Venetian Glory

Hello Everyone
When I received Darkroom Door’s Baroque Frame it immediately conjured up images of Venice, of grandeur and opulence and I knew I had to use the frame in conjunction with one of my all time favourite Darkroom Door stamp sets, Venetian Vol 1
I was unable to take step photographs of the canvas panel as I laid down colour and texture but I can tell you that I used amongst other things:- Golden Glass Bead Gel and Cosmic Shimmer vintage mica flakes and colour in the form of a plum walnut stain and Martha Stewart metallic paints which are lovely.
The frame is so generously sized that it had to be the focal on the panel yet at the same time I really wanted to use the stamp of Venice so I stamped the Venice image onto tissue paper to allow it to blend into the background of the canvas panel and to allow the frame to be even more of a focal I, unusually for me used embossing powder, something I rarely dip into and to create a sense of dimension I curved the stamped frame allowing it to pop from the panel. That lion’s head metal embellishment I have been saving for the longest time, finally I used it.This little stamp is from the Venetian set and it helped to push back the stamped image of Venice.
I adore Glass Bead Gel as it always takes colour so beautifully, the metallic paints are instantly elevated when applied over the Bead Gel, it adds a sumptuous quality.A dash of paint, a little bit of stamping and the mini mosaic tiles were the perfect embellishment to edge the panel along with a metal button. Thank You so much for your visit to this post, apologies for neglecting my Blog and neglecting my visits to your Blogs.
Wishes
Lynne

Toot! Toot!

Hello Everyone
June, as with previous months, has zipped past at an alarming rate. I intended to share this card with you long before now as I wanted to share it whilst the Crafty Individuals challenge, Tag, You’re It! was underway except here we are, (scheduled) for the last day of June, with barely hours left of this challenge.
Although I had created a team sample, a canvas, it was the perfect opportunity to ink up a stamp which until that point, embarrassingly, had not been inked up. The stamp being CI-405, a chunky tag stamp depicting a vintage car advertisement.
The card I made was in a similar style to one I made using the chunky tag with vintage train, taking a feminine approach to what is traditionally viewed as masculine themes.  As someone who passed their test at the age of 17, I have never taken it for granted.
The freedom driving allows is special, so imagine the experience for a woman, back in the day, sitting behind the wheel, allowing her the ability to be her own woman, travel where she wanted to travel, although the downside being, those women would be few and far between, obviously only those from wealthy households could experience this.  It is a beautifully detailed stamp which I also used to stamp repeatedly onto some stained cardstock (this  is a sheet that is similar to the one I used for the train card).  I stamped all the elements, including the CI-405 onto the remainder of the cardstock and stained the Crafty Individuals die-cut frame to co-ordinate.A Crafty Individuals image from one of their books appears from behind their die-cut frame.
The stamps I selected bring together the theme of travel but also postmarks and Postcard marks because, as with the train card (sorry, I know I keep referring to it!) I had this picture of friends, with the unwelcome extra passenger of the driver’s little sister,  piling into the car, driving for a day’s outing and the fun of sending postcards and generally having fun and frolics whether in a newly discovered city or at the beach. If you are super speedy then you might just find you have enough time to join the Crafty Individuals challenge. Scroll down to the relevant post for information to enter or simply visit the Crafty Individuals blog.
Have a lovely week and enjoy the last day of the month of June and one last thing, Thank You so much for your visits this past month and those of you who take the time to visit, post after post and leave lovely comments for me to read.  June saw me absent from blogland more than I anticipated, resulting in me not managing to visit your wonderful blogs as much as I would like to.
Hope to see you in July.
Wishes
Lynne

O, Father of Mine

Hello Everyone
Sunday rolls around once more which signals time for my DT post at That’s Crafty.
This week I am honouring Fathers and anyone who plays the role of a Father, whether that be Grandfather, Uncle, Brother, etc.The project with instructions can be viewed at the That’s Crafty Blog.
Have a lovely Sunday.
Wishes
Lynne

