Fun In Milton Keynes With Lin Brown

Last week I went to Milton Keynes for a workshop with Lin Brown. I was lucky enough to also meet up with friends, Jo and Vonny.  Lin was her usual AMAZING self - if you haven't done a workshop with Lin I would highly recommend it as Lin is an amazing tutor.

Anyway..... we were lucky enough to use some of the new Paper Artsy stamps that are being released this weekend..... which is why I am not blogging my project until now. 

I won't show you how the project was made but will share my pages with you....

This is my front cover.  Yes, that is fabric.... and yes, it is the second time that Lin Brown has managed to get me to sew!!

In no particular order..... here are my other pages.

It really was a fabulous workshop.  I finished the project at home. But I really, really enjoyed it.

Hope you like my book.

Thanks for looking......

Happy, Happy Birthday

I thought I would share a card that I made for a birthday a few weeks ago.

The image is a Paper Artsy stamp designed by Liz Borer..... I adore this stamp and have used it for lots of different purposes

I decorated a card blank using patterned paper.

I added a punched border using Kraft paper.

I die cut a flower shape using Wisteria coloured card and added this to the background.

The main image was stamped and coloured using alcohol markers and then cut and attached to the flower die cut.

I die cut Sheena Douglas Ivy and stamped the co-ordinating image.  This was then coloured and attached to the image.

To finish I added lots of different types of flowers, 2 flower pins and some gems.

I was really pleased with this and even more so in using one of my favourite images!

More Journalling Fun

This time I set out to  play with the new JOFY paints and stamps.

I added some torn washi tape to areas of my gesso'd page then used a brick stencil to add some grunge paste in various places.

I then coloured over the background using the new JOFY paints (which are gorgeous).  I added some silver Treasure Gold to the stencilled brick to make them stand out a bit more.

Next I created my border and stamped and painted my images

I think the end result has a sort of night time summer haze feel to it (but that's just me).

I may have told you already but I have a bit of a 'thing' about the latest Paper Artsy ranges.  It has to be my most favourite EVER (I know that is bad grammar - sorry!).  I just can't stop creating with them!!

Thanks for looking......

Journalling Time

I had the chance to create another page in my art journal a few weeks ago and have not had the chance to blog it until now.

I started off my painting a page using Painted Peas, Haystack and (I think) Autumn Fire Paints. 

I then started to stamp images using various Archival inks.

I stamped some of my favourite Wendy Vecchi stamps onto white card and coloured them using alcohol markers. I then cut them out and added them to the page.

I think that there is a lot going on but I really liked the way that it turned out.

Thanks for stopping by.....

Paper Artsy Fun Part 3!

This time I used sets by 3 designers - Clare Lloyd, Emma Godfrey and Sara Naumann, stencil by Lin Brown and paints by Jo-Firth-Young

 

This picture shows the background I created using FF paints - the 1st limited edition by Jo Firth-Young - I adored these colours.

 

I stencilled the background in 2 colours and then stamped the stars.

 

The script from the Sara Naumann set was stamped in Chalk FF paint.

 

 

I then stamped the girl from the Clare Lloyd set and painted her.  Once happy, I cut her out and added her to the page. 

To finish I stamped and painted the greeting and the stamped a quote in Archival ink.

I was really pleased at how this turned out - and it goes to show that all of these amazing stamps work so well together.

Thanks for looking.

Not Just For Christmas

Today I am showing you a card made for my sister-in-law's birthday (I hope you are not peeking Rachel!).

I used purple again (I know!!)

I stamped a lace background onto amethyst card and added a wine coloured doily to the top section. 

I stamped the Fairy onto white card and coloured it.  The fairy is from Liz Borer, designed for Paper Artsy. It was on a Christmasy type set - but I thought it could be used a lot more.  I love the way that this has come out and think that I have achieved it not looking like a Christmas stamp. 

Once added to the card I added lace and a greeting.  And created a little bow with seam binding, adding a pearl to the centre. 

I'm really pleased how this has turned out!!

#3Up Paper Artsy Challenge

A few weeks ago I entered the opportunity to appear on the Paper Artsy blog using their new Hot Picks stamps.  I was thrilled when I arrived home from work one day and saw an envelope with a set of stamps and instructions.

I spent all night stroking the stamps (I know.... we all do it though) and thinking of ideas for my creation for the blog.  The next day I set to work and the ideas flowed.  Here is my end creation

 

 I won't tell you how I made it as all of those details are on the Paper Artsy blog.  The project went live last week (3rd May) and I was delighted to see it!

Thanks to the folks at Paper Artsy for the great opportunity..... and thank you for your visit to my blog.

Masterboard Mayhem - Inspired by Jo Firth Young

A few weeks ago Jo Firth Young showed us how to create a master board over at the Paper Artsy blog.

As soon as I saw this I couldn't wait to have a go at creating one of my own. The only problem was that once I started I couldn't stop.... and I ended up creating 3!  Here are my creations:

For each of the master boards I tried slightly different stamps.

All of the master boards were coloured using water colour pencils.

Once created I couldn't bear to cut them up - once I had overcome this I used a section to create a matchbox to send a small gift in. 

I thought the master board looked really nice when used - and I still have some left!

Hope you like my creations - and a massive thanks to Jo Firth Young for creating this new addiction for me! 

Tim Holtz - 12 Tags of 2013: May

As soon as I saw Tim's May tag I could not wait to have a go of it myself!! 

