SDC 48

The latest Stampotique Designers Challenge is to CASE a Stampotique designer - standing for Copy And Steal Everything. This was not as easy as it sounds!!! It took me ages (not to mention a few dud trials) to decide which of the designers to CASE and eventually went for Kate Crane. Here is my poor effort which is not a copy of one particular piece of Kate's work, but using some of her ideas. I have used various sprays on the background, acrylic paint and gesso to create the circles and rings. See more of Kate's MUCH more superior work at The Kathryn Wheel.

His & Hers Drinks Coasters

I was in my local library a few days ago and I spotted some coasters advertising the local comedy festival. Naturally I helped myself to a few thinking that they may come in useful for a craft project some time. Then I saw that the latest Stampotique Designers Challenge theme is altered items ... so perfect timing! I thought it would be fun to make a pair of 'his & hers' coasters.

I inked up some thin white card with Distress Inks, using masks to provide some texture and interest to the backgrounds. Then added some water spatters, flicks of Chalk Mists and rings which were made using a couple of lids dipped into puddles of Distress Stains. I stamped Stampotique's Smile and Sheer in black ink, then glued the card to the coasters, trimming and sanding the edges slightly. The words were stamped using small alphabet stamps, cut out and glued on. Finally I gave them both several coats of acrylic spray varnish.

SDC 43

The latest Stampotique Designers Challenge is to make a non-traditional Christmas card and NO red or green allowed! On this card I stamped Sheer and Smile onto white card, masked the images and then sprayed 3 colours of Glimmermist across the card. When it was dry I added colour to the images with Copics and some Flower Soft for the snow. The Christmas tree was made by gluing lots of punched 'branches' using a fern punch onto a triangle of card.

SDC 42

The latest Stampotique Designers Challenge is a sketch and having missed the last couple of challenges I've actually made two cards this time, although one was a happy accident! I'm glad to say that I now have a new stamp - Smile - so at last I can use a different image.
I had already decided to use an acetate clock (by Kaisercraft) for the circle and coloured it using alcohol inks. The background paper was a free art paper that came with one of last year's Somerset Studio magazines. I have a friend who occasionally passes old copies to me, but usually she has removed the free papers. However, this time she had left one of them in the mag - I think it may be a little too arty and abstract for her use, but I loved it. I had pretty much finished when I suddenly thought it would make a good belated card, so I added the wording.
Sometime later I noticed that the waste paper I had used to protect my work surface for this and earlier projects had an interesting pattern, including a circular area (where I'd inked the clock), so I thought I'd see what I could come up with using this. I went for a Christmas theme and stamped Smile onto the paper, made him a party hat out of another bit of waste paper with stamping on, and also used the star stamp which was a recent Craft Stamper freebie designed by Jo Capper-Sandon. I highlighted the circle shape with a thin line of Stickles. The band across the centre of the card was made by masking off the areas above and below, blending inks in the gap and then overstamping with the pine branch.

SDC38: black, white and a hint of colour

Here is my entry for the new Stampotique Designers Challenge to use black & white with a hint of colour. Any stamps are allowed for this one so I have used a few of my favourites, and my Black Soot Distress Ink got an airing too (I must admit I don't use this very often). I stamped three flowers using Versafine black ink onto white card and masked them, then stamped the girl's face over them (stamps by ISC). Leaving the masks in place, I then used cut n' dry foam to blend Black Soot ink around the edges of the card, creating a darker area on the right hand side. I stamped the quote (by Paperbag Studios) and a couple of flowers again in black, and finally the flourish (PaperArtsy) in Victorian Velvet DI. I used a pink Pro-Marker on the girl's lips and the centres of the flowers. The background panel was created using the familiar scrunch it up, swipe with ink and then spray with water technique - also using Black Soot.

SDC - Altered book page

Yes, we've got to alter a book page for the latest Stampotique Designers Challenge - so here is mine: Moon Girl sitting in a tree! I used a page from an old book which I first glued to some card. Then I embossed the tree using a Tim Holtz embossing folder in which I had dabbed inks - this colours the background but not the embossed part.

SDC 35: Red, yellow and orange

Here is my entry for the latest Stampotique Designers Challenge on the theme of red, yellow and orange. We can only use Stampotique stamps for this one, so I have used two designed by Jo Capper-Sandon. Jasmin was stamped using Memento black ink and coloured with Copics. The background was made using torn paper masks and a variety of Distress Inks in the three colours.

