Eccentric Gents and Gadgets...

Well, hello Monday! I'm glad to be back in the saddle for Simon Says Stamp & Show after the huge Blog hop. Big thanks to all those who joined in and called by with such lovely words. Today I'm really excited to share something new with you all...we're going full-on Steampunk!

I was chatting with Dan about our definitions of Steampunk... and I like to think of it as Victorian Science Fiction! I like to dig out the essence of a theme and combine it with my own style. For me, there has to be some slightly eccentric Old Gents and gadgets in the story. I'm still digging these quirky fellas from Mr. Holtz's Steampunk set and knew they'd look just dandy teamed with metal grid-work, clock parts and rusty findings.

I went to buy some strong hangers for some of my other canvases a while ago and when the shop man showed me these I got all excited and demanded to see every model that had ever been made. I thought they would make great little portrait frames! (So another shopkeeper that thinks I'm mad! Just recently, the girl in the wool shop asked me what on earth I was knitting as I keep buying random buttons). Anyway, I separately inked and stamped each man onto a painted book page and stuck him into his frame that I'd coloured with Alcohol inks.

I built up the back ground by stitching an old dictionary page, and layering card and papers coloured with lots of Wild Honey Distress Stain and Espresso Color Wash. I distressed splotted and splashed and added extra stamping. Here you can also see a cardboard strip that is inked and clearly embossed giving bit of nice sheen and detail. The vintage findings are from a clockmaker so the colours and tones are just perfect! The stapled Steampunk sign is actually a little Wendy stamp I sneaked in!

Couldn't resist adding two stamped hands to the mix. I like working with one stamp set when possible. It makes things more consequent and therefore harmonious, like buying clothes from one good store! The metal grid is cut from a sheet bought at the garden centre. I cut it down with wire cutters and pounced with Rusty and Timber Brown Stazon to get the colour.

I have actually stitched it to the back ground, hiding the stitches under the other pieces, which is a lot easier and stronger than glue! All the findings are glued with Glossy Accents and the whole thing is mounted on a brown distressed card, glued to mount board. So there you go, a crash course in Steampunk. It was really great to make and has a bit of everything I love in it!

I hope my Gents will stir a little of your Steampunk Attitude.I would luuuurve to know what you think!!! Take a look at the wonderful ideas on the Design Team Blog for more inspiration and loveliness. I'm look forward to seeing your creations and thoughts.
What is Steampunk to you? Your favourite or something entirely new? Go on...give it a go...! Remember there's a great $50 voucher and specially selected Top Three Tiara out there.
I'm done, it's over to you! Thanks for calling by...be seeing you all soon.
Sarah

Just a quickie - free vintage images!

Hello There,
Just flying by with a couple more lovelies for you. For those of you who can't quite yet manage the infamous C work, let's just say here is a Festive offering for you!

Two pretties from my personal vintage postcard collection. They look great on cards, tags and last year I used one on a Seasonal hanging...see still being selective with my words.

Click on the image to enlarge before saving for best quality. Original image NOT for re-sale! Thanks.)



I have lots of urgent projects on the go so I haven't had time to play with them today...so I'll leave all the artfulness in your hands...

Enjoy them and I'll be back tomorrow with a Design piece for Simon Says that I'm quite excited about! Take care... wishing you all a postive and enjoyable week.

Sarah.

Thou shalt cut thy Design Papers...

Although time seems to be flying by and I've already dug my gloves out for the chilly mornings, I am always glad to see Friday. Looking forward to a busy, but blissful weekend of inky antics.

Starting off things by indulging in some shabby cards. I still love making 'em and set myself the challenge of hacking into my beloved design papers. Let all the stroking stop and the cutting begin!

For some reason I still feel a weeny bit guilty if I haven't made it, stamped it, inked it, and 'goodness knows whatted it' all by myself. Time for a pep talk. I know how to do all that too, and nearly always do. So, man up, just grab those papers and do it! Savour the colours, layers, textures and get distressing like there's no tomorrow! It's very soothing to just sit and make a card.

I often call it my Shepherd's Pie and banana custard thing. Feels good and it's all yummy.

Even with a card I like to play around and see how all the different elements work together. Just the right size to get my teeth into. I'm a sucker for shabby layers which you can't really miss! Just piling them up makes a girl happy

Lots of different papers here...I spy seven! Graphic 45, Pink Paislee, K&Co and the ever faithful Kraft.

