Hop To It, Easter Is Nearly Here

Hello
It only dawned on me this week that Easter is now well within our grasp which means that it is time I started to share some more of the Easter projects I have been making for Oxford Impressions using the Easter Bunny Collection  stamps.
Mr Bunny (see these posts:- treat pouch and 3d egg. Thank you for the wonderful feedback on the 3d egg, your comments were well beyond any expectations) makes a return in this project, an Easter flag.The base of the flag was purchased as part of a scallop banner set. To give stability I adhered two together and painted before stamping the lovely advertisement from this set.
Mr Bunny’s close-up!The little birds in their nest perch at the top of the flag. At the tip of the flag I layered some pretty paper blooms with a button.A reminder that over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge the Spring Is In The Air challenge is underway. If you are interested then click the link.
I am linking this flag to Beverly’s Pink Saturday.
Thank you for visiting and I hope to be able to catch-up with you soon. I know some of you are continuing to experience problems trying to comment, I am sorry this is happening. There appear to be too many Gremlins in Blogland as I know I am having problems commenting on some of my favourite blogs. I do appreciate your visits.

Update – I am editing this post to say I am unable to comment on any Blogs today. The problem is with Blogger but when clicking the link for Help there is no assistance. Keeping fingers crossed that normal service will be resumed later today but if you do not hear from me you know that I want to comment but those pesky Gremlins are standing in my way! 
Wishes
Lynne

Playing By The Shore

Hello
Recently I shared a Journal I decorated using one of Trishia’s French Kissed Postcard scans that she made available as a freebie in the month of February and which I entered into her Kissed Again competition (read all the details on her FKP Blog). She has also been sharing some unloved digital scans, one of which was a vintage bathing belle. Well I couldn’t resist playing with this image and here is the postcard I created.I gathered little bits of this and that and to support the image I used stamps from Oxford Impressions’ By The Sea. This stamp set has a vintage bathing theme so they were perfect.Trishia is also hosting another competition called Love Me Two, so lots of fun over at the FKP Blog.
Wishes
Lynne

Mr Bunny Says “Come Join Me On A Picnic” (FSC#18)

Hello
Spring Is In The Air over at Fashionable Stamping Challenge.We are looking for Springtime inspired artwork. It can be Springtime flowers or the colours of Spring, whatever theme you choose please include some stamping and no digis please. As always there is a prize available.
Oxford Impressions have the most adorable plate of Springtime/Easter stamps, Easter Bunny Collection. I have already shared a project using stamps from this set and will be sharing more in the next few weeks.
As this 3d egg has lots of stamping and depth I will share a few more photographs.
This may not be my usual style but I certainly had fun stamping up the various Springtime/Easter images to create this  scene.
By luck I had a small styrofoam egg in my supplies, again this was one of those occasions where I spotted it in my local art shop last year with no intention of using it at that particular time.
This beautiful text stamp is from Oxford Impressions’ BonBon plate. This plate works so well for Easter with its chocolate themed stamps. (the text inside the egg is a vintage advertisement which is part of the Easter Bunny plate).The teeny piece of vintage lace beneath the basket helps lays the scene for a picnic.
Vintage glass glitter creates some sparkle, this is quite a rough textured glass glitter which is good for larger sized projects such as this but I have found that it is not as suitable for fine work.
The birds nestled in their nest atop the flowers.A beautiful butterfly is also in the Easter Bunny Collection set. Why not join us at FSC with your Spring Is In The Air artwork. All details for entering are available at the FSC Blog which is where you can also view my DT sisters incredible art.
Wishes
Lynne

“Let Them Eat Cake” She Cried (Published!)

