You are never to old to have fun.

'Make us Laugh',  is the new theme at Fashionable Stamping Challenges.

This is a card made for a friend who has as off beat outlook towards getting older.

I have my three old friends sitting remembering the old days.  This stamp I have had a while and do not remember who its by, age gets to us all.

So here we have Alice and Minnie who think they are to old to have fun.

While Tilly has the evidence stashed in her handbag, which  proves  the many adventures  the three friends have been getting up to recently  and it has  involved  more that a glass or two of gin and tonic.

I wonder whats in that handbag, do you?

The images are layered up on patterned paper etc. One piece was embossed  then rubbed over with an old Vintage photo ink pad to show up the textures. All the other shading was this shade.

I used water colours on the main image.

I hope you will join the fun at FSC this time. We have our regular sponsor Flonzcraft.

You will find all the details here. Remember we like to see a stamped image as the main focus of your entry.

Thank you for stopping by the comments you leave are always appreciated.

Frida on Friday

Another version of Frida Kahlo, this artist gets more and more interesting as I  gather more information.
Thank you Art Journal Journey for introducing her to me. There are many amazing pieces  to see here.
This page is another that started out on the computer, blending of images etc, then stuck down in my journal.
The border of leaves was stamped and the trusty stencil used to give a little texture. I am mindful of using stencils with grunge paste, spreading it as thinly as possible, so the book will shut. Once dry out with some  White Fire-Treasure Gold to give it a bit of a shine, applied with the fingers, much more control this way.

Thank you for stopping by, the comments you leave are always appreciated.

Wish you were Here -- for TioTs

Wish You Were Here is Try it on Tuesdays new challenge theme.

This theme gave us quite a choice on how to interpret this, holiday destinations, seaside, countryside etc .

Please pop over and see where we would all like to be.

This card was made for someone with a summer Birthday.

Yes, I used G 45 papers as a base, layering the images on die cuts. [Spellbinders].

The Bathing Belle is a Craft Individuals stamp as is the words.

I used water colour pencils to colour this. It was edged with Aqua and Gold  Frantage Embossing powder..

Thank you for taking time to visit me, the comments you leave are always appreciated. 

Troubled mind.

The Tag Along Challenge this week is 'Faces'. 

The base was coloured with Distress stains, a Tim Holtz product that I have been experimenting with recently. Dabs of stain [Antique linen and broken china] on the craft mat,  then the tag swiped over a few times till I liked the result.

This base  was random stamped,  using Stampers Anonymous images.  The mindful face was fussy cut and stained with the Antique Linen. I added a few swirls, I think this guy needs to focus and clear his head, there's a a lot going on in there.

I will  also  pop to over a  A Vintage Journey .  The current challenge is Stain It.
I was lucky to have been their guest for this theme, I hope they won't mind me sharing this tag.

Thank you for stopping by to take a look, I do so appreciate the comments you leave for me.

Frida Kahlo

When I read the new theme for August over at Art Journal Journey  was ' Frida Kahlo'.

 I thought Oops!  how am I going to manage a page in my journal for this.  However Valerie who picked out the theme added a lot of information. 

That and the links given by the folk at AJJ got me surfing the net to find out more.

I have to admit my page began on the computer, using a digital program for the background, Frida and the flowers at the front. I had a  paper napkin with the parrot and branch, just right after a bit of fussy tearing to add interest to the bare corner.

Out with the acrylic paints, blending a few  colours  to match the background and paint round the edges.

I used a mask and coloured the  grunge paste with the same shade of paint, to add some texture.

During my search to find out about Frida, I came across many quotes.

This is the one I used--'At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can'.

Thank you for the challenge AJJ, I enjoyed creating this page.

Also thank you for taking time to stop by, the comments you leave are always appreciated.

Carefree Holidays for SCH

'Summer Sunshine',

  is the new challenge theme for Sugar Creek Hollow.

As always our style is Vintage/Shabby chic, but we would like you to use bright summery colours.

My card using some bright holiday papers from Graphics 45 with a few extra trimmings is my

 offering this time.

I fussy cut the main focus lady and a few extra flowers, before assembling the card.

I don't think I need to tell my regular followers about the distress ink I use for extra shading----

------Vintage Photo.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by, the comments you leave are always appreciated.

Just Stain It for--- A Vintage Journey

Imagine the excitement at Meggymay's place when the Creative Guides at A Vintage Journey invited me to be  a Guest Designer for this challenge. The theme is-   'Just Stain It'.

 Naturally I said 'yes please'.  I never need an excuse to get inky.

I decided to make a hanging for the theme. They make great alternatives to send in place of a Birthday Card.
This is the base layer. A piece of corrugated card stripped back in places, with some dry embossed card stuck to it to add texture

Next came the small wooden  frame. Both the base and the frame  were embossed using grunge paste, using  small areas from Tim Holtz and other stencils. When it was all dry it was given a coat of cream acrylics.

I have added the photo on the left especially to show you the space I was working in to make this project, as we were away in the caravan at the time. Notice I do cover the seats as, crafty inkiness on the surfaces is not a good idea.

To begin my adventure into Staining this piece. I splodged and swiped over the surfaces with the stains, no method, just random.
I was using Broken China, Vintage Photo and Antiqued bronze distress stains.. I did use some crackle paint on the frame at this stage, but is nearly all disappeared as I added more stains  etc. As you can see from the photo there were a few spaces that needed more staining and a bit more texture, out again with the stencils and grunge paste. Next I dabbed stains onto the craft mat, sprayed  it with water and swept the pieces over. I then sprayed them  directly with water and magically the colours seemed to blend together.

Nothing can beat giving this stage a helping hand, to get into all the nooks and crannies, dabbed the distress stain on the craft mat then used an old piece of sponge.

I gathered together, the detail pieces I wanted to add, including the Found Relative  Photo Card

After assembling the hanging, it did need highlighting in parts with a little Gilding wax and a dab or two of Picket Fence distress stain,  this was applied with the trusty fingers as I felt I was more in control of where it was going.

I wonder who holds the key to this relatives heart

At   A  Vintage Journey, they ask us to say how we have been influenced by the work of Tim Holtz in the piece we have made.  I have  a bit of a list here-- the inspirational pieces he makes---the tutorials---the products, which are so easy to use and suit my love of all things Vintage and Shabby Chic --the Compendium of Curiosity books with the techniques......................

I will not forget to mention the inspiration given by the Creative Guides at AVJ.-Thankyou all. 

Thank you for taking time to stop by, the comments you leave are all realy appreciated.