Birds ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Birds is the latest Fashionable Stamping Challenge, chosen by my lovely teamie Yvonne. Please do head over to FSC HQ for lots of lovely inspirational projects from those Stampettes. Please do remember we are a stamping challenge and so do need to see some form of stamping on your work and definitely no digis please. The winner of our random draw will win a prize from our sponsors Cottage Crafts so please have ago and join our challenge.

I decided to alter that MDF box I was talking about in an earlier post. It's a large box and and I got decidedly messy  painting it LOL! It started off a dark cream, then I changed my mind as it looked too yellow, so it was painted white. Then I used fresco finish paints in blues and a coffee matt emulsion and sponged randomly.

 I used some craftersworkshop masks and mainly La Blanche stamps and inktense pencils. The swirls on the sides of the box are made using a crafty individuals stencil and viva ferro paint.

I am entering this for

Vintage Stamping Challenge ~ Blues browns and beige
Stampin for the weekend ~ Something Metal

Have a great Sunday and Happy Crafting xx

Show Some Love~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

'Show some Love' is the latest FSC challenge, chosen by Brenda and Joanna. I decided to show some shabby chic love and decided to make a little hanging for my design piece. To see all the fantastic projects made by my fellow Stampettes please head over to our FSC HQ. As we are a stamping challenge we do need to see some form of stamping on your project and definitely no digis please. We would love you to join our challenge this fortnight and the lucky winner of the random draw will win a prize courtesy of Marina at Cottage Crafts.

I up cycled some thick grey card which I painted with fresco finish paints and used inktense pencils to give a light wash of colour. The main stamp is Crafters Companion cling set rose clock, the others used are script stamps by PaperArtsy and Magnolia. I've kept it simple as I thought the stamp was rather pretty without any adornment.

I diecut my stamped card and attached with some chain, and used a gold leafing pen around the edges.

Yippee the snow has gone, which is good news, but I know there is a risk of flooding so I hope none of you are affected!

I've entered this for a few challenges

Crafters Companion ~ Anything but a card

Charisma Cardz ~ Flowers and hearts

Lady Anne's Challenges ~ Anything goes

Take care and stay safe and of course Happy Crafting xxx

French Fancies~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

To Die for is the theme for our latest challenge down at FSC, chosen by teamie Joanna. I do own a big shot, but I rarely use it these days so had to dust off a few cobwebs for this challenge. Please pop over to FSC to get oodles of inspiration from the beautiful projects designed by the team. Our sponsor is marina from Cottage Crafts offering a generous prize to the lucky winner. As we are a stamping challenge we do need to stamping in your project.

I used quite a few dies for this project, spellbinders for the perfume labels and fancy circular die, sizzix bigz for the dangly hearts and the cabinet die and memory box for the pastry label.

Lots of stamps too. Justrite stamps for the perfume label, hearts and the stamping on the cabinet card frame and and the french script is by stamping up. The little angel is by stempelglade.

Apologises for the picture it is a bit ropey, the light was abysmal when I took the photo and as you know photography is not my strong point!

I'm entering this in the following challenges

Ooh La-La ~ The craft room Challenge

Simon Says Stamp & show ~ A project with Heart

Simon Says Stamp Challenge ~ Anything goes

Have a lovely Sunday and wrap up warm!! xx

Home Sweet Home ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

The lovely Yvonne suggested 'Home Sweet Home' for our latest  challenge at FSC. We would love to see your Home Sweet Home projects as long as we can see some stamping on your project and you follow the theme, literally anything goes. Marina from Cottage Crafts is our generous sponsor. Please do head over to Fashionable Stamping Challenges HQ to see some fantastic projects created by the Stampettes.

As you know I am slightly obsessed with fabric still, so I decided to make a little coin purse. There are loads of free sewing tutorials out there for all sorts of projects and the purse was simple to make. But I had to un-pick the zip and re-sew it, I don't think I ever put a zip in first time LOL!! I was lucky enough to win a set of  these beautiful house stamps from the Artistic Stamper a while ago and thought they would be perfect for this challenge. They stamped beautifully on linen using black archival ink. I then heat set the ink and used fresco finish paints by paperartsy to paint the houses.

It would be lovely if you would join us this fortnight and share your stamping projects. 

Touch wood computer seems to be ok, perhaps the defrag helped, so off to do a spot of commenting now.

