Happy Place

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.

I took time during rainy weather this week to play in my craft room on several projects.      I worked in my Art Journal to create a "Happy Place" which is in my garden with many birds singing.  You will see in this fantasy garden there are rising bubbles, one of Design by Ryn's new water effects stamps.. love it !

Above is a cropped version of my AJ Page.

I started with a base of Gesso.  I sprayed Dylusions inks, but with Gesso underneath not as much colour gets absorbed so the result is a softer look.   Next I added some Acrylic paint to the top area.   I used stencils with Distress Inks & Acrylic paints.  All the stamping is done with Black Stazon ink and I coloured the flowers & bubbles with Tombow markers.    I added some doodling with a white gel pen. 

Stamps used:    -"Happy Place" is from Chocolate Baroque's fabulous Artistic Affirmations set
                         -Rising Bubbles from Designs by Ryn
                         -Wild Geranium by Unity Stamp Co

Stencils used:     Bird -Rubber Stamp Tapestry
                           TCW - Mini Fleur De Lis & Mini Cell Theory


And here is the full page:

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Shirley

Punky Lightbulb Flowers

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.  And again I would welcome more new followers, thank you for your interest & visits, it's appreciated :)

I have another design using the gorgeous & fun Punky Flowers set by Chocolate Baroque.  This light bulb flower is so much fun !   

I used a piece of designer paper from my stash, added a little Distress Ink and distressed the edges for the background.  I stamped the cog fragment from the Steampunk Butterfly set with Walnut Distress Ink.  I coloured the light bulb flowers with Prisma Pencils and sprayed a little Sunshine Glimmermist around them.  I added a little shadow that does not show in the photo.     I reversed the colours to add to the quirky design.   The mini cogs are by Ranger.   I added some copper wire as the 'ribbon'.

Thanks for stopping by & have a great day !
Shirley   

Life is Beautiful

Hello everyone.   I would like to welcome more new followers.   I appreciate your interest & visits to my Blog, without all of you it would not be so much fun.

You might need a cup of Tea, this is a longer post than normal :)   First I have a card created for Designs by Ryn.    I used another one of her new & amazing water effects stamp - Trickling Water Set along with African Daisy. 

I used Dylusions & Distress Inks along with stencils to create the background.  I used a brick design as I wanted the water to trickle down a wall.   I rubbed silver Viva Inka Gold wax over the left hand side 'bricks' that were created with a molding paste over the stencil.  I stamped the Trickling Water with blue archival ink and highlighted with a white pen and added a little water with a brush to blend the water colour.

I embossed the African Daisies with silver, painted with Tombows & cut them out to layer over the background. The sentiment is a stamp given with the entrance package at the Art Specially stamp show in 2012 -given to me as a gift from a very kind family member :)

Stencils used:  TCW mini Cell Theory & the Bricks are by Panduro Design (also gifts given to me by kind ladies)


And as promised, I've included some photos from my recent trip to the Netherlands. 

I had a busy & fun vacation visiting with family & lots of activities including heading to Amsterdam for the coronation of King Willem-Alexander.   We joined in the festivities downtown and kept up with the tradition of wearing something orange.   It was a day of fun in a wonderful atmosphere.

Boats in a Canal & Spectators, lots of Orange! 

I wanted to be in the Netherlands for the Art Specially stamp show where I thought I might have bumped into many Blog friends.  But I could not be there at that time, it was disappointing for me.

However, I was blessed to have a special day with two friends who joined my family for a creative day.    Miranda from Miracle Art Inspirations (& also teammate from both Designs by Ryn & Chocolate Baroque Design Teams) and Marja from Marja's Stamp Addiction.

Miranda, Me, Marja

Creating Tissue backgrounds for tags, Miranda is our Coach

My tag :)

Tissue background tags created by the group

Marja gave each of us a gift of stone art that she created.   Each stone was painted & stamped with images that she designed for Kico Stamps (Netherlands). 

Marja's Stone Art - Thank you they are beautiful !

A few more shots of scenery

Blossoms

One of the highlights was shopping at the wonderful Posthumus Stamp Shop downtown Amsterdam.   Of course I purchased new stamps, what stamp addict could resist?   Beautiful cards created by Miranda are on display at this store.

Canal downtown Amsterdam

Goodbye Netherlands it was GREAT !!!

And back to the card design, here is closer view :)

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend,
Shirley

Imagine

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well!    I would like to welcome my new followers, I appreciate everyone's interest and visits.  

