Sleep, Sweet Miranda

Hello Everyone
I return today with what is an unusually short post.
This is a DT post for The Stampsmith although I will admit that this is another from the vaults as the item was created as far back in December when I made it as one of the gifts sent to a friend, a lavender sachet.
It is interesting that I selected Miranda from the Julia and Friends stamp plate for the focal on the lavender sachet, after all, lavender is renowned for its properties to help induce sleep.Miranda was stamped onto TAP before transferring to canvas and then of course the fun started adding creamy white lace to the sachet and a shabby seam binding bow.
Thank You for your visit to this post, the last post for the month of February.  I wonder what March will have in store for all of us.
Wishes
Lynne

Elegance & Grace

Hello Everyone
As the last days of February are fast running out it is time I shared the  second of my February DT projects for Gecko Galz.
Whether in stamp form or image I find there is something very special about Lily Elsie and it isn’t only myself who holds this view as a lovely friend who celebrated her birthday in February also shares the same view so when I saw this Lily Elsie image on Gecko Galz All Dressed Up I knew I had to use it for her birthday card.
Below is my list of supplies and instructions
Supplies
Gecko Galz All Dress Up and Vintage Labels
Oxford Impressions The Fairest Flower and Le Jardin (Oxford Impressions Etsy Store and That’s Crafty)
Distress Ink Tattered Rose
From my stash:- low gloss and white cardstock, lace, satin flower, tag, piece from sequin embellished trim and fabric ribbon sticker.
Instructions
Prepare background with emulsion paint,  ink and Oxford Impressions stamps.  Prepare tag in the same manner. Layer lace and fabric ribbon sticker onto cardbase. Print All Dressed Up onto low gloss cardstock and Vintage Labels onto white cardstock. Select images, cut out and distress edges.   Adhere a Vintage Label to tag embellishing with a fabric flower and lace. Stain seam binding with a fruity tea bag and thread through the tag’s hole.  Layer another Vintage Label to the side of the Lily Elsie image and embellish with a piece from sequin embellished trim.  Finally tie lace into a bow and adhere to the corner of the card.The Vintage Label tucked in at the side with a scrap of vintage lace and a decorative embellishment in the form of a piece from sequin embellished trim, this trim is so precious I only use little pieces at any time. The light was extremely poor in this photograph however this is the Vintage Label which was layered onto a tag that had been painted, inked and stamped.
I have another post scheduled for tomorrow but in the meantime thank you for your visit to this post.
Wishes
Lynne

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Hello Everyone
I hope your weekend is going well, possibly having some creative time.
I am ending this week With Love, yes it is another DT sample for Oxford Impressions using the wonderful With Love stamp plate. This plate is available from the  Oxford Impressions’ Etsy store (link below) and also from That’s Crafty.
This is a list of all the stamp plates used on the card.
Oxford Impressions Stamp Plates:–
With Love (heart, With Love and Paris
Paris Poste (couple and amour)
French Script (damask, script and lace)
Card 7″x5″
I had to use the hearts in conjunction with the stunning photo real stamp from the Paris Poste plate. I wonder who is giving the key to their heart, the man or the woman?
A painted background in a delicate colour which was then stamped with script, damask and heart stamps.  Not seen in this photograph but you can see above that I stamped the lace stamp from French Script onto painted cardstock before cutting and layering to the top of the card.I would be lost if I did not have some Crafty Individuals Shabby Tags to hand as they are so lovely to work with.  Lots of layers of paint, ink, book text and stamps were applied to the tag.Two hearts together, layered over coffee stained lace.

I will be sharing more With Love cards over the next few weeks where I have married them up with other Oxford Impressions stamp plates to create certain themed cards and also a set of notecards but for today, thank you for visiting this post. 
Wishes
Lynne

Sweet Music

Hello Everyone
At some point I will be sharing some samples using some of the newest Crafty Individuals stamps but for this post I want to re-wind to the previous stamp releases, in particular CI-366 which is an Elements set with a musical theme.
Here is a list of Crafty Individuals products I used on the 8″x8″ card.
CI-366
CI-194
Mixed Pack of Tags
I actually remembered to take a photograph of the background before I completed the  card.  I used the sheet music stamp and four stamps from the Elements set building up gradual layers of paint and stamps.  I would push back a stamped layer before creating another and worked this way for five layers, resulting in a hint of each layer.  I also incorporated scraps of Tissue Tape.Stamped this beautiful text stamp and then layered onto lace and  a lovely sticker, in the form of a scalloped trim, from a sheet of Melissa Frances stickers that my lovely friend Maria (Made By Maz) included in a Giveaway I won last year. The tags were painted and stamped and for this tag the violin was stamped onto the tag and then stamped onto scrap and layered to the main image.For the other stamped tag I stamped onto a sticker, again from the Melissa Frances sheet. If you are looking for a challenge then there is still time to enter Jean’s Crafty Individuals’ Challenge For A Friend. You can read details for entry and prize available at Jean’s Crafty Individuals’ Blog.
Thank You for visiting this scheduled post. I have another post scheduled for over the weekend but I certainly plan on catching-up with your art.
Enjoy the weekend.
Wishes
Lynne

