Playing with My Stamps

Afternoon to All My Blogland Friends

I hope you all have a lovely Halloween.

Well this week I have decided to do some crafting for me!!!!  I have spent the last month doing work for DT commitments and samples for some British Companies so this week I have decided to play with my stamps.

This is what I have created this morning and couldn't wait to share it with you all!

For my base card I have taken 2 A4 black pieces of card and cut it down to 23 cms.  At 5 cms I have scored both pieces and joined together but I added my ribbon before joining them using double sided tape, I then added the knots and the buttons.  The base layer which is white pearlescent card is cut out using Spellbinder Die Labels 23, this is a fairly new die and I love it and use it nearly all the time!  I have used WOW embossing glitters in Silver Bells around the edge of the card.

I then took a piece of parchment and drew around a smaller die using my embossing tool to give an embossed edge.  I have stamped using Versamark and WOW powder's in Black Glint and then heated this dry.  The sentiment I stamped using white VersaColour ink pad and embossed the wording.  I turned my parchment over and using my chalks I have chalked in blues, greens and a combination of peach and sand.  I have embossed certain area of this stamp using my embossing tool.  The stamps are from Sheena Douglass' A little bit Sketchy Range called Milestones and Moments and this is one of my favourites!!!!!  Around the edge of the embossed area I have taken a 2 pin parchment tool and pricked all around the shape then using my scissors cut this out to give a fluted edge.  You can't see it very well on the white pearlescent background card but it looks beautiful.  I then layered this onto the white card using brads from my stash and mounted this onto the black card.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

Bows & Berries - Clean & Simple
Bling it On - No backing Papers
Simon Says Stamp - House
Whimsy Inspiration - Buttons
Digi Doodle Shop is Best - Anything Goes
Inspire me Friday's - Anything Goes

Thank you for stopping by today!

Hugs

Linda xxx

Guest Designer at Lollipop Crafts for the Month of October

Well October has gone really quick and this is my last guest spot for Lollipop Crafts. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kris and Kim for giving me this opportunity and look forward to seeing what they have in stall for the coming months and wish them all the best for the future.

This weeks challenge is "anything goes", so I took this literally and I have done something totally different for this challenge.

The terrecotta planter I bought from one of the DIY shops and decided to stamp butterflies all around the pot.  I have used Sheena Douglass' Paint Fusion Butterfly stamp set which she brought out earlier this year. 

Paint Fusion is just so easy to do and anyone can do this.  It is an easier form of Folk Art and you can get some amazing results.

Pink and Purple are just a couple of my favourite colours and of course my butterflies had to be painted using those colours.  I have used Pebeo acrylic paints to paint them and using the end of my paintbrush placed the little dots on them.

I hope you like my offering for "Anything Goes" challenge and we look forward to seeing what you come up with for this challenge.

Thank you for stopping by and Thanks also to Kris and Kim

It has been a pleasure and I wish you good luck for the future

Hugs

Linda xxxx

Sponsor Spotlight Over at Lollipop Crafts

Hello My Blogland Friends

Over at Lollipop Crafts it is time for Sponsor Spotlight and today the spotlight is on Inked Treasures Digi Stamps. 

I have used Lollipop Bella from Inked Treasures Digi Stamps.

I have used a white base card and placed Lollipop Bella onto white cardstock and using Spellbinders die Label 23 I have cut out and while die was still in place inked around the edges of the die with Dew Drop Brilliance Pearlescent Lavender. Using lilac pearlescent card I have cut this out using labels 23. The floral ribbon is from my stash and I shaped this and attached gems from my stash.

Lollipop Bella has been coloured in using watercolour pencils. I have used Flower Soft in Toffee and Koala grey to give Bella some dimension. I have used Ranger Sepia Accents which makes it look good enough to eat!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for stopping by today

Hugs

Linda xxx



Guest Designer at Lollipop Crafts for the Month of October

Hello Crafters

Well this is penultimate card for this weeks challenge over at Lollipop Crafts.  This week the challenge is to use 3 different types of embellishments on your card.

