Cards in Envy Background Challenge

Hi Everyone, it's time for another challenge at Cards In Envy.  This fortnight we want to see you create your own backgrounds.

Earlier today I shared a card I made for my mum and dad's wedding anniversary which was done with my Gelli Plate and the Damask Stencil by Donna Downey.  I have used it again for my card for this Background Challenge but this time rather than applying paint over the stencil, I used it to lift paint off the plate which gives a totally different look.

There are so many wonderful ways to create your own backgrounds and my fellow Design Team Members projects this week share just a few, but as always are sure to inspire you to try something new.  So be sure to pop over and check them out!  We'd also love it if you played along too!

Celebrating 52 years today!

Hi Everyone!  Well its official Winter has arrived, last night we had the fire on for the first time this year as we got down to single digits overnight.  I made a warming and yummy French Onion Soup with Garlic and Parsley Bruschetta for Dinner.  I have to say that Comfort Food and cuddling up in front of the fire are my two favorite things about winter but I do so hate the cold.  Our cats were loving the fire too!

Today is a special day here as my mum and dad celebrate their 52nd Wedding Anniversary.  It is yet another wonderful milestone marking their married life together, which has included getting married in New Zealand, living in the Solomon Islands (where my older sister was born) and travelling to the US on numerous occasions to visit family and explore.  It's funny how now as they get older I have learned more about their younger years than ever before.   It would seem that as their memory starts to fade it is more vital for them to share their memories and I love watching the amazement in the eyes of 'A', as he listens and finds it hard to believe that someone ever lived that way.

To mark the occasion I made a card with one of my recent Gelli Prints which used the beautiful Damask Stencil from Donna Downey.

This month is one of many wedding anniversaries among my family and friends so this may not be the last card for this occasion you will see from me in the weeks to come.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Gelli Prints and Fun Foam Fun!

Hi Everyone!  My post today is what I have done for my Altered Pages DT post this week.

After recently attending a Stamp Carving Class at my LSS, Time to Create, I was reminded and reintroduced to the versatility of Fun Foam, which you can buy at your local $ (dollar) Store in an assortment of shapes and sizes.  At this class we carved our own stamp designs.

These two shell like ones were some of my designs from that day.  Anyway whilst carving these stamps I was thinking how great it would be to use them with my Gelli Plate.

  

The first of the above prints I have added some yellow (Gelato) to highlight the design, whilst the second was  a ghost layer of the first print layered over another print.

So this week I decided to break out the fun foam and play some more.

I used my Sizzix Border Strip Die to cut some shapes, some of which I then etched a pattern into.

By pressing these shapes into a layer of paint applied to the plate, it removes the paint revealing the design.

You can do this and then apply a different color over the top to give this type of result.

You can lay the shapes over the plate in any way you choose.  Using different colors for the second layer can give different looks - for instance this one has the pattern more subdued.

The best part about using the Gelli Plate is that there is always an element of surprise with the end result.

And I so love the results achieved layering the ghost prints (second/third generation prints) one on top of the other.  To achieve fabulous textured backgrounds with great depth.

And to finish my post today - here is another way to use up your prints which you are going to have plenty of since playing with this plate is highly addictive.

I have layered cut squares of this print like a patchwork and used some fun foam die cut shapes to embellish.

If you'd like to try this technique, you can purchase your own Gelli Plate and Acrylic Paint to get you started at Altered Pages.

Altered Pages Challenge #9 - Shoes

Hi Everyone!  This month at Altered Pages we want you to put your best foot forward and come up with a project which incorporates the theme Shoes.

For this challenge I have made a wall hanging.  I began with a piece of Black Coredinations Cardstock to which I did some stencilling with various stencils and Impasto Gel.  Once dry I applied some Versamark Ink to my stenciled areas and then applied a mix of metallic gold, copper and bronze Perfect Pearls.

Then out came all my Altered Pages Goodies (see the store).  Champange Silk Ribbon, Fleur De Lis Ribbon, Glitz Trims, German Scrap, Bazzill Two Scoops Cardstock, and Vintage Papers from Glitz and not to forget my Collage Image which is from the Shoes with Attitude Collage Sheet.

To color my shoes I have simply used some water color pencils and a aqua brush.

So if you have a fetish for shoes why not give this challenge a go, we'd love it if you could play along too!

As always there is a wonderful prize up for grabs.  For all the details and further inspiration simply pop over to the Altered Pages Challenge Site.