Belle Femme (Published!)

Hello Everyone

Sunday normally means a sneaky peek of my DT project for That’s Crafty but there will be no peek to share with you as this Sunday I have a break from That’s Crafty, only for this one Sunday as all the That’s Crafty are having a festive break.
This post relates to a collection of cards which I was over the moon to see published in the pages of Stampington & co’s Take Ten (Autumn issue)
The cards came about as a result of a DT project for That’s Crafty. I was playing around with Stampbord and although the project for That’s Crafty bears no relation to the cards I went on to create for submitting to Take Ten, that is the weird and wonderful aspect of playtime!
All stamps are Oxford Impressions are can be purchased directly from Austen Gallery or you can source some of the stamps I used from That’s Crafty.
Four cards made up the collection for the Take Ten Faces Squared feature,  not sharing all of them with you, will share only two. The stamps featured were gathered from a selection of Oxford Impressions stamp plates but I can tell you that this image of the little girl, who I named Belle is available on the Times Past stamp set which you can purchase in the U.K. from That’s Crafty.
Only the merest hint of colour was added to the faces, such as the lips or cheeks.
At this angle you can see the dimension by using the Stampbord.
Like so many stampers, Stampbord has been in my stash but tended to be ignored.  It is a lovely surface to stamp onto and it takes any manner of media but for some reason it never did really grab my attention yet it has so many uses.Words were stamped onto vintage book pages with fragments of Tissue Tape, lace and a button here and there to adorn the cards.Thank You for your visit to this post.  I am sure you are either recovering from the preparations and festivities or making good use of your time to be creative so thank you  if you do take the time to stop by here.
I have some other drafted posts which might well be scheduled for before the end of this year.  Looking at my folders I see I still have a backlog of items to share with you so January will be a time of seeing how much I can catch-up on sharing.
Wishes
Lynne

In Good Company

Hello Everyone
Not so long ago I shared with you the first of my December DT samples for Gecko Galz, transforming a papier mache box into something a little bit more elegant with a household DIY tile forming the lid of the box.  At the same time as creating that particular sample I set about working on another home decor idea, a set of drinks coasters.
This a lengthy post, photo heavy so I apologise!

Classical Ladies A Set of Decorative Drinks Coasters
Gecko Galz Beauties in Black and White
Oxford Impressions French Script stamp set (damask and script stamps)
Staz-on Jet Black, Paper Artsy Satin Finish, Putty paint (Martha Stewart), Klear Floor Polish (Johnson & Johnson), Gesso and Gel Medium (Golden), Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Vintage Lace
Extras:-  tissue paper, lace, emulsion (latex) paint, 4 x tiles, cork
Instructions
Each of the tiles were stamped randomly and each vary slightly but this is a guideline if you wish to decorate your own tiles
Note:- Ensure the texture on each tile are all in the same direction.  I turned each tile so the texture ran in a vertical position.
Print Black and White Beauties onto white tissue paper.Tear around image.  Lay aside for the moment.

Stamp damask or French script or even both onto the tile. Stipple paint onto the tile, also over the stamping.

Adhere selected image with Klear floor polish, be generous with the application of Klear. The image will soak into the tile  Leave to dry, overnight if possible.

Working in a loose and random fashion stipple paint then stamp script or damask. Blend the edges of the image with the paint. Stipple more paint to obliterate some of the text.  Continue with this method

Apply Satin Finish to each tile.

Cut cork to the size and adhere to the bottom of the tiles.
You can see the texture on the finished tile.
The texture adds more character to the finished coaster but you might prefer using a smoother tile.The second tile. It is therapeutic blending the image with the layers of stamping and paint.
The stamping differs on each tile but I tried to not use too many varying patterns, preferring to work with script and damask stamps.Many Thanks for your visit to this scheduled post.
Wishes
Lynne

A Giveaway Win

Hello Everyone
A quick post to share about a Giveaway I won just last week from Rachel at Fisher’s Cards and Crafts.  It is possible you already know the lovely Rachel but if her Blog is new to you then why not visit her and say Hello.
This is what I won!With Rachel spoiling me by including one of her cards. Isn’t this such a fun card? This is a scheduled post for Boxing Day.
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.
Wishes
Lynne

An Angel With Her Wish (Published!)

