"Just hit the 'MY GALLERY' tab (sidebar) to view all my linked creations in one place!"

Autumn Leaves

Hello!
    Thanks to all of you for the encouraging comments on my last post for the MFT Superstar Contest. Since the weekend I've been seeing endless posts for the fall coffee lovers blog hop. I was intrigued by everyone's enthusiasm and after visiting 'The Coffee Loving Cardmakers Blog' decided to join the hop myself for the first time with this card I just made.




Here's the background I used for my card, it was inspired by Brushos Crystals. But, I used chemical compounds instead. One of the advantages of working in a school. :)


Here are the die cut and painted leaves, four of which were used in this card.
Supplies used:
Lawn Fawn-Stitched Leaves
                     So Thankful (sentiment)
Methyl Orange C14H14N3NaO3S & Potassium Permanganate KMnO4 (background effect)
watercolour paper
pan watercolours
embossing powder
hemp cord
die cut from RAK (Thanks Shirley-Ann)
    For the background, the watercolour paper was wetted under the tap, placed flat and sprinkled the two chemical compounds. KMnO4 was sprinkled using a sieve to avoid large crystals. It looked gorgeous when first sprinkled, but due to its oxidising properties, it turned brown on drying. The other compound stayed the same. The leaves were die cut using watercolour paper then painted with watercolours. Next, they were folded along the stitched veins using both mountain and valley folds.The excessive watercolouring of the leaves done until a satisfactory look was achieved dulled the paper. So,acrylic lacquer was lightly sprayed to brighten them with a bit of shine, making them appear natural. The sentiment was heat embossed on the die cut frame and a bit of hemp cord was tied around it. The card was put together, inspired by the sketch below by adhering the background paper to the card base followed by the die cut frame, then the leaves.
I'm also entering this card into challenges at...
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge - powder power (chemical compounds & embossing)
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge -anything goes
http://justforfunrubberstamps.blogspot.com - fall
http://yournextstamp.com/blog - colour
http://blog.paperartsy.co.uk - autumn leaves
http://cardsinenvy.blogspot.co.uk - fall
https://modsquadchallenge.blogspot.com - falling leaves
http://thecatspajamasrs.com/TCP - fall colours
http://themaleroomchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk - leaves
http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.ch - anything goes
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/work-it-wednesday - fall colours
I hope you like my card today. Hope to be back here soon. Have a wonderful day.
Leanne

Cards for MFT Card Design Superstar Contest

Hello there!
    I'm sure most of you have seen this logo and are aware of the buzz in blogland. Yes, I decided to take the leap and join in. My initial reaction to this announcement was... How can I compete with so many fabulous crafters and with just a few MFT products? After Susan's midway reminder my reaction was...Hey, I have the guts too. I spread the 11 MFT products I have (1 background stamp, 2 sentiment stamps & 8 die-namics) on my desk, looked at them for a while, came up with several possibilities and finally made these three over the weekend.

CARD #1 Using Radiant Sun Die-namics as a Spirograph Spinner 
    When the radiant sun was released I thought... This would be great for spirograph inspired string art and I was fortunate it was free at the time of my MFT shopping spree. There are several design possibilities with this die. Here's my first card with this die wherein the centre was open to add an embellishment or a sentiment. In the card below it's closed. The only other sentiment choice I had to go along with this design was the one used in CARD #2. But, as it seemed quite festive, I made it a new year's card.



Here's a 5 second video to show the spinner in action.
Supplies used:
Radiant sun die-namics
Bright lights numbers die-namics
Together forever (sentiment)
multicoloured metallic cord
recycled invitation card
gold acrylic paint
watercolour paper
cotton
gold embossing powder 
double sided foam tape
coin
    The spirograph design was created by working the cord from one end to one spoke away from the one exactly opposite and repeating until all the spokes were covered. Next, the splattered background was made using a cotton ball approximately the size of a table tennis ball. It was wetted with water just enough so as to not let it drip and a blob of paint was spread onto it. Holding the cotton ball at a foot's height, it was dropped on the paper to create a large splatter and repeated until the desired effect was achieved. 2017 was positioned on the background, die cut, removed from negative, dabbed with the same cotton ball of paint and positioned back into it's space with bits of tape without letting it show through the holes. The word happy was heat embossed. A circle was cut in the spot where the sun was to be placed and adhered with double sided foam tape and a coin to facilitate spinning. The card was completed by dabbing paint with the cotton ball on the edge of the card base. The background panel wats cut slightly narrower to reveal the soft gold edge and adhered in place with foam tape.  

CARD #2 Using Radiant Sun Die-namics for a Border
    As I was making my first card, I came up with the idea of using the radiant sun as a border by cutting it halfway, then doing string art. I enjoyed myself trying different forms. I must admit it's addicting and these are the designs I came up with.
And here's a card using one of them.


Supplies used:
Radiant sun die-namics
Together forever (sentiment)
ombre embroidery thread 
inks brilliance-platinum planet
        versamagic-pink petunia
ribbon
pearls
    Two die cut suns were cut in half. The notches on either side already cut by the stitched circle, were cut deeper. To achieve this design, the string was worked in the form of an "X", starting from the notch at one end to the opposite side of the centre spoke and outwards until all were covered up. Inorder to have an even sticking base for the ribbon and to reveal more of the string art, a strip of cardstock slightly narrower than the centre of the ribbon was adhered on the imaginary one third of the card. Next, the half suns were  adhered alternatively on either side starting from the bottom to the top leaving space for the bow. The ribbon was adhered on the strip and folded under the white panel. The sentiment was stamped using the MISTI. It was supposed to be first stamped with platinum planet followed by pink petunia to achieve a soft pink. But in the process, the paper shifted a wee bit, resulting in the accidental shadow effect. finally, the panel was adhered on the pink card base and finished off with the bow and pearls.

