Digital Switch Over Vintage Style!

Seeing as its the week for digital switch over I thought I'd have ago at digital, vintage style For The Happy Daze Vintage Style Challenge. I've downloaded a trial version of Paint shop pro which I'm really enjoying using, but I only have a couple of weeks before it expires, so I am in computer mode at present playing about with some gorgeous vintage graphics which I've used in my first project. This is a small collage frame, that I covered in texture paint, then embossed, adding some cosmic shimmer mist and my favourite products at the moment Inka Gold, in gold and copper. I added some more Inka gold and copper to the die cut swirls and Prima mixed metal flower to tone in.

The other project is an old metal tin I sanded down and painted with gesso and black acrylic paint. I glued on some Joanna Sheen Da Vinci papers, an old book page and used a Lost Coast Mona Lisa stamp. Stamping a few swirls and more Inka gold. Finally I used some ranger crackle glaze and added a Tim Holtz book plate.

My Greek inspired project is on hold at the moment as I'm awaiting some goodies from ebay to finish it. But I've just taken delivery of a Bind it All machine so off now to have a play!! Until next time.

A Crafty Weekend!

Well I've had a busy weekend crafting, not an awful lot of housework got done, but I'm one of those people that that doesn't really notice the dust!

My first project was for the 'Happy Daze' Shades of blue challenge and I used a small wooden hinged icon and painted it pale blue then used a combination of lost Coast & non sequitur stamps (yes I have been interneting shopping again!) and highlighted in Inka gold, silver paint.

I had bought a few small wooden boxes which were very cheap, not quite sure what to do with them, but sure I would find a use for them later. I'm at my happiest messing about with paint and seem to have more success with 3D objects rather than cards. I rummaged through my growing stamp collection and spied one of my favourite crafty individual stamps  CI - 278 and here is the result, which I decided to varnish. I also painted the inside of the box and lined with some pretty paper.

I recently bought some of the new Graphic 45 stamps and decided to use them on another of my little boxes. I made the flower using the Tim Holtz flower die, the middle sized one. I die cut about six of them and inked both sides and fastened using a small brad, scrunched up the flower, spritzed with some cosmic shimmer and glued on an old button. I found this method on http://gingernonutsbits.blogspot.com/ and adapted it slightly to suit my box.

Lastly I made another Mother's Day card using some more Crafty Individuals goodies. The stamp used is CI - 065 I made a similar flower to the one above. Some Tim holtz papers for backing and a spritz of cosmic shimmer to colour the cream card as I didn't have any pink ones! 

Vintage Style Cards

I don't know about you but when I'm in craft mode, I can be in the middle of doing anything and I'll be thinking about my next idea, usually during my least favourite activity which is any sort of housework! I had intended on my next project being grecian inspired. But that has been shelved for the moment as the item I had intended to use is out of stock from my favourite craft haunts!! So I decided to make a few cards instead.

So for my first card I have used one of the images from The Crafty Individuals Issue 1 people and places mini book. I used some of the background papers and their die cut frames too and mounted onto a cream card which  I'd previously stamped and embellished with a die cut flower.

The next card was using another crafty individual product this time CI-302 which I thought would make a pretty mothers day card. I coloured the stamp using some watered down distress inks and and layered onto a background paper which I'd made with more distress inks and one of the large darkroom door background stamps. I added a layer of torn paper which I edged with Inka gold and added a pretty prima flower which I thought looked rather like a vintage broach!

Finally my last crafty Individual card. I used stamp CI-174 which I stamped onto a gypsies background paper. Then I cut them out and glued them onto one of the crafty individuals Inchies in frame which I'd inked used barn door distress ink, then stamped and embossed with a background stamp. I added some more Inka gold round the edges a pretty background paper and matted onto a black card, finally some more prima bling.

I love black cards, think it must be the goth in me trying to get out!!

Note to self will have to stop using square cards all the time! 

A Crafty Blog Virgin!

As this is my first post, I hope you will be patient with me. It's probably not very evident, but this is a craft blog. I've got a bit carried away with the lovely Vintage backgrounds, but think they look rather cool.
I will use this first post to share some of my latest creations. I've always been more inclined towards the vintage style of crafting, perhaps a little shabby, but not to grungy!

I love rubber stamping and I'm building up an impossibly large stamp collection. There are so many gorgeous stamps out there. I adore crafty Individuals, Lost Coast Designs, Oxford Impressions ( I am impatiently awaiting a gorgeous set of their Soul Of The Rose stamps) Cherry pie and the new Graphic 45 stamps.
We have just returned from a lovely few days in Bath and I am itching to get back to crafting and am thinking of how to incorporate some Roman inspired ideas into a project. Me thinks I need to go searching for some lovely new stamps, Non Sequitur perhaps.

These are some mini pictures made from beer mats using 'Serena' (The Stampsmith) & some crafty Individual stamps, frames and images from their mini books.

After a bit of research into the crackle paint effect using matt emulsion and PVA glue this is my attempt. I used a plain wooden box and some Graphic 45 stamps and Steampunk debutante papers. Not so keen on the colours I used now, but at least I can sand it down and redo it when I get bored with it.

And finally a couple of pictures. The first was from an idea in the March issue of the Craftstamper from the Crafty Individual designer Jean Hardy.

And this was using a gorgeous lost coast design stamp and some bits and bobs that came to hand! Well that's all for today. Now I feel in need of some nice relaxing internet craft shopping!