Introducing Gigi

Hello Everyone
Since I started my Blog, I have been incredibly lucky to have found myself on DTs for stamp companies whose stamps were already in my stamp collection.   At the turn of the year, by complete surprise and the loveliest of ways to kick off a brand new year, Catherine Moore invited me on her Character Constructions DT.  Little did I know, when I started my Blog and the first ever post featured Catherine’s stamps, that one day I would be on her DT.
Catherine’s latest collection is the fabulous Paris Flea, see HERE. If Character Constructions is a name that is new to you, a visit to her site is worthwhile.  You can study her vast catalogue of collections and quite simply, drool over her designs!
Catherine’s designs are predominantly elements to create paper dolls BUT that is only some of the story because they don’t have to be paper dolls, they could be cards, tags, canvas, altered art, assemblages, anything you desire.  She also has beautiful nature themed stamps which I will share with you very soon. I hope over time that I can show the diversity of her designs but for her latest release, I wanted to simply have fun creating a paper doll.
On Facebook, I’ve been asked of U.K. stockists of Character Constructions stamps.   At the moment, the Paris Flea collection (and I believe all Character Constructions stamps) are not available in the U.K.  You can contact Catherine Moore HERE if you have any queries.  Also, Laura Holland from That’s Crafty has in the past sold them (at the time of drafting, she only has one CC stamp set for sale), so she would be another possible line of enquiry.
Character Constructions is also on Facebook as is Catherine Moore, so again, contact could be made there.  You can also find Character Constructions on Pinterest. 
Let me introduce Gigi!Gigi is very much an individual with her cropped hairand a fresh flower pinned to her beret, she cuts a dash wherever she goes, alwaysembracing a unique sense of style, oftentimes vintage.  She has a penchant for crinolines, pairing them with leggings and bold pieces of jewellery and of course hats.
This girl sure does have an eye when it comes to seeking out something ever so special at the Paris Flea markets and has developed a wonderful rapport with the vendors.It was one such vendor, who thought of Gigi when she stumbled across a beautiful heart pendant during the clearance of a Chateau along with a box brimming with the most exquisite lace.  The following morning, she knew Gigi would pay her usual visit to the market and in anticipation, the vendor carefully wrapped the discoveries in tissue paper, tucking them beneath her stall, ensuring the finds would not catch anyone’s eye.
Here comes Gigi!  Bringing the package from outwith its hiding place, Gigi’s eyes widen with delight as the vendor, gently peels away the layers of tissue paper, the early morning sunlight dancing off the rhinestones.  What a wonderful morning this was turning out to be!
Normally Gigi would continue to stroll around, taking time to pause at the other stalls but with the items carefully wrapped up once more in a froth of tissue paper,  Gigi rushes home, butterflies dancing in her tummy at the anticipation of wearing the necklace.   For many, such a piece of jewellery would only be worn after dusk but not this girl.   Securing the necklace around her neck and then taking a length of the delicate lace, wrapping it around her tiny waist, she twirls around her apartment with the sheer thrill of it all.  
Oh, all this excitement has left her quite out of puff!  Hearing the clock chime one o’clock, Gigi rushes to her vintage bureau seeking her favourite fountain pen, another gem of a find at a flea market.  With pen in hand and a single sheet of the prettiest writing paper, Gigi begins to pen a letter of gratitude to her favourite vendor.
Clasping the note,she sets out to hand-deliver the letter before the vendor packs away her stall for the day.
Knowing time is against her,she reaches for a pair of ballet flats as they will be kinder to her feet as she rushes along the cobbles.To give you an idea of the height of this paper doll, she stands at just under 11 inches.
Many thanks for your visit, I hope you enjoyed this post!
Also, to thank Catherine Moore for her beautifully designed stamps.
Have a great week.
Wishes
Lynne

Adorned

Hello Everyone
Hope you are having a lovely weekend.
Today, over at That’s Crafty I am sharing thisAs always, supplies and instructions can be viewed HERE.
Many thanks for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne

Sisters of Laguna Beach Part II (Somerset Studio)

Hello Everyone
This post follows directly on from the previous.

(Stamps and image of bathing beauty – all from Redlead Paperworks)Then we have Cybil who leads a more solitary existence by the seashore. I am sure you have spotted her, she is slightly serious of face and has the deepest frown lines etched into her forehead from squinting up at the beaming sun.  This young woman seems contentto stroll along the shoreline, as she whiles away the hours,  always to be seen clutching a seashell in her handas she listens to the song of the sea. It is often said that she can be heard singing along to themelody of the sea.
The final and eldest sister left to introduce is Daphne.She is dark of hair but fair of skin and will not dare take a step outside unless she dons her sunhat which of course is fashioned in the shape of a seashell. Many might snicker behind their hands as Daphne passes by as she favours a bathing costume from an era long before she was born but for Daphne, she is brimming over with happiness which surely does float like the waves of the ocean that she simply holds her head aloft as she walks on by towards her beloved ocean. It has been said that Daphne has a penchant for the young fishermen as she lingers beside their boats but I will let you into a little secret, Daphne is eager for another pearl to add to her collection and knows that with a mere flutter of her dark lashes, a beautiful oyster will be passed her way and it might just be her lucky day to discover a shimmering pearl nestled inside. Whether today is her lucky day or not, Daphne’s happiness will never be known to wane because she knows that the ocean will always be there to bring happiness to her life.
Thank you so much for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne

Sisters of Laguna Beach Part I (Somerset Studio)

Hello Everyone
Regular visitors will probably know by now that I like to submit to Stampington & Co. Somerset Studio was actually one of the first publications I submitted to (alongside The Stampers’ Sampler and Take Ten).  They have an Annual Colour Challenge Call and I was really keen to submit when they announced their colour for what would be their Jan/Feb 2016 issue.  It wasn’t because the colour was one I liked to work with, probably quite the opposite which is why I liked the challenge of dipping into …. Laguna Teal …. yikes, Teal!!! So utterly outwith my comfort zone but I decided not to take the easy way out especially as I almost immediately knew what I wanted to submit, a 3D assemblage style piece featuring Tando rowing boats as I had the perfect Redlead Paperworks collage images and stamps with a beachy theme.
This was one of those times when I could have happily created more and more! In total four rowing boat assemblages were submitted, one of which was a stand-alone (HERE) with the others a trio relating to the Sisters of Laguna Beach. I am limiting this post to only one of the assemblages otherwise it would be too photo-heavy.
There is a wee tale to go with the artwork, this is Sisters of Laguna Beach Part I.

Let me introduce you to the sisters of Laguna Beach.  Beloved mermaids of the ocean they dip and dive amongst the waves, in fact many say that they live beneath the ocean,  although deep in their hearts they know this is a fanciful notion.  However, where is the harm in a fanciful notion or two, so they are happy to play along with the yarns that everyone is eager to tell,  whispers that the sisters were all born with webbed feet and skin that would shimmer in the colours of the deep blue ocean.  Let me share a little secret with you….. those girls are mere mortals just like the rest of us. We have Maude, the baby of the family who is always to be found by the side of the sister next to her in age, Isabella, known to one and all as Issy.  You could set your watch by the time that they set off on their daily walk along by the sea with Maudegrasping Issy around the waist, as though they were mermaids joined at the hip.
At the beach,if, during their stroll, their feet are ever to become trapped amongst the fishing nets cast aside by the local fishermen, they simply fall down onto the sand, peals of laughter escaping from them as they disentangle themselves.
As they continue their walkalong the sea,they are dusted with a light coating of sand with starfish nestled between their toes but for Maude and Issy, they have not a care in the world as they walk  beside their beloved ocean.Another day I will introduce to you to Cybil.
When I mailed this and the other submissions, my dream was that if even one of the assemblages caught their eye at the Somerset Studio offices during their art selection, then I would be so, so happy but to have all four submissions printed, it was beyond wonderful!  I also have to thank the lovely Chris and Sharon who are Redlead Paperworks because I am just so lucky to have their products to play with.
I haven’t been able to spend as much time on-line recently which means I haven’t been able to visit your blogs.  Here’s hoping normal service will be resumed shortly!  Hope you are all well and finding enough creative time in your lives.  Thank You always for visits, comments both here and on Facebook.
Wishes
Lynne

Poppy

Hello Everyone
For my That’s Crafty  DT post, I am staying with nature, for the moment, with this mixed media panel.If you are interested, the supplies, instructions, etc can be viewed HERE.
Many thanks for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne

I Love Paper Dolls

Hello Everyone
A speedy post.
This tag came about as I was in need of something to scribble down a quick note but a card, as such wasn’t required. I literally only had a few moments to put a tag together.
The stamps I used are from Character Constructions French Laundry 11.  This is a set I’ve had for years now and which I have fallen in love with all over again.
This beautiful stamp has the young woman holding paper dolls.  I partially inked up only the paper dolls to provide a shabby background.
The sentiment was stamped onto a piece of vintage French receipt.  I am terrible for not wanting to use vintage papers (other than French book text), trims or even trinkets and gifts from friends, I have this habit of wanting to “keep” them but this year all that is changing.  I am making myself actually use those items which I deem as being precious to me, actually enjoying working with them.   A flower motif cut from lace with a pearl embellishes her bodice.Simple!
I am trying to catch-up with organising blog posts, don’t know how or why I have fallen so far behind and I also need to do some catching-up with visits to your blogs. I always appreciate your visits, I really do.
Wishes
Lynne

