Published - A Touch of Whimsy

'10 Quick Cards'

As seen in Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft Vol 17 No 1.

These lovely whimsical images are available at Stampington & Co.  It was a great doodling challenge to create all the frames for these wonderful characters! 

Published - Fresh Eggs

'Fresh Eggs'

As seen in Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft Vol 17 No 4.

Oxford Impressions have a wonderful plate of country themed stamps called 'Country Girl'.  I particularly love the old farm house image... what a wonderful home to live in!



Published - 'Tulips'

'Tulips'

As seen in Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft Vol 17 No 5.

A gorgeous stamp image by Stampington & Co.

Tenderness - Jane Austen

'Tenderness'

All stamped images are from Oxford Impressions 'Jane Austen' rubber plate.

Home - Jane Austen

'Home'

'There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.'  Jane Austen

All stamped images from Oxford Impressions 'Jane Austen' plate.

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

'Pride and Prejudice'

I was so excited when Suzanne at Oxford Impression put together her 'Jane Austen' rubber stamp plate.  Pride and Prejudice is my favourite novel by Jane Austen and I guess it came as no surprise to me, when I envisioned Jane sitting at her writing desk, dreaming up the great romance of Miss Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy.

Published - Sweet Little Feet

'Sweet Little Feet' by Sue Smith



As seen in Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft Vol 17 No 3.

Little Feet rubber stamp plate is available for purchase at Paperbag Studios.

French Pattern - Regency Fashion

'French Pattern'

These beautiful images from Oxford Impressions 'Regency Fashion' plate are so lovely to work with and as I was putting this work together, I couldn't help but dream of being in Paris.  I'd be treasure hunting at the flea markets and searching for gorgeous textiles and art supplies to take home with me... Oh I'd drop in to the odd museum too!. 

Elegance - Regency Fashion

'Elegance'

When I think of the Regency Fashion, I think of elegance... 

Haute Couture - Regency Fashion

'Haute Couture'

I've been interested in the history of fashion from a very young age and sometimes wish I had had the talent to be a fashion designer.  Working with amazing textiles and embellishments, creating dreamy wearable works of art... what bliss! 

Well the next best thing to designing haute couture is designing paper art works incorporating beautiful textiles and embellishments.  Oxford Impressions 'Regency Fashion' rubber stamp plate provides beautiful imagery from the Regency Era - a favourite fashion era of mine.

Designer - Sewing Notions

'Designer'

I totally love all the images used here and of course they are all from Oxford Impressions Sewing Notions plate.  The lace and button were an op-shop find from my last holiday... there was a great length of this lace tucked away with a whole lot of buttons - a delightful find! 

Reels - Sewing Notions

'Reels'

I was recently entrusted with an assortment of sewing notions that once belonged to my friend's mother.  I have dipped into some of those supplies to create each of the Oxford Impressions 'Sewing Notions' samples I've completed this week.  The zip was just the perfect size for a card and it was the starting point of this piece.  I love the colour of the zip and torn section of the press stud packet.  I know I'm repeating myself but these OI images are a lot of fun to work with :)

Homemade - Sewing Notions

'Homemade' by Sue Smith

I loved it when Mum used to sew me a new piece of clothing or knitted me a jumper and so the sentiment, 'Happiness is Homemade', rings true in my heart.  And now, of course, I love all things handmade, especially when I can stay home long enough to make them 'homemade'.

I really enjoyed embelling this card, especially the beading the trim!

This is one of Oxford Impressions newest rubber stamp plates - Sewing Notions.  I totally loved working with these stamps and still have many ideas I want to try out.  They are stunning images and work beautifully together.  They also combine really well with OI's other sewing themed plates, 'The Dressmaker' and 'Dress Forms and Corsetry'.

Well here's to a day spent at home... where happiness will be trully homemade!

Threads - Grungy Monday 09

'Threads' by Sue Smith

Well I've literally left this to the last minute (or hour)... I've been sick in bed for two days... not the nicest way to spend a long weekend, so I'm hoping I can manage a little creative time today.  And Grungy Monday was on the top of the list of things to work on!

Anyway, Grungy Monday 09 is all about Tim Holtz' technique, often called 'Shabby Chic'.  The best thing about GM's challenges is that I'm trying new techniques on a regular basis - all good fun!  Being a total fan fo all things Shabby Chic, I'm sure glad I managed to participate in this challenge!

I skipped step one of the technique because I didn't have a pitch black paint dabber and have just used black card as Tim suggests as an alternative.  All stamped images are by Tim Holtz and the ruler is from a collage sheet by ARTchix Studios.

Be Still

'Be Still'

Grungy Monday 08 has encouraged me to explore yet another new technique... Tim Holtz' Brushless Watercolour... I had read about it and loved the effect, but hadn't actually ever got around to trying it!  So here's my first go at brushless watercolour... 

The Paper Play challenge this week is Blossoms & Blooms and I've handmade the flower in the bottom corner of this card.  This is a new challenge site to me - yay!

I've kept the embellishing for this card very simple and neutral.  I plan to play around with this technique a whole lot more - it's so easy and a lot of fun!

Published - Fly Away

'Fly Away' as seen in Cardmaking Stamping & Papercraft Vol 17 No 3

I used some of my favourite Stampington stamps on this card :)

Special Delivery - Inspiration Emporium Challenge

'Special Delivery' by Sue Smith

Inspiration Emporium is challenging it's participants to use packaging in their creations this month.  Prima package their products beautifully and so I decided to use a section of a 'Say It In Crystals' packet as the background to this piece.  To this I've added gesso, stamping and some lovely ARTchix collage imagery.  To add at bit of glamour and bling there's some Prima crystals/lace and various ribbon to finish it off!

Solitude - Every Inchie Monday

'Silence and Solitude'  Inchie 

I haven't managed to join the Every Inchie Monday challenges very regularly so far this year, but I looked at the up-coming theme over the weekend and this weeks theme, 'Solitude' spoke to me.  It was a weekend full of solitude and some silence... quite blissful really... I managed finish some projects and catch up on a bit of sleep.

What do you like to do in solitude and silence... there's nothing much better than curling up on a comfy chair with a good book (and some chocolate) is there?!

Chocolat - Inkurable Stampers

'Chocolat' ATC

'Food Glorious Food' is the scrumptious challenge at Inkurable Stampers this month. 

I've stamped images from Darkroom Door's Champs Elysee stamp set on coffee stained card using VersaFine Onyx Black and Vintage Sepia ink to create the background.  I then affixed two chocolate images from Darkroom Door's Sweet Treats Montage with a scrap of lace and machine stitching.  Finally I stamped a section of the postcard address stamp over part of the larger chocolate image with Onyx Black ink and added a section of black German scrap along bottom edge of ATC as the finishing touch.  Note:  It pays to heat set VersaFine ink as you're working to ensure it's fully dry won't smudge.

Now to hunt down some chocolate at my house - that is the next challenge :)

Horizons - TPDCC82

'Horizons' Postcard

The photograph below is the inspirational palette for The Play Date Cafe Challenge #82



I really loved the colour palette and those scrumptious suitcases lead me towards creating the travel themed postcard.  There's nothing like venturing towards new horizons/destinations, but after a great adventure it is always wonderful to return home! 

All stamped images are Tim Holtz, the collage pieces are all from ARTchix Studio and the words are by Collections.