Made By Joanne

OLW 76 colour in winter

2012-01-27T10:36:00.003Z

The Challenge at one layer Wednesday is to use grey and white and a pop of colour,
This fit perfectly with a technique that has been swirling around my head for the last week. I was thinking about colouring on kraft card with pencils and how it would also work nicely on grey card using just grey and white pencils (it does, trust me)
but then I got to thinking if it would work if you created your own grey background with distress ink.

to make this card, I stamped the elephant (lili of the valley) with versafine grey ink. then masked off the area with torn post-it notes, and inked up with pumice stone distress ink. I then coloured with various grey and white pencils, with my pop of red. I finished with glossy accents on the bubbles.

stampotique challenge: Alter Something

2012-01-25T09:08:00.004Z

This time at Stampotique, we are challenging you to "alter something". To me to alter means to change the purpose of something, but I know that this is not everyone's definition.
so I took a cheap frame, stamped some splatter blob and french text from Jo Capper-Sandon's range at stampotique.

I added some of the flowers which I showed how to make in yesterday's tutorial,

and in the frame I put some squared writing paper. and now it's a cute little dry-wipe memo board.

You could of course use lined or plain paper, but I have a bit of a thing for squared paper.

easy tatty paper flowers

2012-01-24T12:03:00.007Z

I'm not in anyway claiming any original idea, but I'm posting a piece tomorrow with some of these tatty book page roses, and I thought I'd add a quick tutorial showing how I made them.

all you need is a book page, some glue, and ink if you want to colour them.

tear an "almost" circle out of the paper- no accuracy required

tear into a spiral, starting thin at the edge and increasing thickness as shown

Start rolling tightly from the outside edge, keeping the inside edges aligned.

leave to rest so it unfurls a little
add a blob of glue to centre of spiral and press rest of flower onto it.
you know have a rose..... but.....
I find these to dimensional to use on anything, so the next stage is to squish between finger and thumb
to give a more open tatty rose

you can now ink these as desired, I used the appropriately names "tattered rose"

to give a finished flower. Voila! quick, easy and each one is unique!

you could also add a touch of glitter if required.

come back tomorrow to see the piece that I used three of these flowers on

Hidden message, for Happy Daze

2012-01-22T08:31:00.001Z

Continuing the "try something new" theme for the Happy Daze challenge, I thought that sometimes the easiest way to give something new a try is to copy something you've seen in a magazine.

I'm cheating a little here as I'm copying my own idea from my article in this month's Craft Stamper Magazine, which used Stampotique Stamps available from Happy Daze.

The card is a tent fold card with a gap at the top to hold a strip of card.
I used the wonderful moon girl, as well as Daisy Daisy, hearts Cubed and Each life, all of which are available from Happy Daze.

The instructions are in this month's craft stamper, which you can also get from Happy Daze

less is more: apertures

2012-01-21T18:05:00.005Z

So, did less is more make this challenge just for me? I'm really into holes on the front of my cards are the moment (especially my one layer cards) I even did an article about this for craft stamper, not so long ago, and it's actually my personal favourite out of all of my articles.

I decided to use the opportunity to whip up my husband's valentine card.

I was given these felt hearts ages ago, and I thought I liked the idea of them being inside the card, but through an aperture.

The aperture was hand drawn and cut. I wasn't thrilled with it, so I decided to draw a line around it, I still didn't like it so I took inspiration from one of the hearts on Jo Capper-Sandon's Hearts Cubed stamp (which I had out as I have used it on a piece I will blog tomorrow), and drew random short lines all over it.

The Love stamp is from a old Vap! set, and is still one of my favourite words sets.

pocket/handbag calendar challenge at stampotique

2012-01-19T14:10:00.004Z

The Current Challenge at Stampotique is to make a calendar to fit in your purse/calendar. I made mine really simply by printing off a calendar and over stamping it with a butterfly in a light colour which coordinated with the double sided paper. I then protected the whole thing with laminating film so that it might survive the disaster area that is my handbag.

In Stitches

2012-01-16T21:47:00.003Z

This card I made for my friend's birthday is a perfect fit for this week's challenge at Paper Play Challenges

I simply stamped the name (see D's) onto patterned paper. then pierced it at regular intervals with a needle, then backstitched it.

next time I'm going to do the same but chain stitch it.

less is more week 50: birds

2012-01-15T17:31:00.006Z

The theme at Less is more is Birds But it's also One Layer week. I've decided to (yet again) mess with my one layer card by cutting an aperture. This time a circular(ish) one. I really don't like cutting circles, they never quite work, so don't look to closely!!

I've stamped the sentiment inside the aperture.

both stamps are by Stampotique.

one layer wednesday: red and pink

2012-01-12T16:32:00.005Z

I decided that I must use the gorgeous heart stamp that came with the new issue of Craft Stamper for the theme at One Layer Wednesday

To make this card, I first stamped the ribbon in red (versafine crimson red) and masked it and stamped the heart in versacolor old rose.

I was going to leave it like that at first. I liked it, but I find that other people find flat cards a bit dull, so I decided to make it more interesting yet still keeping it one layer by creating a torn aperture. I did this using the cutting/tearing technique I tried a few days ago. to do this just cut the edges of the shape and tear!

Stampotique meets gingersnap creations : ribbon challenge

2012-01-12T13:30:00.004Z

two of my favourites combine this month as Stampotique Originals are sponsoring the challenges at Gingersnap creations. The overall theme at Gingersnap creations this month is using up scraps, and this weeks new theme is ribbons...

sooo taking all that into consideration (and the fact that I needed a new baby card for a friend) this is what I came up with.

The stamp is Strolling by Stampotique, and I have finished with just a scrap of knotted ribbon. The image is of course stamped in brown onto kraft card and coloured with pencils.

trying something new

2012-01-08T21:57:00.002Z

The challenge theme here at Happy Daze this month is "something new"
I saw this technique on Pinterest recently and knew I had to try it.

It's so quick and easy, yet I think it's really effective. Just stamp, cut some detail with a craft knife and then just tear!

The stamp is from Jo Capper-Sandon's range at Stampotique.

Craft stamper February 2012 - on the cover

2012-01-06T11:56:00.003Z

Well sort of..

My article is about hidden messages cards, and you can see one of the cards in the middle of the pictures along the bottom.

I have used stamps from Stampotique.

This is the hidden message in the one on the cover.

You'll have to get the magazine to see the other two, and how they were made.

couple of things that I forgot to blog..

2012-01-05T22:43:00.005Z

I really fell behind with my blogging over the last few weeks, so here's a couple of things to catch up.

first of all my DT entry for the gingersnap white and soft yellows challenge. Made with a swipe of jenni bowlin malted milk ink, die cuts and bubble beads from penny wise arts.

secondly is my piece for the last stampotique challenge, which was shimmer and sparkle, practically everything on this card is sparkly!

My wish for the new year..

