Professor Bumbles Magical Travelling Steampunk Suitcase By Carol Fox

Hi, I'm Carol fox, and I am very happy to be your guest on the DT for July. This altered suitcase is the first of three projects that I shall be sharing with you through the month. I really enjoyed making it and I hope you enjoy reading about it.

Professor Bumble is an avid traveller but like most of us he enjoys the arriving, but the journey can be a bit tiresome. So imagine his joy when he stumbled upon this magical travelling suitcase in the back of an old dingy shop. He would now be able to travel around the globe without having to spend to much time away from his beloved Emily.

I used one of these paper mache suitcases as the basis for my project. I started by giving it a couple of coats of Claudine Hellmuth Tan paint, both inside and out, then adding the detailing on the case with the Sable brown. I then randomly stamped the cog images from the Tick Tock Plate over the case using black archival ink. I then edged the case using a Black Acrylic Dabber.

I stamped images from the Labels Plate onto cream paper, inked them and then attached them to the case using multi medium. I stamped and added quotes from the Travelling Words plate in the same way.

I stamped the Slow and Fast image onto coated white card using archival ink, so it was nice and black and stood out well. I attached a game spinner to the centre over the stamped hand for extra detail. I layered this onto the case using sticky fixers.

On the back of the case I used the world image from the Round The World plate, colouring it with blue and brown distress ink.
I made the little wheels using oversized draught pieces from a childrens game, drilling holes in them before glueing Tim Holtz Sprocket gears onto them and adding large oversized brads to their centres.  I cut small round pieces of wooden dowling to act as axels to attach them to the suitcase. The propellor is hand made from metal and layered up with a large spring and a sprocket gear.

I added die cut cogs coloured with inka gold paste to give it a working steampunk appearance. The key is from my personal stash but the Tim Holtz ones in the shop are very similar.
I stamped odd tags and labels from the Ephemera plate and the Labels Plate onto shrink plastic,  colouring them in before shrinking and attaching them to the key and the handle of the suitcase with odd bits of chain and jump rings.

Inside the case attached to the lid for safe keeping is the travelling map by which Professor Bumble chooses his destination. He decided to glue it to the lid for safe keeping, after running into a tornado and nearly getting it ripped from his grasp.

I have used the Map of Europe, stamped using black ink and aged using old paper distress ink, before glueing to the lid.

The most prized possesion that travels with Professor Bumble is his old Phineas Pinchbeck Pocket Watch. He keeps a photo of his beloved Emily tucked into the back of the watch.

I have used the Watches Set stamps and the matching chipboard to make this watch. The white chipboard was too bright so I used Old paper Distress ink to age it before I started. I stamped the main watch image straight onto the chipboard and highlighted the hands and numbers with glossy accents. Then using glossy accents I attached a reclaimed pocket watch glass over the stamped watch face.

I then hinged the two pieces together at the bottom. I cut three pieces of white card to fit the circle area, and ran two through my bigshot with an embossing folder to add texture before colouring them with Inka Gold Paste to give them a lovely metallic finish. I then glued them to the back and the inside of the watch.

Onto the other piece I stamped the larger image from the Gibson Girl sheet and coloured it using distress ink pens on my craft mat picking up the colour with a paintbrush so the shades were faded. I glued this to the inside back of the watch. I coloured the edges with paint from a gold acrylic Dabber. I added a small shrink plastic tag featuring the  Phinease Pinchbeck image.

Professor Bumble never travels without his Moustache oil, carefully packaged into its box for safe keeping. I used the Goose Grease image on my box, masking it off before adding cogs from the Tick Tock Plate as a background. It is coloured with spiced Marmalade, Brick red and Mustard Seed Distress ink.

The small bottle has been covered in Rock candy Distress paint, once this was dry I coloured it using Butterscotch Alcohol ink. The shrink Plastic label was made in the same way as the tags for the suitcase.

