Sunday 2 November 2014

Dragon's Lair Designs - New Kit - Francheska

Hello All and welcome back to my crafty blog.

It has been a while since I blogged last and a lot has happened since. Not the  least of which was the death of my lovely mother-in-law Jane. Althought we knew that the day would come, we were not prepared for the sense of loss and the grief. It takes time to find a way back to normality and to get on with things again and I am grateful for the crafty friends and colleagues who have been so patient  and supportive during this time.

It is nice to get back to blogging with the new kit from Dragon's Lair Designs. The new kit is called Franscheska and it is full of those deep and sumptious colours that reflect Autumn and the changes it brings.

The kit launched a couple of days ago and you can check out the link below to take you to the full Francheska collection at Dragon's Lair.
http://stampingdragondesigns.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/francheska-new-collection-launch.html.

My DT piece for the launch is a double page layout using the a backing paper  and some of the embellishments from the kit.




I was inspired to do a double page layout from some articles in magazines I read recently. The double page layout has real impact and decided that the backing paper from the kit is so vibrant that all I needed was to add a photo and some of the contrasting embellishments.

I quite like the result, especially how the Francheska backing paper makes the photo pop.  I am looking forward to working with the new kit on my DT projects in the coming month of November. Lots of ways to use the kit not only digitally as above but with traditional papercrafting too.

Check out the link to the Dragon's Lair Designs on-line shop to see the full range and find us on Facebook to take part in the group and challenges.

Thanks stopping by to read and comment on the blog.  All comments are read and appreciated.

Angela X






Wednesday 6 August 2014

Craft For the Craic - August Challenge - A craft Item never used before.


 Hello and welcome to my card-making and craft blog.


My post today is my DT make for the new challenge which started on Friday 1st of August and runs for the month on the  Craft for the Craic challenge Blog.  The theme, as the title suggests, is to use an craft  item never used before. 

I did struggle with this as most of the craft items I buy are opend as soon as purchased. Then I hit on the idea of trying the 'bleach dyeing' fabric technique using some acrylic stamps to apply the images.  This is something I've wanted to try for ages and I had even  bought a couple of cheapie t-shirts ( approx 6€ each) so the expense was not too great if the project failed.

I must point out that not all fabrics are suitable for bleach -dyeing  and can be damaged in the process, so be careful and maybe up-cycle an old t-shirt or buy an inexpensive one to test on. Wash your stamps as soon as you can to prevent any breakdown in the acrylic and dry thoroughly.

You will need:
ordinary bleach
some kitchen roll, folded into a rectangle,
a shallow dish
your chosen stamp
a piece of strong card
to place inside the t-shirt to prevent
he bleach soaking through to the back

Extra items you may want
cotton buds
coloured ink pads with ink
suitable for stamping on  fabric.


To begin, please protect the surface you are working on, as bleach is pretty unforgiving when it spills or splashes (trust me I know).

I used the folded kitchen paper in the shallow dish and soaked in enough bleach to create a 'stamping' pad. Don't make this too wet as you can get drips and smudged images on your fabric.

From a hand-drawn skull image I cut out the negative shape that I used as a mask and made sure to retain the eyes to mask this part of the image and keep it free from bleach.  I should have used stronger card for this, as during the stamping process the copy-paper soaked  in a little extra bleach and some of my stamping is not as sharp as I would have liked.

I was doing well with the stamping when disaster struck. I hit the OPEN bottle of bleach and only caught it after the spill had left a large splodge of bleach on the sleeve left sleeve.I tried to mop it all up quickly, but the bleach was working fast. So I had no choice but to carry on and as a finish I splashed some bleach on the right sleeve. :-)

I used the cotton-buds dipped in bleach to draw the outline of the image to define the shape and dripped and made some splashes Happenstance !  It didn't look too bad.  Sort of grungy, cinco de mayo type of look.  I like it !!

When you are finished, leave the bleach for about 30 mins to dry and neutralise and then you can wash the garment.




The completed article.


