Exploring Alcohol Lift Ink

Hello and welcome to my little crafty corner!

I hope you are well and enjoying the summer holidays.

I have been busy crafting for Christmas magazine features during these super-hot days and I needed a little break from it all. I couldn't just sit on my hands though. My Alcohol Lift Ink pad arrived with a few other bits and bobs the other day so I thought I'd give it a go and see for myself what works and what doesn't. It took forever to get my hands on some Blending Solution and I suspect it has a lot to do with the new alcohol ink lifting craze.

I don't think I have made my mind up yet and will have to play with it more to explore its full potential and creative possibilities, but so far, I love it! I have a few fun techniques in mind already, but I can't reveal them just yet so bear with me.

Close to Nature Tie Dye technique

Hi everyone!

I hope you are enjoying your summer days and managing to squeeze some crafting in between. I certainly am!

I have enjoyed not only crafting but also the walks and fun in the nature around us. And today's post is a tad longer but packed with inspiration! I hope you find a moment to enjoy the read... 

Summer Vibes

Hi there!

It's been hot and sunny around here and I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far! I've done plenty of gardening, enjoyed birthday parties, cat proofed the garden so the little fluffy Houdini doesn't escape, went to an Orbital concert in Brighton with my bestie, worked religiously on my tan whilst enjoying the new book 'Craft A Life You Love' by Amy Tangerine and am getting ready for the end of the school year! It's been super-busy every day and I wouldn't have it any other way! I've been crafting for the magazines and even got a lovely rainbow card on the front cover this month! Yay! I'll share some pics via my Instagram so check it out there ;) 

In the meantime, we have a new challenge starting today over in the ***Mixed Media World*** Facebook Group and we'd love to see some summery or summer inspired projects. Our challenge is all about SUMMER VIBES.

What summer means for you? Hot weather? A beach holiday? Or maybe camping? Or your flower garden? What makes you feel all summery? I hope you'll give it a go, create something for the challenge and let us know in the comments or via your blog post. We do allow links with pics for go for it! You could also win an amazing prize. Check out my blog post HERE for more details.

For me, summer means the triple S! Sun, Sand & Sea! Definitely! And I can't wait to go on a holiday somewhere hot and sunny to recharge the batteries. Where are you off to this year?

I created a little ATC and, as always, played with heaps of textures and colours...

Relax - TN Page spread

Hi there!

Thank you for taking time to stop by today. I played a little in my TN... 

The photos on the spread are of my daughter and Pixie taking it easy and relaxing. They were taken in November last year when Pixie and Jasper (who happen to be siblings, so it had to be done) had their operation and even the vet could tell that I was more nervous than the cats. Luckily for male cats, they don’t end up with any stitches that would need to be covered, but Pixie had stitches on her side and needed to wear the little vest to prevent her from licking it or scratching it. Pixie was quite weak at the time and didn’t like the vest at all. I was so worried I closed them in the living room with access to the loo and their food and slept on the sofa. I was up with her a few times just to make sure she wouldn’t fall or go to eat and drink or to the loo ok. I think she knew that I was there for her because she would also saught my company. When Chloé got up, the two snuggled up and it was so sweet to see them bonding. I simply had to document this moment. 

I used the One Canoe Two Twilight stamp set with my Archival Mini inks, Pinkfresh Studios Life Noted stamps to add details and a patterned stripy paper from who-knows-from-which-collection :) 

I enjoy scrapbooking and memory keeping as such,  but working on CAS layouts/on a larger scale is still a bit strange and it takes me forever to decide what to put where or what I would actually like the layout to look like. On the other hand, I am enjoying documenting photos in the handmade traveller’s notebook as I don’t feel as clueless or worried I will mess up. I will share a new spread soon so stay tuned and please consider to subscribe here or to my socials like Instagram or my FB Page where I share more ideas and bit more of my creative world. 

Until next time, have a great day! 

Ingrid x

MMW May 2018 - Moodboard & mid-challenge inspiration

Hey!

How about some mid-month Mixed Media World challenge inspiration? We have a lovely moodboard this month, which you can choose to draw inspiration from or you can submit any mixed media project you have been working on. After all, it's all about having fun! 

