Even Silence Speaks...Text Background Challenge SDC254

First of all thanks to you all for visiting lately.... and great news re the WINNER of the $30 Gift Certificate from Stampotique that was up for grabs with the new release post (see side bar highlight post) - It was picked from my blog!!! Check out the lucky winner here.!!! Congratulations!!

This week's challenge SDC254 on the  Stampotique Designer's Challenge is TEXT BACKGROUND.. And theres another $30 Gift Cert up for grabs again over this months challenges - all you have to do is enter your artwork (follow the details on the site, linking to no more than 4 other challenges at the same time please).

I created a simple hanging...I used a pre printed paper, stamped MAJESTIC TREE onto that and placed the stamped words of EVEN SILENCE SPEAKS underneath, finishing off with a hand drawn line and touch of watercolour. Simple.

Hope you get an opportunity to join in with us at Stampotique Designer;s Challenge...this challenge lasts for two weeks so you have plenty of time :)

What an Angel!

Had a play with Kate Crane's new Scribble Angel for Stampotique Originals.

Combined it with Sheer and You are an Angel, all from Stampotique.

Sheer looks a character in her sparkly  frock doesnt she. Maybe a tad 'Darlek-esque' but shes the twinkle-queen for sure!

Hope you like the idea x Jo

Oh I do like to be beside the sea...

Welcome to my new look blog...the black background and triple columns from 12 years ago has gone *sob* and now I'm on neutral colours and a more simple streamlined appearance. I figured that I dont need so much info on my blog nowadays, but it really took some doing, lots of memories.

Anyway..less of the chit-chat and on with the artwork.

Its week two of Stampotique's Designer's Challenge SDC254 Beach/Sea theme.  I hope you liked Mondays new stamp blog hop...?  If you missed it, the link to my contribution can be found in the 'featured post' on the side bar to your right. Thanks to everyone who kindly stopped by and left a comment...good luck in the prize draw!! (you still have time to leave a comment and be a contender...you have to be in it to win it!!)

Here's another piece using one of the NEW stamps...It's using The Crew #14018 from Kassa Hayseldon's new collection at Stampotique which I thought would make a fun, albeit unusual, beach scene. I placed the dynamic trio underneath a shady parasol that I drew for them along side  Starfish #3015.

I used Prima watercolour paints to colour and finished with a white pen border.

I hope you can join in with us for our second week. You can enter TWICE now (new rules are on the Stampotique Designer's site) which doubles the chance to win the $30 gift certicate. But if you are a fan of entering one piece for multiple challenge sites, then the new rules say no more than 4 others plus Stampotique's.

Here's a close up of The Crew having a day by the sea... 

Have a good week...hope to see you on the Stampotique Designer's Challenge blog 

x Jo

Stampotique NEW RELEASES summer 2016

Whahooo... you've made it to me on the Stampotique Originals New Stamp Release Blog Hop Summer 2016

Hopefully you have arrived from Valerie Wilson's glorious creations and are eager for even more ideas. If you've just arrived here on a whim, no problem, I'll give you the main page link towards the end of this post.

I've made quite a few pieces...some not shown here (I've tucked one away for Wednesdays Challenge and a couple for a rainy day), but here are 5 ideas that I hope you like.

A Wish for You

Stamps used...

FLOSSIE FAIRY (new)

(I had to choose this stamp as Mum used to call me Flossy lol)

(Large) FLOWER from FLOWER CUBE (new)

SPIRAL DAYDREAM (new)

Wish 

Daisy Daisy

Crown

Close up of the layered flower

Close up of  Flossy

Best Fishes

Stamps used:

SEALIFE CUBE (new)

Calendar Squares Cube 

Hand written greeting

Best Fishes Close Up

Happy Birthday Scruff Cat 

Stamps used:

CASPER (new)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY from 3-GREETINGS (new)

Dandelion Duo

Hand drawn heart and stitches

Happy Birthday Scruff Cat Close Up

Chunky Mog  and the Flower Garden

Stamps I used:

FLOWER CUBE (new)

KITTY CUBE (new)

SPIRAL DAYDREAM (new)

Daisy Daisy

French Text

Scrawny Mog  and flower garden

Stamps I used:

KITTY CUBE (new)

FLOWER CUBE (new)

SPIRAL DAYDREAM (new)

Daisy, Daisy

French Text

Close up of Cat and Flower

All the new stamps can be found here on the Stampotique Originals site

The Stampotique Challenge Blog is giving away two grab bags to two lucky drawn winners to those that have visited our blogs...plus someone will also win a $30 gift cert...check out the details on the STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS  blog page..