You could also use the inks suitable for a sort of second stage stamping to introduce colour into the areas you've bleached . This is what I did with my second attempt with the pale  pink t-shirt.
The second try at the bleach-dyeing with a lighter coloured t-shirt didn't  show up well, so I hunted out some of my ink-pads and checked that the ink was suitable for use on Fabrics.



I used the same stamp to bleach out the  Butterfly image and then stamped the image again with the colours. I treated the images with a couple of colours to see how it looked and the colours seemed blend fine.  When the ink is dry, iron the garment  to set the colour and prevent the colour washing out in the wash. I used an old clean tea-cloth on top to prevent the ink staining the iron.


Colours blending well.

At the    Craft for the Craic  challenge we are looking for your Never Used Before Craft Item  and this was a first for me.  I am definately going to use this technique again to jazz up some tired tops and look around for some stamping ink pads to increase the colours I can stamp on the fabric.  With supervision, this looks like a great art activity for kids.

I hope you give it a go and have some fun.


Remember to pop along to the  Craft for the Craic blog and see the makes from the other DT members. Take time to check out the challenge rules and get crafting and get your entry in.

Thank you for stopping by to visit and read my blog.  Your time and comments a truly appreciated.

Angela x


Tuesday 15 July 2014

Craft for the Craic - July Challenge - My Favourite Colours

Hello and welcome to my card-making and crafting blog.

I am posting my DT project mid-month (thanks to Eithne and the other DT members at Craft for the Craic), lots to do work-wise and not enough time.  Seems like an age since I actually made something, so I was so happy to get inky and start crafting again.




The  Craft for the Craic  theme this month is ' My Favourite Colours' and I found it difficult to chose.  I would normally shout 'BLUE' and be happy , but since we have relocated to the lovely Lough Ree in the heart of the Irish midlands, I am facinated with the colours produced by the sun-sets on the lake and the wonderful combinations that nature creates.

My favourite colours seem to change every evening. My card is my attempt to recreate one of these sun-sets.





You're on my mind


This is a 13 x 9 cm note-card with a fold  along the side.  I used a selection of the Tim Holtz 'Ranger Distress' inks to create the blended background making sure to mask off a circle to make the moon.  I tried to mirror the colours, working from the ends of the card and graduating the colours toward to middle. My foreground was created using  a torn paper with a jagged outline and some Vintage Photo distress ink.  My lonely bird stamp is from a Papermania clear stamp set and the sentiment is from Verve stamps ' Heartfelt Thoughts'.  Not bad for restarting my crafting!


So now it's over to you. Please pop into the   Craft for the Craic challenge blog and see the wonderful DT projects to inspire you and get your entry in.  It is important to check out the challenge blog rules and make sure your entry complys. 

So Good luck with the challenge and I look forward to seeing your entries.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read my blog. Please leave a comment , I love hearing from you.


Angela x

Friday 6 June 2014

New Challenge at Craft for the Craic - Something Summery or with Flowers


Hello and welcome to my cardmaking and crafting blog..


My post today is my new DT project for the new challenge starting this morning at Craft for the Craic  and our theme  this time is **Summery / Flowery**.   A great challenge with lots of scope for creativity.

I have chosen the Summery project.




 I wanted to create a beach scene to get some sunshine in to my day, as there seems to be precious little of it about.

My card base is a white 5x5 tent fold card with a smaller square of blue card matted to the front.  I added some torn strips of cream paper with distressed edges, to represent the beach and a third strip of white paper, torn roughly, to represent the surf.  My Surf boards were stamped on to some coloured paper and adhered to the front of the card. I then created some flip-flops using a stamp from the same stamp-set of Stamps of Life clear stamp set. I then added the much needed sunshine , die sut from a Nellie Snellen die to complete the card.

Surf's Up

Pop along to the Craft for the Craic Challenge Blog to see the DT projects that will inspire. They are a talented bunch.  And when inspired, join in !

Over to you now.  Get crafting and get your entry in. Don't forget to check out the challenge rules and link your entry back to the blog.

Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.  Your time is appreciated and comments welcome.

Good Luck !!

Angela x

Saturday 10 May 2014

Stolen Moments for Crafting

Good morning Crafters and welcome to my Blog.