Singing In Sweet Harmony

Hello Everyone
This is the first of my February DT posts for Gecko Galz.  I have used one of their most recent digital paper packs and a digi stamp to alter a white gift bag.  I bought this bag from Crafty Individuals last year but at the time of drafting this post it appears they no longer stock them.
Supplies
Pocketful of Posies Digital Paper Pack
Gecko Galz Industrial Age Digi Stamp
Caran d’ache watersoluble crayons
White cardstock, transparency, tulle fabric panel, seam binding, lace, fabric flower, vintage sheet music and white gift bag (my own stash)
Instructions
Print digital paper onto white cardstock, trimming to fit gift bag. Re-size lady and print onto white cardstock and transparency. Cut away middle section of her skirt from the cardstock image only. Layer onto transparency and then layer onto vintage sheet music. Colour image with watersoluble crayons and embellish with flower. Layer to gift back with tulle fabric panel and lace, finally embellishing bag with seam binding tied into a bow.
I wanted the beautiful Bo Peep paper to be on display but at the same time for it to be slightly diffused which was achieved by layering this lovely tulle style fabric panel over the paper (I say paper but I actually printed it onto white cardstock).
This image is beautiful merely printed onto cardstock but it seemed a  fun  idea to create layers beneath her skirt and emphasise the notion of the music, the birdsong. Thank You for visiting this scheduled post.
Wishes
Lynne

No More Lonely Hearts

Hello Everyone
This is an Oxford Impressions’ DT post where once again I have made use of stamps from the new stamp plate,  With Love.  If this stamp plate has caught your eye and you are a U.K. stamper then you might be interested to know that this plate is available from That’s Crafty.   Not only that, new in are several other Oxford Impressions plates and you can also purchase the gorgeous Soul of the Rose from That’s Crafty.
For this card I used a few  Oxford Impressions stamp plates. Below I’ve listed the plates and the stamps I’ve used from each plate.
Stamps Used on 8″x8″ scallop cardbase
With Love – heart, scroll and love
A Scandalous Beauty – This Is A Story About Love
French Script – damask, lace and script
Paris Poste – amour
This card has love as the theme but it could easily be an Anniversary card.  The hearts go beyond being only useful for Valentine’s Day. It was fun getting messy with paints for this card. I used a mix of chalky emulsion and acrylics on the cardbase and also on the Crafty Individuals Shabby tag.
 The three hearts, on the tag, were stamped onto vintage book text which had been prepared with a wash of Gesso. As I always like to add my little bits of this ‘n’, that I painted a little tag, stamped with a few stamps before only  inking up   love  from the with love sentiment.
At the opposite end of the tag more lace and a scrap of ribbon.This sentiment from A Scandalous Beauty fitted the theme so perfectly. As you can see from the photograph above and the one below, the paints were built up in layers which I also did with the stamping. For some of the stamps, in particular Amour  and the heart, I stamped some of the ink off onto scrap paper before stamping onto the cardbase to enhance the distressed appearance.
We all know it takes a lot more time to work on a background where layers are involved but there is no denying, it is a bundle of fun!

I will be sharing, over the next few weeks, some more cards using the With Love set. This set was made with personal greetings cards in mind and at some point I will be sharing some quick notecards I have made but it shows the versatility of this set when it can be used alongside other stamps for all manner of cards.
Thank you for visiting the first post of this brand new week.  Here’s to a creative week ahead for all of us.
Wishes
Lynne

Her Delicate Heart

Hello Everyone
It has been too long since I last shared a DT sample for The Stampsmith.  This is a canvas I altered at the start of the year, turning to my ever faithful Ophelia.  There are several versions of Ophelia, the one used on this canvas is the medium size version.
Ophelia was stamped onto painted cardstock then layered with an epoxy frame. To the canvas I applied layers of paint and created a frame with Tissue Tape with the addition of torn lace which had previously been stained with tea bags it creates a romantic backdrop for the corrugated heart which is adorned with seam binding stained the same colour as the lace and the addition of three MOP heart shaped buttons. A corner embellishment that matches the epoxy frame. The February Stampsmith Challenge is well underway now. All details on the challenge theme, rules and prize are available at TSC Blog and you can also see the team’s samples on display.
Thank You for taking the time to visit this post especially if you visited earlier in the day.
Wishes
Lynne

Crafty Individuals – New Stamps

Hello Everyone
Crafty Individuals have released some new stamps! There are six new stamps which also include some from the Alice Palace range.
If you want to view some samples then Jean has them on display at her Blog  along with details of the latest special offer at the Crafty Individuals on-line store.
CI-377 a collage stamp with two dancers as the focal CI-378 a bird with a background of an elaborate frame. CI-379 a collage stamp consisting of lilies and butterflies CI-380 and CI-381
CI-380 is called Fine Day – we have a goose (?) saying “It’s a fine day and I’m perfectly happy” and CI-381 which is called Anything & Everything – a dog who has his eyes on the cakes! The text on this stamp is I love to eat just about anything and everything” and from the speech bubble we have the dog stating “Yes Please!”and finally CI-382, another Alice Palace stamp called Love Lovely Life where we have a border of hearts, trees and flowers with some quirky birds.
Stamps that cover a broad range of styles.
I have another scheduled post for later in the day. It is lovely to be able to spend a little bit more time on-line.
I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend and finding some creative time.
Wishes
Lynne

