The Stampman Blog Hop

I have been looking over many of the makes from last year. It was hard to choose my favourite but I think it will have to be this one.

It is an item I made for last years One Heart One World mega blog hop to give away. I really enjoyed making it and it houses some of my favourite stamps on the frame and the wonderful Book of Life in the middle which is triple embossed to create a tile effect.

I really enjoyed last years blog hop with The Stampman so I am looking forward to being part of this years. So here is my contribution.

The Stampman Anything Goes Tag

For The Stampman - "Anything Goes Tag" I have decide to submit this Noel Tag on the lines of one of the Tim Holtz tags from last year. I hope you enjoy it.

Merry Christmas Tag

This is the last week of tags with SCD this year. We will be having a short break over Christmas to be back with vigor in the New Year. Another year sped by. So I think this tag is self explanatory and just to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and thank all of you for playing with us at SCD. It has been great to share all the artwork that has been created. I will just let you know that I will not be leaving comments for this challenge until after Christmas but I promise to catch up then.

Have a good one!

Die Cuts and 3 Colours

I am entering this make into 2 challenges. The first is a Christmas theme with The Stampman where you are to use 3 colours. Mine are red, green and gold.

Secondly I am entering it for the Stampotique challenge which is to use die cuts and punches.My die cut is the tree, the star and the reindeer. The punch I used is a hole punch which I used on metallic red card to create the baubles on the tree.

I rather liked the double meaning of the word Noel. Noel for Christmas and obviously it must be the elf's name as well.

The Magi

  

You know when you make something and although it is very simple it just brings you joy. Well this little tag is it. I don't know why it satisfies me so much but it does. I have given the Magi, the three kings, a printed acetate overlay that had to include the words "Time for Love". If you did not already recognize these little figures, it is a Stampotique stamp called 2 sticks. Ok I had to stamp one a second time to get 3 and then added crowns to make them into kings. The background, a paper scrap, left over from some Cosmic Shimmer, Glimmer mist paper I had created previously reminded me of the sands they may well have crossed while following the Star that led the way.

Looking forward to visiting your Christmas Characters this week at *SCD*  and see who you create. As ever the design team have some fab examples to start you off. Follow that star and take a look.

White Glitter with Gingersnaps

Gingersnaps this week the challenge is to use White Glitter. I decide to use my white glitter as snow and stamped this snowy scene to add it to. I love the way it actually looks as if the snow is falling from the sky.
As you may have discovered it is quite tricky to photograph white glitter to show its qualities. Photographing at a slight angle may help to catch dimension or sparkle? Try it. See how you get on. Any tips please share. I have also included a close up which may show it better.

Bling Bling Christmas Morning!

This is my contribution to the Stampotique challenge to use a bit of bling. I decided to depict Christmas morning with Moon Girl dressed in gold with her gold crown on her head. Moon Girl has a crystal gem on her heart front. Neither her crown or her gem have shown up too well in the photo. The moon is gold leaf. The present have been coloured with sparkly Sakura pens and a touch of puffy snow added to the scene.

Book Plate from the Relish Reading plate.

Here is another idea for using this stamp sheet, "Relish Reading". As you can see by all the makes on the Rogue Rehead Design blog it really does lend itself to so many makes. I thought this may be a nice addition when giving a book to someone to make it even more personal. Perfect for Christmas or Birthdays or just those giving days.

Tags and Trees with SCD

A new month and a new challenge at SCD this week. Artyjen, Sioux, has chosen Trees which may be interpreted seasonally or not, as you choose. I decided to do seasonal and have added presents and the snow flake border. All the team have created some wonderful tags. Sioux has created the most wonderful tag which reminds me of Narnia. It is so lush. It just transports me into the book.

I am sure you will create some wonderful tags. Can't wait to take a peep.

Play Date Colour Challenge 57

Theser are the colours for the 57th PDCC challenge. I decided to make a decoration for the Christmas Tree. A winged reindeer with jewels hanging from the antlers.

Christmas with Tim Holtz and The Stampman

This is a tag I made following one Of Tim Holtz's Tags for Christmas. I am submitting it into The Stampman Challenge. There is a Tim Holtz stamp in the background, and because I did not have any of his special embellishments I adapted what I had. The strip of photos are of my daughters years ago either being stars or angels in the school nativity play and one where my eldest is being a witch at one of her Halloween parties. The large black and white photo is where my older brother has struck me bulls eye with a snow ball. The December 25th I stamped onto a tomato puree tube with Stazon. Cut out, puffed out and attached with small brads. This is one of my favourite tags for all the fond memories it holds.

