Lovely Fat Chip :O))

Hello Again,

Ah, you all thought that I was going to be talking about food then, didn't you?

In fact, I am on about the heavenly Chipboard that is available HERE and it the bestest chip I have ever used - for the simple reasons that it is very thick and it has a perfect smooth white front and a grey backing, so it is just crying out to be altered! Also, because it is so substantial, it will take all kinds of hammering and UTEE and bashing about....get my drift? LOL

I forgot to say, it is Hels here again, poor Jennie is still out of action with her poorly broken arm, so I have a little something for you to look at and also to tempt you into saving money! Never let it be said that I don't think of your purses you know...we all need to save, so pop on over to The Artistic Stamper website, where there is a special Bank Holiday bonanza going on - 25% off your order when you spend £25 or more. See, savings already! And, even better, Jennie has all the Grungeboard in stock, along with the Idea-ology range, the new Stitchels Snowmen and Mini Flowers....I can feel a spend coming on myself you know LOL

Here is a little tag that I made using the Chipboard shapes, which are so reasonably priced, it would be rude not to go and have a little look now wouldn't it? In fact, I have to add here and now that a packet of the tags like I have used only cost 96p!!! Yes, less than a £1!!! Go on, you know you want to :O))



I used Crafty Individuals papers from the Springtime Pad, an image from the Garden Plate and then added some distressing to the edges, a little slide mount and some pearls as embellies. The little flower is actually cut from the paper design and jazzed up with a little sticky pearl.

Click on any of the highlighted words in this post to be transported into a little Aladdins cave of heavenly stash. What better way to spend a wet Bank Holiday weekend eh? And, if it isn't raining, what a fab excuse to celebrate the sunshine LOL Oh, and if you are a little low on MoJo, Jennie also has some great projects on her site too...so you can even get the old creative juices flowing too.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you all have a great weekend (and a little spendy treaty yourself too!! )

Big hugs for Jennie, take it easy and get well soon hun xx

Hels xx

Ultra Thick Tag

Hello everyone,

Poor Jennie, she is in a lot of pain bless her, so I thought I would cheer her up and send her a little tag I made using lots of yummy stash from The Artistic Stamper.

I am blogging this tag here cos Jennie can't really type much at the moment, so I am being her faithful assistant :O)) LOL

I started by using a large chipboard tag and covering it in papers by Crafty Individuals from their Springtime pad. I used an emery board and really went to town on the distressing around the edge of the tag as I wanted it to look really old and distressed.



I next used three pieces of stampboard, which I coloured using pink ink and then stamped images from the Garden Plate onto the Stampbord using Blue Archival ink. I waited until the ink had dried and then covered each piece of Stampbord with three layers of clear UTEE. Wow, the UTEE from The Artistic Stamper is the best I have ever used.....yes, I know you all think I would say that anyway, but being completely honest, it truly is fab to use. Basically, it is a fine powder but not too fine that it doesn't give a thick enough layer and it melts really quickly and evenly too.

I added gold edging to the squares using a Krylon pen, added a few of the Prima flowers from their new range and finally printed off a little word that says Friendship - you can't really see it with my rubbish photography though - and I popped Glossy Accents all over the top of this to match it in with the glossy finish of the UTEE.

I just wanted to tell you all that Jennie is having a special 25% off offer on The Artistic Stamper website - on orders over £25, you will receive 25% off - yes, that is saving....er....well, you can do the maths!! Click HERE and grab yourself a few bargains, Jennie has loads of Grungeboard and Tim's Elements in stock as well as the new Stitchels Flower & Snowmen ranges and even more fabby stamps, Chipboard, inkpads, papers and embellies for you to treat yourself to!

Get well soon Jen, we are all thinking about you and wishing you well...and don't over do it!!!

Thanks for looking

Hels xx

An Unlucky Break

Hello everyone,

I have some bad news for you all.

Jennie has fallen and broken her arm today, bless her, she is in agony and I know I kept telling her to take a break but I didn't mean literally!

As a result of this, whilst the online store at The Artistic Stamper will be open as usual for business, it may take a few days to get your orders out to you....but rest assured that it is business as usual.... Jennie has asked me to pass on this message to you and I am sure that you will all join me in wishing her a very speedy recovery and send her a massive big hug too.

Thanks

Hels
Creative Team Co-Ordinator.

