Sunday 10 November 2013

Not exactly batch making!


Happy Sunday Morning everyone!

Once again I'm scraping in by the skin of my teeth, lol!  The lovely Darcy (who you can find HERE) has been running a challenge this week to win a set of her very fun Christmas Stamps designed for PaperArtsy.  The challenge is to use one stamp to make as many cards as possible using different techniques ....... I managed 3, lol! ....... hence the title of my post!  I have quite a few ideas for more but unfortunately time ran out on me.  I had decided to spend the whole of yesterday evening having fun with these cards but a lot of people living around here seemed to have saved the noisiest fireworks they could find and were letting them all off last night for nearly 5 hours!!!!!  Even several heavy downpours didn't stop them. This meant that we had a poor dog being driven to distraction and getting himself in a right old hysterical state and needing my attention more than my cards. I really hope that's the end of the fireworks for this year.

Anyway, enough of my little rant, on to the cards I did manage to make.  I don't yet have any PaperArtsy Christmas stamps by any of their designers yet so have used a holly swirl stamp from my rather large collection of other Christmas stamps.  I bought this stamp (along with the lovely candle stamp used on my last card) at the NEC about 3 years ago and this is the first time it has seen and inkpad....... shame on me!

Card #1

 Bottom layer is stamped with Watermark inkpad & top layer is stamped with Versamark & clear embossed before blending Iced Spruce & Evergreen Bough Distress Inks then flicking water droplets & dabbing off with tissue.


The sentiment is coloured with Sakura Sparkle Pens which is my favourite subtle hint of sparkle ..... had forgotten how much I like them ;D!

CARD #2


 Very simple card with holly swirl stamped using Bottle Adirondack dye ink and heat embossed with clear EP.  The holly leaves are punched from a piece of white card painted with metallic paint.

Card #3


This card is stamped with sticky stuff and then had gilding flakes applied for the holly swirl.


This is the candle stamp I bought to go with the holly swirl all that while ago & it is stamped with Black Archival ink with touches of watercolour using Distress Inks and a tiny bit of gilding to the flame.  I used a Spellbinders label die and layered it onto some Christmas dp I've had in my stash for ?????? years!


The sentiment is a freebie from a mag I bought this week.  Don't usually buy mags any more but loved this Kaisercraft stamp, papers & Kraft tags that were the free gifts .  This time I've watercoloured it with Distress Inks.

I've used PaperArtsy Smoothy card for all the above makes and it is lovely to stamp onto

So there you have my three offerings for the challenge.  If it hadn't been for the bl.....y fireworks, for my next card I was going to try stamping the swirl with Fresco Finish Snowflake to create a resist.  I'll still have a go at that after I've made a couple of cards I need before next Monday.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone and till next time .................

Hugs
Lesley  Xx





22 comments:

Unknown said...

I got that freebie too! Fab cards, much better than my rushed and disatrous efforts!!!

sam21ski said...

Wow Lesley these are gorgeous, they look so elegant and expensive!!!

Sam xxx

Anonymous said...

Such lovely cards, very elegant too. I love the Merry Christmas stamp. I think I'll have to purchase that magazine.

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Wow these are gorgeous Lesley. I love the Holly flourish stamp you've used, it makes great cards and goes with the different techniques you used. We had lots of fireworks going off in our area last night, and I can relate to the problems you had with your dog as mine is just the same. It takes him ages to realise they've stopped.

Sue x

massofhair said...

Elegant & traditional cards Lesley. All are really beautiful:-) x

Helen said...

They are beautiful, Lesley, all of them! What totally elegant cards.

Brenda Brown said...

Fabulous cards Lesley,love all the designs and techniques, you did a great job with them.
Glad I kept my cats in last night too, lots of fireworks all over the place.
Happy Remembrance Day.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Really elegant x

Aquarius said...

Three lovely Christmas cards - shame about the fireworks interfering with your 'batch' making session. I hope your poor dog is OK now - I think fireworks are a menace too!!

Paula (PEP) said...

An absolutely delightful selection & I love the variations you created. Hope your dog has settled down - hope that's the last of fireworks in your area.
Paula (PEP)

Redanne said...

What a gorgeous selection of cards Lesley, I love them all but the first one is just stunning. We do not have a pet at the moment but it is upsetting that so many animals are affected by the wretched fireworks! Hope your little dog is much better today. Hugs, Anne x

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Beautiful selection of cards with the fabulous Holly stamp. Great combination of colours, love the blue on the top one. Happy Sunday, Shirleyx

Julie Lee said...

wow! Lesley these are gorgeous. You wouldn't believe you were using the same stamp they are so different and every one is a gem, as they say! Sorry to hear about your poor dog. Perhaps that will be the last of the fireworks for a long time! You are such a skilled crafter: I always enjoy your makes and these are just stunning. Julie Ann xx

Darcy Marshall said...

Wonderful! i thought 2 was my fave till I saw the gilded number 3, that is just stunning, looks like an expensive bought one. Thanks for joining in.

Christine B. said...

Lovely elegant cards.
Know what you mean about the fireworks, we have had a full week of them. Love and crafty hugs x ChrisB

Words and Pictures said...

I love all three of your variations on a theme, Lesley - what a gorgeous, elegant stamp that is. The soft green is really pretty, and then the super-chic b&w one is so sharp and modern, and what could be better than that glamorous gilded finale?!
Alison x

veronica said...

they're lovely Lesley - my favourite is the second one. shame about the fireworks, hopefully they've used them all up by now and the dog has recovered his sanity1

Beryl said...

Wow - seems like all those fireworks well and truly woke up your mojo (as well as upsetting the dog - which is not good). These cards are fabulous -as is the holly flourish stamp. Would love to get my mitts on one like that. Good luck with the challenge (brilliant idea for the theme) - I'd make a few more like them if I were you - could be your Christmas theme this year.
Beryl xx

Kim Dellow said...

Beautiful cards. Kim

Elaine said...

Great selection of cards Lesley. I love the different colour combinations, love the soft green and the gold leafing version too. Well done for making inroads into your festive cardmaking.

Poor little Snoopy, the fireworks seems to get worse each year, louder, longer, later and over more days.

Elaine xxx

judith@poppy cottage said...

Fabulous samples Lesley, just goes to show how versatile one stamp can be. Your freebie stamp looks great as well. Might have to keep my eyes peeled for that one ;) Hugs, Judith xx

Sally H said...

Oh wow, Lesley! These are gorgeous! I love the colour on the first two particularly. thanks for all your lovely comments. Hope snoopy is recovered now after the incessant fireworks x