Magnetic Bookmark with Rogue Redheads

This uses 3 of the images from the "Relish Reading" sheet; the script background, the bookshelf and the saying from Voltaire. I have then coloured it with Inkintense crayons and water. These would make great little Christmas gifts on their own or to give along with a book.

Having made this I can say that I have actually used ever stamp on the sheet. I do not think I can say that about any other stamp sheet I have ever bought! And that is saying something.

There is more details over on the Rogue Redhead site and loads more ideas from all the other designers. A very versatile stamp sheet.

5-Pointed star with one snip

When I was about 10 years old I remember receiving a postcard from my Aunt in America. The card had an image of an of American flag where the stars had been hand appliqued on to it. She wrote that these stars were made by one snip of the scissors.

This so intrigued me and I desperately wanted to know how it was done. No one I asked knew. This was before the internet too.

It was not until my children were young and I was watching a children's TV program with them that I discovered the magic.

I have created a tutorial to share it with you, over on the Gingersnaps blog

The history behind the 5-pointed star on the American flag is interesting too. Apparently George Washington drew a flag that had 6 pointed stars on it as it is said he preferred this option. However Betsy Ross recommended a 5-pointed star. It was not favoured as it was thought it was too difficult to make. Upon which Betsy took a piece of paper and folded it. She then made one cut with the scissors a produced a symmetrical 5 pointed star. It was so impressive that the committee agreed to use her 5-pointed star on the American flag.

SCD Snow Challenge

The challenge this week at SCD is to create anything you like which incorporates snow. This gave me the opportunity to use this dear stamp of reindeer lovingly in the snow. I teamed it up with this backing paper because it looked and felt just perfect. A homage to reindeer.  

Again the last week you all excelled yourselves with your makes. I thoroughly enjoyed your interpretations on the theme numbers. I am sure this week will be just as inspiring. Hop over to the blog and see what the other designers have created!

Play Date Cafe 56

This week I have excelled myself by making 2 items for the PDDC 56 Challenge and this colourway. Thet are the sort of colours I like to work with.  Firstly....

....a sweet little butterfly girl. I am also linking her toe Hels' Sunday Stamper this week.

Secondly a more seasonal make...

Re-worked Santa

Firstly today I have re worked this Santa card. It was not feeling quite right. So I trimmed the backing card and run it through the Cuttlebug in a Tim Holtz embossing folder. Highlighted it with silver ink and distressed the edges with old photo distress ink. Added some charms hanging from the bauble and here is my second take.  I think I feel happier with it. Not quite sure?

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Here is a quicky quick make so I can join in with Hels' challenge almost at the last minute. I have become addicted to making scraplings although technically this is not the correct size. I think they should be 1.5 x 8.5 inches but folded as a card and use paint "chips" swatches. This uses paint swatches but I have deviated from the size. Another Christmas card done!

A Hare for Hels

I have been in knitting mode recently. I have been knitting small things like hats and of course this Hare for Hels as I know she has a real thing about hares. It was a good excuse to knit him and to be able to send to an appreciative friend. I love hats so at the moment I have finished a beret and nearly finished an angora little skull cap. Sound spooky but it is more hare like. LOL. The other thing about knitting hats that I like is that you only need to knit one. Not two gloves, or two socks, or two sleeves. Also I always find it more fun to start something than to finish an item. Sweaters just go on for sooooo long.

Numbers at SCD this week

This is my contribution to the numbers challenge over on SCD this week. We had some glorious contributions last week for wings. A delight to visit everyones blog! Look forward to this week!

Girly Girl Stampotique Challenge

This is my Girly Girl contribution to the Stampotique challenge. As you can see she is stamped onto a piece of old wood that has remnants of wallpaper and further distressing on it. Some of the wallpaper is really old and the bits of blue are really rich and have a powdery texture. These are layers of wallpaper from the past. I teamed her up with a half flower which reminds me of the "Loves me, loves me not" saying. No wonder she looks a bit peeved. The petals have ended on "loves me not!"