Tea Dresses and Steam trains

Hello Everyone
In a recent post I shared with you the new releases from Crafty Individuals.  It has been interesting to read that many of you zoomed in to the manuscript as a favourite.  The one I have inked up first is the Chunky Steam train Tag. For a fleeting moment I planned on a masculine style card for stamp CI-404 but before I knew it I had visions of something more feminine in style.
The romance of old steam trains conjures up images from old movies such as Brief Encounter, which no matter the generation we were born  we have all seen such clips, of couples waiting to be re-united or saying their goodbyes to loved ones.  Although this was very much in my mind especially with the Crafty Individuals challenge of A Fine Romance, my thoughts also turned to the era when women were starting to enjoy more freedom.  The female at the centre of my card could be caught up in the romance of travel, as the image states

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”

It is a beautiful collage style stamp with the steam train obviously taking centre stage but there is also a pretty decorative border, script and a London postal mark which I repeated with a stamped postal mark  (CI-124)tucked behind the tag.Beneath the stamped train tag I created a border with one of the Crafty Individuals Elements sets, lace, an absolute favourite of mine.Let me take a step back for a moment by sharing my background.
This photograph shows it to be more a purple tone where it is in actual fact nearer to the other photographs, a mix of raspberry, Victorian Velvet Distress Stain and one of my own handmade sprays and a very diluted wash of coffee.   I then stamped the steamtrain with Tattered Rose which created a very subtle pattern but I liked how the edging of the tag provided almost a grid on the background.  I then gathered a bundle of postal marks, postcard scripts, a lovely  script and randomly stamped the background.She thinks herself rather daring as she waits on the platform for the imminent arrival of the steam train to take her to London for a jaunt to meet with friends for a spot of afternoon tea. Annoyingly for Rose, as she steps up  onto the train she snags her pretty floral dress

(The fragments of floral fabric with the rose stained seam binding conjured up images of tea dresses.)
Another cluster of tickets and again the London postal mark makes as appearance.
(The frame is also from Crafty Individuals, the perfect size for layering with their images.)
A day trip to London this may well have been but somehow I doubt if Rose’s life will ever be the same again, this girl has the spirit to make her life a daring adventure.
So now you know which stamp won my attention for the first ink up!
I hope you like this card and my feminine spin on the steam train stamp.
Thank you as always for your visit.
Wishes
Lynne
I am able to view my photographs! Not sure where the blip was but happy that all is well ….. until the next time!

Maiden Voyage (Published)

Hello Everyone
This post relates back to December when I received a surprise issue of Somerset Studio Gallery. I have already shared one of the pieces published (HERE) which shared the page with this other piece, an altered suitcase with the theme of the Titanic using the beautiful Oxford Impressions Maiden Voyage stamp plate.The glamorous woman is a passenger aboard the Titanic, draped in furs we can tell she is a woman of wealth, possibly a New York socialite.Surrounded by a bottle of champagne, I can imagine her sipping a glass or two at the Captain’s table.
Behind her is a fragment of sheet music to represent “the music played on” as the Titanic plunged to the ice depths.
Although her story is laid out before us I always like that there are questions unanswered, for us to decide if her story continues, was she one of the survivors on that fateful night or is it a sadder ending to her tale.
I was thrilled to see it make the pages of Somerset Studio Gallery, it was a project I enjoyed working on as it was the first time I had inked up the Maiden Voyage stamp plate.
Wishes
Lynne

Those Streets Which Whisper Their Secrets

Hello Everyone
Lovely to have you visit.
For this post I am sharing a card with Prague as a theme. I have been the lucky owner of both Prague Vol 1 and Vol 2 from Darkroom Door (Prague Vol. 2) for a long time now, they really are beautiful stamps.
This card I am sharing was made with a person in mind, for her birthday as it is a place she has visited.
This card isn’t minimalist by any means, there is quite a lot taking place starting with the background (sorry, no photograph) which is cardstock that I stained with a mix of Distress Stain in Antique Linen and Caran d’ache watersoluble crayons then I stamped the large street scene repeatedly, roughly masking as I stamped. This scene is so fine in its detail.  Some travels scenes are very distinctive but I like the fact that this scene doesn’t need to represent Prague, it could almost be a scene from any old town/city.
To add a little touch of depth to the image you can see that I layered a mica tile, something I can be found to do often.Tea stained lace tucked beneath this stamped element.  I stamped all the elements onto stained cardstock.At the side of the card it appears once again, this time layered with a fragment of the most beautiful handmade paper which I received from the lovely Nicola.  This paper is so beautiful I could not bring myself to use too large a piece.Moving over to the other side of the card, is this beautiful beaded drop.  This was cut from a length of beaded trim and to my mind it is a representation of the beauty of Czech glass.A stained tag with random stamping to form some pattern on the tag before stamping this sentiment with a decorative stamped element topping the tag.

