Leap with Gingersnaps

As it is a leap year and today is the leap day, Feb 29th, the idea is to use this as the challenge over on Gingersnaps. Rather fun in my opinion.

I have used these wonderful stamps from The Stampsmith called Life is a Balancing Act that have been designed by the artist Jack Sherman. I just love it when I have the opportunity to use them. There are some great tips and tutorials on the site as well.

So come a join the fun and jump for joy with us over on Gingersnaps!

Stamped Background with Rogue Redhead Designs

The current challenge at Rogue Redheads is to use a background stamp. I have used the background stamp from Beach Babes and paired it up with an image from Just Sayin'. This was then coloured with watercolours and mounted onto some backing papers and a grungy edge added. The challenge is on going until March 4th. So why not join in?

2 Colours with Gingersnaps

There is a fab challenge over on Gingersnaps which is to use 2 colours. I love colour challenges so it was right up my street. I have chosen to use Coffee and Wine. A fine combination both as colours and taste. And who better to show them off but one of the elegant stamps from Rogue Redhead Designs from the Milliner Misses plate. Simple, uncluttered and to the point.

Which 2 colours will you use. Rogue Redhead Designs are the sponsors this month at Gingersnaps so there may be a chance of a win from them?

Faux Water Colour with Gingersnaps

At Gingers this week the challenge is to use a faux technique. I decided to use a faux water colour technique. I have found a wonderful very smooth water colour paper which is ideal for stamping on.
First I wetted the paper. The paper needs to be damp but not too wet. The first image I stamped was too wet and gave a very runny blurred image. I rather liked it but thought for the challenge should try a slightly clearer image. So paper damp but not too wet. I then coloured the stamp with water soluble pens, huffed on them and then stamped. I did the same for the border, which is one stamp repeated around the image. Added some more colour with water soluble crayons to give a bit more colour.


The stamps used are Carnival dreams by Rogue Redhead Designs. 
Lots of lovely stamps for just $6

Stampotique CASE a designer

Stampotique's challenge this time is to CASE (copy and steal everything)  one of their design team.

I have decided to CASE  Willy with  her Black and White and a hint of colour creation. You can see hers below.

I had great fun doing this, hence the "Giggle" and "Laugh" words. It was a bit like a craft holiday.

This is one of the items I made for the Masking Tape challenge currently running over on Gingersnaps, but I decided to post a different one. This is now being shown over on the Rogue Redhead blog.

The two stamps used are from the Floriculture plate.

First I adhered Tim Holtz tape onto the tag and then swiped the tag with gesso. Once dried I added some pan pastels which coloured differently where the gesso was underneath. I then decided to take some of the masking tape off as you can see. I inked the stamp with versamark embossing pad and stamped. Then added a darker shade of pan pastel over the stamped image. Then the same stamp was re inked with Black Archival and over stamped. "Le Jardin" was stamped onto masking tape and adhered to the tag. The edges were darkened and ribbon attached.

Masking Tape with Gingers

I have a roll of masking tape that is about 6 inches wide which I put to use for this challenge. 

First I punched a circle from the roll and used it as a mask for applying ink through for the sun. Used the sun stamp from the Floricultural set from Rogue Redhead Designs to over stamp.

Then I ripped and edge of the bottom of the masking tape and applied chalk onto the visible white card. 

I continued doing this up the page in different shades of yellow and ochre to create the sand. I then over stamped with Distress Ink Tea Stain using the texture stamp from Beach Babes. I also used the wonderful little sailor boy stamp and the flying birds again from Beach Babes. Finishing with the beached Starfish from the same plate.

All the stamps I used are from Rogue Redhead Designs who are the generous sponsors of this months challenges over on Gingersnaps.

Natural Dyed Fabric Book

Here are some photos of a book I made. The first half records the dyes I used and the results they gave. The second half is being playful with them.

Hope you enjoy!

                       

 

Another Piece of Fabric Art

A fabric, paper and leaf collage. Strips of mainly natural dyed fabric have been free machined onto a backing fabric. I love all the rough edges and the softness they give to the background. The building is an antique piece of sewing/thread packaging that I also added to the dye bath. i really like what happened to it, so I have used it as a focal point. An old barn sitting in the landscape. I used some Moonshine Inks to lift it visually and added some dried leafs to the foreground which have been strengthened with  a special solution.

Peace: Exhibition piece.

The Peace Quilt

This is my main exhibit for the show. Unfortunately my camera battery died so as yet have not got photos of the other pieces.

