May We Be Strong Women for That's Crafty

Hi

Well it's Monday and the start of a new week and that also means I get to post my DT piece for the

That's Crafty Blog.

For all the details 

just click HERE

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Don't Forget to Fly

Hi Everyone

I'm back today with a post on the Katzelkraft Blog. If you haven't heard of Katzelkraft they are a French Stamp company with the most beautiful range of rubber stamps, you can see the stamp collections HERE or by clicking the "Boutique" tab on the blog, you will not be disappointed and they will post to the UK and other countries.

For more details on the stamp and how I made it visit the Katzelkraft blog HERE

thanks for stopping by

See you soon

Love

Amanda X

Gold & silver At That's Craft Challenge Blog

Hi Everyone

and a big special hello to my newest followers its great to have you along to share my crafty journey.

Today see's the start of a new challenge at That's Crafty Challenges and for the coming fortnight we want to see your projects that are

"Silver & Gold"

Now this one has taken me right out of my comfort zone but it's good to do something different for a change and I like a challenge!!!

I made the background using a square acrylic stamping block as a stamp using Aquatints

 in gold and silver to make a chequered effect background. I then added the circles in both silver and gold acrylic paint through a stencil.

I then stamped the Paris postmarks stamp from Tim Holtz "Paris memoir" set with versamark ink  and heat embossed in gold.

To the edges I heat embossed "aged Ivory" embossing enamal and whilst still hot added some "gilded mica", both products from Stampendous.

Some gold trims were machine stitched on with gold thread, I then added some metal flowers which came from an old broken bracelet.

Finally I added my image stamped and heat embossed in gold and lightly coloured with antique linen distress ink. I have used one of the stylish girls from Tim Holtz recently released  "Runway"set

I finished by adding my sentiment from Tim Holtz "Small Talk" Stickers.

We would love you to pop over HERE and come and join in with us all, The Design Team have come up with a variety of fabulous projects to inspire you. 

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

That's Crafty Sneak Peak - I've got my Brusho colours out!

Hi everyone

It's my turn, as it is on Mondays at the moment, to post a project onto that's Crafty DT blog.

I decided, as I hadn't had them out for a while to play with my Brusho Colours.

Here's a sneak peak

Click HERE to see it all, I've combined brushos with a stencil.

Hope you like it?

Love

Amanda X

Favourite "Go To" Stamp at Fashionable Stamping Challenge

Hi Everyone

It's time for the start of another of our fortnightly challenges at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and for this one we are asking you to use your 

FAVOURITE "GO TO" STAMP

this can be any type of project but your favourite stamp must be the focal point of your project.

Now this is a hard one for me as I have so many favourites, but one of my favourite stamp manufacturers has to be "Stampotique" and in particular the stamps of Daniel Torrente I just love the way he draws the fabulous characters, whilst they might not be to everyone's taste I just love them and find them so versatile. So to pick a favourite now I've narrowed it down a bit, no that's still a hard one. I have finally settled on "Fofe" I just love the way he looks so gormless!

and here he just looks so "Street"!!! he is "So down with the kids" I think his baseball cap gives him "Total street cred" 

Other stamps include

Hat cube - Stampotique

Barkabe - Stampotique

Barcode - Stampotique

Urban Life - Sam Poole Creative Expressions (Text)

Background is just gesso and smeared neon acrylic paint with a touch of stenciling through some sequin waste. 

I decided not to colour him, apart from his hat, to make him stand out on the coloured background.

So why not grab your favourite stamp and come and join us over at fashionable Stamping challenge, there is some fabulous inspiration from my talented teamies.

One randomly chosen entry will win $20 to spend online at Flonzcraft, our generous sponsor.

So what are you waiting for? come and play!

I would also like to enter this into this weeks Stampotique designers challenge

this weeks theme is "Use Neon Colours"

thanks for stopping by, 

Love

Amanda X

A Fab Day with Dina Wakley

Hi Everyone

I have had a fabulous day today as I have been to my very first workshop and what a workshop to start with, Dina Wakley which was held at Art From the Heart in Harrogate. 

All I can say if you ever get the chance to attend one of Dinas workshops, do it!! What a fabulous teacher and absolutely lovely to spend a day with. It also gave me the chance to meet up with my crafty friend that I have met through the wonders of Blogland, the talented Donna from Inky and Quirky and we just got on like a house on fire, so a fabulous day all round.

Here are some of my pages from today, I don't claim that they are fabulous but I've learnt loads of techniques and tricks of the trade so now it's all about practising what we all learnt today. I did complete a milestone of my crafty life, I painted my first ever face!!! I'm quite pleased with it even though I need to practise, practise,practise!

Finally my prized possession of the day, a signed and drawn tag from Dina herself.

I'll start with the good stuff my tag drawn and signed from Dina

and then my pieces from the day

My very first face

and a couple of technique pages

Most of it Dina got us to apply with our hands and I still cant get the paint of my hands, so I am off to relax in the bath and try and get it all off, thank goodness for Rangers craft scrubbie!!!