I'm entering this for the following challenges

The artistic stamper ~ Anything goes

Take care and Happy Crafting. xxx

Musical ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges & Blog Candy Winner

Firstly thank you to everyone for leaving comments on my bag candy. Hubby duly pulled a number out of the hat (well actually I put the bits of paper in a saucepan LOL!) and it was 26 which is Astrid. If you let me know your address, I will pop it in the post next week :-D

Now it's time for another Fashionable Stamping Challenge. The musical theme was set by the lovely Esther. The Stampettes have excelled themselves for this challenges, please do head over to the FSC blog for some gorgeous musical treats. Our lovely sponsor is Marina from Cottage crafts with a fabulous prize for the winning entry.

I decided to use the mozart stamp from La Blanche as my main focal image, along with another favourite set of mine from stampers anonymous, and the crackle effect stamp from Crafty Individuals. The wooden box was sanded down and painted matt emulsion paint in a cream shade. Then stamped in archival ink. Painted as usual with my inktense pencils, very economical as they last so much longer than ink pads.

On one of my visits to Lidls I spotted some aluminium foil tape on a roll, think it was only a couple of pounds and it's a huge roll. I placed some of the tape in an embossing folder, then coated the embossed tape with black gesso and finally rubbing over with some gilding wax and stuck to the sides of my box.

I'm entering this for the following challenge

The artistic stamper ~ Anything goes

A lovely Sunday to you all & Happy Crafting XX

The Autumn of her Years ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Shades of Autumn is the new challenge theme down at FSC head quarters. I struggled a bit with this one as I don't possess any leaf/fruit/flower/autumn style stamps. Oranges, browns and yellows are not  my colours either. Would you believe it it was me that chose this theme, what am I like LOL!!

I really need to widen my stamp range as I my favourite stamps are faces, people and vintage style typography and backgrounds of which I have far too many. I used to paint portraits so faces always interest me, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it, anyhow enough of my waffle onto the challenge.

As we are a stamping challenge we do need to see stamping in your project, but other than that the challenge theme can be interpreted how you like (obviously we need to see autumnal/fall colours too.) The Stampettes have excelled themselves and produced some amazing projects for you to feast your eyes on. Please do pop over to FSC to have a look. We would love you to share your artwork with us this fortnight. Our lovely sponsor Marina at Cottage Crafts is offering a great prize for the winning entry.

I've had this lovely La Blanche stamp for a while and thought it was about time it was inked up. I ended up making a fabric collage as I'd run out of those foam inky things and didn't have anything to blend  with, they always seem to go mysteriously missing. The stamps were all stamped onto TAP and coloured with inktense pencils and a watercolour brush, then ironed onto white cotton and then stitched onto some left over bag making fabric. Then I used the tattered florals die to make a fabric flower, and finished with a tasselled trim. 

I am entering this for the following challenges

Simon Says Stamp and show ~ leaf-spiration

Simply Create Too ~ Autumn/Fall

Sugar Creek Hollow ~ Gives thanks for Autumn

Crafty Creations Challenge ~ colors of fall

Have a great Sunday & Happy Crafting xx

Alter Something ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Time for another challenge at FSC. This time we would like to see your altered items, but remember we are a stamping challenge so we do need to see stamping in your work. The Stampettes have pulled out all the stops and created some really inspirational pieces so do please check out the FSC blog. Our sponsor is Marina at Cottage Crafts and has a fab prize for the winning entry.

I've neglected stamping of late, as sewing seems to have taken over so my FSC piece for this challenge  is all about the stamping. I've altered a wooden triptych. It is painted with matt emulsion and fresco finish paints and then stamped with archival ink and inktense pencils. The stamps used are by judikins and stampers anonymous.

I haven't entered many challenges recently so here goes thought I'd enter a few this week :-D

Anything But a Card

Frilly & Funky ~ Fall into Fall

Simply Create too ~ Anything goes

Try it on Tuesday ~ Anything Goes

Stamp and Create ~ Anything Goes

Have a great weekend everyone & Happy Crafting XX

Good things come in small packages

Hope you're all having a great weekend and enjoying the Indian summer. At FSC we ready for another challenge, this time it is Good things come in small packages. Please do visit The Fashionable Challenge Blog for some delicious projects beautifully created by the Stampettes.  Our generous sponsor is Marina from Cottage Crafts who is offering a prize for the challenge winner. As we are a stamping challenge we do need to see some form of stamping in your entry.

Also you can see the wonderful creation our Shirley has featured in the current issue of Craftstamper, she was shortlisted in the second round for The Stamper of the year. Biggest congratulations, it's fabulous and so well deserved.

