'In the Classroom' Homework for Lesson 6

Hello again,

I have been a busy(ish) bee.  After seeing Barbara Gray's post on facebook encouraging people to get their homework in from lesson 6, I decided to get off my duff and do just that.

The stamps for lesson 6 are the gorgeous, and I had a lot of fun working with them.

First project was a card directly from the lesson project - and here is mine..

I pretty much followed the lesson point for point, other than choosing some different pro marker colors.  I decided on this simple layout for the card itself to make sure the artwork keeps the spotlight.  There are a few (or probably more than a few) flaws in my stamping, but all in all I am happy with the way it turned out - especially considering this was my first pass at it.

Next, I decided to do another card with my own 'design'.  I did use a stamp not in the lesson set for the sentiment, but I thought it went perfectly with the floral theme.

Here 'tis....

I stamped the flowers and the verse with versamark and embossed with Zing Pewter embossing powder.  It is not quite as shiny as it looks in the picture - but that is what flashes do..lol.  Also, the verse is a bit more clear than it appears in the photo thanks to the reflection of the flash on the embossing powder.

The flowers are colored with pro-markers and I did some distressing on the edges of the image layer with milled lavender distress ink.

I was originally going to do a DL card, but I thought I needed something on the card to accentuate the blue in the flowers a bit.  I decided to make it a half A4 card and added the blue vintage ribbon on the bottom.  I wish the photo did the card justice, but I as I will be sending both in to Barbara Gray as my lesson homework so she can pass them on through her charity, I just have to hope the recipient will like it.

Anyway, I just thought I would share these cards here as well.  I hope you like them.

I did decide to enter the second card in the Outlawz Monday Greeting Card Challenge which has a theme of 'Distressing'.

Don't forget to check out the current challenges over at Crafty Boots (No Girls Allowed theme) and Just Inspirational Challenges (photo inspired and sponsored by Delicious Doodles).  There is still plenty of time to enter both, and I absolutely love seeing all the wonderful creative projects you all come up with.

Take care and please feel free to leave a comment.  I do hope you pop back soon.

xx Denise

A Woman's Prerogative - Lesson 1

Well, it is a good thing that it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind, because I have done just that.

Although I made a card to send in as my Lesson 1 'In the Classroom with Barbara Gray' assignment, I decided to do some more pattern building and ended up making a card I was a bit happier with.

Here 'tis......

I will be sending this off, so I hope it does the Clarity Stamps justice.

Take care and happy crafting
xx Denise

Classroom with Barbara Homework

Hello everyone,

This card is the product of the first "In the Classroom with Barbara Gray" class and 'homework assignment'.

In the Classroom Lesson 1 Assignment

The stamps used are all Clarity Stamps including:

• Large Butterfly
• Berry corner & Best Wishes sentiment from the Berry Corner stamp set 
• Grasses
• Small birch leaf 

I used the Foliage and Spice Big and Juicy ink pads for all the stamping except the blue, which I did with the  Stormy Sky Distress Ink.  The butterfly is coloured in with Pro Markers.

If I'm honest, getting the pattern to turn out the way I wanted it took a few trials and errors.  Then once I got the pattern right, I ended up ruining another card trying to get the background 'sky' the way I wanted it.  Finally I ended up getting it all right in the card you see above.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Pollycraft Challenge #107 - Autumn Colours 

Challenge Up Your Life - No Patterned Paper

Crafty Creations Challenges - Show us Your Inner Animal (#133)

Anything Challenge - Inspired by TV / Films  (Inspired by the Butterfly Effect)

I hope you like the card.  As always, I welcome any and all comments - even constructively negative ones :)

Take care and happy crafting

xxDenise