I want to ride my bicycle.......

Hello all!
Just adding in a quick post to highlight one of the new digital stamps available in my Etsy shop and remember that you can get 30% off all digis over $2.00 if you use the coupon code LPSCRAPS30.
     I've been digitally tidying up some vintage images from an old catalogue to use as digital stamps - I won't bore you with the details of how to do this as it is mind-numbingly dull!!  Still, I have got some good results so have decided to add a few vintage digi stamps to my shop.  The good thing about these type of images is that you don't need to colour them which makes for super speedy card creating!

                 For my card, I used the Vintage Bicycle image and added some digital  font elements for a collage feel background.  I then double mounted the image onto cardstock, added some scrabble tiles and buttons for interest and some washi tape and patterned cardstock finished it off.
        The perfect quick and easy male card!!

                  I would like to enter this into the challenges at Simon Says Stamp and Show , Simon Says Stamp , Art Impressions , DL Art , JellyPark  . QKR Stampede and Stamping with Dragon .

Thanks so much for stopping by :)

Try something different.

Hello all!
Back with something a bit different this time :)   I've been painting and distressing some small pieces of furniture for a craft show and have also been making a few wooden signs along the way.  I recently painted a Captain Hook/Key hook wooden board (here) and so wanted to try something similar.  The current challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show is 'into the woods' so I took this very literally!  I took 3 pieces of pallet wood and sanded and stained them, joining them on the back with 2 cross pieces.  I then painted a patch of white paint in one corner, ready for the image transfer.
                  I used the Mod Podge transfer method - see tutorial here or google for a whole ton of others!  I used a Kenny K digi (Paige Parasol) and printed her with my laser printer and then applied her to the wood.  I left her to sit overnight and after I had removed all the paper, leaving the image behind, I coloured her with my Faber Castell Artist Big brush pens, following the colours for the current challenge at Kenny K's Krafy Krew.  I drew in the letters using Sharpie Paint Pens after printing and tracing them onto the wood using carbon paper.  I then added another vintage hook from my collection to make it useful wall art :)

I would like to enter this into the challenges at Simon Says Stamp and Show, Kenny K's Krafty Krew, Simon Says Stamp and linking up to Between Naps on the Porch and Elizabeth and Co.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

   

Just for fun.

Hello all!
     I'm back with something a little bit different from cards today - my first page in my art book.  I've been so inspired by all the fantastic mixed media creations out there and wanted to join in.   I'm not going to call it a journal as all I'm doing in it is playing around with stamps, paints, inks, tapes, papers - anything I fancy trying.  There won't be any deep and meaningful journalling from me as this is purely for fun!  Whenever I feel the urge to create something just for the sake of it, I'll pull out this little book, (see here for details on the book itself) and just go with it.
                      For the very first page, I decided to ink up one of my new stamps from Stamping Bella - one of the adorable images from Diane Duda .  For the background I tore up some strips of paper from my huge stash of vintage dictionary pages and roughly painted some white gesso over them to adhere them to the page.  I used some Dylusions ink sprays, ( London Blue and Bubblegum Pink) and some more white gesso and then stamped my images and coloured with Faber Castell Pitt pens , using a white gel pen for the dots.  I added a couple of strips of washi tape just because I love the stuff and voila!!

   It was so enjoyable not to have to stress about getting everything perfect for a change!  Yes, there are wrinkles in the text paper and the ink smudged slightly on the sentiment stamp but so what?  I'm not giving this to anyone so it doesn't matter - it's just for me :)

                 I would like to submit this to the challenges at Simon Says Stamp and Show , Delightful Challenges , Whimsy Stamps, Stampotique , Crafting by Designs and Paper Crafting Journey .

Thanks so much for popping in and a very warm welcome to my newest followers - I really appreciate you coming by :)

Anything Goes and some Art for Eclectic Ellapu.

Hello all!

