Inspiration From Eclectica Darcy by Paper Artsy

What can I say.... I am a HUGE Paper Artsy fan and I was eagerly awaiting their latest release.  They have entertained us all week with the new products and it hasn't disappointed.  Even though the reveal of the products started on Sunday the products were available in the shops last week.  I bought mine from The Stamp Attic.  If you pop over you will also see the fabulous stash in their clearance sale too - they are clearing out for new CHA stash.

As soon as I saw the new collection from Darcy my eyes lit up!!  They are eclectic and delightful.  You can see the reveal here

Some of my work was lucky enough to be chosen for the big reveal tonight.  You can see the work created by everyone here

Here is a peak from my creation

If you hop along to the Paper Artsy blog you can see the full work and details.

Thank you Paper Artsy for bringing us great stamps time after time....and thank you Darcy for the FABULOUS designs.
Thanks for looking.

Happy New Year

Sorry it's been too long.  2014 was not a great year for me - and I sort of hid away in a creative sense.  My New Year's resolution was to get back to 'normal' this year..... and I certainly have done!

I thought I would start by showing a card made with one of my favourite stamps from Stampotique called Moustache Monsters, which I purchased from The Stamp Attic last year.  For any Stampotique fans out there, Wendy has a huge range of Stampotique stamps and can order any that you want!

This was a fairly simple make to get my creative juices flowing again!  I covered a card blank with some yummy Stamping' Up papers.  A label and scallop border was cut in the same paper. 

The image was stamped and coloured then attached to the label on the card.

I made a small bow using the Stamping' Up bow punch (this is fabulous.... you really do need one!).
To finish I added ribbon and a button in co-ordination colours.

I just love this stamp.... it makes me smile every time I see it and I hope it makes you smile too!

Thanks for looking....

Hels Sheridan Workshop

Yesterday I spent the day at The Stamp Attic doing a workshop with the one and only Hels Sheridan, along with some great friends that I have made - Caz, Loetitia and Emma.  The workshop was to create a Christmas themed box and a festive book to go inside.

Here is my creation

The box was decorated using lots of gorgeous Tim Holtz goodies.

This is the little book that I created to fit inside.  We stamped and decorated lots of lovely festive images:

We decorate 10 pages in total.

As you see I wasn't paying attention when I punched the holes in my book (hangs head in shame).

It was a thoroughly enjoyable day - spent in the company of some great friends.

Thanks for looking....

Sunday Stamper Week 222 - I Predict A Riot

Hels set the challenge of using 'colour' for this week's theme.  You can see Hels' fabulous creation Here.

This is my entry:

For my entry I started by using 5 bright colours of alcohol inks which I then used to create a 'splat' effect using compressed air - this was a technique taught by the wonderful Hels Sheridan during a class at The Stamp Attic.

 After this I pushed distress ink through a stencil to add more dimension.

Next I stamped a Wendy Vecchi flower and quote using archival ink and dried it to set.

Thanks for looking.

Nice and simple, but definately looks like a colourful riot!

Alcohol Ink Techniques Workshop

A couple of weeks ago I attended an alcohol inks workshop at The Stamp Attic, which is owned by the lovely Wendy.   The workshop was run by the wonderfully talented Hels Sheridan. 

The workshop taught us 13 techniques with alcohol inks - which was great, because if you are like me you have loads of them but only know how to do a couple of things with them!

At the end of the workshop we bound our techniques into a tag book

As you can see from my pic I messed up by not lining my words up  correctly!!  But, regardless of this, I am delighted with my results!

Here are some of my faves:

If you haven't attended a workshop with Hels yet, you need to get booking!!! Not only that but you get to browse the wonderful Stamp Attic which is a crafter's heaven!!!

Thanks for looking....

Sunday Stampers Week 198 - Blackbird

Here is my entry for Sunday Stampers.  This week, Hels set the challenge of using 'birds' in our creations and this is what I created.

The printer tray is by Tando Creative from The Stamp Attic.  I started by applying a coat of gesso to the back board and then stained with broken china distress ink and spritzed with Marshmallow Glimmer Mist (I had run out of Pearl Perfect Pearl!!). 

Once dry I started to glue the tray boards together, leaving the final one as a template for me to cut my papers etc.

Then the fun started!!  I embossed metal, cut papers and stamped to create the backgrounds for each section.  All of the stamps and papers were Tim Holtz and available to buy Here.  Once glued into the crevices I chose the embellishments that I wanted to use.  The majority were Ideology from Tim Holtz, although the mini birdcage was from my own stash, and the jar is from the Tando Creative grab bags, again available here. 

To finish, I painted the printer tray stand in Old Gold from Paper Artsy Fresco Finish paints.

I am delighted with my end result and hope you like it too.  This tray will be winging it's way to Wendy at some point during the week.

Thanks for looking.