Gingersnap Creations Challenge - Use a Faux Technique

On Gingersnaps today we are asking you to try a Faux Technique! We have a wonderful sponsor for February, Rogue Redhead Designs, and for this card I have used the girl reading, leaning up against a tree, from the Relish Reading plate. Thank you so much Shar for letting us have these stamps. I love this plate of stamps! I love reading and there are not many reading designs out there. For my faux technique I have used a wonderful tutorial which is in the Gingersnaps Tutorial Guide, by Valerie Brincheck. Thank you so much Valerie! I have used her Faux Rusted Metal technique for the bookplate and I really enjoyed it and will use it again. I have lots of ideas for it, for when I am up and running again. The flowers are my own faux technique for making flowers with clear packaging material, which was on Gingersnaps on Sunday.

Gingersnaps will be going through some changes but you will be pleased to hear that the tutorials will still be available to access. This is an amazing resource I have gained a lot from. Have a look at Shar's plans for the future here. I am pleased to say I have been invited to be involved although I need to get myself into a settled position following being flooded out of our house. We have a lot of work ahead of us. The day I start creating again will be a happy one, I am sure.

Gingersnap Creations Challenge - Favourite Paper

Gingersnap Creations is challenging you to use your favourite paper! I thought this would be a good opportunity to use the gorgeous Kaisercraft Bonjour paper and matching items that Pauline gave me for Christmas.I used a Kraft stepper card, and I picked the plainest of the papers so that I could stamp on it, using a script stamp all over in Bundled Sage Distress Ink, which I also sponged around the edge of the pieces. I used Sepia archival ink to stamp the blossom from the stamp set and added some text rub ons. I stamped the butterfly and then cut matching butterflies from one of the foiled 12 x 12 papers and cut them out and laid them over the top, but with the wings lifted on foam pads. I used a hydragea rub on, on the blossom. I finished off with one of the little birds.

Gingersnap Creations Challenge - Use a Set

Happy New Year! Sorry for being a little quiet, a combination of the bug which dragged on and then going up to stay with Colin's family for Christmas.

I was lucky enough to get some gorgeous crafting goodies from my play-date buddies, Pauline, Petra, and Jack, and I will be blogging what I make with them over the next few weeks. Pauline bought me some Hunkydory steam punk card and vellum, and a set by Kaisercraft called Bonjour, consisting of rub ons, papers, stamps, and die cuts, featuring Eiffel Towers, birds, and butterflies in ice cream colours - absolutely divine! Gingersnaps challenge is to Use a Set, so I thought this matching set would be ideal. I decided to make a trinket box as a thank you gift for Pauline:-

The wooden box itself was one of my presents from Colin, and he also gave me some of the new Fresco Finish paint colours. This lovely duck egg blue is called Beach Hut. I used the stamp set behind the apertures. The Eiffel Tower is a rub on, but I applied it to a piece of clear packaging material and then cut round it, so that I could overlap it.

I edged the box with gold pen, and decorated the sides with some of the co-ordinating die cuts.

Starry Nights on Gingersnaps

I thought I was going to miss the deadline for this dt piece for the first time ever! I still have this horrible throat bug and conjuntivitis and have nearly lost my voice. The surgery are sending a prescription to my local chemist for my kind friend to pick up, but I am not holding out much hope of getting better quickly.

The Gingersnap theme launching today is Starry Nights, and I wanted to create a Christmas snowy and starry scene inside a bubble box. I used Crafty Individuals' Christmas papers and their Santa in the Sky stamp, CI254. I covered the box with the papers and used a gold pen around the edges. The fiddly bit was that I wanted the design of the paper to run continuously across the lid so I cut the square for the lid, drew the circle aperture in pen, then cut it out with a circle Nestie. I then stamped the image directly onto the circle of paper, and again onto plain white gloss card. I wanted the word 'Believe' to run under the sleigh and above the buildings, rather than being obscured by them. I cut out the buildings and matched them up over the top of the stamped image to make them stand out. I added Polar White flower soft at the bottom of the row of buildings and in dots over the globe, and also adhered silver stars to the underside of the globe with glossy accents but they are not very clear in the photo. Definitely don't feel like getting the camera out again at the mo. I added one of my DIY pine cones under the globe at the base, then sprinkled some around the box to take the photos.

Farm Fresh - Gingersnap Creations Challenge

 

Today Gingersnaps are launching their Farm Fresh challenge for their On The Farm month. My contribution is this egg box featuring chickens from the Crafty Individuals' Farm Fresh Eggs stamp (CI 289). Hope you will join in!

