loving this envelope

 Stampotique do some great background stamps and one of my particular favourites at the moment is baroque background.  I even dug out the embossing powder for this project :)

 

Stampotique stamps used:

baroque background  #7109 by Amy Wilson Wellenstein

antique description  #7228 by Amy Wilson Wellenstein

star flower  #2021 by Maryse Carrier

whole heart  #12011  by Linda Peterson

Stampotique mail art

This week I joined in Roc Nicholas' mail art swap on Facebook.  I love using the inside of envelopes for the patterned paper but it really surprised me how much of my mail looks the same from the outside - there's hardly any variation in text!

I used one of the boring envelopes as a template, drew round it and added ink through lots of stencils.  I stamped 'dog' on the bits of the envelope that had text on and placed them in a row.  Roc's top tip before posting is to coat the envelope with gel medium to protect it.  I was very glad I did this as it was absolutely throwing it down when I went out to the post office.  However, it did pick up the blue dylusions ink and made the dogs slightly blue - oops!!

I enjoyed making the envelope so much I decided to make another.  This has some added extras and features over on the Stampotique Designers' blog today.

Stampotique stamps used:

Dog by Roc Nicholas #2433

Horse by Roc Nicholas  #2408

Just be u by Roc Nicholas  #2422

beaded envelope with a sprinkle of fairy dust

This month's Lavinia Stamps Challenge is 'add some beads or gems' and since I usually add some kind of sparkle to any card I make using Tracey's gorgeous stamps I decided to add some beads.

I was originally going to make a card with a beaded edging but I enjoyed making my envelopes so much yesterday I made another and added beads for texture around the toadstool houses.

Starting with my gelli plate I laid the opened out envelope (my template) underneath so I could see the area I needed to ink, and to help image placement.

You can just about see the ink I brayered on and the stamped images.

I picked up the second lot of colour onto what will be the back of the envelope, then realised I'd done it all backwards so started again, turning the envelope template over under my gelli plate (I can now hear you all shouting at me but don't worry, I get there in the end!!).

Just as I lifted this second print I realised that the first one was fine, it's an envelope, it doesn't matter which side the flaps go to fasten it!!  Duh!!!  Never mind, I now have two lol.  I drew around the brown envelope, cut it and folded it and then forgot to take anymore step by step photos - sorry!!

 I stitched the beads onto the envelope before I attached it altogether (glad at least a tiny portion of my brain was working!!).  Love that bronze embossing powder I found in my drawer ;)

The toadstools were stamped onto the envelope in order to get the fine detail around them, but I stamped and coloured them again on separate card to give them more definition and to cover up the line created by stamping over the flap at the base of the envelope.

The envelope was looking a little empty so I made a tag with a sequinned flower (when I tried this on the envelope it was too much with the beads but I really liked the idea!!)

They don't show up well with the camera but the sequins are two shades of pink and orange.

 Still loving that bronze embossing powder!!

I think it still needs some more tags inside but I'm happy with what I've done so far.

Stampotique blog hop celebrating the new releases

Welcome to the Stampotique blog hop!  Thispost will remain at the top of my blog whilst the hop is live.

Kim kicked it all of on the Stampotique Designers' Challenge blog so if you didn't arrive here from 

Kaz Boughton's blog 'Slightly Wonky Crafts' 

then please head over here to start the hop (after you've finished visiting me of course ;).  

We are celebrating the launch of the new images released today, which, if you are a fan of our Facebook page you may already have got a sneak peek!  There are lots of images from our favourite stamp designers and we welcome our newest designer, Magda Polakow, who is also a very talented member of our design team.  I've used her raindrops on my altered envelope :)

new release Stampotique stamps used:

raindrops   #5820 Magda Polakow

sunflower lge  #9256 Janet Klein

sunflower medium  #9257 Janet Klein

french journal page  #10015 France Papillon

bike text  #9255 Janet Klein

....and I can see the french journal page being a new favourite!  I have to say though, it was very difficult, choosing which stamps to use to make a project for the hop, there are so many lovely new ones!!  I've already added some more to my wishlist.

Don't forget to leave comments on each of the blogs for your chance to win some goodies - we will be randomly drawing two winners for a $30 gift certificate for Stampotique stamps at the Stampotique online store.  The new stamps are available over there now. There's also an extra chance to win over at your final destination, the Stampotique Designers' bloghttp://stampotiqueoriginals.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/call-for-stampotique-creations.html, where there is also a special announcement.

Thanks for visiting!  The next blog to hop to is 

'Made by Chook' 

where you'll meet the very talented Corrie Herriman.   Blog hop winners will be announced on the Stampotique Designers' blog when the next challenge is announced, on April 23, 2014. 

new release stampotique stamps used:

Gucio walking  #5821 Madga Polakow

barcode  #10019 France Papillon

Barcode text  #10020 France Papillon

french journal page  #10015 France Papillon