July #2 Sun, sea & sand

Good Morning everyone

Mid way through July so time for another post for We love stamping where the theme is 

SUN, SEA &/OR SAND

We always have the anything goes option as long as you use stamping as the main elements.

So plenty of options to go with.  Last time I went with more of a seaside image, this time i have gone deep under the sea using this lovely octopus stamp from Pink Ink.

8x6" white card base.  I first created a background with green brushos and pixie powders, once it was dry i stamped the octopus and turtles onto it using navy blue ink and cut them out, i used a paint pen to add details to the octopus for his suckers etc.. I stamped the shells onto scraps of inked papers and cut out.

As Im trying to use up old papers I found an old bobunny pad with a beach theme - I took a white paper with blue foil printed seaside words and inked over the top with blue distress inks so it looked more water like than the stark white it was - the foiling resisted the ink.  I took a sandy printed paper and torn along the top edge, i added this over the water and matted them onto navy card and then the base card.  

I then added the octopus, turtles and shells with pinflair glue gel. 

Sadly the photos don't pick up the shimmer of the mica in the octopus, but it is lovely when the light hits it and the blue foiled words in the background

Items Used:

Pink Ink designs stamp 'pinky inky'

Bobunny paper pad (ancient) 'boradwalk'

Brusho powders - lime, seagreen, emerald green

Cosmic shimmer pixie powders - red and peacock

Distress Inks tumbled glass, cracked pistachio, salty ocean

Posca white & pastel paint pens

The prize this month is this beautiful set from Lisa Horton

so do hop over to We love stamping to join in 

If the sun, sea & sand theme isn't for you then we always have the anything stamping goes, show us how creative you can be with a stamped image, outline digi-stamps also accepted.

I can't believe how fast July is going and next week we will be into the school holidays once again! Emmax

Id love to enter the following:

https://stampsfun-creativity.blogspot.com/2025/06/479.html - in the water theme

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https://neglectedstuff.blogspot.com/2025/07/neglected-stuff-july-2025-challenge.html - paper pad 8+ yrs old, stamp 4+ both not used in ages

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https://inspirationstationchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/07/inspiration-station-challenge-july-2025.html - inspired by the sand, sea and green

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https://craftyanimals.blogspot.com/2025/07/challenge-96.html

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Charlotte's under the sea

Good Morning everyone

For each of my nieces ive made a personalised picture for their walls.  Charlotte was a baby during covid lockdowns so we didn't see her much at all.  Since last Autumn she has been staying at my parents a fair bit and we have got to know her well.  She has a real empathy for nature and after taking her out shell collecting this spring i finally knew what theme i wanted to do her picture.  Out came my pink ink stamps and ive used several shells that Charlotte herself collected on our day out at the beach. 

Picture size: 12x9" 

  I first made a background with brusho's, cosmic shimmer pixie powders and stencilling - photos below.

I then stamped out the stamps onto white card and watercoloured with my inktense pencils which are colourfast & cut them all out. I then die cut thick cardboard from a cat food box with a Sizzix bigz die to spell charlotte, painted them black and covered with glossy accents, i adhered them into place with pinflair glue gel.  I then got arranging my scene.

I added a pearl bead in one of the shells just for a bit of fun. I used a mix of shells, little pieces of drift wood & some small pebbles.

Its difficult to make out in the photos, but i found a pack iridescent green strands in my stash ive had for years, i added a few of them, just pushing the ends into the glue gel behind my images and shells so that they float freely and catch the light when it hits them. 

I stencilled on seaweed using green acrylic paints & cadence dora paints which really shimmer when the light hits them.

You can really make out the glittery stencilled 'bubbles' here.  I also stencilled on some fish with oxide inks

Just showing it in its frame.  I found this wooden box frame in the charity shop, gave it whitewash with white gesso, added some rope around the inside edge and added a lovely large shell which also hides the rope ends. 

Items Used:

Tim Holtz Bigz alpha die

Pink Ink stamps 'pinky inky' 'sea turtle'

Various foliage stamps

Foliage & circle stencils

Stamperia stencil - fish

Brusho powders 'turquoise' 'sea green'

Cadence dora paints

Derwent inktense pencils

Thank you all for stopping by. I hope you have a good week.  Emmaxx

Id love to enter the following:

https://theoutlawzchallenges-saturday.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-outlawz-anything-goes-in-card-free.html

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https://creativeartistemixedmedia.blogspot.com/2023/09/welcome-to-creative-artiste-challenge-97.html

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http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com/2023/09/194-use-stamps.html

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https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/09/miucb-67-anything-goes-optional-make.html

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https://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/2023/08/make-scene.html

 

 

The big splash mixed media

Good Morning everyone

Today im sharing a mixed media project.  I started with a splash shaped MDF plaque and went with an under the sea theme.

