A little birdie told me it's Springtime!

For those of you observant enough to notice the mini gold birdhouse on my desk this week, here is the finished piece. I love these mini birdhouses, and I rubbed onto it, some of the Inka Gold Cream. This is a waxy type cream that if you can put on with a sponge, and when it is dry , polish it up with a dry cloth to a shine. The pot will last for ages :).

I then used the new Large lace stamp and stamped in Black Archival ink on the roof, and stamped"branches" round the sides from one of Tim's mini stamps.

The clock face is an old one with one hand still attached, and these often come in my vintage watch bags. The spring is also from the same bags. My favourite bit is the little idea-ology charm from Tim, and these will be available shortly from the shop. I pinched this one from a make and take I did at CHA. I added a tiny bit of gold dabber to him and wiped off when it it was almost dry. Apologies for the photos, have you ever tried to photograph something that swings in the breeze? lol . For size this whole piece is about the length of my finger.. truly tiny :)

I am hoping this qualifies for the Lots to Do challenge which starts today called Springtime!  spring...birdhouse...watch face..time? get it? sorry brain is running away with me here! This was actually just a lucky break as I saw the challlenge and thought this would fit perfectly.
I haven't forgotten the winner of the Alice stamp either, and this week's giveaway is one of these mini birdhouses, all you have to do is comment on any post.
So step up... ANN   Congratulations, and please email me your addie.
Off now to put my feet up...mmmm don't think so, but one can live in hope!
Hugs

Simple Stamping Technique

This is my first play with the new Alice in Wonderland stamp by Mabel Lucie Attwell, and I wanted to stamp on top of this piece, Help, but couldn't find a stamp that said help, or even any letters that I could spell out the word! So I used one of Mr Holtz's sayings which I thought apt. This is an old fashioned piece of stamping using the mask technique, and distress inks. I used only the new colours, Rusty Hinge, Crushed Olive, Pumice Stone, Wild Honey.

If you have never masked before, then here's how. Stamp your stamp onto a post-it note, or scrap piece of paper, and cut carefully out. Use a knife to get into those hard to reach places. Stamp your mage on your main piece of card or background, and lay the mask on top of the stamped image. I carefully added a VERY SMALL touch of glue to mine to stop it slipping, while I did the background. I then added distress inks all around it , and across it, making sure I inked right up to the mask.

 Before removing the mask, stamp anything else you want. I used the new Lace background for the table cloth , and stamped it in one of the distress inks. Remove the mask, and you should have one stamp , on a coloured background. Any missing areas, I touched up with a waterbrush and the appropriate colour ink. I coloured in the image by swooshing the distress inks on my non stick mat, and used a wet paintbrush to apply colour to the image. I love distress inks for this purpose, but any ink that is water based will be fine. Finally I added the sentiment in Rusty Hinge.

Don't forget if you comment on this post, you are in with a chance to win this particular stamp! I will draw the winner tomorrow :)
I hope you like, and have a simple Creative Day
Hugs

Embossing Lace

One of the new stamps out this week, is a large A6 size lace stamp which I thought I would show you with the Queen's gold embossing powder. In fact, all of the lace stamps heat emboss beautifully. I heat embossed it with the gold on a piece of chipboard, and then smooshed over it Spun sugar distress ink, and wiped off all the excess with a kitchen towel. Then I used grungeboard butterlies and dragonfly again using the Barn Door direct to the grungeboard, adding a  bit of Rusty Hinge to it for depth. The grungepaper rose I made using the same lace stamp ( oh joy , think this is my new favourite stamp!) and gold embossing it, and then using the same technique of wiping over it with Barn Door distress ink.

 The grungepaper likes embossing, but curling the paper needs to be done carefully to avoid cracking. The butterfly was overstamped in Archival black using part of the lacy border stamp. An ideaology pin was added to the centre and filled with Glossy Accents. The Dragonfly has a bead chip just in the centre. The letters and leaves are from the Grungeboard Nature set.

Don't forget to comment as you could be in for a prize of one of the new Alice stamps!
Have a creatively good day!

One Stop Craft Challenge

A Very Happy Love day to you, and after yesterday's exhausting and very full workshop, I have managed to find time today to make a little card for the One Stop Craft Challenge, which we are sponsoring this week. This is a chance for you to get out your cardmaking kit and get creating! I made a card using a little piece I made yesterday with one of the Gibson girls on alcohol inked card, distress inks, and the new lacy stamp. The FREE postage still applies today, so if you are thinking of browing , it is certainly worth it!This piece also qualifies for Hels Sunday Stamper..coo I am getting a lot in one blog post!

Don't forget the blog hop, below, and the final day for enetering my mega giveaway with One World, One Heart, which has over a 1000 blog hops!
Tomorrow I will be back with inky fingers from the workshop , and a new technique for you too! will also explain the love tin on the post below too...
I am having a fabulous meal cooked by the packing pixie, so hope that you have a great evening, and if you were lucky enough to get chocolates or roses..enjoy, and if not, a big hug to you!

A little interlude..

Where has this week gone? I blinked and it is Friday! Can anyone explain to me the vagaries of missing days? lol I guess I have just been busy making stamps, and filling orders, and prepping workshops! I only blinked...doh! I have been so busy, that no artwork has been made, and I feel bereft of creativity, but never mind, here is a piece that I made at CHA on the 7 Gypsies booth. It was such fun making this piece and this is where I met Gerrie, who I just love and who is so full of life! Check out her version of a Mabel stamp.

and then we stopped by Crafty Chicas stand, and played with feathers and glitter and got thoroughly messy! This was a fun piece!

This weekend I have lots going on, as there is a brilliant blog hop tomorrow, and a new challenge too! oh, and my workshop which I will try to remember to take photos of ...just have to tell the brain cells to take the camera! Oh and there is  free postage too on the website this weekend WORLDWIDE! Did I tell you about the new stamps? Lace! Yummy, check them out here!
Don't forget to pop back on here tomorrow afternoon after 3pm!
See you then
Hugs