Parisian Chic

Hello Everyone
To end this month of October I thought I would share an Oxford Impressions’ DT piece using the Giant Distressed Alphabet. The word giant is appropriate as each letter measures approx 2″ in height.  Although they could certainly be used for papercrafting, there are lots of possibilities for scrapbooks/memory books and imagine the possibilities for home decor items and wearable items.
When I received this stamp set I knew I could use them to alter boxes I  had laid aside, gift boxes received at Christmas (the type that have a high shine or holographic style pattern, do you know the ones I mean?)
Apologies in advance for the length of this post. I planned on having it as two separate posts but it looks better as one post, it will make sense soon enough. This box measures 13.5″x9″. I had to spend a lot of time preparing the box as that shiny surface was not paint friendly! After three coats of Gesso I painted with my all time favourite emulsion paint, Camisole Pink. I then distressed using the  dry brushing technique and a white patina paint.  You can see the patchy appearance in the photo.  Each letter was stamped, cut out and added to the lid.   I wanted an under-stated appearance, trying to mimic a chic Parisian style adding only black lace to accent the lid.  Edging the lid (sorry, no photo) I stamped one of the text stamps from Dressforms & Corsetry onto tissue paper.
The box could house vintage ephemera or documents etc but I had in mind a gift idea and nobody wants to receive an empty box. This is a large shoulder tote. I kept it simple, stamping directly onto the tote.As an accent I stitched a grey vintage button to the I .
Next month I will share some Christmas boxes using this stamp set. Talking of next month, on the 1st there will be the announcement of a new challenge theme at The Stampsmith Challenge so I will return then with my DT sample and another challenge theme to be announced is Crafty Individuals, so a busy start to the month.
Thank You for visiting particularly as this is such a long post today.
Wishes
Lynne

Stay Safe

As I have many American blogging friends and friends of my Blog I just wanted to say to those who might be in the way of Sandy that I hope you are safe and well and that the destruction is at a minimum in  your hometowns.
Wishes
Lynne

Dr Coffin Announces His Retirement

Hello Everyone
Maybe the title post should read semi-retirement as I’ve had so much fun playing with Oxford Impressions’ Dr Coffin’s Apothecary that I know there will be some time in the future when those stamps will be inked up again but for this Halloween this is the last DT piece I have to share.The background is a sheet of copier paper which I had coloured some time ago so I cannot remember exactly what treatment it received other than it involved dissolved walnut ink crystals and my own homemade ink spray (I possibly added a touch of copper spray as there is a slight vein to the paper).
Stamping onto card that had washes of dissolved walnut ink crystals and then adding  a scrap of mica. They don’t appear to be the easiest of item to source but if you like vintage and you stumble across walnut ink crystals then I cannot recommend them highly enough. I keep the dissolved crystals in a glass jar, really useful to always have it to hand.Before I say Goodbye for this post I would like to bring to your attention, those of you who live in the U.K. and are fans of Oxford Impressions stamps that they are now being stocked by That’s Crafty.  It is wonderful to see another stockist in the U.K. as until now they have not been the easiest of stamps to source.
Thank You for taking the time today to visit and once again I would like to say how much I appreciated the lovely comments for the Halloween art I’ve shared those past few weeks. With it being a relatively new area for me, definitely new regarding stamping as I didn’t own any Halloween related stamps prior to receiving the Oxford Impressions stamps, I wasn’t sure what to expect myself but I’ve had a lot of fun with this set and Masquerade.  Next it will be Christmas related projects and also projects to share with a new Oxford Impressions set, Giant Distressed Alphabet. Until then, goodbye for now and hope to see you next week.
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

Fly With Your Own Wings

Hello Everyone
I hope you are having a good week so far. Thank you for such positive feedback for the Halloween slide mailer. I wasn’t so sure how it would be received as it is a slightly bleaker piece compared to my usual style.
I have been undecided what to share with you for this post but considering it is one week until Halloween I thought I should stay with that theme for the moment so it is another Oxford Impressions’ DT piece using the Masquerade stamp plate.
This is the stamp I used on the altered thimble house some weeks ago. I so like that this stamp set is Halloween themed but with a milder approach.  The background is the same for my previous Masquerade tags, making use of a stamp from the French Script plate which was only partly inked to create a distressed appearance then overstamping stars (they are second generation stamped). Dyed gauze was then layered.I think this is a wonderful sentiment for any time of the year.
Here and there I’ve used touches of stardust pen, you can see it on the moon for example. It just adds a lovely shimmer that isn’t too over the top. If you are creating Halloween art then we would love for you to share it with us at Fashionable Stamping Challenge. The link is on my sidebar if you want to the find out details for entering your stamped art.
Thank You for taking the time to visit me, visits which are always appreciated. I will be catching-up with you soon to see what you have been busy creating.
Wishes
Lynne

Dr. Coffin’s Sinister Concoctions (FSC#33)

Hello Everyone
We have a new theme at Fashionable Stamping Challenge to  create Halloween/Halloween Colours art.  There is a prize up for grabs so well worth entering. You can view the details of the prize, entry rules and also the amazing samples from my DT sisters over at the FSC site.
I am doubling up my FSC sample as it is also an Oxford Impressions’ DT sample, using the amazing Oxford Impressions’ Dr Coffin’s Apothecary to alter a quad slide mailer.  I am probably repeating myself but one of the reasons why they are fun to alter is that they withstand a lot of abuse from layers of paint, sanding and any other fun I wish to have with them.
I used three acrylic paint colours on the mailer and also to paint white cardstock to stamp onto. The chipboard frame I altered a long time ago with imitation gold and silver leaf and to tone it down I dry brushed on acrylic paint and added a dab of crackle.  Dr Coffin sits behind a glass slide.
A little close-up of the texture.You might see that papers were treated with the same trio of paints. The paints were used in different combinations throughout the mailer.Opening up the mailer A pocket was painted with the same paints allowing an area to tuck inside stained tags one tag embellished with the raven.We hope you have fun with this new challenge theme.
Thank You for visiting today especially if you took the time to visit yesterday.
Wishes
Lynne