I first stencilled texture paste through a shell stencil.  Once dry cover it all with a light coat of white gesso.  Then i sprinkled on blue & green brushos and purple pixie powders, once dry i dry brushed on diamond starlight paint to give a nice shimmer. I sponged blue starlight paint around the edges of the splash and through a circle stencil to give a bubble effect - when the light hits the starlight paint it really sparkles.

  Using a pallet knife I added grit texture paste to the base, once dry i built up the colour with acrylic paints to give a sand like look for the bottom on the ocean.

I stamped the octopus and other sea themed stamps onto white and watercoloured with inktense pencils and cut them all out.  I covered everything with glossy mod podge to seal & protect it all.  I then got arranging my scene, using shells collected over the years.  

Tim Holtz chat sticker to finish which says 'what seems ordinary is often the extraordinary'

A close up of the base, i added a little message in a bottle...using green alcohol ink to stain a clear mini bottle.  

Side 2...

I also decorated the back, so its double sided and can be flipped for a change of scene

Made the same way as side 1.  I used a pebble stencil on this side with the texture paste and jellyfish stamps from visible image.  After colouring the jellyfish with inktense pencils i used paint pens to colour the little circles on them.  I stamped and cut up the quote to finish.

I added a little metal seahorse charm and little pearl bead in one of the shells to finish.

Items Used:

MDF splash from 'thats crafty'

Pink Ink octopus stamp set

Visible Image stamp set

seahorse & starfish - old craft stamper magazine stamps

Funky fossil stencil - shells

Lavinia stencil - 

Imagination crafts starlight paints (now cadence dora paint) Diamond, blue

Derwent inktense pencils

Pebeo acrylic paints

Golden texture pastes

Thank you all for stopping by.  I hope you all have a good week.  Hugs Emmaxxx

Id love to enter the following:

https://creativeartistemixedmedia.blogspot.com/2022/09/welcome-to-creative-artiste-challenge-86.html

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https://blog.dare2bartzy.com/september-challenge-animals/

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https://2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com/2022/09/challenge-66-anything-goes-with.html

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Bubbles

Good Morning everyone

As my regular followers will know last year one of my most used paper pads was a water themed one from the works, so i have lots of little snippets and scraps of paper left over which i decided to cut into lots of circles of various sizes and to use them as bubbles for a background to the lovely pink ink turtle and octopus stamps.

A5 white linen card.  I first die cut lots of circles and edged them with blue distress ink. I cut a piece of white linen card slightly smaller than my base and splashed on distress oxide inks in shades of blue & then got arranging the circles and stamped the sentiment.

I stamped the turtle and coloured with distress oxide inks, using colours that would stand out against all the blue and then cut the image out, gently curved and added to the base with glue gel.  To finish i used some really old glitter dots that picked up the colours i used in the turtle.

Version 2 made the same way but using this lovely pink ink octopus stamp and yellow enamel dots.

Items Used:

Pink Ink stamps ' pinky inky' 'sea turtle'

Circle dies

12x12 paper pad from the works 'fresh feeling'

CraftUk ltd white linen cardstock

Distress oxide inks, squeeshed lemonade, ripe persimmon, cracking campfire, picked raspberry, twisted citron, salty ocean, blueprint

Altenew enamel dots

Docrafts glitter gems

Thank you all for popping by once again.  Finally the roofing project has finished 5 wks turned into 10,  so Im back home & they hope to remove all the scaffolding this week which will be good. Its also good to be back with my craft stash after so long😁  I hope its a good week for you all.Hugs Emmaxx

Id love to enter the following:

https://dayofthemonthcardclub.blogspot.com/2022/06/40-world-ocean-day.html

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https://sweetstamperschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/06/challenge69-animals.html

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http://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com/2022/06/challenge-232-anything-goes.html

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https://pixiessnippetsplayground.blogspot.com/2022/06/challenge-430.html - all the circles are using snippets

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Octopus

Good Morning everyone

Today is a card using Pink Ink octopus stamp set...im obviously going through a sea theme stage...watch this space😀  Ive also used my spellbinders grand label 4 die set as they have been very badly neglected...

Card size approx 9.5x6"  I picked a piece of previously made background that was made using brusho's, pixie powders & sea salt in orange and bluey tones.  When wet sprinkle on chunky salt and let dry, once dry you brush off the salt and are left with these fabulous cell like effect.  I do find the wetter the paper when you put the salt on the better the effect.

I die cut my background into shape and attached to the largest die cut from white card.  I then die cut a white frame and added over the top with foam tape. I water coloured the octopus & shells with oxide inks, cut them out and arranged.  I stamped some water drops onto white card with navy ink, watercolour blue, covered with glossy accents and cut them out. Stamped sentiment to finish. 

 For the back of my card i die cut the largest die from white card, scored a line at the top and glued to the back of my card front, to help it stand up i cut a little off the bottom of the back piece to give it a straight edge to stand on.

