Friendship ~ The Stampsmith

Another beautiful day here in the UK, I could get used to this :-D It is my turn to share a project with you as guest designer at The Stampsmith for more details of the stamps used please to visit the Stampsmith designer blog here. 

There is still plenty of time to join their monthly challenge. The theme is Shabby Chic or Vintage Grunge, and mine has a touch of both, I'll call it Vintage Shabby.

I hope you've all had a stunning sun filled weekend and managed to squeeze a little crafting in.

Have a great week & Happy Crafting xxx

I'd like to enter this for the following challenges

Craft-Room Challenge ~ vintage stamping - no cute please

Shabby Chic or Vintage Grunge ~ The Stampsmith Challenge

For blog candy winner see bottom of post.

Shabby Chic or Vintage Grunge is the July challenge theme selected by yours truly. 'Both very popular styles and perfect for showcasing your Stampsmith favourites. We'd love you to play along and share your projects with us this month. So choose your preferred style `Shabby or Grunge' and join the Stampsmith Challenge with a chance to win $21 of gorgeous stamps of your choice from The Stampsmith.'

I chose to make a little shabby chic bridesmaid dolly bag for my GDT project, featuring the gorgeous star crossed lover Juliet from the stamp plate Olivia and friends

It stamped beautifully onto cream cotton using sepia archival ink, which I heat set with an iron and cut out using my spellbinders die, I sewed it onto a doily before sewing it onto some textured cotton. I then followed this tutorial here to make my dolly bag.

It would be lovely if you could pop over here and look at the gorgeous DT project by the fabulous Stampsmith ladies, they are real stunners and be inspired to join the latest challenge.

I hope you all had a great weekend, it was gorgeously sunny in my part of the UK.

Blog Candy Winner

Not having quite got the hang of the inlinkz random thingamabob, I thought it was going to email me automatically with the winner. It didn't LOL. But it did email the winner herself!

The lovely Chris Warner from My Corner of Heaven

Your goodies will be wrapped up and in the post tomorrow. Thanks to all of you for taking the time and trouble to leave a comment.

I would like to enter this for the following challenges

Anything Goes Challenge ~ Buttons Pearl and lace

Timewashed ~ Blisswhite wednesdays

Simon Says Stamp & Show ~ Anything goes
Artistic Stamper ~ Ladies Day
Everybody-Art-Challenge ~ Wedding

Take care and Happy Crafting xx

The Siren

Using one of my fave stamps the gorgeous Serena from The Stampsmith for this monochromatic card. She is such a beauty! The alphabet stamps are from La Blanche.

Thought I would enter this in the Stampsmith challenge again.

So difficult trying to photograph in this dismal light, here's hoping the weather will be dryer and brighter today, as it's been so gloomy.

Have a lovely crafty day xx

Great Symphonies Begin with Just One Note!

I found this great quote online and thought it would be ideal for my project using The Stampsmith Little conductor stamp. I didn't get a chance to enter their challenge last month and I wanted to make something for the November challenge which is monochromatic white. Thought this little chap would fit the bill. I am guilty of having a fair few stamps that haven't been shown an ink pad to and my Sister bought this one over from the States in April, so I thought it was high time it got inked up.

Using the TAP (transfer artist paper) again, love this stuff. I stamped him onto the TAP using archival ink. Then ironed onto a piece of plain white cotton.

I hand drew a large heart onto a piece of card then cut out two pieces from a remnant of white fabric. I picked up a couple of vintage doilies from an antique shop ages ago and the smaller one fitted perfectly onto the heart. I sewed all my lace and the stamped cotton onto one of the pieces first then made the padded heart.

Also entering this for Timewashed ~ Blissful White Wednesday

Have a fantastic week & Happy Crafting xx

A Couple of Bags!

