Watercolour Dart Board

The brief:

A birthday card for my customers brother, who is turning 60.  He likes darts.

My thoughts go to our dart board, which is not as loved as it should be.  Red, black and silver pop into my head.

He is a Bombers fan, perfect.

After a quick Google search for pictures of dart boards, I realise there is also green on the standard board.  Watercolour using Distress Inks was the solution.

I review my small collection of distress inks, I have some reds, but only bright greens, and no black.

The solution, a quick trip to my local craft store, Little Bits.  I leave with three new mini Distress Inks, Hickory Smoke Distress Stain (they did not have any Black Soot ink, so this was the closest I could get), and a new stamp set, Tim Holtz: Crazy Cats (which has absolutely nothing to do with this card, but it was there and I have wanted it for some time).

I traced an enlarged dart board onto watercolour paper, and painted the lines and numbers with masking fluid.  The Distress Inks were used to paint each section.

Once dry, the masking fluid was removed, and the pencil lines erased.  I flicked water onto the painted panel, let sit, and then blotted with a paper towel.  Distress Inks are great for this, as some of the colour is lifted away, leaving a cool effect.

More splatters with Hickory Smoke Distress stain and black paint from my Gansai Tambi watercolour set completed the distressed look.

The sentiment was stamped with Lawn Fawn: Milo's ABCs in Archival: Jet Black ink on vellum, and stitched to the card with red embroidery thread.

Although the Bomber's red and black did not quite make the representation I was initially hoping for, I was pleased with the result, and another satisfied customer (despite the fact I spelt her name incorrectly on the inside of the card, sorry again Maureen).

Thanks for stopping by
Sarah

Winter Wonderland

There is so much inspiration in Kaisercraft's September Blog Challenge, and I think this card suits the wintery theme.

This was the inspiration.

Lots sparkle with die cut snowflakes from Kaisercraft: Glitter Cardstock and vellum. The larger is from the Kaisercraft: Snowflake set, and the smaller from the Kaisercraft: Snowflake Card Flip.

The background was created using the wonderful KAISERmists on watercolour paper and then stamped with snowflakes from various stamp sets including Kaisercraft: Holly Jolly. 

The sentiment is also from the Kaisercraft: Holly Jolly stamp set.  Star sequins add even more bling.

Thanks for stopping by
Sarah

Alice in Wonderland Journal featured in Made It

One of my wire bound journals is featured in this week's 'Journals' gallery in Made It's community newsletter.

A handmade wire bound journal, created from the remains of a timeworn book.
The covers and internal pages have been combined with fresh pages, honoring the soul of the original book.

Truly one-of-a-kind.

Details of the original book:
Title: Alice in Wonderland
Author: Lewis Carroll - a new version of the classic tale by Archie Oliver
Date of publication: 2004

30 new pages (smooth white 120gsm) have been added to the book, and 30 of the original pages remain, many containing illustrations as shown in the photos (page numbers are approximate).

Dimensions: 19.5cm high, 11.5cm wide, and 1.5cm thick (approximately)

Can be used as a journal, notebook, sketch-book or for mixed media.

This wire bound journal is handmade from an original book and both the original and new pages have been manually trimmed.
As such, there may be slight imperfections to the original covers and pages (scuffs or dings, spots, or perhaps remnants of a previous owner). This adds to the charm of each one-of-a-kind book.

Thanks for stopping by
Sarah

Magical Unicorn

I have been absent from the blogging world recently, busy with life and studying for an exam.  Thankfully I passed, but in the process of studying for this exam, I have discovered I need to sit another to gain the qualification. Such is life.

To get back into the swing of crafting again, I decided some colouring was in order.

The adorable unicorn is from The Greeting: Farm Magical Day stamp set.

She was coloured in Copics, the mane and tail topped with Clear Wink of Stella, and cut out using the matching die.

 

 

The sentiment, from the same stamp set, was stamped in Archival: Jet Black ink on vellum.  I find this ink gives the best, sharpest image on vellum (from the selection of blacks inks I currently own).

She is foam mounted onto white card stock cut with the larger of the Die-namics: Oval Open Scallop Doily Duo dies.

This is all layered on paper from Kaisercraft: Hey Birdie Collection (a very old collection, but I do love the mix of pink, green and brown.

A few pink sequins were added for a touch more bling.

And while I was at it, I made a few more.

Thanks for stopping by
Sarah

Patchwork garden card for Kath

One of my Mum's good friends is turning 80 in a couple of weeks, and she asked me to make a card for her.  She loves her garden, her chickens, and general crafting.  The Cosmo Cricket: Garden Variety 6" and 12" papers seemed a suitable choice.

The patchwork idea came from Michaela Laurie's Paper Quilt Creations where I have previously purchased a few kits, but I wanted to make this card specifically for the recipient.  Rather than focusing on the milestone birthday, I highlighted her name.

The stitches are made with a variegated Gutermann metallic thread which add a nice sparkle to the card.

The "K" is a close up of the letter, which in theory goes beyond the edges of the card.  Although I don't think I quite pulled that off, I am happy with the result.

The letters are Dye-namics: High-Rise Alpha lower case, red card on top of yellow foam sheet.

The hand made matching envelope also has the same letters.

Happy Birthday Kath, I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating with family and friends.

Thanks for stopping by
Sarah

Butterfly and flowers featuring Kaisercraft

This card is for a very special friend.  Her birthday was last week and this card has been at various stages of completion on my desk for a number of days.  Talking with her the other day I commented "if you get your present and card before Christmas, I'm doing well".  Thankfully we have known each other for many years, and this arrangement is quite acceptable.  Her present is still a few weeks off, my Mum is knitting her a mermaid tail blanket.

