playing with embossing powders, OCSCC

Argh I have the Lurgi, as you fibromyagony girls know getting a cold can knock you for six, ah well it could be worse.

I have had the lovely classes to keep me thinking although to be honest I really haven't felt much like playing, sleep just seems oh soooooo appealing.

I did have a go, over several days, of playing with masking and embossing as demoed by Jennifer.  Oh I got in a right mess!!!!
I finally called it a day at this card

There was nothing clean about my first two... that I was prepared to take photos of ;) attempts

I do love this technique and will try it again, things I learned:

 start with the lightest colour powder;

 Washy tape is not a good alternative;

 wait for your stamping to dry and 

soft tissues really do make a difference.... atchoo!!

Tracey

Online clean and simple card class 4

Now I can't stop to chat for long as it is my day off work so I finally ha e time to play.  I have gained so much inspiration from this online card class I am busting to get some ideas onto paper.
The class is run by the lovely ladies; Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Werner and also some fab guests.  I can't recommend you join in enough.  If you are already playing along please let me know so I can have a look at your interpretations and creations :)

Here is a card I managed to squeeze into making in my evenings.

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I used twinchies by Ali reeve that in the UK you can get from clevercut, they also have some amazing storage units at fab prices, I will share more about them later as I just love them.  The technique is called "faux tile" and is awesome fun.  I have a lot of tiles that I practiced with first

Hmm you can see why I needed the practice but the classes are all about learning .... right?!

Anyhoo I'm off to play, do let me know what crafty creations you are paying with.

Tracey :)

water colour get well card

My boss lady, Elaine poss more known in the land of blog as Ellapu, was asked to be a guest designer for Crafting by Designs.  Her art is unbelievably awesome and I just love the piece she made for them.  If you don't go and have a look you are denying yourself a real treat!!!

I had to join in, the theme is under the weather/get well soon.  There are all sorts of unwell, I was inspired to make a card to support a friend coming thru depression.  Mental health issues are seriously in need of more funding and better knowledge sharing as there are much misunderstanding of these conditions.

Anyhoo. this card did not come together easily for me but I did have lots of fun playing and third lime lucky I got there...ish

It was hard to capture the colour change of the embossing powder, hero arts gold, in a picture but up close and personal I love the way it changes in the light.

I used distress inks and spectrum noir aqua pens.

This is take 1

And take  2

I am sharing this over at Crafting by Designs

I am also supporting Happy Little Stampers...again 

woody like it... masculine birthday card

I love blog hopping around, there are so many talented peeps out there and so many inspirational challenge blogs.

Rubys rainbow are having a masculine themed challenge, I was super chuffed as I had a wood grain embossing folder I really wanted to use.

The stamp is by clarity stamps and the little critters are from... sheesh I need to be better organised!!!!

I am sharing this with Rubys rainbow and hope you hop off for a nosy

Thanks for popping by

Tracey :)

Card Concept Love Challenge

I was really inspired by the photo The Card Concept Challenge blog are using as their inspiration for this challenge

This blog is a new one to me and I love it.  There are lots talented people on the design team and lots of different styles for you to choose to play along with and gain inspiration from.  in their words

"This is a bi-weekly challenge blog, which features 12 designers and 6 different styles.

Each designer has their own "style" of design and they explain how they were inspired by the challenge.
The styles are divided into 6 style themes:

• Clean & Simple (CAS)
• Clean & Layered
• Clean & Graphic
• Freestyle Collage
• Shabby Chic
• Classy & Elegant

• The participants are encouraged to create a card, based on the challenge and they have to choose one of the "styles" of our designers to design in.

There is also a really handy "Style Definition" tab. I love the idea of being able to try out new styles and see how the designers interpret that theme in different ways, Awesome idea right?


I chose to do a freesyle collage.... I think!!!!

I die cut and paper pieced some words by tonic.  I love the wood background in the picture so chose some craft card, Neena to piece them in,

I had initially planned to do a CAS card but I love embellishments especially brassy/bronzey ones so I went with the love theme of the chalenge and used lots of things I love.  I also love my tim Holtz tattered rose die and used the lovely pinks in the picture as my colours.... and then I just piled on the bits and bobs in my stash that I love, are you picking up on the fact that I love this challenge blog :)

As I said I am sharing this over at the Card Concept and really recommend you pop on over :)

Thanks for stopping by
Tracey L(

cold days... warm colours

The fibromyalgia is still ahead a little at the mo, am blaming the cold ;)  this gorgeous vibrant colour palette from MFT's first colour challenge of 2015 called me away to my happy place... tis warm and cosy there!!!

sorry for not writing more, if you want to know any of the products I used pls ask.

Keep warm

Tracey :)

Sketchy water colouring...

Hmm, as I  have said I am a newbie and love to try lots of things out.  I had a go at water colouring and turned it into the card below.

Quick typey post as my Fibro is making my fingers funky today and typing is just way too hard lol.


I am sharing this with Happy little  stampers - watercolouring challenge
And My Favourite Things - Sketch challenge

Thanks for the inspiration you guys :)

Tracey