What a Lovely Day

What a lovely day for the Royal Wedding. Kate looked beautiful and happy. I wasn't going to watch the wedding but got caught up in it all. And it was lovely!!

And I have just found out that I made the top 5 in The Stamp Man challenge - Embossing. I am delighted as there were so many fantasitic samples. As a relatively newcomer to blogging, I am truely amazed at how many people have crafty blogs and how much talent is out there!

When I gave up the shop my husband Graham thought he had is wife back..... then I discovered blogland!!

 

Less is More - Off Centre

My friend Liz has just found a great challenge blog "Less is More". I love simple cards. I think we often get caught up in trying too hard to impress with complicated layouts and embellishments. So it is very refreshing to get back to basics. This is definitely right up my street. So thanks Liz http://haliziar.blogspot.com/ for pointing me in this direction. I do apologise for so many setting suns recently. I tend to go through phases of doing particular things!!

 

So this is my entry for this challenge. The bird stamp is an old favourite from Penny Black and the sentiment is from Inkadinkadoo.

http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/04/week-12-recipe-off-centre.html

Beavering Away

No time to craft today. However have got a long weekend coming up, yipee!! I am going to a craft fair in Edinburgh with a couple of friends on Saturday. I am hoping to pick up a couple of new Tim Holtz dies for my collection. 

I came across this card in my box tonight. It was a card I did for a workshop, quite a fun one and I love the beaver and the sentiment!! Hope you like it too. 

Got to go, Masterchef final is about to start!!

Alter a Tin

I am really enjoying entering a few challenges. It is great to see what other people come up with. There is an amazing amount of talent out there. 

My offering for this challenge http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ is a Woodware "Scrapbook in a Tin". It is covered with scrapbook papers (Basic Grey - Origins), stamped and of course I had to add a little bird. The bird is from a sheet of die cut birds by Magenta. I really like these as they are really precision cut. I have inked up the bird with chalk inks and then triple embossed it with clear powder.

These make nice gifts for friends. The tin includes a little accordian book that can be decorated to make a special card. But this particular tin was just perfect to store a set of Crafty Individuals stamps. One of these days I will decorate the tin to match the contents!! But this tin was handy and will do for now!

Home to Roost

As I thought, I never managed to do any crafting yesterday. It was a lovely day and I managed to catch up with some chores and finish digging and clearing out my herb bed. This evening, after work I planted out all my herbs that I bought yesterday. If they all grow we will have lovely things like fennel, dill, sage, thyme, mint, parsley etc. 

But I had to get a card made tonight for a colleague who has had to retire through ill health. We are all going out for a meal on Thursday night and I promised I would make a card for a few of us to sign. 

Again, I didn't have a lot of time, but I had some of the background left that I made for the elephant card I made recently for my nephew. Never throw anything out!! You never know when it will come in handy. Sheila loves wild geese so I dug out my Dreamweaver stencil and embossed and coloured the geese. Added the sun and some trees. Yes this really was a 10 minute card.

It's a Beautiful Day

Have just been out with a cup of tea to sit in the garden. I think it is going to be a beautiful day. So I doubt I will get any crafting done today. My garden is slowly coming back to life after nine years of neglect when I had the shop. I am re-doing my herb bed at the moment. 

So here are a couple of quick cards I made last night. I am still making Thank You cards for all my customers who gave me cards and gifts when I wound up the shop. 

This is using a new set I bought recently from Stampin'Up called Just Believe.

I have just used tombow brush markers directly on the stamp and spritzed lightly with water. Such an easy technique but I love it. Great for quick cards.

The blue one is using the same technique, but just changing the colours.

Hope you all have a good day!!

Siobhan

Black and White Plus One

When I found the Penny Black Challenge blog I was delighted. I love Penny Black stamps and have accumulated a fair few over the years. But the ones I always go back to are my collection of "Brushstroke" style images. And I love alot of the word stamps. So I thought I would do a quick entry for this challenge

Black and White plus one - I went for blue. All the stamps used are Penny Black, and then I needed something to finish it off hence the blue bird.

