The Birds Sing Their Sweetest Song (Published in Take Ten)

Hello Everyone
Love has been the predominant theme on many of my Blog posts of late so to mix things up a little I am sharing some non-Valentine cards.
I find there is something so relaxing about making cards that include little bits and pieces.  To have even one card in print is a thrill for me so imagine my delight when four cards  I submitted to Stampington & co’s Take Ten were grouped  as a feature style article titled “Bits & Pieces”.
On all four cards I used the beautiful Oxford Impressions’ The Bird’s Nest stamp plate.  This plate is so well thought out as it includes everything from musical notes to little impressions of birds feet, a stunning cage, sentiments, etc.
All stamps are from this stamp plate including any text.  I stamped text onto found papers and then tore into pieces to use as embellishment style pieces on particular cards, such as below the eggs on the first card. A cute speckled feather, scrap of lace and cotton string adorn the card.As I wanted the cards to work as a set I repeated my colour choice of cobalt blue and sepia throughout. Embellishments were kept to a minimum so as not to detract from the beauty of the stamps and any bits ‘n’ pieces I used had a sense of nature to them such as the burlap and faded hydrangea blossom. This birdcage is glorious. The fourth card sees a beautiful sentiment as the focal. The Bird’s Nest is a stamp plate which continues to be available. At the time of drafting this post I sourced that it is available (and in stock) from That’s Crafty in the U.K.  I also want to add that included in a recent kind comment on this recent post it was stated that Soul of the Rose had been discontinued.  That is not the case. Soul of the Rose continues to be available directly from Oxford Impressions and is also sold at The Craft Barn (U.K.) but appears to be out of stock at the moment.
So here we are on the last day of January. Thank You for your visits and wonderful comments this past month especially as I have been bombarding you with lots of Valentine projects.  February will see me share my team sample for the forthcoming Crafty Individuals Challenge, yes, the wait is nearly over for a new challenge theme at the C.I. Challenge.  February will also see me return with a few more Valentine projects but not too many.
Thank You for taking the time to visit today.
Wishes
Lynne

Sepia Dreams (in Take Ten)

Hello Everyone
Taking a break from Halloween to share cards that are on the pretty side.  I was thrilled when I received a complimentary issue of Take Ten  (Autumn) to notice two Spotlights. One page of Spotlights featured The Stampsmith’s Serena #1 and #2.  I was so pleased to see those cards had made their way into print and also so quickly as it wasn’t too long ago that I submitted them.
The cards are also doubling up as my DT samples for The Stampsmith this week.
Stamps
Serena #1
Serena #2
They are VOAT cards where I used lilac, cream and sepia and also touches such as handmade papers, waxy papers, pressed flowers, etc. Due to copyright I probably cannot share it here but I was so pleased with Take Ten’s  description of what they called my “Sepia Dream” cards.
Thank You for visiting today. This week I have fallen behind with visits to Blogs but slowly I am making my way, catching up on what you have been creating.
Have a lovely weekend.
Wishes
Lynne

She Holds A Secret Close To Her (TSC#35)

Hello Everyone
Thank you for joining me on the first day of a new month which means it is time for a new challenge theme over at The Stampsmith Challenge. There is always room for a heartfelt creation so this  month our theme is With Gratitude. Our rules are few and far between at TSC but we do ask that you include at least one Stampsmith stamp on your entry.  There is a prize draw at the end of the month with the winner receiving $21 to spend on stamps of their choice at The Stampsmith on-line store.
Visit TSC Blog to view the DT samples from the other DT members and also to read who was the winner for September’s Prize Draw.
Stamps Used
Won’t You Be My Honey
Paris
I used a canvas panel as the base for this wall hanging and the focal is a stamp from the Won’t You Be My Honey plate.
I stamped the postal cancellation marks from the Paris plate to embellish the corner of the image along with scraps and dried hydrangea petals.You might wonder where the message of gratitude is ….. Behind the image is a pocket which holds a wee tag with the note of gratitude.
Whether you make a Happy Thanksgiving card, Thank You card/tag, or whatever it might well be, have fun with this challenge theme.
Thank You for taking the time to visit this post. I hope you all have a creative week.
Wishes
Lynne

The Last Flowers of Summer (FSC#29)

