Altered Bags, Boxes & Books @ TSC

Hello Everyone
Here we are, a brand new month and the 1st of the month is when there is a new theme at The Stampsmith Challenge.   This is when I would normally share my DT sample for the challenge theme but due to health reasons I am taking a break from TSC.  I will continue to share Stampsmith artwork here and at The Stampsmith Blog but for the time being I will not be creating samples for the monthly challenge. However, I will share any challenge news here starting with news for June’s challenge which is  Altered Bags, Boxes & Books.
At TSC there are very few rules but we always ask that you include at least one Stampsmith stamp on your entry. There is a wonderful prize, $21 to spend at The Stampsmith on-line store on stamps  of your choice and you can read details of the prize, etc at TSC Blog (see link above).
Happy Stamping.
Wishes
Lynne

Beloved (TSC#42)

Hello Everyone
The first of a new month means a new challenge theme at The Stampsmith Challenge. For the month of May the theme is this…..
a Tic Tac Toe board.  We are asking that you select one straight line from the board and incorporate those elements into your entry.
To enter TSC you must include at least one Stampsmith stamp on your artwork. It is well worth entering as the prize available is $21 to spend on stamps of your choice at The Stampsmith on-line store. All rules and samples by the other DT members can be viewed at TSC Blog.
The line I selected was the diagonal one with:- metal, stitches and pink.
Metal – the metal hanger
Stitches – the panel is stitched around the edges
Pink – The cotton fabric (of course you know where I sourced it from!) was painted delicate tones of pink before stamping. There is also pink in some of the lace I used and lastly I used pink watersoluble crayons to tint the transferred image.
The fabric has a pretty shimmer as I used Twikling H20s to paint the cotton.  Lots of lace added to the bottom edge of the panel.The image was transferred onto cotton using TAP.  In the past I’ve used inexpensive t-shirt transfers but TAP most definitely transfers to a far superior level, especially when using photo real stamps.  As you can see in this photograph, the weave of the cotton is visible (this was macro setting) but the detail of the stamp is still remarkable.
Tea stained vintage lace was gathered with a marcasite brooch embellishing it.We hope you will join us this month with the Tic Tac Toe board, have fun with this.
Wishes
Lynne

Making The Most Of What We Have (TSC Re-cycle/Re-Use #38)

Welcome and a Happy New Year
It may well be a New Year but some things don’t change, as it is the first of a brand new month that means a new challenge theme at The Stamspmith Challenge. To kick off this new year we are asking you to Re-cycle/Re-use. The same rules apply, we ask that you include at least one Stampsmith stamp on your entry and as always there is a prize of $21 to spend at The Stampsmith on-line store.
For my DT sample I re-cycled a glass jarwith the idea of storing buttons. Taking the beautiful Ophelia as my selected stamp I framed her and made her the focal on the front of the re-cycled jar.  There is lots of scope with this challenge theme as you could take it a step further from what I’ve done with the jar and create all of your project (excluding the stamped image) from re-cycled material which would be lots of fun to do.
I always look forward to seeing the entries at TSC as it is wonderful to see Estelle’s stamps being used in so many different ways.
I have some posts, some of which are Stampsmith related,  that I never got around to sharing in 2012 so I will be adding them here and there but in the meantime Thank You for visiting my first post of 2013.
Wishes
Lynne

Joyeux Noel!

Hello Everyone
Thank You for taking the time to visit this scheduled post.
This is a DT post for The Stampsmith where I share more glass ornaments using the Christmas Greetings plate, this time it is the sentiment Joyeaux Noel.The ornaments are more sparkly than they actually appear to be in the photographs.
Some little changes to make a second ornament.Have your preparations centered around a Handmade Holiday? If so and if you have used at least one Stampsmith stamp then we welcome you to enter the December Stampsmith Challenge (link on sidebar).
Wishes
Lynne

A Handful Of Joy (The Stampsmith Challenge)

