Lisa sparkle and stamps

Embellish it at The Stamp Man....

2012-01-27T17:19:00.000Z

I'm having an erm sort of afternoon. Today started off in a promising manner- Mr M has a couple of days off work (twas his birthday yesterday), and as we WENT OUT yesterday, we decided to STAY IN today. The requisite chores were swiftly dispatched, we settled down to be down right decadent- which in this house means watching an over 12 rated DVD on our own. We went for the new X Men, which was very good, then Burke and Hare which was funny.

Soooooo. Why am I in what can only be described as a meh mood?

The other 3 (husband, child one and Miss Little Legs) are all off to Tae Kwon Do in an hour or so. Love 'em to bits, but I can't wait for them to go today, and I feel guilty for it.

Ah well, shall I show you something I made instead? No point in answering, I'm showing you anyway......

This is my DT card for the new Stamp Man challenge, which is embellish it. I went for one BIG embellishment.......

I'm going to enter this into the Try it on Tuesday challenge of In the Mail- as this is a Valentine's Card that will hopefully be in the mail to it's recipient.......

Right, I'm going to give myself a good talking to and snap out of it! Wish me luck.

For this card I used....

Aspects of design plate 62- Artistic elements

Aspects of design plate 61- Butterfly beauties

Stampotique, oh how I love Stampotique.

2012-01-20T19:42:00.001Z

Now I have way too many stamps. I know a lot of crafters say this, but I really do have too many. Some of you will have seen my fabulouso stamp storage that my fabulouso husband built for me (check it out here if you haven't), well it's not quite full....yet....but I can sort of see a time when it will be. I've certainly got at least 2 drawers that need expanding.

One of those drawers is the Stampotique one- I have a wish list I'm determined to fulfill so I'll need the space!

I was making backgrounds with paint and stencils today- using a newish brick effect stencil, which is now my new favourite.

I was playing around today making a little pocket calendar for the Stampotique designer's blog challenge. As an added bonus the base card is recycled from a mobile phone box I've been saving for ages without inspiration!

Inside.

The back.

I added a little elasticated band to keep it shut. Sometimes it all comes together and the idea I have in my head ends up finished on my desk. This is one of those times. Happy :D

Big cards

2012-01-15T13:38:00.000Z

I sometimes get a big scared of big cards, there's such a lot of space to fill. So I decided not to fill it all.

These are 8x8 cards, Stamping Bella and Stampin' Up stamps, coloured with copics. I'm entering this starry one in the Gorjuss challenge- to use a star.

She's a lovely little stamp- I borrowed a stamp of her from Kay, but I may have to have her for myself eventually......

New Stamp Man Challenge- come and join in!

2012-01-13T11:59:00.000Z

The new Stamp Man challenge is to use RED. Perfect for getting to grips with those Valentine's cards.....

So.....how many are you sending this year?

I used the Stamp Man Aspects of Design Artistic elements stamp plate, it's a fab one. Lots on there for arty crafters- especially you ATCers out there!

There's also a layer of shimmer on the big heart- I used a Sakura pen, it doesn't show up on the photo, but it's there, I promise!

I'm entering this into the Crafty Cardmakers challenge- no floral embellishments.

Happy new year and some cards

2012-01-07T20:36:00.000Z

So, how's 2012 treatin' ya so far? It's been a bit cold and, well, January-like round here to be honest... odd that, eh?

Just a few cards to show you today, I've been making a few for sock and to try to steal a march on my birthday list!

Here's my lovely friend Michelle's birthday card....

I love using this technique- colouring with watercolour sticks direct to the stamp and then spritzing with water.

One of my favourite dress stamps in two different colour ways, both paper pieced. I'm entering the pink one into the Allsorts paper piecing challenge.

The swirl round the edge of one and in the background of the other is a fab Stampin' up one, the little flower is from the same set.

This is for a lovely friend over on the Docrafts forum, cute but still suitable for a man I thought. I am particularly fond of those little mice :)

This next one is from a game of Chinese whispers from a group over on Facebook- one person starts the whisper by making a card, a photo of which is sent to the next person in the list, who makes a card inspired by it and sends a photo of their card to the next person.....and so on. So each person only sees the card immediately before their's. It was really interesting to see which themes, layouts, colours, shapes made it through from start to finish! I'm entering it into the Crafts and Me Anything goes mega challenge.

And finally..... a belated Christmas card image I only came across this morning. I made several of these for the children to give to their fellow Tae Kwon Do club members.

Cute isn't he? They were simple to do and easy to personalise with the right colour hair/ belt of each child.

Stamp Man end of year awards for 2011

2011-12-30T12:00:00.002Z

It's that time of year again, when over at The Stamp Man challenge blog, we ask you to show us your favourite or best craft project of 2011.

I've chosen this journal that I altered as part of the collage background challenge.

I was so pleased with how it turned out, I loved the colours and the texture I managed to work into it.

So time to show us your best stuff from the year. Don't forget to grab the blinkie from the challenge blog to be in with winning the prize- and there's some fab prizes up for grabs, for the winner and the top 4!

Thank you for visiting my blog this past year, it's been lovely to have your company. I hope you'll be back for more in 2012.

Stampotique colour!

2011-12-28T19:43:00.000Z

The Stampotique designers challenge blog has a fab challenge at the moment. It's to show your dreams, hopes and wishes for 2012 in a project. I have so many things I wish for in the new year, but here's something that I'm determined to happen in 2012.....

I'm going to laugh more. Gotta be worth a try, right?

Octopode Factory Christmas

2011-12-27T07:52:00.000Z

Lily has come up with some fabulously quirky Christmas images this year, but then the Octopode Factory always comes up with the goods as far as I'm concerned!!

The bottom section is silver mirri card (never shows up on photos....). I love colouring snowmen in, they're quick to do!

I'm entering this into the Octopode Factory Christmas challenge.

Princess castle for my Princess

2011-12-23T17:32:00.000Z

I've made my Miss Little Legs a fab chipboard photo album for Christmas. I'm sooooo chuffed with it :)

Isn't it pretty? Fit for my Princess.

Hopefully she'll love it too! I'm all ready for Christmas now and sooooo over excited, I'm worse than the kids.......

Christmas cards!

2011-12-20T18:40:00.000Z

Not many words in this post, just a few of the Christmas cards I've made and sent. I quite enjoyed making them this year!

For my gorgeous nephew Jack, who is car mad, so I'm entering this into the Totally Gorjuss challenge- for someone special.

Promarkered fairy! I'm entering this into the By the Cute and Girly December challenge of Let it snow and the Passion for Promarkers Celebrations challenge.

I'm entering this penguin into the Fussy & Fancy Friday challenge- Monochrome and sparkle (there's lots of blingy gems on there).

I'm entering this one into the Papertake weekly challenge- Last Christmas card of the year.

The Stamp Man challenge- a new technique

2011-12-18T11:19:00.000Z

The challenge this fortnight at the Stamp Man is to try a new technique. A great chance to push yourself and have a go at that thing you've always fancied trying.....

I went for embossing onto tissue paper, I've fancied doing this for a while, but hadn't come up with the right project. I had it in mind to make my Mom a little scrap book of some photos I took in her garden this summer. I just popped out one Sunday afternoon and took loads of photos on my phone and they came out so beautifully I wanted to give them to her. She works really hard on her garden, and it's gorgeous. So, I tried out my new technique on the cover.

I painted the chipboard cover with Radiant Rain daubers then PVA'd on torn strips of gold tissue paper. I swooshed over the top with a versamark ink pad to catch the raised pattern on the chipboard and the edges of the tissue paper and cover. Then I used some two tone Moonglow embossing powder which gives such a rich shiny finish.

Over the top I stamped some swirls and leaves and then finished off with sparkly punched swirls, some gold flowers which were salvaged from a hair clip, and I made the centres with coiled gold paper flowers. Lots of stickles and copper pearls to complete it and I'm well happy :)

For more information on the Stamp Man challenge click here. Don't forget there's a gift voucher up for grabs.

Try it on Tuesday - guest design spot

2011-12-06T16:43:00.000Z

A few weeks back I won a challenge on Try it on Tuesday, and this week is my chance to be a guest designer. It's card week and they want to see cards with Father Christmas on.

Here's mine!

It's a simple stepper card with some fabby Tim Holtz and Lavinia stamps on.

I'm entering this into the Sir Stampalot challenge, which is a bingo grid- I used stickles (snow on the roofs), pearls (red on Santa's hat) and ribbon.

The Stamp Man challenge- a Christmas ornament!

2011-12-03T21:10:00.001Z

Ooooh, interesting challenge over at The Stamp Man this fortnight. Didn't know what to come up with for my DT project, until Tim Holtz came to the rescue! I came across the idea for this little beauty on one of his Tags of Christmas blog posts.

It's a little battery operated tealight with a diecut townscape round it.

Thought I'd do a quick tutorial, cos these are so easy to make!

Die cut the Tim Holtz on the edge die using grunge board or thick card. It's got to be able to bend into a circle, but needs to be stiff enough to stay up. Cut off the end house (check the circumference of your tealight before you do this, make sure the die cut will fit round it) and sponge colour with Distress Inks.

Overstamp with a background stamp- I used a favourite script stamp in Aged Mahogany Distress Ink.

Use a Versamark pen or ink pad and white embossing powder to create some snow.

Cut some lengths of beading wire and bend into interesting shapes- these will be the smoke from the chimneys.

Glue on scraps of acetate or plastic packaging for windows- the fake tealight doesn't give off heat like a normal candle, so there's no fire risk. Add the wire smoke.

Finally, use redline tape to stick the whole thing directly to the tealight.

And.... voila!

Righto, your go! Try making a Christmas ornament and enter our challenge, there's a prize up for grabs as ever! All details on the blog here.

I'm going to enter this into the Artistic Stamper December challenge, which is Christmas.

OK, OK, OK, I've admitted defeat....

