Another shabby vintage card.

I have been wanting to get out the bees wax for ages and have been trying to find the time to enter the wax Spicy Supple challenge at Gingersnap Creations. 

So whilst I was playing with vintage images this week I decided to add some wax to this card. You can just make out the wax stamped area which has been brushed with interference red perfect pearls and below enlarged so you can see the detail.

A small wooden piece, painted with white acrylic, adorns the little rosette.

Enjoy.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Stamp Man Recycled ATC

This is my second post for today - to see my New Year wishes scroll down to the previous 2 posts

It's not the actual ATC that I am recycling, but all the elements on it. So if you've still got lots of bits and pieces left on your craft desk why not use them up on an ATC of your own and enter it into the Stamp Man ATC swap for the new year.

I have several ATCs already covered with bits of paper left from projects and given a wash of watered down gesso. So I chose one of those that went with bits of paper, a small rosette not used at Christmas. a TH banner, a butterfly and some leaves just sitting around and feeling very lonely. Put them together and this is the result. The only new thing I used was my Zutter distresser that was a Christmas present from my son and DiL. It really distresses the edges of paper, card, grungeboard, chipboard, in fact you name it, it will probably do it.

Supplies used -

Stamps - small flourish from TH mini classics

TH Rosette die

TH banner die

Crealies leaf die and butterfly die

Happy New Year to one all and I hope 2012 will be a year full of love, happiness and peace.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

New Year - New Stash

HAPPY NEW YEAR

To All my Dear Friends I wish you a happy, peaceful and healthy 2012.

Today is a new year and a new challenge at Fashionable Stamping Challenges and we want you to play with all the new goodies you hopefully received over Christmas or that you have bought for yourself.

I have used several new things for this project, - new stamp set from The Artistic Stamper, a new book by La Blanche and new metal and tools following my metal master-class with Lin last November.

I followed the first workshop design in my book to make a new year card - and yes time certainly does fly doesn't it?

I have also used some muslin fabric, Graphic 45 paper, TH Heart Wings die and Regal Flourishes texture fade, black acrylic paint, brads and foil for the edge of the card.

Please come join us on the catwalk to show us your new designs and new tools and materials. You never know you might be the first winner of 2012 and receive a fabulous stamp from our sponsor Marina at Cottage Crafts. Also come over and take a look at the Stampettes inspiration for you, they are an incredibly talented group of ladies.

Have a wonderful year ahead.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Challenges to have fun with -
Sunday Stamper - Anything  If anyone hasn't found Hels blog you must go take a look.
Bloggers Challenge - Celebrate Good Times
Creative Stamp Friends - New Year Cards
Crafts and Me - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Stampin' for the Weekend - Anything Goes
The Artistic Stamper - Vintage
Happy Daze - Try something new

New Years Eve - An Angel

Welcome to New Year's Eve, I hope you have a great day and enjoy some celebrations this evening with loved ones and friends. We are having a few neighbours in and the family round to celebrate, but there is a sting in the tail for me today as it is the first anniversary of my dear Mum passing away and of course there are bitter sweet memories that this day holds for me.

However we must look forward to another new year and I wish for the world to become a more peaceful place and that humankind learns to live with one another more happily; with a focus of improving the environment and ensuring our planet stays safe for our future and our grandchildren's future.

I was playing the other day (as you do) and decided to try out another workshop activity from the La Blanche book. A simple piece, I had fun doing it and I used  a La Blanche stamp.

Dedicated to my Mum who was always an 'angel' in oh so many ways. I love you Mum.

I wish each and everyone of you a wonderful new year's eve and a happy, healthy and peaceful new year ahead. Thank you for being a follower, a friend and a blogging buddy. Thank you for your supportive and encouraging comments and messages and thank you for being a part of my life. I am grateful to each and every one of you for visiting me.

New Year's Reflections

Looking back on the months gone by,

As a new year starts and an old one ends,

We contemplate what bought us joy,

And we think of our loved ones and our friends.

Recalling all the happy times,

Remembering how they enriched our lives,

We reflect upon who really counts,

As the fresh and bright new year arrives.

And when I ponder those who do,

I immediately think of you.

Thanks for being one of the reasons I'll have another Happy New Year!

By Joanna Fuchs

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

The Stamp Man 3rd Annual Awards!!!

Hi Everyone 

At the Stamp Man today we are announcing our third annual Awards Challenge. This is the opportunity for you to choose your favourite project of the year and show us what that is. It doesn't have to be something you entered into a Stamp Man challenge, but something you are very proud of and want to share again. Jill has very kindly offered a first prize of £30 gift voucher for her on-line shop and 4 runner up prizes as well, so please pop over and take a look at what the DT have offered as their favourite project.

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There are lots of things that I am very proud of making this year and I can see how my art has changed and grown. I still enjoy experimenting with new techniques and products but I seem to have 2 main styles, vintage and shabby chic and I love making all sorts of different things, particularly cards and altered art. So I have chosen to show you again a tag I made in August that I gave to a friend as part of her 60th birthday present, she loved it and so did I.

I hope you will join us in celebrating our art and show to the world what wonderful creations and inspiration we can find from our blogging friends and these great challenges. If you join us please take the Stamp Man Award - here and on my sidebar or on the challenge blog to show you you have presented your project.

