Spooky Fun with an Autumnal twist... at Stamps and Stencils!

Hi everyone, it's October already and we're nearing the end of another year, the nights are drawing in and there's a chill in the air..all of which is a bit scary and the perfect time to have our new challenge at Stamps and Stencils and hosted by the talented Rachel.

'I would love to see your mixed media makes with a Spooky theme, but if Spooky is not your thing then Autumnal colours also fit the bill ! - you can make anything you like as long as it is in a mixed media style and involves stamps or stencils!!! Enjoy!'

So a Halloween themed door hanger is what I've created and I really enjoyed stepping out of my normal style and colours for this...but the glitter did creep in!

I used a calico craft parts mdf door hanger I've had for a while and after a coat of little black dress fresco paint I used the shatter stencil which always reminds me of a spider's web. I stencilled squid ink paint over the black so the black 'web' showed through. I also used some webbing spray.

The ingredients

I then used the stencil again with graphite texture paste and sprinkled black soot distress glitter over it and once dry added a few splatters of coral and snowflake paint

Smoothy card painted and some black knight infusions over the orange paint...then stamping and embossing in black glint embossing powder.

After a few trials I decided most of the images should be on purple and the script on orange...and of course the pumpkins had to be orange!

The stamps are a mix of a paperArtsy hotpicks plate and an old waltzing mouse stamp set.

I rather like how the skull turned out and there is lots of stamping an stencilling on this one. That's my spooky contribution for this month but if spooky isn't your 'thing' then you can still join in with our challenge and just go autumnal, for lots of inspiration hop over to see what the rest of the team have created!

R x

Inspiration Post...Sunprints!

Morning everyone, just a quick post to say I have an inspiration post over at Stamps and Stencils today, all about using the wonderful sunlight we've been gifted this summer in the UK....

Head across for more info. R x

Anything Goes at Stamps and Stencils!

Hi, Sue is our talented host for this months challenge at Stamps and Stencils and this month it's an 'Anything Goes' theme. Here's what she wants you to do.

It's been a while - Being creative often leads you in different directions and sometimes it isn't until you start that you know where you are heading. For this challenge I thought that as we've not done it for a while it would be good to let your creative spirit wander and have a theme of Anything Goes. Your project must be mixed media and include stamping and/or stencilling but apart from that it's up to you !

So this is an idea I've been thinking about for a while and definitely inspired by some artwork by the very talented Diana Taylor of 'Velvet Moth Studio', she produces exquisite work, if you haven't visited her before you're in for a treat.

This book cover was crumbling so I didn't feel guilty about re purposing it, inspired by the title I've created a little piece of 'Wonderland'  I think the book cover was originally yellow but has now turned lovely shade of ochre.

A little stamping with a Wendy Vecchi stamp in archival ink and I decided I would stick to a yellow, grey and white palette.

Tyvek ironed on a moulding mat... make sure you use parchment paper between your iron and the tyvek!

I roughly arranged where I wanted the collage elements to go and added some crackle paste underneath.

I added in the 'march hare' or is it the 'white rabbit'?

I'd originally stamped some bottles underneath, but they had almost disappeared so one bottle of magic potion nestled nicely on the binding with the invitation to drink me.

Although I liked the arrangement I was lacking a focal point or something to link the bottle to the spine; a little lace added texture and then these paper rosebuds seemed to fit the bill and when I remembered about the queen wanting her white roses painted red they became perfect.

A few details

Lovely crackle...

I hope you've enjoyed your little tour of 'Wonderland' and are inspired to have a go at ...well...anything creative, have fun and join in our challenge and for more fabulous inspiration hop across to see what the rest of the talented team have created. R x