Yet another go at a CHF Rummage bin stamp

Joanne is a member of the design team on the Cornish Heritage Farm site who are running a summer challenge - you can read all about it on her blog.

I am trying to create something to enter - just for fun as if you pop over there and take a look at their gallery - the standard of work is amazing.

I digress!
Joanne has made a card for this weeks challenge as an incentive for 'us' to have a go.

So - using her idea of shape of the card - I have had a go this afternoon making this one. If only I had a webcam in my studio shed - you would be in hysterics of laughter watching me fill up my bin with rejects.



This is my last attempt - as I have run out of days now to make anything else - my next task is find out how to upload stuff to a gallery LOL

Stamp by Cornish Heritage Stamps
Sweet little one - in the Rummage Bin

Colours
All pastel chalks applied with a cotton bud onto textured water colour paper

Other
Shape cut out with Labels One Nestabilities

Cornish Heritage Farm - Boys will be Boys

I am trying to be more versatile with my stamps - rather than just stamping the image and not thinking laterally.

I am determined to master making cards too!

The little boy stamp is part of 'Boys will be boys' from the Cornish Heritage Farm

I stamped out the collage stamp onto white card, then cut out the section I wanted.

I coloured him using pastel chalks and just kept adding more until I got the depth I wanted.

I chose a backing paper which toned in with his red top and blue trousers and stamped over it with a chalk green colour to soften the lines and pattern.

In hindsight the 'One penny for your thoughts' is stamped too low - I tried it higher but it didn't look right, and embossing it with black embossing powder makes the wording look too prominent.

But - it's all a learning curve for me - and I am happy that I made it.

TGiF Alphabet

It is Friday again - so soon and over on their site the challenge this week is Alphabet.

I popped over to Jo Capper-Sandon's blog where I saw her latest gorgeous work of art for the theme - which prompted me to have a go.

It is hot here - very hot - and very humid - the sort of weather where you just want to flop and doze - but I thought I would have a go.

Sadly I did not achieve anything anywhere near Jo's standard - I even printed out a picture of hers to inspire me - but what was in my head didn't translate into reality - so instead I just played about.

I loved the way that Paula had made these cards on Wednesday cutting out parts of quote stamps, so I thought I might try that.

After many goes, I failed miserably at that too. (She can't make jam though so I am giving her some LOL) Edited to say that apparently Paula can make jam - I see a competition coming some time soon LOL

This is what I ended up with (Click to enlarge)



The mount board I painted with shades of blue ink, and tried to get a cloudy effect.

I stamped all the images on, and outlined some with white pen (as Paula had done on one of her cards). I did cut out some pieces of quote, but only one turned out OK. The other I stamped straight on to the board. Tim Holtz stamps in this set look 'grungy' it's not me smudging them - honest!

The 'd' (for disaster or dream) is punched out of card, which I painted black and embossed - that actually looks good in real life!

Off to cook the crumble, which I should have done instead to messing about in my studio shed - and 'd' for dream that one day I will master this arty crafty lark.

And when I have finished all that, put my chickens away, tidied up my things in the studio, I will just have time to make tea before I run out of energy.

Have a good weekend everyone

Just a book - not a work of art.

I made this large thick book for our youngest granddaughter as an 'extra' surprise present. It is about an inch thick and is A4 size cut in half vertically - full of plain paper, so that she can draw, paint, glue, write - or do whatever ever she likes in it.

The covers are made out of thick robust mount board - to withstand the bashing that it will no doubt get.

Although it's not a work of art - I did take a lot of time and trouble making it - so I thought I might as well show it or you might think I haven't been doing much for a week.

I have also put together lots of arty crafty goodies for her, papers, stamped Gorjuss images, ribbons, a card making kit, in fact a big tin full of stuff (I decorated the tin too - one of those huge tins you get at Christmas full of sweets).

We are off to see the family, and I am taking lots of other goodies too. Home made jams, a sunflower in a pot for Kerys to grow on, cucumber plant, 24 chocolate brownies, 12+ Date and walnut cakes - a big tray bake I made cut up! And I am just off in a minute to bake a huge gooseberry and apple crumble - their mum's favourite.

Quick fix for stress..............

I've had a couple of stressful days lately - due to the hailstorm and flash flooding - the conservatory which is our dining room etc was flooded, so too the porch hallway and the garage. So its been smelly, dirty, and a mess.

Yesterday I took myself off to see my friend Paula Whittaker I had so been looking forward to it.

We converse via email and the telephone - but don't get together as often as we would like - so I was not going to miss seeing her for a flood!

We had a great day - talking for England as usual - and I got to see 'in the flesh' her beautiful cards that have appeared in magazines and on her blog.

The camera never does justice does it?

We have a famine of craft shops in Norfolk - so went to the better of the two - and had a good look around. No bargains to be had - but it is so much nicer seeing things in real life than on the web - well it is for me.

We managed to buy some goodies though and had a great time.

The course I am on finishes next week - so we hope to get together more often to actually do some crafting!

This afternoon I 'left' the mess, and broken patio door glass (felt much happier now that it has been made safe), and headed off down the garden determined to make a card - and I did.



I had to lean over a lamp to take this photo - so the collage image of the lady and butterfly on the cream background looks not quite 'square' but it is - its the angle I have taken the photo.

I mounted the picture on thick textured cream card, inked the border with a toning colour to match the butterfly, then I distressed all the edges.

The backing papers I chose to compliment each other - trying to emulate Paula - she's great at that - but I haven't got the 'knack' yet - but I think this is a good attempt.

Across the middle join is ribbon, and I had a go at making one of the 'modern' flowers that seem to be the 'in' thing at the moment.


After cutting out, scrunching up, and distressing, I offset each layer slightly (thanks for the tip Paula) and added one of the gems, that Paula found in the shop. It picks up the colours beautifully.

Purple, butterflies, and rain on the roof of my wooden studio while I worked - the perfect 'fix' for stress

Door hanger

I made this for a forum friend - thought it might come in handy for a craft room door.

Click to enlarge.

Think I will make one - different of course - for myself.

Tim Holtz stamp - and Ecoline Inks

Better photos of the baby book

I took these photos, when I got back from LR classes - they look a bit better today




At times like these I wish there were shops near me so that I could just whizz in and pick out lots of things to make something instantaneously


But there aren't so I can't - so I make do






And it has its compensations living in the country - and not far from the coast.