Published!

I am ecstatic about this- really! This is the first time anything I have created has been published (I have never submitted before) and I have not one but two pages in this article! This article was written by Sarah for the UK's only stamping magazine, Craft Stamper, and it is about the UK Stamper's 'just one stamp' circle journal that I took part in. Big thanks to Sarah, because she not only had to write the article, but also had to do all of the organising and posting.
The 'legs' page uses only the stamp provided, with the rest collaged, but the 'dressing up' page had loads of stamping, and I used a lot of fun techniques, too. The other pages are gorgeous, too, and I feel very lucky to have been involved. And the 'pear' journal you see pictured here, well, that's mine, and when it eventually flies home I will do a slide show so that you can see the amazing art I now own :D

DT Call at Toodles and Binks

I realise I'm not known for my love of cute stamps, but sometimes needs must, especially at this time of year when I have all of my little boy's friends to make birthday, then Christmas cards for. Kay, over at Stamp Galaxy, and also from UK Stampers Forum, has got herself a rubber cooker and a great designer (and I think has the first plates already!), and is now putting out a design team call over at the Toodles and Binks blog. Here it is:

We’re looking for another Design Team Member

28 09 2008

have you got what it takes?

We appreciate that it’s going to be difficult for you to answer this without seeing our designs, but they aren’t ready for release for about 2 weeks (there might be a sneak peek in a few days though) ……….. also if you look in the side bar you will see a link under “Design Team” to Rose-a-petits-pois, which is a whopping big clue to the kind of images that will be available.

If you’re interested, to help us to decide if you might have what we are looking for, all you need to do is submit 3 pieces of work to us (via you blog is fine) using any of the the following stamps~:

Sugar Nellie

Magnolia

Whiff of Joy

Spiral Whispers

Stampin’ Up

Penny Black

If possible, we’d like to see:

• a card
• a tag
• and another small project of your choice

Please comment on this post with a link to your blog so we can check them out. If you are a Member of UK STampers please also include your username in the comment. If you don’t have a blog then please send an email with jpeg attachments (there is a link here to the Customer Service email address).

At the moment we will be able to offer one DT post, but we will also be giving away 2 pieces of blog candy chosen at random ….. so what have you got to lose, you’ve got to be in it to win it!

Deadline: 10th October 2008

If you're interested, go and have a look, and even if you're not, have a look anyway as the designer(s?) are really good! I'm just hoping the first release happens before I have my big making splurge...

I can't believe it has been 14 years!

It was my Wedding Anniversary on Wednesday, and as the title says, it has been 14 years since we got married! For once, I hadn't made a card, as I was so busy last week, but Paul knew I would make him 'something'! This is a tiny canvas, 8cm x 6cm that my friend got for me from LB Crafts. I have made the reverse into a niche, and I am going to use it for something personal and probably slushy for Paul!

Colour: Glimmer Mist, Stazon, Distress Ink, Versafine, heat embossing, Paint Dabber
Stamps: Elusive Images, Studio g (i)
Other: self-adhesive metal tape, tissue paper, old book page, Sizzlits tag die, embossing tool, drinks can

The little word plate was made by cutting up a drinks can and heating it in a gas flame, and I was told about this by Tasha. It was fun to do! ( Yes, that's my handwriting again :D ) I also planned this piece to fit in with Wednesday Stamper, where the theme is pattern. The damask background was made by stamping a heart stamp three times, close together.

Playing with my Brayer

The good thing about making ATCs in threes is that you can have a play around with one image. This is for UK Stampers September swap, and the theme was 'Buildings or Structures'. I faffed around for most of this month, thinking up ideas and discarding them, and determinedly resisting Elusive Images new Paris stamps, and then last night I decided to use this Paperartsy stamp, which is a stand-alone ATC-sized image. I had bought a new brayer recently, and thought it would be the ideal stamp to use it with. Little did I know that it wasn't like using a paint-roller and tray- I had ink-pads flying around the room, and ended up with the inkiest blue hands ever! Then (after begging for help on the forum) Joanne came to my aid with a link to a Youtube video, and the penny dropped- you take the pad to the brayer, just like taking the pad to the stamp. Sarah came up with some good advice, too- I love forums :D !

Colour: Marvy 'Dee Greunig' Blending Blox, Distress Inks, Versafine, Sakura clear Stardust pen
Stamp: Paperartsy
Other: Woodware brayer

UK Stampers Sunday Challenge no. 7- Pirates!

Gail likes to do interesting themes for her challenges, and this week's was no exception!

Sunday challenge no7

Did you know that the 19th of September is International Talk Like A Pirate Day?.............
Well it is!This weeks challenge is to create something with a Pirate theme...It could be an eye patch, a hat (which you could wear on said day!) or something simple like a card or an ATC..Upload here on the blog or post a link
Happy stamping!

It took me all week to think of what to do for this, but in the end it was a shop window display that inspired me!

Colour: Glimmer Mist, Stazon, Distress Inks, Paint Dabber, Versafine
Stamps: Rubadubbado (map), PSX (alphabet)
Other: Thin leather thong, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Lucky Squirrel sanding block, Grungeboard mini, Redicut gems, 3D Jean corner embellishments.

I was originally going to do the Bandanna technique for the background, but I was inspired by a recent post on Glenda Waterworth's blog. She had been playing with white core card, embossing folders and Glimmer Mists, and so I cut out the white-core card stage and just used plain ol' white card! The red colour is Glimmer Mist, then I sanded, then inked the pattern with Stazon, and sanded again. There you have it, textured Bandanna!

Two Tags

I may moan about making cards, but I can't say the same about tags- I love making them so much! Maybe I should make some tag-like cards LOL! These are for two kind cyber-friends, who both sent me something and saved me from spending money unnecessarily- thanks, Sid and Sarah. I hope you enjoy the little packages I sent back!

Colour: Glimmer Mists, Distress Inks, Versafine, Cosmic Shimmer mica powders, clear and aurora ep, Ranger white pen
Stamps: Cherry Pie, Paperartsy, Rubadubbado, Elusive Images
Other: Manila luggage tags, old book page, acetate, eyelets staples, ribbon and fibres, all from my stash, Cuttlebug embossing folder.

The dragonfly is part of the stamp sheet I bought last weekend, after swearing I would not buy any stamps! But after spending half an hour with Paperartsy's Leandra Frainch, I couldn't resist any longer! Now I just need a melt pot... :D

A Photo of a Card I Made

I haven't really shown a lot of cards recently, as I am usually pretty dissatisfied with the results. They are OK, but not really 'me'. Well, this one is different, because I am actually quite pleased with it! I realise it isn't complicated or technically brilliant, but it's true to my style and I knew my Mum would like it, too. Whew! I hope I can keep it up, as I have nine children's birthday cards to make, and four more adult birthdays, too. I am finding time for fun stamping, too, but you will have to wait a couple of days before I can show anything else, as it's in the post, going to the recipients!

Colour: Distress Ink, heat embossing
Stamps: Elusive Images
Other: silver card, free patterned paper (I can't remember which magazine!)