Crafty Individuals @ HOCHANDA

Hello
The Crafty Individuals team have news to share that on Tuesday 28th February, Lesley Wharton will be demoing Crafty Individuals stamps and other products on HOCHANDA. There will be 3 shows, beginning at 10.00 a.m.
We were asked to make samples for the shows, this is one of my samples.  I don’t really know what to call it, it can hardly be called a book as there are no inner pages, so is it simply a folded tag, a faux booklet or maybe it doesn’t need a label!

The  #12 tag is a generous size to play, allowing room to play with textures on the cover. Infusions where used throughout, staining the actual tag and also lots of found papers – most often, I am working with mop-up/under papers and also staining sari ribbon and other textiles.
I was surprised how well the tree stamped onto the crinkled paper.  I no longer have the sample, it was mailed to Jean, so I cannot remember what type of paper this actually is but it is very crinkled.

This is why it isn’t technically a book, as you can see, inside there are no actual pages.
Since Infusions were launched, I fall in love with them a little bit more each time and they are just gorgeous when working with nature themed stamps.   It was the “pattern” of the Infusions which actually determined the path this project took because it conjured up a storm brewing.

The tag had an application of Grungepaste, I am very free with my applications, allowing texture to build which if you are aiming for perfect stamped impressions, it could be a problem but I like to use this as an advantage.  Those are all stamped trees but I played around, adding my own touches to make them appear more impressionistic in style, as though they were quick drawings in a field notes journal and not stamped.

Texture and layering without bulk, as does the stained lace which you can see in the photo above, the lace representing the ground.

This stamp was exactly what I needed for the upper corner, tattered and layered.

Thank you for your visit and if you manage to tune in to the shows on Tuesday, there will be demos, great deals and samples made by all the team.
Wishes
Lynne

Dream Art

Hello
Today, at the That’s Crafty Blog,  I am sharing another Stitches sample, this time working with a frame from one of the new That’s Crafty Surfaces shrines. This frame is from a large shrine but if you were to purchase a shrine, you receive a frame plus shadowbox – I received extra frames to play around with which is why I decided to use it in this way.

If you would like to read how I set about making this and the supplies used, then please click HERE.
Many thanks for your visit to this scheduled post especially as it has been an active week and I will be following this with another post very soon.
Wishes
Lynne

The Heart of Childhood (for Calico Craft Parts GD)

Hello
A scheduled post to share my second and final project as a GD for  Calico Craft Parts blog.
All the details can be found at the Calico Craft Parts blog, along with the inspiration for this piece, HERE, the way the Character Constructions stamp inspired my selection of Calico Craft Parts.

Stamps:- Character Constructions Inner Child No. 4
PaperArtsy Infusions – staining the Calico Craft Parts heart, sari ribbon, trims and more.
Thank you to Calico Craft Parts for having me as a GD.  It is always a privilege to be involved with a company, even if only for the shortest of time, working with products I genuinely admire.
It has been a busy week with lots of scheduled posts, so thank you to any of you who have taken the time to stop by, it is genuinely appreciated by me.
Wishes
Lynne

Character Constructions @ That’s Craft

Hello
This post is to announce the news that Character Constructions stamps are now available at That’s Crafty! So far as we are aware, they are the only U.K. stockists of Character Constructions stamps.  There had been queries to their availability outwith the U.S. so it is good to know that Catherine and Laura have pulled together to make this happen and you can see the sets available if you click HERE.
If you are new to Character Constructions, this is the link to Catherine Moore’s website. Catherine is the designer of the stamps and they truly are a labour of love and passion for her.  The stamps are meticulously designed.
Like many of you, I am lucky to have access to many gorgeous stamps and the companies you see me whose stamps I work with time and again, I do so because I genuinely love their stamps and respect the companies.  It would be tough to be enthusiastic if I did not genuinely feel this way.  This also extends to Character Constructions.  The stamps are high quality, the older ones I have actually date back  to my earliest days of stamping, that might be 9 years or so.  Catherine designs them by collections and within the collection, each set, or plate, has a number – French Laundry No. 11, etc.  I find this a good system for keeping track of which stamps I own.
The stamps are wonderful for mixing and matching, constructing paper dolls from various collections but you could stay within the collections if that is what you prefer – there are no rules!  The lesson I learned, the dolls do not need to have their body parts in proportion.  Initially I would stumble over this, blame my years of Art & Design at school (!) but it is so freeing to be lead by your imagination.
I have selected two of the sets available from That’s Crafty, showing the set and previous projects where I used those particular sets.
French Laundry

The crinoline skirt is also available from That’s Crafty, look for Paris Flea No. 3

From Paris Flea, I worked with this set to

create another paper doll on outsize wooden peg (again with the same crinoline skirt as above).

