Wild Bohemian

Hello Everyone
Let me finish the month with a scheduled DT post for Oxford Impressions, in particular using the stunningly beautiful Lily Elsie stamp plate (also available from That’s Crafty).
Actually I say a DT post but in actual fact this card was made for Marie’s  (Lost Bird Studio) birthday but I was obviously able to double it up as a DT sample at the same time (I do so love when that happens!) and I am sure Marie wouldn’t mind.
I believe this is the first time I’ve  shared a project with this particular stamp from the set but it will be cropping up again (and again!)
Simply love the detail on this image in particular that stunning head-dress.  This image, to my mind,  epitomizes that particular era of decadence and Bohemian lifestyle, especially being led in Paris.  My absolute favourite way to make backgrounds:- paint, layers of stamping and fragments of vintage text or Tissue Tape.  It is so therapeutic to spend time making such backgrounds as I enjoy blending each layer of stamping then to continue and add another layer on top, continuing until I get the desired effect. The colour quality is poor but if I tell you that I used grey and black inks with Camisole Pink (a muted pink) emulsion paint you might get an idea as to the actual colours.
I used many stamps for this background.  Some of the stamps are from the following Oxford Impressions stamp plates:- Beloved (no longer available), Jane Austen and With Love.
This image would be equally beautiful tinted with inks or chalks but I tend to leave my photo real images just as they are.
Beautiful is part of the Lily Elsie stamp plate, from the stamp stating You Are Beautiful.. I always like my little bits of this ‘n’ that and here I gathered a scrap of Crunchy Tissue Paper which I’d previously painted and stamped for another project.  A scrap of vintage lace and a stamped postal cancellation mark embellish the edge of this image.
Look at the detail on the stamped image – she is absolutely divine.She will be turning up again very soon as I have a piece of jewellery I’ve completed and I also have projects using the other Lily Elsie stamps from this plate so many to share with you.
In the meantime, many thanks for visiting this post and for your support this past month, especially during the times of my absence.  Also, to say I am thrilled at the reaction to my Giveaway, never anticipated for a moment so many of you taking an interest.  The Giveaway will close this evening so still time if you haven’t joined in as yet.
I wonder what August will have in store for us all, let’s hope that for all of us it is packed with creativity!
Wishes
Lynne

Fleur

Hello Everyone
Thank you for joining me for this post where I am sharing a muslin bag I decorated for an art friend, Marie  (Lost Bird Studio) who celebrated her birthday in June.
This was a pre-made muslin bag so all I had to do was have fun decorating it and then filling it with lace for Marie.
I selected one of my all time favourite stamps from Oxford Impressions which is from the Soul of the Rose plate (also available from That’s Crafty) , although the stamp script on the actual muslin bag is from the Venezia stamp plate.  Stained vintage lace covers the majority of the script but I liked the hint of it peeking through.  The photo real stamp was stamped onto TAP before transferring onto canvas.The image was lightly painted with Caran d’ache watersoluble crayons. Another time I will share the notebook and card I also sent to Marie.
Unusually for me, this was a short post. No doubt I will make up for it next time!
Wishes
Lynne

The Days She Spent At The Ocean (Published)

Hello Everyone
I have decided to make the most of the fact I have been able to access my Blog to schedule this post and cram it in before the end of this week.
When I received Stampington & co’s 400 More Ideas (formerly Catch-Up) although  I was obviously over the moon to see so many of my pieces in print,  I had decided I would only share a few of them here.  This particular card was to be one of the ones I wouldn’t be sharing,  however, as the card uses Crafty Individuals products (paper pad and stamps) I realised it would be an opportunity to share some Crafty Individuals links.
Jean and Malcolm are always so lovely but I have to say that those past months when I’ve not been able to create the volume of samples I would normally create for them, they have just been so understanding.  So it seems only right that if and when I can, I will share some links to their site, even if what I am sharing doesn’t utilise their new stamps.  Although I do  have another giraffe project (one of their new stamps) to share with you soon.
Now this card was a quick card!
Using the Crafty Individuals The Seaside paper pad I selected this fabulous sheet which included a row of beach huts.  I knew it would make a fun card design.  I layered it with another sheet from the same pad, adding to the cardbase so that the huts stick out at the top edge.  This meant the height of the cardbase was increased with the beach huts overhanging quite a bit at the top.The Bathing Belle image was printed onto a transparency. This image from  Divas D’Este is no longer available, sadly they are no longer trading. At the time of making this card I was on their wonderful DT. I liked the way the transparency allowed those beautiful papers to shine through. Transparencies are always such fun to play with.Shells were cut from the pattern paper and also a few were stamped. The stamped shells are from Oxford Impressions’ By The Sea stamp plate.
Here are some links:-
The Crafty Individuals stamp plate used:- CI-272
The Sea paper pad – This is available for an amazing price at the moment.
If you are interested in By The Sea from Oxford Impressions then you can view (or purchase!) that stamp plate at Austen Gallery.
Many thanks for visiting especially if you visited earlier in the day to view my DT post for That’s Crafty.
Wishes
Lynne

