Sunday Stampers - Week 232 - I've Just Seen A Face

I did have a little Christmas countdown blingy think at the bottom of my blog at one time but it seems to have disappeared!  I don't really need it to know that it is fast approaching & with very little done in this houshold I think I better start to get a shimmy on. 

On Hels Sheridan's blog this week she has chosen the theme of 'faces' & has made a gorgeous tag. Check it out here.  I have made a tag which has a bit of a Victorian feel to it.  I began by colouring a cream tag with Distress Inks Dusty Concord & Victorian Velvet, then edged the tag with my favourite Distress Ink Walnut Stain.  I stamped a Tim Holtz script stamp in Dusty Concord over the tag in two different directions then splashed with water & dried.  The Frame is one of the new Spellbinders D-Lites (Medallion Two) cut from black card. I stamped the girl (Wavy Locks-Rubber Stamp Tapestry) onto white card, cut out her face (Sissiz circle die) & mounted onto the frame.  This is such a pretty stamp & the first time I have used it despite have it for years & years!  I added the pretty flowers, pocking the wire through the frame then mounted to the card with a strip of blue velvet behind - I had to use Pinflair glue because of the wire behind the frame bulking it out a bit.  The 'Love' stamp is Anna Griffin & the lace stamp is Hero Arts. I have added some cream lace, key & vintage decopage from my stash & the drop crystal is from Prima.

I'm looking at this tag now & wishing that I had stamped the girl in brown or added some vintage photo to colour her up. Why didn't I think of that before? I shall have to make another one!!  I love the fact that all the submissions to this great challenge are all so different. Just noticed that I numbered the last Sunday Stampers as '321' - sorry Hels - now corrected!!  I hope you all have a great week. Sx

Sunday Stampers - Week 231 - And Your Bird Can Sing

Whoo Hoo! It seems like ages since I've posted anything. Hopefully I will be able to stay a bit more organised now.  Happy to be crafting for this weeks Sunday Stampers as I've missed it soooo much over the last couple of weeks.  This week Hels Sheridan has chosen 'Birds' as her theme as she had a workshop at 'Birds in the Barn' last week.  Was very sorry to have missed this but no doubt she will return soon.  I am also extremely happy to say that I work there now-part-time but another whoo hoo!!  Anyway back to the challenge.  Check out Hels's beautiful book here. 

I have made a little 8"x8" framed picture for my lobby to get me in the Christmas spirit.  I began by cutting an 8"x8" square from paper from BasicGrey's Figgy Pudding pad - had this for a while but simply couldn't open it!!  I stamped a few snowflakes in white to soften the blue/green colour then edged it with Walnut Stain Distress ink.  I mounted some pretty greenish paper onto card then cut out the Sizzix Birdhouse.  Again I've had this for a while now but not used it - now I love it so much want to use it loads.  I overstamped the birdhouse with TH script stamp in Adirondak Juniper.  Hardly noticeable as it blended in so well.  I cut the birdhouse again with some old leftover card in brown-very thick & used this for the roof & base of the birdhouse.  I adhered on top of the original birdhouse then added some Picket Fence Distress Stickles to look like snow.  One branch was cut from the TH Holly die (& covered with gold Stickles) & the other branch & bird with cut from the TH Bird & Branch die.  The bird was covered with the same paper as the house & Barn Door Stickles was added to him.  Yes - I've gone stickles mad!!  I made a stand for the birdhouse from the brown card then stickled it.  The wooden snowflakes are from Karrs & were painted with Pearl Paint Dabber.  The long banner is of course TH & stamped with Impression Obbsession snowflakes & the phrase 'Let it Snow' then edged with Walnut Stain. This was quite difficult to photograph & running out of time so please excuse any errors!  I hope all is well with you all & the crafting world. Take care. Sx  

Sunday Stampers - Week 228 - A Taste of Honey

Hels has made a stunning piece for this weeks Sunday Stampers with the theme being 'honeycombs & honey colours'. Check it out here.



