Art Journal - 'Bubbles'

Hi everyone and a very warm welcome to my blog!!

I have been procrastinating over this post all day, trying to make up my mind as to what to share with you.  I have a few projects on the go at the moment and couldn't decide as to which one to do first but, finally, the decision has been made. 

I would like to share another Art Journal page.

 I've called it 'Bubbles' for obvious reasons but haven't yet found a quote to put on it.  Not even sure if I want one for this page.  I just enjoyed the process and am not really fussed about any words for it but, you never know, I may come across something someday that will fit.

 The background was created by putting  different Distress Inks on my non-stick mat and then just placing the page on the top.  This seems to be the best process for me.  I have tried so many times coating the page with gesso and then using sprays for the colour but it just never works, so I think Distress Inks are going to be my 'thing' as far as my Journal pages are concerned anyway.  The colours I used are Fired Brick, Mustard Seed and Walnut Stain.

 The large circles or 'bubbles' were stamped with BoBunny's Stained Texture stamps on a separate piece of paper the smaller ones were hand drawn.  They were then cut out and coloured and then glued onto the page and edged with a black and a white pen.  The smaller ones were also stamped with another BoBunny Texture Stamp.  I also place some washi tape in two of the corners.

 Used TCW's 'Mini Grandma's Doily' template in opposite corners and went around some of the edges of the design with a white gel pen.  Did some stamping with Kaisercraft's Crackle stamp and used TCW's Mini Circle Explosion template as well.  The floral stamp around the edge is also from Kaisercraft but I don't know the name of it. 

 And that's about it!!  A fairly simple page although it did take a while to do, mainly because I'm never sure which direction these pages of mine are going to go.  As I said at the beginning, I procrastinate, in all manner of ways (sigh).  

Thank you so much for visiting.

Take care and God Bless.

oxox Marg

A Simply Masculine Card

Hello everyone!!  Hope you have all recovered from the New Year Celebrations!!!  

We just had a quiet night at home.  Sounds very boring doesn't it, but it was nice actually.  Hubby and I  just watched a movie and had a couple of drinks together.  He actually went to bed early but I stayed up till after midnight as I usually do.  Luckily this year we didn't have anyone letting off fireworks near us  so our dogs weren't scared out of their wits and that was a big relief.

Anyhow, I'm here of course to share another card with you.  I have got a few other projects to share as well but they will be for another day.  This time it's a masculine card.

It's a fairly simple one but I like it which is a good thing I guess seeing as how I'm the one who  made it. 

Anyway ... on with the show!!!

 As I said it is fairly simple.  I trimmed a bit of cardboard to size and then tore off one side of the paper to expose the corrugation underneath and used that as my base paper.  Really like how that looks gives it a bit of a grunge feel.  I then wound some twine around one end for a bit of interest.

 The clock is from a sheet which is available at Meg's Garden called Old World Time.  There are some fabulous clock images on these sheets, this is only one of them.

The papers I've used here are actually some leftover Christmas papers also from Meg's Garden.  I simply tore the paper to the size I wanted leaving the edges raw and then  just curled the corners.   The small chippie is from Scrapbookncraft.  It is actually a corner piece which I cut in half and placed on opposite sides of the card.  The two pieces were coloured with Versa Color 'Lapislazuli' and Kaisercraft 'Red Gum' and then I swiped them lightly with Versa Color 'Silver'.

The light bulb is from Prima and the label plate might also be from them but I am really not sure.  I cut the packaging apart and didn't take note of the manufacturer.  I've really go to stop doing that, but I get enthusiastic about using the product and forget to take note of who made it.  

Lined the inside with a couple of strips of Kaisercraft paper which was edged with Martha Stewart's Optic Dot Border Punch.  

I've had a few questions about how I write the sentiment when I decorate the inside of my cards like this.  What I usually do is print out a sentiment on my computer, use a die (in this case the Victorian Square from Couture Creations) to cut it out and then simply sign it.  