2011-12-30T11:45:00.004Z

...Happiness.
The challenge at stampotique is "wish for the new year".
I decided to decorate a bauble with the Happy Definition from stampotique. This can then go on a bottle as a gift for a new year party host. I like the idea of giving decorations at new year, as people still have their trees up.

I stamped the definition repeatedly onto creamy/brown tissue paper, then tore it up (to remove the birthday bit of the definition. I attached this to small bauble with mod podge, left to dry and then sprayed with varnish.

perfect present for Grandma

2011-12-20T15:08:00.003Z

A couple of years ago we bought my Mother-in-law a digital photo frame, and put some pictures onto a card for her. I thought it would be a nice idea to give her an SD card with some more recent pictures.

but then the SD card looked like such a boring (and small) present!

So I decided to make a box. To make it more personal I made the lid from photos of the children. I easily made this on "my craft studio" software by dropping photos on resizing and tilting. I printed this onto card to make the lid and made a base to fit in plain card. I then made a little niche (I will work out some proper measurements some time for how to do this, but I just made this up as I went along). I then decorated this up like a scrapbook page (my MIL is a scrapbooker)

it's not too late to make your own Christmas Sweater

2011-12-19T20:10:00.004Z

I love the current trend for proper Christmas sweaters, they seem to be everywhere.
I wanted one, but
a) I didn't want to buy one, it had to be "homemade"
b) I didn't have time to make one.
c) I'm skint after all the Christmas Shopping.

The answer to this dilemma?

.........Swiss Darning!!

I had a rummage around my cupboard and found a plain thick knit jumper that had seen better days. Then I had a rummage around my wool stash and found some perfect red yarn.
Then finally I had a rummage through my knitting magazines and found an intarsia/fairisle pattern, to swiss darn onto my jumper.

if you fancy giving it a go, then you need to know that swiss darning is EASY. You do not need to be able to knit, and you barely need to know how to sew. This video calls it duplicate stitch but it's the same thing. If you can cross stitch, then you can do this.

You can use any chart designed for fairisle or intarsia knitting (do not use cross stitch patterns as they will look squashed.)

Crochet Mistletoe Bauble

2011-12-17T22:46:00.003Z

My work Christmas do had a competition to make our own baubles. I decided to crochet mine.

I got the pattern for the mistletoe from a book (but made it smaller). The ball is made using prinicples of arigurumi (check out youtube for techniques). I hope that the photos pick out the lovely sparkle in the white yarn. I finished with some beads from a broken bracelet (I say broken..... to be honest I cut it up just to make this, but in my defense it was a really cheap one)

gingersnap challenge: Wax

2011-12-16T14:08:00.005Z

I took the gingersnap challenge of wax quite literally this week. I remember I used to be fascinated when I was younger when restaurants had wine bottles with candles in and the wine bottles were covered in dripped wax. I know they are a bit tacky but I like them.

Candles don't drip like that nowadays, so to create this effect I had to drip the candle myself down the side of the bottle.
To add a little bling I embedded iridescent bubble beads from penny wise arts into the wax (just heat gently with a heat gun and then push them into the wax)
Finally I heated the wax on the front and pushed the crown coin stamp from this crafty individuals stamp plate into it. leaving the stamp unmounted makes this really easy to do.

Quick Crochet Gift.... it's not too late.

2011-12-15T16:31:00.006Z

I originally got this idea from pinterest (an evil site that steals hours of your life without your realising)

And it's not an original idea (you can buy something similar here), but I loved the idea of making an "indoor snowball fight" for my kids for Christmas (just in case it doesn't snow this year). Each ball takes about 30 mins, so it really can be a last minute crochet gift.

I had recently crocheted a bauble (to be blogged soon) so knew that it was easy to crochet a ball.
-basically crochet a small ring, then dc (note I use british stitch definitions - not US) 6 into ring, continue in spiral, dc 2 into each stitch for first round, then 1 dc into 1 stitch 2 dc into next for one round, the dc into next 2 stitch, 2 dc into next, continue in this way until you like the size, then continue without shaping until the size looks right. Then start to decrease, reversing the procedure, but dc 2 tog, where you did 2 dc into one stitch before (basically this is amugurumi and there are much better instructions on the internet)

The problem with using fluffy yarn is that you can't see the stitches so there is a lot of guesswork, but the fluffiness hides any mistakes. all the balls may end up different sizes, but that makes them more like real snowballs.

The balls are stuffed with toy stuffing and then crammed into a nice jar. (from poundland). Decorate the jar to finish.

I love odd buttons

2011-12-11T21:33:00.002Z

I made this cute jumper with buttons on the shoulder for a friend's baby. I couldn't resist using mismatched buttons. I love the effect

last minute gift for Happy Daze blog

2011-12-11T12:36:00.001Z

To fit in with this month's challenge of gifts, cards and tags, I decided to share my last minute gift ideas. I often give Amazon vouchers as gifts, but any voucher that prints out onto an A4 sheet of paper will work.

I simply fold the voucher into thirds both ways to create a "z-fold" and then add covers (8cm x11cm) (be aware that the cover is attached to the top left corner of the voucher so make sure that there isn't any important information there.

The covers can then be decorated anyway you like. I have used Stamps from Stampotique.

GCSP10: Once in a Blue Moon - Thank You Notes

2011-12-04T18:43:00.003Z

The current new theme at gingersnap creations is Thank you notes.
I made this simple card with lovely paper, but I finished it with some white acrylic paint.

less is more: green

2011-12-03T14:57:00.004Z

I find it really hard to not take part in the less is more challenges, they are just so tempting! For this green challenge, I simply stamped a christmas greeting (that came free with a magazine) with forest moss distress ink, and then added vintage christmas flower soft along the bottom of the letters (this is definitely one of my favourite flower soft colours, it just shouts "Christmas"!!

last minute gift knitting with just one ball of yarn.

2011-12-01T12:03:00.003Z

I have previously shown the pattern for this mini hot water bottle cover with a lavender bag in the pocket. This pattern fits a mini hot water bottle from poundland (my local poundland still has plenty in stock). I decided to make these extra two with some left over yarn (there was just less than 50g of DK yarn left on each ball, and this was enough). The fabric was also leftover from some bags I made.

I didn't do these ones stripy so they were really quick to knit up.

Rogue Redhead/technique Junkies blog hop

2011-11-29T12:00:00.005Z

Welcome to Stop #9 on the joint Rogue Redhead and Technique Junkies Blog Hop! We are all having loads of fun with the new Technique Junkies' 3D and Fun Folds CD!

The Technique Junkies team has joined us to showcase the numerous great techniques on this new CD. As you may know, the Technique Junkies Newsletter has been publishing rubber stamping technique tutorials since 2002. The 3D and Fun Folds CD contains 70 step-by-step technique tutorials in PDF format – perfect dimensions, perfect directions and great pictures for every step. Visit www.techniquejunkies.com for more details about the CD and the Technique Junkie Newsletter.

