PEP tangles - my Zentangle Inspired Art blog

Wednesday 28 July 2010

Whiff Of Joy Challenge DT - #84 Fuzz

card standing

 close-up of image 

 close-up of Flower Soft & small felt flowers

 close-up of various "fuzzy" elements: felt flower garland, small felt flower
& Flower Soft flowers in baskets

inside of card
 


It is with a sense of privilege & delight that I am making this post for it is my first as a member of the Whiff of Joy Challenge Blog Design Team.  

Whiff of Joy Challenge #84 has the theme of "Fuzz". This involves incorporating anything "fuzzy" (felt, Flower Soft, flock etc.......) into a project made using a Whiff of Joy image. 

I covered the flowers in the basket Willow is carrying & the eggs of the Easter Basket accessory stamp (from the same Spring 2009 Stamp Kit) with Flower Soft & was really thrilled with the dimensional tactile effect this created. I also used an assortment of felt flowers to further embellish the project. Prior to this assignment I'd not really considered how versatile Flower Soft is, nor how sophisticated an effect could be achieved using the texture of felt. I had always associated the medium of felt with themes related to children so this project proved quite a revelation for me.

For further examples of how to interpret this "Fuzzy" theme have a look at what the rest of the Design Team have created.

Recipe
Stamps Willow image plus accessory stamp from Whiff of Joy Spring 2009 Stamp Kit.
Inks etc.... Memento Tuxedo Black (image), Distress Inks (Dusty Concord, Fired Brick & Mustard Seed) for inking cardstock edges, Pine Needles Distress Ink for sponging dark green card base.
Colouring Copic Ciaos, Letraset Fine Line Drawing Pen, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, Sakura Stardust Pen.
Cardstock Dark green, yellow, red & pale mauve from “stash”.
Punches/Templates Woodware (circle & scalloped circle, flowers), WS Tempting Templates Watering Can.
Pearls Papermania.
Flower Soft & assorted felt flowers from “stash”.

Friday 23 July 2010

Dipping into Summer Blues

front of card

close-up of image panel

close-up showing embossed & glazed bubbles
with dolphin gem

inside of card

Challenge 15 of the Sugar Nellie Forum is to make a card for a child. I used Lilian's Sugar Bowl Challenge #39 sketch & included the blue optional theme. I have made a card intended for a little girl who is just learning to swim or even going on holiday to the seaside for the first time - an encouragement or "Thinking of You" card. It could equally be used for a girl's Summer birthday card.
Recipe
Stamps Sugar Nellie Little Ducky (image), C.C. Designs Sugar Plums Underwater (bubbles).
Inks etc... Memento Tuxedo Black (image), VersaMark watermark stamp pad & Stampendous Golden Ocean Embossing Powder (bubbles), Brilliance Galaxy Gold & Brilliance Mediterranean Blue for inking all cardstock & paper edges.
Colouring Copic Ciaos, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, Sakura Stardust Pen, 3D Crystal Lacquer.
Cardstock Pearlescent gold - Crafter's Companion Special Effect Card Pack; navy & white from "stash".
Papers Textured pale blue & metallic blue from "stash".
Punch Woodware (scalloped square). 
The  pearls & dolphin gems are from "stash".

Challenges Entered
Sugar Nellie Forum Challenge #15 - Card for a Child (see above)
The Sugar Bowl Challenge #39 - Lilian's Sketch + Theme: Blue
Allsorts Wk 61 - Summer Days
Aly's ASC22 - Under or By The Sea (see above)
Crafty Creations #77 - Happy or Sweet
Everybody Art #100 - Blue & White
Papertake Weekly #46 - Cutie Patootie
Secret Crafter Saturday #92 - Summer Holidays (see above)

Sunday 18 July 2010

Melinda's Surprise

 front of card

close-up of image panel showing 
black textured glossy cardstock 

close-up photographed using flash to show sparkle
on wings, necklace, bangle & heart motif on dress

close-up of butterfly

inside of card photographed using flash to show
sheen of message panel & inking on embossed swirls 
(click on images to enlarge)

The Whiff of Joy Challenge #83 is a sketch by Bev Rochester. I have turned the sketch 90 degrees clockwise to suit my image &, wanting to make it look as if Melinda has been surprised by the butterfly whilst reading, I moved the central panel slightly  to the left to allow space for the butterfly. The butterfly was made using a Cuttlebug cutting die & embossing folder set & then inking the raised edges. The embossed panel decorating the inside was similarly inked.

