scrapping!

Haven't done any scrapbooking for ages but after surveying my enormous stash of 12x12 papers thought it might be an idea to do some and make some inroads into using some of the papers up, well after a whole afternoon I only produced the one page and used just one sheet of paper ! It started out as a sheet of architectural design so I dry brushed it with gesso to tone the detail down a bit and then proceeded to stamp over most of it using a mixture of Indigo Blu and Artistic Outpost stamps.The centre bit is a piece from a London underground map. We were in London a year ago the week after the Royal wedding and everywhere was still awash with flags and flowers. We took hundreds of photos so hopefully will do a few more pages (sometime !!)

Owls

Not a stamp in sight ! all papers and image from My Craft Studio Quintessential country garden CD. This is the first time I have ever  bought a craft cd, something I said I would never do as I thought It was a sort of cop out crafting, I don't think I will be doing too much of it as I don't get the buzz of stamping but I have to say I just love the papers on it. For this card I just printed out two papers and a topper, added a flower,button and sentiment. I couldn't resist inking the edges of the papers though ! Its for a friends birthday so hope she will like it. Challenge Up Your Life challenge is Owls so its going on there.

Birds

Oh dear, bloggers been messing about yet again !  taken me ages to get these three cards on here. Had a nice day with a friend yesterday, we both made cards just using this one bird stamp (Artistic Outpost) and a pad of Melissa Frances papers. I was on a roll with it yesterday but got up today and inspiration nil !  I'm fed up of the rain, although it has been a bit better today,need to get outside a bit to blow the cobwebs from my brain ! Putting the first card on these challenges:-

Alphabet challenges                 - F - for feathered friends
The Stampman                         - Shabby chic
Charisma cards                         - Shabby chic
Sir Stampalot                            -  birthday

Just seen that Artistic Outpost referral for April is Birds so am putting it on there too

Butterflies and vellum

Its the first time I've used this stamp and I got very frustrated as I couldn't get it to stamp perfectly,finally realised the stamp is faulty and has a couple of lines on the edges of the butterflies missing! filled the missing bits in with an embossing pen on the embossed layer. Coloured with perfect pearls for a nice sheen on the butterflies.  The piece down the lefthand side is stamped and embossed on vellum as is the small butterfly in the bottom corner. Found a few challenges to put in on

The Stampman - vellum
Make It Monday- anything goes
The Squirrel and The Fox - Things with wings
Flutterby Wednesday - Birthday card
Stamptacular Sunday - Anything goes

Pampered pets

This little book is what I keep a record of the cats, vets visits,worming, flea treatments etc.  The original book was from a pound shop, two for a pound I think? Thought I could make it look a bit prettier so inked and embossed and added a couple of photos in slide mount frames of which I seem to have an enormous amount lurking in a drawer.  I was a bit fed up when I got out my copic spray inks as none of them will spray anymore, spent ages trying to clear the sprays but still won't work, I always rinse the sprays before I put them away too, ended up decanting small amounts into mini sprays and using them that way.

Try In On Tuesday's challenge is Pampered Pets so I'm putting this on there

Beyond the sea

Been playing about with masking for this card, another chance to use my old favourite lighthouse stamp,the girl and the boats are from Butterfly stamps ( are they still around? haven't been at the show the last few times) Also used my watercolours which are something else that doesn't get used so much these days. Fashionable stamping challenge this time is nautical so hope this fits.  I bought some Hobby Art stamps at the last show after seeing loads of lovely cards made with them, I spent ages yesterday playing with them and produced ziltch ! I don't have a problem with masking usually but I just didn't seem to get the hang of those stamps, think they may end up in the "unloved and unused" drawer !

vintage dressmaker

I wanted to make something with the fabulous vintage dressmaker embossing folder that came in a lovely parcel of goodies from my lovely sister for my birthday (yes,yet another birthday,they are coming round far too often !) Embossed it on some white card and coloured with pan pastels, its a bit big for a card so it sort of evolved into a hanging using lots of sewing theme papers and bits and bobs,the model lady is from a large Stampers anonymous stamp.just cut her out and added her as it looked a bit bare on that side. After being so uncreative lately I really enjoyed making this piece.
Found quite a few challenges I can enter it on so here goes ...

gingerloft challenges - anything but a card
Craft us Crazy           - anything but a card
Just Keep On Creating - Anything goes
Stamp Pad                 - from the past
Always Crafting       - anything but a card
Make It Monday      -  anything goes
CCEE Stampers       -  use an embossing folder
I brake for challenges- anything but a card

Eccentric !

No blogging for almost two weeks and now two in one day, I was going to make an inky background for something and found this piece already done so made a quick atc with some of it. I love this eccentric looking man on his strange bicycle but haven't used it for some time, the curiosity wording is Tim Holtz and the Eccentric wording is Indigo Blu. This atc is  for

Make My Monday - Men/boys - wheels                             

Words

Finally got something to put on my blog ! I've been busy with Easter cards, seems more people are sending them this year and I've had to make more than usual. Also I've been in a very un-creative mood,even getting to the point where I've felt I might as well just give it all up, however last night I felt a little stirring of mojo and got out my tiny little collection of pan pastels (5!) and had a play with resist stamping with them, I do love how fast it is to create with them,just used two colours on here,overstamped again with Hero art Iris ink pad. The stamps are all Inkylicious except the butterfly which is a Tim stamp. This is for a new challenge I saw called Frilly & Funky and the challenge was for Words - I'll take your word for it, so hope this fits the challenge.