Messing about with ink...

Last week I took an online stencil class - the tutors included Jennifer McGuire and Shari Carroll, two of my favourite 'big name' crafters. I have loads of stencils, most of them lying unloved and unused in a drawer, so I thought that I may learn something.....

I found it truly inspiring, all sorts of ideas on masking, layering stencils and the type of inks/paints/embossing pastes you can use, and more importantly, how to use them

I really plan to play around this coming week, but couldn't resist a little dabble before we left home on Wednesday. I used a new Memory Box sunburst stencil and a Clarity cloud die. The inks are distress spiced marmalade, wild honey and scattered straw, and broken china.

I used a spellbinder circle to mask a sun shaped area, then changed my mind and just turned the inky circle over and stamped it with a sentiment. Then I sprayed the whole card with a mini mister filled with water and a scoop of white perfect pearls. It gives a very soft, muted look to the whole card

Our last day of babysitting today, the boys have been great, with a couple of memorable exceptions - Milo fell out of his brand new cabin bed last night - he was a bit shocked, but unhurt, - I was a nervous wreck! Then yesterday morning it was time to get ready for the school run and I was desperately trying to get him to get washed and dressed. After many, many, many tries, I got stern, and put my 'I'm not joking' face and voice on. He looked at me sorrowfully, shook his head and said 'you have really disappointed me this morning Ma'......I wonder how many times that little monkey has had that said to him!

Have a great Saturday, I'll be back tomorrow with a Sunday giveaway x