I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

There is a new Facebook Christmas themed challenge for Lost Coast Designs and Carmen's Veranda.

Here is my make, featuring the Snowman from Carmen's Veranda :

The snowman was stamped in grey memento ink, and the edges sponged.

I colored the scarf separately, it was stamped in orange and fussy cut.

I used a stencil by Tim Holtz and molding paste to add some swirls to the snowman, then added Art Sugar by Prima whilst the paste was still wet. 

The background is made by running the tag through the big shot with a snowflake embossing folder, then colorized it with dylusions sprays. Inka gold was added to the raised parts of the snowflakes when dry, and finally, a sentiment, rhinestones and co-ordinating colored ribbon added.

Thanks for stopping by, please check our the challenge and the other DT's inspiration on our facebook pages :) 

Tacky / Gaudy Christmas

A fun challenge for our local ATC trade, tacky or gaudy Christmas .... Here is my make using Dina Wakeleys scribbly birds. Doesn't he look spiffing in his Christmas sweater :)

Background is die cut snowflakes glued into place on water color paper, then colored with water color paint in shades of blue and violet. I added a layer of satin varnish to seal it and merge the colors, and sprinkled on glass glitter when it was still wet. I did some white splashes and edged the ATC in white acrylic. 

The bird is stamped on vanilla card stock and colored with distress inks, white and black gel pen details added and diamond glaze to make the eye look beady. I stamped the bird onto the knitted pattered paper, fussy cut it and dressed him. I wanted an image on the front, so the snowman arrived :) Now this is a proper ugly Christmas sweater. LOL

I die cut a branch and glued that in place, stamped the bird onto the background in black versamark and clear embossed it. Then I glued my finished bird over the top, with a little sweater trim around the neck to keep him warm. 

Finally I typed 'Cheap Cheap' on my typewriter, punched each letter out with a small circle punch, edged them individually with blue copic and glued the letters down. Do you get the cheap cheap reference in relation to tacky and  gawdy? Its not a typo .. I know that birds really cheep .... LOL

Thanks for stopping by x

Tic Tac Toe

This weeks challenge at Wicked Wednesday is a Tic Tac Toe Board : 

How much fun to get inspiration from this. For my ATC I used : red and green, girly, washi tape and stickles.

Here is my ATC, using the cute image by All Dressed Up, called Magical Woodland. There are extra parts to the image you buy, another toadstool and flowers, but my background was already busy enough so I left them out.

The fairy and toadstool are colored with copics, faber castell india ink pens and prisma color pencils. I added sparkly stickles to her wings. 

The background is painted with distress paints in three shades of green, then I used a bottle cap to stamp the red circles. I used a stencil for the smaller pink circles and when it was dry did a little white doodling. I used pink because I had wanted to soften everything up from the harsher greens and reds, and thought my little woodland fairy needed to be super feminine.

I added two torn strips of pink flower washi across the bottom and my word, 'believe' is from a Tim Holtz sticker pack. I painted it pink to tie in with the other pink :)

Here is a close up of her :

Thanks for stopping by, please leave a comment for me 

and come join us over at Wicked Wednesday :)

I am also entering this fairy into the All Dressed Up challenge in their Facebook group, the challenge is Stars or Snowflakes - I think my little pink snowflakes qualify :)

Wicked Wednesday : Tic Tac Toe

All Dressed Up : Stars or Snowflakes

'Surprise' ATC

At the Stampotique facebook group, we voted for our new ATC trade theme for November/December to be 'Surprise'.

Here is the front cover of my three ATCs (two to trade, and one for me to keep) :

Lets take a closer look at the front of one :

I loved the color combo here, the teals and pink. I used my soft printing plate for the background. It was the first time, and I LOVED it. I used a couple of stencils and a tool to draw onto the plate. I randomly stamped some words and did some doodling in white gel pen. Isn't the little dog adorable.

And no black on this ATC time ... its all shades of brown. The little dog is from the dog cube. I also used the Hanging Hearts and one other Stampotique stamp ..... Hmm, wonder which one?

But wait, whats that I see, is there a flap to open ? Oh yes, I think so .... But what could be there ? 

Any ideas ?

Oooooh, what a naughty surprise ! Someone is mooning the little pup ! How rude. LOL 

That is the Rear View Mirror stamp from Stampotique, what a cutie she is.

