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

WOYWW #146 - Tim, Tag and Treasure

Morning and happy WOYWW - AGAIN!!! Now come on you out there, who stole my week?? I suspect it's the same someone who drinks my cuppa tea when I set it down for a moment, or who steals my Tim rule or Martha Stewart craft knife when I am not looking!!!! I know you are out there and I am going to catch you one day - that's it then, folks, she really HAS flipped this time!!! Poor soul, I think the mother thing must be contageous!!!

So what, my ickle poppets, can I delight you with today?.. it being snoopy-desk-marathon-time over at Stamping Ground with Julia... Well, I am currently - perhaps even as you read this dear friend - getting the Distress King, Tim Holtz into bed with me each morning - now before you get hot under the collar, or turn off the blog with disgust, it's not what you think, of course!!! I am watching that delectable and hightly talented artist, expalin stuff to me and show me his techniques!!! On tags, you understand!!! I am doing his first ever online course and it's fab... so that's what's on my desk just now...

 I have done 3 annotated tags already, and I shall make a file for them, so I can keep them for future reference, as he suggests. One of the great things about the course, though, is that you get lifetime access to go back and look whenever you want. It's REALLY interesting.

 As it's also come round to TIO fortnight, I decided to use a couple of the techniques on a tag for our theme this time, which is the book title, "The Thorn Birds"... I went with the legend itself, which is about a mythical bird that searches for thorn trees from the day it is hatched. When it finds the perfect thorn, it impales itself, and sings the most beautiful song ever heard, as it dies... aww...

 I used a TH birdie for the mythical one. He looked forlorn when I took him out of the drawer. I didn't have any thorns but used a stamp from a set by The Stampman, and added more spikey bits with my black soot marker, The blossoms are coloured with distress markers too... yum

 I made him fly down on to the page - yes, I knew she had lost it folks... - and look as if he were hovering over a thorn. If you look carefully at his breast, you can see he is already pierced and bleeding, hence the music on his tag and mounting sheet... aww poor thing... the background colours are meant to echo the Australian outback red earth..

The words are from the same TH sheet, and the heart is from the wonderful packaging from Art From the Heart... impressive that...

So that's it for this time, I think. Nowt much to report, otherwise. I just did not have the heart to tell you, last week, that I fell AGAIN a fortnight ago... on my landing AGAIN... REALLY banged myself up that time, but healing now... landed on both knees, actually, and hung my TH scissors on the door handle, quite involuntarily I can assure you!!! Mum's physio wondered if she should not be seeing me instead of mum!!! Tee hee.

Horses are going well, boys riding superbly, the Fragrant Freddie is off just now with a nasty chest infection, and the dishwasher has been on the blink!!! Getting mended as you read this, I hope 'cos I HATES washing up more than most things!!!!
Love and Light
Frankie
xx
PS We have a DT call out for DragonsDream Tag It On, if you are interested in applying... email me and enter a piece for the current challenge, and the team and I will consider you... Go on, you KNOW you want to!!!

PPS Many of you have spotted a cat in my window... that is my first one called Mephistopheles -Mephie for short 'cos he can't spell it!!! He is always with me when I craft, if he is around... many others come there too, to help with my muse
xx

WOYWW #145 - Finished and New...

Well another whishhh and whizzz, and someone turned my clock to Wednesday, AGAIN!!! Unless there are secretly more Wednesdays in a week than any other day ... mmmm... - well she finally lost it, guys!!! And we all know what THAT means, eh?? WHAT!!! YOU don't know??? Well whatever planet have you been on... blast off to the Stamping Ground and get enlightenment!!
I have finally finished the outside and inside paper work of my suitcase. Only remains the trimmings in the inside and the mini to go in with photos... I am really pleased with it for my first, but would try it again now I get the hang of it...

 All the outside closures are on and the handle...

 It's really twee, isn't it?? I will definitely try something like it again... I have ordered another project from the wonderment that is Laura Denison, and that is a curio cabinet - something really different and totally impractical!!!

 The inside is really jolly and it only remains to have it's strip fitted to hold ickle phials of sand and other bits, across the middle of the lid pocket. The mini will fit into the case, with embellies and photos, finally putting to bed the Egyptian holiday, which ended in such chaos so many moons ago!!!

