Under The Sea

The fabulous Arwen has chosen the Stampotique theme this week, and she's gone with Under the Sea. Here's what she says.
Who doesn't remember - Arielle the little mermaid :) I love the sea and the residents there.Mixed with fantasy and mysticism, a perfect theme for a Stampotique Challenge!Let me see how your underwater world looks like.xx Arwen

Ok so technically she's sat on a rock and not under the sea, so I'm counting the evil twins as the under the sea bit lol.
Ocean ( mermaid Hazel) has been stamped onto  fantasy film, fantasy fibres, and acetate, and layered up to an ATC size,
Smushallaum and Smumanha have both been stamped onto shrink plastic. The sentiment is Ocean Text by Linda Peterson.
These fantasy films and fibres have to be the most fiddly stuff in the world to work with, and it meant I had to get use the iron. Who know's I may even get a duster out soon!
I hope you can join in with our under the sea adventure. Just remember to use real stamps and to link up with the challenge number.
Have a very happy day, and thank you for looking x

Under The Boardwalk

Well you can tell it's a Bank Holiday, it's rained all flippin' day so I apologise for the (lack of) photo quality. Seeing as Summer is definitely on it's way out, I've made an ATB to remind me of sunnier times.

All stamps are from the Artistic Outpost Boardwalk set, and they've been stamped and coloured with Wendy Vecchi inks.

Still raining.....

Still raining - this guy does remind me of Freddie Mercury!

Guess what it's still raining.

I saved the best till last. This shell is one that my son Chris gave to me when he was about 3. He thought it was great fun 'cos it smelt absolutely disgusting!!. He's 21 now, but I've still got the shell. Luckily the smell has gone lol.

I'm entering this into the Artistic Outpost challenge, anything goes, Frilly and Funky  Hip to be Square, and Eileen Hull's Art With Heart which is also anything goes.
I hope you like it, and thanks very much for looking x

There Are Always Flowers

Yea it's Bank Holiday which means no work for me tomorrow. It also means that Chris will be coming home from Leeds Fest smelling of camp fires (and just generally smelling) 4 lads in a tent together for 5 days ugh! And he had the nerve to complain that we used to go camping when he was younger - same field, same bit of grass but now, every August he can't wait to hit the same field lol. At least he knows the routine now - he strips off at the front door and I burn his clothes! (It's not true about the clothes burning, but the outdoor strip - hell yeah!)
Anyway, lots of scruminess as usual over at PaperArtsy Towers, and the one that really caught my eye was Linda Cain's journal page, which you can see here. Here's my version

Made in pretty much the same way as Linda's, with lots of stencils (that still need cleaning), Fresco paints (still on the floor) and Portfolio pastels - I really need to use thes more often. Also black and white Posca pens, and the sentiment from JOFY 14.
This was a really fun technique, perfect for us blendingly challenged.
Have a fab weekend, and I'll be round later to catch up (via the internet, if there's a knock at the door it won't be me)- I don't get out much lol x

Bloomin Flowers

Hi, Kristen has chosen the Stampotique  challenge theme this week, and she has picked flowers (no pun intended). Here's what she says.

Kristen is our hostess of the week and here is her challenge to you:

 We may be nearing towards the end of summer, and for most, the flowers are fully bloomed, but for me, some of the best flowers are yet to come.  I love the gigantic sunflowers and the autumn mums, and for that reason, I challenge you to use flowers in your creations this week. Have fun !

I love flowers especially growing outdoors. It always seems a shame to me to cut them so I tend to have plants in the house. At the moment I've got a poincettia from two years ago that's hanging in there, and red and orange peppers lol. 

Of all the techniques I've learned in blogland, I think one of my favourites is to make a masterboard, so this is what I started with.

I've stamped Carol's Flower large, and small, Flower Block, and Trees which are all by Janet Klein.

I've coloured them all in with Prisma pencils and added a few of Jo's Tiny Bees Now the bit I'm not fond of, cutting it all out!

 I've used on of the big Tando arches and started to layer up. Bloom has been stamped with France's Typewriter Alpha.

