Gin makes me smile in May over at Country View challenges

Happy May everyone...we are firmly into late spring now and I am loving all this daylight and warmth.  It's time for my second blogged design team make for our May Country View crafts challenge hosted over on Facebook. You don't need a blog or an Instagram account, just head over to the group and join in with the fun! The link is here and if you are not already a member just request to join and we will warmly welcome you. It is also be a place you can be the first to hear about workshops, the latest releases etc etc. We have a happy membership of over 320 crafters already and we are growing every day. You can enter the challenges up to 5 times as you like as long as you use products or brands which are stocked on the Country View Website. 

I try to link up the products I use in my posts but obviously stock on the CVC website sells out quickly . Some may be out of stock when you click on the links. If they are just fill in the email notification and you will be emailed when they are back in stock. This is the link to the website   Remember that postage is FREE on all UK orders over £20. 

For May the theme is "Make me smile" so we would like to see you sharing something that gives us a giggle.  The prize this month is no less than 3 of the brand new Versafine Clair ink pads! More details at the end of this post. 

I immediately thought of one of my favourite stamps sets with some very amusing sentiments; the brilliant Visible Image Keep your gin up set and made this card

 The stamp set is on the website here.

and if you want them there are co ordinating dies too (these are currently out of stock but just email CVC and Susan can order them for you)

I used the  Squared stencil in the background

and a sentiment from the brilliant "Best birthday ever" set available here 

This is how it came together; I chose a distress re inker shaving foam marbled background from my stash. 

Using kitsch flamingo and picked raspberry distress inks I blended some colour through the Squared stencil.

I stamped the sentiment using Versafine claire nocturne. 

I stamped out the gin bottle onto inky mop up card and the glass and ice cube I coloured with distress watercolour pencils. I fussy cut everything out. 

I stamped the "splash stamps" around the card too using hickory smoke distress archival ink.

Here is my finished card.

with a close up

and1 final shot

I really hope that I may have inspired you to join in with the "Make me smile" fun. Do head over to the challenge on Facebook here.  Remember that this fab Versafine Claire ink pad prize up is up for grabs for one randomly selected winner. You will win 3 of the brand new colours...I wonder which ones they will be? The only downside of the challenge is that I can't enter! I can't wait to get my hands on them.

 Our challenge is open worldwide.

Remember you can find me most days over on Instagram here @jane.tyrrell where I do share many, many more makes then I have the time to blog. 

You still have 4 more days to enter,  before our  new June challenge starts. Don't miss out!

Bye for now,

Jane x

Keeping it simple with Visible Image

Hi everyone. Yes I know it has not been fortnightly but this is my next blogged design team post for Visible Image. Starting today they are running a "Keep it simple" feature where each of the design team have made simple cards which will appeal to beginner card makers and also those who are fans of a more "Clean and simple" (CAS) style of making. As today is World Bee day I am kicking this event off! 

I enjoy making cards of all styles and often make more CAS cards for my Dotty's tearooms cards.

This is the card I have made for this feature;

 

I chose to use one stamp set (with it's co ordinating dies) and one stencil for my CAS make;

Bee Happy

with their co ordinating dies as these dies make cutting the bees out so simple. 

and the Honeycomb hex stencil.

To keep this very simple today I have numbered the steps; 

Step 1. Stamp the large and 2 medium sized bees onto white card using Versafine clair Nocturne ink, clear heat emboss and die cut out using the coordinating dies.

Steps 2 and 3. Place the Honeycomb hex stencil over the bottom right hand side of a 5" white square of card and carefully blend wild honey distress ink through as seen.

Step 4. Stamp the sentiment using Nocturne ink. Stamp the pollen splatters under where the bees are to be placed using Morning Mist Versafine clair ink.

Step 5. Smear a little wild honey and mustard seed distress ink onto a craft mat/acrylic block and pick up with a damp paint brush to paint the bees' bodies.

Step 6 Stick the bees in place.

Finally matt and layer onto a 5 1/4" square of yellow card and then adhere to a 5 3/4" square white card blank.

Here is a close up

and one final shot;

This stamp set and stencil are such fun and the co ordinating dies makes cutting out the bees a breeze! I really hope you might try this simple design out..and if you do remember to share it over in our friendly Facebook group. 

I always blog my makes here with detailed step by steps so do stop by in a fortnight's time if you would like to see my next project. 

All the Visible Image links are listed below;

 Our kind, friendly and supportive customer Facebook Group is here ...it would be lovely to see you join us.  You will be warmly welcomed and see lots of inspiration from the DT and customers to inspire your own creativity. 

 I also organize a monthly artist trading card swap in the group.  We celebrated 3 amazing years of swapping in May. Whether you are a new stamper or a seasoned one you are most welcome to join us. Over 160 members, worldwide, have taken part since it started. It's been such fun and it's so lovely to receive a unique piece of art from your partner in the post. The details and sign up for each swap are posted in the group on the 23rd of the month. There is no "monthly" commitment, just join in when you have the time and if you live in the UK can you choose to post to the UK only if that suits you best.

The main Visible Image Facebook business page is here

Visible Image also has its own You Tube channel here where you can see videos and Lives to give you lots of inspiration and ideas. 

Their Instagram page can be found here 

Pinterest here

and their website is here 

 You will also find me on Instagram here; @jane.tyrrell where I share many more samples than I have the time to blog. 

