Always and Forever

Hi

Just a very short post this evening.  Unfortunately I have been absent for a couple of weeks due to a family bereavement, but I hope to be back shortly.

As you know, I was thrilled to be asked to be a Guest Designer at The Stampsmith Challenge & Blog, and this is the second project I created, inspired by the song "Always & Forever" (do you remember the song?):

A small mdf wedding keepsake which has been covered in a mixture of Kraft cardstock and co-ordinating dps by Melissa Frances.

The main image on the front cover is from the plate "Thank Heavens For Little Girls" - it has been trimmed to fit inside the bronze frame, then covered with Ice Resin.

The inside of the third page features another Stampsmith image from the "Wedding Bells" plate, which sits behind a painted and crackled chipboard frame:

There are two pockets in the album for special mementos and a Kraft frame, which I've left open at the top, for a special personal photograph to be slipped into.

Various charms and embellishments have been added to the front page - all the pages can be seen in the photo collage below:

There is still plenty of time to join in the challenge - just create a project (using at least one Stampsmith stamp) which has been Inspired By A Song.

I'd to say a big "hello" to my new followers, and also a huge thank you to all my regular visitors for your continued patience - it really seems to be one thing after another this year.

Maria xxxxx

Inspired By A Song - The Stampsmith Challenge (GDT)

Hi, I hope you are all well and ok.  Those of you who know me or who follow my blog will know that The Stampsmith Challenge is a firm favourite of mine and that I absolutely love their stamps. A little while ago, I was extremely honoured to be asked to be a Guest Designer with them for the next few months, so I would like to say a big thank you!.  The theme for September is:

'Inspired By A Song'

With all the new mdf I recently acquired, I decided to make a wall hanging, which was inspired by the song by Martina McBride "In My Daughter's Eyes" - the words to this song are beautiful and so touching, and really took me back to that overwhelming feeling I had for my daughter once she was born.  She's 19 now and has made me a very proud nanna, and of course, that feeling always stays.

This was definitely a labour of love, lol.  The base was undercoated with Gesso, painted with a couple of layers of chalk paint (sanding in between), stamped with lots of words relating to Mother/Daughter, repainted, and sanded again. Around the edge, I used some Paperartsy Grunge Paste, stamped into with a CI crackle stamp, and then painted it with the same colour as the background, highlighting the raised areas with Treasure Gold in White Fire.  The trim across the bottom also has pearls added and a seam binding bow.

The gorgeous Stampsmith image, from the plate "Thank Heavens For Little Girls" was stamped in Coffee Archival Ink and matted onto some music dp, then onto Kraft.

All of the rolled roses I made myself from ribbon, and just added some pearls, a couple of paper roses, and a couple of resin ones.  The Tim Holtz Idealogy Hardware was also painted with chalk paint, and again, highlighted with White Fire Treasure gold (I love how this turned out) - the word 'family' (Making Memories) underneath the plate was covered with Decoart Crackle medium, and then inked to show the crackle a little more.  A vintage style cameo sits amongst the roses, as does a metal heart, which was also painted with chalk paint.

The Tim Holtz glass vial contains the words to the song rolled up tightly and hangs from some chain attached to the hardware above.

A couple of other embellishments such as a TH ticket and a sentiment bar across the top finish this off, along with a picture hook across the back to hang it from.

I hope you like it, and if you have any Stampsmith stamps, that you can join in with the challenge.

Thank you so much for your visit - I have been unable to visit recently due to a few personal problems, but I really appreciate the comments which you leave for me.  

Enjoy your week.

Maria xxxxx

Dreaming

Hi, a very quick post this evening.  I hope you've all had a lovely weekend.  The Stampsmith's current June challenge is closing in a matter of hours so, after moving my craft room to yet another room, I've spent ages today trying to find my SS stamps!  With most of them found, I managed to finish my entry.

Their current challenge is Boxes, Books or Bags, and their Guest Designer this month is Paula Tidman from Ephemera's Attic (who makes the most amazing bags, by the way).

I altered a notebook/journal from Ikea, which cost about £4 but, as it was nice and thick with unlined cream pages, I thought it would look nice with a facelift:

I used Melissa Franced dps for the covers and inked the edges with Vintage Photo.  Beautiful Lily was stamped onto Ranger Stamping Paper with Coffee archival ink - I made the mistake of reinking this inkpad a couple of weeks ago, and discovered that it was way too wet to stamp my photo image so, after inking the stamp up, I ran a clean brayer over the top to remove some of the ink, and it turned out really well.  Once dried, I used Old Paper DI over the whole image, and Vintage Photo round the edges.  I roughed up the edged and tore across the bottom, then a few creases here and there to age it a little, then mounted it onto a scrap of Kraft which got the same treatment, then onto a scrap of cream muslin, and attached to the top half of the cover.

