London Calling

I've just discovered a new (to me) challenge site which is Fashionable Stamping. I really like it 'cos stamping /inkyness really is my favourite. This time around the challenge is to make a tag.
I've used a mixture of stamps from Artistic Outpost and Creative Journey. These stamps are brilliant, really thick rubber. The background is a mixture of Kanban and Graphic 45, and there is a gread deal of Diamond Glaze going on!
I really enjoyed making this, and thanks very much for looking x

A Season Of Mists And Mellow Fruitfulness

Or in the case of today, lovely sunshine!! Last year we went from Summer to Winter in about a week, and this time Autumn seems to have come around in the middle of August.

The challenge over at The Stampman this time is monochrome and one other colour. I've chosen brown, 'cos it comes in lots of shades.

This started life as a childrens board book which I gesso'd and painted with brown paint and then crackled with PVA glue and white acrylic. This has then been stamped with a crackle stamp.
The leaves are cuttlebug dies, the shiney ones have been made with alcohol inks that have been overpainted with Starburst Stains, and the matt ones are brown card painted with the stains.
This is now my little book of Autumn, so who knows, it may snow next week :o)
Thanks very much for looking

Hey Girlfriend!!

Here's a card I made for the latest Gingersnap Gal Pal's challenge. The stamp is from The Stampsmith so it would be rude not to enter their challenge as well with is Fabulous Faux.
So I blew the dust off my melt pot, choked a little 'cos it's been a long time, and made some faux porcelain flowers. The centres have been filled with green micro beads - they look just like the bobbly liquorice allsorts lol.
The paper flower centre are from Harrogate last year.
I used clear UTEE but it is now an amber colour, I don't know if this is because of the flex or if I have overheated it. It's fine for dark colours, but some of these flowers started off as pink.
Thanks very much for looking x

Hello, It's Been A While

It's been far too long since I got all inky and messy, and now that I'm back from my hols and the mud has been washed away AND I had the house to myself it seemed the perfect opportunity.
This is my entry to the Stampotique bookmark challenge. The base card is from LaBlanch and it really is fab - well worth a go. It's been inked sprayed and painted and it took it all in it's stride.
I've used various spray inks and Tim Holtz and Prima masks.
It's been a while since the Heads in a round has been out - I love their curious expressions, and the Bla Bla Bla stamp is just how I was feeling today lol.
I've edged it all with some Ranger copper tape just to keep the sides from getting ratty (and 'cos it's shiney mmm)

This is how it looks when it's on the book - hands up who remembers where Hairy Mclarey's from lol.
Sincere thanks to everyone who's e-mailed me asking if I'm ok. I know it looks like I drop off the planet ever now and then, but I'm still here and life is good.
Thanks very much for looking x

Ride 'em Cowboy

I've been stalking the Gingersnap Creations blog for a while now, and have finally taken the plunge with the latest challenge which is to use twine on a Wild West themed piece.
The stamps are all from Tanda, and I've paperpieced the cowboys.
The card behind has been made using the faux leather technique with masking tape and DI's, and mounted onto a die cut cork tile.
I really enjoyed making this, and thanks very much for looking x

The Stamp Man Poppy Challenge

This weeks challenge at The Stampman is poppies. I'll let Janet explain:

Onto this weeks challenge which is to use a POPPY in your creation. Here in Skipton the British Legion are very active and my Husband is organising a fund raising concert on the 25th October. He asked me a while ago if I thought I could get some cards together to sell at the concert and Jill and Ian have so kindly allowed us to have a Poppy challenge week to try and get some more cards together. So this week we would like to see Poppies on your creations. If you would like to donate your creation to The concert here in Skipton you can post your work to The Stamp Man (address at the bottom of this post) but you are not obliged to - you can enter the challenge with any Poppy themed project and will be eligible for the prize and top places whether you send them in or not.

For my background paper I made an inkpad a la Tim Holtz to stamp my Clarity Poppy Fields stamp. The poppies are TH's tattered florals cut with felt. I've photocopied one of my favourite war poems by John McCrae and cut out with a Nesties label die.
For the base I used a Stampman Framie embossed in gold, and the quote in the middle is another Clarity stamp.
Lot's of gold Krylon around the edges to finish off.
I really enjoyed making this, and can think of no better cause.
Thanks very much for looking x

Free As A Bird

A really quick post 'cos I am being hustled off MY computer lol. This is my piece for the latest Crafty Individuals Challenge, which is  Free as a Bird.
I've painted up an old beer mat and crackled the background. My CI Whitby Abbey stamp has been stamped onto tissue paper and stuck down with matte medium. I love this stamp and I bought it from a craft shop actually in Whitby. We go to Whitby every year , walk up the steps to the Abbey, comment on how unfit we are, and walk down again! :o)
The background is a piece of muslin that I've inked up and fringed.
A Timmy bird, and tree  stamp in the background, and the little tag is stamped onto some CI paper.
It's all been stuck onto a piece of acetate to help it keep it's shape.
Thanks very much for looking x

Give Us A Hand

This is a canvas that I flipped and decorated the back of. Lots of Tim Holtz tissue tape to cover the frame, stuck and sealed with matte medium.

The inside is a piece of sticky backed canvas that I've transfered the image from some Prima paper onto. I've also frayed the edges, this was very theraputic, took me back to the 70's and my size 10 flared jeans ( I'd be happy to wear flares again if I could get into a 10, or 12,or... lol)The photo ribbon and little frame are holding images from Graphic 45 paper.
I'm entering this into the Lets Ink It Up - embelish it challenge, and
Simon Says Stamp and Show - hands.
Thanks very much for looking x

Papers - Prima Moulin Rouge/Graphic 45
Stamps - Kanban/7 Gypsies/
Tissue Tape/lock and key/photo ribonTim Holtz