There is writing around the inner border of the quilt which says 

" Only without anger can you know peace" 

This writing was stamped with a glorious alphabet stamp that I searched for and eventually found on Ebay in America. The seller would not ship to UK so fortunately my friend Ali agreed to be the go between. Thank you Ali and now you can see the results of your troubles.

These words are quite a mantra for me and I was in some ways fortunate to learn this lesson when I was quite a young teenager. Yes I did have anger and I did come to realize that the main person who suffered from the anger was myself. My parents had separated waiting for a divorce and I can remember torturous times during this period. I used to take myself into my bedroom and try to ponder my feelings, which resulted in me realizing that my anger was causing me great grief and if I could manage to let go of it I would feel better.

Nearly all the fabrics are natural dyes with wonderful names like Logwood, Brazil Wood, English Madder, Iranian Madder, Safflower, Onion Skins, Golden Rod and rust. There is one chemical dye which is the Robin's Egg colour but was then over dyed with rust. A number of the fabrics have been over dyed with different or stronger solutions. Rust dyeing is amazing to do and very unpredictable.

I will blog some more of my exhibits when I get the camera going again and am at the venue. In the meantime I may well blog items that were in my previous exhibition.

Blog Holiday

I have just given myself a blog holiday and a creating holiday too! My exhibition launch was last friday and it left me feeling good but needing to be lazy for a while. I haven't really created anything since then. I have been trying to sort my workroom but even that seems to lack momentum. However I will now blog my last contribution for Stampotique which I created a while back.

Icarus Descending

A little time ago I created a similar piece which I called Fallen Angel, which sparked a thought in my mind that a similar piece would be perfect for Icarus. So here it is. 

I made a mould from some Tim Holtz wings so I could then fill them with wax. And as you all know Icarus descended to earth when his wax feathered wings melted when he flew to close to the sun. Heat gun to the ready I started to melt his wings and of course I added the sun as otherwise it would  not quite make sense.

I used 2 sticks but only one of them. This is just a brilliant stamp to have. So very useful. I do love it's simplicity. There is also a hint of Swirl Stalks another useful stamp.

I will blog again soon, I hope, and give you a look at some of the items in my show. Not stamping, more sewing. Well,  there is a tiny bit of stamping.

Stampotique Challenge: Altered Items

The new challenge at Stampotique is to alter something. I have used the lid of a Camembert cheese container as the base of my mobile. I covered it with paper and on the edges I have used Tim Holtz Tissue strip which I then coloured with paint.

For images I first covered some Grungeboard with text paper on both sides. I then stamped the images onto one side of the grungeboard and then cut them out. 

The next thing I did I am very pleased with. I was not looking forward to kiss stamping the images so I came up with a cunning plan! I stamped onto tissue paper with archival ink which would not run once dry. The images on tissue paper are transparent so I could easily reverse them and then stuck them to the other side using Matt Medium. Problem solved and with such ease. The simplest solutions are often the best. After all a mobile that is one sided is hardly perfect.

The images were then painted with, do you rememeber they were very popular a while back, H2O paints.

They were all the rage for awhile. Well they are still glorious and they do give a lovely sheen. A watery effect I thought. I also had a set of the iridescent ones. Pale colours that I have used for the mermaids skin. Quite subtle and probably does not show up on the photos but trust me works really well. One mermaid has a subtle green one to her skin, another  a purply pink sheen and the third a golden tone.

The stamps I used were Smushasha, Smumauha, Smushallaum and Octopet. 

Available from Stampotique and in the UK from The Stamp Attic and Happy Daze

Snow Hugs Valentine with Rogue Redhead

I wanted to show how the Rogue Redhead Snow Hugs plate was also very suitable for Valentines Day and need not be put away once Christmas is over.

I have made a heart insert in the card and covered the card in gold printed vellum. This ties in with the current Rogue Challenge, to use vellum. Cut out the vellum over the heart window to reveal more clearly the lovely image from Snow Hugs plate. I have paper pieced the red hearts so they would feature more. I have also used the Hugs and kisses stamp from the same plate and finally embellished with some ribbon and a jeweled heart.

There is still time to join in with the Rogue Redhead  Rebel challenge so why not give it a go?

Use your Favourite Paper with Gingersnaps and Stampotique!

Raining Eggs!

I have had this delicious paper in my stash for a while. Until now I have just taken it out and looked at it.  Then my odd sense of humor talked to me and I thought of "Raining Eggs" instead of "Raining Men".

What more would a proud smart long legged bird wish for?

I love this image and whenever I use it, it brings a smile to my face. I think she is glorious. This is a Janet Klein design available from Stampotique who are the wonderful sponsors this month over on Gingersnaps. 