Other little bits of ephemera he has collected on his travels include a voucher for 6d of  his favourite trousers, and the advert for them he took from his paper before he left home, along with a tape measure to ensure he gets a good fit and tickets collected on his travels.
These items feature images from the Open Road sheet and the Ephemera sheet, both of which can be found here.

I hope you enjoy my project and I shall be back in a couple of weeks.
Carol x

Taxi for the Butterfly Ball anyone? By Trish Latimer

Hello again!
Well, this is my third and final project! I have to say a great big Thank You to Jennie and Emma for inviting me to be part of the team, albeit for such a short time! I can honestly say I've had a ball creating these pieces to share......and that is a very dodgy way of introducing my creation today..... (ball? Butterfly Ball? geddit?!!)
Anyway.....

This project started out as something completely different.....but once I could 'see' a carriage shape sort of emerging from the canvas block and spools, this is what happened! Another quirky, painty, assemblage piece.
A little step by step 'how to'......
I started off with a wooden block (Chunky ATC sized, but that was coincidence rather than design, it was the first thing that came to hand!). I then covered it with Sticky Backed Canvas . Yes, I could have just painted onto the wood, but I really like the canvas texture!

I then smeared layers of Blank Canvas (white), Pool (turquoise) and Lettuce (green) paint onto the block. Make sure to dry in between applying each colour, and continue to build up the layers until you like it!

Next, its stamping time! Using the same three paints as before, stamp Grid Background, Open Sequin Waste Background, Random Dots Background and Harlequin Background onto the block.

 Once the stamping is dry, print some shapes using the sides of credit cards and bottle tops. I've used
Raspberry and Purple Twilight for this.....

I also added a little black detail using the squiggle stamp from the Flower Maker plate....

Whilst you have the paints out, paint two 70 cm x 48cm Wooden Spools white....

Then decorate to match the canvas covered block....

Once the spools are dry, attach them to the bottom of the block using hot glue.
Now, the butterflies. Paint some scraps of card with the four bright paint colours, then stamp the Butterflies using black ink. Cut out, then adhere to the block base....

To get the 3D effect, use strips of acetate stuck to the butterflies, then adhered at different points to the base. Now, this isn't a pic I'd normally show, but it really gives you an idea of the 'workings' of the butterflies..

The acetate on the side of the block can be hidden by adding an extra butterfly over it!
The 'guardian' of my carriage is a vintage image that I've backed onto card, cut out then stuck to a little square stand. She holds a bamboo skewer sign....

I made a hole in the image, then threaded through some fine chain to look like she's holding it. The chain is simply looped over a Resin Crown glued to the top of the carriage...

So...there you have it! A suitably strange project to end my guest designer stint here!

 Thank you for having me, I've loved it!
See you all soon,
Trish xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Beside The Seaside by Alison

Hello Stampers! I've just returned from a wonderful week's holiday on the Greek island of Corfu, & while I was lying on the beach, watching the sun sparkling on the sea, I was inspired to make this canvas.

On a 5 x 5 inch canvas, I used Claudine Hellmuth Studio paints to create my background. I painted in a few waves & birds, then dotted some Glossy Accents on the sea & sprinkled on some glass glitter.

I recently spotted a recipe for fake sand in a magazine, using a couple of teaspoons of clear ultra thick embossing enamel, a little bit of heirloom gold Perfect Pearls, & some Glossy Accents to bind it together. 

I spread the 'sand' onto the bottom of the canvas, then whilst it was still wet, I added some beads & shrink plastic shells. The shell images are from the Beside The Seaside plate, & I stamped them onto cream shrink plastic, before cutting them out & shrinking them with a heat gun.

I also made some shrink plastic beach umbrellas using the image from the Seaside No. 1 plate, then glued them to the 'beach' with Glossy Accents.

I stamped the phrase from the Beside The seaside plate onto cream paper, cut out the words, inked them with vintage photo Distress Ink, then glued them onto the 'sky'.

