Waltzingmouse Fanatics - Challenge 18 Texture

Hi, these are my designs for the Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge No 18 Texture.
There is still time to enter your designs on the Fanatics blog, well worth a visit.

I like to add texture to my designs where I can, often by using an embossing folder. It took me a while to get started with the folders but now I love them as much as my stamps and dies

My first design idea is using textured/grunge paste through a stencil to create the Chinese Lantern shapes. This is the first time that I have tried this, so inspired by your challenge blog I have had a go at something new to me, and so pleased I really enjoyed this technique. I added distress inks to colour them, and a variegated background from the Waltzingmouse Stamp Asian Gardens, using the tree stamp from the same set and shading the inks for the blossom. The sentiment is from a favourite set, Folk Art Medallions, cut out with a Spellbinders Die and mounted on foam pads, as is the chinese tree.

I then went on to make an easy design for a Beach Party Invite, using the My Island Stamp Set and an embossing folder background of shell design, inked over with distress inks to bring out the shells. I used the Splat that set for the background on the Tag, and Chicken Wire stamp to add some interest, the tag was tied on with bakers twine.

My final contribution, was inspired by an embossing folder in a wood texture design, which I thought could make an interesting representation of a seascape. Grabbing my Ocean Bound stamp set, a go to stamp set for me, I stamped three ships and then embossed the wood design. Using a brayer I covered the embossed design with a sea blue colour, which brought out the white wave pattern. Adding the sentiment on a die cut label. A very simple design, in a tight colourway.

Thank you for visiting, hope that you enjoyed my designs.

Kathy x

Waltzingmouse Fanatics Challenge No 17 - Tropical Colours

Hi, this is my take on the Waltzingmouse Fanatics Colour Challenge No 17, and what fun tropical colours they are.

I started out with a new to me technique to create the background paper. Using distress inks I dabbed the colours, green, blueish purple and greenish yellow over a sheet of card. Then positioned a stencil/mask over the top and spritzed the card with water, leaving the mask in place so that the water could dry a little. Then finished the drying with a heat gun, which gave a subtle watermark effect. Finished the background with stamping using the French Country stamps randomly stamped and inking around the edges with distress ink, for a "shabby" look. Some matting and layering up then a "ribbon" stamped with the lace from French Country, topped with a doily and a "Thanks" tag.

My first card was very much from the "green" set of colours. I had just received my new Waltzingmouse May release stamps and cutting dies, I had included a stamp set that had come back into stock, My Island.
I think inspired by the parrots, I thought that would be a good idea to use the hot reds and orange colours for the sunset stamp from My Island, Palm trees, there are always palm trees on my fantasy tropical beach, were stamped in purple. Layering up with an embossed wood effect background, like a "surf shack" worn and faded paintwork, plus a panel of stamped woven efffect, bakers twine and an organza ribbon.

My last card design was inspired by bright tropical flowers, courtesy of the Funky Flowers stamps and cutting die set, and the new Simple Sprigs cutting die set, with Simple Sprigs stamps. In a wild riot of colours. The sentiment is taken from the new stamp set Tag Collection One and cut with the Stitched Tags die set. A bow completes the tag, reminiscent of a hand tied bouquet.

All my cards are mounted on the same grass green card colour as a link between them and the challenge colours.

Hope that you enjoyed my designs.
Thank you for visiting

Kathy x

Waltzingmouse Stamps Launch of new designs May

This is an exciting post for the forthcoming new releases from my fave stamp company, WALTZINGMOUSE STAMPS.
Check out their blog this evening, UK time, for a selection of new WMS Cutting Edge Dies, and masses of ideas from their design team. I have posted as selection of their designs below, just to give you an idea of what is in store

Claire, from Waltzingmouse Stamps has designed some fantastic ideas for "Tags", above is a folding tag design so that you can add interest inside the tag too. What a great idea.

There is a set of tags with a super faux stitched edging,
I just love this design with the Halloween Waltzingmouse Stamps

And another die design that I love is for the Simple Sprig die set.
A great idea for stamping and then die cutting your design.

It is worth a visit to Claire's blog to see all the brilliant design ideas, with links to the design team blogs and remember the launch this evening. Thank you to the designers shown above, their names are shown on the photographs, mainly Claire and  one from Anya.

Thank you for visiting, super weather here today, sunshine and blue skies. Happy Bank Holiday Weekend

Kathy x