I'm rather obsessed with bag making at the moment, can you tell! I just love all the gorgeous fabrics that are available. I have just finished making these two. The first is a mini carpet bag using the same pattern as I did previously. I have been having a play with TAP. It really is very easy to stamp on and I tried my favourite stampsmith stamp Ophelia, and used archival ink and then painted the image using inktense pencils and transferred it onto a piece of plain canvas, the weave is quite an open texture and it still transferred really well, so it was then I thought about using it on a bag & and entering it for the current Stampsmith challenge which is bags'n'tags

Another pattern I've used before, but this time I liked the look of the autumnal colours of this tapestry style fabric. I'm not really into oranges an browns, but I couldn't resist this fabric. I bought it from dunelm mills they have loads of lush fabrics and most bags only need half a metre of exterior and lining fabric.

Have a lovely day & Happy Crafting. xx

Good things come in small packages

Hope you're all having a great weekend and enjoying the Indian summer. At FSC we ready for another challenge, this time it is Good things come in small packages. Please do visit The Fashionable Challenge Blog for some delicious projects beautifully created by the Stampettes.  Our generous sponsor is Marina from Cottage Crafts who is offering a prize for the challenge winner. As we are a stamping challenge we do need to see some form of stamping in your entry.

Also you can see the wonderful creation our Shirley has featured in the current issue of Craftstamper, she was shortlisted in the second round for The Stamper of the year. Biggest congratulations, it's fabulous and so well deserved.

Though my cosmetic pouch is not small my stamped cameo of Ophelia by the Stampsmith is. It is the largest of the stamps and is stamped onto shrink plastic. Then coloured using prismacolor pencils. Then baked in the oven. The pouch was one I've had for a while and is perfect for non sewists, as the buttons are the only sewing I've done. The lace and doily are attached using bondaweb, and the cameo, flowers and pearls are attached using fabric glue,

My small tag is is sewn this time. It is stamped with the medium version of ophelia using sepia ink onto natural calico fabric, then it was stitched onto some stamped fabric and cut into a tag shape and machine sewn and finished with some lace and buttons.

I'm entering this for

The Stampsmith challenge Bags & Tags.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend and Happy Crafting  XXX

Floral or Handmade flowers ~ Fashionable stamping Challenges

Hi Everyone, I'm hoping my scheduled post will work ok, we should be sunning ourselves on Surtainville beach in Normandy (well perhaps not this early as this should be scheduled for 7ish LOL!)

We can't wait to see your gorgeous entries for this fortnights Fashionable Stamping Challenge which is Floral or Handmade flowers. The DT have surpassed themselves with an array of stunning floral creations to inspire you, so please do pop over to FSC headquarters for a look. Marina at cottage crafts is the generous sponsor of our challenge and will offer the winner a fantastic prize. But remember we are a stamping challenge so we do require some stamping and no digi stamps please.

I made a card using the gorgeous rosie from The stampsmith and masked her then stamped over with one of my favourite stamps from Justrite. I used a combination of distress inks, prismacolour pencils and inktense pencils to colour the image then matted onto some card and pretty backing paper. The shabby flowers were made using the tim holtz tattered floral & a sizzix bigz flower die and some fabric remnants and dyed muslin (used my inktense pencils to dye the muslin as I wanted it to be colour fast) and I used a piece of the fabric to cover some metal buttons. I did hand sew my flowers but fabric glue would work work equally well.

To make the bag I scanned and enlarged the image (before it was glued to the card) and printed it out onto some transfer paper, mine was a cheapy version bought from Lidl which works well (love Lidl for their craft and sewing stuff, brilliant value ) can't compare it to TAP though as have never used it before. Then it was ironed onto a calico bag, and I stitched.

I added some more diecut flowers which I made as for the card above and I sewed on some lace and a bit of matching trim.

I am entering this for the following challenges

The Stampsmith ~ Anything goes

Have a great week & Happy Crafting XX

Christmas in July

Apologises for being absent from blogland and not having the time to visit all your blogs. We all know that life can get in the way of crafting and unfortunately I haven't been able to get time to play. I made this card a while ago and what with a decidedly dodgy laptop haven't been able to upload it either. Back to using the slow but trusty netbook as the laptop has hardware issues and had to go back to be mended!