New Challenge Coming...

on Saturday.. get our your mojos, those papers, embellishments, stamps, and anything you have.. and start thinking outside of the box!

Saturday 16th August sees the launch of a brand new blog challenge!

For a sneak preview go to

Blog Award

Joy gave me this award and the rules are

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog

2. Link the person you received your award from

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs

4. Put links of those blogs on yours

5. Leave a message on the blogs of the girls you’ve nominated

I find it so difficult to nominate anyone as I love all the blogs I visit, so anyone who stops by and comments can claim it!

Thank you Joy for nominating me. It is much appreciated .

Now, get out your best inks, and mojo, and prepare yourself for creating , as from Saturday there will be a new blog challenge which will definitely challenge your creative juices......

I do hope you are prepared!

Tag Book

At my workshop on Saturday at Sharon's Card Crafts, I taught a class making a tag book using Stitchels Stamps, and our Tag chipboard, and my favourite of all a Bind-it-All! We used several techniques, alcohol inks from Kuretake, (now on the website!), chalks and a shaving foam technique using Adirondack Colour Wash Inks.I used the mini and the mini mini Stitchels stamps,just gorgeous to use, although not the most perfect scissor technique I have ever done! The little knob on the front of the book is one of Tim Holtz ideaology hitch fasteners, and I tied a little piece of fibre to the back to lock the book together. The inside of the book was done using chalks, I lurve these, and I coloured the edges too! For those of you interested in our new blog challenge, I hope you are up for a challenge- it certainly isn't for the faint-hearted, and if you are interested I shall be looking for guest designers too!

Alcohol ink Canvas and New Blog Challenge coming soon....

For those of you who liked the Tim Holtz technique, I took a class yesterday using this technique, and using the Time and Keys plate from The Artistic Stamper. I alcohol inked the canvas directly , and then used the fragments and the resist technique. I thought it was a cool canvas!

Some great news for those of you who like doing challenges. I am starting a NEW challenge next Saturday, called "Objet d'Art" . It's title might give it away, but I hope that those who like adventurous art will take part. There will be blog candy as always too!

Watch this space.........

Finally we have new stamps on the website-CHRISTMAS Stitchels, snowmen, and snowwomen, and also mini Stitchels! On Hels blog she has done some gorgeous cards with them.

Have a great Sunday!

Stitchels Journal

I made this journal for a workshop a couple of weeks ago, and I just loved making it. I used the Stitchels stamps, and The Artistic Stamper chipboard A6 book blanks, our pearlescent paints, and buttons. It was a very tactile book, and instructions for it are on the website along with the Arty Girlz black and white journal. We ship all over the world, so if you would like the Stitchels stamps please just order or email and we will quote you the shipping. Shipping is always sent at cost.

If you would like to make this journal all the instructions are on the website. They are becoming addictive!

Alcohol ink resist

I just had to try this technique that Tim Holtz showed this month. I always have my alcohol inks around me as I love them! I use Rangers and some from Kuretake too(they have very bright colours). I used a couple of fragments, and a domino to try it out, and was rather pleased with the results. I feel a bigger project coming on...... The pics look rather big, but they are 1 inch squares from the fragments pack. Interesting technique when gluing with the glossy accents- use very very little as it kind of moves the alcohol ink on the glossy paper...another technique I think
Stamps used Daisy, and one of the clocks from The Artistic Stamper.

Winner of The Christmas in July Challenge

Apologies for not blogging this yesterday, but it has been one of those weeks, when other events have taken over blogging! My dear daughter went to Israel yesterday to stay with her Grandma. It was a ridiculously early flight, and we had to be at Stansted at 7.30am! That meant me getting up at 5 to be at hers' at 6.15am. This time she had her passport, suitcase, and laptop,and true to form, she also had 3 large black bags of washing ( ........could I just wash it all for her!!), and boxes of stuff she doesn't need anymore to store for her at home! So while she is away I shall be washing and drying and folding- I don't do ironing! I have discovered over the years if you pile all the washing neatly it irons itself!!!!

On another happy note, the winner of The Christmas in July blog Challenge is....drum roll

Mezza.

Congratulations! Please email me your address so Hel's gorgeous Canvas can wing its way to you.

Later this month on the 17th August I have a NEW BLOG CHALLENGE starting up. It will be every 2 weeks, and I hope it wil get your creative juices working, as it is no ordinary challenge. There will be blog candy too! So keep checking back.

Happy Stamping