And Now For Something Completely Different...

It's sneaky peak time for my piece at Sam Poole's Creative Studios, and there's not even a twinkle of Christmas lol.

Hope you like it (all of it lol) and thanks very much for looking x

Joyful Glinda

It's still anything goes month over at Stampotique, so guess what, I've made a Christmas card, as rumour has it, it's not too far away now lol.
I started by cutting the TH Joy in a piece of black card. When it was actually pointing the right way round I realised it was at the top so I started by cutting... AT THE BOTTOM.
I stamped France's brilliant Village along the bottom edge, embossed in white,  and coloured with Prisma pencils and some children's cheap as chips oil pastels.

I love the bright colours lol. The stars and snow are from France's Design Cube.
I just needed my fairy now so I used Janet Klein's, Glinda from her Wizard of Oz collection. It was the first time she had been inked so that made me a very happy bunny.

I coloured her in Prisma pencils and Distress Markers using the technique show by the amazing Christine Dark in Craft Stamper. Mines not brilliant but I'm really pleased with it as a first attempt.
Next I just made a tall thin card and matted some red mirri on so the Joy would show through, trimmed the tops off and Bob's your uncle.
Hope you like it, and find time to play along. I know time's really tight at the moment, but you can make anything you like as long as you use real stamps and not digis.
Thanks very much for looking x

Last Minute Tags

I've been making some tags for this weeks Creative Studio's post, my love affair with Kraft card and Prisma pencils continues :-)
Hope you like them, and thanks very much for looking x

Wot More Christmas

For this weeks Creative Studio's creation :-)
Hope you like it x

Christmas is Coming....

It's Nellie's turn to choose the theme at Stampotique this week and she's gone with an early Christmas. I'm always full of good intentions to start my Christmas cards early, but not so surprisingly this never seems to happen.

I always intent to start early making my Christmas cards. But real life often gets in the way and before I know it it’s the middle of December and my Christmas cards end up being either very simple and quick or bought in a shop. So I thought why not set a Stampotique challenge to make Christmas cards in November and force myself to really make and early start. So here is what I came up with. And of course I love to see your Christmas cards or other Christmas projects!

Nellie, you're a girl after my own heart lol, here's my early Christmas cards.

 I've recently been on a workshop to learn how to use my Prismacolour pencils correctly. This is still very much a work in progress, but as long as I enjoy it (which I do) then I'm happy. I still colour like a child, I pick the colours I like (whether they go together or not) stick out my tongue and try to keep within the lines :-) Here's my cards in a little more detail .

 Here's my favourite snowman Global Warming? together with Jo's star that came with Craft Stamper here in the UK.

How often can I use the word 'favourite', but what's not to love about Under The Paraplouie, again used with Jo's star in the background. These are Christmas cards therefore all birds are Robin's lol. (and no birds get eaten in Stampotique land)

Maria's lovely bunny Zara  is great for any celebration. A bunny isn't just for Christmas.... I used some Portfolio white pastel to add a bit of snow.

And last but definitely not least everyone needs a Christmas hug from a Hug Monster.
Please don't judge my colouring too harshly, I know I need lots of practise but that's ok with me lol.
Please join in with our challenge, after all you can never have too many Christmas cards, and you have the chance of winning a $30 gift certificate. Please remember no digi images - give that rubber an inking!
Thanks for trying to get me organised Nellie, and thanks very much for looking x

Anyone Who Had A Heart -Der Dum...

The very talented Liz Borer has been wowing us this week at PapteArtsy and I've been trying all week to have a go at her day 2 project. So after work yesterday I cleared the dining table and transformed the living room into an art studio daaarling (it's nose drippingly cold in the conservatory now so that's me out till Spring lol). This is what I ended up with.

 Like football this was a game of 2 halves, the good and the bad/ugly.

Stage 1 liking very much after using Grunge Paste, London Bus, Blood Orange, Claret and Moonlight.

Yep still liking after the Treasure Gold.

I stamped some of Darcy's hearts around the top and coloured with Portfolios. I really didn't like it though.

So back over the top with the London Bus, Blood Orange and Claret, and a bit more stencilling.

Used the heart from Darcy's EDY01 plate to make a flower (I'm liking again now)

Follow Your Heart from the same plate has been stamped straight on to the heart and accented with a cabochon. I've also stamped the hearts and key from Darcy's EDY02 plate, and finished off with a bit of hardware.