A fantastic group of design team members from both Rogue Redhead Designs and the Technique Junkie Newsletter, have helped put together this fabulous Blog Hop to kick off the 3D and Fun Folds CD. Not only will the talented Technique Junkies team be hopping with the Rogue Crew today, they started hopping yesterday with Classy Cards N' Such and will be hopping again all the way through Friday one day each with PaperTemptress, Mark's Finest Papers, and Sweet n' Sassy Stamps. Check the The Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog for more details.

After visiting me, you can head off to see Chris Dickinson at Creating with Chrissy for your next stop.

I made a little gift bag using one of the fabulous techniques from TJ. I used a "love your style" quote stamp from Rogue Redhead Designs.

If you get lost along the way, here's the whole list of hop stops for your convenience.

1. The Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog

2. Rogue Redhead Designs Blog

3. Jackie Kalchert

4. Beverly G., Rogue Crew

5. Jean Franks Beck, Rogue Crew

6. Holly Brown

7. Jane Bosi

8. Laura Liddell, Rogue Crew

9. Joanne Wardle, Rogue Crew

10. Chris Dickinson

11. Stephanie Severin, Rogue Crew

12. Sharon Briss, Chief Rogue

13. Pat Huntoon

Have fun along the way!

On Saturday, December 3, Pat from the Technique Junkie Newsletter will announce the winners from each company. Be sure to hop along on each day! There will be FIVE WINNERS! On Monday, December 5th, Pat will announce ONE LUCKY WINNER with a GRAND PRIZE with a bundle of prizes from all of the participating businesses.

If you have been following along already you should have come from Laura Liddell.

If you are only starting here, please head back to the Technique Junkie Newsletter Blog and go from there otherwise head on to the next stop.. Chris Dickinson
You won't want to miss any stops along the way – in order to win you will need to comment on everyone’s blog AND Pat Huntoon's blog. There will be an additional chance to win by playing along in her Blog Hop!

a non-traditional christmas

2011-11-28T22:06:00.004Z

This week at the Stampotique designers' challenge we challenge you to use non-tradional colours in your christmas card.
When I first saw this snowman stamp from Jo Capper-Sandon's range at stampotique, one of the first things that I thought was it would be perfect for football (soccer) fans with that stripey scarf. Here in Leeds, our local team is Leeds United who play in white, yellow and blue. So this card is for all the Leeds United fans.

I have coloured the image with whispers markers, including a little grey picked up on a blender pen for shading. I finished with some stickles glitter glue.

We Three Kings for the happy daze blog

2011-11-27T11:56:00.000Z

As Christmas rapidly approaches, I find the need for quick and easy cards gets more urgent.

Here's an easy one made with one simple stamp from stampotique.

I have coloured the card with pencils, highlighted with glossy accents. I have also used some gilding flakes to accent the bands around the crowns. I finally finished with some gold cord.

less is more : a bit of bling

2011-11-26T09:42:00.004Z

The theme at Less is More this week is "a bit of bling", so I am entering this engagement card which I made for a friend. The single gem is meant to represent the engagement ring.

I've also used a stamp from paperarsty, some patterned papers and flowersoft.

gingersnap creations red, yellow and brown.

2011-11-25T16:27:00.004Z

Here's my piece for the new challenge at gingersnap creations.

I've used torn post-it notes to create the frame and distress inks to colour. The stamps are from PaperArtsy.

Another Fancy Way to Present a Voucher

2011-11-21T23:06:00.006Z

I've previously presented my scroll box as a way of presenting a printed out amazon voucher, but this year I decided I needed a new method.

This is also for the gift challenge at the Kraft Journal

This is what I believe is called a "Z-fold" The A4 sheet of paper is folded into thirds to make a DL size (in a z) and then the other way.

two pieces of card are cut (8cm x11cm) and the corners rounded. One of these will be the front and I concentrated all of my decoration on this. I used tea dye distress ink around the edges with cut n dry foam and then stamped in the same ink with a selection of PaperArtsy stamps and a rub-on message.

Check how the fold opens so that the front of the fold is in the front left hand corner of the certificate. Fold up the certificate and then attach the front and back pieces.

The certificate should now unfold and fold easily, just by pulling apart the covers (it's quite clever)

I kept the back very plain

The finished item easily tucks into a card

or can be presented as a gift.

more kraft with Rogue redhead

2011-11-21T16:35:00.000Z

I just don't seem to be able to stop using these new Candy Kisses stamps on kraft card, they just seem to work so easily on it.

These are just stamped in brown and coloured with pencils, with a touch of glossy accents and stickles glitter glue to finish

stampotique sketch challenge

2011-11-18T11:47:00.003Z

Sketches really aren't my forte, but I like to have a go at everything, so here's my simple interpretation of the sketch challenge at stampotique. Both off the stamps that I have used are from stampotique.

Stampotique blog hop : new images from a new designer

2011-11-15T05:01:00.003Z

Announcing new images and new artists are always exciting here at Stampotique Originals and so we are thrilled to announce our newest artist, Kira Nichols. Kira has designed some very unique monsters and kitties for her first line of stamps and our design team has had the opportunity to play with the stamps before they are released to the public.

Want a chance to win some of Kira's new images? Hop along with our designers as well as our special guest, leaving comments along the way, for your chance to win some of Kira's new images. We will randomly draw a winner from one of the blogs and announce the winner with our next challenge.

Make sure to leave comments along the way and a randomly chosen commenter will win some of these new stamps.

you have reached the end of the hop, so you may want to return to the Stampotique blog

Below is a complete list in case you go off the beaten path and need some redirection.

Joanne Wardle<----you are here

Happy daze Challenge, an explosion of colour.

2011-11-13T12:02:00.001Z

For this month's challenge theme I have made this one layer card, using stamps from Jo Capper-Sandon's range at Stampotique. These Splatter stamps are perfect for the theme. I have used distress inks for the colour.

2011-11-11T12:09:00.001Z

Kraft tags with Rogue redhead

2011-11-07T07:10:00.003Z

I decided to make three quick and easy tags with the quirky new Candy Kisses plate from Rogue Redhead (they have a new website, check it out) The bold simple designs are prefect for simple colouring styles, such as colouring with pencils on kraft card.

I also used the background from the relish reading plate with tea dye ink to produce a soft background image. I did this by covering the image with a torn scrap of post-it note, inking up the stamp and gently pressing the card onto the stamp, to get a faint uneven background. I love this effect as it takes away the starkness of a plain background, yet does not detract from the main image.

Craft Stamper December 2011

2011-11-04T10:13:00.004Z

The December 2011 issue of craft stamper is out today, and I have a small article in it. If you know the magazine well, it's the "Stamping with..." article. I chose to stamp with.. Houses.