2011-11-20T03:06:00.000Z

....as we all knew I would.... I've started making my Christmas cards. Every year I say I'm not going to make any, cos they always turn into a chore.....but.....whilst shopping in Hobbycraft with me old muckas Kay and Michelle, I had a bit of an idea for some simple-ish cards. I mean, I know I said I wasn't making any, but I didn't mean I wasn't making ANY. Just not loads.

OK, so apollies for the rubbish photos, but here we go. Simple kraft cards, torn papers, stamped sentiment and a stamped and paper pieced focal image. Plus glitter, ribbon and the odd cherry red pearl gem.

Success is assured! I knocked out 3 last night, I've got the kit set up next to my spot on the sofa so more can be made whilst telly watching! Hurray for Christmas cards.

Stamp Man challenge- Tim's tags- DT project.

2011-11-19T14:33:00.000Z

There's a doozy of a challenge over at The Stamp Man this fortnight. You know those goooorgeous Christmas tags that Tim Holtz makes each year? Well we want you to pick one and then use it as inspiration for a project of your own!

I must admit to using several tried and tested "Tim" techniques and ideas on my tag- I dipped the tag base in distress inks that had been spritzed with water, I sploshed more water on to create an aged effect, I used Perfect Pearls and lots and lots of stamping!

The green Perfect Pearls really catch the light. I've loved this project, cos this year I'm already feeling extra Christmassy. We've been watching Christmas films with the kids (we have so many we have to start early to fit them all in, well that's my excuse anyway!), my job is more secure this year, and I've already done the major part of the pressie shopping. The plan is to relax and really enjoy it all this year. I can't wait!!!!

Lots of fibres and charms, most of which are salvaged from last year's Christmas crackers and choccy reindeers.

Right, over to you, there are some fabulous projects on the Stamp Man challenge blog to inspire everyone, along with all the rules, so have a go!

I'm going to enter this into the following challenges:

Happy Daze- explosion of colour

Fussy and Fancy- gift or anything but a card

Artistic Stamper- backgrounds

Try it on Tuesday- Wish you were here (bit of a cheat this one, but I do really, really, really wish Christmas was here!!!! I'll understand if it's too far wide of the mark, lol!)

Crafty Cardmakers- recycle

Sunday Stampers- use pine colours (lots of pine green in the background!)

Sun and Moon.....and the Stamp Man ATC swap!

2011-11-14T20:16:00.000Z

I'm hosting a swap over on the Docrafts ATC forum- Sun and Moon. The idea is that I'll swap these out in pairs. My swaps look like this......

My favourite is the firework one- it's also my DT piece for this month's Stamp Man ATC swap. If you feel like joining in, hop over to the blog here.

Now I've looked at them again, the dragon is kinda cool.......

Flirty floaty frock.

2011-11-07T19:43:00.000Z

I've rediscovered this stamp at the weekend, and I looooove it!

I stamped it onto green card then paper pieced it with 2 different coordinating papers. The little Paperartsy swirl stamps round the edges is one of my best ever buys- it's so useful.

I went a bit OTT with the gems, but it does sparkle beautifully in the light :)

ATC Challenge blog- anything goes or a Mermaid

2011-11-06T16:40:00.000Z

It's time for a new challenge over on the ATC challenge blog, so if you're an ATCer, get over there. This fortnight, the challenge is mermaids or anything goes.....

This is a lovely Sweet Pea stamps that has been languishing unloved in my stamps for ages. It was nice to dust her off and ink her up.

I've painted it in with Distress Inks, and her body is sparkly- which doesn't come across well on the photo. Lots of pearls to finish her off and voila!

If you fancy being on the ATC Challenge Design Team, there's a call out at the moment. Come and join us, it's fun!

I'm going to enter this into the Papertake weekly challenge, which is anything goes, with optional added bling!

The Stamp Man challenge- collage backgrounds

2011-11-04T11:59:00.000Z

Ooh, the new Stamp Man challenge is right up my street. Collage backgrounds, lots of getting inky sticky and messy :)

I altered a journal with my background. It may eventually be personalised, but I haven't done it yet, in case the recipient spots it on here......

I used Starburst stain daubers on the background, with lots of sponging through sequin waste and embossing with moonglow 2 tone embossing powder. I stuck on scraps of book pages and red tissue paper.

Over the top I stamped a gorgeous Stamp Man swirl in Aged Mahogany and then used the Tim Holtz haberdashery stamps over the top in black. The journal letters are stamped onto black card with Brilliance Moonlight White ink. I've only got a little ink pad in Brilliance White, but I must invest in a full sized one, it's such a good white ink pad.

Lots of white gel pen and some ribbons on the wires and a Christmas present is born!

If you fancy a go, head on over to The Stamp Man challenge blog, there's a Stamp Man voucher up for grabs !

Starburst Stain daubers - Canna lily burnt orange, Sweet violet purple teal, Marigold yellow orange and Ramblin rose pink

Moonglow 2 tone embossing powder - golden pumpkin blush

Tim Holtz stamp set- Haberdashery

Aspects of Design stamps - 40 Dragonfly dreams

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Aged mahogany

Brilliance ink pad- Moonlight white

Do you art journal? Check out NaNoJouMo

2011-11-01T20:43:00.001Z

Great intentions. The best laid plans. Setting myself up and all of that. I am so guilty of putting pressure on myself to achieve things and that isn't the exactly conducive to being creative. With that in mind, however, I am going to try to use NaNoJouMo to inspire some art journalling this month. No pressure. No expectations. Just an idea and a promise to myself to give a little time each day....might only be 5 minutes, might be all day.

So, NaNoJouMo..... check out DawnDeVries Sokol's fab blog for more info, or the NaNoJouMo section of her web pages. It's about being inspired and journalling every day in November- she will post a prompt every day to spark off some journalling and hopefully this will lead to some activity on my part. Not a full page every day, perhaps just a line, but something!

I'm off to a good start. I've sat and talked it through with my son, and we've both spent half an hour journalling, I've doodled and written a bit on a page with a background I made a while back. He's sat and doodled in black and white in a new journal. We've made plans for creating backgrounds at the weekend when we will have more time. We've been realistic about what we can achieve (BIG step forward for me, that), and we've had fun.

I'll post picture tomorrow I hope, but probably not every day, I'd rather journal than blog I think, at least for November.

So....... anyone else up for the challenge?

It's Halloween......Pickled Souls anyone? It's a fine vintage.

2011-10-31T17:07:00.000Z

Hurray for Halloween, the one day of the year when I'm not the weirdest person in blogland! Anyone for a fine vintage of poison?

Lost souls.Stamps by Stampotique. Bottle dripped with alcohol inks, image inserted then inside filled with unheated angelica fibres.

Web doodle with Posca pens.

Bat wings on clear shrink plastic. Heart filled with stamped face image and glossy accents.

I'm entering this into the Stampotique designers challenge- altered poison bottle, and the Happy Daze- something for Christmas or Halloween challenge.

Hello sugar!

2011-10-29T19:45:00.000+01:00

More cutie cards to show you, so look away now if too much sugar makes you queasy!!!!

I love the background paper on this one, it's gorgeous, it reminds me of pretty summer dresses when I was little, and pretty dresses on my little girl. I've put a few gems on the odd flower to highlight it. This is a cute image, so sweet I used a big snap I've been saving for ages, you know how you do- something takes your eye, so you buy it and then can't bear to use it!

I'm entering this into the Totally Gorjuss challenge- I remember.

Another image I've had coloured for ages and hanging around, so whilst I'd got the lovely paper out I made this one too. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the lacy bottom edges.

I'm entering this one into the Papertake challenge which is a sketch.

In a card making frenzy......

2011-10-27T18:20:00.001+01:00

.....well as frenzied as I get lately! 3.30 I was up this morning! For no good reason!!!

Well, at least I have some cute cards to show you. I've been trying to use up the images I've already coloured to make some stock to sell. This one is a Gorjuss girl painted with twinkling H20s.

Oops, sideways photo, sorry! The tag was intended for on the card, but it looked a bit weird, so..... now it's a tag to go with the card. Plus as a bonus, it fits with the I Love Promarkers challenge, which is tags! I'm also entering it into the Crafty Ribbons Bingo challenge (I used Die/Flowers/Ribbon).

This is a promarkered Lili of the Valley image, with the sunflower decoupaged up for added oomph. The swirls are coloured metal and have languished in a box, unloved and forgotten until I found them whilst looking for something else- always the way, eh?

Cloooooooooseeee uppppppppp!

I'm entering this into the Passion for Promarkers challenge, which is for a child and into Charisma Cardz challenge which is anything goes.

WOYWW and an ATC

2011-10-26T13:09:00.000+01:00

Ooooh, it's been ages since I did a good WOYWW. My hours at work have recently changed and I just don't get chance now. However, seeing as how I'm on leave this week I thought I'd join in again!! Wahey.

Hwat a flippin' mess! Some recently coloured in images and papers for some card for my little stock at work, lots of lovely stamps as usual and the corner of my Promarkers box. Plus..... bonus sparkly points for spotting.....

2 cardboard pots awaiting alteration
Lisa Simpson
My Fat book page covers (see posts here and here about them)

I've recently moved everything around in the dining/craft room, for a bit of a change and to take advantage of the light now it's getting more overcast. Here's some photos.....

Lots of stuff to nose round there!!! Can you see my 80s Barbie? She came in a pile of toys given to my Miss Little Legs and I can't bear to bin her- look at those Pat Burcher earrings, lol.

Anyway, if you fancy seeing more desks, hop over to Julia's Stamping Ground to see who's in this week!

ATC Challenge blog time.

2011-10-23T11:59:00.001+01:00

Calling all you ATCers, how about having a go at the ATC challenge blog?

Here's my DT ATC.

It was made as one of a pair for a woman's face swap on Docrafts. She looks so wistful.

Calm down now, take your time......

2011-10-21T11:00:00.000+01:00

....much less frantic today. I've got next week off work, so today is a bit of a chill out and catch up before the madness of half term week!

Thought I'd share the other half of my Fat Book page book cover. Here's the back one.

Another Octopode Factory image. I really love this wicked witch. She looks kinda timid and a bit shy- but still as if there's a good cackle waiting to come out.

