Stamping Cruise Album

We made this album in the first class.The colours are gorgeous!
I still have to add my own finishing touches and some photos of course.
The colours are Ice Blue and Bronze Precious Metal paint.
7 Gypsies gaffer tape binds the cover.
We all received a new collage stamp which we stamped and highlighted with the Crayon Resist technique. How cool does it look? Love it.
The title '2012 Stamping Cruise' is chipboard which was painted in Ice Blue with a touch of Bronze.
Glassine paper crumpled and placed under the collage.

There is a page for each day to journal. We stamped lines from the Calendar set and shells from the Seashells collection.
Was supposed to write in it each day but was too busy trying to fit in as many activities as possible on the ship!

Itinerary of the cruise

We added kraft tags,small and large glassine envelopes,and translucent envelopes through out the album.

Also included in the kit was a pad of 6x6 seaside papers which I forgot to photograph.
Will post more pictures when I have completed the album.
It is going to be a treasured keepsake!
Click on photos for more details
Thanks for looking and I will be back with more!

Australia Stamping Cruise

I am back after a wonderful,fabulous,fantastic awesome 12 nights on this lovely ship!
This was my first cruise and I am keen to go again!
Rachel Greig from Darkroom Door made the cruise even more exciting with the fun classes. Lots of ink,paint,embellishments and stamps of course :)

That's me on the left with Rachel and my friend Lynne. This was taken on the last night at a Cocktail Party just for us 48 stampers.

Too much to show in one blog post, so will start with the spectacular shadow box we made in the second class.

The box is 23x23cm or 9inx9in.
Every hard to photograph with the glass, so have taken a few photos.
Click on photos to see more details.

The gorgeous background was made using Viva Ferro and Viva Precious Metal paint.
After applying the Ferro,you stamp into it to create texture. The paint is rubbed over the raised texture...hmmm yum!
So much better in real life!
The paper layer under the butterfly started as a blank piece of white card which I stamped a collage and distressed with distress inks (of course!)Under that is a piece of muslin,then card painted with Inka Gold in Alt Silber (Old Silver)

Back soon with more creations.

Christmas Stampotique Swap

Happy New Year to all my lovely followers!
This is the second Stampotique swap I organised with a few of my wonderful blogging friends. We all love the quirkiness of these fun stamps by Stampotique.

All six fabulous creations :)

Belinda's and Sarah's

Vicky's and Fiona's

Mine and Lynne's

Looking forward to another swap...maybe late February?

TAG ONE

Who has been following Tim`s 12 tags of Christmas? If you don't know what I am on about have a look here
I have been watching these awesome tags by Tim for the last three years.
This year I thought it was about time to try and re create something similar or at least use some of the techniques.
Like many people, I don't have ALL the supplies that Tim used on the tags.
The idea is to get INSPIRED to try the techniques and get creative with what you do have.
Not the best photo, but here is my tag

For the creation of this tag, I was also inspired by Shelly Hickox
Her blog 'Stamptramp' is one of my favourites...so full of great techiques and ideas.
I don't have Kraft Resist paper, so I cased Shelly's idea and painted over kraft cardstock with Pool dabber paint. I used a different cuttlebug folder.
Instead of white embossing powder I applied UTEE (embossing enamel) I used this because it was sitting in front of me and I was in a hurry ( I should have been more organised!) It works, but think it may have made my tag a bit 'brittle'. It tore a little when I was distressing the edges with the distresser.
I also followed Shelly's idea of making your own tattered banners...ooh la la! So fun!
For the leaves I used the mini tattered leaves movers and shapers die with two different shades of green cardstock. I embossed the leaves with 'branches' embossing folder. I then sanded,applied some 'gathered twigs' distress ink and a bit of snow dabber paint. Used same technique for the Elegant Flourish.
I don't have the pine cones die, so used some white mini roses.Sprayed 'Crushed Shells' glimmer mist on them and sponged some 'Frayed Burlap' ink to the centres.
The reindeer (Reindeer Flight die)was cut with Jac paper (double sided sticky paper)
I peeled off one side and coated with silver glitter.
The ribbon is colored with 'Iced Spruce' distress ink...love that colour!
I dabbed a little 'Snow' dabber paint randomly on the tag.
Tim is already up to tag five...so I better get a move on!
If you are still here...thanks for looking :)

BONJOUR!

I made this card for the monthly challenge at The Craft Queen

The challenge is to use pink ribbon and some stamping. How easy is that?

I started with this

This page is from the gorgeous 6 1/2 paper pad from Kaisercraft called Bonjour.
I trimmed the page down to fit the front of the folded kraft card.
The chipboard dress form was dabbed with vintage photo distress ink at the top and bottom. I then covered it with some striped pattern paper from the same paper pad.
Added some pink ribbon for the waist. Stickles for the bottom of the dress for a bit of bling.
The word "Friend" is from Crafty Secrets 'Garden Girls' gorgeous stamp set .
The Paris post mark and swirls (Tim Holtz Boundless Flight)inked with Vintage Photo distress ink. Edges of paper sponged with Walnut Stain distress ink.
The small white flower was 'dusted' with Worn Lipstick distress ink. I then applied some Iridescent Medium to the flower for some sparkle.

To enter the challenge, just click on the Craft Queen link for all the info.
You do not need a blog. Just email your creation to Nicole.
So...what are you waiting for?

Craft Barn Blog Candy

Have a look at this fabulous giveaway!

Just click here for more details.

WHAT! NO STAMPING?!

The few days leading up to my husband's operation were stressful.
I usually find getting inky with my favourite rubber stamps and distress inks relaxing,but I just could not get my creative juices going.
So I came across a fabulous magazine 'Cards and Crafts for Christmas Vol 5.' Special collector's edition.
It has tons of ideas using Christmas pattern paper. I have way too many 6x6 pattern paper pads (another addiction!)
So, I pulled out my Christmas 6x6 pads and picked two that I liked the most.
Bo Bunny "Father Christmas Collection" and my fave by Simple Stories "25 Days of Christmas"
All the cards created here were ideas from the magazine.The instructions are easy to follow. I cased some of them using the Christmas pads I had on hand.

I added a Tim Holtz Reindeer die cut and 'noel' is from another die cut.

'Joy' is a die cut. Added some stickles for bling!

Love this one! All paper here is from the Simple Stories paper pad.

This would be a great one to give to a male. Simple Stories paper used for this card. So easy!

Love the vintage style of this one!

Love the turned over corner on this card. It was supposed to have matching paper inside. I am going to use a corner style rub on in the top right hand side...or maybe even stamp a corner design.

I really enjoyed making these cards. I am going to use my other paper pads to create similar cards in other themes.
I bought the paper pads from Nicole at the Craft Queen You will find a huge range of 6x6 paper pads here.

Hope you have enjoyed viewing the cards.