Last post from France

Tomorrow is our last day here, time just seems to fly when you are having fun.... We had a gloriously hot day yesterday and to day it was pleasant, though there were a few little showers.
Here are the last of the tags I will be making here as tomorrow I'll need to start packing all my bits and pieces. I'm also showing one more journal page in progress.

Start of journal page

All of these need finishing off at home still, but at least the basics are done. Still about 15 more to go........

When the rain hit France

So in the last few days we have had quite a bit of rain here in France too, no escaping it this year it seems. Ah well, plenty of time to create. I know some of you have been laughing at the amount of stuff I took along, but hey ho, as the rain was pelting down on our gite, at least I did not get bored.

Some of you know I am working on a nature inspired mini with enough pockets and spaces for about 35 tags. Well here are just a few more (I am not showing them all as some need more finishing off at home with embellishments etc).

Here is also another journal page in progress:

Well, the sun is just about starting to break through again. Hope it's bright and sunny where you are and happy Sunday everyone!

The Artistic Stamper July project

Today it is my turn to post a project for the Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog
Here is a little sneak peak. To see the full project and how I made it, please visit the blog

WOYWW 163 My desk in France

Hello everyone and happy Wednesday. I thought it would be fun to show my little holiday desk in France and join in the WOYWW fun while I am at it. I have not been part of that for quite a few weeks, just too busy and I don't like to show my little space when I don't have the time to visit yours, but now I do and so here it is, my little space in the spare room in our holiday Gite:

Quite a bit of clutter for just a two week holiday, but if I can't play with my inks and paints I go all fidgetty so along came three boxes full of stuff. Oh and here is what I am working on:

A small journal and some pages in a nature inspired mini book.
After my last post several of you were wondering where in France I am, well it's in Burgundy on the edge of a nature reserve, it's totally gorgeous and beautiful!!
Oh and if you are wondering what all this desk stuff is about, just go here and all will be explained.

Waving Hi From France

I am having the most glorious time in France and sometimes the sun even peeps out...As we have wifi here I can even blog.

Here is a photo of the lovely little Gite we are staying in and below are some photos of a journal page I have been working on

Off on holiday and a freebee

This morning I am off for a two week holiday to France. Call me crazy but I have packed two big boxes and a back pack full of art and craft stuff. After all you can't go for walks, visit quaint little towns, eat amazing meals and read novels all of the time can you now....? Apparently the little gite we have rented has got Wifi, so I will be able to come and visit some of my favourite blogs, and who know, maybe I'll post some stuff myself too.
I leave you will a little collage sheet. I have printed it myself on tissue paper again (on how to do that, see post below) and plan to use it in a journal while away,. who knows.... The little images are from Magic Moonlight and the background was made with digital stamps I created from various ephemera, mostly from the Graphics Fairy Many thanks to both!!

The first three tags and a couple of freebies

I managed to finish the first three tags for the nature themed mini book (see post below this one, here)

In each case I decorated both sides. I am also posting two collage sheets with botanical images which I have collected over the years, many are from the Graphics Fairy. I print these on tissue paper by attaching them to a transparency sheet and then use the images to decorate the tags. Feel free to use them if you want to give this technique a try.

Sticky back canvas on board, texture paste, gesso, acrylic paints, glimmer mist. Images K and Co

7 Gypsies paper, stamping and image from collage sheet below

Prima Romantique paper, old bookpage, ribbon, die cut and butterfly from K and Co

Paper from stash (no idea where it came from) stamping and again butterfly from K and Co.

Stamping on inked background with images from sheet below

Stamping on inked background. Gold round edges

Stamps are mainly from Darkroom Door and Tim Holtz

Make sure to use your best printer setting to get good strong colours!

Nature inspired mini WIP

This is a work in progress on a nature inspired mini that I am making for a commission. The basic design is a 6 x 8" "Stack the Deck with Pockets", as developed by Laura Dennison from Following the Paper Trail. I love this type of binding as it is sturdy and leaves lots of room for embellishment. This particular one has 6 main double sided pages and 4 smaller pages with fold outs. Each page also has at least 2 pockets. All in all there will be enough space for about 35 tags or cards. So far I have just done the basic book. The next task will be to create the tags and cards to fit into the pockets. I used a variety of papers from different collections, Prima, Graphics 45 and 7 Gypsies. I altered them with Distress Inks to make them blend and fit together.

Here are some of the pages. Stupidly I forgot to take pictures before putting the book together, so it was quite hard to photograph and some of the photos are a bit wonky.....

Snazzy time again

Here is my second project for Snazzys this month, again using one of the wonderful Darkroom Door London sets. If you want to have a chance of winning one of the two London sets, head over to Snazzys and leave a comment on this post.

Hope to see you there:o)

Project for The Artistic Stamper

Here is my project for the Artistic Stamper, hope you like it and for a full description please head over to their blog by clicking here

Snazzys project for June

Hello everyone. This week it is my turn to show my projects over at Snazzys. We are featuring the Darkroom Door London stamp sets. For a chance to win one of these sets, run over to the DT blog by clicking here.

Here 's a peek at my first project

Tag book complete

Here are the final pages for my tag book (see post below)

Front of final tag. Again I  drew over the original image to bring it out more and then collaged some further details and added embellishments. I think that this is my favourite.

Back of final tag

Front cover

Back cover

Finished tag book

cover detail

Happy Sunday everyone!