I know I've said it before, but I do love how you can go over your mistakes with Fresco's and it just makes another layer.
Just about enough light now to photograph, and last push Charlie again to link up!
Hope you have a great Sunday, and thanks very much for looking x

SPLAT!

It's time to get down and dirty this week at Stampotique as the challenge is for paint splats! I love paint so I made some space and started splattering :-)

Lots of brush tapping for the background by Arty then as we had wet paint I needed a warning sign, so who better than Whisker Monster With Sign.

I had lots of fun making this and I know you will too, so please join in. You can use any stamps you like, but please no digis.

Thanks very much for looking and have a great weekend x

Season Of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness - Brrrr

It's time for my sneaky peek at today's Creative Studio piece, and it see's the return of Hooty McTooty. Hope you like it, and thanks very much for looking x

PaperArtsy Christmas Day 2

This is my version of Joanne's day 2 card, over at PaperArtsy, using 3 coloured pencils and glitter glue.

The stamps are by Sam Poole and I really love this way of colouring them. I must admit I know nothing about colouring so it was great to learn this technique - thanks very much Jo! x

I hope you like it, and thanks very much for looking x 

It's A PaperArtsy Christmas

The lovely Joanne is back at PaperArtsy this week, and she's been wowing us with some simple but fun Christmas cards that are similar enough to batch make, but different enough to keep it interesting. This is my version of her day one card.

These were really easy to make once I'd got the hang of stamping the card before I cut it out 'cos I'm a really wonky stamper :-)

I used Mermaid, Sherbet, and Orchid together, and London Bus and Hyde Park.
The stamp sets are Xmas Plate 4, and Nut & Meg 3.
I've never been able to batch make before due to the boredom factor, but these were great fun.
As the evening is still young and Neil's doing the cooking I'm going to give day two a whirl now!
Thanks very much for looking and enjoy your weekend x

A Sneaky Peak For Creative Studios

Well it's Thursday again, at the speed the weeks are going it really will soon be Christmas lol. This week I've made another folded card for gift vouchers or just good old fashioned cash. 

The rest of it can be found here
Hope you like it, and thanks very much for looking xx

Wot No Layers

The lovely Sam is boss lady this week at Stampotique Designers Challenge and just to spite me (paranoid moi :-) she has chosen 'one layer' "Hi Stampotiquers! I'm so excited to be your host this week and I'm inviting you to make a creation using just one layer. It doesn't necessarily have to be clean and simple, that's the challenge! I love lots and lots of layers but to achieve a sense of depth to a creation using no embellishments etc can really get you scratching your head and rubbing your chin! 

Most importantly have fun ;)"

I love to use layers, not least because I'm so messy, and I CAN NOT stamp straight. Not even with a stamp possitioner, but if Sam want's one layer then that's what she's gonna get :-)

I trimmed my card to fit an embossing folder then masked off the middle section then covered with Versamark. This was then embossed using a diffuser that has sat unopened since the day it was bought. I then stippled and sponged Pan Pastels over the top in pink and purple, and outligned the Happy Birthday.

My favourite stamp of the week Kitten Sitting was stamped VERY carefully in black, then just coloured with Prisma pencils.

I did actually enjoy making this, and I love how the white card pops, so you're forgiven Sam lol.

I hope you can join in with our challenge and make a one layer creation, you can use any stamps but please no digi images.

I'm also linking this to the pan pastel challenge which is anything goes, and Country View Crafts which is Letters.

I hope you like my card, and thanks very much for looking x

Miguel's Gift

The fabulous Sarinda is our hostess with the mostest this week and she has chosen to use gesso. Here's what she says.

"Hello Creatives. Sarinda here and I am asking you to rethink Gesso in this challenge. I find that I use Gesso a lot in my work and feel is an amazing tool to utilize. Yes, tool. Not only does is serve as a basic prep to your sub-straight, It picks up texture of a stencil, use it with a pallet knife, layer it. And if you are using it with inks, sprays, stains it will create unique depth to your backgrounds. Even try it on top of lace, fabric, tulle. Play and be free. I have a gesso tutorial on my blog if you need some extra inspiration. 

www.AggregateMemories.blogspot.com

I also wanted to take the time to Thank all of you for your wonderful, creative support over the years. This will be my last challenge I will be hosting with Stampotique. As my glass art business is demanding more of my time... This is good as I have been working for this moment over 13 years. I will not be a stranger to Stampotique as most of you know... I LOVE STAMPOTIQUE. 

