Creative Carte Blanche: Witchy Woman

Happy to be joining Creative Carte Blanche with their challenge Witchy Woman.

Well her is witchy woman as a young girl!

I think you can just see the gold gilding highlights in places.

Good to be playing again. It does the soul good.

Less is more: Challenge #298 Theme

SPIDERS!

Just had to get Spider Girl out for this challenge. Love the simplicity of this stamp. She looks just as I was as a little girl. A real minx. Of course I had to add some smudges as tom boys are never without these.

Thank you once again Simply Less is More for a fun challenge and for getting me back to my workroom.

Art Journey Design Challenge 70: Music

Piper Boy

 

I am very happy that I have managed to join in this Art Journey challenge. Oh how good it is to play again and to use this adorable stamp that I just love and have used many times. 

I used various distress inks smooshed onto a mat and water added. The card was then dipped into the mix. A purple ink was then added through a ledger style stencil. Piper boy was stamped with Plum Archival Ink and a piece of rick rack finally added.

I did a bit more playing to the card today as overnight I felt I could improve it?

I re tsamped the image onto a piece of card. Cut it out and stuck it over the first stamp. Then I added so subtle colour to the face and hands and the tin pipe.

Less is more 276: One layer card

Bamboo Lake

The Legend of the Bamboo Lake goes like this. At the edge of a lake lined with bamboo stands a woman. Her husband is away on a long journey and her heart is sad. She fears that he will never return. Then looking up to the sky she sees a flock of geese flying homeward. Her heart is now no longer sad. She knows her husband will soon return.

Ok I know they look more like cranes but a touch of artistic licence. Maybe I should change the story to fit? What do you think?

3 stamps were used and three ink pads. Olive archival, black archival and Stazon Cherry Red.

Thank you once again Less is More!

Paper Artsy: #3UP

So glad I have had time this Sunday morning to participate in Paper Artsy #3UP. It was good to get painty with Fresco paints whilst lsitening to The Archers and Desert Island Discs. What better way to spend a Sunday morning?

I decided to play with the Urban Snapshot stamps. Since I have been making quite a few CAS cards recently I have continued this approach with much white space although it is not white! Just a fair bit of background and carefully placed focal images.

 

I have used a canvas frame which does not have a solid back to stamp onto, so one of the techniques I like to use in this situation is to stamp onto tissue paper. To then tear out the image to reduce any hard cutting lines which are more likely to show when it is glued into place. It is attached to the canvas using Matte Medium. I used Archival Smokey Grey ink to stamp with and dried it with a hot glue gun before introducing Matte Medium to it.

This is a close up of a section that I particularly like. It shows layers of Fresco paint that have been built up plus the use of the paint with rubber stamps and jar tops. You can also see how well the stamped tissue paper has merged with the background. You would never know this technique had been used.

Less is More: Colour Challenge 275: Pastel

Here is my contribution to the pastel colour challenge at Less is More.

Not much explanation need. Stamped the background pastel shades first and then over stamped with some Chocolate Baroque stamps.

Again really enjoying these restrained challenges and the designs that come from them.

Less is more: Challenge 274

Scraps of paper challenge.

 

So this is what I did with my scrap of paper.

I am relly enjoying tcreating hese CAS cards at the moment.

Thank you Less is More!

Less is More 273: Saints, Dragons or Heros

Well I decided on Dragons for my theme.

 

I am really enjoying the challenge of these Less is More challenges. How to do enough but not too much, that is the question?
After applying the stamped dragon that was stamped on to mulberry paper and then attached, followed by the scipt stamp the design felt it needed just something else. But what and not too much? The three pearls in the lower corner just seemed to finish it off perfectly. Without them it felt empty. With them complete.

Art Journey Challenge 68

Art Journey's challenge this month is to decorate an envelope. So here is my contribution. Accept for one stamp the stamps used are all Art Journey stamps.

