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.