I used a fantastic row of houses from Crafty Individuals for all three of my cards, and tried to show three very different ways to use them. My favourite is the kite card, where I just used the top of the houses to give the illusion of sky to the rest of the card. I originally got this idea from a fabulous tag that Jo Capper-Sandon made (and gave to me) quite some time ago, you can admire it here.

Rogue Redhead new release

2011-10-31T06:22:00.002Z

Another Preview of the new stamps from Rogue Redhead, This is from the Candy Kisses Plate. A super simple card coloured with one colour of marker and a blender pen. I've also added some white flower soft for a snowy effect.

This colouring method is the same method as I used in the new Craft Stamper magazine, due out next friday.

Happy Hallowe'en

2011-10-30T19:16:00.002Z

I'm ridiculously proud of the pumpkins that I carved today!

GC#124 Black and Grey

2011-10-27T17:54:00.005+01:00

This week, the new challenge at Gingersnap creations is Black and Grey. I used this fabulously spooky image from Crafty Individuals, which was just perfect for the theme.

I stamped the image in grey and then again in black. from the black one I just cut out the bed. One the grey one I created a mask for the moon and building and then made the whole background more moody with black and grey distress inks. I mounted the bird on 3D foam.

I finished with an immovable knot.

What's your poison?

2011-10-26T13:20:00.005+01:00

The new challenge at Stampotique is "an altered poison bottle". This challenge really had me stumped, I just don't really do altering and I pondered and pondered and pondered until I ran out of time. I looked at bottles, but just drew a complete blank. In the end I decided to make a tag for a beer bottle, as that's my husband's favourite "poison". I also decided to go masculine, and also attempted "witty".

I used the quote "escape the ordinary...daydream" but changed it to "escape the ordinary...drink".

I thought that this little guy had an air of inebriation about him.

So all in all, I feel that I cheated on this challenge, but I think I might just get away with it.

And for those who remember and loved him, the little bowtie is an homage to Keith Floyd.

All stamps are from Stampotique

Christmas with non-Christmas stamps

2011-10-23T07:40:00.001+01:00

You don't always have to buy special Christmas stamps to make your Christmas cards. Sometimes you just have to look at the stamps you have in a different way. This general tree from Stampotique, can easily be made to look wintry with simple colouring, and the addition of white flower soft or glitter. The tiny bird from Jo Capper-Sandon's range can easily be made to look like a robin redbreast with the appropriate colouring

all stamps are from , I made this for the Happy Daze challenge (where you can purchase your stampotique stamps)

cocktails and stripes

2011-10-21T14:37:00.005+01:00

I've combined the stripe challenge at one layer wednesday with the cocktail challenge at less is more to make this really simple card.

To make the stripes, I randomly snipped a piece of copy paper with scissors, then cut them at irregular heights and angles. I sprayed the back with stick and spray, and then brayer the ink over the top.

I had previously stamped and mask the glass stamp from The Frantic Stamper's own range of stamps.

I stamped the word celebrate, lightly coloured the glass with pink pencil and applied glossy accents.

SDC 40: Tag time

2011-10-19T21:47:00.004+01:00

At The Stampotique Challenge Nellie has challenged us to make a tag. You can use any stamps for this challenge, but as usual Stampotique stamps are up for grabs as a prize.

I used an old favourite from Stampotique, Smile, but gave him a crown from Jo Capper-Sandon's range, which I stamped using a masking technique. The words are a stamp from Jo's latest collection and work perfectly with the crown.

I highlighted the crown and the edge of the tag, using a quickie glue pen and gilding flakes. I love this simple technique.

love your style

2011-10-17T07:28:00.001+01:00

This card is made with an image and words from the new soon to be released Rogue Redhead plate "milliner misses" This is an easy peasy quick collage card. The main image is coloured with pencils, the edges distressed and inked with tea dye distress ink. and that's about as complicated as it gets.

gingersnap creations: alcohol inks

2011-10-13T09:22:00.005+01:00

The new challenge at gingersnaps is to use alcohol inks. to be honest I don't use mine very often, but I don't know why.

To make this card I stamped Carol's flower from Stampotique onto acetate with stazon, then on the reverse I applied various colours of ranger alcohol inks with a blending tool. I then glued this to the card, to which I had already added a ribbon (by threading through the card), glued on a button.

A "Stella" Hallowe'en

2011-10-09T01:00:00.001+01:00

In previous posts I have used Stella Sitting on various props, and have used masking to achieve this. I know that a lot of people find masking a bit too "faffy", so for this card I used the simpler "cutting out" method!!

I just stamped Stella, the broom and hat, onto white card coloured with pencils and cut them out.

I made the moon background by cutting out a circle mask (by drawing around the inside of a roll of sellotape), then applied black soot and pumice stone distress inks with a cotton wool ball. I
removed the maks, applied a litle more pumice stone ink, for clouds. I stamped happy (from Happy unbirthday) and old english Hallowe'en. I glued Stella and her accessories in place.

All of the Stamps are from Jo Capper-Sandon's range from Stampotique Originals.

knitted hat with crochet mistletoe

2011-10-06T11:44:00.004+01:00

or a christmas "kiss me quick" hat.

I found a pattern for crochet mistletoe in a book and made a few (although I changed the pattern slightly from the book) I decided that it would be cool to put it on a hat, so I knitted a simple hat in white sparkly yarn and sewed on the mistletoe. I added a couple of faux pearls from a cheap bracelet for the berries.

mistletoe bird house

2011-10-04T11:51:00.005+01:00

The new monthly challenge at Happy Daze is Christmas or Hallowe'en.

The design team were given these tiny little wooden bird houses to play with. Unsurprisingly I kept mine simple. The only stamp I used is Jo's Mistletoe stamp from Stampotique.

Check out the instructions and what the rest of the design team did on the Happy Daze blog.

Envelope Fold T-shirt Cushion - the tutorial

2011-09-30T11:03:00.006+01:00

I promised the tutorial for this cushion a little while ago.

I used to make my t-shirt cushions using this tutorial, where the cushion is fully sealed and the t-shirt is left intact. this is fine for me as to wash I unpick the final seam, wash, then sew it back up.
But I wanted to make a cushion for a friend that doesn't really sew, and she was happy for me to cut the t-shirt, so i decided to make an envelope fold cushion.
Work with the T-shirt inside out.
The first thing is to decide on the size, the maximum square you can make is the width between the arm holes, measure this, and then measure the same distance down from the neck hole and mark this square on the reverse of the front of the t-shirt.
turn the th-shirt over so you are working from the back (still inside out)cut up the sides nearly to the arm hole. You will actually cut it all the way up, but just cutting this far, helps to hold the positions of the front and back.
Fold the front of the t-shirt inside the t-shirt to make the square you decided on previously.( this will make the envelope flap, so the longer it is, the better.)
fold up the back, to shorten it ( I made it shorter than the front, but have since decided that it is better to actually make it the same length)

sew across this hem.

pin front and back together, trim off surplus on sides and top and sew along the sides and top of the square. Make sure that you are also sewing in the flap that you folded earlier

turn right side out.

insert cushion pad (tip: use a cushion pad larger than the measured size of your cover for a plump cushion)

stampotique challenge #39 something funny

2011-09-28T10:25:00.004+01:00

It's Stampotique design team member Vicki's birthday today, so a big happy birthday Vicki!!
As her birthday fell on a challenge day and she obviously has a great sense of humour (as well as oodles of talent), she set us the challenge of making a humourous birthday card. This is a stampotique stamps only challenge, but luckily the quirky images from stampotique are perfect for adding a funny quote as you can see here.

