Wild Abandon by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! Today I have a journal page to share with you.

This page started out as a bit of an experiment. I covered the base with DecoArt crackle paste, & then left it overnight to dry.

For the next stage, I painted it with Claret Fresco Finish, & sponged some Inky Pool FF around the edges.

Then I applied Grunge Paste through a Crafter's Workshop stencil, allowed it to dry, then sponged Inky Pool FF paint over the top.

I finished the background by using a soft brush to apply White Fire Treasure Gold around the edges.

The tag was a leftover from a previous project, using blue Fresco Finish paints. I used my finger to add a little Claret paint, sponged the edges with Inky Pool, then stamped the Script from Calligraphic Mat 11 with Sienna Archival Ink.

I stamped the image from the Nudes Plate onto glossy card, using Cobalt Archival Ink, then sponged on some Broken China Distress Ink. I distressed the edges, then glued it to the tag.

I used Sienna Archival Ink and alphabet stamps for the wording, inked the edges with Cobalt, then glued in place.

After gluing the tag to the background, I used the Karantha Elegant Lady mould & some friendly plastic to make the top left embellishment. I made the starfish & shells using a cake decorating mould & FP, & added a gold metal button to the top of the tag.

Here's my page again...

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

Bold Blooms by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! 

As Mothering Sunday is fast approaching, I thought I'd share some bright & bold statement jewellery that would make a nice gift for Mum. Of course, you could always make some for yourself instead!

Here's how I made the set...

I took 3 Stampbord pieces, 2 one inch square, & 1 two inch square. This is a fantastic surface to work on, & takes inks beautifully. 

I applied alcohol ink (sunset orange, watermelon, & raspberry), using felt on an applicator tool, layering until I had the look I wanted.

I then sanded back the colour in the middles a little, to lighten.

I used jet black archival ink to stamp flowers from Katy Fox's Encyclopaedia Botanica plate.

Then I used a scratching tool to scratch some white highlights. This adds a lovely depth to the pieces.

I used the black archival ink pad to ink all of the sides & edges, to add a frame to my artwork.

Next, I embossed my pieces with clear ultra thick embossing enamel. I used 3 layers of embossing.

In the picture below, I have just embossed the large piece. You can see the difference the embossing makes, it really brings out the colours, and adds a beautiful shine, of course.

To finish, I added jump rings, metallic beads & ear wires for the earrings, & a ball chain for the pendant.

I hope you like this bright little set,

thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

Darling Child Card by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! I've got an inky card to share with you today.

I started with a square of white card, 5.25x 5.25". I laid the Crafter's Workshop Quatrefoil stencil down, spritzed with water, then with Dylusions Ink in Calypso Teal & Crushed Grape. I blotted with a paper towel, dried it with a heat gun, then inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I unscrewed the lid of the Calypso Teal, & tapped ink from the plastic tube onto the background. I matted the background onto black card.

I stamped the child & phrase from the Childhood Dreams Plate, cut them out, & inked with Vintage Photo DI. I splattered with the Calypso Teal again, masking off the child's face, then water-coloured the child's sweater with the ink & a water brush. I matted the child & phrase onto black card. I took a square of corrugated card, then applied some purple Gilding Wax to the ridges. I glued the child image onto this.

I glued the images to my background, then added some blue pearl brads.

To finish, I attached my artwork to a 6x6" white card base.

Thanks for dropping by,

Alison xxx

Dance to the Music by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! I have a painty tag to share with you today.

This tag started off when I used up some paints that were left on my craft mat after another project. There was black, white & some blue Fresco Finish paints in the mix.

I used some distress inks, picked raspberry & spiced marmalade, to ink the tag, then knocked the colours back by using a brayer to apply snowflake FF paint. After that, I sponged some bora bora FF paint through a Crafter's Workshop stencil.

Here's how it looked at this stage...

I stamped the outline dancer & the phrase from Sioux Jenney's Dance Plate, onto glossy card, using jet black archival ink, then cut them out. I stamped the dancer again, onto a Gelli print painted scrap, cut out just the tutu, then stamped the 'Dance' bodice on another scrap & cut that out too. I glued the bodice & tutu onto the dancer, then glued her to the tag with glossy accents.

