Tuesday, 30 June 2015

Catwalk

All Dressed Up are sponsoring Tuesday Morning Sketches this week.

The image I have used is Prom Princess.  I've coloured it with Copics and ProMarkers then cut it out with a Spellbinders die.  The edges of the image have also been coloured and faded using a brown ProMarker and blender

Design papers are from First Edition and Craftwork Cards.

When I'd coloured the image I thought a vintage Art-Deco effect would work very well, so I cut some of the Craftwork Cards design paper into an Art-Deco fan shape to go behind the image.  It came out some much better than I though it would :)
One tiny little element to finish her off is a brass star at the top right of the image.

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
The Crazy Challenge - Spots and/or Stripes
That Craft Place - Layers
Dream Valley - Girly
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Monday, 29 June 2015

Pretty in Purple

I've been trying to get this card completed for about a week now - finally got there - YAY!

The beautiful image I've used is from Ching-Chou Kuik is called Rose In Storm.  I've coloured it with Copics and cut it out with a Spellbinders die.

The packing design papers from Lili of the Valley and Out Daily Bread have been cut to match the shaped card and distressed.

The purple organza ribbon has a hand tied bow and I've also added a flower cascade of tiny purple flower that I got in Hobby Craft
Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
Addicted to Stamps - Bingo (Flowers/Stamped image/Die)
Ching-Chou Kuik (Facebook challenge) - Pretty in Purple

Boyz

This is out mid way reminder for the current challenge at Oddball Art - Summer Fun - where does the time go?

Remember if you'd like to use Lizzy's images all the DT girls have discount codes which get you 10% off at checkout on Etsy.  My code is DTANDREA10 :)

Also Lizzy has just given away a free image on her Facebook page so if you join her group you could use this - if you can manage to make it fit in with the theme ;)

This image I've used for my inspiration for you is number 130.  I've coloured the image with ProMarkers, cut it out with a Spellbinders die then used some Tim Holtz distress in in Antique Linen.

I decided seen as this was a skate borders card I should do some grunge.  So I used some graffiti letters as inspiration and made the LOVE sign to go on my brick wall.  I coloured this with green ProMarkers.


I also added my logo sheep as a bit of graffiti grunge.  He's drawn with a biro then coloured with green ProMarker.  Both he and the LOVE graffiti were fussy cut then glued to the brick wall.


Ok onto the main card so you can see what I've done :)
The backing paper is from Lili of the Valley.  It's kind of a lacy one with a distressed painted frame.  Onto this I've sketched some clouds the coloured them and used some distress ink around the edge for the sky.

The brick wall framework was bought from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I've trimmed it to fit the card and then backed it with some paper from Tim Holtz.

So here you have my completed card.

We'd love to see you over at Oddball Art - you don't have to use one of Lizzy's images to enter but remember if you want any to use our discount codes.

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - Anything Goes
Create & Inspire - Anything Goes
Crafting with An Attitude - Anything Goes
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes/Twist Oddball Art


Sunday, 28 June 2015

Sending Hugs & a disease I think!

I recently bought some Polkadoodles, I held out for ages but have just given in this week :)  The image I've used for this step card is Octavia Best Friends.

The image had been coloured with Copics then cut and mounted onto some black card stock to frame it.  The image you can see here "hugs" is a Oddball Art one.  I've cut it our with a Spellbinders die the added a bit of pink Copic and black biro to edge it.


As my final picture looks time my card has some strange disease (you'll see what I mean in a minute LOL!!)  I thought I'd take a close up of what I've done.

The pink flower paper is from Lili of the Valley.  I've backed it with some black card stock and then added pearl self adhesive gems for the flower centres.  Unfortunately the light was behind the image when I took the main photo and my card looks like it's got measles.




