Some new Challenges

So I have been blogstalking and checking out stamp sites and all sorts of things over the holidays. I have found some interesting challenges, and as my stamp collection is still a work in progress there have been a few I haven't been able to participate in, but have been added to the wishlist for later.

I have also found some sites that are ok with you using products that aren't their own. I am really enjoying http://sweetnsassystampers.ning.com/forum . They had a really fun release party with a blog hop on friday night and I have started working on their challenges. I will also be purchasing many of thenew sets that were released because they are gorgeous!!

The first was the technique challenge was to use the paper tole technique in which you stamp at least 3 images they cut 2 of them apart and layer sections of the origional image. The result is beautiful, but is seriously time consuming. I pulled out a stamp that I have had for at least 10 years for this one, and it was probably not the greatest choice. The cutting was insane! It can be seen below from both the front and the side so you can see the pop ups.

The second challenge I have done is their colour challenge using black, grey, white, pink and gray. I really am enjoying the new Bazzil embossed cardstock, it makes me smile. Again these are stamps that I have had for so long I am not even sure what brand they are, but if anyone is interested I will go find them again. I like the colour combination in this one and I hope that you like the way it turned out.

I did a little bit of water colour penciling on the stampted images now that I have gotten the technique down a little better, it took a little while but one can do it with a brush, you just want a small one. And you REALLY don't need much water. So I have found if I take the brush, dip it in the water, run it up the side to get the extra water off then blot it on a paper towel I get a much nicer effect than I had been previously. This will even work if you are using a regular cardstock and not watercolour paper, just for the record.

Thanks for looking.

Its been a while

Well I have been rather deliquant over the past few weeks, even though I have a bunch of things to post and have become super into stamps over the holidays. I got a shiney new camera for the holidays, so I am excited about showing you some of my pictures!! I would like to take the time to show you my first real christmas decorations with the man I love.

So that is the tree all lit up and not so lit up. I know the tree is big, but it looks SOO real and you wouldn't know that the lights were LED unless you got really close. That was the selling point for me actually and so the dear BF bought me the tree! If you will look closely you may notice that the top of the tree has a hideous topper on it, but it was the most acceptable thing we could find. I will have to either learn to crochet or hit some craft shows next year. I made the skirt myself, but its fairly plain so I won't dwell too much.

I also decided that since this is our first christmas living together and that the BF has never had his own stocking I would make one very special for him. So off we went to the craft store to pick our fabrics. He had never been to a fabric store, and very little concept of what fabric he could use. The first one he chose was drapery material and was super heavy and like $100 a meter or something obscene like that. Then next was flannel. The third he was convinced was perfect; it was a thin cotton, so I could totally make it work. He wanted pengiuns so he got them. Then I edged them with some bling ribbon so there could be a little shine, and then embroidered his name on it just for him. I did however realize upon completion that there was no place to hang these stockings other than putting tacks in the walls and that they may be a normal size but I get carried away...so the stocking was filled to overflowing and put in a pile with the rest of the gifts from santa.

Hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday and is looking forward to a year of wonderful suprizes, crafting and breaking every resolution you made. Within the next 3 weeks if you are trying hard enough!!