I stamped the ruler from Ephemera Plate 1 down the left side of the tag, then stamped 'perfectly fitted' on the bottom edge. I added a few words from the Dance Plate, then finished off by stapling some gingham ribbon & the cut out 'Dance' phrase to the top of the tag.

I hope you like my tag,

thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

Baroque Memories by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! I have some vintage-style hanging art to share with you today.

First I die-cut my base from mountboard, using the Sizzix Alterations Baroque die.

I inked it with Vintage Photo Distress, then stamped the Regency Background with the same ink. I inked the edges with Black Soot Distress.

I used Potting Soil Archival Ink to stamp the watch from the Time & Keys plate, & Jet Black Archival Ink to stamp the mini Gibson Girl, both onto glossy card. I cut them out & used Glossy Accents to adhere them to the base, together with lace, a red ribbon bow & a pearl drop. I inked & added a Chit Chat Sticker.

To finish, I added some eyelets to the top, & a piece of  Lace Chain.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

Resolutions Tile by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers!

I love playing around with my Gelli Plate, & thought it would be fun to try using it on a bisque tile for a change.

Here's what I came up with...

I like to use bubble wrap & interesting textured vegetable packaging to create patterns with the Gelli Plate, so I combined these with a few colours of Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paint. I did a few layers of printing, using only one colour at a time.

When the paint was dry, I stamped Neil Walker's Kiki, together with phrases from the Be Creative Plate. I used Jet Black Stazon ink for this, and added some ink to the edges of the tile also.

I finished off by sealing the tile with DecoArt triple thick brilliant gloss glaze. 

I hope that 2014 will be happy, creative & artful for you all!

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

Vintage Childhood Dreams by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! 

I've got a vintage style hanging to share with you today.

I prepared some fabric, lace & burlap, by soaking in a coffee bath, then leaving to dry.

Next, I  prepared the corrugated backing. I tore away some of the top layer, then coloured it with vintage photo distress stains. I layered the corrugated card onto my coffee stained fabric, then glued some of the stained lace to the bottom edge.

I stamped the little girl from The Artistic Stamper Childhood Dreams Plate onto gessoed book page, cut & tore it out, then glued it to a cut-off manilla tag. I inked the edges with vintage photo distress ink, then added some of the coffee stained lace. I glued the image to some stained burlap, then added it to the corrugated backing.

I stamped the wording onto a left-over piece of manilla tag, inked the edges with vintage photo DI, then glued it in place, as shown.

I dabbed picket fence distress paint onto the Ideaology word stick, then wiped the suface, leaving some paint in the word. I used a jump ring, a charm clip, & a red gem brad to attached the word stick next to the image.

To finish, I added silver eyelets & some ball chain to the top.

I hope this inspires you.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

A Few of my Favourite Things by Alison (Craftytrog)

For our final post of 2013, all of us here at The Artistic Stamper Creative Team are sharing our three favourite projects of the year.

Here are mine...

You all know I love to make hangy art, & I had fun making this funky bird piece. I love the colour palette & book text, & those fab chevrons.

I also love making art jewelery, & this metallic cuff is a favourite piece of mine. I love the colours, & there are those chevrons again.

And finally, I think this is my favourite piece of the whole year, not least because it has a pic of my lovely daughter Beth. I adore the stamped UTEE & the crackled background, & of course, it has my favourite colour...blue...on it. 

I'd like to thank each & every one of you for all of the support, & the lovely comments you've left for me over the past year, they're very much appreciated.

Wishing you all a Joyous Christmas, & a very Happy New Year,

Alison xxxxx

Some Christmas Recycling by Alison (Craftytrog)

I have a Christmas card to share with you today Stampers. But it wasn't always a card...it started off as an ornament, grew into a tag, then became a card...well, one more doesn't hurt...does it?! 

The recycling comes in the form of some corrugated card packaging, & some Christmas cracker embellishments that I saved from last year.