And what is THIS you spy??? Well, I hear you shout, you said you wouldn't get another one, as they have proved so unreliable for you!!!! ... Yes, dear reader, I KNOW you are right, but I tried to use my cuttle bug the other day and I was USELESS - yes, folks, more useless than usual!!! So I am trying again from another supplier, with the forlorn hope that I shall be more lucky this time...

And finally, a new light. I treated myself to an Ottlite, as the desk lamp I inherited from my lovely Pete, finally gave up the ghost the other day... I have a daylight bulb in another lamp, but this one makes it so there are no shadows at all on my desk, yippee!!!

That was finally, because I can't show you what I am working on - if I did I would have to kill you!! tee hee... I have started planning and sorting my DT pieces for The Artist Stamper Team Blog, for next month. I do hope you lot will come and support me when I am finally "on show" !!! ??

Have a great week...

Love and light

Frankie

xx

PS - mum is having another reasonable week - we took her to watch the boys ride and she thoroughly enjoyed it...

PPS I have a DT call out over on my challenge blog DragonsDream Tag It On ... pop over and have a shuffty or even apply... ??

WOYWW #144 - A More Normal Week!!

Well, Wednesday rushes upon us once again... and March already!!! Special day that it is, it can be totally shared at the home of our spy mistress Julia at Stamping Ground. Pop and show your own desk and tell us what you are up to... it's such fun!!

 It's staying reasonably tidy then, and I can still see the wood for the trees but still not getting as much work/play done as I would like... anyway, mum is having a better period just now, and is much more settled. I am still fighting to get the best from the care plan - I have one really great carer, who comes twice a day, but the rest are mediocre at best... it's a pain when we pay so much!!

Talking of playing and getting into my lovely "craftyoom", I have more to do this month to be ready for a VERY SPECIAL EVENT next month... YEY!!! I have been asked to be a Guest of the Month on The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog!! How great I feel about THAT!!! So it will be scates on to do some good stuff

Woo, got the markers out and used the brush ends on the grunge paper suitcase handles... looking forward to getting the special paper needed to do the magic with them??!!

This week, Simon Says Stamp and Show - bottle it... so for my TIO Alice challenge, I decided to show her growing large because of drinking from the bottle marked "drink me"...I used some images from the MCS disc... it's a great fun CD...

The rabbit is running off with the Queen of Hearts playing card - I saved them from a crimble cracker!!! I knew they would come in handy one day...

The clock has grown wings - well how original, fancy her thinking of that!!! - I used butterfly wings and decoupaged the watch face to make it lift off the page...- well that's what the wings are for, eh??

The background was done with distress inks and stamped with clocks and cogs, diamond blocks and...

It is all topped off with a large Graphic45 brad, which holds a key - for Alice to open the door, of course, silly - and a bronze metal circle of cut out hearts...

There is a lot of dimension to my tag this time, and it is very busy - well the book is, isn't it??

So that's what is on my desk at close of play today... the suitcase is coming on, and the tag was fun and different to do. I don't have any Alice stamps, but would love to get into all that... fascinating. Off to bed shortly, as I am so tired, looking after Miranda and the boys, as well as mum... feeling a bit of a shadow this evening!!! - hey, who said that??? tee hee.

Have a great week and thanks for coming over and leaving your wonderful comments. Looking forward to seeing lots of you chez vous

Love and Light

Frankie

xx

Besides the entry to SSSS I would like to enter this piece in a couple of other challenges

The Altered Alice - best butter - colour yellow, well most of mine has dripped into the watch!!!

The Cheerful Stamp Pad - #37 Land of fantasy

WOYWW #143 - A Fall Before Any Pride!!

OMG!!! I just can't keep on my feet and the rest of my female family is just as bad!!! What now??? I hear you all cry... what on earth are you showing us your dirty leg for??!! Well, it's NOT dirt, it's one HUGE bruise!! And it's a longish story... anyway Miranda's op on Thursday did not go smoothly - well the op did but the aftermath was VERY traumatic for a while, with her on the critical list for a few hours!!!

Worrying about her and being a bit distracted, I tripped on my landing, after having a wash ready to go visit her, and hurt me a very lot!!! So that's what it looks like tonight!! PS Miranda finally came out of hospital on Sunday afternoon, and has to lay up for a fortnight, then we'll go from there!!

And after the fall?? Well some art and a desk - courtesy of the wondrous Julia at Stamping Ground headquarers... because that's really what you came for eh??!!

