Peacocks

Well I didn't think I would be doing two posts in one night but miracles DO happen!

I've just finished my tags for the September Tag Swap on UKScrappers. The general theme in 2012 is "trendy tags" and the host Leanne aka lovely leanie is choosing themes that are on trend this year. In September that theme is PEACOCKS - limes, purples and teals. All my favourite colours!!! I turned once again to my beloved Dylusions sprays - fresh lime, crushed grape and vibrant turquoise. I also added distress inks over the top in salty ocean, dusty concord, pine needles and shabby shutters.

I stamped over the inked backgrounds with a stamp I'm purchasing off leanie... I haven't paid her yet :o).... I love all the different fonts on it and its about friendship.

Etsy has been my friend recently and I've been looking at a lot of digital images. I bought the peacock inchy bottlecaps you can see on the tags and I also bought some collage words with quotes on that I really like and I've matted onto turquoise and purple mirri. I added purple and turquoise ribbon as a final touch. They are so pretty I may just stroke them for a while before posting them off!

Come on, Dance...

Another UKScrappers Swap. This one I took part in last year and really enjoyed so couldn't wait to join in again... it's a mini book of tags. You create ten tags and post them off and get ten back which you can choose to make covers and bind them altogether to make a mini book. We leave space at the top so people can add holes, bookrings or whatever.

My current obsession with everything Dylusions meant I wanted to create something around one of the quote stamps I've got. I decided on, "If you're walking on thin ice you may as well dance!", as I have a dancing stampotique character stamp which fit perfectly! So here are the tags:

 and individual pics....

The tags were made from my favourite white card Stampin' Up!s Whisper White. They were sprayed with Dylusions sprays then I used Stampin Up!s background stamp.... and a Dylusions border stamp that I am using so much at the moment I fear it will break... if stamps broke that is... I'm sure you must be able to wear them out though! I love how the sprays blend beautifully with no effort. Just spray a little water on the card first and hey presto! So I just have to write my details on the back then they can be sent off. Now onto the September tag swap.... watch out for some peacock themed tags... Sian xx

Making books into cards

For the September Card Swap over on UKScrappers I chose this month's theme as BOOKS. The main criteria was to use a book page or alternative as part of your design. As two additional challenges I suggested using a book as the theme, e.g. Alice in Wonderland, and then with the (rather annoying) huge sales of 50 Shades of Grey I suggested people use many shades of one colour. The main theme of books is mandatory but the other two themes are optional. I decided to make the same card in 5 different colours and really wanted to make use of some of my favourite stamps. Here are my 5 cards:

I used 5 different shades of Stampin' Up! card for the bases. I matched ink to card to create the bottom background and stamped a "She Art" background stamp. The second layer is Bazzill Antique book paper sprayed with Dylusions ink. I used a sentiment from Dylusions stamp set, "Say What You Mean" and finally stamped a Suzi Blu girl and coloured her in using all different shades of pro-markers.

I've loved all the different cards that have come through my door and look forward to seeing the rest when they arrive this week.

Inspire Me!

As part of the art journal CJ, "From the Ashes" I've completed an entry in a journal called "Inspire Me" where we are to create a page using whatever inspires us.

On the back I've written, "Without a doubt my inspiration often comes from other mixed media artists whether they are well-known or amateurs - other people's creativitiy constantly astounds me. For this entry I've chose stamps by Suzi Blu, Donna Downey & Dylusions. Dyan Reavely of Dylusions is a huge inspiration to me right now. my other favourite form of inspiration is quotes and poetry. To form words in such a way that it moves, inspires and affects people is a gift! I've called this piece, "Live a Life Inspired"...

The sentiment in the middle is a Donna Downey stamp which spoke to me straight away. I do feel I can't breathe if I'm not making something or thinking about making something. I used gorgeous Dylusions sprays to make the background I love how well they blend and how bright they are and how when they mix together they create other colours. So I hope Yolanda - the owner of the CJ - likes it as I enjoyed making it very much. Sian xxx