Long time no blog!

It's  true to say it has been a very long time since I last blogged! It's been a very difficult year for me health wise but despite that I am still tapping into my creativity as and when I can. I wanted to share with you a little card made with the wonderful Paperartsy/Jofy stamps.

For this card I used the flower stamps from Paperartsy-Jofy set #61.  I stamped, cut out and water coloured them first before adding another layer of colour with coloured pencils.

I tore up some craft card into my desired size, distressed with Spun Sugar distress oxides and applied them to the card.  I added some accents with a white pen and some liquid pearl.

Thank you for stopping by today I hope you have enjoyed your visit?  Remember to stop by the Topflight Stamps online store and check out the amazing selection of online stamps.

Happy Crafting,

Clare.

Jofy stencil & a personal touch!

 This week I wanted to share with you a little make where I just used a stencil and added a personal touch.

I stencilled the flower onto some craft card using Nougat Paperartsy Fresco paint and Jofy flower stencil PS082

On top of the white, chalky flower I added some colour using Neocolour II water soluble crayons and pencils.  Using a fine black pen I traced around the edges and added in my own doodles.

Not quite to the standard of Jofy's gorgeous stamps but nice to put a personal spin on a beautiful bloom.

Happy Crafting,

Clare.

Artist Trading Coins - Who wants to Trade?

 I've been experimenting with Artist Trading coins. These are new to me, although I've been watching them pop up all over the place for a while, I've waited until now to have a little play.

To top my coins I used these cute little characters from That's Crafty(uk) Magda Polakow set Mama Bear.

I coloured them in using Neocolour II crayons and added in some shading with coloured pencils.

The backgrounds were made from a masterboard using stamps from Paperartsy - Tracy Scott stamps.

Mamma Bear was stamped directly onto the coin, masked off, background stamping added before colouring in.

The two baby bears were coloured in and glued onto the coins, I then added some doodles to the coins in white and black paint pens.

Lots of people make there own coins out of multiple die cut circles.  The coins I've used are made from MDF from That Craft Place and so they are very sturdy. I like the thought that I can get straight to the fun parts of crafting without having to make my coins before hand. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Crafting,

Clare.

From Santa to Gnome!

It certainly has been a log time since I've blogged.  I have been quite poorly and it's taken quite some time to recoup and get my mojo back!  To ease myself in gently I made this card for someone who was has a special birthday and a strong liking for garden gnomes.

I used the Santa stamp from Leanne Creatif, removed his bobble and sack and voila we had a garden gnome!

With some creative colouring, carefully masking the lines in the hat and converting the laced boots into wellingtons I painted out the lines & details with some white acrylic paint before adding some colour with neocolour II water soluable crayons. With addition of some rosy cheeks, the transformation was complete.

To the special age of 80, I added a little foliage to make my gnome feel right at home.

Thank you for stopping by today, I hope you have enjoyed your visit?  Pop over to Topflight Stamps and have a look at the extensive range of branded stamps available.

Happy crafting,

Clare.

Fine Flowers

Hi Folks, this week I have cultivated an A5 canvas using Darkroom Doors 'Fine Flowers'

Using the following stamps and stencils I pieced together my mini plot.

Darkroom Door Fine Flowers

Jofy Mini JM58

Jofy Leaves Stencil

I used watercolour & Polychromo Faber-Castell pencils to colour the flowers.

I painted the canvas with Paperartsy Fresco Paints along with a green layer through the stencils.  I also stencilled the leaves with some crackle paste.

You might notice that there are additional leaves surrounding the flowers.  Now I love a multi-use stamp and I soon recognised that one of the flowers provided excellent foliage!

That's it from me this week but I'll be back next week with some more craftiness.

Happy Crafting,

Clare

Three Little Birds

  Hello bloggers, this week I'm certainly detecting a little sign of spring in the air.  Listening to the birds singing in the morning  inspired me to whip up a project that reminded me of that famous song!

I used stamps from Carabelle Studios, Zorrotte, Heart & Bird along with Birgit Koopsens Scribbled leafs and textured circles

I stamped on some background stamping, using permanent ink, onto some plain white card stock.  Over this I blended a combination of Peacock feathers, Salty Ocean, Broken China & cracked pistachio Distress Oxides over card and then wiped through stencils with a baby wipe to remove some of the ink. I also added in some patches of Hickory Smoke oxides.

Using some white acrylic paint I stencilled on some some circles.  I dried the circles, replaced the stencil and bumped it over to gently add some Wilted Viotlet Distress Ink.

I cut my card into my desired shape and added some stamping using the scribbled leaves and textured circles set.  I used a watermark ink and heat embossed with white opaque powder.  Using wilted violet again, I edged the individual cards.

You might have noticed that one of my little birds is facing the opposite way!  I stamped the bird onto my Gelli Plate and took a reverse print off of the plate, bonus, two stamps for the price of one!  I stamped the other birds the normal way, colouring them all with Neocolour II crayons and coloured pencils.  