Hello Everyone
Thank You for joining me for the first day of this new month, a month that I know will be busy, busy, busy for all of you.
Today we see a new challenge theme at The Stampsmith Challenge Blog. For the month of December we are asking for A Handmade Holiday.  Here are a few words from TSC about the challenge theme:-
This is the time of year when we spoil those we cherish with gifts from the heart.  Will you alter an item, make a mini-album, create a card, hang a holiday decoration or share something unexpected?
All rules and details of the prize are available at TSC Blog.
As with my sample for the November challenge I once again reached for Christmas Greetings stamp plate.
Joy is the word I selected for my glass ornaments with lots of sparkle in the form of glass glitter and of course touches of lace.
We hope you will join us for the final Stampsmith Challenge for 2012.  If you are busy creating handmade gifts for family and friends and you happen to have a Stampsmith stamp then we would love to see your creations.
Tomorrow I return with a non-festive project as Sunday sees the announcement of a new challenge theme at Fashionable Stamping Challenge.
Have a lovely Saturday and that you for visiting.
Wishes
Lynne

A Time For Giving

Hello Everyone
I actually had no plans on posting this item but as I was sitting organising photographs I realised it fitted in with the latest challenge theme at The Stampsmith Challenge,  White on White.  Not too long until this challenge closes  so if you would like to enter then you need to be quick.  All rules for entry and prize details are available at TSC Blog.
I simply stamped Joyeux Noel, from Christmas Greetings stamp plate,  onto a white muslin bag.  Lace, pearl beads and seam binding bow adorn the bag. What is tucked inside? Well I will leave that to share in another post, another day.
It surely feels as though I am bombarding you with posts at the moment, sorry there are so many but with several projects being Christmas related and the days whizzing past I sense the need to get those posts out there before the 25th of December is upon us.
Wishes
Lynne

A Frosty Outlook (TSC#36 White on White)

Hello Everyone
Here we are into a new month which means a new challenge theme at The Stampsmith Challenge.  For November we are asking for White on White creations. Here are a few words from Val, who does an amazing job of running TSC:-
Use textures, patterns, layers, shapes and tones of white to create your masterpiece! Of course, you will need to stamp your image using a non-white ink LOL! I know some of us “think” better in off-white or eggshell… if that’s you, go for it! 🙂 Will be putting players’ names in the hat twice if they submit a holiday creation.
The usual rule applies, you must use at least one Stampsmith stamp on your entry and of course as always a winner will be selected randomly at the end of the month with a prize of $21 to spend on stamps of your choice at The Stampsmith on-line store.
For my DT sample I used the Christmas Greetings stamp plate, the first time I have used this plate which is jammed full of sentiments, words, etc.I know you will all know what I used as it isn’t the first time I’ve used one!  Here I layered various textiles in white, winter white  and with a touch of sparkle.
Joyeux Noel from the Christmas Greetings plate was stamped onto found paper with grey ink and layered onto white glitter cardstock.More sparkle from the beaded crystal trim that dangles from the bottom edge. We hope you will want to join us for this challenge.
Thank You for taking the time to visit this post.
Wishes
Lynne

She Holds A Secret Close To Her (TSC#35)

Hello Everyone
Thank you for joining me on the first day of a new month which means it is time for a new challenge theme over at The Stampsmith Challenge. There is always room for a heartfelt creation so this  month our theme is With Gratitude. Our rules are few and far between at TSC but we do ask that you include at least one Stampsmith stamp on your entry.  There is a prize draw at the end of the month with the winner receiving $21 to spend on stamps of their choice at The Stampsmith on-line store.
Visit TSC Blog to view the DT samples from the other DT members and also to read who was the winner for September’s Prize Draw.
Stamps Used
Won’t You Be My Honey
Paris
I used a canvas panel as the base for this wall hanging and the focal is a stamp from the Won’t You Be My Honey plate.
I stamped the postal cancellation marks from the Paris plate to embellish the corner of the image along with scraps and dried hydrangea petals.You might wonder where the message of gratitude is ….. Behind the image is a pocket which holds a wee tag with the note of gratitude.
Whether you make a Happy Thanksgiving card, Thank You card/tag, or whatever it might well be, have fun with this challenge theme.
Thank You for taking the time to visit this post. I hope you all have a creative week.
Wishes
Lynne