Joining our challenge is super-easy. All you need to do is to add a photo of your masterpiece with a link to your blog post or your youtube channel to the relevant album in ALBUMS in PHOTOS in our ***Mixed Media World*** Facebook Group. 7 Dots Studio are sponsoring this month challenge and you could win 20 EUR towards your shopping in their online store! How cool is that?! Now for the inspiration... 

A Stitch in Time with That's Crafty!

Hi everyone! 

I'm back with a new post for That's Crafty! challenge blog. They have a £30 voucher ready for the winner and all you need to do is to create something amazing with products from their store and add some faux or real stitching. Did you know, they have a brand new stencil with Stitches. It's great for adding detail to your cards or any mixed media project. Check it out in their store. 

I went with a CAS card this time. I stamped Melina's Doodled Leaf with Antique Linen ink and coloured it with Spectrum Noir pencils and blended it with the Spectrum Noir Blending Solution as I was going for a more subtle and soft look this time. It just shows how versatile these stamps are! I stencilled the background with the gorgeous shiny Metallic Copper Multi Surface Paint (no, I can't and won't stay away from the shiny stuff, my inner magpie won't allow it) using the TC7011 Leaf Spirals stencil by That's Crafty! using a make up sponge. Again, veeeery lightly and faded it out. The sentiment is from Lynne's Affirmation set 4 stamp set and I LOVE this sentiment. It's so true and so beautifully put. 

I hope you get to join the challenge. It is always a great fun to see your gorgeous makes. I shall look forward to it!

Stay creative! Hugs,

Ingrid x

Easy Memo Cork Board DIY

Hey!

Greetings from sunny England! Yes! Sunny, I say. I was getting sick of the miserable rainy and grey weather here in the UK. The funny thing is, I was wearing a winter coat last week and I was sitting outside in the sun today and even have a tan line! A ridiculous vest tan line, but I have one! LOL! 

There doesn’t seem to be any gradual change in the weather here. It literally changes from one week to another, if not from day to day. It’s a welcomed change nonetheless! Yay for sunshine! 

I'm bringing some more inspiration for the That’s Crafty April challenge and this time something a bit more practical. Do you remember the lovely circular surfaces that That’s Crafty! released recently and presented at the latest Hochanda show? If you missed it you can go to www.hochanda.com and watch the show from 13th April 12pm and 4pm via their Rewind section. I made this for the show so you can take some inspiration from it should you wish! Circles and more circles...

Going Round In Circles - inspiration for That’s Crafty!

Hello and welcome back to my little creative corner of the blog world!

Thank you for stopping by! We all seem to be ‘Going Round In Circles’ over at the That’s Crafty! challenge blog and I have some mixed media goodness for you today to hopefully inspire to join the fun and create something special for the challenge too. There’s a £30 online voucher from That's Crafty! waiting for the winner and it could be you! 

I tend to make heaps of cards for magazines and usually have to follow specific criteria and rules, so when I don’t have to follow ANY rules I enjoy a good mixing of media. I took some photos of the process and this post will be quite picture heavy so I'll try not to woffle too much. 

Obviously, there was a couple of things I had to keep in mind when creating this and that is to show you how you can use the lovely products by That’s Crafty! and make something with Circles. I recently purchased a bunch of gorgeous cut files designed by Paige Evans, one of my favourite scrapbookers out there, and this one came to mind. As I mentioned in my LAST POST, I don’t have a cutting machine. But I used the pdf format of the cut file to print it on an A4 cardstock and cut it out by hand. Look, it’s easy...

Layout DT inspiration for Mixed Media World challenge

Hello and Happy Easter! 

I hope you are all having a wonderful time! Thank you for taking time to stop by. 

The April 2018 challenge is starting today within our Facebook Group ***Mixed Media World*** and we are asking you to have fun and create something Spring inspired. If you don't fancy the challenge and spring is not your thing then fear not. You can still enter any mixed media creation. Well, you have to be in it to win it and we have a wonderful new sponsor! Yeeeaaah! Check it out...

Newbie to TN, set up and 1st spread

Hi everyone! 

Thank you for stopping by! 

I have decided to challenge myself and cut into the gorgeous designer paper pads I have collected. Because I don’t use it. I collect it! I know... crazy! It’s so pretty and I love it so much, but that’s not what is holding me back from using it. The issue is elsewhere... it’s like my heart skips with joy looking at all the gorgeous paper pads filled with stunning designs and my brain goes on strike and into a panic mode when I’m supposed to use patterned papers. All at once! 

