whAt's 0n Y°Ur W0rkdEsk W3DneSday ?!!??

Morning All,
Wednesday morn had descended. Cue a quick shot of my desk! The usual array of supplies, left-overs, dust and works in progress.
I was and will never be a scrap-booker but for once I'm crossing the line - a gift for my Belgian mummy-in-law who leads art projects for children in needy countries. More another time as it deserves it's own post.

Now just look a that spread of loveliness! A mysterious parcel arrived from the US today and I was totally overwhelmed to discover it was a spontaneous make-you-feel-good gift from Cindy. Ooooh, I got an amazing stamp set, fab papers, embellies galore and a stunning card too. I was blown away and skipped all the way to work. Thank you Cindy, you are star and angel! I feel good...na, na, na, na, na, na, na...

Hubby and me are off to Holland and Belgium tomorrow so had a marathon crafting week getting projects and DT work all done. Getting a manicure tomorrow and some TLC! Visiting an uber-fab stamp show and craft shop too - full report next week from Bruges! Time to post one project before I whizz off...

A bit of risqué romance...inspired by the "tea" challenge over at Our Creative Corner. I decided to for a slightly different interpretation of the theme - but you can see a cup! What a damsel and what a look...there's a story there. I couldn't resist added some torn  pages from Lady Chatterley's Lover. All censored I must add.

Got pretty inky as I sprayed my flowers with walnut ink and coloured my press-studs...loving that paper from K & Company. It's no good, I gotta start using them and cutting down on the stroking...

I thought this stamp was perfect for the card and it fits perfectly in the frame. Again - couldn't survive without my ginger and coffee alcohol inks to transform shiny metal.

A close-up of those eyes and the book excerpt. Did anybody notice the luscious lips in the first picture!!!??? And any excuse to look at yummy layers of distressed papers.

Also entering my lady into :
Take a Word: Lace
Crazy4Challenges: Green, vanilla, brown. 
Pear Tree Designs : Lace
WhoopsiDaisy: Vintage
The Artistic Stamper: Layers 
Stamp Something: Sassy!

 Which brings me right back to my "Distressed" DT project for Simon Says Stamp & Show. We are all pretty good at roughing things up, so do join in with our challenge...read more about my piece here.



Got to dash, suitcases to fill and blogs to be hopped! I sure need an i-pad...join in with the snoop at Julia's...
See you all soon,

Sarah.

Less is More goes Grungey...

Greetings fellow LIMettes!

Here we all are again with another delectable dabble into Less is More...still very much on board and enjoying the ride! It's great to see so many new folk...really enjoy the diversity of styles and interpretations. We really are out in force, so doing some more blog-hopping. A few visits three times a day soon adds up -  Bloggercise I suppose...
Anyway back to business. The one-layer challenge is all about sentiments. I was working on some grungy tag projects and was up to my elbows in ink, colour, sprays and stamps. Yum! I was stamping away with Mr.T and Wendy images and loving the results and tones but then I thought, "These could also work on their own..." Yes, Less is More is being grunged up - but with class and colour!

Flowers and angel wings...I decided to be bold in my colour choices and images but still allow the sentiment to stand strong. I chose a marbled grey card to soften the impact of the colours. Stamped the sentiment in archival Coffee as opposed to black as it blends better with the other two tones.

 I just love the detail in these stamps. I'm pleased I let the images overlap with each other. No inked or distressed edges - pure stampology!

 I think I'm in love with my second card. Can I say that? Sorry, but I am. In love with the images - not myself, I must add. I just love, love, love that antique frame. I rotated the mirror frame stamp 90º and then just added the birds and the sentiment. Again, I wanted to be daring in my colours. You don't always have to stamp in black for emphasis. The blue still holds it's own. I chose a leather effect mushroom card - I found just one in a corner!

 The bird stamp is beautiful. I thought having the birds flying up and away out of the frame gave a feeling of depth and also fitted with the sentiment. The birds have been stamped in Pumice Stone Distress ink which was just perfect.