The Romantics

Hello Everyone
If you are a fan of Oxford Impressions stamps then you will be pleased to know that Suzanne has released a new stamp plate …. With LoveDo you ever find yourself in need of making a quick Thank You card or a Thinking of You card? If so then this is one of those ever useful sets that have such sentiments however Suzanne has not only included sentiments, she has also included lovely design elements to decorate  cards or envelope. On receiving this plate I was sure that a set of notecards would be my first project but as Valentine’s Day was approaching I could see that the stamps would work beautifully with stamps from other Oxford Impressions plates.
The two DT samples I made are what I would call a variation on a theme as the card and tag have the same colour palette and the same stamp for the focal.
Below is a list of the Oxford Impressions plates used :-  (note that this link will take you to the Oxford Impressions’ Etsy store.  If you are from the U.K. the prices stated will be in £ and you can also view the shipping costs to the U.K.)
With Love
French Script
Soul of The Rose
Card – 7″x5″ – I wanted a faint pattern for the background so I stamped the damask (French Script) with Tattered Rose onto delicately painted (heritage colour emulsion paint) cardstock. This paint colour is my all time favourite which I have been using for years but it looks as though the time has come for me to search out another colour as I am unable to purchase it in tester pots from my local D.I.Y. store. Have you ever had such a situation where you were unable to source something which you would always reach for amongst your supplies?
A Shabby Tag (from Crafty Individuals) became the base for a stamped collage. Vintage French book text, layers of stamping and paint were applied to the tag. If you are interested I stamped the damask and script from French Script and the heart from With Love. I wanted a stamped element to balance the photo real stamp so I stamped a heart, the banner and With Love, inking the Love section only enabling me to cut it out and add to the banner.Little bits of this ‘n’ that A romantic matching tag. Once again layers of paint, vintage text and stamping were applied to a Shabby Tag.There are two elaborate scroll designs in the With Love set, this is the smaller of the two.The heart from With Love is a lovely size for adding as a stamped embellishment. I layered it with teeny pieces of scrap lace. With All My Heart stamped onto found paper and stapled to lace which hangs from the bottom edge of the tag. Thank You for lasting the length of this post, it was certainly photo heavy!
There will be more romantic offerings beyond Valentine’s Day, maybe I should apologise for that but otherwise this post would have been far too long and it is quite long enough as it is!
Before I leave this post for today a Thank You for the well wishes, I am feeling a bit stronger each day and I am slowly managing to catch-up with your Blogs.  I was absent for 10 days or so yet it amazed me just how much incredible art  I missed in such a short time.  It shows the amazing productivity of creative people.
Whenever I have had enforced time away from visiting blogs and my working on my own blog, it makes me realise how important this part of my creative life is to me.  Visiting blogs isn’t only about viewing incredible artwork, it is also that wonderful connection with others which I missed very much.
Have a lovely day and hopefully if there has been snowfall in your area that it isn’t creating too much a hurdle for you.
Wishes
Lynne

Happy Mail Days

Hello Everyone
There is a little bit of this ‘n’ that in this post, cards received from lovely friends and also a Giveaway I was lucky enough to win.
Last month I received a lovely surprise in the mail from my friend Darlene.  The card she created is made from vellum and is so cleverly folded that it opens to reveal her written message and not only that, it is free standing.
This is the link to Darlene’s Blog, if you have not visited her then it would be lovely if you popped on over there.The first photograph shows the card folded and her it is open and free standing.  Did you spot the vellum dragonflies? Such a delicate creation and I am in awe of Dar’s folding technique.Another surprise was more recent, from the lovely Rita. I know, aren’t I so lucky to have so many surprise Happy Mail days!
This most beautiful collage style card with so many different textures all brought together to create vintage perfection.
If that were not enough Rita also gifted me with lace and trims. I am sorry that the photograph doesn’t display the trims to show how gorgeous they really are. Rita’s Blog is RMG Creations, again if Rita is new to you then please visit to see her beautiful creations.
Finally, to a Giveaway I won back in December. Tracy was generously giving away a Creative Expressions project book which I was lucky enough to win. Included in the envelope was this amazing card. Tracy’s Blog is Craft Addicts and once again, if you have not visited before then you will not be disappointed by her creations.
A huge thank you to Darlene, Rita and Tracy for all the Happy Mail!
Another thank you, to each of you for visiting. Today was the first of me dipping back into visiting Blogs but apologies if I haven’t stopped by your Blog, I hope to do some more Blog hopping tomorrow. Tomorrow will see another post from me where I have some new stamps to share and some romantic creations.
Until then, thank you for visiting this evening.
Wishes
Lynne