Nature’s Bounty (Take Ten)

Hello Everyone
Recently I shared a card, Portia, which was published in Stampington & co’s Take Ten (Spring) as part of a feature.  In the same feature, alongside some other  Stampsmith cards (which I will share another time), were two Crafty Individuals cards. As I don’t want to repeat myself I will wait until I share some of The Stampsmith cards to explain the focus of the feature in Take Ten.
The two cards feature stamps which I had picked up on E-bay, they are older collage stamps from Crafty Individuals.   They might still be available over at the Crafty Individuals on-line store so it would be worth taking a peek if you like the stamps.
The two cards were submitted to Take Ten’s V.O.A.T. (variation on a theme) category which is why both cards share the same colour palette and composition and also style of stamps. The Crafty Individuals stamp was stamped onto a stained shipping tag and then I selected elements in the collage stamp to layer up. On the first card it was the flower and lace. Tea stained lace was added beneath the stamped lace, something I like to do when working with a stamp depicting lace as the real lace seems to enhance the appearance of the stamped lace.  Some stained fibers and a fragment of stamping were added to the card.On both cards I stamped another Crafty Individuals stamp, a handwritten letter, to create a contrast for the shipping tag against the kraft cardbase.
As you can see, both cards are positively minimal in the use of scraps/fragments or other embellishments. This shows that I stamped the buttons, border and postal mark again then layered onto the main stamped image. I hope to catch-up with you soon to admire your latest creations. In the meantime, thank you for visiting this post today.
Wishes
Lynne

Believe In Your Dreams

Hello Everyone
This is my second April DT post for Gecko Galz, another card, this time with a beautiful image from Artful Visions as the focal.
Supplies
Gecko Galz:- Artful Visions, Ephemera Days and Star Crossed
Digi Papers.
Oxford Impressions My Story
My Stash:- canvas printer paper, white cardstock, satin paper, lace, seam binding and crystal stick pin.
Instructions
Print Star Crossed paper onto white cardstock and layer onto cardbase. Print Artful Visions onto canvas printer paper and Ephemera Days onto satin paper. Cut out butterfly from one of the images on Ephemera Days and adhere to Artful Visions image with silicone glue. Layer to cardbase with lace. Stamp Oxford Impressions sentiment onto scrap of Star Crossed papers, tear and layer to right of image. Embellish card with crystal stick pin and seam binding.
7″x5″ card
I have to say that the Artful Visions sheet is stunning, so many dreamy images.
It isn’t every time I reach for canvas printer paper but I do like to have to hand as, in my opinion, certain images appear even more beautiful for being printed on it and of course there is always that added texture it brings to any project.The paper I selected from Star Crossed digi papers picked up the colour on the Artful Visions image and luckily I had a scrap on which to stamp the sentiment. What doesn’t translate in the photograph is the sheen on the satin paper which does catch the light beautifully. This butterfly is part of a larger image on the Ephemera Days image sheet. The green of the butterfly popped out at me and I knew it was the perfect colourful embellishment for the Artful Visions image and by a stroke of beautiful luck it also matched the seam binding. My next posts are on Sunday when I have two scheduled posts. Yes, you read that correctly, unusually I have two posts on the same day. Until then, this scheduled post wishes you a lovely weekend, whatever your plans may be.
Wishes
Lynne

Queen Marie (Published in The Stampers’ Sampler)

Hello Everyone
When last year June from Dezinaworld sent over the most amazing Marie Antoinette images I was so delighted as she had brought together a wonderful collection of images. Immediately I made some tags, etc but it was nearing the end of the year when I set about making cards to submit.
Fast forward to earlier this year when I received my complimentary copy of The Stampers’ Sampler (Jan/Feb/Mar) and my surprise to see the Marie cards which I’d actually submitted to their sister publication, Take Ten.
Alongside June’s images I also used various Oxford Impressions stamps.
Three cards were published but I will just share two here in this post.
I should point out that the Marie images are png’s which I set against French postcards from French Kissed Postcards. That is the beauty of png’s, having the flexibility of which background to use.
I simply love this image of Marie in that glorious gown.
A fabric rose was added to the stamped bow. A slightly more mature Marie I’d say in this image. Thank You for taking the time to visit this post.
Have a lovely weekend.
Wishes
Lynne

