Sunday Stamper - Week 255 - Blue Jay Way

Gooodly Morning Stampers and a very happy Sunday to you all.  Many thanks for you fabby entries to last weeks challenge... and welcome to the new peeps joining in too :O))   This week the theme is a nice and easy one... simply... use BLUE in your creation.   To join in with the challenge is simples: make a little something, it can be anything you fancy.  Add in the theme and some stamping and then pop back here to leave me a link to the place you are showing your entry.  If  you haven't got a blog/web-photo-hosty thing, you can also join in via Facebook or by popping an email over to me.  The challenge will remain open until 21:00 Saturday 4th May 2013.

My entry this week is a true blue creation.  My latest lurves are the new Distress Paints... oh and am I lurving them lots.  Not only do they have the properties of the Distress range, they are also super smooth and silky and are perfect for the paint scraping technique... which is exactly what I did with this tag.  I started off scraping on Antique Linen, gave it a zap with a heat tool and then scraped on Weathered Wood... another zap with the heat tool and then a nice layer of Broken China... whatever did I do before Broken China huh?  And then to break up the blue a bit, I added in some Forest Moss DP too.  To tie the whole background together, I added in teensy smidges of Black Soot DP, this provides a platform for the stamping and embellishing.

The main embellie is an Art Part flower, coloured with Broken China and then I dabbed the very edges of the petals with Black Soot... and then used the corresponding stamp, Jet Black Archival Ink to do the stamping and then popped a smidge of Glossy Accents into the centre.  The sentiment is another fabby Studio 490 stamp, I looooves this one... it is on Heirloom Art btw.  I stamped the whole flower onto the tag and painted the leaves and stem in with Forest Moss DP and a teensy paintbrush.  This kind of covered up the stamped bit, so I used an Archival Fine Liner and drew in the stamped  bit.   The butterfly is my fave butterfly ever, from the Art For You 490 set... I popped some bookpage onto Blackout Clearly For Art and coloured him with Tumbled Glass DI.   Adding a ribbon, some floral trim and some Baubles finished the tag off.

I have been having a lovely weekend... I have been at Birds in the Barn in Essex for two days and today I am heading off to Lincolnshire to a Dabble Day at Jo Channon's Let's Create... so I best get a wigglypiggly on and get myself to bed... Thanks for looking, have a fabby Sunday! TTFN

Hels x

Errrrrm... Purple?

... I know! No wonder I have a poorly peeper, tis all this bright colour!  Aha... actually, I made this before said poorly peeper (more of that in a mo)  This is another of my many many demo tags from Ally Pally and this one was a challenge issued forth by a young chap who said "use that Seedless Preserves colour.... and black!"   ... *GULP*  "Gee thanks Mr.... hahahaaa..."   But, always one to step up for a challenge I went for it.   I did cheat a smidgeywidgey bit because I added in Antique Linen into a painty smoosh on the craft sheet... only to break up the Seedless Preserves mind... to add a little extra dimension you know.  

After dipping the tag and drying it, then dipping it again and drying again, I got a bit over excited and decided to "splat" the Paints... if you prime them onto your craft sheet so the sponge is lovely and juicy, you can make them splat loverly like.  Next  I set about making some almost jam-like Studio 490 White Embossing Paste, mixed with Seedless Preserves.... corrrrrr.... lush....   I used my fave flower Stencils for Art, spreading the Embossing Paste thru the stencil and adding some extra dimension to the paste by using my spatula to "peak" the paste.  To add some depth to the paste, once it was set, I used a piece of Cut & Dry with some Black Soot DP on it to blend over the peaks and then to add some stencilled dots... the word WISH was made using another new wordy Stencils For Art.

So. The poorly peeper.  Well, it felt better, so I resumed lense wearing... and then it got hurty again...so I am now sporting my specatics... in public!  They are driving me stark staring bonkers you know.  I takes my hat off to everyone who wears their specs all the time.. you must all have the patience of a saint!   So far I have managed to get them tangled in my hair, I have got food on them (!!!) and Treasure Gold... oh yesh, they are blingtastic now.  I am going to try and get an appt with the old Optician on Monday... there seems to be some kind of lurgy lurking in there... eeewwww!   With that delightful image, I shall bid you a goodly day... Thanks for looking... TTFN!

