The Artistic Stamper

woyww... if music be the food of love

2012-02-01T00:01:00.002Z

Hi, and prepare yourselves for a long post for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday . hosted by the uber organised Mrs Dunnit, and the stipulations of it are that you show your desk! Well mine is full of rubbish ( OK, crafty stuff!) and hasn't been touched since last week! Now should I own up and tell you that I have another desk? LOL. It is actually a space that is higher and I can stand at and use my meltpot, and heat gun. Not that comfortable for creating on... I haven't taken a picture of that either as it is now covered in paperwork! So instead I have a rosy heart I have made especially for our Creative Team Challenge which starts today, being that it is the 1st of February.. how did we get to the beginning of February without me noticing? Anyway I digress. I made lots of mini roses using Tim's Tattered Pine Cone die, and followed these instructions by Creations by Christie. I have to say that practise makes perfect, and I did a lot of practising on these!! To make them, I used Core-dinations paper, and layered some with Tim Holtz's Music Tissue wrap, and left some plain. I used a papier mache heart for the base, and made lots of the roses. All of them were sprayed with Perfect Pearl Mists in Interference Red, and some were dipped into clear UTEE in my meltpot, to make faux porcelain roses. I hot glued them onto the heart. The saying "if music be the food of love" comes to mind!

I do hope that after you have hopped over to Julia's to see all the other wonderful desks, that you will hop back to mine and have a look at the Creative Team's gorgeous heart creations!
Have a very Happy Woyww day.

Pin It

altered books...

2012-01-27T11:14:00.000Z

It hasn't been a good week :( I haven't done a piece of artwork or even got an ink pad to paper....Suddenly it is Friday, and I am feeling bereft of artiness, so I thought I would show you a sneaky peek of one of my altered books. I am sure I have shown it before many moons ago, but this time it is to promote my up and coming workshops at Pickleberry Papercrafts and at It's Crafting Time. Never torn up a book, or painted pages? Then I will take away those fears, and show you how. I guarantee you will be hooked! All the details for the workshops are down the side of my blog.

Off now to nurse my tooth which was fiddled with this morning.. hoping the very nice dentist has fixed the pain!
Have a creative day

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday...

2012-01-25T00:01:00.002Z

In my case not a lot this week, as I have been busy doing other things! Workshops, tax returns (yuck!) and generally making a mess elsewhere! I did manage to get around a few desks last week, and had hoped to do more.. this week I promise to do better! The remains of some workshop flowers are just waiting on my desk for some divine inspiration and time!

Now if you have a fear of never letting anyone see your workdesk mess ( it's called deskitis!!oooh I think I invented a new word..lol) ... jump over to Julia, Queen of desks for an insight into how other people work! It might inspire you to join in :))
have a very happy Wednesday...
hugs from me and my desk!

Workshop meltdown!

2012-01-23T08:21:00.000Z

On Saturday I travelled down to Fareham near Portsmouth with my chauffeur ..lol( I am so lucky that DH loves driving!) to take a meltpot/alcohol ink class at Jendeninks. Eleven wonderfully creative ladies joined me to learn a few techniques in using the meltpot and alcohol inks. I always love what happens when you put stamps, tags, colour, UTEE and alcohol inks in front of people and give them techniques to learn. Here are a few photos of some of the absolutely gorgeous creations that were made in my mini masterclass.

Thank you girls, it was brilliant day, and thank you to Jenny for putting up with me!
Have a creative day

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday....137

2012-01-18T00:01:00.012Z

Now I could be a great big liar, and tell you that my desk is overflowing with works in progress, and that I cannot show you anything...or I could say that I am having the winter blues, or that I have been too busy doing the dreaded paperwork this week, and post a picture of my desk from last week. In fact, my desk hasn't been used at all since last week, as all the above are true in some form or another! VAT, tax forms, wip, orders and workshop prep means that I really haven't got an inkpad out since last week... feeling very uninked! LOL. I have, however, got a desk or two to show you from my workshop on Saturday at Pickleberry, which is closely followed this Saturday by one at Jendenink near Fareham (there a couple of spaces left if you fancy a day of getting inky). So this is my play space this week,

with the wonderful girls who spent time creating something similar to this,

and then there was this and THIS is a work in progress! A Tattered Floral die Rose that has the faux porcelain technique applied to it on top of a tag I managed to throw together on Saturday while teaching a technique!

If you think that I have waffled long enough about desks, then head yourselves over to Mrs Dunnit's to see lots and lots more desks, and apologies to all who popped in last week, I never got a moment to pop by yours. Hope to do better this week!
Have a very happy woyww day!

Winner of the birthday blog candy!

2012-01-16T07:38:00.000Z

A good frosty morning to you. I hope you had a creative weekend. Now i almost forgot to draw the winner of my birthday blog candy.. and just remembered this morning! I had a wonderful number of over 200 comments.. you do love a good candy :))... so Mr Random.org picked a number, and I scrolled down the names to pick the winner.. so please step up to he podium...drum roll please maestro....

HELEN

Congratulations, and please email me your snail mail address, so I can get your goodies off to you.

Thank you to everyone who joined in the candy, and watch this space for more soon:))
Have a creative day
Hugs

What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 136

2012-01-11T07:51:00.000Z

Now in all honesty. I very nearly didn't take part in this weeks What's On Your Workdesk. I mean last week I missed it, and the week before I think... post Christmas lethargy is setting in, and it is definitely time to clear the decks, and clean up! Take a look at the complete mess on the desk, and it has been like this for several weeks now! Not good :(

I have just spent more than 20 minutes trying to upload this picture...grrr I finally uploaded it in html view..anyone else having this problem?
If you haven't got a clue what on earth I am wittering on about, then hop over to Julia's ,Queen of all workdesks, and have a look at some of the brilliant workspaces in the world!
I am unashamedly going to plug some candy I have on offer for my birthday last Saturday, which also coincided with The Tim Holtz ( we are twins, in case you hadn't realised! LOL) so please do enter... you have to be in it to win it!
Have a very happy woyww day
Hugs

Birthday Bonanza Card & Candy!

2012-01-07T00:01:00.007Z

Today is my birthday! I am very lucky to share it with Tim Holtz and another very talented friend of mine, Tracy! January babies are the best!
The question is how I could celebrate all our birthdays in one? Linda from Grungy Monday Challenge solved my problem for me earlier this week, by setting a challenge that was to make Tim a birthday card. How could I refuse? So here is my card, which is a tag cut down, linked to another to form the card and Stampers Anonymoused, Rangered, Idea-ologied, and Sizzixed to honour Tim. Thank you Linda for the challenge, loved that it happened to be my birthday too :))

As you know I love any excuse to celebrate, so here is my birthday celebration for you... a whopping , mega bunch of candy!!

Just comment here and if you would like another chance comment over on the Creative Team blog, and add me to your sidebar too....entirely up to you.
I will post anywhere in the world,and will pick the lucky winner next Saturday..
Happy Birthday to Tim, and to everyone else who celebrates their birthday today
Hugs

It's SALE time!

2012-01-05T10:24:00.000Z

Hello, and I do hope that you had a brilliant break (if you had one), and are getting back into the swing of things! Now the same cannot be said of me, as my entire studio looks like a bomb has hit it, and needs a good winter spring clean! A job for today while the winds howl around outside, and it is cosy and warm inside! I don't make resolutions for the new year, and although I don't, one passed my mind that perhaps I should try to blog more often, even if it wasn't a piece of artwork, and so with that in mind, here are details of a GREAT SALE with up to 25% off everything at The Artistic Stamper, a perfect time to get those stamps you have always wanted, or with even more off these- Perfect Pearl Mists

And just in case you haven't seen, and would like a kick start to your 2012 crafting check out The Creative Team artwork .. fabulous creations to start the new year with Sarah Engels-Greer as our guest designer.

Have a more creative day than me... it is a paperwork and perhaps a tidy up day for me ...yuck!
Hugs

Happy New Year, and time for a new challenge!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.001Z

Hello and Happy New Year.. welcome to 2012! I am amazed as to where the past year has gone, and I could waffle on about what has happened , and what I have achieved etc etc...but I like to look forward and to set new challenges for myself.. resolutions?? nah... don't do them, although getting tidier might be an option!! This is my 700th post!!! where has the time gone? and for it I am introducing a new Creative Team challenge for a new year! This month the challenge is VINTAGE. I made this little card using some of the photographic images we have in our stamps.. how I made this, and to see all the wonderful creations the girls have made, hop, skip and fly through inter galactic space to The Creative Team blog!

Now a little bird told me we have SALE on at the website.. what better way to celebrate the new Year and my monumentous ( is there such a word? if not I have just created one!) post!
Have a wonderfully creative New Year's day!
Hugs

Au Revoir and hello to 2012

2011-12-31T00:01:00.017Z

I hate goodbyes, (au revoir is so much nicer) so, as 2011 draws to a close, The Artistic Stamper Creative Team is saying au revoir to Hels.
I first encountered Hels about 4 years ago when I joined a forum, and came across her work on her blog. This inspired me to start my own blog ( who'd have thought that blogging would become so big !) , and I, in turn asked her to create some artwork for us here at The Artistic Stamper. The rest they say is history!
Hels has been my Creative Co-ordinator for the past 4 years, and I will miss her , not only for her creative artwork, inspiration and ideas, but for her "behind the scenes" help, whenever I have needed it. She has organised all the Creativity that you see on the Team blog, and even designed her own stamps within The Artistic Stamper family... Stitchels. A BIG THANK YOU Hels for a great four years.

We also said au revoir to Nicky ( aka Minxy) who has always made me smile with her innovative artwork. Nicky had been with The Artistic Stamper for about 3 years , and will be missed for her gorgeous innovative artwork, and her inspiration using our stamps.

Finally Tina has decided to leave the team, and her artwork using Mabel Lucie Attwell has never failed to inspire!

A BIG THANK YOU to all my team.
To see more of our wonderful artists pop over and browse through our wonderfully creative artwork on The Creative Team blog.

Happy New Year! I will be back next year!!
Hugs
Jennie

O Christmas tree....

2011-12-25T00:01:00.002Z

Merry Christmas to you! This is a little open book for you made with a Tim Holtz rosette tree, and lots of glitter!

I hope you have a very merry ( hic) Christmas with your families and loved ones, and that you spend the holiday thinking warm and inky thoughts! LOL
Hugs xx

Christmas wrapped up!

