StampMan Challenge #1 - Anything Goes (DT card)

Here is my DT offering for the first StampMan challenge starting today, 16th July

I made the background paper using shiny cardsock, smooching it on a craft sheet with distress inks from Tim Holtz. I used pinks and greens. Love that combo. Then I took some of the single flowers from the Aspects of Design plate56 Funky flowers, by Kay Carley!! Love them. Stamped them in the same distress inks and embossed using melt dust - this has been a firm fav of mine for a while now as it is SO fine and really does justice to the fine-line stamps that Kay tends to produce.

The topper was stamped with a large stamp from the same plate, in black archival and smooched in pinks distress inks. I tore the edges and used some cut and dry to colour them. What else? Some of the flowers are from Jill and I coloured them to match the mounting cardstock. The crease card is from a Tim Holtz pad called Shabby Chic which to is just to stoke!!!!

I gave the card to my student physio, as thanks for her help to get me going in the first 3 weeks of my knee rehab. She will make a great physio and is headed back now to uni to do her final year. She was very touched to get the card, so I was pleased to give it.

So, the challenge is live today, and you should go along and have a go. You have a fortnight to think and make and there are great prizes to win... ENJOY

Thanks for looking

Frankie

xx

StampMan ATC Challenge #1 - Wings

This is my first DT ATC make for the new StampMan ATC challenge. It started on 1st July, so I hope lots of you will join in and make something. It is created so you can swap your ATCs if you want... There is to be a new challenge blog too, with prizes and everything, so keep up with the exciting new stuff at Jill's place.

I used a very favourite Aspect of Design stamp for this one, made just post honeymoon, awwww!!! Hence the  loved-up look!! I also used it on my wedding invites so you can tell I love it... The background is simple distress inks, smooched and then "helped" a little with cut n dry foam. I stamped it in ghost to add a little emphasis at the swirly end!!

Thanks for looking

Frankie

xx

New Work, New Blog!!!

I finally got to do some work this weekend... I created a new blog and made it's header... this is it below. The blog is called DragonsDarkerSide, and is for darker, grungier and gothic stuff. I have also finished my invitations and made a tag for the next TIO challenge... it's so good to be working again. Can't show you the tag or the invites yet, but here is the header and thanks for looking...

I used several of my new stamps and my new distress inks, so I had a great time and have many more pieces going on in my head!!!

Frankie

xx

TIO #17 A Circle Embraces, a line divides

This is my tag piece for the DragonsDream TIO #17 challenge this week, a circle embraces, a line divides. It was inspired by the lovely ring Freddie gave me for our engagement / betrothal on Monday, this week!!! This is it below... it is rose and yellow gold and the flower centre has a diamond set into it... so very pretty. Well, I think so, but then I would I suppose!!! Woo... the picture does not do it justice, as I could not capture the lovely pinky tones of the rose gold. Still, you get the idea...

I started with a piece of soft gold, pearlised card and printed the UMount swirls and flower in gold and rose gold, respectively. The face and keys are from a Judikins cube called treasure. I masked the face and overprinted with my Aspects of Design net, and stamped the UMount sentiment . I used distress inks and my inky tool to blot colour on to various areas, then covered it all with clear ep, to give a dreamy look. The lips and flower centre are highlighted with pearlydoodles, in red.

Thanks so much for looking, and following mine and Freddie's story... there will be more to come next June, but not necessarily what you are thinking!!... the Dragon has dreamed something quite different...

TIO #10 Say it with Flowers

This is my tag for week #10 at DragonsDream - say it with flowers. I was inspired by a bunch that Fred brought me in the week. I am so lucky to be getting flowers again, and I just wanted to share the feeling around!!

I used the new stamps from Kay Carley by The StampMan, flowers and swirls. I just added the net from a much older Aspect of Design sheet, because I love using it in my stamp collages. The background is a mixture of distress inks, Adirondaks and Starburst stains. The flowers are from my stash. Thanks for looking....

TIO #4 - Oriental ... China Blue

Here is my entry for the TIO challenge #4, Oriental - China Blue. It is a subject dear to my heart, oriental... so could not resist making a tag with that theme.

I used a shades of blue Blending Blox pad, on my heat sheet, and smooshed the card about a bit!! Then over printed with the fan shape in the same pad. Think both these stamps came from QVC - they were the ones that peeled off their wood too easily, so I stuck them to Easimount...

The bamboo is from an Aspect of Design sheet from The StampMan, by Kay Carley. It's a fantastic stamp for all sorts of reasons. It was stamped in black onyx and embossed with clear ep (when is it not!!??) The lady and the fan were done in the same way, but on really dark card for contrast. Ribbons and flowers, from my stash... job done!! Thanks for looking.

A Journey of a Thousand Miles...

Here is a postcard for 2 challenges this week, about words. The first is Sunday Postcard Art with their theme of words of wisdom, and the second is from Mixed Media Monday, where the theme is the written word.

The background is sprayed Glimmer mists, overstamped with bamboo from the Japanese set by KC at Aspects of Design. The people and stones are from a plate by Non Sequitur, coloured with inktense pencils. The sage saying is by the philosopher Lao Tsu, who lived in very ancient times, but who wrote so many words of wisdom with resonance for today.

Alchemy - GOLD!!! 2 Challenges

Back to where I began - this is what started me crafting / stamping. I saw Carol from Stamp Addicts, doing triple embossing and thought it was MAGIC... it really is alchemy. In making this 4x4, I have used gold and Moonglow two toned golds, which make rose and green gold colours. I stamped into the hot melted mixture with an Aspect of Design stamp, which Ali reminded me of, when she used it. I also used a flourish from a UMount plate, plus some text from AofD, and a few dots of gold Pearlidoodles. It is scrummy and golden, in real life, rich and textural (is that a new word??!!)

I am entering it into 2 challenges today, at My Time to Craft, Go for Gold and Created by Hand, Gold.

Hurrah - Stamping...Hearts Gothic Arches & MMM

Hurrah, some stamping, late in the day!!! It's snowing outside, but Valentine's Day is coming up next week - traditionally the day when birds pair up for the spring mating season... So, here are my two love birds, from Joanna Sheen's ODCD, surrounded by hearts stamped in blending blox shades of green, using an Hero Arts stamp heart. The text is from an Aspects of Design plate, and the large, swirly, leafy image is one from Elusive Images. I have prepared this one for the latest Gothic Arches challenge, hearts... It also fits Mixed Media Monday, romance, so I have shown it there too.

ATC - Rondo for Dragonflies in Flight

I love ATCs, so this challenge from Arty Girlz, was right up my little alley!! I used an image from Aspects of Design (The StampMan) and printed it twice -once on card and once onto skrink plastic. I used a Sakura pen to add some colour to the dragonflies, and old paper Distress ink pad to colour the plastic backing, just to take off the whiteness. The backgound paper was a sheet of music, distressed with brushed corduroy and gold Glitz spritz. A couple of brads completed this little offering.