Embossed roses, inka gold and wax.

Hi everyone, I had fun with this new embossing folder the other night!

I had a background in my bits box that looks like I'd smooshed it in some metallic spray.

Thought it would be ok to waste while I experimented with this 3d folder if it didn't work out. Well, I like it and now need to recreate it lol! I love the vintagey feel.

Here's a closer look.

 Tim Holtz did a live facebook video and towards the end he created a stunning card by colouring the raised parts of the rose with inks. I loved the look of his flower and thought I'd try something else. 

I coloured the flowers with inka gold in rose quartz and magenta. The leaves are done in antique brilliance wax in emerald green.

EDITED TO ADD: Here is the link to Tim's video, this section was right at the end.

https://timholtz.com/demowatercolor-diy-more/?fbclid=IwAR1HFoMEcJULyYExoGoRGqEwezF2Jcc0_h23uJcEpf0VXIrv7bBTNg-4Hmk

I'm linking up to some challenges:

Addicted to Stamps & More,

Watercooler Wednesday

Double D Challenge with a showers or flowers theme and this gorgeous moodboard.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday, anything goes.

Mix it up Challenge where I'm taking the anything goes option.

Supplies:

Tim Holtz rose 3D embossing folder; Inka gold in rose quartz and magenta; Art Alchemy lucky emerald antique brilliance wax; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Birthday Cheers!

Hi everyone, I hope you are all safe and well.

It's time for a new challenge at Seize the Birthday and Glenda has chosen the theme of food or drink.

You can always play along with our anything goes option too!

I coloured these diecut glasses with some platinum ink, then spread on some glue and added some glamour dust. Love the sparkle!

Here's a closer look.

The marble background is stamped in the same platinum colour.

The diecut cheers was inked with versamark, and embossed with aged black frantage enamel.

I'm linking up to these challenges:

Addicted to Stamps & More,

Happy Little Stampers anything goes with dies

Retro Rubber, the marble waves background stamp I used is dated 2008.

Watercooler Wednesday,

Supplies:

MFT toast and cheers dies; Crafts R Us stitched rectangle die; Serendipity Stamps Marble Wavesbackground stamp;Tsukineko platinum ink; glamour dust; versamark ink and Stampendous aged black embossing enamel; birhday sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

You make me smile!

Hi everyone, I hope you are safe and well, and smiling!

My craft room is nearly done!

 It's been a long slow process. A wall was moved so that I now have double the space. I can't believe what I fitted into my old room, and that I knew where everything was lol!

It's been painted and flooring done, just waiting on the electrician to finish the extra power points.

 I'm reusing the bits and pieces of furniture that I had, maybe one day I'll revamp that too! At this stage I'd rather top up my stash than buy furniture lol!

Anyway, this is the first card I've made in the space.

I was inspired by the challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday,

where the theme is "Ë is for", in my case Emoji!

Here's a closer look.

The smiley was coloured with oxide ink,then layered onto a black diecut. I inked it with versamark and clear embossed to add lots of shine.

I'm also linking up to the something old something new challenge at Allsorts. I'm using both old and new.

The groovy symbols die smiley is one I've had for years and never used! The Funky Fossil stencil is a new to me one and this is it's first inking.

Happy Little Stampers anything goes with dies

and Watercooler Wednesday.

Supplies:

Memoey Box groovy symbols die; Funky Fossil stencil; distress oxide inks; Impression Obsession smile sentiment stamp; versafine clair ink & clear ep.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Gilded flower.

Hi everyone, it's time for a reminder for the latest challenge at CAS Stencil

where the theme is gilding flakes.

There are lots of projects from the DT to inspire you and there are some video tutorials on the blog if you're new to this technique. I hope you can play along.

For this card I dabbed versamark ink through a stencil, removed the stencil, then sprinkled on some Ranger sticky embossing powder. 

It's important to be ready to apply the gilding flakes as soon as the powder is heated up, once it cools it's too late and the flakes won't stick.

 Remember too, to pop the stencil straight into a tub of water to help with cleaning the ink off.

I brushed off the excess flakes with a stencil brush.

I'm linking up to these challenges:

Stamplorations CAS Challenge

Stamplorations Stencil Challenge

Supplies:

Studio Light stencil; versamark ink; Ranger sticky embossing powder; Creative Expressions autumn leaves gilding flakes; Crafts 4 U stitched rectangle die; sentiment sticker.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Embossed resist watercolour.

Hi everyone, 

it's time for a new challenge at Seize the Birthday and Lindsey has chosen a Spring fling theme.

There are lots of fabulous ideas to inspire you from our party guest and DT, so I hope you can play along.

Remember, if flowers aren't your thing you can always play along with our anything goes birthday theme too.

I haven't used this Hero Arts stamp in a long time, even though I love the image.

I stamped it using  unicorn white ink then embossed with white embossing powder.

 I did have to stamp twice so thank goodness for my Misti!

I used Kuretake Gansai watercolour paints and did a light wash over the whole image then used paper towel to blot off most of the colour. Then I carefully painted the flowers. 

Watercolouring is definitely not my strong point but the embossed edges resisted the paint which made things a bit easier.

I'm linking up to these challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday, add some texture.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday where they have this gorgeous Spring mood board for inspiration.

Watercooler Wednesday,

Inkspirational

Supplies:

Hero Arts large flower background stamp and white unicorn ink; Wow bright white embossing powder; Kuretake Gansai Tambo watercolour paints; Kaiserkraft sentiment stamp; versafine ink & clear ep.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Alcohol inked feathers.

Hi everyone, I found a scrap of alcohol inked yupo in my stash and there was just enough to diecut these feathers. 

(I can't wait for my craft room to be finished so I can get back into creating backgrounds with lots of techniques!)

I'm linking up to these challenges:

Just Us Girls,

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday where they are celebrating 11 years of challenges! 

Congratulations!

CAS on Friday where the theme is black & white and one colour.

(I hope the multiple shades of green are ok.)

Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge,

Supplies:

Yupo; Ranger alcohol inks in green; Hero Arts layering feather die; Crafts 4 U stitched rectangle die; Happy Little Stampers doodled flowers sentiment; versafine ink & clear ep.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x

Hello with gilding flakes.

Hi everyone, I'm the host for this months CAS Stencil and the technique is gilding flakes!

There are a few ways to apply these, double sided tape, tacky when dry gel medium or embossing powder or flake glue, which is tacky when dry.

The design team have some great cards to inspire you, and there are some videos explaining the techniques on the blog site, so I hope you can play along.

I applied flitter glue with a piece of wet & dry sponge through my stencil. Be sure to put you stencil straight into a tray of water afterwards so the glue doesn't dry on it!

When the glue was tacky I placed on some of the Pentart metal flakes, these seemed like larger pieces than other flakes that I've used. 

I also used a modified shoe box with the sides cut low when rubbing the flakes in, this contained the shiny mess quite well!

I'm linking up to these challenges:

Addicted to CAS

Stamploratopns Stencil Challenge

Supplies:

Stamplorations Nestled Circles stencil; flitter glue; Pentart metal flakes; Simon Says Stamp hello die; versamark ink & clear ep.

Thanks for visiting,

Cathy x