Though my cosmetic pouch is not small my stamped cameo of Ophelia by the Stampsmith is. It is the largest of the stamps and is stamped onto shrink plastic. Then coloured using prismacolor pencils. Then baked in the oven. The pouch was one I've had for a while and is perfect for non sewists, as the buttons are the only sewing I've done. The lace and doily are attached using bondaweb, and the cameo, flowers and pearls are attached using fabric glue,

My small tag is is sewn this time. It is stamped with the medium version of ophelia using sepia ink onto natural calico fabric, then it was stitched onto some stamped fabric and cut into a tag shape and machine sewn and finished with some lace and buttons.

I'm entering this for

The Stampsmith challenge Bags & Tags.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend and Happy Crafting  XXX

Floral or Handmade flowers ~ Fashionable stamping Challenges

Hi Everyone, I'm hoping my scheduled post will work ok, we should be sunning ourselves on Surtainville beach in Normandy (well perhaps not this early as this should be scheduled for 7ish LOL!)

We can't wait to see your gorgeous entries for this fortnights Fashionable Stamping Challenge which is Floral or Handmade flowers. The DT have surpassed themselves with an array of stunning floral creations to inspire you, so please do pop over to FSC headquarters for a look. Marina at cottage crafts is the generous sponsor of our challenge and will offer the winner a fantastic prize. But remember we are a stamping challenge so we do require some stamping and no digi stamps please.

I made a card using the gorgeous rosie from The stampsmith and masked her then stamped over with one of my favourite stamps from Justrite. I used a combination of distress inks, prismacolour pencils and inktense pencils to colour the image then matted onto some card and pretty backing paper. The shabby flowers were made using the tim holtz tattered floral & a sizzix bigz flower die and some fabric remnants and dyed muslin (used my inktense pencils to dye the muslin as I wanted it to be colour fast) and I used a piece of the fabric to cover some metal buttons. I did hand sew my flowers but fabric glue would work work equally well.

To make the bag I scanned and enlarged the image (before it was glued to the card) and printed it out onto some transfer paper, mine was a cheapy version bought from Lidl which works well (love Lidl for their craft and sewing stuff, brilliant value ) can't compare it to TAP though as have never used it before. Then it was ironed onto a calico bag, and I stitched.

I added some more diecut flowers which I made as for the card above and I sewed on some lace and a bit of matching trim.

I am entering this for the following challenges

The Stampsmith ~ Anything goes

Have a great week & Happy Crafting XX

Fashionable Stamping Challenges ~ Summer Ice cream colours

Yum the latest challenge at FSC is ice cream colours. Please do pop over to look at all those delicious and dreamy ice cream concoctions made by the other Stampettes, for some gorgeous and inspirational design projects. Our generous sponsor is Marina from Cottage Crafts with a fabulous prize up for grabs. 

When we used to visit my Nan in Islington we always used to go to De Marco's ice cream shop in Chapel market. Even in the depths of winter we always used to have one of their gorgeous, chocolate, strawberry, lemon and vanilla whippy ice creams, I've never found one that equals them since, the memories of childhood eh LOL!

I made a canvas for my design piece using those yummy colours. I used fresco finish paints to for the canvas and texture paste for the harlequin stencil to give it texture. The central stamp and the text and swirl stamps are by La Blanche. I stamped onto tissue paper and then glued onto the canvas as it is very difficult to get a detail impression if stamping straight on the canvas. The roses and post card are from Graphic 45 A ladies Day 8 x 8 pad and the lock and key are made using a tim holtz die. I used gilding paste around the edges of the canvas and rubbed randomly over the harlequin texture (not that you can see it LOL I'm pants at taking photos the colours are never quite the same! Any photography tips greatly welcomed!)

I am entering this for the following Challenges 

Simon Says Stamp And Show ~ Paint it Up

The Stampman ~ Precious Medals/Metals

Hope you all have a fantastic Sunday and Happy Crafting. XX

Anything Goes ~ FSC

Hope you're all having a great weekend, hasn't it been fabulous with the gorgeous weather and finally the laptop is back and fingers crossed is working ok yay!

Anything goes is the theme this fortnight for FSC so hopefully we'll be seeing lots of your stunning creations, so whatever takes your fancy as long as it has lots of stamping! Please do pop over to the fashionable Stamping Challenges blog to see oodles of fantastic projects from my teamies, and of course we have a fabulous prize for the lucky winner from Marina at Cottages Crafts.

I have had this wooden chest for over a year and I felt it was high time to give it a makeover. I gave the chest a few coats of pinky cream matt emulsion and a quick sanding, then lots of stamping with black archival ink. 