Finally the lamp-post. Thank you for visiting this post, my last post for the month of January.
January has come and gone too quickly. I had great intentions to share my Giveaway with you during this month but it will now  be in February. The beginning of the month will be quite busy on my Blog. I hope you will visit me during the month of February and that I am able to catch-up with your beautiful Blogs to see what you have all been busy creating.
Wishes
Lynne

When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens

Hello Everyone
In February it would be 4 years that I have been on The Stampsmith DT but as they saying goes, all good things come to an end.  For different reasons the timing was right for me to step down from the team.  The Stampsmith will always be dear to me after all, I had barely started my Blog when I took what was for me, a very brave step in answering their DT call and was staggered when I was accepted, after all applying was only to challenge myself by stepping outwith my comfort zone by applying.  At the time I imagined a one year term at the most, not nearing four years! So a huge, warm thank you to Estelle and to Val who runs the challenge site and keeps the DT in order and to the other Stampsmith DT members. I had a ball.
However as that door closed another door opened, a Darkroom Door no less!  I am so excited to share my news that I am on their Creative Team for 2014.

Darkroom Door stamps were one of the first stamp companies I discovered when I got serious about stamping (Crafty Individuals was probably the first).   In the early days of my Blog this is one of the Darkroom Door cards I shared, first seen in this
postA card that uses a stamp plate from the Venetian CollectionVol 1. A mask formed the background with some decorative stamped elements, the largest stamp in the set creating the focal and others forming collage elements including stamping onto an old mosaic tile which in a former life belonged on a lamp from the 1970’s.  Little did I know as a small child of the 70’s that so many years later I would be saving the tiles to use in my artwork! In fact viewing this card has reminded me of those tiles so it will be no surprise if you see them cropping up on anything and everything in a short while!
Before I close this post there is something missing …. I haven’t had the chance to wish you all a Belated Happy New Year! For 2014 here’s to it being kind to all of you, with good times a plenty and a year bursting with creativity. It would be lovely to have you come visit me whenever time dictates that you can stop by and one final thing to mention. In December my Blog celebrated 4 years however with Christmas preparations and other factors outwith my control it prevented me from organising my Blog in time to celebrate with a Giveaway but if all goes to plan, in January I will be sharing a Giveaway to celebrate and at the very latest it will be February – I say that only because I know how quickly time flashes past and before I know it, it will be February 1st!
In the meantime, have a lovely weekend and thank you so much for your visit and your visits whilst I have been absent those past few days.  Hope to catch up with all of you over the weekend.
Wishes
Lynne

Their Day Trip To Paris

Hello Everyone
Anyone who knows me has possibly noticed that I reach for the same stamp companies time and time again:- Oxford Impressions, Crafty Individuals and The Stampsmith.  Of course, being on the DTs for those companies has a great deal to do with that but at the same time they are stamps I would reach for, as I have done, even if I weren’t on the teams.  However that doesn’t mean to say I am not drawn to other stamp companies  and own stamps that I would struggle to part with and I am sure there will come a time when DT work doesn’t take the same priority in my crafting life  when I will delve into those other loved but for the moment, neglected stamps.
I was so pleased to see that Laura has introduced Artistic Outpost to her extensive list of stamp companies.  They are a company who for sometime I’ve wanted to acquaint myself with their stamps a wee bit more than I have done to date (I already own a couple of their plates).
Why they appeal to me, the same as my beloved Oxford Impressions, you can mix ‘n’ match and I like that the sets have a vintage air to them.
When my DT goody bag for August arrived from That’s Crafty I was keen to ink one of the sets almost immediately.  I am sure you will be able to guess which set it is!Alongside the Artistic Outpost set I used some other stamps but all details of stamps, inks, paints and all other bits ‘n’ pieces are on view at the That’s Crafty Blog and you will also view the project in full along with detail photographs and instructions. All to be seen HERE.
Thank you for your visit to this post and all your visits this past week. Last week I had great plans for organising scheduled posts to share some older items but the time just ran away from me. This coming week I hope to be more organised and share as much as possible, without overwhelming you with too many posts!
Enjoy what remains of the weekend.
Wishes
Lynne

