Autumn Leaves

While these autumn leaves float around everywhere
(Paolo Nutini – Autumn Leaves)

Hello Everyone
Each day finds me wondering whether I will have Internet access.  Today’s post is a scheduled post, typed up on Tuesday and so I hope that this Sunday sees you managing to access this post but then again, who knows, this post could be floating in internet limbo!
My DT post for That’s Crafty sees me playing with some new stamps and a beautiful Prima bark butterfly.  I also made use of stencils, fabric, corrugated cardboard and much more thrown in for good measure!  I struggled as to which part of the project to focus on for the sneaky peek.If you would like to view the project in its entirity along with full instructions and supply list then please visit the That’s Crafty Blog HERE.Have you seen the new look That’s Crafty on-line store. Laura’s new look to the store is wonderful and bright and easier to navigate.
Before I leave you so that you can enjoy your Sunday I really want to share this link for Paolo Nutini singing Autumn Leaves.
Here’s to a lovely Sunday, let’s make it a creative one!
Wishes
Lynne

Father Of Mine (catching-up with published artwork)

Hello Everyone
This is a catching-up post to share artwork which I was over the moon to see published in the Apr/May/June issue of The Stampers’ Sampler.  Yes, quite some time ago but it is only now as I was organising images to share here when I realised I’d overlooked posting them.  I am trying to slot in such posts in-between “proper” DT commitment posts.
Both items were submitted to a Challenge Call by The Stampers’ Sampler where I submitted a wall hanging and card both of which use Crafty Individuals stamps and images.Fabric, seam binding and the Crafty Individuals frame were all stained to colour co-ordinate, using homemade spray ink to do so.
The Paisley style stamp was stamped onto the dyed fabric panel and also on the frame with a Crafty Individuals image tucked behind the frame.  The stamps peeking behind, the ledger stamp and thistle stamp are all Crafty Individuals however Father is from Oxford Impressions.
The card sees me once again using the same image, a frame, the Paisley stamp along with the ledger stamp and thistle stamp. I have a few Crafty Individuals posts to share, using new stamp products, yes that also includes more birds (if you are a regular you will know what I mean!) and also time to share team samples where I have been busy having fun inking up their new Christmas Elements set.
Thank You for taking the time to visit this post as I always appreciate your visits.
Wishes
Lynne

A Spot of Afternoon Tea

Hello Everyone
In a recent post I mentioned that Crafty Individuals released quite a few bird themed stamps over the past few months, very pretty stamps in fact.  I am a bit behind in sharing this card and some others I made at around the same time which I will share in another post. For this Crafty Individuals team post I will share a card I made using CI-389, a collage stamp depicting a sweet bird perched, precariously, upon a stack of teacups with the clock stating it is 3 o’clock, surely time to stop for a spot of tea. The base for this card is a Gelli Print which was amongst my stash from a quick session of pulling some prints.  The colour is rather washed out but it is almost a peach colour although the paints I used are cream and portrait pink, not a hint of peach in sight!  It will no doubt be of little surprise to learn I used lace! That little stamped piece in the bottom corner was one of the sample stamps Crafty Individuals included with a previous order. Other than preparing the vintage book text which I stamped the bird collage onto, all other elements were already prepared, the Gelli Print and stained trims.
A fragment of pretty fabric was called for and so I used it to layer this stamped element onto.  This is actually from a Crafty Individuals Elements set, a set that is so useful to have for adding such a little extra. Stumbling across this paper punch which is one I used time after time when I first bought it and then whether I grew weary of punched paper flowers I don’t know but I stopped making use of it. As tends to be the case with me, you will no doubt see punched paper flowers on everything whether it be Halloween or Christmas and everything in-between!Thank You for your kindness regarding my technical issues. You never want others to experience poor Customer Service but in a way reading your personal experiences (you know who you are!) has helped me.  I will be moving to another server but not sure, at the moment, when the switch over will be.  On the whole I am not someone who is comfortable discussing personal matters on my Blog but with not knowing if or when I would have internet access I wanted to make you aware of the situation.  I would say I will keep you posted but wonder if you are ready for me to have another rant so soon after the one from the other day LOL.
Wishes
Lynne