I do hope you have enjoyed your visit to the blog today?

Happy Crafting,

Clare.

You can never have too much happy!

  Hi guys, this week I've been playing with Paperartsy Infusions.  Infusions are amazing bursts of powdered colour dye, which explode when you spritz with water.

Along with the Infusions I used Tracy Scott's/Paperartsy stamp set ETS14.

I chose to use the Infusions through stencils.  In the background I sprinkled Black Knight through my chosen stencil, spritzed with water and allowed it to dry before I continued with my stamping.

For the flower I used Sunset Beach, allowing to dry before I stamped my image.  I fussy cut out the flower and coloured the petals using Jane Davenport Mermaid Markers.

I added in my own doodles to the tag before adding some accents with stickles and glossy accents.

A HUGE Thank You to all who participated in last weeks blog hop, we had an amazing response!  So excited to announce the winner of my  $10 voucher! Drum roll please........Congratulations Kathi-Kats Tales of Stamping.

Happy Crafting to you all,

Clare

Topflight 1st Birthday Blog Hop

Welcome to the Topflight Stamps 1^st Birthday Blog Hop!!!  The past year has been more successful than we ever could have imagined and it’s all because of our amazing customers. We are so excited to celebrate with you and give you our 1^st BirthdaySpecial Discount - 20% off ALL orders - use code BDAY20. 

Topflight Stamps is a place you will find different and unique stamps from around the world. Today we have an AWESOME blog hop with some of the best paper crafters in the industry. They are each featuring some of our favourite stamps. Be sure to comment on this blog and all the blogs on the hop to be eligible for the GRAND PRIZE a $50 store credit!!!  PLUS  - each of the designers on this blog hop are giving away a $10 gift certificate to one of the commenters on their post. I will announce my winner here on Monday, April 2.  The $50 Grand Prize winner will be announced on the Topflight Stamps Blog the same day. 

To celebrate Topflight's 1st birthday I wanted to make a big project to commemorate the occasion.  On a 12 x 12 canvas board, painted with Paperartsy Fresco Paints, mushroom & nougat I stencilled using  leaves stencil PS081 I stamped using stamps from Paperatsy Jofy #62 and onto card to create my colourful blooms.

I water coloured the flowers adding more intensified colour using pencils.  Happy Birthday Topflight!

Now, be sure to check out all these blogs and comment for your chance to win the grand prize!!

Topflight Stamps

• Donna Bowman 

• Lindsay Weirich

• Clare Messenger  - You are Here

• Julia Stainton

• Jenny Colacicco

• Veronica Zalis

• Tenia Nelson

• Lisa Hoel

• Teri Anderson

• Jenny Marples

• Nathalie Fournier

• Karen Bearse

• Kristina Song

Happy Crafting everyone,

Clare.

A year at Topflight!

Today I'm reflecting on my first year blogging with Topflight Stamps.  

Paperartsy/Tracy Scott #11

Designing for Topflight stamps means that sometimes I end up using  stamps that I wouldn't normally select for myself but this is good, in fact it is excellent! It pushes you out of your comfort zone and stretches your creativity.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my journey with Topflight and I am looking forward to many more.

Visible Image 'Live in the Moment'

So I'm taking a walk down memory lane and re-visiting some of my favourite projects over the past twelve months and hopefully sparking some inspiration!

For the love of Stamps - A Sweet Day

Stamping with smaller stamps is always a bit of a personal challenge for me, possibly because I normally enjoy working on a larger scale but I really enjoyed working on this pocket size mini-book and colouring in the images.  

Lavinia Stamps - Dragonfly keeper

I love working with inks but I equally love working with paint, I often flit from inks to paint or both!  Using a whole mix of medias keeps me interested in crafting.  I love experimenting on tags, postcards or reference cards.  I've also been known to go into hubby's garage and look for a spare bit of wood or three!

Carabelle Studios - Bird & Heart

So there you have it! A few of my favourite crafty moments from the past year.  I'm going to take this opportunity to wish Topflight Stamps a Happy 1st birthday and hope that I'm here to see many more!

Happy Crafting,

Clare

Fast Food Fun!

 Hello Bloggers, on the menu today we have Burger & Fries!  I've been playing with a cute little set of stamps, made for you by 'For The Love of Stamps'

I prepared a gelli printed background and stamped over using stamps from Paperartsy, designed by Tracy Scott.  I cut my sheet down to ATC sized cards, edged with some distress ink and mounted onto black card.

For The Love of Stamps-Fast Food Fun

 

Paperartsy/Tracy Scott ETS14

I used Neocolour II and Faber-Castell crayons to add colour to my Burger & fries, neatly cut them  out to place on my ATC's

Once I knew where my fast food meal was going to be placed 

I added in some of the smaller stamps.

I added some doodling with a white sharpie pen before I finally placed the burger, fries & ketchup in place with some silicone gel.

Thank you for visiting today!

Happy Crafting,

Clare.