 So here it is in all it's making glory!! I have finally started on the vintage suitcase project from Laura Denison, of The Paper Trail. I have the chipboard all cut here - took AGES with my gammy hands, especially after I fell!! - for the base of the suitcase. Below and right, is a view of the lid all done. My distress ink browns-drawer is sporting some of my new markers!!!! YEY!!!

 The pattern goes together very well, and I am using the paper Laura used, which is 7 Gypsies Conservatory. The inset piece is sticky back canvas, coloured with distress in frayed burlap...

 This is the other end of my desk, with the pattern instuctions all ready to follow.

 I laid the chipboard on the paper then cut round, and made the aperture for the canvas insert. This is a new Martha Stewart craft knife which came from America, from Srapadabadoo.com with my chipbard and a few other goodies!!!

 The paper gets wrapped and stuck - duh!!! obviously!! - then ...

 The corners are made from squares of cardstock, folded, trimmed and cut to make them fit, as below

 Hiding on the top of the cupboard at the back is the beginnings of another make... see further down for a closer look!!

Along the lid aperture, I set a row of ball chain, dipped in alcohol inks to age and colourise it, and I shall do the rest of the outside bits tomorrow - when I have finished my grandson's card for his birthday on Saturday... he will be 8 and I can't believe it...

 He designed his invitations... the first picture here is what he drew and said he wanted... he did it A4 and so had room on the front for his details. This pic above shows my interpretation of it, done postcard size and so the deets are on the back... To say he was thrilled is an understatement!!!

He LOVED the black border with all the holes - an afterthought on my part, when his mommy said the holes in his one were "on purpose and part of the design" !!?? Good ole distress inks and smooshing made the multicoloured background simples, compared to his colouring in with crayons!!

And finally, the close ups promised earlier... the beginnings of his card. He wants the two moshi monsters, Zimmer (?) and Katsuma (?) - not sure of the spellings!!! he is the former and Matthew is the latter - and it suits them!!!! tee hee... I will blog the finished card after he gets it... Saturday will be hilarious - we are supposed to be Laser Questing and Bowling with his little mates with a mommy who can't walk very much and my demented mother!!! Whoopy doo, that WILL be fun... Anyway, let's hope this next week will be a little less eventful for me and very lovely for you... Thanks for coming and commenting an keeping me sane - well, relatively!!!
Love and light
Frankie
xx

Simon Says... and Just Because!!!

Hi... mum is very confused again and very unsteady so Dr, is coming this pm... Miranda is in for her bone graft - finally, yey!!! - so it's all happening this week. Boys due for a sleepover too tonight, so that will keep me on my mettle then, eh??? LOL!!!
Anyway, as I said before, it's an ill wind etc. and my mind is running on with ideas if I can just find  time for them... alongside all the washing, toileting, etc etc... tee hee... so I escape to my craftyoom and do stuff!! and I have made an entry for the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge, which is London, Paris or New York, this week. I thought how nice to have a spring break in Paris, and decided to make this...

 I could not resist my usual collage style - pile them on and stack them high!! - so I chose a variety of stamps including Crafty Individuals, TH, Invoke Arts and Rubber Stamp Concepts (main image)... they are all layered and I used distress inks and archival, with clear embossing powder for some images...

 Here is the whole piece, roughly 6"x6" in a frame. That is some 7Gypsies tissue tape round the edges. It is all postage stamps. I imagined a really blue sky and pink blossoms, hoping for a light and airy, if rather vintage, feel...

 I needed an embellishment, as the piece is quite flat as it is. So I thought of a rosette. All three cities are in countries with red, white and blue as national colours, hence the paper chosen. I finished off with a gem in the centre and three coloured hat pins... aww, cute!!

 Lots of lovely gentle texture from the embossing. Wonder if SSSS will mind I featured ALL THREE cities!! ?? Still, the main bit is Paris, which is a wonderful city... went oodles of years ago, probably two zillion light years, when I was 12!!! LOVED it...

And finally, the bottom left corner has a sort of baroque curly thing - curtesy of Vinaj - as a finishing touch, and I set the piece on a sheet from the Tattered Time pad from DCWV - well when don't I use that pad these days??? tee hee...

So that's it... I am quite happy with it and shall pop and enter it now. Such a happy piece has brought out the sunshine - as they promised us today - so the light is filling my dear 'ole craftyoom as I write. Thanks for coming to take a peek and leaving a comment. They mean so much when I am feeling frustrated over mum's sad condition..
Love and Light
Frankie
xx