Stampotique Guest Designer - Final Week "Spring has sprung"

This is my final week as Guest Designer for Stampotique. It's been fun and I'm so grateful for the opportunity. And of course this week is challenge week so you can join in too. The theme is Spring has sprung and I created this little ATC book.

Once you open it, it has 4 little spring ATC's all attached to each other.

Come and join in over at the Stampotique blog!

Stampotique Guest Designer - Week 3

It's week 3 of my Guest Designer month at Stampotique and I have some cards to share with you. The backgrounds were created using watercolour paper and just getting messy with paints, inks, stencils etc. Go crazy, the messier the better. Pick out some bits you like as backgrounds for cards, ATC's, art journaling etc.

Stampotique Designer Challenge - Wearable Art

This is my 2nd week as Guest Artist for Stampotique and this week it's challenge time over on the Designer's Challenge Blog. The theme is Wearable Art, so if you fancy joining in pop over!

I created a tshirt for my nephew using printable cotton and the alphabitties stamps. Sewing is not really one of my strong points but thats ok, there is other options like iron on adhesive backing. Easy and you can create your very own wardrobe.

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!

2011 - 2012

So we say goodbye to another year that had been filled with crafty inkyness and hello to a new year which once my Mojo returns should hopefully be even more colourful.
Looking back at the year it has certainly been an interesting one. I managed to get my crafty creations published in both Craft Stamper and Stampers Sampler and started as a permanent team member for Just Stamps magazine.
I also went to my first ever workshops starting off with the Tim Holtz Artsy Crafts one in February, followed by another 2 Artsy Crafts where I met some lovely people and learned new techniques, esp off the lovely Lynne Perrella.
I took part in my first craft fair, a fun day and great confidence boost as people really enjoyed my makes.
I lost my mojo a bit in June which was scary but I soon turned it around by taking up art journaling or at least the techniques used in art journaling. I am not much of a journal writer but I gave it my own twist and created home decor objects in a painty, inky art journal style. Some of my favourite creations were my mirrors last year hence I am entering this one into The Stamp Man Awards for favourite project of 2011.

I also discovered my love for Stampotique stamp.


These are two of my favourite projects. The card I sent to my sister's boyfriend for his birthday, I think he wasn't too impressed with Uncle Buck on the front. Ah well, I think he's such an adorable character.

I also started painting canvases last year, mainly using collage sheet images as the main focus. I esp like working with the kids pics from Lisa's Altered Art, and also my own family photos.

These are just a few things I really enjoyed making last year, of course there were many cards and challenges I entered, let's hope 2012 will be just as fun filled. I have set myself a few goals for the year and once my mojo returns I will get making. I am currently updating and redesigning my whole website so I am concentrating on that for now. There will be some candy coming soon too. I had promised this a while ago but never got round to taking a picture of the goodies and writing the post so I will make that a priority!

Happy 2012 everyone!!!

Some last minute Christmas cards.....

Just a couple more Christmas cards to share, I had already finished my card making for the season but a friend asked for a card for her boyfriend so I made these two.

I am entering the top one into the Happy Daze Challenge and the bottom one into The Artistic Stamper Challenge.

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.

Life's balance - Page 2 of my Board Book Journal

I'm a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to journaling in a book. I much prefer being able to start again if I dont like something, but that's a bit tricky in a book. Nevertheless I like a challenge. When I created this page I made a cock up, some paint bits I really did not like, but I simply covered it with a iof card, which I think rescued it and I'm happy with the page. Well, as happy as can be. I think journaling is more about the journey than the result. I like to use quotes that I have come across and would like to keep a note of so what better way to put them in a journal. A nice way of keeping thoughts and quotes in one place I think.

Craft Stamper Christmas Card Inspiration featuring Stampotique

Do you read any craft magazines? Do you keep them or maybe pass them on or throw them out after a while? Well I loooove my magazines and they are taking up a fair bit of space but every so often I find myself going through them again and again. And everytime I find new inspiration. Whether it's a project using stamps that I didn't have before but own now or maybe it's just something that didn't interest me before but suddenly it does. So I found myself looking through a Craft Stamper issue from a year ago and found a christmas hanging Kate Crane made using Stampotique and Tim Holtz stamps. I took that idea and created my own little christmas card collection. I used a different character and sentiment but I re-created the same background following her steps. I love them for their vibrant colours and crazy "Uncle Buck" character, he don't look like he loves christmas too much, hehe.

I am entering this into the "Backgrounds" Challenge at The Artistic Stamper.

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.

Love Poison Bottle for Stampotique Designer's Challenge

Just a quick challenge entry from me. My blog is supposed to be on holiday and having a makeover but there is a few challenges I just love joining. Stampotique is one of them.

So when I saw the theme - Altered Poison Bottle - it scared me a bit. I don't really alter bottles that much. But when I was making some custard tarts the other day I used vanilla pods, which come in these test tube like bottles and I thought that's perfect to alter and small enough to not put me off the challenge.
I kept this one simple and added a few things around the screw lid, I used the Stampotique heart stamp and made a shrinkie poison label using the Alphabitties (luuuurve them!). On the actual glass I stamped heart boy (see below), perfect for my love poison. Love poison in the shape of sugary hearts. Hehe.

As mentioned (a million times) before I am having a blog makeover and I am currently playing with new display options for my makes. Can you tell? So "Woody" here has lent me a hand with my bottle. I bought him yesterday to display mainly my jewellery makes for photos. But I think he did a fab job holding the bottle too.

Also I have just learnt what a flower frog is. Do you know? You know them spiky almost brush like objects people use to display cards sometimes. You may have seen them if you browse flickr. I think it's a fab idea but I had no idea what them things are, until I asked and someone kindly explained to me they are flower frogs, used to hold stems in place when arranging flowers. You learn something new everyday. I'd love to hear of more cunning display options. So feel free to share your ideas below.

I am also entering this into the Explosion of Colour Challenge over at Happy Daze. Stampotique images are available from their shop so do check it out!

Well, so much for a quick post. Laters!

The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge..... Week 7

It's week 7 of the Calendar Challenge at The Craft Barn and here is my entry for the week. I embossed the bla blas, then inked over with distress inks, coloured in the lil lady with distress inks, sewn some lines for her to stand on, calendar attached and voila it's done.

The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge - Purple and Embossing
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

Lynne Perrella inspired Tags

It's been a bit quiet on my blog for a few days but there is a reason, I spent a weekend in Warrington at Artsy Crafts. Having taken part in Lin and Leandras workshops before I just couldnt miss this one, it had a special guest - Lynne Perrella.
I must say I had not really been familar with her work before but liked what saw on her website and I like to learn new things and venture out into different angles of crafting and so I just booked myself 2 day workshops with her. As always it was well organized and I met a lot of lovely people. The projects we did with Lynne still need some finishing touches and I will share them with you when they are ready. In the meantime check out this You Tube video to see everyone's work.
But the main inspiration I took away from this weekend was Lynne's love for oil pastels. She gave us a quick demo on a tag how she layered pastels with paints and stencils and I am totally in love.
The tag on the left is one Lynne did or me using an old photo of me and my sister. The next one is one I made using the same technique. And then the other two are ones I did at home yesterday. I also created a whole mirror in that style - I'll share that some time this week.
So overall a fab weekend, the venue was nice, the people were even nicer and I have taken away loads of inspiration. Thanks Lin and Leandra and everyone involved and especially thanks to Lynne - you are amazing!

The Disco-Tag (get it?!?!) will be entered into the Tag Challenge at The Stampotique Designers 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!!!

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".

Halloween Candle & Trick or Treat

I'm not much of a Halloween person, I'd rather go straight from summer to Christmas, but I had these 2 glass jars hanging around and they somehow inspired me to create some Halloween decorations.

This one I painted with Fresco paints, a little stamped trick or treat band around the bottom, some ribbon and Stampotique's Uncle Buck is just perfect for Halloween. Pop some sweets in, done.





This one I coloured with alcohol inks, added some ribbon and pumpkins and let 2 tealights melt inside.
Very quick and easy to do, might be a nice project to do with children. The glass jars were from some yoghurts I bought.

Both of these are being entered into a few challenges....

Artistic Stamper - Autumn Colours
Happy Daze - Christmas or Halloween
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Tando - Spooktastic
ABC Challenge - Anything Goes

A little late..... Alter it monthly - October theme - Boxes

This is a bit late, but better late than never. My DT piece for this month's Alter it Monthly theme "Boxes".
I have been away on holiday lazing about in the sunshine and on beaches so I hope you can forgive me.
I altered this plain wooden chest using various acrylic paints, spray inks, stencils etc. I stamped the Stampotique flowers all the way around the box and punched out some small paper flowers to stick on. All sounds very quick and easy but it took a while to get all the layers of paints on each side of the box, it's just one of those projects you start and keep coming back to.
The lettering is stamped on using my favourite Alphabitties by Stampotique, I'm in love with them!




Here is the back. I think you get the idea.

If you fancy altering a box of some kind come and join us at Alter it monthly. There is a prize up for grabs. And there is only 3 months left to enter the Alter it monthly challenges as sadly the decision has been made to close the blog down.

The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge..... Week 3

This week the theme at The Craft Barn Calendar Challenge is "Green and Flowers". My submission has been made in a bit of a rush as I am about to go on holiday in the morning.
So this one has been inspired by one of Kate Crane's journal pages, I loved her page so much with the gremlin and flowers that I had to make my own thing with it. And as I'm not much of a journaler I thought why not make it into a calendar, then I can hang it on the wall and enjoy it!
Of course I did more sewing on this piece. like I said I'm sewing everything at the mo!

I printed a calendar in A5 and bound it with the bind-it-all, I think I might make a few more calendars like this, they'd make nice presents I think.

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.