Country View Crafts Challenge I do Like to be Beside the Seaside

 

I was pleased to see Country View Challenges had a Seaside theme as I have been wanting an opportunity to use the stunning papers from Antonis Tzanidakis for Stamperia. A very dear friend had very kindly made me up the octopus mould that goes with the papers and I had this idea in my head of using it with the Venus stamp by Indigo Blu.

It seemed fitting to use Greek mythology, and I have called my sea nymph Amphitripus. She was the first wife of Poseidon, God of the Waves, and they had a son together, Triton, who was a merman. When Poseidon cast her adrift in favour of another, he gave her the legs of an octopus so that she would be forever prevented from coming ashore. She lost her arm crashing against the rocks when he created a terrible storm. She was known by sailors as the queen of the sea, as they often spied her great beauty from their boats, swimming with the dolphins.

A Whiter Shade of Pale - PaperArtsy Shades of White Lynne Perrella

 

I'm delighted to have a post over on the PaperArtsy Blog for the Shades of White challenge, using my favourite Lynne Perrella stamps. This will be my last post for PaperArtsy. I've been associated with them for such a long time, and it's been wonderful! The stamps and paints and stencils are second to none and I know I will always use them. I demoed for Leandra a few times at Ally Pally which I enjoyed so, so much, and I have made some wonderful friends who I hope I will keep always. But it takes a surprisingly long time to do the projects and the posts and, after so long, there are lots of other things I wanted to do, so with the business moving to France, it seemed like the right time to make the break. I'm excited to see what France has in store for PaperArtsy, or is it the other way around! I hope Leandra makes some time to eat some gorgeous food!

PaperArtsy Tracy Scott Fused All Made Up

I am delighted to have a post over on the PaperArtsy blog using Tracy Scott stamps for their Fused Theme. I would be very pleased if you would like to go over and have a look and perhaps leave a comment either here or there.

A New Way With Octopi! PaperArtsy Under the Sea with Eclectica Zinski Stamps

I do hope you are all staying safe and well during this difficult and challenging time. I have been finding crafting a huge source of comfort and distraction. Tonight I have a project over on the PaperArtsy blog, and I have tried to make something on this occasion that would suit families self-isolating together, as well as regulars to working with PaperArtsy products and mixed media. Maybe you don't have many products or are finding it difficult to get hold of craft materials whilst the shops are closed, or your budget is limited.

I have made some suggestions for alternative products you can use in conjunction with the Zinski fish stamps. I love the PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints, which dry so quickly and are so easy to work with, but you can use any paints you have to hand. If you are new to this type of project please ask me here or on the PaperArtsy blog, or ask any member of the blogging team. But most of all, I hope you get lost in the crafting process and enjoy it!