Somerset Apprentice … From The Pros

Hello Everyone
Sometimes, an event happens that it just does not sink in, a happy event which is beyond a dream, not daring to dream the possibility of it ever manifesting. Well that is the situation I found myself in when Jana Holstein, the Editor of Somerset Apprentice, approached me for the From The Pros category within the pages of this particular Stampington & co publication.This publication is filled with incredible mixed media artists, names such as Cat Kerr, Kristen Robinson, Lynn Whipple, Lori Sparkly Franklin, Kelli May-Krenz and someone whose stamp designs I have been a fan of since my earliest days of stamping, Lynne Perrella.
Somerset Apprentice Autumn,
Heartfelt thanks to the Editor, Jana Holstein and all of the Somerset Apprentice team for the privilege and honour of being a small part of Somerset Apprentice and a reminder, as I looked at that profile photo that I am in need of a haircut as my hair at the moment, is the longest it has been for years!
I hope you don’t mind that I shared this news.  Happy news is always made all the lovelier when able to share with friends, friends where we all have the same passion for creating.
Wishes
Lynne

Something Wicked

Hello Everyone
Last week for my DT post over at That’s Crafty it was all about Christmas, this week it is the turn of Halloween, I know, chronologically incorrect!Supplies and instructions can be viewed HERE.
Wishes
Lynne

The Mermaid and the Seahorse

Hello Everyone
A wee while ago I received the most beautiful stamp set from Oxford Impressions, Mystical Mermaids. (also available from That’s Crafty) So far I have only shared one piece of artwork, at the That’s Crafty blog.
As soon as I saw the Calico Craft Parts shell (in the largest size) I knew it was the perfect substrate for a Mystical Mermaid.  I had never made a purchase from Calico Craft Parts before so wasn’t sure what to expect regarding quality of the pieces.  I am not affiliated with Calico Craft Parts in any way but I have to say that the MDF was a joy to work on.  On the shell, there is a lovely, not quite sure how to describe other than an etched design into the shell which even with the application of paint, you can still see that outline.  I didn’t use Gesso to prep the surface, I simply dived right in and applied the paints.There she rests, perched upon a starfish as she ponders life at the bottom of the ocean, with the sway of the coral around her.  Her hair glistens from the fish scales which become trapped within the tangle of the waves of her hair.Three or so paint colours were applied onto the shell, a mixture of Frescos and also Martha Stewart metallic acrylics with a hint of mica flakes for added shimmer.The seahorse is her friend and confidant.  The time whiles away as she shares her secrets, her fears and her hopes to the seahorse.A jumble of sea related items including stamped shells, all resting on a piece of driftwood.
Thank you for visiting this blog post.  I always read comments left, so thank you.
Wishes
Lynne

Crafty Individuals New Releases

Hello Everyone
If you receive Crafty Individuals newsletter than you will know that new stamps have been released by Jean and Malcolm but let me run through the new designs anyway.
At the time of writing all the new releases are on special offer so if any or all catch your eye it might be an idea to take this opportunity to purchase at the special introductory price.
CI-444.  This stamp is an Elements set focusing on the relationship of brothers and sisters.  It also includes two useful border stamps.
CI-445 Another Elements set, this time a bounty of flowers. Great for creating backgrounds or if you are a fan of fussy cutting, you could have hours of fun cutting out all of those beautiful flowers!CI-446 Five festive sentiments. I say festive but there is no reason they could not be used for other occasions, especially Adore. CI-447 features seven tags with a festive theme running through them. CI-448 The Star In The East.  An incredibly detailed stamp. Thank You for visiting this post. The new stamps are now available directly from the Crafty Individuals on-line store and I am sure they will be available from your favourite local stamp store.
Wishes
Lynne

Smile of Friendship Part II

Hello Everyone
In this post HERE I shared two cards published in the Spring issue of The Stampers’ Sampler with a note to say that I had split the collection in two and would be sharing the other two cards another time, well here they are.
As with the previous cards I used Darkroom Door photobooth images as the focals with various Darkroom Door stamps to create the backgrounds and the word tiles.Torn pieces of fabric feature on all the backgrounds, floral fabrics and muslin with layers of paint.  You can see also the Gesso which I scraped onto the panel for added texture and highlights.Stamping with paint also features.The final card.I really do like those Photobooth images so much and as they are on quality cardstock it means they will happily take some heavy distressing!  I abrade the edges and also use an old emery board to distress further.  In the background, the random areas of flourish, that is a Texture Stamp stamped with paint.  The Texture stamps are amazing for not only a complete background but so easy to add small areas of stamping and the range is being added to all the time.
Quite a few colours were used on the background to tie in with the colours from the fabrics.
So there we have it, the final cards in this collection. I still have some other card collections which I have been fortunate enough to have published over the past weeks and will share with you every now and then.
As always, thank you for your visits which really do mean so much.
Wishes
Lynne

