WOYWW #153 - Walk like an Egyptian +350

Hi everyone... that time again when all is stripped bare for our art's sake - opps!! careful!!! - or for mere snooping... - that's more like it in your case, lady!!! If you have just landed from an alien planet, I am talking about our lovely weekly trip around the desks of the world, courtesy of our lovely Julia and her admirably funny blog, Stamping Ground...
So what's goin' on here, chez moi???

 Well, here's the desk, fairly tidy, with my usual tools kicking around, and THAT suitcase again... Why?? because I finally made the mini to go inside...

 And talking of the inside, here it is, complete with top pocket and leather straps. The mini scrapbook is beneath this gorgeous creature...

 And these are some treasures to go inside - all our wonderfully beautiful tickets from the various sites and places we visited... here is the one for the Carter house, for instance, where we saw Howard's suitcases, stove, camera and typwriter, to name but a few... see here

 So I finally popped them into the places I had made for them... just right - not that she's big-headed or anything folks!!!

 And the book sits waiting to be taken out and looked through...

 whilst, underneath is a set of wonderful postcards from the Valley of the Kings, 'cos you can't take any photos there... it almost looks as if this suitcase is made to measure!!!

 Front inside cover has a deep pocket to hold 6x4 cards for journaling and a photo. The storage is a set of pockets on each page, for several small photos to sit, almost like tickets themselves... -oops, she's waxing lyrical again folk, somebody stop her!!!

More pages and pockets to house the small photos. I distressed round the edges. Just look at that blue sky!!!

 Many, if not all of the pages contain paper/ cardstock from the matte stack of The Trade Winds by DCWV... useful ickle pages and you don't have to cut the big ones!!!  - oh dear! she is Frankie and she is an addict!!!

 Many of the other papers are KanBan and Sue Smith, that I have had for a zillion and two light years - she is exaggerating again, of course, it was only a gazillion and one!!! tee hee...

That's it then. I used many of the design features for it, from Laura Denison of The Paper Trail, and expect I shall make a larger version for bigger photos and souvenirs. I am really VERY pleased with how it turned out and look forward to mounting all my pictures and photos to slot into the pockets.  It's nice, finally, to internalise that holiday, last September. Mum, Miranda and myself all had problems, and those days finished up changing our lives here, forever... all whilst I glided peaefully along that beautiful, iconic river Nile....

All that, and this is my 350th post!!! Woo, I must talk a lot - what???? what??? talk?? you!!! surely not!!!?? I just hope some of you find it a bit entertaining, and arty!!! Have a great week
Love and light
Frankie
xx

WOYWW # 152 - Playing with Patinas

Welcome again to the galloping weeks of 2012!! Where is the year going I need to know?? I am blog-hopping again, courtesy of Julia at Stamping Ground, so join in if you don't already... it's SUCH fun to sneaky peek at what others are doing - well, she is just nosey, folks!!
I have been doing quite a lot of stuff, actually, to escape the other stuff!!! But here was my desk, as I started my projects, and it's not normal, so just don't faint, that's all!!!!

 Yep!!! I can do tidy!!!! So it's all ready for making stuff... and below is what I made....

 It's one of my pendants, and I love how it turned out. I have been playing with the new Vintaj Patinas, by Ranger and the colours are fab... here I used verdigris, moss and jade, which all come together as one pack. The Artistic Stamper is carrying these right now!! They are VERY new...

 I took a blank piece and ran it through my Vagabond with a decoetch... that shows up as the shiny pattern underneath the leaves. They are also Vintaj, with a riveted flower and a filigree piece, wrapped from the back.

 The flower here is a bead cap, hammered flat, attached with a head pin to the bolt ring. The same bead caps adorn the ickle beads. I wrapped their rings for added texture...

I carried this technique through to these dainty earrings. All the green beads are magnesite, a genuine gemstone, and all the pieces and bits are Vintaj. But how?? well below, I give you a taste of the process on my first go...

 I used my other set for this one, and a round blank. The colours are rust, cinnabar and clay.

 You need to use a paint brush for these patinas, and I think I was a bit heavy-handed on this first one - well, you often are!!!

