Tuesday 30 September 2014

Stampin' Up! Curvy Keepsake box

Morning everyone!  I just got hold the the new curvy keepsake box by stampin' up! and  I must say I am very impressed.  It makes a lovely little curvy box really easily with the bigshot and is a simple close so can be filled with goodies and stays closed safely.

There are endless ways to decorate this box and I started with a gorgeous grunge decoration, with some silver embossing and some petite petals flowers.


These would make lovely favours for a party or wedding.  If you would like me to design special boxes for any up coming events then just get in touch allmark.j@sky.com or go to my facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/#!/amethystarcrafting

Thanks for stoping by :)

Saturday 27 September 2014

Lavinia Stamps Fairy Houses

Just love this stamp set so here is a simple card showing all the details of this lovely stamp set.

 The card is covered with liquid pearls which never show up very well on photos.

Check out my new facebook page for more lovely cards

https://www.facebook.com/#!/amethystarcrafting


Friday 26 September 2014

Lavinia Stamps Cat

This is a lovely card using the lavinia stamps cat stamp.   I have a gorgeous black cat and like all cats when it is dark he likes nothing better than going out by the light of the moon.

I sponged the background in various tones of blue and masked out a moon.  With some liquid pearls and some glitter this makes a really pretty card.  All it is waiting for is a sentiment.


All of my cards are for sale so just drop me a line to let me know what personalisation or sentiment you would like at allmark.j@sky.com or check out my facebook page for my cards for sale

https://www.facebook.com/#!/amethystarcrafting

Have a good weekend :)

Tuesday 23 September 2014

Indigo Blu Bare Forest

I just bought this gorgeous stamp on ebay and couldn't wait to have a go with it.  I sponged a background in oranges and yellow with the edge sponged in a deep purple.  I asked off a sun and then stamped using versafine black ink with this gorgeous stamp.  The effect is stunning and I am so pleased with this stamp.


This card is awaiting a sentiment, so if you would like to purchase this card (£2.50 plus royal mail postage to wherever you are) then just drop me a line allmark.j@sky.com  or go to my facebook page 
https://www.facebook.com/#!/amethystarcrafting

Whatever sentiment or personalisation, name, event, date can be added to this card.

Thanks for droping by :)

Saturday 20 September 2014

Male Birthday Card

Another little order for a birthday card for a husband. The brief was has a couple of dogs which are their life and love the outdoors and are always off walking and hiking with the dogs in tow.

So this card has some cute dogs travelling along ready for the next adventure.


I specialise in personalised cards for any event and enjoy making them tailor made for the individual. Check out my facebook site for more ideas and just private message to order

https://www.facebook.com/#!/amethystarcrafting

or just drop me an email allmark.j@sky.com

Thanks for dropping by :)

Friday 19 September 2014

Little Girl Birthday Card

Well exciting events.  I have just started my own facebook page full of all the cards that I have made for customers, friends and family.  This is another umbrella for me to sell my own personalised cards and papercraft.

Please if you could follow the link and like for me it will help to grown my little business and help me in my crafting journey.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/amethystarcrafting

Todays card is my first order for a little girl's 2nd birthday.  She has a stuffed elephant which she takes with her everywhere so I made a little elephant and put her name on the card.



I decorated the card with lots of liquid pearls in pink and white and embossed the edge of the card.

Hope you all have a great weeknd and enjoy the last of the warmth and sunshine and hot temperatures as the forecast is for cooler weather next week.

Thursday 18 September 2014

Stampin' Up! Blending backgrounds technique.

Blending backgrounds is a great way to co-ordinate the colours exactly with the cardstock and mounts that you use.  This technique starts by cutting a mount (I used a square from the square framelits) then take a selection of inks and start by blending thelightest colour first and then building with tones until the desired effect is achieved.  I tend to then go over the whole area with the lightes colour again to ensure a smooth finish with no blotchy or uneven edges.

Then take a stamp set and using black ink print the image partly in the background and partly out.  This gives a lovely symetry to the card while leaving some lovely white space around for a really professional look. The image can be coloured or left depending on how you feel it looks.



Have a look back on the past few days of this blog for some other examples. 

This card I used smoky slate, wisteria wonder, rich razzleberry and blushing bride.  My camera is not the best quality so the picture does not do it justice but the blending is quite vibrant.

Have fun and enjoy your crafting :)

Wednesday 17 September 2014

Stampin' Up! Wetlands

Another card order for a customer for their son's birthday.  They wanted a nature card but wanted "son" on the card.  The Wetlands stamp set is lovely and I used the canadian goose which I stamped just outside the masked sponged square. I really love this technique of blending a square and then stamping inside and out to give a beautiful centre piece but with some lovely white space around.



Blending is so satisfying as by combing several colours the bacjground can take on a lovely water colour effect.

Personliased cards are my speciality so if there is a special event that you want to celebrate then just drop me a line allmark.j@sky.com and I'd be hapy to help.

Tuesday 16 September 2014

Stampin' Up! Holiday Home

I was asked to make a card for a customer whose friends had just moved into their new home.  They were both avid gardeners and had bought the house because it had a lovely garden and greenhouse.


I really enjoy making personalised cards for people as they can be tailor-made specifically for the individual.

If you have would like a personalised card made for whatever event then please get in touch allmark.j@sky.com and I'd be happy to oblige.