Here is my take on Tim's May tag

As with the others, I decided to create a card so that I can use it throughout the year.

You can see the techniques that Tim used here.

I loved, loved, loved using the remnant subs - so much fun to use.

I am also totally in love with the Paper Artsy image which is from the latest Lynne Perrella range. 

Hope you like my version of Tim's tag.  Thanks for looking....

Flowers, Flowers Everywhere!!

I recently purchased the new Jo Firth-Young Stamps from Paper Artsy. I love them so much that I can't stop 'playing' with them!  I've been busy starting projects but thought I would share 1 card with you:

 

I started off by die-cutting a mini cabinet shape from card stock.  I then blended peeled paint, wild honey and broken china distress inks over it before edging the card with walnut stain.

 

I stamped the flowers in archival ink and coloured them with worn lipstick, seedless preserves and peeled paint distress inks.  I used a water brush to do this.

 

 

I stamped the butterfly onto card and also onto clearly for art.  I coloured the card in and stapled the clearly for art to it.  I then heated and shaped the wings of the butterfly.

 

I attached the panel to a card blank and doodled around it - this is my very first attempt at doodling!! I then stamped a greeting to finish.

 

Thanks for looking.....



Rebel Stamps ATC Swap

Here are the ATCs that I created for the Rebel Stampers swap for January.

The first is based on the free stamp issued with the January 2013 edition of Craft Stamper:

I started off by colouring the background using fired brick distress stain. 

I then stamped the French Script from Tim Holtz Papilion set in the fired brick distress ink.

The doily is a Stampin' Up die which I coloured using wild honey ink. and attached to the atc.

I cut a window frame shape and stamped the Craft Stamper free stamp using Archival and coloured using distress pens.

I finished by die cutting a banner, colouring and stamping a greeting.

The second theme for January was 'Numbers':

I pushed broken china ink through a numbers stencil.  

I then stamped a Tim Holtz stamp using picked raspberry and peacock feathers.

The main quote was a Paper Artsy stamp and was stamped in Archival ink.

So... two very different atc's to start the new year off...

Thanks for looking.

Pay It Forward 2013

This year I am taking part in Pay It Forward (PIF).  For those that have not heard of it, PIF is where you offer to create a hand made product for the fist 5 people that comment on a post - in this instance on Facebook.  In return, the 5 'chosen' people have to make the same offer to people - and so it goes on!  You then have the whole of 2013 to create your projects and forward them on.

I have made my first project and the recipient (Di Potticary) was delighted when she received it!!  The box was designed on a workshop that I did with the very talented Hels Sheridan at the end of 2012.

I used a box that  I had in my stash for a while!!  I painted it using sand acrylic paint.  I then used coffee archival ink to stamp a crackle effect all over the box

I then set about decorating it!  (That was the fun part).

I started by die cutting a doily out of grunge paper and painting it using Paper Artsy paints.  I painted and stamped Studio 490 Art Parts , inked birds and flowers.  I then assembled these to the top left corner of the box.

I rubbed some gold wax over an Ideology frame. I stamped the word 'Dream' and attached it to the back of the frame before adhering it to the bottom right corner of the box.

I finished by adding coloured drops in various places.

Here is the finished project.

It didn't turn out anything like I had planned in my head before hand but think that it has a nice Spring feel to it!!

Thanks for looking.

Vintage Doily Fun!!

I have been taking the opportunity while resting to catch up on some well needed craft time.

Here is a card that I made that has a vintage feel to it:

For this card I started by colouring the background using Pink Pirouette Ink and a blending tool.  I then stamped my favourite 'En Francais' background stamp using Chocolate Chip ink. and edged around the card using the same colour.

I  stamped a crackle stamp onto a paper doily using Antique Linen Ink.  The Mannequin was stamped using Coffee archival ink to give a really clear image.

A greeting was stamped and cut out using the matching Ticket punch and attached to the doily using a Tim Holtz pin. A Tando Creative key was inked and attached to the bottom of the ticket.

Scraps of ribbon and washi tape from my stash were layered onto the card and then finished with a crochet flower.

Hope you like it!

Anniversary Celebrations

I am still in Portugal and currently in one of my most favourite places - Carvoeiro in the Algarve.  So far we will have spent a night in Lisbon, 4 nights in Porto, 4 nights in Evora and are now in the Algarve until we fly home in a few days.

Today is our 11th wedding anniversary.  We will actually be spending it at the Autodromo for the start of the Historic Festival.

Here is the card that I made for Dan:

Here, I coloured a scalloped border card using peeled paint and broken china distress ink.  I then stamped a wood grain stamp using walnut stain distress ink.

The leaves are from an Art Parts set which I have painted using Paper Artsy Fresco Finish paint, and I stamped a script over them.

I stamped a Studio 490 heart onto metal using archival ink.  After heat setting I pounded alcohol inks over the heart and embossed some of the deign to add texture.  I then took a sanding block and gently rubbed over the heart to show some of the bare metal colour.

I die cut the Tim Holtz movers and shapers hearts and stamped a quote onto one before attaching.

I also decorated the inside of the card:

I used the same heart stamp as on the front and coloured the stamp using distress markers then stamped into the card.  I added a Studio 490 quote to finish.

Hope you like it.  I will be celebrating later with a bottle of good Portuguese wine!

Thanks for looking.