2011-12-23T13:29:00.000Z

Hi, and I hope that by the time you read this, you will have made those mince pies, decorated your tree, wrapped those presents, and be sitting comfortably with a large glass of something potent! I do hope so, as I am still wrapping, decorating, and baking! Nothing new in that..LOL
I thought I would show you a configurations box I made last week at a workshop...and as I now have two of them, so I think that counts as a tradition!

I will be back tomorrow with my final Christmas piece, but in the meantime I am off to start rolling out that pastry...( now seriously, you really think I make pastry?!!) LOL... all ready rolled and cut.. mince pies and a sherry methinks are in order!
Have a creative day
xx

woyww...rocking around the Christmas Tree

2011-12-21T00:01:00.002Z

Now it is the week before Christmas, which gives me a great opportunity to say A BIG THANK YOU to Julia and all her wonderful What's On Your Workdesk Wednesdayers. Without fail every Wednesday, more than one person comes to look at my desk.. OK admittedly, I am lax in returning the favour..it always seems by the middle of the week, I am playing catch up with everything, including commenting, but I always appreciate everyone who stops by. So, a big Christmas Tree Merry Christmas from my desk today!

I must admit it was push it, shove it back scenario to get this little baby on my desk, but it has made my workspace so Christmassy, and given me an opportunity to hang the baubles I made for a class ( added a couple of Tim tags too :)) By the way do you decorate the back of your tree even if you can't see it? hands up those who don't! My hand is up!! LOL

I hope you have a great time, eat too much, drink too much and enjoy the time with your family.
Happy Christmas to all woywwers!
Hugs

Blue Christmas...

2011-12-19T08:10:00.000Z

I always spend the run up to Christmas making cards in the vain hope I might actually get them in the post, or in the case of friends through their letterboxes! I often make the same ones, get a production line going, and in this case, die cutting galore! I used sticky back foil, Tim's bauble die , some very unchristmassy paper from the Shabby Chic Vintage Paper stack, and lots of glue! I cut out the baubles in the sticky back foil layered onto glossy card, and ran it through a snowflake embossing folder..Add some alcohol ink to the die cut bauble, matted and layered the card ( my matting is far from straight ( will anyone notice? LOL) and my production line is ready... only trouble is I have far too many to make to catch the last first class post by tomorrow...:((

I expect you are far more organised than me.. I mean I still have Christmas presents to buy...
Have a very creative day
Hugs

It's a Christmas birthday!

2011-12-18T07:36:00.001Z

Good morning on this very cold and frosty morning. Can you believe it now a week to Christmas, and I am STILL making cards! As for the Christmas present shopping, well that is for later in the week..LOL Mind you I have got all the ingredients, almost, for a slap up Christmas meal, my sherry filled chocolates, and my homemade mince pies! Love making goodies for Christmas... Now do you have a birthday around Christmas? I do , and often it goes uncelebrated, just because people are worn out and broke after Christmas.. do I sound like a bah humbug.. yep! However, Friday was my step daughter Lorraine's birthday, and I made her this tag ( in true Tim Holtz style) to go with her present.. A bit of Christmas with a birthday combined! Ever wondered why we never use tinsel except at Christmas?

Hope you have a very creative day!

12 Tags of Christmas- Day 12

2011-12-13T06:14:00.001Z

I cannot believe how fast 12 days go! I even managed to finish each tag before Tim published the next one. Absolutely chuffed with myself! I still am not sure how I did it, but I did!:))) Thank you Tim for your brilliant ideas, and hard work, not forgetting Mario behind the scenes on twitter..brilliantly funny goings on! Every tag had something magical on it, and this one has that gorgeous tissue paper flower on it...feel a lot of flowers coming on..lol! Have to say I only have one alphabet die from Mr Holtz, and it was the wrong one, so I used the Kraft Resist Chipboard alphas instead and silver dabbered them, and edged them in black. Don't have the houses die either, so hand cut that too! Loved this tag! Now which was your favourite? Mine is all of them. I mean how could you choose? LOL
Don't forget our special offer for any orders this week until Sunday...( a massive 20% off- code 13tags) why am I whispering this ? LOL just don't tell everyone, they will all want it!
Have a very creative day
Hugs

12 Tags of Christmas- Tag 11

2011-12-12T06:46:00.000Z

A very good morning to you, and here I am wide awake..not, writing my post for Tim's 12 Tags at 6.30 in the morning! Yawn! But I am determined to beat my own record, and hope I don't fall at the last post! Sadly only one more to go, and then back to normality, and the business of everyday life..LOL I loved the little elements of this tag.. my favourite, UTEE and Shrink Plastic! oh and a ribbon! LOL The random blog candy went to Artbyvic.... Congratulations! She was the first to notice it..lol
Have a very creative day
Hugs

12 Tags of Christmas- Tag 10

2011-12-11T06:20:00.000Z

Hi, and welcome to a Sunday morning, 13 days from Christmas..eek.. not made all my cards, bought many presents, although we did buy the Tree yesterday, and ended up in our town having coffee with some friends ( a lovely welcome break :) cappuccino and a toasted teacake.

Now onto the tag of the day! I found my Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearl mist which had decided to jump drawers and be amongst his friends from another line of Ranger's! I am wondering if I rubbed a little too hard on the back of the tape as my pictures are quite pale....and again I cut my tattered banner, but I made it... tag 10 done! I photographed it this morning at a silly hour, and loaded it up on the blog, only to discover I hadn't quite finished it.. doh!... a random prize goes the first person to tell me what is missing from my tag:)) To check look at the original from Mr Holtz.

Two more tags to go, and then what do I do with my days?...it has become a way of life..LOL

Have a great and creative day

Hugs

12 Tags of Christmas-Tag 9

2011-12-10T06:22:00.001Z

Good Morning to you from an even chillier Kent this morning. Not quite Jack Frost weather yet, but how would I know, it is a little dark out there...one of the horrid nuisances of getting up at silly o'clock! Anyway, I am on track to beat my own record, of posting every tag before the next one, and today I followed Ted Cutts of Stampers Anonymous and used the lamppost. ( Do I have the candelabra...no :( ) So lamppost it is! Love the background technique of this one, but one of the tags curled up, and I couldn't flatten it. I used The Artistic Stamper background stamps for both of them.. well technically one of them..I used the Baroque background and the other is our snowflake FREE stamp this month with all orders! Love that you can twist it around to create a background.

Did you know you can get 10% off all orders until 13th December.. just use the code 12tags, and get the snowflake stamp too into the bargain!
Have a creative Saturday.. see you tomorrow
Hugs

12tags of Christmas- Day 8

2011-12-09T07:14:00.000Z

A very chilly morning to you, and here I am with Christmas Tag 8, and only by the skin of my teeth! LOL. My personal aim is to do all 12 tags and blog them before Tim blogs the new one! So far, so good, I think. This one was more tricky, and needed to be left to dry overnight, as the stickles do stay wet for a while. personally i like this one, and even though I don't have the weathered clock die ( you can get it from the shop!) I used the cogs die instead...alternatives are the name of the game :)
Anyway, I have waffled far too much, here is my Tag of the day!

Thank you to Mr Holtz for Christmas inspiration!
Have a creative day

12 Tags of Christmas-Tag 7

2011-12-08T05:26:00.001Z

Good Morning to you, and I am back with Tag no 7 of the tag making marathon that is gripping the world! OK, well maybe not the world, but certainly the world of tag making! Tim made a gorgeous tag for the 7th day, and I have replicated it as I do, as best as I can. Admittedly I didn't have quite enough colours of the stains.. for some reason I don't have Pumice Stone or Forest Moss in my collection... must be an oversight, and I used a little bit too much gold in my leaves...must practice harder, and they were the 2nd set I made as the first blew away in the wind! really!! I was carrying all the elements to my car , after making most of it at Pickleberry Papercrafts yesterday, I slipped off the step ( I am so clumsy) and whoosh, Holly leaves whipped away in the wind! Doh! Anyway here is my finished tag. May be late tomorrow , as am out today, and may not have time to do one.

Have a creative day

woyww-for Sarah

2011-12-07T05:47:00.000Z

I know today is What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, and I should be showing a picture of my desk, but as I learnt yesterday of the sudden and untimely passing of Sarah Lawrence from Craftynotions, I thought I would dedicate today's post to her.
Sarah and I had a working relationship, which always involved lots of long phone calls ( she loved to talk!) and from time to time we would see each other at shows. I had the pleasure of having her demonstrate for me on one or two occasions, and her banter and dedication to her craft was infectious! She had a heart of gold, and loved to impart knowledge and to give.. a girl after my own heart. I will miss her terribly, as will hundreds of other people, and my heart goes out to David, Tom and Fran.
Sarah, may your desk stay messy and forever creative. I shall miss you ... "toodle-pip" my friend.

Halfway through... Tag no 6

2011-12-06T19:09:00.000Z

Today I have finished Tag no 6 of Mr Holtz's marathon tag making for Christmas a little earlier than normal, so here it is! Have to say wasn't totally sure about this one, but actually the making of it was quite therapeutic, and not at all stressful- just what I needed :) LOL

Have a very creative evening

Right Tag Right Day... number 5!

2011-12-06T00:01:00.001Z

After yesterday's faux pas..spotted by a twitterer, I am now back on track, and wishing I really was psychic,! as it would be lovely to know what Mr Holtz had planned for today's tag!. I love this one, and I know lots of people didn't have the Seasonal Reflections, but it was still simple to do without them. You can use a regular stamp and just keep it the right way up, or use a picture stamp and then turn it around. I used the packaging, instead of plastic sheet, and loved the effect the removing of the black Archival has, but then I love anything with Alcohol inks :)) Tried out a round Fragment charm too :))
Must admit failed to read the instructions, and used Core'dinations instead of grungepaper.. and only used one set of leaves! Always pays to read instructions if you are making like for like!

I have a busy day today watching Hels on Create and Craft TV, and wishing her the best of luck....
Have a creative day

Tag 4 - 12 Tags of Christmas

2011-12-05T06:44:00.001Z

It is far to cold to be sittng here at 6am to be typing a blog post,( no snow here, but cold nonetheless) but here I am with Tag no 4 of Lord Tim of Holtz's 12 tags of Christmas! I am loving all the tag and the techniques he is showing us. Not seen them, then pop over here and be amazed :)
Here is my version, and in true time honoured fashion as close as I could get to his version.

