Craft Stamper February Edition!

Is out now!
Here is the cover....

The three hearts on a canvas board is my contribution to the free stamp makes article. Gorgeous and very useful heart stamp, created by the very talented Sarah Lawrence of Crafty Notions, who sadly passed away in December. Her contributions to the crafting world will be sorely missed by all us crafters out there.

A little closeup of the piece...

I also have a 'how to' article showing you how to achieve my painty backgrounds that I seem to use as a starting point to all my work!
Annnd ...... I'm the meet and greet artist too! Everyone will be heartily sick of me by the time they've finished reading it!
Its another fabulous edition, loads of wonderful eye candy as usual. Go check it out! Craft Stamper February issue- on sale now!


Trish xx

Random words...

I do like cutting out random lines from old books and adding them to my work. Almost as much as I like stating the obvious on my work.....generally, if there's a leaf on there, the text might read 'leaf' sort of thing!!!!
This particular quote has nothing to do with the subject matter for once though, which is why I like it!

Stampotique image, with a Lost Coast hat on!
 Trish xx

Happy New Year!!!

First day of 2012, and I'm starting as I mean to go on......been in the studio most of the day creating!!!
Discovered all kinds of things....like glossy accents takes all the colour out of dried violets! Who knew?!
Still can't show you any of todays art (wait for the April edition of Craft Stamper!),
so here is something I made before Christmas, and seems very apt on this day of new starts and great hopes for the coming year.....

Text paper on a wooden dyptich, overpainted with green, turquoise and purple paint then a stamped image added. The stars are my new favourite thing, acetate die cuts used as a mask, once removed the text shows through nice and clear. Outlined in thin black pen!
Head is buzzing with lots I want to get done this week, so plenty more to show you soon!
Trish xx

Late presents....

Finished the last lot of Christmas presents (yes i know its all over, but eldest child wasn't seeing her friends until a New Years Eve party...so I had plenty of time to get them done!) All handstamped, apart from the resin skull!!!
The group of three bracelets apparently represent Harry, Hermione and Ron...no, I have no idea..... I just make what i'm told to!
Been getting very inky today too, but i can't show you that yet.....so this will have to do!

Trish xx

woooooooo!

My tag was chosen as one of the winners on the Crafty Individuals Blog!
Wooooo!
Thank you Jo !!!
I love all things Crafty Individuals, so as part of my determination to keep up with my blog I'm sure there will be a lot more CI images appearing here regularly!
Trish xx

Exciting News!!!

I'm thrilled to be able to share that from January, I will be part of the Calico Crafts Design Team!

I can't wait to get stuck in and play with all the fabulous products!!!!!

Love Trish xx

Rock Salt!

I've been digging out my bag of this to sprinkle on the doorstep as it has a nasty habit of becoming a real icy hazard ! Reminded me of a rock salt project that didn't make the final cut....this hanging was part of my series in Craft Stamper Magazine on using salt in background techniques. The long stemmed hearts have been treated to the salt soaking method (dump a load of rock salt crystals on a very wet surface, add inks and then brush off the crystals once totally dry). Coloured rock salt also added to the bottom as an embellishment!

Really enjoyed this, although I did get into a right pickle with the hot glue gun when adding the layers! You know one of those gluey projects when it just seems to go everywhere? This was one of those days!
Right, need to get a squillion pressies wrapped before the little people finish school!
Trish xx

Her Brain....

one of my favourite stamps ever...this quote from River City Rubber Works. Their quote stamps are just fab..see here for some more examples!
Anyway, used it today on a canvas, it kind of sums up the whole Christmas feeling without being a Christmas project!
The large hatted lady is a Zettiology image.

Hope you like her!
Trish xx

Configurations Box- Grannys' Sewing Room

In the hope of being more organised, I'm making sure I have next years workshops at least thought about, if not planned totally. As the Christmas Configurations box proved a real hit, I've another planned. This one is scheduled for February, and is called "Grannys' Sewing Room' . Yup, you guessed it, a sewing themed box. Not exactly original, but after having a long think, and discarding many themes that are simply too 'niche' (forgive the dreadful pun when talking about shadow boxes!), sewing it is! My sample is all made and on display at the shop if anyone is close enough to pop in and have a closer look. For those that can't get there, here are the pics.....

This is the pink version, but students can opt to do a 'shabby blue floral' box on the day if they wish. The Box itself is covered with vintage sewing patterns, then coloured with a wash of cream then pink paint. I found the most cost effective (working to a workshop budget is tricky!) way of achieving the shabby florals for the back panels in the boxes was to use tissues. Regular tissues you would blow your nose on! Cath Kidston makes tissues (and napkins) that can be pulled apart and then attached to cardstock to give the most delicious floral backgrounds. One single tissue did all nine of the back panels in my box. Bargain!
Details.....

 

The Dress form is a Sizzix die cut, again covered with patterns and painted. Lace, thread and a button to decorate.

Rolled up felt for a tiny pincushion, and tiny vials from a favourite shop SkyBluePink filled with beads.
All the stamps are from Katy Foxs fabulous stamp sheet here .

The top of the box is decorated with mini spools. These are best found in model or miniature shops. The real vintage ones cost a packet, not a plan when you need to buy in bulk for a workshop! I also customised a lot of clear buttons by simply adhering text paper and then cutting round them. Great way of making something that little bit different!
So......(ha ha geddit?!) As ever, these things book up fast, so if you're interested have a look at the details here . Maybe I'll see you there!
 Trish xx

Beads And Beyond Magazine- January Issue!

Another fabulous issue is out !!
My project this month is called "Teenage Dream" , a quirky twist on kiddie friendship bracelets. These are definitely all grown up! I created a pair of handstamped aluminium bracelets, each with a single phrase that when put together form a song lyric. Of course the words used could be anything that has significance to you and your friend, as long as the phrase makes sense when split into two!
These earrings are the 'extra' to the bracelets, same lyrics split up, but this time stamped onto copper squares and turned into earrings with the addition of some handmade spiral findings!

I think they maybe I should have given them a polish before taking the pic! oops!

Its great fun thinking up lyrics or phrases that can be split in two! To see the latest Beads And Beyond Magazine, click HERE

Trish xx