I used quite a few stamps the scroll one is from Stamp Addicts and the fleur de lis ones are Just rite, as is the large stamp on the side of the chest, with an additional text stamp. I then sponges on distress inks through a crafters workshop harlequin template. More distress inks on the edges and highlighting the stamping. I added gold krylon to the edges and plenty of clear crackle glaxe to finish. I have a bit of a love hate thing going on with crackle medium as sometimes it crackles to much and lifts off the paint. I now tend to spray varnish over the whole project as I find it stops pieces flaking off.

Hope you have a great weekend with plenty of crafting and of course the olympics and please do pop over to the blog for loads of inspiration and join in our challenge.

xx

Oriental ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Time for a new challenge down at FSC headquarters, I hope that many of you will join in the challenge as I chose Oriental as the theme for this fortnight. We would love to see your projects, be it papercrafting, altered art or perhaps sewing like me, but you must include some form of stamping in your work and definitely no digital stamps please. Please do pop over to the FSC blog to see oodles of gorgeous projects by my fellow stampettes inspired by the Orient and a chance to win a prize from our sponsor Cottage Crafts

I know another wall hanging LOL but I can't get enough of my sewing machine at the moment, and I had some pretty fabrics to use, so yes I've made another one. The main image is stamped onto gessoed calico and stamped in black archival ink, then coloured with my trusty inktense pencils and some prismacolor ones. The Japanese symbols are stamped onto untreated calico with archival ink and heat set.

I attached the strips of fabric, edging and the central panel to a rectangle of pink polka dot fabric which had interfacing attached to the reverse. Then I placed another rectangle of fabric on top with right sides together and sewing all along the edges leaving a four inch gap, so that I could turn it inside out. Finally attaching the bunting (I know not very oriental, but I like it!!), flower and coin to complete.

The stamp set used is by Curious By design

I'm entering this for the following challenges

Frilly & Funkie  Lets see some texture

Addicted to Stamps  ~ Bingo Addict Challenge

Have a great Sunday and Happy Crafting xx

Mystical & Very Magical ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Hope you are all enjoying this Jubilee weekend, whether partaking in the Royal celebrations or just enjoying the extra time off. The weather is pretty dismal here, but the world of magic and faeries is the new theme at Fashionable Stamping Challenges day, so head over to see what my lovely FSC teamies have created. There should be plenty of sparkle and glitter to brighten your day. Our sponsor is Marina from Cottage Crafts and is offering a fabulous prize for the winning entry. Please remember we are a stamping challenge so we do need to see some form of stamping on your project.

I made my own background paper using a scroll stamp from stamp addicts and some some crafters workshop stencils, distress inks in dusty concord and broken china, and toned down a bit with a weak wash of gesso. The soggy loo roll technique for the embossed panel behind the stamp. The central stamp is by Curious by Design and is stamped on watercolour paper. I used plenty of glamour dust and a spot of stitching and finished with plenty of mulberry roses and a cheery lynn butterfly.

I'm really sorry I haven't managed to visit all your blogs these last couple of weeks, but time has ran away with me and I hope to catch up with my comments soon.

Have a fantastic weekend and happy crafting. xx

Something For A Child ~ FSC

Something for a child is the latest Fashionable Stamping Challenge. This certainly was a challenge for me, as you've probably noticed I rarely if ever make anything suitable for children. 

Do check out the other Fashionettes truly gorgeous projects, for lots of inspiration. Remember it is a stamping challenge so we do need to see some stamping included on your project. Our lovely sponsor is Marina from Cottage Crafts and the winning entry can choose anything from her shop up to the value of €7. So please come and join the challenge.

I rummaged through my ever increasing stamp supplies (which is causing me more problems as I seem to spend more & more time dithering about which to use LOL!!) and decided on this one from paperbag studios. I decided on primary colours and used some papermania papers for backing. I stamped on watercolour paper and used my water colour paints to colour her in. The flower is a Wendy Vecchi art parts one that I had a go sort of zentangling on. I don't know if there is a certain way to do it, but I just did it ad hoc!

Hope you are having a great weekend and enjoying the lovely mild weather. XX

Monochrome with one other colour ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

With Valentines Day fast approaching and still in pink mode I decided on a Black, white and pink trinket box for the new Fashionable Stamping Challenge, which is Monochrome with one other colour. The Stampettes have of course come up with some gorgeous designs so head over to FSC for some stunning inspiration. Remember it's a stamping challenge so we do need to see stamping of some kind on your project. Our generous sponsor is Marina from Cottage Crafts

I bought a few of these rather dinky wooden boxes in various shapes as you know I love my boxes LOL! I really like this heart shape box. The wood was a bit pitted so I used some wood filler and then sanded it down. I've run out of gesso so just gave it a few coats of matt emulsion, and it didn't make any difference, so won't bother with the gesso on boxes in future. I used one of the new Crafty Individuals stamps CI- 342 and stamped in archival ink and used various shades of pink to colour the design. Then buffed on some distress ink to colour the box. As the design is quite detailed I decided just to add a strip of ribbon around the lid. .I painted the inside in a lighter shade. Brrrr it was freezing taking the picture outside but at least it captured the shades of pink.

