Never forget ......

Good morning folks ......

It's time for a quick reminder for this month's Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge.

Our sponsor this month is ...... The Artistic Stamper

and the prize that's waiting for out challenge winner is this fabulous stamp set ....

So what's the theme this month? .... well it's nice and simple ,,,, just Take a Stamp.
Anything goes ...... as long as there's rubber stamping on there somewhere.

With today's date, it couldn't be anything else ..... the Remembrance Day poppy.

CAS ..... no need for anything more ...... the beautiful Poppy from the IndigoBlu stamp set ........ Poppycock, has simply been stamped and then coloured using Distress Inks.

A few splatters of ink in the background .......

and a single word that means so much .....

It says it all ......

Not only is there a challenge winner each month, we also have a Design Winner, chosen by the DT. They get their winning project published in the Craft Stamper magazine, they're invited to be a Guest Designer on a future challenge and ....... they get a Winner's Profile published on the Blog.  Could that be you? ..... you have to enter the challenge to be in with a chance.
Check out all the details on the Craft Stamper Blog ....... you'll also find more fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team ....... and then get those stamps out!

Thanks for popping by ... enjoy the rest of your day and have a great weekend.
Mine starts today ..... hubby's taking the afternoon off work and we're going out for lunch.  We're actually going to the butchers first, to order THE BIRD for Christmas dinner, along with other stuff, then he's taking me out for lunch!

Cheerio until next time

Dare To Dream ......

Happy Friday folks ......

It's the weekend .... whoo hoo!!

It's the first Friday of the month and you know what that means .......
Welcome to November's Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge .  It's a nice easy one this month ..... all you have to do is Take a Stamp ..... and use it of course!
Anything Goes as long as there's actual rubber stamping  on your project ....... somewhere! (no digi's please)

Our sponsor this month is ..... The Artistic Stamper

and there's a fab prize for the challenge winner ........ this gorgeous stamp set

Don't forget we also have a Design Winner each month, chosen by the DT.  They have their winning project published in the Craft Stamper Magazine, they are invited to be a Guest Designer on a future Challenge and, they get a Winner's Profile posted on the Blog.  So come on .... get those stamps out!

My inspiration piece for you today is an altered frame ......

 
A simple plain wooden frame that I've used texture paste and a stencil around the edge to add a bit of interest ....

Painted over the whole lot using black gesso, a touch of dry brushing with some white paint, and then added a tiny bit of silver and gold Treasure Gold Gilding Wax to bring out the detail

I then cut a piece of heavyweight card to fit inside the frame, covered it using a piece of 12x12 designer paper (I think it was from an old Magnolia collection but I'm not sure) and then added some colour with the PaperArtsy Infusions .... love these little bottles of magic.

They work in the same way as Brushos ...... pigment powders that react with water and other mediums, only the Infusions have Walnut Stain added which takes a little longer to react giving so you can control how much of the brown shading you get.

I sprinkled the Infusions onto my card (Emerald Isle and Are You Cerise) and then I brushed over the top with some Dina Wakley Glazing Medium.  This reacts with the pigment and allows you a little control as to where the colour goes.  I brushed from top to bottom across the card giving the look of stripes going down the page, and for a little more detail I splattered some white paint over the background

When this was dry I used the beautiful Sweet Poppy Stencil .... Wall of Poppies over the top with the Glossy Black Stencil paste .... very dramatic

To finish off, I stamped my words onto a strip of vellum, and embossed with a white detail powder

I attached the vellum securing it on the back of the card so that the adhesive doesn't show and then placed the panel into the frame.

Now it's your turn.  Take a stamp ....and have some fun!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and have a great weekend.

Cheerio until next time ......

Autumn's on it's way .........

Happy Friday .......

I hope you've had a good week.  September is well under way and I don't know about you but I'm noticing a little change in the weather.  The leaves have started falling over here .... it'll be Autumn before we know it!
Colours in the old craft room have taken a change too ..... definitely going more autumnal I'd say.  It's not a bad thing though .... I love the autumn shades.

