Vellum Flower Journal Page

Hi everyone. It's week 3 of my little adventure over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog. This week the theme is 'We Can See Clearly'. I have used some of the newly released stamps and stencils from PaperArtsy by Tracy Scott (TS058 and TS055) and Alison Bomber (EAB21) to create this colourful journal page with Vellum flowers.

For my background I used lots of PaperArtsy Fresco Chalk Acrylics - I used Slimed, Cerulean, Banana, Byzantium, Azure, Cerise, Chalk and Little Black Dress. I painted in colour 'patches' before adding additional stenciling and stamping to the background. (Stencils used PS224, PS242 and PS234.

I added a frame to feature my flowers and quote. The flowers are stamped on vellum with versamark and heat embossed in white.

If you play along with this week's challenge at Simon Says stamp - you could win a $25 gift card to spend in store. 

Nikki x

Mixed Media Birthday cards

I'm delighted to back as a guest this month on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog. This week the theme is 'Mixed Media' with a focus on the products of Dina Wakely. 

I've created a couple of cards using Dina's paints, with one card featuring a Scribbly bird - an old, but go to stamp set!.

Both cards started with some texture paste applied through a couple of Tim Holtz circle stencils - I used Splotches and Bubble. I then added my paint in patches, merging a little or adding some white paint to tone down the 'joins. I used Turquoise, Fuscia, Tangerine and Ocean. Once dry I added some details with pen work, paint dots and lines (applied with an old credit card) and washi tape.

As my surface was textured I stamped the bird on tissue paper before adhering to the surface.

If you play along with this week's challenge at Simon Says stamp - you could win a $25 gift card to spend in store. I'll be back next week, for another challenge. Thanks for stopping by...

Nikki x

Gell Plate Tape Embellishments for Christmas

Hi everyone. It's my final week in the Designer Spotlight at Simon Says Stamp. Thanks to the team for having me, it has been great to be back! This week the theme is Tape. I decided to try an old technique using a Gelli Plate and Sticky tape to create some embellishments for Christmas cards.

 There are quite a few videos out there on this technique - most recently from Birgit Koopsen. I used both normal sellotape and also clear parcel tape so I had different thicknesses to work with.

I started brayering bits of paint (I used Dina Wakley) onto the gel plate, followed by stamping in both paint and archival ink. I predominantly used Psychedelic Grunge from Tim Holtz. It is important if you want to use Mica later to leave some space on the plate - just random gaps that will be filled later.

I then took my selected tape and placed across the plate in strips - ensuring it is lightly burnished to remove any air. When you remove the tape the paint and mark making is transferred to the tape. I then brushed mica powder into any spaces - its hard to see in the photos but it adds some Festive shimmer sparkle!

The mica removes the stickiness that is left on the tape so I used Matte medium to adhere to white card before die cutting or hand cutting shapes for my Christmas cards.

I cut my tree and presents by hand and punched a little star for top. The greeting is from Tim Holtz Scribbly Christmas.

The bauble was cut with a die from my stash and the banners hand cut.

Again simple shapes were hand cut to create my present.

I hope you like my little cards. Thanks again to the Simon Says Stamp team for having me for the month! 
Nikki
xxx

Recycled Cardboard Mini Book

Hello! Hope your weekend was good. I am back for my third week as a guest designer over on the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge blog. This week the theme is Recycle.

 As I was thinking what to make I noticed an empty cat food box waiting to go to the recycle bin - so I decided to create a mini book out of the packaging.

I started with five 2.5 inch squares (quite roughly cut) from the box and stripped them of the glossy marketing. I created little tabs to join them together and added extra glue along the spine. 

I used old book pages along with Gesso and Distress paints in Black Soot and Walnut Stain to paint the surfaces.

I then started collaging scrap of materials and paper to the pages - including Dina Wakley collage paper and left over bits from Tim Holtz Journal cards. I finished each page with a quote from Tim Holtz Theories stamp set.

As always, there is a $50 voucher for one lucky winner each week - so do join in for your chance to win.
Back next week for my final week!

See you then
Nikki

Tim Holtz Large Stems - Thinking of You

Hi everyone. Today see's my second week in the Designer Spotlight at Simon Says Stamp. Our challenge this week is Thinking of You.

I decided to make a card using Tim Holtz Bigz die - Large Stems as my focal point. However I started with the background, as I often do to ensure I get the right balance of colours. I added some Transparent texture paste in places through Tim Holtz Latticework stencil on my card and sprinkled lightly with Seth Apter Baked Texture. Once the paste was dry I heated the embossing powder. I then added Distress inks in various blues to the surface, followed by some stamping with the Lattice stamp from Tim Holtz Lattice and Flourish. 

I die cut my flowers and used Distress Paints in Hickory Smoke, Blueprint Sketch and Tumbled Glass to colour. I added some random stamping and splattering too! I die cut again in black to create the shadow. Mt words are from Simple Sayings (Tim Holtz).

Thank you so much for your visit, see you next week!

Nikki