Romance with Art Journey

The Art Journey challenge this month is Romance. My take on the theme is "If music be the food of love, play on"

I love this little fellow on his penny whistle and I have double stamped him, first in blue and then in black over the top. This was to create a look of old prints where the registration has not quite matched up. On certain images I really find this look appealing and I felt it enhanced the period look of this image.

More Rogue Redheads and Relish Reading plate

Here is another make from the Relish Reading plate from Rogue Redheads. This time I used the Tree die from the Tim Holtz range. The paper for the tree is textured and simulates bark quite well. From one of the branches I hung the children on the swing. There is more detail on the make over on the Rogue Redhead site. The punched leaves added an autumnal feel.

Play Date Cafe Challenge 55 and Simon Says

I don't often combine challenges but this time it was just perfect for 2. Firstly the Play Date Cafe Challenge 55 where we were to use 2 blues, 2 reds and a pink. The colour image is at the end of this post. The background is made up of 2 shades of blue, the edges have been distressed with rusty hinge and barn door with a subtle hint of Cracked Sapphire right on the edges. It has been layered onto a pinky red patterned paper which I have used my most favourite paper punch on. Loops, Martha Stewart punch. Then this has been placed onto a rich red backing paper.

I have also entered this image into Simon Says challenge where we were to use our favourite Tim Holtz stamp. I just love this Umbrella Man. I love the way he is not quite solid but made up of lots of numbers, and the quote is one of my favourites too. The blue paper really minded me of rainy day colours.

Now for that challenge image for PDDC55

Wings with SCD

The theme this week over on SCD is wings. I decided to play with Moon Girl and make a Christmas Decoration. Since she is Moon Girl I made the central piece into interlocking silver moons. It felt appropriate. This turns beautifully when hung above a radiator, the warm air rising causing it to rotate.

I really enjoyed visiting your house creations last week. Lots of fab things made.

Notions with Gingersnaps

This week the challenge with Gingersnaps is Notions. So as you can see my frames are covered in them. I must admit this was good fun to make.

The stamps I used were one from Paperbag Studios, the Little Feet plate. The paint was Aqua Blue paint Dauber. The tape was a stamp I have had for ages and I cannot remember who made them.

The stitch stamps on the frame are some Creshendoh stamps called Notions Found. The thimble was stamped onto metal and cut out.

More of the same with some cute little safety pins. Most of the stamps are available from The Stamp Attic in the UK. The three tiered frames are available amongst other places from The Artistic Stamper and Paper Artsy.

Stampotique Challenge: Vintage SDC 18 Spooky, Creepy, Crawly

Well I did have fun with this challenge. All the stamps are Stampotique stamps apart from the few letter stamps. The background was made with Moonglow inks, crumpled and salted in places. Hop overand take a look at the other fab entries.

More Rogue Redhead!

This is another one of the images on the Relish Reading plate from Rogue Redheads Designs.


As you can see it is a lovely image. I did a lot of paper piecing with this. Shar also sent us a few papers where the colours and patterns complemented the stamps perfectly. I love the paper for the chair and how it worked out. It really feels as if it could be a linen seat cover. Paper piecing is quite time consuming but I rather enjoy doing it and I find the results pleasing. It seemed to bring the image to life.

I felt this image very provocative particularly of unrequited love. So I teamed it up with the words from the sheet "Miss You". She is desperately trying to occupy her time with reading but as you can see she just can't settle with discarded books by her feet. The days of the week I felt were appropriate as it suggested the number off days of waiting for news and the fact that each day felt like the one before.

New Stamp Company! Rogue Redhead

Sharon Briss, one of the founder members of Gingersnaps,  has just launched a new stamp company called Rogue Redheads. Her first plate is called Relish Reading and these are just a few of the stamps on the plate. The great and very useful background stamp. The Prep School Boy and the words "Read in order to live" along with the dotted border stamp. I have added a little paper piecing to the school boy just to lift him  slightly. To be true I could not resist the glorious tartan paper.

I was overwhelmed and delighted when Shar asked me to be part of her design team. I did not have to think about it but for a second. I just jumped at the chance. Thanks Shar. I have so enjoyed the plate.

Please hop over on the above link and take a look see what the other design team have created and view the other images on the plate.

Houses with SCD

Our Street
(Our house is called Hart House, so I felt this was quite apt)

It is a new month at SCD this week and again you can make anything you like as long as it goes along with the weeks theme,. This week it has been chosen by me and I chose Houses. One house will do.
Last months theme where you could make anything in the colour scheme given was very popular so I hope this will be equally so.

