The Stamp Man Challenge - Collage/Collage Background

I can't believe it's time for another Stamp Man Challenge. This time the lovely Angela has chosen for us the theme of "Collage/Collage Background" . To me collage means layers of paper, ink, stamping and adding things!!

As Christmas is fast approaching I thought I would have a go at a Tim Holtzesque tag.

This is how I built up my layers:

• Cut a Tim Holtz Big Tag from mount board and text paper from an old book. Stick together.
• Apply a thin layer of gesso to the text paper. Allow to dry.
• Stamp several snowflakes with Versamark and emboss with white powder, making sure to avoid the area where the overhanging pine bough is to be stamped.
• Apply and blend blue distress inks over the top.
• Stamp the pine bough in the top left. Stamp the small pine tree several times in bottom left with Pine Needles distress ink. 

• Sponge a little versamark along the bottom of the tag and emboss with white powder to create drifting snow.
• Die cut deer from mount board and stamp with music background then colour with Brushed Corduroy distress.
• The ornate plate was partially inked with silver ink and embossed with Stardust powder. I also inked the edges of the tag with silver ink and embossed with the Stardust powder. The photos don't really show up the sparkle, but it really is pretty and catches the light.
• To finish I added ribbon and a snowflake brad, some gemstones and a shrink plastic snowflake dangling off the end of the ornate plate.

 I had fun making this. I like making tags but haven't made one in ages so this has got me in the mood again. Be sure to check out what the rest of the team have created and perhaps join us at The Stamp Man Challenge. Be sure to check out The Stamp Man online shop. They are offering free postage over £20 at the moment.
I thought I would also enter this at The Artistic Stamper challenge which for November is Backgrounds. I just discovered this site tonight and was very inpressed by their DT.

The Stamp Man Challenge - Night Time

This fortnight's challenge has been chosen by Michelle. The theme is "Night Time". 

I have made a very simple card using this beautiful Stampendous stamp CRR131  Crowscape. 

• I cut a panel of thick white card slightly bigger than the stamp.
• Use a circle mask where you want the moon to be.
• Blend distress inks onto panel (I used Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky and Chipped Sapphire)
• Keep it lighter in the middle to create a sort of halo effect around the moon.
• Remove mask and stamp Crowscape with Versafine Onyx black ink pad.
• Trim and layer up as shown.

Don't you just love the crow in the bottom right hand corner. It comes from a Stamper's Anonymous set called CMS 091  Haunted Mansion. It's awesome!!

I think this is definitely in my top 10 favourite stamps I have bought this year. I also love the fact that it's a cling rubber stamp - easier to store!!
All these products are available from The Stamp Man. The website has just had a great makeover, be sure to check it out!!
Why not join us at the Stamp Man challenge blog and check out the other fantastic samples made by our design team.
I am also entering this in the Gingersnap Creations Challenge where the theme is Ravens. Thanks Janet for mentioning it!!

The Stamp Man Challenge - Circles

Sorry folks, I am a day late posting this for the Stamp Man DT challenge. I am just back from Ireland and have been playing catch up. I had a lovely time catching up with my Dad and sister. My Dad is a fantastic cook. Despite resolutions not to over indulge we did come back a couple of pounds heavier!! My sister Michelle is also into crafting, but there are very few shops in the Southern Ireland. So I always bring her over a few bits and pieces. I even talked her into starting her own blog Michelle's Craft Place. I am hoping she will enjoy it once she gets to grips with it. I met her two new dogs Lewis and Amber. Her lab Andy died of old age and her terrier Ruby was sadly run over. I think we are definitely a doggy family - couldn't imagine being without dogs in our lives.

 Do you like the beautiful toadstools I found in the woods near my Dad's house when I was out with his little dog Trixie.

Listen to me...prattling on!!! I am sure you just want to see what I did for the new Stamp Man Challenge. Lisa Sparkle set the challenge this time to use circles!! Well that should open up limitless possibilities. I thought I would have a go at a Christmas decoration using Spellbinder circle nesties.

 I used the largest Lacey Circle nesties to cut 2 circles out of Kraft card. For the top circle I cut a smaller circle in the middle to make a frame. I then embossed the lacey frame with white embossing powder. I brushed a little powder off here and there to create a more distressed look. The inner circle was cut with a bigger circle, stamped the snowflakes in Versamark and embossed with clear powder. I then used Distress Inks (Tumbled Glass and Stormy Sky) over the top to show off the resist snowflakes.

I used my Tim Holtz die Reindeer Flight to cut the deer from mount board. This was stamped with a music score stamp (this one is from Stampendous). I then coloured with distress inks then triple embossed with clear powder to make it shiny. A couple of snowflakes from glitter card (Spellbinder dies) and a bit of ribbon and it's finished!!

I love Reindeer for Christmas so this die will definitely be useful.

So if you fancy playing along - start thinking CIRCLES and join us at The Stamp Man Challenge blog and show us your creations. All products used in this project are available from The Stamp Man. The shop website is undergoing a makeover at the moment. I am looking forward to seeing the new look!!

The Stamp Man Challenge - A Perfect Pear

When I arrived at the retreat at Beamsley last Friday, Janet (part of Lovin' Ink) told me I had won the last Stamp Man Challenge. So I was really chuffed. We just happened to manage a trip to the shop the next day and I was able to spend my voucher (and a good bit more!!). Then Jill (Mrs Stamp Man) asked if I would like to join the Design Team!!!

Well I was so surprised but delighted too. I try to enter their challenge every fortnight because of the high standard of entries to look at.

So this is my first go!! I didn't have alot of time for this one so it's a quick project. Janet lent me her pear stamps at the retreat and I finished off the sample at home. The pear I used is a beautiful patterned pear by

    Aspect of Design 

Here is what I did with it: 

The background was made by blending 3 colours of Distress (Antique Linen, Scattered Straw and Brushed Corduroy). Then I inked up the large Music background stamp (Hero Arts) with Versamark and spritzed with water. I stamped onto the background card. This lifts off some of the ink to create a subtle resist in reverse. I love this technique as a first layer of stamping when building up backgrounds.The swirl at the side is another beautiful Hero Arts stamp called Fabulous Flourish (well named!!). I stamped this with second generation Brushed Corduroy.

I stamped two pears. One I cut out with an oval nestie and the other I cut out the pear without the leaf and stem. The cut out pear was then shaped on a mat with a big ball embossing tool and then silicon glue applied in the hollow to keep the rounded shape. This was a technique shown to me by the lovely Liz on the retreat!!

The rest is pretty easy to work out. All the embellishments are die cut with Spellbinders. I bought the Foliage set (where the leaves came from) this weekend too. The quote is from one of Tim Holtz's Stampers Anonymous sets CMS110 "Stuff to Say"

To show detail of the background

All the products used in this card are available from The Stamp Man. Remember to check out what the rest of the DT did with this challenge and drop by the Stamp Man Challenge Blog.

It seems a bit unreal to be part of such a talented DT!!

Siobhan