Anyway this is the card and it looks much better in the flesh :)
Andrea x


I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Colouring Crazy Challenge - Pink & Pretty
{PIN}spirational - Pink
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - Anything Goes
Wags n Whiskers - More than one Fold
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes - Pearls
Glitter n Sparkle - Sentimental



Thursday, 25 June 2015

A Little Corner of Peace

This is my second mixed media canvas and I've remembered to take a few more pictures along the way to show you :)

It's a flat canvas from Hobby Craft measuring 20 x 26 cm.  After drawing the area to put the window, the first thing I did was to use my brick wall stencil by Tim Holtz and some modelling paste.  I added a few layers and added some texture sand paste to give it some character.  Both of these were by DecoArt.

Next step was to mix some acrylic paints, white with some colours and basically slap a layer on. Daler Rowney (white, light brown, brown and scarlet) and some Golden iridescent copper (fine).  the result from this can be seen i the next couple of pictures.



The resin picture frame I added was a Shabby Chic Treasure which I bought from Live and Love Crafts.  I then started to add some flowers and leaves into the window area.


Added to this just below the right of the window is my coloured image from The East Wind.  This image I've used is Aurora Siesta II which I coloured with Copics.  I fussy cut the image before gluing it to the canvas.


Once I'd done this and everything was dried I started to add the rest of the flowers.  These were all bought from The Ribbon Girl, Live and Love Crafts and Wild Orchid Crafts.

Here are a few more close up images.




The last few touches is added were some silver dragonfly beads and a resin corner that went with the window from the Shabby Chic Treasures set.

And this was the result.
Andrea x

I'd like to enter this canvas into the following challenges
The East Wind (Facebook) - Step Away from the DP
Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
Create and Inspire - Anything Goes
Colouring Crazy Challenge - Pretty and Pink
Gem of a Challenge - Summertime
{PIN}spirational - Pink
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Anything But a Card - Out and About


Wednesday, 24 June 2015

Flower Fairy

It's my turn today to give you some inspiration for this beautiful image that has recently been released by All Dressed Up.  The name of the image is Flower Fairy.

She's been coloured in pale pastels mainly lilacs/purples.  I've added a tiny little bit of glitter to her wing - coz well don't all fairy's have glittery wings?


I cut the image out with a Spellbinders die.  then used some purple design paper from ili of the Valley and a fancy die to cut a purple frame for her.

I've added some flowers tot he card to go with the flower fairy theme.  These were from The Ribbon Girl, Live and Love Crafts and Wild Orchid Crafts.  Around the edges of the flowers are some rhine stones.  Oh yes and a tiny dragonfly bead.


Ok onto the main card now.  the design papers are from First Edition and Lili of the Valley.  I've piled the layers up and on he top one just below the fairy I've distressed this one with with Tim Holtz shaded lilac distress ink.  Included in between the layers of papers is a round doily.

Ok final extras (very busy card this one!)  There's some white organza rose trim from Wild Orchid Crafts.  A clay heart from Live and Love Crafts and a sentiment coloured with purple ProMarker from a Lili of the Valley art pad - PHEW!

And yes it did take a bit of making this one :)
Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
Crafting with an Attitude - Challenge 4
Stamping Sensations - Dies and Punches
Polkadoodles - Frame it
Left of Centre - Add Ribbon/Twine/Fibres
Sweet Stampin- Bingo (Flowers/Die Cut/Distress)
The Ribbon Girl - Colour Challenge - Lilac
The Corrosive Challenge - Leave a Little Sparkle
Dream Valley - Girly



Candy

This is the last challenge of the month sponsored by That Craft Place - Sugar & Betty.

For my inspiration for todays new sketch I'm using Sweet As Candy.

I seem to be a bit focussed on purple at the moment - sorry (don't worry pink is still my favourite girly colour).

The image has been coloured with ProMarkers, cut out with a Spellbinders die and I've then edged it with purple ProMarker.

The backing design paper if from Our Daily Bread.

I've added some purple ribbon to keep with the theme, a sentiment from a Lili of the Valley Art pad coloured with purple ProMarker and some black self adhesive gems.

We'd love to see what you can do, come and join us over at Outlawz - we've an extra prize going if we hit 35 entries in a month on our sketch challenges
Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
Not Just Card - Anything Goes

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

Gandalf

This image always reminds me of Gandalf (Lord of the Rings).  This stamp (Wizard by MoManning) was bought from Quixotic Paperie when they were still in business.