I must have had some papers for years. They're made to be used and transformed into something new. I'm glad I did just that! I also decided to make the flowers from the papers too  which saved me from an hour long rummage in my ribbon rage bag... So there you go some shabby thoughts and torn edges for the weekend...

Have you popped over to My Mojo Monthly yet? Is that a hint Yes indeedily! This months challenge has a 'Work it!' theme helping you to get the maximum out of your stamps. There's already two great entries, hope to see more of you and your handiwork soon. I feel a big cup of tea and my PJs coming on...
Thanks for dropping by....will be seeing you soon. Sarah.

also joining in with:
Craft us Crazy - Autumnal colours
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - lace/ribbon
Just for Fun - vintage 
Anything goes  Shabby chic 
Crazy Amigo Challenge - stitching 
Order of the Opus Gluei - roses

My name is Sarah and I'm a inkaholic...

Last year at an ArtsyCrafty weekend I asked 'prof' Linda Elbourne what she did in her spare time. "Crafting". Well, have you got a hobby? "Crafting." What do you do when you're not crafting? "Crafting". I spy a pattern. At the time I thought is that not a trifle obsessive? But here I am, wondering how I used to spend 24 hours before my entire mind body and soul became engulfed by the phenomena of "making stuff."
I'm a gonner...never to return and this once house proud lady is even making serious trade-offs to buy time. Joking aside, I really am in deep but I'm embracing every moment. I've rediscovered my creative passion after years of an inner and well-hidden 'flat-line', despite being in the dance world. Glad to say my screen has beeps and peaks once more! Meanwhile back at the ranch, the desk is under heavy fire.

Lots going on with some intensive DT work and from the ashes my tag for Frankie's bird-cage tag swap doth rise. I made it a few days ago which is a miracle as I do seem to love teetering on a deadline.
Beginning of August I had an idea to make a bauble from two birdcage dies which turned out rather well methinks. I wanted to try it with blues this time and Frankie's swap was a great excuse to dabble.

It's what I call modern vintage! Not so many foofs, frills and fancy stuff as usual. I quite like this clean look and I think the blues work really well. You can't go far wrong with blue and white...an oldie but a goodie! Anyway it's winging it's way off to Frankie who creates many a beautiful thing...do take a peek! Thanks for the whole swappy thing! UPDATE. Eeek and sorry! Not supposed to show until next week. Might have to do a sequel...

I also want to say a very robust thank you to many for all the encouragements and reactions to My Mojo Monthly. It does me good and I hope you can gain some new inspiration and creative energy. Here's a photo of one of the project ideas...

That's my Wednesday round-up. Head over to Julia's to join in the desk hop. All are welcome... go on, show us your table! Thanks very much for calling by,

Sarah.

Just a little...

...of metal and love. Calling by with my weekly foxtrot within the realms of  clean and simple card-making. Just a word of warning to any new followers or visitors... I've already confessed to be totally and utterly in love with anything inky so you never know what you'll find here! At the ever fabulous Less is More, led by Chrissie and Mandi, it's musings in metal.

Metal it is... and metal I give thee! I love to play with embossed metal and alcohol inks and knew these rusty tones would feel right at home with Kraft card.
I embossed a copper metal strip using Cuttlebug's Textile folder and then swooshed a mix of rusty alcohol inks letting them move and swirl as they pleased.

Then a quick sand to bring out the detail which is when it comes to life. I know some card makers shy away from what they might deem the messy, grungy stuff but alcohol inks and metal can be very chic too! Greens and purples look amazing on embossed metal.

I was fishing around for a simple sentiment wanting to keep things minimal when my eye spied an orphan metal tag that's been on my table for ages.  A brush of ink gave just the right colour. I have lightly edged the card with Distress ink and that folks, was that! Simples!

Hope you like it...! I'm away, there's an ink pad with my name on it...
Sarah.

Inspired Musings...and Free Vintage Cabin Card!

As the weekend draws to a close I thought I'd refuel my inspiration to carry me into a new week. In October I'm doing The Artsy Crafty workshop with the amazing and totally unique Lynne Perella. I'm both nervous and excited so I'm getting into mood with a Lynne inspired collage.

