Swanlady Impressions

Monday, 22 January 2018

The real Twofer!

Here is my entry for the new Twofer Challenge by Darnell! This time I've done to theme!

I started with two sheets of background created by the cling wrap technique.

I used the first one as the background to the multi-feather die cut front. Die cut the words and added glossy accents.

The second piece, I die cut 3 feathers, and stamped with a script stamp.

I will also enter these to the ...

... Mix Up Card Challenge : Cling wrap and stamp

... CAS Watercolour Challenge : Birthday

... Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge : Add a sentiment

Thursday, 18 January 2018

[Note : if you want a cyclone update, I added a note to the bottom of the original post]

I nearly missed it, but I found Darnell's new Twofer Card Challenge which began with the first challenge on 10 January. The only problem is that in my excitement, I forgot to pay attention to the theme ... Feathers!!! I will have to make another 2 following the theme tomorrow.

I had been trying out making cling film inked backgrounds, for the CAS Mix Up Card Challenge ... and then spotted the wonderful card by Kelly on the Simon Says Stamp blog. Perfect way to use one of my first attempts at the backgrounds ... it was not so successful in having the texture as I used ordinary card stock and didn't scrunch the cling enough.

I didn't photo the first background before I started stamping, but this is the second.

Following Kelly's idea, I was using WPlus9 Kind Soul stamp set. As I still had the stamp loaded in my Tonic Stamping Platform, I stamped a second time once I finished colouring to get a strong black print.

Then, as I needed to make my second card with the same stamp ... loved the blue and kraft colour combination of the Color Throwdown challenge.

And the two together ...

I will also enter this to Diecut Diva's Challenge : Do or Use something new. Making the cling wrap background was new for me.

Tuesday, 16 January 2018

A glimmer ...

We can hold on to a glimmer of hope - or celebrate with a little shimmer ... and the play in the CASology Glimmer Challenge. I took the meaning of glimmer to be "faint shine".

I found this amazing glitter card stock at my local book/stationery store just before Christmas - the glitter is so fine AND it does not come off at all. In fact, the shimmer is so fine it should be called Glimmer card stock. A miracle - glimmer without finding glitter everywhere.

So I knew I would be using it for this challenge.

I love this Simon Says Stamp die ... so delicate.

And a close up of that amazing glimmer ...

I did another in the pinks, but so hard to capture the true colours ...

Come on over and get more inspiration from our gifted design team ...

Janet Ribet (you are here)

Jen Wills

Guest Designer: Lisa Lara

Sponsor : Stamplorations

Here in Mauritius, it's time to batten down the hatches. We have a cyclone heading straight for us ... and will be closest sometime tomorrow. Cyclone Berguitta has been taking her time to come. We have been Class 3 warning all day, and have been stuck at home while howling winds and driving rains continue outside. We've been safe so far and still have electricity, but there are parts of the island that have been without all day.

We've had deluges of rain every day this year (not had much sun at all!). That has made the ground very soggy and could result in so much more damage.

* Update on the cyclone (Thursday 18 January, 11pm) : We spent 2 days in Class 3 and the cyclone came within 25km of the east coast. A tremendous amount of rain and a lot of wind, but as the cyclone weakened, there was not nearly as much destruction as there could have been. I know a lot of areas have been flooded, and areas without electricity - but personally we were VERY lucky and have minimal damage. Just small branches over the garden and all our mangos and avocados are off the tree.
Schools will remain closed tomorrow as there are a lot of roads that are still impassable and flood damage in many places.
A few more pictures ... beaches on the east coast got a real hammering. Some of them lost a lot of beach sand.

The closest point to Mauritius.

Tuesday, 9 January 2018

Hugs

Come and play in the CASology challenge where the cue word is HUG this week.

Have you hugged someone today? There are so many benefits to hugging. You can even send one in the post. I'll be sending this one to my mother.

Come on over and get more inspiration from our gifted design team ...

Janet Ribet (you are here)

Jen Wills

Guest Designer: Karen D.

Tuesday, 2 January 2018

Bloom where you are planted ...

Our CASology Challenge opens this year with the wonderful word cue of Encourage. What a good way to start the year.

Like a flower that grows through a crack in the concrete, sometimes we have to make the best of our situations and bloom where we have been planted. We may not like where we are, but we can find joy in each day by being grateful for what we do have, and share our gifts to those around us.

Come on over and get more inspiration from our gifted design team ...

Janet Ribet (you are here)

Jen Wills

Guest Designer: Jen M.

New Beginnings

I want to thank you all for your kind words of support over the past year. Every one is greatly appreciated. And now ... A very Happy New Year to you all. 365 new days ... 365 new chances. May we create something new every day.

"And now we welcome the New Year,

full of things that have never been."

Rainer Maria Rilke

How about starting something new this year?

Have you been dreaming of designing clean and simple cards for CASology? Now's your chance to apply for the team! It's been a while since they've had a design team call and there are two positions to fill as we head into 2018!

Pop on over to CASology blog post for the details.

Wednesday, 27 December 2017

A Merry Christmas

A little belated Merry Christmas wish to all of you. Hope you all had a wonderful celebration with loved ones.

I had a few last minute Christmas cards to make, and pulled out my NBUS Hero Arts November kit. I started using the green die cuts in the kit and stamping with Delicata gold.

Trying to catch the lovely sparkle of the Delicata gold ...

Then I stamped the white cutouts with the matching stamp, adding stickles and enamel accents.

Wednesday, 20 December 2017

Card Set

It's a joy to make cards for friends who appreciate them. So thought I would make up a card set as part of my Christmas gift to a dear friend. When I do this kind of thing, I make cards in the style and colours of the recipient.

I made a pizza box style box.