Rapunzel

As you may (or may not) know, I enjoy joining in on a couple of international swaps, with a different theme each month.  This month's swap was an 'altered playing card with a fairytale theme' so after a bit of thinking and inspiration from others being posted, this is what I came up with :

Rapunzel

Now, if you are wondering how I fitted so much onto a playing card ...... well, no one said what size the playing card had to be!

I started by covering the back of the card with gesso.  While that was drying I stamped, coloured and cut out all the different pieces that would form the background of my little scene.  A number of different stamps were used for this and these will be listed at the end of this post.

Once the gesso was dry, I used gelatos for the blue and green background.  These add a bit of a shimmer while still allowing a parts of the original card to peep through.

 unaltered side of playing card

 the two cards with slight variations

I'm really not sure what the original purpose of these playing cards would have been, but they were in a container of unwanted goodies that my friend, Jenni, gave me.   On first glance I dismissed them but when this swap was announced using an altered playing card, I gave them a second look - as I said earlier, no one said how big [12.5cm x 18cm] (or small) the playing cards needed to be!

The cards are now winging their way to different parts of the globe, hopefully arriving at their destinations in the not too distant future (fingers crossed Mr Postie).

Playing Card - Heidi Swap

"Edwin's Knight Castle" - Magnolia stamps

"Warm Wishes" - Julie Nutting

"Arch" - Stampotique

"Picket Fence" - Stampotique

"Rope" - Heirloom Ornaments (Spellbinders freebie)

Happy Crafting!

APC Challenge - Displayed

Two posts in one day - gosh, how did that happen?

 

So, now that I'm up-to-date and the Altered Playing Card challenge has come to an end, I thought I'd show how I'm displaying all the cards.  I have some plastic sleeves which are for general trading cards (you know, for collectable cards etc) and my finished cards fit perfectly.

Page 1

 

 Page 2

 

 Page 3

 

 Page 4

Page 5

 

 Page 6

 

So, there they all are - six pages in total.  Lots of different techniques were used, some easier than others, but overall I'm fairly happy with how they all look.

Happy Crafting!

 

APC Challenge - Week 26

Yesterday I posted about the last two cards for the

Altered Playing Card Challenge.

I realised after I had posted them that I hadn't posted the cards I made for week #26, so without further ado, here they are:

The prompt for these cards was monotone i.e. use various tones of one colour.

The stamps are part of plate #925 from VivaLasVega stamps, but as I bought them a couple of years ago, I'm not sure whether they are still available.

 

 Happy Stamping!

APC Challenge - Week 27

I've finished!!!

Yes, I have just finished Week #27 of the

Altered Playing Card Challenge

This week it was all about using embossing powder as part of the background.  I'm a bit out of practice as I don't emboss things very much anymore, but I rumaged around and found some 'Fine Gold' embossing powder.   I also opened the tub of Tim Holtz' 'Shabby Shutters' embossing powder which looks nothing like the stamp I used underneath - oh well, it's a learning curve isn't it?

The background colour is SU 'kiwi kiss' (discontinued) with 'fine gold' embossing powder over a stamp from SU "Clockworks'.  "Bla Bla Bla' (Stampotique) is stamped in 'jet black' Archival Ink, along with a pointing finger stamp from Prima "Stationers Desk".  The butterfly is also embossed with 'fine gold' and is also from Prima "Butterfly Wings" set.  I doodled around the border.

The background colour is SU 'tempting turquoise' with 'shabby shutters' embossing powder over another stamp in the "Clockworks" set (yes I know, this doesn't look anything like the stamp).  The little postage image is from Prima "Stationers Desk", the heart is a Craft Stamper magazine freebie.  The little envelope came from a roll of images I found in Kmart this week.  Again I doodled around the border.

We've now come to end of the Altered Playing Card Challenge.  It has been lots of fun and learning new techniques along the way.  A big thanks to Claudine for all her inspiration each week.  Come back again and have a look at how I decided to display my cards.

 

Happy Crafting!

 

APC Challenge - Week 25

The Altered Playing Card Challenge is almost, but not quite, at the end.

Week 25 sees the use of gloss card along with re-inkers or alcohol inks.

