furry

613 AVENUE CREATE - ANYTHING GOES PLUS OPTIONAL PAPER PIECING

Our new challenge this month at 613 Avenue Create has the added option of paper piecing.  I had seen this technique of paper piecing done by Kristine Werner and thought I'd have a go.

I started off with an American Crafts Stencil and some Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen.  On a separate piece of card I stencilled over one of the flowers and the leaves and cut these out and layered them on top of the stencil.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks to colour them in and popped the flower up on dimensionals to add an extra layer.

The sentiment is from a Clearly Besotted set.  I added some gems for a touch of sparkle.

I'm adding this into the following challenges

We Love Chocolate Baroque - Paper Piecing 

Through the Craft Room Door - AG 

SWEET STAMPIN - MASCULINE

We are challenging you this week at Sweet Stampin with a masculine card - something we all like to see inspiration for.

This card was actually made for my hubby who reached the big 60 in April!  Where does the time go - we met when he was 20 so we've seen a lot of birthdays between us.  He was an engineer by trade and has a very mechanical mind - so much so that sometimes my artistic offerings don't sit well with him as he likes very straight lines and everything to be precise lol!

I was gifted these lovely gears and clock elements from a member of my Facebook Group The Joy of Sets where we often send out freebies to each other. I knew I just had to use them on his card.

For the background I used the large stamp from Stampin Up called Dry Brush - It's a great stamp for creating quick backgrounds.  The die cut letters were from Tim Holtz together with some of the extra ephemera.  The sentiments are from various sets in my stash.

I'm adding this into the following challenges

Three Room Studio #39 - Tic Tac Toe - I used the middle vertical line

CRAFT challenge - masculine

Seize The Birthday - Wheels

Stinkin Inkers - Youre the Man 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Masculine

The House that Stamps Built - Masculine

Watercooler Wednesday - All things masculine 

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS - #365

We have a great sketch for you this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I started my card by using a stencil from Wendy Vecchi for my background in Tim Holtz Spun Sugar.  I masked off the circle first using a mask from Wendy also.  The stencil and mask are from Country Flowers.   I inked it in some Tim Holtz Distress Inks and stamped it with a script stamp from Wendy Vecchi from a set called Live and Make Art. 

The main image and the sentiment is from a new set by Visible Image stamps called Free Your Imagination.  I love the script they've used for the sentiment.

SPARKLES CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE - A KRAFTY CHRISTMAS

I hope you’ll have fun with our new challenge this month at Sparkles Christmas Forum which is using Kraft.  

I used the fun set from Visible Image stamps called Santa Claus. I used Distress Inks to colour him in with adding Liquid Pearls in White Opal for all his white fluffy bits.  The snow dots were made by watering down some Gesso and using an aqua painter.

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

The 12 months of Christmas - AG 

Christmas Cards all year round - K or L - K is for Kris Kringle 

Love to Craft - AG 

Merry Little Christmas - AG 

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - Kraft 

TRY STAMPIN ON TUESDAY TSOT508

Optional theme - Flowers

Welcome to another challenge at Try Stampin on Tuesday with our sketch above with the optional theme of flowers.  I started off by using a stencil from American Crafts for my panel on the right using Tim Holtz Distress Ink. I then used the stamps from Tim Holtz Wild Flowers for my flowers on the left using Distress Inks to watercolour the flowers.  The sentiment in the corner is from a Clearly Besotted set.  

FOLLOW YOUR HEART

One of my new sets is Visible Image's Follow Your Heart.  I don't have many heart stamps and this one really called out to me.

I used some of the Lavinia smooth card stock for my base.  I stamped the heart in Versafine Clair Nocturne and then restamped it to make a mask.  I used an old SU stencil with the dots for the background and used Tim Holtz Distress ink in Squeezed Lemonade and Ripe Persimmon for the dots.  

I repeated these colours for the actual heart using an aqua brush.  I added some drops of Liquid Pearls in White Opal and added a sentiment from Anita Jeram stamps.

I made this card with the AAA Cards challenge in mind as they celebrate their 7th Birthday and thought this sentiment went so well - that's a great achievement in blog land to be going that long.

