Stampotique Guest Designer - Collage Mirror

So I am Guest Designer at Stampotique this month - a real honour. I admire the work the DT put together week after week and of course there are the amazing Stanpotique stamps I love working with.
This piece is a random collage of loads of Stampotique images. One of my very first projects was a similar mirror using all sorts of stamped images and to date it still is a favourite of mine. So This is an ode to said project.
I hope you like it!

Check out the Stampotique blog for more inspiration!

Tim's 12 tags of Christmas - another one.....

I have been seriously lacking inspiration to do anything yesterday. Imagine a whole day off in a room of stamps and no inspiration to create anything. Well, I thought I may as well make another Tim tag and see if it inspires me and I did end up making a few more Christmas cards and that so I guess it worked.
I don't actually have the holly die for this tag but instead I used 2 cut offs off the tree die as branches and one of the leaves from the tattered leaves die. It did the trick.

I am entering this into the Artistic Stamper Challenge - Christmas as well as the Pan Pastel Challenge - Tags.

Hello - Page 3 of my Board Book Journal

Here is another page from my board book journal. I did say I wanted to try and do one a week but I kinda did 2 in 2 week and none since cause I've been away on my days off and not had any time to craft. Shocking! Will have to catch up on Tim's 12 tags, my christmas cards and the journal on my next day off. Lots to do.
And lots of christmas shopping and wrapping to do and organizing........ not enough time in the day!

Stampotique Designers Challenge - Non traditional Christmas Cards

A non-traditional Christmas card is the theme at Stampotique. No red or green allowed. Well, there is definitely no red or green in my card and I think Uncle Buck is as non-traditional as you can get. Doesn't he look handsome with his crown?

I'm not sure who I will be sending this card to, maybe someone who isn't too keen on Christmas, hehe.






Now as for this card it started off as a card to enter into the challenge but it turned out too red, even though I used my orange distress inks and for the writing I used stamps other than Stampotique, one of the challenge requirements. But nevertheless I absolutely adore this card, I just love the little goblin stamp, probably my best purchase this year. And I just wanted to share the card so there you go.

Stampotique Designers Challenge - Sketch Challenge

It's been a while since I've played with a sketch so yesterday I created this little Christmas card. I like the vibrant colours of it and the way it turned out. This one is for my housemate. I am yet to make the cards for my family and some friends but have finished the majority of the cards I'm sending. Very organized. In fact I started wrapping presents last night too.
So I'm off to make more Christmas cards.....

This is of course being entered into the Stampotique Designers Challenge.

Text ATC's and my upcoming blog-over

Things have been a little quiet on my blog for a week or so now. I was just catching up on life, you know cleaning, cooking, washing, shopping.... xmas shopping!!! And I don't wanna stress myself too much always having to produce things to show here. I feel I put myself under a lot of pressure. So I have decided to have a little blog break, I'll still post the odd challenge as I love taking part in some challenge. But for the next 2-3 weeks it'll be real quiet here. Cause I'm having a BLOG-OVER! No that's not a hangover for blogs, it's a make over for blogs. I feel the design of my blog is a bit tired I just want to make it that much nicer to look at, a cleaner blog if you know what I mean. So I won't be resting as I'll be working on that and also a DT application.

I just want a fresh "start" for my blog as I'm getting more interest in my work, guest designer invites etc I just feel I owe people to up my game a bit. Posts may become fewer in the future but the quality will be going up. I am hoping to do more tutorials, there will definitely be another blog candy coming up before christmas, after all it's the time of year to give away goodies. Overall an improvement, I have come a long way from my card making early last year to the grungy and sometimes colourful mixed media creations I do nowadays.

In the meantime I leave you with 2 ATC's I rustled up last night using one of my favourite stamps from Art Journey, the text background. It just work so well with absolutely everything. I am entering these into the Text Challenge at The Art Journey Challenge.

Halloween ATC's and the new Stampotique Flickr Group

I said only a few days ago that I don't really do Halloween, but with so many Halloween and Atumn Colour Challenges around at the moment I can't not get into a slightly spooky mood.

These ATC's have been created with various challenges in mind. I used some of the new Distress Inks and LOVE them, I mean, how can you not?! Can't wait for the wintery seasonal release ones next month - www.timholtz.com.
Also I am still rather attached to my Stanpotique stamps at the mo, maybe that's because they are ALL sitting on my desk taking up valuable crafting space. I really have to get that shelf made I want for my wall to display all my woodmounted stamps.

