Last Week in France

Well it is our last week in France at Make My Monday - Thanks Fliss I have enjoyed our little journey around France, I decided for our last week which is Feminine or Romance to spend my time browsing around the fashionable shopping areas. The backing paper is another lovely free download from a Vintage site, so suitable for our theme. There are two on my side bar, why don't you check them out.  I filled the shop with three dresses - stamps from Kanban.  Coloured with Promarkers.  I know I have used these stamps a lot but I still love them and find them so fitting for many occasions. The fancy corset is a Bravura stamp. I know many haven't joined our trip round France, but maybe for the last week we'll find a few more taking part, I do hope so for I love to visit your blogs and see how you have interpreted our challenges.

Mid Week Motivation at Make My Monday

On Make My Monday challenge blog  Jacqueline, our fearless leader has asked the Design Team to join her in producing the regular Mid Week Motivations.  This week is my turn. I do enjoy making Wedding Cards, especially of the Vintage style, plus appropriately it was my Wedding Anniversary on the 10th. 46 years, gosh! how did that happen so quickly? The card consists of two strips of punched card made with a Martha Stewart punch. Again I have used the Christmas Vine Embossing folder for the background. The bride, a Bravura Stamp,  was stamped with Memento and coloured with Promarkers.
I am not a Promarker expert but for anyone who is even more a novice than myself , here is my guide.

Skin - Almond. - Hair - Tan and Caramel - Bouquet - Pastel blue, Pear Green and a White Pencil, 

Dress and Veil - Lace A White Pencil, Outline and Shading - Cool Grey 1. 

Midsummer Night's Dream

At Make My Monday for the next week we are entering into a dream world, our topic is A Midsummer Night's Dream, so you can make your project either of dreams, fairies or anything you believe fits in the topic  which is continuing Jacqueline's theme for the month of 'June and it's associated events'. I love to use this stamp which is from Bravura, she isn't really a typical fairy, more risqué than a pretty fairy. I first stamped the fairy, then masked her. I created the background with various DI from Ranger, a few sprays from Cosmic Shimmers, adding even more glitter here and there. I was pleased to achieve the mystical background I was aiming for. A few trees across the horizon. In the foreground a mixture of stamps were used. The last thing I did was to remove the mask and colour in the fairy with Promarkers, and even more glitter. A wonderful response last week, for a popular topic, it would be terrific to see as many fairies or dreamers this next week. Thanks to those who take the time to visit my blog and of course for any comments which are always appreciated. 

Steampunk at Fashionable Stamping

For the next two weeks at Fashionable Stamping  Challenges we are asking you to think of Steampunk. Don't be daunted by the prospect, if you've never attempted it before, think of Victorian,  Jules Verne, Steam, if electricity hadn't been invented what else would we have using steam? Fashion too, can become your way out fantasies. Mix it up, clocks, cogs, mechanical parts. Be daring and try being different but we do ask somewhere noticeable on your work we can see some stamping. For my project, I have made it feminine, it isn't always about men. Yes, it's grungy but I like to mix up my styles. The background is a sheet from a kitchen roll which cleaned up my mess at the Stampman workshop yesterday, don't throw anything away. Stamps used, coloured and cut out, the lower lady's head is stamped onto tissue paper. A piece of mesh, with a piece of cotton with eyelets adds extra texture and interest, contrasted against a frizzled up organza bow. Over some areas of the card, I have sprinkled and heated Fran-tage, one of the delights I procured  from the workshop. Along with some Lilac Wow! powder, messy, maybe, but it's my version of Steampunk. I hope you like it. thanks for your visits. Sorry I haven't been a good commenter lately but I've been very busy and poorly, hope to improve soon.

All Sewn Up

Firstly I would like to welcome two new followers Gayle and Michele, I do hope you enjoy visiting my blog, thank you for your support.
Many thanks again to CD  Sunday Challenge for choosing me in the Top 3 for the Spots and Dots challenge.
This week it is All Sewn Up- another really interesting challenge, I no longer sew due to the fingers and thumbs not working as they should, however I gave it a go and even made a lace rosette, not as neatly as once would be I only ask for you not to closely examine it. Most of the embellishments are from the Debbie Moore haberdashery CD. The corset is a stamp from Bravura stamps, the sewing machine is from Xelcrafts which I believe no longer produce stamps, please let me know if I am wrong.