Thanks for stopping by, and following along with my quirky sense of humour. 

Let hope my trade partners like these :) Nikki x

A Dog is not just for Christmas

Over at the Vera Lane Studios Facebook group there is a Christmas Card/tag trade. 

I have made this tag, featuring the ever so sweet dog, from the set Little Whimsical Witch :

The pooch is colored with copics and gelli roll pens, his eyes have a layer of crystal effects. Once I had colored the dog, I put some blending alcohol onto a piece of felt and pounced all over the dog to soften up the look, to make it look more like a dogs coat. The leash is made from gold thread. 

The tag was run through my big shot with a retired Stampin' Up! embossing folder, then colorized with dylusions sprays. When it was dry I added inka gold over the raised parts of the snowflakes. 

Look how shiny it it in this close up :

The sentiment was printed from my computer, the washi ground and co-ordinating ribbons added to the tag. The final thing was to go around the edge with Tsukineko fantastix all purpose ink in champagne mist.

Anybody from the UK will remember the adverts that used to be on TV, and it is very true : 

A dog is for life, not just for Christmas x

Love your pet x

Fall Fairies ATC

Such a cute image to work with this week at Wicked Wednesday. Meet Girl with Mushroom from Julia Spiri Digi Stamps :

My image is colored with copics and meticulously fussy cut.  Isn't she so lovely and cheery :)

The background paper was too busy so I wanted to subdue it a little. I was at a crop and the lady next to me had die cut velum and threw the negative in the recycle bin right next to me. One persons trash is another's treasure and all that .... LOL ... so I up-cycled it and adhered it to on top of the pattered paper. I think it looks great. The word 'Sweet'  is from a Tim Holtz word sticker set.

Thanks for stopping by x

New Star Wars Movie

Anyone as excited as this dude about the new Star Wars movie ? Look he is all dressed and ready to go to the premier LOL

This is an ATC, featuring the wonderful and most quirky image from WonderStrange Arts. I colored the image with copics and gold pencil. I added diamond glaze to the glasses.

The background was a technique that I learned from watching an Andy Skinner video on youtube. Then I masked off a few areas and painted the background black, some white acrylic splashes added.

The dude is standing on a gold washi gound, and the words were typed on my typewriter and colored with metallic gold gelato :)

Just created this as a little fun to brighten my day, thanks for stopping by :)

At the Movies

I haven't managed to create anything for the Stampotique challenge for a while, but this week the challenge SDC222 is 'At the Movies', and Corrie is the hostess, so I thought I would join in the fun :)

Here is my make, featuring the delectable and very versatile Oliver : 

Can you guess the movie ? 

Oliver was colored with copics and Faber Castell India Ink fine black pen to add the hair and glasses detail. I added a layer of dull embossing powder. It makes the image appear just a little bit sharper.

The background was made using black cardstock, then I used molding paste and a Crafters Workshop stencil called Mini Cubist. When the paste was dry I colored the boxes with inktense pencils in green, orange, blue and red. I used inktense because they dry permanent and I wanted to go over and add some low lights with india ink.

The words were typed on my typewriter, painted with the same colors of inktense pencil as the background and glued on top. Oliver, erm I mean Neo, was popped up on the card and a thin washi ground added for him to stand on.

Here's a close up. Have you worked out the movie and who this is yet ?

This is Neo from the Matrix. One of my all time favorite movies. And I must admit .. my all time fave squeeze ... I just looooove Keanu Reeves.

As soon as I saw the challenge theme I knew I wanted to do this, I just had to get creative with what I had in my stash. I think it worked out pretty good :)

Thanks for stopping by x

Torn Paper or Edges

This weeks sponsor of Wicked Wednesday is the awesome Sweet Pea Stamps. Here I have used an image by Sandra Caldwell, Little Old Lady Clown. My make, colored with copics : 

This is such a cute image, I really enjoyed coloring her. For this Wicked Wednesday challenge of torn paper or edges, I tore up a doily and used it to add some dimension to her ruffle, and a few gold polka dots for good measure.

Sad to be saying farewell to Sweet Pea Stamps soon, but hopefully all the artists images will still be available elsewhere. Sandra Caldwell has a facebook group and is still releasing new images.