I really wanted to use this new dog image, isn't it adorable, and I took the hat from this stamp.
The background is done using this technique.

splashy dragonfly card

2011-09-25T10:27:00.003+01:00

This as a really simple card I made with Jo's new Dragonfly stamp (again) and verse from stampotique. I created the simple background by doing a very small spray of adirondack sprays in 3 colours. I then used the same blue spray with a paintbrush to colour the dragonfly.
I have shown this on the happy daze blog.
Stamps are available from stampotique and happy daze in the uk. The sprays are available from Happy Daze.

I am also entering this for one layer wednesday's sentiment-a-mania challenge, where the sentiment must take prominence or at least be equal to the main image.

frantic stamper-sketch sunday

2011-09-23T12:23:00.003+01:00

Here's my Card for Frantic Stamper's Sketch Sunday Challenge
All of the materials for this card are available from the frantic stamper and the main image is a stamp from the frantic stampers own range of stamps.

cushions galore....

2011-09-22T09:30:00.006+01:00

I'm in a bit of a cushion making frenzy at the moment. I have a new sewing machine and I adore it, so here's a selection

4 envelope fold cushions made from the leftovers from shortening a pair of curtains

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some red corduroy cushions with a zip in the seam (I just learned how to do that from a youtube video)- these are to go on the back seat of my car.

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an envelope fold t-shirt cushion (tutorial to follow)

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and then finally not sewn, but crocheted, a really simple crochet cushion with a zip in the back.

Stampotique challenge: black and white and a splash of colour

2011-09-21T21:47:00.004+01:00

The challenge at stampotique is to use black and white and just a splash of colour. for this challenge you can use non-stampotique images if you choose to.
I used Jo's giant daisy and a simple quote. I stamped the quote, and then stamped it onto a post-it note. I tore this close to the words and used it as a mask and stamped the daisy over it. I coloured the centre of the flower with yellow. I stamped the flower again and just cut out the front part and raised it with silicone glue
I am also going to enter this for the less is more 1000 challenge, they are already nearly at 500, they may just do it!!

cutaway layered t-shirt (reverse applique)-tutorial

2011-09-20T09:26:00.008+01:00

I saw some t-shirts similar to this in a french market, and thought "ooo I could do something like that with my own designs". I had never heard of reverse applique, so didn't know what this technique was, but it seemed quite obvious. I like that it's a full t-shirt over another, so you can get away with using cheaper t-shirts as you don't need the thickness. The two t-shirts are only held together by the design, but you could add extra stitching if you prefer.

So I bought a couple of £2.50 t-shirts from primark, to fit my teenage son. He wanted a skull design so the first thing to do was to design the skull (I was originally hoping that he'd choose something simpler!) please note, it's me modelling it in the picture though, NOT my teenage son!

I then drew around this onto the outer t-shirt.

I carefully positioned the inner t-shirt inside the outer one and pinned them together around the design.

I stitched over the design using a sewing machine, set to a stretch stitch.

I then cut away just the top layer inside the design. I purposefully kept the edges rough and unfinished looking.

and that's it, all that remains to do is tidy up the ends of the thread (I just used a sewing needle to pass the thread to the back and tied it off inside.

spotlight punching tutorial for Gingersnap Creations

2011-09-19T17:38:00.002+01:00

I made a monogram card using this no-stamping technique earlier in the year. Many people commented that it looked quite tricky. I wanted to show you how easy it really is. To do this technique you will need

- an "anywhere" hole punch with interchangeable heads. 3 sizes. I use a making memories punch that requires the use of a hammer (very loud and very therapeutic)
-a post-it note and pencil
-a card blank
an insert (preferable sparkly coloured paper)

How-to:
1) draw the outline of your numbers (or letters, or even shape e.g. heart) onto a post it note. Doing it this way means that you don't have any pencil lines to rub away at the end and you can redraw as many yimes as you like (drawing is NOT my strength. If you really can't draw you could always print letters out from your computer.

2) postion on card (landscape or portrait, it doesn't matter)

3) take your LARGEST punch and randomly punch within the shape. Make sure that some go right up to the edge. Fill the shapes.

4) with your MIDDLE size punch fill in the gaps between the larger holes, again make sure that some go right up to the edge.

5) now do the same with the SMALLEST punch. (always go from large to small as it's about filling gaps).

6) remove the post-it note and check it looks okay. add more holes if required.

7) add an insert, to complete the card.

Here's another example of the same technique with some extra embellishment.

i am entering the star card for the less is more 1000 challenge

reversible Cath Kidston style tote

2011-09-18T12:06:00.007+01:00

I found these gorgeous fabrics at Leeds Market, for £4 a metre. They are just gorgeous and I love the contrast the two fabrics.

I have used the "tea towel tote" method to make this bag, which makes it totally reversible.

so the decision is... which way to use it

less is more and OLW 64

2011-09-17T18:07:00.004+01:00

This week at the less is more challenge they are trying to go for 1000 entries! but luckily the theme is anything goes, so any clean and simple entries are eligible to enter..

meanwhile at One Layer Wednesdays the theme is colour it. I have been fiddling around with a bit of a new colouring technique this week, instead of putting a nice smooth surface under my card and colouring in a detail manner with light strokes, I have put a textured surface (denim) underneath and coloured with firm, bold strokes and not worrying about outlines. I love the result and it will make batch cards a breeze. This card uses Jo Capper-Sandon's new starbird with chick stamp from Stampotique, which I have coloured to look like a robin, with a simple christmas greeting which I found in my freebie box.

Gingersnap Challenge - Crimpers

2011-09-14T07:12:00.003+01:00

The Challenge at Gingersnap Creations is to use crimpers.

It's always good to have an excuse to dig out old bits of crafty equipment. I made a tag using stamps from Crafty individuals, cutting out an extra birdcage and 3Ding it, and ran the end through my crimper.

I then inked it to define the crimping, added some flower soft and added it to a card.

a couple of challenge cards (2nd post of the day)

2011-09-11T11:22:00.004+01:00

The sewing theme at Crazy Amigos couldn't have come at a better time as I have just received some fabulous sewing theme stamps from Crafty Individuals.

. I adore the thread cards and thought they'd look sweet with real thread around them.
The quote is from a different crafty individuals set.

