A huge honour

I was thrilled when Rachel Greig of Darkroom Door fame contacted me earlier in the month, and asked me if I'd be guest designer for the drd blog. Rachel asked me to feature the new Music Collection, seeing as I'm a musician. I think you'll agree that the whole collection is marvellous - such a wonderful range of stamps and accessories. The only problem was deciding which of the many ideas I had to use!

These are the projects I made for her. All the details of the making of them are described on her blog, but materials are listed here.

1) A pair of atcs
I stamped the images several times, and cut out desired sections to build up a collage.



2) An orchestral rehearsal card
The image for this card came from Nancy Dooren's blog - thank you, Nancy! The instruments were stamped onto shrink plastic, and heat shrunk.



3) Pencil box
I bought this box in a sale for 49p, and customised it for my music highlighter pens. I forgot to photograph the other side of the box, which uses 2 more quotes.


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Stamps: Darkroom Door Melody, Harmony and Chorus

Inks : 1) DI Scattered Straw and Antique Linen; Adirondack Willow and Lettuce; Archival Black
2) Brilliance Coffee Bean; DI Tattered Rose and Walnut Stain
3) Adirondack Dabbers Snow Cap, Cloudy Blue and Purple Twilight; Archival Black; DI Milled Lavender and Dusty Concord; Adirondack Pink Sherbert and Wild Plum

Extras : Shrink Plastic; MM Copper Eyelets; PM Large Eyelet; Beads from my collection; Vellum;Vintage Image; Wooden box; DRD Wordstrip Music and pp Legato; Perfect Pearls gold

Bloom tag

The Tag You're It challenge this week is to use a given sketch. I omitted to use an embellishment on the oval as I thought it detracted from the image.

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Stamps : Delarte Leo's Plate

Inks : Archival Black; watercolour pencils; VersaColor Split Pea

Extras : BB green card; PP by Basic Grey; Rick Rack; Red Brads; R&L Alpha RubOns; Purple Ribbon; PM large eyelet

Blowing Bubbles

I've combined 2 challenges here. The Lots to Do theme is vintage, and the Gothic Arch site has an open theme.

I dyed the vintage ribbon with the Dusty Concord ink , which matched better than the original colour. To create the random bubbles I stamped using a pen lid. I would have liked to use a metal embellishment at the top, but had to make do with stamping.

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Stamps : Paper Artsy Frames 4; Lakeland Ltd Ornate set

Inks : DI Dusty Concord

Extras : PP unknown; vintage lace; Prima Flower; Purple Brad; Image from Chicks57

Fly Away box

My eldest child Alice, flew the nest yesterday. She's gone to Keele university to study Music and English. She texted this morning to say that she'd had a free buffet at the Christian Union, and was going to a lunch at the chapel today after the morning service. No doubt she won't starve then! So my project here is based on flying away.

I altered this chipboard box for the Saturday Workout challenge of altered stuff. The box has sat in a drawer for about 10 years as I didn't know what to do with it. I could quite happily alter more. I think it probably needs a coat of varnish for protection.

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Stamps : Time to Stamp For the Birds and Feathered Friends; Paper Artsy Wings 2

Inks : Adirondack Dabber Cloudy Blue; VersaMagic Sea Breeze, Aegean Blue, Night Sky and Key Lime

Extras : Chipboard Box

Mini blooms

I thought I'd join in with the 2nd Awfully Big Art Adventure challenge which is to make your own album in a matchbox. I made a little book of flowers to go inside, which was assembled with a ribbon after I took the first photo. The matchbox measures 1 1/4 x 2 inches.

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Stamps : Stampington Fresh Flowers Elements and Butterfly Girl; RSTapestry Leaves; Paper Artsy Backgrounds 2 and Petals 6

Inks : Adirondack Mountain Rose, Aqua and Sail Boat Blue; Archival Black

Extras : Sequin Waste; MM eyelets; Sheet Ribbon

Swedish Collage

This is the title of the challenge from Starving Artistamps, which pushed me out of the box a little as far as my daughter is concerned. She wanted a card for a friend that was 'pretty, not your normal stuff'. I hope this fits the bill for her!


The card had to:

1) be square
2) include chipboard letters and buttons
3) be colourful
4) include a bold mix of patterned papers

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Stamps : SU! Time Well Spent

Inks : VersaMagic Pixie Dust; Derwent watercolour pencils; Archival Black; DI Walnut Stain

Extras : Prima Flower; PP by Crate Paper; PM Button; Sheer Ribbon; BG Letter Stickers; Fiskars edging punch; Blender Pen

Measuring butterflies

The Theme Thursday challenge is numbers. Here's my contribution. Although you can't see it here, the butterfly wings are raised.