Promise no more pink in my next post!

I am entering this in the following challenges

Simon Says Love is in the Air

Creative Inspirations Lots Of Love

My Mums Craft Shop It Must Be Love

Divas By Design Love is in the Air

Everybody Art Love

C.R.A.F.T challenge Valentines Day

Happy Crafting & Happy Valentines Day if I don't get to post before then. XX

Make it a Guy thing! ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Can't believe it's that time already for another challenge at FSC which is 'Make it a guy thing', struggled with this one big  time LOL! Head over to FSC for some stunning inspiration from those Stampetes. Remember it's a stamping challenge so we do need to see stamping of some kind on your project. Our generous sponsor is Marina from Cottage Crafts.

In wisdom I decided to alter a tin for my OH to store all his motorbike documents in. He has a classic british bike from the 50s, so he has loads of paperwork, log books etc, all suitably shabby. I used a triumph stamp from darkroom door as I couldn't get one for his make of bike. I decided to make it grungy to fit in with all his oily bike stuff LOL. I seriously over did the grunge, but my excuse is that it's my first time!

Not very happy with project as it feels too grungy, but I suppose we do need to craft outside our comfort zone sometimes LOL!

Anyway I covered the tin with Prima printworks paper and used various background stamps and distress inks and Tim Holtz salvage stickers that I've had knocking around for ages to complete. 

Hope you all have a great Sunday. Do have a look at all the fabulous and a lot less grungy DT pieces at FSC as they are superb.

Happy crafting XX

Butterflies or Bugs ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

It's that time already for another challenge down at the Fashionable Stamping Challenges. Butterflies and Bugs is the current theme. Do head over to the FSC blog to check out the stunning projects by those gorgeous Stampettes. Please remember this is a stamping challenge and strictly no digis allowed. The lovely Marina from Cottage Crafts has this lovely set of stamps for the winning entry, so we look forward to your fabulous creations.

Butterflies are one of my favourite choices when stamping. I decided to alter one of those cheap ikea mirrors as I bought a few before Christmas with the intention of making some presents and of course it never happened. At least I managed to get a photo without myself reflected in it.

The stamps used are, Lost Coast Designs Butterflies and carrying on the Da Vinci theme, Rubber stampedes Dreaming of you and Unity stamps Carte Postale.

I'm also entering this in the following challenges.

The Artistic Stamper  ~ Vintage
Fabulous Friday Challenge ~ Paint 
Polkadoodles ~ Vintage and retro
CES Challenge ~ Vintage Dahling


Hope you all are having a great crafty weekend XX

~ New Year New Stash ~ FSC

A Happy New Year to you all and he's hoping not too many of you are nursing sore heads today. My first blog and the first Fashionable Stamping Challenge of the New Year is Anything goes Using your New Stash. This could be anything from a new piece of ribbon, paper, stamps or a new piece of equipment. 
Please do head over to the Fashionable stamping challenge blog for loads of inspiring projects from those oh so stylish Fashionettes and a chance to win a gorgeous set of stamps from the lovely Marina at Cottage Crafts

My project is something old as well as something new. My new is the lovely wooden stampington stamp I bought in LB crafts closing down sale and the old is a toiletry bag I found at the back of my wardrobe. As much as it is easier to store unmounted stamps I do love the feel of wooden stamps there is something immensely satisfying about the chunky carved wood and now I much prefer them, than when I first started rubber stamping about a year ago and just wanted the unmounted option, call me contrary LOL.

I stamped onto a piece of calico which I had gessoed then I used inktense pencils to add some colour and finally a quick brush over with some matt medium. That was the easy bit, I sewed cream lace all along the top and down the sides of the bag as it was a little rough round the edges. Then I sewed on the stamped calico and also some pearl trim. I made the flower using the same cream lace and I now know why I don't often hand sew!!

That's my project, so we would be delighted if you would join us on the catwalk and show us your new stash.

Hope you all have a wonderful and crafty 2012 and I would just like to add it has been such a pleasure visiting all your lovely and amazing blogs during this last year, I have been so encouraged by all  your comments since starting this blog, so a very big thank you for your continuing support. XX