’tis near Halloween

Hello Everyone
Welcome to another Halloween post, a Gecko Galz DT post where you see me once again playing with their Spellbound digi stamps.I was drawn to this Spellbound digi stamp because it is a gentle take on Halloween, a vintage Halloween image. Is she a good and gentle witch or a glamorous woman having an evening of fun and frolics at a Masquerade party, I wonder.I of course paired the digi stamp with real stamps from Oxford Impressions Masquerade and Haunted. The wonderful rhyme in the first photograph is from the Masquerade set.  As with previous Gecko Galz DT samples I used the same technique for the background. With this being a Gecko Galz DT post here is the supply list and brief instructions:-
Supplies:- Spellbound Digi Stamp, Oxford Impressions Masquerade and Haunted, Distress Ink Vintage Photo, Versafine Black. Extras:- walnut ink crystals, watersoluble crayon, cardstock, glass glitter, lace and stained seam binding.
Instructions:- Print digi stamp onto cardstock prepared with walnut ink crystals. Age edges. Adhere another piece of prepared cardstock to cardbase. Randomly stamp cobwebs, adding paint flicks. Adhere the digi image. Stamp rhyme, stars and bats adding a glamorous touch of black glass glitter. Finally embellish the card with black lace and stained seam binding tied into a shabby bow.
Thank You for your visit to this scheduled post and here’s to a wonderful week.
Wishes
Lynne

Communication Problems – Friends Please Read This Post

Hello Everyone
A post of a different nature today.
On Saturday I started to experience problems with AOL, in accessing my e-mail account.  After exhaustive hours on the telephone with the result of being no further forward than when I first picked up the telephone, I still have no e-mail access.  This means that if any of my friends have e-mailed me then I am sorry, it looks as though I will not be able to reply.
What is worse, all my e-mail contacts were stored at AOL in the address book.  I aim to visit my friends via their blogs to tell them of this situation but wanted to write it here also.
Friends, would you be good enough to e-mail me at:-

ReadingRoom12@hotmail.com

I will then write down your e-mails so that when I set up a new e-mail account
Obviously I refuse to stay a customer of AOL and the hope if to change to BT but of course, nothing is simple in life and with my multiple conversations with AOL yesterday I have so little faith in them that I doubt if they will actually provide the MAC Code.
Why does life become more difficult when it should be made so much easier with all this technology we have to hand.
Patty, if you are reading this post, yes, I shall hold my hands up and declare that I did have a good rant yesterday LOL. Trying to see the funny side of a situation that was less than funny but I always aim to look at the bigger picture and say to myself, that although this has caused me great inconvenience and upset, ultimately there is so much worse that people deal with in their lives and if in the meantime I can gain access to the internet and still have a means of connection with all you wonderful people then that is what matters most.  Obviously I was a wee bit concerned that I can share my DT samples with the relevant DTs I am on but I am trying to keep abreast of that.
Your help would be greatly appreciated in this matter.  I will keep this as a sticky post for a few days.
In the meantime, have a wonderful start to the week.
Wishes
Lynne

 

(I will be plan on moving from AOL as the customer service has been shocking,.

Witch Hazel

Hello Everyone
Welcome to my DT sneak peek, yes, that time of that week, for That’s Crafty.No need to be afraid for Witch Hazel is a kindly witch and if you would like to be further acquainted with her then take a stroll over to That’s Crafty Blog.
Also there you can read the supply list and full instructions for this project.
If you are a fan of Halloween then Laura has cleverly created a designated area for all Halloween related craft supplies at her on-line store.
Have a lovely Sunday whatever your plans may be.
Wishes
Lynne

Where She Shares Her Secrets

Hello Everyone
If you are a regular visitor then you will have seen me share various DT posts for Oxford Impressions where I used the Lily Elsie stamp set, it is time for another such post.
Selecting one of the Lily Elsie stamps I altered this journal. This journal was  “naked”, a buff colour, ripe for altering.
Lily Elsie (available directly from Oxford Impressions)
Emulsion paints were applied to the cover and then it was a matter of more fun by creating a collage from stained, distressed and painted papers and beautiful Lily Elsie herself. Secrets isn’t from the Lily Elsie plate, that can be found on the My Story plate.Touches of lace against the stained vintage sheet music. This is the distressed appearance of the paint, also severely distressing the cover with various implements. Many Thanks for your visit to this post, as your time is always appreciated.
Wishes
Lynne

Exciting News – DT Call

Hello Everyone
Are you looking for a new creative challenge for 2014?  If the answer is “yes” then you might want to read ahead as this could  be for you.
Gecko Galz is having a DT call and here is all the information you require if you wish to apply

CALLING ALL DESIGN STARS!

Do you enjoy working with new scrapbook products before everyone else?
Do you crave doing paper crafts and altered art?
Do you love inspiring others with your creations?
Do your scrapbook supplies out number your shoes?
Well then you may be just the person we are searching for!

Gecko Galz is a  paper crafting company that specializes in vintage
inspired digital papers, digital collage sheets and digital stamps and we are in
search of new
artist to join our design team.
Our design team is a wee bit different than most because Gecko Galz products
are
digital. In 2014 we will be releasing 3 new Collage Sets, 3 collage sheets, 1
paper pack, 1 digital stamp set, and 1 jewelery image collage set EACH MONTH
thus giving our customers and design team members alot to be inspired by!
Each member of our design team receives a jpeg files  every  month with all of
the new products for the following month i.e. you will get February’s products
in January.
Also we will be working with other companies on cross promotions through out
the year.