Bye for now, 

Jane x

Meet my Enchanted Fairy from the awesome new Visible Image release

 Hi everyone and welcome to my fortnightly blogged design team post for Visible Image. Unless you have been hiding under a rock you must have seen that 5 new stamps sets and stencil have just been released. Whether you love fantasy, mythical creatures, whimsical cats or the serenity of the orient the new stamp and stencil release from Visible Image has something for everyone. In true Visible Image style each new set has their distinctive inky twist with gorgeous images and mindful sentiments. These are unique, top quality stamps and stencils for anyone who wants to stand out with their crafts.

Today I am delighted to be blogging the first of my design team samples made to showcase the awesome new "Enchanted fairy".

I love making rocker cards and so this was where the creative part of my brain took me for this sample. I selected a piece of distress inky mop up card from my stash and die cut a circle.

I stamped the word and fairy in black Versafine Claire nocturne ink and clear heat embossed. Then I used Versamark ink with the bubbles stamp and randomly stamped them around the image. I heat embossed these with gold glitter embossing powder. 

Using a mixture of glitter pens and brushes I coloured the wings.

I die cut a slightly bigger circle in black card and folded it in half to make the "rocker". I stamped and heat embossed the bubbles around the front edge in the same way as above. 

I then added some clear glitter pens to the bubbles.

I stuck the circle onto its rocker and added some Glossy accents to some of the bubbles as a finishing touch. Then I left everything to dry.

Here is my finished card.

 

with a close up

and a couple more shots.

She really is the most glorious fairy and I have lots more ideas of how to use her. I have already shared the one below on Facebook and Instagram as she sits perfectly on the Totally Toadstools set.

I also used her here with the Stardust stencil for this card, which you can see on the website.

Do check out the whole of this brilliant release, there really is something for everyone. 

The main Visible Image Facebook business page is here

Visible Image also has its own You Tube channel here where you can see videos and Lives to give you lots of inspiration and ideas. 

Their Instagram page can be found here 

Pinterest here

and their website is here 

 I also organize a monthly artist trading card swap in the group. Whether you are a new stamper or a seasoned one you are most welcome to join us. Over 160 members, worldwide, have taken part since it started. It's been such fun and it's so lovely to receive a unique piece of art from your partner in the post. The details and sign up for each swap are posted in the group on the 23rd of the month. So the June sign up will be in the group on 23rd May. There is no "monthly" commitment, just join in when you have the time and if you live in the UK can you choose to post to the UK only if that suits you best.

 You will also find me on Instagram here; @jane.tyrrell most days, where I share many, many more makes than I have the time to blog. 

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy this awesome new release.

Bye for now,

Jane x

New cat giggles for our May Country View Crafts challenge

 Hello everyone, it's time for my first blogged design team make for our May Country View crafts challenge hosted over on Facebook. You don't need a blog or an Instagram account, just head over to the group and join in with the fun! The link is here and if you are not already a member just request to join and we will warmly welcome you. It is also be a place you can be the first to hear about workshops, the latest releases etc etc. We have a happy membership of over 320 crafters already and we are growing every day. You can enter the challenges up to 5 times as you like as long as you use products or brands which are stocked on the Country View Website. The prize this month is no less than 3 of the brand new Versafine Clair ink pads! More details at the end of this post. 

I try to link up the products I use in my posts but obviously stock on the CVC website sells out quickly . Some may be out of stock when you click on the links. If they are just fill in the email notification and you will be emailed when they are back in stock. This is the link to the website   Remember that postage is FREE on all UK orders over £20. 

For May the theme is "Make me smile" so we would like to see you sharing something that gives us a giggle.

For my first card I have used the brilliant new Visible Image Cat-tastic cat background,  which CVC have in stock now here. 

I also used the ever popular "That lovin' feline" set too which you will find here

and the co ordinating dies. The dies are out of stock at the moment as they are so popular but if  you email Susan she can order them in for you.

Unless you have been hiding under a rock you will have seen that there is a brand new Visible Image release of 5 stamps sets and 5 stencils. Susan has them all in stock with FREE UK postage on all UK orders over £20

  This is my " Make me smile card". Read on for a full step by step tutorial of how to make it. 

I pressed some salty ocean , twisted citron  and cracked pistachio distress ink pads onto my craft sheet, spritzed on some water and mopped up the ink for my background. when dry I die cut 3 hearts inserts using my hearts dies from my stash.

I repeat stamped the background cats using my go to Versafine clair nocturne ink

I also stamped out 3 of the That lovin feline cats and die cut them out.

Using distress watercolour pencils I started to watercolour my cats,

building up the colour and then adding gold pen eye details.

I had fun poking them through the hearts, adding coloured backing card behind. 

Finally I coloured all the background cats' eyes blue.

Here it is finished 

with a close up of the hilarious sentiment from the Cat-tastic set

and one final shot.

I really hope that I may have inspired you to join in with the "Make me smile" fun. Do head over to the challenge on Facebook here.  Remember that this fab prize up is up for grabs for one randomly selected winner. You will win 3 of the new colours...I wonder which ones they will be? The only downside of the challenge is that I can't enter!

 The challenge is open worldwide.

Remember you can find me most days over on Instagram here @jane.tyrrell where I share many, many more makes then I have the time to blog. 

I will be back to share another humorous make on Monday, 27th May.

Bye for now,

Jane x