Thursday 27 July 2017

Inspirational Post - Sewing Collage

It is Cec here and today it is my turn to bring you an inspirational post.  I thought I might make a collage this time using the mood board Ruth created for the current challenge as my jumping off point.  You can see the challenge and mood board here.


When I saw the lace in the mood board, I immediately decided that my collage would have a sewing theme.


I started by taking a burlap canvas from Recollections and added some texture using Light Molding Paste (Golden) through a stencil called Tasty Textures (IndigoBlu).


Once the texture was dry I used a dry brush to paint Smoked Paprika Fresco Finish paint (Paper Artsy) on the canvas leaving a border unfinished.  Then I dry brushed some Medium Flesh Acrylic Paint (Accent) on randomly.


Next I used Jet Black Archival Ink (Ranger) to stamp the vintage dress form and the tape measure from a set called Seamless Experience (Tim Holtz) on some scrap card stock.  Both images were fussy cut and the edges were inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Tim Holtz for Ranger).

So far this has been easy and now comes the fun part, collecting the rest of the embellishments, which I will just list since I really didn't do anything special to them (the beauty of creating a collage - lots of techniques or little):

From my sewing cupboard:

Swatches of fabric
Pearl headed hat pin
Lingerie elastic
Button
Lace
Safety pins
A piece of a sewing pattern
Embroidery floss
Tapestry needle

From my craft cupboard:

Zipper pull (Prima)
Wood thread spool top (The Paper Source)
Brass scissors (The Funkie Junkie Boutique)

From the internet:

Vintage Sewing Machine Ad (Boston Public Library)
Ribbon Spool (Astrid Maclean)

I added all the embellishments using Super Thick Slap it On (IndigoBlu), which is a gel medium and the heavier gel mediums make a great adhesive for using with heavy elements like buttons, metal, etc.

I hope my simple creation inspires you to choose a theme, collect some bits and pieces and make a collage.  They are great decor items and can be tailored (no pun intended) for whatever hobby or passion you or the recipient is involved in.

Saturday 22 July 2017

Welcome to today's Guest Designer, Lula !

Hello and welcome ! First of all a huge apologies as I'm late, lost track of everything and then technology let me down ! So, I won't waffle on but move straight on to hear from Lula, the winner of the Fabric and Fibres challenge.



My name is Lucyna Marynowska, aka Lula. I come from the north of Poland. Fifty-eight, retired widow, mum of two grown up boys and a happy grandma.
I started my crafting journey 5 years ago as a card maker and immediately became an addicted paper-lover.
I enjoy creating anything from cards to altered art. I'm very keen on experimenting with various types of mediums.
Recycling is also very close to my heart and I just love using ordinary items in my projects.
I love challenges to spark my creativity and making crafty friends all over the world makes me very happy.
You can find my creative project on my blog: http://ululi.blogspot.com/

I am thrilled to have been invited to guest design for Stamps and Stencils. Thanks bunches Ladies for this wonderful opportunity! I was inspired by two things from the moodboard: lace and metal parts.



My starting point for this project was an oval passepartout which I filled with some lace.



Next some texture paste was stenciled on the surface.



When it was dry I covered all with white gesso.


I mounted some wire with beads on it, some chipboard elements, flowers and leaves.



Then I started to colour the piece with Gelatos and Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists.
I also rubbed some Metallic Gilding Wax to the background, mounted a small button and a metal frame with a sentiment.


A playing angel's image completed my work.


To finish off I decided to give more interest to the background by strewing some microbeads and doing some stamping.

I needed another passepartout and some wire to complete my hanger.
Hope you like it!

Thank you so much Lula for your beautiful project !  If you would like to join us for the current challenge of Colour, Texture, Shape you have plenty of time !