To finish, I added some blue glass glitter & beads to the top edge of the canvas, & a wooden fish to the 'sea'. 

Thanks for looking,

Alison xox

Careful..I bite..By Trish Latimer

Hello again!
Firstly, THANK YOU for the lovely comments left on my first post!! I'm glad my first project went down well! So, I've made another painty, quirky odd thing to share.... Here she is..

This time I've used probably my favourite surfaces, canvas. I love the texture of canvas, the fact you can build upon it to create something really 'touchy feely' as well as easy on the eye! This particular 'board' was made by adhering Sticky Backed Canvas (by Claudine Hellmuth, the white version) to chipboard. I love the sticky backed stuff as you can have a base whatever size and shape you fancy, just by covering it with the adhesive canvas. No more being limited to the sizes and shapes of ready made canvas boards or blocks! Its also really easy to die cut as well, and this is our first step......

Die cut a circle and flourish (both Sizzix) from the canvas (I've stuck it to thick card first to give it a bit more stability), and then cut and cover your chipboard with the canvas too.
Time to create the background on your canvas board. I've used Adirondack Paint Dabbers as my paint for this part, in Aqua, Cool Peri and Pool. The white is Claudine Helmuths Blank Canvas . Smear on the four colours, drying each layer before you add more. Mine looked like this.....

Next, lots of stamping! Using the four colours of paint used in the background, stamp Random Dot Background, Grid Background and Harlequin . Also, stamp the circles from the Swirls Splats and Dots plate , and the long single harlequin from the A6 Borders Plate .

Detail printing is next on the list... I've used Raspberry Paint Dabber , and Charcoal Black Claudine Hellmuth Studio paint for this. print lines and tiny circles using junk like store cards and bottle caps, and add in some tiny dot detail too....

To complete the background, also paint, stamp and edge the die cut canvas pieces (the circle also has the top of a Flourish on it, from the Swirls Splats and Dots plate....)

Adhere these to the background. I've used hot glue as it gives a 3D effect, as well as ensuring a good strong bond! The Flourish is placed along the bottom, to give my little girl somewhere to stand, and the circle as an accent in the upper right section of the piece....

I've added a digital image of a little girl, looking suitably perplexed ( Weirdly,I LOVE figures looking perplexed!)

 Again, the hot glue gives her that raised 3D look. The quote is from my stash of cut up old Mills and Boon romance novels! Glued on with gel medium....

And thats it! A painted canvas board, with that quirky randomness I love! Hopefully you like it too...

Until next time....
Love, Trish xxxxxxx

Emily is Bored by Trish Latimer

Hi everyone! Trish Latimer here with my first of three projects this month. I am so excited to be part of the team as guest designer, and can't wait to show you some of my creations using Jennie's stamps and products! So, first up is this.......

A colourful, quirky frame! Lots of lovely messy paint, and plenty of stamps... Here is a quick step by step to give you an idea of how to create one of your own.
I like to work on a white base, so I've used gesso to cover a deep paper mache frame :

Of course you can leave the papier mache as it is, should you want the vintage, brown look in your piece!
Next, get the paints out! Smear the whole thing with Landscape Green and Sky Blue (by Claudine Hellmuth) and then print and stencil using bottle tops and sequin waste. I've also used a bit of Blank Canvas paint as white is a great highlight colour. Stamp using a Calligraphy Mat and elements from the Swirls Splats and Dots plate. Something like this.....

Once this base is totally dry, add in some detailed stamped images. As the frame isn't flat, and we want the stamping to go around the corners, the only way to do this is to use tissue paper. Stamp Open Sequin Waste, Random Dots and Grid Background onto white tissue using black ink, then heat to set. Tear the tissue and adhere to the base using Mod Podge wet glue. Like this...

You can clearly see all the wet glue on that pic...once the glue dries it will become clear, and the tissue transparent. The aim is for the stamping to look immaculate, even though it goes around corners! Add in some red paint (I've used Dash of Red ) , and some more details using Classic Teal . This will not only add a vibrant accent colour to your work, but will also help to 'blend in' your stamped tissue so it looks part of the piece.

