My next little trip

I'm off on another train journey tomorrow down to Thame in Oxfordshire where I'll be demonstrating and hosting make n takes at "A Maze of Memories" on Saturday. So if you're in the area, do pop along as it will be a fun and interesting day. I've been busy making samples so thought I'd share some with you. This first one features the Celtic Owl from my Swirly Birds set...this isn't a new design, but it's one that I use all the time as I do love owls and he suits lots of occasions and styles. I've stamped him onto the new PI 300gsm white card using Walnut Stain Distress ink and then waterbrushed the ink to colour him. The PI card is great for this as the ink stays wet for longer than on standard card. I added a touch of white to his eyes and beak. I then created the background using Distress inks in Worn Lipstick, Old Paper, Spiced Marmalade and Brushed Corduroy then spritzed with water and painted the moon with water before dabbing with tissue to remove the colour. I then added a large drop of Walnut Stain ReInker to the base of the card and blew it through a straw to create the tree....haven't done this technique for a while and I'd forgotten how woozy it makes you! I used a mix of ink colours to paint on some tatty leaves - just for the effect of those lingering, crumpled ones that hang on as long as possible. I covered a large card with paper from Tim's Retro paper stash and used another piece as a mat around the main image. I placed the owl onto a branch and cut the word from Tim's Seasonal stack. Three leaves from the Idealogy Foliage pack were enhanced with some alcohol inks and stuck down with silicone glue around the word. To complete the card I added a strip of Hobgoblin Tissue Tape once I had inked it lightly. Good to be able to use Halloween themed products after the event!

A fairy and toadstools from my Fairy Silhouettes stamp set are the focal points of this card. I made a monoprint of alcohol inks before stamping the images over it...I curved the toadstools slightly before stamping some of them to give more variety. This was matted onto silver and then a paper from Tim's Vintage Shabby stack which I smudged with a mucky foam pad to get a mix of colours! I punched the corners using the MS String Lace which I also used on the large card blank before smooching some more colour around it all. To finish I used some peel offs...I know...peel offs! These are glittered stars and I alcohol inked them first which I think raises them up a level (for you peel off snobs out there....I know who you are!). Oh, I did add some of my "grown up stars" to the main panel using an Inkssentials pen. This next piece was fun and simple to make. I squidged Glossy Accents over the back of a Tim Holtz Facet and stuck this to a piece from the Seasonal stash....I placed it with the drilled hole at the bottom. Once dry, I cut around the piece and pierced the hole from the back, threaded a jump ring through and hung an Idealogy Bauble from this. I dyed some ribbon with alcohol ink and made a loop with a double knot which I stuck to the back of a metal Corner before sticking the Corner to the top of the Facet using good old Glossy Accents. I tied a bow around the hanging loop with a second piece of ribbon and added a little Gesso and glitter to complete. Next is Mr Twit Too Whoo again! Told you I use this stamp a lot! This time I stamped him with Archival ink and coloured him with Memento pens. He's on a Distress ink background with a tree stump drawn on with a brown Memento pen that I later added Gesso to. The backing papers are from the Vintage Shabby stash and I added a calendar tag that I cut from "Traveller" Tissue Tape. I also made a ruffle of the tape to go below the main image....this is one of Tim's ideas that I really like as it adds dimension. I've found that if you double the tape back on itself first (ie make a double sided strip) then it doesn't crush. Lastly, here's a full on grunged card! The backing paper is from the Seasonal stash, the music score from the matching salvage stickers. The numbers are Grungeboard that I've inked and added Gesso to....love Gesso, despite the dangers of mess! I also inked and Gessoed an Adage ticket and added a dyed ribbon, a strip of Tidings Tissue Tape and some Foliage accents. Hope you like them! I certainly had fun making them. Oh yes...check out Tim's blog as there is great news about Colourwash which I really love using. New colours (including some of my all time favourites) a new, handier size and improved spray nozzle. I am keeping my fingers crossed that these will be coming soon!

Remember to leave your comment to have a chance for the blog candy....you don't need to have a blog of your own to do this - just follow the directions after pressing "comment". I'm hoping to start the artwork side of the candy on the train tomorrow! I do a lot of doodling when I'm travelling, so I should, at least, get something sketchy done.

Finally, we're holding Dawn, Rena, Amy and the rest of the family in our thoughts and hearts as they go through this difficult time. It's at these moments that their strong family bond comes into its own. Lindsay