Less is more challenge 272: Use 3 stamps

This is my contribution to Less is more challenge 272 to use just 3 stamps or 1 stamp 3 times. I opted for 3 stamps and to create a very still and calm image.
Hope you enjoy!

April's Creative Carte Blanche: Cigar box

Well I didn't have a cigar box but what I did find was one of my Dad's tobbacco tins from when he used to smoke a pipe. Unfortunately now without lid, but as the Creative Carte Blanche challenge says, inside a box is just fine. Dad has been dead now for 20 years so it was a rather poignant and delightful alteration. My Dad loved his garden and had quite an affinity with birds. He also loved his flowers. So what we have here is a Secret Garden in remembrance of my Dad.  

The viola was stamped onto fabric by pounding it with a hammer. Then it became the top layer of a sandwich with wadding as the filling and free machined. The blackbird stamped onto fabric and stitched into place. Other elements added including a four leaf clover, ladybird and a delicate shell button. Then finally Secret Garden stamped and sewn into place.

Less is more: Colour challenge 270

Here is my contribution to Simple Less is more colour challenge 270.

I have used a cream card and stamped in the lower left hand corner. Firstly I stamped some spots from a distress stamp in light green then I over stamped with an Alice Palace stamp available from Crafty Individuals.

Creative Adventure 2: Creative Carte Blanche

Metal, lace and corrugated card

Continuing to allow myself play time I am happy to be joining in with Creative Carte Blanche at the last minute. This was my sort of challenge. Thank you.

Ultimate Portfolio Builder Competition

The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design 'The Ultimate Portfolio Builder' in association with Printsource

The challenge:
'Turn a positive mantra or uplifting quote that you live by into  beautiful typographical design'

#makeitindesign #upbcomp

These are my two entries.
The reason I would love to win is because I really need  help building a portfolio of work. I think this is one of the things that is holding my progress back.

Time to play again: Craft Stamper Take It, Make It Challenge

Take it make it challenge: Anything goes

I have decided to allow myself time to play again. It is far too long a time since I have joined in challenges and I had forgotten how much I enjoyed them.

So my first return I have made a card for Craft Stamper with their March challenge Anything Goes. As a bonus there is a  prize sponsor which is BASEMENT STUDIO but this is not my main reason for playing. It is for the fun.

To make a new beginning I have used 2 of my favourite stamps. Marci from Stampotique and a stamp from Paperbag Studios 'Little Feet' sheet.

CC3 challenge

I am happy to be joining in this CC3 challenge. I love the faded layers and the effect it gives. Subtle but wonderfully effective.

Just love elephants!

The Funkie Junkie Boutique is sponsoring the challenge.

Chocolate Baroque Challenge

I have begun to make cards  again and it really is making me feel better.
I was pleased to see that Chocolate Baroque have a monthly challenge which I am now pleased I can contribute to.
It is a colour challenge: Red, green, yellow and blue. Here is my make.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Kraft with Art Journey

I thought it was about time I joined in another challenge.
Hoping I catch the deadline, here is my contribution for July!

 

Swooshed colours over some Kraft resist paper. love this man and I always feel he may be a wise yogi living in the Himalayas, hence put him on a backdrop of some mountain ranges.

Guest Designer for Roc Nicholas

Time to break the ice and actually post something again on this blog!
It is largely due to Roc Nicholas who kindly invited me to be a guest designer for April.
I do so thank her as I really enjoyed playing again and probably would not have if this invite was not given. So thank you Roc. What could be better than playing with Roc's quirky stamps. Everyone who knows me knows quirky stamps are the ones that I really love to use.

bgrateful for tea, memories and laughter

This is my first contribution using Roc's Stacked Cups and bgrateful sentiment. I played around with paper piecing and I also got my Sakura pens out again.

Love bird

This is my second contribution. Love bird. This involved Dylusions sprays for the background with a swirl over stamp. The Bird stamp was kissed stamped to form the b for bird. This is a way of reversing a stamped image. Ink the stamp in the usual way then stamp onto an acrylic block. Quickly stamp this new image onto the paper. Again paper piecing was added and Sakura pens used. A random frame was added to draw the eye in.