Just a close up.  I went with a pinky/purple octopus so it was a complete contrast to my background - distress oxide Raspberry & Seedless preserve.

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I was invited to join an ATC swap over at Craftworld and these are my first ever atc's in 18yrs of crafting, i decided to use the left overs on my desk from the octopus card.  

I cut the background to size, stamped on some fish with archival ink, some seaweed with oxide inks.  I stencilled on some gold dots with starlight paints which really shine in the light. Pink ink seahorse coloured with oxide inks.  Tim Holtz chit chat stickers..  All mounted onto very dark green cardstock and edged with gold paint. I also added some glossy accent water droplets. 

Items Used:

Pink Ink stamp set 'pinky inky'

Designs by Ryn stamp set 'water effects 2'

dot stencil

Oxide Inks, Brushos & Pixie powders

Imagination Crafters Starlight paints - rich gold, orange

Thank you all for stopping by once again.  I hope you all have a good week. Hugs Emmaxx

Id love to enter the following:

https://sweetstamperschallenge.blogspot.com/2021/05/56-animals-or-critters-or-birds.html

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https://bastel-traum.blogspot.com/2021/05/101-wasser-water.html

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https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2021/05/shopping-our-stash-445-here-fishy-fishy.html

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http://unicornchallenge.blogspot.com/2021/05/challenge-65-shaped-cards.html

 

Hang in there

Good Morning everyone

Today is a card with aall&create octopus stamp - sadly the photos don't show up all the bling, the background is done with wink of stella pens and i gave it a gilded effect edge.

5x5 cardblank.  I first die cut a square of white card using the eyelet die, then i stamped the octopus in black and added extra stamping using grungy background stamps, mostly sticking to the diagonal.  I then coloured the background with blue and purple wink of stella pens so it really shimmers.  I added little dot stencilling with starlight rich gold paint, i also used the paint to edge the panel to give a nice gilded effect.

I stamped the octopus twice more, on one i coloured the body in oranges and the 2nd one just the hat in green, i then cut them out, gently curved and decoupaged onto the main image.  A little stamped sentiment and green stickles glitter dots to finish.

You can sort of see the shine on the gilded edge - these starlight paints have an amazing shimmer as do the wink of stella pens when the light hits them.  The 'hang in there' sentiment felt apt for the octopus with many 'arms' - its for a friend who is struggling at the moment as are alot of us i think....Im just taking it one day at a time

Items Used:

aall&create stamp - sea life

Various grungy background stamps

Small dots stencil

Imagination crafts starlight paint - rich gold & orange (this is also now called cadence 'dora' paint)

Stickles glitter glue - lime green

Wink of stella pens - blue, purple

Distress inks - twisted citron, marmalade, persimmon

Thank you for stopping by. I hope its a good week for you. Stay safe. Hugs Emmax

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Id love to enter the following:

http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2021/01/challenge-449-glitter-sparkle.html

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http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/2021/01/create-your-own-background.html

  

 

All at sea

Good Morning everyone

Today im sharing 3 cards i made with my Christmas present - these aall&create stamps - love the sea theme.  Here i just used backgrounds id made before and left the creatures white so they stood out against the colourful backgrounds.

A thank you card for my Uncle

A6 white cardblank.  After picking my background - this one is oxide inks (pistachio & ocean) i die cut the scalloped frame die, on the middle panel i then stamped the image in black and then die cut the tim holtz die from the middle - i thought the little holes could be bubbles.  I then attached a piece of silver mirror card to the back and attached to the middle of the card.  I added foam tape to the back of the frame and attached that.  I stamped the image twice more and just cut out the octopus on one and just the hat on the second one and added colour to the hat.  I then added them to the base card.  Stamped sentiment to finish.

Showing it stood up - please ignore my face showing in the mirror card in the background - getting a good photo was not easy😁

Version 2 is using the whale stamp exactly the same way for a little hello friend card

Version 3 - the seahorse stamp is much smaller so i used a smaller scalloped frame die for a 3x5" card.  This background again from the 'pile' is brushos and pixie powders so has a lovely shimmer. Glossy accents 'water drops' added to embellish. 

Items Used:

aall&create stamps #390 sea life

Sentiment stamps

Tim Holtz Mixed Media die set

Scalloped frame die set

CraftUK ltd white card

Brusho's & Pixie powders

Oxide inks

Glossy accents

Thank yo all for stopping by and all your amazing comments on my mums birthday bee card.  Stay safe. Hugs Emmax

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Id love to enter the following with the octopus card:

https://themaleroomchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2021/01/challenge-146-animals-dt-call.html

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http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2021/01/week-607-something-new.html

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http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2021/01/challenge-448-thank-you.html

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http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2021/01/sweet-stampin-thank-you.html

http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2021/01/challenge-126-for-january.html