Recipe
Stamp Whiff of Joy Melinda Reading Book.
Inks etc... Memento Tuxedo Black (image). Brilliance Lightning Black & Rocket Red were used for inking all cardstock edges, the latter also being used for sponging the butterfly & red embossed panel inside.
Colouring Copic Ciaos, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, Sakura Stardust Pen, Stickles Glitter Glue (Ice Stickles Crystal Ice & Ice Stickles Gold Ice).
Cardstock  Black textured, glossy black textured, holographic glittered gold,  textured bright gold cream Moondust, pale gold cream Moondust & red from "stash".
Punches, Dies etc.... Woodware (circle & scalloped circle, scalloped oval), Fiskars (ornate corner), Carl Edging Scissors (Colonial), Cuttlebug Cutting Die & Embossing Folder set (Butterflies), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Divine Swirl).
The gems were Kanban & the ribbon was from "stash".

Challenges Entered
Whiff Of Joy Challenge #83 - sketch
Flutterby Wednesday #113 - Use at least 3 layers inlcuding a fairy, butterfly or angel image
Totally Gorjuss #39 - Thinking of You (although the card does not explicitly say so it is suitable for use as a "Thinking of You" card)

Crafters Companion SWALK

My attention was caught by this:

"Crafters Companion will be releasing a brand new Collection of 12 Stamps and a CD, this new collection will feature as the Pick of the Week on Create and Craft from 11am On Friday 16th July .

This awesome SWALK collection is a bit different from our previous releases and features some of the cutest characters and wonderful sentiments that will appeal to anyone from 1 to 100. The CD has been designed to complement the Stamps perfectly and features our usual popular designs sets, borders alphabets , inserts, verse writer etc , we have also included 2 sets of co-ordinating papers plus the most amazing co-ordinating flowers that can be resized and layered to make awesome embellishments for your creations. but this time something quite different."   

I've started to look at the sneak peaks - the images are indeed different from previous Crafters Companion releases.  The links are listed below
Bev
Claire
Debbie
Jacqui
Leann
Lou
Wendy

There is also candy for those interested. The details are on the Crafters Companion News Views & Inspiration blog.

Friday 16 July 2010

CAS Opening Out of Stickles Mishap

front of card

close-up of image viewed through aperture

inside of card

Challenge 14 of the Sugar Nellie Forum is to make an aperture card. I actually set out to do something quite different but a clogged bottle of Stickles splurting over my almost completed card intervened. The moral of that is: once you think you've unclogged your Stickles bottle test it out on a scrap piece of paper well AWAY from your project BEFORE applying it.

Recipe
Stamps Sugar Nellie Big Bunch of Love (image), Stampendous Firework Trio SSC674 (sentiment).
Inks etc.... Memento Tuxedo Black (image), Brilliance Mediterranean Blue (sentiment & for inking cardstock edges).
Colouring Copic Ciaos, Letraset Fine Line Drawing Pen,  Inkssentials White Opaque Pen.
Cardstock Navy, peach & turquoise from "stash".
Punches Woodware (oval & scalloped ovals).
The sticky ribbon is Anita's & the pearls are from "stash".

Challenges Entered
Creative Inspirations Challenge #38 - Use The Oldest Thing In Your Craft Stash (the navy card I've used for the card base came with a set of Derwent Pencils purchesed in the Summer of 2008 shortly after I began crafting. It had a small perforated tag forming part of the card in the top right corner . I removed the tag & punched a larger scalloped oval over the opening. The peach sticky ribbon was purchased around the same time).
Hanna & Friends #53 - Celebrating
Stampavie & More #102 - Anything Goes

Sunday 11 July 2010

Barrow of Donkey Smiles

front of card standing

close-up of image showing sparkly hearts & swirls

inside of card

angled view of card standing
(click on images to see in further detail)

Most people will by now know of the accident resulting in the loss of an eye suffered by Michelle Oatman. Various organizations connected with Michelle have suggested ways to support & help her during this time. For further information visit the A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge Blog who are holding a Card Drive in Michelle's honour - asking members of the crafting world to create a card & send it directly to Michelle. Details of how to participate are included in this posting.