As the title of the blog states  I am stealing a few moments from whatever important housework thing I should be doing, to blog and post about things crafty.  Shameful, I know but it is either blogging / crafting or sorting washing, matching socks or hoovering. I guess you can see what has come put on top.

I am posting today about the current obsession with making my own backing papers with the help of my Photoshop photo-editing software.

That great source of information and teaching tool that is Youtube has been a great help with improving my Photoshop skills. A little bit of digging and searching comes up trumps when you find the right (and simple) tutorial to help with the 'How To's .

I have to confess that finding our how to create seamless patterns and designs in Photoshop has turned into a bit of a craze for me. I keep coming up with new ideas and combinations to try out and it keeps me entertained for hours. Or until my conscience kicks in and I empty the dishwasher or fold the ironing.  :-)

Here are couple of test 12 x 12 backing papers I had a go at today. I've started with Gingham  and Check patterns and trying out some colour combinations I've selected from photos we've taken.  The eye-dropper tool allows you to select pin-points of colour and create large blocks of the chosen for use as you please.




Roggenburg Tartan


Pink Gingham



Blue Red Yellow Check



Based  on how pleased I am with this test I will be continuing with the creative Photoshop process a bit more.


For now  I suppose I should get on with some housework.  Thank you for stopping by to read my blog and visit. Your time and comments are always appreciated.

Wishing you a great day today.


Angela x

Friday 2 May 2014

New DT Spot - New Challenge- Craft for the Craic

Hello and welcome to my crafty blog.

Today my post is about my new DT spot at Craft for the Craic a blog for local Irish crafters to join in and show off the local talent. I am delighted to be part of this team as I have recently returned to Ireland from 25 years working and living abroad and I was keen to get involved with crafting in Ireland.  Looking forward to my time as part of the DT and being inspired by the clever talented members of the group.

Thank you to Craft for the Craic for allowing me to be part of this great team!



The latest challenge, starting today, at  Craft for the Craic is 'Something Suitable for Baby'

I chose to make a card using some freebie backing papers from Scrapbook Magazine, a LOTV stamp and organza ribbon from my stash.




The base is a  5 x 5 tent fold card with a matted yellow gingham background decorated with some yellow organza ribbon. The image is coloured with Copics and framed with a Lea'bilities die-cut frame. The sentiment is from a Fiskar's clear stamp set 'Baby'. 

So now it is over to you! Pop along to the blog to be inspired by the DT makes and join in. We would  love to see your entries for our Something Suitable for Baby challenge, just make sure you read and comply with the rules before you submit your entry.  Good Luck to all who enter the Craft for the Craic  challenge.


Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. Your time and comments are appreciated.

Angela x

Monday 10 February 2014

First Challenge Entry 2014 - DCM Colour Challenge.

Hello and Welcome to my cardmaking blog.

Trying to stay true to my promise to get more crafting done this year, I decide to start back at the beginning and get back into some of my favourite challenges.

I have also been trying my hand at designing my own blog background using photoshopped-images from photos take in the summer.  It is a work in progress as I keep learning new stuff and changing my mind. So please  bear with me until I get the hang of this new skill and finally decide what I am going to do with the background.

So back to the cardmaking.
My first entry for 2014 is the  Daring Card Makers  colour challenge which started last Friday 7th Feb. Great colour combo and I like the fresh cool blues mixing with the ward orange and yellow.





I opted for the orange and yellow colour scheme with  a blue/gray striped washi-tape strip to tie in with the photo. Courtsesy of a great tutorial from Jennifer McGuire   I made the 'chevrons' from patterned paper from my stash and finished the card with a chevrons style orange ribbon and an orange button threaded with a deep blue organza ribbon.


The sentiments are from the Stamps of Life.

I have been sticking to digital scrapbooking for the last year or so simply because all my kit was in storage and then it took a while to get my craft space sorted. But things are looking up and I am finding homes for all my stuff and looking forward to getting my mojo back. Need to sort out my lighting and make a new light-box for photos, but I'm getting there.


Hope you enjoyed your visit and don't forget to leave me a comment.  Your time and comments are always appreciated.

Angela x