I came out in a cold sweat making this as I seriously don't want to thing about the C word, especially as we're had such dismal weather. But both the Stampsmith and Addicted to stamping have this as their theme.

I used summer colours as per the Stampsmith suggestion which made me feel a tad better LOL. The central stamp is from The stampsmith Isn't She Lovely stamp sheet, and is stamped with black archival ink and coloured with zig photo markers. The papers are prima botanical and websters pages, added the memory box snowflake border, ribbon and plenty of sparkle.

The Stampsmith ~ Christmas in July with summer colours

Can I spy a little sunshine today woohoo better get out my shades :-D

Happy Crafting xx

Isn't She Lovely!

Isn't She Lovely is the gorgeous stamp sheet I chose for my prize from the Stampsmith draw. I changed my mind several times before I finally chose this fab set, as they have far too many gorgeous ones to choose from. I've followed the current sketch on The Stampsmith Challenge blog for this card.

I'm entering this for 

The Stampsmith Challenge ~ sketch

Tuesday Treasures ( bumblebeesandbutterflies )

Out of a hat Creations ~ Bingo Card (lace, image, bling & beads)

Simon Says Stamp & Show ~ Anything goes

Sorry very short and sweet today, will be back on Sunday with the new FSC

Happy Crafting XX

Rosie Loved Paris ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

At FSC we are asking you to show either heat or dry embossing in your work for this fortnights challenge. As we are a stamping challenge we do ask to see some form of stamping in your project and definitely no digis please, so do head over to Fashionable Stamping Challenges to see oodles of gorgeous projects from the other Stampettes to inspire. Our generous sponsor Marina is offering the winning entry a fab prize from Cottage crafts

I chose to do dry embossing, well actually it was wet embossing really. I used the soggy loo roll method (technical term LOL!!) for making some background papers. 

Take about four sheets of toilet tissue, fold and place in inked embossing folders, spritz with water until soggy, then run through an embossing/die cutting machine and leave to dry. Then you can ink or spray with various inks, to achieve your desired effects. I used versamagic chalk inks and pan pastels on mine. As they looked rather like fabric squares I decided to dig out my sewing machine and stitch them together to make my background paper.

The main image is a combination of two stamps from the stampsmith, Rosie ( one which my sister bought over from the States) and stampendous cling, Paris stamp. It is stamped onto my favourite stamping card elegance satin from Joanna sheen and coloured with prisma pencils. The colouring doesn't really show up, as I still struggle trying to get the exact colours with my camera. As the background is quite busy I decide just to add a sentiment and some organza rose trim to finish and a little more stitching.

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday and big apologises for not visiting your blogs much this week and thank you to everyone who has visited and left such kind and appreciated comments. 

Feeling a tad sorry for myself as I tripped yesterday whilst out shopping and sprained my ankle. We were supposed to be going out to a National Trust property as its their free weekend but will have to stay home and whinge instead LOL.

Happy Crafting XX.

I am entering this for the following challenges

The Stampsmith ~ The colors of Spring

The Stampman ~ Shabby Chic or Distressed

The Craftroom ~ Ink It
Crafts and me ~ Vintage
Sunday Stampers ~ Summer in the City
Pan Pastels UK Challenge ~ Add a flower

Sassy Serena & The Fairy

Hiya, I hope you have all had a good week. I went to Cambridge with one of my oldest friends yesterday, we were treated to an impromptu fashion show as we arrived into the grand arcade which was really unexpected but great fun and we finished our trip out with a lovely meal in the Cafe Rouge and a very nice French waiter LOL!!

A couple of contrasting cards today, the first is using one of my favourite Stampsmith stamps called Serena, I'm hoping to add to my collection of these gorgeous stamps as my sister is coming over from the States in a couple of weeks so I have persuaded her to bring a set of stamps over for me. 