Hello
A short post to share with you today.
Last year when The Stampers’ Sampler announced their cupcake template challenge I had recently acquired Oxford Impressions’ Court of Versailles stamp set.  It is rare for me to submit to their template challenges but  I had to give this a shot because the stamps were so perfect for this template and so you can imagine I was over the moon to see my Marie cupcake published in the Feb/March issue.I only have this one photograph as I was pushed for time to post this in time for the deadline.
I believe there have been Gremlins at work with my Blog either with commenting or e-mail notification of new posts not being received. I am sorry but this appears to be beyond my control.
I am linking this to Pink Saturday. This week Beverly invites not only pink entries but Springtime colours:- blue, green, yellow, etc.
All of your visits and comments are much appreciated.
Wishes
Lynne

That Magnificent Flying Machine

Hello
Previously I have shared some pieces using Oxford Impressions’ London Telegraph, well it is time for another one.  I am trying to stagger the London Telegraph projects so that I do not bore you with them too many in one go.
On the plate there is an incredibly detailed flying machine that just had to be the focus of its own artwork. I was lucky enough to receive this bracket shape from a friend as she knows I do not own a die-cutting machine. It is a great shape of base to work on especially for a project such as this. The colour re-produced in the photograph is a wee bit disappointing as in real life it has a more rusty appearance with a wonderful patina.  A mix of paints was applied before stamping the mechanical image. The bracket also received a good hammering, literally and distressed with sandpaper and a knife.
Mica overlays part of the flying machine.Stamping the text stamps onto various surfaces and layering with dyed gauze and clipping together to form a detail. The other corner has some more bits ‘n’ pieces I gathered. If you are U.K. based then it might interest you to know that you can purchase this set of stamps from The Craft Barn. They also stock Steampunk Elements and Steampunk Works, all three sets intertwine so well.
Thank you for visiting.
Wishes
Lynne

Grace and Poise

Hello
It has been a while since I last posted for The Stampsmith so I will start this week with an altered canvas using one of their stamps but first a little reminder that TSC Flip ‘n’  Fold theme is underway. For details on this challenge see either my post from 1st March or visit TSC Blog.
Of recent I have shared a few projects using stamps from The Stampsmith’s Won’t You Be My Honey plate, this canvas uses another stamp from this plate, one I have not used previously.Canvases must be one of my favourite items to alter, an inexpensive substrate and with the versatility of two different sides to work with. I kept to a colour palette of cream and coffee or maybe that should be coffee and cream!
I had a piece of Laura Ashley flocked paper which suited the style and of course the addition of lace and to adorn, a fragment of old Gothic German text, fragment of lace and a beautiful button. Graceful If you have time this month it would be fun to see your art entered in TSC Flip ‘n’ Fold.  Already we have some incredible entries for this challenge. As always there is the Prize Draw at the end of the month and Top 3 artwork selected.
Thank you for taking the time to visit.
Wishes
Lynne

In Beautiful Harmony

Hello
And a Happy Mother’s Day. Today in the United Kingdom we are celebrating mothers and anyone who carries out the role of mother in someone’s life, an Aunt, a Grandmother, a Sister. Sometimes commercialism can take control and we lose fact of what this day signifies and although we may love our mums each and every day of the year, sometimes we all need that little reminder to stop and actually tell them what they mean to us.
The image I used from Crafty Individuals, for me, signifies the love between a Mother and her child.  That special connection, that ease of being with each other and also knowing they are there for you, look how the child leans against her mother.
Crafty Individual Supplies
CI-256 (Cherish)
CI-194 (Sheet Music – used on frame)
Die Cut frame
Book of People and Places
Shades of Summer paper pad
The papers in the Shades of Summer pad are so beautifully that it is so difficult to allow yourself to cut into them or cover them in any way.
The die cut was sprayed with homemade spray ink before stamping the CI music stamp in a random fashion. By chance this beautiful trim was a wonderful colour match.
CI-256 is a must have set to have because those little words and sentiments are ever so useful. I like the size of them as most times words/sentiments tend to be on a larger scale whereas these are perfect teeny additions.
Have a wonderful Sunday and if you are a Mother then I hope you are being spoilt today!
Thank you for visiting and I hope to be able to visit you soon.
Wishes
Lynne