Same background as yesterday, some spray inks, stamps, embossing.....messy fab stuff. Love it!

I'm entering this into the following challenges-

Crafty Cardmakers challenge- Cute with a dark twist

Papertake challenge- Halloween hues

Try it on Tuesday- Take to the skies (well, she's got a broomstick!!!!)

Quick, quick, hurry up!

2011-10-20T18:04:00.000+01:00

Must post this quickly before I nod off to sleep. I'm soooo tired, I'm having a mad rush trying to get things done before I give up and get into my PJs!!!!

Made this today- it's the front cover of a book to hold my Fat Pages in (if you don't know, fat pages are 4x4 inch square, and I'm taking part in a swap over on Docrafts, so I'll soon have something to put in my book cover!!!

The image is an Octopode one...... I loooove Octopode images. The Mad Hatter always makes me laugh. The background is on mountboard, lots of spray Dylusions inks, stamping and embossing.

I'm entering this into the Octopode Factory Friday challenge. Every single week I write this challenge down and every single week time escapes me, but not this week! Hurrah!

I don't know and I don't care.

2011-10-10T08:05:00.001+01:00

...nope, not another sparkly sulk. They're a pair of ATCs made for a woman's face swap I hosted on docrafts recently.

The desolate woman is stamped onto card and cut out in the top one and stamped direct to card on the bottom one.

I made her stand out on both with purple and yellow pencil crayons, I'm so pleased with how it made her pop.

The little phrases are sticky backed cloth from 7 Gypsies.

Clowns- funny or scary???

2011-10-09T17:11:00.000+01:00

What do you think? I think they're kinda scary, but a bit funny at the same time, which is why it sort of fits to make this Stampotique boy into a clown, complete with red nose and clown hat.

The challenge at the Stampotique Designer's Challenge blog is humorous birthday. I hope this qualifies......I suppose it depends on your stance on clowns, I guess!

He's coloured with Promarkers and the background is one my son made by dripping spray inks. I wrote the Happy Birthday in to fit the space on the cat's back.

I'm also entering this into the Play Date Cafe challenge where the colours are

Slime Green.....Frightful Fuschia...

Putrid Purple...Black as Night

Pumpkin heads for the ATC Challenge blog

2011-10-09T11:57:00.000+01:00

Made this yesterday and the more I look at it, the more I like it.

The Stampotique pumpkins are coloured with Promarkers, background is an offcut from my Fat Page (see previous post). He he he, they make me laugh.

This is my DT ATC for the ATC challenge blog. The challenge at the moment is Anything Goes, so nothing to lose, just have a go!

Colonel Mustard in the hall with a dagger.

2011-10-07T21:07:00.002+01:00

I've got my first cold of the sniffles season, so I've spent today feeling sorry for myself. Amazingly I've felt quite creative, lots of ideas buzzing around my brain. That must be why I can't remember anything useful.....

....aaaaaanyway, I digress. You don't want to hear about my cough quality, you want to see something arty, right? Well, I decided to have a go at my first Fat Page today. What's a Fat Page?, I hear you cry. Well, it's not a chubby child in velvet breeches.......

It's a 4x4 inch square with a bit of a border on the left hand side to allow them to be bound together with rings or whatever to make a little book. This is for a swap on docrafts and the theme was Halloween or black and orange. Being greedy I went for both!!!

I like my moon- I punched a circle and inked round it with orange and black in, then used the aperture to ink an orange half moon in. The branches are stamped over the top.

I like my bits of Cluedo answer sheets best though. One of my "saved from the bin" finds......

The raven on the fence is from an Ippity stamp set I picked up for a song recently. The background faces are Stampotique and the bare branches are Stampin' Up. The background is sprayed with Dylusions inks.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

The Artistic Stamper- Autumn colours
Happy Daze- Halloween (I used Pumpkin Stazon, Versamark embossing pad, Black Versafine, all availble in Happy Daze shop)
Crafty Cardmakers- Anything goes

Circle it at The Stamp Man

2011-10-07T14:20:00.000+01:00

It's my turn to set the challenge at The Stamp Man and I chose circles! Lots of opportunity to get those circles out. I used some fab stamps from the Stamp Man, and tried to keep it fairly simple.....

Apologies for the bad photo! The background is just sponged ink through some sequin waste. The circles are heat embossed using Moonglow embossing powders, which give a superb two tone effect.

Right, now it's your turn. There's a voucher up for grabs as ever, so have a go!!!

Lili of the Valley for boys!

2011-10-06T13:50:00.000+01:00

I've made a couple of fab Lili of the Valley cards recently for boys instead of sticking to the usual cutie girl cards.

I used some old oriental paper I've had hanging around for forever. It feels like handmade paper, and was really awkward to work with. Looks nice though, huh?

The images are coloured with promarkers- a really easy colour, cos it's mainly white, lol!!!

I'm entering this card into the Lili of the Valley World Cardmaking Day competition.

Blog candy at The Stamp Man.

2011-10-03T19:06:00.000+01:00

What are you waiting for.......... get on over there!!!!

Click on the photo to go straight there!!!

Pretty pretties.....

2011-09-25T20:31:00.003+01:00

OK, time for a pretty-fest. Tune out if pretty ain't your thing.....

OK so the plan is....make a card I need, make an extra to sell, or for when I need one later on.... well, that worked today- I made 3. Makes sense, right? Once I've got the papers and bits and pieces out for one card, I may as well make another one! I had time to fiddle about with things today, I had great intentions of making lots of things today, but as ever, time ran out.

This one looks a bit like a fairy version of me aged 5. Threading the ribbon through the holes was MUCH fiddlier than I thought. Seriously. Still not sure it looks worth the effort.

This last one's a bit smaller, and this is the one I intended to make, for a birthday party my Miss Little Legs has been invited to. I mean, my kids have a much better social life than me, they may as well have nice cards to take with them......

OK, so I'm entering these into the following challenges.......

Card 1. Passion for Promarkers- sketch

Happy Daze- little black dress (I tried to choose a stamp, cos I wouldn't be without a stamp, but couldn't pick just 1, so I went for bling, I love a bit of blingy sparkle)

Card 2. Crafts and me- stripes

Card 3. Try it on Tuesday- Anything goes (Wonderful world)- because it's a card for my Little Legs and she makes my world wonderful.

I <3 Promarkers- include a number

Stamp Man challenge- pear or pair!

2011-09-23T12:00:00.000+01:00

The new challenge at The Stamp Man is to show us a project using a pear or a pair of something. I've got this fabulous patterned pear stamp from the Stamp Man, so it was a no brainer to use it!

The pear is stamped by inking the stamp with a Versamark embossing ink and then a green Versafine- then brushing it over with green Perfect Pearls. By inking up with the Versamark first, then another ink on top, you can use any inkpad as an embossing pad.

The card is quite simple, layered Kay&co and 7 Gypsies papers, and some cute little wooden fruits.

Ok, so now it's over to you- show us your pear/pairs! There's loads more inspiration on the challenge blog, and a Stamp Man voucher up for grabs too!

The Stamp Man challenge- monochrome

2011-09-11T18:39:00.000+01:00

Apologies for my tardiness! Life's kinda gotten away from me a bit lately, and crafting has taken a back seat. I've started my new job and I'm settling into a new challenge and new hours, which have had a toll on my organisation at home! However, the children are back at school which means I get some daylight crafting time, woohoo, so no excuses!!!

This fortnight at the Stamp Man the challenge is monochrome- soooo, white and another colour- I went for standard black I'm afraid, but I'm kinda pleased with the result.

This gorgeous Hero Arts Clings Stamp-Engraved Flower stamp doesn't need much, it speaks for itself. So it suits a simple colour palette.

Right, over to you guys, pop over to the Stamp Man challenge (button on my right sidebar) and show us your stuff!

Art from the Heart's 10th Birthday celebration blog hop!

2011-09-03T10:00:00.031+01:00

Welcome to a very exciting blog hop in Celebration of 10 years of Art from the Heart!

Lots of exciting things happening at Art from the Heart next weekend where the big birthday bash is happening. Want to know more then do click here .

So in Celebration we are having 5 birthday blog hops.

You should have reached my blog from here Ann and are on the Stampotique hop

here is my project..... an altered child's board book.

I used
Stampotique stamps- Heads; Mort had a pincurl; Peggy; Rocky; Kitty; Angel Boy; Two sticks
Dylusions spray inks-
Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 stamps- I am my art
Sakura gel pens
Posca pens in black and white
Twinkling H20s
Scraps of fibres, maps, book pages, gems, springs from broken pegs and a red heart that was adorning my last Art From The Heart purchase.

Before you move on - you will need to collect a letter from me which is T.

This is part of an anagram of a Stampotique product

Once you get back to Dy's blog please email your answer to Ben.

So after leaving me a comment you need to move on
Julie

Have fun hopping!

The Stamp Man Challenge- Travel

2011-08-26T12:09:00.000+01:00

The new challenge over at The Stamp Man challenge is travel.

I had to make something quickly before I went on my jolly holibobs, so I whipped up a quick bookmark. Hopefully, this scheduled post has worked, cos I'm back today and I'll be drowning in washing......

The background is sprayed inks, and the lovely car is from the Aspects of Design plate 10- Men's. Available from the Stamp Man as ever. I wanted to emboss the car and have it all glossy and black, but I have zero luck with black embossing powder. So............. tip of the week is....... ink your stamp up with a clear embossing ink pad, then straight away ink it up with your chosen colour- in my case Versafine onyx black. The use fine clear embossing powder. I'm particularly fond of this technique as it allows me to use my favourite Versafine and keep all it's clarity with fine details.

Righto, over to you, show us your travel stuff- there'll be loads of inspiration on the DT challenge blog as ever. My teamies are the most talented bunch :)

The Stamp Man Challenge- Anything goes.....with summer colours

2011-08-12T18:13:00.000+01:00

Oooh, it's Stamp Man challenge time again!