Stamps used:

Bird

Love (words)

Artiste (words) This is where the i and r came from.

I hope you enjoy the contribution. I certainly enjoyed playing again.
Do follow the link to Roc' amazing blog and she can also be found on Facebook.

Less is More 143: Recipe: String or twine

Love string or twine and since Less is More I thought you can't get much less than this. One stamp, one length of twine.

The stamp is from a French company called KatzelKraft, if anyone is interested.

Fabric or Lace: Stampotique 122

Stampotique has challenged us to use fabric or lace this week.
Just up my street. Love working with fabric. Here I have created a fabric collage background. It is made from Silk Sari strips. Love the vibrant colours.  Finished off with a mad hessian  fringe.

Art Journey ATC time! Challenge 38

Art Journey's challenge is to make an ATC. Well ATC's are so fun to make so here is my contribution.

A Christmas ATC.

Christmas Block Script and a Christmas Bauble. Both Art Journey stamps. Both have been embossed.

Crafty Individuals October Challenge

October is the theme running over at Crafty Individuals this month.
I have decided to go for a clean and simple card hopefully with class.
Teasels always remind me of autumn and summer's end so I decided to use this stamp to depict autumn.
Although it is a time when most plants are dying back for winter there is always "hope" with the promise of life to come with the presence of seeds, pods and nuts. So this wonderful word stamp was used for the background.

Less is More 142: Trees

I love trees. So when Less is More challenge subject was trees i just had to join in.

Just love this stamp and every time I use it I love it again. It seems to stamp beautifully too. Do you find that some stamps just seem to stamp better than others?
Simple laid onto an embossed card. I didn't think much of this folder until I actually used it and then loved this too. Looks so much better when embossed. Then a flower punch used and simply highlighted with silver gems to set t off.

SDC121: Halloween

I think the title says it all. Stampotique's current challenge,

So here is one of my favourites. Spider Girl. Perfect for Halloween especially with Cone Hat on her head.

Then I thought some more and thought wouldn't it be better if she had some bats with her?

And maybe a bigger spider?

Stamps used:
Spider Girl
Cone Hat
Hearts
Swirl Stalk

SDC120: Handles, hinges, buckles, fasteners, pulls

Stampotique this week came up with a very original challenge that I embraced. I love to be stretched and this certainly made me make something I otherwise would not have done.

I decided to use a zipper as I thought this would be new, novel and unique? It certain is to me, to use a zipper in a card.

Zombie Feist: Trick or Treat?

"Well, la de frickin' dah!"

I would certainly Treat these guys rather than for them to play tricks on me! That would be just too many tricks for comfort. And then I would zip them up quickly!

I stamped the Crowd onto the backing paper first and then again onto tracing paper. This I cut out and overlaid. It makes them look even more ghostly as you can see right through them.

Hope you enjoy?

Less is More 140: White on White Christmas

                                  

After much playing, thinking and experimenting this is the final piece I came up with for this challenge, White on White Christmas with Less is More.

I have used a sycamore seed which I have heat embossed with white. A technique I think or feel is unique to me. Embossing dried leaves and things. One I first did numerous years ago. I actually gave Tim Holtz and oak leaf I had heat embossed and he was amazed by it.

The reason I used this seed head is because its shape reminded me of a mistletoe leaf. A plant strongly associated with Christmas. It felt wrong to add synthetic pearls for the berries, so I hunted for some small white pebbles in the garden. They have gone more yellow in the photo. Again I wanted a very natural backing for the group. So I cut a piece of scrim plaster bandage and damped it down to set . I loved this combination together

Lastly I stamped Happy Christmas and heat embossed in white. I wish I had a stamp that said something like "I am dreaming of a White Christmas"

SDC119: ATC's

I too love ATC's, so well pleased when this challenge was posted on the Stampotique site.
I decided just to have fun and see what came out of the play session with no preconceived thoughts.
And this was the result. Two sticks came out to play and they decided to show me where they lived.  We just had a bit of make believe time and `I was transported to a make believe world for a time. What better stress relief!

