Hello Lovely

This beautiful floral is a digital from Graciellie Design and called Beautiful Bloom I think,

the link takes you straight to it. Always remember  she has amazing specials all throughout the year as well so if you see things you like and cant afford just wait for a special.

Okay now I have coloured the flower with red Copics starting with R14 and going to R59 for depth in the shadows.

The sentiment comes with the image as well as a pile more sentiments.

I decided to do really light colours in the BG 0000 to BG10 and also G0000 and just pulled the colours in all different directions little patches everywhere then going over them again no control or pattern and even used Colourless 0 to lift colour if I felt it was too heavy.

I added this panel to a white cardbase that I attached silver glitter washi tape each side of first and finished off with these wonderful pale green gems that tend to reflect the colour they are sitting on. 

I love this flower as its a great one to practice Copic layers and blending into folds on.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit and come again soon

Crafty Hugs

Aileen

For those who visit regularly.  

  I would like to thank those that read my post asking people what they use for social media and lack of responses. Therese what you said is all so true and you made me think about the fact that this is my only sure way of being able to look back at cards from the past that is mine. I hear you loud and clear. I will continue and just share what I feel like at the time.

Thank you

The Flower Challenge #54 Colour Shades of Purple

It's time for the next challenge, we are using shades of purple for this one but you can do natural leaf colouring and centres but try and stay with the purples we are asking for for this challenge.

Also remember you need to mention our challenge when you do your post and if possible add

the Challenge badge.

 We are using digital images from Beccy's Place I decided to use one of Beccy's freebie images.

This beautiful freesia was just so beautiful to work with. I printed it up as light as I could manage on my computer and went with a quite enlarged version.

I originally coloured with the flower cup in purple and the petals and closed bud in the background in a very bright pink colour. The purple cups are copic only. I then went over the pink colouring with a range of purple pencils, slowly and lightly as I built up the purple colour.

I was really pleased with how the the leaves turned out to. I then die cut using a Honey Bee 

die that gives the outline an old parchment look. Added a lilac layer slightly larger then finished off with a purple layer and the 'Beautiful' die cut and sequins.

Thank you for coming to have a look, Its now time to go check out what the Design Team has been up to on The Flower Challenge Blog and our Guest Designer Colleen Balija who makes the most amazing and inspiring cards. So so much beauty.

See you all again soon.

Crafty Hugs

Aileen

 

Floral from Pinkfresh Studio on Vellum

 

Check out this amazing background stamp from Pinkfresh Studio 

I have again stamped and heat embossed on Vellum, this time with white

embossing powder.

Coloured with Zigs and Wink of Stella to spread and thin.

I added a pale green Zig background so you could see the white embossing

then placed straight onto a white card base. Added a thin line of silver glitter

washi tape each side.

No sentiment as it can be used for anything. I keep saying to myself, back to other colouring Aileen, but I really do enjoy using the zigs as they make for quick colouring that looks so bright and vibrant.

Out of interest can You take the time to leave a comment and tell me

a) Are you still posting on your blog as well as Facebook and Instagram ?or

b) do you stay with one group and not bother with the others?

c) Are you finding comments few and far between?

I am trying to get right back into regular posts and wonder if I have lost lots of my audience because of my break from cardmaking or are people happy to look on Instagram and not bother with the blog.

I try to keep my posts light and informative and share a story or joke but then I wonder if there are actually people reading or just looking at the card, if that. Some blogs I go to have an amazing number of people commenting and I wonder if its because they only blog? Or could it be they are going in challenges which I haven't gone back into yet? Or maybe its just my posts are too off track. 

What a quandary lol nah not really its just puzzling me and has me thinking Instagram is probably enough. 

Dancing & Roses

 I have quite a few cards in this post as I did a floral card and I also made a set of cards for my granddaughter to use.

You will see all of these down further where I have taken individual shots of each. The inspiration for these came from a card I received from a wonderful friend of mine, Therese, who makes the most amazing cards and every now and then I get one that just screams copy and try your own ideas.

If you would like to go check out Therese's amazing cards  I am going to share her link but you have to promise to come back ok:)

Before going to the dancers I wanted to share another card with the colouring with zigs on vellum.

This is the Big & Bold rose from Colarado Stamps. I just love using their Big & Bold line as they stamp so beautifully and are such a joy to colour.

Here you can see the sparkle on the rose and IRL the whole rose sparkles and does

look brighter than you are seeing in these photos. The image is stamped and heat embossed in silver.