Hello Everyone
Squeezing in what might well be my final post until after Christmas.
I was so thrilled to discover that in the Oct/Nov/Dec issue of The Stampers’ Sampler I had several pieces of art published, all the more thrilled when some of them where collected as features.  One such feature they called Christmas Vignettes.  This was a collection of two canvases and an altered matchbox all featuring Oxford Impressions stamps.
In this post I would like to share the two canvases.If you were kind enough to visit Sunday’s post then you will recognise this stamp. I really do not feel that this image should only be used to send to someone who is religious, I think if anyone appreciates art or serene imagery then this should appeal.
This is actually the second canvas I made with this stamp and similar style.  Last Christmas I made a canvas but with it being displayed in the home I was unable to submit it to Stampington, you see, any art I submit is not returned to me.  This isn’t something I am in the habit of doing but I liked it hanging in the home over the festivities.
A sprinkle of glass glitter will allow this to catch the light and of course there is all the glass glitter on the background, a background which after I had painted the canvas I used the Crafty Individuals Elegant Swirls Mask/Stencil set and modelling paste to create the relief pattern before I then generously applied diamond glass glitterMore sparkle with a fragment of lace to soften the effect. I the background you can see the relief design created with the Crafty Individuals stencil.A cluster of pearly embellishments with the Gesso toning down the silver embellishment.
The second canvas is smaller in size but a perfect size for this adorable angel child. I surely love photo real stamps, wonder if this passion will ever leave me.She is from the Sleigh Bells plate which is why I use her for Christmas, in fact she is the focal on the card I gave to my parents’ this year (haven’t blogged …. as yet) but the image sees her holding a cluster of flowers, this does make her a versatile stamp, she could be used for birthdays throughout the year or for Mother’s Day anyway for the purpose of this canvas I dry brushed Gesso onto a metal snowflake, more sparkle and a pearl to finish.If I can do so I will be scheduling posts between now and the 31st as I still have the second Gecko Galz December products sample to share and some other random posts, not sure if I will now leave Christmas behind even though there are still some samples to share.
Thank you so much for your visit although I cannot imagine that many of you will have the time to do so.
I believe all that is left for me to do is to wish you a Merry Christmas although I am aware that this time of the year can be bittersweet, a time of feeling happy but also a time to miss loved ones possibly more so than any other day of the week so if possible, I hope you all can find joy on Christmas and here’s to all of you being spoilt by Santa with the arrival of craft and art goodies, I for one say you all deserve it!
Festive Wishes
Lynne

A Peaceful Christmas

Hello
and welcome to my DT post for That’s Crafty.
Normally I only share a sneak peek but this is also my Christmas card to all of you lovely friends who take the time, even when you are incredibly busy with your own lives, your own creating or managing your own Blogs, to come and visit my wee Blog and leave such wonderful comments for me to read.This is not my final Blog post before Christmas as I aim to be sharing some more makes before the 25th but just in case any of you are switching off your computers/laptops so that you can spend your time on preparations or setting out on journeys to allow you to be with loved ones this Christmas I will say now (although might well repeat in another post!) that I send all of you a bundle of
Festive Wishes for a wonderful, wonderful Christmas.
(If, by any chance you would like to know how I went about making this card and my supply list then I would be delighted if you would visit the post HERE, the That’s Crafty Blog.
Lynne x

A Joyful Christmas

Hello Everyone
Let me first apologise that I am bombarding you with scheduled posts. All of a sudden I realised I had so much to share before the 25th and so now I am desperately trying to post them. I wouldn’t bother doing so but if I share a post it means I am able to share links to sites such as the wonderful Nicecrane Designs and the lovely Ignacio who generously let me play with images from A Joyful Christmas.  All three cards were made quite a few weeks ago and it might be possible that Ignacio has shared at his Nicecrane Blog.This will be a photo heavy post as I have three cards to share so I completely understand if you don’t want to wade your way through the photographs. All backgrounds are the same:- Nordic Snowflake stencil, modelling paste (Maimeri from That’s Crafty, the light version is so perfect for cardmaking) and gilding waxes.
The images were all printed onto a heavy cardstock.I like the combination of the rustic jute twine against the Prima Icon Star which was all dressed up with mica flakes. A stamped tassel was also included.An Oxford Impressions’ postal mark set within a metal frame.Card No. 2 is a larger sized card at 8″x8″ The corrugated cardboard I painted with Sea Lavender (Martha Stewart paint available from That’s Crafty).Card No. 3 is a return to the 6″x6″ size. A sweet image with the dog beside his little mistress.My next scheduled post will be on Sunday for That’s Crafty.
I am trying to catch-up with your Blogs as I am aware that, due to circumstances outwith my control, I was not able to visit for a few days.
I wish you all a good weekend and if you are in the middle of last minute preparations, here’s to life not getting too frantic.
Festive Wishes
Lynne

A Peaceful Time

Hello Everyone
Another Christmas related post, this time to share some cards (and a tag) using Oxford Impressions Christmas Wish stamp plate (available from Oxford Impressions and That’s Crafty)
8″x8″
The first card sees me make use of the beautiful Elegant Swirls Mask/Stencil set from Crafty Individuals for my background, using modelling paste and when set I painted the relief design with Tinting Medium and then adding that extra sparkle with mica flakes.This is the first year I have used this beautiful stamp as I received the set at the very end of last year, too late to use for my 2012 cards. As you can see, I stamped onto painted book text, edging with Luna Silver mica flakes. Most times I will stamp onto painted papers.  It gives me control over colour, makes use of old books which have seen better days and there is also that hint of the aged paper peeking through.
A simple embellishment of fabric flower, crystal drops and pearly pins tied together with tulle.  A little detail of the crystal drops against the doily and corrugated cardboard.With the same stamp as my focal I made this tag. I have my lovely art friend Annie to say Thank You to as she kindly gifted me a number of die-cuts as she knows I don’t own a die-cutting machine and amongst them were some cabinet cards which I was delighted to have to play with. The die-cut was covered with prepared book text onto then I heat embossed snowflakes and edged with the same embossing powder. I am not the biggest fan of heat embossing but it was the perfect touch to add sparkle and shimmer and lift the prepared book pages for this time of the year.
This time, a card
To achieve a frosty appearance this is second generation stamping. Possibly my most used stamp this Christmasand possibly my favourite embellishments this Christmas from Studio Calico, paired up with a fragment of found paperThis is a scheduled post but it still remains for me to say Thank You for your visit. I hope you are all either completed with your preparations or seeing the end in sight. I really do appreciate your visits at this time more than ever.
Festive Wishes
Lynne

