Here Come The Girls

The challenge this time over at Stampotique is to alter something. I've chosen this wooden framey thing that's been in my 'seemed like a good idea to buy a few' box for ages.
I gesso'd it to start then pained with Dylusions in pinks and purples. I then went round the edges with Inka Gold in grey and silver.
Bla Bla and Diva have been stamped with Black Archival and clear embossed.

Here Come The Girls has been cut out with the Tim Holtz Typset Decorative Strip. I'm really impressed with this 'cos it's gone through mirror card and double sided sticky without a problem.

Karin has been stamped in black Archival and coloured with Inktense water colour pencils. I havn't used these for ages and I don't know why 'cos they are brilliant.
Miss Snottie has been stamped on Blonde Moments paper for the background, and then again on white card and clear embossed.

 Prom Queen has been clear embossed then decapitated! Just kidding - no Stampotique Original has been harmed in the making of this framey thingy!

Make sure you check out the other fab examples over at Stampotique, and thanks very much for looking x

It's Not Easy Being Green

Who could forget Kermit singing this song lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpiIWMWWVco he sounds so sad and yet in the end he's pleased that he's green. Of course he's not wearing a dress or platform boots!
This is my last piece as visiting artist for the Gingersnap Challenge, and the theme is green.
My tag has been inked and masked and painted and splattered with Dylusion inks, Distress Stains and Eco Green acrylic paints.
The background stamp is one of Tim's, and all the main images are Dylusion stamps from various sets. My froggy has been coloured with Inkadinks and Pitt pens.
The sentiment has been stamped on last years phone directory and torn and stuck.
I've really enjoyed being a visiting artist and have nothing but admiration for the Design Team who produce such fabulous work week after week.
Head over to the Gingersnap's blog to see lots of fabulous green creations.
I'm also entering this into The Craft Barns Colour A Tag challenge, and Simon Says Stamp and Show a Song Title.
Thanks very much for looking x

It's In The Bag

This fortnight the challenge over at Stampotique is to create a pocket or a handbag calendar. As my handbags are the size of cabin luggage I decided to go with this option. I started with the gorgeous Pink Paislee paper and made a matchbook fold. I inked it through a hexagonal die with yellow and brown distress inks. The stamps are all by Jo Capper - Sandon for Stampotique. The medium bee has also been stamped on velum and popped over the top of the stamped image.

The butterflies on the inside have been stamped on velum , and the papillon on the Pink Paislee paper. The callendar pages have also been put onto the same paper which has been perforated at the top so that it can tear away as the year goes by. The calendar has been stippled with the same yellow and brown DI's. I've had these vellum's for years, it's  nice to actually use them.

The vellum quote is from a stack that I've also had since time began.

I really enjoyed this challenge, thanks very much for looking x

I'm also entering this into the following challenges;

Rogue Redhead Designs - use vellum

Fashionable Stamping - Butterflies or Bugs

Week 3 Already!!

I can't believe it's already my third week as visiting artist over at Gingersnap Creations. I was so chuffed to be asked, and then the panic set in, but I'm still here :o), and this weeks challenge on the 'get Organised' theme is to use your favourite papers. Mmmm, well I have about 6 'favourites' from plaint white ready to be inked, to Basic Grey which I should have bought shares in, but I settled on Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante as todays favourite lol.

My box started life as shiney and red and full of Lush goodies so it was already 10/10 in my book, and the fab thing was, the more I messed about with it, the more the smell wafted about. I LOVE Lush - that fragrance you get as you walk past the door. It makes my husband choke, but you can't have everything :o)
I had to cut up my lovely papers, which made me cry a little inside, but these things have to be done.' I've decoupaged bits and bobs, such as the top hat and her wings.

I've layered up the flowers here and added a bit of hologhraphic glitter for some sparkle. You can see this better I R L.

This side was made with the Graphic 45 paper, and some Hunkydory toppers that I got in a kit. I'm not usually a big fan of toppers, but I thought these fitted in nicely.

This is Hunkydory velum that I've inked over with Pine Needles Distres Ink. The images are Graphic 45 stamps that I've stamped onto tissue paper and torn around and stuck on. The dress form has been stuck onto a scrap of velum, then ribbled for a bit of texture. The heart on the ladies head is in antique silver (not real lol) and says 'memories'

This one shows it a little better, can you tell I love my new little camera :o)

The lid is my favourite bit, I love this falling guy sheet, and I've layered him and the bird up, added a couple of cogs that have been UTEE'd and stamped into, a little bit of hardware and a tassel that's been in my drawer for soooo long it squinted when it saw the sunlight.

I really enjoyed making this, and I can't wait to get over to Gingersnaps to see what all the fabulous 'snappers have creatated.

Thanks very much for looking x

I'm entering this into the 2 Sisters challenge, which is Use Metal, and

Simon Says Stamp And Show which is anything but a card.

Anyone For Tea??

Continuing with the Gingersnap theme of getting organised, I thought I would finish my Mum's Christmas present.When I say finish I of course mean get it out of the loft and start it!
The theme this week is ribbon - well they arn't called challenges for nothing are they. I love ribbon, buy it all the time (only joking I'm on a spending ban) but I'm just rubbish with it. I cannot even tie a bow that doesn't look like the cat's slept on it,  and if I put it on a card it just looks like it's hiding a mistake lol. So appologies made in advance here's the inside of the box.

The ribbon is seam binding in blue and white that's been woven together and die cut. The Tanda lady has been stamped on acetate, and the flowers are Tim's trimmings that have been dyed with distress ink. I varnished the inside of the box as it's to go in my Mums kitchen. Posh tea bags to the front lol

I started by gessoing the box, then I painted  it with pale blue acrylic, dry brushed over with teal, then over the top again with a hazelnut paint dauber.  The sides have been stamped with a mixture of TPC and Sir Tims stamps. I was just going to put a little of the 7 Gypsies tissue paper on the top, but I got to the stage where it looked awful so I had to carry on sticking. The ribbon weave and lady were meant to go on the top, but I liked it better with her on the inside. I've varnished the outside as well so hopefully it will be quite hard wearing.

Back to the seam binding for the rosettes with a K&Co brad in the centre.

This is the first time I've actually made something for a present so I hope my Mum likes it (it's her birthday in March so it's not tooooo late) I enjoyed making this, it looks nothing like it did in my head, but I quite like it.

Thanks very much for looking x

I'm So Excited, And I Just Can't Hide It....

...'cos I've been invited to join Gingersnap Creations as a visiting artist  for January. The theme this month is Get Organised, and this weeks challenge is to use a set/collection of stamps. I thought I would get organised by making myself a calendar page. This again has been inspired by the fabulous Kate Crane and her monthly pages.
I've chosen some of Sam Poole's Creative Expression stamps, Snowdays and a journal set. I love these stamps as they ink up really nicely, and they're not toooo fussy to cut out.
 The background has been inked with some Dylusion inks. It was going to be a blue page, but then I added a bit of yellow, and before you know it, it was green.  Funnily enough that happened the last time I used these two colours together - who knew eh! The trees in the background are mostly Tim's, and the children have been coloured with the Dylusion's and Inkadinks.
Please get yourselves over to Gingersnap Creations and check out the fab inspiration over there.
Thanks very much for looking x