Caught in Crystal

Hi everyone and a warm welcome to my new followers!

I've been promising to do a post on the Caught in Crystal technique for ages now, so here it is.

So, the ingredients you'll need are:

* 3 different alcohol inks - I've used Ginger, Lettuce and Cranberry
* A4 sheet of heatproof acetate
* Glossy accents - you could also use Crystal Laquer or Crystal Effects
* Perfect Pearls or similar - I've used Sunflower Sparkle and Mandarin
* A4 sheet of white tissue paper
* Kitchen roll
* Brush for the perfect pearls
* Craft sheet

Using the glossy accents, draw a random pattern all over the acetate, leaving about 1/2" around the edges. The effect you are going for is similar to stained glass, so leave varying sizes of clear space between your scribbles.

Starting with one of your alcohol inks, place a few drops randomly between the glossy accent scribbles.

Add your second alcohol ink.

And finally your third alcohol ink. Make sure all of your spaces are now filled with colour.

Next, using the paintbrush pick up your first colour of perfect pearls and drop randomly over the sheet.

Then add your second perfect pearls colour.

Scrunch up the tissue paper.

Open it up and place on the acetate, over the inks and perfect pearls.

Take the kitchen roll and dab the tissue paper down onto the acetate, making sure the whole area has been covered.

Close up of the reverse.

Close ups of the right (shiny) side.

Leave your piece to dry overnight, then trim the excess tissue paper and use as you wish on your projects.

Here is my finished project ...

I stamped the image of the toadstools onto the cream card, then stamped again onto the right side of my caught in crystal sheet using black Stazon. I then cut out the tops of the toadstools and the leaves, and glued them on top of the stamped image, then coloured the rest of the image using Promarkers. The result is a lovely, stained glass effect, with the added lustre of the perfect pearls which really show through the acetate.

You can have a play around and see which colour combinations work for you, the colours can be bright, seasonal or muted, the choice is yours. I ended up making a further 6 sheets, as once you have everything out it's easier just to keep going!

Here are the other sheets ...

I hope you have a go with this technique, it is very addictive so be warned! Let me know what you have made, won't you?

This is my first 'technique' post, so I would welcome any suggestions, tips etc. so that I can improve and learn. Also, let me know if there is a particular technique you would like to see here in the future. Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate it!

Until next time, take care and Carry On Crafting!

Liebster Blog Award

I am thrilled to have been awarded the Liebster Blog award just before Christmas by Lindsay at CraftyMonster81.

The idea of the Liebster Blog Award is to spread the love from one small blog (under 200 followers) to other small blogs. This helps to spread knowledge and readership.

"Liebster" in German means "dearest", so as part of the Liebster award tradition, I am going to pass this award to 5 blogs that I value, and that have both inspired and motivated me.

To accept the award, you must:

1) Link back to the person who gave it and thank them for thinking of you.
2) Post the award to your blog.
3) Give the award to 5 bloggers (with less than 200 followers) that you appreciate and value.
4) Leave a comment on the blogs of the five people you have chosen to let them know.

So, firstly I would like to thank Lindsay for giving me the award, it really means a lot to me! Please pop over to see Lindsay's fabulous creations here: craftymonster81.blogspot.com

And here are the 5 blogs that I have chosen for the award:

Carol at Domestic Goddess Crafts. Carol has been a really good online friend to me. We met on Twitter, and now often have a lovely blether on Facebook! I'm hoping that 2012 is the year that we finally get to meet in person. Carol is always first there with a listening ear, and is a really kind friend.

Dede at Inkwell Studios. All I can say is if you've not been over to Dede's blog, pay her a visit RIGHT NOW! Dede's outstanding work blows me away, and she has recently been recognised for her fabulous and original artwork by no less than Tim Holtz for her interpretation of his 12 tags of Christmas 2011! Dede, you are one amazing artist.

Paula at Paula's Corner. Paula is a fellow Glitter Geeks DT member. Her creations are really beautiful and very inspiring, so go and take a look at her wonderful blog!

Daisy at Little Crazy Daisy Designs. Another fellow Glitter Geeks DT member, Daisy is like a breath of fresh air, and she is also incredibly talented. I think we could all draw some inspiration from her bubbly personality which continues to shine through even when she is not feeling great as she suffers with ME. Daisy also has the cutest little dog, Miss Scarlett :).