What could be better?

Gingersnap and Stampotique Ribbon Challenge

The Supply Challenge at Gingersnaps this week is to use Ribbon. This month I am the Guest Designer for Stampotique and they are also sponsoring Gingersnaps so I have used their stamps for the challenge which is never a hardship for me.

Here I have used Prom Queen and the phrase 

"What? Never seen a Dive before" 

but as it would not all fit in the frame I had to cut a paste and leave out the "What?"

I have been doing quite a lot of sewing at the moment and have some items going into a traveling exhibition for 6 months as from the end of January, so I decided to add stitch to this image. I have used a variety of threads from ordinary sewing thread which gives a lovely fine line much like a fine drawing line, machine embroidery thread which gives off a sheen, hand embroidery thread as well as beads, embellishments and ribbon. 

Prom Queen seems to be a girl full of attitude and I can just imagine her saying those words. Shame "What?" did not fit in. Of course I have again covered the frame with embossed tomato puree tubes. I dread the day they may start to put tomato puree into plastic tubes. Do you remember that toothpaste used to always be in metal tubes like tomato puree?

SDC46: Pocket or Purse Calendar

There is a new challenge just starting over on Stampotique being the second Wednesday of the month. It is challenging you to create a pocket or purse calendar. I have chosen to make mine into a match book, simply adorned with Star Chick and some inspiring ribbon to influence my days.

The saying inside is also one of Stampotique's stamp:  8855  which I feel is a great way to approach life and a good one to read at the start of the day.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with using your Stampotique stamps.

Just to Enjoy!

Somebody That I Used to Know - Walk off the Earth (Gotye - Cover)

John found this on You Tube and I thought it so delightful, fun and creative I thought some others may like to view it too?

Amazing what you can do with one guitar.

What do you think?

What a Dream Month!

What a dream month! Not only am I Guest Designer for Stampotique but Gingersnaps are being sponsored this month by Stampotique, so I get to play even more with my favourite stamps.

This week on Gingersnaps the challenge is to use one set of stamps. I have chosen Daniel Torrente stamps to use. I used Queen of Life and Daniel's Hearts. I haven't used The Queen of Life for sometime so it was a delight to get this opportunity. I have placed her in a metal embossed frame that I made by running tomato puree tubes through my Cuttlebug and various embossing folders. Then I rubbed a fairly dry black Stazon ink pad over the high spots to add the illusion of more depth. Finally hanging a small bronze heart off a hook that I added to the frame.

What a Fantastic Way to Start 2012!

There could be few better ways to start the New Year for me. I have been asked to be the Guest Designer for Stampotique for the first month of the year. People who have followed my blog for several years will know I have been an avid fan of Stampotique's stamps and feel I was using them early on before they became as popular as they are now. So to be asked to be a guest designer was just terrific and so exciting. If you are interested in people's blurb you can read more over on their site.

I have started with my first make for Stampotique with a very simple New Year Wish. If only this could be true....

I would also like to pay tribute to one of their permanent designers, Joanne Wardle and fellow Gingersnap design team member, who I think was the first person I noticed doing such simple designs. I just felt this creation needed nothing else but to colour the star in gold. I hope she sees it as a compliment and that she has inspired this creation in its simplicity. I do not like to copy so I am keen to pay tribute and to recognize where the inspiration came from.  My other creations for the month are very different. This just felt it had such a strong New Year Wish that was so appropriate and needed absolutely nothing else.

The Star Chick is one of Jo Capper-Sandon's design that she created for Stampotique. It is a most versatile stamp that I am loving using at the moment. A simple strong image which I find evocative.

Happy Christmas Everyone! Shimmer, Glimmer and Glitz

Rather belated but better late than never. Over at Gingers some of us have put together Christmas cards to wish followers A Merry Christmas. I would like to extend this to all fellow bloggers a very Merry Christmas and here is to a great New Year of crafting. God bless all of you!

This is an Elusive Image stamp which I stamped onto glassine and then coloured with Sakura Glittery pens and a water brushed the colours so that they reacted more as paints.

i am entering it into the Stampotique challenge which will be the very last week to enter with another stamp company stamp. In fact I think it is the first week I have ever entered without using a Stampotique stamp. Well I had to join in once when I was allowed.

Snow Hugs

Today I have made a simple card from the Rogue Redhead designed stamps. These glorious hearts come from The Snow Hugs plate. At the Rogue Redhead shop there are some amazing deals to be had on their stamp plates. Why not take a look. You will be surprised how many stamps you can get for very little.

