Dare to Dream again..

Here'a a quick tag I've made for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 203 which has the theme of RED

I've stamped the Paperartsy Lynne Perella stamp from set LPC008 in Jet Black Archival, masked it and then inked over this with Barn Door, Fired Brick and Aged Mahogany Distress Inks. This was flicked with water drops and then dried. I painted the stamp with Shabby Shutters and Stormy Sky, mopped up some of the red to dye the seam binding and then just added a sentiment to finish.

I really like this stamp set and if you want to see a clean and simple version, then check out my last post. Thanks for looking and for any comments - they're greatly appreciated.

Dare to Dream

Here's a card I've made for the Less is More challenge week 65 where there is a SKETCH to follow. It's basically a small square or circle on a square card.

I've used a Paperartsy Lynne Perella stamp from set LPC008. The face half of the stamp is in Manganese Blue Archival and I've used the scrolly leafy bottom section to create the frame in Versafine Majestic Blue. It's just finished with a sentiment.

Hope you like and thanks for looking.

Golden Arrow

My husband's company won a big contract so on Saturday evening we were treated to dinner on the Bluebell Railway's Golden Arrow Pullman service. I should add he's a Railway Engineer so going on a steam train was topical!!

We embarked at Sheffield Park and shuttled up the line three times to Horsted Keynes where this photo was taken. For those who don't know the line is to the south of East Grinstead (soon to be connected) and has been used many times in films, The Railway Children being one. A good time was had by all although eating, pouring wine and then drinking it was quite interesting on a chugging and bumpy train.

Lillian, our carriage, has been beautifully restored, comfy seats, subtle lighting, wood veneered panels etc and it definitely reminds you of how comfortable it was to travel. I quite fancy a longer trip like the Orient Express but I don't think I'd sleep much - I've watched too many Bond and Agatha Christie films where there is always a dead body in the fold down bed or someone clinging to the outside of the train when the blind is opened!! Or is that just me??

Summer Rose

Here's my bright and cheery tag for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge week 202 with the theme of Summer Colours.


Well Summer to me means bright colours, seaside and flowers and as Lynnda from Oak House Studio sent me her new Rose stamp I thought it would be rude not to use it!!  I've stamped the Rose twice in Jet Black Archival and then watercoloured with Distress Re-inkers - Bundled Sage, Fired Brick and Mustard Seed.  The spare ink I mopped up to colour the seam binding.   I've used a Tim Holtz stamp for the sun's rays, edged the tag with Spiced Marmalade and finished with a Summer rub-on.

Well it's gone grey here again, so think I'll put this tag on the wall to brighten the place up!!  Thanks for looking.

St George

Here's a card I've made for Less is More week 64 where the challenge is to use a Charm.

Tricky one this as I found a few charms but no stamps to go with them. Then I found my kettle = tea and as tomorrow is St George's Day I thought I'd go with something typically English.

 So I've used red ribbons to create the flag and then Tim Holtz's Lion Rampant - masked this off and stamped the Union Jack in Barn Door Distress ink which gives a watery effect. In the other corner I've used the English Rose from Oak House Studio and just finished with the kettle charm.

Hope you like and thanks for looking. Thanks also for the comments people have left over the last few weeks and hello to my new followers.

Gentlemen

Here's a tag I've made for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge week 201 which has the theme of MEN.


Well I had no idea where I was heading with this one other than to use my Paperartsy stamp of Dapper Men. I was aiming for steampunky cogs and clocks, but decided to go for Edwardian butterfly hunters instead. Strange how the mind works, isn't it!!

For the background I've swooshed the tag through a selection of blue Distress Inks spritzed with water and then used Tim Holtz's crackle embossing folder that had been inked with Stormy Sky. I've rubbed Faded Jeans Distress Stickles into the cracks to add to the cracked glass effect. The butterfly is a Tando Creative one covered with Rock Candy Crackle Paint and then coloured with Distress Stains etc. This was my third attempt - I burnt one - and still don't like it but what do you think - butterfly escaping from specimen case?? It's just finished with an Ideaology Word Stick and some netting.... caught again!!

I think this one has definitely evolved but I guess that's why we do challenges to make us think outside the box etc. Besides it's wet and windy outside today, so best stay in and craft I say!!

Daisy Doodle

Here's a simple one layer Thanks card for this week's Less is More Challenge where you have to do some doodling.