 I created the background by layering up lots of scraps varying the patterns, colours and texture followed by a watery wash of gesso. I then added the three vintage images so they would stand out more and played around with distress stains and more gesso.

Here you can see a painted doily scrap and that lovely face that comes from my own collection of vintage postcards and cabin cards.

I'm not quite sure why we all hunker after the golden days as life wasn't that easy back then. Yet somehow we seem to fall in love with the images time and time again.

Then I carried on building up the layers by adding some tulle, some stencilling and stamping.  There isn't so much a story... I wanted to create more of mood, a feeling...choose whichever one comes to mind.

I just love that blast of red! I think it adds a great splash of colour and contrat against the muted background. I finished of with more gesso and stains by wiping them over the canvas with my fingers and also adding strokes of white with an old credit card. I only allowed the words 'A Fragment' to really show through, which seems a very fitting phrase.


Even though I'll need a lifetime to ever aspire to the level of Lynne Perella, I'm still really pleased with how it all turned out. It's something I really wanted to try and I'm a firm believer in following your creative 'gut feeling!'

Talking of inspiration the new September My Mojo Monthly is up! It's an inspiration Challenge and Feature I started in July. There's project ideas, a fab vintage prize and a great interview with Jo Firth-Young! 
Hope to see you and your art there!!!!

I'd like to share another of my lovely ladies with you, so here she is. She has something special, so do be gentle with her! Use her however you like, she's yours. (Original image not for resale...you know that!)

That's me done, time to clear away upstairs and spend some time with Mr. Right (I married him you know...!) Wishing you ALL a great week and thinking of EVERYONE tackling the new school run this week!!!
Be Brave...

Sarah.





           click here to enlarge.

MY MOJO MONTHLY SEPTEMBER - WORK IT!

SEE THE NEW MY MOJO MONTHLY HERE!

Welcome to September's My Mojo Monthly! The place for new inspiration and sharing your arty ideas. BIG thanks to everyone who called by and the fabulous creative entries. I'm really excited about this month and can't wait to share some loveliness. So, after the holidays, it's a WORK IT! theme to get you thinking. Whatever your crafty passion may be, I really want to kick start your Mojo and get your inky fingers moving! There's lots to see and another great prize on offer, but I'm here all month, so let's hear it for our September girl and featured artist, Jo Firth-Young!

FIVE QUESTIONS TO MY FEATURED ARTIST...
I've met Jo in the flesh and Blogdom and her creative energy is always so refreshing and very catching! I just love her bold use of colour, her modern twist on design and eye for fine detail in all she creates....

Who is Jo Firth-Young in five words?
Maker of Stuff! Searching. Eclectic.
 Where are you right now as an artist? I am always curious and excited to learn new things, to improve what I create. I'm always 'tweaking' projects even when they're finished. My work is quite neat and considered so I'm trying to free-up my style, to embrace the messy side of my creativity, trying to find a good middle ground between the two. I like to combine crafts on a project... sewing & paper, metal & paint, glass & collage for example.

Which of your creations is closest to your heart? The items I made for my wedding are special to me. They are the first items I ever had published. I sent them to Somerset Wedding (Stampington Publication) and they published the pieces as a four page spread and as the front cover image!

Very proud! I've had a copy of the front cover blown up. It's on the wall of my workroom to remind me to be brave, put myself out there and that good things can happen...

I also really love the small houses I create. Small, fiddly...back to the 'neat' side of my crafting!

Every one I create is different. When people buy them they choose them for a reason. Like the Patchwork House, bought by a lady who makes and sells patchwork quilts. Just perfect for her!
I also have a soft spot for my 'critters'. Wierd, little upcycled fabric creations, made without a pattern. I just sew the fabric together and see what happens! They're 'not quite right', a bit off centre, not quite straight, but that's their charm. They make me smile.

But often, the item I've just created is the one I like the most. Right now, I'm having lots of fun working with Paper Artsy's Fresco Finish Paints and Claudine Hellmuth's Creative Layers stamps.

Where do you find inspiration when feeling Mojoless? I read a lot of interiors magazines and I find those really inspiring, the use of colour and pattern. Or shopping, window displays are great!  Inspiration is everywhere. Plants, vegetables, clothes. Recently I saw a great pattern in a dish that was soaking in the kitchen! 

