More new stamps

It's day 2 of the CHA new stamps reveal from My Stamp Box.  When I was sent this set of "Lovely Houses" stamps I couldn't wait to use them in my art journal.  They're such a cute set of little houses, whimsical and sketchy and so much fun to use.

If you want to see more just go to the blog, make a comment and you could win a set of stamps. It's as easy as that.

CHA and new stamps.

It's that CHA time again in Anaheim and My Stamp Box is releasing some new stamps during the show.  On the blog each day during CHA we are showing the new stamps along with some DT creations made with them and for everyone who comments on the post, there is a chance to win a set of stamps. 

Today we're showing two sets called "Special Teas" and "Enjoy Your Latte".  Here's a card I made using the Special Teas set and on the blog you can also see what Isolde and Jolene made using the stamps. 

Using watercolour pens

Lesson 2 is up on the Craft Academy web site and I'm proud to say the tutorial has been put together by me. 

I was lucky enough to be given some of the Art and Graphic twin pens and Clean Color watercolour pens by Kuretake to play with and it's using these pens that I created the tutorial. The two cards shown here are using Art and Graphic twin pens which I'm absolutely loving for their watercolour-like finish but with colour far brighter and intense than I could get using actual watercolours.  They're great for taking around with you as it's easy to put the pens along with a waterbrush in a pencil case and pull out to do some watercolour painting.  Anyway, if you go to the Craft Academy web site there's a whole pdf to download with the techniques for using watercolour pens.

The stamps use in the top card are by My Stamp Box and the card underneath has been stamped using stamps by Inkadinkado.

Craft Academy is open

The first lesson is up on the Craft Academy and it's all about paper piecing.  Sarah has been working very very hard for the past few months to get this up and running and I'm giving her my full support for such a wonderful idea. 

The site is going to be packed with tutorials and tips on all sorts of different crafts, kids included.  I'm giving a tutorial next week which I'll be linking to from here. 

A touch of mixed media on a tag.

Today on the My Stamp Box blog it's my turn to post a tutorial.  You can see how I created the flower on this tag using papier maché and a stamp. 

On the background I've used dye inks and some white ink splatters before stamping with "Garden Sketches" stamps from MSB.  I've also used some fabric tape, a bit of green muslin and some staples.

Thanks

This morning there's a little bird singing in the trees outside, so happy despite the stormy weather we've been experiencing over the past few days. 

The first challenge of the year with Sarah Hurley is 'Thanks', something alot of us are thinking about right now.  I made this card to send to a friend who lives in Sweden.  The little gnome is a digital stamp from Sarah's Woodland Whimsies 2 cd and my background was a piece of mop up paper lying on my desk.  The big splodge isn't a spider, it's black ink splattered in a bit of a heavy way.  Maybe that wasn't such a good idea as the more I look at it the more sinister I think it looks???

Another piece of news from Sarah is the launch of a brand new venture called The Craft Academy.  It's a project we've been working on for quite some time now and It's really exciting to see it come to life.  It'll be a place to find tutorials and how to's as well as information on materials and stuff for kids to do too. 

This is a massive project which I'm really proud and excited to be part of . 

New Calendar Journal - January

For some months last year I followed, with interest, the calendar journal of Kate Crane.  When Lena suggested we started our own this year I was more than willing to participate. 

It was a new large format for me and two pages at once is alot of area to cover but I absolutely loved the end result and can't wait to make next months background.  I couldn't stay away from my old favourite colours (I should make a resolution to use more pinks and reds in my work this year)  but added the red squares as a contrast. 

Happy New Year

A very happy New Year to everyone in bloglandia.  I hope 2012 will be full of love, luck and laughter.

First project of the year is this card which is being featured on the web site of My Stamp Box.

So let the crafty projects start.