Thursday 13 July 2017

Inspirational Post ~ Let's Get Organised ! ~ Stamp Storage Binder


Hi everybody ! It's Toni here and I'm quite excited about the project I'd like to share with you today. I don't know about you but I am forever trying out new ways of storing my stamps. I've tried plastic boxes, draw trays, ring binders, the list goes on and on and so far I've never really found the perfect storage solution. After this project I think I may be getting a little closer. Pull up chair, make a cuppa and I'll show you what I've been up to.
I've been retired from my teaching job for almost a year and it's only now, that I finally believe, I'm not going to need the collection of ring binders I've been hanging on to, 'just in case' ha ha! So this is how I transformed one..........
After deciding on the size I wanted, I measured in from the top and bottom and drew a couple of cutting guidelines. I used a pair of strong scissors and cut away the excess. I also removed the vinyl cover.......
I then coated the with gesso, before stencilling the font cover with modelling paste. I have just bought a fabulous stencil by Stencil Girl, it's called Tropical Floral and I thought it would be ideal to use for the front cover. What do you think ? nice eh!.........
I left this to dry before stencilling the back. I used a different design, so that when I pick it up I know instantly which is the front. here is the back........
So far, so good! When the moulding paste was completely dry, I sprayed the surfaces with Imagination Crafts Media Ink Sprays. I have three colours, Magenta, Light Green, and Yellow. I also have one called Liquid Gilt which is just gorgeous!.......
and the back...........
I think the array of colours acheived by just using the three colour sprays is amazing. Whilst the inks were drying, I turned my attention to the 'pages'. Sometime ago, I bought some acrylic book covers in a craft sale. They're made by Zutter and are just the right thickness for this project. They were a little bigger than I needed so I cut them to size using a craft knife and a steel rule ......
I also punched two holes along the top edge, to correspond with the rings in the ring binder. I used six sheets altogether. I also cut twelve sheets of acetate to the same size and punched holes in them. I put all of these to one side, and returned to the ring binder. I wasn't too sure what to do with the inside. I wanted to keep it plain but the surface was a bit rough, so I knew I had to cover it with paper rather than just paint it. I decided to use some scrunched up black tissue paper. I think this is effective because, although plain in colour the 'wrinkles' provide an interesting textured surface. I applied a liberal coating of Mod Podge on the inside cover, layered the tissue onto the surface and then painted more Mod Podge over the tissue.

 After some more drying, it was time to add the finishing touches and to sort out some of my stamps. I decided not to use any dimensional embellishments, as the binder will be used frequently and there's always a risk of knocking off raised elements. I did however add a handle by plaiting together some lengths of sari silk ribbon. This is wonderful stuff, so colourful. I punched a couple of holes in the spine, added some rivets for strength, then threaded the ribbon through. I secured it with a knot at either end. It was then time to load up my stamps. I've just used clear stamps, as I find these more difficult to store. I get very irritated by the cellophane wrappers! Here's the inside.........
Well, that's it! I hope you've enjoyed this post. I must say I've loved  this creating this project and I'm very pleased with how my stamp storage, ring binder has turned out. Just as well, as I think I'll need to make a few more if I'm ever going to get my stamps organised! x 




Tuesday 11 July 2017

Winners - Words with Meaning

Hello and welcome back ! Today's the day the winner and top 3 are announced, so we'll get right to it, please give your congratulations to....


Congratulations Beatriz ! We loved the layers of texture and the gorgeous photo taking centre stage. Please email carringtons22@yahoo.co.uk for your winners badge and details of your guest post. 

Now onto the top 3:







Congratulations everyone ! Please email carringtons22@yahoo.co.uk for your top 3 badges.
All of the winners will also be pinned on the Stamps and Stencils Pinterest Board!
The current challenge is Colour, Texture, Shape and you've still got plenty of time to share your projects with us. 
 

Thursday 6 July 2017

Colour, Texture, Shape!

Hi everyone, Ruth here as the host for this months challenge and for July I have a picture inspiration board for you!


These photos are from my own collection and I'm hoping there's something among this mix that inspires you, whether it's the colour or shape or texture.....maybe it's the colours ranging from cream and peach through to gold, warm browns and soft greens or maybe you want to choose different colours and include fabric, lace or metal in your creation. As for shape, what about flowers, leaves and architecture or the design elements that are gothic, steampunk or romantic?

Whether you're inspired by one or all of the pictures, please share your mixed media creations with us, the only restriction - you must use a stamp or stencil somewhere in your project. Can't wait to see what you create but first here's some fantastic work from the design team to hopefully inspire you!













Now it's over to you and you have until 20.00 UK time on 2nd August to share your creations with us.