It was quite fun playing around with alcohol inks and blending solution and seeing all the different combinations of colours that this technique created.  I settled on a combination of yellow and green with a smidge of red added and schmooshed it around on my craft mat.

The stars were stencilled using SU ink in 'tempting turquoise', then put aside to dry completely.  I then drew a little house on some printed DSP, cut out the windows and coloured it with brush markers.  Something else was needed, so I drew a little person (does she look like me?) as well.  Before they were glued into place, I stamped a border with 'jet black' archival ink.  To allow enough space for the letters, the house was glued over the border edge.

On the second card, I used SU 'pumpkin pie' through a stencil and as with the first card, set it aside to dry completely.  A border of washi tape was added but as the card is only small, if the border had been added to all four sides, it would have looked too closed in.  The butterfly (in my stash from way back) was stamped onto the same printed DSP and coloured with brush markers, and finally the letters were added for a title.

This was quite a fun challenge as it is not often I get out my alcohol inks and have a play with them.

I wonder what Week 26 will have in store for us?  Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be a great technique.

 

Happy Crafting!

 

APC Challenge - Week 23

My apologies for not blogging Week 23 sooner, somewhere along the line life got in the way ......

The Altered Playing Card Challenge for Week 23 was "Masks"

Create a mask, cover with ink etc, stamp over the top once dry, take mask off and stamp image in black over the top.  Add some words if desired.

I think I did these correctly, but if not ...... oh well, I'm happy with how they turned out!

I started with a Dylusions stencil "Diamond Border" and 'Peach Parfait' ink (SU).  Without moving the stencil, I stamped "Chicken Wire" (Kaisercraft) with 'Jet Black' Archival Ink over the top.

I next stamped the butterfly image from "Butterfly Wings" (Prima) and added the words from Darkroom Door.

On this card I used the "Mini Bricks" stencil from TCW with 'Cherry Cobbler' ink (SU). Without moving the stencil, I stamped "Bla Bla Bla" (Stampotique) on the background with 'Watering Can' Archival Ink.  The dragonfly image is also from "Butterfly Wings" (Prima).  I decided not to add any additional words to this card.

I am now up-to-date with this challenge, and with only a couple of weeks left before we have finished our deck of cards, I will have to think of what else to do?

Perhaps I can just make random cards to leave abandoned as a surprise for others to find.

Happy Crafting!

 

APC Challenge - Week 24

Hmmm ...... Week 23?  Yes, it IS coming, just not on this post!

The prompt for Week 24 of the

Altered Playing Card Challenge

is Washi Tape

Add a variety of different but co-ordinated washi tapes to both playing cards.

Card #1

Stamp, emboss and colour an image.  Cut a circle and attach to washi tape as this will help the stamped image stand out.  I cut out the caterpillar (Stampotique) and popped him on dimensionals.  I added a word and all finished!

 Card #2

Die cut an image and using the surrounding area, stamp over the top.  I used a script stamp from Kaisercraft for this step.  Adhere it over the top of the card, allowing the washi tape to show through.  A word was added and again, all finished!

Both these cards were simple and very easy to put together.   

Looking through my mix of washi tapes, I realised that they really needed to be grouped by colour, so I now have three take-away containers, one with black/white tapes, another with blue/green/purple tonings and a third with the remaining mix of colours.  I also realised I have nothing in yellows, so when I'm visiting The Stitches & Craft Show next weekend, I'll see what can be done to remedy this situation!

I'll be back with Week 23 before you know it, so stay tuned!

Happy Crafting!

 

APC Challenge - Week 22

Week 22 of the Altered Playing Card Challenge 

was to use glue with a stencil.

After reading that the stencil needs to be cleaned immediately after using glue, I decided I would create my own patterns instead.

The glue was left to dry over a number of days and when I pulled them out from where I leave things that need to dry, much to my surprise the glue had (a) turned yellow and (b) was still sticky although set.  I had expected it to dry clear and non sticky.  Oh well, next step was to add paint.

For both cards, I squeezed just a spot of paint onto them and finger painted over the whole surface.  I then wiped a little paint off as they would have been too dark.  

(The blue card is actually purple, but the light hasn't been good the last few days as it is cloudy and overcast)

I discovered after the paint was added, that the stickyness of the glue was somewhat reduced.

