Show us some bling !

It's time for another challenge over at The Stamp Man and this time we would like to see some bling ! There's the usual £10 voucher up for grabs to spend in the The Stamp Man online store.

I decided to use this opportunity to make the first of 4 18th birthday cards for my youngest niece. I can't believe she'll be 18 ! I can still remember her as a baby like it was yesterday !

I'm rather hooked on stamping onto fabric at the moment so I decided to stamp the corset onto Crinoline and then I painted it using Distress Markers. I stamped the flourish onto Crinoline too and painted it again with Distress Markers. For the background panel I used Victorian Velvet Distress Stains, then I stamped the text stamp from the Tim Holtz French Marketplace set in different directions, heat set it and then went over the top with Picket Fence Distress Stains. It gives a lovely muted, chalky finish. For the side panel I used the Suchard stamp from the same set and used the same Distress Stains.

The panels for the numbers are small off cuts left over from the side panel. The cage is made using the Darkroom Door Birds stamp set which I've stamped onto shrink plastic, I punched the holes for the pearls before shrinking it and then sewed the pearls onto the cage. The tickets are stamped using the Tim Holtz Odds & Ends stamp set and I've gone around the edge using a Distress Marker watered down on my craft sheet.

I hope you get chance to join us for this challenge.

I'm also entering this card into the following challenges:

• Moving along with the Times - Happy birthday 
•  Stampin for the Weekend - Show us your style (mine is definitely shabby, vintage, distressed)
• Charisma Cardz - Anything goes

Let's see some texture !

We've come round to the next challenge over at Frilly and Funkie and this time it's my turn to host it. So, I've chosen texture as the challenge with the added twist of using material in your project !

Make sure you check out the rest of the DT's gorgeous work !

For my project I decided to make a mini book, which was inspired by a book I saw in one of the 365 Scrap magazines. I wanted the book to include words that mean alot to me, so I started with the Wendy Vecchi stamp of 'be yourself'.

 I made the book from watercolour paper which was sprayed with diluted DI re-inker. The panels are also made using watercolour panel and for the front panel I've covered it with Tissue Wrap which I've scrunched while the glue was still wet , I stamped the swirl and embossed it with white EP before I sprayed it with diluted DI re-inker and also with Stream Colour Wash.

This is what the book looks like when it's opened out, I purposely didn't go too made with layers and embellishments as I wanted to use different techniques and, for once, be able to see them at the end !

This is my first attempt at journalling ! I'm not sure I've got the hang of it just yet, but I really enjoyed the process ! I punched circles from a piece of paper and used it as a mask to stamp over to create circles of text. I then hand drew the circles around the text and used a mask with DI over the top.

For this page I used lots of diluted DI re-inkers and sprayed lots of layers drying them in between. The stamps I've used are Katzlekraft and this is the page where I've used my material. While I was on holiday a couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon an amazing shop stocked from floor to ceiling with gorgeous materials ! So, I had to buy one or two 'fat squares' ! I've made the flower from material using the Tattered Floral die and I've also pleated it across the bottom edge. The little flower in the centre is a paper flower that I've dipped into UTEE in my melting pot.

I couldn't resist doing some more stamping onto material and this time I've stamped onto Crinoline, which you can buy in the Funkie Junkie Boutique. I've painted the image using Distress Markers, the stamps are all PaperArtsy. I masked the bottles off once I'd stamped them, blended DI over the rest of the page and used the spritz and flick technique, and then removed the masks to blend some Wild Honey over them. The sentiment at the top is an Elusive Images stamp, which I love !

For the last page I used the watercolour technique that Tim Holtz covered in his Creative Chemistry classes. The gorgeous image is from a Vintage Collage stamp set by TJ Designs and the words are again by Elusive Images, and don't you just love that butterfly !

I hope you get chance to join us for this challenge, and remember you can join in at any point during the next 2 weeks.

I'm also entering this project into the below challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp and Show - Depths of Distress 
• Pan Pastel challenge - Anything goes 
•  Allsorts - Any die will do (I used Tattered Florals die)
• Cupcake Craft Challenges - Birds of a Feather

I've finished it !

You know the saying 'better late than never' well I guess that this applies to me as I've just finished the project I started at the ArtsyCraft workshop just over 2 weeks ago ! In all fairness I have been on holiday for a week in between, that's my excuse anyway !

This is the front page, I love the image which is transferred onto fabric. The flower is made from PaperArtsy Crunchy paper, Kraft Glassine paper and a Basic Grey button.

This is what it looks like opened out, all of the panels are double sided, I've not photographed every one as I would still be here this time tomorrow ! So instead I've just shown you some highlights.

The main image on this panel is also an image transferred onto fabric. Lots of painting, layering and sewing !