Dear Santa

Hello Everyone
Today’s post is a DT sample for Oxford Impressions using the beautiful Season of Giving plate.  Alongside Season of Giving I also used Sleigh Bells. With Oxford Impressions you are spoilt for choice with their Christmas/Winter themed plates.
I set about making an outsize tag which I layered with pattern paper that I had toned down with Gesso. This is what I do with unloved papers. In fact I am working my way through a full 12″x12″ paper pad which I bought on-line earlier this year. It is a very popular pad and I was tempted with the word “vintage” and at 25% off I thought I had found exactly what I was looking for, well I was very disappointed with the interpretation of vintage but all is not lost with that ever useful tub of Gesso at my side!
Ho, Ho, Ho from Sleigh Bells was stamped repeatedly before I layered various bits ‘n’ pieces.Glitter cardstock, handmade papers and cheesecloth are all peeking out from beneath the Santa image with a piece of lace embellishing the bottom of the tag. All the Christmas/Winter themed plates are full of wonderful little words and sentiments that are so useful. Thank you for taking the time to visit this post, it is always lovely to have you visit here. Tomorrow sees the announcement of a new challenge theme at Fashionable Stamping Challenge when I will have my DT sample to share. In the meantime I hope you have a lovely and creative weekend.
Wishes
Lynne

The Residents at No. 31

Hello Everyone
Thank you for the lovely comments that you have left for me to read.  It has amazed me the positive feedback to my Halloween art. As I’ve said before this is a relatively new area for me having made even less than a handful of projects in the past. Of course, when you have amazing supplies to work with then it does fire the imagination. For today’s post I’d like to share another Oxford Impressions’ DT piece using the fabulous Dr Coffin’s Apothecary stamp plate.
As many of you will no doubt have in your stash I had one of those little compartment trays that are fun to alter.  I wanted the shape to resemble a house so I added a roof where the bats could  gather.The bird rests on top of a branch handcut from greyboard painted with Gesso and then I swiped with DI.
The text stamp was stamped onto tissue paper which was adhered with Klear floor polish to the tray then adding little stamped elements here and there.
I will be sharing another piece of altered art using the Dr Coffin’s Apothecary set very soon.
If I have not visited you for a few days then I am sorry but I will catch-up with you soon. These past few days I’ve spent little time on-line and have fallen behind visiting friends to view their art.
Until the next post, thank you for taking the time to visit, it is much appreciated.
Wishes
Lynne

The Innocence Within Her

Hello Everyone
If you receive e-mail notification of new posts from me then you might have noticed I posted earlier today. Unfortunately I had to delete that particular post and also the relating link on my sidebar due to the nuisance of spam.   My friend, whose giveaway I was writing about asked that I take such action due to the nature of the links it was creating. We both could not agree more that people who do this spoil the fun of being part of blogland.
This week’s DT piece for The Stampsmith is a card I made back in August for a blogging friend’s birthday.  The stamp plate used was Olivia and Friends, selecting the beautiful Juliet.  You must be tired of me saying this by now but the image was stamped onto a stained tag, yes, this is another fruity tea bag stained tag (I make up large batches at any given time).Scraps where added such as a piece that had been previously stamped with one of the Cartolina Postale stamps. The Stampsmith With Gratitude challenge is well underway. Click the link on my sidebar to take you to TSC Blog for details on how to enter and what you could win.
Thank You for visiting with me for this particular post. I hope to return in the middle of the week with another Halloween project, until now I will leave you and say that I hope to catch-up with you tomorrow and see what creations you have been busy working on.
Wishes
Lynne

The Mischief She Created

Hello Everyone
I hope you are having a good start to the weekend, possibly a creative weekend.
With the 31st of October fast approaching I realised I need to get my skates on and post another Halloween piece. This tag is another DT piece of Oxford Impressions using the Masquerade stamp plate.
Oxford Impressions Stamps:-
Masquerade
French Script
As with the tag I shared earlier in the week, I used a larger tag size as the base and built up the colours on the background.  I stamped the amazing background stamp which actually reminds me of wallpaper, from the French Script plate. I inked it up with a DI and then immediately wiped some of the ink off the stamp before stamping as I wanted a subtle pattern, the idea was to create a faux texture, before stamping the spiders.
The little girl was stamped three times. Once onto the tag, once onto cardstock (so I could tint her skin and hair, I know it hasn’t shown on the photograph) and once onto inked cardstock so I could  paper piece the dress.  The cat she is dangling was also stamped again onto cardstock. The effect is 3d as I used silicone glue to adhere the little girl and also the pumpkin that she is carrying.Pieces of lace that had previously been stained in a tea bath were added to the top and very bottom edge of the tag and what the photograph doesn’t show, there is a lace tab to hang the tag from.
If you embrace Halloween and creating stamped art then you might what to know that Oxford Impressions have several themed plates, ranging in Halloween styles from Poe and ravens, to Trick or Treat and everything in-between.
I still have a few more pieces of Halloween art to share which I will scatter amongst my other posts between now and the 31st.
Enjoy your weekend and many thanks for taking the time to visit today, it is appreciated. I hope to catch-up with you soon.
Wishes
Lynne