I have a design today again using Chocolate Baroque's newest release-  the gorgeous Punky Flowers set which are on special for the month of May.

I visualised the cog trees as a Delphinium type plant and wanted to create a field of cog plants along with a cog sun in a fantasy design.   I created the background with Distress Inks, sponge blender, ripped card stock & a mask created with a circle shape cutter.   I used the TCW Mini Gears stencil to create the image in the sun.   The main cog plants were embossed with a metallic embossing powder and the rest stamped with Distress Inks.  I added some little brads at the top.   Imagine is from the Artistic Expression set.

Thanks for your visit and have a great day!
Shirley

Hand Challenge at Chocolate Baroque

Hello everyone,   I hope you are doing well.  

While the Design Team at Chocolate Baroque were working with the Indian Design Stamps, DT Member Miranda came up with a most gorgeous design using the stamps as Henna on a hand.   You can see it at this Blog Post here.

We were all inspired by the use of a hand in her art and Glenda, the owner of Chocolate Baroque asked if the DT would like to participate in a "Hand Challenge" - time permitting.  We set a date for the 'reveal' and three of us chose to create something in our Art Journals. 

Here is my Art Journal spread where I traced my own hands (not very well).   My thinking for the page is that I use my hands (also my head & heart) for Art.

I used Dylusions inks, various stencils and molding cream for the background.  I stamped the words from Artistic Affirmations & the Harlequin design from the Clear Set - Decorative Edges.   I doodled on the finger nails and highlighted the words with a white Gelly Roll pen.

The Forum (Ning Network) over at Chocolate Baroque now has a 'Hand Challenge'.   You just need to be a member & there is no deadline if you would like to join in the fun.   The discussion is called "Hand Challenge" in the Forum on the home page. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a creative day!
Shirley

Be Happy

Hello everyone, I hope you are having a great day.

I recently returned from a wonderful & busy vacation in the Netherlands.   I'm jet lagged and trying to get caught up on work inside & outside.   I had a great time and will tell more about it in another post with a few photos.

I was able to pick up some special stamps while away, more beautiful designs that I can't wait to work with.    I wasn't able to sleep well this morning so I had a chance to make this card.  The background was created during a crafty day with a special group of ladies  :)

The background was created with Dylusions inks & a bit of stencilling.    I used images from the stamp set Marja's designs set No 51 for Kico Stamps.  I stamped the images with black Stazon and coloured with Tombows, water and highlighted with a white Gelly roll pen.   The pretty lady was stamped separately on another piece of the background, coloured and then cut out.    I love this whimsical set and can't wait to use the rest of the images. 


Thanks for your visit & enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Shirley

Steampunk Flowers

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well.   

I have a Steampunk Floral arrangement today that features stamps from Chocolate Baroque's new gorgeous set - Punky Flowers.   This set is fun & provides unlimited design possibilities.

I created the background with Blue & Turquoise Dylusions Inks and blended Dusty Concord  Distress Ink over the Mini Gears TCW stencil.   I stamped the wire branch with Vintage Sepia Versafine Ink & a larger flower with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink over the background.   "Bliss" is from the Artistic Affirmations set.

I embossed the flowers with Bronze (twice to decoupage) & coloured with Tom Bow markers.  The finishing touches are rhinestones and mini gears from Tim Holtz.   

Here is a look at the Punky Flower set.  I had the biggest smile when I first had a look at these designs -  how cool are the "Cog Trees" & "Lamp Flowers"?    This set is on special during the launch month of May.

If you have a chance please visit Chocolate Baroque's Design Team blog to see beautiful creations by my talented teammates.

Thanks for your visit & have a great day,
Shirley

Sympathy Card with Leafy Branch & Raindrops

Hello everyone,

I have a Sympathy card to show today using gorgeous stamps by Designs by Ryn.      Unfortunately there are times when we need cards for sad occasions.    The beautiful & touching quote is from Impression Obsession - C3677 'When Someone'.

The background was created with blue Dylusions inks that were 'mopped up' from another project.   I also blended Dusty Concord Distress ink with the TCW Mini Ringlet stencil.   The Leafy Branch,  the raindrops from the awesome Raindrops set  (set of 4 stamps) & quote were stamped with black Stazon ink.  I added a little watercolour to the raindrops &  highlighted the leaves & drops with a white Pigment pen.


Thanks for your visit & have a great day!
Shirley