This image was stamped onto material, painted using Fresco Finish paints and then covered with a piece of gauze which was burnt off using a soldering iron ! Had loads of fun zipping around the edge in a random fashion with the sewing machine too !

More painting and layering on this panel and the flower was made using a tea light ! I made this at home as didn't get round to it in the workshop and my other half was a tad concerned at the smell of burning !

I'm also entering this project into the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge which is to use some brown. 

Jazz time !

For my Katzelkraft DT post this week I've taken the opportunity to start on a project that I've been desparate to get going on. My youngest niece will be 18 on the 30th July, and for all of my nieces I've made an album from baby through to their 18th birthdays.

I thought I'd start with this page as the musical side seemed to attract me more than the baby pages ! I've used Mustard Seed, Squeezed Lemonade and Peacock Feathers DI on the background. The mask is the Tim Holtz Concerto one and I've blended more Peacock Feathers DI over it. I've then used the new Katzelkraft Bordures stamps and randomly stamped them using Broken China DI over the background. The black and white panel and the rosette have both been made with one of these stamps as well. The rosette is made using the Tim Holtz die.

The word Jazz is from the Musique stamp set. The saxophone die is a Quickutz die that I've had for years! Amazing what comes in handy ! The letters are grunge board and have been coloured using DI, and the swirl is the TIm Holtz Mini Flourish die.

So, that's one page down.......several more to go so you may find one or two more appear here !!

All of the stamps I've used are available exclusively from The Craft Barn in the UK or from Katzelkraft in France.

I'm also entering this layout into the Simon Says Stamp challenge which is anything but a card.

A little bit of Nature !

We've arrived at the next challenge for The Fashionable Stamping Challenge, and this time we're going back to Nature. So, as long as your project includes some stamping and fits with the theme, we'd love to see it!

I've got everything crossed that this post will appear OK, as since I've been back from holiday yesterday afternoon, there's been alot of problems with an error code keep appearing. I believe that the issue is something to do with the AVG search tool bar, but as I don't have that open I've no idea what's going on !

Anyway, back to today's project, I've had to cheat a little as we were away on holiday last week so I've not had time to make anything from scratch so thought I would show you a couple of pages of a work in progress project. I attended one day of the last ever Artsycraft week ends before I went on holiday, I didn't get chance to finish the project so now I'm back I'm getting stuck in with it !

The pages are going to form a folding book, once I've finished it all I will be back to share, but in the mean time here are 2 of the pages ready to be sewn together.

The bird on this page was die cut from acetate stamped on one side with Stazon and then painted on the reverse. Lots of stamping on the strips of fabric and loads of random sewing !

The 2 dragonflies are made from PaperArtsy Crunchy paper and have been stamped onto with a text stamp and then screwed up. The material panel behind them has also been stamped using Coffee Achival ink.

It was the last ever Artsycraft week end and I'm so pleased I was able to book onto at least one day. These week ends have been amazing, not only the projects but the organisation that goes into them is just mind blowing ! To say I've learnt alot is by far selling them short. I understand the reasons for them having to stop, but that doesn't mean to say I'm not going to miss them !

I hope you get chance to join us for this challenge.

Time Travel !

It's time for the next challenge over at The Stamp Man. This time we would like to see your project with either a Time or Travel theme. Remember there's a £10 voucher to spend in The Stamp Man online store for the winner.

I blended Gathered Twigs and Peacock Feathers DI over a tag that was cut from Kraft card.I've then stamped using the clock face from the TH Curiosities stamp, the flourish from the TH Fabulous Flourishes set and the numbers are from the Things to Say set.

The horzintal panel is made using the Metal Foil tape and it's embossed with the Retro Texture Fades folder and had alcohol ink dabbed on to it. Letters are made using the Vintage Market die and I've covered them with DI and Glossy Accents.

A quick post for me today as this is scheduled as we're away on holiday at the moment.

Hope you get chance to join us for this challenge.

Frilly & Funkie challenge

It's time for the next challenge over at Frilly and Funkie and this time we have a photo for you to take your inspiration from. Make sure you check out the rest of the DT's fabulous work and remember there is a $15 gift certificate to spend in the Funkie Junkie Boutique for the winner.

I decided to do something a little different for this challenge and have made a wall hanging. I've used Kraft corrugated card for the background. I painted a piece of Crinoline with watered down Gesso and once it was dry, stamped it with Archival Olive ink. The moth has been painted using Distress Markers, picking up the ink from my craft mat.

The large flower and leaves are all stamped using Wendy Vecchi stamps. The yellow flower is stamped onto sticky back canvas that's been stuck to Grunge Paper then coloured using Distress Markers. The other flowers and leaves are stamped straight onto Grunge Paper and coloured using distress inks, as is the heart.