I'm also adding this into the following challenges:

AAA Birthday - their sister site is 2 years old 

Creative Fingers Challenge - AG

STARSTRUCK

My recent purchases of stamping goodies included some items from the new Stampin Up catalogue including the lovely set called To The Moon which I can see I can use for lots of crafting projects.  I also got some of the new masks as they are great for mixed media projects too.

My card today uses one of those masks which look like triangles.  I used Tim Holtz Dusty Concord for the first layer then offset them mask a little and added some Hickory Smoke.  I stamped the star in Dusty Concord Archival and added some ink to the edges and covered it all in Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen to make it shine.  I had an extra piece of the decorated background and cut it out with an old SU die cut and added the sentiment in my new favourite black ink VersaFine Clair in Nocturne.

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

Inkspirational - Triangles 

Addicted to stamps - Dies/Stencils - I've used both

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Dies

Cardz 4 Guyz - create your own background

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS - 364

We have a lovely mood board for you this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments   My apple trees were full of gorgeously scented blossom last week but this week in the UK we have had wind and rain and it has blown all the blossom away.  I only hope the bees managed to get to them in time.

I'm using a new stamp I received for my birthday from Aall & Create - called Birdsong.  They are collage stamps and I just love the bird on this one.  I kept it simple as it is such a busy stamp by colouring the background with Tim Holtz Spun Sugar Distress Ink.  I added some touches of Peeled Paint and Twisted Citron to some parts.  I coloured the bird in with Peacock Feathers and Gathered Twigs.  I stamped him twice and then cut him out and added him with dimensionals to give an extra layer to the card.

I'm adding this into the following challenges

The House That Stamps Built -  Repeat Impressions Theme Challenge M1921 ~ Birds or Bees

The Paper Funday Challenge - AG

Get Creative - AG 

Allsorts - AG 

SPRING FLOWERS

What a wet and miserable May we are having in the UK at the moment - heavy showers have knocked all the blossom off the apple trees and the spring flowers are looking sad.  One of my favourites is the crocus - such strong little flowers pushing their way up through snow and hard ground just to cheer us all up.

For my card today I've taken one of the lovely stamps from Simon Says Stamp Thoughtful Flowers.  I have already cut out a mask for this crocus so used it for this stamp. I started by using a stencil from Clearly Besotted with the umbrellas which is perfect for our weather at the moment.  I then coloured in the crocus with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Crushed Olive for the leaves and a mix of Squeezed Lemonade, Spiced Marmalade and Fired Brick for the flower.  The sentiment is from the same set.  I sponged the edges and layered it onto a piece of card stock from Stampin Up.

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

As You See It - favourite first flower of spring

We Love Chocolate Baroque - Bright sunny colours

Dare 2B Artzy - Flowers

Stamping Sensations - Flowers

ANITA JERAM BIRTHDAY WISHING

I do love these Anita Jeram stamps - I received a few for my birthday too  which I can't wait to start using.

My card today has taken the sketch at Sunday Stamps as its inspiration.

I used a Tim Holtz Tag die for my image and stamped the bunny on it with Versafine Clair in Acorn - the brown gives a softer edge than the black but it still great for watercolours.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks for my water colouring in Seedless Preserves, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs and Salty Ocean.  I added some dots around the edge of the tag with a Docrafts Metallic marker in a purple shade.  The sentiment is from the same set inked in TH Dusty Concord Archival.

For the background I used a Stampin Up Mask and some TH Dusty Concord and Seedless Preserves Distress Ink.  The background paper is from SU and I covered it with a light touch of the Dusty Concord.  I added some twine to finish off the card.

I'm adding this into the following challenges - 

Sunday Stamps - Sketch 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - stencil

Use Your Stuff - Stencil

NURSERY RHYMES

What a great idea for a challenge over at International Art and Soul - Nursery Rhymes.  I really had to put my thinking cap to come up with something.  It was recently my birthday and hubby got me lots of lovely new stamp sets - how did he know? lol!  One was from Aall & Create who I've not used before.  I chose the set called Birdsong for the lovely birds on it.  This led me to an old Welsh nursery rhyme I used to sing with my daughter when she was younger.  It's called Me Welais Jac Y Do - all about a Jackdaw.  Here's a video to cheer your day lol! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhk0_ceCfqI

He looks like a very proud Jackdaw.  I stamped him in Versa Fine Clair ink in Acorn and then used Liquitex inks for the background in Deep Violet and Turqoise Deep.  I added a touch of black to the bird and some gold for his hat.  The sentiment Bird Song was stamped from one of the other stamps in this set and cut with a deckle scissors and added with dimensionals.