Winter Wishes

Hello Everyone
If you visited my blog post recently when I shared samples for PaperArtsy’s release of Eclectica Darcy’s new stamp sets then you will no doubt recognise this wonderful reindeer. This time the sample is for my DT post over at the That’s Crafty blog because both of Darcy Wilkinson’s stamp sets are available from That’s Crafty.Stamps and other supplies along with instructions can be viewed HERE.
Wishes
Lynne

A Smile of Friendship Part I (The Stampers’ Sampler)

Hello Everyone
I have been meaning to share this card collection for weeks, in fact, make that months as they appeared in the Spring issue of The Stampers’ Sampler
There are four cards in total but I have split them over two blog posts as it would be too photo heavy otherwise!
It had been in my mind to make a collection with the fabulous Darkroom Door photobooth images as the focals but where I would have normally played around with neutrals I decided to go in the completely opposite direction and inject colour into the lives of those girls although by their wide smiles, maybe they were leading colourful lives anyway!
From the outset I had in mind fabrics, representing old cotton dresses that have faded through wear and drying in the summer sun and also of old quilts.  I wanted the fabrics I used, which although initially were bright, at least I call them bright (!) with the paint and water application, they toned down just lovely and to exactly the feel I wanted overall. Each background is different but in a way they are the same.  Lots of layers of paint, layers of stamping including stamping with paint and lots of water to create drips and allow the colours to blend, let’s just say, lots of abuse!  In this photograph you can see the stamping which I randomly stamped with paint.  Darkroom Door background and texture stamps, to my mind, are amazing for stamping with paint and they are also amazing for adding touches of background texture, here and there no matter the project.Now I think about it, I am sure I applied Grungepaste initially, along with the fabrics before any paint application.
The words are from a Darkroom Door Word Block.  Fabulous stamps!  I used the stamp by randomly applying ink to particular phrases, stamping directly onto the background panel and then later I once again inked up the words/phrases I wanted to work with, taking the painted cardstock to the inked stamp.  I find this an easier way to work when I am zooming in on particular words/phrases.The Photobooth images really are wonderful and those images perfectly capture friendship and silly times.For this background the Word Block was randomly stamped.  It is very faint as I didn’t want the words to be obvious, it was more about creating another layer.  I also used the Splatter Texture stamp, stamped with paint.Not that I am trying to tempt any of you but the Word Blocks are such great value because there is an abundance of words/sentiments and a stamp which can be used in different ways.I will share the other two cards from this collection very soon.  In the meantime, many thanks for your visit to this post and also for your words of encouragement whether I share something vintage inspired, with a neutral colour palette or one of my more colourful pieces.
Wishes
Lynne

Songs to be Sung (The Stampers’ Sampler)

Hello Everyone
I am sharing cards which appear in The Stampers’ Sampler (Apr/May/June issue) where they were featured as Songs to be Sung.  There are actually four cards but I am sharing only three.
They all share the same colour palette, soft blues and greens, representing the sky and grass. The backgrounds for all the cards were composed of scraps of fabric and papers before the application of Gesso and various paints.  The watercolour panels took quite a bit of abuse from the media and water applied!This little chap is the most vocal!!!Painty dots were added.  I cannot remember if I applied the paint to form a circle or used a round tipped foam brush.  This is my favourite out of all the birds, such a sweet face, I am sure this is a little girl. Once again lots of texture with the scraps and the paint application and some paint splatters, here and there, they can help to unify the end result.Thank You to The Stampers’ Sampler for seeing something appealing enough in this collection to publish them, something I never take for granted and thanks to you for taking the time to visit this post. I am playing catch-up with the cards, etc I have been lucky enough to have published over the past few months.  Next time I will have some Darkroom Door cards to share with you.
Wishes
Lynne

We Asked The Artists @ Somerset Place

Hello Everyone
There is another instalment of We Asked The Artists over at Stampington & co’s Somerset Place.
It has been interesting that as I answered each question, although I answered with honesty, I found that later, after e-mailing my response to all the questions posed, that I wish I had embellished my answers but I was conscious that I didn’t want to ramble on, which can be a failing of mine LOL.
Anyway, if you are interested, you can visit the Blog post HERE to read my response alongside the most amazing roll call of artists such as Renee Zarate, Septh Apter, Sandra Evertson, Anna Corba, to name a few.
Wishes
Lynne

Don’t Forget To Fly

Hello Everyone
It is time for my regular DT post over at the That’s Crafty Blog.
The full project can be viewed HERE.
Wishes
Lynne