Paris

Back to the old routine this week and I've managed to make a card already...hooray! Anyway here it is on the theme of Paris for Hels Sunday Stamper Challenge 143.


I alcohol inked some glossy card with Stream, Lettuce and Stonewash, then used Tim's stamps for the french images and a PSX Celtic alphabet set for the words. For another Paris card check out my last post.... this one is vaguely based on that design.....slightly messier but really just as quick!

Suffering again with reasonable daylight to photograph it properly but hope you can see all the colours. Thanks for looking!

More Projects

Two posts in two days! Must be going down with something!! Seriously I was sorting out all my goodies from Stitches and thought I'd get them photographed and on here before I forgot.

Firstly some Darkroom Door cards designed by Rachel Greig. The first one I did manage to finish - it was so quick and easy just using Darkroom Door Film Strips and Word Strips with just a little background stamping.


The second card I still have to complete but I love this seaside image and how just simple tinting brings it to life.


This next piece was done in Lindsay Mason and Andy Skinner's workshop using Decoart paints, perfect pearls and PI Stamps on a bisque heart. Looking at it now, I'm not sure the colours go but in a 45 minute workshop it's a case of using whatever is in front of you to get all the different components painted, stamped and dried.


For further info about any of these products then check out the teacher's blogs and be inspired!

New Ideas

Just spent a few days away re-charging the old batteries and spending some money. The main purpose was to go to the Stitches Trade Show at the NEC to source some new products for Oak House Studio workshops and the summer school. But before we got there we had to have a trip to Ikea to buy some mirrors and frames etc.

We spent 3 days walking the show, bumped into loads of friendly faces and spent some time on the Personal Impressions stand watching Lindsay Mason, Rachel Greig and Tim Holtz demoing. We did several workshops - fimo modelling, jewellery, painting bisque and crackling frames and of course stamping. As the workshops are only 45 mins long, most of my projects still need finishing off. But I did manage to complete this wire wrapped Swarovski Crystal ring.


I've never done any wire wrapping before but even I managed to make a ring that does actually fit. Don't you just love the bling!! It's certainly something I'd like to have a go at again when time is not so short.

I have a few Darkroom Door cards to finish so watch this space!!

Time Flies

I keep reading blogs and everyone keeps saying where does the time go. Well that's me this week. I was hoping to enter the Sunday Stamper challenge but really I'm not going to make it.

Besides not feeling well, I'm packing to go away for a few days with Lynnda from Oak House Studio. We live about 200 mile apart and don't get to see each other very often so we have 5 days of retail therapy planned. The main purpose of the trip is to go to Stitches Trade Show at the NEC to check out new products for the Summer School but also we get to watch loads of demos - Tim Holtz, Lindsay Mason, Leandra from Paperartsy, Rachel Greig from Darkroom Door etc.

But before that we have a few places to go on the way including a quick trip to PDA Card and Craft to see what their shop is like and probably a longer trip round Ikea to pick up some mirrors and frames for decorating. And then maybe a Craft Centre on the way to Brum.

My throat is sore now; I hate to think what it'll be like after 5 days of talking!!

Mini Book

Well we're having a fun week here .... three of us coughing and spluttering, keeping medical companies and tissue manufacturers in profit!! And its grey and drizzly outside!! So whilst I did make a start on my mini book for 2011, not a lot of progress has been made.


To keep some sort of fluency throughout I decided to buy a Basic Grey 6 x 6 pad for the pages - this one is Curio - don't you just love that paper! That rose is on my front cover and will be embellished later. I've sorted a few photos and found a vintage calendar that matches this year... so I'm all set to do January .... once my head's stopped throbbing.

Happy Days!

Time Flies

Here's an ATC I've made for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 140 with the theme of TIME.



It's a bit of a strange colour scheme for me - pale blue and orange - but I had a scrounge through my bit box and they just seemed to go with the gold watch case. I love this Artistic Stamper stamp - I borrowed it off a friend to use!! It's just stamped in stazon on acetate and then painted on the back with polished pigments mixed with glossy accents. Very difficult to photo due to the flash - it's very shiney in reality!! Anyway I stamped the watch stamp that was free with Craft Stamper in pale blue on the background and finished with the words TEMPUS FUGIT....and it certainly does!!

Well despite everyone around me coughing and spluttering it is feeling more like spring today with clear blue skies and sunshine. I spotted one snowdrop in my front garden on Saturday and today the crocus are out.... roll on Spring!

Sentiments

Here's a card I've made for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 139 with the theme of SENTIMENTS. Having had a rummage through my stamps I decided on this one of Tim Holtz's - one, because I like it and two, because my daughter has just spent 3 days sorting out her final displays for her Art GCSE with the mantra of quality not quantity.


The swooshy background is Bundled Sage, Rusty Hinge and Vintage Photo distress inks with a gold perfect pearl mist. The owl is an Elusive Images stamp coloured with Gold Brilliance on shrink plastic. Now I'm sure I've used Brilliance on shrink plastic before but this time there was horrible smoke coming off it - not sure why!! I just stepped back a pace and carried on!! He's such a sweet owl don't you think - almost looks like he's smiling....that's if owls can!

Anyway I've been blogging for a year now and only managed 86 posts - that's not very good is it, not even two a week.....must try harder!!