The stamps used on this card as well as Serena are Hero Arts newspaper print background and Tim Holtz papillon.

The fairy stamp is from the zodiac range by Linda Ravenscroft. I used watercolours and distress inks to paint her.

I can't access my craft desk today or probably for the next few days as we are having new flooring laid downstairs so there are boxes and piles of books everywhere. I am very untidy but even I'm struggling with the mess!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend & Happy Crafting xx

I am entering these for the following challenges

Samuel Taylor crafts ~ Butterflies

Rainbow Lady's challenge ~ Butterflies

Frilly & Funkie ~ Your Favourite Vintage

Lollipop crafts ~ Anything Goes

Stampin with the Dragon ~ Things with Wings

All Flown Away

Not the butterflies my mojo. Actually I think I left it at the Vets as it's no where to be seen and I've definitely looked for it! As I have actually had time to do a spot of crafting this week (I did try but it has ended in the recycle) it is very annoying that it has gone AWOL, hope it returns soon!  In the meantime a couple of cards the butterfly one was made a couple of weeks ago and the 21st card was made when I made the purple tag I just forgot to blog it doh! Think my Mojo and my Memory have eloped together!

The stamp is one of my favourites, Magenta Papillon Post and is coloured with Inktense pencils and distress inks and then the butterflies were stamped again and coated in utee. The papers are Bo Bunny gabrielle.

I really wasn't sure about making a 21st card so I opted for the Serena Stampsmith image as she is rather classy. Stamped on glossy card with archival ink. Then I added some black accessories to vamp her up a bit.

Off to do a spot of blog surfing now for much needed inspiration. Happy Crafting XX

Purple Passions

I don't know why I never seem to use purple much in my crafting even though it is a favourite colour of mine. I managed to get this tag done at the beginning of the week before chaos broke out. Firstly our little Cavalier King Charles Dylan became poorly and wouldn't eat which is very unusual as he is a little greedy guts. He is eleven now which is old for a cavalier so we were very worried, but after three visits to the vet this week he finally seems to be improving. 

Then OH decided to come off his push bike and we had to head over to A & E, for x-rays etc but fortunately he is ok and on the mend now, but requiring lots of sympathy which I'm not very good at LOL. So no time for crafting this week. So hopefully  back to normal next week. Anyway enough of my domestic sagas back to crafting.

This is for two challenges The Stampsmith ~ Tag Art & Pan Pastel UK Challenge ~ Use two of something   I started with a blank tag and stamped a crafty individuals swirl in embossing ink then blend some pan pastels (the purple and green colours from the pastel set) across the tag and it highlighted the swirl. I got this idea from Sue's blog  Stamping Sue Style on her gorgeous Bugs and Butteflies card. Then used the lovely Serena (the stampsmith) stamp on glossy card and highlighed with zig photomarkers and distress inks. I mounted onto some black card and edged with gilders patina paste. I dyed an old muslin cloth and some seam binding with distress inks and then dry embossed and die cut a small heart, highlighting with more patina. The flower is made using Tim Holtz pine cone die. Finished by adding some lace and a couple of pearls.

Hope your having a great & very crafty weekend. XX

Seductive Serena

I thought I would do a joint challenge for The Fashionable Stamping Challenge which is Days gone By and The Stampsmith Challenge which is Ribbons and Lace. I used my lovely free Stampendous postcard cling stamp from the FSC to create the background. I used distress stains, barn door, victorian velvet, wild honey, picket fence and blue azure cosmic shimmer spray randomly, to colour the paper, then stamped the postcard stamp in bleach. Then I used various postmark stamps in coffee archival ink. I stamped the lovely Stampsmith serena stamp onto gloss card and tinted with zig photomarkers and distress inks. I made a postcard with the stampendous stamp. I used one of my old muslin face cloths which I tea dyed and added a lacy embellishment to decorate. The small label die is by Memory box.

Have a great weekend and thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and for leaving much appreciated comments.

Happy Crafting XX