All the grey cloak and hat have been coloured with Copics, the pops of bright blue and yellow are ProMarkers.  This bright blue is my favourite right now for doing male cards because it's so striking.  One of the design papers I picked also has this blue in it :)


The image has been cut out with a Spellbinders die and distressed with Tim Holtz distress ink.

The design papers are from Santoro Grojuss.

The sentiment is from a Lili of the Valley art pad.  I've added this same blue and a little brown ProMarker to give it an aged feel.  The sentiment actually has something girly on so I disguised it with a couple of brass stars, which actually went very well with the whole card theme :)

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
Cardz for Guys - Use a Die or Punch
Glitter n Sparkle - One for the Boys
Fantasy Stampers - Your Favourite Colour
Allsorts - Use a Stamp
Crafty Card Makers - For a Man or Boy
Stamping Sensations - Dies and Punches



Monday, 22 June 2015

Story

Very occasionally I like to stray from the norm.  I tried my hand a green hair with this beautiful image from Chin-Chou Kuik - Lil Bookworm Fairy.

I've colured the image with a combintion of ProMarkers Copics and black polychromos pencil.
The image was cut out with a Spellbinders die and distressed with Tim Holtz Antique Linen.

Papers are a combination of Santoro Gorjuss, DCWV Tattered Time and Lili of the Valley.
I've added a Tim Holtz Adage Ticket and some black self adhesive gems to complete it

Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
The Crazy Challenge - Spots and Stripes
That Craft Place - Layers
Crafty Catz - Different Hair Colour
Create and Inspire - Anything Goes
Crafting with an Attitude - Anything Goes


Sunday, 21 June 2015

Too hot for the gym!

So who wants some more Oddball Art inspiration - yeah you all do ;)

Anyone who wants to buy Oddball Art images can get discount using our DT codes.  Mine is DTANDREA10 - just quote this at check out on Etsy and you'll get 10% off!

I've combined two of Lizzy's images here in this card - just to give you an idea of what can be done.
I've also kept it in with the summer theme of the current challenge :)

Did you know you don't have to use an Oddball Art image to enter our challenges just by the way?  We'd love for you to join us - just keep to the current theme.

The images were coloured with ProMarkers in pastel colours and I've kept it CAS.

This first one is image number 182.

And this second one is image number 187.


When I first got the idea for this card the weather was starting to improve here in Yorkshire and we were thinking we might be on the brink of a "summer".  BUT now I've finished the card it's gone back to it's fickle self and we're all cloudy and cold again - BOO!

Anyway this was why I made the sentiment on my computer.
All I've done is backed it with some pink paper from Lili of the Valley.  Hand drawn some fake stitches and added a few self adhesive gems.


Hope to see you soon at Oddball Art
Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Wags n Whiskers - CAS
In the Pink - Summer
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

Saturday, 20 June 2015

My black hair secret with a bit of shabby chic

I've had one or two comments about my colouring :)
So I though I'd shared with you some photo stages of how I colour black hair with Copics and Biro.

I've never been taught or shown so I don't know if this is the right way - it's just my way.

The image I've used here is from Ching-Chou Kuik - Boston Terrier

Hair coloured all over with N3
Some darker patches added to start adding shadow with N5



Blended the shading with my N3

Adding some darker shading with N7

Then blended with the N5

To add some highlights to the dark hair I use a N0.  This takes some of the all over smoothness out and leaves it looking a little patchy.

Finally starting to use the biro to add in some shading and hair strands, you can see this on the right hand side of the picture


Left side now finished off with the biro.  I may have to make a video to show more detail of the blending and biro - bit to be quite honest the thought scares me to death :)


There's a slight difference in the colour of the photos here.  All the ones above were taken at work and the next couple were taken at home in artificial light.  Anyway this is the completed image.

