stampotique: Pink, purple and black

The current challenge at The stampotique designer's blog is Pink, Purple and Black, so I made this clean and simple card using stamps from Stampotique

another (larger) knitted hot water bottle cover

When I was knitting my mini hot water bottle covers for Christmas, I accidentally picked up 3 hot water bottles from poundland that were the wrong size for the pattern I had written. They are still small but larger than the mini ones.

so here's the updated pattern if your hot water bottle is this size.

use the same techniques as the original pattern, but

cast on 60 stitches

increase on first 3 rounds as before (72 stitches)

st st 50 rows (53 rows in total)

decrease as set in original pattern for 4 rows

1 row st st(in same colour as neck if you are changing colours)

2x2 rib for 3 rows

for pocket

pick up 22 stitches on the 14th row.

st st 20 rows.

moss stitch 2 rows, cast off in moss stitch.

I made sure that the number of stitches for the body as a "nice" number, as it has so many factors (i.e. you can divide it by 2,3,4,6,8,12 etc) so is perfect for setting up lovely fairisle patterns such as this simple heart.

of course you could just cheat and use a self-striping yarn (this is actually the original sized pattern)

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new pattern

Materials
1x medium hot water bottle
1x 50g ball of DK yarn (about 100yd) if doing in just one colour, or you can easily use up oddments.
1x 4mm circular needle
scrap of fabric
dried lavender (I got mine from ebay)


gauge (important-ish) 21st and 23 rows over 10cm square stocking stitch.

instructions
cast on 60 stitches, and divide in half on your circular needle, using the magic loop method. each of these halves I will call a "section" and two sections make a "round".

increase one stitch at each end of both sections on next three rounds. Knitting every row (creates stocking stitch when knitting in the round) - I increase by knitting into the front and back of the first and last stitch. (46 stitches)

continue knitting for 50 rounds ( 53 rounds in total)

decrease 1 stitch at end of each section for next four rounds ie :( K1 KSPO K to last 3 sts of section K2tog K2 KSPO K to last 3 stitches K2tog k1) twice

k 1 round

k2 p2 rib 34 rounds, cast off in rib.

to make the pocket
pick up 22 stitches in the middle of one side of 14th row,

stst 20 rows (ie k1 row p 1 row - you are not knitting in the round anymore, just using your circular needles as normal needles)
moss stitch 2 rows
cast off in moss stitch

sew up bottom of cover

sew up sides of pockets

make lavender bag to go in pocket

blue for Happy Daze

Continuing the theme of using techniques that we love this month. I have decided to go with my all time favourite technique of colouring with pencils. Usually I colour onto Kraft card, but I wanted to show how it works just as well on any coloured card.

I also used another technique I love: Making tatty paper flowers which I also inked with stormy sky, and added just a hint of stickles

I stamped Jasmin in a dark blue ink (deep lagoon, versafine) and coloured with pencils, I inked around the edges of the card with stormy sky distress ink, and also stamped with abstract foliage with the same ink.

more tatty paper flowers- a get well soon card

I made this simple get well card, using a studio G get well stamp, a paperartsy flourish (from Noel Plate 4 - so much more than a christmas stamp), and one of my tatty paper flowers

I am entering this for Moving along with the times' "get well soon" challenge and Cute Card Thursday's Flower Power challenge

Stampotique blog hop : new images!!!

stamp used : Alice by Janet Klein

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Stamp used: Queen of Hearts by Janet Klein (the hearts on the dresses are sewn on)

Welcome to our blog hop introducing a new artist as well as many new stamps from our other artists. You should have hopped here from Kate Crane. If you did not come from Kate Crane's blog, you will want to start at the Stampotique Designer's Blog.

Join us along the blog hop for a chance to win some new stamps as a random winner will be chosen from one of the designer blogs as well as one from our Stampotique blog, so make sure to jump through the hop and leave a comment here when you are finished. Let us know what your favorite new stamps are. We will announce the random winners on our next challenge on 2/22/12 so you have a week to hop around.

And now to Introduce one of our newest artists, you may recognize her work as she was our guest designer in October of last year.

stamp used: Monster by Roc Nicholas

Roc Nicholas has always had a great love of art and she credits that love to her mother. Growing up, she and her mom were always doing something creative, whether it was painting, sewing or making handmade Christmas ornaments annually. Roc is married her grade-school sweetheart and together they have two adult sons and one grandson, Benny. Roc resides in Pennsylvania but travels back and forth to Florida.

Presently she teaches rubber stamping and journaling classes. A self- taught artist, Roc loves rubber stamping, collage, mixed media, journaling and doodling. Her favs are all things whimsical, unusual and things that make her laugh! She has an online international artist trading site which she runs, along with her blog and her facebook page. Roc has been published in a variety of art and rubber stamp magazines.

From my blog you will hop on over to see what fabulous new stamps Janet Klein uses. Can't wait to hear what your favorite ones are!

Roc Nicholas

Kaz Boughton

Jane Wetzel

Gez Butterworth

Valerie Wilson

Willy Anderson

Maria Sabina Raita

Kim Howard

Nellie van Leeuwen

Vicki Garrett

Kate Crane

Joanne Wardle <---------You are here

Janet Klein

Kira Nichols

Stampotique Designer's Blog

CASEing Kate

For the current stampotique challenge we are asking you to CASE(Copy And Steal Everything) one of the Stampotique designers.

I chose to CASE Kate Crane, using colourful painted background, distress ink painted image and stripey paper strips.

I hope Kate approves!

all images are Stampotique Originals

stamp and stitch valentine card

I've been meaning to do some chain stitch on a card ever since I did my "libby" card with back stitch on, but I didn't know what do use it on until some new stamps from Crafty Individuals dropped through the post. I love the selecion of heart stamps, they remind me of fractals or zentangles (but so much easier than drawing your own)

I am entering this card for the sunday stampers "heart" theme.

I used an insert on this card to cover up the messy stitching detail on the inside of the card, but I chose to use some pretty paper to do this. so as not to waste its prettiness, I cut out the smallest heart from the stamped image to show it.

(a quick "how-to": Stamp the image in black onto white card, with a piercing tool or sewing needle make holes around the heart at regular intervals. Using two threads (taken from a six thread) of embroidery silk, chain stitch through the holes. Cut the smallest heart out with a craft knife. Apply double sided tape to the back of the stitches and position the insert.)

gingersnap words of wisdom

This month Gingersnap Creations is Sponsored by Rogue Redhead Designs. I am fortunate to be on the Design Team of both of these.

This first card was made for the Words of wsidom Challenge at Gingersnap Creations. I didn't use any rogue redhead stamps for this,

but I also made a bookmark using the relish reading plate from Rogue redhead.

I covered the bookmark with laminating film, but realised too late that I had cut it a little short!!

to make a feature of this I roughed up the edge with a blade and inked it... a happy accident??