If you do a search on my blog you will see the many ways I work with the stamps, either as stand alone paper dolls, cards, tags, presentation ideas and more.  They do not necessarily have to be for pretty paper dolls, they can be arty, edgy, they can be anything you want them to be and they are also for beyond paper dolls – wearable art, journals, assemblage….. For those of you who are like me, you rarely work with pattern paper pads, there’s no reason you cannot stamp onto your own backgrounds or onto fabric.
Catherine has just released a new collection, The Blue Daisy .
If you have any requests then maybe it would be worthwhile contacting That’s Crafty.
This link is to Character Constructions Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CharacterConstructions/?fref=ts
I am sure, if you have any queries about the stamps, Catherine will be willing to answer them, just leave a query at the link above.
Just a thought – some of those stamps would look amazing with That’s Crafty’s new shrines 🙂
Thank you for your visit to this post. I have a few other posts scheduled, seems to be a busy week!
Wishes
Lynne

PaperArtsy Infusions: New Colours

Hello
A quick post to share news of PaperArtsy’s launch night for new Infusions.

My samples for Scrapcosy (previous blog post) incorporated some of the new colours and since receiving them for the wingmen samples, I have been dipping into those Infusions time and again, yes I will admit, even sneakily adding them to projects before tonight’s launch – sssh, it’s a secret!!!
Infusions are my “go to”, whether for staining substrates, cardstock, book pages, all manner of textiles and not forgetting, Relics and Artifacts.
We are lucky to have such breadth and depth of products available to us but sometimes, we discover a product which just makes complete sense for the way we create and there is an ease to working with that product that before you know it, it is always making an appearance in your art.  That is how I feel about Infusions.  For me to have a product that will stain all I need for a project, especially as I favour an almost monochromatic approach, those small bottles pack a mighty big punch for me.
Leandra is sharing two projects which I previously had made for That’s Crafty.
For this sample I used Infusions to stamp the butterfly and also to stain calico, sari ribbon and tree bark and it looks as though I also used them, with Grungepaste, to stain the That’s Crafty white/greyboard panel.

For this project, Infusions stain the background which is Golden Crackle Paste and also stained colour diffusing paper before stamping the beautiful leaf from Lin Brown.  Calico was also stained.

Infusions will be available from your local/favourite PaperArtsy stockist.  That’s Crafty stock Infusions so keep your eye open to see if Laura is stocking the new colours.
Wishes
Lynne

PaperArtsy – Launching a new Eclectica Stamp Designer

Hello Everyone
Tonight is an extra exciting night at PaperArtsy as it isn’t only a launch night, it sees the launch of a new Eclectica designer, Scrapcosy.  I was lucky enough to be a wingman, alongside Jennie Atkinson, for this new designer, playing with the new stamps, stencils and also with some new Infusions colours.
Before I share my samples, here are some links

http://blog.paperartsy.co.uk/2017/02/new-from-paperartsy-eclectica-scrapcosy.html

http://pablogdump.blogspot.com/2017/02/new-from-paperartsy-eclectica-scrapcosy.html
http://scrapcosy.com/2017/02/03/new-release-paperartsy-designed-by-scrapcosy-feb-2017
Here are the Scrapcosy stamps.
ESC01

ESC02

ESC03

and stencils.
PS049

PS050

PS051

What struck me, they bridge  the gap of feminine and masculine and although they will work for all manner of projects, I can just imagine creating for someone who has a passion for their garden or the whole Farmer’s Market vibe with the vegetable stamps.
I have only selected a few of the samples to share with you. They may pop up another time.
From the ESC01 stamp set.
For all samples, Infusions were used to stain book pages, sari ribbon, torn crochet lace.  The other items I used throughout were specific Frescos (neutrals), Grungepaste, Satin Glaze and ink pad for stamping.
This sample was one of the last ones made, utilizing scraps.