Your next stop is the talented design team member 

CORRIE HERRIMAN

from the Netherlands... BUT DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT BEFORE YOU GO PLEASE to be in with a chance of winning those PRIZES!!!

PARTY!!!

 PARRRRRTYYYY!!!!!!!!

Here's my 'Party' piece (well, pieces) for this fortnight's challenge SDC#252. The challenges on the Stampotique Designer's Blog are changing to every two weeks instead of weekly, but there will be inspirational artwork posted on a weekly basis. Check out the blog for more details.

I decided to make a couple of party invitations that you can hang up so that you don't mislay it!!.

On the reverse I stamped a few details and hand drew a border.

You may not recognise the two stamps that I used for the main images?? Thats because I combined stamps to create a different look. I placed the larger heads on to the usual size bodies.

 I really like the look of the big heads...

And they are so much easier to colour

I used watercolours to colour , and pre-cut letters for the words.

Here's the list of Stampotique stamps that I used:

Noelle

Jill

Leeta

Mary

Daisy, Daisy

Swirl Stalks

Crown

and for the back of the invitation

Alphabitties

I hand drew the pointy party hat :)

It would be great to see you over at the challenge blog - ( you could win $30 worth of stamps!!!) and/or at the Facebook group page.

xx Take care..

Deja vu...I'm on the Stampotique Originals Design Team!!!

Well I timed that well didn't I...being away for a few years and then one day spotting the DT call on Facebook-. I didn't even used to use Facebook and had popped on to wish someone a happy birthday and there was the announcement-  it was all a bazaar coincidence. So, I applied and got back on to the Stampotique team.

Whahoooooo happy happy. Its very different than the last time I was there though- so not just a case of picking up from where I left off...only a few familiar faces from the old days and everything operates in a different way plus theres Challenges. Facebook, Pinterest, and You Tube to tackle now.

Please take a look at the new team HERE. A lovely mixed bunch of fabulously talented artists!! Mind you, we have a tough job following on from the previous wonderful team who I hope will still be around on their blogs and Facebook sharing their art with everyone..

Talking of Stampotique, theres an ATC swap taking place on the Stampotique Facebook group and you can sign up HERE.

It requires two  ATC;s using the theme FRAME IT....I've put my name down and so had a go at a few the other day,  but I made a set of four for the heck of it.

I used Stampotique stamps:

Dragonfly

Dragonfly Verse

Kisses

Below is an image of all four ATC's but at an angle that catches the shimmer gold...

Maybe you fancy joining in?

Otherwise, maybe see you at the Stampotique Designers Challenge for the latest theme tomorrow ?

Take care xxxxxx

It's Black and White Only...

Here's my take on Stampotique's Designer's Challenge 'Black and White Only- SDC251' , hosted by design team member, Nellie. I've used quite a selection of Stampotique stamps as you can see.

Symphony Scroll (for the cloud and hill)

Swirl Stalks

World All Her Own

Tree-O

Great Moon

Daisy Daisy

Fairytale Castle

Unicorn

Hope you like it... it wasn't as easy as I thought it might have been, just using black and white. Have you had a go?

TWO cards today... 'Quiet' and todays challenge piece at Stampotique

*Those of you looking for my Stampotique #250 challenge piece, its a few images further down on this post*


Well I've been busy crafting and stamping again. Really enjoying it Last night I had a play around with a few stamps from my range at Stampotique and posted a few photos on to the Stampotique Originals Facebook page, thinking I'll upload them on to my blog this morning as it was too late last night. THEN...I saw the Stampotique Challenge theme #250 out this morning  'BUTTERFLIES, FLOWERS AND ALL THINGS GARDEN'.  ...darn....if only I'd held back a few hours from Facebook. Don't you just hate it when that happens and you pre-empt a challenge by a few hours...Of course, this means I'm unable to enter this first piece in to the challenge (I think the theming would have been ok...its isnt butterflies but its flowers and garden with a few bees thrown in for good measure...)