I have used the Donkey image from the special digital stamp set Meljen's Designs & Raindrop Echo Designs have made available through Whimsy Stamps for crafters to use when participating in the Card Drive. I based my colour scheme on the inspiration photograph provided by the current Simon Says Stamp Challenge.

Recipe
Stamp Meljen's Designs/Raindrop Echo Designs Whimsy Stamps
Inks etc.... Distress Inks (Broken China & Dried Marigold) for inking cardstock edges.
Colouring Copic Ciaos, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, Stickles Glitter Glue (Orange Peel), Sakura Stardust Pen.
Cardstock Turquoise, white & orange from "stash".
Punches/Templates Woodware (oval & scalloped oval). WS Tempting Templates Wheelbarrow.
Glittered and/or Jewelled Die Cut Flowers & leaves Petaloo Paper Florist Design Kit.

Challenges Entered
A Spoon Full of Sugar - "Kickin' It For Michelle" Card Drive (see above)
Simon Says - Photo Inspiration Challenge (see above)
By The Cute & Girly - Warm Summer Days (flowers & wheelbarrow/gardening make me think of summer)
Creative Card Crew #54 - To Die For (die cut flowers & leaves - see above)
Creative Craft Challenges - Summer Lovin' (flowers & wheelbarrow/gardening makes me think of summer)
Creative Inspirations Wednesday Challenge #68 - On The Move (wheelbarrow is used for  moving things)
Fab 'n' Funky #30 - Get Into Shape (non- square/rectangular shaped card)
The Craft Barn - Shaped Cards

Saturday 10 July 2010

Digital Tweetie Thrown Into Colour

front of card

close-up of image showing paper piecing
of bird's body

inside of card

(The green patterned papers are not as yellow in real life as they appear to be in the above photos & the two floral embellishments are extremely shiny)

Challenge 38 at the Sugar Bowl is a sketch by Judy with an optional theme of scallops. The patterned paper is full of scalloped circles & flowers, the image itself consists of several scalloped shapes (the wings & feet), the two floral embellishments are essentially scalloped shapes & I used a scalloped oval to mount the image upon plus a scalloped circle & scalloped corner to decorate the card inside. The sketch was rotated 90 degrees clockwise & the colours used are those set by Color Throwdown Challenge #100.


Recipe
Stamp Sugar Nellie Limited Edition digital image.
Inks etc.... Aged Mahogany Distress Ink & Brilliance Rocket Red for inking cardstock & paper edges.
Colouring Copic Ciaos.
Cardstock Maroon, dark mint green & white from "stash".
Papers of unknown origin (a gift from a friend who was clearing out surplus stock).
Punches Woodware (scalloped oval, circle & scalloped circle), EK Success (scalloped corner).
The large red flower sequins, gems & ribbon were from "stash".

Challenges Entered
The Sugar Bowl Challenge 38 - Judy's Sketch + Theme: Scallops
Color Throwdown #100 - Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Real Red & Baja Breeze
Charisma Cardz Wk 27 - Watch The Birdie

Friday 9 July 2010

Generosity in Abundance

I've come across Jodi's work in connexion with challenges at All That Scraps, Belles 'n Whistles & Flutterby Wednesdays but was astonished when I discovered how she  was celebrating her birthday, namely giving away 5 sets of blog candy, all of which are open until the end of this month.