SDC: Flower Power

Flower power is the latest theme on the Stampotique Designers Challenge blog. I decided to go for something bright and cheerful in the hope our weather might change! It's been so cool, grey and rainy for the past few weeks and I'm still waiting for summer to arrive. We could use any stamps this time but I have used two by Stampotique, as well as some old book pages at the base of the card and for the punched flowers which have flowersoft in the middle.

Stampotique Designers Challenge: scraps

The latest Stampotique Designers Challenge is to use as many scraps as possible - so here is my entry. The background has been made using the 'Blended Paper' technique in which I glued torn strips of left over printed and stamped papers to a piece of card and then covered with a layer of gesso. I have added colour using distress inks, as well as bit of spattering. I stamped 'Sheer' three times on a piece of paper that had been used as protection under a variety of stamping and inking activities and made the 'skirts' using a short piece of ribbon. The flower was made using old book pages. I had a lot of fun making this card and I certainly used up lots of scraps that were just lying in a heap on my table!

Stampotique challenge - Clean & Simple

Clean and simple is the theme for the latest Stampotique Designers Challenge and here is my effort. We could use any stamps this time, but I have used two by Stampotique on this card together with one of Artemio's modern grasses. I have to admit that 'clean and simple' is out of my comfort zone and so I found this a REAL challenge!!

Birds of Time ATCs

Here are a pair of ATCs made for the current Stampotique Designers Challenge which is on the theme of animals, insects or birds. I've used alcohol inks on glossy card for the backgrounds and stamps mainly by PaperArtsy.

Make a Moo and SDC too!

I was really pleased to hear that the Make a Moo or Two challenge blog has started again. The latest theme is romance... well it is February 14th today after all! I've made these two moos for the challenge using a vintage photo and the text at the top of the moos is from stamps by Hero Arts.

The theme on Stampotique Designers Challenge is also love and we can use any stamps we like, so I decided to use the moos on a card for that challenge as well. The background panel was created using distress inks, water and a flourish stamp by Stampin' Up.

Stampotique Designers Challenge 23

Here is my entry for the current Stampotique challenge in which we have to use only Stampotique stamps and to use orange and turquoise.

Stampotique Designers Challenge 21

For this latest Stampotique challenge we have to use punched and die cut shapes - here I have used some flower and leaf punches, and nesties for the circles, and the background paper is from Papermania's Hampstead range. Stamps ae by PaperArtsy, Crafty Individuals and of course Stampotique's Moon Girl.

Stampotique Challenge 20 - Bling Bling!

A lovely opportunity to go mad with the gems and glitter on this latest Stampotique Designers Challenge... and have I used lots of glitter, from glitter card, glitter embossing powder and loads of Stickles of course, and all in my favourite pink!

Stampotique Challenge 19

Here is my card for the latest Stampotique challenge on the theme of 'girly girl'. I have used Stampotique's Moon Girl along with a few other stamps including the background which is by Hero Arts.

Stampotique Challenge 18

The theme for this Stampotique Designers Challenge is 'spooky, creepy, crawly' and we can use only Stampotique stamps. For my entry, I have created a background using Distress inks and Glimmer Mists, having first smeared some white acrylic paint on with my finger for a moon, and used almost ALL the Stampotique stamps I own! I even used the beak from 'Strut your stuff' for the tiny hats on the stick things.

SDC No. 12

Here is my take on the latest Stampotique Designers Challenge - this time to follow a sketch. I've used Jasmin and a quote stamp, both by Stampotique. The background papers are Papermania's Hampstead range.

Christmas in July

Yes, that's the theme for the Stampotique Designers Challenge no. 11! I decided to ignore the traditional Christmas colour schemes for this one, and as well as Stampotique's 'Sheer' I've used the 'Serene Snowflakes' set from Stampin Up! The background panel was created using glossy white card on which I stamped the large snowflakes using Ranger resist ink, then brayered over with Kaleidacolor Creole Spice. I stamped the smaller snowflakes on top using Memento inks in Paris Dusk and Sweet Plum. The lettering was made by running a strip of white card through a Dymo machine and then sponging with Spiced Marmalade distress ink.

Stampotique challenge

When does creative inspiration usually strike for you? In my case it is very often first thing in the morning. I get out of bed, make myself a cup of coffee, and after a few sips of caffeine an idea will pop into my head. When this does happen all I want to do is get out my crafting stash and have a play. But unfortunately I rarely have the chance to explore my ideas at the time because I have got to get washed and dressed and leave for work! So for me, freedom would be the chance to say I'm not going to work today, I'm going to stay at home and create! This is what inspired me to make this card for the latest SDC on the theme of freedom, using Stampotique's Moon Girl. The 'I don't feel like working' stamp is by Paper Artsy.