If like me you haven't got all the supplies ( Joanne pointed this out to me yesterday! LOL) you could shop at The Artistic Stamper and pick them up.. we even have a 10% off ( code 12tags)
Have a very Creative day
Hugs

Sunday Morning Tag 3

2011-12-04T12:59:00.000Z

Hi, After yesterday's workshop, I did think I might not make this tag in time, but I did! I have to say I didn't have the gold heirloom Perfect Pearl Mist, so used copper instead, and my berries look at little undernourished....might spend a bit of time re making this one!

How are you doing with yours? Off now to do tag 4.. well start it anyway ( might be a little while...lol)
Have a Creative Sunday

Christmas Tag 2

2011-12-03T00:01:00.005Z

Hello to you this morning! Well I managed today's tag, and I loved the background technique, ..didn't have the On The Edge die ( not sure why??!) so used another one...and had no greenery either... but quite like what I made...I mean no glitter.. thank heavens, my entire studio is covered in it. I know I am messy but it is even in the air! Have had to put the tag in a bag to stop the shedding... silly stuff!

I will be back tomorrow with tag 3 if I get time.. off to teach a class later today, mince pies and carols! oh, and lots of chocolate!
Have a creative day

Christmas Tag 1.....

2011-12-02T00:01:00.002Z

Now , if you haven't heard or have been in outer Mongolia for the past month, Lord Tim of Holtz has started his 12 days of Tags, and like the past 3 years, I am playing along.. bit like a game.. will I keep up or will I flag, and fall at the last hurdle?
My aim is to make as similar tag as Tim's , and if I haven't got the product use an alternative.
Today I managed to make all of it , but didn't have the Tattered banner, so cut my own . But I can tell you now, I HATE glitter, it is everywhere... in my fingernails, down my top (oops glittery to bed, I think), on the floor, everywhere! Yuck! But I am so pleased with the end result, that I will forgive the person who invented the stuff!

Now if you would like to join in the marathon, and need stash, The Artistic Stamper has a brilliant offer for you...10% off all orders for the 12 Days of Tim's Tags.. code in the discount box-12tags- simple! AND we are giving away FREE Stamps too!

Have a very non glittery day!
Hugs

It's looking a lot like Christmas.....

2011-12-01T00:01:00.005Z

A pinch and a punch for the 1st of the month... my goodness December has arrived quick this year! , and it certainly has started with a cracker! Not only do we have The Creative Team challenge, but Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas start later this morning.. about 8am UK time, and I will be hoping to make each one every day...if I don't run out of steam!
I have made a tag in Tim style over on the Creative Team blog. Loving all the gorgeous Christmassy creations!
Here is a sneak peek of mine.....

Don't forget to join in our challenge, and if you are creating the 12 tags, then please add every one you make...more chances to win :))
As a little extra to my wonderfully creative customers, this month we have a FREE stamp for every order placed, AND even more too... watch out for my next post.....
Happy Creating!

WOYWW- clean sweep

2011-11-30T05:45:00.000Z

Now I could say that I have made a clean sweep of my work desk, but I am sorry to disappoint you, but no I haven't! It is still the same, and sadly not much on it, as I am still working on secret projects and gearing my mind up for Tim's Tags on 1st December. I have done them for the past 2 years, and always have a special offer during the 12 days, so do check back on Thursday. Instead the clean sweep refers to my blog, which I have cleaned up, and will be doing more housekeeping soon...just wish I could do it to the surrounding areas of my desk, and even the desk itself! Not much hope of that!
Still it is Wednesday, I am waffling, and it is the day we show the world, our desks courtesy of Queen Julia , who has decreed we do so! here is mine in all it regal glory! There is a little show of one of the decorations that I am teaching on Saturday.. a sort of sneaky peek :)

Have a great What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday!

Covering the Page...

2011-11-27T00:01:00.004Z

Hi, Today is my turn over on The Creative Team Blog, where I hope I have done some altered pages for you, and a little tutorial :)) This is a very sneaky peek....

I would love to hear what you think, so please do comment over there, and let me know what you think :)
Hoping you have a creative day
Hugs

Coneing it!

2011-11-24T00:01:00.003Z

Pine coneing it that is....LOL I finally got round to using Tim's new Tattered Pine Cone die, and following his instructions here, I made my first one! I actually used Kraft Glassine paper, and because I am mean, I used an envelope which are far cheaper and will open up nicely. I didn't worry about the creases because I scrunched up the paper after I had die cut it. Lots of Perfect Pearls Perfect Pearl mist, and dried immediately so you get the droplets forming into nice little blobs of mica:)

More rosettes, ( on a rosette kick right now!), and I discovered by accident that if you stamp with Stazon Metallic in Platinum first and ink over in Archival you get a shadowy effect..nice!

Hoping the photos do it justice.
I must admit I now have a little bit of time to play with ideas, and hoping to blog most days at least for the moment! LOL
Have a very creative day

Woyww... a wintery distressed giveaway!

2011-11-23T00:01:00.005Z

Well, it is Wednesday again, and I am back with the view of my desk.. which is looking very distressed,( that's messy in layman's terms!) and more than full! I have to say that I did "acquire" one of the new trinket boxes from Mr Holtz, and I am rapidly filling it up!

I am in the throws of several projects none of which I can show you yet... some for a magazine, and some for workshops in 2012! and if I get my skates on, I might even make Christmas cards! I did say that my desk was a little distressed.. it is groaning under all the weight of piles of craftyness, and to relieve some of the burden, I am giving away a set of WINTER DISTRESS INKS! why? Just because!

So if you fancy being in with the chance of winning this set, and this ATC then just leave a comment.

To get another chance to win, just go to the Creative Team blog too, ( all the details on how I made the ATC are there) and leave a comment there too! that's 2 chances, and for a 3rd chance, add me to your blog sidebar if you have one... I will be choosing the winner on December 3rd, so watch this space!
I am hoping to get round to all the What's On Your Workdesks which is hosted by the ever chatty Mrs Dunnit, today, but please don't hold me to it...got to make art too!
Happy Woywwing, and good luck in the blog candy draw
Hugs

Christmas is coming...

2011-11-19T08:34:00.001Z

Oh I have uttered the big C word! This is all the cause of promotion, and self satisfaction! LOL Have I finished my Christmas cards, you ask? or my Christmas shopping? NO! not much chance of that! I haven't even started yet, and as for making cards.. well it will be the same as last year...bought cards:(! Seriously though I have made a start on my Christmas decorations, and I am hosting a workshop making some Jennie style ones at Pickleberry Papercrafts on the 3rd of December. I have been getting very inky and painty, and here is a sneak peek of a couple of them.

We do have a couple of spaces left if you fancy a day eating mince pies, and singing Christmas songs! That is as well as getting inky and messy creating ornaments for your tree!
You can book it here or call Kate on 01795 597757

I am hoping for a very creative day today.. lots of new ideas floating in my head for next years workshops!
Have an equally creative one
Hugs

What's On Your Workdesk- post of the week!

2011-11-16T00:01:00.002Z

Well Wednesday crept up on me again, and I really have no idea what happened to the rest of the week, but I always manage to post a view of my desk on a Wednesday even if it has nothing on it! However this week, it has a page or two of my ongoing altered book, where I mess with ideas. I started this book about 10 years ago at a workshop at CHA , and it does contain some good stuff, and some not so good stuff. These pages are using new large A4 masks, and lots of gesso, and even more Colorwash, and Perfect Pearls mists... very quick to do apart from the drying, and I still am not sure whether to add more gold and blue....decisions.. decisions! Anyway, here is my desk, in accordance to the rules of What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, hosted by the delectable Mrs Dunnit! A more than slightly odd view of my desk.. makes me feel giddy looking at it!

I am showing you mine, and hopefully you will show me yours!
Have a creative Wednesday

eleven, eleven, eleven

2011-11-11T11:11:00.004Z

Today is the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the eleventh year in the 21st century! Now, I have decided to post this at eleven minutes past the hour of the eleventh hour of the day, and am hoping that blogger will be kind to me, and do it! I made a tag in honour of Remembrance Day, lest we forget!
The tag was made using the age old technique of serendipity. I inked some paper and stamped some, cut up into small sqaures, and mixed them up, glued them down and then added the numbers 11. I made a poppy from grungepaper, using the Tattered Floral die, and inked it with distress stains which are on offer this month.

Hoping you have a creative eleventh day!

woyww..it's all in the detail

2011-11-09T07:17:00.000Z

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday hosted by the delectable Mrs Dunnit, is always a wake up call to me to remember to post something exciting and gorgeous on my blog! I have to admit, I haven't posted for five days, but I have an excuse, as we have been so busy posting out the new Distress Winter inks, and hosting a workshop at Pickleberry! OK, not really an excuse, but its good enough for me! This is all about the desk, and my desk this week is the one at Pickleberry , surrounded by wonderful women, Carol, Sue, Sandra and Rosemary, here holding up their mixed media mini books :)) We had a good laugh, and lots of iced buns!

Thank you to Julia for being the hostess with the mostest....and for desk much more exciting than mine , pop over here for a wander round the world :)
Have a creative day
Hugs

Winner of the UKS blog hop!

2011-11-04T09:33:00.000Z

Finally I have found time to choose my winner for the £20.00 voucher for a selection of goodies from The Artistic Stamper shop! I was amazed and humbled by all the comments.. 175 or so.. and loved that you loved the birdie :))
So without much further ado! the winner of the candy is

Ann Freeman ( mafswife)

Congratulations, and please email me so I can get your candy to you :)
Have a very creative Day

Love , love , love the new Seasonal inks!

2011-11-03T07:50:00.000Z

Hi!
Last night , I got my first set of the new Seasonal Winter Distress inks, and they turned up so late that when they arrived, I squealed, opened the box up, and immediately started inking with a set of them! Not good for a controlled, calm and unexcitable person like myself! LOL
I am just loving the colours which are definitely evocative of Christmas! oooh what was that word I uttered?! CHRISTMAS! eeek! Horror! but they are the most lovely luscious colours.. do you think that I am liking them? ROFL

Now because in the same parcel I also had some Autumn Distress inks, if you haven't got any of them yet, you can buy them together :)) just click here for the details.
Now I am off for a very important interview today, and I must pack up some of my orders of the Winter Distress inks first!
Have a very creative and inky day!
Hugs

woyww...it's dark outside...