For this challenge I have used white pearlescent square base card.  The heart doilly I have distressed with Dew Drops VersaMagic Pink Petunia and used as the first layer.  I have cut out using my Spellbinders Scalloped Circle die and stamped this sweet image of 2 little girls having tea.  I have coloured them in with a mixture of watercolour pencils and Spectrum Noir pens.  I then distressed using the same colour ink as the heart.

For my 3 embellishments I have used buttons, paper flowers which I have used stickles icicles in the centre.  The bow is some florist ribbon I found in my stash and added a gem to the centre.

I hope you like my creation for this challenge and we look forward to seeing what you create.

Thank you for stopping by today

Hugs

Linda xxxx

Creations by Gill M Challenge - Transport

Good Morning Crafters

Well it is that time of the month for the second challenge over at Creations by Gill M and for this fortnightly challenge we would like to see what you come up with for Transport.

Here is my take on the Transport theme.

After much thought about whether to use vintage cars, tractors, trains etc I found this little gem in my male crafty stash.  It just begged to be shown off.

This is a Kanban kit which I have had for quite sometime and if I am honest I forgot I had it.  It was a large topper for an A4 card but I decided to cut it down to fit the card I wanted to use.  It worked really well.  I have used Dew Drop VersaMagic chalk ink in Aspen mist to distress around the four sides, which makes the image come alive, I haven't added any other embellishments.  This particular topper is called Vespa in Paris and you can just imagine the young men and women whizzing around the streets in Paris. 

Now it is over to you, we can't wait to see what designs you do for this challenge.

Happy Crafting

Linda xxx

My First Attempt into the World of Scrapbooking

Good Morning All

Today I am showing you my first foray into the world of scrapbooking.  My friend over at Scrappin' Creations by Gill M has started a group which there are 10 of us and we pick a theme and link to her blog out attempts.  There are newbies like myself and others who have been scrapbooking a while.

I plan to do the first 5 years of a page for each and then a page for every 5 years.  I became a grandmother for the first time on the 1st January this year to a beautiful little girl named Alice and I wanted to do this for her so that when she is older we can sit together and I can take her through the book. 

I will see how I progress with this my first attempt and then start one for Alice which I would love to give her on her 21st Birthday.

The first photograph is the Album itself.

Below is the front of the album which I have covered using  My Craft Studio Papercraft Library Volume 2 Paper Word textured background and using text written the title of my scrapbook which is "A journey through my life".  I have added the map of Malta as this was where it all began in 1960.

Finally onto my first page.  I have used backing paper from My Craft Studio My Stencil Studio CD 2 background for the mat for my little introduction from my parents on the birth of their daughter and to frame the photograph of myself at 3 weeks old.  The alphabet was taken from Artist Collection Volume 1 Smudge Alphabets 1.  I have cut them out and placed them at the top of the page.  The teddy, nappy pins and stars are from my crafty stash.

I would really appreciate any comments, hints or tips on my first foray into the world of scrapbooking.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by today.

Hugs

Linda xxxx

My finished projects from workshop with Sheena Douglass

As promised earlier in the week my posting today is about what I have finished following my workshop with Sheena Douglass last Sunday at Port Sunlight.  I hope you like my creations and would appreciate any comments as I just love to read all your thoughts on my work.

The first project was to paint fusion Ivy onto a candle.

The second project was to make a wall hanging using cicular mount board using the fir tree and fir cones.

The third project was to do a topper for a Christmas card using the Christmas Tree stamp.  Firstly we distressed the card with Chipped Sappire distress ink to create a dark sky, flicked water onto this and using a paper towel blotted the water off this produced a snow effect.  The tree was stamped and the smaller trees were stamped either side.  Using acrylic paints we then painted the end of the card to create a snowy base and then paint fusioned the tree.  The moon is a circle in white which has been distressed on one side to create a crescent moon. I added a gold star to the top of the tree.  To finish my card off I highlighted the edges of the topper with Cosmic Shimmer Twinkles and then mat and layered onto a large 8 x 8 square card adding ribbon and a sentiment.