Hels x

The Mouse Dispenser...

... oh ho!  AlfieCat has been up to tricks again... more of that in a mo though... first let me show you a demo tag I did whilst at Ally Pally a few weekends ago.  I was demoing the fabby new Distress Paints and my fave Studio 490 goodies.  Now, followers of old will know exactly how I struggle with that l'il ol' thang called... colour!  Oh yesh, I shy away from it, I live in my comfort zone of blues, browns and greens... and occasionally foray into realm of pinkyness but never do I usually go for oranges and reds.  Well, a lovely lady had come along to see me demo and said "can you do something in the reds and oranges?"  So I said "*gulp* Yep, sure can.... "  (whilst breaking out in a light covering of dew)  Anyways... this here tag is the result.

The paints used are Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Barn Door.  I know! Bright!  I smooshed the paints onto the craft sheet, dipped the tag and then spritzed with water... I should have spritzed first as the colour is just *that* side of heavy.  The jug was covered with Rock Candy Crackle and once dried, I used Picket Fence and Black Soot, dabbed over the top and then blended with my finger to make it go a grey colour.  The crackles look fab and aren't showing up much on the pics.  I then overstamped the jug with the co-ordinating stamp using Jet Black Archival ink.  The rose is also an Art Part, painted and then stamped and stamped underneath too so I have the stem and leaves showing.  A smidge of stencilling with Forest Moss and the new leafy Stencils for Art and voila, one... ahem... very bright tag!

Anyways... AlfieCat!  So, he went out yesterday morning and was sitting staring at the drainpipe that is on the end of the house.  Huh?  WeirdoCat more like.  About an hour later, I went out and saw him sitting in exactly the same place... still staring at the drainpipe.  So I gets down on my hands and knees and stares at the drainpipe too. Nope, not a sausage can I see, so I call him a "div" and go back inside.  Any road, half an hour later, I go out again (I was doing *chores* emptying bins etc, I don't make a habit of being in and out all day lol)  And he was still there.  Still staring at the chuffing drainpipe!!!  So, once again I got down on my hands and knees (not a pretty sight, nor an easy feat with this ol' war wound) and then I heard something!!!  A little scrabbling scratchy noise!  So, I lifted up the bottom of the pipe and out comes some leaves and some moss... and... POUNCE.. goes the not so WeirdoCat Alf... he has got his prize... a mouse!!!  So, actually, I owe Alf an apology... he was waiting for over two hours in total to get that... well, I tried to grab said mousingtons off him but he did that daft cat dance thing again and beggared off down the garden.  An hour later he is in my Room of Stash... with the (now deceased...) ex-mouse.  I hear that apparently if they bring you a mouse it means they loves ya... well, yep, Alf must love his Mummy cos that sure ain't the first time he has done that.  Clever boy *she says proudly*  Right, I shall loves ya and leaves ya... Thanks for looking, have a fabby day!  TTFN

Hels x

And... The Winner Is...

...cor blimey!  Tis winner's day again today and, firstly, thank you for the mahooosive 70 comments left for me... wow, I am so chuffty tuffty! Thank you!  So, I fed the data into Random.Org (get me, feeding data, makes me sound like I am a whizz with all things computery lol)  And this is the answer he gave me:

Which tallies with the comment left by Tracy Heaton. Congrats to Tracy and please can you send me your addy by email so I can pop your pressie into the post!    