Face the Brilliance of your most wonderful creations and Dwell on you Dreams.

Warmly-

Sarinda"

I'm going to really miss Sarinda on the DT, but wish her lots of luck (not that she will need it :-)

Ok, the tag was stamped in white and black gesso and then dried with a heat gun and coloured with Distress Inks.

I like to keep the stamping varied by using the stamp upside down too (this is such I lie, I just didn't look lol)

My black gesso is nice and smooth like an acrylic paint while my white is about 10 years old and is thick and lumpy and has the consistency of plaster, and yes this is my favourite lol as it really resists the ink.

The baubles have been stamped onto acetate and coloured on the back with Silkies.

Don't you just love Miguel, he's as good as I am at wrapping presents, so poor old Ted has been stuffed into the box.

My favourite angel has been stamped onto card and also shrink plastic. In the words of 10cc 'it hides a nasty stain that's lying there' I don't know why I have this compulsion to confess to all my mistakes, I'd be no good at all as a secret agent :-)

I've used Roc's gorgeous border to finish off. It took me ages to make this 'cos I was just sat drinking coffee, doing a little stamping, colouring it in, stamping a bit more... - could life get any better!

I really enjoyed this Sarinda, thanks so much.

I'm also entering this into the Pan Pastel challenge which is Anything Goes.

Lots of lovely stamps used this week, they are:

Journey Collage

Oh Tree

Miguel Has A Gift

Mini Christmas Ornament Cube

Teddy

Daniel's Large Tree Topper

Scalloped Lace Border

Hope you like it, and thanks very much for looking x

Believe In The Magic Of The Season

Well better late than never as they say!
Here's this weeks sneaky peak at my Creative Studio's  piece. Yup it's Christmas time again. Hope you like it, and thanks very much for looking x

Christmas Is Coming...

Here's a sneaky look at this weeks card for Sam Poole's Creative Studio where we've gone all Christmassy.
Have a great day and Happy Halloweeeeeeeennnnn.

Thanks very much for looking xx

Fold It Fold It

It's new challenge day over at Stampotique Designers Challenge, and this week it's to make a card with more than one fold. Here's mine

It's all made from one sheet of double sided card. I've stamped Abstract Foliage around the edges in green and purple Distress Inks.
Dragonfly has been stamped onto card and acetate.

Here it is without the tag, it shows of the folds a little better. Dragonfly Verse has been stamped onto card that's been inked and spritzed.

I used the same technique for the tag and stamped Jo's Spidergrass and Dandelion Duo over the top. I've just realised all of the stamps I've used are by Jo Capper -Sandon, she has such lovely designs. 
I hope you can join in with our challenge, we all love to see what you create. You don't need to use Stampotique stamps (though we love it when you do) but please, no digi's
Thanks very much for looking, and get folding!

Lace or Fabric for Stampotique

I know I'm probable Lizzie Last with my entry (no surprises there then) but here's my entry to France's challenge.

I've used a Tim Holtz pocket watch die and cut layers of thick cork to give it some depth. The background is just ink, spritz and flick, with some painted die cut branches layered on.

Owlseeyou has been stamped, coloured, and perched! He's been covered in acetate as he's a very rare specimen, a red and yellow owl lol. The fabric came in the form of hesian and felt flowers cut with Tim's dies.
 Learning To Fly has been stamped onto white shrink plastic, and I just about managed to cut it out straight(ish).
This was a great challenge France, thanks very much.
I hope you like it, and thanks very much for looking x

Up Up and Away

Ugh when did England turn so cold! still at least the sun's shining. Here's a sneak peak at my card this week for Sam Poole's Creative Studios

Hope you like it, and thanks very much for looking x

Happy Halloween

Good morning from sunny Tenerife! Back at Stampotique Towers the very talented Carol has chosen spooky/Halloween for this weeks challenge. Here's the door hanger that I made.