The Garden Visitor

Hello Everyone
Welcome to another post, this time a DT post for That’s Crafty.  Although I was sure I wouldn’t be able to share because the issues with wordpress continue, with me not being able to access my Blog  and when I do gain access it can be short-lived.  Oh how we can take it all for granted!
Anyway, moving on.  It was playtime again with my Gelli Plate, yes, I am quite addicted!
If you are a regular visitor then you know by now that I only share a peek at the project. To view the complete project along with supplies and instructions then you need to visit HERE.  Laura might also display the photographs of the Gelli Prints, before and after stamping. Have a lovely Sunday.
Wishes
Lynne

The Messages They Carry (Published)

Hello Everyone
Thank you for joining me .
If you happen to be a fan of Crafty Individuals then you might well recognise this stamp which they released last year.  
CI-347.  At the time of its release I declared it to be a favourite as it is just so elegant.  I went on to create several projects ranging from cards, wall hangings, altered shopping list pad, tote bags and canvases.   I found this stamp to be so wonderful to work with, so versatile, enjoying not only using it in its entirety but discovering it to be a fabulous stamp to use sections of it, focusing on a particular butterfly for instance.
Last year I worked on a few canvases always with the intention of sharing them on my Blog.  However, I remember at the time that I was sharing so many projects that I decided to leave  a break in-between the projects, let’s just say that the break lasted more than one year from when I received that stamp to work with!  What jolted my memory was the joyous surprise of seeing the canvas published in the Apr/May/June issue of The Stampers’ Sampler where they showcased the canvas, along with another, in the Spotlights section.This might be a small canvas but I didn’t let the size of it hinder me with regard to what I wanted to add or the texture I wanted to achieve.   In fact texture was all important and found in the form of paste  and painters’ tape (cannot for the life of me remember the name of that tape at the moment – anyone wish to help me out ?!)  and of course gauze and cheesecloth were other additions.
A little hint at the canvas and you might see where I also randomly stamped into the paint and paste.Butterflies stamped onto  a regular shipping tag, this one has a lovely texture to it, not as smooth as the majority of shipping tags.   Gesso providing more texture.
That torn ticket is actually a Crafty Individuals stamp.  A snippet from the left side of the butterfly tag.   This stamp I find to be indispensable especially when I find myself working to a collage style with Crafty Individuals stamps, such a useful little stamp. On this canvas I stamped it onto the actual canvas and also fabric fragment. To the right of the butterfly tag you can see I gathered fragments of French book text, gauze, found paper and a button threaded with twine.I’ve been experiencing problems with accessing my Blog and that has also resulted in me not being able to comment with this URL – Wordpress does like to keep us on our toes at times (doesn’t it Alison?!).
Many thanks for visiting this post, your visits and comments are always much appreciated and again, thank you for the Giveaway feedback being far beyond any expectations I had.
Wishes
Lynne

A Stroll In The Garden With Jane

Hello Everyone
Thank you for the wonderful response to the Giveaway I posted yesterday.
For this week I have a mix of projects to share, many will be art where I’ve used Oxford Impressions stamps such as this post which features one of the newest Oxford Impressions stamp plates, Jane’s Garden. The good news, if you fall in love with this set but live in the U.K. and do not wish to purchase direct from Oxford Impressions then you can purchase it from That’s Crafty.
It really is a delightful plate consisting of 23 stamps with a Jane Austen theme so it would work well alongside the stamps from the Jane Austen set. However this plate also has a garden theme with stamps depicting flowers, butterflies, bees, a watering can, etc.
My first project is a canvas and my favourite use of a canvas is to flip it over to make use of the wonderful recess. A simple coat of paint  co-ordinated beautifully with the paper I stamped all the images onto (Gecko Galz digital paper).There are three stamps depicting Jane. This stamp would look stunning if it were to be painted but I chose to stamp all the elements onto the printed digital paper. A ceramic flower is all that adorns this image.
Jane strolls in the garden, clutching some books.  A beautiful day to go and sit in the shade and while away the hours reading. I know I sit here repeating myself but it always amazes me how well thought out the Oxford Impressions plates are. This plate has two beautiful quotes.The stamp plate has some beautiful flowers, there is a stunning rose stamp which I will share with you another time where I used it as a background, stamping onto a Gelli Print and there is a lovely smaller stamp of a sprig of flowers and then we have this gorgeous stamp which I stamped three times, gently curving the petals and leaves for dimension. Touches of vintage glass glitter add that wee touch of sparkle and texture. A close-up and you can see the butterflies which have decided to settle upon the flowers. Of course there had to be a touch of lace so at the bottom of the canvas I added a band of lace prior to layering more stamped images.
Keeping in mind the quote and also that this particular Jane has a bundle of books  in her hands, I decided to include the lovely book stamp. This stamp consists of three books however I wanted more books (in my personal life I can never have enough books surrounding me) so I stamped it three times then added the sweet watering can.
A butterfly alights upon the books.
Thank You for visiting this post.
I am managing to spend a little bit of time on-line and catching-up with your own art so if I haven’t managed to visit your Blog I will certainly do so soon.
Wishes
Lynne

Christmas In July – A Giveaway

NOW CLOSED – thank you to all of you who entered this Giveaway.