Enjoy your day.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

When you wish upon a star

Happy Boxing Day. We are off to my son's today to go and see what Santa brought the grandchildren - they always seem to get far too much.

I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas Day with your loved ones. Santa was very kind to me and bought me lots of wonderful goodies, including some great crafting pressies. How lucky I am.

 I have been inspired by the Gingersnap Creations Chestnut Theme Challenge - 'Starry Night'.  It is ages since I have had the chance to enter any challenges and am enjoying the opportunity to do so.

 Experimenting with PPs and Stazon ink I got a very clear definition from a Kanban stamp on a PP background. Once I had applied the colour for the background, I rubbed it over with a clean, dry wipe to get any excess powder off first.

The stars were created using some sequin waste and Versamark with several different colours of PP dabbed over the top, the star was made cutting two stars using the Cricut and then adding a star gem to the middle. The 'wish' sentiment is a Sizzix die and embossed with glittery embossing powder.

I think I will put this piece in my art journal and start a section for PP techniques.

Here are my other 'Stars'. This was the day before Christmas Eve and I had the girls for the afternoon whilst Mum went shopping and then both Mum and Dad and their other helper wrapped presents.

This is Ella (showing her gappy teeth) and Maddison baking cakes and decorating with .........

...... of course - stars. This is one of Ellas -

.... and these were Maddisons.

Do you know Santa must have been very hungry when he got to their house - he ate one of their cakes as well as a biscuit and mince-pie and he drank a cup of milk!!!

Enjoy your day.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

Sledging Vintage Christmas card.

I thought I had finished all my Christmas cards but here is just one more to show you which is using a vintage image and MME papers. There are three different DPs in the background and the image has been mounted onto plain green paper and the scalloped edge painted with white acrylic paint.  The poinsettia has been made using a Crealies die and some lace and a sentiment have been added to the finished product.

Not long to go now, 'what' I hear you say two more sleeps till Santa comes - oh boy.

Just a few last minute things to do in the morning and then the family come round for a late afternoon dinner and some neighbours are coming in for drinks in the evening. 

Have a fun time with your family and friends.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

My last Christmas card

Here it is my last card for this year and of course it is for my dear hubbie. I had great fun making it at my sister's yesterday - good isn't it when you can go visiting and get stuck in creating and making something.

It is an 8 x 8 card. The stamp is Kanban, which I painted with distress inks and vintage mica paints. I stamped the image twice and decoupaged the bird and berries to give them some 'lift'.

I foiled the edge of the card and the backing paper and also added a few bits to the image itself. The letters for his name were embossed die-cut in gold mirri card and I added alcohol inks over it.

The backing paper (source unknown) not only had the holly on but recipes too, which is perfect for Ken as he is the cook in the house (aren't I the lucky one?)

I hope he will like it. Just got to buy a couple more bits and finish wrapping, then I am there. 

Enjoy the last few days getting ready. The weekend will be upon us before we know it.

Take care.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

My News

OK I think it is safe to give you my news now seeing as my name is now listed as a new team member for

the 

PanPastel Uk Challenge Blog 

Yay.  I shall be staying with Fashionable Stamping Challenges and  The Stamp Man and have taken a sabbatical from Divas by Design for a while whilst I am still working.


Those of you who know me have seen my experiments with PanPastels and know I love working with them, so this is going to be a real pleasure for me. My thanks to Berni, Kerry and Pete for taking me on board with three other new members, including my buddies Gillian and Claire, so I am in excellent company along with Eileen, Lindsay and Linda. What a great early Christmas present.


I hope I will see you over at the challenges for PanPastels UK, you can use any medium for your entry it isn't just for using the PP product, but you could win some if you are the lucky winner any week. The new challenges start January 15th, so keep an eye open for them.


luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox

PanPastels Gift Tags

Update Sunday night - I wrote this blog Friday night, ready to photograph my tags and get this up Saturday morning to enter the PP challenge . As you can see I missed it - I just got tied up in Christmassy bits and getting ready for guests Friday night. Oh well never mind. I have had some good news today , but can't share it with you just yet - hopefully soon.

Well I have broken up for the Christmas holidays and school is closed until the 3rd January so now I can get myself organised for the festive season at home and have a bit of crafty fun.

I have so missed both creating and making and visiting all you wonderful blogging buddies, so hopefully you will see me around a little bit for the next 2 weeks or so.

I had a little play with my PanPastels and tags as the challenge at the PanPastel blog last week was gift tags. I experimented with PPs, water and embossing ink. Take a look at the differences in these tags.

This first one has a snowman stamped with PPs misted with water. It is very light and misty - good for a ghost stamped effect.

The second one shows a tag lightly covered with PPs and then over stamped with embossing ink and PPs dabbed over the top.  (I misted the stamp with water before stamping it). Much stronger in colour.

The third tag has been stamped with embossing ink, PPs dabbed over it and then it was misted with water and heat dried.

As you can see each one created a different effect and all 3 are really gorgeous (the photos really don't do them justice) and all 3 were edged with Chipped Sapphire DI. No embellishments , just my experiments and already they are on pressies.

So I didn't get to enter into the PanPastels gift tag challenge this week, but never mind.

Have a wonderful week, my friends.

luv and hugs {brenda} xoxox