Laura Rumble - Crafter

Blogging some photos of last years Christmas cards made with Skull And Cross Buns clear stamps... These first two cards use the Scandi Christmas set. I love this messy heat embossing with 'spilled powder' and 'confetti stamping' peeking out from behind the main feature. These foxes can be found here .

Here is my first layout using StickerKitten's new Sweet Pastels range. You can watch the layout come together here: I've done lots of layering with these gorgeous papers. There is some white texture paste in the background for added interest and some sparkly sequins added around the page too. There are two stamp sets in the collection and I've heat embossed a sentiment stamp to serve as my title.  Aren't those wooden sweets adorable? Here, have a twofer! In the other stamp set that matches these papers there is the cutest little cottage and accessories. This was an experiment masking and stamping in different coloured inks and then watercolouring the open spaces with those same coloured inks.  I liked the outcome so much that it was upgraded from experiment to success and made it on to the front of a card. Thanks for stopping by!

I've been having fun with the new stamp set from Skull and Cross Buns along with their Stocking Stencil ... I've accessorised some Christmas cards with lace from Crafty Ribbons. The bulk of the cards came about from my initial play with the stencil... I just grab some ink and card and played with no pressure.  I tried spraying ink through the stencil, stamping the stencil, filling the stencilled image with stamping... As seems to be my current 'thing' they all feature foam tape for added dimension. ...which also creates wonderful shadows. And there is a layout too... I added a bunch of machine stitching on this layout to pull it all together. Here are the process videos: Thanks for stopping by!

I'm very excited to share my first Skull And Cross Bund DT piece with you today... I was sorting through some bits and bobs in my craft room and came across a bundle of red and pink bits from a valentine's swap I did earlier this year.  I didn't want to find a home to store them so I used them on this layout... I added in Skull and Cross Buns Decreasing Circles stencil, Geometric Heart Acrylic in hot pink and stamps from the Quirky Sentiments and Retro Sweeties clear sets.  Here's the video:

This is another 'quick-use-the-cocoa-vanilla-supplies-to-make-space-for-more' layout! I'm sure this was for an NSD challenge too but I can't remember which one! Thanks for looking!

I'm up on the like for ever blog with another woodland layout today. I knew I had the perfect photo to match the pencil icons in the kit - my budgie perching on top of my collection of pencils.  He had only been here a few days and when he decided he liked pencils I knew we were going to be friends!! I loved the photo frames and overlays that came in the kit and tasked myself to use them on every layout.  Having used the gold frames on my first two layouts I opted for an overlay for this one.  I was a bit stuck for ideas for attaching it to the photo.  Sewing would certainly have been an option but I went with a gold paper clip from the like for ever shop. I popped up the hello die cut and the fussy cut pencil pot on foam to give a little more emphasis and dimension. And I finished off the layout with some hand stitching in gold thread.  Gold thread is not the easiest to work with; it is much stiffer than regular thread.  I do think t...

The Craft Barn alpha challenge continues... we must be nearly a quarter of the way through?  This fortnight the challenge was set as S with a shell. I had wanted to do a skylark for S - one of my favourite birds, but one I've not drawn before.  Well, that wasn't going to match with a shell!  I settled on Shrimp. I may be pushing the 'shell' part for some people.  But it does have a shell - a carapace, in fact - meaning a shell that covers the head and thorax which are fused as one.  Not your traditional shell, I agree, so understand if you feel the need to disqualify me! I found it so difficult to find photos of these creatures *ahem* not on a plate! But I did find a few and managed this little chap... Quite cute little things really! Thanks for stopping by!

This fortnight's letter at the Craft Barn is D... brilliant, I already know what I want to do I think to myself.  I can get back on track and link up with plenty of time to spare.  Ah, but there must be pink on the page - well, I couldn't find any pink ducks, (or pink does, or pink daws) to draw. Dove, though, are surprisingly pink!  There were a few species to pick from, but I plumped for Jambu Fruit Dove - isn't he beautiful?  Amazing feather colouration.  I do love my birds! Linking up at The Craft Barn. Thanks so much for stopping by!

This weeks smiles are courtesy of Dewent Coloursoft pencils...  They are sitting on my shelf in a glass pot looking all pretty and colourful and boy are they calling my name! Linking up at Friday Smiles :)

My Mum is the best.  Look what she made for my Inktense pencils... I want to take them on holiday with me, and can't bear the thought of them rattling around in a pencil case - these are my precious ones!  A length of padded material, bias binding and thread was all she needed... and it's perfect! Thanks Mum!!

This makes me happy! Sharing at Annie 's

Here is a box of pencils happiness...  They are Derwent Inktense watercolour pencils and they are gorgeously vibrant. Sharing this box of happy at Friday Smiles

Remember last year I was joining in with the A-Z challenge?  I really enjoyed altering the dictionary and loved the nature theme.  Well, I suddenly felt the urge to carry on the project, so I looked around and decided on owl and raven.  Owl is still a thought, but Raven is illustrated and ready to share... I've used: gesso, palette knife, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B pencils, magenta and steel grey coloured pencils, black fineliner, white posca paint pen and a fine paint brush (to smudge) I'd like to link this up with Quoth The Raven