2011-11-02T06:25:00.000Z

Oh my! It crept up on me.. slowly, then a little faster, till I realised that today is Wednesday, and I should have taken a photo of my desk to show the world! So with a hurried hand, I took this for you.. a desk that has had a bag from a supermarket emptied onto it! Christmas, pens and underneath a whole big mess!

You see I have been somewhat occupied, as yesterday I was part of a blog hop from UKSCrappers, and I did this little tutorial, and will be giving away some goodies, so I guess you have a day or so to join in the fun :))
I hope to be round today to check out your much neater and less harassed desks, so have a Happy What's On Your Workdesk day!
Hugs

UK Scrappers One Day Blog Hop!- Blog Candy galore!

2011-11-01T08:00:00.023Z

Hi, and welcome to the UKScrappers forum Sponsors blog hop! If you have come here via UKScrappers, then you should have travelled via Art from The Heart, and you have landed on The Artistic Stamper blog! We are giving away a random prize today of a £20 Voucher for our shop, and if you comment please put your name from UKS on there too, and you will be entered into their prize draw too! If you have never heard of UK Scrappers, now is the time to join!

I have done a mini tutorial using the Shabby Chic technique with Dabbers and embossing powder.

To make this I used one of our gorgeous wooden birds, and started off by painting a dark dabber background on the bird, and letting it dry.

Stamp your favourite stamp ( I used a calligraphic mat) on top using Versamark or an embossing ink pad, and cover with clear embossing powder.

Heat to set. when cool, add several colours of lighter Acrylic Dabbers, and blend with a piece of cut n dry. allow to dry thoroughly.

Finally spritz a clean cloth with water, and gently dab off the paint where the embossing is to reveal the dark background. Always looks stunning!

So, a £20.00 voucher up for grabs, prizes from UKScrappers, and lots of tutorials from lots of great companies! What more could you want? LOL

If you are following the blog hop, your next port of call is Bubbly Scrumptious.
Thank you for visiting, and don't forget to comment... you have to be in it to win it!
Happy Creating!

Bewitching!

2011-10-31T00:01:00.000Z

'Tis the night of ghosts and ghouls and of trick and treating! I went trick and treating on Saturday and found myself in a class at Pickleberry being taught by Julie, and it was a pleasure to come away with this ghostly alterations box!

Today is also my day for my turn on The Creative Team blog, and even more ghostly delights await you there... please do go and check out what I have made :))

I do hope that you will fly by on your broomstick tomorrow, as I am taking part in a blog hop, with lots of prizes, and a tutorial too!
Have a very spooktacular day:))

woyww...

2011-10-26T05:49:00.000+01:00

It's Wednesday already, and I just cannot understand where the rest of the week has gone! I mean it is almost the weekend!¬ LOL My desk is a mess... I expect you are glad to see that! Several unfinished projects on it... will I ever finish them? probably! Now Julia, the queen of blog hopping always maintains that we should show a large picture of our desk, followed by a little blurb.. I am maintaining those rules today! No waffle...oops here I go waffling again... so if you need, want, have to see desks that are neater,(always in my case!) messier, better looking than yours leap into hyperspace, and pop over to Julia's!

I for one , am having a me day with my daughter whose 24th Birthday it is today, (what happened to all those years in between?!), and I will be round to see yours later.
Hope you have a creative happy day!

Day of Creation!

2011-10-25T09:39:00.000+01:00

On Saturday I taught a workshop at Pickleberry Papercrafts using Tim's Printers Tray, and although there were only 4 of us, we had a very creative and fun time! I just have to say a big thank you to Rosemary, Karen and Jackie ( who came all the way down from Scotland to be there..yea!) for giving me a great time, and for creating the most lovely work:))Here they are being busy :))

and here is part of Karen's box,

and Rosemary's..

for some reason Jackie 's photo was black...oops... camera obviously had a mental! Here are a couple of creations .. the reindeer was Karen's done with UTEE, loved the effect, and the head is mine :)

Thank you girls I had a blast!
If you fancy a workshop with me, the current ones till the end of the year are on my sidebar.
Have a creative day

Take a piece of paper....

2011-10-22T00:01:00.000+01:00

Today it is my turn to show you a little technique over on The Artistic Stamper Creative Team blog. here is a very little sneaky peek of what I made....

Hope you have a very creative day... I am spending the day making a mess and getting inky at Pickleberry Papercrafts! Cannot wait.. will be lots of fun:))
Hugs

Paint, paint, paint everywhere!-Workshop with Dina Wakley

2011-10-20T07:42:00.002+01:00

Having spent a glorious three days being taught , (not teaching) by Dina Wakley I have decided that I am messy! The entire weekend , Friday through Sunday was spent using paints, which I managed to get everywhere! ( Sorry Dy! LOL) i even found them up my arm after I had showered !! Don't ask me how, but my new handbag acquired gesso inside it!! Miss Messy indeed! LOL I spent the entire weekend in the presence of some wonderful ladies, Teresa, (who was kind enough to invite me out to dinner with her friends..thank you I had the best time) Liz, Nikki, Hannah, and Chris.
For those of you who asked, I did get to Betty's and sat in the window, sipping a Viennois coffee (yummy) and eating their chocolate biscuits! I even managed to shop in Leeds on the way home!

Sewing anyone?

I almost forgot in my excitement to show you what we made! Day 1 was a birdie canvas, containing lots of paint and pencil. Do you like it? mmmm think it needs work....

Day 2 was my favorite.. a Coptic stitched book, which I loved creating, with lots of painted pages and stamping using Dina's stamps... still a work in progress...

The final day for me , was hard, intuitive painting is not one of my strong points, but I persevered, and the challenge for me was quite hard! I only admit this to people I know! LOL! The final outcome was to make this into a book.

I do admit I loved it once it was made.

It was a glorious messy painty weekend. Thank you to Dina and Dyan , I am full of ideas that take me out of the norm, and into getting messy!!

woyww- awol again!

2011-10-19T05:49:00.000+01:00

I cannot believe that it is Wednesday again, and the post for What's On Your workdesk seems to be the only one that I post! Time to rectify this I think! I must admit I do have an excuse this time, as I have been away up in Harrogate, doing a wonderful 3 day workshop with the gorgeous Dina Wakley at Art from the Heart! This would explain my complete lack of activity on my desk! See no mess, just strategically placed goodies and some ghosts ready for Halloween !

This post is short and sweet, and to the point! and tomorrow I will be back with a couple of the pieces I made at the workshop... here is a taster for you :))

I hope to get round to a few desks today, but have to say that blogger is till making my life a misery, as commenting is such a mission, so I may not comment, but will definitely have visited!
Happy woywwing!

woyww-tea and sympathy

2011-10-12T06:16:00.000+01:00

Hello, and welcome to the the first post I have written in a week! Today is the middle of the week, the day that we show our desks to the world at What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday, and in my case..not! I have spent the last week, doing???? Well, last Wednesday I met a road kerb, and believe it or not broke my big toe! For those of you who have never done this, it is painful, and means you cannot lift much as it is a load bearing toe! there's fact for you! On Friday I played the white van man, and had to drive to Port Sunlight-fab show as always! I love this show as I get to re- meet lotsof clever friends, including Sarah Anderson, who managed to get published in Stamper Sampler this month.. check this out! She used The Artistic Stamper stamps!

and here is a little photo of one of the samples I made on Saturday using the new alcohol inks from Letraset, which will be on the website later today!

On Sunday I rested, and on Monday it was back to work! Now normally I would show my desk here, but not much is happening, so last night I went to a crop, and here is my equally boring desk from there as I spent it gluing pages together for an altered book!

Of course, I had to break my toe ( poor toe! lol) on the week that I am heading up to Harrogate to take a workshop with Dina Wakley! So please forgive me if I am not here this week, but I promise normal service will be resumed soon!
Now please hop, skip and jump to Julia's for all those magnificent desks!
have a very creative day, I am off to get get a cup of tea!
Hugs

woyww....it's a mirage!

2011-10-05T06:04:00.000+01:00

Hi, now for those of you who regularly visit my blog on a Wednesday, for What's On Your Workdesk, you are seeing things! This is not my desk... this is someone else's!! I mean how could it be so tidy? Where are the bottles, and the bits, what is that wide open space where there should be just a great big mess? That's my desk! I haven't tidied it away just for the photo , I just haven't created much in the last few days, just been away from the desk, and busy doing paperwork..yuck! for those of you who have spotted the mini sewing box, it was a pressie to myself last week :))

Please excuse me if I don't comment on some of your blogs, as blogger has taken to deleting my comment before I have even put my name to the page! It just won't let me comment, and I am more than surprised it even lets me post!! lol If anyone can enlighten me as to how to stop this...please let me know! I am getting angry with it now! grrr
Anyway , if you fancy seeing the wonderful creativity that is on a hundred or more creative desks pop over to the wizard of words that is Mrs Dunnit's own desk!
Have a very happy day!
Hugs

Mannequins galore!

2011-10-03T08:56:00.000+01:00

Hi, I hope you are enjoying the unexpected Indian Summer...and what a summer! Lovely and hot here, and as I am off to London today I have on my summer clothes.. unheard of in October!!!
Saturday saw another one of my workshops at Pickleberry Papercrafts, and although there was only Rosemary, Lesley and Barbara, we had a lovely messy time! Alcohol inks, shrink plastic, grungepaper, stamps, and lots of die cutting made these wonderful mannequins!

Thank you girls for a fun day, and I will finish my black and white version this week, and post soon :))
If you fancy taking this class , you can do it next at It's Crafting Time on 27th November.
My next class at Pickleberry is the wonderful Printers Tray on 22nd October.

Have a great last day of summer ( so they are saying!!)
hugs

Autumn Colours-new Challenge for October

2011-10-01T00:01:00.000+01:00

I cannot believe that it is October already! It is definitely an Indian summer with the temperatures in the mid eighties, and t shirts, sandals and sunglasses back out of the wardrobe! How can we even think about the new challenge over on The Creative Team blog of Autumn Colours? But you and I know that next week the leaves will turn the most gorgeous colours , and the weather will be back to normal, and we will have forgotten this glorious weather!
I have made a small square frame using the shabby chic technique with Dabbers, and one of our new stamps,( our special offer of the month) and added lots of leaves from the new Alterations die, appropriately named, Autumn Gatherings! I die cut several of the shapes in varying colours out of Core'dinations paper, and embossed some of them. Lots of Multi Medium Matte, and you have a appropriately named Autumn colours frame!