A heart shaped doily covered in Old Paper DI was glued to the bottom half of the front cover, some lace was attached to the spine with a bow in the centre and some washi tape on the back side of the spine.  More lace on the top and bottom, some cork letters (edged with Walnut Stain DI) attached down the right side, and a trail of flower trim from the top around to the bottom.  The TH sentiment was put in a frame and Magi-glos was added over the top and cured under a UV lamp (a last minute addition so not enough time for Ice Resin, which I would much prefer).  Some burgundy flowers were added for a splash of colour and a couple of TH words here and there.

I'd like to enter this into a couple of other challenges:

It's All About The Vintage - Distress and Tear
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes

I hope you all have a great week and the weather picks up a bit.  It's really windy here in Manchester this evening, and it's now pouring down with rain as well - I hate the wind, I'd rather have snow, lol!

This wasn't so short after all!  Thank you for dropping by, I really do appreciate your visit.

Take care

Maria xxxxx

Juliet

Hi, it's been a little while since I've posted anything other than my DT projects, or got around to visiting your blogs, so I do apologise.  Unfortunately I have a sleep disorder which thankfully, due to medication, is now getting under control, so I am hoping to start a bit more active now.

I didn't get to join in with The Stampsmith Challenge last month, which I was disappointed about, but I've managed to make a little something for their current challenge "Tick Tac Toe":

At the Port Sunlight stamping fair last week, I bought a pack of metal hearts in two sizes, so I've used one of each for this.  I started out by embossing twice in Stampendous Aged Ivory embossing enamel on the large heart, then ran it through my Bigshot.  I then used gilding wax on the raised areas and went around the outside with a gilding pen, and added a bronze pearl at the bottom.

For the smaller heart, I covered both sides with some cream card.  On one side, I coloured it with Iced Spruce DI then overstamped a SU flourish background with the same ink. I then attached Juliet and coloured with the Iced Spruce again, and added a little Distress Stickles, then attached a ribbon bow to the bottom.

For the other side, I coloured with Antique Linen DI and blended a little Iced Spruce in with it.  I then stamped the same flourish with a 2nd impression in Coffee Archival Ink, and embossed the SU word "Imagine" in gold ep.  I then edged both sides with a gilding pen again, attached both hearts together with some chain and rings, and hung with some ribbon.

I've left the back of the large heart plain so you can see it plain, but embossed.

This is a gift for a friend, so I'm really hoping they like it, as my mojo has been lacking more than a little lately!

I'd also like to enter this into the following challenges:-

Creative Inspirations Paint - Anything Goes
Eclectic Ellapu - Anything Goes
Stamping Sensations - Embossing and Texture

Right, I'm off to do some commenting, then to make a start on visiting your blogs to see what I'm missing :-)

Enjoy your week, and thanks for your patience!

Maria xxxxx

Timeless Lily

Hi, I hope you are all well and enjoying the Easter weekend.  The weather here has improved at last, with the sun shining, although still a bit chilly.  I myself haven't had a particularly good week, but decided that today was time to get my backside into gear and finish a couple of projects, this being one of them.

The Stampsmith Challenge's current theme is Spring Colours/Flowers, using at least one Stampsmith image, and has just one day left to enter, so here is my entry:

I've used a wooden mount for a large background rubber stamp, however I didn't mount the stamp, as I preferred the flexibility of using it without (and I knew the block would end up altered!).  I painted it a very gentle pale creamy yellow to start as I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it at this point.  I covered one side with some Prima beautiful floral paper (thank you Julia!), cutting 3 sides of a rectangle in the middle.  The background of the dp is blue - not the most common colour for Spring flowers but a couple of years ago, I bought my mum a lovely blue rose from a garden centre - with some cream flowers and background script.  The centre cut out has been rolled up and some dyed seam binding secures it.
 

 I've stamped Lily in Coffee Archival Ink and lightly tinted her cheeks and dress with chalks.  A doily coloured with Tattered Rose DI is used on three of the corners, and some lace used on two sides of the image.  I coloured some SU seam binding with Tattered Rose DI and made three little roses which were attached to the bottom right corner, a couple of hat pins, and TH words used underneath "So Timeless".

