DIVA - by Fran Chalmers

 Hi everyone, and Happy New Year! Here is my blog post, a bit late! I have made a postcard.

First I stamped my image on a postcard sized piece of card with Memento Tuxedo ink.

I then stamped it again on a masking sheet so I could mask the image while I made the background.

I made the background using a stencil and distress inks in Squeezed Lemonade and Peacock Feathers.

I went round the edge with the Peacock Feathers.

After removing the mask, I coloured the main image in copic pens.

I stamped the sentiment in a matching colour on a separate piece of card, and then went round the edge of it and the postcard with a fine black pen.

Stamps Used:

Sheer Backing 7681

Diva 17901

Other Items Used:

Distress inks in Squeezed Lemonade and Peacock Feathers

Versafine Clair ink in Warm Breeze

Copic Pens

Fine Black liner pen

Masking sheet

Sunburst Stencil

THANK YOU CARD - by Fran Chalmers

Hello everyone!

It's finally Spring, and as I had to make a thank you card for a friend, I decided to use bright, Spring-like colours.  I loved this stamp and thought it would look great in yellow!

 I made the background by inking up only part of the stamp and randomly stamping over the card.

I stamped the main image onto card, coloured it in Copic pens and fussy cut it out.  It was easy to cut despite the edges of the petals.

I mounted the card onto a green mat, and added the sentiment (handwritten, as I don't have a printer at the moment!).

I hope you like this card.  It made me look forward to Summer even more!

Stamps Used:

Blowing dandelion and extra seed 19045

Girl in flower Plate 1410

Other Items Used:

Versafine Clair ink in Verdant

Memento Ink in Tuxedo

Copic Pens

USE LOTS - by Fran Chalmers

Hello everyone!

Today I have made a postcard for you.

I smooshed some distress inks onto my mat to make the background.

 I then stamped round the edge of the card.

I stamped the main image and coloured her in.

I stamped the sentiment on a piece of card which I had coloured the same as the background, only a little lighter so it would stand out a bit more. I edged it and the main postcard with black.

I stuck the main image on (after going round the edges with a black pen) and stuck the sentiment above.

Stamps Used:

Writing and scribbles Collage 20695

Cellular Fanatic 415

Here's a little make-up tip 17695

Other Items Used:

Distress inks in Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet and Black Soot

Copic pens

Memento black ink (Tuxedo)

Versafine Clair black ink (Nocturn)

See you next time!

IMAGINATION by Fran Chalmers

 Hi everyone!

Today I have made three ATC's. Children have great imaginations when playing, which I am showcasing with these stamps.  

First of all, I stamped out all the images onto thick paper, using my stamping platform to make sure no detail was missed.  

I made all the backgrounds using distress inks and a small brayer.  Once I had made the backgrounds, I coloured the images, cut them out and stuck on to the backgrounds.

(I can see I've missed a bit of colouring on this one - will have to sort that!)

I added the word "imagination" on each ATC (leaving out the "pure" part of the stamp)

Stamps Used:

Boys Playing with Shopping Cart 19803

Kids in Futuristic Hats 19656

Boy in tub boat 19542

Pure Imagination 19041

Other Items Used:

Distress inks in Spiced Marigold, Candied Apple, Cracked Pistachio, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Uncharted Marine

Small Brayer

Memento ink in Tuxedo Black

Copic Pens

Chrome Pen

See you next time!

I REMEMBER....by Fran Chalmers

 Hi everyone!

Today I have made a postcard.  It's rather topical at the moment as the Councils round here seem to be building and building and all the green space is disappearing!

First of all I made the background using the brick wall stamp and a stencil of buildings from my stash.  I coloured the wall with pencils, and used Distress Ink on the stencil.

I coloured the buildings in a lighter shade of the same distress ink, and also added sky with another stencil from my stash.

I replaced the stencil and used modelling paste to raise up parts of the stencil, and left it to dry overnight.

I highlighted the windows with a fine black pen and a white pen.

I then stamped the boy onto thick paper and coloured him in with copic pens, and cut him out. I put him on sticky pads on the card to  make him stand out more.

I added the sentiment and went round the edge of the card with distress ink in Black Soot.

Stamps Used:

I remember when all this was trees 20648

Banksy Boy catching snowflakes 20662

Brick background 19077

Other items used:

Building stencil

Sky stencil

Distress inks in Tumbled Glass, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Polychromos pencils

Copic pens

White gel pen

Black fine liner

See you next time!

DESTINATION UNKNOWN - by Fran Chalmers

Hi everyone!

Today I have made a card for you.

First I  put some distress inks on my mat and added water. I smooshed the card on top, drying between layers.

Then I stamped the broken fence at the edge of the card.  I had to mask the top of the stamp off as the card was bigger than the stamp, and stamp the middle bit on its own before then stamping the top.  It was difficult to match it up completely right, but it it easy to use a fine liner pen to join the lines up if you are a bit out.

I stamped the lady onto the card, and then onto thick paper.  I coloured and fussy cut her out.

 I added a bit of texture in the gap between the fences and around the main image before gluing the coloured image onto the card.  I added the sentiment, which I edged in red.

 

I added the "One Way" stamp for a bit of interest.

I mounted it onto a black card to finish it off.

Stamps Used:

Running Lady 1080

Jagged Chain Link Fence 19140

Mesh texture 19569

One Way Small 19180

Destination Unknown 19091

Other Items Used:

Distress inks in Tea Dye, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Candied Apple

Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black

Versafine Clair ink in Nocturn

Black fine liner

Copic Pens

Hope you  like it! See you next time x

FREAKY LITTLE THING - Fran Chalmers

Hello everyone! Today I have made a little postcard.

To make the background, I smooshed Distress Inks in Hickory Smoke, Black Soot and Spiced Marmalade on my mat with water, drying between layers. I then added a bit more ink with brushes to deepen the colour, and went rounnd the edges with Black Soot.

I used only the word "Freaky" from the sentiment stamp by masking off the rest of the words,  and stamped it randomly on the card in grey

I added background stamps to add some interest

I stamped my main image on thick paper, coloured it with copics and cut it out to add to the card.

I then added the sentiment to finish it off

 

Stamps Used:

Whimsical Horned Boy 19688

She was a freaky 19684

Writing triangles 19571

Library return dates 20342

Other items:

Distress inks Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Spiced Marmalade

Versafine Clair Grey Mist and Nocturn

Copic Pens

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Hope you like it! See you next time :)