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Don't Let Your Fears......... for That's Crafty

Hi everyone

I hope that for those of you that are Mums that you had a lovely Mothers day yesterday, which it was here in the UK. 

Today, being Monday, is my day over at Thats Blogging Crafty and I have colured one of the New Prima stamps. So here's just a sneak peak.

If you fancy a better look  please click HERE

Thanks for stopping by

and see you soon

Love 

Amanda X

Go with the flow

Hi Everyone

Just I quick post today as I have a busy day today as it's Mothers Day here in the UK and I have a roast lamb Sunday lunch to start preparing. So Happy Mothers Day to all Mums here in the UK.

I have been playing, which as we all know means making a right old mess, with Brusho's and stencils.

From one of my play attempts I have made a C&S card to join in with this weeks challenge over at 

Less is More it is one layer week with the theme of adding an animal. This is the first time I've ever made a true one layer card working directly onto the card its self.

To make the background I sprinkled Brusho onto the stencil and lightly sprayed with water then used it to transfer the design to water colour card.

The fish (my animal) is from Dylusions stamp set "Under the sea"

and the sentiment is from an alphabet set I have.

I then cut the water colour card into a card blank.

Here you can also see how the design goes round onto the back once I had folded the card

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Wings 'n' things at Thats Crafty Challenge Blog

Hi Everyone

Especially my latest followers, thankyou for sharing my journey with me. Hope you've all had a lovely crafty week.

Most of you will probably know that I am currently guesting on Thats Blogging Crafty for a couple of months. Part of my guesting includes being part of the Thats Crafty Challenge Blog, which you will find HERE.

The challenge for the next 2 weeks is

"WINGS 'n' Things"

So basically any project as long as there are WINGS!!

I decided to use Dina Wakleys fantastic "Scribbly Birds" Stamps and make a wall hanging.

These are ATC sized and I have used all 4 birds.

I have stamped the birds onto patterned fabric with Stazon and then frayed the edges of the fabric.

Each background has been coloured using Dina Wakley acrylic paints, various torn bits of paper,tickets and washi tape. I have also added machine stitching to each one.

They have then all been mounted onto a piece of mesh that I cut to size. 

The sentiment is also from "Scribbly Birds" set.

We would all love it if you popped over and played along with us, one randomly chosen winner will receive £20 to spend in the store (conditions apply please check website for details) and there is also our TOP 3 for which you'll receive our badge to display on your blog.

So what are you waiting for? you don't have to scroll back to the top for the link, just click Here to check it all out.

Thanks for stopping by 

Love

Amanda X

Don't Forget to Fly

Hi Everyone

For my Monday GDT spot at That's Blogging Crafty I have made an ATB using the Fabulous new Stamps from Finnabair

Here are all 4 sides together

And the butterflies

To find out how and what I used to make it

pop over HERE

I would also like to enter this into this months challenge at:-
Take it make it Challenge - Take a stamp Anything Goes
and
Countryview challenges - Anything Goes
Eileen Hull  - Go Green

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

There's a New Challenge Blog on the Block!!

Hi Everyone

I'm back today with my 2nd post of the day to let you all know my final piece of exciting news and it is to tell you all that there is a new

 Mixed Media Challenge Blog 

on the block!!

You can find all the details HERE 

We will be a monthly challenge blog so we are giving you loads of time to make your inked,painted,stencilled,sewn,drawn and anything else you can think of to put together because that's what Mixed Media is all about, having fun combining all those lovely products that we all own. We are all the team from Speedcraft Challenge blog who decided to go in a different direction so I hope you like the direction we have chosen.

So to launch the challenge off we are having a Mixed Media World

"Anything Goes" month.

My "anything goes" piece is an 8" x 8" canvas board.

You name it and it's on there

Sizzix slide mounts die, Alterations dies ornate frame & word play, 

Ballerina cut out on my Silhouette Cameo

Tim Holtz Ironworks stencil

Sheet music pages

Tim Holtz remnant rubs

Handmade paper clay flowers using Martha Stewart paper clay & moulds,

film strip ribbon, half an old zip,a bottle top, Crafty Individuals miniatures, glossy accents and probably bits I've missed.

 All were painted using Paperartsy Fresco finish paints and one of my current "go to" products Rusty Paper paint by Viva Decor and Pebeo renaissance gold gilding wax, there is even a touch of machine stitching in there.

Myself and the team have had a ball making our blog debut pieces so we'd love it if you popped over and joined in with our very first challenge. Click HERE to be whisked away to "Mixed Media World".

We are sponsored on this challenge by "Glitzcraft" and one lucky winner will receive £20 to spend in their store. Please check out our blog for the details.

Thanks for visiting and look forward to seeing your mixed media make if you decide to join in with us.