The final project was the poinsettia, Sheena had made a Christmas Tree decoration, I have placed mine onto an A5 card matting and layering with black and white pearlescent card.  I have attached red ribbon to the back of the poinsettia and attached it to the card.  In the centre I have added silicone glue and sprinkled gold glitter, yellow and green seed beads.  The poinsettia has been sprayed with Crafter's Companion Spray and Sparkle in gold.  I have added a sentiment and punched out snowflakes from my stash.

I hope you like my completed projects as much as I have enjoyed putting them together.

Thank you for stopping by today

Hugs

Linda xxx



Sponsor Spotlight Over at Lollipop Crafts

Hi All

WOW, what a busy October I am having what with DT work and blog hops I haven't stopped.  But it has been such fun doing what I love best and that is crafting.

It is Thursday and that means Sponsor Spotlight over at Lollipop Crafts.  Today the spotlight is on Robyn's Fetish the design team have created some stunning cards etc featuring their Digital Stamps.

I have used Bearly A Pumpkin digital stamp.  He is just soooooooo cute and I have loved working with him.

This is the 3rd card I have made this way but they just look so effect and very different from the normal card.  I have cut the base card using Black cardstock and Spellbinder die Grand Circle and this is rocks brilliantly.  The backing on the black is a sheet of Halloween Organza fabric which I bought from HobbyFun and adhered to the base of the card.  I then cut out an oval shape in black and after printing off Bearly a Pumpkin onto white cardstock I cut this out into an oval.  Bearly has been coloured in using watercolour pencils and his fur is Flower Soft to give him dimension.  I distressed around the oval using Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Wild Honey.  To finish this card off I cut out one of the bats from the organza fabric and decouped him on the card.
Please hop on over to Lollipop Crafts to see what images they have used from Robyn's Fetish for the Sponsors Spotlight.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Hugs

Linda xxx

Paint Fusion workshop with Sheena Douglass

Good morning to you all

On Sunday I had a crafting day out in Port Sunlight, I attended another of Sheena's Douglass' workshops and had a really good time.  I was up at 7.00 am and left home at 8.30, the roads were lovely and quiet but it was drizzling with that fine rain that soaks you right through.  Well my faithful Sat Nav got me to my destination just in time for the start of the workshop.

There were about 17 of us Paint Fusioneers and we set to work straight away.  The first sample we made was using Sheena's new Christmas range of stamps (which I bought as soon as they were released) the Ivy onto a Candle, wow the effects were stunning and everyone of our candles were different. 

Here is the "Boss Lady" herself coming round to see our own masterpieces and helping us if we got stuck, we all enjoyed our time learning new skills and of course Sheena' gave us lots of handy hints and tips.

We made 4 projects in all, Ivy onto a Candle, a Christmas Scene using the Christmas Tree Stamp, a Wall hanging using the fir tree branch and cones and a poinsettia topper.  Of course we didn't manage to finish all of the projects and I brought mine home and finished them yesterday.  I will post my makes at the end of the week.

Russ (Mr Gopher) was on hand to make us cups of tea and brought round some lovely biscuits and cakes. They were delicious. :) I took my camera and Russ was good enough to take photographs of us all fusioning away. Thank you Russ :)  Below is a picture I managed to take of the very camera shy Sheena and her lovely hubby Russ.

Well we had a lot of fun and took away some good makes away with us. Sheena & Russ worked really hard as did all of us Fusioneers.  At the end of the day I got a picture of myself with Sheena and it was really an enjoyable day.

Thank you for stopping by today and don't forget to hop back on Friday when I will be posting what I made at the workshop

Hugs

Linda xxxx

Guest Designer at Lollipop Crafts for the Month of October

Hello My Crafty Friends

Today is my 3rd guest designer spot at Lollipop Crafts for this month.  The challenge this week is to make a card with no sentiment.