But I faced it and even created my first spread...

More Inspiration for... Spring Into Action... That's Crafty!

Hi and welcome back!

I hope you are having a wonderful 1st spring day! I can't wait to have more sunshine in my life!

We are also two thirds through the month of March and halfway through the 'Spring Into Action' challenge over at the That's Crafty! challenge blog. Have you joined in yet? If not, I hope my project will inspire you to get those fun crafty supplies out and have a go at your very own spring-inspired creation.

I had fun with the White/Greyboard Large Wildflowers and picked the gorgeous poppy flower for my project. I also used a small butterfly out of the Large Butterfly set. I simply glued the poppy flower onto a small 5 x 7" canvas board with the Multipurpose Craft Adhesive. This bad boy dries strong and fast, I tell ya! Brilliant, I thought! I covered the entire piece with the White Gesso and let it dry. Once dry, I applied the Texture Paste using my palette knife, roughly shaping the leaves and petals, giving them even more 3D look. I allowed this to dry naturally and covered with another layer of White Gesso.

Then the fun bit...

Hochanda TV Samples (That’s Crafty! New release)

Hi and welcome! Thank you for stopping by!

There is so much I have to share with you today so make a cuppa and prepare for some photo heavy post. 

I made three samples for Hochanda TV and they were aired on 9th March 18’ at 11am and 4pm. You can catch up on the shows via their website www.hochanda.com via Rewind. They were packed with new products produced by That’s Crafty! and they flew off the shelves! 

That’s Crafty! Have a new range of Chunkies which are a laser-cut MDF board substrate that is meant to be put together to create a dimensional base for you to decorate however you wish. They come in four sizes. An ATC size, 6 x 6”, 4.5 x 9” and 8 x 8”. You can use these as a canvas for your art put together, use the individual pieces flat and even the waste is usable, as you will see on my 6 x 6” sample. They are easy to put together with That’s Crafty Multipurpose Adhesive (strong and fast frying). They have a hole in the back for easy hanging, should you choose to do so. All in all, one super product.

Spring Into Action with That’s Crafty!

Hi and welcome back to my little blog! Thank you for stopping by!

Exciting times ahead for those who like to join a challenge or two (or 28!), because the fabulous That’s Crafty! Challenge blog is launching a new challenge today! They are asking us to ‘Spring Into Action’ and create something with spring images. And what’s in it for you? You could win a £30 online voucher! Awesome, right?! 

There is more info on their challenges blog so make sure to hop over and check it all out. You will also find heaps of inspiration for the challenge from my lovely teamies. 

March 2018 MMWchallenge is back!

Hey all!

I hope you are as excited as I am to see the Mixed Media World challenge back in action! That's right! We're back and we are going with the flow... Anything Mixed Media Goes (AMMG) challenge is going live on the ***Mixed Media Group*** on Facebook so hop on the check out the fab creations my team made... I am so proud... you get the proud mamma feeling sometimes... well, that's it... right there... You can find the link to the challenge HERE.

The sponsor of this challenge is...

Prize: £20 online voucher to the shop for the winner + a chance to guest design for MMW 

I was experimenting with the Pebeo' Mixed Media Discovery kit the other day and absolutely loved the results. So, of course, I added more to the collection and created a couple of lovely acrylic small artworks with these lovely products... It was not without a moment of... 'Oooh, nooooo!!! ... 

More inspiration for... I Heart You - That's Crafty! + #giveaway

        

Hi! Thank you for taking a moment to read my post...

I posted about my DT project for the That's Crafty! February challenge - I Heart You (use hearts) a couple of weeks ago and I have some more inspiration for you. If you haven't entered the challenge already then read on and give it a go, because there is a voucher promised for a winner and it could just be you! 

I'm sticking to album and notebook making this month and this time I used a couple of the large white board hearts to make the covers. I intend to trace the hearts onto some paper, possibly watercolour cardstock, cut them out and fill the book. I haven't fully decided yet on what paper I want in it. These hearts don't come with a hole, but it is easy to punch or poke one. You can make these hearts anything you want them to be. Maybe a wall decor with just one or add the other different sized hearts that come within the pack. I made this...