If you haven't already entered this months Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge there's still lots of time.
It's a Take a Stamp month ..... anything goes as long as there's actual rubber stamping on there somewhere

I said my colours had taken on a autumn feel ... what do you think?
A nice simple design using the Stampendous Daisy Stem Trio set of stamps .....

I stamped them using black Versafine ink and them embossed with a clear powder

Before colouring in the flowers I used a piece of acetate to smoosh some Distress Ink onto the background (Scattered Straw), just to add a bit more colour and interest.
I then used my Cosmic Shimmer Mica Powders ..... mixed them with water to create a paint and used them to add colour to the flowers.
I do love the effect you get when using Mica Powders ...... the shimmer is so pretty. I should use them more often really, but they're one of those products that kind of get forgotten about in the old craft room.  Maybe I'll leave them out on my desk for a while!
There's loads of different brands on the market ..... these particular ones were by Cosmic Shimmer but I do like the Perfect Pearls powders, there's a Finnabair range from Prima and IndigoBlu have just launched their brand new range of Luscious powders ....... think I might have to get my hands on some of those!!

This months challenge is sponsored by the fabulous Visible Image ......

And the challenge winner will receive 3 of their cool stamp sets

Don't forget .... we also have a Design winner each month, chosen by the DT. Would you like to see your project published in the Craft Stamper magazine, be a Guest Designer on a future challenge and have a Winners Profile on the Craft Stamper Blog?  To be in with a chance you have to enter the challenge so .... Take a Stamp and create something fabulous!
If you need a little more inspiration you'll find loads on the Craft Stamper Blog today .... the Design Team have been busy again.

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and have a great weekend.

It's a workshop weekend for me ..... always fun.  Guess what we're playing with this weekend ..... you got it ..... Mica Powders!
I've got to get the craft room tidy first though ....... plenty of strong coffee and a little bit of quiet is needed this morning.  I'm not saying I'm a bit delicate but ...... we did end up at the Saddleoke last night! Oh dear ....... I didn't do any singing, well not with the microphone that is ..... I did have a few G&Ts though.  Don't worry .... I'll be fine by lunchtime!!!

Cheerio until next time

Who let the dogs out ........ woof! woof!

Happy Friday .....

I'm so looking forward to the weekend ... it's been a busy week, especially since I lost a day.  We had the Bank Holiday on Monday and that was it .... I've been a day behind all week. Thought it was Tuesday when it was actually Wednesday.  Got up yesterday and thought it was Wednesday ..... see what I mean.  Not good when you have deadlines to meet!!

It's the first Friday of a new month and as always that means a brand new Craft Stamper Take It Make It challenge.
It's the turn of Take a Stamp for September ....... so Anything Goes as long as there's rubber stamping on your project somewhere.

The challenge sponsor this month is the fabulous Visible Image

And the challenge winner (randomly chosen) will receive 3 of their amazing stamp sets

You have to be in it to win it though, as they say ...... so get creating.

Need a little inspiration?  Well, what about these cute little chaps ......

The Crazy Dogs have had their first inking in the old craft room.  These stamps are so much fun and will come in handy for so many occasions.

I simply stamped each one onto a piece of white cardstock, coloured them using Inktense pencils and then fussy cut each one

A touch of gloss accents to the noses and eyes and they're done ...... so much fun

I found a piece of card in my stash that had the beginnings of a background on there ...... some nice yellow ink smooshed in the centre, to which I added more detail by using the ARTplorations Retro Circles stencil along with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink

I attached the pooches over the top ..... one with foam pads to add a bit of dimension

And finished off by adding one of the sayings from the Tim Holtz Crazy Talk stamp set ......I'll get back to normal (whatever that is) soon .... I hope!

Check out the cheeky little guy on the inside too ......

OK ..... now it's your turn.  Check out the Craft Stamper blog for all the challenge guidelines and prize details ...... you'll also find more fabulous inspiration on there today from the rest of the Design Team.
Speaking of the DT ...... don't forget we have two winners each month ... one randomly chosen and one chosen by the Design Team.  So .... if you fancy being one of this months winners ..... get those stamps out and get creating!

Happy stamping!