I have used white square card as my base card.  The first layer is purple holographic card from my stash which I have cut out with my Spellbinder dies and placed it diagonally.  Onto the top layer I have stamped this cute boy wizard which is one of Lilli of the Valley stamps.  I coloured him in using my watercolour pencils and distressed the edges of the card using Dew Drops Pearlescent Lavender.  The peel offs I coloured using my permanent markers in purple.

Now it is over to you to and we look forward to seeing your creations.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Hugs

Linda xxx

Hollywood Stars Blog Hop - Its Showtime

Hi All

Today is the Hollywood Stars blog hop hosted by Creations by Gill M and if you have arrived from Brynn then you are going in the right direction.

For this fabulous hop I have used "Ole Blue Eyes" himself Frank Sinatra.

I have taken an 8 x 8 pearlescent card and scored half way on the front of the card to create an Easel Card.  All the papers, card, topper, greeting are from Kanban music set which I have had for a while but couldn't decide on how to use it.  We crafters never throw anything away and I think this works perfectly for the Hollywood Stars Theme.

For my next creation I have used "The Duke" John Wayne.  I love to watch his films, he was a darn good actor in whatever movie he starred in.

I have used Legends of Hollywood CD by Kraftyhands the backing paper is the clapper board and projector which I printed off in black and white.  I distressed the edges using Tim Holtz Distress Inks Stormy sky.  Using Pale Blue mirri card I matt and layered the pyramage onto this.  I didn't add any other embellishments because I wanted John to be the main focal point.

For my next card I have used my favourite Elvis Presley.  When I was in my teens I just adored this man.  It was such a shame that he died, I was devastated, I remember when the news came on the TV that he had died I cried buckets.  I would have dearly loved to have seen him live.

For this card I have used the musical backing paper from MCS Papercraft Library Men-y Happy Returns.  I have used Crafter's Companion Iridescent glitter spray.  Using black card as the base I have then layered my pyramage onto this.  This icon is on the Legends of Hollywood by Kraftyhands.

Now to follow on your journey to Nikki to see who she has for you.  I hope you are enjoying the hop as there are some truly amazing ideas and stars on show today.

Thank you for stopping by today

Happy Crafting

Linda xxx

Vintage Heartfelt Designs October Challenge

Hello All

Over at Vintage Heartfelt Designs today our challenge is to produce an Autumnal Tag of any size and  it must feature an autumnal/fall foilage of any description.

I have used mountboard tag from my stash.  I have brayered the tag using Big and Juicy Foilage and stamped Sheena Douglass' stamp from the Nature Accomplished Set.  Using the Adirondak Expresso I have stamped the tree and then stamped the individual leaves falling from the tree.  The ribbons, feather and tree bark is from my stash.  The leaves I have stamped and brayed over and cut them out to decorate the bottom of the tag.  The verse has been stamped and embossed and reads:

"Autumn is a Second Spring

When Every Leaf is A Flower"

Thank you for stopping by

Happy Crafting

Linda xxx

Sponsor Spotlight Over at Lollipop Crafts

Hi Everyone

Thursday already, where is this year going?  Today over at Lollipop Crafts it is Thursday so that means the Sponsor Spotlight and today were are Spotlighting Little Miss Muffet Designs.

I just love this cute little monster and just begged to be used for the Sponsor Spotlight.

I have used  Spellbinder dies Grand Labels 23 for this base of the card and the first layer.  The base was then folded in half and the 1st layer I cut out in pearlescent pink.  I printed Monster Love onto white cardstock and cut out into a rectangle.  Monster love has been coloured in using my watercolour pencils and I have used Flower Soft in Red for his hairy body.  I distressed around Monster Love using Tim Holtz Distress ink in Spun Sugar.  The sentiment and hear embellishment are from my crafty stash.

