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