The detail shows the layering, even on this very small, almost ATC size panel.  The smallest of stained, stamped fragments were incorporated.  On the background, you can almost see the faint impression of the repeat stamping of the flower. It is subtle but as I wanted, it adds a hint of texture.
This stamp would make pretty wearable art, such as a pendant.

This card has a focal of three, individually stamped flowers.  The size of those flower stamps allow them to be combined or isolated for smaller projects and all would make pretty backgrounds. Excuse the sizing, this sample is actually larger than sample no. 1.

The stenciled script has the Grungepaste left plain, I decided not to tint it in any way so it would be a contrast to the background.  The stencils were so enjoyable for only selecting small areas to work with.  Nothing pleases me more when you can do this with stencils and stamps.

The final sample to share featuring stamps from ESC01 is this tag.  Similar to the first sample, lots and lots of layering of various stained and stamped fragments.

ESC02 is packed with vintage images relating to vegetables.  All of the stamps would be fabulous for anyone who is keen on growing their own vegetables or Farmers Market enthusiast.
The layer of chalk paint still allows the text to peek through, then the Infusions creating some lovely drips.

A stamped label was layered to the pumpkin.

This sample was one I made near the end and it was really a way of challenging myself to make another sample with scraps left over from the previous samples, so all I had to do was stamp the focal and add some stenciling.
I really don’t live by the Less Is More attitude!!!  The upper right corner has every leftover scrap conceivable.  I stencilled with Grungepaste over the layers, knowing full well it would not allow for perfect stencilling but, in my eyes, it adds to the charm of the shabbiness of it all.

I found myself dipping into the sets, mixing and matching, adding touches of stamped script or other smaller accents.

Now, please don’t laugh at me but I initially thought they were carrots, they are in fact radishes.  Poor observation especially from someone who has been a vegetarian since her mid-teens!!!

From the final set, ESC03.
This sample is a simpler approach, with the stamped focal and only a border and stamped fragment in the lower corner.

This is the same flower, such a lovely stamp, the design and size. I know I will use this stamp often.  It would look amazing if painted with Infusions, using them as watercolours.

On both tags, alongside hints of Fresco Gold, there is the merest touch of foil.  I had tiny pieces left from Prima Christine Adolph rub-ons (which are so beautiful).
I decided to change the orientation of the floral stamp, placing it horizontally. Once again, some stenciling.  I also stamped onto a fragment of Infusions stained calico, layering with Infusions stained crochet lace.

The PaperArtsy blog post will share Raquel and Jennie’s samples and also further details.  If you are interested in the stamps or stencils, then please seek them out at your local Paper Artsy stockist.
That’s Crafty is a stockist of PaperArtsy products so it might be worth a look to see if they are stocking Scrapcosy stamps and stencils.
Thank you to Leandra for the invitation and Raquel for designing such beautiful stamps and stencils.  It was also fun to work alongside Jennie.
Many thanks for your visit to this post.
Wishes
Lynne

Fragile (Somerset Studio)

Hello
I have a scheduled blog post for Wednesday but decided to sneak in a quick post which had already been drafted.
When Somerset Studio had a call for Olive submissions, I decided to go for it, not because olive is a favourite colour but as I associate it with nature and nature is a “theme” I am becoming more drawn to. Also, I have found the annual colour challenge to be that, a challenge, which I learn more and more, is so rewarding, obviously being published is the ultimate reward but the challenge to dip into colours I might not normally reach for, it is very freeing for me.
The main project I submitted, I’ll share another time but for this post, I wanted to share this collage, assemblage, call it what you will (!) which I was amazed to see in the Expressions category.
The beautiful leaf is from Redlead Paperworks Autumn Beauty Leaves set
Fragile is from a much loved Redlead Paperworks set, Fragile Nests
That’s Crafty Alterable Surfaces substrate and PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Green Olive

This is all about texture and unusually for me, although all the usual suspects appear, I left breathing space around the stamped focal.    The texture was not me aiming to replicate anything specifically from nature but more a sense of evoking textures found in nature.

