Fresh new challenges

Good Morning peeps, the first of the month means new challenges and I decided we all need a change from what seems like months of Christmas cards so something a bit different on both counts.

Can I first apologise I have not visited you much the last few days, I've got Optic Neuritis again which is a real pain in the rear, not to say inconvenient. But it means I have to restrict computer use to short bursts and hours of blogging is just not on if I want to shift it quickly. I've found I can craft for a bit longer if I lower my daylight lamp and work above it away from the light itself it that makes sense, so not all is bad news.

A little reminder about this coming weekend at Sir Stampalot........it's the third Ultimate Rubber Stampaing Demo Day........seven very different styles of stamping demos running simultaneously from 10am through 4pm, free refreshments and prize draws and of course a shop brimming full of crafting essentials. The last two years it's been a fabulous day so if you can get there do come along and don't forget to say hello......I'll be the one with messy fingers......and maybe dark glasses if the eyes don't pick up.

At Stampalot Challenge we have 'Travel the World' and 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' at Penny Black at Allsorts. Last month saw bumper entries at both challenges and I really do hope you will all be joining in again this month.

Here are my DT pieces. The one above is my travelling ladies.....check out their ticket, reduced in size but it's authentic and they are fresh off the Orient Express. I used a whole collection of Art Impression stamps......thanks for the loan from the classroom Stampalot....... The ladies ware stamped first and masked, then the various buildings stamped from their travels.......Tour Eiffel, Big Ben, Il Colosseo, La Torre di Pisa and of course the sky scape's of the Big Apple. A little big of background scenery and sky added and mounted over a world map. This is also for the following challenge:

Simon Says - Sketch (it's a bit reversed but hope it's acceptable)

There's Magic in the Air - Anyting goes

Totally Stampilicious - Anything goes

Tip Top Tuesday - Anything goes

Cute Daisy May - Lets get girly

My Penny Black piece encapsulates what beauty means to me, which is basically everything Nature has to offer. My tag book is cut on the Big Shot pro........again thanks to Sir Stampy for the borrow.......looks like I don't own anything crafty reading this post......... I coloured all pieces with stencils and various Tim Holtz distress inks and Glimmer Mists then overstamped with a collection of Penny Black stamps........oh yeah, these are definitely all mine......... I couldn't resist using my favourite sentiment stamp inside and drew a freehand border round the edge.

I won't list all the stamps, but if anyone wants any specific codes please drop me a mail. The flowers are made from punches, meant to be carnations and are made up of as many layers you can get onto your brad really.......think I used about ten punched flowers........then made in the usual way.........shaded round the edges, spritzed with water to make the colours bleed and crumpled, then sprayed again with Glimmer Mist and they dry nice and rigid. This also fits the following challenges:

One Stitch at a Time = Bling it up (glimmers mists and crystals)

Pollycraft - Chipboard (the tabs and swirls)

Papercutz - Anything goes