This one is just to demonstrate so, of course, there is no actual sentiment.  I haven't yet decided who this card is for so I won't print out anything until I've made up my mind.   

And there it is.  A reasonably simple card which didn't take too long to make but, for all that, I really do like it.

I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and hope it brings you everything you wish for.

Thank you so much for visiting and, hopefully, leaving me a little comment, I really do appreciate it.

Please take care and God Bless.

oxox Marg

Ribbon & Lace & Pion Design Papers

Hello everyone!!  Welcome to my little blog!!

  Are you still recovering from Christmas???  I know I am.  Hope you all had an awesome day!!  Not long and we'll be celebrating the New Year!!  Is it just me or are the years flying by a lot quicker these days?  Getting scary how it all just slips by so fast!  

As you can guess I have a card to share with you.  This one was again made with the Pion Papers I won a little while ago.  Adore these papers, they are awesome and so easy to work with!!

 I used the 6' x 6' papers again for this.  Cut the base paper and tore a couple of strips for the layers.  Distressed them all and did a little doodling with my white gel pen, then layered the lace in between.

 The leaf flourish is from the Kraft Expression range from Little Birdie.  They are available at 'Cheap as Chips' here in Australia.  

 The small rose is from Kaisercraft and the other flowers came from Seriously Scrapbooking.

 I also added some gauze underneath and the small pearl stamens.

 The ribbon used here was actually wrapped around the papers.  It is so pretty I just had to use it too and popped in a couple of stamens when I made the bow.

 The strips inside were edged with Martha Stewart's Doily Lace Border Punch.

There you have it!!  As I said before, I simply adore these Pion Papers they are so lovely and so easy to work with.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Love having you visit and would love it too if you could leave me a little comment and let me know what you think.
Before I go, I would just like to thank all of my followers, especially those of you who visit and comment on a regular basis.  I really appreciate you taking the time and giving me such wonderful and heartwarming support.  Love you all. ox

Do take care and God Bless.
oxox Marg

Christmas Cards # 3

Hi everyone!!!  Welcome to my blog ... so pleased you came for a visit.

I'm back to share with you the last of the Christmas Cards I made for this year.  These are the ones I made for close family and some special friends, although I must say, all of my friends are special.  They must be to put up with me!!  hehe!!

As with the other cards I've shown you, these are all basically the same card just made with different papers.   They are Easel Cards and all of the base papers are from Meg's Garden's 'Musical Christmas' and 'Christmas Time' Mini Packs and the trees were made with a number of different Kaisercraft Christmas papers.

 Construction of the tree is simple.  You just cut a triangle to whatever size you want from chipboard or some other type of stiff board, glue a small frill of border punched paper along the bottom and then fill the shape with leaf diecuts from different papers.  It is a little time consuming but I thoroughly enjoyed making these, they are a lot of fun.  You could add some glitter here and there or maybe a few small gems to represent lights or even use some white puff paint or embossing powder to represent snow but I left these plain.  I felt the different colours of the paper was enough.

The star at the top of the tree is a plastic snowflake which I painted with gold acrylic paint.  The label is from Kaisercraft to which I added the greeting sticker and the diecut is the 'Virtuoso Music' Die from Memory Box.

 The inside was decorated with more of the papers from Meg's Garden and I just added a diecut oval shape with the sentiment and also a Kaisercraft 'Holly Border' flourish.  The flourish was coloured with Versa Color in Scarlet and Green  and I also added a few red gems to represent berries.

 Here is how the card looks standing up ...  

 ... and here are a few pics of some others made with different papers.

On this one you can see the little bit of border punching I did on the paper.  It doesn't show up quite as well on the others.

Once again, this is just a sampling of the cards made.  

Not sure if I'll be back here before Christmas so I would like to wish all of you a wonderful and joyous Christmas.  Hope you all have a fabulous day and many Blessings to each and every one of you.

Thank you so much for visiting.

Take care and God Bless.

oxox Marg

Flowers and Twine!

