Evil Pumpkins

Hi everyone, here's a card for A spoonful of sugar where the challenge this week is Halloween. I almost didn't post this card, the pumpkins are so evil looking I thought they'd frighten everyone away! Hopefully not! Another step card and my design 'Silhouette Houses' for Spiral Whisper which has been stamped in versafine on white card then cut around to shape the top. I coloured all the windows with a glaze pen, sponged the scene all around the houses with Ranger distress inks and mounted on the back step of the card. The evil pumpkins are circles of card cut with nestabilities, pencil coloured, blended with Sansodor then drew on the faces and coated them in black stickles, they didn't seem so frightening until the stickles! Two of the sentiments are attached to curled jewellery wire and attched with gel glue at the bottom of the second step behind the pumpkins. Added a sentiment to the front step to finish. The paper for the card and the sentiments are from the Funky Fairies free Halloween download. TFL. Hope you aren't too spooked to come back soon.

Chris

Poinsettia Christmas Card

Hi everyone and here's a card I made for an SCS sketch challenge. My first layer is gold pearlescent card scored to make a grid, second layers are Basic Grey Figgy Pudding (my current favourite paper!) two of which are cut with a scalloped nestie. Third layers are white card also nestie cut and scored to match the background piece but with a smaller grid. I added pearls to the half circle and dots of red stickles to the background grid. The Woodware sentiment is stamped in gold ink. The pointsettias are my Spiral Whispers design, I stamped twice, coloured with prismacolor pencils and blended with Sansodor. On the second image I coloured just a few brachts. The whole of the first image is cut out, shaped and mounted with Pinflair glue on the circle followed by a few more shaped leaves from the second image. I added yellow stickles to the centres and a little diamond to the edges to finish. TFL.

Back soon,
Chris

Lighthouse by the pier

Hi everyone, my card is for a technique challenge on SCS this week where the challenge is to make a step/accordian fold card. I used silver pearlescent card for the base and followed the instructions which are to cut the base card to 10.5 inches X 5.0 inches, score at 1.25" - 2.5" - 4.25", 6" and at 8.25" then fold with hills and valleys (accordion style) making sure that the smallest (1.25" fold) is folded down.

I've used my stamp design for Spiral Whisper stamps 'lighthouse by the pier' and a cute Magnolia Tilda, both have been pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor. The background image is matted on more of the silver card and attached to the back fold, followed by Tilda in the middle. At the front I've stamped a Woodware label and sentiment, ideally I'd have liked this on the other side at the front but I stamped first directly on the card and smudged it everywhere!!! The card is decorated with lots of paper flowers with stickles for the centres and I've used thick gel glue so that some of them are popped up over others. To give some sparkle I sprinkled glamour dust on Tilda's wings, pockets and the sea. TFL. Back soon, Chris

Christmas Tree Row

Hi everyone, this week the challenge on Dutch Dare is to make a Christmas card. I've used my Spiral Whisper 'Christmas Tree Row' stamp design which is water coloured with Distress inks and sprinkled with lovely sparkly glamour dust. The image is matted on sage green bazzil and popped up on dimension tape. The background layer is white card embossed in the cuttlebug and matted on the green bazzil. I added the little tab with a woodware sentiment and decorated with tartan ribbon, red bow and little gems. TFL.

Back soon,
Chris

Silhouette Houses

Hi everyone, a card today for Daring Cardmakers' where the challenge this week is 'Bright'. I've used my 'Silhouette Houses' Spiral Whisper stamp design, cut out with nestabilities, mounted on a nestie cut scalloped circle and I've then coloured around it with H20 paints. It would be lovely if the sparkle of these paints would show up in photographs as the card is very shimmery but unfortunately it doesn't. The windows, trees and spiders are highlighted with gel pens. The bottom of the card is a collage of torn pieces of Black Magic papers which have a coloured core, these are highlighted with H2o's. The grave stone with sentiment is hand doodled on a thick tag which is sponged with distress inks as are all the edges of the card. I added some ribbon, a gem and stamped a Starving Artistamps spider all over and doodled the web in the upper right corner. TFL.

Back soon,
Chris

A winter city

Hi everyone, a card for The Tilda and Co. Challenge which this week has to include metal. I've used my Spiral Whisper 'Winter City' stamp design and Tilda with lantern which are pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor. Tilda is cut out and mounted on foam tape.The metallic element is the bronze metallic colouring on the lantern which is also glazed with glossy accents as are the boots. The background image is matted on pale yellow Bazzil card and the background mat is some gorgeous Doodlebug patterned glittered card which I've been hoarding for ages, I don't know why!!!! The card is decorated with some pretty green check elasticated ribbon, stickles, paper flowers a sentiment die cut and gems.
TFL. Back soon, Chris