Turning The Pages (TSC#34)

Hello Everyone
The 1st of September and a new challenge at TSC where we are asking you to create Bags ‘n’ Tags.  The same rules apply as always, that we ask that you must use at least one Stampsmith stamp on your entry. All rules are available at TSC Blog. It is well worth entering if you happen to own any Stampsmith stamps as at the end of the month there is a random Prize Draw with the winner selecting $21 worth of Stampsmith stamps at the on-line store.
I know that it can be frustrating when based in the U.K. and knowing that any stores that do stock The Stampsmith stamps do not carry the full range but you might be hesitant about ordering from America due to customs.  Estelle has kindly provided the following information for me to share here.
Wishing to order Stampsmith stamps from The Stampsmith  on-line store:-
I actually make it easy to ship to Europe: I leave out the invoice and mark the packet as a gift with a very low value. So, no customs!
The shipping costs come up automatically in the shopping cart, which people can see before they do the final payment.
Without further ado I will share my DT sample.
Stamps:-
Olivia and Friends (I selected Juliet)
Cartolina Postale (used on tag)
The first part of my DT sample is a book bag. Since as far back as I can remember I have been a Bookworm, I need to know that I have a books around me.  Juliet was stamped directly, no need for image transfer. I covered up the text on this stamp as I wanted the image to fit and would not have done so if I had inked up the text as well.
Removing the books you can probably see the way in which I trimmed the bottom of the tote with lace and stained seam binding. The second part of the challenge states tag so I used Juliet once again.
One of the Cartolina Postale stamps (fabulous set) was used to stamp on the bottom edge of the tag, which I had torn and also stamped onto torn pieces from a cardboard box to add details on the edge of the tag and to cut out the postal mark to create an accent. What would you like to create to share with us for this Stampsmith Challenge, there is lots of scope and plenty of opportunity for fun.
In case you happen to be a Bookworm and curious as to the book inside the book bag, it is Alice Hoffman’s “The Dovekeepers”, which is next in line for my attention and the other book tucked in there is “The Forgery of Venus”.  Purely as a bit of fun if you would like to share either your all time favourite book (could be from your childhood or a more recent favourite) or what you are reading at the moment or have you any recommendations then I’d love to know what they are.
Thank You for taking the time to visit and also to say thank you for the lovely comments left for me to read on my previous post.
Wishes
Lynne

This Face That Tells A Story (TSC#33 – Anything Goes)

Update:– I’ve only found out myself that there are to be two winners for the month of August so well worth checking out the details at TSC Blog. 

Hello Everyone
Is it only me or are you shocked that it is now August, I have no idea how we have managed to reach the eighth month of the year already! Anyway, a new month also means a new challenge over at The Stampsmith Challenge. For challenge #33 we are saying Anything Goes. As always please remember to include at least one Stampsmith stamp. 
My lovely friend Dorthe showed great patience as she waited for her birthday gift to arrive from me. As she has now received her birthday parcel I can share one of the gifts I made for her. If you visit my Blog regularly you will recognise this face as Portia, this time I made a piece of wearable art for Dorthe, or instead of wearing it can be pinned to a tote bag.
You would last see Portia on the canvas I shared on Sunday. Portia is available on the Cleopatra and Friends plate. I’m becoming very fond of this stamp.If you are interested in joining us then you will find all the details at TSC Blog (link at top of post). Over there you will also see the winner for July’s prize draw and the Top 3 selected entries for Christmas In July and as well as that you can see what the other DTs created for August.
Thank you for visiting today. I always appreciate your visits and it is lovely to sit and read the comments you leave for me.
Wishes
Lynne