Come Shelter With Me

Hello Everyone
I thought I would share a Crafty Individual sample, in fact two samples using the same stamp,  CI-399
Three little children snuggled under a large umbrella to take shelter from the falling snow.
8″x8″ CardYou will have guessed that it was a snowflake stencil and modelling paste which formed the background and I then applied two colours of gilding wax. I brought aquamarine into the background as I had already stamped the image onto the painted book text with Martha Stewart Sea Lavender and wanted a hit of blue to come through on the background.
Slightly out of focus! Sorry for that. I could have sharpened it with photo editing but I have found that sometimes it can alter it too much so I opted to leave it slightly fuzzy!!! What you cannot see, I highlighted the image with Sakura Stardust pen, a firm favourite of mine.Now a tour of the little bits such as winter.  What I especially love about Crafty Individuals is they could  have sold the stamp as the image of the children but they go that extra mile to provide wonderful details which I always like to make use of as stamped elements on my projects.  It became part of a nice little accent by layering and adhering onto a metal frame which I had altered to suit the colour of the card and this was in turn layered onto painted corrugated cardboard.I don’t know where I would have been without certain items this year for Christmas cards, that includes Studio Calico as I have loved using their Starbursts and Tiny Stars (from That’s Crafty) so easy to paint, ink add waxes or leave natural. Also here with a fragment of stamped border leftover from another project using this stamp.Some of the layers and textures used for this card, all sitting side by side.The text part of the stamp only inked up to give me this sentiment.Now it is definitely photo-heavy but let me continue so I can share another card using this same stamp. Silver, pink and blue colour palette for this card with only silver wax for the background this time.
This year, for any cards I did make, I tended to keep to a core selection of items. Doilies I like not only for their decorative detail but they give me another layer and so easy to alter the colour to suit the project.
Once again I used the stamp to give me those added little extras I like to include, such as wonderland. and the snowflake border.I bought this ribbon such a long time ago, possibly 4 years ago. It was a situation of I liked it at the time but saving it for a rainy day and then each year I looked at it and didn’t like it until this year it seemed to suit the mood of this card. If you managed to reach the end of this post then I thank you for staying with me as it was incredibly long.
I’d like to bring your attention, once more to the Crafty Individuals December Challenge. Still plenty time to participate so if you have been busy creating a festive themed project and it happens to have a Crafty Individuals product (so long as one CI product has been used) then why not enter the challenge. The top five winners will each win a stamp of their choice.
Thank you for your visit here today, always appreciated.
Wishes
Lynne

The cosy warmth of friendship on a winter’s day.

Hello Everyone
To start this brand new week I am sharing an altered matchbox I made using a Nicecrane image, an image from that beautiful set called Vintage Women’s Christmas.
Matchboxes are always a fabulous item to alter and I need to point you in the direction of my lovely art friend, Marie @ Lost Bird Studio as she is surely the Queen of Matchboxes (also the Queen of Soldering!).
Such a sweet image.  If you are interested I printed this onto low glossy cardstock which I then edged with vintage mica flakes (Luna Silver).Opened, ready to be filled with treats.
Layers of paint (the colour quality is poor, photograph taken when there was barely any daylight. I used Martha Stewart Sea Lavender, a mother of pearl/silver paint (from a supermarket) and gilding wax) and the snowflake stencil (from That’s Crafty) which has appeared on nearly everything I have made for this Christmas and more mica flakes. Gauze softens the effect. A Prima natural icon star has been given the sparkle treatment! Thank you for visiting my first post of this week. I really have too much I should have been sharing by now so if possible I aim to schedule as many posts as possible so that I can share all Christmas related samples before the 25th.
Have a wonderful week and here’s to it not being too stressful for you.
Wishes
Lynne

’twas the night before Christmas

Hello Everyone
It is the time of the week to share with you my That’s Crafty DT   project.
I am staying with a Christmas theme (of course the title post is a giveaway!) for this project.
This is only a small section of the project and as always, the full project with instructions and supply list can be viewed HERE.
Did you know that over at the That’s Crafty on-line store you can create a Wish List, wouldn’t that be useful to create and then family and friends can have an idea of what you really desire for Christmas and if you are looking for creative gift ideas, Laura has created a special section to give you some ideas.
Whatever your plans for this Sunday, have a great day.
Wishes
Lynne