The Prodigal Returns - Stampman Challenge

Long time no-see with my colleagues at the Stampman... I have been awol due to my adverse circumstances, but now I am trying to make more time for me, or my situation threatens to drown me!! So vellum is the challenge and I made a very simple, but I hope effective, orientally inspired card.

 I took a vellum square and cut across the two diagonals, then rolled back each point, sticking with my 1/8th scor tape to secure the curl. I used my decal edge scissors to fussy-up the edges. It makes it very dimensional and interesting.

 I used elements from 2 or 3 Aspects of Design stamp sets in the Dragonfly Dreams series., stamping in black archival and embossing with clear ep, on to a shiny cardstock. I coloured with distress markers, then embossed that, to save the clear colours. I then smooched the images in worn lipstick and wild honey, blotting to dry my shiny card. This made the background soft and gentle.

 Finally, I cut out the images and arranged them. The background paper is from a pad by docraft and has lovely Chinese characters on it. The whole is then mounted onto shiny black cardstock. This was a nice challenge to get me back into the swing... looking forward to seeing your comments and your own entries.
Love and Light
Frankie
xx

WOYWW - Back into the Swing

Well, what a week... seems longer than usual - well it would you daft bat, you missed posting last week, duh!!!! - and here we are snooping and hopping around the world to look at each others' work desks, and getting great inspiration... and all because Julia had a fab idea...deets here.

There are two good reasons for this blog title today (1) I am getting a bit more time to spend in my "craftyoom" and my ideas are going well and (2) we are back on the road with the horse shows and we did SO well on Sunday, I am still on a high!!!! But desk first...

 Tried to get an overhead, but dare not climb and arms not quite long enough!!!! - told you she was a daft bat, folks!!! - but it's close enough to get a full half of my space in... bit untidy but it has definitely been MUCH worse, eh??!! I was making my tag for DragonsDream Tag it on, which is Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown. It's challenge #113 and was chosen by Blackdragon, so 'nough said!! tee hee... she really makes me think. Yup, the pasta machine is still out, cos I tightened it good!!

 The tag I chose is oversized, ie, bigger than the usual #8. I have got my distresses here ready spayed, so I can smooch...

 See, I have done some printing now, and am about to emboss with this wonderfully fine stuff from My Craft Studio... I love it and it last such a long time...

 Here is the whole tag, at an angle to show the texture and dimension...

 I love this stamp, the face is so soft and enigmatic... the face was slightly washed and picked out with picket fence stain, to make it look ethereal.

 The demon figure is from the internet, and depicts half angel, half demon - well the devil was supposed to be a fallen angel, eh??!! - I printed it on photo paper to give it a shiny quality, and I think the purple haze makes it look as if it is rising above the earthly city - woo, get her, waxing lyrical!!!

Full on, I am pleased with the result, though it is far more dark and menacing in real life. So there we are. If you feel like joining in, just pop over to TIO and have a go...

And before I go, here are just two photos of the boys from Sunday...

 This is Jayden, aged 8yrs 1mth, having just won his class!! Hence the red rosette. Because he won, beating 9 other children, he was entered into the championship at the end of the day, where all the ridden class winners competed for champion in show. And guess what, he came reserve champion, to a 15 year old with an 18 year old horse, but actually beating some other adults and seniors as well as children!!!! WOOO, was I a proud grandmama!!!! The judge said he almost won it outright, and what soft hands he has. He really did ride SO well and has a fab championship rosette to go with this one.

And here is my ickle star, Matthew, who is only 6 but is getting on so well. He came second in his class, but as we only have one pony, he was not able to go into the championship... awww - but his turn will come. Just look at my wonderful star pony too. She shone like spun gold in the wonderful sunshine, and so many people admired her.

To cap off the day, Freddie ran her "inhand" (that's without sadle etc, and just showing the pony, not a rider, for those of you who don't know!!). She won her class, which was for mountain and moorland breeds. She was then eligible for the inhand championship, to find the best horse or pony in show. It works like dogs at Crufts. And you guessed it... she was Best in Show, and Champion!!! We are all so proud of her...

So, remember that we lost all our proudly won rosettes last year in the horse box which was set on fire!!?? Well we now have no less than 6 to start us off again!!! 1 second and 1 merit for doing a test over and above expectations, cos the judge made a mistake!!! 1 first and championship and 1 first and reserve champion... not a bad haul for the first day out, and all in the new horse box with mum as well!!! What a wonderful day - she keeps talking about it, so it was even memorable for her!!!

Thanks for the visit. Have a great week

Love and light

Frankie

xx

PS... please pop along to the Artistic Stamper Creative Team blog to see my first guest appearance projects and give me a comment!!! Much appreciated support, taa!!

xx

Look Here - My First Post ....

At The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog!!! I was so excited and pleased  to be asked to participate, by Jenny and Hels, originally... I love their work, and the other members' contibutions, so naturally, I was thrilled when asked to make art with and for them...

So this is my first of three posts this month. I used lots of background stamps and an insects and butterflies plate, and all the deets can be found on the blog here... I am only going to give you a tiny peek over here on my blog, so to see the project(s) in their full bloom, pop over to The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog and have a closer look at what I made!!! Please enjoy, and don't forget to leave me a comment after you have had a sneaky look-see!!!
Love and Light
Frankie
xx

Please don't foret to come over and support me ...
Frankie
xx