A quick update on the old poorly peeper... still poorly!  Not quite sure what I have done, well, I didn't actually do anything, it just got reallllly sore... so I am confined to specs again and am getting used to them, well, a bit used to them lol  
Anyways, let me tell you about what AlfieCat did last night!  He is a little monkey indeedily... leading Mummy down the garden path!  So, we got home from our meal out (which was scrummy btw and we were all very saintly and declined pudding!) and Alf is expecting his supperingtons.  Which I was going to give him but first I needed to take some meds and have a crafty you know what out of the back door.  Now, Alf is allowed out during the day but not after dark because he turns into a lunatic and goes off for hours on end.  Well, I was wearing a new hair accessory... namely a big bundle of blue feathers... and when I took it off Alf was making out he was wanting to nick it, so I clipped it onto his collar... and in return for my jazzing up his outfit, he beggared off into the garden, danced about a bit (you know that daft cat-dance thing when they are wearing something that annoys them?)  and then he ran down the garden path to his little Alfie Hole in the fence (years ago, when we had the new fence installed, we got the nice Fence Man to cut a hole in it so Alf can get through to the Spinney and go mousing - see we are good parents like that...)  Anyways... after calling him, trying to see him (remember, I am partially sighted with my broken eye) I gave up, turned the catflap to open only and went to sit down... Then I remembered he hadn't had his supperingtons so I grabbed his bowl and a fork and rattled them outside the back door... my neighbours love me you know :O))   Well, there he is, hurtling up the garden path, sans fancy feathery hair accessory... or so I thought.  What had actually happened was it had spun around on his collar and was now under his chin.  He looked SO cute, blue is SO his colour!  Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of it, so I shall spend today trying to recreate it and try and get a piccie to share with you.... but he did get extra treats last night because he came home for Mummy, meaning I didn't have to sit by the back door all night worrying about him and waiting for him to put in an appearance (yes, been there, done that... several times... much to Grim's surprise as he keeps reminding me "he is a cat, he likes the dark... "  Well, I am an anxious Mummy...)   Right, enough of my wafflings, I shall away, I have cats to accessorize and work to be done!  Thanks for looking.. have a grand day!  TTFN

Hels x

PS... just a heads up - I have been given some more dates for Melt Art shows on Create & Craft, as it stands it will be 9th May at 12pm and 4pm but that could change so I will keep you informed :O))

J'Adore... La Grunge Paste...

...okay, okay, so French sure ain't my strong point... actually, don't tell anyone will you but... when I took my French O Level, I got... ahem... *whispers* a U grade!!!!  I know!!!  C'est terribles.  Mainly because the French teacher was a bit of an old bat and being as I was a whole 15 years old and thought I knew it all... well, the rest, as they say, is l'histoire (enough of the Francais now right....)  Anyways... why I am speaking French is beyond me, I truly think I am losing the plot... but the thing is, whenever I see the Adore Adage Ticket, I always speak it in a French accent.  Ok, so the accent sounds a smidge like the Gendarme from 'Allo 'Allo but what else can you expect from a French flunkie? 

And the second part of the title... Grunge Paste... WOW! Have  you tried this yet?  Oh deary me, I see a brand new addiction forming right now.  Paper Artsy have worked their magic again and brought out this new texture paste that is, for want of a better word... LUSH.  It is creamy and chalky and dries perfectly and quickly.  I picked up a pot when I was at Ally Pally a few weekends ago and last night was the first chance I had to have a play.  I mixed a spatula of it with Blood Orange Fresco Paint and spread it onto my papier mache board thru a Crafters' Workshop Stencil.  And then gave it a wee zap with a heat tool... mmm, loooove the effect.

Next I got all excitable and remembered that Leandra said you could mix it with Puff Paint... so I did that and bopped some of that onto the papier mache base with a different CW stencil... and dried with a heat tool... wow, puffywuffy indeedily!   The base of the papier mache hanging jobby had been prepped with a mix of Nougat and Chocolate Pud Fresco Paint, I added smidges of torn book pages and then once the stencilling was dried, I added a slap of Rock Candy Cracklepaint so I had a lovely background.

Once all that was dried, I lightly misted the piece with Black Marble Dylusions and then got all excitable with some Treasure Golds, adding smidges of bling and metallic sparkle to patches of the board background.   Remember the rose I made in yesterdays tut?  Well, here it is, along with some cool metal embellies from Prima and Idea-ology.  The ickle butterfly is one of the new JoFY stamps... stamped onto Clearly for Art that had book page stuck to it, painted lightly and then I went back in with a fineliner to add the details of the butterfly back in again.  Heated to make the CFA mouldable and then a couple of antenna made from rusty wire.  Et voila!  Une artistique creationies.... *ahem...*

Right, I shall away... I have that "to-do" list to still tackle... and... nay and thrice, I have a poorly peeper!  My right eye is bugging me big styleee... I think I have somehow managed to irritate it under my contacts as it will not stop weeping and it is stinging worse than a 100 buzzybee's... so I am bespectacled and every so slightly crabby, I hate wearing specs, I always end up covering them with paint, ink not to mention... sitting on them... plus, I can't see right the way around and if I look down I have to drop my head down to see properly... not at all good!  Hopefully this irritation will be gone by later because we out for dinner tonight and being as I am as blind as a bat, I won't be able to put on make up properly, I will end up looking like Jackie Stallone.... *teehee* And on that delightful image, I shall bid you a goodly afternoon.... .*wanders off laughing to self*  TTFN

Hels x

...AND... The Winner Is...

...cor! blinking! blimey!  Thank you all for the mahoooosive 117 comments on the pendant giveaway... wow, my gast is truly flabbered!  Anyways... I have done the old Mr.Random.Org thingy and this is what he came up with ...

Yes, the winning comment is #110 which tallies with the comment left by LinW.  Congrats to Lin, please email me with your addy and I will pop the pendant into the post for you!   Tis a super fast post for now, am midst making something and I hope to be back later with it... if not, it will be tomorrow!  Oh ho, I shall have to get a wiggle on, that "to-do" list has gone bonkers this past few days!  Thanks again for all your lovely comments... have a fab day!  TTFN

Hels x

Tattered Florals Rose - A Tutorial

...As promised yesterday, here's a tutorial on how to make a big blousy rose using the Tattered Florals Alterations die.  This is my favest rose to make, you have probably guessed that tho, it does appear frequently on my artwork!  This tutorial is photo heavy - I have taken pics of every little step to make it easier to follow... so you might want to grab a cuppa and a biccie before you start reading!   Anyways... enough of the waffling, here goes:

INGREDIENTS:
You will need three flowers cut from the Tattered Florals die.  You can use d/s papers, card, Grungepaper for these... the best paper I have found is double sided as it is a bit tougher.  You don't need to have three different patterns, I have used three different ones for the tut as it is easier to follow and I do like the effect.  If you have fave papers and they are single sided, simply stick the paper to cardstock using Glue & Seal or Multi Medium, then you have your patterned papers, just a bit stronger!   As well, as the three flowers, you will need strong wet glue.  I always use Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear - it also dries matte.. perfect!  You will need sharp scissors and a pokey tool, plus five clips/grips.

**TOP TIP**  Look at your three flowers as Flower 1, Flower 2 and Flower 3

STEP 1
This is Flower 1: Cut in between two petals up to the centre of the flower. We will be putting one petal over the top of the next one to make it into 5 petals. Depending on which hand you write with, this will depend on which way you move the petals: I am right handed so the petal to the left of the snip always goes over the top of the right petal.

STEP 2
Chop the top off the petal that will go underneath and pop to one side.  The reason why we do this is because if you leave the whole petal underneath, that one will have a double thickness of paper and a layer of glue, making it harder to curl the petals...

Use the tab left behind as a gluing platform... so you pop your glue onto the tab and then bring the petal to the left of the snip over the top.

STEP 3
Use one of your clips to hold the petals in place whilst the glue sets - Cosmic dries super fast but I do this just to make sure, also it frees up my paws to move onto the next step...

STEP 4
Now we are working on "Flower 2". This makes the layer with 4 petals and the centre petal. Cut out one petal (as shown) and pop the cut out petal to one side - you will need this later.

STEP 5
Using your sharp scissors, cut out a small circle from the centre of the flower - this makes the assemblage part so much easier. Chop off the top of the petal to the left of the snip and save this off cut. You can discard the bit from the middle.

Pop some glue onto the tab, as shown.

STEP 6
Use another clip  to hold the petals in place - you should now have the layer with 4 petals.

STEP 7
We are now using "Flower 3" and this will make the layers that have 3 and 2 petals. Over time I have made hundreds of these roses and have found that because the Tattered Florals hasn't got a uniform look, some of the "V's" between the petals are cut closer to the centre than others.  So.  You need to make sure that the cuts you make are around the "V" that is furthest away from the centre = as shown with the arrow (do you like the arrow? I maded that meself lol)   For this flower, you need to cut out two petals together...

STEP 8
This photo shows that you have cut out two petals together.  Also, the top of the petal that is going underneath has been chopped off... and also, a half moon shape from the centre of the flower has been cut out - again, this is a vital step, it makes assemblage so much easier.
Keep the top of the petal you have chopped off - you can discard the middle snippy outy bit though.

Here you can see where the glue goes - as with other layers, it needs to be on the little tab.