Mystical, Magical and Fantasy

It is the second week for the theme Mystical, Magical and Fantasy at Top Tip Tuesday. An amazing tutorial, from Elaine for a Flap Opening Card features. I thought I'd give it a try, and greatly enjoyed the card, which was also enjoyed by my card class last Friday, so many thanks to Elaine. Please do pop over to the blog to check out the tutorial and the lovely samples from the DT. I used papers from my stash. A Martha Stewart border punch. The fairy is from Bravura stamps, coloured with Promarkers.
Entered into Flutter by Wednesdays Colour Inspiration Photo

Nature Month - Create a Scene

Hi, everyone, isn't this blogging commenting business a huge nuisance? I can now see comments on my own blog, but still don't have guarenteed access to others. If I don't make comments on your work on this challenge, I am sorry but please understand why.
This week at Make My Monday, we continue the theme for January of  NATURE, and now we would like you to create-a-scene, now it needn't be a full page as I have made. A scene can consist of a watering can, or any object with  weeds, flowers or grass with a bird, or a tree with sky, so let us see how imaginiative and inventive you can be.  This may seem a harder than normal challenge, but it can be great fun.
I started by stamping the beautiful funky fairy from Bravura stamps - directly onto the card, then I stamped her onto a piece of paper, cut it out to make a mask and used temp glue to cover the original fairy. This protected the fairy whilst completing the remaining work. the backgtround is watercoloured using TH Distress inks as watercolours. I punched out the moon, coloured it and glued on some glitter. Glued this onto the card for I wanted it to look more dimensional. I then stamped leaves and trees, birds, grasses (Inkyliciousstamps).  Once completed, I removed the mask and coloured in the fairy, using Sakura Gelly and Souffle  pens, glitter and Promarkers for her skin.
I am also entering this as my 2nd entry to a new monthly blog Craft-a-Scene as soon as I can. it has to be a round about way, whereby once someone has commented on the above pic, I will then have my URL and can go over to add my card. Please Blogger listen  to my plea and save my sanity.

Steampunk Monochrome

This week at Make My Monday we are continuing our theme for the month of STEAMPUNK, this time we would like to see you make a monochrome project, most people think that black and white is the perfect choice for monochrome, but surprisingly when you look at the blog you will see all but one of us have gone for brown/sepia tones, but the choice is yours. Have fun. I had fun making this card for I was making it for a very dear friend for her birthday, so was able to personalise it with some of the elements forI know she loves steampunk. I would like to thank
http://stampingallday.blogspot.com/2011/09/free-steampunk-travel-topper-download.html for her free download which provided some of the card, I also used several stamps, listed below. The piece of material with eyelets was a real lucky find in one of my stash drawers, can't remember when and how I acquired it, but one of those pieces you know will be useful one day.
Stamps used:--Corset -Bravura stamps via E-bay, Lady from Across the Miles via The Stampman, Admit One - from Tim Holtz -Steampunk CMS 107, Flower, freebie from Craft Stamper nagazine.
I am also entering this into Simon Says Stamp and Show Some Steampunk.

Thrilled and Honoured

I am thrilled and honoured to have been invited to join the Fashionettes at the new challenge blog, Fashionable Stamping Challenges. Stamping is my passion, so to be a member of such a talented team of stampers is awesome. I am so looking forward to taking part in the forthcoming challenges and stepping on to the catwalk. I am a little late, due to technical difficulties but here is my first card to tread the boards, with the challenge of Ribbon and or Lace.
I added some pearlised card to a plain white 5" x 7" card. Secured a piece of very pretty white lace down the side, to which I adhered 3 pretty Lily flowers and a white ribbon. Used an oval Nellie Snellie die, which was gently coloured to tone in with the flowers. The bridal stamp is from Bravura stamps, I have only seen these on E-bay, which are very popular. I do hope you like my first card as a Fashionette. I look forward to visiting your blogs, for I so love to see the creations of others. I greatly admire how we as crafters are always so willing to share and learn from each other.



Vintage Distressed

This week at Make My Monday, we continue the monthly theme of Vintage, the challenge is to produce either, Distressed or Shabby Chic. I love making a bit of a mess, with the hope my finished card will still be acceptable. All of the paper/card is from Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby, paper stash, except for the lady which is stamped onto white tissue paper. I distressed the edges by either tearing or using my craft knife to scrape the edges. I used Distress Ink Walnut Stain to add some contrast. It looks as though I was heavy handed with the Stain, I apologise most of the darker areas are shadows, the light wasn’t good when I took the pics.

Stamps used – Corset by Bravura stamps, Sentiment from Paperartsy, Lady from Across the Miles from Stampman. Once again I look forward to visiting your blogs to see your distressed Vintage cards, please remember to check the rules.