Wednesday, 27 January 2016

Forgotten Stash

In my craft stash I have a fair few items that have been purchased on a whim, or sometimes in a desperate need, and then they are put away for future use and never seen again!
This year I decided that every month I would take out a 'never been used' item and use it - with a view to moving it on if it doesn't live up to expectation!
 So for January I have been using this set of flower stamps with matching die - purchased mainly because I hate cutting fiddly bits out by hand and of course you never know when you might urgently need a flower stamp with a matching die!   

I stamped the flowers in Archival ink and then shaded with Distress inks, and  I used Perfect Pearls for the centre of the flowers.
The stamps and die are by Heartfelt Creations (Botanical Rose stamp set and Botanical Wings die).  

I'm linking up with Julia over at What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday.

39 comments:

  1. These are utterly fabulous, Diana! What a gorgeous wintery feel. I have been thinbking about getting one or more flower stamps as I'm a bit short of useful ones - can you tell me which one this was, and if it's still available? The die isn't so vital but might be useful. I love the spikey ones too - a lovely contrast with the filled-in flower shapes.

    I actually managed to do some art yesterday! I think I'm on the way again.

    Happy WOYWW,
    Shoshi #24

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  2. Isn't it funny how we are all the same with our stash. I'm still sorting and came across a felt hanging I made years ago at college. I've taken the bull by the horns and started working into it again.
    Your pieces are lovely Diana
    Lynn 18 xx

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  3. they are all stunning, I could see the last one in a box frame. Gorgeous!
    Jill #24

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  4. I'm in lurrrrrve with the tag and card - the detail you manage to pack in is incredible. The card would look fab in a box frame, for sure. Good for you for using NBUS, apart from the odd piece of fabric, I think I use all my stuff but then again, I don't have a huge stash of equipment. Just like I don't have a lot of kitchen gadgets either!
    Hugs, LLJ 10 xxx

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  5. Thank you for your visit and your enthusiastic comment, Diana! Yes, it's great to be back again and I feel as if I've broken through an invisible barrier now. Thank you also for your kind words - I am amazed and humbled that you have gained inspiration from me lol!! I first saw teabags being used on Colouricious and then started looking on Pinterest and I was hooked. There's a lot I want to do with them, but the idea of the art journal page was as a sort of sampler really. I hadn't thought of doing any stitch on it but I'm beginning to think I might, on the 3 overlapping bags... So many ideas!!

    Thank you for adding the details of the stamps and dies. I'll investigate later. I meant to say before what a good idea it is to have a blitz on stuff you've bought and never used - I think we are probably all guilty of that, and it's good to put things to use - I found a use for lots of paper and card last year in my card factory. Nice to use up this stuff and make more room for new stuff lol!

    Hoping to do a bit more on my page today, time and energy permitting.

    Shoshi

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  6. You have such an eye for choosing the most beautiful of papers, stamps, dies etc. I love! love! love! what you do. You always delight me with your beautiful creations.

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  7. Good idea Diana...fabulous utterly fabulous result!

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  8. That is a great new years crafting resolution, love what you have made so far
    Bridget #1

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  9. Wow, I'm speechless! These are so stunning! I think that stamp/die-set is a keeper, don't you? It's a shame you haven't used them before! Happy WOYWW! zsuzsa #38

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  10. Another beautiful winter project! I love the stamp and die. I would think it would be a keeper for me. I love your idea of using a "lost" product a month. I may borrow that idea!

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  11. I too was tempted to purchase these stamps! I love the stamped flowers more than unstamped ones, but for the life of me I can never match my dies up with my stamps... These are truly gorgeous and inspired projects. I do look forward to seeing you unearthing your stash. Guess we all need to do the same! I try to leave stuff sitting out until it's used.