This fortnight is my challenge and I want to see......Anything you like.....but in summery colours. So think ice creams, seaside, flowers, sunshine and bright summery days. OK, it may be raining outside my window, but a bit of summer crafting can lift the spirits!!!

I make no apologies for taking the inspiration and technique for my card from a gorgeous spread in Craft Stamper. It's a fabulous way of creating a feature panel.

Firstly take watercolour paper and spritz lightly with water, then doodle over it with something waterbased- I used Aquatone sticks, but I would think watercolour pencils would be viable. In the article, they used the new Inktense blocks, but I've only got one of those, lol.

Then I lightly spritzed my stamp with water ( I used the fabulous butterfly from the Stamp Man's butterfly beauties set), and coloured over it with the colour sticks. When I stamped it, it bled out perfectly onto the paper. You can soften edges with a wet paint brush, so don't drench it all with water or it'll blur too much. Once you've got the look you're after, blast it with a heat gun to stop the colour spreading. I flicked a few droplets of colour onto the image from a paintbrush too, for that splatter effect.

Once dry I stamped a script stamp randomly with Bundled sage Distress Ink.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set, and I used a little offcut from the watercolour paper to co-ordinate.

A nice tip is to keep spritzing and stamping the stamp onto some more card, I've got another couple of gorgeous background sheets to use on other cards.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Stamp Something: Dog days of summer

Fussy and Fancy Friday: Use a lot (I used more than 3 sparkly gems)

This is what lack of sleep looks like......

2011-08-08T21:28:00.000+01:00

........ I've been having insomnia bouts, but last week I managed to put one to good use..... well sort of good use.....it went a little bit weird.....

All made from the bits in my leftovers tub! Still rocking the Octopode and Stampotique images :)

WOYWW.....a new workmat.

2011-08-03T10:15:00.001+01:00

Messy!!! I've covered up a birthday card I was working on, so that the recipient doesn't see it! Other than that, points for spotting.....

The big pink ATG monster. Wouldn't be without this, it saves oodles of time.
Martha Stewart punches- I'm trialling keeping a few out to punch scraps as I go along to add to my flowers and leaves boxes. It's working so far.....
A board book covered in old book pages
My birthday card from my lovely friend at work with a goooorgeous picture of Eric the vampire from True Blood.

Actually you can't see my new workmat, but here's my old one, now sadly retired...... I'm trying to work out if there's any bits I can cut up and use again.....

Right, hop over to Julia's Stamping Ground for more desks....

I can't resist adding skulls......

2011-08-02T19:27:00.000+01:00

......I have a problem adding too many Stampotique skulls. Whoops.

The challenge on the Stampotique designer blog is Red, Yellow and Orange.

I'm not telling how many candles I am.

Cards, cards, cards.....

2011-08-01T22:35:00.001+01:00

I made lots of cards this weekend. Well it was my birthday last week, I was due a nice looong craft.

I'm entering this little House Mouse into the following challenges-

Crafty Cardmakers- flutterbies
Passion for Promarkers- Animal crackers
Crafts and me- ribbon

This little girl is my entry into the Lili of the Valley challenge sketch.

Finally, another House Mouse....

I'm entering this one into.....

Papertake Weekly- sketch
I <3 Promarkers- Anything goes

I'll try for a more interesting post tomorrow...... :)

Stitch it at the Stamp Man

2011-07-30T11:36:00.001+01:00

The new challenge over at The Stamp Man is to show us some stitching. We want to see real or fake stitches on your projects.

It was my wedding anniversary last week (and my birthday!) and my OH loves to read, so I made him a bookmark to go with his present. I used my favourite Tim Holtz stamp- the gorgeous elephant. the background are sprayed inks and layered sections ripped from a book page.

My stitching is chenille thread. I made a few holes with my pokey tool and threaded it through in a blanket stitch.

I'm still busy making ATCs for the Docrafts Luffy meet in a week's time, so everything I make, I make an ATC as well! It's working quite well, I've got lots of swapsies :)

Ok, over to you, show us your stitching and you could win the prize!

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Allsorts- Free and easy

Simon Says stamp and show- anything goes

The adventures of Doris the Ladybird

2011-07-25T15:06:00.000+01:00

Once upon a time I made a looooovely background, just the right size for 4 ATCs....

So I chopped it up and added a little teensy ladybird to each ATC and decided to call her Doris.

See I think I must have a warped sense of humour cos these make me laugh. Everyone else just looks at me as if I've left my brain behind.....

The End.

Thank you teech!

2011-07-22T08:26:00.000+01:00

It's the time of year when parents of littlies everywhere try to work out what to buy the teachers who have been looking after their little darlings all year. Now, I know some people don't like the idea of buying presents for teachers, and I have been known not to buy when teachers haven't exactly, ermmmm, set my children's imaginations alight. However, this year we have been truly blessed with a fabulously inspirational teacher for my 10 year old son, and a team of people for my 5 year old who have absolutely gone above and beyond the call of duty in taking care of my special Miss Little Legs. She takes some looking after does my baby.

So......pressie buying for the lady teachers was easy peasy- Miss Little Legs had hair things and bracelets in mind. For the big un's teech there was also a plan in mind- I'll put that on another post though.

Righto then, first, the cards.

Loved making this one, and I'm entering it into the Allsorts free and easy challenge. Then I spotted a Stampin' Up set I hadn't inked yet so......

The rest of the cards were variations on this theme- well it works, right? I'm entering this one into the Crafts and Me challenge to add a flower. I added lots :)

Then Miss Little Legs wanted tags for her present boxes, so I spent last evening making these.....

Worth the effort, they look so pretty :) I'm entering the tags in Fussy and Fancy Friday's Summer challenge, the colours remind me of my Mom's garden with all the flowers out. Roll on the summer hols then!

WOYWW

2011-07-20T06:47:00.000+01:00

Look at me!!! Organised enough to post at this hour!! Woohoo. No, seriously it's only cos the children are tired and still in bed (unheard of), so I'm nabbing the time to post.

Haven't taken a pic of my desk cos it's just piled high with non-crafting stuff. Instead here's the dining room table yesterday morning when Kay and I were halfway through our crafty session. My space is closer to the camera (well, iphone), Kay's is opposite.

You can see......

Kay's ubiquitous mug of tea (made in my new fancy-shmancy one cup kettle boiling dispensing thingie- can't remember the proper name).
The corner of my waste card mat that I work on- I've had this one for a few months and I'm getting far too attached to it, but it's too battered and mucky now to cut up for backgrounds.
The empty coffee jar I then went on to alter.
My crafty to do list (I crossed 3 things off, so proud of me!).

Right, that's mine, wanna see more? Visit Queen bee Julia's Stamping Ground and see if you can spot my cousin JodPea this week :)

Altered book- Alice in Octopode

2011-07-16T15:20:00.000+01:00

Darn it. Missed it again. I keep missing the Octopode Factory challenge. Time keeps escaping me....... I made this for last week's challenge of Time. Bother.

It started off life as a boring blue book about indexing.....

.......Now it's been inked and sprayed and stamped and collaged to within an inch of it's former life.

I used nearly a whole pack of dewdrop gems on this one. Totally worth it though.

The images are all Octopode Factory- with a bit of glaze gel pen highlighting.

Well, the good news is that it still fits the Altered Alice brief for this month- to have a teacup or teapot on your project, with the optional extra of your focal image not being stamped. So, hurray, there's a bit of a silver lining. Now, to get on with the next Octopode challenge.....might have that done by September......;)

New Stamp Man Challenge- Anything T!m

2011-07-15T11:03:00.000+01:00

It's Stamp Man challenge blog time, hurray!!! This fortnight is bound to be a popular one- it's anything Tim Holtz!!! Here's mine......can you tell what it was?

10 sparkle points if you said a moisturiser pot. It's made out of white, slightly translucent plastic, plus....it smells nice- bonus!

I swiped it all over with alcohol inks (meadow, terracotta and lettuce), then stamped the lid and sides with text and foliage stamps (Tim Holtz Shabby Chic).

OK, now I have an admission to make..... I know all of you Sir Tim aficionados out there are grunge paper/board fans but I've not tried it. I know, I know, stop tutting at me.... it just seemed expensive and I couldn't quite see the point. Although I had at some point acquired some, cut with the Tattered florals die.

So, Distress Inks (Peeled paint, Mustard seed, Spiced marmalade) and more stamping (Russet archival ink) later and I'm sold. I get it. You can all stop looking smug now.....;)

Ooh, and my absolute favourite thing about this is the little screw in the middle of the flower. I think I have a thing for salvaged metal...... this little half sheared off screw was just sitting waiting to be picked up and glued in.

Actually, it's recycled stuff all round- the string round the edge was originally round some packaging. So, an ethically sound project all round, yippee.

There's lots more gorgeous DT inspiration on the challenge blog, so hop over for a look, and show us your projects!

I'm entering this into the Stampotique Designers Challenge- to use flowers.

WOYWW

2011-07-06T10:53:00.000+01:00

Not too untidy, although my well used scrap card mat makes it look very busy. The main items of interest are some Octopode images and the remains of some quilling papers that I used to make this little gem.....

It's a lovely little quilled sunflower pot. I really enjoyed making it, and it only took a couple of hours to make. I was ever so chuffed with myself!!!

So, if you want to see more interesting desks than mine, head over to Julia's Stamping Ground for lots more opportunities to nose around people's work spaces!

Alcohol inks or a sketch at The Stamp Man

2011-07-01T18:34:00.000+01:00

This fortnight at The Stamp Man challenge blog you have a choice! You can either follow the sketch, use alcohol inks, or do both!!

Here's the sketch, courtesy of Brenda.....

Here's my take on it.....

I used the Aspects of design stamp plate 6- Nature. I love this set of little squares. I stamped them in Adirondack Wild Plum ink, and then used the same ink and some post it notes to create a strip down the lefthand side of the card. The crinkled paper I used to mat is made with starburst stains.

The jigsaw blank was coloured with lettuce and cranberry alcohol inks, and the whole thing was finished off with gems and raffia.

Righto, over to you, show us something fab!!!! There's a prize up for grabs, as ever. See the blog for more info.