I started off by dabbing silver paint dabber onto a Tando frame. Then I decided it needed crackle, so I used some two-part Deco-Art crackle, then dabbed on & rubbed off some gathered twigs distress paint to accentuate the cracks.

I stamped the Santa image from Christmas Plate 3 onto white card, water-coloured with fired brick & faded jeans distress ink, then glued him in the frame.

I added a layer of glossy accents to seal the image, then once this was dry, I added the recycled Christmas cracker berries through the bottom hole of the frame.

I dabbed gold paint onto a Festive Foliage poinsettia, then attached it to the top of the frame with a red painted long fastener.

I die-cut a tag from the corrugated packaging, gave it a coat of white Studio Gesso, then sprayed it with Dylusion inks in london blue & melted chocolate. There's also some broken china distress paint swiped along the ridges, rich silver embossing powder melted on the edges & also sprinkled randomly on the tag.

I stamped the greeting from Christmas Plate 3 onto white card, sponged with faded jeans & walnut stain distress ink, then added some sprinkles of rich silver embossing powder.

A die-cut border was given the same treatment a the Tando frame, then attached to the bottom of the tag.

I finished the tag by adding some recycled ribbon, heated with my heat tool to crinkle it, then I glued the frame & greeting in place.

I stamped the Christmas corner from Christmas Plate 3 onto a 7x5" kraft card, then edged it with silver acrylic paint dabber.

I attached the tag to the card, then finished off with some candy cane stickles berries on the card & the red brad.

Here's a little bonus project I made, using the little girl from Victorian Christmas Plate 1.

I hope this has inspired you to go recycle & create!

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

Starry Christmas by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers.

I have a sparkly Christmas card to share with you today.

Here's how I made my card...

On a piece of white card, 5.25" square, I applied Grunge paste through the swirl on the Splats & Swirls Stencil, in two opposite corners. 

I spritzed with Crushed Grape & London Blued Dylusion Spray Ink, then spritzed with water to blend the colours. When the ink was dry, Silver Gilding Wax was applied to the embossed swirls.

I stamped the Snowflakes with Seedless Preserves Distress Ink, then spritzed lightly to give a watercolour effect.

I sprinkled a little silver tinsel embossing powder randomly onto the background, then heat set it. 

I edged the background with black ink, matted it onto silver mirror card, then attached it to a 6x6" card.

I stamped the sentiment from the Christmas Greetings 1 Plate onto card, coloured with the same Dylusions Inks, cut it out, edged it with black ink, then matted it onto silver mirror card. 

I used foam pads to attach the sentiment to the card, then finished off by adding some silver, blue & purple confetti stars.

I hope my blue & purple Christmas card gets you in the mood for Christmas, I do love this colour combination!

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

Remembrance by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers.

I wanted to make something to mark Remembrance Sunday, as this post is so close to the day, & I came up with a tiny 10 x 7 cm canvas.

I took a 10 x 7 cm mini canvas, & gave it a base coat of Studio Gesso.

Next, I spritzed along the top with Cut Grass Dylusions Spray Ink, held up the canvas, & spritzed with water to make the ink drip down.

I dried the ink, then stamped Katy Fox's ink blots from the Messy Art Plate a couple of times, using True Red DecoArt paint.

I inked the edges of a Chit Chat Word Sticker with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, attached it to the canvas, then gave it a coat of Glossy Accents.

I finished off by gluing some black seed beads to the centres of the 'poppies'.

Have a great weekend everyone,

thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

Autumn Flower by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! I have an Autumn inspired card to share with you today.

Here's how I made it...

Start by making an A4 background, using Distress Inks (mustard seed, spiced marmalade, fired brick & peeled paint), & Tim Holtz's Scribble Stain Distress technique.

Cut a piece of background, approx. 5" square. Randomly stamp some small leaves from Katy Fox's Leaves Plate, using peeled paint & spiced marmalade Distress Inks. Edge with Aged Gold embossing powder, matt on to black card, then attach to a 6x6" kraft card blank.

To make the 'flower', stamp and gold emboss six large leaves & two small leaves, on the previously made background.