I carry a camera at all times because you never know when you might see something that will spark an idea. Sorting out and tidying my workroom is quite inspiring. I find all kinds of bits & pieces I'd forgotten I had. Also flicking through the paper stash is a great reminder and... the internet. There are so many inspirational sites, its mind boggling how much information we now have at our fingertips.

 You are going back-packing in the Himalayas for a year and may only take 3 crafting items. Which and why? Only three! This is hard! OK, I'll take a pencil and sharpener. Can I count those as one? A sketchbook and a digital camera. Then I can look at the photos even when its dark, and still sketch, create and be inspired. 
Jo designs for Banana Frog, PaperArtsy and Craft Stamper Magazine. See her art on the front cover of September's issue and visit her blog here. Wow!

Back at HQ...

Thanks so much Jo! It was great to meet you and your wonderfully colourful creativity... As said we're getting into shape with a "Work it!" theme for September. Like many of you I have favourite stamps that I love to use, just like Papillon (sigh) from Mr. Holtz. But when everyone is also in love with it and we've made all those tags...what then? Things can soon go stale. I decided to "Work it!" by looking for new ways to create with the four different stamps.

Here's a vintage card using lots of layers and distressed edges, yum! A vintage card is not shy to show off it's hand-made roots, so I thought a little hand stamped cotton tape would look right at home! You can also tear strips from old pillow cases too! I used the smaller, horizontal butterfly stamp and Coffee Archival ink by Ranger which is just perfect for this job.

 I created an aged feel by fraying the edges and gently working in Vintage Photo Distress ink. Simples! So now you can get busy creating lots of your own customised trimmings for cards, tags, canvasses and home decor. Vintage or modern, subtle or bold, it's all up to you!

Then I wanted to get the large background stamp earning it's keep. I decided to make a simple but chic notelet set with a romantic Parisian feel. I cut out a heart shaped template and then used it as a stencil to stamp through. I teamed them up with some simple (and cheap) manilla envelopes and a hand stamped tie. Shiny seam binding this time using the City name stamp and Russet Stazon ink which takes better.

Hey Presto! That back ground stamp is now the feature! The slightly pearlescent cards are stamped in several different shades of Archival ink and then lightly distressed around the edges. I feel nothing else is needed. Less is more. Stars would be great for Christmas or a Monogram for a personal gift. Choose your template and design away I say! Quite fancy doing some sassy ones...

My final piece uses the large butterfly stamp (and background stamp). The thought here is 'Dimension Potential'. Many stamp sets in many a style, be it flowers, birds or letters, etc., can be totally transformed when you use them in a dimensional way. It does require a bit of snipping but it's well worth it. Here I've stamped the butterflies onto Grungepaper, added extra colour with Distress inks and sealed them with Matt Medium for extra strength.

The back ground squares are created with the large script stamp using a resist technique. I stamped with Ranger Snowcap Pigment ink and then applied Rusty Hinge Distress Ink which gives a fabulous result (thinketh me!) Old book pages, typed words, vintage lace and painted cardboard...oldies but goodies! You can make this is as shabby or as clean as you want to. It all depends on your stamps, colours and mood!
 
Challenge, Nice Stuff and Info...
Well, I think I gave my stamps a good workout. What do you think? More importantly, what do you want to create?  

???HOW CAN YOU WORK IT???

Remember My Mojo Monthly is all about the why AND the what! I'm looking forward to seeing and reading about your art and inspiration...
I'll be checking in regularly to take a look at your work. Huge congratulations to August's winner Hettie for her funky iron. Well done Hettie! This months Giveaway is great set of Crafty Individual stamps, some vintage lace and a genuine 1940's fashion advert and guess what...???
NEXT MONTH I'LL BE TALKING TO TAMMY TUTTEROW!!!

A few guidelines on submitting your work:
- In the spirit of MMM please write a few lines in your post about your creativity and why you want to share your work.
- You are very welcome to share challenge pieces, just tell me a bit about your inspiration.
- Please link directly to your post and not your blog so I can find you.
- Please add a link in your post to My Mojo Monthly, thanks!
- Multiple challenge photos without description will be removed.
- Feel free to take the MMM button for your blog - please do! 

Ladies, Gents, ink-pads...I think I'm done. Thanks SO much for being here. I'd really love to hear your thoughts, so... it's over to you!
Stay inspired...

Sarah.