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Thursday 26 June 2014

"Stamp it" ATC Trade

Hi
Last month I joined my first ever ATC swap. It is a Stampotique Facebook swap organised by Nikki Woodward. I received 2 fabulous ATC's and am currently busy making my next 2 for the July swap.
I thought I would just share with you the 2 that I made and posted off, the theme was "Stamp It" we had to include a postage stamp or 2 on our ATC's and use Stampotique stamps, sadly only one of mine got posted on FB so here are the 2 I made.
I have used "Hunk" by Stampotique all parceled up and sent off to look for love. Sadly his mission failed!!!
I also made a little wallet to post him off in.
 

The second one I used one of the characters from "Monsters-Smitten Moustache" - Stampotique
 
 
and again a little wallet to hold him in
 
Both have been made using water colour paper and distress inks.
Right off to carry on making my next 2 for this fun swap.
thanks for visiting
Love
Amanda X
 

Saturday 21 June 2014

Wedding in Wales Part 2

Hi
Thank you for your lovely comments on the wedding card I posted (scheduled) for this morning,http://www.amanda-momentsofinspiration.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/off-to-wedding-in-wales.html
I just returned home from a fabulous day and so different due mainly to the stunning location of the church. It was wonderful to see the church on its own little island so with my high heels in hand we set of walking barefoot across the sand in our posh frocks paddling in the small pools left by the previous tide. What a stunning setting for a wedding!























I cannot take credit for the photographs I have taken them from the internet due to a technical issue with my own Camera.
For anyone interested this link gives the history of this 12th or 13th century church
http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/Ancient_Churches/St_Cwyfans_Church.htm
Shattered now, I put it down to all the exercise and sea air!
Right time for bed.
Love
Amanda x



Off to a wedding in Wales

Hi
Phew! I have a very busy/hectic weekend ahead of me. It all starts this morning as we are driving over to Wales, Angelsey to be exact, for a wedding. They are getting married in a church on a little Island just off Angelsey that you walk to across the sand when the tide is out, needless to say I am having a shoe nightmare and will probably abondon all footwear to walk barefoot to the church (there's a first time for everything)
Wedding cards not really my thing but hopefully they will like it.
 
 
My main image is the largest heartfrom Dina Wakleys "Collaged Hearts" stamps
 
 
edges have been distressed with tonic distress tool and then added Antique Linen distress ink. I have torn the dictionary definition for wedding out and added that along with a little red heart punched from a painted piece of sheet music.
 
 
I then added a twisted rusty heart that I made ages ago using my rusty wire, music paper and crackle accents, once dried I twisted it around a thin paintbrush to coil it.
other items used include:-
Tim Holtz Hearts stencil with Antique Linen distress ink
Torn sheet music distress with Antique Linen DI
Some red embossing powder sprinkles (nightmare to add)
All edges distressed and then inked with antique Linen DI
Machine stitching
simple sentiment from Kaisercraft.
I'm going to be missing from posting next week as I am away in Stratford upon Avon for work, leaving tomorrow afternoon and returning thursday. I can only say thank goodness for my iphone at least I can keep upto date with everything :-)
See you soon and have a lovely weekend
Love
Amanda X
 
 


Friday 20 June 2014

Sentimental at Stampotique

Hi
Over at Stampotique Designers Challenge this week the theme is
"Sentiments and Sayings"
We are challenged by Gez to make something that says it with words.
 
the Stampotique character I have used is, the previously uninked, "Bob takes time out"
I have stamped him onto gesso'd dictionary paper and coloured him with Spectrum Noir pencils and the addition of purple paint.The paint brush in his hand has been added from another stamp I have.
The background was a piece of watercolour paper that I had used to blot up previous remnants of ink on my craft mat, I just added some stamping in both ink and paint using Darkroom Door stamps.
 
Here you can see Bob with his brush taking note of the sentiment on the card.
Sentiment is "Kids Quotes" from Inkadinkado
Thanks for stopping by
Love
Amanda X
 


Wednesday 18 June 2014

I did warn you.........................................