I thought I'd add my entry for the Stamp Man ATC swap as well- the theme for July is vintage.

Be Brave

2011-06-29T15:52:00.000+01:00

In August I'll be meeting up with lots of other Docraft ATCers at our annual Luffy meet. This will be the third time I've been and I'm so looking forward to it. In past years it's been organised by the wonderful Barry and Janet, however, this year Janet will no longer be with us. She's very much missed, and Barry is doing a fantastic job of carrying on organising our meet on his own.

The meet is going to be a celebration in memory of Janet and her mother Bebe, and in Janet's honour the theme is Over the Rainbow. We're all making theme ATCs to swap- here's mine.

The lion is from the Octopode Factory's Over the rainbow set. The background is inked and splodged and stamped, and the images are highlighted with Sakura glaze gel pens.

Dorothy and Glinda

2011-06-27T13:47:00.001+01:00

Follow the yellow brick road, de dum, follow the yellow brick road, de dum, follow, follow, follow, follow...... are you singing along?

I've started to dream in Octopode characters.

The backgrounds for these two are from a sprayed Dylusions ink background with lots of stamping and inking on top, that was left over from a card I made- it was just right for a couple of ATC backs! I added some scraps of torn book pages and more inking and stamping in white - looooooove my Brilliance white ink pad.

Glinda and Dorothy have been hanging around my desk for an eternity, after I had a mad cutting our session a few weeks back. They're highlighted with a touch of glaze gel pen. The used penny stamps arrived on a letter and were just the right colour, and as I'm hosting a postage stamp swap on Docrafts at the mo, they'll fit in perfectly.

I'm entering this into the HDH Macabre Monday swap- From the bone pile

The Stamp Man Challenge- Butterflies and Dragonflies

2011-06-17T13:32:00.000+01:00

Ready for another challenge from The Stamp Man? This fortnight we want to see projects with dragonflies and butterflies on. I used the gorgeous Aspects of Design framies butterfly flutters to make a tag.

The framies sit perfectly inside a nesties frame. Clever, eh? The background is alcohol inks on photo paper, overstamped in Archival black. The stitches are drawn on.

Righto, over to you guys, show us some fluttery butterflies and dragonflies!

I'm also entering this tag into the Try it on Tuesday challenge- a tag with a butterfly.

WOYWW, late to the party again.......

2011-06-15T16:18:00.001+01:00

....here's my desk......

You might spy......

A card commissioned by my cuz for a friend- hope she likes it, she said skulls were OK, honestly......
Some Octopode ATCs
Tatty toadstool stamp- can't decide where to file it yet, so it's living on my desk for a bit
My Dad's Father's Day card
Rapunzel

More nosying can be found at Julia's Stamping Ground. Enjoy....

Clean and simple? Me? Yeah, right!

2011-06-12T11:13:00.001+01:00

The challenge at Stampotique Designers Challenge is clean and simple, so I decided to have a go!

Stop laughing.

Seriously, it's not polite and I can hear you sniggering from here.

I know clean and simple isn't something that comes naturally to me (have you seen my house?), but it is certainly something I aspire to......well, if not aspire to, it's something I admire in others. Particularly in card making.

I can still see your shoulders shaking, you know.

Anyway, talk about out of my comfort zone... my work, as you can probably tell is usually messy, inky, layered and bright. Over the top, some might say, everything but the kitchen sink, but it's what I like to make. So this was one hell of a challenge. You get the picture, right? So, I'd better show you the picture....

Hopefully you're not still laughing...... I'm really, genuinely chuffed with it. I had the idea floating around my brain all day yesterday, so I got up and whipped it up in 5 minutes flat this morning. Quickest card EVER! The most difficult bit was holding the sequin waste in place whilst I found just the right shade of yellow ink (it pays to be prepared kids). In case you're wondering, Impress ink lemon yellow over the top of chartreuse green.

I am so proud that I have resisted the urge to glitter, add ribbon, distress, stamp, ink, rip, tear or otherwise gussy it up.

I'm going to enter it into the following challenges:

HD Macabre Monday- Pleasure and pain (Pleasure= Stampotique, Pain= Keeping it simple!)
Try it on Tuesday- Weird and wonderful
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge- Male card
Papertake weekly- Anything goes (with optional all white + one accent colour)
Crafts and me- Stamp something

Ingredients
Stamps- Stampotique Mort had a pin curl, Smirk You're awesome
Inks- Versafine Onyx black, Impress Chartreuse and Lemon yellow
Stash- sequin waste to ink through

What's on my workdesk? Well, how nice of you to ask!!!!

2011-06-08T13:17:00.000+01:00

Here's what's on my desk as of 6.30am this morning......

Not much.

A new embossing folder I bought at the weekend along with a cute Tatty Button toadstool stamp.

My new Octopode Factory stamps that the lovely Lili sent me for getting published in Craft Stamper.

Some odds and sods I'm working on with bright colours.

My orange pop up rubbish bin looks very vivid, looks like it's been Tangoed.....

I've not felt very creative this past week, lots of horrible stuff going on at work, so at the weekend instead of making I moved things, got rid of my wooden boxes and introduced a new wire rack for my ink pads. The wooden ones might make a comeback at some point, but for now I'm liking the extra space.

For more desk nosying, go to Julia's Stamping Ground.

The Stamp Man challenge- Men and Boys

2011-06-03T11:59:00.000+01:00

Yay, it's Stamp Man challenge time again! This fortnight, Michelle is challenging us to make a card for a man or boy. I thought I'd get ahead of the game and make my Dad's Father's Day card. Now I vividly remember making last year's Father's Day card, so I can't believe where the time has gone to!

I went for a diamond topped card, which looks tricky, but is really VERY easy to make. If I get chance, I'll do a tutorial on how to make one later today.

The background sections are layered up with stamping and ink blending. The little tickets and the sentiment are bumped up on 3d foam. I'm particularly pleased with the vintage gold paper I used to mat up- I got a pack of about 20 sheets from Hobbycraft in the sale for 50p!

I'm entering this into the following challenges:
Fussy and Fancy Friday- Card for a man or boy
Moving along with the times- No DPs
Fab n funky- Whateva

Ingredients
Stamps- Aspects of Design 10- Men's, Aspect of Design 61- Butterfly beauties (sentiment), Tim Holtz stamps- Admit one, Hero Arts Old French writing, Tim Holtz Visual artistry French market (harlequin)
Inks- Vintage photo Distress Ink, Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry
Card- Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry, vintage gold paper, cream card
Stash- Gold eyelets, Foam pads

I miss Glinda......and other art journal pages. ....

2011-05-31T14:17:00.000+01:00

How was your Bank holiday? I've felt as rough as Mrs Rough from Roughington. Now don't laugh, but I missed a step coming home from work on Friday and twisted my ankle. Ooooh it hurt. A LOT. Not one to miss an opportunity though, I took a photo of the bruises cos the colours were so pretty- I might see if I can recreate the colour scheme on paper at some point.....

So, I've had a journalling weekend. I did make a couple of cards, but they can't be shown yet, so here's my art journal pages......

Glinda the good witch from the Octopode Factory, along with some foam swirl stamps and a fabby little leaf stamp from Stampin' Up.

Wicked Witch from Octopode again, the backgrounds on both are sprayed inks- some Dylusions, some not.... Both witches are glazed slightly with Sakura pens.

Finally........a bit of Stampotique action.....

....this is an ATC, and it perfectly reflects my mood most work days.......

I'm entering it into the HDH Macabre Monday challenge- E.M.O

E- Embellishment or EMO image

M- Material (the get over it is a cloth sticker)

O- Orange and lots of it.

oh, and look what arrived in the post today.....

....mmmmmmm....can't wait to get inky.

Craft Stamper again.... with an Octopode bad hair day

2011-05-28T20:42:00.000+01:00

I've got into the Trade It section in Craft Stamper again, with this little beauty....

Loving the Octopode stamps!!!!! Check out the Octopode blog for more strange wonderfulness.....

Hurray! It's Stamp Man challenge time again!

2011-05-20T12:28:00.001+01:00

And guess what? It's my turn to set the challenge and I've gone for a recipe! Crossed with a bingo card really.....

Blue	Embossing powder	Stitches (real or faux)
Torn/ripped	Ribbon	Red
Die cut	Homemade background (no patterned paper)	Sparkle and bling

The idea is that you take three items in a row (horizontally, diagonally or vertically) and make something using all three.

Here's mine....

I did a vertical line from the middle of the box- Embossing powder, ribbon and handmade background. I made a set of 2 little notebooks and at the front of the picture is a post it note holder/cover.

The background is made with moonglow starburst stains (thanks Jill) and then stamped with little flowers from

Aspects of Design 62 Butterfly beauties and Aspects of Design 64 Circle flower framies using a clear embossing ink pad then embossed with Moonglow embossing powders- Daybreak set.

You can see the embossing a bit better in this picture. It's quite subtle.

Then I overstamped the gorgeous butterfly from the Aspects of Design 62 Butterfly beauties set in black. The ribbon finishes them off and pulls it all together.

Right, your turn now.... what will you make? There's a £10 Stamp Man voucher up for grabs! Head over to the challenge blog for more info.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Papertake- Bloom and grow
Crafts and me- Anything goes
Crafty cardmakers- Embossing

More skull balloons. Or I love Stampotique again. Either way, it's a card.

2011-05-17T17:04:00.000+01:00

I'm in the middle of THE most difficult time at work EVER. No apologies for the capital shouting, it really is very stressful- my department is being restructured, so I'm in the middle of applying for jobs that will replace my current job. Yeah, like I said, difficult times....... so Sunday afternoon, I took a break from stressing and made this.

As you might imagine, I wasn't really in the mood for any thing cutesy and sweet. This new Stampotique boy and some Dylusions inks hit the spot perfectly.

The background is made from a Flake easter egg box (it was the perfect colour brown), stencilled with DIs and my new fab wall stencil thingy. Lookee.....

So it's pretty well perfect for the Stampotique designers challenge, which is to recycle. I didn't want to waste any so I made this tag as well.....

