The Stamp Man Best Project Challenge...

The current challenge at The Stamp Man  involves looking at work you've done over the past year and trying to pull out something you think deserves a second mention on your blog.  Strangely, the projects I'm most proud of are perhaps not my best projects in the normal sense of the word and yet Im really thrilled by my first Encaustic Art creations.   

On my 'Under the Sea' card the seahorses were stamped on to acetate and then laid over the encaustic art work.  The full write up can be found here.

Another encaustic art creation I was pleased with is this 'Winter Wonderland' one.

I'll be honest here and admit that this one came about via the happy accident route in that I applied so much wax trying to get things to look right that when I polished the wax (rather too heavily) most it came off leaving me with a lovely misty background to stamp on.  Don't you just love it when a disaster turns out good in the end?

This is my first encaustic work and sadly it's still waiting to be made up into something.  I haven't fully decided whether it's going to be a card or a journal cover.

The unicorn was printed on to acetate and then mounted over the wax painted background using brads.

When creating the seahorse birthday card I was left with a strip of 'sea' type background that just seemed too good to throw away.  I had it mind that it would make a pretty good bookmark, but didn't get round to doing anything about it till today.

 

It just didn't feel right entering a challenge with only old creations and seeing as I'm an avid reader an extra bookmark is always useful.  
This time the seahorse and shells were die cut using a Cuttlebug die I picked up really cheaply at the NEC.  The acetate is a proper bookmark sleeve with a ready done hole to add a tassle or ribbon.

I'm so glad I didn't throw this strip away as I'm really pleased with the results.  One of my New Year Resolutions is to do some more encaustic work.  I bought the tools and waxes as an early Christmas present to myself so I really have no excuse.

Watch this space, but not too carefully as I have some gorgeous new LOTV stamps to use and one or two more fabulous Christmas presents too..

Thanks for looking and reading my strange ramblings.  Do pop over to The Stamp Man blog to check out other people's favourite work and join the challenge. There are some fabulous prizes and stunning inspiration from the DT.

Hugs and Smiles 

Ann xxx

Favourite Five from 2010

I had so much fun visiting blogs looking at everyone's favourite five Christmas cards that I just had to join in Debbie's follow up challenge which is to choose your five favourite projects from the whole year.  

Oh my, that is a toughie, but here goes...

Had to choose this card featuring Alice in Wonderland simply because I love the secret pocket. It was a card for my daughter Laura, who is a complete PINK addict, but she still loved the card.  Amazing!

 Card number two has to be...

A card using a Dreamweaver tree stencil with embossing paste and then coloured with Distress Inks before being finally sprayed with Crafter's Companion Glitter spray.  

In at number three comes...

an acetate creation using a digi by Crafty Ann and a Cuddly Buddly stamp.  Think it's the charm attached to the sentiment that makes this one a hit for me.  It took me so long to find the charm that I knew I had somewhere in my stash that I just had to love it once found.

Number 4 is...

I've chosen this one because I love Sweetpea images.  I've bought far more of them than I've actually used, but they are just so magical.  

Last, but not least favourite card number five is...

The snakeskin effect paper on this is just so tactile.  It really feels scaly and it was great to use one of an incredible set of charms that Father Christmas brought me last year.

The card was made for my daughter's boyfriend to give her on Valentine's day.  I'm not 100% sure whether they love my cards or they love the price of them (free!), but oh well I have fun making them.

Do join in with Debbie's event and check out everyone's favourites of the year.  It's fun and going by the Christmas favourites there will be some stunning cards on display.
Happy New Year to Everyone.

Hugs and Smiles.

Ann xxx

Memories...

As my Mum's memory becomes worse and worse I've realised just how important it is to cherish and preserve the photos we have of people and places from years gone by.  I must admit I have been meaning to do something with my Mum's photos for some time and while Boxing Day might seem a strange time to make a start it was actually perfect at our house.  Mum was able to show off how well she can remember things from the past and Laura and I spent a lovely afternoon creating the first two pages of an album about our family. 
The wording was printed onto acetate and then attached to the card cut from the original folders that the photos were in.  I've laid a piece of black over the names as being paranoid you just never know what information should and should not be included on the internet.  
 

The background paper of roses is by DCWV and we both agreed it was perfect for the theme as we wanted to use black and white, but most of my papers were way too trendy.  This one seemed to fit well, especially seeing as my mum loves roses and had some in her bouquet.

We did consider adding some pressed red roses that I remembered were somewhere in my stash, but one of the memories Mum came up with was about her bouquet.  She remember wanting red roses, but was told that they would look black on black and white photos so she plumped for pink instead.  She can't remember opening a Christmas present from five minutes ago, but her Wedding Day is as fresh as ever.

Seems like ages since I entered any challenges so I'm really pleased to be able to link our pages to the challenges at...

• Allsorts Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
• Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
• Charismas Cardz Challenges - Pearls and lace
• Rainbow Lady's Challenges - My choice from last year's themes - mine is 'Lest we forget'
• Simon Say's Stamp - Anything Goes

My early New Year resolution is to do much more scrap booking, especially as my daughter loves it so much and we can play together.  As she says in the future she will look at our album and not only remember Gran, but also the fun we had doing the pages.

Enjoy your day whatever you have planned.

Hugs and smiles.

Ann xxx