Thats the background done! Using the same paint colours as before, colour some scrap card, then overstamp with Butterflies . Cut out, then adhere a coil of wire to the back using hot glue.

The hot glue gun now becomes your best friend! Attach all the coils to the base of the frame, and put a tiny piece of card (shaped like grass) at the front to hide the glue!

I've used a digital collage image as my fairy, adding in some wings from a painted butterfly as before...

Finally, I typed a quirky quote, then printed it off and stuck it on. This hopefully brings the whole thing together!

I've loved making this as my first piece for you all to share, I hope you like it too! I'll be back later in the month with more....so bye for now!
Love, Trish

Family Photo by Alison

Hello Stampers. I have a vintage hanging to share with you today.

Here's how I made it...

I stamped the Family Values image onto white card with black versafine ink, then clear embossed it. I coloured it using antique linen & vintage photo distress inks, then distressed the edge with a paper distresser & inked them with vintage photo ink.

For the background, I took a slightly larger piece of white card, stamped the chicken wire background with vintage photo DI, then used blending foam to give it a smudged look. Again, I distressed the edges & inked them with vintage photo.

For the base, I painted a ripped piece of corrugated packaging with black Studio gesso, then rubbed a little gold Viva inka gold around the edges.

I assembled my hanging as shown, using long fasteners to attach the background to the base. I then added some ruched vintage lace, a heart charm tied with coffee-dyed fabric, and a chain to hang my artwork.

Shot Through The Heart by Emma

Hello everyone!!

It's that time of the month when I get to share my first piece with you all and today, I thought it would be nice to continue the theme of our ongoing HEARTS challenge and make something for Valentine's Day. I had lots of bits and bobs, scraps of paper and sheets of chipboard hanging around my craft room, which I'd kept with the thought that one day they might be useful and so, I thought the time had now come to recycle them all, and this is what all those bits and bobs made...

To begin with I covered an old CD with various colours of alcohol inks. Once I achieved the desired effect, I just dabbed some Snow Cap Mixative over the top. I then painted an old ribbon spool, that I had left over from the Christmas wrapping, with Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Paint in Traditional Tan, set it to one side to dry, before inking up the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Once the painted ribbon spool was secured into place onto my CD base, I die cut the Mannequin shape from the Sewing Room set of Tim Holtz's Alterations dies out of chipboard and covered it with Charcoal Black Studio Paint. I then die cut a separate piece of the body section of the mannequin from a piece of sticky back canvas and stuck this to my painted chipboard shape, once again inking the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I adhered some sticky back aluminium to a piece of chipboard, die cut a set of wings from this and then ran it used a Texture Fade to emboss each wing. I adhered the wings to my main body shape and then stuck the completed die cut shape to my painted ribbon spool base, using Glossy Accents and waited for it to dry, so that the Mannequin was securely in position.

Using the Movers and Shapers Mini Tattered Florals die, I die cut enough petals to make five dimensional roses which I then blended with Fired Brick Distress Ink and misted with Forever Red Perfect Pearls Mists. Once dry, I inked up one of the Calligraphy Mats with Black Archival Ink and stamped onto each petal before making up the dimensional blooms and sticking them to the base of my piece.

Next, I triple embossed a heart shape piece of chipboard, using red embossing powder. I then die cut the arrow from Tim's Valentine Silhouettes set using some more of the aluminium covered chipboard and covered it with alcohol inks before attaching it to the body of my mannequin.

Finally, I stamped the word "Imagine" onto a piece of cream card, inked the edges with Antique Linen DI and made a banner shape. I stuck this to the inside section of the ribbon spool and finished the piece with some vintage seam binding coloured with Antique Linen Distress Stain.

So, that about it from me and I really hope you like my recycled creation.

See you all soon and hope you have a lovely Friday and a very creative weekend.

Emma x