Embossing binge

Hi Crafty Friends

I've been having a bit of a blitz on embossing recently.

For this card, I embossed the image with my favourite (and now precious, since it's been discontinued) Patina Bronze embossing powder. I then masked off the background and sponged the strip with DIs. The frame is made with a Nellie Snellen corner die.  I intended putting a sentiment at the bottom, but tried several, but wasn't happy with them so I left it off. Any suggestions, as to what to do, would be very welcome.

This one involved several stages to complete the image. I inked the background with Antique Linen, and stamped the music and flourish faintly with Vintage Photo. Then I used a negative stamp (from Hero Arts) and embossed it with clear embossing powder, before sponging the flowers/leaves with Victorian Velvet and Bundled Sage

Hope you like them
Happy Crafting

New Year News

Hi Crafty Friends
Back again after a massive break - such a bad blogger, I know.

And back with a brilliant bit of news - Tracey has asked me to be on the design team for 'Running With Scissors' .  I'm really looking forward to all the challenges and just hope a bit of inspiration strikes.

I did masses of crafting in the run up to Christmas, and managed to make all my cards and gift tags (so no time for blogging).
here are some of my Christmas cards
This is the one I made for my OH - I love these cascade cards

And this for an old friend. Gorgeous backing paper and I embossed the bauble to match

I really enjoyed experimenting to make this card. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the church and then Spellbinders labels 28 die for the aperture.

This is a bit of a different style for me, but good for posting.

A bit belated, but here's to a happy and crafty 2014

Jx

Lucky me

Hi Crafty Friends
I got a nice surprise the other day, as all this arrived through the post.

I'd responded to an appeal on a craft forum for Christmas memories for 'Papercrafter' magazine, so I whizzed off a quick email and forgot all about it. Apparently they printed my email, and sent me this load of goodies. Love the stamps especially, but the metallic pens are also good and there's loads of papers and some boxes to assemble and decorate. Not sure about the chipboard diecuts, but, heck, I didn't even have to make a card.
jx

Gelli 2

Hi Crafty Friends
It's been a while and I've been meaning to do an update on my gelli plate - so here it it.
After my first go, my plate was in a sorry state, so I melted it in the microwave, mixed up a bit more gelatin to make up for losses, and made another one. I used a melanine tea tray and kept the plate in it. It's about A4 sized.

Hope you like the pattern on the tray :)   It works just fine, hasn't cracked or gone mouldy yet. I keep it in the fridge covered with clingfilm. OH is complaining that the fridge was the last craft free zone in the house, so I don't know how much longer I'll get away with it. I've used it quite a few times, tho I'm not v good at it.  Here's a small print I thought I'd use as a background for a Christmas card

I really enjoyed watching Barbara Gray demonstrating gelli printing at the Doncaster show, so I'm looking forward to having another go.

happy crafting
Jx

Works in progress

Hi Crafty Friends

Looks like I've been falling behind in blogland again, so here is a motley collection of things I've been working on. I've got all sorts of niggles about them, but I thought I'd show you anyway.

First of all a Christmas card I started at the brilliant crafting day we had at Debbie's (thanks Debbie).
I keep meaning to move the 'merry' or do it in a lighter colour. It looks a bit lost at the mo.

Sadly, I had occasion for a sympathy card. I took inspiration from Kathy K, so apologies Kathy for using your idea (less elegantly)

KathyG very kindly gave me some paper recently, and I thought it would make a really pretty, feminine card, so that's what I went for. Thanks Kathy.

Love the paper, but not entirely happy with the finished effect, so I had another go. I think I managed the flowers/leaves better on this one.

This Christmas card is based on the triptych we did in class. Not totally happy with the decoration yet, but love the idea of the three sections held with ribbons, and will certainly be having another go.

This is the front

And the back. The red flourishes are my latest die, love it.

Happy crafting

DIY Gelli Plate

Hi Crafty Friends
I've been doing a bit of experimenting with a DIY Gelli Plate. I fancied having a go at printing, but wasn't sure it was for me, and buying a real Gelli plate would be an expensive way of finding out it wasn't. This only uses one ancient box of gelatine sachets  from the back of the cupboard

I followed (sort of) the instructions in this http://www.lindagermain.com/workshops/gelatin-printmaking-tips/how-to-make-a-gelatin-plate-for-monotype-printmaking/Youtube video.

Making the mixture is easy, but it took me ages to find a suitable tray, and I did manage to pour quite a lot on the kitchen work top, which instantly formed a glutinous mess that was hard to clear up, so my top tip is:- work on lots of newspaper.

I translated the ingredients to British measurements and it seemed to make 2½ pints. I didn’t have anything that big so I made less and may not have got the proportions right. I used 6 sachets of gelatine to 1pt of water ( ½pt cold ½  pt hot)

It set well. It didn’t have any bubbles and I was feeling pleased, but it cracked a bit when I got it out of the tray, and then I broke the corner off, so this is what I started with. 

Apparently you can chop it up, melt it again in the microwave, and reset it – but I was far too impatient for that!

The good news is it works!

Here is my first ever monoprint. I just used copy paper for starters.

And here is the ghost print I made from it.

And here are some more.

 I made quite a few more, but they all look pretty much like these.

Now these plates are meant to last in the fridge, covered in cling film for several weeks, but mine started falling apart almost immediately. I decided it just added to the texture and carried on regardless.

This is what it looked liked when I’d done

It cleaned up pretty well with baby wipes

 – and if it weren’t falling to pieces, I’d definitely save it for another day. I might microwave it and add it to some more mix to thicken it up. Also I can’t see why you can’t use it in the tray (mine is a retro glass dressing table tray, which I definitely don’t need on a daily basis). That would stop it stretching under the pressure of the brayer, which is what seemed to do the damage.

REVIEW SUMMARY

Ease of making 4/5

Cheapness 5/5 (69p for a packet of gelatine, which was actually an unnecessary expense as I found an ancient packet in the cupboard)

Mess – a lot in my case, but that’s just me

Fun at least 10 out of 5

Even with the shortcomings of mine, I would definitely recommend it, if you want to see if gelli printing is for you, without having to shell out for an expensive gelli plate.

Now I just need to practise getting better effects.

happy crafting

jx

Interactive card

Hi Crafty Friends

This card has been driving me mad - my own fault for having a bonkers idea in the first place. OH's grandson likes Meccano, so his mum suggested a Meccano card.
I figured Meccano has to be interactive, so this is what I came up with

This is the Meccano. I've made little joints so it all moves round to make what shape you like.

And the card is a push me/pull you, so as you pull the tag at one end, a message pops out at the other

The Meccano is only held on by little 'clips' so it can be rearranged.
Now I think I'll have to go and lie down!
(or maybe I should get out more)










Happy crafting