Hi
and for those of you that regulary follow my blog I did warn you in a previous post that I am making cards for the "little people" in my life. That means a diversion of style from my usual makes and a journey into another world, however I have really enjoyed making this card as it gives me a fabulous excuse to do some "colouring in".
I have used the recent released "Scruffy Little Cat" range from Crafters Companion. I just fell in love with these Sassy Girls that are the creation of Sharon Sumpton.
 
this particular sassy girl is Lola and I have coloured her with spectrum noir pencils and added a bit of sparkle to those wonderful eyelashes.
 
.
Plenty of die cutting and embossing folders, blingy pink paper and gems.
These stamps come with several great quotes but I have opted to use some from Whimsey Stamps with matching die for the film frames, I felt they were more suitable for an 11 year old.
Thanks for stopping by I really appreciate your visit and your comments.
Love
Amanda X
 


Monday 16 June 2014

Wings & Things

Hi
This project has been hanging around my desk for what seems weeks so tonight I decided I had better finish it and hang it on the wall which it does from the clip on the top..
The colouring of this has been inspired with the techniques that Tim Holtz has taught us using distress inks and distress paints and lots of swooshing your paper through them on your craft mat.
I started by cutting a piece of metal garden mesh to the size I wanted, painted it roughly with gesso and then added distress paints picked raspberry,mustard seed and broken china. I then cut a piece of corragated card, ruffed it up by tearing bits off, a coat of gesso and then same coloured distress paints.I have then stamped on it using parts of Tim's Classics #17 and Papillon.
Text is script background by IndigoBlu.
The main image (I know it's not Tim') is one of my new Carabella studio stamps - Libellules & Papillons. For the background I tapped same distress colours as above but this time using distress inks, sprayed with water and then just lay watercolour paper on top. I then stamped using black archival ink. I then stamped again, coloured the butterflies and dragonflies with distress ink, cut out, and layered onto my original stamping.

I added a little white gel pen for some highlights.
 

 
Here you can see a little more of the detail. 3 nibs from my rusty nib collection.
Sentiment is from Flying Colours - By sheena, I have mounted it on its own piece of painted mesh and it sits 3D'd on the top.
and a Tim holtz word disc and clip finish it off.
I would like to enter this into this months challenge at
A vintage Journey their theme for this month is "Wings & Things"
The purpose of this challenge is to show how Tim Holtz has inspired you and for me it is recreating the wonderful effects he gets from his distress ranges.
Thanks for visiting
Love
Amanda X


Sunday 15 June 2014

Birds & Bee's at FSC for our latest challenge

Hi everyone
It's time for another new fortnightly challenge at fashionable Stamping Challenges
and our theme for the coming fortnight is
"Birds & Bee's"
I have taken a slightly different take on the theme and for those who normally follow this blog
do not adjust your sets you are in the right place.
It's the time of the year, for me, when I have a lot of "little" persons birthdays. They don't appreciate my normal painty effects and backgrounds, in fact I get highly criticised that I have gone over the lines?????
So with no going over the lines, not that I can see, I have taken our theme, focusing on the "Bee" part and used
Magnolia Tilda Bee
The flowers are Magnolia sunflowers, I have coloured the images with copics and Spectrum Noir pencils.
There was a lot of cutting out on this one (therapy!) I even cut out the antenna's and put them on wires so they move. I bit of stickles also on the wings to make them sparkle.
Other items:-
Tonic Die - Boudoir square
No.7 cut twice with Silhouette Cameoand layered up.
Orange sparkly pearls
backing papers from my stash (that I haven't dipped into for ages) sanded at the edges as I glued onto a shaped card base.
Happy Birthday sentiment - LOTV then punch out.
We would love to see your interpretation of our theme so please pop along and join in with us.
 