I used a Tim Holtz music stencil for the background.

International Art & Soul - Nursery Rhymes 

Through the Craft Room Door - AG

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Things with Wings

Get Creative - AG 

TRY STAMPIN ON TUESDAY - TSOT506

Optional challenge - rainbows

Here's our sketch for you this week from Try Stampin on Tuesday and it's certainly a challenge.  I wanted to use the added extra of the rainbow challenge as well as my own twist on the sketch and this is what I came up with.

I started with an old piece of SU DSP which I coloured in the flowers in the colours of the rainbow.  I then used one of the flowers from Wendy Vecchi called Country Flowers.  I used Tim Holtz Distress inks to ink the flower up in all the various rainbow colours.  I added some leaves and a mixture of colours for the butterfly and popped them up on dimensionals.

For the panel at the front I used a script stamp from Wendy Vecchi together with a word stamp from the set called Live and Make Art.  I used Ranger Archival Ink in Seafarer to stamp both.

I'm adding this into the following challenges also:

The Flower Challenge - favourite flower

SWEET STAMPIN - THINGS WITH WINGS

Our challenge for you this month at Sweet Stampin is Things with Wings.  I had to have a play with my Tim Holtz crazy birds stamps and dies again.  I started off by using a stencil from Visible Image called Words of Support with some Distress Ink.  The birds were all coloured in Distress Inks .  I used the matching dies to cut them all out.  Glad I don't have to try and fussy cut them - it's not one of my strengths!

 I added some googly eyes from Stampin Up.  The banner was cut with an old SU die and I added some Nuovo Dots in pink to the edges and to the card.

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

International Art and Soul - cards for men

Let's craft and create -171  no patterned paper

More mixed media - AG 

happy little stampers - use dies

WHAT DEFINES A MASCULINE CARD?

I recently watched a You Tube video by Gina K Designs - she poses this question What defines a masculine card?  And isn't it interesting - as she said men like flowers too yet flowers are normally thought of as feminine cards.  Butterflies are feminine - are moths masculine?  Most men cards are to do with hunting, fishing, boats, beer - and isn't it an interesting phenomena in this day and age of equality?  It made me think.

I was inspired by Gina's video to produce a card with a more masculine feel to it shall we say.

I have an old dictionary that I use for background papers and I found the page with the word masculine on it.  I added some Tim Holtz distress ink in vintage photo and then crinkled the paper - I then spread some Ground Espresso over the top.  I used my old deckle scissors to cut out the paper and added it to some SU green card stock.  The image of the lion is an old Tim Holtz one I have and fits perfectly with Try it On Tuesday's challenge of songs.  One of my favourite of Kate Bush is Oh England My Lionheart - strange as I'm Welsh but it's such a good song. I edged the card in Crushed Olive and some Vintage Photo Distress Crayon.

I added it to some black card stock and added a piece of silvery washi tape just to lift the colours a little.  The sentiment is from Tim Holtz Crazy Birds.  Interesting that Gina also mentioned masculine fonts and this seems such a thing to me.

Close up of the masculine word 

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

Through the craft room door - AG 

Cardz4Guys -  monochromatic - I think this may just fit 

International Art and Soul - Cards for a man

Try it on Tuesday - A song - Oh England My Lionheart - Kate Bush

Addicted to Stamps - AG

QKR Stampede - Anything Goes 

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS CC363

Here's our latest Colour Challenge from Hand Stamped Sentiments - as always if you don't have the exact colours use a close alternative.

I started off with some Pool Party card stock and used an old SU embossing folder to create the background.  My choice of stamps were the lovely Country Home set coloured in with Stampin Markers in Flirty Flamingo and an aqua brush for the pool party.  I added some washi tape in yellow and some yellow pearls to complete the colour combination.