Monday 15 September 2014

Stampin' Up! Lovely As A Tree

Autumn is truly upon us now and the trees have started to change colour to those lovely rich hues.  The weather is still lovely and sunny and warm by day but there is a nip in the air and that fresh feeling and smell.  With this in mind it inspired me to make an Autumn card and I took the lovely oak leaves from the Lovely As A Tree stamp set.


I masked a background and then sponged and then stamped the leaves image and coloured with alchohol inks.

All the cards I make are for sale so if you fancy something handcrafted then get in touch allmark.j@sky.com

Thanks for stopping by :)

Saturday 13 September 2014

Hare Card

I just love hares in all shapes and forms and my home is filled with lots of bronze hares, plaques and ornaments and I have a hare tattoo on my wrist.  So when I came across this little fellow I just had to get him and make some cards.





With some spirals round the edge of the card and the hares coloured in various hues, added a bit of sparkle on one (so many different variations can be achieved) and a fab sentiment hoppin by to say hi, this card would be cool for almost any occasion or just a quick "hi" card to cheer someone up.

If you like this card (or any of my other cards on this blog) then just me an email allmark.j@sky.com and I'd be happy to post one out to you.

Have a great weekend :)

Friday 12 September 2014

Stampin' Up! Tee Hee Hee

He! He!  this time I have made a layered card with the witches hats and the sentiment if the hat fits. Fun and puts a smile on the face of all those witchy folk out there (including me)

Shades of purples and blacks and randomly stamped witches hats and the effect is really cool.  My camera does not give a great clarity to this card but it is lovely and crisp and a fun card which I love.

Have a witchy day :)

Thursday 11 September 2014

Stampin' Up! Tee Hee Hee

So I decided to be a bit more create today and think of something suitable to use the sentiment "witch parking" and so created a fence for the brooms to lean against.  Wanted to create some grass so came up with the idea of using the tip of the broom to create a grassy border and yay! it works really well.


Maybe I went a little overboard with the witch parking sentiment but kinda liked the hatched effect and being quite a small sentiment felt it worked.

If you like any of my work and would like to order a special card (thanks to everyone that has :) ) then just get in touch allmark.j@sky.com and I'd be happy to help.

Thanks for dropping by.

Wednesday 10 September 2014

Stampin' Up! Tee Hee Hee

Sometimes crafting is all about having a giggle and this stamp set with all the quirky sentiments is one of those.  A fab photopolymer set which makes it super easy to place exactly where you want and bingo a super card comes together.

I just love the witchy boots and my favourite inkpad is the blackberry bliss a super dark purple which teams with the black perfectly.

As you all know all the cards on my blog are for sale and I specialise in bespoke cards with individual sentiments, names & dates for those special times.  Email me and I'd be happy to create something special for you. allmark.j@sky.com


Tuesday 9 September 2014

Stampin' Up! Tee Hee Hee

Just loving playing with new stamp sets and this witchy one is just up my street.  It is a great set for halloween but also a fun one for all witchy people out there as some of the sentiments are so cool.


People call me a witch like it's a bad thing with a tee hee hee.  These stamps are photopolymer so being totally clear are really easy to place.  A simple monochrome card crisp and clear and would suit so many of my friends.  Can't wait to be a bit more experimental, so take a look over the next few days to see some of the other ideas I come up with.

Have a fab week and enjoy the lovely warm weather we are having in this gorgeous indian summer in the UK.

Love and blessings :)

Monday 8 September 2014

Stampin' Up! hearts stencils

Ooooo how exciting, I have been playing around with this lovely stencil and blending a few inks using a sponge give a lovely 3d effect which is quite striking.

Finished this card quickly with the Be-You-tiful sentiment which being photopolymer can be bended to fit nicely inside a perfect circle using the circle punch.

Funday Monday and must play around with this idea some more.

Happy week everybody :)

Sunday 7 September 2014

Stampin' Up! Four Feathers Trio

With this lovely new stamp set I decided to make a trio of feathers sponged with four different inks to give a subtle blended look.  I used the hearts stencils to again give a blended background.  Really pleased and love the look.

Think I might have to try some more blended cards as the look is lovely and gives a 3d effect.

allmark.j@sky.com if you wish to purchase any of my cards.

Thanks for looking :)

Saturday 6 September 2014

Stampin' Up! Four Feathers & Gorgeous Grunge

Gorgeous Grunge give a fab background and with the new Four Feathers on top it makes a lovely card with gorgeous autumnal colours.

Wrapped with a piece of bakers twine for the finishing touch and with a few liquid pearls for a bit of bling.

Drop me a line allmark.j@sky.com if you wish to order any of my cards.

Friday 5 September 2014

Stampin' Up! Four Feathers

This is a really lovely stamp set and this time I have used the image left after the stamp has been die cut to make my own dsp background in subtle colours.  With the feathers mounted on top and a piece of ribbon this has given a gorgeous card.  I know there will be so many different varitations I can use with this set.  Just love feathers


As always drop me a line allmark.j@sky.com if you would like to order any of my cards :)

Have a crafty day :)

Stampin' Up! Four Feathers

I've always loved feathers as feather always signify that angels are never far away.  So when this lovely stamp set became available at the beginning of the month I just had to get it.  Over the next few days I will be playing with this set and will show you some of the cards I make with this set.  As always all of my cards are for sale so if you see anything that you like then just drop me a line allmark.j@sky.com and I would be happy to make one for you, with whatever sentiment or personalisation you wish.
 
These feathers are stamped using pool party ink then die cut with the co-ordinating die with a simple sentiment to finish.  Really like the simple, clean finish to this card.
 
Thanks for stopping by :)