Freedom To Roam In The Wild

Hello Everyone
A slight change of mood with this post! Anyone who knows me would no doubt agree that the stamp I used in the previous post is very much within my comfort zone.  Well let me tell you that the stamp I am sharing in this post, although a stunning set from Crafty Individuals,  it didn’t quite fit within my comfort zone of shabbily vintage.  Then again, that is the fun of playing because once I started to ink up, I really did have fun.
It has taken me a bit longer than is normal for me to create any samples but finally I have some projects to share using Elements set CI-390. Also, with the scorching heat (yes, even in Scotland) it seemed an appropriate time to share the first projects, two tags.
I chose a neutral colour palette for both tags and on both I tried to bring a mix of textures, textures and elements which brought to mind the natural world.I wonder if I will ever tire of stamping onto fabric, possibly not.  Scrap cotton, yes it is that re-cycled curtain backing making an appearance once again, is what I stamped directly onto.   This is quite a detailed stamp yet none of the detail was lost by stamping directly onto the cotton, of course it does depend on the weave of the fabric.   The little scrap above was a piece of fabric which was leftover from a rusting session.  The diluted mix of rusting powder and vinegar ran down the fabric leaving a rusty colour without the heavy texture, it was purely by accident this happened.  Then I  simply stamped the sentiment.
I used one of the CI crackle stamps  to form the background before layering.I was pleased with the effect on the corrugated cardboard.
A little detail photograph of the bottom edge of the tag where I assembled a fragment of corrugated cardboard, a wooden bead and some trim.The second tag once more sees me working with the same colour palette.   There is repetition of the stamped crackle background, layering and the elephant collage stamped onto fabric. 
Taking a close study of the main stamped image you can see there is such detail in this stamp.  The variation in colour is where I have overlayed mica, this is laminate mica sheets not mica flakes.
You can possibly see the layers and mix of textures.
Another piece of the corrugated cardboard has been used on this tag and I created a bow from a fibre which I can honestly say, I have no idea where it came from but I liked the colour and texture!  Do you see the crochet style lace I layered beneath the corrugated cardboard, well I snipped into this to give a frayed appearance more suited to the theme.  It actually reminds me of the very tip of a giraffe or elephant’s tail.
It is a well thought out Elements set with Jean and Malcolm including sentiments such as this and also the one on the first tag and some more.
Thank You for your visit.
Have a lovely weekend, maybe make it a creative one!
Wishes
Lynne

Let Me Dream Of Paris

Hello Everyone
Although I may not be crafting at the moment I realised it was a good opportunity to try and catch-up with items that were made earlier in the year (or even last year!).
For this scheduled post it is a card I made as a DT sample for Oxford Impressions when I first  received the ever so useful With Love stamp plate (U.K. stampers can purchase With Love from  That’s Crafty).  Alongside this stamp plate I also used the Eiffel Tower photo real stamp from Paris Poste. Paris Poste was one of the first Oxford Impressions stamp sets I purchased,  Soul of the Rose was the first followed by April In Paris then Paris Poste, yes, I genuinely am I huge fan of Oxford Impressions stamps, verging on obsessive!
Card size:- 8″x6″
The background consists of layers of paint and stamping. I started with stamps from another Oxford Impressions set called French Script. I selected the script stamp and damask, a stamp I always seem to reach for, then I used the Fleur de Lys, Eiffel Tower and Paris from the With Love set.
This isn’t a good photograph as at the time of photographing it seemed as though we were living with no daylight at all but it might give you an idea of the actual background. For the focal I layered onto what I find to be indispensable, a Crafty Individual Shabby Tag. A similar background was created directly onto the tag before I added the Eiffel Tower. The tag was embellished with flowing seam binding, lace and an Eiffel Tower charm. Another stamp from the With Love plate is the gorgeous wreath frame into which I stamped Paris.Thank You for taking the time to visit this post.
Wishes
Lynne