Love

Amanda X

Springtime at FSC

Hi

It's time for another new challenge fortnight at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and as we head into March our challenge is 

"Springtime"

We are looking to see your springtime creations  so your project needs to be either fresh,sunny or colourful or anything else that means Springtime to you.

Remember that we are a stamping challenge so the main focal point of your project should feature rubber stamping.

For my make this time I have inked up some fabulous Donna Downey stamps by Unity Stamps.

Stamps used are:-

You are important set (Flower)

and 

Adore set.

for the flower I just picked up leftover spectrum noir aquatints that were left over on my craft mat from a previous project. I then stamped my image over them and cut out the flower.

The background has been created with Wild honey distress ink applied with a water brush and spectrum noir pencils. I then stenciled Wild Honey distress ink through reversed chicken wire stencil by TCW. Finally added some Tim Holtz Chit Chat stickers.

There is some wonderful Springtime inspiration by the team HERE and we would love it if you played along.

One randomly chosen entry will win $20 to spend in the online store of our generous sponsor

Flonzcraft, there will also be the Top 3 chosen by the DT.

So what are you waiting for "Jump into Spring" with us!!

thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Numbers at Stampotique

Hi

I didn't realise what time it was as I've been on a bit of a craftathon today, I've definitely made the most of my day off, but I had so much to do, but more of that over the coming week. I just wanted to post my entry into this weeks challenge at Stampotique Designers Challenge where the theme this week is

'Numbers'

I started with a gelli print background and stamped the numbers into each heart. Then inked up, for the first time even though I've had her ages,

"Agatha Heart" She was stamped onto gesso'd book paper and coloured with Gelatos.I have written the sentiment myself "I have the No.1 heart..........Yours" which I have typed out on my typewriter.

Some machine stitching around the edges finished it off.

Anyway I'm away to my bed now, exhausted!!

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

Have A Blast!

Hi Everyone

Just a quick post as I have been playing with some new stamps I have just got.

They are the Halftone and Kaboom stamps from Waltzing Mouse Stamps. This was meant to have been a quick card but that wasn't the reality!!! I've also used one of my VLVS stamps Banksy Mona Lisa, the bombs are also VLVS Banksy stamps

Background has been created in an ombre effect using Spectrum noir aqua tints. (photo doesn't capture it well)

Sentiment has been stamped using Making Memories Rummage alphabet set.

These are really fun sets from Waltzing Mouse Stamps and I need to play some more but that will have to wait as I have DT pieces to get on with.

Thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

More Exciting News - 2nd Post Today

Hi Everyone

I have more news for today which is why I am making my second post of the day. If you missed my first piece of news you can read all about it HERE. 

I am pleased to tell you that I have been asked to join the Katzelkraft Design Team. Katzelkraft is based in France and has a beautiful range of rubber stamps that can be shipped to those of us outside of France, I encourage you to check out these wonderful stamps Here, you will not be disappointed.

 I would like to share with you my Debut DT piece, a set of ATC's in their own little box

For more pictures, details of how I made them and the stamps that I used, just pop over Here for a better look.

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you all soon. 

Love

Amanda X

Exciting News! Sneaky Peak!

Hi

As I mentioned in my post of yesterday I have several pieces of exciting news and here is the first of them. I was absolutely delighted when Laura from "That's Crafty contacted me to ask me if I would like to be a guest designer for her for the next 2 months. As a frequent online shopper of That's Crafty, actually I think I own half the shop, I jumped at the chance to be part of this fabulous team. 

You will be able to find me every monday at Thats Blogging Crafty, (for the next 2 months).

For my first piece for the design team blog I decided to make a piece using the wonderful 

Carabelle Studio rubber stamps as I was first introduced to this fabulous range of stamps by That's Crafty, to my knowledge the only stockist in the UK, and have now a wonderful collection of them.

Here's a sneak peak

I hope you'll pop over Here for a better look and see how I made it.

The fabulous DT of this blog post a new make daily so why not become a follower for a daily dose of stunning inspiration.

thanks for stopping by

Love

Amanda X

A Quick C&S

Hi Everyone

and an extra special hello to my newest followers, thank you for joining me on my crafty journey. 

I have been missing from Blogland this last week but I have been crafting away into the early hours preparing for some wonderful things I have become involved in, so "Watch this Space"!! My first announcement is tomorrow so I hope you will pop back for that one.

To start the month off though I have a C&S card using one of Tim's fabulous "Bird Crazy" set. There's lots of work out there at the moment using these stamps it seems that we all have just fallen in love with them.

I think he is my favourite of the 6 you can choose from.

I have coloured him using Derwent water colour pencils and the party hat has been added from the Stampotique hat cube stamp.

Hope you all have a lovely sunday and as it's the 1st of March SUMMER is coming!!!!

thanks for stopping by

Don't forget I'll be back tomorrow with exciting news

Love

Amanda X