Also, I wanted to tell you about the new Stampotique Flickr group I started, with permission of course. It's a nice way of gathering all Stampotique creations in one place and to browse when you need some inspiration. So join us HERE and add your creations or just browse and chat.

These are going to be entered into the following challenges:

Playdate Cafe - Colour Challenge
Artistic Stamper - Autumn Colours
Happy Daze - Halloween
Tando Creative - Spooktastic

And last but not least - Grungy Mondays - it has been aaaaaages I have entered one of the lovely Linda Ledbetter's Challenges. Life has just got in the way and one can't enter all challenges in the crafting world (although this week I'm trying bloody hard!). So I hope time will allow me to take part in more Grungy Mondays from now on!!!

Wendy Vecchi Clock for Simon says Stamp and Show

I've made a clock similar to this before, using the other 3 flowers out of this Maya Road chipboard album and I have been meaning to make a 2nd clock for ages to give to my Mum. So as it's Wendy Vecchi week at Simon says Stamp and Show I thought now is the time.

I used loads of Maya Road mini chipboard shapes and cut flowers from grungepaper. Some idea-ology, plenty of colour and background stamps. It's easy but takes time to colour each piece and figure out what goes where. Well worth the effort in the end though. And I love the concept of the 2 decorated flowers with the clock in the middle.

I also wanted to mention the Wendy Vecchi Flickr Group that I started a while back with Wendy's permission. Slowly people join and add their creations but I'd like it to be more for more great Wendy art to admire. So if you are a regular on Flickr then come and join us here.

Stampotique Designers Challenge - Humorous Birthday

Yeah it's time for another Stampotique Challenge and the theme is Humorous Birthday.
I didn't have a plan when I made this card, I just started inking and splattering some water and then grabbed this foliage stamp and so on and I ended up with this card. The inside reads "they get better with age".

Magic Mushy ATC

My last ATC from the recent batch I made, I used more Stampotique stamps, the mushrooms I love and the alphabet I cannot live without anymore. It's so much fun and a bit crazy, I love it!
More stitching too! I'm stitching everything at the moment.
This is being entered into the Simon says Stamp and Show Challenge.

I went to the BSSS at Ally Pally yesterday and for the first time got a proper chance to chat to my friend Kim of Crafty Makes. Also bumped into Alison which was fab. Good to see you girls!
Didn't spend as much money as I thought I would which was good. Didn't have much time to spend anyway, had to rush off to work. Another fun show, wish I'd had more time to watch the demos though. Maybe next time I'll take the day off work.

And even more ATC's

Why not share some more ATC's, they are small, they are quick so why not show loads in one day.

This one is using my newly found love for Stampotique stamps, I attached his head with a small spring behind it. It shows that ATC's don't have to be superfancy and take ages. This one was so quick and I really like it. Sometimes you just have to let the stamp speak for itself.

Stampotique is available from the Happy Daze Shop so why not check them out?!
This one I am entering into the Happy Daze "Little Black Dress" Challenge. My little black dress item here is the script stamp by Hero Arts. I use it ALL the time. Any good, large script stamp would do, they are just so versatile.

More Stampotique stamps can be found on this one. The hexagon for the background, I've sewn along the hexagon lines after stamping it. The bees are stamped on top of the acetate, which is then sewn to an acetate backing around the outline of the ATC. I love the idea of the sewing and creating layers like that but I'm yet to perfect that. This is my first attempt, definitely not my last.

This one I'm entering into the Simon says Stamp and Show Challenge.

More ATC's to share

Yes I have gone a bit ATC crazy again, I always do things in phases and I think I just entered another ATC phase.

This one is inked with distress inks, stamped, sewn, collaged. I just love sewing on card at the moment. Bought a few rolls of nice coloured cotton, now I just need to fix the light in my sewing machine, the bulb broke not long after I bought it. Oops.

This is being entered into the current Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge.

I'm off now. Ally Pally and my bloggy friend Kim Dellow are waiting!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucky Thirteen Birthday Card

So the new challenge at The Artistic Stamper is Numbers and as my boyfriends daughter is turning 13 this week and he needed a quick card (as always he left the card sending to the last minute) I made up this little card to go with the challenge. The number isnt quite that obvious on the front, unless you count the coloured hearts. But the inside reads: Lucky Thirteen.
I am in love with my stampotiques at the moment and it's the first time I used them hearts. So quick and simple and yet a pretty card.
I am also entering this into the Simon says Stamp and Show Challenge where the theme is Anything Goes for their Stamptember Blog Hop.

