Stencils galore

 I have been having great fun with stencils, experimenting with different techniques, mediums etc. Some are mylar but the majority are the rather gorgeous metal ones from #SweetPoppyStencils. I have been using clear, white gloss and black gloss paste with them and then sprinkling on either pixie powders, dusting with mica or sprinkling on glitter. In the top photo, I used the clear gloss to ensure the pattern stayed "clean" and then used pixie powders/shimmer shakers on the rest of the black cardstock to give a relief effect. The second card is white paste, then stamped perfect medium through the stencil when dry then mica powders on top. The third is white paste then I have blended distress oxides across the card, wiping clean the paste area to contrast. The fourth is pixie/shimmer straight onto wet white paste.
The four stencils in the photo were all bought at the Stamp Magic Show in June (Sweet Poppy have a stand). I have since bought more from Stamp Magic and online so photos coming of the new ones soon (A lovely christmas tree and snowflake mandala for starters!). I have some more ideas for using stencils in different ways that I want to try - if you see photos then it worked, if not.....  I also entered the Sweet Poppy design team call recently but I am not holding my breath as the standard of their DT teams work is absolutely stunning!

Oh dear, its October already!

So yet another really long delay in posting - I tend to put most of my cards up on Instagram - Feelinefinecrafts - as it is easier for me to access via my phone. I have been busy however, mostly with buying craft supplies and a lot of playing with things but I have managed to actually complete a few cards as well! So what have I been buying? Firstly quite a lot of stamps/die sets from Clearly Besotted - they do some really cute character stamps. I have also subscribed to the Monthly Tonic Kits so not only does that involve some exclusive dies but also products of theirs both full size and samples. Sue Wilson dies remain a firm favourite as do Sweet Poppy Stencils and of course, Phill Martin, Julia Watts, Woodware and Creative Expressions generally. In fact, we have just had the brilliant Stamp Magic show in Doncaster, where I got to see Phill and Lucy (from Sweet Poppy) demonstrating. It is a great show, not too big so you can really get right up to the demos and ask loads of questions! I have also discovered Lucy's Little Things from whom I get all my jewels/sequin mixes now - fantastic range, great price and quick delivery. So here are some of the cards that I have made recently - if you want to know more about the products or techniques used, then please leave a comment.

Using some new products.....

(written in February not October!)
So I had a weekend to myself ....... and my inspiration deserted me! How typical. I think some of this is because I don't have a craft room at the moment so I have to go and get everything I want before I start and I don't work like that. I would sit in my craft room surrounded by everything and just pull random bits out, try them, see if I liked everything together etc. I did however finally make a card, late last night knowing my childfree weekend ends this morning at 11....
I finally tried my Noble Dies Pierced Squares (both sets). I need more practice with them as I didnt manage to make the frame that I wanted to make. I had played with some new Ultra Sparkle texture paste the night before so I used this for a background. I hadn't used my String Flowers yet so I used them with the Pinwheel leaves, cut from Aqua Foundation Card. All of these are from Creative Expressions. I used a sentiment die (can't remember who it is by as I lost the packaging) and double cut it in coconut white and aqua to give a shadow effect. I added three AB gems to the centre of the flowers.

2018 and I'm back....

I still don't get much time to craft at home, however, I have been doing some at work! I started doing a craft session with our young people as part of our therapeutic offer - persuaded the boss to buy distress inks as an "essential" and took in some of my own bits and bobs, including die cutting various bits. In doing so, it ignited the dormant spark and I started to revisit my own crafting. Well, possibly more accurate to say I started buying more craft stash......
So I have now completed my Distress Ink collection and also have started acquiring Distress Oxides (more on them later). I am trying desperately to complete my Promarkers collection but have run aground on the limited edition 2014 autumn/winter collection (as it contains colours like chilly red and champagne that are not available singly but I am also not paying £69.99 for it!), which means my collection may have to remain incomplete.
Phill Martin has been a terrible influence, which has resulted in my buying several Pixie Powders, glitters, texture paste, stencils, foundation card (coconut ice is THE white for die cutting) and chalkcloud inks.....
Sue Wilson is an arch temptress and through watching her videos and also following her blog (Particraft), I now own a lot more dies than I used to............
Julia Watts not only creates great craft but also has a fantastic shop so I have also been getting a lot of my craft stash from her if not Phill (current order on its way with CS Ultra Sparkle Texture paste, Foundations card in Lilac, CS Glitter Jewels Crystal Hexagons & Aurora Hexagons & Crystal Stars, 4 more Smoothies and the Spellbinders Tool).
All three of them not only produce great work but also have videos and step-by-steps available that are really easy to follow and take inspiration from, along with the Creative Expressions Youtube account.
I am also now following an American called Jennifer Maguire - not only does she have a Youtube account but also Instagram (IG) and she produces some incredible tutorials (and work).
Next weekend I actually have the house to myself for the first time since K was born in 2012 so I will do some uploads then of my new products in action!
TTFN