.....but now I think it might be more of a bookmark, and I've got a recipient in mind as well, hurray!

I'm also entering this into One Stitch at a Time and Stamp Something, who both have an Anything Goes challenge on at the moment. Double hurray!

Right, better get back to my interview prep.........

WOYWW? Minnie Mouse!

2011-05-11T11:52:00.001+01:00

Wanna see what's on my workdesk? I am remarkably proud of its tidy nature this week.

Mostly that's because yesterday I had a morning of crafting on the dining table with my lovely friends Kay and Michelle, so it all got tidied away a bit. Highlights of my desk today include.....

Minnie in a Snow White outfit
A new Inktense block that I'm trying out, loving the bold colour it's producing
A stencilled wall on the back of an Easter Egg box (it was just the right brown colour....)
ATC backs to be made into something interesting......

For more interesting desk based snoopery, check out Julia's Stamping Ground.

I'm having a little bit of a creative mental block at the moment. I generally find my Tuesday morning sessions with the girls to be very productive, but since the weekend I seem to be wading through cotton wool mentally, and it's certainly taking it's toll. However, this was produced......

It started off as an ATC and ended up as a fridge magnet. The doll's body is covered in gold foiling, a little bit sketchily, but I quite like that.

And that, as they say, is that!

New Stamp Man Challenge- Poppies

2011-05-07T08:37:00.000+01:00

Hurray, it's time for a new challenge over at The Stamp Man. It's quite a special one this fortnight, our hostess for this challenge, Janet, is asking for Poppy creations for a special reason. Check out The Stamp Man Challenge blog for more info.

My card was made with the glorious Hero Arts Clings Stamp-Engraved Flower and part of a sentiment from the Aspects of design sheet 621 Butterfly beauties. The poppy is coloured using watercolour pencils, with a few spots of black Stickles for stamen. A stamp this gorgeous doesn't need much more, so I layered it up quite simply, with a few swirls and some raffia that I've had since I first started crafting.

Well after having a glorious week of sunshine here, it's now threatening rain, so my plans for the day are severely curtailed..... ah well, better go back to crafting........

I'm entering this into the following challenges-

Crafts and Me Swirls challenge

Papertake Anything goes

Try it on Tuesday Something old, something new (new stamp image, old raffia)

Kewt fringe!

2011-05-04T12:14:00.000+01:00

I so enjoyed making this card. So much so that I nearly didn't give it away.

The background is sprayed with all different ink colours, with lots of squidgy runs. I then used a Tim Holtz music mask and various background diamond and circle stamps to create a lot of background. In fact, this card is more background than foreground. The paperclips stamp is a particular favourite, cos it is cute (kewt) and it cost 39p from a manky sale bin. Hurray for manky sale bins!!!!

The girl with the fringe is called Karin (I always say it in my head with an American accent!) coloured with pencils. Love that smile.

I love it so much, I may make the person I gave it to give it back........ actually, if you're reading this.....send it me for my birthday, I won't mind that it's already written in.....

Wooooah, flower alert!

2011-05-04T12:12:00.000+01:00

Well you can't say I didn't warn you.......

I think I've overdosed on petals now. It's a set of 4 ATCs, made in a connect 4 style, so that they work together as a whole, and hopefully individually. Most, if not all of the stamps are Stampin' Up, on a background that's sprayed with diluted inks. I've added definitions from an old encyclopaedia, and some cute little insects.

The leaves are hand drawn with black fineliner and coloured green. Final touches were yellow stickles and white gel pen. I quite like the slightly faded, old look of these ATCs, which comes from the pale colours in the background.

Anniversary sweeties

2011-05-01T20:41:00.000+01:00

When my brother asked me to make a wedding anniversary card for his wife and gave me a sweets theme, I thought straight away of the IBFD jars digi. I have used these images so many times. This time I just used the hearts and orange/lemon segments, I couldn't think how to colour the peppers so that they looked like sweets!

The sweetie jars are coloured with Promarkers and Stickled for sparkle. Here's a close up.

I'm entering this into the By the cute and girly challenge- Anything goes.

Ingredients

Digi stamp- IBFD jars

Rubber stamp- Swirl from Basic Grey

Papers- DCWV

Punches- Martha Stewart

Dies- Nestabilities

Stash- Stickles, gems, ribbon

New ATC challenge blog- first challenge is......Anything Goes!

2011-05-01T13:24:00.000+01:00

So, the new ATC Challenge blog is up and running and the first challenge is underway. It's an easy one for the first time- anything goes! So, show us what little wonders you've been working on.

There's a fabulous DCWV paper stack up for grabs for the lucky winner, and lots of fabulous inspiration from the Design Team over on the challenge blog along with all the details and rules. Here's mine....

A big fat bee! I picked up the CArt-US stamp at the NEC show and he's fabulous. The background is a smacked acetate teachnique, and the flower stamps are all Hero Arts Real Flowers. The word is a rub on and I should really have called the ATC Scent, right? Except the bee spoke to me and it's called A Big Fat Bee......

The flowers are stamped using my Aquamarkers. I'm still unsure whether I like these or not, some of the colours are like paint, others watery and non existent. The jury's out, I might have investigate some tutorials.

Right, what are you waiting for? Show us your ATCs!

New ATC challenge blog....and I'm on the Design team!

2011-04-24T21:06:00.000+01:00

Well, you know how I lurve my ATCs? So how pleased was I to be invited to join the DT for a new ATC challenge blog? The answer is very, very pleased indeed!!! So.....all you ATCers out there, take a look, and keep an eye on the blog as the first challenge is imminent.

Click on the image to see more......

Easter Sundae

2011-04-24T19:48:00.001+01:00

This is my IBFD DT post for this week. I went for a sweet looking Sundae, yum.

As ever, it's Promarkered, with added Stickles for bling! The border punch is Martha Stewart.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Crafts and Me- Pink and sweet
I <3 Promarkers- Anything goes

The Stamp Man- Ir-RESIST-able!

2011-04-22T15:43:00.000+01:00

Oops, sorry, well all the other resist puns have already been taken......

This fortnight at The Stamp Man, we want you to use resist techniques. There are lots of different resist techniques and tutorials out there, so be as inventive as you like!

Here's mine- I used an emboss resist version, and it's soooo easy and effective.

I started off with a background that had been sprayed with inks, then stamped on the elephant, sun and tree with a clear embossing pad and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. It's then just a case of stamping and inking over the embossed images. I try to define the edges of the images with a darker colour so that they stand out a bit.

Wipe any excess ink off the embossed areas, and then it's up to you- either leave the embossed areas glossy or you can get rid of the embossing for a matt look- that's what I did here. To remove the embossing, simply cover your work with paper- I used basic copier paper, and iron gently over the top with a hot iron. Take it easy with the ironing and you'll see the embossing powder melting onto the paper, and turning it translucent.

I didn't want to give my finished piece away, I really love it, so I've used it to cover one of my art journals.

Over to you! Show us your resist!!!

I used:

Tim Holtz stamps- Shabby French, Mini Muse and Purely Random

Clear embossing ink and powder

Distress Inks- Rusty Hinge, Crushed Olive, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade

Button up- journal page.

2011-04-19T20:25:00.002+01:00

Yippdedoodah. I got a Tatty Button stamp. I missed out at the NEC, forgot to order them and then happened across them at a craft shop at the weekend. So, Tatty is now mine, and you know how it is, sometimes you have to get home and get the stamp inked before you've got your coat off......

This journal page was already a WIP- my Miss Little Legs has been singing this song all week, so it was in my head itching to get out. So, on a button theme, there she stands.

An Octopode and Stampotique fest!

2011-04-19T08:23:00.000+01:00

I LOVE THESE STAMPS AND IMAGES!!!! Sorry to shout, but they just sing to me. Weird and twisted songs mostly, but still......

The challenge at the Stampotique Designer Challenge blog is to use newsprint or old bookpages. One of my favourite things to do!

This ATC started out with a bookpage covering, which was then painted with Claudine Hellmuth Studio paints. The FAB skulls were stamped all over, then some of them glazed with Sakura pens (I love that the white one made the skull all smudgy and ghost like). A few words and a flower and voila!

More ATCs followed......

The skull really appeals to me. The fabric words are a 7 Gypsies set, sticky backed canvas words, brilliant idea. Again, the skulls and the -ahem- girlie are coloured with Sakura glaze pens for extra shine.

To finish, a quick Octopode one.........

....with smidges of Stampotique figures. This is my current favourite ATC, and I'm finding it very hard to give it away. I may just have to save it for a while to look at.

The other two are open for trading if anyone wants them!

Pretty, pretty pink and Bob.

2011-04-17T09:09:00.000+01:00

OK, so first the pretty, pretty pink. A birthday card for a 5 year old, so pink is pretty much the only rule!

I picked up some recycled brown cards, so had to use one.......and the image is one of half a dozen Rachelle Anne Millar and Sugar Nellie stamps I picked up for £1 each at my local craft shop. I may just stamp a pile of images out and then put them on ebay, I've got loads on cutie stamps, and TBH I think I'd rather have my horrible Stampotiques...... Still, this made a very cute card. She's promarkered and most of the paper is Kay and Co. The roses I made myself, they all turned out a little bit small and squashed, but put together they're fab.

I'm entering this for the following challenges:

Papertake- Truly dimensional (with those flowers I couldn't get this in the envelope and had to make another one!
Passion for Promarkers- Make your own embellishments
I <3 Promarkers- Sketch
By the cute and girly- Cute and girly
My time to craft- On the dot (spotty ribbon)
Crafts and Me- Ribbon
Fussy and Fancy Friday- A card for a child

.........................and now onto Bob!

Bob is an ATC fish, made with an IBFD Digi. He is Promarkered, stickled and chalked- I'd forgotten about my chalks- and he's fab.

I'm halfway through carving a niche in an old book. No idea what it's gonna turn into, but it could be an interesting Sunday finding out.......

WOYWW- Carnage!!!

