A Gypsy Life for Me!

The current Fashionable Stamping Challenge is Coffee & Cream with a Hint of Dark Chocolate, well I'm no coffee lover so my take is milky bar, galaxy & bournville chocolate instead LOL!

I stamped the Gypsy & the caravan in coffee archival ink on watercolour paper. The frame is made using the Tim Holtz baroque dies and cream acrylic paint & I edged the inside of the frame with gold krylon. I made the flower using Tim Holtz tatter florals die and cream cotton which I stamped and coloured with distress inks.

I love the romance of the old style gypsy life, the nearest I'll get to it is a campervan instead, which we hope to get next year LOL!!


Stamps used ~

Gypsy Journey & Muse by Curious by Design
Tim Holtz Visual Artistry
Stamping Bella Isabel Norris Eclectic mini set

I am also entering this in for the following challenges
Ink on my Fingers ~ Forever Autumn
Simon says Stamp ~ Show one colour
Our Creative Corner ~ Fabulous Faces

That's all from me today.

Happy Crafting XX

Hark The Herald Angels designed for Happy Daze

Another christmas decoration from me, this time a hanging. I recycled some card and glued both sides with pale blue paper from my stash then cut out a large heart shape. I randomly stamped and embossed snowflakes and pine cones with white embossing powder, then tinted with versamagic dewdrop chalk inks in pixie dust, sea breeze and aegean blue. I stamped Lost Coast Designs Hark the Herald Angels in archival ink onto glossy paper and tinted with the same versamagic inks. I added some white guipure lace, bead trim and a few embellishments from my stash. I punched a hole each side and threaded through some seam binding to create the hanging.


The current Happy Daze challenge is Christmas or Hallowe'en. You have until Midnight on 31st October when one winner will be drawn at random to win a  £15 voucher and free P&P to spend in the Happy Daze shop. Maximum of 3 entries per person & you must use at least one product which can be purchased in the Happy Daze shop.

• You can enter by blogging you address to the linky widget here, 
• emailing your picture to info@happy-daze.net
• uploading your photo to their facebook page

Happy Crafting XX

A couple of Gifts!

I thought I would  use these small purses to make a couple of gifts. As they are quite small I decided to limit the stamping as I have a habit of going OTT. I gave the purses three coats of gesso as the surface is not the easiest to stamp on. I used the lovely Ophelia stamp from The stampsmith on the pink purse and used the same image on the back. The photo stamps used on the second purse are from kreativhobby. I used black archival ink  and shaded with watercolours, then tinted the edges with a few dewdrop chalk inks. Then coated with glue n seal. I added organza ribbon roses and some tea dyed lace and pearls. Apologises about the photos having to hang on till christmas for a new camera so until then using my trusty iphone, which unfortunately does not have the best camera!

I have been asked where I bought these purses, unfortunately it is from a local garden centre, I have looked online but can't seem to find any where that stocks them.

I am entering these in the following challenges

Dream Valley Challenge
FrostedDesigns Fancy trim lace
CraftyRibbons Ribbon and lace
Bunnyzoescrafts lace it up
Stamptacular You choose, anything goes.


That's all for today so Happy Crafting. XX

An Indian Summer

I always think of India, at this time of year, apart from the gorgeous weather we have had, many years ago we spent two months there backpacking and ever since then I've had a fascination for all things Indian, and hope to return there some time in the future. So with this in mind I made this little box.

The stamps used are Lost coast designs. The box was painted with three coats of  cream matt emulsion then I stamped several images and painted with water colours and distress inks. I stained some braid with distress inks then added some pearls and a brass paisley embellishment. I painted the inside of the box and lined with paper.

I am entering this in the Fashionable Stamping Challenge Anything But A Card and Alter It Monthly Challenge which is Boxes.

Now for something old this is a pastel drawing I did a few years ago of a photo my husband took of some children when we stayed in Dharamasala, Northern India, they must all have children of their own now LOL!

Happy Crafting & Have a Great Weekend! XX

A Victorian Christmas designed for Happy Daze

This christmas decoration uses Artistic Outpost Sleigh Ride stamps. I die cut six shapes from thick card using the Tim Holtz cabinet card die, which I glued together to make the frame. I stamped the image of the two children and masked, then over stamped with the trees. The image was tinted with distress inks  & the frame was painted in red studio acrylic paint. I screwed a hinge onto either side of the frame and finished with stickles and gold corners like these.

The current Happy Daze challenge is Christmas or Hallowe'en. You have until Midnight on 31st October when one winner will be drawn at random to win a  £15 voucher and free P&P to spend in the Happy Daze shop. Maximum of 3 entries per person & you must use at least one product which can be purchased in the Happy Daze shop.

• You can enter by blogging you address to the linky widget here, 
• emailing your picture to info@happy-daze.net
• uploading your photo to their facebook page

Happy Crafting XX

Fashionable Stamping Challenge ~ Vintage

Well I just had to enter the Fashionable Stamping Challenge seeing as the theme was vintage, it was a lovely surprise to find I had won their last challenge.

I do like these white fabric bags to alter as they are such fun to do! I used mainly Crafty Individuals stamps on both sides. CI- 331, CI- 329, CI- 161, CI- 320, CI- 302 and the Tim Holtz papillon stamp set and a script stamp from curious by design. I gave the bag two coats of gesso and then stamped with black archival ink and coloured with water colours and distress inks followed by a coat of glue n seal. Still having problems with the sealant diluting the distress inks so I think I have to buy some of the fabric paints suggested by Florence.


I added some organza rose ribbon, a pink bow & tassel to finish.

I am entering this into the Lets Ink it up challenge which is Think Pink for breast cancer awareness month
& The ABC Challenge Anything goes.
& Glitter Geeks Challenge Shabby Chic

The stamps on this card are Curious by design, Muse & Crafty Individuals CI- 302 

I am entering this into Crafty Cardmakers Challenge Anything Goes

Happy Crafting XX

Crafty Individuals ~ Things with Wings

I was delighted to be one of the winners of the September Crafty Individuals Challenge & after being exceedingly late with my last entry I thought I would be early for a change.  It is one of my favourite challenges and this month I thought I would just do a simple card for Things with Wings. Cards are not really my thing as I prefer boxes and hangings, but I don't think I have ever entered a card before.

Anyway I used CI - 069 on some glossy card stock and tinted with watercolours. The papers used are Ella Blue and the dies used are Cheery Lynn, spellbinders labels 4 & Xcut. I rather overdosed with pearls, then added some corners & flowers, ribbon and lace and a touch of rangers rock candy.

I've rather enjoyed The Borgias on Sky Atlantic so thought I would do a renaissance inspired card LOL!

 The stamped used is from Oxford Impressions Bella Vita, and the papers are Graphic 45 renaissance faire.

Yay Downton Abbey on soon, perfect Sunday night viewing after a gorgeous unusually sunny October day.

A big hello to all my new followers and thank you so much for taking the time and effort to comment on my bloggings, it really is appreciated.

Happy Crafting & have a lovely evening XX