Rosalie at Tearoses Musings. This lady is beautiful and kind, and highly thought of among our Twitter family. Her blog posts are always brilliantly written. They will make you laugh, move you to tears, and resonate with your own life!

Until next time, take care and Carry On Crafting!

Let it snow ...

Hi there, and a very warm welcome to my new followers!

Just a quick post to let you know that the challenge over at Glitter Geeks this week is "Let it snow", and the prize is a wonderful Double Sprinkles of Craft CD from one of our fabulous sponsors, Polkadoodles.

I'm sure that you will have made a Christmas card that will fit the bill for the challenge, so why not pop over and join us?

This is my DT card for the challenge using items from Polka Doodles Christmas Boutique.

Until next time, take care and Carry On Crafting!

Guest blog challenge and DT creations

Hi there, hope you are all keeping well and managing to stave off the cold and flu bugs that are around at the moment?

As you may know, I'm on the DT for Glitter Geeks, and we have been asked to guest on the Bugaboo Stamps blog, so I thought I would share with you the card I made for their Pocket Challenge. Pop over to their blog, and have a go yourself!

I've covered the base with papers from the Couture collection from s.e.i. I've then die cut a 'pocket' from the new Stampin' Up! two tags die, which is great for popping in a hidden message, or money if you're feeling generous! The butterflies are also from Stampin' Up! using an embosslit die called Beautiful Wings. A little piece of ribbon and a couple of gems have been added for the finishing touch!

Also, here are my latest cards for the Glitter Geeks DT. We have a weekly challenge each Friday, with some fab sponsors and prizes, so why not join us?

Humorous ...

Snuggle Up ...

Ghost & Ghouls, Spiders & Spooks ...

Recipe ...

Two of something ...

Flower Power ...

Shabby Chic ...

Little Monster ...

In the garden ...

Relax ...

Around the World ...

Sketch challenge ...

Until next time, take care and Carry On Crafting!

In NEC Heaven

Hello there, and a very warm welcome to my new followers!

This year, my lovely crafty pal Shelle and I decided to go to one of the hottest gigs in the crafter's calendar, the Hobbycrafts show at the NEC. We met up with some lovely ladies from Twitter too, and they were just as nice in real life! We're already making plans to go again next year and maybe all stay in the same hotel. Birmingham, you have been warned!!

Anyhow, I thought I would share some pics of my purchases with you, so here goes ...

And now to play :))!

Until next time, take care and Carry On Crafting!

Blog candy reminder!

Hi everyone, hope you're having a great weekend.

Just a reminder to pop over to my Stampin' Up! blog and check out my blog candy giveaway! The blog link is here: Bees Knees Crafty Creations.

Until next time, take care and Carry On Crafting!

A brand new start

Well, there has been a big change in my life since I last blogged. To cut a long story short, there was a restructure at work, and I opted to take voluntary redundancy and concentrate instead on being a full time Stampin' Up! demonstrator. It was quite a hard decision on one hand, as I have been working in Human Resources for 30 years, and it's what I know. However, I really feel that this is an opportunity to do something that I love, and to share this with others via demonstrations and workshops throughout Dumfries & Galloway. I will also be helping my husband Sandy, to care for my Mum who has Alzheimer's.

To celebrate my new venture, I will be giving away some fabulous blog candy, over on my Stampin' Up! blog, Bees Knees Crafty Creations very soon. All you need to do is become a follower of that blog, and leave me a comment between Saturday, 15th October and Friday, 21st October. It's that easy! While you're visiting my SU blog, please check out the brand new Idea Book and Catalogue, and if you want to order any craft supplies, then please let me know.

I also wanted to create a proper craft area at home (any excuse, lol), and so over the past three weeks I have been busy designing the layout then organising everything into place. The storage is Expedit from Ikea, with Bygel rails and containers for my markers, paintbrushes etc., and S hooks for some of my ever-growing collection of stamps and Spellbinders :). I'm really pleased with the result, and glad to be able to get back to crafting now!

Until next time, take care and Carry On Crafting!