Simon says Stamp and Show a tag - Part 2

Another tag for Simon says Stamp and Show and as I already explained in my previous post I am currently working with limited stash at my parents house. It's not easy. Then again I'm here to chill and not go mad with my stamps like I do at home..... so many things to make so little time.

Inked background with some ferns and greenery, some spiced marmalade script, butterflies and a german sentiment thats also been glossy accented. Add 2 little flower brads and done.

Finding the time to enter challenges.....

It's difficult finding time to make things for challenges these days, I seem to never stop being busy. One project I'm currently working on should be completed in 3 weeks so I hope there will be plenty of time for more challenge makes.

Today I sat down and created this card. The challenge at Creavil is scrunched up backgrounds, it's something I've never really tried before but I'm glad I did as I like the vintage look it creates. It's simply crumpled up paper which is then inked with distress inks and it picks up all the creased bits nicely. I then stamped some script over it but didnt press the stamp to hard, that way the paper only picks up the script on the high points.

This card will also be entered into The Stampman Challenge where the theme is Men. Same theme over at the Simon says Challenge. And last but not least The Stampsmith is asking for birthday creations this week.

Tim Technique - Water Stamping

Over at Simon says Stamp and Show we are using fabulous Tim Holtz techniques this week. Always a favourite.
So I inked up some card with distress inks and water stamped into it. It's important you get a fine even mist all over the stamp. Too much water can make it runny (see top right corner of the card) and you can't see the image that well. I find that bold images work best although the flower here came out ok.
Give it a go it's great fun and so simple.

LOVE-ly cards

With my first craft fair fast approaching I am trying to have plenty of cards available in many different categories and styles. I seemed to be lacking love, wedding and anniversary cards so I got making some.
I love working with my new Paperbag Studios stamps at the moment, the images are just so pretty.

Also I can't seem to stop making random stamped collages and then using snippets of them in my cards.

I am entering this into Hels Sunday Stampers Challenge, the theme is LOVE and to use things we love, well, I love anything Tim Holtz and especially my distress inks as you can see below, I also love my Paperbag Studios stamps so plenty of love from me.

Vintage Butterfly Mirror

As mentioned before I'm making a lot of stuff for a craft fair at the moment and this is another piece I'll be displaying there. I used an Ikea mirror as they are so cheap and everytime I head to Ikea I stock up on a few of these. I covered it with Tim Holtz Kraft Resist paper which then got white washed and distressed with some distress inks, especially round the edges. From another sheet of the same paper I cute some butterflies and sprayed them with perfect pearls mist and stuck them on with foam pads. Gold corners and letters stuck on and it's done. It's very easy but looks lovely and old and vintagy. I may have to flick through the paper pack again and see what other papers may work well for use with the mirrors. I'm entering this into the Simon says Stamp and Show Challenge where the theme is distressing!

Somewhere over the rainbow....

Yes, more Wizard of Oz inspired cards.....
I recently bought the retro style embossing folders set of Tim's and although I've never been a huge lover of embossing folders I am loving this rays one. I used it so much in the past couple of days. I went a bit mad with my spray inks on some watercolour paper here, loving bright colours at the moment.








As for this one, it is another stamp from the Oz Collage set from The Artistic Outpost. I have struggled coming up with an idea for the scarecrow so far but it was worth the wait, I really do like this one. The rays add such a nice feel to the background I find.

Check out The Artistic Outpost Blog and also their website for the latest stamps.

A bunch of challenges..... and new Wendy stamps

It's been a while since I've entered any of my favourite weekly challenges, so this week I just had to make the time.
First of all there is the Coffe and Cream Challenge at Simon says Stamp. Also the soon ending Compendium Challenge over at Studio L3, where we are using alcohol inks on metal embellies this week. And last but not least there is the Stripes challenge at Simon says Stamp and Show.

My card is a bit of a loose interpretation of the stripes challenge, I did make my own stripey background though, using one of Wendy's new sets.
Ok I admit it's a fairly quick card this but crafting time is still rare at the moment.

So excited I get to meet the one and only Tim Holtz on Friday, cant wait!!!!