Just a little reminder:-
We are a stamping challenge so we do need to see stamping on your project.
We especially need to see that the stamping is the focal point on the project and that the stamping follows the format of the theme.
No digi stamps are allowed but you may use digi downloads for enhancement of your projects … but the main focal point must be stamping.
Please welcome our sponsor of FSC a fabulous company called Flonzcraft.
The winner of each challenge will receive a very generous voucher for Leo’s Store of $20. 
Thanks for visiting and I really appreciate your comments.
Love
Amanda X

Thursday 12 June 2014

Arwen Boxes it up!

For this weeks challenge at stampotique Designers Challenge it is DT member Arwen to choose our challenge for the week and Arwen has chosen "BOXES".
this one required my thinking head on................
What I came up with was a light box, which I have found the hardest thing ever to photograph lit but hopefully you will get the idea.
 
To make my box I started with cutting my box from mountboard using Eileen Hull's Sizzix 3D Block.
I'll show you it unlit first
Front and right side
Back and left side
front and top
 
And now it lit up
It changes colour as I have put a battery operated colour changing tea light inside, which goes through about 6 colours, I'll spare you all those photo's.

to make this i have used the following:-
sizzix 3d cube dieAlterations movers and shapers die - Mini Hearts
Alterations base tray.
Stampotique stamps:-
Hanging Hearts
Daniels Hearts
My Heart (small)
Line Up (just the smallest of the 4 creatures)
Paperartsy Fresco Finish paints blush,rusty rose,little black dress
vaseline to get the distress paint effect
Spectrum noir pencil 024 (for the little bit of colouringin that there is)
Aquarellable Stabilo black pencil
4 wooden beads for feet.
I would also like to enter this into the current challenge at simon Says Stamp Blogs Monday challenge where the theme is "Paint"
Thanks for stopping by and please feel free to let me know what you think
Thanks
Love
Amanda X

Monday 9 June 2014

Men!!

I just can't seem to stop making things at the moment and I don't actually know where I am getting the time from? needless to say I should be, probably, doing other things?? I think I am going through an highly organised period in my life, trust me, it wont last long!!.
Male cards seem all the thing at the moment, what with Fathers day being this coming weekend, be it this isn't a fathers day card but it is male themed so fits in nicely with the challenges over at
Make My Monday - for the males in my life
and
 
I have, again, used a stencil as a stamp, inking up the stencil with a selection of mini distress inks spritzing with water and then placing onto the card. The stencil is"alphabet" from Carabelle Studio.
Stamps used:-
Carabelle - Journal du Jour
Deep Red Cling - Doc Martens Boots
Tim Holtz remnant rubs finish this off.
Thanks for stopping by and see you all soon
Love
Amanda X

Sunday 8 June 2014

She believed she could.................

A quick post this morning before I start preparing for a house full today for a roast beef sunday lunch, catching up with friends I haven't seen for a while.
I have still been playing with stencils, inking them up with distress ink, misting them with water and them using them as a stamp.
the stencil I have used this time is Mini Four Faces - Balzer Designs by TCW
 
Distress inks used were victorian velvet, spun sugar and antique linen. Once I'd transfered the inked stencil to card I thenmasked off the squares and added victorian velvet distress paint through Tim's dot fade stencil. I then used the following stamps:-
handwriting - Dina Wakley textures
Barbed wire circle - Wired by Stampendous
Sentiment -Dina Wakley Scribbly Women.
I carried a little of the design onto the Kraft card blank.
 