As a member of our design team you will be asked for the following:
1.Create one sample each month using Gecko Galz papers and collage images
or stamps, you are welcometo do more but you are required to do at least 1.
2.Create one step by step how to submission for our monthly design team
challenge, every month it will be a different challenge.
3.Do at least one blog, pintrest or facebook posting about Gecko Galz each
month.
4.Supply us with links to your blogs, galleries, and websites as well as a brief
bio and photo for our website gallery.
5.promote Gecko Galz by submitting works to magazines, challenges.

6. Take part in our annual blog hop in October.
7. We ask that you supply us with a photo and short bio for your Gallery page
on our website.

What you will receive from Gecko Galz for being a design team member;
1.You will receive all of Gecko Galz products from January 2014- December
2014
2.Recognition as a member of the team on our website with your own gallery
page as well as a board on the Gecko Galz Pinterest page
3.Publishing Opportunities
4.Quarterly Design Team only challenges where you can win amazing prizes
5.you can become a certified Gecko Galz Instructor
6. work with other amazing companies as cross promotions.

7. One month you will be the spotlight artist where we will interview you and
talk up your blog site.

To Apply please submit the following;
1.3 to 5 paper crafted/altered works done within the last 6 months, send your
best works to us. They do not have to include Gecko Galz Products but if you
have any using them that would be wonderful to see.
2.Links to your blog and or any online galleries your associated with. Or send
a resume if you have one! You do not have to be published to be considered!
3.A list of any design teams you are currently associated with (you do not have
to be a member of any). Any publications you have been published in if any.
4.A short paragraph on why you would like to be  a member of our team.
5.Your full contact information; email, name, address
send information to us at geckogalz@yahoo.com with DESIGN TEAM in the
email header.

The Mischief Maker

Hello Everyone
Another Gecko Galz DT post to share and once again it sees me using a digi stamp from the Spellbound set.If you are a regular visitor then you might well recognise this image from a recent post. When I first spied this digi stamp I knew I would be using it but certainly there is a good selection to pick from on the Spellbound set, something like 23 or 24 digi stamps.
For this DT sample I created this panel, I say panel because I didn’t form it into a hanging which is what I would normally do but I was so undecided that I decided to leave this as it is. It is quite large, measuring 12″ x 5.5″ The same method as with previous samples, I re-sized (in Word).  I actually planned the images I would be using enabling me to print as many images as possible onto the one sheet of stained A4 cardstock. The cardstock could easily be stained afterwards but somehow I prefer doing it this way.
Once more I used mica tiles over the image.  It brings a lovely depth and yet you still can see clearly what is beneath, even the watermarks from the walnut ink.Working backwards for the moment I will share the corrugated panel before I layered the items onto it. There was no method, I simply let the colours do as they wished, working in a random fashion which is normal for me!The digi image was certainly to be the focal with few distractions so I merely added this wonderful piece of bark which I have to say Thank You to my lovely friend Annie, which I stamped onto. To add visual and textural contrast to the bark and the corrugated cardboard I added a string of glass chandelier crystals, suspending them from the panel and topping with lace tied into a bow.
A quick run through of the supplies:- Spellbound digi set, Oxford Impressions Haunted, Distress Ink Vintage Photo, Versafine black, Caran d’ache watersoluble crayon, Golden Gesso and Golden Gel Medium Extras:- corrugated cardboard, black lace, mica tiles, black gems, bark and chandelier crystals.
Thank You for visiting this Halloween inspired post.
Wishes
Lynne

Last Days of Summer (Part II)

Hello Everyone
Yesterday, for my post, Last Days of Summer my lovely blogging friend Terry visited and mentioned I could enter the artwork over at the Artistic Outpost challenge, she is a DT member for Artistic Outpost. Obviously for a challenge entry they need to see the artwork in full so what I have decided to do is share the artwork images in full but if you are interested in my full supply list, detail photographs and step-by-step instructions then they can be viewed HERE at That’s Crafty Blog.
This Last Days of Summer canvas is my entry for the Artistic Outpost September Referral where I used the wonderful Boardwalk stamp set which can be purchased from Artistic Outpost and in the U.K. from That’s Crafty.
This canvas is the first time I have played with the Boardwalk set and it really is a lovely collection of stamps with lovely elements for collage style creations.
As I say, instructions and more detail photographs can be viewed HERE.
I cannot remember the last time I entered a challenge so this is a bit of fun and hopefully not my first and last time of entering the Artistic Outpost Referral.
Many thanks for your visit and obviously, if you commented on yesterday’s post I would not expect another comment but  will return very soon with some new art to share.
In the meantime, have a lovely week.
Wishes
Lynne