I've finished off with Janet's Sunflower Large, and some of my clay flowers and leaves. Ta da, it only took me about 5 days and a trashed room lol I am the slowest crafter ever but I love it!
I'm also entering this into the Tando challenge which is Lovely Layers.
I hope you play along too and join in with your flowers.
Have a great day x

Christmas In July Or In My Case August

The theme this time at Indigo Blu is Christmas in July, and Jenny has done a fabulous tutorial here. I don't normally like to copy, but when I'm learning something new I don't mind so much, so this is my version of Jenny's snowflake lace technique.

This was a fun technique to try, but I definitely need more practice lol. Never mind though that's Christmas card number 2 done for this year :-)
Right, time for bed said Zebedee (I'm showing my age again now) but it's work tomorrow.
Thanks very much for looking x

Charming!

Well it's not even 12 and I've finished my PaperArtsy piece this week - organised or what lol. This week I fell in love with the bag charm that Helen made, so I dug out my stampboard and this is what I came up with.

I'd forgotten how much fun stampboard is, and I'll definitely have to use it more often.
I've used a stamp from HP extra 02 and just followed Helen's instructions. I was going to put one of my clay flowers on but decided that I liked it just as it was.
I've got so much to do today 'cos I was working all day yesterday, and Neil's decided that we need to go to the gym! I think I created a monster when I renewed our membership!
I'm also entering this into the Pan Pastel Bold and Bright challenge, and Simon Says Stamp Monday - scratched up. 
I shall be round blog visiting in the hours of darkness so see you then.
Have a very happy Sunday xx

Viva Las Vegas

The challenge this month at Bombshell Stamps is to make an easel card. Here's mine.

I've used stamps from the Butterfly Queen set and coloured her with Prisma pencils. Her wings have been stamped onto acetate. Every bombshell deserves to have feathers don't you think, so here she is as a Vegas show girl :-)

The stopper is one of my clay flowers. It's been painted and finished off with gilding wax.
Hope you like my little easel, and thanks very much for looking x

We Like To Move It Move It

Helloooo, it's Wednesday and it's my day off and it's time for another Stampotique challenge. Could life get any better :-)
The fabulous Kathi has chosen the challenge this week and I think you're gonna like it!
 Kathi Rerek is our hostess this week and here is her challenge to you:

I love music and enjoy most genres ranging from liturgical music to rap, from classical to head-bangin' rock! Music fills my soul and moves me emotionally and physically.

Let's see how music inspires you! Use song lyrics, music notation, or words associated with music in your project and share it with us!

Have fun! I can't wait to see what you all create!

I always have a song in my head, and my chosen medium of expression is whistling. Could this be a little annoying - no not at all! what seriously... it is :-) I was once bought a packet of bird seed for my birthday - yes I'm that good lol.

My guys like to move it move it they're even better than this lot click to play 

It's been AGES since I did a page in my journal so this was fun. I used a combo of acrylic paints and Pan Pastels for the background, lots of stenciling and stamping.

The stamps here are

Antique Description

Text Block 3

Splattered Mug 

Next came my little movers and shakers, and I know for a fact that Len would give them all a TEN. I've used 

Hug Monster

Twinkie

Molly

Scarecrow

Screaming Bunny

Quail Cube

The words have been cut with a Tim Holtz die and stamped with my old favourite Fax To Wolfgang.

I showed Chris my page and he said 'Oh look, your zombies are dancing' Men just don't get it do they lol.

I'm linking this to quite a few challenges today

Pan Pastels bold and bright - check

Artistic Stamper  anything goes

That's Crafty - stamping ground - lots of it 

Country View Crafts - word play

I hope you like my tiny dancers, and that you come along and have a play too. There are $30 gift certificates up for grabs, and the only rules are no digis, and please link up correctly.