A small piece of lace is attached above the image with a SU brad.  I've used some metallic rub on around the edge just to finish it off and frame it.  This is going to go on a shelf next to my candles, as a free standing ornament.  I've taken a couple of new photos outside this morning which show the colours far better than the original one.







I'd also like to enter my creation into the following challenges:-

Allsorts Challenge - Vintage
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Anything Goes With Ribbon
Live and Love Crafts Challenge - Bingo (Lace, Doily & Metal)
Rhedd and Rosie Challenge - Vintage/Shabby Chic

Thank you for popping over, it really is appreciated, and I hope you have a wonderful Easter with lots of gorgeous chocolate :-).

Maria xxxxx

With Gratitude

Hi, I hope you're enjoying your week.  This is a short post I'm afraid, and time is running short for me to enter The Stampsmith Challenge, with only a few days left.  The theme this month is  "With Gratitude", using at least one Stampsmith stamp on your creation.

My entry is a little wall hanger which I've made for someone as a thank you gift:

A heart-shaped piece of mdf, painted in white Gesso then covered in Viva Decor transparent Croco paste.  Once this stuff is applied, it needs to be left to crackle for about 24 hours.  This is the first time I've used it, and I love the result, it seems to self level.

A close up of the crackle

 The image I've used is Maude, and I've cut her out with a Spellbinders die, and matted onto a second die cut from Kraft cardstock, turned on it's side.  Pearls were added down the left side but I realised I didn't have enough for the other, so I used some lace instead.  A resin, glittered flower attached to the bottom, some minature roses attached onto some music paper and a shabby bow with some white chain strung behind the image and threaded through the bow, and left to hang down.  Some more shabby ribbon attached to the back to hang from.  Although not visible on the photo, Maude's lips have been tinted with a pink watercolour marker.  The back has been covered in some french vintage style dp, and edged with a gold gilding pen.

I hope you like it!

Bye for now, and I'll hopefully get my last two calendars finsished and uploaded over the weekend.

Maria xxxxxx

In The Garden.....

Hi, I hope you're enjoying your weekend.  Did anyone go to Aintree Racecourse Craft Fair?  I did, I had a lovely day and picked up some nice crafty bits to play with.  To be honest, with a lot of people trying out PanPastels and Memory Box dies, I was starting to feel a bit left out, so I felt I had to add to my stash :-)  I got six of the PP pale tints to start with, because I love pastel colours, and they are soooo beautiful - I'm now addicted and want more, and have used them on this jumbo altered coaster which cost me all of 5p in a charity shop (and started it's altered journey very differently last week, lol).

I also met Marie from Bailey Rosy (former Dolly Daydreams) at Aintree - what a lovely person!  As she is also from Liverpool, it was a foregone conclusion that she'd have a great sense of humour, but what I didn't know was that she's from about 2 miles away from me (at the most), and we went to the same high school, would you believe!!!  It was like meeting a long-lost friend from school!

The theme for The Stampsmith Challenge this month is The Colours of Spring - this is one of my favourite stamp ranges as their images are beautiful.  I wanted to try and do something a little different so I've used an image from the Pin Ups sheet, and turned her into "Betty, the gardener":

Using Kraft cardstock attached to the coaster, and a mask (A Touch of Mica), I've used the pale yellow PanPastel to create the brick wall.  I've then used a Memory Box die to create the bottom border coloured with green PP, then coloured the flower heads with the yellow and pink.

The sentiments were also coloured with the green, and the CI flourish was stamped with a pale pink acrylic paint dabber.  All the ribbons are from MME and the little watering can is from Mei Flower.  Betty herself (she's not really called Betty!) was stamped in Coffee Archival Ink - my other half, Dave, bought me the Pin Ups plate at Xmas but I've had a bit of trouble stamping the images from this particular one - I've stamped this image onto Clarity Stamps' silk, matt-coated cardstock this time and it's turned out better, so maybe it was my cardstock.

I usually take my blog photos on my mobile as it has a great camera on it, but it's in for repair at the moment (overuse of the USB port, lol) so I've had to use my old camera which hasn't picked up the colours quite as well as I'd like - it's  much more colourful in real life.  If it's back over the next couple of days, I'll update the photos.

I would also like to enter this into the following challenges:-

Moving Along With The Times - Garden or Flowers
Shelley's Images Blog - Pastels, Kraft & Flowers
Southern Girls Challenge - Get Your Girly On
Stampavie and More - Spring
Flourishes/Timeless Tuesday - Bingo (I've used the middle line across)

I hope you like it.

Maria x

For Those Special Things

Hi, another Friday night - best night of the week!  I haven't posted much over the last couple of weeks, or visited the blogs as I'd like, so I do apologise.  We're house hunting at the moment and it is taking up soooo much time.  I hope we find something soon.

