Saturday 31 August 2013

Busy Bee

I've been a busy little crafting bee this morning - I have a week off from work and I'm starting it as I mean to go on - enjoying myself!   My hubby's holiday doesn't start until 5.30pm so it means my first day gets to be spent in the craft room having fun - so much so in fact that I didn't remember to eat breakfast til he called me at 11.30!

First off - I've had a go at this week's Less is More challenge which is simply to use a rubber stamp, but with the additional challenge of adding watercolour if you can, and Penny Black are playing along this week too so I decided to play with one of their cling stamps.  http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/week-135-use-rubber-stamp.html


I selected one of the two floral sprigs from their set "fanciful" and was inspired by Birgit's technique of using water colour pencils to "ink" up the stamp - never tried it before but I have to say I will be doing it again in the future as it's easy-peasy and the results are just fabulous so thanks Birgit!  I used a green for the leaves and then a pink and peach for the flowers - I went them to ink the stamp but then used a fine water spray just before stamping to get it nice and wet and watercoloury again.  Simply finished with a strip of green card and my favourite Anniversary sentiment from Waltzingmouse - this card will go to my Aunt and Uncle who celebrate their anniversary tomorrow.

I also finally got around to playing with this week's cue word at CASology which is "BOOK" http://casology.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/week-59-book.html


I combined one of my all time favourite stamps with my all time favourite technique of paper-piecing as it just suits the stamp so well.    This set is from My Favourite Things and is called "Well Read" and has a selection of 5 or 6 brilliant bookish sentiments.   I started with the sentiment and drew a frame around it on a 4x4 base card.  I then set about playing in my snippets box selecting a suitably sofa-ish pattern and some tonal scraps for her clothes and the pillows.  Once pieced I used my toner grey copics to add some depth and squishiness to the sofa and my skin tones for her arm and legs.  I shall be doing a lot of this on holiday too as I'm half way through "The 19th Wife" and finding it so fascinating that I can't wait to finish it.   I would have added this to the snippets challenge over at Di's blog but I'm a bit late and the playground gates have shut for this week - check out the new challenge tomorrow though - the gates open each Sunday and all you have to do is use up your scraps to enter http://pixiescraftyworkshop.blogspot.co.uk/





16 comments:

  1. Two fab projects - hard to pick a fave!

    Kathyk

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  2. They're both gorgeous Tara but that sofa does look rather inviting.... The shading is spot on and really gives dimension :0)
    Your 'stay-cation' plans sound great too!
    Jenny x

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  3. These are both fab, love love love the paper piecing on your sofa. Thank you so much for joining us this week at CASology

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  4. Two nice cards and great techniques. BUT the "book" card is a winner to me.

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  5. a fabby set of cards tara.... love the paper piecing

    Thanks for joining us
    Jen x
    "Less Is More"

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  6. Love your book card - such a great sentiment and fun image (and lots of beautiful white space!) Love also the effect of the watercolour pencils - that pink/peach combination is awesome! Thanks so much for playing along with us at CASology this week!

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  7. Great cards Tara. Enjoy your week off!
    Margaret x

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  8. This is great! Watercolor pencils are lovely on the 1st card - and the paper piecing is excellent on the 2nd!!!!

    Thanks for playing along with us at CASology this week!

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  9. Just beautiful watercoloured flowers!!

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  10. Great watercolour technique, it looks very delicate and pretty.

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  11. Two fab cards Tara xx Jan

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  12. Finally got the time to look here... Two beautiful cards! I love the paperpiecing on the second, but the flowerstamp on the first is one of my favorites and I love the colours you used! Have an Inky week, Gerrina

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  13. Your shading is so perfect! The couch looks so inviting! Perfect paper piecing! So glad you joined us at CASology this week!

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  14. Great cards - love your pinky peach flowers and that settee looks great too!!

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  15. I missed this one, Tara. I was delighted to see it in the HM gallery at CASology, so I could come and see it up close! Congratulations! This is brilliant!! Darnell

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