It's the Last call! Compendium of Curiosities...

or is it? Over on Linda's blog Studio L3, it is the final day and final call for her wonderful challenge, Compendium of Curiosities, and page 67 is the page for those of you who have the book, and I spent most of the afternoon creating another sewing piece... seems to be the theme this week! lol
This piece is in honour of Linda, who I openly admire for keeping the challenge going, and for arranging such wonderful prizes each week!
Thank you Linda for a great challenge... here is my piece for the final curtain!



I will be looking forward to what comes next :))
Have a creative day!

Fragmented mistake!

It is not often that I will ever admit publicly to creating a piece that is not quite up to scratch, and then blogging it for all the world to see!!!!! I know we all blog pieces that perhaps we don't like or have blogged just because..., but yesterday piece for Linda's Compendium of Curiosities, just didn't ring right to me, and overnight I decided to remake it! I loved the concept of using a watch face instead of a fragment, but I hurried it, and the watch glass was bevelled, so this time I found a flat one in my stash, and set about remaking it. I made it the same, using Distress Stains and Distress inks for the background, but this time stamped the girl in Black Archival. I destroyed the other tag in the making re-using all the elements, and boy am I glad I did.. this is so much better, or is it?!lol



So go on admit to me , if you could would you remake anything you have made, or do you hide it away in the hope when you next see it, it will look good?
Have a very Creative Day!
Hugs

Collaging my way...

with a challenge! Over on Linda's blog, the Compendium of Curiosities challenge is almost at an end...*sad face *, but there is still time to join in, and this week it is page 63's turn! I have to say i started this out as something completely different, and I wanted to use the round fragments, but couldn't find mine, so have improvised with a glass watch face! The background is Distress stains (due in very very soon), and the stamp is a collage one from The Artistic Stamper, which I also used with stains...oh be still my beating heart.. you are going to love these!! Just adore the new wings from Idea-ology, and of course the Alphaparts which are self adhesive.. so no messy gluey fingers here!



Thank you Linda for the opportunity to get inspired, and if you feel like a bit of inspiration popover to her studio for a play!

A curious scribble stain!

Oh my! I have been very good, and today is my second post of the year on 2.1.11!!! lol ( if I post tomorrow it will be a miracle! ) Today for the first time for ages I have entered Linda's Compendium of Curiosities challenge with Tim's scribble stain technique. It being Sunday, and still the holidays here in the UK until Tuesday..I have to say I have been quite lazy and just made a very quickie tag using the technique found on page 34 of Compendium of Curiosities book. Stamps used Mr Holtz's with a little snippet of The Artistic Stamper open Sequin waste!



Thank you Linda for the inspiration and challenge.
Happy Creating!
Hugs x

Splattered!

It has been ages since I have joined in with any challenge, and I particularly like Linda's Compendium of Curiosities. This week it is from page 52 of Tim's book, and is the alcohol ink splatter technique.
 I have made 2 tags using a clear tag which had amazing effects, but almost impossible to photograph, and the second one is using Wendy Vecchi stamps. I made them plain and simple. The clear tag used Tim's new Falling Leaf stamps, and I did actually stamp on the non inked side.



Thank you Linda for the challenge, made me think as usual!! I have Hels coming today, so am off to get ready, as she told me that she will be here with the larks!! lol
Have a very Creative day!
Hugs
 

Curiousity Masking....

This piece is for Linda's great challenge Compendium of Curiosities over on her blog-. This week's challenge is masks basics, on page 58, and I used the new Alterations Rickety House die, made my own mask, and added a few extras. Spot the pumpkin patch texture fade...which I cut out and distress inked. A little bit of Mustard Seed crackle paint for the moon and windows, and a few flying birds. Was kind of wishing for a tiny witch face for one of the windows.. but I don't have one :((



Thank you Linda for the challenge, it always stretches my creativity :))
Happy Creating

Floral Grunging!

I finally managed to make the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge this week by the skin of my teeth with just  over 10 hours to go!! Phew! When I first saw , I thought brilliant.. I love making them, but what happened to this week? Where did it go? Seemed to have gone forward ten steps and back 20 !! Oh well ! I did find time to make them this afternoon, and have duly added my link to Linda's wonderful blog! Can't tell you anything about how to do them , as that is against the rules, just to say it is on page 65 of Tim's book, and if you are lucky you could even win one from me here!
Thank Linda for the inspiration.. here it is!

I will be back tomorrow with photos from my workshop, which was great fun as usual :)
Happy Creating!

Celebration Time!-edited to add more candy!!

Today is my blogaversary, and who would have thought 3 years ago, that I would be telling you about my days, showing you my ART (such as it is! lol) ,or trying to photograph you my VERY messy desk!

 I love what I do, I love that I make stamps, that I can indulge in making art, that I teach , and that I have learnt so much over the years! I also love that I have met so many talented people from all over the world too through the power of the blog!
 It is only made possible by you, who buy my stamps and products, and create with them...

So to celebrate I am GIVING AWAY over £100 worth of goodies, including Tim's Compendium of Curiosities, a wooden bird to alter, a Sizzix Alteration, lots of Artistic Stamper stamps, Kling-On, a mini suitcase  that is impossible to get anymore, grungepaper, and some idea-ology.

Who knows I may even throw in more ( some of the new Sizzix dies are winging their way to me for delivery on Monday!*wink*). Actually if we have more than 100 comments I will add a new die.