Have a great day xx

A Darcy Christmas

Well this is a first lol I've put on my photograph and now I need to write my blog post - deadlines eh made for cutting fine :-).
There's been lots of fab inspiration this week at PaperArtsy, but the one that really caught my eye was Sue's beautiful Christmas card.
I don't have any of the stamps or paints that Sue used, so I improvised with Snow White, Tinned Peas, Hyde Park and Claret Fresco paints, and Darcy's Christmas set (04)
I must say that Claret is my new favourite colour and I've used itfor the stencilling and to paint the background card for my sentiment.
I really enjoyed making this, and thanks Sue for the tutorial xx
I don't know what I was panicking about, I've finished this with 2 minutes to spare lol.
Enjoy what left of the weekend, and good luck to Rory in the golf! Thanks very much for looking x

Postman Pat Had A Black And White Cat

... and so did I until last Saturday. Unfortunately she had the last ride to the vets and is now with her mum and brother in the rockery. Still with us, just not as visible. After a good old cry on my Stampotique teamies shoulders, (and work buddies - the poor beggers didn't know what had hit them lol) I'm now at the 'do you remember when she did so and so' stage which is a much happier place 'cos I have so many wonderful memories of her. To others she may have been a moggie, but to us (and her) she was a Princess.
Anyhow the Stampotique challenge this week has been chosen by Jackie. Now maybe the design team had upset her or something because for the theme, she has chosen bows. Seriously -  ok I can tie my own shoelaces, but a work of art they aint! I have gadgets and gismo's and more ribbon than you can shake a stick at, but it just get wrapped and tied, not a bow in sight! But a challenge is a challenge and so to celebrate all black and white (and every other colour) cats here's mine.

I made this on Sunday when I was very down, but it's impossible to be miserable when you're playing with these guys.

If I had to pick just one cat stamp it would have to be Kitten Sitting, but luckily I don's so all the gangs here.
By the way Jackie didn't say that we had to tie our own bow, but I did stick them on myself :-)
Lots of kitty stamps here
Under The Paraplouie
Line Up
Kitty Squad
Cat Family

So to all you furry purries out there, we salute you!

Thanks very much for looking x

A Blog Hop With A Difference

Hi, I've been tagged by the lovely Coco to take part in this blog hop, and tell you a little about myself. How come when someone asks you to talk about yourself your mind goes blank?
I've known Coco (you can find her here at Les Folies de Coco) for quiet a while, although we've never met except in blog land. She does the most amazing scrapbook layouts and cards in fact everything she does is wonderful. If you follow this link you will find out more about her too.
So I'm sat in the big black chair, the spotlight's on and I'm ready for question 1.
What am I working on now?

Well first of all I had to tidy up this....

So that I could play with this. It's air drying clay and I'm making some flowers and leaves.

I'm very pleased with the results, not bad for a first attempt, though it will be a couple of weeks before I use them.  This is so not like me, I don't plan anything in advance. If I did I wouldn't be typing this a few hours before I'm due to post it lol.
Q2 How does my work differ from others of it's genre?
Mmm to answer that I'd have to know what my genre is! I used to just make cards but now they're few and far between. I've never scrapbooked - I love other peoples but have never had the urge to make my own. I do like lots of colour, and sparkle, and I love to take a piece of plain paper (or whatever) and turn it into something else.

I also like to have a little humour in my pieces 

and a bit of grunge is good 

I'm not the worlds best sewer.

I like to try new things too - usually months after everyone else. I finally got around to making an ATB a couple of weeks ago.
Q3 
Why do I create what I do?
Now this is a really easy one - just because I enjoy it. I don't make something if I don't enjoy it. Life's too short isn't it. That's not to say that I don't stress if my mojo goes walkabout, and I have a very large bin under my desk! I go to work to pay my bills, and in my spare time I mess about with bits of paper. If I don't have any spare time I skip the cleaning and play about with bits of paper...

I absolutely love being on the Stampotique design team. They're the best group of ladies ever, and their stamps are my favourite - and I'm not just saying that lol. 
Q4 How does my creative process work?
It nearly always starts with the background. I love making backgrounds, usually involving lots of stamps and masks, and paints and inks....

I also like to have a quote somewhere in there..

One day I will finish this album :-)

So there, that's me, and if there's anything else you would like to know, please feel free to ask. So drum roll please for my nomination the lovely Jackie Payne of Scrap Bang Wallop. She's my teamie on the Stampotique design team and does the most amazing art journaling and scrapbooking with brilliant step by step instructions, and she'll be telling you all her secrets next Monday.
Thanks very much for looking and enjoy your week x

The Night

The challenge this week over at Tag Along is faces. I've used Magda's fabulous Stampotique stamp Night  for mine, stamped on an Ecoline ink background. The lyrics are from a Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons song.

Thanks very much for looking x