Thursday 18 June 2009

Chris' Creations

Some of you may recall a post back along where I introduced Chris, who demo'ed for us at the Harrogate show earlier this year (and did a fantastic job). Well, Chris is a regular tutor here at Sir Stampalot and contributes some amazing artwork for shop and show samples.

Here's a superb example of what Chris designs:



This card incorporates one of the latest designs from Hero Arts (Be Yourself).

The inkpad colours used are Jumbo Java and Red Brick by Versamagic:



Even the inside is well laid out and each section could be used as a card front in itself:



The lovely glittery red patterned paper is by My Mind's Eye, stamped greeting is by Whipper Snapper.



And intricate cutting of this foliage stamp design (keep the curved shape of the leaves by adhering with silicone glue):


And the message reflects Chris totally - 'one of a kind'.



Here's another card sample where Chris has used the same Hero Arts stamp set:



The greeting is such a unique saying that can be used in all situations. You can find it humourous and chuckle, it could bring you a smile and perk you up when feeling low. These tiny buttons are from Lasting Impressions:



Don't be fooled into thinking Chris has painstakingly sewn each button onto the card (sorry to spill the beans Chris!), but she's just threaded a little cotton through the holes (or co-ordinating thin strip of paper if you fancy) and then adhered the button onto the card with glossy accents. Neat eh?

Patterned paper is from KaiserKraft's Peek-a-Boo range, distressed with a soft brown inkpad, and I love the way that Chris has the little owl popping out of the 3D frame and the 'funky foliage' is entwined in and around the frame:



And again, Chris has created a lovely co-ordinating insert:



The greeting is by Penny Black and the frame is cut from the Cricut Machine using one of the designs from the Storybook cartridge. Notice that the frame is actually visible when the card is closed - see the first photo of this sample, as Chris has cut the card front so as not to be as wide and hence give a taste of the inside design.


Chris' Blog is called Always About Colour and was just launched last week. Go and have a butcher's.



Watch out for classes and demo's featuring Chris in the next set of Sir Stampalot events - release date for next event schedule is 1st July.


And if you ever get a chance to try any of Chris' Eton mess, ginger lemon cheesecake or messy caramel crunch, believe me, you really wouldn't want to miss out! She's a total all round star.

I'll be posting some more of Chris' creations shortly, showing off some of the 'inchies' designs from Inkadinkadoo.

Friday 12 June 2009

More installments from Louise's Demo Day

Here's one of the Tilda designs from the extremely popular Chasing Butterflies collection. Tilda with Ladybug takes centre stage here with the same embossing folder design as Louise used in the last post, again using an inkpad to emphasize one saying from the backing design.




A small flower brad has been used as in the middle of the greeting motif - "it's your day" by Hero Arts.




Louise has decorated a Woodware Chippie heart shape with co-ordinating patterned paper, distressed the edges, adhered a button and stamped a Magenta swirly stamp design on it. Whew, she doesn't do things by half does she??




And your final Tilda card creation from Louise for now, is this brilliant patchwork card using co-ordinating patterned paper (from Daisy Bucket), another Woodware Chippie shape, this time a lovely flower from the same set as the heart.




There is just so much going on in Louise's artwork but it never seems 'OTT'. Check out the shrink plastic owl on the sign post to the real twig from Louise's back garden for the sign post itself.





And then there's glossy accents used to highlight the flower petals in the flower pot, stitching, inking, distressing - she's just an amazing lady with talent bursting at the seams.





Thanks Louise, we LOVE your work. It's incredible.

And watch out for more of Louise's creations from the demo day using Hero Arts stamp sets .....

.... coming soon, to a blog near you!

Sunday 7 June 2009

Demo Day with Crafty Lou

I can't believe it was a week ago and it's taken me this long to tell you all the fun we had at the demo day last Saturday. The fabulous Louise Molesworth (Crafty Lou) was demonstrating her unique style of inking and stamping techniques. She really is a wonder to watch. For those who couldn't make it into Sir Stampalot to see her demo's first hand, I just had to share with you some of the artwork she created (Just realised the photos have come out an awful colour this time, sorry guys, best check my camera setting for the next post).

Firstly, good ole Tilda with Bird, I've mentioned before, this is the first Tilda stamp I remember Louise buying so it has a special place in my heart :)




Cream shrink plastic was used for the Tilda Tag message:



A small punched out circle created an aperture for the Birthday Wishes stamped greeting from Hero Arts. Nicely finished off with a heart brad in the centre of the motif.



Here's the inside of the card, with pattern paper by Daisy Bucket and the Nestabilities Labels Two die set.



Here's another card, this one uses the Tilda Hen (usually makes an appearance on Louises card in shrink plastic mode) but on this occasion sitting proudly on the Tilda fence - TV adverts of the kellog's symbol comes to mind!!




Don't be afraid to shrink Tilda's - look at this little cutie (Spring Tilda) perched on top of a greetings motif. The circular greeting used here is from one of the most popular Woodware Clear Magic sets, currently. Funnily enough, it's called Circular Greetings and consists of 6 different circular sayings, some flowers and accents that can all mix and match together. Fantastic results when used with the EK nesting circle punches - both plain and scalloped.




The turquoise background scalloped circle has been embossed with the Happy Birthday cuttlebug embossing folder, gently wipe an inkpad over the raised embossed words to make them really pop out. Louise has then included the Tilda Present stamped image and attached some matching swirly organza ribbon to finish the card off.

That's just a taster to get your juices flowing, i'll post more of these gorgeous Tilda cards in the next day or two. I promise i won't leave it so long next time!


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Charity Update: The charity box of cards instore for Brenda's MS Cause, is growing all the time. Thanks everyone who's been able to spare a card or two. Brenda is collecting cards for a fund raising event on 28th June in aid of MS Research. You can send cards into myself (Sir Stampalot), Brenda or Stamp Addicts.

A big thanks to two lovely ladies, Mrs McMullan from the Netherlands who sent in this brilliant set of cards for the charity event:




And Louise from Spalding who popped instore and donated these superb cards (check out Louise's awesome blog):




Thanks guys.