Wax with Gingersnaps

This is a piece I started when I had my fab girls weekend with Sue and Sioux. I wanted to create a canvas white toned Christmasy piece that looked cold and wintery. The star was a stencil which I filled with Terra Texture paint. When dry I painted it and the canvas with pale cool colours. I sprinkled clear glitter onto the star so it would stick whilst the paint was drying. I then stamped onto tissue paper and applied this onto the canvas.

When I came home I wanted the colours to be even softer so applied a thin layer of wax over some of the images to soften them. I also applied the Merry Christmas by stamping onto tissue paper and adhering with wax. I have also found this glorious ultra thick gesso which I spread over sequin waste to give it more dimension and texture.

There are some other varied creations by the design team over on Gingersnaps. Please take a look.

Non Traditional Christmas Card week with Stampotique 43

Stampotique's challenge this time was to create a Christmas card with no Red or Green So here is my version. 

I used Beach Washed paper that has a darker core and ran it through a Cuttlebug embossing folder to bring this out more. Sanded the top and then rubbed an embossing pad over the high points and added clear glitter embossing powder. This gives it a subtle sparkle. The snowman was stamped and again embossed with clear glitter powder. He too has a very subtle sparkle. I gave the snowman a candy cane which I did not colour with red and mounted the tag onto this brown and blue backing paper which I think really sets it off.  I love the pale blue dots on the paper as they remind me of snow falling or snowballs.

T!m's 12 Tags 2011 (2 - 5)

Tag 5

I am starting T!m's 12 tags by blogging Tag 5 as I am so proud of my cheat! I did not have any reflection stamps but I did have some Christmas cards that looked like the word background. So I simple stuck one to the tag and cut around.

This next bit is the bit I am proud of. How to incorporate the plastic front to look similar. I took some acetate and ran it through a snowflake embossing folder. Not a Tim one as they tend to be deeper cut and thought it may cut through? But as I haven't tried it, it may not? Then I took a really old almost dried out Stazon in black and rubbed it gently over the high points. Stuck it over the tag. Fab. Not only distressed looking but with a snowflake texture as well.

I did have the right die for the wreath so I took 2 different green core card and cut the leaves. Rubbed them with sand paper and layered and adhered. I rather like the two tones of green. Finally added a wish embellishment as well as the pearls and ribbons and it was done.

Tag 4

The main difference with this tag to T!m's is that I cut the snowman out of thick brown card which worked great as it did not curl at all. The second difference was that I used Picket Fence Crackle paint rather that Rock Candy Crackle paint. I was making this tag with my friends Sue and Sioux,  during a wonderful girls weekend, (you can read more about it on Sioux blog), who both used the correct Rock Candy paint. I must admit I preferred the finish for the Snowman of the Picket Fence as it was beautifully matt and felt more like snow.

Tag 3

As Tag 4 was the first of the tags I made when we came to do Tag 3 together we all decided to improvise since as we did not have the proper stamp. I decided to use a similar technique as for the Snowman to incorporate the cut out Joy word to add to the tag for a little different definition. I backed this with copper foil. We all mixed and match word stamps to create something that was along the lines of T!m's tag using different colour for the words.

Tag 2

Now finally this lush Reindeer. I just love this calico reindeer and would never have thought of doing this, but I love it. Bit of improvisation on this tag but not much. Added a "Joy" charm embellishment as the calico reindeer brought me such joy. 

I will also link this post to Grungy Monday and join in the fun there!

T J Blog Hop with the Rogue Redheads

Welcome to Stop #8 on the joint Rogue Redhead and Technique Junkies Blog Hop!  We are all having loads of fun with the new Technique Junkies' 3D and Fun Folds CD!

The Technique Junkies team has joined us to showcase the numerous great techniques on this new CD.  As you may know, 

The Technique Junkies Newsletter 

has been publishing rubber stamping technique tutorials since 2002. The 3D and Fun Folds CD contains 70 step-by-step technique tutorials in PDF format ñ perfect dimensions, perfect directions and great pictures for every step. 

Visit http://www.techniquejunkies.com/ for more details about the CD and the Technique Junkie Newsletter.

A fantastic group of design team members from both Rogue Redhead Designs and the Technique Junkie Newsletter, have helped put together this fabulous Blog Hop to kick off the 3D and Fun Folds CD.  Not only will the talented Technique Junkies team be hopping with the Rogue Crew today, they started hopping yesterday with Classy Cards N' Such and will be hopping again all the way through Friday one day each with PaperTemptress, Mark's Finest Papers, and Sweet n' Sassy Stamps.  Check the  

The Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog for more details.