Thursday 8 July 2010

Chocolate Chip Sheep in Mint Green Pasture

front of card

close-up of image showing glitter on flowers

close-up showing sparke of glittered centres
on floral embellishments

close-up showing metallic bead centres on
punched border daisy motif & some
of the distressed/inked edges

inside of card

Challenge 13 of the Sugar Nellie Forum (now at Paper Craft Planet) is a colour challenge of "MINT CHOC CHIP". I  used the sketch from this week's Papertake Weekly Challenge & achieved the wool effect on the sheep's body by dotting the Colourless Blender pen over the area I had previously coloured. As for my colour of sheep - there are sheep like this in the neighbouring fields here in the Welsh Brecon Beacons. Althouhg I've seen black sheep I was rather taken aback when I first saw these chocolate & coffee brown ones. I stood for a long time just looking to see how the colouration was distributed. Also, the sheep were constantly moving - even when standing still or lying down their heads were in motion chewing away.

Recipe
Stamp Sugar Nellie Limited Edition digital image.
Inks etc... Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink, Brilliance Coffee Bean & Oasis Green VersaMagic for inking most cardstock & paper edges, & the Brilliance Coffee Bean also for sponging the image panel.
Colouring Copic Ciaos, Inkssential White Opaque Pen, Stickles Glitter Glue (Orange Peel).
Cardstock Brown Moondust, dark & light mint green from "stash".
Paper Joanna Sheen Gingham Paper Pad.
Punches Woodware (flower), Martha Stewart (border), Crafts Too (corner).
The metallic beads were from "stash".

Challenges Entered
Papertake Weekly - Sketch #44
Creative Inspirations Wednesdays Challenge #68 - On the Move (my constantly chewing sheep) 
Crafty Catz #39 - Distressing (inked edges - see above photo)
Magical Crafts #18 - Flower Power
One Stop Craft Challenge Wk 87 - Distressing (inked edges - see above photo)
Pile It On #26 - My Favorite Things (making  flowers, daisies, checks & strangely enough the colours green & brown though mint choc chip is not an ice cream I like!)

Friday 2 July 2010

Cracker of a Charmed Turtle Seeing Stars


front of card

 close-up of image panel showing glitterred embossed
stars on background
 

close-up of left side showing glittered edge
of embossed number panel & charm
  
close-up of right side showing glittered edge
of embossed number panel & star brad
 

inside of card

(click on the images to see them in more detail, the card shape & shininess of various surfaces made this quite difficult to photograph)

If you  start off with a turtle, stars, some embossing & a shaped card, what is the result? I am still surprised myself by the dynamic in operation as I work for somewhere along the creative journey the metal brads & charm added themselves. I used ProMarkers throughout (colouring the image, the charm & large star brad) since I wanted to submit this for the Passion For ProMarkers Challenge.

Recipe
Stamps High Hopes Turtle's Friend (image), Stampendous Firework Trio SSC674 (starbust background), Stampendous Cupcake Numbers SSC178 (numbers)
Inks etc.... Memento Tuxedo Black (image); VersaMark watermark stamp pad & Stampendous Detail Gold Embossing Powder (starburst background & numbers); Aged Mahogany Distress Ink & Brilliance Galaxy Gold for inking cardstock edges.
Colouring ProMarkers, Letraset Black Fine Line Drawing Pen, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, Stickles Glitter Glue (Ice Stickles Gold Ice).
Cardstock White, burgundy & gold satin from "stash".
Punches/Templates Woodware (circles & scalloped circles). WS Tempting Templates Christmas Cracker.
The charm & large star brad & both sizes of star sequins were from "stash" whilst the small red brad is Dovecraft.

Challenges Entered
High Hopes #82 - Super Star
Allsorts Wk 58 - Embossing (heat embossed numbers & background of image panel)
Beary Sweet #5 - Emboss It! (heat embossed numbers & background of image panel)
Charisma Cardz #26 - Metal Mickey (metal charm & brads, both the sequins & the gold satin cardstock also contribute to the sense of metal)
Fussy & Fancy #14 - Christmas in July
Paperplay Wk 26 - Card for a child/teenager (in this case a teenager because of the small pieces of metal being a hazard for a young child)
Passion for ProMarkers Wk 58 - Theme: Think of a number (25 for 25th December)
Pile It On #25 - Fold It, Bake It, Do Something With It (I folded & cut it, punched & pierced it, coloured & glittered it, embossed & glued it)
The Craft Barn - Shaped Cards