Skullduggery!!

Hi everyone

Today, is the start of this weeks challenge over at Crafts4eternity
and is in keeping with this time of the year,  we want to see your spooky,scary HALLOWEEN makes, absolutely anything goes as long as it fits with our theme. One randomly
chosen winner will win their choice of 3 Digi Stamps from our sponsor for this challenge "Crafty Sentiments Designs"

I have made a wall hanging (this post is picture heavy)

I have altered this wall hanging which was originally very sweet looking and read "home is where the heart is" not much love in it now lol!!

the background has been created using black gesso, red acrylic paint, Tim Holtz layering stencils dot fade and Eye chart stenciled through with pumice stone distress paint which I then toned down with a thin coat of black gesso.
Using the script from Tim Holtz Apothecary set I embossed the text with platinum WOW embossing powder as I also did with the Happy Halloween.
The blood pouring down the background is Designs by Ryn Trickling Water stamp.
The Main Skull is from Tims Apothecary as well.

 

I have been playing with craft metal, I saw this technique somewhere and have been waiting for an opportunity to use it and I think it works well on this. 

 Using craft metal allows you to bend it to add more movement and dimension. The other stamp is skull with wings and I don't know who makes it.

How I did the skulls

First stamp onto the metal using versamark or any other embossing ink and sprinkle with ultra thick clear embossing powder, you will loose a little of the detail but you get a deeper emboss.

when cooled cover with thick acrylic paint pushing it into all the gaps, remove some of it leaving it in the gaps and leave it to try slightly

Before it is totally dry buff off the paint to leave it only in the gaps which makes it look distressed, the clear embossing powder shows the silver through it.

Thanks for sticking with me to this point

I would also like to enter this into the following challenges:-

My 2nd entry into this months challenge at country view challenges theme 'Something Spooky'

Try It on a Tuesday  theme Halloween

Make my Monday theme Halloween
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge theme Something Spooky

If I don't manage to post before the "Night" have a wonderfully spooky Halloween.
Love
Amanda X

Behind Closed Doors?

Hi Everyone

Just a quick post to join in with this weeks challenge over at Stampotique Designers Challenge

The theme this week has been set by the very talented France and she has challenged us to use fabric or lace on our projects.

I have used fabric, a sequined net, that I have hand stitched (badly) into a little tutu for the wonderful character that is Fofe i have only just bought him and I am sure that he wont be pleased with what I have done to him!! You just never know what people get up to behind closed doors!!

 

The background was a previously made gelli print that I have added further stamping to in both paint and ink. The cassette player (showing my age) is from Creative expressions and my text a mixture of Tims alphabet and indigoblu stamp.

Thanks for visiting my little creative outbursts.

Love

Amanda X

I see dead people..................

Hi

and welcome to my second post of the day. Thankfully I am on a day off from work and have been having a long overdue play in my craftroom infact I didn't even get dressed until 1pm, getting all inky and covered in paint whilst in your dressing gown has to be a pastime up there along side eating chocolate!!!

Having a day getting crafty has allowed me to at last get into the Halloween spirit with this make.

Using the fabulous Stampotique stamps "Friend" and "Heads" stamped onto lightly painted dictionary paper with Distress paints spiced marmalade and pumice stone. I have added a little shadow to the heads with charcoal pencil blending it with a little more pumice stone paint.

My background has been created on water colour paper again with distress paints and some purple emulsion tester paint. I have just smeared it on with a cloth. I have then stamped the script stamp from TH Apothecary set using distress paints spiced marmalade and dusty concord. The gravestone is from Tim's mini blueprint set and the final stamp used for the skyline is from Inkadinkado Happy Haunting.

I am entering this card into this weeks Stampotique designers challenge where the theme is 'Halloween'.
I am also entering this into
Country View Crafts October Challenge where the theme is 'Something Spooky'
and
a Sprinkle of Imagination first ever challenge which is a colour challenge.
Thanks for stopping by for a look I really appreciate your visit
Love
Amanda X

Quick Make DT Piece

Hi and I hope friday finds you all well. This weeks challenge over at 

Crafts4eternity

is to include leaves on your project. My DT piece for this challenge is an unusual quick make for me, once again my time has been limited this week due to current work demands Grrrrrrr.

  I have coloured 3 piecesof manilla cardstock with the following Distress inks Shabby shutters,

Wild Honey and Tea Dye then stamped Tim holtz mini blue print stamps with the same colour (apart from shabby shutters as you couldn't see it so stamped with peeled paint even though on the photo it looks black?). Then matted onto brown cardstock with a couple of chit chat words from Tim's seasonal chit chat pad. Finally I stamped with wild honey another leaf and cut it out to add a little additional interest.

What a quick card for me!!!!

Michelle from Crafts4eternity is our sponsor this week and she is offering one randomly chosen winner their choice of 3digi stamps from her online store.

So why not pop over and join in with us?

Love

Amanda X

Ahhhh that sunday feeling......