Hello Everyone
Can you believe it is a fortnight since the last FSC, where does the time go? This fortnight we are asking you for Flowers/Handmade Flowers. The usual rule applies that we are looking for stamping on your artwork and of course as always there is a prize up for grabs. All details available at the FSC site as well as the incredible floral display on offer from my DT sisters.
For my DT sample I decided to alter a 6″x4″ muslin bag.
Stamps -  Oxford Impressions The Fairest Flower plate.
I used various stamps from this plate including two beautiful photo real stamps, this image  is a photo real stamp which I tinted gently with Caran d’ache water soluble crayons. The muslin bag was stamped with a beautiful perfume label stamp. As well as the beautiful photo real girl I added a piece of vintage lace stained with tea and added a bow stained at the same time to decorate the corner.
These are the handmade flowers I made using seam binding stained with tea and coffee. Inside the bag She is so cute!  This mini tag is attached to this larger tag The tag before the tulips were stamped. I used DI in Tattered Rose to stamp a floral bouquet before stamping the perfume label with chalk ink  (this is the same stamp that was stamped all over the muslin bag).We look forward to seeing your Flowers/Handmade Flowers entries this fortnight.
Thank You for taking the time to visit.
Wishes
Lynne

Women Of Strength (FSC Anything Goes)

Hello Everyone
This fortnight at Fashionable Stamping Challenge we are declaring Anything Goes. There are very few rules at FSC but we do ask that you include stamping on your entry and no digis allowed. You will be able to read the rules and also what the prize is on offer at the FSC blog.
I had this canvas which I had altered some time ago for DT art for The Stampsmith, never having got around to posting it  and realised it fitted the FSC theme perfectly. I had selected three stamps from the Cleopatra and Friends plate and I also used a stamp from Cartolina Postale, a plate consisting of four large postcard stamps.
Dimensions:- approx 11.5″x4″The detail photographs should show you a peek at the texture I built up on the canvas base and the layers of colour. Tags, seam binding, lace, cheesecloth, whatever I could get my hands on were all dyed. Little scraps of whatever were to hand were added. On the main photograph you will see I edged the bottom of the canvas with a wide band of delicious lace. Portia, my absolute favourite stamp from this set. You will see her, in particular, turning up on future artwork that I had also made some time ago.
Visit the FSC Blog and you will be able to view the amazing art created by my fellow FSC DT sisters.
As always have some fun with this challenge but please remember to include stamping.
Thank You for taking the time to visit today, your visits here are always greatly appreciated.
Wishes
Lynne

From This Day Forward

Hello Everyone
When Helene (2amscrapper) invited me to be part of her Unruly Paper Arts column, asking that I share one piece of artwork that incorporated lace, I was so honoured.
With the  month of May  entitled “Wedding Wonders” at UPA I had to make use of The Stampsmith’s Wedding Bells which I had just received from Estelle. I am only showing a sneaky peek but if you click the Unruly Paper Arts link (above) you will see what I created along with details on the lace I used for this piece and some other information on lace.You will also be able to view the beautiful heritage art that Helene herself created and also the breathtaking art of Lynn Stevens and Nancy Maxwell James. If you love to use lace in your art then you will find this column of particular interest.
Thank you for visiting especially as I have been unable to Blog hop for  a few days, I certainly hope to catch-up with all of you very soon.
Wishes
Lynne

Fly Towards Bliss

Hello Everyone
If you are a Follower of this Blog then you possibly saw the post, last week, where I showed the new releases from Crafty Individuals. One of the new stamps is CI-347On first view the word elegance came to mind, butterflies always have a sense of the elegance about them and with this stamp having the elaborate scroll design it would work well for an opulent style project with rich, jewel colours however I wanted to go in a different direction.
Crafty Individuals Supplies
CI-347
CI-329 Fly
The style I wanted was rustic but with a pretty, feminine feel to it with the fabric and mini wooden pegs bringing a slightly country cottage feel to this wall hanging.
It isn’t the first time I have said this, it shows the high standard of Crafty Individuals stamps when they can be stamped onto a surface that has texture yet all the detail remains.  I stamped onto fabric (re-cycled curtain fabric) overlaying  Mica to add another dimension.I literally use any scraps that are to hand, even the smallest piece of paper,  such as the piece Fly is stamped onto.The fabric I won as part of Maria’s Giveaway was perfect for the top of the hanging, adding a dash of colour and cottage style chic. A pressed flowers adorns a band of laceIf you are looking for a challenge then the Time For Summer Crafty Individuals Challenge is still open. It is worthwhile entering as the Top 5 winners can select a CI stamp of their choice. All details available at Jean’s Crafty Individuals’ Blog.
(I am editing this as I just spied the Frilly and Funkie: RePurpose Challenge:-
I re-purposed a cardboard box for the base and curtain fabric which I stamped onto and the gauze was re-purposed which I tea-stained.)
Thank you for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne

The Bird Lady Sings Her Song

I should say that the two cards I am sharing today are from the vault as they were made earlier this year and I’d actually forgotten about them.
I wanted to have a play with CI-331 once again as it is such a beautiful stamp but  this time working to a slightly more pared down style than previously. The cards could be classed as variation on a theme with the same paper used and elements being repeated such as the sheet music and flowers. I also incorporated CI-329, one of the Crafty Individuals’ Elements sets, using two of the little birds from that set.For both cards I was aiming for a faded appearance keeping the colour palette soft and muted.
Fly also comes from CI-329.The CI challenge, Spring, is still open for entry so why not share your Spring inspired artwork with us. Please remember to include at least one Crafty Individual product on your artwork.
Thank you for visiting.
Wishes
Lynne

Hope In The Palm Of Her Hands

At Divas D’Este you will find an abundance of CS with images of children, from cute to whimsical. For my latest DT artwork for Divas D’Este I am returning to the CS called “Angelic Girls“. Recently I shared a card made with a little girl with attitude, well that was also from the same CS.  The little girl today is a more gentle soul.For me, half the fun of working on a project is gathering the bits ‘n’ pieces, most will end up being surplus to requirements but I like having that selection before me. I gathered sheet music, old French text, lace, dried hydrangea blossoms, etc. The base is 6.5″ x 6.5″ which I covered with sheet music before layering all the elements. The Divas image was layered onto a letter which is from their ever useful French Script CS.
Lifting the bow you will see that underneath is very old French book text, dried hydrangea petals, lace and “Hope”.Using Word I created the title “She held hope in the palm of her hands”, ageing the cardstock prior to printing.Due to this year’s weather, too much rain, I was unable to dry any hydrangea blossoms which was a pity but at least I have my small stock from last year. I like when the colour fades.This week I will share some more Dezinaworld DT on Wednesday and on the 1st of October there will be a new challenge theme announced at The Stampsmith Challenge. In-between I will return with a scattering of projects. Have a lovely week. Lynne x

I Soar With New Possibilities

Transparent Wings and Wingless Ladies (link below)I did promise this morning that I would be returning for a second post today, this time it is the first of this week’s DT artwork for Dezinaworld incorporates two sheets, Wingless Ladies and Transparent Wings. Above you will see the images available on both sheets. The beauty of the Wingless Ladies and Transparent Wings is the flexibility, you have the freedom to use the ladies as they come, wingless or for a touch of whimsy create a set of wings for them.
For this piece of artwork I used pngs.  I had to laugh at June’s post as she printed my comment on using them, you could say I am converted! I wanted the lady printed onto photo paper but the wings onto transparency. Using this format it allowed me to work with the wings “attached” to the lady so that I could re-size to the correct dimension. Once they were the correct size I then went about saving the images and printing separately onto photo paper (lady) and transparency (wings).
The detail photograph of the lady shows the beauty of printing onto a transparency. It adds a sense of fragility.
She is standing on her own “lily pad”.I know that the art world stipulates that purple and lilac should be used with silver and pinks used with gold but to me, sometimes rules are there to be broken.
I painted the canvas with lilac acrylic before dry brushing gold acrylic.  Crafty Individuals flourish (CI-  182) was stamped with paint directly onto the canvas alternating between the lilac and gold paint. Once dry I added a flurry of pressed flowers.Snippets of lace stitched to a heart button and typed I Soar adorn the corner of the canvas.Tomorrow I have another Dezinaworld artwork to share using a different sheet of images. Lynne x