Alcohol blending solution technique

A couple of days ago I happened to tune in to Create and Craft TV just as someone was giving a demo on using blending solution to get rid of areas of alcohol inks.

I thought I'd give it a go, so I used the holly cuttlebug embossing folder with silver metal and dabbed with meadow AI. I then went around the areas I didn't want inked with some blending solution, using a piece of lint for the bigger areas and cotton buds for the more fiddly bits.

I then stuck on lots of red gems of various sizes. I was intending on using this on a card for the Moving along with the times challenge 19 - I'll probably try and do this in the morning.

I haven't made a good job of this - please remember that it's my first attempt at doing this (I've used AIs quite a bit before, but haven't tried to get rid of some of it around an embossed image like this) - I think I should have tried an easier embossed image first - anyway this is the result:

WOYWW - a bit late in the day!

If I'd remembered this morning that it's WOYWW day on Stamping Ground today, I could have shown you just have crowded and messy my space was. This evening it's not too bad, although there's still evidence of having made a couple of cards earlier.

Someone expressed concern last time that they couldn't see a chair in the photo - I had moved it to get a better shot.

Today I sat on the chair and took a picture to the left of me.



I also thought I'd show the area behind me (where things tend to get dumped until they are put away).

Anyone for cocktails?

This card is for this sketch for challenge 39 on Lili of the valley:



It's also for
2 red bananas colour challenge: red, yellow, orange and brown
Pink elephant 39: brown, yellow, neutral (white) and colour of your choice (red)
Cute Card Thursday 84: 'midnight margaritas!' - drinks/cocktail theme
Treehouse 21: fall color challenge
Kaboodle 17: 'fall splendour' fall colours
365 day 247: 'ad inspired' - autumnal colours
Mixed Media Monday: 'opposites attract' - well, the ladies are sitting opposite one another!
Another one for Gingham Girls WOW 10: chinwag

The papers are BG Indian summer and lime rickey.



I'm not sure what the stamped image is - I received it a while ago in a swap - would be grateful if someone could tell me the source of it (would quite like to get it).

Yummy chocolcate

The Wednesday stamper challenge last week was 'chocolate' (I prepared this card last night, but didn't scan and blog it). I was going to make a card with yummy chocolate on it - and then decided to go with the colours of papers and also to colour a stamped labrador chocolate - I absolutely love chocolate labradors, although, of course, I loved Josey, John's ex-guide dog (she is a yellow lab).

I'm not sure where the background paper came from - it was a download - if anyone recognises it please let me know so I can give credit to whoever produced it. The other bits were from my box of offcuts.

The card is also for Sketch and Stash 22:



Inspire me Thursday this week is 'dark', so I think it's good for that - dark chocolate is my favourite!

This is also good for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday 40: 'Our challenge is to combine a colored image, texture or textures, and any shades of neutrals we want. You can pack on the layers and textures just make sure you include an image to color and use only neutral cardstock. Just so you know you can us any combination of whites, creams, blacks, browns, and grays!' Well, some of the card is a bit textured - and the dog's coat certainly would be!

Lastly, the Saturday challenge on My creative clutter says: '
Todays challenge is a color challenge. BUT....there is a twist! I want you to think of your favorite Halloween Candy. Then think of the package that it comes in! I want you to use the colors off the package as your color for inspiration!' Well, I don't do halloween, but my favourite 'candy' is dark chocolate, so this card is appropriate for that.