Once again it's the turn of the PINK DT over at Eclectic Ellapu and it's an easy one for you all this time - Anything Goes.  I have taken this opportunity to share some artwork of mine - not an easy thing for me to do as I'm super critical of my own stuff but I do actually like this one :)
                         I recently undertook an online art course, the first time I have ever done anything like that and learnt so much from it that I actually painted something!  It might not sound like a big deal but this is the first time I have ever painted a face - at least since primary school anyway :)
             I have played around doing some mixed media techniques on cards and have done a few abstract paintings too  - if you love getting messy with paper, paints and ink then this is definitely for you!  For the background of this painting I ripped and tore some dictionary pages and some patterned cardstock and added some travel-related tickets, making a textured and wrinkled layer.  I painted and inked over this using basic acrylic paints, some gelatos and some permanent inks with a variety of rubber and clear stamps.  After letting that all dry, I began to paint the face with acrylic paints and Faber Castell Pitt pens - the headband and dress are inked and paper pieced for additional texture.  I finished off by stamping a few random words and then sealing it all with a thin coat of Mod Podge.

                              So, there she is - what do you think?  I call her 'Travelling Girl" and she's currently looking down on me from above my craft desk.  I would like to enter her into the challenges at The Artistic Stamper, Crafting Musketeers, Our Creative Corner, Inspire Me Fridays, Craft Stamper and Simon Says Stamp and Show.

Thanks for stopping by and please do take a look at the fabulous talent from the DT over at Eclectic Ellapu.

Some NY attitude!

Hello all!
           I'm back with a card for the current challenge over at Kenny K's Kraft Krew which is a Tic Tac Toe one.  I love these digis and it was actually this company that started me off on the whole digi stamp and copics road - they're to blame for the large hole in my bank account!

                  I digitally merged Brooklyn Babe with one of my own digis - New York from the set of City Smash stamps available from Can You Digi It.  For the Tic Tac Toe aspect I used the line that had 'digi - twine - sentiment- pearl'.  If you look really closely you can just make out the pearl as the lollipop she's holding (it may be small but it still counts, right?).

                             I'm still in my CAS mode as you can see so I kept the background very simple with just a strip of cardstock and dictionary paper, a grungy style rubber stamped mesh and the stamped sentiment.  

I would like to put this in to the challenges at Kenny K's Krafty Krew, Simon Says Stamp & Show, Simon Says Stamp, Through the Craftroom door, and Addicted to Stamps.

     Thanks for stopping by :)

Tagged it!

Hello all!
         Back with my 2nd posting of the day - you can find my Outlawz DT post here.  This time I'm posting for the current challenge over at The Octopode Factory which is tags.  I decided to use one of Lily's silhouette digis for mine - the cat from Animal Fair Collection and I cut it using my Silhouette Cameo which works perfectly for this!
                    The tag itself was cut from thick watercolour paper which I sprayed with Dylusions Inks and then stamped some random patterns and images and added more colour with a few Faber Castell Gelatos.

One cool cat!

Why not come and join us over at TOFF. ?

         I would like to enter this into the following challenges - Through the Craftroom Door, Inspired by Stamping, Penny's Paper Crafty, Simon Says Stamp, and Simon Says Stamp and Show.

Thanks for popping in !

It's in the stars.

Hello all!
           Time for another challenge from the PINK DT over at Eclectic Ellapu and this week the theme is my choice - as the post title says, 'It's in the stars'.  You can interpret this in a number of ways so don't feel shy about entering!  There's the whole zodiac thing or you can take it literally and use the night sky as your theme - feel free to think outside the box.

                         For my card I used a Mayzy Art digi and merged her onto a background that I created myself - a subway word art block of star sign characteristics in different fonts.  I'm working on all twelve signs and will put them up as a set to sell in my etsy shop.  They'll work with any number of people digis for birthday cards but also look pretty good on their own as artwork too!  The fab digi was coloured with Copics and I kept the whole thing very simple by just adding a simple tag as an embellishment.

         I would like to enter this in the following challenges - Simon Says Stamp and Show, Mayzy Art, JellyPark, Copic Marker Europe and Cas-ual Fridays.