I'm also linking this up to Darnell's latest NBUS challenge ...... seeing as it's the first outing for those Crazy Dogs

This is my second entry so I am trying to work my way through the mountain of NBUS (never before used schtuff!) I must say I discovered a bit more during the craft room move ...... hope Darnell continues hosting these challenges!

I'm slowly settling in to my new craft room ....... I've only changed my mind about a couple of things since I got in there, things seem to be working out OK.

I have a lot more space than before (for now), more clear work space and lots of lovely daylight .....

A separate desk for my laptop, no need to move things to make room for it ......

and hubby has even mentioned getting me a TV in there too ...... I think that can wait for a while, don't know where I'd put it!!

Thanks for popping by ..... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend ... are you doing anything nice?
Not sure what the weather forecast is but hopefully it'll be good.  Fingers crossed it stays fine today .... it's the final day of the Manx Grand Prix.  We haven't seen any of it ..... heard it though, and seen a few bikes on the prom!
We're off out for a meal tomorrow evening, with Chris and his girlfriend.  We're off to my favourite restaurant ..... Samphire ..... haven't been there for ages so I'm really looking forward to it.  And the good thing is I can enjoy a nice glass of wine ....... alcohol free August is over ..... whoo hoo!!!

OK ..... I have a small confession to make ..... August wasn't completely alcohol free.  My will power wasn't at its best towards the end and I might have had a small Brockman's gin (or two) with ginger ale and blueberries ...... OK it was a large one, but someone did buy it for me and it would have been rude not to drink it ....... and it was full of fruit ........ hic!!

On that note .... I'll say .....
Cheerio until next time .... have fun

It's a little bit MISTI here ......

Happy Friday ......

It's soon come around this week ...... could have something to do with having a Bank Holiday during the week I suppose.  It's going to be a busy weekend too ..... it's hubby's birthday on Sunday!

It's time for a little reminder of this months Craft Stamper TIMI (Take It Make It) Challenge.  It's the turn of Take a Stamp this month so that means Anything Goes as long as there's rubber stamping on there somewhere .... couldn't be simpler!

I've been playing around with my MISTI again (Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented) and I must say I'm loving it.
There's lots of videos and tutorials out there showing just what this piece of equipment can do and they're so easy to follow.

Today's project was inspired by a tutorial I watched recently and I am so sorry but I can't remember the name of the lady that did it .... I feel really bad as I do like to give credit where it's due. So ... if anyone knows the video I'm talking about please feel free to comment and let me know. I've a feeling it may have been on the AlteNew blog but I'm not sure ..... sorry guys, it was a great tutorial!

I've tried this stamping technique a few times ...... sometimes know as double or triple time stamping (stamping the image over two or three different layers).  I don't know about you but I never seemed to get it just right .... there was always that little bit around each layer that didn't stamp clear, and if you tried to go over it well ..... it was never spot on!
Well .... no need for that anymore .... just use the MISTI.

I simply layered my two pieces of card together, marked lightly around the edge of the smaller piece with a pencil (so I knew where to place it back) and then I used my MISTI to stamp the large flower over both pieces.
I then removed the smaller piece of card, inked up the stamp again and stamped the bloom again in EXACTLY the same place onto the large piece .... clever!

I put the small piece of card back in place, made a mask for the large stamped bloom, covered it and then using the MISTI again I stamped the smaller flowers on either side.
I removed the small piece of card as before, masked the large bloom and stamped the smaller ones either side ..... exactly in the same place again!

I added in a little bit of foliage here and there, and then coloured the centre panel using Derwent Inktense pencils, blended with a little water.
The flowers are from a winnie & walter stamp set called Anna's Florals ..... a pretty set of stamps with a nice selection of flowers and leaves to create beautiful floral arrangements.

I splattered a little co-ordinating Distress ink over the design .....

and then mounted the top layer onto a scrap of black cardstock to make the coloured images really pop!

A bold sentiment and a few sequins add the finishing touch.

And of course I couldn't leave the inside empty now could I ......

There's a fabulous prize up for grabs from our sponsor this month .....  Calico Craft Parts

The challenge winner (randomly chosen) will receive this little bundle of goodies ..... all ready for you to assemble and decorate as you wish.

