Gothic Arch #10, Steampunk

I just finished making the current STEAMPUNK themed Gothic arch for INKURABLE STAMPERS, & I must say, I am really taken up with the whole look of it, so there will be more steampunkedness as soon as I get a chance to play again!!! If you don't know much about Steampunk, make sure you visit INKURABLE STAMPERS for a very informative post put together by SARAH, & while there have a look at the amazing altered book that Sarah Fawcett created for this theme...

I started by dry-embossing a black cs Gothic arch using a new cuttlebug embossing folder (clockworks) that Karen, from KAZMOS KREATIONS kindly ordered in for me (thank you Karen). I then applied Brilliance inks (cosmic copper & platinum planet) to the raised areas. I used a TH Alterations die (also from KK) & some DCWV metallic coloured cs to make the cogs...The images of the flying contraptions & the man on the bike are from Studio Astarte (& this is the very first inking for the flying machines, so I'm a steampunker from way back, I just didn't know it!!!!!!!!!! LOL) I then added some copper & silver mini brads, & the quote (from this DD set)was stamped onto some shrink plastic using Stazon black ink, cut out, & the holes were punched using a crop-a-dile, then shrunk using my heat gun. The stitching was added using brown embroidery floss, & for once I'm glad I actually PLANNED! LOL. Remember, you can join in at any time with the Gothic arches, just create, photograph & upload to the Flickr gallery HERE Thanks for your visit & your comments, now go & play :)

It's Up...

My STAMPBORD tutorial is up, have a lookie HERE
My thanks to the lovely people over at STAMPBORD (thanks Lindsey) for inviting me to have a play, & also a big thank you to Rachel (of DARKROOM DOOR) for sending me the new "Fashionable" set to use in this project. I really think DARKROOM DOOR images & STAMPBORD tiles are the perfect mix, don't you?

Happy Birthday to a Friend

This is a card I made for a special friend, it's her birthday next week & I'm hoping it will reach her in time. I was initially going to enter the ATC set below for this month's theme of stars over at INKURABLE STAMPERS, but when I finished this card I liked the photo better! (the ATCs are already on their way to Canada, so I couldn't take another photo) I've used one of the ATC sized STAMPBORD tiles, & the image is by Stamp-it, I covered the tile with Stazon inks (red & purple, though the red is more like a pink, but just right for my background LOL) I then stamped part of the image with black ink & added the lace (from THIS set by DARKROOM DOOR)& got to work with the scratch knife...I love this surface! The beautiful ribbon is from CRAFT QUEEN, & I've used my new TH Alterations die (which works perfectly with the Cuttlebug!) I used the sentiment from a Non Sequitur plate, stamped onto white cs with Versafine ink & covered with CEP, distressed the edges & added Adirondak ink (lettuce)

Below is a set of ATCs that I'm swapping out, but I just had so much trouble photographing them, what with Melbourne weather the way it has been the last few days, dark, gloomy, & WINDY! Every time I was ready to take the shot one or more would fall... this is the best shot I could take, but they do look great IRL! I've used Non Sequitur, Prima, Time to Stamp, as well as Darkroom Door stamps ( French Script background, & the tiny collage from the Artist set). I hope the recipient likes them :) Now back to your regularly scheduled programme...

Say Hello To Matilda...

I've been very busy creating, but it's nothing paper related LOL. I received some beautiful wooden buttons from Nicole (CRAFT QUEEN) & I thought I would use them for something other than a card, just for a change LOL, so I made a tiny hat to go onto Matilda's head...until a few minutes ago, I didn't know what to name her, but as soon as I uploaded her photos to the pc, I knew! The hat is made from felt, with a strip of cotton & matching yoyo, her head is made from German mohair, & she has glass eyes, & an embroidered nose, the rest of her body is made up of calico, & the "shoes" are painted on with acrylic paint. & see her bloomers? I've used some cotton lace (also from CRAFT QUEEN) which is a lovely taupe colour (though it looks kind of grey in the photo). It's been a while since I made a bear, but I'm happy to report that it's just like riding a bicycle LOL! & see the yoyo flower under the wooden butterfly? It's a first for me, I've never made a yoyo before, but it's so easy, I think I'll be making them again.
Both the bear pattern & the clothing patterns are from various "Bear Creations" magazines, something else that is part of my crafty stash...

I hope you've enjoyed your stay : ) Come again soon, & thanks for visiting my humble palace, now go, create something!

Gothic Arch # 9

The theme for INKURABLE STAMPERS Gothic Arch #9 is Asia. I only have 4 Asian images, and although I love to include text in my work, I like to know what the text says! & asian languages are all Greek to me LOL, so I went with a safer option & used some pretty blossoms (Urban Lily) & tiny flowers(Opals Images), as well as an Asian symbol for happiness (Studio Astarte) I started by stamping the blossoms & tiny flowers (masking as required) using black Versafine ink, onto red BB cs. I then stamped the symbol using gold ink & gold EP, & tore the edges, & I stamped the "happiness" portion with black ink directly onto the red cs. I used a white wc pencil to colour in the flowers, & then outlined the blossoms with a white Souffle pen. I edged the arch with gold ink & added a few Kaiser rhinestones. Don't forget you can join in any time, & upload your arches to flickr, & while you're there, have a look at all the beautiful arches in the gallery, they are sure to spark your creativity :)

Alterations...& A Card

My apologies for the crappy photo, but I'm in a hurry LOL.
I hope I'm not too late with this card, it's for the STAMPOTIQUE challenge blog, & this week the theme was to use purple. I got one of the (new to me) Alterations dies from Tim Holtz, & I was itching to play with it, so I've used it for the edge of this card, cute, isn't it? I've used white cs, purple BB cs, & purple DCWV cs, as well as DCWV pp (for the dress & boots) The beautiful butterflies are sequins (from the CRAFT QUEEN) & the sentiment is from THIS wordstrip by DARKROOM DOOR. I wanted to have Gooseneck standing in a garden, so I used THIS STAMPOTIQUE image to resemble grass, aren't I clever? This week was a "STAMPOTIQUE only" theme, & I only own 4 Goth kids, so I really had to think outside the box!!!! I better go link it up before it's too late LOL