Hi my lovely blogging friends I hope that you are all having a lovely Sunday doing whatever you are doing. I have to say that I am doing a lot of nothing, I'm taking today to do a little battery recharging after what has been an incredibly busy week for me at work. No battery recharge would be complete without a little crafty time and I have been playing with some previously made gelli prints, I am trying to complete some of the half finished projects that are strategically dotted around my craftroom waiting for some final inspiration to finish them off needless to say inspiration isn't that forthcoming today........ so this might be the only thing I finish!!

The background was created using my gelli plate using

Crafters workshop Cubist stencil & Dylusions Flossie stencil

I just wanted a simple colour scheme so have used Daler Rowney Fluorescent pink and black acrylic paint. I then outlined Flossie with a black sharpie pen.

I stenciled the star using Sweet Poppy Glossy white paste through Tim Holtz Stars layering stencil

the sentiment is from another one of the Kaisercraft sets this time from "Way of Life Set" which I have stamped 3 times with versamark and embossed with Black matt wow embossing powder as I really wanted it to stand out. Numbers are Tims remnant rubs and for a final touch some of Tims mirrored stars (photo doesn't do these justice) 

All has then been mat and layered onto black and pink card.

 I am entering this card into the current challenge over at 

Fashionable Stamping challenge 

Where the current challenge is to use a mask or stencil and include some stamping, my stamping is my triple stamped sentiment.

Thanks for popping by and see you soon

Love

Amanda X

 

R.I.P. Humpty Dumpty

Following on from my ATC entry into this weeks challenge at stampotique designers challenge I had so much fun making my entry which you can see Here I decided to make another keeping the nursery rhyme theme, I can't enter this into the challenge as you can only post 1 entry so this one is just for fun, and they are fun to make.

Using the same union jack background stamped using the same technique as the first one. I added the wall that humpty sat on........ stamp by Deep Red Rubber.

characters are from Stampotique "Line Up" with one missing. 

Text has been computer generated with the wall graffiti stamped with mini alphabet stamp set.

Cheerio stamp is from Artistic Outpost.

This is a quick post before I go off to work this lovely sunny sunday :-(

Have a great Sunday

Love

Amanda X

Friday means Crafts4eternity Challenge

Today, as always on a Friday at this time, starts another weekly challenge over at Crafts4eternity and this weeks theme is a CINNAMON colour challenge (swatch can be found at the end of this post). Our challenge is to create a new piece of work containing a minimum of 2 of the 5 colours.

I started with a piece of watercolour card and lightly coloured the background with a wash of several Peboe watercolours that matched this weeks theme. 

I then lightly stamped one of my all time favourite stamps, the woman's face by Viva Las Vegastamps with archival potting soil taking some of the ink off first by stamping onto scrap paper to get a light impression in the background, photograph doesn't really pick this up well.

Using the same technique I randomly stamped parts of the text from 7Gypsies life stamp.

 I then inked up the stamp again and stamped it directly onto my work and highlighted the whites of her eyes.

The sentiment is another of Kaisercrafts fab new range (I need more of these).

I then randomly stamped the circles with archival monarch orange again stamping firstly onto scrap for a lighter look.

To finish, mat and layered several times again matching colours to our theme.

Here is our colour swatch, come and show us how you decide to use these colours.

One randomly chosen winner will have the chance to choose 3 digi stamps from the Crafts4eternity online shop.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you come and join in with us this week.

see you soon

Love

Amanda X

Pussy Cat Pussy Cat where have you been???

I've been to London to visit the Queen.

I hope you're wondering why I am reciting nursery rhmyes? It is not the rambling of a mad woman but my inspiration for this weeks challenge at Stampitique Designer Challenge 119. The challenge this week is to make an ATC, and my ATC represents that rhyme.

I've not made these 2.5" x 3.5" cards before but I can now see how everyone gets hooked on them (expect more).

My ATC is made from Ranger watercolour card. I then coloured the small Indigoblu union jack flag stamp with distress markers lightly sprayed it with water and then stamped it I have then gone over it all with Vintage Photo DI. 

London landscape is by Creative Journey. 

Cat is "Puss Puss" by Stampotique.

Lettering is Kaisercraft mini alpha stickers which I have cut even smaller.

Thanks for stopping by and see you all soon

Love

Amanda X

Better Late than Never!!

OMG!! what a week, needless to say it has left me a day late to post my DT piece for this weeks challenge over at Crafts4eternity. Our challenge this week needs no thought as we are having an "ANYTHING GOES" week. So there are no excuses not to pop over and join in with your latest makes, one randomly chosen entry will win 3 digi images from the Crafts4eternity store.

My piece this week is a catalogue of mistakes (happy ones I think) as I eventually got around to spoiling some crisp clean pages in my Dylusions journal, I have had this now for nearly year and just couldn't find whatever I needed in me to start it. I think I was worried about getting it right, but hey! what is right?? So I went for it.................. It didn't start out at all how it finished but I suppose that's all part of the journey. My inspiration for the pages was hearing the song "Everybody's Gotta Love Sometime" on theradio driving home from work.