2011-04-13T07:25:00.000+01:00

Oh my goodness. I apologise for the state of my desk. Viewers of a particularly neat disposition might want to look away from the first 2 photos and scroll straight down to the storage-fest at the end!

Some backgrounds I've been working on with Moonglow two tone embossing powders- scrumptious colours, and lots of stamped skulls. Plus a magazine I want to cut up and some fab retro beermats I swiped from the pub.

My dammit doll. In moments of severe stress (and there have been A LOT of moments of severe stress lately with work problems), she is grasped firmly by the feet and her head is bashed against something whilst I mutter dammit until my teeth unclench. Have to say though, she's not normally anywhere near my crafting area- crafting is my unwind mechanism- she must have decided she was less likely to have her head bashed on my desk!

Now, for those neater viewers, some storage to soothe you. I know it soothes me....

My stamp storage, as built by my wonderful husband, and coveted by all who visit my craft space. It's shoulder height, almost totally alphabetical and not quite full yet- an excuse to buy more stamps, yay! (Like I needed one....). It also houses my cropadile, punches and a ream of white copier paper. On top are boxes of papers organised into colour families and my button jars.

Righto, for more WOYWW madness, hop over to Julia's Stamping Ground and see more workdesks!

The Stamp Man DT project- Embossing

2011-04-09T20:10:00.001+01:00

The challenge this week at The Stamp Man is embossing!

Here's my take on it. I used a little chipboard square and triple embossed it using some fabulous Moonglow two tone embossing powders. I can't tell you how wonderful these embossing powders are- they shimmer and change colour in the light. All embossing powders are not created equally!

I stamped into the embossing with a little dragonfly stamp from the Stamp Man. Then out came the cropadile for some holes and I dangled buttons, beads and a bell from the bottom on some jewellery wire.

Right, now it's over to you! Show us your embossing! Check out the Stamp Man challenge blog for some gorgeous inspiration from my teamies- and meet the latest addition to our team!

Ingredients
The Stamp Man dragonfly stamp
Magenta 2x2 chipboard squares
Moonglow two tone embossing powders- Daybreak set

Mmmmmmm cookies for Easter!

2011-04-06T09:48:00.000+01:00

Another food centred IBFD DT post, choccies again!

I've copied this box from one I won in a raffle, made by the wonderful and talented Carol V. It's a very simple design, but quite effective. I've filled it with a little bag of chocolate chips and a chocolate chip cookie recipe, hence the cookie digi on the front! The cookie has a bite out of it, so I just layered up a couple to cover up the bite marks so that it looks like a cookie stack.

The cookies are Promarkered with a touch of brown stickles (loving my new brown stickles!) for sparkle, and the flower is another of my homemade ones, I've got a huge box of them to use up, so expect to see lots more.

I thought this might be a more grown up take on giving chocolate for Easter. For Christmas I made notebooks for my children's teachers, this year they may all be getting cookie ingredients!!!!

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

I <3 Promarkers- Easter

Papertake- Anything goes

OLLCB- Happy Easter

One Stitch at a Time- Something 3D

The Stamp Man ATC swap- Bird theme!

2011-04-02T10:23:00.000+01:00

Oops, my apologies for running late with this one, I should have posted yesterday. Lots of excuses, but all boring, lol!!!

Our theme for April is Birds.

Oh dear, it all went a bit weird again............ but I quite like it! The bird is from a Sir Tim set, the background is a book page painted and then stamped over. There are bits of torn paper, some metal flowers and a dewdrop shaped gem that I salvaged from somewhere. The foliage stamp is another of Tim's that I picked up at the weekend, both sets are available from The Stamp Man. My beloved white gel pen brings it all to life!

Right, now it's up to you, get ATCing!!!

Stamps- Tim Holtz Shabby French, Tim Holtz Santa's Wish (branches)

Surprise!........and a portrait.

2011-04-01T20:48:00.000+01:00

I've LOVED making this card!

The challenge at the Stampotique Designers blog is to make a Triptych card. The front of mine has my favourite Kitty stamp glaring out at you.

....and here's the surprise! Now, who wouldn't want a bunch of skull balloons on their birthday?

I used a technique or two from the Tim Holtz Grungy Monday challenge- for more info check out the L3 blog! I love this cobweb mask, the background was inked first and then sprayed with cosmic shimmer misters. I picked up a new colour at the NEC on Sunday, Twilight Black, and no, I didn't just buy it cos I'm obsessed with vampires......well, maybe a little bit.......OK, OK, it totally influenced my decision and I am totally obsessed!

I've had a busy week and it has been tiring, but today was a lovely day- it was the Mother's Day performance at Miss 5 year old Little Legs' school- very sweet- big lump in my throat- all of the children had painted their Mommies, and this is how my daughter sees me......

......actually it's not bad, right colours, features in mostly the right places.....I love it!

Craft Stamper ezine

2011-04-01T11:32:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post to remind everyone to download their free Craft Stamper ezine. I've just downloaded mine.

Click on the picture for the link!!!!

WOYWW- well just a gratuitous stash shot really.........

2011-03-30T10:30:00.000+01:00

NEC. Hobbycrafts. Sunday. Empty purse. 'Nuff said.

So that's what's on my workdesk. Lots of new stash. Hurray!

I've shown you mine, now show us yours, over at Julia's Stamping Ground. Go on, don't be shy!!!

Stamp Man- Anything Tim!

2011-03-28T20:18:00.000+01:00

Firstly- apologies for the late posting of this- I'd scheduled it and then not checked it had actually posted, and I'd put the wrong date on!!!!

The new challenge at The Stamp Man is Anything Tim Holtz! Now I know you can all have a go at that theme!!!!

As I'm attending a Docrafts ATC meet up at the weekend, I've created a little something for our hostess with the mostess as a bit of a thank you for all her work.

It's an ATC tag book. The ATCs were all painted with Claudine Hellmuth paints- I just adore these paints. They're acrylics but semi gloss, so they have a lovely smooth sheen and are transluscent so painting over things like book pages gives a superb effect.

A few close ups.....

Get on over to The Stamp Man challenge blog for more DT loveliness and show us your Tim projects!

Choccies on a tag

2011-03-24T12:25:00.001Z

I quite liking tags. For special presents and special people. I think this one might be for my friend whose birthday is very soon (and who doesn't read my blog, so it's OK), and who has a very big heart and deserves a special tag on her birthday pressie. She's also someone who will appreciate that it is a special tag and that I've made it for her.

I Brake for Digis choocy box coloured with Copics, a gorgeous Nesties tag base and some of my flowers that I'm now addicted to making and putting on everything. Don't worry, I'll run out of steam on them soon enough!

The pearls are a from a pearl making pen of my mate Michelle's.....think they might be on my wish list......

WOYWW- I made it back!

2011-03-23T14:18:00.000Z

I haven't managed to post a WOYWW phtot for ages, but hip hip hooray, everything worked today! I remembered to take a photo of my chaotic desk. I remembered to download said photo. I remembered to blog it before Wednesday was done. I wasn't distracted or Internet deprived. I wasn't too ashamed of the state of my desk......well, actually I am a little bit, but it's a busy work-in-progress desk at least!

Sooooo, gorgeous Octopode images, some pretty backgrounds, my ATCs to swap folder, some WIPs (House Mouse, orange animal ATC set, cupcake digi), assorted debris........

I'm off to a crafty meet up of Docrafts forum peeps on Saturday, and then to the NEC for the twice yearly stash spend up, woooohooooooo! Can't wait......

Say hello if you visit, and if you have no idea what I'm on about, hop over to Queen Bee Julia's Stamping Ground for all t'info.

Teatime

2011-03-21T14:26:00.000Z

I'm a fan of the brighter than bright colour scheme, but occasionally something more subtle strikes me.

This is actually mounted onto a scalloped white card, but the sun was so bright when I took the picture, it's all but disappeared. Wait a flippin' minute- did I just type "the sun was so bright"???? In the UK? I may have to have a lie down to recover......

Image is from Lili of the Valley and is Promarkered. The bottom half of the brown background is embossed with cute little spots, and I made all the flowers myself, yippee!

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Lili of the Valley Challenge blog- sketch
Papertake- trio-tastic (3 flowers)
Stamp something- sweet (cupcake)

Reptiles and scales and amphibians and lots and lots of colour

2011-03-20T18:49:00.001Z

Ooh, I really enjoyed creating these ATCs. Really, really, REALLY enjoyed it! They're for a 4x4 swap I'm hosting over on Docrafts, and they really are good fun to do- did you get that I liked making these????

Love 'em! The background was made using lots of my mate Kay's spray inks (Dylusions and Crafty Notions) in very bright colours. I have lots of Cosmic Shimmers but there don't have the mica in and as a result have more of a matt finish, well a lot less sparkly anyway. I love the brightness of them. I then stamped lots of snakeskin and reptile scale background stamps over the lovely inky colours.

Kay has a fine collection of frogs and reptiles so....... I added......

a chameleon

a frog

a lizard

and another frog.

Lots of punched and die cut flowers and leaves, and some definitions from an old encyclopedia pulled it together. The idea with the 4x4 set is that they work as a set put together, but still stand alone as individual ATCs.

I'm entering these into the Stampotique Designers challenge, which is Animal, insect or bird, and also into Let's Ink It Up's latest challenge which is to use die cuts or punches. I'm also entering it into Wild Orchid challenge which is dieing to punch it out.

Two girls

2011-03-17T12:23:00.000Z

I wasn't in the mood yesterday, I had a migraine and then a fuzzy head and although I wanted to create something, I wasn't up to lots of colouring or Promarkering. Sitting at my desk I came across these IBFD images that I'd started to cut out...... lightbulb moment!

No colouring! Well, just a little, ickle bit of Cool Grey 1 to shade the dresses. The girlies are cut out and decoupaged up twice- once for the dresses and once for the parasol and hat.

I added lots of clear stickles on to the dresses for a bit, well, a lot of added sparkle, and red for the flower.

The poppies are made using the technique in the post below this one, and they inspired the red polka dot ribbon. All in all, I'm rather chuffed with my no colouring card!

