Quoth The Raven...

Can you believe it's September already, where is this year going to??? The challenge this month at Country View Crafts has been chosen by Nikki, and she wants us to use numbers.

We plan our challenges months in advance, and when I first saw this I thought 'yeah that's fine', but when it came to it I couldn't think of anything - nada. Then I succumbed to the cuteness that is Tim Holtz's Bird Crazy stamps and dies and an idea began to form.

I started with some Graphic 45 paper and stitched it to some heavy card. Then I cut out a stencil with the TH Gothic Boo die and applied texture paste through it.

I cut some branches with a Sheena die, then stamped and cut my Dracula bird and coloured him with Distress Markers.

Next I put a layer of thick acetate over the top and applied my sentiment which I'd printed onto Safmat. The camera has been a little unforgiving here, it doesn't show up as badly in real life. The tissue tape underneath is TH's Regions Beyond.

To finish off I've die cut an old 'off the edge die, and curled around so that this now stands up by itself.

I hope that you join in with our numbers challenge, and thanks very much for looking x

I've Finally Caved...

and bought a gelli plate! I've resisted until now 'cos I've always said that my favourite part of making anything has been creating the background, but anyhow I've been and got one. That's great but I haven't a flippin' clue what to do with it. Sooo I watched an Andy Skinner video and decided to have a play. On reflection this wasn't the best of ideas - the man is a genius and I've had my plate for a day...
All of the paints used are DecoArt. I will try others another time and compare drying times etc.

Definitely not as easy as he makes it look in the video...

Many sheets of card later this is what I have ended up with. I also have 2 new favourite paints, quin lilac and magenta.

It was ok but definitely something missing, so I decided to chop it up.
This piece has been stamped over with a Finnabair stamp.

And this has been stamped onto tissue paper and the stencilling put back.
I'm entering them into the Thats's Crafty alphabet soup challenge. I now need to watch lots of you-tube on gelli plates (but not tonight!)
Enjoy your bank holiday weekend, and thanks for looking x 

Be Unique

The challenge at PaperArtsy this time around is circles, so I made a canvas.

Lots of fresco paints and stamps from HP sets and Darcy stamped onto tissue paper.
Hope you like it, and thanks very much for looking x

You Lookin' At Me....

Hi, and happy rainy Wednesday. Don't you just love the middle of Summer, it's the perfect chance to top up the rust! Today at Stampotique Kim has chosen the theme of  Anything Goes, so inspired (not) by all the rain, I've gone under the sea.

I started with a couple of colours of Deco Art Multi Surface Acrylic

and then added some stenciling with DA texture paste.

Next it was time for Marcel and Mansfield to make an appearance, along with the guys from the Starfish Cube.

Stampotique guys aren't remotely intimidated by mere barracudas!

Next came a layer of acetate, on which I stamped Seaweed and Birch Tree.

So that's another page in the book done. Only 2 left now to go!
I'm also entering this into the That's Crafty Under The Sea challenge, and We Love 2 Create anything mixed media.
Who can resist an anything goes challenge, I hope you all join in, and thanks very much for looking x

Summer In The City

Hi, it's time for my second piece for Country View Crafts and this time I'm heading for the city.

Another song I'm afraid, they just seem to get into my head, so I'll share it with you here and it can get in yours :-)

A very simple Brusho background made with lemon, yellow, and orange on Ranger Watercolour card.

The stencil is by Sheena Douglass, and I've also stamped the Stampotique Neverending wall and coloured with Distress pens.

I've used crackle paint for the Eiffel Tower.

I've stamped and water coloured some Stampotique stamps and cut them out.

A little bit of stitching on the plants

More stamping with Stampotique alpha stamps.

... and all done.

So I now have Summertime in the country and in the city.
There's still time to join in with our challenge, so please join us at Country View Crafts.

Thanks very much for looking x

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year...

No the kids aren't back at school yet, but it is time for the Stampotique blog hop.

You should have arrived from Carol's  blog and if you didn't, you may want to start the blog hop from the beginning (SDC blog). 

I got a bit over-excited with all the new rubber and tried to use as much as possible, so I made a box.

Here we have Ellie and I Can Sing.

Starfish Cube, Marcel Sea Turtle, and the older Barcode Text 2

Starfish Cube again, 

Mansfield Sea Turtle and

Approach With Caution text 

Just Keep On and Polka Dot Dog

And last but certainly not least Monster News, and the words from Ta-Dah

Next you should hop on over to Corrie's blog, and check out her amazing creation.

In case you get lost, here's a link to everyone's blog.

Janet Klein

Coby vanWilligenburg

Claudine Criner

Valerie Wilson

Carol Fox

Sue Davies

Corrie Herriman

Kathi Rerek

Samantha Read

Kristen Catalano

Nellie van Leeuwen

Kim Howard

Arwen McCullen

Jackie Payne

Gez Butterworth

We'll be giving away a $30 gift certificate for stamps and a grab bag of stamps on two of the blogs-but you won't know which ones they are so stop by and visit them all.  We will pick the winners on our first challenge in September.

Thanks very much for looking, and enjoy the hop! xx

She Loved Like Diamond.

I've been playing with my Dylusion stamps and paints today. I just managed to finish it before it started to rain, and rain, and rain some more.
Thank for looking, and enjoy what's left of the weekend x

I'm Late, I'm Late, I'm Late....

Yup nothing new there! I seem to have been playing 'chase my own tail' for the last 3 months/25 years now. Maybe I should take a self help course in staying focused lol. But anyhow, here's my Stampotique piece for this week. The wonderful Sam has set us this challenge. 
I recently read that the human eye likes things that are repeated, so for this weeks challenge I'm inviting you to use some sort of repetition on your creations. A stamp stamped more than once or even your own doodling, it's up to you but most importantly have fun!

I know it's a bit early for Christmas, but let's pretend that it's me getting organised rather than having new stamps to play with.

Just look at that face :-), this is Magda's Reindeer.
The tree is Tree - O - I'm so pleased that Jo Capper-Sandon has designed some more stamps.

Here's one of Jo's older stamps, Chilly.

and here's Giant Snowflake and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
All of the images have been coloured with Prisma and watercolour pencils.
I hope you join in with the challenge. remember there are gift certificates for 2 lucky winners.
AND on Monday there is the famous Stampotique Blog Hop where the design team will be showing you the fab new Autumn release stamps.
I'm also entering this into the Craft Stamper challenge, which is pens and pencils.
Thanks very much for looking x.