I have then used Zig markers darkest colour with lightest colour to move the colour then lift and complete colour with a 'Wink of Stella' brush that adds all the sparkle. No water used so no warping. Added the vellum layer to a white card base and just attached with douple sided tape hidden behind the images.

Finished off with this beautiful 'hello friend' die cut from mmmm sorry cant think of where from and not home to check.

Anyhoo I finished off with some lovely little smooth sparkles.

Now this is the first one I stamped and it is exactly how Therese had done hers other than the sentiment. I also coloured the tutu heavier as thats just me. The tutu is stamped separately and after I coloured them I fussy cut them.

The next card I decided to go portrait and add full image.

Then this one with one dancer and shoes on.

Then this one (which is my favourite I think). Legs only. Sentiment

'Dancing is like dreaming with your feet'

Ok so thats it today, I love that I used the set for more than one card as I seem to do so often. 

Also I don't know if you notice but these cards I made using Neenah  Solar White 110#,  bases and Copic coloured panels. I wanted to see what I thought of this. 

I will need to experiment more as these cards are only lightly coloured so couldn't really say if it is as good as the paper/cardstock I usually use for copics. It was certainly a different feeling when applying the layers, I cant explain it other than it just feels like the copic drags a bit on it but as I said I do need to colour a lot more. But I must say I love the thickness and the wonderful colour of this cardstock. I would have to use the thinner one I think for fussy cutting as I struggled a bit with this thicker card. Will also need to see how it goes in the Scan n Cut.

Cost wise it was very similar in cost to my X-press it Blending card working out I think at about 60 cents a sheet. I would be using more as I would like to use for the cardbase as well where with the X-press It I only use for coloured images and add to a cardbase.

Another thing to take into consideration as well is that the Neenah 110# is not always available here in Australia and not as easy to get as the X-press It Blending card.

What I need to do is colour the same image on both types and share the end results, now all I need to do is remember I said I would do this then you will see for yourselves.

Let the experiments begin

Crafty Hugs

Aileen

First Time Used and Coloured Both

I've made another two floral cards using vellum and zigs. This first one you will be going to see the vellum as after I had finished colouring I found my hand had transferred colour into areas it didn't belong.

I fussy cut the blooms and they sat there for a few months as I wasn't particularly happy with them. I ended up adding more colour and then pulled some colour out. Added a bit of shimmer then attached to this pink and white pattern paper.

 These blooms are from Altenew and the combined die cut sentiments are from The Ton called

Love & Hugs.

You can see the shimmer on the petals in this photo. I used a bit of glue to attached the flowers to the pattern paper and found that because I had added so much colour the vellum had warped and I needed a fair bit of glue. Then I found that there were bits of glue all over and I needed to remove and it became a card that I nearly threw out half a dozen times.

I ended up deciding to keep the card, added the sentiments and some gems, its okay but not a card I am particularly proud of. 

This next card is the vellum with silver heat embossing and my darkest and lightest blue Zigs.

I was a lot lighter in my use of colour and was really pleased in the end. The flower is from The Ton and is called Amazing Gardinia

I did a very light grey around the outline then added the "Just Because" sentiment and gems.

I added these to a white card base and Im afraid the card looks a little dull and grey but IRL the white of the cardbase totally highlights the rose.

I hope you enjoy these and come back to see more.

Crafty Hugs

Aileen

 

Reminder Post The Flower Challenge #53 Use Your Latest Stamps or Dies

 

Yep its time for the reminder so that means I have to force yes fooooorce myself to use another new stamp to me,  yayyyyy

I have made two cards, I enjoyed colouring this so much. This stamp was a release during

Simon Says September releases when they join forces with other companies bring out a one off stamp and this one is a combined effort of Simon Says and Studio Katia. The sad thing is I can't give you the link as its a one off release and once sold thats it.

Copic colouring using sepia look for the leaves so E40's and the flowers R83, R81, R20 and R10 I think for palest petal. The background is a mix of the 0000; 000; 00 in blues and greens

I die cut the panel with that favourite of mine  'Nordic Frame Dies' from 'The Greetery' 

and the sentiment 'best wishes' is die cut from silver mirror card.

This next card I did with V000 V00 V01 V12 sorry cant remember the leaf mix I think it started out YG03 YG05 then had some pale G colours added. So this card is more along the line of mauve and the background more BG 0000 BG 000 etc

The frame is a different one from the same set as above

The 'Celebrate' die cut is from MFT's and  is cut from silver glitter paper.

I have added both card panels to Neenah cardstock #110 which I have started using after talking to

a very clever crafty friend of mine, Therese. I love the whiteness and the end finish.