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Stamps : Crafty Individuals 116 (crackle) and 173 (flourish); Paper Artsy Petals 6; Stampington Venezia Correspondence

Inks : DI Scattered Straw, Aged Mahogany and Black Soot; Archival Black

Extras : Water spritzer

Yesterday is History

The Created byHand theme is Dragonflies. I'm afraid I couldn't get this atc to scan very well in focus because of the brads.

How do other people get their acetate to lie flat?
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Stamps : Clarity Stamps Yesterday is History; freebie dragonfly from Simply Stamping magazine

Inks : Alcohol Inks Eggplant, Denim and Stonewashed; Arcival Black; Adirondack Dabber Eggplant; Versamark

Extras : Eggplant Brads; Glossy Card; Detail Silver EP; Acetate

Brief Encounter

The Gothic Arches theme this week is your favourite movie.


I don't really have one, so I chose Steve's. Yesterday I had no inspiration at all, except the image. Can you believe the coincidence of a postcard of a scene from the movie arriving this morning from a friend who's on holiday and went to see the train station where this film was shot? It's also his fav film! That set in motion my arch. (sorry about the terrible pun!)

If you haven't seen it, you must. It's a great British Classic. I've now got the Rachmaninov piano concerto no2 running through my head - wonderful!

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Stamps : Tim Holtz Staples; Darkroom Door Melody; Crafty Individuals 22; Stampington Checkerboard

Inks : DI Weathered Wood and Black Soot; StazOn Black; Adirondack Slate

Extras : Darkroom Door FilmStrip edges; Junior Dymo labeller

So thoughtful

The Lots to Do theme today is red and white. I find this a very hard combination, so therefore a hard challenge.
I used a sketch from 2Peas, and in addition used patterned paper, eyelets and ribbon from my stash.

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Stamps : HA Heartfelt Messages; Stampington Butterfly Girl

Inks : Adirondack Cranberry and Red Pepper

Extras : PP by Crate paper and Imaginisce; MM Eyelet; Waxy Flax Cherry

Pinned back flaps

The Saturday Workout challenge is called Fold It. I've used a design from Quietfire Designers, and you can find the instructions here. They were easy to follow, and quick to make.

The central panels within the flaps are stuck on to the inside of the card, thus creating a window.
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Stamps : Darkroom Door Chorus

Inks : VersaMagic Hint of Pesto; Adirondack Dabbers Lemonade and Purple Twilight

Extras : Yellow Brads; BB Purple card; PP by K&Co

Friends

I've made this for Godelieve, for being extremely kind to me - I'll post her card in the swaps and raks feature on the right later in the week.


This card fulfils the Friends 4x4 challenge set by Theme Thursday.

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Stamps : Crafty Individuals 84; HA Friends and A Real Flower Drooping

Inks : Sticky Fingers sprays Aqua and Bluebell; DI Refill Broken China; Archival Black; VersaColor Cyan and Lagoon; Adirondack Stream; DI Black Soot

Extras : Perfect Pearls Gold

Salutation

Another new site has popped up and you can find it here: Awfully Big Art Adventure. Their first challenge is on the theme of shrines. I'm so pleased to use this shrine stamp, which has been waiting for such an occasion. The image comes from art-e-cats, and is part of a picture called Angelic Salutation.
I hope you don't mind me patting myself on the back, as the outer border stamp is only small, and I had to keep lining it up and restamping. Amazingly it met when I returned to the starting point!

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Stamps : Invoke Arts Shrine Frames; Elusive Images Scripts and Timepieces

Inks : DI Weathered Wood, Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick and Walnut Stain; StazOn Olive Green; Adirondack Cranberry; Versamark

Extras : Detail Gold EP; Image

Dream

I've been MIA for a few days, but don't worry - I have been crafting. Just things I can't show you yet. All will be revealed later in the month.

Today, however, I'll try and catch up on a few things; so here is the word Dream for the Tag You're It challenge. I discovered a top tip somewhere: if you don't have a cuttlebug machine (which I don't) you can emboss paper in the folders by using a rolling pin. Et voila!

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Stamps : Paper Artsy One Penny 2; Invoke Arts Backgrounds; SU! Dream

Inks : Archival Black; DI Scattered Straw, Pine Needles and Antique Linen; Adirondack Mountain Lake

Extras : Cuttlebug folder Rough Diamonds; MM Eyelet; Sheer Ribbon

Well, stone the crows!

The Created ByHand theme this week is crows. I'm hoping this will pass for a crow, although some of you might shake your head and say it's something else. Perhaps a bird enthusiast will enlighten me!

I used the 'kiss' technique for the bird: inking up the bird, then stamping it onto a swirl stamp, then stamping it here. The swirl effect can be seen on the upper half of the bird, and amazingly gives it an eye!

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Stamps : Time to Stamp ATC sets 1 & 2, and Birds of a Feather; Stampington Fresh Flowers Elements

Inks : Adirondack Lettuce and Denim; Adirondack Dabber Snow Cap

4 x 4

4 x 4 is the size of my entry for the Lots to Do challenge on numbers. I coloured the clear button with alcohol ink.

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Stamps: Crafty Individuals 72

Inks : DI Mustard Seed and Fired Brick; Archival Black; Alcohol Ink Cranberry

Extras : Junior Dymo machine; Paper Cellar Clear Button; BB red card

Timely stitching

The Gothic Arches theme for this week is Time.

I'm so glad the stamped clock shows up, as you have to turn the arch around in real life to get the effect of the gold. What you can't see, though, is the shine of the metallic thread.

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Stamps : Time to Stamp Vintage Sewing; BLine Tick Tock; See D's Ancient Alphabet

Inks : Brilliance Coffee Bean and Galaxy Gold; DI Antique Linen and Tea Dye

Extras : Madeira Copper thread; Vintage Buttons; Glossy Card

Pen and ink

The Saturday Workout challenge has an open theme on using your favourite technique. As I have many it was difficult to choose, but finally settled on a couple: homemade glimmer mist spritzing, and gesso. I also love stamping and making my own backgrounds - to be found here as well! (Am I allowed 4?!)

To make the backgrounds I spread around some gesso, blended the dabbers with a babywipe, stamped, and spritzed.

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Stamps : Paper Artsy Schooldays 1, Letters 5 and Travel 4; Invoke Arts Pens and Nibs

Inks : Adirondack Dabber Stream, Pool, Snow Cap, Sunshine Yellow and Lemonade; Archival Black; StazOn Saddle Brown;

Extras : Perfect Pearls 'Pearl'; Brads; Gesso

Lady from the Orient

This is a card I made using the 2Peas Sept #2 sketch.

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Stamps : Simple Expressions The Orient

Inks : VersaColor Old Rose and Topaz; DI Antique Linen

Extras : DCWV Far East Mat Stack; Sheer Ribbon; MM Eyelets

A warm hello

The Tag You're It challenge this week is monochrome. As you can see I opted for pink! That makes 4 pink entries in a row - will have to get out some different colours tomorrow!

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Stamps: HA Friendly Greetings set; Paper Artsy SI mini 23

Inks : Adirondack ColorWash and ink in Wild Plum; Sticky Fingers Spray Pink; DI refill Milled Lavender; VersaMagic Pixie Dust

Extras : Perfect Pearls 'Pearl'; SGme Clear EP; Various Brads; fibres; PP by Fancy Pants; PM eyelet

Joy

Pink and Green is the colour scheme chosen by the Created ByHand site this week.

Pink seems to be the 'in' colour at the moment, featuring on several challenges. Not that I'm complaining! I love the colour. I've had this ribbon for a long time, and not known what to do with it. The circles are pink and white (not that obvious on my screen!). This was the starting point of the card.


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Stamps : Paper Artsy xmas 1; HA Treasure the Moments

Inks : Adirondack Willow, Meadow and Pink Sherbert; VersaMagic Hint of Pesto; DI Refill Milled Lavender

Extras : Prima Flowers; Dotty Ribbon; Vintage Button; Perfect pearls 'Pearl'; DCWV pink and green card

Purple skinny

This is a skinny I made for a forum swap, which was to use distress inks or reinkers. I've used both - as sponged ink, and made up into glimmer spray.

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Stamps : Paer Artsy Schooldays 1; Tim Holtz Flourish; Hampton Arts Imagine

Inks : DI Dusty Concord, Tattered Rose and Worn Lipstick; Versamark; Archival Black; DI refill Milled Lavender

Extras : SGme Clear EP; Perfect Pearls gold

All I want is a room somewhere

The Gothic Arches theme for this week is called Pretty in pink. In the process of clearing a cupboard at school I found the music for My Fair Lady, which inspired this arch. This image seemed just right for Eliza Doolittle.
Now that I've discovered how to let you enlarge my images, you can see the glimmer in all its glory! If you've experienced the same problem, let me know and I'll share the process with you.


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Stamps: Tim Holtz Nature's Moments

Inks : Adirondack Colorwash spray Wild Plum; Sticky Fingers Pink; Adirondack Slate and Wild Plum

Extras : Perfect Pearls Bronze; Image from Tuscan Rose 3 CD; Sequin Waste; Dymo Letratag machine

Knock knock...

I participated in an atc swap with DarkRoom Door, using one of their stamps. This is my contribution.

Below are the swaps I received from (in descending order) Janet Hamblin, Heather Askitis, Evonne Reidy Ireland, Kaeran Sutherland, Vicky Fernando, Sephi Kemp, Robyn Wood and Helen Brown.


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Stamps : DarkRoomDoor Doors set

Inks :Adirondack Lettuce and Denim; DI Vintage Photo and Antique Linen; Refill Tea Dye; Archival Black

Extras : Junior Dymo Labeller; Paper Cellar Pearl Circles; Corner Punch; Sticky Fixers; Spritzer

Paper tree

I have combined 2 challenges in this card. The Saturday Workout theme is to use a serviette or napkin on your work. As we only had plain white, or Christmas serviettes, I decided to go for the latter, and cut out a single tree. I opted for non-traditional colours, but hope I've maintained a festive feel to the card. The tissue paper was flimsy, so I cut out a frame to place on top.

The Lots do Do challenge was to use the following recipe:
2 buttons, 1 Brad, striped paper, ribbon, and some stamping.
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Stamps : Paper Artsy Free mini

Inks : DI Tea Dye, Fired Brick, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain; Versamark

Extras : PM Buttons; Star Brad from an RAK; Detail Gold EP; Space Dyed Ribbon; PP by Fancy Pants; Serviette

Guitar man

The 4x4 Friday challenge is to use stencils. I sprayed the background and then stenciled on top. This is just one of the patterns on my stencil sheet.

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Stamps : Paper Artsy Stagelights 3

Inks : Sticky Fingers Sprays Bluebell and Aqua; DI refill Milled Lavender; Adirondack Stream

Extras :Perfect pearls 'Pearl'; Purple Brads; Jade card; Funky Swirl Stencil from The Crafter's Workshop

Just clowning around

I made this atc for a challenge on a new site for me - Inkurable Stampers. Isn't that a fab name - just about sums me up! The theme is men. This is also the theme for a swap on LtD forum.

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Stamps : Paper Artsy Pierrot 1 and Mini 23

Inks : DI Spiced marmalade, Fired Brick, Mustard seed and Dried Marigold; Archival Black; Versamark

Extras : Detail Gold EP; Red Brads

A Sitch in time...

Do you ever have one of those days when everything goes wrong? It did on this tag for the Tag You're It theme of Needle and thread. This is about my 5th attempt! The sewing machine kept snagging the threads, and the ink on the vellum kept smudging. Grrr!
I've punched flowers from a scrap of pelmet vilene I dyed many years ago. I'll make another 2 for the tag swap on LtD forum.

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Stamps : Time to Stamp Vintage Sewing set

Inks : Adirondack Rust and Peach Bellini; Archival Black

Extras : Pelmet Vilene; Space Dyed ribbon by Oliver Twists; MM Gold Eyelets; Vellum; YLI Thread Mango; Flower Punch; Sewing machine

Cup collection

I made this set of three 4x4s for a challenge on Lots do Do forum, entitled Coffee and Cream. No doubt this referred to the colours, but it was a good opportunity to use some neglected stamps.

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Stamps : Stampington Cup Collections and The Letter C

Inks : Anna Griffin Chocolate; DI Walnut Stain; Watercolour pencils

Extras : Prima Flowers; Blender pen; Brown Ribbon; Copper Brads; PP by Fancy Pants

Delicate butterfly

I did warn you all a couple of posts ago that I'd gone back into butterfly mode - here's another one! Made for the Pink and Brown challenge by Created byHand.

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Stamps : Paper Artsy Backgrounds 2 and Petals 6; Hero Arts Fanciful Flourishes

Inks : DI Worn Lipstick, Tatteres Rose, Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Aged Mahogany and Vintage Photo; VersaColor Cocoa and Old Rose

Extras : Butterfly image from Crafty Individuals Butterflies and Flowers pad

Facade

The TMTA challenge this week is architecture. I love this sketch and text by Da Vinci. The scan hasn't picked up the stone-like effect of the blue background, which was spritzed with water.

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Stamps : Stampington Facade; Invoke Arts Backgrounds

Inks : Adirondack Aqua, Denim and Ginger; DI Tea Dye, Antique Linen, Faded Jeans and Weathered Wood.

Extras : MM ribbon and brads