The second card is for the less is more "seeing double" challenge. I have used some more stamps from Crafty Individuals, I've had these ones for ages but they are really useful as there are both open images and silhouette images of flowers.

I stamped the open flower in black and then the coordinating image in green and pink (chewing gum and stick candy jenni bowlin inks). the two matching stamps are my "double". (the words are not from Crafty Individuals)

Stella and the dragonfly

2011-09-11T06:16:00.003+01:00

This is my piece for the little black dress challenge at Happy Daze. Anyone who has visited my blog will know that my little black dress technique is pencil colouring on kraft card and using my home made stamp positioner to combine stamps to make one layer cards.

I've used these techniques with some of my new favourite stamps from Jo's new collection from Stampotique available from Happy Daze in the UK
Stella and dragonfly are both fantastic stamps to use individually, but combined I think they create something quite magical.
To achieve this effect, stamp Stella first, then create a stella mask from a post-it note, use a stamp positioner to make sure that the dragonfly is in the correct place and stamp the dragonfly.
colour with pencils, and add the quote also from Jo's collection.

Gingersnap Creations: Gal Pal Challenge

2011-09-08T05:42:00.001+01:00

I made this card using stampotique stamps for the Gingersnap Challenge
I wanted the card to Say BFF and I liked the letters from Stampotique's altered fabulous stamp.

To use just these letters, I stamped the stamp onto copy paper and created a stamp mask for each letter as shown. to use, ink the stamp and then attach the mask with tape to the block.

Stamp the stamp (using a positioner if required).
In this case I stamped the letters and girls onto patterned paper, and added "forever" from the word collage stamp.

Stella Sits pretty....

2011-09-06T12:20:00.004+01:00

...pretty much on anything!

well in previous posts I've had her sat on a broom and a star, and if you keep an eye out this weekend I will have her sat on a dragonfly, but today I've sat her on stampotique's toadstool stamp. And if you were wondering what else you can do with the dragonfly, I have given her a set of dragon fly wings. This is a one layer card, achieved with careful use of masking and stamp positioning (but isn't as hard as it sounds)
I have doodled the edge, not something that I'm particularly great at but I'm pleased with how this turned out.

All of the Stamps are From Jo Capper-Sandon's range at Stampotique.

Instant Distress - Rogue Redhead

2011-09-05T06:00:00.002+01:00

I just love the large background stamp on the new beach babe plate from Rogue Redhead Designs. It's like instant distress. I stamped the whole thing in one colour and then turned it through 180 degrees and stamped it again in a different colour. Finally I inked it up with brown and dabbed my card randomly onto the stamp, the result.... instant distress background.

I simply finished by stamping words from bits and pieces and the fern from floriculture. I distressed the edges of the panel, mounted onto kraft card and added a ribbon.

A very quick and easy card, with a background which looks like it took time, but actually took seconds.

less is more- metallic (wish upon a star)

2011-09-03T11:30:00.006+01:00

This week at less is more it's a colour theme, and it's metallic. I decided to use a simple metal charm on my card, which I think works well with Jo's Wish Word Stamp from the new releases at stampotique.
I've also used the freebie star stamp (also designed by Jo for Stampotique) from this month's Craft stamper, to make a stencil, which I have sprayed through with Crafter's Companion's Spray and sparkle (iridescent) much like I did on the book cover in my last post. You could also do this with the star stamp in Jo's new range, it's the same but substantially larger (I'm lucky enough to have both)
it's hard to photograph this, but it looks lovely in real life.

Craft Stamper Magazine

2011-09-02T12:50:00.003+01:00

The new Craft Stamper Magazine is out today, and is worth getting for the free stamp alone! Jo Capper-Sandon has designed a gorgeous star stamp for Stampotique. It's a smaller version of the new release from Stampotique.
I was lucky enough to be asked to make samples for the magazine, and I couldn't stop. I ended up making too many to be shown in the magazine, so here's one that didn't make it in.
It's just a covered notebook with the words "my plans for stardom on the cover". To create the subtle stars in the background, I created a stencil using the stamp and sprayed through it with spray and sparkle.

hopefully some of the others that did't make it into the magazine will be shown on the Craft Stamper website, and I may sneak a few more onto my blog.

It's always great fun working with Jo, we've known each other such a long time (but only met once) and no one has inspired me more! I'm really pleased with how the samples look, I think our styles complement each other well, but there's something for every level (yes, mine are the easy ones! lol)

I also have my final part in the one layer card series. I feel a bit sad that it's finished, I've really enjoyed it. But don't worry, I have more articles coming up and I'm sure I'll manage to sneak a few more one layer cards in. This month I have looked at using stencils and masks to make clean and simple designs.

Stampotique blog hop, the new stamps are unveiled

2011-08-31T05:01:00.002+01:00

Welcome to Wednesday!

Have you been chomping at the bit waiting for Stampotique Originals to release some more of your favorite stamps? Well, you have stopped in at the right place today! We are thrilled to announce our newest release featuring many of your favorite designers.

We've got new images from Jo Capper-Sandon, Maryse Carrier, Janet Klein and Daniel Torrente and Jill Penney. There's a great mix of Hallowe'en images, nature images, some winter images and some cute kid images. There's an image for everyone to ink up and you are sure to find more than one that you will have to have.

Are you drooling yet? Are you wanting to see some of these creepy, crawly, cute and furry friends? Then join the design team and our special guest for our new release blog hop today starting here. Make sure to leave a comments along the way and randomly chosen commented will win some of these new stamps.

If you arrived here from Jane Wetzel then you are in the right place. If not, you will want to go back and start the hop at the Stampotique Designer's Challenge. From here you will want to visitKaren (Kaz) Boughton. Below is a complete list in case you go off the beaten path and need some redirection.

Let us know what you think of the new stamps and which ones that you have seen are your favorite.

oops

2011-08-30T08:06:00.001+01:00

Sail Away with Rogue Redhead

2011-08-29T06:28:00.000+01:00

A simple card made with the new Beach Babes plate from Rogue Redhead Designs.

Stamped in blue onto a pale blue-grey base and then coloured with pencils, a couple of scraps of patterned paper, and that's it!!

late...for a very important date!

2011-08-28T14:03:00.005+01:00

The theme at the Kraft Journal this week is to be inspired by movies, books or songs. Now, of course it had to be Alice in Wonderland, and as it also had to be the pencil colouring on kraft card technique (of course) which means an excessive use of white, well that means that it has to be The White Rabbit!!

and he's perfect for belated birthday cards!

the stamp is from non-sequiteur and was one of the first stamps I ever got.

Stampotique Challenge: make a bookmark

2011-08-24T09:34:00.004+01:00

The new Stampotique Designers' challenge is to make a bookmark.

I chose to make mine a corner book mark. To make the basic bookmark I cut the corner off an envelope.
I decorated this with Stamps From Jo Capper-Sandon's range at Stampotique.

I added the ribbon so that it's easy to see the book mark when your book is closed.

