Another hot summer day for crafting

Today it is time for my 2nd DT inspiration post for Country View. I am the hostess for this month's challenge and I chose the theme of Hot Summer Days. Think holidays, seaside, picnics in the countryside, ice cream, relaxing in the garden, summer flowers...I think you get the picture.

You can enter any craft, there is no limit to the number of times you can enter or the number of challenges you can enter. It really is my kind of challenge blog

My first DT post is here, if you missed it.

My tiny garden is still blooming beautifully and provides so much of my summer crafting inspiration.

I decided to use the same stamp but create a very different card. This time I went for a very CAS (clean and simple) design but I still used hot summer inks to colour it with.

I stamped and white embossed my Wendy Vecchi stamp onto mixed media card.

 I used the same summery distress inks as for my first card

 but this time I watercoloured the image

I matted onto deep pink card, inked the edges and added a stamped sentiment....simples!

Here is my finished CAS card.

I would like to enter it into the following challenges;

CASology watercolour

                                                           Crafty cardmakers 3/3 summer

The artistic stamper 2/3  anything goes
Paper Creator 1/3 keep it simple
Less is more use something tactile mine is the embossing which gives a lovely edge to the flowers.

I have sorted through my Tuscany holiday photos and I will share more soon but here is one to whet your appetite....a really hot summer day in sizzling Sienna.

If you would like to enter my challenge over at Country view with you own hot summer days craft projects this is the link. I would love to see what you make.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

Homework Day 1 for Tim Holtz' creative chemistry 103

This is an "in between posting" as I am currently taking part in Tim Holtz's on line class, Creative Chemistry 103.
It is running live all this week and there are so many fabulous techniques he is sharing.
Each day he is asking us to do some homework and create something using one of his techniques. I don't use Flickr so I need to use my blog to upload my homework to the online gallery.

This my homework for Day 1, which was yesterday.  I have used his distress off-set stamping technique. I obviously cannot share his process, you would need to sign up for his class.
I bought the Lady Rose stamp set a while back and decided I would use both the flower stamps from it.

Here is my background I created using his technique...it is such a cool technique...

 I decided to distress the edges and make it into a card...and below is my finished piece of homework. 

I just love the vintage feel of this technique and can see me using it lots. 

I also used an offset idea by using 2 colours of card for my sentiment.

Thanks Professor Tim for your awesome creativity. I have nearly finished day 2's class today and I hope to get time tomorrow to do some homework in the afternoon.

I'd also like to link up with these challenges;

Simon Says stamp Monday 1/5 celebrate

The artistic stamper 2/3  anything goes

We love to create 2/2 anything goes mixed media#16

Card Mania 1/5  let's party

Back at 6.30am with my 2nd DT piece for Country View,

Thanks for stopping by.

Bye for now,

Jane x

Hot summer days in my garden and my giveaway

Happy August everyone and I am thrilled to be hosting the challenge over at Country View today. It's a first for me and I decided to chose the theme, " Hot summer days". I love the summer and I think that this theme is pretty open and can be interpreted in so many ways. Think gardens, bees, ice cream, holidays...you get the idea! You can find the link for your projects here
To me "hot summer days" screams my garden to me. I love the long hot days and evenings we can spend out there. My pots and my hanging baskets are looking their best and showing off their bold colours.

I decided for my 2 inspiration pieces this month to show 2 ways of using the same stamp...both with a hot summer theme.
Both cards are made with these 4 distress inks, even their names scream summer don't they?

 and the same gorgeous Wendy Vecchi stamp, spring bouquet.
I stamped and embossed the image in white embossing powder.

This is my first version I am sharing today. I added the inks to my craft sheet added some water and then got dipping and drying.

Once I was happy I added a little more of the same inks with a blending foam and distressed the edges.

  I stamped my Visible Image butterfly onto a piece of mop up card and cut it out.
Here is my finished card, complete with a few finishing touches...ribbon and a stamped and embossed sentiment.

I would like to enter it into the following challenges;

Simon Says stamp 2/5 Wednesday anything goes
anything but cute summertime fun

                                                           Crafty cardmakers 2/3 summer

Fancy and fussy 2/3  a walk in the garden 

Crafty friends 2/3  favourite embellishment mine is ribbon
C.R.A.F.T summer
We love to create 1/2 anything goes mixed media#16
The artistic stamper 1/3  anything goes

I am back with my 2nd inspirational DT piece on Wednesday. I have used the same stamp but made a very CAS card...do pop back then if you would like to see it.
I really hope you will join in with the challenge this month and I look forward to visiting all your blogs as I get to choose the Top 3 and the DT special mention!!

Remember that my 6th bloggerversary candy is running at the moment. The prize is 3 pieces of my handmade jewellery.

It is open worldwide to everyone. I never have any rules with my giveaways...it's my way of thanking everyone who stops by and reads Jane's journal. However by being a follower and sharing my photo you can get 2 extra entries into the draw. Just click on the link here or the photo on my side bar to leave a comment and good luck.

Thanks for visiting and for the kind comments you take the time to leave.

Back soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x