The sentiment is also a Wendy Vecchi stamp and I love it ! I've blended DI from the Spring collection over it and stuck it to some Jute Mesh. Quite simple but I have to say I really like it !

Saturday StepXStep

Over at Frilly and Funkie it's my turn for a Saturday StepXStep. Hop over there for the details of my tag.

Butterfly tag !

For my Katzelkraft DT project I've made another jumbo tag ! I've used the new Spring DI colours, just love the Peacock Feathers colour, and also Ripe Persimmon from the Autumn set. Blended over the tag and then used the masks I made using the Elegant Flourishes die.

I stamped over the background with various stamps from Fleurs Grunge, Hummingbirds and the Paris Postal sets. I then stamped the butterflies from the Wings set onto watercolour paper and painted them using Distress Markers.

I masked them off and then stamped the text from the Nature Quotes set with white acrylic paint. I dried it off and then blended DI over the top, spritzed a piece of kitchen roll and wiped it over the top.

I used a piece of TH Tissue Wrap behind the centre panel, and distressed the edges with Walnut Stain DI.

The flower is my first real dabble with Kraft Glassine paper. I saw this in the latest Craft Stamper magazine and loved it ! It's made using the Tattered Florals and Mini Tattered Florals dies, Walnut Stain DI and a Hitch Fastener for the centre.

I'm entering this tag into the following challenges:

• Truly Scrumptious - Flower Power 
• Papertake Challenge - Anything Goes
• Crazy 4 Challenges - Add a butterfly

Magical and Mystical !

I am sooo late with my DT project for The Fashionable Stamping Challenge, time just ran out last week ! So, I'm now on catch up and the challenge this time round is Magical and Mystical. Remember Marina from Cottage Crafts is our sponsor and there is a €7 voucher up for grabs to spend in her store for the winner.

I've been really enjoying myself with the extra large tags that I bought from Linda's Funkie Junkie Boutique, so apologies you may see quite a few ! For this tag I decided to have a go at the Faded Layers technique (Compendium of Curiosities II, p43).

I thought I'd show you the background before I cover it up ! I cut the stencil from a Mask Sheet using the TH Elegant Flourishes die. I used the new Spring Distress Inks with some Seedless Preserve DI (love these colours!). I used the TH Fabulous Flourishes stamp set and also the text stamp from the Wendy Vecchi Art from the Heart set.I then sprayed it with Perfect Pearls Mist Biscotti.

I stamped the main image using TH Distress markers coloured straight onto the Tanda Stamps stamp, onto watercolour paper, and then painted the image using the marker ink (love these markers too!). I dabbed some embossing ink around the corners and then sprinkled silver EP onto it. The embossed panel is made from a Ranger Foil Tape sheet, which I've stuck onto card and then embossed using the Retro Texture Fades folder. I then used several Alcohol inks on it and then covered it with black acrylic paint. I rubbed most of the acrylic paint off and sanded across the top. The star is made from a Stampin' Up flower punch which I've cut the rounded edges off, then used the cracked distress technique. The die cut word is a Sizzix die that I've cut one from black card and offset the top die cut so it gives the impression of a shadow. The ticket is made using the Movers & Shapers ticket die and the text is an Elusive Images stamp.

I hope you get chance to join us for this challenge, and do make sure you hop over to the main blog to check out the fabulous work of the rest of the DT (if you haven't already!).

I'm entering this tag into the following challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp and Show - Some texture 
• C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - background text

One for the men !

It's time for the next challenge over at The Stamp Man and with Father's Day fast approaching the challenge this time is Make it for a man. Remember there's a £10 voucher to spend in the online store for the winner.

I decided to have a go with one of the jumbo tags that I bought from Linda's Funkie Junkie Boutique. They are quite alot larger than the standard size so gives you alot more scope. I started by using the Curiosities Tim Holtz stamp set and stamping the small stamps using Distress Markers in Broken China, Rusty Hinge and Fired Brick. I then blended Tea Dye and Walnut Stain DI over and around the edge of the tag. I then embossed the whole tag using the Cuttlebug Tiny Mosaic EF. I then rubbed Embossing Ink over the tag and embossed it with clear EP.

I stamped all of the images and text, which are from the Darkroom Door Photography and the Tim Holtz Curiosities sets, with black Archival Ink and blended DI over them. The film strip is made using a stamp from the Darkroom Door Photography stamps set and I've stamped it several times onto acetate. The frame for the main text is made using the Movers and Shapers Mini Tickets die. I added some gold EP to the heads of the screw brads and a filigree metal corner to the top of the tag.

I'm entering this tag into the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge which is One for the Boys.