I used -

Medium Bee with TinyBee on the side #3000

Symphony Scroll #3060

Quiet Place #3011

Spider Grass #3063

Prima Tropical Watercolours

Glimmer Mist spray - Marigold

Black embossing powder 

So thats the first item...

Second up today is a total contrast to the above...a quick make for Stampotique Designer;s Challenge #250 hosted by Jackie Payne- BUTTERLIES, FLOWERS AND ALL THINGS GARDEN using Small Butterfly and Papillon (which is Butterfly in French...also the name of  our house.)

I used-

Small Butterfly #3018

Papillon #3020

Prima Tropical Watercolours

Stazon

You can imagine how quick and easy this card is to make. Stamp stamp stamp (x quite a few) the butterfly, add some watercolour dabs, stand it upright so it runs downwards, stamp and add the Papillon text, fix to card stock that I inked a little around the edges. Da-daah.

Stampotique Challenge theme #249 - 'Man Up'

This weeks Stampotique Designer's Challenge (SDC #249)  is 'Man Up' hosted by DT member Carol Fox , who says pretty much anything goes as long as its male based. 

I've very few male images in my collection...not sure why, but I did discover this one by stamp artist Kira Nichols at Stampotique- Sick Kitty #4006 .......... which really reminds me of my husband when he has

  'man flu' ....heehee

I drew in a light fitting  (complete with moths)  and hand wrote the 'get well soon' along the edge of the bed.

All the colour is from my Tropical set of Prima paints which I adore.

Thought it would make a change to add a bit of colour to the inside of the card.

Ughh! 

Hope you like it...thanks for visiting.

My parcel of Prima paints has arrived...and I love them

My parcel arrived today from A Sprinkle of Imagination, a shop in Yorkshire that I discovered online in my search for Prima Watercolours. I still had some birthday money to spend given to me from my Dad (yaaay) and after a brief conversation on FB with Kassa Hayselden (doesnt take me long to decide) I knew they would be perfect for a few things I have lined up plus just to paint for leisure too when I ever go away- although I'll probably have to buy some more by then as is ages away before we'll be venturing off anywhere.

Treated myself to the three sets of Prima watercolours, 3 stencils and some tape.(the white flowery thing in the corner is a cushion its all resting on!)

I only intended to have a quick dabble and colour Stampotique's Big Bee using the Decadent Pies set, but ended up making it into a tag. 

The paint sets dont come with a brush but I have one or two I can use here so thats handy. The paints are fab to work with. Creamy and smooth, not washy.

Ended up adding Abstract Foliage, Dandelion Duo and Symphony Scroll along with a Tim Holtz layering stencil from my new bits and bobs called Typo.

Need to test out my other two sets now.  Its great having new craft items to open. Its been a while since thats happened.

POST #500!! All Creatures Great and Small Challenge at Stampotique

As the title says, this week's challenge over at Stampotique Designer's Challenge Blog is SDC #248 ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL hosted by Nellie van Leeuwen whose artwork I've admired for what must be 10 or 11 years now when I first started stamping..how time flies.

Talking of flying, the 'creature'  I chose was the butterfly...hope that was ok and fits the bill.

I used two stamps from Stampotique Originals for this - 

Beauty #3056 and Large Butterfly #3047

and my new bargain paints I bought yesterday from ALDI for  £1.99!! The colours are just so crisp and soft, LOVE THEM!! (Bought two lots  of the pastel colours actually, can't go wrong for £1.99). Last year I brought a set of  neon brights, but these pastel shades are more me. Maybe its my age lol

The butterfly stamp I used from Stampotique is perhaps larger than you may realise... Stampotique produce two sizes of this image...one small one large, Here is a ruler laying along side the large stamp. The actual butterfly itself is approx 5"/12cm which is probably one of the largest butterfly stamps available anywhere I would imagine.

Here are a few close ups etc of the card.

As you can see the wings are standing away from the card front.

Love those paint colours! So pleased with my bargain!

Thanks for stopping by.  x