Angel Fairy

Thank to everyone for the comments on using the Cropodile big bite, I think I just need to practice more, much appreciated anyway as are all comments that are left which make me smile every day. I've made a card for a Spoon full of Sugar today where the challenge is a pink and green colour scheme. I've used my Angel Fairy design stamp for Spiral Whisper. The image is pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor then matted on mint green Bazzil Bling. I used some pretty pink and green Christmas paper from last year but don't know the make. I've also used some Cordinations card for the first time, I think I just wanted to tear it to see what I got because I'm not overly happy with the card which I rushed too much. The Coredinations does tear beautifully and I love the effect of the other colour on the ripped edge. I used a couple of flowers, stickles and gems from stash to decorate. TFL.
Back soon,
Chris

Snowman on the hill

Hi everyone, a card for Cute Card Thursday where the challenge this week is Christmas Animals and also for Sketch Saturday with a lovely sketch by Gill. The stamps I've used are my Spiral Whisper background design 'Snowman on the Hill' and the adorable Spiral Whisper 'Milly on Reindeer' by the very talented Janet Roberts. Both images are pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor and Milly is cut out and mounted on dimension tape as is the background image panel. I added some flowersoft to Milly's furry jacket, boots and earmuffs, I think this is a great idea, it really does look like fur and I can't remember now who's blog I saw this idea on but thank you very much, it's brilliant. I've also added some cord at the bottom for the strip panel part of the sketch, stickled flowers and sentiment from stash. The paper is Basic Grey 'Figgy Pudding' and everything is matted on red bazzil card. TFL.
Back soon,
Chris

Ski Lift

Hi everyone and here's my card for Our Creative Corner where the challenge this week is 'Bling on the Bling'. I've used my new design for Spiral Whisper stamps, 'Ski Lift' background and the absolutely gorgeous 'Harry Skiing' by the very talented Spiral Whisper stamp designer Kerry Steptoe. Both of the images are pencil coloured, blended with Sansodor and Harry has been cut out and popped up on dimension tape. I added glossy accents to Harry's skiis, the ski lift (can't at the moment remember what these little compartments are called!) windows and stickles over the snow for the bling element of the challenge. To give some more shine/bling and a snowy feel I embossed a piece of thin shiny white paper with the bubbles CB folder but unfortunately it doesn't show up too well in the picture. The sentiment stamp is by Woodware, ribbon and snowflake charm from stash. TFL.

Back soon,
Chris

Halloween skyline

Hi everyone, I've found a new challenge blog 'Everybody Art Challenge' from the very talented Moni's blog (she's on the DT) and the theme this week is Halloween! I've used my new stamp design for Spiral Whisper which is a silhouette, 'Halloween Skyline' and pencil coloured then blended with Sansodor. The background paper is Basic Grey and plain white card. I've added gold stickles, black pearls and doodled sentiment to finish. TFL.

Back soon,
Chris

Snowball Maddie and Snowy Mountains

The weekly challenge on Spiral Whisper this week is 'Cold Winter'. The challenge runs until Tuesday and the prize is the gorgeous 'Snowball Maddie' stamp designed by the very talented Sally-Ann Hancock. I've teamed the gorgeous Maddie up with my Snowy Mountains background stamp design for Spiral Whisper, I think they go perfectly together. Images stamped with Versafine ink, pencil coloured and blended with Sansodor. I've matted the background image on dark blue bazzil card and popped up on dimension tape over the card blank which has been embossed in the cuttlebug. Maddie is cut out and also mounted on dimension tape. The little circular sentiment is by Stamps Away and mounted on a nestabilities cut scalloped circle. Everthing has been liberally sprinkled with Deco Art Glamour Dust which is lovely and sparkly and much finer than ordinary glitter. TFL and good luck if you enter the challenge.

Back soon,
Chris

Village by the pond

The challenge this week on A Spoon Full of Sugar is to follow a lovely sketch by Nikki. I've used my stamp design for Spiral Whisper named 'Village by the pond' and coloured with Prismacolor Pencils and Sansodor, I've also used a sweet Hanglar design and she's very cute with her strawberry, I think I'm hankering after the summer that we haven't had yet! She's also coloured with prismacolor pencils and then cut out. I've matted the background image on navy bazzil card and then Doodlebug paper, both images are mounted on 2mm and 3mm dimension tape. The Sentiment is from Woodware and I added three flowers and stickles to finish. TFL.

Back soon,
Chris

Castle on the hill

A card for the Dutch Dare Challenge which this week is to use buttons (lots of). For my card I've used my 'Castle on the hill' stamp design for Spiral Whisper with Elzybells 'Knight and Princess' and 'a happy ever after' sentiment. The images are coloured with prismacolor pencils and Sansodor. I've added stickles and glossy accents on the castle and the knight's armour. I added the buttons element of the challenge to the path with liquid pearls in between and overflowing on to the sentiment area. The images are matted on Bazzil Bling, white card and Doodlebug paper with green satin ribbons. The Knight and Princess are popped up on dimension tape. TFL.

Back soon,
Chris

Up, Up and Away

A card for Papertake Weekly which this week has a sketch to follow.

I've used my 'Up, Up and Away' background design for Spiral Whisper and stamped with versafine black onyx twice. The image is coloured with Ranger distress inks, matted on white card and mounted on dimension tape. I stamped the image again for two of the balloons which I coloured, cut out and mounted on tape over the complete image.