Please hop on over to Lollipop Crafts to see the other Design Teams Creations.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Hugs

Linda xxx

Guest Designer at Lollipop Crafts for the Month of October

Hello Crafters

It is time for the second challenge of the month over at Lollipop Crafts.  This week's challenge is to use critters (animals) in your design.

My base card is one from Hunkydory shaped card.  I have folder the front of the card back on itself and covered with backing paper from Meadow Cottage Bears kit.  Using matt silver pearlescent card I have cut out a rectangle using my Spellbinders Grand Rectangles.  I love teddy bears and just had to use this cute decoupage of Daddy teddy with his daughter for this challenge.  Again this is from the Meadow Cottage Bears Cottage kit.  I have highlighted the first layer with silver peel offs.

To embellish I have used pale blue Card Candy and the sentiments are all from my own crafty stash.

Now it is over to you to come up with your own creations using any animals, dogs, cats, mice etc.

Thank you for stopping by

Hugs

Linda 

Creations by Gill M Challenge - Vintage Wedding with Lace

Good Morning Crafters

Over at Creations by Gill M it is time for our new challenge.  We would like you to make a vintage wedding card incorporating lace into your design.

 This is what I came up with.  The card base and topper is from Kanban which was in my crafty stash.  The base of the topper I have used Spellbinder die and cut off the bottom piece and added a lace frill.  I have also made a bow using the lace ribbon I found which was also in my stash as well as the sentiment.  I have glittered the flowers on the base of the card and decoupaged this topper.

Now it is over to you, we look forward to seeing what designs you have come up with for this theme.

Happy Crafting

Linda xxx

Sponsor Spotlight Over at Lollipop Crafts

Hello Everyone

As you are aware I am Guest Designer over at Lollipop Crafts this month and today is the Sponsor Spotlight for Meljen's Designs.

I know that over in the USA it is a very big event, here in the UK it is starting to get big and I hope you like what I have done with The Pumpkin Pile.

The base of the card I have cut out the scalloped circle die from Spellbinders and folded in half to give it movement as it rocks from side to side.  I have printed the Pumpkin Pile onto white cardstock and coloured in using watercolour pencils and then cut it out into an oval I then distressed the edges using Adirondak ink in Butterscotch.  The sentiment is a small scalloped circle which I have written onto it "Spooky Halloween" and Boo using Orange Sakura Gel pen.

Please hop on over to Lollipop Crafts to see what the rest of the Design Team have done.

Thank you for stopping by today

Hugs

Linda xxx

World Card Making Blog Hop 2 - 6 October 2011

Hello Crafters and welcome to The World Cardmaking Day blog hop on this the 3rd October.

This is a 5 day blog hop with 10 different participants each day except for our lovely Hostess Gill

As it is World Cardmaking Day the participants of the hop are donating card to Gill for charity.  In the line up each day there will be a UK crafting celebrity taking part among us mere mortal crafters!!!!

Right - now on with the hop - if you have arrived here from Dee and want to hop along then your are definitely on the right track.  I hope you enjoy what you see, not only from me but from my blogging friends/participants.  Remember to leave me a comment as there will be some BIG blog candy from Gill and from the sponsors of the hop, for what Gill thinks is the most interesting comment and she will announce the winner 2 days after the hop closes.

Today being the second day and I have made 2 cards for you to see along with the recipe of how each was made.

As a few of my blogging friends know I am a MASSIVE fan of Sheena Douglass and of course her introduction of Paint Fusion this year has gone down a storm.  So without further ado here is the recipe for the above card.

A6 white deckle edge card which I have distressed the front with Dew Drop Brilliance pigment ink in Pearlescent Lavender.
The birds are from Sheena's "Alittle bit Sketchy Range" which I have stamped using Memento London Fog
The first layer is pink mirri card die cut using one of my Spellbinder Dies
The top layer I have used canvas and brayered using Big & Juice soothing sunset, then I have stamped the lavender bush from Sheena's Paint Fusion Range Simply Sweet set and using Pebeo acrylic paints painted the lavender bush.
For the final touch I have distressed the edges using the Pearlescent lavender.

