Alone With The Trees

Hello Everyone
When, not so long ago I shared news of Crafty Individuals most recent stamp releases, I said that I had my favourite. Although the first stamp I inked up was the Elements border set, the stamp that first caught my eye is the majestic CI-453, the stunning trees stamp.
I seem to be more and more drawn to nature themed stamps and I am certainly enjoying creating textures and gathering textural elements when working with such stamps.
This Mixed Media panel uses a That’s Crafty white/greyboard panel as the substrate.You can see it is a gloriously detailed stamp and inking up such a detailed stamp, there can be the concern of losing that fine detail if stamping onto anything other than smooth cardstock but I really like stamping onto tree bark, going out on a limb (!). I was so pleased not to have lost any of the detail.After stamping I created a slight wash around the trees, with Infusions,  also dipping my brush into water to almost diffuse the very outer edges of the branches.The wonderful sentiment also stamped onto tree bark and layered to a piece of calico which I’d stained with Infusions.
Various media was used on the background to create texture,  I was aiming for a faux bark appearance.A final dip into some gilding wax and Old Gold, creating a veil of shimmer, here and there.I’d recently received some Gypsy Cord (available from That’s Crafty) which I wrapped around the panel, layering with more calico stained with Infusions.Thank you so much for your visit today.
If you happen to be looking to join a challenge then if you are quick, you just about have time to enter Crafty Individuals Anything Goes May Challenge.  You can find all the details at Jean’s blog, HERE.
Wishes
Lynne

There Are Always Flowers

Hello
Time for a That’s Crafty DT post.
For this week I have once again been dipping into PaperArtsy Infusions.If you are interested in viewing more photographs and instructions then please visit HERE.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Wishes
Lynne

Dreamy Butterfly Days

Hello Everyone
Have you noticed that Crafty Individuals have a Anything Goes challenge theme for the month of May? You are welcome to enter so long as your artwork contains at least one Crafty Individuals product.
At the time of working on a sample for Crafty Individuals, I worked on another Mixed Media panel, at the same time but with different colour palette (first sample HERE).  I get wearied creating duplicates, maybe that is why I tend to drag my heels when it comes to Christmas cardmaking but I have a fondness for creating variations on a theme, in fact I really like those times when I can make a trio or more.
A 4.5″ x 9″ white/greyboard Alterables panel from That’s Crafty is the substrate for this mixed media piece.  One of my favourite substrates as it can take a fair bit of abuse from various media, water, heat….As with the previous CI panel, one of their images is the focal.  Those pretty paper butterflies were a gift from my dear friend Dorthe.  They are actually cupcake sleeves, just needed to snip away to remove the butterflies!.
Scraps of tea stained lace and the edge of a frail and faded pressed flower, the lace rose was added to the centre of the pressed flower.Dinky Stencils appear in the form of Harlequin (also available directly from That’s Crafty)and Dream which can be found HERE from That’s Crafty, I also used the beautiful Flight of Butterflies,  all stencilled with Grungepaste.
The fact they are dinky makes them a breeze for adding the merest hint of stencilling.
CI-451 is a recently released Elements set.  On this panel I partially inked the border to randomly stamp on the panel, really just to create pattern and texture.Those little dots, they are Infusions!  I liked the pattern they created.The stencilled butterflies, such a beautiful stencil design.There is still time to enter the challenge. The Top 5 selected will win a Crafty Individuals stamp of their choice and not only that, all entrants are entitled to a discount code to use at the Crafty Individuals website. All details can be found HERE.
Wishes
Lynne

Journal for Creativity

Hello Everyone
Recently, I shared a post featuring a recently released Eclectic stamp from Darkroom Door.  At the time of receiving that particular stamp, I also received another, Pencils.
Knowing that this stamp was winging its way to me,  I set about preparation of the resin paper as I knew I wanted resin paper to form the covers for a journal.  I tend to make the paper in batches but have been dipping into my stash, incorporating pieces here and there on various projects so it was time to prepare some more.
If you are interested in reading more about this journal then you can read instructions HERE and also see more Pencils samples from the others.
Well, that was a very short post!
Many thanks for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne

Tangled Butterfly Dreams

Hello Everyone
For my DT sample at That’s Crafty, I’ve once again found myself dipping into PaperArtsy’s Infusions.  The photograph does not do justice to the richness of the Infusions I worked with, the colours reminding me of berries:- blueberries and dark cherries.
If you are interested in seeing more photographs and details, then please click HERE.
Thank you for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne

Enchanted Beauty

Hello Everyone
When Crafty Individuals recently released new stamps, the first I inked up was CI-451 Inky Border. Alongside a That’s Crafty white/greyboard panel, a couple of their Dinky Stencils (some Dinky Stencils are now being stocked at Crafty Individuals), PaperArtsy Infusions and some other bits ‘n’ pieces, I made this Mixed Media panel.
I’ve no doubt that some of you will have a Crafty Individuals Image Book amongst your stash. It was one of those books I dipped into for the image on this panel.A shabby grouping is the focal on this panel.I am sure it was lovely Alison Hall who sent me the fabric flower die cut.  For it to tie in with the colours, I dipped a brush into Infusions to stain the white fabric.  A rhinestone adds some old style glamour.  Infusions also stained the seam binding and lace scraps.Now, I know this flower has seen better days but for some reason I’d held onto it, for a very long time.  It made me think that she has possibly kept such a flower, dusty with age and crumbling to the touch but on sight it makes her heart swell with bittersweet memories.Detail photographs of the stamping on the background with Dinky Stencil, selecting the word Enchanted.The Infusions can bring such a dreamy air to a project
and I like when it pools around stencilled areas.
A reminder that the May Challenge of Anything Goes is underway at the Crafty Individuals challenge blog. Details for entering your artwork can be seen HERE.
Many thanks for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne

The Wisdom of Jane (Somerset Life)

Hello Everyone
Many of you will know that I regularly submit/contribute to Stampington & Company magazines.  One of my all time favourite titles is Somerset Life. Although I’ve read Somerset Life for many years and even though I submit regularly to other titles, I have only, previously, submitted once. They have a category in the magazine for various ideas surrounding creative living. Back in 2012 I submitted a shopping list pad and was astonished to discover it published (HERE). You would imagine that would have spurred me on to submit more but I didn’t. All that time passed and then, all because of a bookmark I was making to pop in with a birthday card for an art friend, I remembered reading of a bookmark Challenge Call. I had nothing to lose, so continued to make more of the bookmarks, mailed them off, with no hope of them being printed but still feeling good that I had submitted something after all that time and had finally submitted to one of their Challenge Calls.
Imagine my shock on receiving an email from the Editor requesting me to write an article for the bookmarks. This was so huge for me that I knew I wouldn’t believe it until I was actually holding the magazine in my hands. Even when that day arrived it still didn’t seem real. For me to have an article in Somerset Life, I cannot really articulate the significance for me (I’ve since had my second article published in Somerset Life which I will share with you soon).
The article appears in the Jan/Feb/March issue, seven pages with lots of detail photographs of the bookmarks.  I’m sure you understand, with this being an actual article, it would not be fair to share any of the written article.
Each bookmark has a quote on one side with an image on the rear and for each bookmark, I created simple but I hope. elegant presentation pockets.
There were five bookmarks and pockets in total but I am just sharing a few here.
All stamps are from Oxford Impressions and in the U.K. from That’s Crafty.I worked with colours which to me, conjure up all things Jane Austen – duck egg blue and cream (excuse the photographs – I couldn’t get rid of the grey tone unless I brightened them which resulted in bleached out photos!)with beaded dangles
Thank you for your visit to this post.
Will return soon with a sample relating to Crafty Individuals.
Wishes
Lynne

Mon Amie

Hello Everyone
May is a busy month with birthdays for family and friends.
I decided to make a paperdoll for a friend who has now celebrated her birthday, a doll featuring Character Constructions stamps.
The dolls can be deceiving in height as she is quite tall, sorry I didn’t take measurements but I am guessing she could be about 10″ in her stocking feet!
All the stamps inked up for this paper doll are from the most recent set, Paris Flea.If they are new to you then to give you an idea of how stamps can be used to bring character,
All are stamped and fussy cut, which can actually be quite relaxing.  I try to stamp a bundle of doll parts and then have some relaxing time doing the fussy cutting.
Here the Eiffel Tower  is adhered to her head along with another stamp, the bow.I played around with the arms and bodice as they do not belong to the original stamp of this girl.  From her waist to the top of the Eiffel Tower, six stamps were used to form this part of her.
Rhinestones bring a touch of sparkle to her bodice.
With this being an alternative to a birthday card, I stamped sentiments to dangle from her wrist.
A quick post to start this week.
I always appreciate your visits and always take the time to read your comments, so thank you.
A final note to say, if you are interested in Paris Flea or any of Catherine’s designs and live in the U.K., she will dispatch to the U.K.
Wishes
Lynne

Amongst The Relics and Butterflies

Hello Everyone
For That’s Crafty, this week I’ve been playing with Infusions, once again.
As always, supplies and instructions with detail photographs can be seen HERE.Many thanks for your visit and for your visits and comments this past week.
Wishes
Lynne

Eclectic

Hello Everyone
Not so long ago, Darkroom Door released new Eclectic stamps and I was lucky enough to receive two of the new designs, Pencils and Fleur de Lis to create samples with.
Over at the Darkroom Door, there is a post focusing on the Fleur de Lis stamp.  My sample, a wooden box, can be viewed HERE along with other ideas from other team members.  With the steps and supplies used being shared on the Darkroom Door, I am sure you appreciate that I will not be sharing the steps here but I will share two photos of the box.What struck me is the generous size of this stamp. I have a few Fleur de Lis stamps but none compare to the Darkroom Door stamp.A short post to start the week but I hope to be sharing a few more posts which I’ve managed to draft.
Wishes
Lynne