I began my entry by cutting a honeycomb shape out of yellow Teresa Collins  paper (Fabrications pad) from the Silhouette then mounted it onto  green paper from the same collection which I inked around the edges with TH walnut stain.  This is a really pretty collection of paper - I'm still addicted to card & paper but at least I do use it now instead of just looking at it!!  I then mounted it onto black card to give it a border.  I stamped some little bees from Artemio in some of the honeycomb spaces then stamped the Dylusions leaf onto more of the yellow paper, slightly coloured with green Pan Pastel, then cut out & mounted onto the card.  The two larger bees (Artemio) were stamped and one coloured with walnut stain & the other with Scattered Straw Distress Stickles.  I stamped the large TH Tattered Banner with his honeycomb background stamp & coloured with scattered straw & wild honey Distress Inks & then added the Hero Arts sentiment.  Next I adhered the bee beer cap (donated by my kind husband - of course he had to drink the beer once opened) & the banner with approximately one ton of Pinnflair Glue Gel!  This was so I could slide the white & blue flowers (bought for £1 at a craft sale) & the TH Autumn Gattering leaves behind the banner.  It may take several days to dry!  I really enjoyed making this card & I do love the colours. 
After a dinner party on Saturday my craft supplies are scattered all around the house making crafting a little tricky at the moment.  That's the downside of crafting in the conservatory - it's a lovely big space but when we have guest I have to clear everything out which takes days & then I have to put it all back again.  The constant nagging for a craft shed is still falling on deaf ears at the moment!  I'm clearly not nagging enough!  Hope you all have a good week - watch out for that chilly weather on the way.  Sx

Sunday Stampers - Week 226 - Snowflakes

Hels has gone all 'Christmassy' this week for Week 226 of her fabulous Sunday Stamper challenge  with a gorgeous snowflake tag. 



For my entry I have made this card.  The background is made up with Hansa Yellow & Phthalo Blue Pan Pastel.  These are amazing to use but I really do need to practise more - am getting better each time I give them a go & need loads more colours!  Next I spritzed the card with Blue Patina Perfect Pearls with a little Pewter added to the mix.  I dug out some old Fancy Pants stamps & used IndigoBlu Mega-flakes (Winter Dawn) on the flourish then inked the edges of the card with Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink.  I stamped the little Anna Griffin snowflakes in Lightening Black (how long does a stamp last - I've had this one for years!) & then added gold bling to each one.  I over stamped the Tim Holtz deer die with an Artemio music score stamp in the same ink pad & the 'Ho Ho Ho' stamp is Anna Griffin again & I added a small piece of spare ribbon underneath it. Lastly I mounted the white card onto black & randomly stamped the snowflake again around the edges of the main card.

Have a great week everyone - I can say this because 'yay' it's still 'Sunday' & I have already uploaded my entry!  I have decided not to go for the record of being last this week although I must admit that I haven't done the ironing!  Take care. Sx

 

Sunday Stampers - Week 225 - Happy Heart

Good Saturday afternoon to you.  Yes it's me posting a possible last as usual despite trying very hard this week to be organised!  The Sunday Challenge this week from Hels Sheridan is 'whatever makes you happy'  to mark the sad passing of Andy Williams & 'Happy Heart' is her fave Andy Williams song .  Hels challenge is great fun to do each week so check it out here.

My entry is a 'nod' to Halloween, a kind of tame version of 'spooky'.  Finally got round to buying some Dylusions inks & started by spritzing 'vibrant turqoise' & 'crushed grape' onto a craft matt & dragging the tag through. Wow these inks are bright - love them of course but don't normally 'do' bright so a bit of a shock to the system.  Next I stamped & embossed a PaperArtsy tree then stamped the vines from Chocolate Baroque at the top.  Could I find my bat stamps?  No of course I couldn't or indeed any of my Halloween stamps so that panicked me.  I decided to stamp a few birds (Tim Holtz) instead then made a large moon from a black circle covered in orange angle hair then added one of the larger of the bird stamps cut out & placed slightly over the moon.  The '31' plate is Tim Holtz & the label is printed from my Dymo machine.

 

If you collect 'Craft Stamper' magazine you will see (page 35, November edition) that I am a runner-up in Round Three of  the Stamper of the Year Competition.  I was very excited to learn this  - I have enjoyed the challenge.

