Carabelle Studio - more stunning stamp designs

I'm a little late doing these few posts, so this weeks LLL show will creep into the later part of the week....but I'll make sure I get a few posts done for you.

I did really want to share some of the makes from last week, as I adored the stamps I was working with.  The A4 stamps are fantastic, I definitely need more of these in my life.

Firstly I used a wonderful mandala stamp which I actually "inked" up using Tim Holtz Distress daubers. I then used my Distress Stains over the top.  Make sure the paint is dry, and it will give a lovely resist type effect.

I removed the centre of the mandala, which I put aside for another card (this was the theory....obviously I put it in a safe place, never to be seen again).  I then used one of the Distress Crayons to colour in the centre of the image, this covers up any white bits

It also adds depth to the image

I created my background with the Daubers, dragging the two colours along to give a lovely wood like effect.  I then stamped and embossed the large mandala image.  The sentiment was stamped onto a piece of kraft card, and then I glued the smaller mandala image onto the larger.  The sentiment was bowed and glued in the centre of the mandala.  I love the white on that background, it looks yummy.

oops, forgot this bit!  I mat and layered the card up, and used a nice piece of hessian which I frayed, I liked the texture, it really goes with the image.

There, sentiment in place, job done.

I used the stamps again for the show, I stamped and embossed the two stamps then used the Distress Stains over the top.  I then used the Tim Holtz Spritzer which breaks the stains up, and adds a different colour to the mix

I added some colour to the mandala with the distress crayons, blending them in slightly.  

This was the one I actually did on the show, which needs making up into a card, but I figured I'm share it with you as the colour combo is completely different.

Thank you for nipping on by.  I hope you love the stamps as much as I do, and managed to get hold of them!!  More Carabelle!!!

The Last Day - The final countdown........

Well, this is it gang, just a few hours to go.  I'm a tad nervous - silly isn't it.  It feels much a long time since I've been on the TV, it's almost like starting back at the beg inning.  Gulp.  Needless to say, I've glue and ink all over my fingers, I still need to do my ironing, and I'm not sure where my nail file is....so business as usual then :)   I would hate you to think I'd changed and got myself all organised in the last 6 months.

The last challenge (for now, but I have enjoyed them, so I'm sure I'll chuck a few in here and there).  The winner this week was Patricia Howarth. Congratulations Patricia, if you email me with your address I will get your card sent out for you (eventually, I'm a little behind with my posting).  My email address is: leoniepujol@hotmail.co.uk.

Patricia challenged me to use:
vellum or parchment
Gilding Flakes
Distress Pens.

After a little while, I'm afraid I had to give up the search for my distress pens - so I replaced them with distress inks.  To be honest, I probably would have used the pens in the same way, as some ink can be too wet on vellum causing it to stretch and bubble.

Okay, here's what I did:

I found some nice old vellum which I've had for ages, and love!!

I used a script stamp, and my Glitter and Glue adhesive from Cosmic Shimmer, which I added to the stamp.  I stamped onto the vellum you may just be able to see faint writing on the vellum left by the glue

I then applied my gilding flakes

Remove the excess flakes with a brush, and look how stunning they shine

I ripped the vellum at an angle

I then used a lovely stampendous stamp, and embossed it with gold embossing powder, onto another piece of decorative vellum

I used my distress ink directly onto my craft sheet

Using an old, dry babywipe wrapped round a paper stump, I worked the ink into the stamped image.  Do this at the back of the stamped image for a subtle coloured finish

When you turn it over, the colour will be nice and soft, and you will get the shine from the embossing

I placed it onto my gilded vellum, and love the way the gilding can be seen through the stamped image, however, I feel the flowers need to stand out a little

In order to do this, I stamped the image again, but this time onto a piece of cream card, and cut out the main little flowers

When you place the image behind the vellum, it does accentuate the flowers - I like this technique as it's just pinpointing a specific image

I worked out where my flowers where going to be in order to then stamp onto the card, and cover with the gilding flakes

Sticking the vellum down is always tricky, so I put the glue directly onto the card

and then rubbed it into the card

This is a perfect way to stick the vellum down without seeing loads of glue.  I positioned the flowers precisely where I needed them

I then added my flowers on top.  Again, the glue can be tricky, but I added it just around the edge under the embossing.  I mat and layered everything....

And as usual, fell out with it!  So, I trimmed everything down, and popped it on some black card, which I think makes it stand out much better

The final piece, you can see how the gold shows beautifully through the vellum

Nice isn't it.

That's it!  The final blog post.  The next one will be finally letting you know where I'm going to turn up!!  

I hope you will join me tomorrow :)  

14 days left of house arrest remaining :)

Good evening crafters.

There are days when the craft room just doesn't inspire.  Today was one of those days.  We all get moments when our mind are in too many different places and, well, busy.  So. damn. busy.  The thought of "having" to make something seems impossible.  It's days like those,when doing this challenge can be quite a drag.  I wanted to share this, as I'm sure, as a person who now makes a living from my craft, it would seem I'm always bursting with idea's and creativity.  Does forcing yourself to just get on with it help?

We hear, and talk, of mindfulness, and the calming effect of creating, but sometimes that seems like an impossibility, just the thought of sitting down to craft can be overwhelming.  Attempting to build up the enthusiasm to start a project, when you feel despondent.  Where do you start.

This evening I trotted off to my craft room, with this mood looming.  Yesterday, I had started a project which I completely fell out with - the colours were wrong, and it just looked awful, but for once I didn't just pop it in the bin.  Instead, late on in the evening,  I covered it in gesso - well, that's what I intended to do.  What I actually did (whilst brushing my teeth - ever the multi tasker!), was cover it in a glassy gel.  Not to worry.  I walked away and left it to dry. This morning (again, brushing my teeth!!), I did cover it in gesso, and allowed it to dry.  So, this is where this evenings crafty journey began:

From this:

To the white out:

This was perfect for the mood I was in.  A strange blank canvas.  I wasn't sure what to do with it, but figured I couldn't actually make it any worse - with this in mind, I knew I could experiment freely.  So, I sprayed some bold green

And then a stunning strong blue

And added a red.  I then sprayed a silver shimmer over the top to spread the colours and blend them out a little

These are the spritzers I have used for this project.  They are all Mica based spritzers, so will dry with a sheen

There was ink left on my mat, which I used to colour the little butterfly which I'd actually ripped off the project. I popped this aside to dry

I blasted the card to dry the first layer of ink.  I wanted to build up the depth of colour, so spritzed again, this time I didn't water the ink down with the silver.

I started to dry the ink.  I loved the colours.  They changed when the heat was applied.  I presumed this was a reaction with the gel and the gesso.  

I love it.  The gel has added texture, but also brought all the layers of paper, dies and ribbon together

I did decide the sheen was to much, so added a little black paint.  I did this very subtly indeed.  I picked a little paint on a sponge, which I literally dusted over the piece.  This enhances the textures, and creates extra depth

To finish my piece, I added white and black mat and layers.  

I decided to cut up a lovely magazine, to find the perfect sentiment, and also added my little butterfly back in place 

I didn't want the words bright white, so toned them down with a little ink. You can see the difference here, with the craft being a shade whiter than the magic

I'm really happy with this.  "A restless mind creates curious craft magic".  But, the question remains, does crafting lead to mindfulness, or help with the ability to calm our minds. For me, it worked.  I lost myself in my creativity, and loved it.  The process engrossed my mind, focusing my wayward thoughts, and allowed me to chill out and calm.  And I was so happy with the result - so not only a calmer state of mind, but a sense of achievment.  Now, what shall I start whilst brushing my teeth this evening :)