By The Seaside for Happy Daze

2011-08-21T08:27:00.002+01:00

I made this piece for this month's challenge theme beside the seaside.
I've made a really simple piece using starfish and words by Jo Capper-Sandon for Stampotique, and mesh from Scrolls Work.

I finished it with a scrap of blue vellum, a scrap of sandpaper and a few dots of liquid pearls

I am also entering this for The St Luke's Charity challenge (Oh I do like to be beside the seaside) and a last minute entry to the Kraft Journal's anything goes challenge.

I love making cushions

2011-08-17T07:31:00.001+01:00

I have a real thing about cushions at the moment. One of the recent additions is one made from my son's favourite sweatshirt, when he grew out of it. I thought it was a nice touch to leave the pocket.

and another is a knitted cushion, with fancy cabling. I found this cable pattern in a magazine and thought it would look good on a cushion,

Alter a page in a book- stampotique challenge

2011-08-11T13:00:00.000+01:00

This is my piece for the current Stampotique challenge. I'm not much of an altered book or journalling type of girl, but I decided to just alter a page in a notebook. I enjoyed this and may carry on doing it to practise techniques!

all of the stamps are by Stampotique,

Gingersnap Baby Wipe challenge- baby wipe swipe

2011-08-10T05:38:00.003+01:00

I made this for the gingersnap challenge to make a card using baby wipes.

To make the background I wrapped some babywipes around the edge of my acrylic block and dabbed it onto a multicoloured inkpad. I then wiped this across the card to make a simple but colourful effect. I then added lots and lots of stampotique stamps using the same inkpad.
I finished with a girl stamp and a hello for a general greeting.

yesterday's card was created using the same technique, but first I masked with post-it notes to create a strip and swiped the acrylic block-baby wipe-ink combo from one post it to the other. I then overstamped the dragonfly and greeting. I finished the card by embossing two straight lines using a scoring board.

rainbows and wings at created by hand

2011-08-09T13:45:00.002+01:00

The challenge at Created by Hand is Rainbow colours/wings. I decided to go with both for this simple One Layer thank you card using stamps from Stampotique

To find out how I achieved the stripy colours come back tomorrow.. (although tomorrow's covers the whole card, this one was achieved with post it note masks)

stamps used
dotted dragonfly
thank you

housework for Happy Daze

2011-08-07T08:19:00.002+01:00

I made this card for the Happy Daze design Team blog.

I decided I needed to add some lost coast stamps to my collection and I had a browse of the happy daze shop and came across Housewife, which I knew I had to have.

I decided to make this card in chintzy housewife colours but with a not so housewife quote

Article in new Craft Stamper Magazine

2011-08-05T09:56:00.001+01:00

I have the 5th part of my series on one layer cards in the issue of Craft Stamper which is out today.
In this "episode" I look at holes and apertures. In one of the "further idea" pieces I made confetti shaped holes, and I've been asked if they are hard to do.

They are not!

here's a quick tutorial of how to do them. This is not the card that is in the magazine, but a quick one made with a stamp from Stampotique.

Stamp image

to create confetti, use craft knife to make a wiggly cut

make another wiggly cut alongside this, crossing it once, twice, or more, if you like, or you can not cross them at all.

join the ends of the lines with cuts.

pop out the pieces

repeat process for more confetti

add more holes with a hole punch.

colour the image, and the inside of the card if desired.

GC113- babes and tots

2011-08-04T09:25:00.003+01:00

For the current gingersnap theme, babes and tots, I decided to make a new baby card using the floating front method I did for Craft Stamper Magazine. I wanted to show that you didn't have to have a floating cut out image, but that it was a good way to mount tags too. The image is a forever friends stamp, coloured with pencils.

New Home Card

2011-08-02T16:47:00.006+01:00

The theme at Moving Along With the Times is "brand spanking new" so I'm going to enter this simple new home card that I made for a friend using Stampotique stamps.

I decided to cut the inside of the row houses stamp out so that you can see into the card, where I stamped the sun (this took some very careful use of a stamp positioner!)

I stamped the image onto patterned papers and paper pieced the designs.

a rogue in my garden!

2011-08-01T11:34:00.005+01:00

On the rogue redhead blog, Shar has challenged us to use pencils on kraft. ahem, hello!! how am I supposed to resist that one?

So I have made my card using Shar's stamps from Rogue redhead designs (relish reading plate) to make this card, which is also for The Kraft Jounal's "a walk in my garden theme"

The trick I use to achieve a sepia effect on kraft card, is to stamp the image in brown (versafine vintage sepia) and to make the images stand out, I always make sure I include white somewhere in the colouring.

To enhance this card I've added some touches of summer flower soft, it goes so well with this technique

Remember Rogue redhead stamps are now also available from StampDiva

SDC35 - red, orange and yellow

2011-07-27T21:19:00.003+01:00

It's a sizzling hot challenge at Stampotique this week. It's a stampotique only stamps challenge this week, but as it's a colour theme, I'm sure anyone can make this one work with even the fewest stampotique stamps.
I've just used a single stamp from Jo Capper-Sandon's range, with a masked backgound of distress inks.

This year's batch Christmas Card??

2011-07-24T12:07:00.006+01:00

Every year I do a couple of designs for cards that I will be able to batch make (usually in late november). I think this is this year's first design. It's quick, uses minimal materials that are easily replaced, and is perfect for batch making.

The Stamps are all from Jo Capper-Sandon's range at stampotique, (available from Happy Daze in the UK) stamped in brown versafine on kraft card, and coloured with coloursoft pencils. the berries are highlighted with Glossy Accents, and the knotted ribbon is glued on.

This is one of my favourite ways to use ribbon, and so is my second entry for this week's Less is More Challenge. I have also entered this for the Kraft Jounal's Christmas in July theme.

LIM ribbon

2011-07-23T20:39:00.004+01:00

The theme at Less is More is ribbons and buttons. I made this little scrapling using an octopode stamp I've been meaning to play with for ages along with some Stamp Camp words.

The ribbon is tied with an immovable knot, but I think is too thick for the flower, but it's kind of quirky!

Nestability card

2011-07-22T17:56:00.007+01:00

On the Frantic Stamper Blog today I have this quick card featured.

I made this circle card with a Nestabilities scallop die and a humorous birthday stamp by inkadinkado, and finished it with a piece of green apple grid ribbon.

I used the largest die in the scallop Nestabilities set to cut a circle card by overlapping it over the fold of the card.

I used the same die to cut from patterned paper and attached it to the card.

I used the 3rd smallest die to cut a white circle, then stamped and coloured the image. I stamped it again on scrap, coloured and cut out just the head and neck, and attached them to the card with dimensional adhesive.

I attached the white circle to the card. Lastly, I decorated the card with ribbon tied around the fold of the card.

I finished the card by cutting a flat edge on the back of the card to allow it to stand.

