The Craft Barn's Quotes and Lyrics

Well I've finally had some time to get crafting and have done this fortnight's challenge as well as two postcards that I had missed.  For full details of the challenge go to The Craft Barn's blog.

I'll start with the current week 14 where the words to use are IMAGINATION and/or LOGIC.  I decided to make it easy for myself and use my Tim Holtz stamp with Imagination in it.  The background was an inky blue piece of scrap card -  I over stamped and  clear embossed with the Splat stamp  and then blended on Faded Jeans Distress.   I carried on the Milky Way type feel of this with some stars, rays and more splats - all stamps from Tim Holtz's Bitty Grunge set. 

In week 13 the words were PATH and/or HORIZON and I've chosen this Irish Blessing.  I've used Oak House Studio products for this one - Bobby's Grey Ink in a Bottle sprayed through a brick wall mask to create a path and stamps from the Sketchy Flowers set.  I've used the solid flower stamp inked in various colours for the background then created a bunch of flowers with the outline stamps and the leaves.  I've cut some green card for the grass and added some Bazzill Edges for the frame.

The other week I missed was week 11 where we had a choice between MOUNTAIN and/or MISTAKE.   I really struggled to find an interesting quote that I could depict so in the end I went with this quote from John Muir.   I've blended with Distress inks to create a very rough mountain scene (Broken China, Faded Jeans, Weathered Wood, Bundled Sage & Mowed Lawn) and then stamped Tim Holtz's Fir Trees with Pine Needles Distress for my forest. 

An eclectic mix I think you will agree but I'm so pleased I'm now up-to-date.   Thanks so much for coming to visit and for any comments you leave - they are always very much appreciated!

Dream a little Dream

Here's a little card for the Less is More challenge 56 with the theme DON'T SCRAP IT.

I have to admit I do challenges to try and use up bits in my box - had a search through and pulled out some bright bits - the scalloped circle was left over from another project and I just clear embossed the Sketchy Flowers and Leaf stamps (Oak House Studio) on the scraps of card. Then looking for a base card I came across a strip left over from making a 6 x 6 card and decided to use that.

I stamped Dream down the side but think it would make a pretty Thank You notelet. Thanks for looking.

Ally Pally

Had a great time at Ally Pally - the Big Stamping and Scrapbooking Show - and hope those of you that went had a great time too. Certainly by the weight of some of the bags I saw people with on the Underground, most people enjoyed themselves. There are loads of stands with stamps, inks and papers, demoes and in a lovely setting too. At lunch I even managed 5 minutes sat outside in the sun looking over the rooftops of London to Canary Wharf and the centre of London.

I digress! I did actually go to work on the Oak House Studio stand where Lynnda and I took turns to demo stamps, inks, Aquash watercolours, pastels etc and Martin wore his fingers out on the till. We had lots of interest in our stamps and stamping card along with craft sheets, acrylic blocks and the pen pots Lynnda had on Create and Craft last time. I was let off for good behaviour at about 3.30pm (when the show quietened down a little) so managed to treat myself to a few things!

So thats Ally Pally done with till September. Next job is preparing for the TV show on May 5th. I'll show some samples nearer the time but I found this card I hadn't shown you so thought I'd do that today.


The stamps are the Sketchy Flowers from the Get Stamping kit clear embossed over Colour Chemistry Purple Pigment Ink. The oval backgrounds are both made using the 'mopping technique'. Wipe the Purple Pigment Ink onto a craft sheet, spritz with water and then mop up with card, heat set it, then mop again till you have a pleasing mottled effect. Spritz the craft sheet again and use up the remainder of the purple ink to create a lighter version. Then its just a case of matting and layering, cutting out the flowers and adding the sentiment. If you like the flowers then they come by themselves in a slightly larger size and are called Spring Blooms and Words - check out the Oak House Studio website.

Well the washer has finished so I'd best go hang it outside - a new experience but it must mean the weather is improving - and then I can go get inky!

Get Stamping

If you check out the Oak House Studio blog today Lynnda has posted about the new Get Stamping kit which is being launched on Create and Craft at the end of the month. It includes everything a new stamper needs to make a few cards - stamps and a block, inks, stamping card and card blanks with envelopes - together with a booklet giving full instructions. The kit comes in a box too so its handy to carry around with you or even pack in your holiday luggage!
My parcel arrived here the other day with the stamps and inks so I just had to have a go and see what I could make. The green card doesn't come in the kit but there are 3 different sizes of the flower stamp together with a set of sentiments and some twiddly bits which I forgot to use...oops! I added a brad to keep the easel card up and finished it with a piece of ribbon and some glitter from my stash.

As someone is fond of saying the possibilities are endless.

Zing

Its been a bit of a grey week here, cloudy and damp etc so I decided to create something bright and cheerful. Its an ATC destined for Craft Stamper magazine for the 'in bloom' theme. The stamps are Oak House Studio Sketchy Flowers and the background uses the English Garden Text set. I don't normally use orange but you've got to agree it's bright!!