Hello everyone!!!  Welcome to my blog!

I hope everyone's Christmas Preparations are going well.  Luckily for me, mine are done so I can relax for a few days and create something for an occasion other than Christmas.

The card I'm sharing with you today could be used for a Wedding.  It was made from the gorgeous Pion Design papers that I won just recently!

 As you can see, not a lot of colour to this one.  I think after all the Christmas cards I made I am coloured out!!  hehe!  There is actually a very subtle pattern on the top layer of paper but, unfortunately, the photos don't show it very well.  You can see it a little better in the next one but you really have to look closely.

 The papers were distressed and then I misted the top layer and manipulated it a bit to get it to the shape you can see and I also made a few tears which were then rolled as well.  The idea for this came from Patricia Basson.  She makes the most beautiful scrapbook pages where she rolls and manipulates her papers in the most beautiful ways.  I love her work and urge you to go and take a look.  You can find her blog HERE. 

The cluster is made up of a selection of flowers but I'm afraid I can't tell you where they came from as I've had these for a while.  I've mixed some tiny pearl stamens and some gauze in there too.   The two clusters are almost a mirror image of each other.  The strip across the centre of the card is simply another strip of the same paper over which I've added a strip of gauze and a twine bow.

 The inside was decorated with another sheet of  the Pion papers.  I fussy cut the lovely little frame which can be used for the sentiment and then just border punched a couple of strips from the same sheet and adhered them top and bottom.

 I have to say, I'm really pleased with the way this one turned out!!  I think I'm going to be sorry to give this one away!!  Ah well!!!  What must be done, must be done!

I want to thank Pion Design again for their wonderful Give-away.  These papers are absolutely stunning and I'm loving working with them.  Thank you!!

I'd also like to thank you lovely people for visiting here today.  This is a really busy time of the year and I know how hard it can be to find the time.  So, thank you so much!!  I appreciate it immensely!!

Please take special care over the holiday period.  Be safe and  God Bless.

oxox Marg

Christmas Cards # 2

Hello everyone!!  I hope you are all well and enjoying your day.

I'm back again to share with you another Christmas Card.  This one is actually the template for most of the cards I've made for Christmas this year.  To make things a little easier on me ( and I'm always looking for ways to make things easier on me .. hehe! )  I usually decide on a design for my Christmas cards and then make them all pretty much the same except for the papers I use.  Actually, I use two designs.  One for the general cards for close friends and distant family and another for my immediate family.  This card is the one I used for close friends.

I love the traditional colours for Christmas and the papers I've used are from small pads of different Kaisercraft Christmas Collections.  I had bought so many pads last year that I felt I'd better use them up.  I simply layered a few mats cut from different papers in different sizes ( one of which was matted on some cardstock ) and then also added a little banner which was matted on cardstock.  Added a frame cut out with Marianne Creatables Frame and Swirls Die and then placed a greeting label over the top.  Added another die-cut  in between the frame and the label to add a bit more interest.  This die is the Snowflake Sprig die from Memory Box.  I simply cut the piece into three and spread them out under the label.

The poinsettia was cut out from different papers with my Silhouette, and the leaves were also cut with my Silhouette and then slightly shaped and edged with gold Versa Color. 

The inside was decorated with some strips of the paper which were edged with Martha Stewarts Doily Border Punch.  The sentiment was cut out with Couture Creations Victorian Square Die.

Here are some pics of a few of the other cards made.

This is just a small sampling. I won't bore you too much by showing all of them but I think, from these piccies, you get the idea.

In my last post I complained about leaving all my Christmas preparations to the last minute, which is what I always do, but now I can report that I am finished!!!   All cards made and posted, all presents purchased and ready to be wrapped!!  I can't believe how easy it all was this year.  Took a while to get the cards done but the pressies were all over and done with in one shop!!!  I really amazed myself!!  Hope all your Christmas preparations go as well as mine did.

Thank you so much for visiting.

Take care, be safe, and God Bless.

oxox Marg