 

 

These are the finished cards (this time using a flash). 

 

 

I'm really not sure which looks better - flash or no flash?

Anyhow, I outlined the glue with my paint pen, found my punch that makes a sort of filmstrip edge, stamped the "Octopet" (Stampotique) onto scrap white card and coloured it with Distress Markers. I then added a small piece of torn paper, popped the octopus onto dimensionals and added the word.  I decided the octopus was a bit flat, so added purple dots of Liquid Pearls and black dots of Liquid Pearls for eyes.

On this card I outlined the glue with a white paint pen, adding extra dots for a border.  I added a piece of fabric washi tape and as I didn't want it going over the dots, cut the end off and added it just above the first piece.  I lightly stamped a script stamp in 'watering can' Archival Ink across the background.  I stamped "Rabbit" (Stampotique) onto scrap designer paper, cut him out, popped him on dimensionals and added just a touch of colour to his ears, nose and bow-tie.

I'll be back again very soon as this is a catch-up week.  You'll be able to see Weeks 23 & 24 in the next couple of days and very soon this challenge will be finished.

 

Happy Crafting!

 

APC Challenge - Week 21

Altered Playing Card Challenge - Week 21

I really enjoyed playing along with the prompts this week.

Both cards started with Impasto Medium and stencils, then put aside to dry.  

The only difference my cards had to them at this point, was that I used cards I had coloured early in this challenge but hadn't used because they had remained tacky.   By following the prompts, all the tackiness is now covered with paint and is no long tacky!

So, now that that is all sorted, let's continue, shall we?

After I wiped the paint from the stencilling, I was left with a pale colour palette.  To brighten it up a tad, I dipped my finger into some darker paint and added the spots.   After it was dry I added the torn print (tissue paper), let it dry, then added a very quick & easy border.  My little girl was made using Dylusions 'bunting' stamps for her dress and hat, stamped onto scraps of coloured paper and cut out.  Her dress needed something extra, so I coloured the spots in white with my Posca Paint pen.  Her face is stamped using a Prima 'doll' stamp which has three faces - (nothing else, just the faces) and then punched with a circle punch, and just a touch of colour to her lips.  I added "dream" to finish off.

The second card is done the same way as the first, but this time some washi tape was attached to some scrap card to use as a background.  I don't have any black washi tape so went with a small red pattered one instead.  The face and hat on this girl are made the same way as the previous card, but this time her body is stamped using my Stampotique cube stamp onto spotty paper and cut out.  Her legs are from Stampotique "Hamlet of Halloween" and her arms from "Carrot".   I quickly sponged some black dots before adhering her to the washi tape background and cut around leaving a border.  The words are from Dylusions.

Hope you like my creations this week ......

Happy Crafting!

APC Challenge - Week 20

This week's Altered Playing Card theme is thinking about hearts and love.

These two cards have paint, splatters, patterned hearts - both hand-stamped and hand-drawn, washi tape, words, borders and dots.

I started off by painting both the cards and putting aside to dry.  With the card on the right, I started off with a lime green background followed by a blob of pink which I then wiped off again, leaving the background sort of soft & dreamy looking.

 

 

I started by stamping a border around all four sides on the first card.

I stamped the heart (Stampotique) and wings (Craft Stamper freebie) onto patterned paper and cut them out.  I then stamped the words (Craft Stamper freebie) onto white card and cut them out individually.  The 'wings', 'heart' and 'love' are all popped onto dimensionals, with 'live' & 'laugh' glued directly on the playing card.

After the paint background was dry on the second card, I added some splatters using a stamp (SU) and a red brush marker.  While that was drying I drew two hearts on the back of the patterned paper and cut them out.  I then outlined the hearts on the correct side with a black Posca paint marker.  As I don't have any plain black washi tape, but I did have a snippet of lacy washi paper, I added it at the bottom.  I then stamped the tiny words over the top.  The hearts were added next, and to finish off I added dots of red Liquid Pearls on the edges.

(I only realised when I photographed this that one of the dots has smeared - oops!)

 

These two playing cards were easy and fun to make ........

Happy Crafting!

 

APC Challenge - Week 19

The theme this week for the

Altered Playing Card Challenge

was "Steampunk" using glitter paper, cogs & wheels etc.