 
This card fits in with the current challenge at Allsorts Challenge Blog which is create a one layer card so I am popping it into that challenge.
Thanks for visiting and I hope you all have a lovely Sunday.
Love
Amanda X
 

Friday 6 June 2014

Stampotique Challenge Blog Celebrations

This is my 2nd post of today (I think I am making up for lost time, lol)
This week over at Stampotique Designers Challenge blog they are celebrating
150 Challenges. In honor of that milestone the theme for this weeks challenge is
"CELEBRATION"
The design team, as usual, have made some amazing pieces to celebrate.
With my entry into this challenge I have made a card to celebrate their milestone.
I have used from Stampotique:-
"Cup of Fun" which I have shown "Jordan with love" popping out of. Text is "Type Alphabet"
 
 My backgound has been created by adding distress ink pads onto my craft mat, spritzing with water and then dipping my stencil into it, I then used the stencil as a stamp.
Some washi tape, holographic candy and doodling finish this background off.
So Happy 150 Stampotique may there be another fabulous 150!
thanks for visiting and see you soon
Love
Amanda X

For the Boys

It's Friday and so a new theme over at Crafts4eternity and our theme for the coming week is
ONE FOR THE BOYS"
With Fathers day a week on sunday, for those of us in the UK, we will all have male themed cards on our mind so why not pop over and show us yours.
Your entry doesn't have to be for fathers day, mine isn't as I haven't got around to finishing it yet, but it must be a project with a male theme to it.
the background has been lying around for months and is white gloss card that I have used to mop up Dylusion sprays and clean stencils on. I have added to it washi tapes, Tims remnant rubs and black doodling with a sharpie pen.
I have used the following stamps:-
Paperartsy - passing Time 3 (main image)
Paperartsy - Passing Time 4 (sentiment) I have replaced 2 of the words with Tim's label letters
Stampotique - Barcode
Stampotique - Barcode Text (both embossed with black fine EP)
and finanlly some machine stitching.
So if you feel like getting intouch with your masculine side pop over HERE and show us your project.
One, randomly chosen entry will win 3 digi images from our sponsor this week
Crafty Sentiment Designs.
Thanks for visiting
Love
Amanda X


Tuesday 3 June 2014

Jardindes Des Delices

I recieved a lovely parcel today, (Still waiting for some to arrive) with some "Little treat for me" stuff!
Part of my parcel was some stamps that I haven't seen before that I found, they are from the French company Carabella Studio and I have made this card using one of the 4 I ordered, this one is called
"Jardindes Des Delices"
I've gone with a lot of white space on this one (yes you are on the right blog!)
The colour is from one of my previously made gelli prints, the paint has a real shimmer to it which the photo doesn't capture. I stamped once onto the gellli printusing versamark and ultra fine black embossing power and then again onto white cardstock using archival ink. Then using a variety of circle punches punched out sections of the gelli image and laid it over the back and white stamp. Highlights have been added using a white gel pen.
The sentiment is from Tim Holtz.

I will be back soon hopefully with what I have made using the other 3 stamps.
Thanks for visiting
Love
Amanda X


Sunday 1 June 2014

Like Clockwork This Fortnight at FSC

 
Hi
Today see's the start of another of our fortnightly challenges over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and out theme for the next 2 weeks is
"LIKE CLOCKWORK"
Anything to do with clocks,watches and time.
As a reminder
we especially need to see that the stamping is the focal point on the project and that the stamping follows the format of the theme.
No digi stamps are allowed but you may use digi downloads for enhancement of your projects … but the main focal point must be stamping.
Please welcome our sponsor of FSC a fabulous company called Flonzcraft
The winner of each challenge will receive a very generous voucher for Leo’s Store of $20.
Here is my interpretation of this fortnights theme:-
When I thought about this challenge the first thing that came into my mind was the white rabbit from Alice in wonderland, always running around with his pocket watch being late, so I have captured that in this card.
The white rabbit stamp is from the Octopode Factory coloured with Copics and Spectrum Noir pencils.
 
The background I have created using dry brushed red paint and a variety of background stamps from Kaiserkraft,Indigoblu and Clarity, Dylusions and Indigoblu stencils,  paint splats and white gel pen, some torn paper playing cards and washi tape.
The printed text has been cut out from a copy of Alice Through The Looking Glass and the "Whatever" is a Stampotique stamp.
I hope you feel inspired to come and play along with us, visit  us HERE for more stunning inspiration from the talented design team.
Thanks for visiting and hopefully you will pop over and play along
Love
Amanda X