To see all of the Creative Team's amazing creations and join us in our challenge, just pop over to the blog:) This month to celebrate just over a year of challenges, we are giving away TWO sets of prizes!!
Have a creatively sunny day!
Hugs

Dolly Daydreams!

2011-09-29T00:01:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I was busy prepping my workshop for this Saturday at Pickleberry Papercrafts. I do like to be organised... me? organised...not much hope of that! But I thought I would show you a little peek of my Dolly Daydream! She is a vison of Autumnal beauty, and for those of you coming to Saturday's workshop, the world is your oyster...lots of alcohol inks, distress inks, sticky back canvas, grungepaper, craft plastic, and shrink plastic! This was probably one of the most difficult pieces of mine to photograph, and with the absolutely gorgeous weather we had yesterday, I had to wait till the sun went down to photograph! Loving this heat!!

Here is the sneaky peek, and there are still a couple of places if you fancy a day out getting inky and messy with me! I promise I will show you the full mannequin after the workshop :))

Have a very creative day

WOYWW and.....Winners! Winners! Winners!

2011-09-28T08:09:00.001+01:00

Today is Wednesday and with no exception I am blogging my now not so very tidy desk for What's On Your Workdesk..., and I thought I would announce the winners of my blogaversary giveaway as well... combinations are always good! The desk is in the throws of preparing my dress Up Doll workshop for Saturday, sneak peek tomorrow...:))) and the tag from yesterday's post using the new Autumn Seasonal distress inks... so yummy....

With apologies to the delightfully accommodating Julia who hosts WOYWW, here are my winners of my blog candy, chosen by the ever faithful random integer here are the winners!
This birdie is flying to

Gabrielle

One of the goodie packs goes to

Emma's Blog,

and the other goodie pack to

Jozart,

and finally my workshop ( or goodies if you cannot get to one) goes to

Salamanda!

Congratulations to everyone, and thank you to all who joined in ... always appreciated :)) Please email me your details so I can send you your candy!
Have a very Creative day today...and a Happy Woywwing too!

Distressability!

2011-09-27T00:01:00.002+01:00

Yesterday some of the Autumn Special Edition Distress inks arrived with lots more coming soon:) Of course I just had to have a quick play with them to see how the colours were, and ooh I am in love! This is a very quick tag using the Tattered Leaves die ( cut out in chipboard, a tag ( what else did you expect!) and some of , (well almost all of the charms) from the Idea-ology Halloween set. I only used the Autumn colours, and they are just perfect together. The leaves are stamped on top in the same colour with the sequin waste, dots and mini dots.. and the ruler is from the Ephemera set.

I do still have some sets left , if you are thinking of pre-ordering them. The second batch are due in , in about 3 weeks
Hope you have a creative day.
Hugs

A short interlude.....

2011-09-26T16:38:00.000+01:00

I had every intention of blogging while I was languishing in the hotel room after the show at Ally Pally, but... my feet hurt sorely, and I got tempted out for a long cocktail with some friends...lol, so I saved the pictures for today!
These are the most wonderful pieces of artwork from our very illustrious Creative Team, which are now on display at the shows which we do. Thank you girls for providing them:))

The show was great as always, and I met lots of friends and made new ones, and saw some gorgeous artwork ( thanks for showing Debs!), and even had my photo taken...eeek were they sure!!!???? The van is now unpacked, and it is back down to the business of running a rubber stamp company...that is until the next time.....
Hope you have a very creative day.
P.S. it is the final day tomorrow to win blog candy from me...here
Hugs

woyww...it's a halo time!

2011-09-21T05:30:00.000+01:00

It's that day again..you know the one in the middle of the week, that is spelt

W E D N E S D A Y....and

W O R K D E S K .

I have a halo ( well almost!) this week because after last week's showing of my drawers, I spent the best part of Sunday clearing up my

M E S S!!!!

and all the boxes by my desk are are away and decanted into my new drawers, and the carpet underneath the desk is now free for me to move, rather than be cramped in one tiny spot! I never said I had done underneath the desk! Just in front of it...need to leave something for another day! The underneath is getting a makeover when DH has finished the bathrooom.. (he doesn't know this yet...)

Now the patch on the carpet is black water where I dropped a jar of painty water, and it won't come out! Anyone got a washer vacuum I can borrow?!
Anyway, why am I waffling on? Well today is What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday held by the delightful hostess with the mostest- Julia ... so if you have never been there, I would definitely recommend a look at all the other crafty spaces around the world... I am hoping to get time to look too!
Have a Happy Wednesday

Too little time..too much to do...

2011-09-20T07:25:00.001+01:00

Hello! I had so intended to create this week, but time sort of ran away with me, so I thought I would show you one of my videos . If you have never seen them , then prepare yourself for a laugh! Mal always films them and we often end up in fits of giggles, and then I have to start again! More often than not, I then have to edit them to try and take out the laughter , and the swearing! LOL It is a while since I made one, so I am scheduling time for us to make a couple more.. that will be in 2012!

I am getting ready for The Big Stamp And Scrapbooking Show at Alexandra Palace this weekend, so it is a mad frenzy of packing and pricing new goodies. btw we are not on the exhibitor list for some reason, but we are The Stamp Connection stand no 52, I think....but don't quote me on that! If you are coming please drop by us, say hello, you have to tap me on the shoulder ...or at least introduce yourself...I am the one getting inky fingers! LOL
Have a great Tuesday and let me know if you have watched the vids.

Have you ever been...

2011-09-18T08:19:00.000+01:00

inspired by something, and then thought love the idea, but I can't do that? Well Nicky's so simple, so creative project for the Creative Team, so inspired Kate from Pickleberry yesterday, she made her own, and I sat down this morning for a few minutes , and made my version of her version of Minxy's version! How to get your creative juices flowing! Wonderful!

Stamps used Tim Holtz Mini Halloween & Mini Halloween 2 , Mini Labels
Tissue Tape used Hobgoblin
How to make and do is here, and to Minxy , thank you for the inspiration! It has started my day off gloriously!
Have a creative day and if you get to try this technique, please show us.. we love to see what you have done :)
Hugs

woyww... a change of image!

2011-09-14T00:01:00.000+01:00

The caption says a change of image... well you can decide for yourself:) Today is Wednesday, day of desks, held by the delectable Miss Julia in her haven of tranquility, presiding over a large number of desks from crafters around the world! Welcome to What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.
Now although you don't often see it, my desk has been surrounded by boxes piled high, and spilling their contents onto the floor whenever I create! Now the carpet is almost clear... well a girl has to have some foibles..lol, and the boxes have been decanted into drawers, a whole two tall large sets for them!! Pull out a drawer...distress inks, pull out another drawer.. alcohol inks.. you get the picture?

Seventh Heaven! all because of a set of drawers!! LOL
You can hop over to Julia's and take a look round everyone else's perfect workdesk, or you could jump here to add yourself to my blogaversary candy, and be in with a chance to win:))
Now hop back to Julia's...
Happy Woywwing!

Autumn camouflage-this birdie is flying your way

2011-09-11T15:40:00.012+01:00

Today at exactly this time, 4 years ago, I started my blog, which I thought not many people would read, or be interested in... I was prompted by Hels, who started hers the same week, and was my first commentator! Thank you Hels :)
Today I am writing my 650th post!!! who'd have thought it! Sometimes the posts I write are complete rubbish! Sometimes I like the posts, and not often, but sometimes, I write about stuff other than crafting!
I have never forgotten about YOU, who reads it, and follows my forays into workshops, creating, and my trips, and to everyone who follows , and to everyone who comments. It is what keeps me going , and continuing to show you my art, and my stamps. THANK YOU! I feel that I am writing to friends that are worldwide, and some of whom I have met, some of whom I email, and some who I would love to meet!
For you today I have made this to give away, one of my wooden birds , ( told you I was addicted to them! lol) adorned with my favourite products, printable shrink plastic, and alcohol inks and of course stamps! I used The Tattered Leaves Alterations die to cut them out, and added holes for the mini brads before alcohol inking them, and punching holes for the brads. A little bit of stamping on the leaves with black Archival ink, and a whole pile of hot glue ( mind those fingers!) to attach them to the black gessoed bird.

and these to win,

and these....

and this is for one special person ....a workshop with me.. anytime ( of course you may not want to win this....LOL!) If you live too far away , we will work something out :)))

So FOUR giveaways, one for each year and open to all.
If you think you could bear to share, please post on your side bar for an extra entry!
I will draw this on Thursday 22nd September.
Sadly today is another anniversary, and when I started my blog, I truly didn't realise the significance for the date... so thinking of all 9/11 victims and their families, may peace be in this world.

Happy Blogging to all, and stay Creative
Hugs

In my Drawers!

2011-09-10T12:00:00.000+01:00

Happy Saturday to you!A little while ago, I took a workshop with Jane Dean at Pickleberry Papercrafts.. not often I do that, but it was great fun to be taught, and not to teach. We made lots of inserts for a 7 gypsies library tray, using a sewing machine and papers, and a little bit of stamping..lots of ribbons and other bits :)) I am not sure if I have shown these before, but this was my interpretation of Jane's teaching :))
Take one of these:

and add these ....

It will sit on my desk in due course with all my completed artwork in, bearing in mind I only made it a couple of months ago!!
I have to say a big thank you to everyone who commented on my blog yesterday and on facebook about my steampunk birdie... in answer to one of the questions, I sort of placed them , rather than threw them into the glue... so it was thought about, but I have to say I could make lots of birdies all day long.. they kind of speak to me... so watch this space :))
Have a very creative day, and don't forget to come back to0morrow for giveaway goodies....whispering this so you get a chance to win!
P.S. the new Tim Holtz Alterations are now on the website , in anticipation of them arriving on Monday!
Hugs

Watch the Birdie!

2011-09-09T17:17:00.000+01:00

It's that Friday feeling here at Artistic Towers, and with my eye very slowly getting better , I thought I would create a little no stamping piece today. Actually it did start out with stamping, but because I am not thinking straight, I messed it up! So I started again, and came up with this!"
This is one of those gorgeous hanging wooden birds that we sell, painted with the new Black Studio Gesso from Claudine Hellmuth and then covered in Studio Multi Matte medium, and lots of watch bits added to it. When the multi medium dries it is clear and will stick metal, plastic, material, in fact anything....wonderful stuff!

I really enjoyed making this piece, and praise indeed from my DS, who really liked it!! Wonders will never cease.....
Have a very creative evening

Butterflying!

2011-09-08T08:21:00.001+01:00

Hello!
It isn't often I say hello. Do we say it on blogs or just launch into the tirade of this is what I made, have done etc etc? This week as always seems to fly by, and apart from the fact that I am seeing this through one eye ( conjunctivitis has reared its ugly head! grrr) , I wanted to share with you my little red tag with a gorgeous one off butterfly that I made during a UTEE class! It is a one off , as you pour your colours of UTEE in a circular motion onto the non stick mat and place a cookie cutter into the UTEE. Wait till it cools,and lift it off. To make sure the cookie cutter lifts off, don't forget to add a little smear of embossing ink inside the cutter!
I added one of our new background stamps lightly to the tag over my favourite new product Distress Stains!

Now if you are a regular reader, you may have spotted that it is my blogaversary very soon....should I celebrate it...I mean I have waffled for almost 4 years about this and that with the odd piece of art thrown in! Should I??? Of course, what would be a Jennie blog without some sort of giveaway??!! Watch this space!
Have a very creative day.. I am off to lie in a darkened room with a chamomile teabag on my eye! ( doctors orders! LOL)
Hugs

woyww...the French edition

2011-09-07T00:01:00.001+01:00

For those of you who read my blog, you will know that on Sunday I went to the biggest flea market in the world in Lille , France, and wow! what a wonderful time was had! Now I had planned to tidy my desk, and arrange all my goodies on it in an arty arrangement, so you could ooh and aaah over them! But in time honoured fashion, not much hope of that!! Too busy resting my poor overworked feet, and now it gets dark so early, and the light is awful for photos, so even if I had tidied my desk, you wouldn't have been able to see it! So I plonked probably my best buy ( for altering that is) on the desk, took an angled photo, and hoped for the best. Actually there were 2 of these, and I bought them with a friend, so she had one, and I the other. DH has cleaned it up for me ( a little rusty it was) so I can alter it... I feel an alcohol ink moment coming on.I did buy lots more " stuff" and am saving that for another day!

Now if you think that this very strange picture of my very untidy desk with a vintage stamp holder on it is peculiar, then step into the world of Mrs Dunnit and her wonderful world of Desks at What's On Your Work desk Wednesday!
Have a very creative Wednesday :))

ooh la, la!

2011-09-06T07:52:00.001+01:00

Bonjour mes amis!
Day: Sunday ; Time: 4am, Place: Braderie de Lille, France! Company: 6 gypsies set off to travel under the sea to tramp the streets of Lille, France in search of the elusive treasure!
What a wonderful day it was! I was in seventh heaven....it was like being in the biggest junk shop in the world! It is undescribable....thousands of poeple (they say 2 million visit every year), thousands of stalls, all selling this and that and even a bit more! lol I certainly didn't take enough photos...

We were there early enough to park near, so not far to walk ( well that is an understatement, but not far to walk to the beginning, whenerever that might be, as the whole of the centre of Lille is shut off, and there are just streets and streets of antiques, and bric a brac and food, and treasure!

Walk; buy; walk; coffee; walk; look; walk; lunch: the traditional moules et frites; glass of rose!

Walk; more treasure; walk; amazing sites; new made to look old!

Walk; supermarket; cheese, bread; goodies for home!

Back under the sea, and time to collapse!
Thank you to the best 5 gypsies I know,, Jane ( thank you for driving) Kate, Julie, Helen, and Charlotte it was pleasure to be with you, and I am raising a glass to the next one!
jusqu'à la prochaine fois!

Life is an adventure!

2011-09-03T09:23:00.001+01:00

The sticker on this book claims adventure to be "an unusual, exciting, often romantic experience!" mmmmmm exciting always, unusual , yes.. romantic possibly, as this weekend, I have 2 great events to go to... The Annual Hop Festival in our town, where booze flows freely, there is singing and dancing, and lots of music! I don't think I have ever missed one since I have lived here, and today will be no exception. Tomorrow I am before the crack of dawn to Lille in France to visit their annual flea market! got my Euros, backpack on wheels, camera, and my sense of adventure! So excited! 50 kilometres of stalls, French ambience, and hopefully sun, not rain! Will tell you more when we return....In the meantime, just in case you don't have an adventurous weekend, here is a little book for you.
I made this with the size A7 plain book, lots of Picket Fence white distress stain to cover up the brownness (is that a word) of the cover, followed by lots of blues. I then added Gesso over a stencil, and heat dried it. The stick is one of my own, but the flower is Tim's Tattered Flower die , cut in Kraft Glassine, crumpled, covered in Picket Fence stain, heated covered in more stains, stamped, then Perfect Pearls brushed on and heated.

Not intentional, but I realised just now that everything I used was brown, and then coloured! I will be taking this with to write down how much I spend....like I will remember the pen as well!
Just as aside, we now have the Picket Fence distress stain back in stock, and most of the new Idea-ology products too! Just check out the new products page on the website :))
Have a very adventurous and creative weekend,,,
Hugs

Numerical playground!

2011-09-01T00:01:00.001+01:00

I have been playing, and this time with numbers! Lots of different ones, and just in time to join in The Artistic Stamper Creative Team brand new challenge for September! September! oh my the 9th month of the year, and it is the 1st day of the month! Only 2 1/2 months to Christmas!! Sorry shouldn't have mentioned that word!! LOL!
Anyways I spent a little time this afternoon, sitting in the late afternoon sun , which streamed through my window on the world, playing with dabbers and distress stains, perfect pearl mists, perfect pearls and Tim's Alphaparts and bingo pieces, and paper, in fact there is so much on this tiny box, ( one of the ones from my idea-ology print tray) could I cram anymore in? oh Yes, of course stamps...the ruler from the Ephemera plate! I expect so!! This is my entry for the Creative Team challenge for this month which is Numbers. You can find all the details here.

Why not join in this month, and be in with a chance to win some of our stamps. Check out the team's gorgeous artwork, and have a very creative day!
I am off now to count sheep ( see life is just full of numbers!lol)
Hugs

woyww-the aftermath

2011-08-31T06:26:00.000+01:00

I cannot believe that it is the end of August, and what happened to the summer? Not much warmth or sun, and definitely no barbeque's! I am writing this at 06.20am and it is dank and miserable! Today is a Wednesday, as usual I am showing off my desk to all who participate in What's on your workdesk Wednesday! Short sweet, and a BIG mess! This is the awful aftermath of having a busy workshop at the weekend where I just dumped on my desk! Does the angle and slight fading out of the picture help? lol

This is the result of the workshop, so I think the mess could be almost forgiven?

If you want to see more of this weekly forage into other peoples desk, jump on a bottle of multi medium to the wonderful world of Julia!
I am hoping to get time to visit yours today
Happy Woywwing!

Configuring it at a workshop

2011-08-29T09:47:00.000+01:00

I seem to have been AWOL again from my blog...ooops! Does sitting on the M25 for almost 2 1/2 hours on Friday excuse me? no, probably not, but it took me 6 hours to get to Cambridge,( which usually takes 2!) and I finally arrived about 6pm to set up for my Configurations Print tray workshop at It's Crafting Time! We had a wonderful day Saturday, and the ladies all created and chatted, and uteed, and ate chocolate birthday cake to their hearts content! Here are a few photos from the day, and finally my printers tray.

before the onslaught!

working hard!

Birthday Girl!

Thank you to Nina, and Helen, and another Helen, and Lea, Laura, Moira and Hilary, Tracy and the Birthday girl Alison, for making my day wonderful! I am tired, and exhausted, but full of ideas for my next workshop there!

I am off to spend today , which is a National Holiday here in the UK, doing a little retails therapy, and being lazy!
Have a creative day!

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday....

2011-08-24T00:01:00.001+01:00

Wednesday's come round awfully quick at the moment, and it is getting darker earlier, lighter later, and summer ( what there was of it, is almost over), but I have my mojo back from his protracted holiday, and this week, the desk is in a state of perpetual mess, as always, no tidying for me yet....and just in the corner s my Printer's tray for my workshop this Saturday at It's Crafting Time.. lots of techniques and jam packed full of bits and pieces.. ( there are a couple of places left if you are interested please call Nina in the shop) Blatant advertising here... apologies...lol

If you think a picture of my rather messy desk is a bit bizarre, then pop over to Julia's for lots and lots of them....it is a Wednesday phenomenon!
Hoping to get to few desks this week, apologies if I didn't pop by yours last week :(
Have a great Workdesk Wednesday.. may your hands be creative!

Feeling retro!

2011-08-23T00:01:00.001+01:00

Just a quickie post today to let you know that nothing is better than using your favourite new products to make a piece of jewellery for The Creative Team blog? I spent a little time making a retro feel brooch , and even managed to do a tiny tutorial for you too! here is a sneaky peek

Check it out on The Creative Team blog....

Have a creative day!

Adventures of a meltpot!

2011-08-21T06:36:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was such fun at my class at Pickleberry Papercrafts! My meltpots go around the country fairly often, and yesterday they travelled a mere 1/2 mile up the road to be greeted by Rosemary, Barbara, Lesley, Carol, and Beth! They love to be used, and the girls melted to their hearts content, with gorgeous creations and techniques learnt. I gabbed, they listened, ate chocolate, drank tea, nattered, and the day flew by! Thank you to everyone for a fun day! Here are a few pics for you...
The girls ( Barbara trying to hide behnd UTEE!, Rosemary MIA, lol)

Lesley's amazing agate.. a beautiful one!

Barbara's cloisonne

One of my tags ... faux porcelain flowers, and faux soldering...

Thank you for one of the best days! Absolutely exhausted! lol
Have a creative day...
Hugs

I am melting!

2011-08-20T00:01:00.000+01:00

Today I am spending the day teaching melting techniques with my ladies at Pickleberry :) Hopefully I will have all my faculties when I arrive, will not have forgotten anything, and have taken my camera too! I can use my new found skills to have them all pose with their creations! This is a sneaky preview of what they will making , in their own way of course....

ooops who is this? sneaked in a picture of my step grandson Fraser , who is my namesake ( being my maiden name :)))) ...Love cuddling newborns, especially when you can give them back at the appropriate time... nappy changing, crying, needing feeding! lol

Have a very creative day!
Hugs

Winners, winners, winners!

2011-08-18T07:18:00.000+01:00

Finally, I have got round to picking the winners of my giveaways last week of our new stamps! Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun :))I am doing this backwards, so the winner of the largest set of stamps and my tag is ....

LYNN W.

The winner of the Journalling words stamps and tag is....

CHRISSY O

The winner of the Keep Calm and Carry on Stamping stamp and tag is.....

NETTY

The winner of the mini polka dot background stamp and tag is........

GLENNIS

The winner of is the fun and laughter quote stamp and tag is......

TINKER

The winner of the final or first stamp, Creative Art Thoughts and my tag is.......

SPARKLES

Please email me with your details , so I can get them in the post to you!

Congratulations to everyone, and thank you all for joining in the fun that is blog candy giveaways, I LOVE doing them , so keep an eye out for the next one!

Have a Creative Day!

What's On Your Workdesk number 115

2011-08-17T06:54:00.000+01:00

Today is Wednesday in case you had forgotten, and that means that Mrs Dunnit is allowing us to show our messes to the world! Mine isn't so much of mess today, and on it is a wip, well experimenting really... with some embossing on fragments. I liked the angle of this photograph, which meant you didn't get to see the rubbish around it! My brain is full of workshop preparations, and planning, and other stuff too!

This will be a very short post in the history of my posts as I am writing this early Wednesday morning, before the day starts properly.. so if it is garbage, just say!
To see all the other wonderfully neat and tidy desks, pop over to Julia's for a wander round the world of desks!

P.S. today is the last day for commenting to win a tag and a set of stamps from me ( see the last few posts on my blog :))
Happy Woywwing!

Work in Progress....

2011-08-15T16:50:00.000+01:00

Finally I have finished for the day, all orders sent, some of the boxes from Stamperama unpacked, feet soaked, dinner not made ( who needs to eat!) and I have a few minutes to show you what I dabbled with at the weekend. Often when I do a show, I don't prepare, and go with the flow, as they say, but I did have tags prepared, and at the last minute, I threw in my altered "journal" book to maybe do something in it, rather than do a tag. I used some of the new distress stains, and a few of the new stamps, and definitely the new chipboard! A little bit of utee , the wonderful mini dotty stamps, pressed into the hot utee, lots of Archival inks, and the beginnings of a new altered journal page ... I am loving the stains, as they cover large areas, and if you notice there is not a brown in sight! lol This is a work in progress, as they say!

If you would like to see the book in the flesh, I am doing a utee workshop at Pickleberry using one of these techniques on Saturday, and there are couple of spaces left....:)) The book is in the safe hands of Kate if you are passing by...pop in and see it.
I am off to put my very tired feet up on the sofa, before making dinner.. takeaway sounds like a good option!
Hugs

13 stamps for the 13th day!

2011-08-13T00:01:00.000+01:00

For some 13 is an unlucky number, and I always seem to launch 13 sets of stamps every time I design them, and fortuitously the day I decided to launch was the 13th of August!Such forward planning! lol
You have seen some of the sets and today sees the final preview of a large ( and I do mean large) set of Swirls , Splats and Dots.

Our new product also features on this tag... a new set of white faced chipboard made to fit some of our favourite stamps. This one is a jar, and I have added Distress Stain, and white distress stain circles and coffee rings in it, and then covered it in Glossy Accents. The chipboard fits perfectly to the stamp. The options are great, and I will be showing you more soon :)

Right now I am off to get some shut eye, as we leave early in the morning for Stevenage. White van woman again! lol
To see all the new releases check out our new products page at The Artistic Stamper, and don't forget if you comment you can win the A4 stamp set above and the tag! P.S. if you comment on The Creative Team blog too, you have a second chance of winning!
If you are coming to Stamperama, please come and say hello...
Have a creative weekend

Only 1 day to launch...

2011-08-12T00:01:00.005+01:00

Only 1 day to launch, and I am getting excited for you to see the whole new range of stamps. The Creative Team received their stamps today, and I think I could hear the squeals from here!! I think you may well like all of the stamps, as they just go together and are perfect for journaling and cards and so much more...

Today's post is this set of stamps which are large words, and lots of different fonts, and I just thought why not put them together on a tag just for you..that's whoever wins today's tag and stamps! I used different colours of Adirondack dye inks, on a background of Distress stains, with an added stamp of journaling lines stamped in Picket Fence Distress Stain which gives it a very subtle look ... oh am soooo in lurve with these....they are now all back in stock in the shop too!

All you have to do is comment.... :)))
Have a very Creative Day!

Keeping Calm...

2011-08-11T00:01:00.002+01:00

For those of you who know me well, I don't panic ..often...not!! lol, and we are just packing everything ready for Stamperama on Sunday, and we have lots of new stamps, and a brand new product, which will be revealed on Saturday alongside the stamps... I would so like to show you it.. but I can't, and oh it is so hard to keep quiet about it.... never was very good at secrets!! lolAnyways, thank you all so much for commenting the past few days.. I LOVE comments, and I equally like to ramble on, and yep I am rambling, so here is today's tag with the perfect saying for the troubled times we are living in... It is most probably my favourite stamp of the whole August collection!

I stamped it in Vermilion Archival, and added some new stamp flourishes and the like, over a Mustard Seed distress stained tag . Lots of glossy accents to make it shine!
the bubbly effect was just bad stamping on a brand new unused stamp, but I kind of liked it , so it stayed!

To win this and the stamp, just comment away!!!
More reveals tomorrow :))
Hugs

There's a riot on my desk....

2011-08-10T00:03:00.001+01:00

It has been an age since I joined in with What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Why? well not much has been going on , and my mojo took a slight detour when we came back from Glastonbury ( think it was all that mud! lol), so there has been nothing much to show you. As you can see it is quite a riot on my desk ( rather appropriate in the circumstances, although I utterly condemn the entire fiasco...as both my Mum and my daughter live in London...) full of new stamps and new distress stains, and stickles and more bottles..love a bottle or two!

Today is the 3rd day of our pre launch showing of some of the new stamps from The Artistic Stamper we will be releasing on Saturday! Today is a new background, and a tag using it, and more.... I used the same faux crazed porcelain technique as yesterday's tag, and distress stained some gorgeous Maya Road butterflies sent to me by a friend in the USA!

If you would like to win this tag plus the stamp all you have to do is comment, and if you pop over to Hel's blog , she has another stamp and artwork too to giveaway! Double trouble today!!
Watch out tomorrow for a stamp that I think you will love..in fact it is my favourite one of the whole collection!
For lots more desks, pop over to our esteemed leader of the pack, Julia, and have a wander round much tidier desks than mine!
Happy Woywwing!

Fun and Laughter...more giveaways

2011-08-09T00:01:00.000+01:00

One of the things I love most is laughing! Well don't we all? It give those muscles in your face a chance to exercise, and I have been told it keeps you young! Well I am not sure about that one, but I can always try!! lol
Today's new stamps is just the ticket to get you smiling, and perfect for a scrapbook page or a card.

I used the quote with Shelly Hickox's gorgeous technique-Faux Crazed Porcelain , and instead of white crackle paint, I used dried marigold. Worked a treat, and matched perfectly with worn lipstick distress stain on the tag! I even distress stained the ribbon round the willeez neck! The grid backgound is also a new stamp too!

Like yesterday, all you have to do is comment to be in it to win it..the tag and the quote stamp!
Watch out for tomorrow's post.. there is double trouble!
Have a Creative day!

Journey into my world....

2011-08-08T00:01:00.001+01:00

The past few weeks have been busy in my world of rubber, and this weekend coming we are launching a complete new group of stamps, that we think are gorgeous! The first set are large and wordy, and absolutely perfect for Journaling or cards, or altered art, and of course, tags!! ( just in case you wondered the splat is also a stamp in another set to be shown later in the week :))

I have been playing with some of the new Ranger Distress stains, and this tag has Tumbled Glass on it, with a very tiny smidgen of Crushed Olive down the edges. The stamps are NEW, and this is the first set....all stamped in Archival :))

I will be randomly giving away the tags and the set of stamps today All you have to do is leave me a comment, and I will choose a winner next week :))......I LOVE giving away blog candy!
All the stamps will be available on Saturday from the website
Have a very Creative Day

Design it, Win it, Own it!

2011-08-06T00:01:00.000+01:00

Today sees the launch of The Artistic Stamper

Have you ever looked for a stamp? Can't find it! Needed it! Designed it! And then spent ages working out how to have it made? Well, we are having a competition, so that YOU can design your own stamp, have it made in red rubber by us, and have it added to The Artistic Stamper catalogue, so that others can buy it too!

The rules are simple, send us your design, which must be in black and white and must be original. You could do cute, grungy, words, line drawings, photographs, abstract, Christmas, in fact anything you like! The copyright for the drawing will remain yours, but the rules of the competition will be as such, that The Artistic Stamper owns the rights to the stamp design for a year, and should be allowed to put it into our catalogue. The winner will receive 2 of their design stamps in natural red rubber. There is no limit to size or entries and it is recommended that you initially copyright your design in your drawings that you email to us. We will choose the winner in a month's time!

So grab your pens, your tablets, your camera, and we are so looking forward to seeing your creations!

Watch this space for our new stamps next week!
Happy Creating!

Learning a new craft!

2011-08-02T08:29:00.000+01:00

I have just spent the past Saturday learning how to use my camera with Kirsty Wiseman, and I had the bestest time! Now I have had a camera for ever, but I just point and click.. you know that, see it, like it, click it, but now I can do things with it, I didn't even know it could do! We met up at Covent Garden, and spent all of the day wandering in parks, and along the embankment, and ate loads, and had a glass of wine...you know those things girls do!! lol I did come home with loads of photos, of about 3 are ok, and the rest can be binned! This photo is pinched from Kirsty's blog, of all of us would be David Bailey's.. (a fabulous group of girls!). The other photos are just the best of the bunch I took!

Thank you Kirsty for the best day, and girls for the laughs, it was fun!!!

New Challenge!

2011-08-01T07:12:00.000+01:00

Happy 1st of August to you! What happened to the rest of the year?! I just cannot believe that it is less than 4 months to Christmas! Sorry I mentioned that word! LOL. I digress, because i just wanted to let you know we have a new theme on the Creative Team blog. Men and all things male! A wonderful subject! Here is a little snippet of one of the girls' gorgeous works..all different and all worth having a look at..

We have a new guest designer too , this month. If you have never popped over to our Creative Team blog, then it is a must!
I am off to make preparations for Stamperama, looming upon the 14th August at Stevenage, and we have lots of new stamps, and a new product too!
Would love to see your creations for our monthly challenge...
Have a Creative Day!

Listening to my heart...

2011-07-23T08:35:00.000+01:00

For those of you who read my blog , you must have wondered why I have been quiet and not really blogging in the last month or so. Truth time... I am uninspired , and listless, and struggling to even create a small ATC! Why? I don't know. Is it because I have been in this business so long, is it time to move direction, change jobs, travel (ooh that would be nice!) or is it because I am bored? I am surrounded by so much "stuff", stamps, things to alter, inks and paints galore. You would think they would help . Nope! What has happened to my creativity? I guess all of us get time out, have holidays, deal with family, work, businesses, and more. This year has been hard for me, my Mum who had a major operation in December is on the mend, my children are safe, but my creativity has stopped..gone with the wind! I start something, and I cannot finish it, or I redo it, tear it up, bin it! How do I restart it? Yesterday I got the full set of new stamps from Dina Wakley from Pickleberry Papercrafts, and they are gorgeous, and I looked at them, and thought come on Dina, restart my mojo, my artyness, and so this morning I stamped and I added a little white pen to an alcohol inked tag I already had floating around my desk... not perfect, but a start!

Strangely enough, just writing about how I feel has helped, time to get out my journal, and write complete and utter rubbish that no-one else can see!!! lol
So tell me am I alone? How long does the wilderness last? I am not talking about designing stamps or such like, but the actual motivation to put ink to paper, and create something that you like or love. I actually booked myself into a workshop today with Jane Dean at Pickleberry called "all sewn up" in the hope that as someone else has done all the work, I can sit back and enjoy being taught... lol
I have rambled enough, and if I get to finish the project today, I may be back tomorrow with pictures... see my motivation has perked up just talking to you!
Have a much more creative day than me....
Hugs

hOt, HOT, HoT

2011-07-19T00:01:00.000+01:00

It seems an age since I created something, and I just seem to run out of time everyday! But I got a little bit of time this weekend, and have joined in this month's challenge over on the Creative Team blog which is using hot summery colours, and I thought while it is raining outside, why not make something that reminds me of summer..using hot colours, and a little bit of stamping.

To check out what I have done pop over to see it here... love to hear what you think too :))
by the way this is a little taster of some of the new stamps that will be released very shortly from The Artistic Stamper... love keeping you in suspense :))
Have a great day!

Blog candy Winner!

2011-07-14T09:26:00.000+01:00

I have to say I almost forgot to draw this winner, as I am busy designing new stamps, and a new product too! Watch this space next week for sneak peeks, and more candy! lol Have you seen all the new Tim Holtz goodies, and all the Ranger goodness...white alcohol ink, black and Kraft tags, white distress stain, and ALL the colours in distress stains! Be still my beating heart!! lolThey wil be on order for you to buy soon on the website!

Back to the matter in hand, and a BIG drum roll please for the winner of these goodies!

ROSEMARY!!

Congratulations, and please email me your snail mail address, so I can send you the candy!

Back now to my computer and the new stamps....
Have a very Creative day!
Hugs

woyww...kickstarting!

2011-07-13T05:57:00.000+01:00

Welcome back to myself to What's on your workdesk! I admit I have been awol, and not due to much else, other than a lack of that get up and go! Having been away for a few days at Glastonbury music festival, I relaxed so much, that the mojo went away by himself, for another holiday! I even made a little ATC to try and help it last week with a giveaway (ends tomorrow) .
So I packed up my desk, headed up the road to Pickleberry, and landed my desk next to a few girls who craft a lot better than me, in the vain hope I might get a bit of their mojos!

I did take a brand new journal with me, some paint, and a few of my expensive white pens, and a few bottles ( cannot live without my bottles!!!!rofl) Page 1 done, simple and very red! Does that signal danger or anger?? lol

I am hoping to get round some of the woywwers this week, if blogger lets me comment :(
Have a very creative day!

I have been awol!

2011-07-07T11:56:00.000+01:00

I am really not sure where I have been the past week or so....think I am still in holiday mood ( although I have been working!) , but I cannot get back to blogging, or making ART, so I thought what better time than this to give away some blog candy!! I know you like blog candy!
So here it is an ATC made by me, using alcohol inks, the new luscious Archival inks, and the Alterations Mini Butterflies Sets, and The Artistic Stamper stamps!
What am I giving away? well you can get all of it, the ATC, the die set, a set of stamps, and one of the new Archival inks!

All you have to do is add a comment to this post, and for an extra entry add the giveaway to your blog ( if you have one!)
I shall draw the winner this time next week :))
In the meantime, if you fancy free postage we have it until Sunday on the website!
Have a much more creative day than me!
Hugs

I'm back!

2011-07-02T18:14:00.001+01:00

I have been, I have gone, and I conquered! ok, I got a little muddy, a little wet, a little sunburned, heard an amazing amount of music, and had a thoroughly wonderful time at Glastonbury music festival! :)))) I truly haven't lost my mojo, but I think he took a little longer holiday than me, and seems to be languishing on his own out in the wilderness, having a pina colada or two!
But I did manage a couple of tags for you that are two of the techniques we will be doing next Saturday at Pickleberry Papercrafts , if you fancy a few happy hours, learning how to use all ( I do mean all! ) of Ranger's Adirondack range. This includes Alcohol inks, pigments inks, dye inks, color wash and dabbers! A thoroughly technique based full workshop.

To book contact Kate at Pickleberry or book online!
I had the wonderful pleasure of a surprise visit from my daughter today, so am off to spend some time with her!
Have a creative weekend

woyww...the case of the desk in a field!

2011-06-22T00:01:00.000+01:00

Strictly speaking I really shouldn't be joining in this week, as this will be my home for the next few days, while I revert to my younger days, and become a hippy again!!

I am off in the wee early hours of the morning, while you are all still asleep , to pitch my new home at Glastonbury! However I do have with me a new journal, a couple of rubber stamps, and a few pens! Never go anywhere without a rubberstamp! So theoretically this is my desk for this week!
If you think I have completely lost the plot , you would be right, so if you see an inky, muddy, wellie booted, person on the road carrying a big rucksack, give me a wave!
Happy What's on Your Desk ,
Keep Creating! see you next week!
P.S. we will be dispatching all orders after Tuesday next week, and all postage until then is FREE!

Celebrating Mad Hatter Month!

2011-06-21T00:01:00.002+01:00

When I was asked if The Artistic Stamper would like to sponsor The Altered Alice blog challenge,how could I refuse? I mean , we have Alice in Wonderland stamps by Mabel Lucie Attwell, and June is Mad Hatter Day, and we have the Mad Hatter ....I mean how could a girl refuse?!!So to celebrate and to join in, I have brought my teapot to the party.....

There is still almost a week to join in, so pop over to The Altered Alice and see the absolutely stunning artwork that the team have done!
Have a very creative day!

Distressing our way!

2011-06-20T00:01:00.001+01:00

What a fabulous and creative workshop on Saturday at Pickleberry Papercrafts. Thank you to Carole, Sue, Susie, and Rosemary for continuing to amaze me with creativity, and innovation! The class was all about distressing and using Ranger 's Tim Holtz Distress products. This was the desk before and then after,

and absolutely loved this piece of Rosemary's

and this is a couple of my tags made using clear embossing, and then using the new Distress stains over them... oh so many possibilities!

Thank you girls, and Kate for the great day! And if you fancy coming to see me demonstrate Adirondack products, alcohol ink, dye and pigment inks, and the wonderful Adirondack colour washes, then please pop by Pickleberry Papercrafts on Tuesday ( open 10am till10pm for a Discovery Demo day. I will be there all morning!
Have a creative day!

Blog Candy Alert!

2011-06-19T07:10:00.000+01:00

Have you seen ? have you entered? We have the most fantastic Blog Candy on offer over on The Artistic Stamper Creative Team blog! Hels has made a gorgeous ATC using our new stamps, and she is giving it away along with 4 Sets of stamps!! You have to be in in to win it!

Have a a very creative Sunday, and Happy Father's Day to all fathers!

Shabby Chic!

2011-06-18T06:52:00.000+01:00

Earlier this week, Hels had a birthday, and I always try to make a card for her...but you know that saying... never enough time, but amazingly enough I found time, and I used the technique that I used for the Grungy Monday set of drawers to make a card. Shabby Chic is what it is called, just using Dabbers, clear embossing, and stamps, so simple but so effective!

I know she got the card in time ( good old postal service!)so I can show you
I am running backwards to get out to my class this morning... so love you and leave you
Have a creative Saturday!

woyww... with added pif!

2011-06-15T00:01:00.001+01:00

It's that day again! you know the one in the middle of the week, where Mrs Dunnit has us showing you our desks, in whatever state they may be! Mine is not bad this week, full, but still reasonably tidy, and pride of place is my pif, sent to me from Cindy, and gorgeous it is too! I am very proud to have it, and I got an extra one too!! :)))
I have now hung it up on my light, and there it shall stay! Thank you Cindy!

If you have been in the wilderness for the past 2 years, and have just come out of hibernation, now is the time to wizz over to Julia's and take a look at everyone's workdesk...such fun being nosy!
Have a very good woyww day!
Hugs

Come and join me....

2011-06-14T07:46:00.000+01:00

this Saturday at Pickleberry Papercrafts for an ink filled workshop, learning how to use all the Ranger distress products! We will play with distress crackle paint, distress stickles, distress embossing powder, and of course distress inks and the new stains! You will go home with lots of techniques, knowledge, a folder full of tags, and of course inky fingers! LOL.

As a Ranger Educator, I spent 3 whole days two years ago at Ranger U, soaking up all the knowledge Tim Holtz, Suze Weinberg, and Claudine Hellmuth could give us. Now it is my turn to give you some of that knowledge. There are a few spaces left , if you fancy taking part. You can book on line or telephone Kate at the shop on 01795 597757.
Look forward to seeing you there :))
Have an inky day!

A very pink page!

2011-06-13T10:29:00.001+01:00

On Friday I was at a crop at Pickleberry again, and ooh it is fish and chips night once a month... yummy! (How could I refuse? lol) I took my altered book/journal with me... have yet to decide is this an altered book or a journal.. kind of thinking I might go down both routes in one book..., and I started out with pink painted pages, and was kindly given a couple of bits by Louise, and it sort of progressed from there... think it might need more work.. but here it is anyway!

Have a very busy week ahead, as always... so have a creative day
hugs