 

Off to find the elusive Halloween stamps.  Have a great weekend everyone. Sx

Sunday Stampers - Week 224 - Behind the Mask

The Sunday Stamper theme for this week on Hels Sheridan's blog is 'masks'. I seem to have built up quite a collection of masks recently & find them very versatile & fun to use.  I really like the colours in this tag but really it was all a bit 'try it & see' random inking! I squished a selection of distress inks onto a mat (peeled paint, walnut stain, antique linen & stormy sky) spritzed with water & made a background on the cream tag.  I added a bit more of the walnut stain to the edges then stamped the PaperArtsy flora stamp in black.  I then spritzed Cosmic Shimmer Mist (Teal Wash - one of my favourites) through a Prima corner mask (comes in a set of two).  I seem to love all things 'Prima' at the moment.  I added the twine & green button & then 'frantaged' the base of the tag with Stampendous Aged Aqua embossing enamel & Frantage fragments in sage. The sentiments is a rub-on from KaiserCraft as are the little butterflies at the top of the tag.  Lastly I added a crown (from Ali-Crafts) & a brass key to complete the tag. The sun is shining & I will be spending the rest of my (birthday) Saturday finishing of a craft project & later partaking in a glass (or two) of wine but not too much as I have an early start for the re-scheduled 'Race for Life'...which I will be walking!  Take care. Sx

Sunday Stampers - Week 223 - Tie A Yellow Ribbon

It's been a lovely week here & I expect a lot of you will be enjoying Ally Pally today. I love the setting around Ally Pally - it actually feels like going home as I was born just up the road in Finchley.  I love the view across London from here.  I shall be going with a few friends on Sunday so looking forward to that.

The subject chosen by Hels Sheridan this week (check out her fab blog here) is 'Ribbons'.  I began by making a background with distress inks (worn lipstick, milled lavender & antique linen) then stamped one of TH's background stamps (called Mixed Media)  over part of the background with worn lipstick then spritzed with water to blend it.  Next I stamped a Artemio script stamp in Versafine Smokey Gray.  I gathered some gold ribbon along the bottom of the card then mounted onto black card.  The acetate lady is from Crafty Individuals & placed behind a frame cut from my Silhouette.  The beautiful velvet embellishment is Anna Griffin & I've had it for ages because I couldn't bear to use it!! Finally the Creative Expressions hat pins were added.  It's quite 'girly' for me & makes a nice change.



 

I expect I shall be one of the last to post again this week!  I really am trying to get more organised - maybe next week!  Thanks to those of you who have posted messages to me - much appreciated.  Have a good week everyone. Sx



Sunday Stampers - Week 222 - I Predict A Riot

My card for this weeks Sunday Stampers challenge is very simple - maybe not a 'riot' of colour but certainly brighter than I normally go.

So first I gently coloured some white card with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink so it had just a hint of colour.  Next I went in a little heavier with Fired Brick DI over a Special Touch of Mica flower mask.  The black flourish is a Fancy Pants stamp from way back & the flower is from Little Claire Designs - very pretty.  I painted the flower with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls then, once dry I added some TH Scattered Straw Distress Stickles.  The centre of the flower was painted with Pink Gumball Perfect Pearls with  Glossy Accents over the top for a raised & glossy effect. Then sentiment is TH, stamped twice with just the heart cut out of the second one & embossed with Heat it Up Chinese Red which has a lovely gold hint to it.

 

Well that's it for this week.  Matt has been safely delivered to Preston & apparently enjoying Freshers Week whilst I felt like a redundant mum & not enjoying my week at all!!  The University looks amazing which is great as it was all very last minute.com!
Take care. Sx

 

Sunday Stampers - Week 221 - Tulips from Amsterdam

In a tribute to Max Bygraves who died last week Hels Sheridan has chosen 'Tulips from Amsterdam' and flowers as her challenge for this week. 

I began by covering a craft tag with dark green Pan Pastel then spritzed with Tattered Angels Creme de Rouge Glimmer Mist (had this for yonks) & Blue Patina Perfect Pearls.  I then edged the tag with Black Pan Pastel.  I'm really liking the pastels but need a bit more practice using them.  I stamped the tag with dylusions 'Around the Edge'  leaf border stamp with Versamark & used Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls on top.  I filled in the plain leaves with crushed olive Distress Marker then spritzed again with the Blue Patina.  The flower is made from a PaperArtsy flower stamped three times on Tim Holtz waxed paper, spritzed with the blue & attached with a yellow bling brad after curling the petals.  The moth is PaperArtsy & lightly coloured with blue Pan Pastel with another bling brad.  The 'wishes' is from a new Dymo machine although I'm sure I had one years & years ago & chucked it...oh dear, never get rid of anything as it will eventually come back in fashion again!  I added Espresso Dimensional Pearls at the base of the tag & a few other charms.

 

 The Bentley Show was a great success this year with the village green buzzing with people & soooo many dogs (there was a dog show too!).  I even managed to get my photo in the local newspaper (was horrified by this as I'm only ever happy behind the lens) but as it turned out it wasn't the worse photo I've seen (yes there's plently of them around!).  Back to school this week & that means a trip to Ally Pally at the end of the month & thinking about the Christmas school play...I'm off the Lancashire on Saturday to take Matt to Uni although NO ACCOMMODATION sorted out yet...only slightly panic stricken!  Have a great week everyone. Sx

Sunday Stampers - Week 220 - Green Tambourine

This is going to be a very speedy post this week - I haven't even had time to blog hop & look at all the lovely works of art this week - will have to do a mega catch-up next week.  This week's Sunday Stampers challenge set by Hels is the colour green.  Honestly my tag does have green on it but it's a bit tricky to see! 

I cut a Tim Holtz tag out of black card then inked my favourite flourish stamp (La Blanche) with Versamark then dusted with Perfect Pearls Green Patina (yummy).  I made a rosette (Tim H) out of Fancy Pants card & added a Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 button.  These are gorgeous - I want all of these embellishments!  Next I added a strip of Tim H tissue tape to the base of the tag & adhered the rosette.  The 'with love' sentiment was inked up as above & added to a grungepaper strip covered in tissue tape.  I made the birdcage (TH) & girl tag (Crafty Individuals) out of shrink plastic.  I couldn't stop the birdcage from bowing despite several tries!  At the top I added a black flourish cut from my Silhouette & crinkled up some green ribbon to finish off. 

 

I am off to the Great Bentley Show now & the sun is finally trying to cheer up a rather chilly day.  I love this day with villagers displaying their produce & works of art not to mention the amazing cakes, breads & jams.  The flowers are amazing.  There's a real 'buzz' in the marquee first thing in the morning when everyone is setting out their goodies.  It's such a fun thing to do.  Have a great weekend everyone whatever you are doing. Sx

Sunday Stampers - Week 219 - I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker

Hels has made a very pretty, feminine steampunk piece for this weeks challenge.  As it's Mr French's birthday on the 27th I decided to make him a card. Not sure what he'll make of it - it's a tad bizarre & not sure I like it either!

I discovered some of Tim Holtz's sticky back metal sheets & embossed with a cog mask from That Speial Touch of Mica. I used Slate & Latte Adirondack alcohol ink to mottle the metal then mounted on some purple card. I then cut Tim's 'movers & shapers' wish die & inked with a Crafty Individual's music score stamp (CI-194). I did the same for the butterflies (TH again) also mounting the metal onto grungepaper for added stability.  Using the same alcohol inks I went over the music score - this made the original stamped image blend & mix as the inks removed some of the score. Next I mounted the metal 'wish' onto an oval scalloped Spellbinders die.  The wing is TH as is the cog & the metal brads are Creative Expressions. The little hearts on the butterflies have been in my stash forever!  I used black Pan Pastels on the wing & rubbed silver & purple 'rub 'n' buff' onto that & around the scalloped oval. 



I cannot believe that I only have one more week left before I go back to school.  This holiday has been so busy & full of mixed emotions. My son has just accepted a place at the University of Central Lancashire (so far away) & will be going in two weeks! I am very proud of him.  I will also be starting a new part-time job in October which I am very excited about. Lots of changes...I am looking forward to our local Summer Show next week-we are so lucky to still have this traditional show on our wonderful green so good luck to everyone entering into the fun of competition!  Thank you for taking the time to pop by & make comments - they are all appreciated. Have a good week & Happy Birthday Clive. Sx

Sunday Stampers - Week 218 - Shiny Happy People

Hels Sheridan has been making goodies out of metal for this weeks challenge, 'Shiny'.  Go check out her wonderful blog here.  Strangely enough I had been having a play with metal last week but not very successfully!  I planned to do some metallic flowers but when I came across this TH die I changed my mind.



I cut the birdcage from a silver metal sheet (Ten Second Studio) mounted onto grungepaper & added the Prima flowers to the base of it instead of hanging beads.  Found some pretty Crafty Individuals script paper, edged with walnut stain & mounted it onto some Laura Ashley paper & placed on card.  I added some metal flowers & leaf (Vintaj) to the top of the cage by a glittery yellow brad.  The sentiment is TH Visual Artistry Lost & Found & is stapled to the card & the escaping butterflies (IndigoBlu) were stamped onto some Studio 490 Clearly for Art sheet, heated & shaped.

I have tried not to waffle toooo much this week!  Really enjoyed using the metal sheets - that is the metal sheets I have had for ages & not touched so thanks Hels for the inspiration.  I shall continue to have a play.  Thanks for popping by. Sx

Sunday Stampers - Week 217 - Patterns

Today I decided to  have a go at changing my blog design (soon regretted that)  but not sure I like it so you may see a few variations over the next few weeks. This weeks challenge from Hels is 'Patterns'.  Her work was a piece for her husbands 50th birthday - beautiful as always but I wasn't sure about what I could do.  I came up with this 8"x8" wall hanging - a bit of a run through for another idea I have buzzing around my head.

I began by painting some grey board with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint in Irish Cream  & Docrafts acrylic paints in Rose Pink & Dusty Rose.  I then painted through two masks, That Special Touch of Mica small dots & flowers with a mixture of the above paints.  I stamped onto the card with Ranger's Dylusions 'Around the Edge' leaf stamps, some in black & added some  American Crafts white rub-ons.  I edged the card with TH's tissue tape then edged with walnut stain.  The sentiment is Indigoblu stamped onto some Prima paper & cut out & embossed with a Spellbinders square label - a larger one in black made the outer frame.  Next I mounted the sentiment onto the card then  re-stamped the leaves onto Prima paper & cut out to decoupage over one of the stamps, overlapping the sentiment.  I made two TH rosettes out of scrap paper & glued to the card then added some Stampendous Fran-tage aged rose embossing enamel & some colour fragments - these fragments are gorgeous but they did keep shooting off the desired place!  Managed to contain them in the end!   At the base I added a small Prima pink tile & two Creative Expressions metal leafs.  Lastly some pretty pink lace ribbon & some brass keys & a locket.

I have really enjoyed a bit of 'blog hopping' this week.  So much beautiful work out there. I could spend all day looking!  Hope you all have a good week. Sx



Blog Design Change

Well it can't be that tricky to have a change (I thought).  Guess I know what I shall be doing for the rest of today then - yes ... trying to get my blog looking vaguely like it did before I started messing around with it.  There is always that thought that crosses your mind just before you go ahead ... don't bother! Why oh why do I go ahead anyway?  So my blog may look a little different for a while... grrrrrr.

12 Tags of 2012 - August

I absolutely love Tim's tag this month & decided to make mine sooner rather than later. Such gorgeous colours. Of course I didn't have everything - that doesn't matter - so started the hunt for what I did have.  I basically followed Tim's instructions with a few exceptions.  I didn't have the silhouette stamp or the frame so I cut these out from my Silhouette Cameo & embossed with black My Craft Studio meltdust.  I did have the embossing folder (I didn't realise until I was looking through my folders-shame on me!) but not the paint so I mixed two PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints together (Pewter & South Pacific). I also didn't have the Kraft Core card (on my wish list) so used Ranger's Distress Collection Core'dinations to make the flowers, branches & leaves. On the bottom of the tag I used a Sizzix TH 'On the Edge' Scallop die & embossed it with Stampendous Fran-tage Embossing Enamel in Aged Aqua. Then sentiment is TH & stamped onto some scrap paper, edged with walnut stain & rolled at the top edge.  I crinkled up a dusky pink ribbon & added a Creative Expressions key, Prima gem & TH tassle to finish the tag off. 