 I also tried the first on a whiter card to see how that went. Works well too I suppose but I do really prefer the other backgrounds. Actually I luuurrrve them...but you know that already...

Great play this week...a spontaneous idea that worked first time, something a little different and the feeling that I created something special!  It's also good to play with colour, stamp designs and cardstock and see that you can create a pure card with a modern edge.

I love sentiments, words, script and books - so felt right at home with this one. Okay - I'm done...off to see what you have all cooked up this week. Big thanks again to Chrissie and Mandi for all they do for Less is More... and thanks for giving me a shout about the LIMettes! Maybe in 5 years time we can ascend to the ranks of LIMDivas...

Thank you so very much to all of you that called by and left such great comments...makes these sunny days even brighter!

See you soon,

Sarah.

DeStress with Distress...Simon Says Stamp & Show.

Hello there!
Hope you are all wide awake and raring to go...Maybe you're at home, sneaking a peek from the office or on the go with an i-just-have-to-blog-pad. In any case, I'm starting the week with a good dose of distressing. That's the new challenge theme over at Simon Says Stamp & Show. A bit of paper-tearing and inking is good for the soul, so do join in with the challenge and show me what you got!!! Here is my new piece for the Design Team to make you go "Aaaw, how sweet..." and inspire you into creating your own piece of loveliness. Sweet, not cute. Just for the record.

It is real vintage affair today...browns and neutrals, shabby layers, polka dots and flowers. It's all happening in my shadow-box. My starting point was my new stamp from Hero Arts called, "It's a Parade!" Fell for both its charm and simplicity. I didn't plan to use a box but as the layering continued it seemed the right way to go...except I hadn't got one. Old school and cardboard it was then. After a couple of hours measuring, slicing, jiggling and glue - job done - and quite chuffed I am too. A couple of coats of mushroom paint and Vintage Photo Distress ink brought it to life

 Also trying out the Glassine paper from Mr. Tim. I've used it in the layers and for the flowers. You just have to scrunch it up to get all the great textures and wrinkles...it was great for machine-stitching on too. If you're going to die-cut or punch something, do that first for a clean cut, scrunch afterwards.

 I stamped the image onto my dotty paper with White Stazon, dried it with my heat gun and then applied a good dose of Brushed Corduroy ink with some blending foam. The Stazon will resist the ink well but a gentle buff with some kitchen paper will make it pop even more. I've layered it up with a book page and stamped muslin, all distressed and inked.

I used the Tattered Florals die and a punch on the same papers to make my flowers,  lightly inking the edges.
I've shaped the flowers by hand to give more dimension and movement, otherwise they lie too flat.

 I just love little gatherings of snippets. So here in the corner I made a stitched paper frill and piled on a bit of this and that. I finished off with by stamping "good times". I like the petite and subtle sentiment. There are also a few of my well-known button and thread antics going on!

Playing with these wonderful tones and the glorious sunshine streaming into my craft room made for a perfect day. Can't they all be like this?

I do hope you feel inspired...maybe just by the colours or the layers. Distressing works on so many projects...Still wondering? See more really great ideas from the rest of the Simon Says Design team here. I hope to see lots of you there and remember you could win a $50 spree or make the Top Three! So De-stress and Distress because both prizes sound just fine to me...

Wishing you a great week in all you do. Thanks for calling by...would love to hear from you!

Back soon...

Sarah.

Frilly Friday Frivolities...

Hello again,

Mmmmmm...C'est le weekend and that is reason enough for me to feel good, be me and just do what comes to my mind and fingers. I have a few DT projects on the go and other deadlines but the girly challenge over at Our Creative Corner tugged at my sleeve all week. So I brushed the official stuff aside and gave myself over to pink, lace and feeling sweet. Am I feeling a little cliché or twee - not in the least.. and why not? Because I can be anything I want and do anything I want amongst my paper, stamps and inks. Sugar today, grunge tomorrow. My style ...? I do Sarah!