   Thanks so much for popping in and have a great finish to your weekend :)

The red, white and blue.....

Hello all!
I'm still a bit hit and miss in blogland as I'm away from home but I'm hoping to find some time to catch up on some blog-surfing and commenting very soon!
         I have a different project from my usual cards today - I've been playing with hard canvas boards lately and doing some Subway style word projects.  I decided to stay patriotic on home territory with this one  - I covered a board with some old dictionary pages and then very roughly daubed on the Union Jack flag with acrylic paint.  I then stamped various images and text over the painted surface and added some vinyl 'British' words, cut using my Cameo.

                         I would like to put this in for the challenges at Simon says Stamp and Show , Loves Rubber Stamps , The Artistic Stamper , Visible Image and My Grafico .

                              Thanks for popping in and I hope to pay you a visit soon :)

 

Believe in Spring.

Hello all!
     after yet more snowfall here and with more winter showers forecast tomorrow it really does seem as is Spring will never get here!  I thought a Spring-like card might help so decided to play with one of the new Octopode woodland creatures.  I spritzed an old dictionary page with water and Dylusions Inks and then stamped some flowers over that with Stazon ink.  I had coloured the digi and some Octopode flowers with Copics and fussy cut them, placing them on a freebie background paper from a Stampington magazine (my indulgence treat!)  A computer printed sentiment was coloured over with a Pitt Big Brush pen to finish it off.

         I would like to enter this into the challenges at Stampotique , Simon Says Stamp and Show, Tuesday Alchemy , Everybody Art Challenge and Simon Says Stamp.

Thanks for popping in to take a look - hope you're having better Spring weather where you are :)

Not so heavy metal!

Hello all!
Back with something a bit different today - faux metal.  The challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show this week is Metal-ology and I wanted to try something I had seen popping up on Pinterest and a few crafty blogs.  I didn't have anything other than regular kitchen foil to use so I wasn't at all convinced I would get anywhere but I gave it a go anyway!
                    I wrapped a piece of cardstock with some foil (should probably have glued it but I was too impatient to wait !) and then embossed it with my Tim Holtz brick wall embossing folder.  I also stuck some adhesive foam letters onto an oval chipboard die cut and glued some foil on top of that - then I smoothed and rubbed the foil down, trying not to tear it.  I then attacked both pieces with Distress Inks and Paint Dabbers, aiming for a grungy look to go with the image I was planning to use.

                      I coloured up a Kenny K digi (Star) that I had overstamped with a postcard rubber stamp (don't know the make, sorry) and with some simple text background cardstock and a metal brad flower for that touch of girliness, I was done.  Grunge with plenty of attitude!

                 I was quite pleased with the faux metal embellishments - not too bad for a first attempt!  As well as the SSSS challenge, I would also like to enter this into the challenges at Hiding in my craft room , Challenges 4 Everybody , Cards und More and  Whimsy Inspires .

Thanks for stopping by :)

                 

Girly grunge!

Hello again - back with another catch up DT posting and this time it's for Eclectic Ellapu and the challenge, hosted this week by the wonderful Sheena is 'Girly' - plenty of scope there to come up with something fabulous!   As the post title states, I went for 'Girly Grunge' and decided to do a canvas board using mixed media and a Kenny K digi called Star.

                 My base was an 8" x 10" board canvas which I primed with gesso and then added crumpled tissue paper whilst that was still wet.  I added some designer cardstock from my stash and some torn dictionary pages and music sheets and inked and painted with various Distress Inks and acrylic paints until I was happy with the background.  Then I stamped the word music with some foam letters and added a few rub-ons, finishing with a painted chipboard heart and the fussy cut Kenny K image which had been coloured with Copics.

Entering the following challenges - 

kennykskraftykrew

Crafty Bloggers

Creative Creations

Love to Create

Simon Says Stamp and Show

Thanks for stopping by!

     

Let it snow ( but not here please!)