Cut out the leaves & ink the edges with peeled paint Distress Ink. Assemble the flower with a small flat brad, then glue some buttons to the centre. Make the stalk, by colouring some seam binding with peeled paint Distress Stain, then twisting it, & gluing it to the card with glossy accents.

Glue the flower & leaves in place with glossy accents.

To finish, stamp the phrase onto some leftover background, cut it out, gold emboss the edges, matt on black card, then attach to the card as shown.

I hope my bright, Autumn card inspires you,

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

Butterfly Pendant by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! I have a little butterfly pendant to share with you today.

Here's how I made it...

Cut a piece of glossy card 1.5 inches square. Stamp the tiny butterfly & 'FIG 253' from Katy Fox's Encyclopaedia Botanica plate, using black Stazon.

Use a Q-tip to colour the butterfly's wings with pumpkin & blazing red Stazon, then sponge teal blue Stazon at the top half, & olive green Stazon on the bottom half, around the butterfly.

Using teal blue, stamp the Encyclopaedia text over the top.

Sandwich the artwork between two pieces of 1.5" square Ranger Memory Glass, then insert into an 1.5" square Antique Copper Memory Frame.

Add a jump ring, some ribbon, & a fastener to finish.

I hope this inspires you to make some stamped jewellery.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

'Hello' Tag Card by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! I've got a quick & simple tag card to share with you today.

I folded a Ranger Giant Size 12 Manilla Tag in half, then used an ink blending tool to apply broken china distress ink through a Crafter's Workshop stencil. I then inked the edges of the tag card with broken china.

I took a Size 8 manilla tag, and, using jet black archival ink, stamped the Crafty Notions Karantha Face on the bottom. I cut it out, leaving a half inch border around the image, then, using spiced marmalade DI, I stamped one of Neil Walker's Borders around the edge. I used distress inks to watercolour the image, then used a paper distresser tool on the edges, & inked them with broken china DI.

I attached the image to the tag card, stamped 'hello' from the Journaling Words 4 Plate with jet black archival, then added some orange fibres to finish.

When I finished, I was amazed to see how the stencil I'd used, mirrored the eyes & lips in the main image! Totally unintentional! Lol!

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

My Girlie by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers!

For my first post of the month, I wanted to make a little plaque featuring my lovely daughter Beth. She's off to Uni at the end of the month, & I'm going to miss her so much. 

I began by painting the MDF plaque with Studio Gesso, to prime it, then I painted it with turquoise acrylic paint.

I used Sienna Archival Ink to stamp random bits of text from Katy Fox's Encyclopaedia Botanica Plate, then Jet Black Archival to stamp flowers from the same Plate, around the edge.

I painted a layer of Rock Candy Crackle all over the plaque, then set it aside to dry. Once it was dry & crackled, I daubed Walnut Stain Distress Stain all over, to highlight the cracks, then brushed some gold Guilding Wax around the edges.

I painted a small Artemio frame brown, then triple embossed it with clear UTEE. Whilst the final layer was still molten, I stamped the Encyclopaedia Botanica text into it. I painted another coat of brown over the top, then highlighted the raised areas with gold Guilding Wax.

I used thin red line tape to glue the photo behind the frame, then attached it to a piece of inked book paper.

I used Vintage Photo Distress Stains to colour some lace, then glued it behind the frame as shown. I attached the frame to the plaque, then added a bee charm to finish.

I'm going to attach a picture hook to the back of the plaque, so that I can hang it in my craft studio :o)

Thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx

Metallic Floral Cuff by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers!

For my second August post, I have some wearable art to share with you.

 I began by cutting an 8.5 x 2.5 inch strip of Grungepaper.

I embossed it with a Tim Holtz Sizzix embossing folder, to add some texture. 

Then, I painted both sides with black Studio Gesso, & once this was dry, I applied some coppery Guilding Wax to it. I added some green gold highlights, dried it with a heat tool, & buffed it with a soft cloth.