The challenge is to use ribbon, a hand made flower and a touch of bling. I decided to go for a vintage style card and my adoration of torn layers, ink and frilly bits. I started off with a tag and then let it develop from there.

Day Dream a Little seemed just perfect for this sunny Friday evening...
I used a lace paper doily behind the tag, stamped a butterfly in Sepia for a little contrast.

 The stamped image is one of my faves from Crafty Individuals. It is stamped on a gesso swished dictionary page. I chose this page especially as I wanted the word feminine to show through. My bling is some gold thread and a hair clip I found somewhere and thought - mmm I'll keep that. I also remembered that Crafty Individuals also have a challenge on their new blog using the theme squares...so popping over there too.

Spent ages making all sorts of flowers...too big, too flat, too modern, too pink and all of them wrong (more stuff for the bits and bobs box). So I ended up going for some ribbon rolled ladies, layered up with some lace and leaves which worked out just fine eventually.

Just a close-up of the layering, textures and yummy pinks...I toned down the pink ribbon with some distress ink to get a better tone. Talking of layers...I think that is the April theme for The Artistic Stamper. I'm on a roll!

Here you can see a bit more bling with a glass button and the folded paper frill which I really like. Just folded it randomly and  stitched it on the machine. I like its crooked look! Makes things a little less cute.

I'm also going to join in with some more challenges...
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge 
By the Cute and Girly

So there you go. That's me all pinked out for a Friday. Enjoy your weekend and get your face and soul out in that sunshine.

See you soon,

Sarah.

Mid-Week Mumblings, WOYWW and Studio L3...

Dearest Ellas and Fellas,

Welcome to my blog and tales from the Wednesday workdesk. Join in at Julia's! The weekend kept up its training for the Olympic 100m sprint and was all done in 10 seconds. We all wake up today, a little excited at the desk-hop, but equally dumbfounded as yet another week hurtles by...

 Been busy, busy, busy...got lots to catch up on. Spent Saturday enjoying the talents and lovely company of Kaz and Sue at Crafty Bunch close to Telford. If you're in the area - do check it out. Lots and lots of goodies including Mr.T and Paper Artsy stamps! Sunday was of course spent with Mama. A great weekend, but also a chunk of crafting had to slide...so it's game on. Can you see some rather spiffing attributes on the left??? My first DT pack from Simon Says Stamp & Show arrived!!! I literally squealed, jumped around and applauded the postman. Just got to get past the stroking phase now and actually use it all. The messy desk eventually resulted in a new tag for Grungy Monday over at Studio L3.

 The challenge uses a mat medium stamped background. Not the easiest stuff to work with. I went for a Judikins stamp as it is quite a bold design. Then full on with Distress inks and stamping! Isn't the bird stamp just lovely.

 A close-up of the words - typed by my own hand on an old machine that still does red too! Thought long and hard as to what to say and how it would work with the piece. I'm sure a bit of soul-searching would do us all good!

So I think that's about it it for today. For once I'm going leap into my snug bed at a "reasonable" hour.

  If you're in need of some floral joy - check out my new DT piece here...I'm all done in - so now I'm dashing upstairs for some sleep therapy!

Enjoy the week and a big thank you to my followers and visitors. It makes my day when you call by...


Love Sarah.

Less is More: Red and White - The Sequel.

Hello,
C'est moi...back for my weekly dose of white space and a new challenge at Less is More. I'm actually early with my cards this week. I also have some pretty inky, painty things to do too, so I I have decided to tackle my projects based on order of necessary cleanliness! I've even bought a new craft mat for these cards. Sensible, bonkers or obsessed? All three on a good day...
Last week I was in vintage red and white mode and now discover that this weeks challenge is "A touch of red..." Just fine by me. This week finds me exploring the joys of paper circle flowers and a black journalling pen...