Fragments of tree bark bring another textural element to the collage/assemblage and heightened that sense of the natural.

I’m sure this isn’t weird for me to say – I can get so excited when textures come together – a painted scrap of found paper, a scrap of rusted fabric (plus a reminder to self to make more rusted fabric!) and stained calico and muslin.

Thank you so much for your visit and obviously, thank you to the Redlead Paperworks for their beautiful stamps and to Stampington and Company for printing this piece.
Wishes
Lynne

Art House (new product launch @ That’s Crafty)

Hello
That’s Crafty are launching new products at Stitches and I was lucky enough to have the new items to play with, to create samples.
Laura suggested I share the samples as DT projects so I decided to share the first one I made.  Foolishly, I forgot to take dimensions but this is large!  If you own the PaperArtsy EEA alphabet set, it will give you an idea of the proportions of the stamping against the frame of the shrine.
You might believe I would be enthusiastic about the shrines because I am on the That’s Crafty DT and feel obligated to be positive, that is not the case.
The shrines will be available in different sizes so if you wanted a statement piece, then the large shrines will be perfect or you might prefer a cluster of smaller shrines – variety and choice can only be a good thing!  The actual shrines are easy to assemble, no special items required other than your favourite, reliable adhesive (I use Regular Matt Gel Medium). There is generous depth to the shrines, you can see I managed to prop a mini canvas with easel into the shadowbox.
Many new(ish) products appear on this shrine, the full list can be seen HERE.

All details including more photos can be viewed at the That’s crafty blog.
Thank you for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne

Somerset Art Gal No. 3 (Somerset Studio)

Hello
Today sees the final Somerset Art Gal being shared.
Once again, the same stamp companies:- Character Constructions for all the paper doll elements, including the bodice and skirt.  The words dangling from her wrist are from Darkroom Door Creative Word Block and the stamps appearing on the outsize wooden peg are Redlead Paperworks.    The paints are PaperArtsy Fresco Finish (available from That’s Crafty)

This Art Gal does not believe in a minimal approach.  She is happiest with her many paintbrushes surrounding her.

Personally, I’ve never liked tattoos but when I was inking up (no pun intended!) the paper dolls, onto some lovely vintage French receipt paper, I thought it would bring a fun twist to incorporate the script, as though it were tattoos.  With tattoos being popular amongst artists, it just seemed cool to do this.  This Art Gals is into her tattoos in a big way!

It just so happened I had Frescos in colours that worked perfectly with the colours of the Somerset Studio Artist Paper.  I like nothing more than when I can make something my own and not only that, the finger painted mark making also brought texture to the paper.

You can just about make out the paint and stamping on the outsize wooden peg.

Thank you for your visits to the Somerset Art Gal. They were great fun to make. They were time intensive but somehow, that was okay, enjoying the process of making the Artist Papers my own, creating the characters of the dolls with the individual stamps but poor fingers are not happiest when having such a big fussy cutting session!
There will be new Character Constructions stamps available any day now – it’s possible they will be available by the time this post goes live – The Daisy Blue Collection.   For many, resistance will be futile!
Wishes
Lynne

Somerset Art Gal No. 2 (Somerset Studio)

A picture is a poem without words
Hello!
Somerset Art Gal No. 2 being shared today.
Stamp Supplies
Paperdoll stamps – Character Constructions
Art related words – Darkroom Door
Stamps on wooden peg – Redlead Paperworks

She has a “don’t mess with me” stare to her eye so don’t even try asking if you can use her favourite paint colour,

unless you are prepared to prise them out of her grasp!

She loves to customise her clothing.  Here she’s added fingertip spots to her skirt, dipping her fingers into paint.

She is so cool and confident, never one to shy away, so she will happily declare herself to be artistic.

Somehow she manages to pull this look off – girly bows and lace and stripy/dotty leggings – yes, this girl knows her own self and she is running with it!
Did you spy the tattoo she has on her foot?!

Thank you so much for your visit.  I hope the Somerset Art Gals have brought some cheer.
Wishes
Lynne