Thanks for stopping by, please leave me a comment x

Dia de los Muertos

At the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity this month, we had a Day of the Dead event, or Dia de los Muertos. This means it's All Soul's Day, as celebrated early November in various European and Latin American countries, especially the Mexican observance of this day. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family who has passed, and help support their spiritual journey.

Here is my make, 3 ATC's featuring the Skull Flourish from Lost Coast Designs :

For these ATC's I wanted a very textured background. I used molding paste and colored it with grey acrylic paint. Then I applied it to the ATC base with a pallet knife and stamped into it with the skull flourish while the now grey paste was still wet :

 I then left the molding paste to dry and went to clean my stamp. I just used an old toothbrush and bar of soap. Its important to wash the stamp before the paste dries on it :

I sprayed the ATC background with black and white dylusions and let it blend and drip. Then I left it to dry. When it was dry I tore the edges off, and sponged lightly with grey ink.

I stamped the skull flourish in black ink onto La Blanche card stock, and added a little embossing powder while the ink was still wet and heat set it. I fussy cut it and glued it onto my textured background. I used a C3 copics to go over some of the shading on the skull.

See the texture : 

I typed the words on my typewriter and added the flowers and embellishment.

Finally I matted the textured ATC front onto grey card stock that I had edged in grey ink and stamped the mini skulls. It is very faint, but if you look closely you can see them along the edges. 

Here are individual pics of the three ATC's :

Thanks for stopping by, and if you feel inspired to do so, please leave me a comment :)

Nikki x

Non - Traditional Postcard

A most wonderful trade group I belong to chose 'Non- traditional Postcard' for our December challenge.

Here is my make : 

The most amusing thing about this is that it will be mailed as a postcard, not in an envelope. I hope the postman and the recipients family have a good laugh. LOL

The background is distress paints, then I stamped the La Blanche stamp of Santas face. I added snowflakes  in white, and gold to the edge of the postcard.

The dominatrix is a stamp by Smeared Ink, and the sentiment is in the same set. Isn't she a doll :)

I colored her with copics and fussy cut her, yes, even all those tiny little bits of the chair legs. I am a glutton for punishment ! 

I did actually use versamark and clear embossing powder to emphastize the outfit. I took this photo with the light reflecting off her : 

+

I hope the recipient appreciates my weird and slightly rude take on 'Naughty and Nice' :)

Thanks for stopping by x

Purple ATC

This weeks challenge at Wicked Wednesday, number 184, is to use purple. I love purple, its one of my favorite colors.

Here is my copics colored creation, this image is called Priscilla by The Fantasy Art of Nikki Burnette :

I don't know why, but when I saw this image I instantly thought of a bottle of poison. So I made a bottle ATC - rather novel. 

I resized the image to go onto my bottle, its pretty small. Because the image is so intricate it was very hard to get all the details colored as I would like. But overall, I think she looks good :)

Thanks for stopping by x

SCACD Digital Stamps RELEASE !!!

Welcome to my blog, the last stop showing the gorgeous new images from SCACD. You will have come from Penny's blog. 

SCACD is celebrating 10 newly released exclusive digital stamps. There are some new cute animal stacks think kitten, puppies and birds as well as some Steampunk additions and more!!! So check out the collection as these are really cute, fun and unique. SCACD Artist Carmen Medlin and Susana collaborated on the images and we are happy to be showcasing them to you now :D

Now available for purchase in the USA HERE     

All Our EU International Friends can purchase them HERE    

If you are a none EU country you can purchase direct from SCACD HERE 

Today I am showcasing this delightful folk art cow image, a fun new digi from SCACD. The actual image is a whole cow, I just cut off the back part so she fitted into my frame. Nobody actually mentioned if it was a he or she, but I am thinking definitely a she, with her beautiful body markings :

  Below is a closer look at the folk art cow, colored with alcohol markers. To get the textured look to the cows coat, I colored it then put a few drops of blending solution onto a blending tool and pounced it all over the brown. It gives a more realistic looking animal skin I think :) 

I thought the sentiment was just perfect. And its actually my Birthday today, so thanks very much, things are cow'ing just fine. LOL : 

If you want to make sure you saw all the Designers showcasing the stamps then head back to the SCACD Store Blog HERE for the list. Hope you had fun and found some inspiration :)

Please note SCACD is having a SALE so check it out HERE:

Lots of Stripes

Wicked Wednesday are sponsored this week by A & T Digital Designs, Emerald Faeries. I have copics colored this adorable image, The Larakins :

Thanks for stopping by x

Mail Art Today

The new challenge at the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity is Mail Art. I quite like mail art, it definitely makes you think about the placing of images, address, stamps etc. I have used my all time favorite stamp .. this is THE stamp that inspired me to want to be involved in this design team.