I think I have used a little bit of everything I own and most of it I can't remember lol. Some main items were Texture paste through Heidi Swapp hearts stencil and then those were coloured with pan pastels, distress paints, paperartsy fresco paints, white gesso, torn dictionary paper which I paint with watered down paint which I then stamped "Friend" by Stampotique (love him). I have given him a matching heart.

 More painted dictionary paper was put through my printer which I printed out the lyrics of the song, I did this in draft mode so it came out really light and then went over the test with a fine black sharpie pen so it looked more handwritten. For a bit more interest/texture I have added some ripped washi tape. I have even chanced my own handwriting and written the lyrics is white gel pen on the opposite page.

I would also like to enter this into stampotique designers challenge the theme for this week is use washi tape, I know I haven't used loads but it's on there.
also
simon says stamp where they have an anything goes challenge
Thanks for visiting I really appreciate you stopping by.
love
Amanda X

Cute Kids at Crafts4eternity

This week over at Crafts4eternity our challenge for the week is "Cute Kids" we are looking for you to make any sort of project that features kids. I picked up a bargain stamp from Ebay some months ago now but haven't actually got around to using it so as it fits in with our theme this week felt it was time I inked it up. The stamp is Sweet one Collage from Cornish Heritage Farm.

 I have stamped the image 3 times using archival ink black,potting shed & coffee and cut the first 2 images down to create 1 image I then matted it onto kraft card. For the sentiment I have ripped wording from 7gypsies Lillie tags and crumpled with the inclusion, using Tims label letters, of the word and to make it make sense. The background has just had a light brushing with a dry paint brush of antique linen distress paint to breakdown the white.
So if you fancy making a child themed project this week come and show us and play a long at Crafts4eternity this week. Our kind sponsor for this weeks challenge is Crafty Sentiments Desgins who are offering 1 randomly chosen winner their choice of 3 digital stamps.
Hope to see you over there
thanks for popping by and visiting
Amanda X

Stampotique Challenge - Happy Birthday

I am getting back into the flow again after having 2 weeks off on holiday and I am pleased to announce that my craftroom looks like a bombsite which is good as it means I have got in it to at least create the mess, happy days!! This week over at Stampotique Designers Challenge  the theme this week is "Happy Birthday" so without further ado my entry into that challenge

Quite a simple make from me and using Janet Kleins "Little Friends" stamp. I have put party hats on them all spelling out the word fun. Colour is just Dylusion ink dribbled across with the splashes mopped up with the 2 small tags including the tag strings so the colours match. Main sentiment stamp is from Kaisercraft and I have stamped Happy Birthday on the 2 small tags using a small alphabet stamp. All has then been matted onto blackcardstock to finish it off.
Thanks for visiting and hopefully see you back soon
Love
Amanda X

stampotique DT Call (extra photo's added)

Hi everyone
I'm back from a well earned bit of R&R and ready to get back to all the inkyness that we all love. I couldn't help but notice that the marvellous people that run the Stampotique blog are looking for some new DT members HERE. As a huge fan, as some of my previous posts will confirm, of their stamps I jumped at the chance to submit an entry piece to join what I am sure will be some stiff competition, but I suppose you have to be in it to win it. My DT entry also fits in with the current challenge Try a new technique.

I have started with an 8x8 canvas that I covered in tissue paper using multi medium to crinkle and glue into place this gives the canvas fabulous texture NEW TECHNIQUE No. 1. Then I painted over with a coat of gesso. Once that was dry I just played around with acrylic paints and stencils and old lids and gelatos till I was happy with the results. I then cut several run throughs of mountboard using Tim Holtz word play die, each letter is 2 stuck together for added depth. I then gave each letter the same paint effects before sticking onto the canvas (labour of love), The canvas "Living The Dream"is a little tongue in cheek!!

 

With so much texture how to add my image?? NEW TECHNIQUE No.2 I stamped the image "Relaxin" onto tissue paper with black archival, nothing new there, but I then painted on the reverse with acrylics which I haven't previously done.

 

 I also stamped Ryns Trickling water set in the same way to add to the canvas. I also carried the design onto the sides of the canvas.

 

So there it is, my DT Team entry. I have to include with my entry a little about my "Style" which I have always described as eclectic but I suppose I have a stronger leaning towards colourful painty, inkly, grungy creates which I enjoy making the most. My reason for wanting to join this team is I just love their stamps they offer so many creative opportunities, and to be part of such an inspiring design team would be amazing as I have admired and been inspired by many of the team over recent years.

so here goes.............and if I am not lucky enough on this occasion I have loved making this canvas.

See you all soon

Love

Amanda X

PS I thought I would just add some of my previous Stampotique makes just to show how much I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee these stamps

thanks for looking if you got this far lol