A Rare Post Indeed . . . . Hopefully!

Well folks, my internet is still playing up and my headache is lingering, but I was determined to try and get something made and posted before I go away next Friday!

I have been experimenting with some things I have wanted to try, techniques, products and so on.

So, if the internet will allow, I will show you what I have been up to.

First up is one that I have been meaning to try for a while and that is, just draw some lines in black marker in a random, geographical design (not thought out in any way) and colour the sections in with felt markers - I wanted to see what kind of results I can get with these cheap markers - they are certainly vibrant.  One thing that I did notice was, that you see every stroke, but I think that that gave the sections a bit of added interest, a bit of 'texture' so-to-speak.  This is the result.

My second card is one that I have made with a panel that has been lying around since I realised that I had cut the wrong corner off of the embossed panel for the project I was making at the time!

I also wanted to try to work with thread and try the technique that has been popular with everyone else for a long while (I am always late to the party)  and I used it behind the sentiment die cuts.  This is that one.

Up next is a very simple one that I made from a practice piece that I tried out.  My clever DH made me a home made stamp press with a hinged lid and I wanted to try double stamping (deliberately not inking the stamp completely and then inking it again to make sure it stamped in the same place . . . it did!)  Of course, I couldn't just then throw it away, so I mounted it on to a base card that I had stuck patterned paper on and this is the result.

This last one is one that I had been experimenting with water-colouring backgrounds in various ways and I decided to make this one into a card.  I got out a cover plate die that I hadn't got around to trying yet and cut it out of my water-coloured panel and mounted it on to a dark grey panel.  I then added a flower that I had already stamped and coloured, some vellum leaves and a couple of butterflies and this is the result of that session.

Right, my lovelies . . . here goes . . . let's hope this post doesn't 'time out' . . . it has been a little better today, so fingers crossed!

If you have had the patience to get this far in the post, thank you so very much for your visit.  I appreciate you all.  Have a wonderful evening.  Hazel xx

Posting With Gritted Teeth!!!

Hi my lovelies!  There has been no card posted for over a week now and will not be for the foreseeable I'm afraid and I will explain why . . . if technology will allow of course!

First, it was a three full day Migraine that kept me from doing anything, now, for the last four or five days it has been technology!  I do not know whether it is to do with my internet connection, my PC, or just amount of internet traffic, but it has been very very trying!

Whenever I try to go to a web page - or do anything really - it goes around and around forever and finally comes up with the 'Problem loading page' sign!

Believe me, when it says 'Try Again', I have . . . and again . . . and again!!

Now, on top of that we are away again (to the same place as last time) without internet (which at the moment is only a good thing) from 28th August to the 25th September, so there will be no posts then (except for ones already scheduled)

I can only apologise and hope that you will all bear with me and be there when I get back - if I am able to post before then I will - I am now keeping everything crossed that I am able to post this before it times out again!

Have a great day my friends!  Here goes . . . . wish me luck!

Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - August - Masking

August already, I can't believe how fast the years go by, which means another new challenge over at Happy Little Stampers CAS, which for August is Masking.

  For this challenge, I decided to repeat a masking technique that Laura Bassen demonstrated on the 'Stretch Your Dies' course I attended earlier this year.

 

 First, I made a mask by die cutting a piece of acetate (so I could wipe it clean between colours) with a wavy edge border die.  Then I used various colours of inks to sponge different colours down the front of a card layer.  I overlapped some to make new colours by tilting the mask at different angles.  Then spritzed it lightly with glimmer mist.  Next, I die cut the birthday word using a Reverse Confetti die, stuck it to a strip of vellum and stamped the word 'happy' above it in Stazon ink - as Stazon is the best for slick surfaces, like vellum or acetate.

To finish off, I folded the ends of the vellum strip around the back of the panel and fastened it with Scotch tape at the back and mounted the panel on to another panel of black cardstock, leaving a thin border and finally mounted the whole thing onto a white card base, added a Wink Of Stella to the die cut sentiment and some Glossy Accent dew drops.

Do join us at the Happy Little Stampers CAS challenge and see the fantastic inspirational cards the other DT members have come up with and have some masking fun!

As always, thanks so much for making my day by stopping by and for any comments, you leave, you are all appreciated very much!  Have a lovely day!  Hazel xx