I searched for my glitter paper in all the places I could think of but to no avail.  I had packed up my craft things for Christmas and haven't quite worked out where some of them were put.

I started off both backgrounds using a TCW stencil "Mini Gears" and 'black soot' Distress Ink.  The card on the right also has some 'broken china' Distress Ink added just for some extra colour.

 

 

Looking through my stamps, I came across Graphic 45 "Steampunk Spells" with the Witches Brew bottle and wings.  Both were stamped in 'jet black' Archival Ink and coloured with 'broken china' and 'peeled paint' Distress Inks.  I attached the wings with dimensionals and then added two layers of dimensionals to the bottle for extra height.  To finish I added glimmer to the wings using my Wink of Stella pen.

For this card, I looked through the Graphic 45 "Steampunk Spells" paper pad and found the cut image of the winged lady waiting patiently, and she was just the right size for the playing card.  Again I attached her with dimensionals and trimmed a smidgen off the edges to fit.

So although my cards don't quite follow the guidelines this week, I'm happy with them nevertheless.

Thanks for visiting .........

Happy Crafting!

 

APC - Week 14, 15, 17 & 18

I've been having a bit of a play this afternoon to try to catch up with the Altered Playing Card challenge, which is now up to Week 19!  I am very pleased to say, I have almost caught up!!

Week 14

 A bit of embossing, some paint, torn foreground, snowflakes & deer.

Week 15

 Texture paste, stencils, sprays & stamps.

Week 17

 Paint background, black gesso, stencils, stamps, washi tape & quote.

Week 18

 Paint background, stamped background & foreground, one coloured, one left white.

If you are wondering where Week 16 went, I actually got it done in Week 16!!!

I will try to get Week 19 done tomorrow and then I will be up-to-date again - PHEW!!!

Thanks for coming to look .........

Happy Crafting!!!

APC Challenge - Week 16

Wow!  Today is 31st December which means in just a few short hours, it will be 

2015

It is lovely to reflect on the year that is finishing,

but it is also exciting to look forward to what is to come!

  
 So, for my last post of 2015, I am playing along with the 

Altered Playing Card Challenge

Week 16

The background for both cards was to start with a layer of paint and while it was wet, crumple some tissue paper and stick it down on the paint.  Once it is dry, cut off the excess tissue.

Stamp an image, add some words, and it's all finished.

I also lightly sponged some 'black soot' Distress Ink around the edges.

These cards will also be my entry in the current

Stampotique Designers Challenge

where 'anything goes'

I will be back in the New Year to show Weeks 14 & 15, so be sure to come back!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

and may it be a crafty one!

Happy Crafting!!!

    

APC Challenge - Week 13

Altered Playing Card Challenge

Week 13

This weeks challenge is all about 

BEES

so, I had a look through my stash of stamps and found only two bees, one small and one big!

But that is ok as there are only two playing cards anyway.

Come and see what all the buzz is about!

I started by squeezing a small blob of lime and gold acrylic paints onto my craft sheet, and using a little sponge, added colour to both cards.  The colour difference is because gold was added first on the left card while lime was added first on the right card.

  After the paint dried I added a torn piece of scrip tissue paper down the side and another smidgen of torn paper on the top left corner.  I then added Viva Croco Cracking Colour 'Metallic Silver' through a honeycomb stencil.  I've never used this product before, but it was in my mystery box from Darkroom Door so I thought I'd give it a try out.  Next I stamped off once the "bla bla bla" words from Stampotique for a bit more interest.

I've had this bee stamp in my stash for years and have always thought him quite fun.  I stamped him onto white cardstock, coloured him with yellow and orange Distress Markers and cut out just his body.  I then stamped him again directly onto the playing card and glued the cut image over the top.

I used 'Vintage Photo' Distress Ink through the honeycomb stencil on this card, and then tore a couple of pieces of tissue paper and glued them over the top.  I stamped "Bee Happy" onto white card, punched it out with a small over punch, coloured it with a yellow Distress Marker and squeezed a nice layer of Glossy Accents over the top, putting it aside from 24 hours to dry.  The Distress Marker bled a little under the Glossy Accents but I'm happy with the end result.  Once it was dry I popped it onto dimensionals to finish off the card.