Hello Bebe

2011-07-20T13:54:00.003+01:00

Come over and visit the current Stampotique challenge, which is Flower Power.
As it's the first challenge of the month, you can use any stamps in your work, and let's face it, who doesn't have at least a few flower stamps in their collection, and you could win some stampotique stamps!!

My stamps are of course all by Stampotique: baby, altered Hello and just a little bit of the in stitches stamp along the bottom of the tag.

I decided to make my tag into a mini easel, which is held up with a glued on knotted ribbon.

teacher's card

2011-07-19T13:11:00.004+01:00

It's that time of year.. The Teacher Card.

Of course I've gone for my favourite technique. You'd have thought that I would have been bored of colouring on kraft card with pencils by now, but absolutely not. The effect still seems really magical to me. The way the kraft takes colour is just amazing. On this one I have tried to keep a sepia effect throughout by only using neutral colours, except for the red highlight of the apples. I've also highlighted the apples with sepia accents, just to give a bit of lift to the card.

The stamp is from Sugar Nellie, and was a Craft Stamper Subscription gift ages ago.

I'm entering this for The Kraft Journal's favourite things challenge, as this really is made up of my favourite things in crafting at the moment, pencils on kraft card and one layer cards.

Hanging heart for Happy Daze Challenge

2011-07-17T11:43:00.004+01:00

I've made another piece for the current challenge, "Dangly Things". This extremely simple card shows that to be eligible to enter your artwork doesn't necessarily have to include something that actually dangles, just a stamp of a dangly thing will suffice.
In this card I have dangled Jo Capper-Sandons heart from hearts cubed from Tree, also by Stampotique.

I've used a stamp positioner (actually lego corner and clear packaging) to position the heart accurately on the tree, and coloured with pencils on Kraft card.

gingersnap creations, gears, cogs and watch parts

2011-07-13T12:13:00.003+01:00

Continuing the Steampunk theme at Gingersnap, the current challenge is to use Cogs, Gears and Watch Parts in your creation. I decided to stick with just stamps rather than incorporating the real thing to make this really simple card. I used Stamps just from PaperArtsy, some simple Layering and a single gem.

floriculture scrapling

2011-07-11T17:47:00.001+01:00

I had a little bit of Kraft card left over, from trimming down a card to a square, so I made this Scrapling from stamps on the floriculture plate from rogue redhead designs. I stamped the sentiment,masked it with torn post-it note, stamped the flower, coloured with colour soft pencils.

Finally, I added a few dots of sepia accents.

playing with pointillism again

2011-07-10T16:37:00.000+01:00

If you've seen this month's Craft Stamper magazine, you may, like me, have fallen in love with Kim Costello's Pointillism article. I have made this card using Jasmin and Daisy Daisy from Jo Capper-Sandon's range at Stampotique. I don't own Copics so this was made using Whispers markers. I've a long way to go before I master this technique, but I'm enjoying playing!

LIM one layer

2011-07-09T20:11:00.004+01:00

The theme at LIM is to make a one layer card using "something with legs" ! Wow that's a big theme... so many things with legs.... where to start...
Then I decided to use one of the stampotique girls that always have the most fabulous legs.
now honestly this card started out Clean and Simple, but somewhere along the way it turned a bit grungy, and I actually for once think it's better for it.

I'm actually glad to show that One Layer doesn't have to mean Clean and Simple.

However I also want to keep the Limmettes happy, so I've used another stampotique stamp (with legs..... well feet at least) to make a CAS card too. This one is really CAS, just stamped and coloured, but I've also added a bit of depth by dry embossing a frame to make the image stand out.

feelin' fruity!

2011-07-08T11:11:00.004+01:00

The theme at PaperPlay Challenge is "fruity" I made this get well soon card, using The frantic Stamper's own range of stamps for the grapes and the script, the words were from a clear stamp set that I also got from the Frantic Stamper Website.

I took my favourite pencil on kraft card technique one step further, by stamping the leaf onto another piece of Kraft card, colouring and mounting with 3D foam.

One Layer Wednesday: Clouds

2011-07-07T12:46:00.004+01:00

The new theme at One Layer Wednesday is Clouds. I decided to make my own clouds using the fantastic pointillism technique that Kim Costello shows us in this month's Craft Stamper Magazine. Have you seen it? it's gorgeous. I don't own copics so I used Whispers markers and I'm quite pleased with the outcome.

What goes with clouds? why, hot air balloons of course. I know that it won't be an original idea, I'm sure loads of people will use them for this challenge. This is the one that came free with Craft Stamper magazine a short while ago, that I did some of the samples for. It's a useful stamp for your collection.

I think this card might be handy for a graduate, or someone being promoted

gingersnap: on the road

2011-07-06T20:50:00.003+01:00

This is quite an easy challenge to kick of Gingersnap Creations' Steampunk/machine month. I used stamps from PaperArtsy. I made the "road" by simply swiping a grey distress ink across the card and then I just stamped the car and congratulations. I thought this would be spot on for someone who had passed their driving test

snake cake

2011-07-04T14:05:00.004+01:00

As I posted the Climbing wall cake I made for my son's birthday last year, I thought I should post the snake cake that he had for his party this year. He had a wonderful party where Noah's ark exotic pets visited the house with an amazing collection of animals including an eagle owl, a boa constictor and a tarantula!!

I held a tarantula!!

anyway, it had to be a snake cake. It's not exactly professional, but I made it from scratch and I'm very very proud of it (it tasted good too!)

Dangly Star

2011-07-03T08:56:00.001+01:00

This card is made using stamps from Stampotique originals: the ubiquitous Moon Girl and the oh so useful Great Moon. I have made Great Moon's star dangle in an aperture using wire, and so this card is for the "dangly things" challenge, currently running at Happy Daze.

did someone say brown?

2011-07-02T08:54:00.003+01:00

you know if a challenge has brown in the theme, there's no way I'm going to be able to resist digging out my Kraft card. So as soon as I saw the challenge at Crafty Individuals, I had to take part, especially as my brand new Crafty Individuals stamps were just sitting there on my desk.

really easy card, stamped in sepia versafine, coloured with pencils, added some ultra fine flower soft, a ribbon and some sepia accents to the bird... done!

If you have this months Craft Stamper, I've done a similar technique in the gallery (animal theme, colours brown, blue and cream)

new Crafty Individuals Stamps

2011-07-01T14:42:00.004+01:00

What a lovely surprise I had today to receive some new stamps from Crafty Individuals through the post. Of course I had to play straightaway, and as I had the One Layer Wednesday Challenge (just stamps and ink) and St Lukes Charity Challenge (black white and one other colour) on my mind I thought I'd play with them too.
This first card if for both challenges and really couldn't be easier, but I kind of like it

The second card isn't for any challenge, but was just playing. I handwrote the words over the words on the stamp, to make them jump out. and added some random dots of stickles. (I will be sending this to the st Lukes appeal along with all my spare cards at the moment.)