 The wooden hanger has been painted with orange and yellow Fresco paints and allowed to drip and blend.
Next came lots of stamping and embossing. I've used
Tree
Owl Tree
Wee Owl
Halloween Cube 1
Halloween Cube 2
Abstract Foliage

This was fun Carol, thanks for a great challenge.
Hope you can join in and get spooooooky.
Thanks very much for looking xx

Greetings From The Sun

It's Christmas time again over at Sam Poole's Creative Studio's, and I've gone back to Christmas. (Christmas in Tenerife, now that would be nice :-)  )
If you get chance please pop over and have a look.
Have a fab day xx

With Thanks To Kaz Hall

I recently went on a workshop to Art From The Heart run by the wonderful Kaz Hall. It was all to do with techniques using Ranger products, and we made a tag book. I wanted to make sure that I had really got to grips with it all so I have started my Stampotique tag book.

I'm not going to go into details of how these were made, but if you get the chance, go on Kaz's workshop, you will have a brilliant day.

This is the ink, spritz, and flick technique. I really think that Henny Penny and Rootie Toot are having a little do-si-do (with attitude) I love that Stampotique stamps are real characters (do the voices only speak to me lol) I did some stitching around the edges too - apparently the tension is all wrong, but I like the way it looks :-)

This is using metalic distress stain as a resist. I've used Spiraling Out of Control for the resist, then Superhero and Superhero Text have just been stamped on top.

This one's my favourite, the background has been made using a Tim Holtz stencil.
I want to adopt Janet Klein's Cat Family, and it would be rude not to take Dog Family too. 
So that's 3 down and about 20 to go, but they were great fun to make and it will be nice to have all the techniques in one place. 
I hope the sun is shining where you are, and thanks very much for looking x

Up Up and Away

Here's a sneaky look at my card over at Sam Poole's Creative Studios , hope you like it :-)

Thanks very much for looking x

An ATC For SDC

 No I'm not going to speak in initials all day, it's just that the wonderful Sam has chosen ATC's as her theme this week over at Stampotique Designers Challenge.
Here's mine, it took me about 15 minutes to make from start to finish.

And here's just a fraction of my practice pieces that took a couple of hours and all ended up in the bin :-)

Isn't it great when a plan comes together NOT!

It's just a Distress Inky background, with Pisa and Find Your Balance Text stamped and embossed. Design Cube has been stamped in white acrylic, with a washi tape hand to finish. I knew what a wanted in my head but I just couldn't get it to come together, but I do like this, in fact the new release stamps are all my favourites (along with every one of my existing stamps :-)  )

I won't be around for a couple of weeks as DH and I are going on holiday - together - just the 2 of us.  Anyway no laptops are allowed, (spoilsport) just sun, sea and no work for 2 whole weeks!

So for all of you who arn't going on holiday ( I know, no more rubbing it in) make an ATC and join in our challenge. Link it up nicely and remember no digis. There are 2 $30 gift certificates up for grabs each month, and in the words of the old lottery ad 

It Could Be YOU!!

Thanks very much for looking and I'll catch up with you all when you get back xx

You Looking At Me....

Here's a sneeky peak at my latest card for Sam Poole's Creative Studios. Hope you get chance to take a look xx

OoooOO I Hear Laughter In The Rain

It's the wonderful Astids's turn to choose the challenge this week at Stampotique HQ, and she has gone with washi tape. Until a year or so ago I would have said 'what????', but now washi tape is a favourite, and I have a small but growing collection :-)

This is a side of my Stampotique MDF scrapbook. The background is Pan Pastels, and the rain is the new metalic silver pastel. Oooohh shiny....
Stamp wise we have my old favourite Vintage Script lightly stamped over the Pans in grey.  I have some washi tape clouds 2 Nuage by France who really needs to quit her day job and just design stamps 'cos they are gorgeous! My new BFF Hazel is out again in Rain. She's also dressed in her best washi, and has a washi umbrella. Rain Text has just been stamped over my shiny pastels (I am such a magpie, I wonder if they can do pastels with glitter next lol)

I got quite excited when I saw the 2 pages next to each other, it's nice when a plan comes together :-)
So please join in with our washi tape challenge and remember there are 2 $30 gift certificates up for grabs each month. One final rule NO DIGI's this is a stamping challenge, they don't need to be Stampotique stamps, but if you've got 'em use 'em (just 'cos they're nice :-)  )
I'm also entering this into the Pan Pastel challenge which is 'anything goes'
Thanks very much for looking and enjoy your day x