Creative Expressions - Housework is Overrated!!

We have a new set of stamps to work with from Creative Expressions. It's a new Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 set called "The Voice of Art"
I absolutely love these sets (I now have six but would love most of them!!)

For my first project I have made a blended background using Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Mustard Seed and Barn Door Distress inks. Then a flick of water to distress further.

 I chose the sentiment about housework because I bet most crafters will have a chuckle at that!!
I used some of Tim Holtz's Adage Tickets to slip under the film strip die-cut.

I embossed around the edges of the card using 3 different Cosmic Shimmer powders - Dark Bronze Lustre, Bright Gold Metallic and Ancient Copper Metallic.

As the lady has a school teacher air to her I used a pen nib to finish my butterfly. This was a Spellbinder die-cut which I embossed with the Dark Bronze Lustre powder. I really liked the effect. You can't really see it properly in the photo but it has a lovely coppery sheen.
This has been a very busy week and I am so glad it's Friday tomorrow!! I wonder if the nice weather will last into the weekend!! 
Have a great weekend.
Siobhan
 

Woodware DT - Pull out the Punches

This week at Woodware we are pulling out the punches. The very first Woodware trade workshop I went to was also their 10th birthday! I was lucky enough to take  a workshop with a lovely lady who had travelled all the way from Australia. This was of course Leone Em. Her work was amazing. At the time I struggled to make a few lilies. But the techniques she showed us I use all the time to help shape my flowers and leaves and I have got a little better at it over the years.

Our cherry tree is in blossom just now and it looks gorgeous. That gave me the idea to use the sakura and stamen punch for my paper cherry blossom.

For ages I could not get the hang of making roses. But I watched a couple of You Tube videos and now I quite enjoy making them. 

Over the years I have bought a few of the bigger foliage punches and they have proved their worth many times! Here I have used 3 different ones : Ash Family II, Stem and Evergreen.
Now and then it is nice to make something a bit different. Can't be grungy all the time!!
Siobhan

The Stamp Man - Bingo Card

It's time for a new challenge at the Stamp Man. This time we have a bingo card and we had to chose a line - vertical, horizontal or diagonal. 

Green	Fabric	Polka dots
Flowers	Circle	Numbers
Swirls	Metal/metallic	Ribbon

I settled on the vertical line "Green, Flowers and Swirls". I wanted to finish the canvas that I started at the retreat a couple of weeks ago. My thanks go to Neil Walker for his class and inspiration ...I now have more confidence to use canvas. 
Here was the canvas when I got it home :

I wanted to have a go at making a more feminine piece but still quite grungy. Here is my finished project.

I blended Crushed Olive and Peeled paint distress inks over the canvas and paste to change the colours. 
The skirt on my dress makers form is made from glassine paper. I absolutely love the stuff!! I die-cut the oval petals then embossed in a Cuttlebug folder. Then I wiped over with a gold ink pad to highlight the embossed flowers.

The flower was text pages from an old book using the tattered floral die. I sprayed the flowers with some Starburst stains to colour and shimmer before building up.

The words are from a stampers anonymous set "Good Thoughts"

And of course I just had to add a dragonfly as my signature (it's either a bird or a dragonfly) to finish off.
If you visit the Stamp Man Challenge blog you will see some great projects made by the rest of the design team. And remember there is a £10 voucher to be won if you want to enter.

Woodware DT - The Colours of Spring

This week at Woodware we have the colours of spring. I have gone for very soft greens for this gorgeous new Magnolia stamp from Stampendous. I stamped onto white glossy card stock to get a really sharp image. 

The background was made by stamping onto parchment paper using Cotton White Stazon ink. The stamp is one I have had for years from Magenta called Shadow Branch. I love it for backgrounds but any leaf, sprig, flower or swirl would work.

You may notice the very edge of the crafty edger ribbon trim punch along the base of my centre piece. The rose was also made from parchment paper. I stamped the paper first with the shadow branch stamp using Brilliance Pearlescent Lime. The punch is one from the Floral punch art range. 

And of course...white pearls to finish. After making it I decided to add the "Thinking of You" sentiment from one of Jane's Woodware sets.
Check out the Woodware blog for lots more inspiration.
Siobhan

Creative Expressions - Bella Rose # 3

For this week's project using the Heartfelt Creations Bella Rose  and matching dies. I have gone a bit grungy!! I covered a square of white card stock with some of the new Tim Holtz tissue. Then using a mask of the clock from That Special Touch sprayed with a couple shades of green Cosmic Shimmer mists.
I then used brush markers on the rose stamps and die cut them. After die-cutting the swirly leaf I inked it up with versamark and embossed with a Cosmic Shimmer powder (copper metallic).

I quite like the texture on the leaf...not very spring like I know but in the craft room it could be any time of the year for all the notice I take of what's going on outside!!

A few pearls and a sentiment finish off the card. I bought a pile of these masks at the Glasgow show. I think they will get well used!!
Siobhan

Ostrich Canvas

It was our circle journal meet this morning. We are now on the fourth swap. I think we worked out that it will be October or November before we finish. But everyone seems to be enjoying the monthly challenge and it's also good to meet up for a blether. 
I have finished the canvas that Neil showed us at the retreat. I learnt a lot about building up layers with gesso, distress stains, colour sprays and stamping. 

These guys started life as the standing deer from Tim's Reindeer Flight alterations die. Clever....!! If you want to see where to cut there is a little tutorial on Neils blog. 

The quote was stamped onto tissue paper and stuck down with watered down PVA glue. 
I started another canvas at the retreat but am still working on it. Here it is in it's current state.

Once I had finished my layers of Distress stains and sprays I applied a glossy paste through a mask. I wanted to create a resist. I wanted to make this one more feminine. I will post the finished result ... if it turns out how I hope!!
Have a great weekend. My kids are coming home tonight. Tomorrow is my son Paul's birthday  as well as Mother's Day. So that will be a special day!!
Siobhan x