This little creation has taken me all week, doing just a little each night.  As some of you know, my daughter is pregnant.  Well, she commented last week that next year will be her first Mother's Day, so I decided to make her a little surprise gift for this year.  I've created a few pockets here and there, so she has a special place to keep her scan photographs etc safe.  I've tried to theme it around her becoming a mother and having her own family.  Grab a coffee because there are a few photos!

The front and back covers are made from mountboard and the pages are made of doubled plain Kraft cardstock.  I have mounted printed & embossed Kraft cardstock onto the front and back covers, which has been spritzed with a home made mix of Walnut Ink and perfect pearls.  Tags have been used to show 2 of the 3 pockets in the photos.  Will try and get a good pic of the top pocket between pages 3 & 4 and add it later.

The Front Cover

 

Pages 2 & 3 - a photo can be slipped between p3 & 4, in the top,  for safekeeping

Pages 4 & 5

Pages 6 & 7

The Back Cover

Stamps used are The Stampsmith (from Portrait of a Lady), various Crafty Individuals ones, and Creative Expressions Vintage Sewing.  I've also used Websters Pages & Melissa Frances dps, and a whole mixture of other things, such as various Tim Holtz bits (button, ornate plate, salvage stickers, ticket), trim, flowers, distress ink, distress embossing powder, a button, sewing thread (around the cotton reels), dyed seam binding, and more!  All stamping has been done in Coffee archival ink. 

This is the first time I've made one of these, and I'm really happy with how it's turned out.

There are a few challenges I'd like to enter this into:

The Stampsmith have a theme of "Flip and Fold,  
The Stampman is looking for Vintage creations, and  
The Fashionable Stamping Challenge are playing Bingo (I have the bottom line across, 3rd line down, both diagonals, ).
My Mum's Craft Shop have a theme of Mum's The Word
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Shabby Chic / Vintage
Creative Card Crew - Vintage

I hope you like it.  Don't forget that Craft-Room Challenge have a Shabby Vintage theme at the moment, and Lets Ink It Up would like to see your flowers.

Have a great weekend!

Maria x

Love and Lace

Hi, I hope you are all nice and warm - the weather is freezing.  Roll on summer, and the hotter the better, as I hate winter!

Before I share my creation with you, I'd like to share some good news with you!  I'm going to be a nanna!   Yes, my daughter is having a baby, and is now at 14 weeks.  Now that I've got over the initial shock, I'm quite excited.  Until we know the sex, the baby has been nicknamed Smidge for the time being :-)

Now, I'd like to share with you my entry for The Stampsmith's current challenge of Love and Lace.  I love their images and as my o/h kindly bought me a couple of new plates for Xmas, I try to enter each month.

As you know, I do like my little wall hangings (really? I hear you say!) and that is exactly what I've made for this challenge:

The background took me ages to get right - I've covered a piece of mountboard with bare canvas (one of those little houses) and cut to size, then applied Metallic Rub-on Paste in Colonial (from Happy Daze) all over (I love this stuff!).  I've then stamped a large damask background stamp (Darkroom Door) over it in cream acrylic paint then dryed off with the heat gun.  You can't see the pattern very well in the pics but it's a lovely damask fabric look, and the subtle metallic gold comes through nicely.

Next, I covered a Tando chipboard frame with Viva Ferro Metal Effect Colour in Precious Steel Gold.  I then stamped the image in Timber Brown Stazon onto glossy card and cut around it - something I don't normally do - then layered onto some Melissa Frances dp, and attached the frame on top. I've then attached it all to the canvas covered mountboard using TH long fasterners, first threading them through two gold embellishments.

 

I've attached some beautiful antique gold metallic lace (Dunelm Mill) across the top and part way down, a vintage SU brad, and a cream tassle dangling from the point at the bottom.  I've hung it by some plain white cord coloured with an antique gold mica spray, and added "Amour", on some white card coloured with metallic rub on, in Distress EP.  

It took me a while to get the background and the frame right, but I love how it's turned out, and it's now hanging from my dimmer switch in the living room!

As the current theme over at Happy Daze is Love, using your favourite technique, I thought I'd enter my hanging, and also Crop Stop, who's current challenge is Wedding or Anniversary, and Let's Ink It Up who would like to see Ribbons and/or Lace.  The Stampman is looking for Texture in their current challenge so, with my canvas background and Viva Ferro, I will enter this as well.

Keep warm, and have a great weekend!

Maria x