High tide card

 I've been playing with the High Tide set again. The lighthouse, the ray of light and the bird stamps. The rest was  achieved with blending brushes and a sponge dauber. I don't really like the  stamp in the set that forms the base of the lighthouse, so  I created my own rocky base with torn paper and a sponge dauber loaded with black ink. I also added some random rocks in the foreground for extra interest.

To avoid the lighthouse looking the size a pepper pot,  position it at the top of your card. This will make it appear more distant and in proportion. 

Sea shell themed card

 Here's another attempt at making a card using the Sea shells embossing folder.  I embossed white card and sponged blue ink into the card making sure a lot of that ink reached the  card between the raised embossed areas. Then I sponged brown ink over the raised areas only. I think this one is my best attempt so far. I have since purchased the stamp set and die to go with this embossing folder so expect to see more using this suite in the not too distant future.

Wilderness Awaits Stag card

I've never heard of anyone ever sending a card for a stag do, but why not??? 
The idea was obviously inspired by the stamp of the stag in the wilderness awaits stamp set from S.U.
This card will contain a special message for the bride groom  to kick up his heels , but also to take care.  
We wouldn't want him to end up tied to a lamppost minus his clothing or worse.

I used the tip of the pine tree in the  " Lovely as a tree"   stamp set along the base of the card along with a little sponging.

The background paper I made using a brayer and a texture stamp and two shade of green ink pads.   

World Map Card.

Today I went on the Stampin' Up demonstrators web site and came across a card made by Julie Gearinger which I thought  was great. 

(I don't visit the website very often as I know it will take up most of my day.)

 As you have probably know when I come across a card I love I have to have a go at re producing it and today was no exception.
Julie's card  had different background  paper and she used slightly different colour inks. I didn't have all the inks or the paper she used so I had to improvise.
Julie also added hemp string to hers. 
I didn't notice the string on hers immediately and figured if I didn't notice it, maybe other people wouldn't notice it immediately. So I didn't  put it on at all.


Also I didn't distress the edges as much as she did.
Julie has a tutorial on her blog if you would like to  re produce her work shoot over to her blog and take a look. She also has  a large collection of AMAZING card she has made.

 I have to say once my card was finished, I couldn't help feeling a little bit disappointed by it.  I  think it feels dark and gloomy rather bright and cheery.
This one is going to my brother I do hope he likes it.

Matthews 18th

This easle card was made for the son of an old school friend. Who happens to be into sailing and I believe is well on his way to being a Marine. I used the sail away stamp in the a la carte range in Stampin' up's mini catalogue. This card measures 8"X 8" so it is quite large. I had to remove some of the ink from the hull of the boat before I stamped this as I wanted a splash of red on this card. Lots of daubing, paper tearing, matting and layering went into this card. There are two hidden pockets. One of which has tag with a greeting on and the other has a tag for the sender ( in this case, Mum) to write their own greeting on. This card used four sheets of black card one sheet of 12"x12" card in crumb cake, four sheets of whisper white card stock, and that's not counting the pieces I messed up on and had to do again , lol.I used a pair shoe laces for the knot. Click on pictures for a more detailed view. I cannot take all the credit for this card as it was inspired by a card I saw on an Australian demonstrators website.