CARD #3 Using Bright Lights Symbols Die-namics for Scandinavian Style Embroidery
    While purchasing the number die-namics I felt the symbols were quite a waste, either seldom or never to be used. But, I was wrong. The symbols are useful too. See, how in my card below.



Supplies used:
Bright lights numbers & symbols die-namics
Thanks so very much (sentiment)
silk embroidery thread
pearls
watercolours
    The symbols were die cut and assembled as shown above. Then each one was embroidered with simple straight stitches using silk thread. The completed symbols were adhered on a layered panel and embellished with pearls in the center. The panel was then adhered at an angle on the card base, the sentiment added and finished off with a light splatter of paint in red and black.
    Note: The process of assembling the symbols requires a bit of patience, but it's not time consuming as it may seem. The silk thread with delicate fibers did trouble me, but I wanted to use it for its beautiful shine.

    I hope you like my new cards. I apologize for sharing all three in one post and boring you. But I'm down with flu and because my cards were ready, I had to share them. Thanks for understanding. 
    If you are visiting my blog for the first time, do visit my 'GALLERY' where all my makes have been linked up for easy viewing.
Have a wonderful day!
Leanne

*Edited to add... 
I'm feeling better today (23rd Sept) and decided to enter these cards into challenges at...
CARD #1 https://modsquadchallenge.blogspot.com - splat
                http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.co.uk - going round in circles
CARD #2 http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.co.nz - anything goes
                http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk - anything goes
CARD #3 http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com - dots & dashes
               http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk - anything goes

Watercoloured & Stitched

Hello Friends!
    A happy Stamp-tember Saturday to you all. I'm here today with a thank you card to say "Thank You" to all my new friends out here and to all who entered my Gratitude cum 6th Blog- anniversary giveaway. 
Supplies used:
watercolour paper
pan watercolours
silver acrylic paint
silver thread
sequins
diamond stickles
Hero Arts-fancy die
    After wetting the watercolour paper, the rainbow colours were added. While still wet some diluted silver acrylic paint was sprayed and splattered, salt was sprinkled, heat dried then gently scraped off. The four edges were machine stitched, then adhered to the card base. Finished off with the die cut sentiment and sequins with stickles covering their centers. 
I'm entering this card into the following challenges...
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge - stitching
http://virginiasviewchallenge.blogspot.ca - spray & splatter
http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.co.uk - watercolour & die cut
http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk - anything goes + sentiment
http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - anything goes
    I apologize for the poor picture quality. To pick the winner, I used the traditional system of lots. The winner picked from among the 28 lots by my youngest son is...GAIL...one of my newest followers. Congratulations Gail! I'll be looking forward to your email...the address is in my profile. 
   Thanks once again and have a wonderful weekend.
Leanne

Papertrey August Blog Hop Challenge

Hi friends!
    How are you all? Missed being here especially for MFT-Camp Create, but been very busy doing all sorts before my son returned back to University. A warm welcome to all my new friends here. I hope you will visit often. Just felt like playing for the PTI challenge today and made this card.


and this is the inspiration image...
Supplies used:
 Papertrey Ink-Spring woods stamp set and dies
                         Perfect match hybrid ink-sweet blush
Taylored Expressions-embrace beauty (sentiment)  
chalk pastels
colour pencils 
Memento ink pads
Crayola marker
ice stickles
glossy accents

    From the inspiration picture above I used the colours. The grey background of clouds was made with my own template and chalk pastels. Next, the apple blossom branch was stamped...branch and leaves with memento inks and flowers with PTI sweet blush ink. The flowers were then coloured over with colour pencils to get the desired colour. The bird was stamped separately, using the MISTI, die cut and adhered with foam tape. A few blossom buds were added with a Crayola marker. Finished off with ice stickles on the flowers, glossy accents for the birds eye, the sentiment and adhered the panel on a dark background. 
I'm also entering this card for challenges at...
http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - anything goes
Please join my gratitude candy of 8 stamp sets HERE
Thanks for visiting. Will hop around later today as well as visit you my dear friends. 
Leanne

Stamp-a-faire-Pointilism Play

Hi!
    I'm back with my last make for PTI-Stamp-a-faire. If only I could spend all my time just crafting, I would join all the challenges. But since I couldn't, here's my last.

Supplies used:
Papertrey Ink-Heart stitches die 
                   Spring woods stamp (sentiment)
Q-tip
Crayola markers
ice stickles
    Initially, the hearts were die cut on card stock to create a stencil. They were then filled with colour by dabbing a Q-tip on the ink pad. This was followed by tiny dots with markers in gradient shades of red and added the sentiment. As the need for some shimmer was felt, the sentiment got smudged while adding the stickles. The card was redone by die cutting the hearts and adhering them onto a new card. The smaller heart, which was plain was die cut thrice to get the tiny holes around it. 
I'm entering this card into challenges at... 
Here's a pic with my four Stamp-a-faire makes...
    Thanks for all your visits and comments. Don't forget to link up to my giveaway, just in case you haven't yet done so.
Leanne