'What you do speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you say.'
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thursday 25 March 2021

Oops! I had a blip - and lost a week 😉 But I'm still determined to clean out my last year's folder, so here are some cards I made towards the end of last year. I've had this post waiting to upload for a week - so sorry. In between, it was my birthday and lots of other things have happened. I'm also working on a special project for a friend's 80th birthday, so it's been a little busy.

This was a Christmas card for someone special. I love Wonky Tonk images, but they're a little limiting. I was practising watercolour with these - lots of room for improvement, but I really enjoyed it and spent a while on them. I used irridescent inks on part of her hair and gel pen for her earrings. It's never easy to stamp words on watercolour paper, especially without a stamping platform. The stars are Jane Davenport and I used a deckle edged die. I cut off her hair... gosh, it's a long time since my own hair was that long! Long hair always looks so good on other people.

This is the same image, but with different words and for a January birthday.
Wonky Tonk 3 - I have another one I haven't yet scanned, and this one isn't quite finished, but I wanted to show it. It's a watercolour again, but I need to add some text to it and decide whether to use it for a card or a journal page...it was masked around the edges, so there's quite a deep border around it. I think this one is my favourite.


A Lavinia birthday card. Lavinia stamps are always fun to let your imagination go and be a little girl again 😊 I enjoy my playtimes with them. This is only a partial main image and it's 6x6 - well, the main card is.

I was repeating a design I made a couple of years ago when I made this - the first one seemed better, but the oxidisation from the inks just looks amazing on Kraft card, and the white embossing is striking amongst the shades of purple. Love these words.
Alcohol inks swiped on glossy, then an ink lift-off technique, using Blending fluid. Not a good example, really but that's mainly because I didn't choose the ideal stencil. I've found some more samples I did at the time and the stencilling shows up much more clearly, so I'm hoping to find a way to use those soon. Such a shame to waste them. I'll post another one below. I love this technique with the inks, though. Just a swipe with three colours on the felt gives you a lovely effect - very quick and easy - once you've found your AIs and got everything out all over the desk 😖 More of the same for the one on the right, but I think you can see the lift off technique through the stencil a little more clearly. I didn't find this technique easy...the blending fluid is really difficult to control. They were for a CAS challenge, hence lots of white space.

And a card I finally put together, after having half most of it made fo rmonths! Having periods of being unable to stamp plays havoc with your organisation 😁 Lots of stencilling and stamping on this one.


Linking to
Dragonfly Dreams, Anything Goes
Crafts Galore Encore, Anything Goes
Crafting Happiness, Outdoors or Anything Goes
Retro Rubber, Anything Goes (Butterfly OLD)
Try it on Tuesday, Use a Stencil or Two
Day of the Month Card Club, Learn About Butterflies Day
Allsorts, Anything Goes/Optional Monochromatic
Sweet Stamping, For a Special Woman

So lovely to have you visit me today - thank  you.
I'll be back soon.
Stay safe!
Cath(erine)
xxx

10 very kind comments from lovely people:

My name is Erika. said...

I've never been able to have long hair, and I always always wanted it. Mine is tough enough when it is short Smile. So I love these ladies with their long tresses flowing right off the edge. Super cards Cath. The stenciling is beautiful. Very glad you shared with us at Try It on Tuesday. Have a wonderful weekend and hope all is well. Hugs-Erika

Helen said...

LOVE all your creations! Such a fantastic post! And love that stencil work on your butterfly card! Thanks for joining us at Try it on Tuesday1

Rosmarie said...

So many beautiful cards and adorable images - a real feast for the eyes!!! Love the sentiment and all the purple shades and stenciling work on your butterfly card! Thank you so much for playing along with DotMCC. Rosi x

brenda said...

You have been mega busy Cath and impossible to choose a favourite from all of your lovely makes. Lovely to see you at Allsorts, although your post seems to be dated before the challenge started so backlinked.

B x

Neet said...

You will not believe this. Last night I sent for that stamp of the butterfly with eyes. I love eyes and when I saw it I just wanted it. Oh heck!
Love the Wonky Tonks. I love her stuff and she is a lovely person too - very gentle like her girls. Sadly I am having my long hair chopped off in two weeks time. I cannot wait. Lockdown tresses and me do not go together. Were I 20 then it would be different. Love the deckle edge, I must remember to do that some time.
Beautiful silhouette card Cath, I always think they are more difficult as they look dreadful if you get a tiny speck not inked - yours is perfect! Lovely background.
Never used Oxides on Kraft so now will have to try them - gorgeous colour combination and what a beautiful image and words. This is a favourite card for me.
I've never done the lift off technique despite having the pad and that to do it. Maybe I should find it and have a go. Perhaps its with the Castaway pad that I don't think has ever been even slid out of the sleeve. Again, these are lovely.
Well, that's a whole load of loveliness you shared again with us. Thanks Cath.
Hugs, Neet xxx

Mrs.B said...

A fabulous selection of cards, love those Wonky Tonk images with their beautiful hair.
Loving the card you shared with us at Try it on Tuesdays, the colours and black stamping is fabulous.
Avril x

Aimeslee Winans said...

Hi Cath! Hope you're feeling good. Don't fret about the blip. I had one for 10 days before posting today. Every card from you is a delight and I love the attached stories. I think you did the alcohol ink lift as well as most, seems to be one of those techniques that induce frustration, lol. I bought the lift pad but have yet to try it. Have a great Easter week, xoxo

pearshapedcrafting said...

I think I will be on catchup for a good long while top come! I love all of your cards Cath! Tracy's girls are so beautiful and I love those happy fairies! The butterfly is really wonderful, great background! Thank you so much for joining us at Try It On Tuesday, Chrisx

Mummylade said...

Such wonderful projects! Thank you for joining us at Allsorts Challenge

crafty-stamper said...

Beautiful cards and watercolouring love the beautiful butterfly one
Carol x