UK Stampers ATC Swap V for Voyage

For my final ATC in the UK Stampers swap for this month I chose the word 'Voyage'. I have used stamps and papers from Papermania's All Aboard collection.

UK Stampers ATC Swap V for Vase

V is for Vase is my second ATC on the UK Stampers forum. I used an old Hero Arts stamp and coloured with Twinkling H2Os, acrylic paints and DIs.

UK Stampers ATC Swap V for Vixen

V is the letter for October's ATCs on the UK Stampers forum. For my first ATC I chose 'vixen' as my word. I used 2 X Cut build a scene dies to make the tree background and cut the fox. I did consider how to make the fox a vixen but all I could think of was a diamond collar or a bow in her hair so decided against it! She is coloured with Twinkling H2Os and the background is coloured with coloursoft pencils.

New Stamps!

I visited the Craft Barn last weekend for the last time and picked up this gorgeous collage stamp by Penny Black (well it's got poppies on it so it was a no brainer). It comes with 4 different messages to stamp onto the banner but unfortunately thank you was not one of them. Happily an old Hero Arts sentiment fitted perfectly with the help of my stamp positioner. I coloured with coloursoft pencils and Sansodor solvent and added black enamel accents onto the stamens. The butterfly part was stamped again, coloured, cut out and the body was glued down leaving the wings free. I added Wink of Stella to the edges of the petals and the butterfly wings.

Colouring is so relaxing that I'm not surprised it has become popular as therapy for adults. I don't know that I have the patience for those intricate colouring books that seem to be everywhere at the moment but a small piece like this is perfect for me.

UK Stampers Postcard Swap - October

I am organising the postcard swap on UK Stampers this month and had the fun task of setting a theme again.
Readers of my blog will know that I am not a big fan of Halloween so I tend to endure the endless pumpkin and ghost themed offerings in the shops with gritted teeth and heave a sigh of relief on the 1st of November. However I don't want to ruin anyone else's chance to use that Halloween stamp that has been waiting all year for its moment of glory so this month's theme is... PURPLE & ORANGE.
I had absolutely no intention of doing anything Halloween inspired when I started making this postcard - I was thinking more of some flowers using the colour theme BUT then I bought this cat die by Cottage Cutz at a show. After I had tested it out and decided to back his malevolent looking eyes with a scrap of green card he just begged to be put onto the postcard.
I smooshed ripe persimmon and dusty concord DIs onto a craft sheet with a spritz of water and rubbed the card in it to make my background (the moon and roof were masked off first). I edged the card with some walnut stain DI and Adirondack black for added drama.
The roof was coloured with barn door DI and the tiles were drawn on. I realised I had no stamping on the card so I added CI birds. I put together the phrase 'The Witching Hour' with a Just Rite Curlz font alpha set and added a few punched stars.
If you are interested in joining in this fun swap check out the details here. It's a real treat to receive some nice art through the post every month.

Memory Box Challenge - October

This month's challenge on the Memory Box blog is black & white. I used one of my most used dies, Chloe stem and embellished it with clear gems and a bow made of black and white ribbon. The background stamp is by Kaiserkraft and the sentiment is by Paula Pascual.

Calendar Challenge - October

A quick entry for this month's challenge on the Craft Barn blog. The theme is orange and pumpkins (or fruit) and as I only have one stamp with pumpkins on there was no big decision to be made. The stamp is by Heartfelt Creations and I used sepia archival ink and coloursoft pencils. I used an ink duster and brushed corduroy DI to give a soft finish to the background.
I was very sad to receive news today that the Craft Barn bricks and mortar shop will close later this month and move to online sales only. I have often feasted my eyes (and lightened my wallet) at this and the former Lingfield store. I shall miss it.