I have had a bit of a rough week. I am finally feeling a little better, but I had forgotten how nasty flu makes you feel. I do not think the girls have ever seen me so poorly. I am just pleased I feel OK again!

So hope I can come and visit your blogs this week on the theme of Houses

SCD Colour Challenge: Blue and Burgundy

Halloween is nearly upon us so I just had to use these images again before they may not be so appropriate. What a shame. Does this mean they have to go away again for nearly a year? Anyhow this is the last week of the colour challenge with us at SCD and as the title says the colours are Blue and Burgundy. I created this background with acrylic paints and then ran it through a Tim Holtz embossing folder. Highlighted the embossed sections with black ink. So really should I say downlighted? Then I cut the post from another Tim Holtz product, the Hanging Sign die. Covered it with Ferro Gold Iron Viva paint, when dry fixed the sign with jump rings and chain. Loads of fun.

Forgotten to post with Gingersnaps

Mona Mona

Here is a post I quite forgot to post. It is for a current Gingersnap Challenge for the use of Versamark. This is another technique from the Master out of his book, Compendium of Curiosities. It uses 2 contrasting acrylic paint colours and between the layers clear embossing. For more detailed instructions take a look at the book. It is a technique that is new to me and I was keen to do something that was, so I tried some contrasting colours to see how they compared.

Yellow and Green with SCD

The colour theme this week over on SCD is yellow and green. I have used an Artistic Outpost stamp which I haven't used for ages. I love the way the yellow is shining through the branches. It feels simple yet evocative.
Pop over and take a look at all the other great creations the design team have produced.
It has been fantastic to have so many players this month. Love seeing what you all create.

Arches with Gingersnaps

Togetherness

I hope you can see the arch in the background! I think this is a delightful image and I felt it depicted Togetherness perfectly. It is stamped onto glossy card which has had the tartan effect alcohol ink background technique applied first. Courtesy of Tim Holtz from his book Compendium of Curiosities.

I was going to use a different arch but another team member had already used it, so i thought I would use this instead.

Orange and Black with SCD

Another colour challenge over on SCD and this week the colours are Orange and black. Well I had to, didn't I, use halloween images! If I don't use them now when will I? The right time of year and so fun. I love these mini halloween images from the Master! The size seems to allow for more to be used. Sounds good to me.

I have loved visiting all your creations and look forward to this week. Oh, by the way you don't have to do halloween, just in case I gave that impression. Create anything you like as long it is orange and black!

All Dressed Up with The Stampsmith

For me there was no other image that could portray this theme better! This is such a classic image and there is no doubt about it Marilyn is all dressed up! This is my entry for The Stampsmith Challenge.

How to stamp onto Lumpy Bumpy Surfaces

If you don't know how and want to know the process for stamping on lumpy bumpy surfaces there is a tutorial over on the Gingersnap blog. Here I have used the technique to decorate a frame but it could be used for many different items and also for canvases.

Purple and Green with SCD

I went away for a few days and I forgot to post this before I left. I am home now so am catching up with what I should have done earlier.
SCD have a colour challenge going on this month where you can make anything you like in the colours set for the week. This week the colours are purple and green, which I think is rather a fab combo. I decided to make a card and play with this little fellow. I decided to add buttons to the bubbles I had printed on the card.
We had lots of players last week, which was fantastic. Thank you everyone and I hope we have a good number this week. There are some beautiful creations already both with the design team and crafters joining the challenge. I hope you may join in too!

Melon, Green and White with PDCC 50

Wow I have just had one of those days that is a bit magical, and this is the result. I started the day by collecting dark red acer leaves. I then proceeded to hammer them onto fabric to give these truly beautiful acer leaf prints. Isn't it just something special? I then made a quilt sandwich and free machine stitched around it. The frame is a Cuttlebug die which I call wonky frames. I have several; squares, rectangles and circles and they are all rather wonky, which I love. Much better than boring straight. This has been stitched into place so that the quilting piece is fairly dimensional. The image above is a close up. The finished item is below. I have submitted it for The Play Date Cafe Challenge 50.

The leaves are punched out and a backing of green glimmer ,isted paper mounted behind. The words are some great ones from Creshendho. Available from The Stamp Attic in the UK. These have been stamped onto some inked paper that includes green and melon colours, scrunched for texture and ironed. 

Here are the challenge colours.