Note:- This is a sticky post and will stay at the top until the end of the Giveaway.  For recent posts please scroll down.

Hello Everyone
As promised in a previous post it is  Giveaway time, I just hope I didn’t scare you off with the title of this post!
It doesn’t seem so long ago that it was a chore for me to make Christmas cards, etc.  I found it difficult for cards to come together possibly because I didn’t have an abundance of Christmas related stamps and other products. All this changed  with the presence of my first Oxford Impressions Christmas/winter stamp plate (if you are interested it was Winter Snow) – it was a light bulb moment for me and all of sudden I found it to be far more enjoyable  a process and since that first plate I’ve now collected others so I can mix ‘n’ match, my favourite way to work.  Oxford Impressions’ Christmas/Winter stamp plates are so well thought out (as are all the stamp sets) with the main images, sentiments and those wonderful little stamps to make backgrounds or collage style elements.
So I am well aware that Christmas is not the most pleasant topic for me to raise (!) but does it become more palatable when I tell you that I have an Oxford Impressions’ Christmas/Winter themed plate to giveaway?
I am being rather naughty.  Normally I wouldn’t ask anything of you when it is time for a Giveaway but as I received this plate so someone else might have the pleasure of stamping with it I wanted in return, if possible, to send some traffic to  Oxford Impressions’ site, Austen Gallery.

If you would like the chance to win this stamp plate:-
. Visit Austen Gallery (Oxford Impressions’ store) to discover the name of this  stamp plate.

. Return here with the name of the stamp plate.

. If you decide to share this Giveaway on your Blog’s sidebar or on Facebook then let me know in your comment and I will add your name  a second or third time to the hat.

. One winner will be randomly selected on 31st July 2013.   The winner’s name will be announced here.

Good Luck!
Lynne x

Pin It!

Hello Everyone
We have arrived at Sunday once again and for me that means time for a new DT post for That’s Crafty.
This week I have made a return to a favourite theme of mine, Paris.If you would like to see the project in full along with supplies and instructions then you can see it HERE.Thank you for your visit today.
Wishes
Lynne

Safari Postcard

Hello Everyone
I wonder if the sun is shining in your part of the world?  Although this is a scheduled post they are saying that the weekend in my wee part of the world is to be hot so it seems appropriate to share another little something I made with Crafty Individuals Element Set CI-390.This altered canvas was made along the same lines as the two tags I recently shared with you, in that I stamped onto fabric and brought elements which I hoped reflected the theme of the stamp.
The canvas had various paints layered to it before I added the crochet style lace.  I essentially played with bronze, copper, aged gold and also some patina.
I cannot begin to tell you how amazing the detail is on this and also the elephant stamp which is also part of this set.
Just like so many stampers, it is fun to study the detail on a stamp and to try and use it as a stamped element, I love to do this. On the giraffe collage stamp at the left side I was able to select the Carte Postale element.  I stamped it onto a piece of fabric which had been gently distressed with rusting powder solution (see previous relevant post) and I then layered this with some prepared corrugated cardboard to add interest at the top of the canvas. A detail photograph of the main stamp with frayed edges, touches of ink and some scraps of fibres (from fabric) which I knotted to form an embellishment.I have scheduled this post for Saturday and hope that I will be able to join in with Blogland on Sunday.
Enjoy the weekend.
Wishes and thanks for your visit.
Lynne

London Gent (Published)

Hello Everyone
Recently I shared art which was published in Stampington & co’s 400 More Ideas.  This post contains another card which was also in the same publication, a card using some stamps from Oxford Impressions’ fabulous London Telegraph set  (also available from That’s Crafty).
Unusually for me, this card is only 4″x4″ in dimension.
The base consisted of watercolour paper which had previously been prepared with homemade spray, the colour I would say was lettuce, which  hasn’t shown up well in this washed out photograph.  I then overstamped a text stamp before layering up stamped elements which were stamped onto various surfaces which provided a nice mix of textures.The gent was stamped onto kraft style paper (re-cycled cardboard) and some text stamped onto cork fragment. I remember I also stamped onto parchment paper to give extra texture to the card.
I will be absent from Blogland for a few days (keeping my fingers crossed it will not be any longer than that) due to health matters. On my return I will enjoy catching up with your Blogs. My post for That’s Crafty, on Sunday, is scheduled and if all goes well I might be able to schedule another post between now and then.
I haven’t forgotten about the promised Giveaway. At the time of writing I am unsure if it will be posted this week or next but if you like stamping then keep a look out!
Thank you as always for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne