Sunday Stampers -Numbers, oh, and another sneak peek ;-)

Last Sundays theme for the Sunday Stampers challenge was 'Numbers' pop over to Hels for more info about this challenge.  I've used texture paste with my new 'Argyle' style stencil.  The metal bird and cage I die-cut using TH's 'caged Bird' die.  I coloured the bird with alcohol inks but wanted to leave the cage as it was 'cos I thought the colour went well with purple.  The flourish is an Anna Griffin stamp, and the music (stamped onto tissue paper) is Artemio.

And another sneak peek for you.  This is another PIF/swap.
It's lovely and sunny here now after teeming with rain earlier
 :-)

The three Ss

Scavenging, Sunday Stampers and Sneak Peek ;-)

When I was in DDs the other day I found this foil container in the bin so retrieved it and washed it - its' red on the reverse.


The theme for Sunday Stampers challenge on Hels blog this week was 'Love'  I've done a tag which I painted and as a result thought it may not be so easy to stamp on, so stamped the Stampotique image onto tissue paper.  I cut the heart out of a metal sheet and embossed it but decided to leave it silver rather than colour it.  I've added some siver transfer foil to the tag.  The tape at the bottom is Scotch Magic Tape which I've stamped with 'love' (see prev post for how I've used it as a substitute for Washi/Tissue Tape) BTW the heart on the tag wasn't made using the salvaged foil.

I've nearly completed the first of my Pay It Forward items and thought I'd show a sneak peek - 'cos I know you love them hehe This bit is only about 11/2" square. Any guesses?

Another Christmas Prezzy and other stuff

Firstly I'd like to thank Royal Mail - posted my sis's doll (see prev post) about 4pm Friday and she received it Saturday; so well done RM!  About the doll my sis said "it's brill"  :-)

I've made my big sis a glasses/specs case.  Put pieces of different coloured organza onto a felt base then covered with an off-white piece of organza and did free motion embroidery all over.  Is it a right handed thing? I don't know but  I think the curved corner should be on the right-hand side; which was the intention but then the flower was intended to be at the bottom :-/  Didn't think about it when I was cutting the corner - dozy me!  The reason for the satin-stitched edge is that the whole thing would've been too thick to do a seam on the inside.  The flower is also organza and cut using a Sizzix Bigz daisy die.

I bought some Scotch Magic Tape some time ago to see if you could stamp onto it and you can.   But here I've used it to transfer some images and colour from a catalogue; though the text is actually from a book page which was very thin so the paper adhered to the tape but I just wet the paper and rubbed it off.  I've just done random pieces and like the effect.  Anyway thought this would make a really good substitute for Washi Tape and Tissue Tape - you can do your own patterns ;-)

Margie's Doll

I usually make something for my 2 sisters for Christmas but I couldn't decide what to make last Christmas and then ran out of time.  Eventually I decided on a doll for my younger sister.  I usually use other people's patterns for making dolls but want to be able to do my own.  The limbs were no problem 'cos they can just be a kind of sausage shape, but I had great difficulty sorting out the head.  It took about 6 goes to get a reasonable one (and even now I think she needs a thinner jawline)  I'm rubbish at doing eyelashes, she looks like she's used cheap mascara which has made the eyelashes clumpy.  Is that an enigmatic smile? LOL Not happy with the mouth but am not going to make a new head!  Just realised she needs some blusher :-)

Stitch + Creative Crafts show and hot flushes!

I went to the Stitch + Creative Craft show at the GMEX (they renamed it Manchester Central some time ago but I prefer GMEX! hehe) yesterday with Pat While we were there we got chatting to another blogger, Chris, we hadn't met her before we were just chatting while browsing through some books.For anyone joining in the 365 challenge, Chris is also taking part if you'd like to pay her a visit :-) I found a book I liked the look of, but found it on Amazon when I got home for an excellent price.  Those who are interested in machine embroidery might like to check it out.  It looked very good to me and the reviews on Amazon are very good.  It's called 'Raising the Surface' by Maggie Grey
It's not very big as these shows go though I think it had improved this year.  But even so I usually enjoy going as it's easy to get to for me.  Just get the train from Dewsbury to Manchester Piccadilly then the tram to St Peter's Square; just 3 stops.  Well I say it's easy, providing you get on the correct train :-/  There'd been an announcement to say our train was going to be 5 minutes late, so when a train arrived about 5 mins after ours was due we got on.  I did briefly wonder why so many people where still standing on the platform, but there'd been no announcement and the guard was at the other end of the platform when he blew the whistle so we jumped on.  I had also looked at the screen as the train was pulling in, and it was showing Manchester Victoria at the top, but had the time 9.31 (it was now 9.44) so I assumed they'd just not updated it.  Turns out that train was running 15 minutes late.  So it took 1 hour 20 mins to Manchester as opposed to 45 minutes!  It wasn't very warm on the train and my feet were getting cold, as were Pat's ,but luckily I had a hot flush which staved off hypothermia LOL.  I wouldn't normally use the word 'luckily' with the term hot flush as those of you who suffer from that condition will appreciate.  For those who have yet to experience them and those whose physiology means they never will, let's just say when you have a hot flush, the idea of rolling naked in the snow is very appealing hahahaha.

Anyway, just thought I'd share a few things I purchased mainly because those of you who like using stencils may be interested to know Stamposaurus now do stencils and their prices are very good.  The small one with the 2 fences and flourish was £1.50 the other 2 £2.99.  Just want to say here I think I picked up the scalloped frames inadvertently, I'm almost certain I wouldn't have got them, and also sure I had my eye on something else, though I can't remember what now.  The other stencil is from 'That Special Touch' and was £3.50.  I thought the stamps would be useful especially the 'bubble wrap' one.  Now I know some of you will wonder why on earth anyone would buy such a stamp when you can use the real thing.  Well, it looks like a very good likeness, IYKWIM, and I only had 1 piece of bubble wrap that I had to keep cleaning (yes I know eventually I'd probably get some more, but I might want to use some before then!) but then my granddaughter picked it up the other day and started popping the bubbles :-/ LOL

365 Journal for Feb plus Sunday Stampers

As always with my journal pages I'm happy with them till I see others :-/  These started life as a completely different colour - initially a creamy peach!  But after going over them several times I've settled on this.  Not too sure about the yellowy squares what do you think?  If anyone can suggest a better colour I'm happy to change them as I haven't written anything yet!  The stamps are Art Journey 'Writing'.  For more info on the 365 journal pop over to Kate's


The Sunday Stampers challenge this week is 'Sentiments'.  I've made a tag this week.  The sentiment is a Tim Holtz stamp as is the 'plant'.  A new challenge is set each Sunday by Hels and is open till 9pm the following Saturday.