Carnivale......

..that's the new theme over on The Gothic Arches challenge blog..


This is my interpretation, a mask image from a magazine with a little distess ink, a paper pleated collar and a few pompoms all stuck onto a scrap of paper from an old atlas. It would be great to have you come on over and play along. A big thank you to those who took part in the last challenge... it is very much appreciated.

It's Black and White

...that's the challenge over on Gothic Arches for the next two weeks.....it would be great to have you play along.

OK so Iv'e added a little red...
The stamps are from Above the Mark who sadly are going out of business.

Snap!

The theme for Gothic Arches is Snap Happy....use a photograph or image.

This is a photo I took in a graffiti covered alleyway in Rapid City, SD USA. The Polaroid frame is a stamp from Lawn Fawn... I love it!

If you fancy having a go then hop on over here.... it would be great to have you play along...

Eggs.......

.....on wheels

with a bunny in charge....Eggs that's the challenge.
Hop on over to Gothic Arches to join in.

Take a Word have eggs as their theme this week too.
The cute little bunny is from Zetti.

Bedazzled!

That's the theme over on Gothic Arches....it would be great if you could play along..
This is one of my favourite and most used stamps.. it's from Lost Coast.

Gothic Arches....

Its that time again... the fortnightly Gothic Arches challenge, GlitterMonkey and myself are trying to get this up and running again, it was hugely popular but has fallen by the wayside a little so click on the link in the sidebar and join in. The theme this time is FLOWN THE NEST

A big thank you to those who have continued to support this challenge, it is much appreciated... thank you!

It's Sunday the 5th So...

..it must be time for a new Gothic Arches Challenge. Pop over here to find out the current theme.
it would be great if you could play along... there were a dozen entries last time but it would be nice to see some more....anyhow here's mine.

Gothic Arches....

...the theme for the next two weeks is Metallic Fever..Iv'e recycled a piece of old calendar, added a stamped image (from Make Your Mark in York). a fab little stamp shop, not much to see on the web but worth a visit if you're ever in York. Used an old handcream tube to stamp the metal heart and added a metal crown charm and pin.

if you feel like joining in then head over here.... we would love to have you play along.

Welcome Back.....

...to Gothic Arches.....I have missed this challenge, so when the opportunity came about to help resurect it I was only too happy to help. The challenge will run fortnightly.The theme for the next two weeks is New Beginnings.

It would be great to have you play along so hop on over here and join in.

Downsize?

While looking for an image to use for this weeks Gothic Arches challenge which is butterflies, it struck me just how much stash I've got. Stamps are like clothes, you use 20% of them 80% of the time. I feel like I'm drowning in stuff and it's overwhelming me......so

it's time to downsize........I'm going to have a real clear out and be ruthless, if I've not used it in the last 12 months, it's going!

..... did I really say that? well the intention is there, we'll see what happens!

Love Bird

The sewing machine was still out so it seemed a shame not to use it. Since Gothic Arches have gone fortnightly I've lost the routine of joining in challenges. Their theme is Hearts for the next two weeks. Take a Word is Blackbird, so there's two challenges done, one to go, which is
Just For Fun......... That's if I get around to it..

Now where are those naked bunnies?

Queen...

Lazy blogger... I just don't know where this week has gone but wherever it is it's taken my Mojo with it! Gothic Arches theme is Queen and you would think with my obsession of putting crowns on everything this would be right up my street.... well...

This was like pulling teeth! I think I've got brain freeze!... hopefully I'll defrost before too long!

They're Back!

Gothic Arches are back!.. I've missed them, I love doing this challenge, I don't know what it is but I like it!
Santa brought Scrapbook Artist2 this Christmas and I've discovered I can import my own digi images into it... I do have quite a few but have mainly stayed with 'real paper' up to now but I am slowly dragging myself into the 21st century. (If I can use it anyone can!)

This is a bit of a hybrid..........there I go again, always wanting two things at once!

The images are from Itkupilli.

Things might be even easier if I read the instructions!

Snowflakes.......

I don't know about the flakes but I've had enough of the snow... two weeks later and it's still over 6" deep! I can't remember having snow this deep for so long, it's causing havoc in this part of the country.... anyway here's George sporting his hat of snow for the Gothic Arches challenge.

LTDO have words for their challenge this week...
George (my name for him) is from Zettiology. He may be appearing on some tags shortly!

Roll Up......

all the fun of the fair......... Gothic Arches challenge is Jester, I know this isn't quite right but it's near enough.. and I love this little cat stamp, no doubt you've seen him before.
Stamps are a bit like clothes, you wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time... I must have a clear out of both!

another favourite stamp is this banner from Hero Arts.

As the Crow Flies!

Gothic arches is a little different this week.............incorporate a matchbox....so guess what I made... a shrine, I just love those things!

Wings are Melissa Francis rub-ons, crows head is ArtChix from 3dJean, German Scrap (tinted with Pro Markers) is from Graphicus. Basic Grey Eerie paper and a few odds and ends..... which we all have boxes of! You may notice extra holes ........ I couldn't decide whether to put in some horizontal bars or not..... Should I or should I not?

Bound Together.......

What do you do with all your challenge pieces?... they're already photographed or scanned and on your blog... I like doing Gothic Arches ( Not done this weeks yet!)

So I printed some of them... small wallet size and used the hand stamp.From 3djean
(She maybe out of stock but is expecting more.) If you want to see more of this project then head on over to Scattered Scarlet

Sometimes......

... you just want to create something clean, plain and simple........ a bit like a crafting de-tox!

This stamp is from Suzi Blu available here is a nice clean crisp image and as most of you will know I don't do cute but these are just that little bit different.. a bit on the quirky side! and quite versatile too.

I inked and stamped..

Glued it to chip board, cut it out..

Covered an arch with K&Co.. again kept it plain and simple

Gave her some wings (thanks Mr Tim) added a daisy(Sizzix) and some text (Cosmo tiny type)

She's all set......... for this weeks outings to LTDO (Angels and fairies) and Gothic Arches (Daisies)

Back To School!

Gothic Arches theme is back to school......... I'm slowly getting back............. in crafting mode.

CRESCENDOh's ( Jenny Doh, former editor of Somerset Studio) motto is Art Saves, well I haven't produced much quality art over the past 2 weeks but it's kept me sane!


Here's my back to school art!
The stamp is Paperbag Studio

Pulling Teeth!

............that's what crafting seems like at the moment.
It's been a real struggle to get motivated, this weeks Gothic Arches challenge is crowns, a subject that would usually take me 5 minutes to come up with an idea.......this has taken since Sunday! I'm not happy but at least it is a finished challenge!

Only another dozen or so projects to do!..... hope the motivation and inspiration find their way home soon!

What do you do when you have a creative block?