Hello all!
Now it's not that I don't like snow but as we're planning to hop across the ocean back to the UK for Christmas, the last thing I need is a snowstorm to mess things up!  So by all means, let it snow but in those places that need it - ski resorts, the North Pole etc - just not New Jersey!!

                    Although I have finished and mailed my Christmas cards for this year - don't hate me, I  mail so many to England that I have to get them done early - I'm still making the odd ones here and there.  I can always save them for next year :)  I saw a challenge over at Simon Says Stamp & Show which was to take inspiration from Tim Holtz's 12 tags of Xmas and decided to give it a go.  This is a bit out of my comfort zone but I thought it was time for a change - you don't know until you try.  I can't say I'm totally happy with the end result and I don't really know why - maybe I need to do some more playing and get used to it.  I did spend a lot of time making the card though hence the blog post - I would welcome any constructive criticism (I think!).

   I watched some of the many Tim Holtz video clips on the tags and decided to use some embossing techniques and Distress Ink blending.  The background is an old music score and I heat embossed some stamped TH snowflakes on it with white embossing powder - then I inked it up with Distress inks, sprayed it with some Perfect Pearls and flicked some water droplets on it.  The bottom strip is torn corrugated scrap card with a heavy coating of embossing powder and Stickles and I cut the Xmas trees with my Cameo and both dry and heat embossed them (they're lovely and glossy IRL).  I added a few embellies in the bottom corner and some small punched out snowflakes, sparkly letter stickers and gems.

 

  I don't think I'm too keen on the bottom left corner - it makes it look unbalanced and the OCD side of me doesn't like that!  Anyway, it's done and it's one for the stockpile for next year.

 

          I would like to enter it into the challenges at -

 

Simon Says Stamp & Show

ABC challenges

Crafty Bloggers

Fashionista

Love to Create

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and hello to my new followers - so nice of you to join me :)



La vie francaise.

Hello all!
Bet you didn't know I could speak french.......  I'm very rusty but many moons ago I studied French and German at 'A' level standard (no idea what the equivalent would be here in the States?).  I also lived in the Netherlands for 6 months as part of my college course but although I got to understand the language fairly well, I was always much too shy to speak it!

         Anyway the reason for the french title is due to the current challenge over at Simon Says Stamp & Show  - 'Inspiration Francaise' .  I have been working on some board canvas pieces lately - I love the subway graphics look that is currently so very popular but I wanted to grunge it up a bit!

    I started with a 9" x 12" canvas board and laid down a base of gessoed dictionary pages.  Then I sponged on some red and blue acrylic paint and once that had dried, stamped on some random images and text.  I then applied some vinyl words, cut using my Silhouette Cameo - I used a variety of fonts and a sihouette of the Eiffel Tower.  I finished it by inking the edges and applying some matt Mod Podge to protect the whole thing.

Et voila............

 

 

Need to work on my photo staging - the metal bird just happened to be there and I didn't have anything at all French!

 

 I would like to enter this into the SSS&S challenge as well as the Anything Goes challenge at Loves rubber stamps , Craft My Life challenge 2  and the 'Countries' challenge at Crafting When We Can.

 

Thanks for stopping by again :)



My new digi designs at CYDI

Hello all!
Another week is zooming by and once again it's time for the release of my new digi stamps over at CYDI - well , they'll be in the shop tomorrow.  I'm just a bit keen for you to see them!!

  First off the bat, here are two graphic and very simple Christmas images.  If you're looking to make a quick CAS card then these are ideal! 

 

I whipped up a couple of cards with these in no time at all :)

 

You could also use them as gift tags or even as a background????

 

 

The next digi was designed using the wings I have used on my dressmakers dummy digi (here) only this time I wanted to add a heart with them -

 

 

                        I made a 'messy' card this time - I think doing these messy backgrounds with ink and paint is my fave thing at the moment! 

 

 

I would like to enter this into the following challenges -

http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - anything goes

http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - black/white/pink

http://ladyanneschallenges.weebly.com/anything-goes.html - anything goes

http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/ - your favourite

 

 

Thanks so much for popping in to take a look - I do hope you like what you saw :)