So what I did to make the card up.  Cut out the image with a Spcllbinders die.  Cut out some black card with another Spellbinders die then mounted the image onto it.
Apart from some more black card the design papers are from Lili of the Valley and Joy Crafts.  
Tim Holtz distress ink.  
From Live and Love Crafts beautiful lace, a heart hanger, a resin tiny frame, a resin corner embellishment, a clay heart, some Kort & Godt hortensias.
The Ribbon Girl a pearlised pin.
Wild Orchid Crafts some roses and rose bud and some organza rose trim.
To add to the "shabby" I've added some white gesso.
Hope you like little piece of shabbyness :)
Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
Fab n Funky - Gorgeous Girls
Papertake Weekly - Ohh So Pretty
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Fairytale Stampers - Anything Goes
In the Pink - Summer
Paradise of Stamps - Many Flowers or Fruits


Thursday, 18 June 2015

Cool dudes

Here's a little bit of All Dressed Up inspiration for you.  (Clearing my throat) I appear to have made my first Christmas card this year.  What am I thinking it's miles off yet!

Anyhoo.... this image is Cool Dudes.  I coloured him in my lunch break today using ProMarkers, Copics, a black polychromos pencil and a while gel pen.

As this is a snowy scene I dug out my Stampendous embossing enamels and have used two different ones here around the image.

I loved the image so much when I'd finished it I decided to keep it as a CAS card.  All I've done is used some black card stock and some black self adhesive gems :)


How many days to go to Christmas - don't tell me I don't want to know!!
Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
Creative Inspirations - Male Creations
Cutie Pie - Cats & Dogs
Crafting for All Seasons - It's a Boy Thing
Left of Centre - For the Boys
Christmas Card Challenges - Anything Goes 28
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Chocoholic

Today's inspiration for the new Sketch at Outlawz!  We're sponsored by That Craft Place - Sugar & Betty.  Nearly forgot to blog it, I was so busy getting the challenge post ready :)

The image I've used here is Chocoholic.  I originally coloured her in pastel colours but didn't think she looked right - so I printed her again and did her in firey colours (much better).  I did this using ProMarkers.

Most of the papers are from Lili of the Valley.  The backing sheet I can't quite remember what that one is, so I'll look that one up when I get home.

The red and gold ribbon was bought from Lili of the Valley when they did their Little Bags of Ribbons.  The sentiment which I've coloured with ProMarkers is from one of their a art pads.

The beautiful red heart ribbon is from Hobby Craft and black self adhesive gems from my stash.

Hope that's you guys inspired, we'd love you to join us this week.  When we reach 35 entries we get a bonus prize for a $5 Make It Crafty voucher!

Andrea x



Tuesday, 16 June 2015

Kitty's feelin' blue

This stunning image from Ching-Chiu Kuik is called Christmas Venice Night.  I've coloured it before in blue and green (for my sister in-laws birthday) but this time I've gone for just blues.  I've done this with ProMarkers.  To make the bight blue stand out more I used a blender pen which takes some of the colour out and given it this beautiful effect as you can see below.

The image has been cut out with a Spellbinders die and edged with Tim Holtz Antique Linen distress ink, mainly because I wanted the total white look to be subdued slightly.  I've also added some white gel pen to the image for the centre of the flowers and the cat's mask.

The papers I've used are from Our Daily Bread, Santoro Gorjuss and Lili of the Valley.  I've made it a total cat card with the fish paper in the background and the brass bird cage charm :)

The black lace is from The Ribbon Girl, the flowers from Live and Love Crafts and Wild Orchid Crafts.

The blue spotted ribbon which is tied in a double bow I got from Lili of the Valley when they were doing Little Bags of Ribbon.  The sentiment is from a Lili of the Valley art pad and the rhine stones are from my stash.

A birthday card for cat lovers definitely!
Andrea x

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges
Colouring Crazy Challenge - Blue Birthday
A Gem of a Challenge - Something Blue
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Cats & Dogs
Artistic Inspirations - Anything Goes/Layers
Art By Miran - Anything Goes
Glitter n Sparkle - Include a Die Cut
Crafting from the Heart - Anything Goes
Deep Ocean Challenge - Monochrome