Hand of friendship

Hello Everyone
I am so lucky to have as many art friends in my life as I do.  I might not have met any of those friends (as yet) but that doesn’t lessen how much I value those friendships and what they bring to my life.
Many of you know that one of my dearest friends is Dorthe Hansen.  I know that many of you know Dorthe and are also lucky to have her friendship.  She is the kindest of souls, not purely with gifts from the heart that she creates with such beauty but also her kindness with words, the way she understands, is supportive and encouraging.
When I was recently making hearts for a swap I was participating in, I was also making one for Dorthe.  Dorthe has a fondness for hearts and I thought it would make a nice gift to symbolise the hand of friendship.As with the other hearts for the heart swap, I used a MDF heart from That’s Crafty’s Alterable Surfaces range.  I love those hearts and the great news, they now come in different sizes.The beautiful Relics and Artifacts hand holds a paperclay tile with a small heart.  One of the LPC stamps from PaperArtsy was stamped into the paperclay and into the heart recess on the paperclay tile, I placed a small wooden heart which had been painted, stamped and some lovely resin with a pearl added to the resin.
A simple dangle to complete the ornament.It is a special community we are all part of.
Thank You to Dorthe for her friendship and thank you to all of you for your friendships!
Wishes
Lynne

Feathers

Hello Everyone
For That’s Crafty, this week I had a play with one of the latest additions to the Dinky Stencils range, the beautiful Feathers.If you would like to read more about this panel along with instructions, supplies, etc, then please click HERE.
Have a lovely day.
Wishes
Lynne

Women of Strength (Somerset Studio Gallery)

Hello Everyone
Back in December this canvas was published in Somerset Studio Gallery’s Winter issue. This, if my memory serves me well, I actually submitted to The Stampers’ Sampler, quite a wee while ago, certainly not last year or the year before that!  So, last December, there I was looking at Somerset Studio Gallery, knowing I had an article and Spotlight, etc etc and as I turn a page my eye catches a canvas I created for Redlead Paperworks.  Then my eye travels above the canvas and I see a piece of art and I say to myself that it looks similar to one I made some time ago.  It was mine!!!! I actually had to do a double-take LOL.
This hanging canvas was actually titled Women of Strength and with today being International Women’s Day I thought it apt to pause and give thought to women of strength, past and present, whether women in history who helped pave the way for a brighter future for all women or women in our own lives, our mothers, sisters, friends, Aunts, etc.All the stamps on this canvas are from The Stampsmith which I received when I was on their DT but which became much loved by me, in fact it wasn’t so long ago that a stamp from this collection made an appearance HERE.
The tags are the focal on this canvas, all stained with fruit tea with just a hint of paint scrubbed onto the tags, here and there.The trimmings were also stained with tea.  I suppose this hanging canvas perfectly displays the way I love to incorporate textures, as the actual canvas had texture paste applied and also how I love to gather fragments and find a home for them on a project.  Some of the items I gathered:- a dried and faded petal from a hydrangea (one of my favourite flowers) and I see a scrap of gold embossed paper peeking from the side and no doubt I cut into a piece of lace to adorn her head.
This is also to celebrate you because I know, from the personal stories you share, that you are all Women of Strength!
Wishes
Lynne

Listen To The Trees

Hello Everyone
At Crafty Individuals, the March challenge is already underway.
For this month, Sylvie has chosen the theme, ‘BOXES OF ALL SORTS’.  As always, this is open to your own interpretation.
Here are the usual guidelines:

CHALLENGE GUIDELINES

To enter this month’s Crafty Individuals Challenge please put together your chosen project, which must include at least one Crafty Individuals product please, then post your Challenge project on your Blog, before the end of the month, and include a link back to the Crafty Individuals Blog.
At the end of the month, Sylvie will choose five lucky participants, each of whom will win a CI rubber stamp of their choice, and don’t forget that as per usual, once you have linked in your creation, you can also claim a lovely 25% discount code to use on anything you purchase from the CI Website, which will be valid to use until the 10th of April.
Further details can be viewed HERE.
For my own samples for the challenge I knew I wanted to work with one of Crafty Individuals most recent releases, CI-450, Listen To The Trees.  This is such a beautiful stamp set and a new direction for CI as it is an A4 stamp sheet.  I also knew the dimension of the tree stamps would be suitable for some wooden boxes I had.On each box I wanted to achieve, a textural, bark-like appearanceas though the boxes were fashioned from tree bark and not what they actually were in reality, some very inexpensive,  insipid wood boxes.With trees stamped directly onto the lids, after staining, I suppose I was hoping to achieve the appearance of the images being wood-burned.It can be difficult for me to “step away” from the scraps and fragments I like to litter any projects with but I  knew I wanted an overall restrained appearance to each box however I just had to ink up the lovely sentiments(which are also Crafty Individuals stamps). Stamping onto bark helps bring a little textural element to each lid.Throughout this month, periodically Jean will share team samples on her Blog and of course you can read further Challenge details over there also.
It would be lovely to see you entering your art for this challenge.
Many thanks for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne