A Nice Cup Of Tea

Good morning everyone and welcome to my post for our new challenge over at Make My Monday today which has a theme chosen by Jacqueline who would like to see your creations involving Food and Drink.
I decided on my favourite daytime tipple, a lovely cuppa as I need about 2 mugs full to get me going in the morning!
Here's what I made although it's a little more dainty than a mug!

I turned to my Kanban damask tea and coffee stamp set and stamped the cup on blue card with VersaFine Majestic Blue ink. I then cut the cup and saucer out.
I then stamped a Hero Arts flourish image on white card with VesaColor Sky Blue ink and die cut into a frilly panel with an X Cut die.
I embossed a panel of blue card with the Cuttlebug Victoria folder and stuck this to my square card blank.
I stamped the tea text from the stamp set directly on the die cut panel and added the cup then stuck this to the card to finish.

As you see, quite a simple creation for me and I hope you like it.
Have a great week.
Hugs,
Fliss xx

Take Time To Smell The Flowers

Hello everyone, hope you've all had a lovely sunny weekend and when this post pops up I shall be on my way to an interview so I hope you'll all wish me luck.
Today sees the start of a new challenge over at Make My Monday and this week your hostess is Suzi B who has chosen Lace And/Or Ribbon as the theme.
Here's my inspiration which has both as I found some absolutely gorgeous new ribbon had appeared in my local haberdashery shop and I couldn't resist the gorgeous one on my card which has roses embroidered on it.

I made my background with a piece of cardboard recycled packaging which I painted with several coats of ash rose acrylic paint and then stamped on my favourite Viva Decor flourish with smokey blue VersaColor ink.
I stamped the lovely profile portrait by Stampendous with Archival coffee ink and coloured with Promarkers. I trimmed the panel down and added it to a die cut kraft card panel (Papermania die).
I attached the background to a kraft card blank and added ribbon and lace before adhering the image panel. I then stamped the quote (Kanban) with the coffee ink and cut this out before adding to a kraft card mat (I think this quote is gorgeous and fits the image so beautifully).
I embellished the card with pearls and a layered flower with a pearly floral centre.

Have a great day and I'll be round to visit later.
Hugs, Fliss xx

Some challenges for my card:
Crafting When We Can - Punches And/Or Die Cuts
The Ribbon Girls - Add A Die Cut

La Belle Femme

Hello folks, hope you're all having a lovely weekend so far. I'm here today as I finally manged to finish off another wall hanging started a while back and just found the necessary time to assemble all the pieces.
It's a very feminine creation showcasing my love of all things French and one of my favourite B Line Designs stamps, Le Brun, that I've had for many years and could never part with.
Without further ado, here's what I made and I hope you like it.

My wall hanging started life as one of those ever useful shaped chipboard book pages by Papermania and I covered it with a piece of paper from my serendipity box which was made by sponging parchment paper with VersaMagic inks in Persimmon and Mango Madness and I then stamped on my beloved Tim Holtz flourish stamp with Pink Grapefruit.
Next, I stamped the Le Brun image on to white card with Memories Artprint Brown ink and coloured her with various Distress Stains. I cut her out around the top. left side and base of the images and added her to the side before trimming round the shaped edge of the chipboard shape.
I die cut my new Marianne Design Eiffel Tower die from cartridge paper, painted with Tea Dye Distress Stain and then swiped the raised portions with Vintage Photo Distress ink. I attached this to the panel with Ranger Glue 'n' Seal (I can recommend this as you can brush it of the back and then brush a little over the top after sticking on to make sure it's secure).
I stamped some of the flowers from Crafty Individuals CI - 206 Flower Heads Elements set with the brown ink and painted these with Distress Stains before cutting them out.
I added some lace and pearls to the panel and then attached the flowers with foam tape. I finished off with the stamped text (Kanban) and a gold foil butterfly. I then added some twisted pink ribbon through the holes at the top.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend.
Hugs, Fliss xx

Some challenges for my wall hanging:
Crafty Creations - Something Old, Something New (My image stamp is the old and Eiffel Tower the new)
Happy Campers - Use Lace (Thanks so much for picking my butterfly canvas for the Crafty Camper award - mwah!)
Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes
Try It On Tuesday - Feminine and Fancy

Flight Of Fancy

Hello there, I'm back with my second post today because as you may remember, I won the Stamping Sensations March challenge (and a lot of gorgeous Crafty Individuals stamps too - happy dance followed!) and Brenda invited me to be the Guest Designer for May. To my complete delight, the theme is Embossing and Texture and I'm sure you know how much I love that!
I decided to make a little wall hanging piece for my project as whilst rummaging for something else just over a week ago, I found some decorated paper I made a few years ago on the one day workshop with Kim Thittichai (of Hot Textiles fame) where we made papers using painted bondaweb and other things. This particular paper was begging to be featured on something a little more permanent than a card so this is how my wall hanging came about.

 
There are several pics so that you can see the detail. As you see, the background paper is quite strongly coloured. It has a painted background with added mulberry papers, scraps of iridescent fabric, stamping and gold leafing pen. The overall effect is more textured than you can see in the photos but you can probably get a good idea. I glued the panel to a square of recycled packaging grey board.
I decided on pastel colours for contrast and pale pink seemed to work best. I die cut the Tim Holtz Sissix Alterations bird cage from strong card and embossed with a mix of Ranger Weathered White and Fran-tage Shabby Pink Embossing Enamel and then rubbed the edges with Bronze Gilding Wax.
I stamped the bird (Kanban) with black ink and painted him with Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry and Peacock Feathers Distress Stains, then cut him out.
I die cut some flowers (Memory Box Petal Party) and some leafy sprigs (a very old Sizzix die) and coloured these with Distress inks and Versacolor inks. I layered the flowers up and added embroidered flowers to the centres.
I added these to my background as you see, finishing off with a stamped and inked sentiment (Inkylicious) and some more embroidered flowers (I cut these from some trim I bought from Paper Artsy a while back).

Thanks again to Brenda and the girls for picking my Tales of the Riverbank card as the winner - I was so thrilled to receive all those lovely stamps and will be making something with them very soon.
Hugs,
Fliss xx

Some challenges for my wall hanging:
Stampin' for the Weekend - Die Cuts And/Or Punches
Die Cuttin' Divas - Anything Goes
Inky Chicks - Shabby Chic

Nature Walk

Hello everyone, welcome especially to my lovely new followers, so glad to see you and will be over to visit as soon as I can.
My bad news saga is continuing unfortunately as my hubby has been borrowing my car because his is in the garage for a second day (dreading the bill!) and went outside this morning to find that some very nasty vandals had decided to pull out my poor car's wing mirrors in the night and they were dangling on each side by the wire connections. As you can imagine, there was quite a bit of blue air here for a while lol.
He did manage to fix them back in eventually after searching the internet for instructions and also had to postpone his scheduled appointment with a local vicar where he's church architect. He finally got there around an hour late! I'm just thankful he's handy with fixing things as I'm totally useless with stuff like that.
Anyway, enough drama and on to the cards I have to show you today which are from the last workshop I taught and I decided to post them as I saw the latest challenge at Top Tip Tuesday concerns stitching, Say It Isn't Sew! - Not Machine Stitching. My 2 cards both feature faux stitching which I have a tendency to make a bit wonky as my machine sewing would most definitely not be straight!

When we made these cards, the weather was rather dull so I decided on bright and cheery which I thought would work well with the silhouette images stamped in black.
Most of the papers I used are from a Basic Grey Ambrosia pack that's been in my stash for ages so I thought I should use it up. The first card has strips of coordinating papers attached to a piece of thin card and trimmed. I then stamped the trees (Kanban) with black ink giving them depth by stamping the centre image slightly lower. I then made holes round the panel edge with a pokey tool (Tim Holtz) and drew on the faux stitches with a fine black pen. I find if you let the pen run from one hole to the next, it looks much more realistic (one of my class ladies actually thought we were going to use a sewing machine much to her horror!).
I covered the card blank with some toning paper (Polka Doodles) having added faux stitching as before. I added a panel of grey card and a die cut sentiment decorated with pearls to finish.
The second card involved cutting the paper strips attached to the thin card in the opposite direction and then sticking them to further card using a variation of a bargello technique (my pattern only uses one side of the traditional design). I then stamped on the silhouette wildflower (The Stamp Fairy) and a butterfly free with a magazine with black ink. I added the panel to a blue mat.
I covered the card blank with paper I added rows of faux stitching too and added a further border with more faux stitching matted on blue (both papers are Polka Doodles). I finished off with a sentiment from the Kanban set.

Hope to see you all soon.
Fliss xx

A Rose For My Rose

Good morning folks, hoping you enjoyed the weekend which sure disappeared fast as Monday is here again!
We have a new challenge for you today over at Make My Monday and this week the hostess with the mostest is Caz who has chosen a colour theme of Pink and Black.
I have to admit that a tiny bit of green sneaked in on my creation as I couldn't leave the rose leaves completely pink lol. A bit too against nature for me although they do have a pink blush on them.

I wanted to make a fairly vintage style creation so my much loved woman with rose stamp (an elderly Rubber Stampede image) was inked up with black. I coloured the rose and the woman (who I have to admit reminds me of Billie Piper - strange the thoughts you get sometimes!) with pencils and watercolour pencils. I trimmed the image panel and added it to a pink mat then a larger black one and added the stamped sentiment under the image.
I made the background paper by sponging Tattered Rose Distress ink on a square of card then stamped on the Kanban rose with black ink and coloured this with pencils. I then stamped on some script (Hero Arts Old French Writing) with Victorian Velvet Distress ink.
I assembled the card as you see, finishing off with a Marianne Design die cut scalloped border, adding pearls to the flower centres.

Hoping that you have a great day. Mine involves VAT returns - ugh!
Hugs, Fliss xx

Some challenges for my card:
Creative Inspirations Paint - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz - Dies/Punches
Happy Campers - Use a Favourite Stamp

All At Sea For Thats Crafty

Hello folks, hoping you're all having a good week and had a lovely Valentines Day yesterday with hopefully a card from a loved one.
This is my first post of the day to tell you about the project I have over at the That's Crafty Blog today which is a very nautical card just right for any man in your life that likes the sea. You'll need to head on over to the blog for the complete view and a set of instructions on how I made it as it has a slightly unusual element.
Here's a sneak peek for you:

I'll be back a bit later on with my next post as it's Polka Doodles week this week and Team B has a new challenge for you.

See you later!
Fliss xx

Golden Peacock

Good morning folks, today's the day for the first Make My Monday challenge of 2013 and we have a bit of out with the old and in with the new as this year we decided to change from our monthly theme and take it in turns to choose the challenge themes each week instead.
This week, the hostess with the mostest is Suzi B and she would like to see your creations with

Dry Embossing

I'm sure you know how much I love texture so I really enjoyed making my inspiration for this challenge. My creation was inspired by an interior design magazine cover which featured some distressed frames with filigree ornaments including the most beautiful peacock. Cue rather a lot of gold embossing!

This was really hard to photograph and I had to get my hubby to do it in the end as my camera couldn't cope. The actual thing is rather better!

I stamped the peacock (from a Kanban set) 3 times with Versamark ink and embossed the images with gold detail powder. I cut out one whole image and parts of the others for a 3D effect and assembled the image with foam tape.

I embossed a scrap of decorated paper with a Papermania embossing folder and swiped the raised areas with a Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink pad. I added this to a mat of gold linen card and stuck the panel to a card blank.

I stamped the Hobby Art sentiment with Versamark ink and embossed with the gold powder then die cut with a Papermania die.

I'd like to say a huge thanks here for all your much appreciated good wishes and can say that I'm slowly getting there, still coughing but feeling a bit better every day so will hopefully be round to see you all very soon.

Hugs, Fliss xx

Vintage Fashion

Good morning folks, hope you all had a lovely weekend. Mine was rather busy as we had my parents in law's celebration for their Diamond Wedding Anniversary which will shortly be taking place and we all went out for a family lunch as my mother in law hasn't been too good health wise lately.
I'm here today with my DT contribution for the first challenge at Make My Monday after our August break. The September theme is Vintage chosen by team mate Val (I'm sure you know how much I love this!) and this week the theme is Vintage Fashion.

The lovely image I used is a stamp by Kanban and was stamped with Archival Coffee ink on white card then sponged with Antique Linen Distress ink before adding colour with Promarkers. I then cut the panel out with deckle scissors and added Vintage Photo DI round the edges. I attached the panel to a die cut mat of burgundy card.
I made my background paper with Victorian Velvet, Crushed Olive and Frayed Burlap Distress inks using the Julia Andrus mottled paper technique and then stamped on the rose corner design by Viva Decor with Memories Delicate Rose Chalk ink. I then added a little colour with a pink Promarker and the lettuce Adirondack marker.
I added the paper to a kraft card 8x8 blank and then embellished with a die cut corner (Marianne Design Anja), a scrap of doily from my bits box inked with Antique Linen and a stamped B Line Design butterfly coloured with Crushed Olive Distress ink.

I know I'm going to love the challenges this month as I so love vintage and it was a real breath of fresh air for me to create something which is totally stamped. The Design Team have made some lovely creations to inspire you and I can't wait to see your entries.

Have a great week,
Fliss xx

Some great challenges:
Simply Create Too - So Old/Vintage
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Vintage
I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Stitched With Love

Hello folks, I'm here at this early hour (scheduled tee hee as not up!) to wish Fashionable Stamping Challenges a very Happy First Birthday. I can't believe it's now a year since the challenges begun so it's true that time flies when you're having fun!
To celebrate our challenge theme for the fortnight is Anything Goes and I actually found this more difficult than having a set theme. However, I was looking for something the other day and came across a background I made a few months ago and inspiration struck.
Here's the result which is an altered shadow box.

The background I made uses a technique I learnt several years ago from the lovely ladies of Magenta and it gives a look similar to Florentine Bargello embroidery. I made strips of decorated paper using Distress inks (too many to list here!) and then stamped on them with more Distress inks and various floral, leaf and dot design stamps. I then assembled the strips into the pattern you see and added stamped splatters for an aged effect. The design was inspired by a patchwork quilt I saw.
I then painted a grungeboard flourish with orange acrylic paint and stamped on a grid design with Stazon Pumpkin ink. I die cut a Tim Holtz dress form from kraft card and stamped a Kanban lace design on the body section with Archival Coffee ink. I dry embossed some ridges for definition and inked with umber ink.
I die cut a shaped mat for the dress form with the Tim Holtz baroque die and Sissix Tim Holtz Kraft Core card. I embossed the shape with a Sissix rose folder and then sanded some of the raised areas to expose the kraft core.
I stamped 3 lace corners (Personal Impressions) on white card with the coffee ink and then inked these with Antique Linen Distress ink and cut them out. I stamped the text (Creative Expressions) on kraft card and die cut this with a Papermania label die.
I painted the box frame with avocado acrylic paint and then stamped with a button border and green ink.
I assembled it as you see embellishing with various buttons, pearls and a ribbon flower. I was aiming at a rather retro/vintage look so hope you think I've achieved it here.

The entries for the messy and inky challenge were amazing and we can't wait to see what you come up with for this one. Don't forget to stamp though, as this is what our challenges are all about. You also should check out the Design Team inspiration as my DT sisters have made some stunning creations.
Have a great Sunday.
Hugs, Fliss xx

Challenges for my altered shadow box:
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Hey Girl (inspired by my fashion designing daughter)
It's All About Vintage - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Sarah Hurley Challenge - Alter Something
Crafty Creations - Buttons

All At Sea

Happy Easter Sunday folks and hoping that you're all having a lovely Easter break.
We have a new challenge for you today over at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and this time we're all at sea as the theme for the fortnight is Nautical. A great theme with lots of scope as you'll see if you hop over to the challenge blog where the fashionable teamies have some very varied and amazing creations for your inspiration.
My card is quite a simple one which I made for my brother in law's recent birthday and in common with most of the men in my hubby's family, David loves all things nautical. He loved his card so without further ado, here it is:

I've used a lovely nautical set by Kanban for my card as I was drawn to the lovely lighthouse scene which I can see coming in useful for lots of different cards.
I stamped the scene with Archival Coffee ink (my new favourite brown) and added colour with various Distress inks, pencils and Promarkers. I cut the scene out with a circle die and inked the edges.
I made the background paper by sponging with Tumbled Glass and Broken China Distress inks then swiped the lighter ink pad on for a watery effect. I added a touch of green using the sponge from my earlier inking.
I then stamped the compass and anchor in the corners and added a little colour with Promarkers. To finish I stamped the seagull with the coffee ink, cut him out and added a touch of colour with Promarkers.

Challenges for my card:
Little Darlings Challenges - Outside
Pixie Dust Studio - Up In The Sky (Clouds, Sky, Rainbows, Sunshine)
Scrap It With A Song - Here Comes The Sun (I'm thinking seaside and summer here)
Joanna Sheen - It's A Man's World

Please don't forget that your creations must include stamping and that no digis are allowed.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Fliss xx

Blossom Time

Well, I'm back again with my second post for the day which is still very sunny and warm so I thought I'd show you this before setting off for a walk along the seafront.
The card is one of the samples from a class I taught on Monday and I decided to put it on here as it fits several challenges.

The class involved making cards with a cut away front around a stamped images with a further piece of the decorated paper added to the inside of the card.
For this one I stamped the bird cage from the new Papermania set in VersaFine Vintage Sepia ink a third of the way in from the right hand edge of a white 14.5cm square card blank.
I stamped the flowers from the Kanban Peacock set in Memento Lilac Posies and Bamboo Leaves around the card and on a strip of leftover white card. I sponged on Split Pea and Orchid VersaColor inks.
I then stamped a bird from the Papermania set in the sepia ink, coloured it with various Promarkers and cut it out. Serendipity then struck as whilst I was making the card, my younger daughter who was doing some baking interrupted me and I dropped the card blank on top of an open ink pad! Disaster was averted by cutting off the front part of the card, trimming down the side of the cage as intended and sticking the piece on a pink card blank. The other decorated strip was punched with a Martha Stewart border and stuck to the inside of the card blank.
I finished off with some tiny butterflies punched from inked paper and stamped a sentiment from the Papermania set on the cage.

I'm entering my card in the following challenges:
Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday - Birds/Butterflies
Paper Pretties - Pink, Green and Neutral
Paper Shelter - Nature Inspired
Paper Play - Easter or Spring

Thanks for looking,
Fliss xx