Cherry Pie Altered Noticeboard

I have had yet another move around in my craft area, this time adding a desk with a hutch arrangement on top- the kind most people use for their computers. There is a lot more storage, and I finally had a little bit of space to display my favourite ATCs and other items received from other stampers. This was a really simple project to do, and the last photograph shows all of my current inspiration! Click on the photo for a close-up.

Colour: Versafine, Distress Crackle paint, Perfect Pearls, silver embossing powder, Distress Ink
Stamps: Cherry Pie
Other: Calico fabric, satin ribbon, Papermania jewel brads.

I drew the diamonds onto the calico before stamping, and used post-it notes to mask off where I was stamping. The frame was painted with crackle paint, wiped over with Distress Ink, then dusted with Perfect Pearls whilst the ink was still wet. The stars were heat embossed on the calico, but the effect was a bit disappointing. It works best on the silk!

PS The card in the top right hand corner is from my best friend and scrapping buddy, Vicky. I love it!

Glenda's Stampbord Challenge

I am a regular reader of Glenda Waterworth's blog (as so many are- it's number 9 on the Crafty Blogs listings site) and recently she set a challenge with the chance to win some gorgeous new stamps. Those who stop by regularly will know that my current favourite stamps are the Elusive Images words set with all those fab quotes- I have used them for most of my recent projects! I also have a couple more sets, and a wood mounted mandala stamp, which I haven't used since last Christmas. Well, to stop the rambling, Glenda's challenge is to produce something using Elusive Images stamps plus Stampbord, and this is it- a star ornament for my Christmas tree! I haven't had time to look at the other entries, but I am sure they are all beautiful and inspiring. As soon as I have finished this, I'm off to admire!

Colour: Glimmer mist, Dee Gruenig Blending Blox, Paint Dabber, Sakura Stardust pen, Ranger Stickles, Cosmic shimmer embossing powder, Versafine, Versamark
Stamps: Elusive Images
Other: Shrink Plastic, acetate, Stampbord, ribbon and star eyelet from my stash.

The star itself is made by stamping the mandala onto acetate, heat embossing, then spraying three times with Glimmer Mist, leaving it to dry each time. Then I cut it into six triangles, flipped it over, and re-arranged it as the star. I did this twice, and layered them back-to-back. The front Stampbord is a Versamark resist, and the back is heat embossed before colouring, to get a stronger image.

Thanks for the challenge, Glenda, I really enjoyed making this!

Cherry Pie- Inched ATC swap

Eleven of these are currently winging their way to Florida, to Marina, who is hosting this swap. The idea was to use inchies on your ATCs- at least one, but as many as you like. I eagerly signed up to this, but then struggled to come up with a design I liked. In the end I fell back on my favourite face stamp, and a new butterfly stamp. I am pleased with the overall design, although I have no idea what I was trying to say with it!

Colour: Distress Inks, Versafine Sepia, pencil, Brilliance
Stamps: All Cherry Pie
Other: Silk dupion fabric, safety pin, staples, old(ish) paper from an A4 notepad, really old book page, textured watercolour paper, Sizzix tag die

The colour of the old book page hasn't been altered at all (except at the edge of the ATC), but everything else has been, to match. The turquoise colour is watercoloured Distress Ink, and the staples were grunged up with Brilliance. I got truly inky making these!

July's altered art swap- matchbox shrine

This is my first ever shrine, and I loved it. I have always loved working in miniature, so this was an ideal challenge for me. I was inspired by Japanese inro, little boxes that were tucked into a kimono's sash as a pocket. The first one I made was a bit costume-y, and I didn't like it (after spending a lot of time on it, of course!). This is my second attempt, and I managed to put into it the essence of what I admire about Japanese art, while still retaining my own style.

Colour: Versafine, Sparkle and Sprinkle embossing powder, gold Krylon pen
Stamps: Non Sequitur (ginkgo leaf), unknown (crane)
Other: Japanese newspaper, origami paper, gold cord, Ranger Crackle Accents, gold card

The bead is a paper bead, made from the newspaper, and the crane inside was made from a 1" square of the newspaper. If you like origami, check this site out for great tutorials!

UK Stampers are doing Sunday challenges!

I know there are a lot of challenges out there, but it never hurts to have another choice! UK Stampers is now doing a challenge each Sunday, and the challenge is being set by Efemera, otherwise known as Gail, whose work you will have seen in last month's Craft Stamper. We have done two challenges so far. The first was to make something with your oldest and newest stamps. I used the bright card I made for my friend Vicky as the example of my newest stamps (those Inkadinkado flowers), and the top photo here is what I made with my oldest stamp, the Personal Impressions snowflake. I bought it in 1998, and used it originally to make that year's Christmas cards, before putting it away and forgetting about it. Using it again, on the triptych ATC, made me realise how pretty it is, and I may even use it this year for my cards!
The second challenge was to make two Oriental-themed tags, one in colour and one black and white. I found this really challenging, as I don't really 'do' oriental, even though I have a gorgeous set from Non Sequitur. I started by making some stamped paper, then I got so inspired by it that I made a little origami box! (The design for this is from CraftTV Weekly, although I made it smaller this time. Here is the last one I made) I then remembered to make the tags, and I quite like them. I think the black and white one is better, and my Husband likes the red. You decide!

Colour: ATC- alcohol inks, Stazon, silver embossing powder, Tags- Distress Inks, Vivid inks (to colour paper), Brilliance, Perfect Pearls (brushed on and made into a paint), watercolour pencils
Stamps: ATC- Personal Impressions, Non Sequitur, Tags- Non Sequitur, Judikins
Other: Japanese paper, free origami paper downloads from Canon, red card, gold card.

The kimonos were created by paper piecing, using the origami designs. The origami downloads were printed out at half size, so that the proportion was correct for the kimonos, and the Japanese paper was embossed with clear embossing powder to make it go transparent to give the look of a screen.

Saturday Night is Music Night

This is The Avalanches- frontier psychiatrist. Enjoy!

My Lovely New Label Cloud

I have seen these on a few people's blogs recently, and I had to have one! I always use labels, mostly because I get a ridiculous amount of personal satisfaction from categorizing things, and also so anyone can just look at one topic, rather than hunting through the whole blog. Well, phydeaux3 wrote this fab code, and here are the full instructions for installing it in your Blogger template (sorry to all those who use other templates, but I don't know whether this will work for you!) It took me a little while to do, but the instructions are excellent. I love it!