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  12. Such a good idea, we should all do that. And your flowers are gorgeous! Sandy Leigh #39

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  13. All gorgeous - I adore that tag - stunning ! Have a great week and thanks for my earlier visit . xx Soojay

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  14. Fantastic cards, love the flowers - of course you needed the matching die (I hate fiddly cutting!) Beautiful colours too.. Helen #1

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  15. Lovely vintage feel to your projects. I love the centres of the flowers you have added. I have far too many unused stamps. I am really trying to make more of an effort to use some of them myself this year and to index my stamps and dies so I remember what I have and encourage myself to use them!!! Elaine x

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  16. Fantastic love love love the flowers

    Crafty hugs Pen x #56

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  17. Simply beautiful - the blue tag is one of my favourite tags I've seen in Craftyblogland ever! So delicate, so exquisite - perfection!
    Alison xx

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  18. wow oh wow oh wow. They are beautiful.
    Enjoy, Pat #61

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  19. Really lovely colors and designs.

    Hugs Diane

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  20. Really lovely colors and designs.

    Hugs Diane

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  21. Gorgeous tags Diane, love them. Have a great woyww and happy crafting,
    Angela x 29

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  22. Utterly gorgeous! The card and the tag. I love them. Your stamp/die is certainly a success. And I like the way you have staged the photo. It looks very professional.
    Thank you for taking the trouble to visit and for your sweet comment.
    Greetings from sunny Spain,
    Lisca

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  23. There is a gorgeous elegance to both the tag and card and I love the dimension you achieved.
    A great idea to dip into something new each month especially with such creative results. It is fussy cutting for me all the way as I don't own a die cutting machine. I can certainly see the value of one as there are times I am exasperated when it comes to detail cutting!
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  24. Stunning work. I love the tag.

    Sharon K #49

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  25. Diana, these are so lovely - I hope these stamps and dies made it to your "let's keep it" list! Just love how you've put it all together on both of these - very graceful and elegant! I also think your "let's clean out the closet" idea is brilliant - need to put that to use on my end as well! xxx Lynn

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  26. Thanks for calling by at mine yesterday. I'm still playing catch up with my visits.
    All I can say is....wow. Now you've used these I'm sure they are a keeper and you will use them often.
    Hugs,
    Annie x # 11

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  27. Oh Diana, I think quite a few will recognize that stash thing.... what a great idea to use these items once a month! Both the tag and the card are simply stunning!!! I totally LOVE how you kept them in neutral tones!! The embellishments are so perfectly arranged! Hope you will keep those items, they are like magic in your hands! I own several HC dies and stamps, you have just made me look at them in a new way, thanks so much for the inspiration yet again!!

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  28. Stunning designs, love the subtle palette.

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  29. Your attention to detail is glorious and I have spotted a similar die in my own stash. Thanks for your lovely comments about my blossom.
    sandra de @14

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  30. These are stunning, I love the colour choice. Very wintery. Thanks for sharing. Happy crafting, Max #33

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  31. Absolutely stunning work Diane. Now I'm sure you'll be using those lovely flowers and dies again! Your design work is beautiful. Barbxx #54

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  32. Gorgeous card and tag Diane! Even though it's a pain to drag out the dies and machine, I just love using those paper thin flower dies. The flower die cuts always adds that extra bit of prettiness to whatever you're working on. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  33. Really love those. I've never let myself get into the world of die-cutting, but I love the combination of the stamped version of them, really beautiful, especially with the way you did the centers. As I'm sure we've discussed, I too am terrible about collecting bits and bobs and supplies for future art that then get neglected and forgotten. I love your idea of getting one out a month and using it and deciding if it's a keeper - I may have to do that myself! So, did you decide these are a keeper?

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  34. Love the flowers Diana, they remind me of apple blossom! Also a great idea to road test something new every month and put it on trial! Your work is delicately beautiful as usual and I aspire to try to achieve something like this......you never know! Xx

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  35. these pieces are beautiful! Of course, you made me go searching for them. LOL Enabler!! Can't wait to see what else you dig out of your stash. Creative Blessings! Kelly #43

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  36. You can't let this one go! (I am working backwards here on a catch up!)

    So pretty.

    Karen x

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  37. Soul food....that's what it feels like visiting your blog.....simply beautiful cards, love the blue tag...perfect! Ruth x

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  38. Soooo beautiful! Of course, I'm starved for flowers right now, too. So this set of cards and such are just perfect! Definitely keep that stamp/die set :)

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  39. They are beautiful!! I would be keeping that set!!

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