Now on to my 2nd offering

I have used a white square base card and attached lemon ribbon down the left hand side and place 3 buttons along this.

I have used pearlescent pale green for the first layer and cut this out using Spellbinder dies Grand Labels 23.

I have distressed a piece of mount board by firstly putting a light layer of PVA glue and then once this is dry painted over this using cream matt emulsion.  Using my heat gun I have dried the paint which then gives it this lovely distressed look.  Using Pebeo paints and have stippled a random triangle in the left bottom corner and then stamped my diasies.  Using dark green I have painted the petals and then painted over them in white which gives them dimension.  I have stippled the centres using yellow and then using a mixture of brown and yellow stippled half of the centre.  I have then added some green fronds.

Once this was dry I then sprayed it using Crafter's Companion Iridescent Spray and Sparkle.

Well I hope you like what I have come up with.  Now your next stop is Amber where you will find some more fabulous creations.

Now don't forget to come back for day 2 of this 5 day hop where there will be 9 other participants creations to see starting with the Hostess Gill

Now don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win some blog candy as Gill will be checking all the comments

Thank you for hopping by

Hugs

Linda xxxxx

Guest Designer at Lollipop Crafts for the Month of October

Hello Crafters

I am really honoured to be Guest Designer over at Lollipop Crafts for this month.  Thank you Kris and Kim for giving me this opportunity to take part in your challenges for this month.

The challenge for this week 3rd October 2011 is Halloween.

For my card I have used a lovely orange card as my base.  The halloween theme layer I have printed off from My Craft Studio download sheet and decoupaged the pumpkins.  Using my graphics programme I have printed off the sentiment "Happy Halloween".  The witch I have downloaded from the internet and cut out and placed as if she is flying on her broom stick across the sky accompanying the bats.  The cat in the corner is from my crafty stash which I have used orange gem stones for her eyes and using Sakura gold glitter pen highlighted her paws and tail and given her a collar.

We look forward to seeing what you come up with for this halloween challenge over at Lollipop Crafts.

Thank you for stopping by and I love to read all your comments.

Hugs

Linda xxxx

Breast Cancer Awareness Blog Hop over at Vintage Heartfelt Designs

Hi Everyone

Today over at Vintage Hearfelt Designs we are having a blog hop for Breast Cancer Awareness. If you have hopped here from Pam then you are on the right track.

I am sure that there are many families out there all over the world who have been touched in one way or another with this dreadful disease.  I myself have had a scare which fortunately for me was benign but the fear I had was something I can't even begin to describe.  I have lost an aunt and a couple of friends to this and it is just so very sad.
For my hop I have made this wall hanging which I will be putting up in my craft room as a reminder of all those who are fighting this disease, the survivors and those that have been taken from us.

I have used My Craft Studio graphics programme to make a ribbon background and cut out the shape using one of my Spellbinder dies and then inked around the edges in pale pink.  I then took a piece of the darker pink and again using my dies cut out the base of the topper.  The topper itself I first typed this sentiment " Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honouring the Taken and NEVER EVER giving up HOPE" and then cut out and placed on the base layer.  The pink "Breast Cancer Awareness" badge is my own which I have added and then I decoupaged a couple of pink roses from my stash and glittered.

When I saw this image of the Breast Cancer Girl over at Dude Time Doodles I just new she would be ideal for this blog hop.  I have coloured her in using a variety of different mediums, watercolour pencils and sakura glitter pens.  The sentiment is also part of the set which is oh so true.  The pin badge is one of my own and the flower and gem are from my stash.

Thank you for stopping by today and if you are one who is a survivor or a fighter or even someone who has lost someone to this disease I send you my heartfelt wishes. 

Now to continue on the hop you need to visit my good friend Linda

Linda xxxx