Happy Crafting!!!

APC Challenge - Week 12

Altered Playing Card Challenge

Week 12

This weeks challenge was to use designer paper on both cards

along with the letters "I" and "W".

"I" was the beginning of the sentence "I am thankful for ......."

with "W" the beginning of "What I like about myself"

All the words on the "I" card came from a couple of word sticker sheets that were in my stash and I simply chose ones that I felt I was 'thankful' for.

The second card was much harder as the statement "what I like about myself" takes a bit of thinking about.   These words are computer generated in different fonts as none of these words were on the sticker sheets. 

I think there needs to be a little embellishment or something just to finish these two cards off, but until I figure out just what that is, they will remain as you see them.

Happy Crafting!

 

APC Challenge - Week 11

Altered Playing Card Challenge

Week 11

Playing "catch-up" is fun and I'm almost there, but in the meantime have a look at my interpretation of Week 11 of the challenge.

This week, the challenge was to use a piece of paper towel used for mopping up.  The ink on my mop up paper towel has become quite dark but very sparkly (which unfortunately doesn't show up in the pic) but I went with it anyway.

On card #1 I adhered the paper towel to the playing card using a thin layer of clear gesso and left it to dry.  On card #2 I did the same but after say 30 seconds pulled it back off and it left colour from the inks on the towel behind as well as any pattern the towel may happen to have.  Pretty cool, eh? 

 

I stamped "Schu" from Stampotique, coloured him with Distress Markers and cut him out.  I thought I would add a touch of glitter to his wings using a clear Wink of Stella pen.  Wow!  This is so easy to use and SO glittery!  I then stamped the quote (also from Stampotique) cut it out and adhered down the side of Schu.

On card #2, I stamped the hearts (Stampotique again) three times and coloured them with Distress Markers.  I covered the end of a bamboo skewer (snapped off) with washi tape and fashioned a couple of leaves from the same to form a flower stem.  Hmmm ...... bit odd, this, and I'm not sure I like it very much, but hey, it's there and it's all a bit of a learning curve!

 

 I'll be back before you know it with Week 12, see you soon!

Happy Crafting!

 

APC Challenge - Week 9

Altered Playing Card Challenge

Week 9

Ok, so now that you've looked at Week 10, it's time to go back to Week 9

(just to be confusing - well, I'm confused anyway!)

 

 

For card #1 of week 9, spray some ink, hand draw an image, add some washi tape and a bit of doodling and finish with a quote.

Well, sort of ........for my background I used some TH paint and a stencil, found some circles that I'd used for another project a few months ago, added some washi tape for stems, doodled around both circles and finished with the word "fly".  If you look at the top corner, you will see some doodled birds flying in the distance!

For card #2, start with a pale background, stencil over using an ink colour, glue on a bit of tissue paper, splatter with water, die cut a shape, add lace and a stamped image.

Hmmm ....... not quite!  I stencilled some TH distress ink directly onto my gessoed card, added some tissue paper, a bit more distress ink (which promptly came off on my fingers) and finished with a Stampin' Up rub-on from a couple of years back.  As I said ...... not quite!

 

Anyhow, I'm ok with how these both came out, hope you do too.

Stay tuned for Week 11, coming soon!!!

 

Happy Crafting!

 

APC Challenge - Week 10

Altered Playing Card Challenge

Week10

Ok, I've been off the planet and just landed!!!

Not really, but it has been a month since I last posted and what have I to show for it?

Sadly, not much.

That's not to say I haven't been doing stuff, just that ....... well, I don't know!?!?!?!

Anyhow, here is my offering for Week 10 of the challenge.

This week the criteria was to transfer an image into wet paint but since I've never done this I decided simply to cut out a face and a lovely pupsicle and use them just as they were.

The backgrounds are paint just smooshed around with my fingers (the one on the left has gold glitter through it - even better!), with the images stamped using Dylusion stamps.

I just realised the poor girl doesn't have any arms - oops, or maybe she's just keeping warm under her fancy poncho!!!

And what happened to Week 9 I hear you say?

Well, don't you worry, it will be along shortly, hehehe!!!!!

Happy Crafting!