Engagement Card, Photography Enthusiast, Congratulations

I haven't posted for a while, have I?

There is a reason why, and for those of you that have been on my Facebook page today you may have already seen and clicked on the link...  so you will know.

But for those of you that may not use Facebook, you can click 'here' if you want.

At least then you'll understand why I disappear from time to time...

Anyhow...

I wasn't planning on making anything for a few days yet, but on Tuesday of this week at around midday my husband messaged me to ask if I had an engagement card to hand for one of his work colleagues.

I did not, but being a 'crafter' meant that the need to make one couldn't be dismissed - even if time constraints meant it would be dark in a matter of four hours max.

And I can't craft in the dark.

Believe me, I've tried...

Even with decent 'daylight' bulbs and lamps I can't get past the fact that I'm not seeing colours in their 'true' form.

So this was a quick 'make' for me that took about three hours - 

at least half an hour of which was used just on trying to get this card blank 'square'.

I still haven't figured out why I can't manage this feat which is why I'm not even attempting to cut and score my cards from scratch as yet - except for the odd exception when I have no choice, of course!

Here's the card...

It's not my best work, but it's ok...  especially as the main recipient was for a man and a suck at making cards for men!
(Should I 'say' that out loud?  Oh well, I just did)!

At least it's not overtly girly!

As this photograph was taken in the dark (it went straight off to work with my husband the following morning), the colours may look a little 'off', but I've messed around with the White Balance (thankfully my editing app now supports this), so hopefully you will see that you are looking at a white, black, red and grey colour combination.







Supplies Used:

Dies:
Simon Says Stamp! 'Sketch Heart'
Marianne Designs 'Filmstrip'
Memory Box 'Heart Delights'

Embossing Folder:
Sizzix Texture Fades 'Notebook'

Ink:
Tim Holtz Distress 'Black Soot'
Ranger 'Perfect Medium'
Memento/Tsukineko 'Tuxedo Black'

Embossing Powder:
WOW 'clear'

Other:
Tonic/Holtz 'Paper Distresser'
Stamp from stash
Padded fabric heart from stash






Challenges I'm Entering...

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge
A card made entirely from scraps/snippets

Simon Says/Wednesday
'Something New'
(Hopefully an engagement counts)!

Now that November and December are finally over with (I completely ignored Christmas just to be able to cope with it - but I did at least make a batch of last minute Christmas cards that hopefully made their way to those of you whose address I have),  I'm hoping to get back into the swing of craft making.
I haven't wasted my time away from Blogland, though...
Sometimes tidying and sorting is just as therapeutic as 'making'.


Thanks for stopping by...

Donna. x

Engagement Card, Pears, Congratulations

 I love my Memory Box and Poppystamp dies.  But you already know that, don't you?
They take up well over three quarters of my collection and get used a lot...  but I'm not brand loyal to any one company (is anyone..?) so if I see something I like, I buy it.  Simple as...  My only caveat (other than can I afford it?) is that it has to compliment my existing collection OR I know that I will use it a lot.

Speaking of simple, there's just something about the old Quickutz dies that I love.
Yes, I know...  they aren't trendy or popular and most of you probably have a neglected stash somewhere or other.  But I haven't been crafting for that long compared to most of you and missed the boat when these may well have been 'in'...  so I'm making up for lost time with a collection that currently totals about fifty.  And I still have a few more to go!

As I'm trying to 'use' rather than just hoard my stash, (I've borrowed this phrase from the very lovely Jeanne Jachna), I've paired this Lifestyle Crafts/Quickutz 'Pears' die with a ring I made from a tiny Poppystamps die, a sequin and a gem stone.
One other die for the hearts, one for a decorative strip running left to right, an embossing folder for the bow, a stencil, some watercolours and shaving foam (used to create a very 'clean' looking marbling technique), 3D glue gel, the use of a paper tearing ruler, a stamped and heat embossed sentiment...  and this card was done.

I've included a close up or two of the ring as I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.  Using embossing powder on the band makes such a difference, don't you think?  I so love adding dimension...

Now I'm seriously not a fan of messy techniques, so playing along at CAS Mix Up this month was a real challenge for me.  As it is, I've already been working (again) on my issue of using black for this challenge...   AND I've started using my husband's very intimidating looking camera for my blog posts.

(Still a long way to go on that one)! 

Baby steps.

This works for me.

Recognising what I don't like to do (craft wise), then just giving it a few teeny tiny tries.  I guess it's a bit like aversion therapy although seriously, it'll never work for me when it comes to spiders!

We had a HUGE, sprint running beastie in our house the other evening.  My poor husband gets the honour of depositing them outside.  Don't laugh, but after he's caught them I make him take them out the front door and across the road!  It may well be ridiculous, but it makes me feel better!

So...  a 'clean look' marbling technique with minimal shaving foam and paint it was.  It won't win any prizes, but at least I gave it a shot.  

 Do you think I would prefer it if I bought some alcohol inks and floated them in water instead?  Maybe I should investigate that thought before buying as I refuse to buy what I will never use...  which is obviously very different to bought but just haven't got around to using yet!!!

I'm sure you understand...

Oh, and just before I forget...  I should probably mention that although you can't see any evidence of it in the photo's I did actually use two black inks on the stencil.  Bottom layer Brilliance 'Starlite Black' and top layer Tsukineko/Memento 'Tuxedo Black'.  By putting on a thick bottom layer and dotting on a second lighter layer you get the depth of a darker black with some added shine from the Brilliance Ink underneath.

Supplies Used:

Dies:

Quickutz/Lifestlyle Crafts 'Pears'

Poppystamps 'Paper Chains'

Paper Smooches 'Tiny Hearts'

Impression Obsession 'Tied Line'

Stencil:

Crafters Workshop 'Butterfly Collage'

Ink:

Brilliance 'Starlite Black'

Tsukineko/Memento 'Tuxedo Black'

Ranger 'Perfect Medium'

Embossing Powder:

Ranger 'Liquid Platinum'

Stampendous 'Clear Detail'

Embossing Folder:

Spellbinders/Celebrations 'Fabric Weave'

Other:

Crafter's Companion/Spectrum Noir AquaTint Inks 'Essentials'  - Black and Gold

Stamp from stash

Sequin

Gem Stone Embellishment

Shaving Foam

Paper Tearing Ruler

3D Glue Gel

Challenges I'm Entering...

CAS Mix Up

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge

(Large scrap of white used, plus tiny snippets on pears, ring and hearts).

Curtain Call Challenge

Aud Sentiments

Challenge #163   'Anything Goes + A Sentiment'

Allsorts Challenge

Week 380   'Anniversaries and/or Special Occasions'

CAS-ual Fridays

CFC #156 Dimension & Bling

Enjoy your weekend...  and thank you so much for taking the time to stop by.  It really is appreciated far more than you know.

Donna. x