Nothing is Worth More than This Day

http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/2011/04/april-challenge.html 

Ghost Resist Butterflies

The resist technique for this card is called "ghosting". Generally this is a more subtle resist than stamping and embossing. Basically, you stamp your images in a pigment white ink but allow plenty time to dry for best effect. I sometimes leave them overnight. Once dry then add coulours using DTP (direct to paper technique). Wipe any excess off with kitchen towel and allow to dry. The centrepiece is stamped Stampbord, which its then triple embossed to give a glazed look.

This latest challenge from The Stampman is resist. I love resist, the possibilities are endless. But I quite like this simple resist. 
The Stampman C/

Teasel and Poppy

Teasel and Poppy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the detail in Crafty Individuals stamps. These are two of my favourite flower images. I especially love the teasel. It is such a versatile image. I have used it loads of times. For this card I decided to colour the poppy blue, like the blue Himalayan poppies that you see in the late Spring. I used to have them in my garden, but a certain little dog dug them up!!

Celebrate Easter

I have just realised it's Easter this weekend. Somehow I have lost a week..... too much blog hopping me thinks!!
So here is today's offering. These cute little birds are from a Penny Black set. Did I mention that I have a thing about birds!!
Happy Easter everyone.

Circle Journal

I think I mentioned before being in a circle journal group. At the time I was still running my shop Stampaholics and I never really had time to craft for myself. So I am looking to start another group of 6 to 8 crafters who would like to join together create a Circle Journal. I was hoping to start it early Autumn and finish up in the Spring next year. So that would give anyone interested time to think about it. Here are the pages I made for Lin's journal (one of our original group) for an idea of what we did. Lin chose "Circle of Friendship" as her theme.

Left Hand Page

Right Hand Page

The way we did it the first time was for all the individual members of the group to pick a theme. We had already picked 8 x 8 as the size. We then made the covers and introduction and rules page. We also made the first double page spread in our chosen theme. When we met up the journals got passed on to another group member. It was upto us to then design the next two pages in the theme picked by the owner of the journal that you had been given. Are you still with me!!! Although a challenge, it was a lovely to end up with a journal made by your friends.
If anyone is interested why not post a comment and I can get in touch.
Siobhan

Church Blessing

Here is a card I made at the weekend for a friend. She has been invited to a blessing ceremony, for a couple renewing their marriage vows and asked if I could make something appropriate. As it was to be in a church I thought the bible stamp would be suitable.

I made one like this for a magazine last year, so it made it easy to copy as I don't have a lot of time right now!

The stamp comes from a clear set from Inkadinkadoo called "Spiritual Sketches"
How romantic, wanting to renew your vows after 30 years!!

Blue Mountains

I am sure you are beginning to see a common thread appearing. As well as birds, I love creating mountains for backdrops.I think some of the ladies who came to my workshops used to groan when I would happily tell them we were doing mountains for the card we were making that day!

Living in Scotland and being a keen hill walker I am always inspired by the beautiful landscapes.

The trees are a stamp I have had for a long time called "Autumn Silhouette" by Inkadinkadoo and the birds are on old Penny Black stamp. When I first started stamping there wasn't the amazing variety of stamps that there is now. Now I seem to spend more time choosing stamps, rather than just getting on with things with the few I did have when I started!!

The Journey is the Reward

I bought two new Tim Holtz stamp sets recently to get these two elephants. I love them and have been itching to use them. This is a birthday card for my nephew Neil.

I blended shades of orange and pink Distress Inks on a white panel. Then I stamped the little elephant in black. I made a mask and stamped the big elephant. I then cut a mask for the hills in the background and sponged them. I then punched a circle to sponge through for the sun. Finally I added the tree, words and of course some birds to finish off.
I hope you like it. I really like this one myself!! The elephants are fab. I am sure I will get alot of use from them.

Old Truck

Just another quick card tonight. Its for my Father-in-laws birthday. I always find men's cards more challenging. The stamp is one I bought a while a go and have never used until tonight. It is called "Old Truck" from Darkroom Door. I love these sort of images when you need a quick card. No colouring in - just stamp and layer. I was going to stitch the buttons on - but decided to stick them on as my father-in-law wouldn't notice anyway!! That sounds bad, doesn't it!! Hopefully he will never see my blog post!!

