We're Not In Kansas Anymore...

It's the amazing Nellie's turn to pick the challenge this week at Stampotique and she has asked us to choose our favourite background technique. I think mine is the 'everything but the kitchen sink' technique so this is what I've made.

I've even remembered to take step by step photo's but you can skip these if you like :-).

My chipboard album painted with DecoArt multi -surface satins and a wee bit of Media interference paint in gold and lilac. (All the paints used throughout are from my stash of DecoArt paints. I've recently joined their Blogger Outreach programme and can't wait for my parcel to arrive :-)  )

 Ready for some PanPastels now. I've used gold, silver, and bronze over the top of Versamark. The stamps are
Text Block 3 and
Cracks

Some stenciling now with my favourite sunburst stencil and more DecoArt paint.

More stenciling and finally some stamping. Can you tell how the weather has changed - the sun keeps coming and going. I've stamped and painted Janet's 2 Nuage's  and France's Majestic Tree.

I've also added some of France's Romantic Text with orange PanPastel.

I've painted more card and stamped Majestic Tree and die cut to make a lolipop tree.
Dorothy and Toto have been watercoloured.

I'm pretty sure these guys were not in the Wizard of Oz! Jo's Mushroom Group and Kira's 3 Dwarfy Gnomes have been painted. I've used Spectrum Noir Aqua Marker's on the gnomes - I do like theses but have to practice not just using them as felt tip pens! The sun is shining again now lol and it really picks out the interference paint.
I've spent all day doing this ('cos I'm so slow) and I had a fab time so thank you Nellie for such a great challenge.
I hope you join in with us and show us your favourite background technique 

IMPORTANT REMINDER:

Please read ALL RULES on the linkz page before linking your creation.

If you didn't follow the rules posted, you may have been deleted.  

Feel free to relink your creation with the correct information for a chance to win.

I'm also entering this into the Pan Pastels Alter It challenge, Mixed Media World's Anything Goes (I bet they're fed up of me over there lol) and Simon Say Stamp Wednesday which is also anything goes.
Hope you like it, and thanks very much for looking x

Happy Anniversary Country View Crafts

For my second piece for Country View Crafts I've gone with something I really enjoy doing, and made a master board.

All of the stamps are by Darcy for PaperArtsy and I've used hearts

from the EDY01 and EDY02 plates. They've been stamped in Wendy Vecchi's Red Geranium, Orange Blossom and Fern Green, and coloured with the translucent Fresco's London Bus, Blood Orange and Claret.
I've also used a mixture of Old Gold and Metallic Glaze, and also the Pearl Glaze. I've nevery really used the glazes before, but they are fab, and I'll definitely be using them again.
For me the hardest part of a master board is cutting it up and using it, but I bit the bullet and made a couple of cards. 

How romantic, side by side lol.

I've just added a chipboard heart to this one, and the topper has been covered in some of Tim's Frosted Film to give it a sheen.

You can't really tell here, but it's all frosty!

This is about as creative as I get with a craft knife lol.
If you haven't done already (and even if you have) there's still time to join in with our challenge, remember anything goes!
Thanks very much for looking x

Talk To The Animals

Hi, I've been having lots of fun playing with my Alice Palace stamps and DecoArt paints. This took waaay longer than I thought it would, but who cares I was having fun and the ironing can always wait - lets face it it's never going to go away is it. 
I've made a flip flop book

Ok so there's lots of pictures now but not too many words (phew)

I started by using an old credit card and DecoArt Multi Surface satin acrylic paints.

Chopped 'em up and added some stenciling with the same paints. I got a bit adventurous with the sewing machine too.

Then I got to work with the stamping. 

I know the ducks aren't Alice Palace, but they are by Crafty Individuals.

Lurve these bunnies, and a Robin isn't just for Christmas :-)

Are you still with me, lots more photographs still to go...

A bit of washi tape too on these.

So all my images stamped, time to make the book.
Yep more photographs...

Side one, followed by...

Side two, I know some are upside down but there is a reason...

'Cos when you fold it all up

They are now the right way up.

The front, please excuse the painty finger

And the back! This was such fun to make, the stamps are so cheerful and I loved working with the bright colours AND we had some sunshine today so I could take the photographs.

I'm entering this into the Crafty Individuals challenge which is The Animal World, the That's Crafty challenge which is Wings 'n' Things, the Mixed Media World Anything Goes, and Craft Stamper Anything Goes.