 When it was dry, I buffed it with a special Vintaj block, to bring back the pattern shapes...owww it's so satisfying!!!

 There is no need to glaze if you don't want to, but it does save the colour of the metal, apparently.. so I did glaze this one, to see how it looked. It will dry clear...

 Finally, I wrapped it in a butterfly filligree piece. I am planning on using it with some red agate and red malachite - just these colours!! I will show you when it's done... I need to design how I want the beads to go first!!!

And that desk???

Oh dear!!! You knew it couldn't last, didn't you??? I heard you whispering as much when you saw the first picture!!! But oh, it was so nice to be creative and to forget all the washing and nagging and crazy conversations downstairs - she is tempted to say "and that's only Freddie, but she won't!!! tee hee LOL!!!

So that's what it looks like now... but it's all going shortly to make way for some more crafty... I shall soon be posting my TIO tag... we are doing RECIPES now, but with a twist, so come on over and join us, and get inky... if you want to see what I do, look at the post before this one!!
Love and light
Frankie
xx

TIO #115 - Behind the Mask

 We have changed our format at DragonsDream TIO, for this next round. Usually, you just get a title, but now we are doing RECIPES = 3 ingredients you need to add to the mix, in addition to using at least one real stamp... I used a Paperartsy plate and some Tim Holtz images, to create my tag. I also used masks by That Special Touch, and some metalic Eco paint.

 I used this stamp because I thought her expression looked like a mask - nothing behind the eyes!! and this close up shows the metallic paint.

 I used pan Pastels for the background and through my masks, using versamark to make the pattern stand out... this close up shows how I masked the lady off in order to stamp the caligraphy over the whole background. I did not use a block to do this, but held the stamp in my hand in order to have some faded bits... I love how the pen nibs peep out from behind the ribbon...

 This picture shows the patterns caused when using the versamark through the mask, then adding more pastel colour... I am loving using these.

So this is the whole tag, showing the Tim ruffled ribbon at the bottom, also coloured with the Pan Pastels. The tie at the top is a bit of burlap.

If you would like to join in, please get inky and add your piece to the linky thing!!
Love and light
Frankie
xx

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog - My Final piece.

Hi everyone...

Well this is my third and  last piece for The Artistic Stamper Creative team blog - boo hoo!! I have enjoyed creating pieces for them... and what did I give them today?? Voila!!

 I did masking as my stamping technique this time... I hope it is as well received as the last two pieces... I seem to be on a vintage kick at the mo, and a bit old fashioned/Victorian... well MY take on that!!! So I made postcards...

 I overprinted my ickle birdie and cage with a fab music stamp then assembled all my pieces to make this card below...

The idea was to have a set of layers that looked like a pile of papers, letters and postcards etc, that were old and tattered. I hope they liked it over there, and that I get asked back again!!! Even if only to apologise LOL!!!! Please pop and support me over there, when you have left me a comment here. Thanks...
Love and Light
Frankie
xx

WOYWW #151 - New Toys and Simon Says S&S

Evening, morning, afternoon, where ere you be in the world. Happy WOYWW, courtesy of our lovely Julia at Stamping Ground... for those not in the know, we bare all for our art - well our desks/workspaces at least - too cold for anything else!!! I missed visiting several of you last week, as I was having a bit of a torrid time, but your comments for me buoyed me up no end, thanks...

So what have I been able to do this time??? Not a fat lot, but I did get to play with my latest toys...

 I treated to myself to some letter and number dies, in order to make marks and words on my Vintaj blanks...

 I also had these three - a flower, cloud and leaf...

 Rememer that block of steel I showed you a few weeks ago??? Some of you wondered what on earth I was getting so happy about!! Well, I had this in mind... and using a hammer is so satisfying!!!

 So I had a ickle practice on a square piece...

 I had lots of goes and then used some acrylic paint to fill in the indentations. I dabbed it on, and then wiped the excess off to leave it in the patterns and letters I had made.

 At Simon Says Stamp and Show they asked us to show a word, so I made a word on a Vintaj blank, and then added it to the background piece I made. Most of the stamps are from The Artisic Stamper, but the men and the french lettering are from TimHoltz.