Bird Picture - to Jean

For or several years now I have loved using images of birds in my stamping. A couple of years ago a group of us did a circle journal. Needless to say I picked "Feathered Friends" as my theme. One member of our group, Jean worked part time in the shop with me for a couple of years. Her theme for our journal group was Oriental Dolls. She asked us to use a stamp from Lynne Perrelli's Oriental Cargo range. All beautifull images, but she gave me an odd looking one called " Zen" to use for my pages in her journal. That's was a challenge!! Sadly Jean died of cancer last month. She was a lovely person. Her nick name was Jeannie Bee and she often included a stamped bee in her art work. In the journal pages it was a bit like "Where's Wally", trying to spot her signature bee. To cut a long story short, I made this picture using an Ikea frame with birds as my theme. Jean loved it and I had intended to make her a similar one. But like so many other projects, I never made the time. Last November Jean and her friend Irene gave me a beautiful necklace of a silver bird cage with a little bird for my 50th birthday. She said when she saw it, she knew it was perfect for me. I will treasure it always.
This post is in memory of Jean. This picture now hangs in my craft room.

My Bird Picture

Blues and Browns

Not much time for crafting today. But I needed a birthday card for a friend. I have a pad of paper from g.c.d studios called Ella Blue. I just love the colour combination. I have used these papers so much!! So tonight after dinner I stuck to a layout I have done before for this quick card. The dress stamp is an old favourite which I haven't used for a while.
Thought I would enter it in the April Sir Stampalot Challenge. It's fun to enter these challenges just to see all the ideas others have come up with.

http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/04/april-challenge.html

Stamp is "My Mother's Dress" from Inkadinkadoo

The Stamp Man Challenge # 20 - Embossing

I thought I would have a go at this challenge. I have visited The Stamp Man every time I have been in Skipton and I love Jill's work.

First I had a play with triple embossing. I built up several layers of embossing powders and then inked up a stamp with gold and stamping into the melted powder. I decided to use the oriental dragon as I haven't done anything oriental for a while.

I used 3 types of embossing in the finished card 

• Triple embossed dragon tile
• Normal embossing for the oriental script at the base of the card and
• The Cuttlebug bamboo embossing folder for the background.

 I also was keen to try out my new Tim Holtz Alteration Mini Paper Rosettes die. I thought the fan type folding would fit the theme.

Have a good day. The weather is glorious up here in Scotland, so I am away to take the dogs out then get some more gardening done.
Siobhan
http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/

Grunge Paper

This was my first attempt with grunge paper. I made it as a sample for a Ranger Demo day at Stampaholics last year. I love Wendy Vecchi's (of Studio 490) work. This was inspired by her. I love how the flowers keep their shape when you curl the petals.

Since I made this I have acquired a few more Tim Holtz alteration dies. I thinks it's time to dig out the grunge paper again.

Now, if I could only remember where I put it.......!

Siobhan

One Dirty Dog

This is Rory our 11 year old Westie. He is not normally as dirty as this, but he has just been digging in the garden, in the rain and now looking a bit sheepish. He has a heart mumour, is diabetic, has cataracts and is partially blind, he has eczema and itchy ears - but he is such a wee character and we love him to bits!!

Our other dog is Alfie. He is young, energetic, mad as a hatter but idolizes Rory and keeps him on his toes. A bit of a contrast, but they are great pals!

 Sorry, no crafty offerings today but thought you would like to meet my dogs!!

PS  Rory normally looks more like this :-

I think I will have a go at the Stamp Man Challenge this weekend. If I come up with something I will post it over the weekend.
Siobhan

Some Quick Cards

Not much time to craft during the week due to work. However I needed a masculine birthday card and some thank you cards. As I still had my Crafty Individual stamps out for the challenge, I used them for a man's birthday card. I know it's not autumn but I just love those colours!!

I love any stamps with trees and these are so detailed that you really don't need to do much to them. I just stamped them in coffee archival ink and blended some distress colours over the top.

For the thank you cards I made a batch of these. I love sponging my own backgrounds to create mountains. Then overstamp with a few trees and you have a quick card.

Thank you to all of you that have posted lovely comments on my blog. As I am new to this I am amazed at how quickly it grows. I will get round to going onto all your blogs to see your work!!

Siobhan

No Time to Stamp

I have decided that I really need to sort out my craft room a bit. When I closed my shop last month I ended up with piles of my stuff that I kept at the shop, now dumped in my craft room. So once I clear my space I will hopefully be able to create something new. I have lots of ideas and I am looking forward to trying them out. In the meantime I will post some cards I did a while ago that I never managed to get onto the shop website (Stampaholics).

I am finding already that blogging is a great way of keeping up with crafting buddies, and making new friends. My friend Fiona put a link on her blog to mine, so I would like to do the same. If you like Magnolia and other cute images then check out her blog. Her cards are gorgeous http://lildaff.blogspot.com/ .

Wish I had time to blog and craft for me before........but then that is why I gave up the shop!!

Masking Techniques

Water stamping background

Stamping with Distress

Water stamping background

These are samples I made for a Ranger demo day last year. I love Tim Holtz style but I prefer to be less grungy.

Crafty Individuals Ist Challenge - Simply Square

I decided to have a go at my first challenge. When I was on the Crafty Individuals blog last night I discovered they had launched their first challenge. As I am a huge fan of Crafty Individuals stamps I decided to have a go.

Most of the stamps were from CI287 and CI209. I love trees and birds so I love these stamps. As the theme suggests I kept it simple. A square background stamped with a line of trees and the birds on the telegraph wire. The frame was coloured with distress inks, stamped with a crackle stamp (also Crafty Individuals), and I stamped the bird and grasses. The frame is actually triple embossed with clear powder but you can't really see that from the photo. The center square came from one of CI Miniatures Books 'Nature's Beauty'.

Distress Swatch Book

As usual I didn't get as much done as I would have liked. However it has been a lovely relaxing day. I started my distress ink swatch book. It will take me a few sessions to finish it as I am the proud owner of all 36 colours!! However it is a great idea and it will make matching papers, ribbons etc a whole lot easier. I think I will try to something similar with my other inks.

Mother's Day

My daughter Catriona is home for Mother's Day. So I am looking forward to a nice family day. But I am hoping to fit in a bit of crafting later on. I was reading the latest Craft Stamper this morning (Breakfast in bed!!). I saw Linda Elbourne's Distress Ink Swatch Book. What a great idea, I have been meaning to do something like that for ages! So that's what I will do today.

 This is one of my favourite walks in Perth, along the river Tay and where we are going this morning with our dogs Rory and Alfie.

Craft Retreat

Last weekend Linda Turner and I travelled down to Yorkshire for a craft retreat run by Michelle and Janet from Lovin Ink. The venue was a converted church set in beautiful country side near Skipton. We had a great time. It was lovely to have time to craft, with talented people and got fed at regular intervals by Emma's husband Andy.

 Here is a picture of Linda's box. I love her flowers.

We painted and stamped the boxes, then spent time making and altering the things to go in and on the boxes. We altered and made buttons from polymer clay and shrink plastic.We made lovely flowers and added pins. A great project show casing lots of techniques. Here is my box.

If we can find a suitable venue, we are hoping to persuade Michelle and Janet to come to Scotland to host a retreat up here.

Welcome to my Blog

Yes, I have finally decided to take the plunge and start blogging. For those of you who know me from Stampaholics in Perth, this is where I plan to show what I have been doing crafting wise.

So far not alot but hopefully that is about to change.

I am hoping it will be a way of keeping in touch with so many of the talented customers I got to know through running Stampaholics.

This was one of my favourite cards from the workshops last year. 

So I thought I would start with this one.

I love nature inspired images, and this card embodies that. The sun setting on a summer's evening. The birds roosting for the night.

Birds will probably be a current theme in my blog!!

Now that my shop is gone I am looking forward to being able to play more and craft for myself, something I have not done for a long time.

I hope you will leave a comment if you like anything you see. 

Siobhan