OK, back to the card.  There were numerous different butterfly stamps in contention, various flowers and about 3 different sentiments.  After some final touches the card came out like this:

And this was the inspiration, Kaisercraft's July Sketch Challenge:

My friend loves butterflies, purple and teal, so the colour scheme was easy.  Kaisercraft's Mermaid Tails Collection: See Grass, both the front an reverse sides were a perfect starting point.  The butterfly stamp is from the Kaisercraft Botanical Odyssey clear stamp set and was inked with dye inks using my MYSTI to achieve the two tone effect.  Each colour of ink was stamped individually.

Two corners of the recessed card were decorated with the following (all from Kaisercraft):

• Mini Paper Blooms: Fairy Floss;
• Ribbon Roses: White and Mint;
• Paper Leaves; and
• swirls from the Large Flourishes die.

The Happy Birthday sentiment is a Kaisercraft rub on, and whole card was gently splattered with Kaiser Mist: Winter Grey.

I am entering this card into the Kaisercraft July Challenge, and the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Add Some Texture.

Thanks for stopping by
Sarah

Aussie Bush Country Cottage

I have a customer who has been visiting my stall at the monthly Nunawading Craft Market for a number of years now.  Recently she called me to request a custom made card.  This was the brief:

Would you please make a card for my daughters 50th birthday.  A little cottage with lots of gum trees, and possibly some water, a river or creek (although the water is optional).  A bush land scene.

After much thinking and hunting on the internet for a suitable stamp, I cam across a photo stamp from Darkroom Door: Country Cottage.  I was surprised how well it stamped with both Versafine ink as well as dye ink, given the amount of fine detail it has (I ended up using Stampin Up: Early Espresso).

The stamp was lightly coloured with Prismacolor pencils and the edges roughed up and inked with Distress Ink: Vintage Photo.

 

The sentiment was stamped with Lawn Fawn: Milo's ABCs in Early Espresso ink and again the edges roughed up and inked with Vintage Photo.

The leaves are from the Kaisercraft: Gum Nuts die, but the gum nuts from this set were a little too big, so I used the Ultimate Crafts: Australiana: Gum Leaves die for the little gum nuts.

 

This was all layered onto some hessian and Kaisercraft: Base Coat Collection: Timber paper.  A sturdy 250gsm paper was used as the card base, with the edges again inked with Vintage Photo.

This card came out differently from what I was first thinking, but given the brief, I think I did OK (even though there was no water in the finished card).

Thank you Lesley from Little Bits for the loan of the stamp and Ultimate Crafts die.

Thanks for stopping by
Sarah

PS The customer loved it.

Red Wine Cellar with Peerless Watercolours

I have used this stamp many times, colouring in both Copics and watercolour pencils.  Today I am sharing a version coloured with Peerless Watercolours, and white accents added with a Prismacolor white pencil.

This is the first time I have used Peerless Watercolours and I am happy with the results (although the colour of the empty bottle is not quite right). 

 

I stamped Stamps Happen: Red Wine Cellar with Versafine onyx black ink onto the smooth side of watercolour card.  Although the stamp has very thin sketchy lines, it came out beautifully.  The Peerless Watercolours are easy to use with bright vivid colours when needed, and softer colours achievable when mixed with a little more water, which I did on a plate.

 

I will share a post soon on how I store my Peerless Watercolours.

 

Thanks for stopping by

Sarah

Alien spinner card

This week my son celebrated his 9th birthday, and this was the card I crated for him.

 

It is a spinner card, with inspiration from the get well card from this post.

 

I have used the Clearly Besotted: Out of this World stamp set and Kaisercraft: Blast Off! collection papers (no longer available). 

 

 

The little alien was quickly coloured with Copics and Glossy Accents added to his eyes.  He was fussy cut out (I wish I had bought the matching dies) and added to the card with some white thread to make the spinner component.  The thread is sandwiched between the card layers, which were previously cut with a circle die.

 

I also added some stamping to the inside of the card, something I rarely do, but I think it looks cute. 

 

I think my husband enjoyed the card more than my son, my son was more interested in the presents.

 

Thanks for stopping by

Sarah

Kaisercraft June Challenge 2nd place

I do love receiving these packages.  Thank you to the team at Kaisercraft for selecting my entry for second prize in the June Papercraft Challenge.

An Always & Forever Paper Pad and matching Collectables.

I really do love my entry, and you can see the original post here.

Thanks for stopping by
Sarah

Kaisercraft #Me delivery

I received a lovely package the other day, with my prize from the Kaisercraft May Challenge.

You can see my original card and post here.

Although the #Me collection is not current, I love the colour combinations, and it is different to the many other Kaisercraft paper pads I own.

Thanks again Kaisercraft for selecting my entry.

Sarah

Follow your dreams Kaisercraft bicycle

After the success of last months entry, I have again created a card for the Kaisercraft June Papercraft Challenge.  Here is my entry:

And this is the inspiration:

 

 

I have used a few papers from the new Boho Dreams 6.5" paper pad, layered the Bicycle decorative dye approximately 6 times, added a few tiny flowers, and foam mounted the sentiment and bike on cream card which has a recessed window.

 

 

 

 

Work in progress

 

It took me some time to decide where to place the bike, but in the end a portion of the back wheel was chopped off and the bike was placed into the recessed section of the card.

 



Thanks for stopping by

Sarah

 





Edited to add (10 July): I am really happy to announce my card was selected for second place in the Kaisercraft June Challenge.  Thanks Kaisercraft, I can't wait to see what my prize is.