Canvas Time

Or should that be Christmas time? This was a piece I designed for a workshop last Saturday. It was the first piece that I did after I broke my arm, and wasn't totally sure about it. There are chipboard pieces on it, with silver utee, Stampbord with alcohol inks, and the the background is done in alcohol inks too!
I shall put the project onto the website, so you can make it if you like. What you can't smell is the cloves and cinnamon stick wrapped in wire. Makes it smell so Christmassy!

Blog Candy Winner and 21st Scrapbook

I don't know where the week has gone, and I haven't blogged at all. But I have been busy creating! My DD Aimee, had a 21st birthday on Sunday (where have the years gone-only seems like yesterday when she was born!), and to celebrate I made her an 8 x 8 scrapbook of her life so far. I had a blast making it, and there was paper and glue and stickers all over the place! I won't show you it all as some is just photos of her friends through the years, and grandparents etc. But here are a couple of pages I particularly liked. The Paris connection is her birthday present from me, when she and I can arrange a date that suit us both! I used stamps that I was given from Absolument Scrap when we visited them in Paris last November., and I also used some of Tim's gorgeous idea-ology bits and pieces. I am not sure that the pictures do the pages justice.

I now have to make one for my son, who has intimated that he would like one!

On another note, I have chosen the winner of the blig candy, and the number on the random generator is:

Number 11 . I added the followers and the comments and the winner is....

Shaz. Congratulations, and don't forget to email me your address.

This post seems to have taken me forever as I kept getting sidetracked...the wonders of the net!

More Creative Team artwork

Running a stamp company always leaves me so little time to create, and this week is no exception. For the shows that we do periodically, and to show off our stamps and associated products, we always call on our talented artists to create artwork from our stamps, and Susan and Lucy put their talents to good use. Here are a couple of cards from them both. Susan's is the first one.

To see more stamps and loads of products go browsing in our store.

Don't forget to comment on the blog candy too!

More Creative Team Artwork,more Blog Candy, and exciting news...

Oooh, I noticed I hadn't blogged for a couple of days or more , and thought I know I shall give some more blog candy away. All you have to do is become a follower,or comment and if you can list me on your blog that I am giving away some gorgeous eye candy that would be good too! I shall pull the winner out of the hat, so to speak, next Wednesday.

As promised here is some more gorgeous artwork from the Creative Team, this time Nicky, who has made the most amazing Christmas tree from Stitchels Hearts printed onto paper.

Finally I have good news! We have a new member to the Creative Team for The Artistic Stamper, who I believe will bring a touch of humour and positive thinking into making artwork! May I introduce you to Calvin, fruit inker extra-ordinaire, and a man of many talents! Welcome Calvin!

Alongside Calvin, Linda, has also agred to be a member of the Creative Team, taking on the task of helping Hels create fabulous artwork with the Stitchels. Welcome Linda!

I would also like to introduce you to Maddy, who has agreed to let me sponsor her Fimo sculpting, and who is an extra special member of the Creative Team, and hopefully will introduce us all to the world of creating gorgeous miniature fairies, mice and castles in the air!

Don't forget to join in for the blog candy, and keep an eye on my new blog challenge as there will be blog candy on there too this week!

More Christmas artwork from...

Dan , one of the Creative Team, has always inspired me with his artwork, and this picture frame he created with The Artistic Stamper Stamps was no exception.

If you check out his blog, he has free templates every week, and this week it is Christmas Baubles! The snowflake used in the artwork is another one of his templates.

More artwork tomorrow.

Not sure if I deserve this...

but I have been given a "helpful Blogger " award by Calvin

I have to give this away to 2 or more people who have helped me along the way. I am totally and absolutely useless at choosing anyone, as so many people have given me inspiration to blog my work, so anyone who reads this post, please consider yourself a helpful blogger and pass it on to someone who is deserving.

Today Christmas comes from Andrea in the form of 2 gorgeous puzzle pieces. I love these , and they are truly inspirational.... Andrea take note!

For those of you who would like to take a workshop I am doing a Christmas canvas and altered Art  workshop at Sharon's Card Crafts on November 1st, and ther are one or two places left. For more information see here

Finally for those of you who like altered art, I finally got my mojo back, and the Objet D'art challenge will start on November 1st!!! YAH! So bookmark it or got to it and become a follower as I shall be giving away blog candy!

Creative Team Artwork

I promised you yesterday artwork by the Creative Team, and here are 3 pieces by Hels, all Christmas in theme and using the Stitchels Snowmen and Women...Guaranteed to cheer up your day!

Happy Stamping

Blog Candy Winner and a Short Movie!!!!!

This past weekend, I have returned from the wonderful show held twice a year at Port Sunlight. To me this is the best show of the year, as it a Stamp Festival, and run by a club of rubber stampers in the North West of England. Next May is the 21st show, and I plan to be there to help them celebrate their wonderful achievement. Unbeknownst to me, Mal took a very very short video of me on the Saturday putting the final touches to the stand, and I spent a little time making it into a video for you :) This year Amanda Bateman demoed, alongside Craig from Marking World, and it was lot of fun. I did miss demoing though, and definitely will be doing so next time.

Finally, the winner of the candy is.... drum roll.......
CAZZY
Congratulations! Please email me , so I can send your candy.
Over the next week, I will showcase some of the gorgeous artwork done for me by the Creative Team for the show....so bookmark and check back regularly.

Another canvas and more blog candy!

Autumn seems to have come on quickly , the heating has come on and we are lighting fires to keep us warm in the evening, and my arm is slowly getting its use back. I haven't had time to make anything yet, but found another canvas to show you from a batch I made last year.

I also have more blog candy to give away. This time a Jamboree bag which are vintage and found objects and for the lucky winner a bag of watch pieces too!

All you have to do is link to my blog and post a comment. The winner will be chosen Sunday 12th October.
Happy Stamping!

Blog Candy Winner..

......is Karin. Congratulations and please email me with your snail mail address, so I can send yuou your candy!
I finally have been told that I have my arm back, woohoo!!!!so with care I shall be blogging more and making more artwork for you to look at.

Here is a canvas I made last year....

Happy Stamping

More Blog Candy

Just because hopefully this time next week, I will have my right arm back!
Leave a comment to win, and if you feel like it let other people know on your own blog I am giving candy away too!

Winner will be drawn next Sunday by the random integrator!

Winner of the Blog Candy....

...is Mee! Congratulations Joanne, please email me your address so I can send your candy!
I shall have another blog candy for you tomorrow, as have another week till I can use my hand fully I hope!
Happy Stamping!

Blog Candy!

Frustrated and fed up would be the word...now not allowed any movement of the right hand, as not healing quite right! So just because I can't stamp or really do much, I have typed this with one hand- so slow! So for all the lovely thoughts and wishes people have sent me, here is some blog candy for you for doing absolutely nothing- just being blog watchers!

This is the mini mini Curly Dot from the Stitchels range....all yours for just posting a comment.
I will pick the winner on 20th September.

Back but with limited arm movement!

Hi and thanks to all who have posted lovely thoughts about my broken arm, and a BIG thank you to Hels for posting for me while I was healing. Am typing this with my left hand..slow slow.. I stupidly tripped over a paving stone in our town,(I really should stop looking at more interesting things!) fell flat on my face, looked around as you do ( did anyone see me!)picked myself up and walked off, only to have my dear friend Griselda, take me to the local cottage hospital and then to another to discover I had broken my radial head! Not a happy bunny..just in the middle of the artwork for the Objet D'art challenge due to start the next day, and numerous other things going on! Anyway I am back..but still have to see the clinic on Monday to find out how much longer. There is no plaster-sad, just a sling, so can move it, and do some stuff, and yesterday I thought I would try stamping....mmm , so had an idea that I would find my old stamps, you know the ones that you bought years ago.. so watch this space for simple stamping with a left and partially non usable right hand!

I have had the most awful creative withdrawal symptoms since I broke my arm..and thought I would show a piece I mad last year which is a canvas alcohol inked in yellow, and layered with a photo of a sunflower! I rather liked it , guaranteed to brightened your day.

Watch this space for left handed stamping!

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!