 Lots of white space to savour...I have punched the circles from a piece of card that I have stencilled with red paint. Paint adds just that bit more texture. So for once I was actually getting gunky with Less is More! I have shaped them with a paper stump, edged them and then layered them up with a brad. I was out of black brads so I coloured some silver ones with some alcohol ink.

I have drawn the stalks with a black journalling pen. Didn't think about it too much but just went for it. Then I have stamped a simple word from Paper Artsy with a mixture of red archival ink and distress ink to get the right red colour. I like how it overlaps with the black lines. Added a very light touch of inking on the card edges and all done.

Being me - means just having to try another one out! A skinny-minnie this time and onto a horizontal approach. Decided to go for three flowers but wanted one a tad smaller to even out the proportions. Cut the smaller one  by hand as I don't possess every circle punch on the market...
Again, a quick sweep across the page with my pen - just three lines this time.

A close-up of the flowers to show a bit more of the shape and stencilling. Any excuse for a detail shot. I'm a sucker for them...

I had a few flowers left over, so instead of adding more bits to the overflowing "Save that for another time" tray, I thought I'd try a little square one. It was fun to go free-hand with a pen and I like them all... Still totally in love with red and white.

A quick shot of all three looking rather perky indeed.
I have been having a bit of a peek at this week's cards and I am going to have a look at some more entries tomorrow and say hello. I know it's hard to find time but it's good to visit other folk and show some interest and support. I can't comment on every one but I try to do at least twenty and take the time to have a read and look. If we all do that - well, it'll be a right old get-together. Who doesn't love a comment or some nice words!?! Have fun with the challenge!

Thanks for calling by - the door is always open...


Sarah.

Monday is in the House...and Simon Says Stamp and Show

Hello There Monday Folk,
It seems the weekend has eloped with the Spring weather on this rather grey morning...and Missy April Showers is holding onto tradition. So, what better way to brighten up your week than some zingy colours and a few sassy flowers on my upcycled paper bag! Especially as it's time for the new challenge over at Simon Says Stamp & Show and this week we say "Show us Anything but a Card!"

I got this bag for free from a recent craft show when I bought some new Paper Artsy stash. It has been winking at me all week...telling me how good it would look after a make-over. For some reason I was also up for some floral frolics and a blast of colour. Also inspired by a great tutorial by Kim Dellow. I started off by sweeping the surface with some Gesso from Claudia Helmuth and then added contrast and details with some stencilling using Rusty Hinge and Bundled Sage Distress Inks.
 

Then I got started on my paper circle flowers  punching three different sized circles from various papers including Graphic 45 Then I distressed and inked the edges as well as rubbing the centres with a paper stump to get some shape. I then fixed them together with a flower brad which I've dyed black with alcohol ink. I have gone for an off-centred flower which I just love.

Here I've used the Chip Block die from Mr.T to create my phrase. Take a look at the 'e'...yes I've been a lazy bunny and used an upside down 6. My desk was already snowed under with a sea of random letter confetti and I fancied a bit of quirkiness. So there you go! I've inked them up and glued them onto a jute strip covered in gesso. Just added a bit of red machine stitching and layered them all up with a strip of torn script paper...

  I added a few had-cut leaves using the same script paper but given them a wash with some diluted distress ink for a green tint. Edged them in Barn Door ink for definition. Or as they say over the pond - to make it pop!

 I'm still a fan of thread, stringy stuff and other faffings, so enter... a line of copper thread, more stitching, lovely lace, rusty staples and some inky string.

The two handles are simply tied together with some ribbon and lace cuttings and decorated with a scrap of the jute. I had to get just one button in there somehow.

 I'm sending you some Bloggy Flower Power and hope the colours and fun feeling will get you raring to go too! See some more fabulous DT ideas here.

Join in the Challenge and show us what ya got! Remember, ANYTHING but a Card - mmm could be quite a risky one!!!
There's a chance of a little celebrity fame if you make the Top Three and $50 retail therapy too...

Hope to see you again soon, thanks for dropping by...

Sarah.