I cut 2 strips of Studio Sticky Back Canvas, one 8.5 x 1.5 inches, & one 8.5 x 0.625 inches. I spritzed the thinner strip with Cut Grass Dylusion Spray, & the wider strip with Vibrant Turquoise Dylusion Spray. On the wider strip, I placed the Andy Skinner Rollerball stencil over the top, & spritzed with water, to take out some of the colour, & leave a dotty pattern. I used Studio Black Gesso to stamp the Chevron Element onto the narrow green canvas strip.

I glued the canvas strips to the Grungepaper base with Glossy Accents, for extra stick.

I used various Guilding Waxes to colour some large eyelets & some Ideaology Foliage.

I punched some holes with a Cropadile, & added the eyelets. I attached the Foliage with turquoise pearl brads, then added an Ideaology Hitch Fastening to one end of the cuff.

I added some rather suspect hand-stitching around the hole at the other end of the cuff, so don't look too closely! Lol! 

I hope you like my arty cuff! I don't know about you, but I do love to make art that I can wear :o)

Thanks for looking,

Alison xxx

Blooming Art Canvas by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! I'm here again, to share a canvas with you today.

I used a 7x5 inch canvas board, which I first prepped with Studio Gesso.

Next, I added some scraps of book paper, & stamped the flourish from the Flourish Swirls A5 Plate, using Sepia Archival Ink.

Then I used a brayer to apply Aqua & Pool Paint Dabber. Just enough to cover the canvas, without obliterating my stamped swirls.

I stenciled some hexagons, using Pool Paint Dabber, & some DecoArt warm white paint.

I randomly stamped the script from Caligraphic Mat 11 with Sepia Archival, & the Mini Lattice Wire with Teal Archival.

Then I stamped the stems(3), flowers(3) & words from the Flower Blooms A6 Plate, using Sepia Archival. I cut them all out, edged the words with Sepia, & glued them to the canvas with Studio Matt Medium. I applied Matt Medium all over the canvas, but brushed lightly so I didn't smudge the background stamping.

I finished my canvas by inking the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, & adding some turquoise buttons & a gem.

Thanks for looking,

Alison xxx

Inky Bookmark by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! Thought I'd make myself a bookmark for all the holiday reading I'm going to do...I just need to book a holiday now! Lol!

Here's how I made my bookmark...

I scribbled some Distress Stains on my craft mat (salty ocean, ripe persimmon & tarnished brass). Spritzed with a little water, then laid an A5 piece of white card in it. I dried it with my heat gun, then dipped the card again, to pick up some more ink, dried it again, until I had a background I liked.

I cut my bookmark (approx. 20 x 7 cm), then inked the edges with salty ocean Distress Ink.

I stamped the leafy vine from the Nature Is Art plate, using salty ocean DI, then the Round The World balloon with Archival Black ink.

I stamped the balloon & basket, & the phrase from the Travelling Words plate onto some left over background, cut them out, inked the edges with salty ocean DI, & glued them to the bookmark.

I matted the bookmark on black card, laminated it, then to finish, I added a black eyelet & some matching fibres to the top.

Hope you like my bookmark,

thanks for reading (no pun intended!)

Alison xxx

Dream...dream...dream.. by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! Craftytrog here again, and I've got a funky card to share with you. I seem to be in a funky phase right now! Lol!

So, here's how it was made...

From the Tim Holtz Lost & Found Stack, take a 6 x 6 piece of floral paper.

Apply black paint through Andy Skinner's Hippy Chick stencil. Bump the stencil slightly to the left, then apply white paint over the top of the girls.

With the stencil in place, stamp some text (Calligraphy Mat 15), then apply a light layer of Citrus paint dabber over that, using a circular motion. I used a stiff stipple brush for this. You can still see the text showing through the paint.

Stamp the flowers from Greetings & Words 1, then add colour with purple paint.

Use a black paint pen to outline the girls.

Randomly stamp script on the background, around the girls, then sponge black paint around the edges.

Stamp the phrases from Discover Your Inner Self, Be Creative, and Greetings & Words 1, onto cream paper. Sponge Broken China Distress Ink over the words, cut them out, then glue in place with glossy accents.

Finish off by attaching the artwork to a 6 x 6 card blank.

Hope you like my funky card,

thanks for looking,

Alison xxx