A Mother’s Love

Hello Everyone
This scheduled post is a Gecko Galz DT post.  As the main image is from the April products range I was unable to share this card on Mother’s Day (in the U.K. Mothering Sunday was back in March).
As always, when it is a Gecko Galz post I share a supply list and brief instructions.
SUPPLIES
Gecko Galz:- A Mother’s Love, Vintage Labels and Wild Roses Digi Paper Pack (Petal Soft)
Oxford Impressions’ French Script
Distress Ink Tattered Rose
My Stash:- Low gloss printer paper, white cardstock, 7″x5″ cardbase, paper doily, lace and embellishments.
INSTRUCTIONS
Print Vintage Labels and Petal Soft onto white cardstock and A Mother’s Love onto low gloss printer paper. Layer Petal Soft to cardbase, stamping script from French Script stamp plate. Sponge ink onto paper doily. Layer to cardbase with A Mother’s Love image and a Vintage Label. Embellish card with lace and various embellishments.
The stamped script. Before the ink had a chance to dry I smudged the ink with my fingers, blending parts of the stamping into the background.Such a sweet image with one of the Vintage Labels tucked into the sideThank You for taking the time to visit this post. Although no new crafting is taking place at the moment I do have quite a few older projects which have been drafted so my Blog will remaine active.
Wishes
Lynne

A Classic Beauty (Published in Take Ten)

Hello Everyone
I was thrilled (to say the very least!)  to receive a complimentary issue of Stampington & co’s Take Ten (Spring issue) especially as the cards were a feature.  Seven cards were included in the feature but as I want this scheduled post to be a short one I will only share one of the cards and explain a bit more of the feature in another post.
If you visit The Stampsmith Blog then you might possibly have seen the card there as I used it as a DT upload. Keeping on a Stampsmith note for the moment, remember, TSC is underway for April. If you click the link on my sidebar it will take you to TSC where you can read all the entry details and details of the prize available.
Beautiful Portia is from The Stampsmith’s Cleopatra and Friends plate.Unusually there is only one photograph, no detailed photographs. The reason, I did not take any at the time of photographing the card prior to submitting and as I never request for submissions to be returned, this is it, one photograph but it is clear enough for you to see the details.
It is possible at the time of this post being published that I have been very quiet and you’ve not seen me visit your Blogs. If that is the case, then hopefully over the weekend I will manage to catch-up with you.
My next scheduled post is for Sunday, how quickly those 7 days pass and once again it will be time for a That’s Crafty post. In the meantime, have a lovely weekend and know that your visits are always appreciated, even moreso when I am absent from blogland.
Wishes
Lynne

Welcome Home

Hello Everyone
This is a card I made many weeks ago, when I first received Oxford Impressions’ With Love stamp plate.As with previous DT projects using this stamp plate, once again I selected some stamps from With Love and combined them with other plates.
Oxford Impressions Stamps:-
With Love (from Oxford Impressions’ Etsy store and also from That’s Crafty)
Jane Austen
French Script
Maison and the lovely little house were stamped onto a painted background, the tag received the same treatment. To create more depth and pattern I also used the damask stamp from French Script. Here is a little close-up peek at the background. A Crafty Individuals Shabby Tag, I know, what would I do without them, is the base for the house from the Jane Austen plate. Like so many of you I utilise every little scrap. Maison was stamped onto the piece torn from the bottom of the Shabby Tag with the addition of a little scrap of tea stained lace. This wonderful sentiment from the Jane Austen plate, so perfect for the theme, was stamped onto Stampbord, the background is once again the damask stamp. A piece from a vintage doily along with fragments and a key.Thank You for visiting this post, your visits are always so welcome.
Wishes
Lynne

Easter Flowers

Hello Everyone
Are you still looking out on a snowy landscape or are there signs of Spring emerging? Today as I type this post there is a lovely blue sky and dare I say, the sun is shining!
I didn’t have plans to share Easter cards made for family but as the stamps are Oxford Impressions I have pushed aside the scheduled post (I will possibly re-schedule that post for tomorrow) to share  a few of the cards made.
Oxford Impressions stamps:-
French Script
Easter Bunny Collection
The Fairest Flower
Le Jardin (also available from That’s Crafty in the U.K.)
As I needed the cards to be speedy makes they all follow the same layout with the beautiful damask stamp from French Script creating a background and for all tags it was a matter of layering various paints and text stamps. If you visited my Guest Post at That’s Crafty on Sunday then you might recognise the flower stamp above,  a lovely bold stamp which I don’t seem to use often enough.
Another card with a flower as the focal. This flower is from The Fairest Flower plate. Although not my usual style, when I looked closely I realised they were nearer to my style than I first thought:- tags on a card (a favourite of mine), paint and pink! I do miss my little bits of this and that!
If you are unable to visit my posts over the next few days then let me wish you a happy Easter Bank Holiday weekend (U.K.).  Elsewhere, is this a holiday weekend? If so, have fun.
Wishes
Lynne
P.S. If you are a fan of Oxford Impressions stamps then you might be interested to know that at the Etsy store there are now some single stamps available for purchase.

