Indigoblu Blog Challenge 14 - Spring Blossoms

Hi everyone,

It's that time again, the blog challenge over at Indigoblu is fresh up, this month the theme is 'Spring Blossoms', and the design team have created some lovely zingy inspiration for you.  Why not come over and join us and show us your style.  All we ask is you use Indigoblu stamps and the rest is up to you.  Canvasses, cards, altered art, jewellery even, anything goes.

Here is my card for this months theme.

I used mustard seed, evergreen bough and picked raspberry distress inks, and then splashed with water to distress further.  I stamped the Best wishes, from Nottingham Lace, in picked raspberry, 2nd gen stamping.  The tulip was stamped and embossed twice, in a pearl white, and the same distress inks used to colour the panel.  The second tulip was cut out and layered over the first image.

A bright and zingy card for spring!

Now I'm sure you can show us some amazing spring cards, and lift your spirits at the same time, so pop over to the Blog Challenge and join us.

Best Wishes,

Nikki K

xx

Kay on Create & Craft tomorrow!

Hi everyone,

A quick note to say you can catch the wonderful Kay Halliwell-Sutton with her Indigoblu products on Create and Craft tomorrow, at 9am and 3pm.  With new stamps, products and demonstrations for you.

This is a sneak of a card I made, of one of the stamps that Kay will be showing tomorrow, More than Words.  Of course, if you pop across to Indigoblu now. .. you'll find this link leads you to this very stamp on the website!  I love this plate, I was laughing out loud when the DT received it, so funny.

Well I know that's teasing, but you will have to tune in to see more :)  The rest of the DT have done some amazing samples, to really inspire you.

I also just thought I'd mention that the March Indigoblu Blog Challenge - Going for Gold is on, so if you haven't entered, pop across and take a look and show us your work.  You never know, you could win some great stamps!  (And you get to choose, how cool is that?).  The other great news is that there is space still on the April Retreat, pop across HERE to book.  I can't tell you how cool the classes are, I've had a sneak peak at one and can't wait to do it myself next weekend!  The other's are a surprise even to me.

I'm off out now, for a girls night out, so I've taped the 9am show, as I might not quite make it!

Have fun,

Best Wishes,

Nikki
xx

New Craft Stamper Take it, Make it Monthly Challenge - March 2014

Morning everyone,

You might have seen that I shared some news on Facebook earlier in the week, that I had been asked to join a great new Design Team over at Craft Stamper magazine, for the Take it, Make it Challenge.

Today the challenge is open, and will be monthly from now on, with a fantastic team to inspire you each month.  I am in awe of the talent on the team, and can't believe I made it!

So this is my interpretation of the theme - Monoprinting.  We were asked to take an acrylic block, 'smoosh' it with paint, turn it on to a suitable substrate, and use the resulting prints we made in a card or artwork of our choice, and in any way.

I used some gold acrylic paint I had, and Indigoblu's Cottage paints in Winberry Pie and Grandma's Teacup.  I love these paints as they are so high in polymers they print brilliantly, and come out nice and smooth. The colours are pretty fab too!

As I had plenty of my printed background left, I decided to die cut lot's and lots of Tim Holtz Tattered Florals, and layer them with stamping.  I used 'Beautiful Mind', and the words from the 'Boadicea' stamp plates from Indigoblu.  The female phrenology head made a lovely base for her hair to be made of flowers.

I coloured some brad's with alcohol inks, to make the centre of the flowers.  The words were stamped on little pieces of leftover background, cut out and inked around the edges with stazon in Midnight blue, the same as the main piece.  I used M|idnight blue and Gothic purple to stamp the main image, words and chemistry signs on the flowers.

This is the finished piece, I love the subtle glow of the gold through the muted colours.

So come and join us in the Take it, Make it Craft Stamper Challenge, show us your Monoprints, remember it doesn't have to be a background, all we need is monoprinting somewhere on your artwork, and of course, rubber stamping.

Have fun!

Best Wishes,

Nikki K
xx

New Challenge over at Indigoblu - Going for Gold!

Morning all,

Firstly, Congratulations to the winner of January's challenge over at Indigoblu, ' From the Heart' which is Bianca - and also to the 3 'runners up':

Joanne Allison

Yvonne Lighthorne

Samantha Walker

Great job, some lovely entries this month, keep them coming for the new challenge!

Talking of which, it's 'Going for Gold', we thought we'd theme it in honour of the Winter Olympics.  Remember, you can use any Indigoblu products, we love to see megaflakes, stamps, paint, anything that include's something from Indigoblu.

You are welcome to use other products in conjunction with your entry, but just show us what you can do with your Indigoblu stash!

For this challenge, I used the 'Good Times' stamp plate, and sentiments and background from 'Beautiful Mind'.  Lot's of Autumn Blaze megaflakes on Coal black stamping card, and we are done.  Added a few embellies for effect.

There are lot's of new exciting products coming from Indigoblu this month, and some may help you with this challenge, so keep your eyes peeled on the website, or sign up for the Indigoblu Newsletter  (bottom of the page on the left) to keep informed.  Is that teasing, sorry guys!

Look forward to seeing your entries, have a great time 'working' on them! xx

Best Wishes,

Nikki K.
xx

From the Heart - Indigoblu Challenge Jan/Feb 2014

Good Morning everyone,

Today is the day of the new Challenge over at the Indigoblu Challenge Blog.  The winner of  'Your Favourite Indigoblu stamp' will also be announced over there, and you can see all the entries from the last month.

This is my DT piece for this month's challenge 'From the Heart'.  It's extremely simple, but I think the colours worked well.  It's a large chipboard tag, painted with 'Grandma's Teacup' Cottage paint, and I've stamped and embossed all over in seafoam white embossing powder.

I used Ikkle Poppy, the birds from Mr Darcy, the flower meadow from Poppy Meadow, and the dinkie Poppy Heart stamps.

I added a simple cream ribbon, and there you have it, effective but simple.

Pop across and see the Design Team's inspiration, and have a go!  Great stamps on offer each month as prizes, and we would love to see your work.

Best Wishes,

Nikki
xxx

End of year Challenge at Indigoblu

Hi all,

I hope that you are all well, and that you have had a peaceful Christmas, I know it's been easier for some than other's this year as every year.

I have some new craft 'stash' to play with, and can't wait, but for now I'd like to share the small canvas I did for the Indigoblu Challenge Blog.  It's an end of year Challenge, and so the prize is larger, and well worth entering to win!

I made this canvas by stamping Jane onto Decopatch crackle effect paper, as I was looking for it to work for two purposes, and think the effect of the Vintage Sepia Versafine on the paper looks good.  The found objects I added, and Altered Ego's from Indigoblu were layered up on top of the image, and painted with white gesso.  I then mixed in some mica powder's to a matte medium, to paint over the top to give a sheen.  It was my first attempt at this kind of canvas, and I've had fun, and learn't along the way.  Pop across to the challenge and have a go yourself, and let me know what you think, and what lovely goodies you got for Christmas!

Wishing everyone a bright and shiny New Year.

Nikki K
xx

Busy Busy.. .

Hi all,  just to say I've blogged today over at Indigoblu, you can catch up here.
It's a card from the weekend's show, I had great fun with the new stamps. 

Here's a peek:

 I've also put my tree up, and done three craft fairs this weekend, phew!

I am working towards something else this week, all hush hush, but very exciting for me, I hope to be able to share good news with you soon, if things go as planned!

Have a good week, whatever you are up to!

Best wishes,

Nikki
xx