Crisp and White

Ooops, I've been very lapse with my blogging lately. Had lots of sorting out since changing over broadband supplier. It's been such a hassle, you just don't realise how many things you have to change when you have a new e-mail address, so that's where all my time has been taken up.

Thank you to those that have been visiting and especially if you've left me a comment. I'm going to try to spend some time tomorrow getting back to people who have left me messages and hopefully catch up.

I'm just going to add a couple of cards I've done this week. One is using my lovely Eskimo stamp from Elyzbells. I'm not too keen on this card, I think the HOTP papers are a bit overpowering to go with this stamp. Personally, I think the Elzybells images really need plain and simple layouts.

Anyway, the image has been coloured with watercolour pencils and as I said, the paper is by HOTP and I've used my scallop and circle nestabilities for the centre of the card. I've used my new Martha Stewart punch for the bottom edge. The two embellishments were cut from an Ellison's thin cut die. (Oh, and the sentiment is also Elzybells.)

This is something a bit different for me. A few years ago, I bought a brayer and some stamps from Clarity Stamps at the NEC. I was so in awe of Barbara Gray's cards and she made it look so easy that I had to have a go. Anyway, needless to say, I couldn't get to grips with the brayer when I go home, my cards certainly didn't look like Barbara's, so the brayer went into the back of the drawer not to see daylight again until last weekend.

Last Saturday I went to the NEC for the Hobbycraft show and this time saw the Lavinia Stamps stall. The lady on the stand also uses the brayer to create some beautiful cards, so I was inspired yet again to have another go. I bought the Santa Sleigh silhouette and tree stamp and returned home determined to crack the brayer.

I tried and tried and tried and then after lots of failed attempts this is the one that came close to me being sort of happy with the result. It's been a really time consuming card, but I gotta admit, I did enjoy it.

I cut out a circle to mask off an area in the sky and brayered the top and then moved it to the bottom of the card to do a reflection at the bottom. I followed the technique Barbara often demonstrates at the craft fayre for doing a reflection of the sleigh and trees and finally added a few dots of glitter, hey presto!

So, if you, like me, have a brayer hidden in a drawer somewhere at home, go one, get it out and have another go! You'll enjoy it, promise.