Hope you like my flip floppy book, and thanks very much for looking xx

I'm Deconstructing For PaperArtsy

So the theme this time around at PaperArtsy is deconstruction. I'm not really sure what this is, but hopefully it's to do with altering/recycling 'cos this is what I came up with.

The pages were painted with Fresco paints. All the stamps are JoFY's

Also some stenciling.

The flowers were attached to wire so they could be placed at different depths.
Hope this counts as deconstruction :-)
I'm also entering this into the Pan Pastel alter it challenge, Craft Stamper take a stamp - anything goes, and Mixed Media World which is also anything goes (thank you Mo) xx

Enjoy your weekend and thanks very much for looking x

Grow Your Dreams

Well it's Wednesday again, and that can only mean one thing, time for another challenge at Stampotique, and this time the lovely Astrid has chosen Neon. Here's what she has to say...
At first I was a bit afraid of these intense colors, but after using them I really love them. They give your work such a nice 'pop'. I challenge you to use at least one Neon color. Can't wait to see your eye popping work :-)

Eek this was a bit scary for me too Astrid lol. For my neons I used highlighter pens and Kate's amazing new stamp. The background has been painted with watercolours, then gold paint has been sponged through a stencil.

Kate's Angel has been stamped and coloured with highlighters, this is a fab stamp to colour and cut out, not too fussy.

Grow Your Dreams has been stamped and embossed - it's almost straight lol, I'll settle for that.
This was great to make, so thanks for your scary challenge Astrid. 
I'm also entering this into the 
Wings n Things challenge at Thats Crafty.
I hope you get chance to join in with the challenge, and thanks very much for looking xx

Hold On Tight

I've been having a play with Kate's new stamps and made a second journal page.

Lots of painting, stenciling and stamping here using Stampotique stamps and lots of gilding flakes for a bit of bling too.

 I've used Arwen's fabulous Angel Wings here on velum and covered them with gilding flakes. I've also gilded France's Splattered Mug.
In the background there's Romantic Text that I stamped upside down (duh), Spiraling Out Of Control, and Mesh.

Kate's beautiful Hold On Tight has been stamped and watercoloured with Peerless watercolours.

So now I have my 2 girls together in my journal.
I'm entering this into the The Mirror Crack'd challenge which is anything with wings, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, things that fly,and  Craft Stamper's March challenge which is anything goes.
I'm also sneaking it into the Art Journal Journey which is things with wings. Valerie if it's not 'journaly' enough please delete it :-)
Enjoy your Thursday, and thanks very much for looking x

Edit, I've just discovered a wonderful new site Mixed Media World which has some gorgeous art on display, and I'm joining in with their first challenge  which is Anything Goes.
Happy Friday xx

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Hi, it's Wednesday again and it's my day off woo hoo! It's also time for another challenge at Stampotique, and this week Carol  has chosen the theme of stars.
Feature stars this week, one or more on your arty creation. As part of your background or a main feature it's up to you. Just Have fun with the challenge. 

This is a wooden star that I've painted and then stamped with UTEE's

This is the middle section and the whole star has been covered with platinum UTEE, then the middle stamped with  France's Rusted Rivets which had been coated in bronze UTEE.

This point has been stamped with Janet's Love You Heart coated in red UTTE.

This one is Arwen's Gears.

This is Jo's Hexagon.

France's Cracks -this will get used a LOT.

And this is Janet's Splatter Circle.
This was really fun to make, (except where the UTEE kept melting where it shouldn't lol. I've got a few of these stars so this will probable become an album cover.
I hope that you join in with our challenge this week, and thanks very much for looking x

A Little Bird Told Me...

... that the challenge this time around at PaperArtsy is Miniature Art. So for this I've made a tiny shadow box.

This is tiny for me 'cos I can barely see it lol.
All the stamps used are from the JOFY range, and I've also used the fab new Fresco's

There's my little bird, tucked inside his box.
Just a flyer from me today as I have sooo much to do.
Enjoy your weekend everyone, and thanks very much for looking xx

It's Spring Greens for IndigoBlu and Pan Pastels

The challenge this month at IndigoBlu is Spring Greens, and at Pan Pastels they want you to stencil it, so I've combined the two (and not a green stencil in sight lol)

For the background I had a mess around with Brusho's, then added some gold PP through a stencil.

I've then stamped the Script Background, and flowers and leaves from the Live Laugh Love plate. The stalk is Autumn Blaze gilding flake, and I've  stenciled some more greenery at the bottom with PanPastels.

I haven't put a sentiment on yet as I haven't decided if it's going to be a birthday or a Mothers Day card yet.

Enjoy your Thursday, and thanks very much for looking x