Christmas, and not so christmas, makes...

First up, a card using 'christmas' from JOFY68 and the stars from JOFY70...

  

Next is a gift bag stamped/decorated with the same stars.. and a tag using one of the circle/star/box motifs from JOFY65

A single one of these motifs can be used by masking off the the others (and the sentiment that runs above it)...

On that stamp set I designed word stamps that fit in the boxes but you don't have to use them - I left the box blank enabling me to personalise it with the recipients name...

Now something un-christmassy... the words can be assembled so they can be used for a birthday card...

I 3d mounted the stars, and added shading on the edges of the boxes to give the impression of 3d mounting... (Tombox pens were used for the colouring on this card)... great for mens cards ?!?

Thanks for stopping by

Doodling....

I bought this plywood box 'J' from Hobbycraft with an idea to fill it with a layer of buttons (using up some my stash of buttons) but wasn't happy with it.
I had a lightbulb moment while making my JoFY Bingo Week15 project (HERE)... I could stamp and doodle inside the 'J' !!!  Stamp my doodle images to doodle around!!
Couldn't get started fast enough! lol

Here's how I did it - nice and simple!

The J is about 3cm deep (22cm tall) but I wanted the contents (buttons was the plan) to sit higher so I cut lots of bits of cardboard and arranged them in stacks inside the 'J' so the base was raised by about 2cm... (you could lay contents in the base)

Drew around the plywood shape and cut it out..

... and laid it on top of the stacks...  When happy with the height and fit I glued everything in place.. (PVA will do the job)

Next I painted it in my chosen colour - I went for dark grey (PaperArtsy Fresco Finish 'Slate') but later changed it for black gesso.  Set it aside to dry.

To create a base for the doodles and stamping:  I drew around the letter on black cardstock...

I chose to stamp with white paint ('Snowflake' Fresco Finish - brilliant opaque white!) because I knew it would match white gel pens that I was going to use for additional doodling..
I started with stars from JOFY70.. leaving a nice amount of space around them.. (for additional stamping and doodling..)... and followed with the large doodle flower from JOFY64, and flowers from JOFY54

... and here is the stamping finished...  you can just see the outline of the 'J'...

The 'J' was cut out and I doodled into all the open spaces - but not inside the outline of the doodle flower from JOFY64

Here is the finished 'J' - the top edge of the sides of the structure has also been painted white to outline the 'J'

Detail of the doodling and stamping... I really like the monochromatic colour scheme.. (it reminds me of Mexican 'day of the dead' artworks)

We went to America (ahem) number of years ago and I bought this large papermache 'J' - I 'had' to have it!  

So it came home with us, along with its matching 'M' (for Jo and Matt (my husband)) because I was going to do 'something' with them.. they've come across the Atlantic and been through two house moves -Now is the time - its now or never - I am ready to work on the big 'J'.

I can feel a bit more doodling coming on! (I'll keep you posted!)

There are lots of paper mache letters available, & you could do stamp and doodle onto all sorts of objects - inside objects (a friend recently gave me a wine box to work with - thats definitely getting a doodled interior!)... they'd make great christmas presents! (oops did I drop the 'C' word... sorry - I was hoping to get through a blog post without mentioning it again).

Thanks for stopping by

Christmas!!!!!

2018 CHRISTMAS STAMP RELEASE!!!

Now I can breathe freely and talk about christmas stamps!!  

I have six, yes SIX new sets of christmas stamps released today with PaperArtsy... you can see a full blog post over on the PA blog tonight with samples I've made using the stamps... so head on over there and take a look.  SIX plates of stamps will hopefully mean there will be something in there to please everyone... well almost everyone - but maybe not the bah humbugs out there..!! lol

This set has a more tradition feel to it - the candle with baubles around will be great as a stand alone image on a card.

All the single words on the left hand side of the plate fit into the little boxes with the rings...  They can be mixed and matched to create sentiments - and not just for christmas... here is the birthday card I made for my Husband's birthday:

How adorable is this Angel!!!  She is opening her arms and sharing happiness and all the good wishes (and sprarkles) that christmas brings... she makes me smile!

Meet Santas's Little Helper - be nice or he'll put you on the naughty list! lol  The festive words background is going be such a useful stamp!

These big words are going to look great on journal pages and on cards - they look lovely when embossed in glitter!

Oh Christmas Tree!  This big doodle tree is a favourite of mine!  I can see it being used in so many ways.

Aaaah here is this year's snowman!  Looking a bit (a lot) the worse for wear - I think he's had a bit too much christmas spirit!  The big word block is another great stand along image on a card.

Lots and lots of stamps to choose from - I hope some will inspire you to get started with your christmas crafting!

The stamps are available NOW from all the usual PaperArtsy stockists..

I am running a Christmas Card workshop on September 19th 2018, in Leigh-on-Sea - go HERE for details.  

Come and join me! 
I hope to see a few of you there!

Ho Ho Ho!!