The image panel is layered over the background of pink petticoat papers in line with the sketch. To finish I added a swirly clip decorated with ribbons. TFL.

Back soon,
Chris

Spiral Whisper Christmas Designs, New Backgrounds and Flowers

Spiral Whisper Stamps has the first release of Christmas Designs for sale from today. My Christmas backgrounds and other Christmas designs, flowers and other new backgrounds are all ready to buy. There are so many beautiful new designs by all the other designers too, lots of new cute little characters, pretty borders, it's very sparkly there today!

A card today using Pink Petticoat downloaded paper and image. The image is coloured with Sakura Glitter pens in pink and silver, matted on black card and mounted on dimension tape over the black and white background paper. I added a pink ribbon to finish. Nice and quick. TFL.

Back soon,
Chris

Hill Top Villages

A card with another of my background design stamps for Spiral Whisper, Hill Top Villages. I've made this one as a Z fold card and given it a vintage style (hopefully). The idea for this drawing came from the hill top villages we saw when on holiday in Sicily a couple of years ago, the scenery is beautiful. I think this stamp will be good for many occasions and could also be used for male cards.

The image is stamped in Versafine Black Onyx ink twice, water coloured with Ranger distress inks and after sponging the edges, matted on black card over a layer of white which is also sponged and stamped with a manuscript background stamp by Hero Arts. I did a similar panel of the sponged and text background on the first panel of the card and added a sentiment from the Inkadinkado Garden set. On the second image I stamped I coloured only the lemon tree on the left and the fir trees on the right, cut them out, shaped them slightly and layered over those on the complete image with glue gel. The card base is from one sheet of A4 card cut lengthways to fit the image panel and then scored width ways also to fit the image panel and then in the centre between the first fold and the left hand edge to make the two other panels.
The centre panel can be used to write a greeting or could also be decorated, I've left mine plain. TFL.

Back soon,
Chris

Spiral Whisper official opening

Congratulations to Kitty and Mike on the official opening of Spiral Whisper Clear Stamps website. They have already had a huge amount of pre-orders which isn't surprising as the talented designers who's stamps are releasing this week are just gorgeous. You can follow the link above to see some really wonderful stamps.

Back soon,
Chris

Tuesday colour challenge

I made this card today for a colour challenge of Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi and Certainly Celery. I don't have any SU papers and so always have to improvise. It was a good chance to use my new Sara Kay 'Rosalie's Bicycle' stamp. I've been admiring this one for a while and finally got it yesterday. It's just such a gorgeous design by a fabulous artist.

I stamped the image in versafine, coloured with prisma pencils and Sansodor/oms and a paper stump, trying to match the colours. I cut the image out with a scalloped rectangle nestability and layered on pale green Bazzil Bling with has a lovely sheen to it, a mid green and Burgundy bazzil. The card blank is embossed in the cuttlebug with the textile folder and pounced with Pebbles pearlescent chalk. The sentiment is from a Woodware family sentiment set, stamped with versamark and chalked over. I've finished the card with green organza ribbon attached under the image panel and some gems.

There are some more great sneak peaks on the Spiral Whisper blog today with lots more to come. The designs are fabulous and I hope you can have a look at the new previews, the link is in my blog list.

Enjoy the fabulous weather and back soon.

Chris

My first post

Hi everyone, and here I go with my first post. It seemed a good time to start a blog as since I started making cards last year such a lot has happened for me.
Very recently I was so happy to be asked to design some background stamps by Kitty at Spiral Whisper. Kitty is launching a brand new stamp company which will specialize in high quality clear stamps and her website will launch on 21st July. This is such a wonderful opportunity for me and I'm honoured to be listed on her blog as a guest designer along with all the other very talented designers who will, I'm sure, bring a great variety of stamps to choose from. There are already some sneak peeks and a character naming competition on her blog.

Just a couple of months ago I won a prize in a stamp designing competition at The Craft Barn and on from that I was delighted to be asked by Sandy the owner, to design two sets of stamps for their new Kadoodle own range which are due to be released in September. I can't thank Sandy enough for her enthusiasm and encouragement over the past couple of months, it's fantastic to be given this amazing opportunity to get into stamp design and also to rekindle my love for drawing.

The winner of the competition, Sandra Dry, designed some wonderful stamps which were released two weeks ago. The Craft Barn will be launching their website very soon.

I should have some sample stamps very soon so that I can start making up samples and as soon as I do I'll be posting them here.

I decided to start off my first post with a card using a Penny Black image as they're my favourite stamps, particularly the Margaret Sherry designs as her cute critters are just amazing and so funny, it's also great that this stamp was sent to me by a friend.

I don't know the name of the stamp but the three little mice look as though they can't wait to eat that cake! I water coloured the image with Tim Holtz distress inks in scattered straw, mustard, tea dye, faded denim, tattered rose and peeled paint, and added stickles to the icing and scarves for a bit of sparkle. The layers are pale yellow bazzil card and doodlebug polka dots paper cut into three panels behind the image. I added a blue organza ribbon to finish.

Have a great week,
Chris