Gingersnap Creations Challenge - Ravens - 'Trick or Treat' Lantern

Today Gingersnap Creations launch another Hallowe'en challenge theme - Ravens. I only have one Hallowe'en stamp and that is the spooky recently released raven in a churchyard with a full moon one from Crafty Individuals, which is CI 319. I had in mind I wanted to make an inexpensive lantern from a jam jar or similar, that children could take round the houses with them when they go Trick or Treating, or that you could have lit in the porch to show that you welcome Trick or Treaters and have candy! It would also work for parties in the garden.

I stamped the images twice on tissue paper and once on card and coloured them. I applied the tissue paper ones to the jar, which was an empty bath foam bottle which was perfect for the purpose, and cut the raven from the card one. I covered the lid with spiders web paper and added the card raven. I bought some skellingtons from Poundland and gave one to Brenda, she gave me the spiders webbing, and we split the pack of skull candles which we got at the car boot sale on Sunday - isn't it great to have friends you can share a cup of sugar or a skellington with?!

I filled a little bottle with blood (red Crystal Lacquer) for the skellington to clutch, and dribbled some everywhere! I gave him some black grungeboard wings to make him look like a really scary cross between a raven and a skellington - imagine him flying over your head! Except he won't be flying anywhere as he has had a nasty bash on the head, followed by being hung in a noose just for good measure! I fashioned some string around the lid to make a handle, and tied some 'barbed wire' around it. I added some raven table sprinkles (thanks again Brenda!), and popped an LED tea light inside. I used the skull tea lights to pose the photo. I forgot to photograph the side with a skellington hand charm on it.

All just a bit of fun but could make a cheap lantern just for the Hallowe'en period.

I am entering this for the Happy Daze October challenge which is anything Christmas or Hallowe'en.

Had some good news on Friday - I won the Stamp Man challenge for the Greco Roman box I made. I have given it to Col and he likes it! That is even more of a challenge!

Gingersnap Creations Challenge - Alcohol Inks

For Gingersnap Creations Alcohol Inks Challenge which starts today, I thought I would make another evening bag and use alcohol ink to change the silver chain and clasp to bronze. The Florodora stamp is by Crafty Individuals, CI148, surrounded by their flowers CI206. The fabric flowers are homemade. Around the clasp I used the lovely trim Petra gave me which I used on the Venice bag, and tied some into a bow at the centre. Of all the ribbon stash I have, this trim seems to be perfect for these bags.

The inside of these bags when you buy them is a white plastic washbag type of lining which is practical but not very nice for a vintage evening bag. This time I painted it with mushroom Paper Artsy Fresco Finish paint and it worked fine. Does anyone know when we will be getting new colours in this range as I find them so versatile?

Hope you won't get bored with these bags, as I am making some purse sized ones at the mo ......

Gingersnap Creations Challenge - Blue, Turquoise, and Purple

 

Gingersnap Creations Challenge, which launches today, is to use turquoise, blue, and purple. I made a box out of foam core board and cut a niche to fit the inside of a small matchbox, which I lined with the Crafty Individuals' Spring Paper in the colours of the challenge. I stamped the girl in the shrine from Crafty Individuals onto clay, dusted it with mica powders, and cut out the separate elements before baking. I then popped the girl into the matchbox, and the shrine around her, on the raised bit. I added a gold photo corner to highlight the shape of the roof. To finish, I glued turquoise sequinned  beaded trim around the edge, and cut out some of the flowers from it to go around the image. Finally I added a tiny clay butterfly.

Gingersnap Creations Challenge - Shared Moments

For this canvas I used Crafty Individuals' stamp CI 070 Mother and Child, Background CI 256 and Flourish CI200. I used some glass bead gel but it isn't very apparent unless you get in close, but it adds a bit of texture. I have also used pieces of flower sequin trim to bring out the peach and turquoise colours. The theme for today's Gingersnap Challenge launch is Shared Moments, and the mother and child image said that to me.

Gingersnap Creations Blogspot - Tribute to Teens Challenge

For this make for Gingersnap Creations Tribute to Teens challenge, which launches today, I have used an 8 x 8 frame from Happy Daze and CI 283 and CI 272 from Crafty Individuals, together with their Seaside background paper. I painted the outside of the frame with Paper Artsy Fresco Finish paint in Butternut, then a layer of their crackle, then a layer of Haystack. For the inside of the frame I just used the Butternut but unfortunately the colours weren't as contrasting as I had wanted.

The main images of the two girls, CI 283, I coloured with Pro Markers. As soon as I saw these stamps they made me think of two of my nieces, my two god-daughters. They are nine years apart in age but very close, and now that the youngest is 14 she is, of course, catching her older sister up in height. Whatever age they have been, they have always spent time together, and with their lovely brother too, who is between them in age. So these two stamps of the two same girls, but with the second stamp showing no difference in their heights, always makes me think affectionately about them, and also about a long walk on a North East beach we all had together a couple of years back.

I covered the frame and the backing paper with shells and wording from CI 272 in Archival Sepia, added some small real shells, and finally finished it off with some Angelina fibres in Gold Iris.

I thought this frame would fit well with the Happy Daze challenge for August which is 'Oh I do like to be beside the seaside'.

Packaging Tutorial for Gingersnaps

Over on Gingersnap Creations today I have a tutorial on using packaging materials in your art. I made this hanging using Crafty Individuals' stamps:-

If you would like to see what I used, do hop over to Gingersnaps and let me know what you think.

Gingersnap Creations Challenge - Packaging

Today is the start of a new challenge on Gingersnap Creations, to use packaging materials in your crafting:-

Sometimes I struggle to think of ideas for a challenge, but this time I was spoilt for choice! I love recycling and I use quite a few packaging items in my crafting. I wanted to use as many of these items as possible but stop before I made a dog's dinner! For my card I used my current fave stamps, Think and Wonder by Artistic Outpost from Happy Daze, with Butterfly Garden background paper, also from Happy Daze. I stamped the children and coloured and cut them out, then die cut a piece of clear packaging material with my Baroque die, and embossed it with a numbers Cuttlebug embossing folder to go with my 'first day at school' theme. In my head, big sister is taking little brother to school, holding his hand, and she is wearing her favourite red beret! This is a role reversal as it would have been my lovely brother, John, taking me to school and making sure I was ok.

I made up a black shrinkplastic Jalopy from the Tim Holtz die and made the wheels with pieces of red wire tie from freezer bags, coiled around my jewellery pliers, as I figured they are packaging (or am I stretching a point?!).
I added Bingo style Alphabet tokens to spell Love, as I love my brother and it went with my idea of learning numbers and alphabets at school. I adhered the children to the centre of the clear packaging piece and stapled it in place as staples are often used on cardboard box packaging! To pull things together a bit I edged the card with Antique Linen, which I also used on a bit of bubble wrap (more packaging!) at points around the central image.

I am very excited as I have done a packaging ideas tutorial with a fun project for Gingersnaps on the 10th! Hope you will enjoy it.

Gingersnap Challenge - Far East - Geisha Canvas

This month's Gingersnap Creations challenges are all featuring the Far East, and this week it is the turn of Geishas. I must confess, I made this little canvas a long time ago but it seemed to fit the bill, and as it has never seen the light of day, I thought I would give it an outing. It was made with the Geisha stamps from the Stamp Attack, designed by Jo from JoZart. It has a little bit of everything on it.

Here's a side view showing the writing, and depth of the canvas.

Gingersnap Creations Challenge - Sapphire Frame

Today's challenge launch on Gingersnap Creations is to use Jewel Colours in your crafting. I adore jewel colours, and today I have chosen Sapphire. I actually made the papier mache frame a few months ago, but I liked the colour and texture so much I didn't want to add anything, so it has sat there for a while. I had painted it with a sapphire blue Precious Metal paint, and then used Bronze Croco Crackling Colour over the top, to allow the sapphire to show through the cracks. Whilst it was wet I applied some torn pieces of sapphire Angelina film and then heat gunned it.

The beautiful blue glass perfume bottle, with a silver filigree flower and cap was a gift many, many years ago from my sister in law, but has been too beautiful to use, So I made a mould of it before I used it, so I can re-create it:-


The butterfly was made from this roll of butterfly packing tape which I bought for a £1 in my local Tiger. There must be hundreds of butterflies on the roll, in about five different designs. I popped one on acetate and one on grunge, cut them out and layered them and curled the petals.

 
Here's a closer shot of the background. It looks quite turquoise here, but it really is sapphire blue. I decided the perfume was going to be 'Violette Flor', so I popped this rub-on perfume label behind it.

I made some more moulds from the jewellery I bought the other day in Primark, to make two copper friendly plastic roses for the bottom corners, and added some of the chain and pearls.

Charming - Gingersnaps Charms Challenge

Today's challenge on Gingersnaps is to use charms in your creation. The charm at the top is an Art Mould, made up in gold friendly plastic.

I used the Baroque Sizzix die to cut two pieces of mountboard and two pieces of Vintage Shabby paper to give strength to the hanging and so I could sandwich the dangling charms in place, and neatly finish off the back. I used a selection of charming Art Journey children stamps, some of which I borrowed from Alison when she was here last week (thanks Alison!). I used some of the words on the background, then the images for the inside of the container, which was from Crafty Individuals.