I've used the Double Daisy set of stamps from Oak House Studio. The solid one is stamped with Rose Coral Colorbox Queue Chalk Ink and the daisy part with Jet Black Archival. I was all set to Zentangle it but wasn't brave enough so just used a black Sharpie to doodle in the middle of the flower (no idea why this looks a strange colour in the photo!) and finished with the dots and thanks.

Hopefully I'll have time later in the week to doodle properly!! Thanks for looking.

Summer at the Seaside

Here's a card I've made for the April Crafty Individuals Challenge which has the theme of 'Time for Summer'.



I've chosen to use the Crafty Individuals set CI-278 which definitely typifies summer for me. The bathing beauty, beach huts and sentiment are stamped on gloss card with Coffee Archival and then coloured with Tombow pens.

The clouds in the sky were made by just dabbing Picket Fence Distress Stains on blue card and seagulls added. The sand is stamped with a shell and the bushes to the rear of the huts are stamped with grasses from the Crafty Individuals CI-207 set. The sea is a Distress Ink background, overstamped with the Waves sentiment and then torn to represent the whites on the waves crashing to shore.

If only the weather was better, I'd be there like a shot.....maybe not wearing that outfit though!!

Simple Greens

Well it's been a miserable and wet day, so I've stayed inside playing with my stamps and inks - third post of the day!!

Here's a very simple card made for the Less is More challenge week 62 where the theme is to use Three Shades of Green.


I've used Shabby Shutter Distress Ink for the panel across the card, then stamped the Poppy Heads from a Chocolate Baroque (was Elusive Images) set in Olympia Green Versafine. It's just finished with a PSX Happy Birthday stamp in Thyme Brilliance.

Thanks for looking.

Thank You to Hels

This is a congratulations to Hels for celebrating her 200th Sunday Stamper challenge - if you haven't come across her blog yet, then here is the link: Hels Sunday Stamper.

I certainly didn't start 200 weeks ago and I haven't managed to enter the challenge every week but I do try!! This week the theme is NUMBERS and I had every intention of making something inky ..... but as always what is in my head, never makes it to the paper!!


I found two different number stamps from Tim Holtz, added the butterfly from his Fairytale Frenzy set then ..... decided to stop as it looked quite striking!! Hope you agree!!

Anyway thanks Hels for coming up with so many themes and for challenging me and making me be creative. Looking forward to the next 200 weeks!!

Ribbons and Lace

Here's my tag for The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog challenge for April with the theme of Ribbons and Lace.


The background, stamping and seam binding is all coloured with Bundled Sage and Broken China Distress inks. The Swirl Flourish is from The Artistic Stamper, the Satin ribbon is Oak House Studio and the WISH is Tim Holtz.

The mini book plate is a Tando Creative one inked with Broken China and topped with Bundled Sage Distress Stickles. I've added some lace at the bottom - I only had white so inked this with Vintage Photo to make it fit the vintage feel of this piece.

Apologies for the photo - it's a bit grey today and the colours are not so true!! Hope you like and thank you for looking.

12 Tags of 2012 - April

Here's my tag for Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2012. Despite the fact I don't have the bird and branch die, or the ornate frame embossing folder or the reflections stamps, I've improvised!!


The background is a mixture of Broken China, Bundled Sage, Pine Needles and Rusty Hinge Distress Inks. I've overstamped this with Oak House Studio's English Garden Text in Pine Needles, embossed it with a Craft Too Swirly Frame and then highlighted this with Vintage Photo. I've added some Picket Fence Distress Stain in the middle to lighten it and then embellished with a grungeboard flourish, a Shattered Stains butterfly (Tando Creative) and some seam binding all coloured with various Distress Stains. The sentiment finishes it off.

Well my tag looks nothing like Tim's but there are some similarities - an embossed frame, a flying object, something for it to sit on etc. Hope you like and thanks for taking the time to look!!

Where to go?

Here's a tag made for Hels Sunday Stamper challenge 199 with the theme of On the Road/Transport. On the basis I have no vehicle stamps that might be seen on the road, I've gone for a general travel theme.


The background turned out nothing like I intended - bit dark - but maybe intense is the word. I've stamped and coloured a Hero Arts Map stamp and used a Darkroom Door Journey Word Block stamp top and bottom. I've then sprayed over Tim Holtz's compass mask with Faded Jeans Distress Re-inker. I've shrunk Tim Holtz's No Journey stamp (excuse the lack of focus on this bit) and just added some paper coated wire to finish.

Have to admit it's one of those that could well have ended up in the bin, but thought I'd persevere. It's the taking part that matters....right?