August's Forgotten Stash

Continuing my monthly project of using a forgotten item from my stash, this month I'm using a Tim Holtz butterfly punch. I haven't had it that long but it was purchased on a whim with no idea in mind about what I would do with it!

So, keeping with my theme of my garden at night I played about in my sketchbook and using a resist technique with a flower stamp and some new Distress Crayons I created a moonlit background - perfect for the butterfly punch which now became a moth punch!  I added double layered moths with gold ink edging and a stamped vellum top layer.

I'm joining Julia over at What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday 

July's Forgotten Stash

Looking through my stash this month to find something that's been unused and forgotten about, I came upon this large postcard tag stamp from Hero Arts.

 I love it but have never got round to using it, so I decided to have a play!  I like the proportions of it, it's a substantial size being 12cm x 9cm so would make a good front for a card.
This is definitely a keeper and I know I'll be using it again!

 I'm linking up with Julia who I'm delighted to say is back at the helm of WOYWW this week.  

June's Forgotten Stash and the Peppered Moth

For June's Forgotten Stash project, where I find stash I've never used and decide whether to keep it or move it on, I dug out a bark effect embossing folder - never used and long forgotten.  I was inspired by a beautiful card made by Shoshi here (do pop over and have a look, her work is beautiful).

My idea though was moths (of course) and the camouflage of them against the bark - I wanted to create dark moths against dark bark.

I was also influenced by the story of the Peppered Moth - through research in the 1950's it was thought to change to a darker shade to blend in with the industrially polluted cities of England.  A fascinating story on many levels, and well worth a Google!  I'm adding a link to a recent BBC news story concerning the current research for anyone interested.

I used an old photo album page as the frame and I covered the embossed bark so thoroughly it's difficult to see it, but you can make it out in the image below.  

I am linking up with Jan (who is Julia once again!) for WOYWW.  Sending love and best wishes to the both of them and thanking Jan for holding the fort so superbly once again!

April's Forgotten Stash

My monthly quest to use or move along stash that I've forgotten about is still going strong and for April I've chosen three little leaf stamps by Impress.  I have many leaf stamps but they are all quite realistic and I use them a lot.  However, these are more stylised - when I first saw them they really appealed to me, but I'm afraid I just put them away and forgot about them! 

I decided to emboss them onto my very favourite fabric of the moment - this vivid green velvet!  For anyone interested in embossing velvet I have some instructions on an old blog post here.    

I must admit I'm rather taken with the stamps and am now thinking of other ways to use them, so perhaps they'll stay with me for a little while longer!  The samples will probably end up in my Spring sketch book, or I might make cards with them as they are just about small enough.

   

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

Stocking Up on Birthday Cards

I haven't done much crafty stuff this last couple of weeks, having spent a huge amount of time recovering lost files when the hard drive corrupted - I hadn't backed up since December! Totally my fault which is so much more frustrating!
I also had a lovely time catching up with Julia and Lunch Lady Jan for lunch - lots of laughter, chatter and yummy food - thank you so much ladies!

  I did find time to make a few quick and easy cards for some birthdays coming up in the next few weeks.  I am still using the stamp set and matching die that I have been using in previous posts (see here)!   

I am linking up with Julia over at Stamping Ground   

February's Forgotten Stash Part 2

Carrying on my quest to try out a forgotten and unused item in my stash each month I have been using the Tim Holtz Artful Dwellings die.

While decorating the shapes for my winter garden piece last week (see here) I found  several were looking rather architectural so I put them aside to make a separate piece.

I used copper, brown and gold metallic leaf on some of the stamped images and although difficult to see you can just about catch some of the shine below.  I'm particularly fond of the Italian architectural stamp and I'm pleased I've found it a good home!

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

February's Forgotten Stash

Each month I'm choosing a piece of forgotten or never used stash to try out - for February I've chosen the Tim Holtz Artful Dwellings die.  I have no idea why I purchased it - the good idea that prompted me to buy it has long gone!

I was a bit stumped with this one, so after cutting several of the shapes out I left them on my desk until an idea struck!  Finally I decided to work on my current theme of the winter garden and this is how they turned out.

I used some copper and gold metallic leaf on some of the stamped images, although it's difficult to see in the photos.  Each little house has been attached to a bar at the back to make it into one piece of work.

Deciding to go for a completely different wintery feel I also did another set using some winter tree stamps.  I used Perfect Pearls, Micro beads and texture paste with glitter, and although it's hard tell the whole thing really twinkles like frost.  

I am linking up with Julia over at WOYWW this week.

January's Forgotten Stash

Continuing on from my last post about using forgotten stash each month, I am still using the Heartfelt Creations flower stamp set and matching die, and making cards and tags with gusto!  The previous post can be seen here.

Here are a couple of cards using texture paste backgrounds and some Distress Stickles to highlight the petals.

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.