Prego girls!!

I got my new MFT "She's having a baby" set and I wanted to try 2 different looks with the same image and using a paper piecing technique. My starting point was cool black retro style paper by Junkitz from their salsa range. I usually see this set used in pastels and I wanted a stronger look. This one used a grey metallic card with Stampin' Up' "Seeing spots" as a background with Opalite ink. The gorgeous ribbons and stamp set are now in stock at Millhouse Crafts.
The image and 'precious' are from the same set.
I livened this one up a little by colouring the border and toys with bright Staedtler pens. The top stripey paper is Junkitz salsa and the bright pink and yellow is by Scrappy Cats. I overstamped both with Versafine onyx using a circle design from Stampin up. (Seeing spots). Swell news is from the MFT set. Just 3 shiny black brads to finish.

Trick or Treat??

Aren't these little trick or treaters cute? They're from the Fright Night set by My Favorite Things. You can tell I have new stamps to play with. I'm working on a witch image at the moment so I'll post again soon. The bats, spider and Eek! are also in the same set. Ribbons are from Mayarts and are available at Mill House Crafts. I coloured the image with my fav Prismacolor pencils and of course stickle to finish. There is black diamond stickle on the spider's body and witch's hat but it isn't clear from my pic. The purple shading around the image is quite a good colour and makes it more interesting than grey for example.

I have some children's classes soon and I'm sure they'll love these images.

Christmas in September!

I'm really enjoying playing with the Home for the Holidays set from My Favorite Things (in stock at Mill House Crafts). I wanted to use the tree to make 2 completely different cards but both involved a masking technique.

I really like how this turned out and my new ribbon from Mayarts matched perfectly! Designer paper is from Stampin' Up who are due to arrive in UK in November apparently.
Snowflake, little star and Peace are by MFT too.
First I inked the bground with Brilliance ice blue pearlescent and then I stippled the edges with Jumbo Java. Faux stitching worked a treat. I didn't measure, I just pierced and added lines with my Staedtler fine writer in brown. Yellow stickle for the star.
Same tree but masked and stamped repeatedly. I coloured the trees using Marvy pens and aqua brush. The snowy background on the red card is from Sunday International (Mill House) and I used Opalite inks. The tree decorations are in the MFT set too! I tore 2 strips of white card and raised them on foam tape to add dimension and added crystal stickle. Ribbons from Mayarts just arrived!
Keep watching for more ideas from MFT and others. Once my Cornish Heritage Farms stamps arrive you'll know!!!

CORNISH HERITAGE FARMS

A few weeks ago I received a call from the owner of Cornish Heritage Farms, Liz Pomeroy - and to my great surprise she informed me that I had been chosen as one of 10 new "fresh face" designers for CHF!!!!! I became aware of their search through the fantastic blog by Lisa Strahl who is Design Team Leader at CHF. Visit Mona Lisa Moments to be inspired!
Once I got over the shock, we had a lovely chat and THEN I didn't sleep a wink that night.

As I write today I still haven't received my stamps but I'm being REALLY patient!!! Liz sent them promptly but I guess Royal Mail or Customs want to have a look at them first they are so good!!*wink* I'm able to content myself by looking at the samples created by the rest of the design team. Cornish Heritage Farms gallery. I'm sure you'll agree they are all wonderful!

CHF has released 8 new background stamps. They have a reputation for the most amazing array of versatile backgrounds to suit any project. (amongst other designs of course........more will follow on this as my stamps arrive and samples will magically appear).
Here is a peek at the new releases but don't forget their existing bestsellers too!
New backgrounders
Cheesecloth

Gingham
Scalloped lace
Cracked Montana earth
Montana tree bark
Petite pattern
Tulle
Woodgrain

Yeah Baby!!

Well - this is my very FIRST blog! I'm totally green and learning as I go. Any tips or "things to avoid" advice are very much welcomed . The learning curve will be really steep!! My wonderful friend Wendy is now proud Mummy to Lucy and loving every minute of it so I thought I would make her some baby thank you cards to go with my other cute pink gifts! I keep seeing teensy weensy clothes and things that I can't resist. My brood are so grown up now........ Still I'm not missing those sleepless nights!

For those who might be interested, I used the cute giraffe from 'Bundle of Joy' SU and punched with my oval scallop. I first stamped in onyx black (Versafine) then coloured the image quite roughly with a pink Marvy pen to match my card and softened it with my aqua painter. It's quite effective to just go outside the lines to soften the image.
I strengthened the colour on the giraffe's spots to intensify them. I was doing 12 so I punched them and painted them all at the same time. Dotty black organza from Mayarts and pink grosgrain from SU. You can't see it here but I used the swirly stamp from the Bundle of Joy set inside the card in black which got me thinking about a pierced image on a rather bare part at the top of the front of the card. I used the Lasting Impression piercing guide at the top of each card to add a little more interest. I then attached the ovals with dimensionals and finally added fruit punch stickle to highlight the giraffe's spots. My lovely new baby set from "My Favorite Things" http://www.mftstamps.com/home/homepage.html arrived and I used the 'special delivery' stamp to liven up the pink envelopes.

Here is another little sample so the boys don't feel left out!