Scrunched flowers- how to.......

2011-03-12T19:32:00.000Z

I've spent the day making flowers, and I've had loads of people ask me how they're made. I can't claim any credit for these at all, there are loads of tutorials on You Tube and on lots and lots of other papercrafting blogs. I'd made a slightly different version before, but my crafting mate Kay showed Michelle and I how to make them this way a couple of weeks back.

Warning- they're addictive!.........and if you're coming to the Midlands Docrafts meet, don't read any further, as it'll ruin my demo on the day, lol!

1. Punch out 5 or 6 scalloped circles. I used a 1 3/4" Stampin' Up punch. I'm using cream copier paper here, nothing too thick.

2. Spray each punched circle a couple of times with water. You're aiming for damp rather than soggy.

3. Now the controversial bit.... scrunch each circle up completely. No need for any uniformity, just scrunch away.

4. Now flatten out each circle and layer them up on top of each other. Try to overlap the scallops, but don't worry about it too much.

5. Poke a hole in the centre of the stack of circles. Be careful, the paper tears easily once it's wet.

6. Push a brad through the hole and open it out on the back. For this version of the flower, I've used up some mini heart shaped brads that I had lying around.

Turn over the flower.

7. Scrunch the first layer of the flower up around the head of the brad. Scrunch quite tight, you can always loosen it out later on.

8. Carry on scrunching each layer up in turn in a random way.

9. Once you've scrunched them all up, gently tease the petals open slightly until you're happy with the result.

10. You can have the flower as open or closed as you require. I've added a dab or two of stickles for glittery shine.

These are only scrunched up slightly, and I've added some stamens (and used matching brads, cos they're on show, lol). There are loads of variations.

Enjoy!

The Stamp Man challenge- floral for Mother's Day

2011-03-11T12:04:00.000Z

The theme for the next fortnight at The Stamp Man is to make something for Mother's Day with a floral theme.

My lovely Mom makes cards too, and she's sort of expecting a card from me, so I thought I'd make her something else as well.

The paperweight is a little one that snaps together with magnets, very clever! I stamped the rose from the Aspects of Design 01- Floral stamp plate. It's such a detailed stamp, it looks like an etching. Mom's living room is blue, so I made a quick background with blue Distress Inks and then stamped the rose it in Memento Paris Dusk and water coloured it with the Distress Inks. I added a spot or two of sparkle (of course.......) with some clear Stickles, although it's hard to see from this photograph.

So, now it's over to you, show us your Mother's Day projects, and don't forget the flowers! There are some gorgeous DT projects over at The Stamp Man challenge blog if you need a spot of inspiration.

Ingredients

Stamps- Aspects of Design 01- Floral stamp plate

Inks- Memento ink pad- Paris Dusk, Distress Inks- Tumbled Glass, Bro ken China, F aded Jeans

Stash- Stickles, Heart shaped paperweight

CCC last challenge....and my name badge!

2011-03-10T19:10:00.000Z

The Compendium of Curiosities Challenge over at Studio L3. The technique is from page 67 of the Compendium of Curiosities book, and it was just the inspiration I needed to make my name badge for the Docrafts Midlands ATC meet.

Whaddya think? Very me......

Lots of embossed metal, stitching and Sir Tim die cut letters, plus a grunge rose and some brads. What more could a girl wish for in a name badge. Now, all I need is a gold lame outfit to match (I jest). We always swap our name badges at the end, but I shall be a bit sad to see this one go. Soooooo shiny! You can even see a bit of camera reflected in the bottom left corner.

Now, should I pin, peg or ribbon?

Tea and buns anyone?

2011-03-09T11:50:00.001Z

I've been making a fair few ATCs lately. Some for the upcoming DC meet where there will be oodles of lovely swapping going on, and some for my mate Kay's teatime swap (again on Docrafts). This one uses an I Brake for Digis image, and as yet I'm not sure if it's a teatime swap.

The quote is from Wind in the Willows, and I've added it to the Cherry cupcake digi, coloured with Promarkers and accented with Stickles glitter glue and a red glaze gel pen. Still can't decide where it'll end up, I think it depends what else I come up with tea and cake-wise......

I'm entering this into the Stamp something March Digi challenge.

Time waits for no bird.

2011-03-08T07:58:00.000Z

More Octopode action, this time on an ATC.

A pre painted background, lots of Octopode images and a few words. Cool as.

Ingredients
Stamps- Studio G mini alphabet
Images- Octopode factory
Stash- Sakura glaze pens, acrylic paints (background), white gel pen

Art journal- Octopode Alice

2011-03-04T10:40:00.000Z

Had these pages painted with Claudine Hellmuth paints for ages, and I recently downloaded some wonderfully weird images from the Octopode Factory.....so I did a bit of art journalling. I like the way that the Alice page is much more vibrant than the Mad Hatter page.

The hearts and swirl and quote are from a Paperartsy stamp plate, and feel particularly significant at the moment.

Sun and stars ATC

2011-03-03T11:46:00.000Z

I'm going to an ATC swap meet in a couple of week, so I'm busy building up my stock of swaps. I love this swirly sun and stars design from I Brake for Digis (save 10% with my SAVE10LISA code), and it resizes beautifully for use on an ATC.

I've coloured it with Sakura glaze pens- the first time I'd used them and wow, they're fabulous, soooo shiny. I then mounted it up onto black card and a scrap of cosmic shimmered paper left over from another project. I'm thinking that when I have time, this image would work brilliantly as a bookmark.

ATC time at the Stamp Man- share your wise words

2011-03-02T11:24:00.000Z

The the for The Stamp Man's ATC swap this month is Wise Words. We want to see all those pearls of wisdom, on a little card!

Here's mine.....

I've been working on my art journal a bit lately, and this seemed a particularly apt saying. The background was one of a bunch of backgrounds that Jill (the boss) sent me, it's Starburst stains, and I think it's been splodged with bubblewrap. Gorgeous colours anyway! The eyes are the Stamp Man stamp that was free with Craft Stamper a while back, and the swirls come from the edge of one of the Aspects of Design 62 Design elements plate.

The eyes and swirls are stamped in black and then clear heat embossed for extra gloss, then I whitened her eyes with white gel pen. The flowers are punched out of some background waste and finished with teeny tiny coloured pearls.

Ingredients
Stamps- Craft Stamper freebie, Aspects of Design 62 Design elements , Studio G peg alphabet stamps
Inks- Versafine onyx black
Stash- Starburst stains, flower punch, coloured pearls, clear embossing powder

Kitty

2011-02-27T18:58:00.000Z

I can't believe how long this card took to make! I've been making it for days and days........

.... that's not all I've done, but it has been on my desk in various formats for about 4 days now. The little girl is an Elisabeth Bell image, stamped and Promarkered. The flowers are mostly handmade out of the same paper I've used on the background. I've die cut, punched, Stickled, pearled, beribboned and glued. It's 6x6 inches square and very pretty.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:

Allsorts- make your own flowers
Stamp Something..... with flowers
My time to craft- Hats
Crazy for challenges- flowers

Ingredients

Stamp- Kitty by Elisabeth Bell (Sugar Nellie), sentiment Stampin' Up
Paper- Pampered pets by Andrea Jayne
Dies- Nesties Labels 1, Marianne flower swirl
Stash- pearl pin, pearls, Star dust Stickles, ribbon, Martha Stewart border punches

The Stamp Man challenge- Curls and Swirls

2011-02-25T11:59:00.002Z

OK, so this fortnight's Stamp Man challenge is right up my street. We want you to use Curls and Swirls.

Now, as my crafting buddies will tell you, I'm a swirl-a-holic. I can't resist buying swirly stamps and use them on far too many projects......

This time around I've made a little ATC box. Regular readers will know that I love making and swapping ATCs- can anyone guess what I made this little box out of? I've made it to take to a crafting meet I'm attending soon, where we always do lots of ATC swapping.

The background was made with lots of ink splodging and swooshing, sponging through flower and swirl stencils (actually left over negatives from punching out swirls and flowers), and through sequin waste. Then I stamped over in a lovely dark green in with the swirl from the Aspects of Design 40 Dragonfly Dreams stamp plate. I stamped and cut out the butterflies from the same set. They're really cute, especially as the outline is separate from the solid butterfly, a little bit of versatile 2 step stamping.

I added orange flowers; ribbons and brads to hold the lid together and lots of Stickles of course!!!

Now there's a fantabulous prize to be had from The Stamp Man- as ever- so why don't you get swirling and curling and have a go!

Ingredients
Stamps- Aspects of Design 40 Dragonfly Dreams
Inks- Distress ink in Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint, Impress ink Emerald green
Stash- Ribbon, Brads, Stickles in Orange Peel, Flowers, White card

In hot water

2011-02-23T15:51:00.001Z

With this ATC I was intending to make a teacup and teapot ATC for a swap my friend Kay is hosting over on docrafts, however, as ever, artistic things take on a mind of their own.......

The teabag is a digi from I Brake for Digis (don't forget if you order from them, use my SAVE10LISA code for a 10% discount). I masked it off and then swooshed some ink over the background and then stencilled through some waste from some punched flowers. The quote is by Eleanor Roosevelt.

Ingredients

Stamps- IBFD Teabag, Studio G mini alphabet, Artistic Stamper Gibson girl

Inks- Impress- camel and cherry pink, versafine onyx black

Sweet little cupcakes!

2011-02-16T12:23:00.000Z

Hello, today I want to share a sweet card made with two of the cupcakes range of digis stamps available at I Brake For Digis.

There are several different cupcakes in the collection, here I've used the Star cupcake and the Banner cupcake. As I didn't make this card with anyone particular in mind- it's for my little stock of cards- I've left the banner blank so that I can add a name later on.

The cupcakes are Promarkered and then Stickled and the background paper is from a gorgeous DCWV stack called Nana's Nursery. The scalloped circle and oval waere cut with nesties. The sentiment is from a Hero Arts set.

As ever if you buy anything from I Brake for Digis, use my SAVE10LISA code to save yourself 10%!