Our Street

Stampotique Design Team Call 2014 x 2

I have submitted this creation to showcase for the Stampotique Designer Team call as I feel it really demonstrates my ability to  think "Outside the Box", which is one of the criteria asked for in the brief.

Brooom, Brooom

My work is often peppered with humour. Hence the title for this piece "Brooom, Brooom". Just how a supersonic, modern day witch should travel, house and all, two broomstick powered.

Broom Broom Photoshop

I enjoy combining stamps, using two or more together and finding ways to combine them, adding hats and patterns to create characters and interest.

My work is often a bit quirky and grungy but recently I have been enjoying making clean and simple cards that have a sharp eye for design.

This is a recent example of one of my clean and simple makes. I stamped on to fabric and then free machined stitched into it to add detail and contrast. Simply attached with eyelets and a piece of washi tape and finished with a sentiment in cherry ink.

I have been an avid fan of Stampotique stamps for a long time and have been using them from my early days of exploring stamping. I first happened across Stampotique stamps when I attended a workshop with Sue Roddis, which I think was in 2007. I fell in love with them and started my collection from that day. I believe my use of them in my creations and blog posts contributed to them becoming popular in the UK as I often received comments like " What quirky stamps, not quite sure if I like these stamps or love them, where did you find them?" Over time I saw more and more people start to use them. I would link my blog posts up to where they could be purchased in the UK.

I like to try to use the stamps in an imaginative way. Thinking up new ways to use them and to think outside the box and play with materials.

I have been involved with numerous design teams such as Gingersnaps, Unruly Paper Arts, Rogue Redhead Designs and Something Completely Different. I have been guest designer for a number of stamp companies. I have had my work published in Craft Stamper magazine.

I enjoy challenges as they push you to create and challenge you to adapt and to think around a subject. I like to push my boundaries rather than copy others.

I would be proud, delighted and extremely happy to be part of the Stampotique Design Team in either capacity, the challenge team or the blog team.

LIM:Week 139 Sketch #10: Sketch

Tis week at Less is More it is sketch week.

Here is the sketch to use.

And here is my creation.

I used Technique Tuesday Stamp frames and a Paperbag Studio stamp for the face.

Coloured in the face to give highlight, definition and focus.

As it is a one layer card I will also enter it into One Layer Wednesday.

LIM : Week 138: Felt or Fabric

For the Less is More  this week the challenge was to use fabric.
I have stamped onto fabric with Butterscotch yellow and then free machined into the image to give definition and character. Simple attached with two eyelets and a piece of script tape at the bottom.
A wonderful saying using Cranberry Ink.

SDC117: Birthday Theme

This is my Birthday card for the SDC117 Challenge. 

I started with a word stamp as a background.

The Kisses ribbon was used above this.

I have used Stampotique  stamps "Framed" and "Cone Hat". I first stamped the hat onto the card. I stamped "Framed" onto Kraft card and cut out. I then  carefully cut up the sides of the hat to fit it onto the boys head. "Framed" was slid into position and stuck down.

Tag Along: Masculine

This is my entry for Tag Along: Masculine. I rather enjoy making masculine images and colours.
I have used a "Sneaker" stamp which I can proudly say is my own design. A rather iconic image. It is available from The Artistic Stamper if anyone is interested and only £3.85

Paper Artsy Challenge with Joanne Wardle

I loved joining in this challenge. I must admit I am a sucker for a good pun! And this idea tickled me.
I hope it is eligible as not all the stamps are Paper Artsy. I tried reading very carefully but could find no information as to yeah or nah.
It doesn't really matter as I enjoyed myself, which is the most important aspect.

The splatter stamp and the alphabet letters are both Paper Artsy stamps.