STEP 9
Bring the petals together and use a clip to hold everything in place whilst the glue sets - **TOP TIP** Make sure you have all three petals the same height when clipping - I have found if one of the petals is too low, this layer doesn't sit right in the flower when assembled.

STEP 10
Remember the two petals you just cut out?  Now we are going to be working on these. Firstly, cut off the bottom point - you don't need this bit and if you leave it, it makes it more difficult to curl the petals around... it is... pointless (insert groan of choice!)

STEP 11
Use your pokey tool to curl back the petals - this is because we need to stretch the fibres in the paper as once this little layer is assembled, it is harder to curl the petals back - if you have already stretched the paper, they curl back much easier.

Next, flatten out the curled petals, use your pokey tool to curl the petals inwards now (as shown)

Pop a dab of glue onto the inside of one of the petals... as shown... and curl them around on each other...

STEP 12
The shape of this one should be similar to the trumpet of a daffodil, so the glued bit is just along the back where the petals have overlapped = pop a clip onto it and allow it to set.

STEP 13
Now we are working on the single petal, this will make the curled petal that goes into the middle of the rose. Firstly, snip off the bottom of the petal - again, this is ... pointless (ahem)

Hold one side of the petal between your thumb and finger and curl the other side using your pokey tool.

Twist the curled side right around your pokey tool and then the flap at the top that is left, curl backwards on itself, as shown.

Pop a dab of glue onto the bottom of the petal, as shown.

Now pop a clip onto this bit to allow it to set.

You are now ready to begin assembling your rose.  Start with the layer that has 5 petals:

STEP 14
Place your finger underneath the pointy bit on the 5 petal layer. Push this up gently so you have a little peak inside the flower (as shown) this will make a good nest for the other layers and also gives the flower a flat bottom.

Curl the petals back using your pokey tool and use the peak as a glue guide - fill a nice moat of glue around the peak.

STEP 15
Remember when we cut out the circle from the middle of the flower that makes layer 4?  This is because now, you can go in with the tips of your scissors and make that hole a little bigger - this makes it perfectly sized to fit over the peak inside layer 5.  Curl the petals back using your pokey tool.

Pop layer 4 into layer 5 - you will need to jiggle this layer around until it sits neatly.  Use your pokey tool to push the bottom of this layer into the glue if you need to.

STEP 16
Now we are working with layer 3.  Again, use your scissors to snip a larger hole at the bottom of this layer.   Curl the petals using your pokey tool to help the curls.

Add a good glob of glue around the bottom of this layer.

Pop the layer into the flower - again you will need to jiggle it about a smidge to get it to sit properly... tis all about the jiggling!  Remember when I said that you need to make sure all the petals are the same height?  That is really important because at this layer, if they aren't the same height, they will look ugly!

STEP 17
Now are on layer 2 - Snip the bottom off the  petals - remember I said about making sure you get the "V" that is furthest away from the middle?  This is when it comes into play - if they "V" is too close to the bottom of the petals, you will either have a bit that is too tall.. or if you do cut it down to size, it can pop open...

Remember when we curled the petals to stretch the paper fibres?  This is why... if you have them curled and glued and haven't stretched the fibres,  you will have a bit of a rumpled paper... tis all in the prep!

Use layer 2 as a guide to the sizing of the centre bit.  Pop layer 1 into layer 2 and cut it to fit.

STEP 18
Glue around the base of layer 1 and pop it into layer 2.  Now glue around the bottom of layer 2 and place it into the rose.  I do these two together so I don't jostle the already assembled layers.

Ta dah!  you now have your assembled rose... but... 

STEP 19
Remember the little snippy bits that we chopped off the top of the petals?  Well, these are now used up to make little fillers.  Your assembled rose is pretty but... there will be a few gaps, this is the nature of this shape of flower.  No probs, use the off cuts to fit into the gaps!
Snip the paper so it is wider at the top that the bottom.

Pinch the base so it is curved and curl the top back using your pokey tool.

Add a dab of glue to the bottom...

 Slot it into a gap.  Continue with the other two pieces you have snipped...

And there you have it. 
Yes, there are a lot of steps but I have done these so  you can see everything you needs to do to get the rose to look so pretty. 

I hope you have enjoyed the tut and please do let me know when you have had a play and if you enjoyed it!   I shall away now... all this typing has me thirsty!  Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x