And don't forget there's also our Design Winner .... chosen by the DT.  They get their winning project published in the Craft Stamper magazine (oooh!) ..... a Guest Designer Spot on a future TIMI challenge (oooooooh!) AND their own Winner's Profile on the Craft Stamper Blog (whoo hoo!!!)
Fancy any of that .... well get stamping!

You can enter up to 3 times ..... ONLY ONE CHALLENGE PROJECT PER BLOG POST (sets of ATC's, cards, etc., do NOT count as one project)
Please link back to the Craft Stamper Blog ....... and make sure that your project is linked to your actual project page, NOT just your blog.

Happy stamping!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.
Not sure what we're up to yet .... as I said, it's hubby's birthday on Sunday so hopefully we can get the whole family together.  You never know if the weather's nice we may just get the barbie out again!!

Cheerio until next time

Pinch and a punch for the first of the month .......

Happy Friday folks .....

And welcome to July!!!
We're half way through the year!  Yep .... six months done and dusted ...... how did that happen!!?  It won't be long before my Christmas Countdown appears back here on the blog ....... Ho! Ho! Ho! (actually .... it never really went away.  It just got moved to the bottom so you're not seeing it everyday!)

It's a busy month here ..... it's hubby's birthday, our wedding anniversary, and we were hoping to fit in another trip away ..... we'll have to see about that one!

So .... let's get this month started, with a brand new challenge over on the Craft Stamper Blog.
It's the turn of Take a Stamp this month, so that means Anything Goes ...... as long as there's stamping on there of course!

I've been playing with these amazing new stamps ..... Wonky Tonk Girls designed by Craft Stampers very own Tracy Easson and available through WhichCraft?

This little lady is called Francesca and I love her!!

I've simply stamped her with black Versafine ink, coloured her using Distress Inks, fussy cut around her and added her to the front of my oversized tag.

All of the stamps I've used to create the background come on the same set ..... I love the words!

For the background I swiped Distress ink pads across a manila tag .... two shades of green and two blue, and then lightly spritzed with water to blend the colours a little.

I stamped the clouds and the cute little washing line, then using clean water I removed some of the ink from the clouds before adding a little white acrylic paint, to make them pop a little.

Using my MISTI  (yes I'm acutally using it!!) I stamped the words in place.  Then I painted over them with some white Gesso and then once it was dry, using the MISTI again, I stamped the words exactly in the same place ..... love it!!!  The white gesso underneath makes the words pop that little bit more I think

I added a touch of sparkle to her wings .....

and finished off the tag with a bit of matting and layering using a piece of card that's been given the woodgrain effect ...... a neat little technique from Karen Dunbrook .... so easy, you need to give this a go!

And of course every tag needs some ribbons ....

Now it's over to you.

A few rules to remember about the challenge ......

• You can enter up to 3 projects into the challenge ...... just remember each project MUST have it's OWN blog post.  No sharing the post with  projects for other challenges  ....... Unfortunately if this happens your Craft Stamper entry is not taken into account for the prizes ..... which can be a real shame as some have been stunning entries recently
• Also you need to mention the CS Challenge in your blog post and link to the Craft Stamper Blog challenge page.
• Oh .... and when you enter your project please link back to your actual Blog page NOT just your Blog ..... this makes it easier for the DT to comment on your project.

Sorry to go on a bit about the boring stuff but .... when you've put in all the love and hard work to create something fabulous, you don't want it to be disqualified on a technicality .... just saying!

OK this month's challenge ..... our sponsor is the fabulous Calico Craft Parts

And the winner will receive this amazing bundle of laser cut MDF embellishments and shapes all with a nautical theme ..... 3 aperture ATB kits, 4 beach/nautical mini shape sheets, seashell frame ATC blank,  and a nautical shrine kit

NOTE .... if you're this month's winner this is how your prize will come to you ..... flatpacked.  You need to assemble it yourself ..... it's easy though so don't worry.

You'll find more inspiration on the Craft Stamper Blog ........ the DT have been really busy this month, along with all the challenge details

Happy stamping!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day and have a fab weekend.
I'm still feeling a little under the weather so it's going to be a quiet one for us I think.

Cheerio until next time