Penny Black Demure Take 2

I have been playing with my Penny Black Demure stamp again, this time using Brushos. Its always a good idea to have more than one project in mind when you buy a new stamp and I have thought of at least four ideas using this one.

Penny Black stamp : Demure
Brushos : Brilliant Red and Leaf Green
Highlighted with Pink Candy Stickles

This is stamped onto ordinary white stamping card using versamark and embossed in white. The Brushos paint is added afterwards and spritzed with water. Leaf Green is so full of different colours, see the turquoise and yellows it makes.

Distress Markers meet Alcohol Pens

The sun is shining, Spring is here and it is still light after 8pm. I do love this time of year.
This weekend I have been having a go at the technique I learned from Kay Carley last weekend.
Have a look at Kay's beautiful work on her blog:
http://kaycarley.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/may-class-at-glitter-pot.html

I cannot claim the colour schemes used on the flowers as my own as they are the same as Kay used on the example I saw in the demo but I shall play with this again using different colour schemes.
My first card uses the new Penny Black Demure stamp and for the second I used a Lin Brown flower for one of my PaperArtsy sets. The sentiments and sprigs are from Hobby Art sets.

The flowers are coloured using Copics and the background stamping and watercolour effect is achieved with distress markers. 

Enjoy what is left of the weekend,

Julia x

P.S. Note to self ..... I must do blog updates more than once a month!

Oyster Stamps Craft Retreat Weekend

I have returned from a weekend away at the Oyster Stamps Craft Retreat. Two days of workshops at The Hellidon Lakes Hotel in Daventry with excellent projects demos and advice from Martine, Hellen and Eileen. I have completed most of my projects, feeling pleased with myself for having done that!

The workshop with Hellen Pearce taught us colouring techniques and stamping. Details of the products used and Hellen's examples can be found on her blog : elliescupboard.blogspot.co.uk

Key point from this workshop that I have taken away with me, other than the Promarker colouring technique, is to not always use the whole stamp on a project. Partial images look good in these panel layouts. I chose the traditional red and green colours for my project but of course you could use anything.

I really should put a present in that bag and give it to somebody but .... I think I will keep it :)

The workshops with Eileen Godwin were fabulous, I got to play with those lovely Designs by Ryn stamps and the new Brusho paints (yes, of course I bought some). Totally in my comfort zone with this as we played with the paint and distress ink. Lots of layering in the first example below. The tree branches are a stencil from Ryn as well as the stamped images including the famous water droplets.

Eileen work can be found on her blog : http://eileenscraftyzone.blogspot.co.uk/

There will be You Tube videos for Brusho techniques posted early December so look out for those.

This is the project from Eileen's second workshop. Stencils and stamped images are Designs by Ryn again. Aren't those bubbles delicious.
Ryn stamps are available from the Oyster Stamps shop : http://www.oysterstamps.co.uk/

Martine's workshops included lots of die cutting and beautiful flowers. The first project was a box with a matching card. I didn't complete this one but here is a picture of the card. That poinsettia is die cut using a Frantic Stamper die. For more of Martine's lovely white on white artwork and flowers go visit her blog : http://abfabdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/

Martine's second workshop had us making a flower from black (or red) card stock and altered with pan pastels and treasure gold. I love the metallic effect of the gold on black. 

.... and a close up of the flower.

A big Thank You to the Oyster Team for a superb craft retreat.

I have met new friends and learned new things. All in all, a very excellent weekend.

Floral Tiles

Maybe its because it is Springtime but I'm in a floral mood at the moment. I was experimenting with Cosmic Shimmer Ultra Thick Embossing Crystals, I love the effect you get layering them up, very satisfying to see them melt.

Stamp : Penny Black Slapstick Cling - Mosaic

Coloured with Promarkers, cut into four and embossed with the UTE crystals (3 layers), mounted on black card and then arranged on gold sparkle paper.

The birthday circle is a die cut sentiment from Craftwork Cards.

I'm wondering what else I can do with this stamp, perhaps something monotone with one of the flowers highlighted in colour or maybe stamp it with various distress inks and use it as a background for something vintage. When I first got this one in a sale I wasn't sure what to do with it but as always when you use something for the first time other ideas come to mind.