Here is the close up of my circular blank... word, flowers, leaves and all!! - but it's not a blank anymore, didn't she notice!!??

 I added the piece to the vintage belcher chain then let it drape all around the piece...

And here is the whole piece, full frontal!!! I like the way it turned out. I am really enjoying using my Tim Holtz distressing tool on the edges of my paper and card...it helps to cut and fold, and gives a purchase for the inks...

Well that was my play with the new toys, but I also had some new stamps from Stamp Addicts, for my DT spot. I hope the girls like what I have made, and can use them on their next, up-coming TV show... 10th May, I believe... so here they are, just to finish off this post...

Thanks for visiting me and have a great week
Love and light
Frankie
xx

The Stampman Challenge - Shabby Chic / Vintage / Distressed

Wow... where did that fortnight go?? It's another time for The Stampman Challenge, which is shabby chic / vintage / distressed.. so it was just right for me... and I had fun.

 So I began with a sheet of light cream cardstock and a slightly smaller sheet of Tim Holtz kraft. I distressed it with a Tim Holtz distressing tool and inked it along the edge. I used a couple of doilies, painted with daubers.

 I used some Prima flowers and made some of my favourite grunge paper roses, inspired by Lynn Forsythe, here.

 Not wanting  the ornate plate to look too metallic, I painted it with the daubers then rubbed over with Inca Gold bronze paste.  I used rusty hinge to stamp the fancy flourishes from Aspects of Design plate 58, on the pale cream cardstock, and embossed with clear ep.

 I love this ickle cage and two birdies, made from wood. These lovely laces are from my stash. I think I bought them at my local Hobbycraft. The dark brown cardstock is Core-dinations Graphics 45.

 Here is the whole piece. I worked hard on it and enjoyed working rather differently. I do love shabby, vintage and grunge but I don't usually make pieces like this one...it will be a card front.

And this last shot shows the textures nicely. I almost wish I liked Tilda, cos she would feel quite at home, here, I think!!! tee hee... but instead of the cage, of course!!! I just don't do that sort of cute, but I admire those who do. I hate the way the poor child has no mouth!!!

Anyway, I shall detain you no futher. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comments. I love them all.
Love and light
Frankie
xx

Ps. I am going to enter this piece into some other challenges:-
Simon Says Stamp and Show - anything goes
Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog - ribbons, lace
Crafts and Me Challenges - vintage

WOYWW #150 - Odds and Ends?

Once again into the blog hop my friends... another week has flown and the weather has come and gone, and the year is in full flood with blossoms and leaves... April is a strange month of sun and showers, isn't it?? Plays havoc with arthritic paws!! - aww... all get out yer handkies, she's off again!!!

Anyway it's time to bear your soul, or your desk, whichever is less untidy - well that will be her desk then, tee hee!!! - courtesy of the clever-idea-ed lady, Julia. How would we spend our days if not flying about the ether, spying on our crafty firends??

And here is mine with all manner of stuff on it - well see for yourself!!

 Well, firstly there are some ickle birdies... can't show much more of this project as it is still under wraps -  don't want to have to kill you!! I am taking part in Laura Denison's  tag swap, and these are part of what I am making for it. I will show you more and post the finished pieces when the swap is over. Below are some more handmade embellishments...

 Here are coily wires, and vintaj pieces, embossed. The only non-made-by-me piece is the twisty heart. I have also wired some turquoise pieces ... to match the ickle birdie colours.

Over  at DragonsDream TIO, this week, the challenge chosen by me is The Secret Garden. I have gone all uncharacteristically romantic on this one, but I am loving the colour scheme.

I used lots of stamps here to create the lost, overgrown look. The door is a Darkroom Door stamp - quite apt really!!

And the twist is that it opens up to be a garden scene, through the door...

Finally, a word about that district nurse... well she came, and I put my case about mum's condition and problems, and she agreed!!! She also said she thought mum had an infection, so we sorted that too...

So I suppose I won that round. We will have a better allocation next time, so hurrah!! However, things are much the same with mum, herself. She continues to deteriorate, fogetting to eat and drink etc unless prompted... shouldn't happen to a dog, and wouldn't!!!
Love and Light
Frankie
xx