Sunday Stampers - Week 216 - Fields of Gold

Well the Olympics are hotting up even if the weather is cooling down! Clive, Matt & I went into London yesterday to soak up some of the atmosphere as we couldn't get tickets to the park. Westfield was buzzing & we enjoyed the sights & sounds.  Great reactions when Team GB won a gold medal. On the theme of gold (seamless link eh?) Hels Sheridan chose 'Fields of Gold' (gold) to be this weeks Sunday Stampers theme so here goes...

As my 'minimal spend 2012' continues I found some nice creamy card in my stash that had a crackle effect on it. I edged it with walnut stain & adhered to card. I cut out a frame from my Silhouette & added some gold wax around the edges.  I stamped the photo slide mount with an old Impression Obsession stamp & embossed with walnut stain distress powder then edged again with the gold wax & a little bit of frayed burlap ink.  As I cannot throw away any little scrap of paper I found some TH Kraft resist card & placed inside the photo slide mount  after spritzing it with Heirloom Gold. The other piece was stamped with a 'My Mind's Eye' (Lost & Found) sentiment, inked round the edges with walnut stain (again) & mounted onto black card & attached with two gold brads.  The pointing hand was from the same stamp set. Finally I added the gold crown which I think was from an Anna Griffin set.

You will all be amazed to learn that my house was in excellent order after Matt's party last week although I do think he spent a few hours cleaning & hoovering! He may be moving to Manchester in September so I have just got to make the most of the summer holiday with him.

Thanks for all of your lovely comments this week. I am thrilled to be a Tim Holtz winner for the July tag. It was great to see that a few of us had made the list - very exciting.  Bye for now. Sx

12 Tags of 2012 - July

Well with just a few hours to go I have finally managed to make a tag (actually three)  for this challenge - and it was a challenge!  Didn't look too difficult but ended up being very difficult!  Thank goodness for Matt's party as the girls had brought straws round (for cocktails I presume) as I didn't have an air canister.




I basically followed Tim's instructions - found the metallic alcohol ink very tricky indeed - then added a few bits & pieces from my stash.  I kept a kind of 'Olympic' feel to it as we are in the midst of this major event. I really enjoyed this technique even if it was a little frustrating at times!   I think mine has turned our rather 'busy' but I quite like them. 

Lastly thank you so much to my new followers.  I really do appreciate you taking the time to have a look around my blog.  It really means a lot to me when you leave a message. Thank you. Sx

Sunday Stampers - Week 215 - More Than Words

Welcome to summer everyone! Let's hope it lasts & doesn't the sun make you feel so much better. This is my favourite time of the year with nearly six weeks holiday & catching up to do...
Hels Sheridan has chosen words, or at least more than one for her Sunday Stampers theme this week & as usual has made a beautiful piece. Always an inspiration & great to see her on C&C this week.

I have made this quite simple card with scattered straw, barn door & peeled paint DI blended together over some white card. I inked up some large bubble wrap with white  paint & green ink & gently squished over the inked area then stamped the butterfly & grasses (TH), bullrushes (Craftwork Cards) & sentiment (PaperArtsy). I then spritzed with heirloom gold Perfect Pearls to give a nice shimmer & added some Ranger Stickles in Platinum to the grasses. I wrapped some cream ribbon to the bottom & added an old brass brad. I bought a mega bundle of really lovely antique brads, quite large from QVC about six years ago & am still using them!  One of my better buys. Lastly I mounted the card onto some black card & adhered to my DL Craftwork Card.

Quick & brief blog this week as I am off for a couple of days with my husband for some 'us' time as no real holiday this year. I have madly agreed for my 18 year old son to have a party whilst we are away - a weak moment!! Take care everyone. Sx