I finished it off with some german scrap, again from Crafty Individuals, and an ABC charm.

The baby themed charms are hanging from a clothing tag, sandwiched between the layers of mountboard

A close up showing the Crown mould

Faux Mica Tile Frame

I have made this frame for a tutorial over on Gingersnap Creations Blogspot. Can you guess what I made the faux mica tiles from?!

Some Good News!

Sorry I have been very slow to give you my good news as I have had problems with Blogger. After a wonderful month as September Muse on Gingersnap Creations Blogspot, which I was sorry to see come to an end, I was delighted to be asked to stay on as Contributing Artist for a further term.

Ali and Shar have been great to work with, very relaxed, and that has made me feel more confident and comfortable about contributing, which has made me feel more creative. If you haven't joined in with Gingersnaps before, do have a look. They have some really good tutorials, with very original topics, and there is a very user-friendly index with cross-referencing so if you have a few minutes, you can have a browse and pick up some useful techniques and inspiration.

I am so happy to have been given this opportunity, and will pop the info on here when I blog for them, which should include some stepped projects/tutorials!

Gingersnaps September Muse Interview and Create Blooming Art

Sitting here in my jimjams but thought I had better let you know that it looks as if I have been busy during the night as my interview is up on the Gingersnaps Blog. I mentioned before that Ali and Shar had asked me if I would like to choose the items or should they, and I was happy for them to choose. They have chosen a nice variety of things. The one I chose as my own favourite was the first one I blogged with, the Artist Palette Wall Hanging, using the Artistic Stamper Artist Plate;-

I have a tutorial on the site on Monday which I do hope you will like, and which also uses the Artist Plate, which is one of my favourites.

I am joining in some of the challenges on Gingersnaps this month and I hope you will too, as there are some great themes.

Over on the Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog I have a little wall hanging using a new frame Jennie has brought out, with the new Flower Blooms stamps. The depth of the frame was perfect for tiny dominoes.

Sorry I started to type this earlier and got hit by a bad head but I thought I should say I am not still in my pyjamas at 4.30 pm! I would like to say a huge Thank You to Shar and Ali for giving me the opportunity to be their September Muse. Just to show that I don't take myself too seriously, and that I don't have a big head as well as a bad head, I thought I would give you the alternative interview with me, as I don't often share much personal and non-arty information. So here are a few facts about me that you probably don't know, mixed in with some bare-faced lies:-

- My Mum and I once went for a swim in the sea with Cliff Richard, just the three of us,

- When I was a kid I drank some bleach and ate a tube of Airfix Glue (on separate occasions) - Mum had the Toxic Substances Advice Line on Speed Dial!

- Not known for my drinking, I went to a Hen Night in California, got very drunk, smoked a cigar, hit my head on the underside of a table, and woke everyone up coming home at 4 am singing 'Wey Hey we're the Monkees' (and I swear I don't know the words),

- I worked in a Psychiatric Hospital for 16 years and one of the delusional and psychotic patients said I was the loveliest girl who worked there!

- At a dinner-dance at the Hilton, the waiter dropped 8 portions of steak chasseur on me from a great height, smothering me from head to toe, including my hair, in front of 200 people. They let out huge cheers and clapped as I exited the room, and the staff had to sponge me down in the ladies' changing room.

Don't think even those of you who come for play-dates at my house will know if all this is true - we will see!

Gingersnap Creations Blog - Birthday Postcards Swap

Hels organized the UK end of the Gingersnap Creations Blog Birthday Postcards swap - thanks, Hels! The brief was postcard size items with a Happy Birthday Gingersnaps theme, as they are one year old.

The pencil background stamp is from Lost Coast from Happy Daze, and the other stamps are from the Artistic Stamper. I used glossy postcards, and stamped the pencils with either White StazOn or Jet Black StazOn. I then brayered over the top with Kaleidacolor in Baby Powder. With the white background I stamped directly onto the card, and with the black background I brayered some more glossy card, stamped the images, then decoupaged them over the top. The Happy Birthday wording is being held by the mannequin, which was Von's idea as she was here with me when I was making them. The Creativity wording is Tim Holtz, and the other images are all from the Artistic Stamper Artist Plate. I love this plate and use it such a lot!

Gingersnap Creations Birthday Card - Week 4 Romance Challenge

This is my entry for the final week of the Gingersnap Creations Romance Challenge, in conjunction with the Artistic Stamper and their new range of Twenties' Ladies stamps. As it is Gingersnaps birthday, I made an accordion card in black and white with a hint of pink, and used the Artistic Stamper flower stamp which reminded me of Charles Rennie Mackintosh in its style. I finished off the front of the card with ribbon which I coloured with a pink ink pad, and some metal beads.