Marie Learns To Type

Hello
Trishia at French Kissed Postcards is known for her generosity, making available a free scan every Monday but for the month of February she went a step further by giving a free image away daily. Then if that were not enough fun she set up two competitions one of which is “Kissed Again” (all details available at Trishia’s French Kissed Postcard’s Blog). Trishia asks that we create something with one of her scans (free or purchased). I was keen to join in with this but as tends to be the case, life gets in the way resulting in less time for creating so I decided to double up Kissed Again with a swap which was organised by  Gerri.  Gerri sent us a fun pack of crafty bits:- an image, old sheet music, little plastic flowers, a stamped butterfly, etc, etc. The idea of the swap, to make something using at least 4-5 items from the pack before the deadline of 20th March.
As I was pushed for time I was unable to set about creating anything elaborate so I settled on another Journal. This stunning image is from Trishia at FKP and I have listed the items I used from Gerri’s crafty pack.I am not particularly drawn to blue but I have to say that I do like blue when it is that Robin Egg blue, that is appealing, I also liked the name of this paint, Pompadour Blue!
From the pack I received from Gerri I used
. fabric type of paper (don’t know its source)
. lace (used as corner accent)
. German scrap
. sheer ribbon (used to tie around the spine of the notebook)
That lovely decorative stamp is from Oxford Impressions’ Court of Versailles plate.
The postcard back is from French Kissed Postcards.
Finally I am linking this to Beverly’s wonderful Pink Saturday. This week it is not only all about pink but also green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, so with my Journal having touches of pink and green I am linking it up.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Wishes
Lynne

A Love To Cherish

Hello
and a Warm Welcome to my most recent Followers.
Here we are, into March and Mothering Sunday fast approaching. Crafty Individuals Elements set, CI-342 with the beautiful hearts, was a stamp I was keen to work with for such a project knowing it was a useful set beyond Valentine’s Day (in fact I have a post drafted where I use this set on masculine projects).
Supplies:-
Crafty Elements – CI-342 (heart stamp)
- CI-256 (Cherish)
Image from People and Places book
I used those CI products on this wall hanging.
The Crafty Individuals image books (and A4 sheets) are indispensible as they cover such a wide range of styles and imagery. This image is perfect for Mothering Sunday artwork with the sweet mother and child.
It was after I laid the epoxy frame over the image that I noted the hearts, could not be more perfect. Another heart, the MOP button.The heart stamp is very detailed yet none of that detail was lost as I stamped it onto fabric, old curtain lining I dyed before stamping. As it is not wearable art I don’t worry too much about which ink pad I reach for, I am usually more interested in the ink colour, in this case I wanted to use Eggplant (Versamagic).  The colour of the fabric is not true in the photograph below, see the main image for the colour.I will catch up soon with your own Blogs and see what art you have been creating.
Wishes and thank you for visiting.
Lynne

She Likes To Play Games (FSC#17)

Hello
It is time to announce a new challenge theme at Fashionable Stamping Challenge. Sue is hosting an interesting theme, Let’s Play Bingo. 
Following the grid below you can select any line to play with whether horizontal or vertical. Please tell us which line you have selected to work with and please remember to include stamping on your artwork. All details for entry are available at the FSC Blog along with details of the prize to be won.I selected the middle horizontal consisting of Lace, Distressing and Buttons.
All stamps are from Oxford Impressions’. The lady is from one of their newest stamp plates, London Telegraph and the other stamps are from Steampunk Elements and Steampunk Works (stamps available in the U.K. from The Craft Barn).Using an old book cover I distressed it with sandpaper and a hammer before stamping onto it. Edges of cardstock and the vintage Bingo card were also distressed by abrading and inks.Buttons well I do love buttons and used them to attach the lace for hanging and a beautiful vintage Marcasite button adorns her hair with another pretty vintage button nestled amongst some trim. Lace is possibly one of my favourite items to use and on this piece I used a large piece to layer the Bingo Card further adding pieces here and there.There is lots of fun to be had with Sue’s chosen theme but please remember and tell us which line you have opted to play with and also include stamping. My DT sisters have created amazing samples for this challenge theme, each with their own style but all of them inspirational. You can view all the samples at the FSC Blog.
Happy Stamping.
Wishes
Lynne