After visiting me, you can head off to see Joanne Wardle at Made By Joanne

for your next stop.

This is a rather fun double sliding card and the template is available to Technique Junkies blog subscribers

As you will see by joining in the blog hop their site is full of creative ideas and new ways to expand your crafting skills. Why not take a look.

This is the double slide card once slid! It is a combined blog hop with Rouge Redhead stamps so I have taken the opportunity to use a stamp from the Relish Reading plate and the Floriculture plate. I thought the two inner stamps went well together. There are some great bundles available at the moment of the Rogue Redhead website shop. Do take a look and grab one!

Remember you do not want to miss any stops along the way so please leave me a comment if you are playing.

Good Luck and enjoy!

If you get lost along the way, here's the whole list of hop stops for your convenience.

1. The Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog

2. RogueRredhead Designs.

3. Jackie Kalchert

4.  Beverly G., Rogue Crew

5.Jean Franks Beck, Rogue Crew

6.Holly Brown

7.   Jane Bosi 

8. Laura Liddell, Rogue Crew

9 Joanne Wardle, Rogue Crew

10. Chris Dickinson

11.Stephanie Severin, Rogue Crew

12.   Sharon Briss, Chief Rogue

13  Pat Huntoon

Have fun along the way!

On Saturday, December 3, Pat from the Technique Junkie Newsletter will announce the winners from each company. Be sure to hop along on each day! There will be

FIVE WINNERS

On Monday, December 5th, Pat will announce

ONE LUCKY WINNER with a GRAND PRIZE

with a bundle of prizes from all of the participating businesses.

If you have been following along already you should have come from 

 Jane Bosi 

If you are only starting here, please head back to the 

Junkie Newsletter Blog

 and go from there.

If not, your next stop is the fantastic

Joanne Wardle

You won't want to miss any stops along the way 

in order to win you will need to comment on everyoneís blog 

AND Pat Huntoon's blog. 

There will be an additional chance to win by playing along in her Blog Hop!

Red, Yellow and Brown with Gingersnaps

I have just realized I have not blogged this yet!

Gingersnaps have a new colour challenge which is to use red, yellow and brown. Anyone who follows my blog will have noticed I have been making Christmas Tags in anticipation of the TH 12 tags for a while now. And here is just another one.

I started with some brown patterned paper stuck to a tag. Added red embossing to make it shine a give dimension. Created a layered poinsettia from Studio 490 Christmas set. A bit of music for the carols at Christmas. A wonderful die cut deer with branches for antlers wearing a stylish Christmas wreath adorned with a bell. A Seasons Greeting wish and a touch of holly, all finished with a sparkly red bow.

Christmas Ornament Exchange with Gingersnaps

Just look at these!

They are just awesome. I cannot tell you how thrilled I have been with this Christmas Ornament Exchange. The quality off the swaps and the love that has been put into them just makes me tingle. 

They are certainly going to have pride of place on my tree this year.

The two above are by Petra Brendensen and Suze Bain

Ali, founder femme at Gingersnaps is the main host and I was the UK host.

I cannot wait to see what the US cousins have created. 

I cannot image they will be as wonderful as these but I do hope they are.

What talent there is out there.

Thank you all for joining in and sharing.

I think this has been the best exchange that I have taken part in so far.

Lets hope we can keep it up!

Just awesome! 

Do drop by their blogs and let them know.

These two are by Emma Sims and Kerry Hickton

These are the ones I sent:

                          

Grungy Monday Week 28: Thanksgiving Box

Grungy Monday Pumpkin Challenge

This week the challenge is to use Tim's Pumpkin challenge. You can see it here:

Tim's Piece for the Ranger Ink Great Pumpkin Challenge

I decided to create a hexagon box and then cover it with The Ranger silver metal which has a sticky back and so easy to use in this way.

First I cut out a card template for the box. Then I chose an embossing folder to run the metal through to create texture. I love this random circle folder. I then positioned the card over the metal and drew around the template. When cut out it was so easy to apply with the sticky background. I did cut it out slightly larger and then trimmed back.

I really liked the plain silver look and did not want to colour the box. I even decided not to run a dark stazon ink over the high points to add depth. I just liked it plain simple so the flower would stand out even more.

The flowers were punched out of metal sheet, run through a flowery embossing folder and then coloured with Alcohol Inks as Tim's video.  I really like the effect of the coloured flower against the silver box. The metal is lovely to shape too, to create dimension. Enjoyed this make.

It reminded me of a water lily floating on a pond and the circle embossing folder looks like rings in water after a pebble is thrown in.