Parisian Corset (published in The Stampers’ Sampler)

Hello Everyone
Today’s post is a follow on from this post last week.In that post I mentioned the feature in The Stampers’ Sampler (Jan/Feb/Mar) well alongside the fabric tags there were some other items, one of which I will share in this post.
Oxford Impressions’ Dressforms and Corsetry has to be one of my all time favourites, such a well thought out plate of stamps with beautiful text stamps also included. One of the main text stamps makes up most of the card I am sharing, on the background, tissue paper and button.
The painted cardstock is actually the palest of pinks, a most beautiful chalky emulsion called Camisole Pink which I’ve used for years, I particularly like it paired with sepia.Ordinary white tissue paper which was given a makeover to allow me to create a pleated detail on the card.
Although it wasn’t printed as such in The Stampers’ Sampler, this little shabby button was handmade with clay. I used the text stamp selecting a decorative element and stamping onto the clay button before stitching to the tissue paper.
Another little detail.
Another time I will share the remainder of the projects included in the feature. 
Thank You for visiting this post today.
Wishes
Lynne

Hello Cupcake!

Hello Everyone
This is another post for Crafty Individuals, a post which shouldcome with a warning – “Must Be Viewed With The Aid Of Sunglasses” ….why? The reason is that I have ventured into colour. Yes, quite a shock to the system and possibly the only venture I will take into colour in the year 2013!
The reason for colour is the Crafty Individuals’ Alice Palace Hello Cupcake stamp
The Hello Cupcake stamp is sold as one stamp but I wanted the flexibility of using the images independently so armed with precision scissors I cut around the stamps.  The only part of the stamp I did not use of this card is the sentiment “Hello Cupcake”.
The background – layering Gesso, paint and stamping.
I do love to use tags on cards.  You can see the stars stamped onto the painted tags before I added the cupcakes.  A sugarcraft flower tops each cupcake! Just me being silly although that is what the paper flowers remind me of.
Scraps of lace which I had previously dyed blue and you can see a peek of Cath Kidston fabric. A dimensional chipboard sticker  on the middle tag. This card was made with a cousin in mind which is why I added the Happy Birthday sentiment.
I have my lovely friend Doli to thank for the dimensional stickers.  They are so perfect for the theme and colours of this card.Normal service (!) will resume on my next post which is scheduled for 16th March. Until then, thank you for visiting and a note to say Thank You for the lovely comments on the Love, Lovely Life! fabric hanging (previous post).
Wishes
Lynne

Fit For A Queen

Hello Everyone
I know, it is unusual for me to return with a new post quite so quickly but I want to make sure that for the month of March I keep my Blog as active as possible.
It is to the Oxford Impressions’ With Love stamp plate that I return.  As I shared in the past I have used this stamp set in conjunction with other Oxford Impressions stamp plates to work to themes so saw the Queen and crown stamps I had to use them along with the Court of Versailles stamp set.
Below is a list of Oxford Impressions stamp plates used on this card
With Love
French Script
Court of Versailles
All are available from Oxford Impressions’ Etsy store and With Love and Court of Versailles are available from That’s Crafty.
After painting the background I stamped in a random fashion the damask stamp from the French Script plate, a stamp I reach for time and time again. It was also stamped onto a Crafty Individuals Shabby Tag after I had randomly applied paint. From Court of Versaille I stamped the Queen herself and from With Love I selected the crown, wreath and Queen.
Embellishments were kept to a minimum on this card, a faux pearl drop and seam binding with a bow were all that were added. At the bottom of the card I stamped this decorative scroll (from With Love). Of course, it is for you to decide whether it is Fit For A Queen?!!!
I still have a few more themed style cards that have incorporated the With Love stamp plate and some notecard sets I will also be sharing in the very near future but in the meantime I will say Thank You for taking the time to visit this post.
Wishes
Lynne