I have also started colouring with Copics on this cardstock but at this time limited use as I dont feel as comfortable with it. I feel my Copic cardstock stays juicy a lot longer especially when using lots of layers but I do like the super white look of the Neenah. Will be interesting to see what cutting through die machine and Scan n Cut will be like. Also if my printer will accept and feed it through.

Anyhoo its time to go check out what our Guest Designer and the 

Design Team have been up to.

Thank you so much for coming to visit and I hope I see you again soon

Crafty Hugs

 Aileen

The Flower Challenge #43 - Use You Latest Stamps or Dies

 

I read this as one of my new unused stamps or Dies (floral of course)

and since I have this trailer load of stamps and dies it then became a giant decision

which one...... oh joy

Todays card I have used this wonderful stamp set from The Ton called

'Coming Up Lilies'. Such a beautiful  stamp, I have heat embossed in Gold Rose

embossing powder and the one thing I truly love about their stamps is the delicate

lines and beautiful images.

I coloured with my usual Zigs making a mix with the red and yellow

so it made an orange I was happy with. A little bit of Wink of Stella

towards the ends to fade out the colour or remove excess. 

Im holding the card here so you can see I have added a watercoloured

panel behind the vellum that is rainbow coloured with Distress Ink

onto a panel that has embossed white pattern on it.

The photos just don't do the card the justice. Here you can see

the shimmer from the 'Wink of Stella on the upper edges of the flowers.

I could have put the flowers on a white card base but I felt this worked

so beautifully you will have to trust me on my description. 

The Newest think used is the Stamp set, only 9,999 to go.

Now its time to go check out what the rest of the Design Team have been up to and see

who our Guest Designer  is this month, and her stunning creation. 

Thank you so much for coming to visit and I hope you come again soon

Crafty Hugs

Aileen

 

If you fall I will be There (the floor)

I love that sentiment, it cracks me up. I have a great love of snarky/ grumpy/ sarcastic

sentiments and I also have a huge collection that must be used. 

Of course these cards become limited in use in that not everyone appreciates this type of humour and recipients need to be chosen with care.  But aside from collecting these types of sentiments I have also now collected some classic images to colour to go with them and I have also collected quite a few friends who also like this type of humour so I will share with them to pass onto others.

So easy to colour and so cute to look at.

The card I have made is in the slimline style, the white cardstock layered onto the orange/yellow pattern paper. I have stamped the images and these are from AALL & Create and they have quite a few of these wonderful images. Loved colouring these with copics.

Hopefully I will be posting regularly again and will get to share the cute, the floral and the snarky with you all. Thanks so much for dropping in and hopefully you will come again soon.

Crafty Hugs

Aileen

 

Have a Magical Day

Time to build up the birthday cards supply again, totally depleted. These of course are for the grandchildren to give to friends (they all seem to celebrate huge numbers of friends birthdays) and I struggle to keep up.

This one was quick and easy to do. The unicorn is from 'Neat and Tangled'. I cant link as the shop is down having update done till 1st February. Probably my first and oldest unicorn stamp.

I did some plain watercolour in the rainbow colours but didn't worry about layers

as the paper I had stamped on was not handling the watercolours well.

The sentiment and the leaves are also from the same set.

I decided to lift the panel slightly and added white washi tape with

silver stars. 

I have done some others that I liked a lot more and I will share those soon along with the multitude of other unicorn cards as it appears I have been a bit obsessed with purchasing both rubber and digital unicorns along with fairies and bunnies.

 I was sorting all my purchases from the last year or two and apart from the doubling up of some I have also discovered I have an amazing collection of adorable stamps that I will now need to find the time to colour. I'm going to try a lighter style of colouring actually on these to get more used.

I think I became a bit obsessed with building up my 'children's birthday card supplies'. Especially backlogged as I find it so hard to resist colouring floral images.

Thanks again for coming to check my card out and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Crafty Hugs

Aileen

 

Transformation Butterfly

Watercoloured this wonderful stamped image from The Ton called Transformation.

I totally love this stamp, the proportions, the design the delicate image that stamps up

perfectly. I have not seen another as pretty as this. Previously I had stamped and embossed

on vellum and I love how those turned out. This time I decided to white emboss

on watercolour paper.

I am quite pleased with how it turned out and felt it only needed a delicate

die cut sentiment so this one works perfectly with it. And then I found some glitter

gems in the same silver glitter to finish it off.

A card that can be used for many different reasons with that sentiment.

Thank you so much for coming to check it out and I hope you 

come visit again soon.

Crafty hugs

Aileen