For this standard 5.5" x 4.25" mail art envelope I have used one of the mini flying ladies from Lost Coast Designs. Isn't she just wonderful, here is a close up of her :

I stamped the lady onto my envelope then again onto a post it note. I fussy cut the post it and used this as a mask so I could color the background. I also used a small playing card to mask the area for the address. Using a playing card for this is a tip I learned from fellow DT member Tera Callihan. I colored the background with peacock feathers distress ink and a round blending tool. I used a circular motion, and really liked how it worked out :

I left the masks in place and stamped with the background stamp postcard background from Carmen's Veranda in spiced marmalade and peacock feathers. Then to make the black bubble strip I used Circle Frame, by Lost Coast Designs.

I removed the masks and added the lettering using Lost Coast Designs Old Typewriter Alphabet SOTA. 

Hope you found some inspiration here, pop over to the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity for more inspiration and to enter our challenge. You do not need to use LCD or CV images, but if you do you increase your chances of a win :)

Trick or Treat

This is my second make for the 31 Days Of Halloween, which is taking place over at the Smeared Ink blog, sponsored by Lost Coast Designs and Carmen's Veranda. You can check out the Design Teams daily inspiration at the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity.

Here is my make, featuring Carmen's Veranda stamps Large People Skull and Grunge white swirl background. I also used the Old Typewriter Alphabet from Lost Coast Designs :

The skull image is so great. I stamped it onto glossy card stock in black versamark and embossed it with clear embossing powder. I then added more definition to the shaded parts of the image using grey distress ink and a cut n dry pen nib.

I really love the grunge backgrounds, they are so versatile. I used the white one here stamped over a distress ink background and acrylic splatters. The words are white heat embossed.

The 'Trick or Treat' amused me, both words are pretty relevent to this image ... LOL. Love the sexual innuendo :)

Thanks for stopping by x

Have a Wicked Wednesday !

I got particularly colorful this week creating my ATC for Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenge blog. I really enjoy Oddball Arts images, look at this gorgeous witch, Tiffany the Terrible, Img 79B :

                             

This is a single layer atc, colored with copics, the letters from an alpha sticker pack by Ranger.

I loved the sentiment, so perfect with Halloweeen coming up ...

Thanks for stopping by x

Funky Colored Hair ATC

This weeks Wicked Wednesday challenge is funky colored hair, my make using Lacy Sunshines Rory lets down her hair :

The Rory image is colored with copics. I fussy cut Rory, adding some wink of stella pen to her funky streaks in her hair. 

The background is painted with dylusions paint in crushed grape, with some white randomly mixed in to some spots. Then a added some small white splats. 

I matted the colored background onto white and stamped and cut out the sentiment. She looks like she is looking out, thinking, longing for something ... or someone ?

Its always so fun at Wicked Wednesday, come and join us :)

Zombie Birthday Card

What can I say, my sister likes zombies.

Here is her Birthday card, using images from Smeared Ink :

I used alcohol inks and acrylic paint for the background. The zombie is a digital image, I resized it to fit the tag. The zombie is colored with copics. I stamped the building and sponged it with distress ink. The words are printed from my typewriter, and added on top of a layer of washi.

Thanks for stopping by x

'Put a Bird on It' ATC

My make for 'Put a Bird on it' ATC trade, over at Vera Lane Studios facebook group :

I used one of the images from the Ladies who lunch set, and the cockatoo is a freebie in the facebook group :)

The background is made with a Dylusions stencil and acrylic ground for pastels, then I used a Dylusions spray for the yellow sun, the rest was sponged with distress ink. The images are colored with copics and I used fluffy stuff to simulate the bird poop ! LOL I decided to add the white border to accentuate the image, and typed the word 'crap!' on my typewriter. I used a versamark pen and clear embossing powder for the birds feet and beak. The eyes have a layer of diamond glaze.