So... to WIN this all you have to do is make a comment below, add the candy to your sidebar if you wish, make a comment on The Artistic Stamper Creative Team blog too, ( checkout the art there.. stunning!) and become a follower of both blogs. My!  that means you have FIVE whopping chances to win!! That is good odds in my book!! lol. I will post all around the world too! The blog candy finishes in two weeks, and  I will choose the winner or could that be winners *wink* on Monday 27th September.

Just as an aside, a big thank you to Hels, who made the first comment on my blog, and encouraged me to go for it.... :)))
I need to get some sleep as I am making a mess with melt art at Pickleberry Papercrafts later today, and hoping to have some fun too!
Happy Creativity and good luck!

edited-- to add this wonderful Alterations embossing folder, as we now have more than 100 comments.. make it 200 and I will add more!!!





Good Luck in the draw!
 

Chipping Away

It's week 12 of the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge , and this week it is Chipped Enamel. I have to say in all honesty that the Distress embossing powders are not my favourite product, although the stamp I have used is!! lol To find out how to do the technique you need to go to page 44 of Tim's book.

I used a very very small tin that slides open, and covered the tin in Stonewashed Alcohol ink before I started. I can't tell how to do what I did, suffice it to say I used Mustard Seed, Broken China and Worn Lipstick on the tin with the cogs background for the stamp.

To join in  just hop,skip and cyber jump over to Lovely Linda's blog.
Have a creatively super Saturday!

Blend it, blend it!

I am loving the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge over on Linda's blog, for the simple fact that I can use a technique I already know and maybe push the boundaries on it a little bit. That is exactly what I did with this tag for the challenge. To find out what I did you need to turn to page 36 of Tim's newest book.. and follow the instructions. I did follow them, and pushed the blended batik a little further than normal. I have to say the idea came from the first tag I did, then I messed it up, so did a second tag, and actually I even did a third tag! This is the 4th one! and on this I even made a mistake.. Can you spot it ? it is very glaringly obvious!! lol I used stamps from both of the new birds ranges and the bare tree, adding the leaves to it..loved the effect.. just as I had hoped for :))The background is a Calligraphy Mat ( we have lots of these)  In spite of the mistake.. I adore the effect the batik can produce.

If you have never entered this challenge, the prizes are awesome, and it is such fun. If you don't have the book, we do have some in stock here. Don't forget the blog candy over on The Creative Team blog ends today too at 6pm GMT, when I will be picking the winner!!

Linda, thank you for the challenge, I had a blast doing it!

Have a very creative day,

 

I am distressed!

because this week over on Compendium of Curiosities,week 10,  there is no page number, just Distress Stickles! lol.. It meant I had to make something up!  Actually these are so underused, that it was pleasure to get them out and play. I actually used them to make a Birthday card for my step-daughter, Mickey , who was 21 last week! Happy Birthday Mickey!! (Hoping she doesn't spot this on facebook before I give it to her! :))))  I used some of the girls's paperie stickers, a few of  the Salvage Stickers, and of, course, how could one not, a calendar paper from Lost and Found! Add a star for a star, and my distress is over!

I used Distress stickle colours Faded Jeans, Scattered Straw, Worn Lipstick ( just love this name!) Shabby Shutters and Spice Marmalade.
Thank you Linda for the challenge, and if you have no idea what on earth I am going on about pop over to Linda's blog , and check it out!
Happy stickly Creating!

Cracking Curiosity...

This week over on LInda's blog Studio L3 ( what a great name :) we have reached week 9 of Compendium of Curiosities challenge!! week 9! I only think I have done some of them, and this one appealed. No telling you how to do it.. you need THE BOOK!  However I can tell you I made a tag, used the Fanciful Flight die, and Tim's Grunge paper stack.. Was great fun making this...and a challenge to say the least!

Thank you Linda... and if you haven't taken part yet.. have a go.. some great prizes up for grabs:)))
Edited....to also include Simon Says Stamp And Show as this also fits the bill, and it was suggested to me by Lynne that I enter it!
Have crackingly creative day!
Hugs

CCC # 6 -down route 66 or in my case..81/2!

I took time out this week to take part in Linda's great weekly challenge, and travelled down the road of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities to page 66! Multi-medium Collage technique. I am not allowed to tell you how I made this, as those are the rules...but suffice it to say I used a tag, lots of  Studio multi medium,  two Wendy Vecchi stamps borrowed from Hels, some of my collage stamps which are on sale right now in the shop, and lots of idea-ology. I did distress ink in Chipped Sapphire, and Forest Gump! lol... and used pages from a Gazetteer which are thin and perfect for this technique.. all I can say is the thinner the paper the better.

I have to say I really have absolutely no idea where I was going with this piece, but it seems to be travel based, kind of...lol postcards, stamps, old maps, and an 8 and a half!!! On reflection I should have done a 66, but it makes life interesting, so give me the best reason for the 8 1/2 and I will send you the tag :)....answers in the comments or on a postcard!!
May creativity be with you today :)))
Hugs

Shabby Chic Blues

I like challenges as I have found they get the mojo flowing, and even though I have to admit, this piece has had a little bit of birdie influence from a certain person! It was so fun doing this technique again. Over on Studio L3 there is a challenge using techniques from Tim's Compendium of Curiosities.   This week's challenge is to use page 49.
I used a beer mat ( first one for me) , black and cool peri dabbers, made a metal bird from Tim's dies,used  an adage ticket and an ornate plate, added a hanger ,{ sorry this is no longer available, as it has been discontinued :( } and was really quite pleased with the finished piece. The stamps are Tim's from Artful Artifacts.  Thank you Linda for the challenge, it is a great way to spend an afternoon.

Do pop over to Linda's blog and take part if you have the book.
Have a very Creative day