I have no idea where this little artwork will be headed ... but hope my partner likes it :)

Witches, bats or cats ....

Todays challenge at Wicked Wednesday is Witches, Bats or Cats.

I have used Winifred from Alicia Bel for my ATC. She is casting a spell .... wonder what it is ?

I colored Winifed with Copics. 

The ATC background is made with red and blue alcohol inks on a resist cardstock. I wanted the feeling of movement behind her, so I added gold alcohol ink and moved it around. The ground was made with a gold pen, then I added clear embossing powder. I edged the ATC with blue artist pitt pen.

I actually took another photo of this and angled it a little towards the light, the gold is positively glowing :

Thanks for stopping by x

Trick or Treat at Wicked Wednesday

Wicked Wednesday is sponsored by Sami Stamps this week, the 179th challenge is Trick or Treat. I have colored this gorgeous Witch Beauty image with copics :

I upcycled a Skittles packet for the dress of my witch. 

I personally think she has taken Trick or Treating a bit far this year ! LOL

Then darn it ... the packet was open, so I ate them ! Hahaha

Thanks for stopping by, Nikki x

Hey There Tag

I had fun making this cute tag, featuring one of the Crazy Birds by Tim Holtz. This tag is in the mail today to Anne in the USA. It is accompanying an ATC, as part of the multimedia ATC trade group I am in. Is this the time to admit it ... I am a serial trader .... LOL

The background is a print from a soft plate, with extra detail and a sentiment added. The crazy bird is colored with Neocolor II's and a little pom pom added for his tail. He might look sad, but actually, hes just thinking ... LOL.

Thanks for stopping by x

Everything Dances

Lost Coast Designs and Carmen's Veranda are sponsoring Smeared Ink's 31 Days of Halloween. Every day for the duration of the event, fabulous Halloween inspired art will be shared by the Design Team at the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity.

For today, here is my make :

For this standard sized card I have used the larger skeleton from Dancing Skeletons. I stamped the skeleton in memento black and added depth and shading with copics, cool greys. I outlined the image in black and fussy cut it.

The background was so fun .... I got the idea for the background behind the skeleton from a Youtuber Shana Conroy, a video entitled Dreams. Basically I painted the background with black gesso, then sprayed dylusions sprays and let it dry. I then splashed watered down white gesso onto the background, put a layer of paper on top and pulled it off. Because dylusions sprays react with water, they started to color the white gesso. I let it dry. Doesn't it look awesome, a perfect backdrop for the skeleton - thanks Shana :)

I layered this card, matting the black with distressed yellow card stock, and I stamped Carmen Veranda's grunge black swirl background onto the card base which I had first colored with distress inks.

The finishing touch was the words, which I typed on my typewriter. Cut them out and edged in black. I love Maya Angelou, and this quote from her suited this project perfectly I think.

Here is a closer look at the card :

I really enjoyed making this card ... so I decided to make a few artist trading cards too :

I used the exact same techniques and stamps, except for the stamping on the blue background. I used the same grunge black swirl, but this time I used the new ATC sized one. How great to have a smaller version for ATC's. The grunge backgrounds are really great, and there are a whole host of ATC background stamps available at Lost Coast Designs.

The words were quite amusing for one of the ATC's. Who remembers the hit from 1993, "Boom! Shake the Room"? Quite amusing the link the old-school hip-hop with the dancing skeleton.

Hope you found some inspiration here and please pop over to The Lost Coast Portal to Creativity and Smeared Ink to see the other gorgeous pieces :) 

Viva Las Vegas Stamps postcard trade

I decided to join in a postcard trade at Viva Las Vegas Stamps. We had to make four 4x6" postcards, mail them and then get three back from other players :) One will be be displayed in the store. 

The title was Fall Harvest. Here was the glitch ... All my VLVS images are quirky and weird beings. I did not have a single fall or Halloween image ... So I improvised :

Here is my make using Some of the Dr Who images from plate o rubber 925 

I was quite amused making this, that she is covering her eyes. I am a big Dr Who fan, its such a wonderful and quirky show, glad I finally got to use this stamp set I bought recently.

The background is made with Dylusions paints, there is lots of embossing, fussy cutting and stamping, close up :

 And here are my four postcards, all on their way to DeeDee at the store in Las Vegas, hope my swap partners like them :)

Thanks for stopping by, Nikki x