CELEBRATING 100 POSTS WITH A GIVEAWAY!

The 100th Post BladeRubberStamps Blog-versary Giveaway!

To celebrate this special anniversary, Kaye and Graham of BladeRubber Stamps are giving away this great EXCLUSIVE set of unmounted stamps. You're seeing these in public for the very first time!


Sunday Best
copyright Susie Jefferson
8.5cm x 5.5cm

These designs are so new, they aren't even in production yet (and are only available by special order at present).

Parisian Gown
copyright Susie Jefferson
10.00cm x 5.5cm

The winner of the Giveaway gets all three stamps!

Each stamp comes with its own First Edition Authentication Certificate... a real collector's item.

The Men
copyright Susie Jefferson
5cm x 5cm

To win these exclusive stamps, all you have to do is leave a comment. The competition closes on Saturday, and I will announce the winner on Sunday (3rd May).

Anyone can enter - just leave a comment!

EXTRA BIND-IT-ALL CLASS

Due to popular demand, I'm fitting in an extra Bind-it-All class on 16 May.





CurlyWurly Deco Book
Copyright Susie Jefferson

For those of you who have a Bind-it-All but are still a little unsure of all the wonderful things you can do with it, you might like to take this class.


CurlyWurly Deco Book
Tags in front pocket
Copyright Susie Jefferson







We'll be doing a complete project of a Deco book and decorating all the pages.

Shirley Temple & Mae West

There will be a comprehensive handout, including pictures.

East or West, Home is Best

I will also be concentrating on doing continuous punching down a long page length as the B-I-A instructions for this seem to confuse a lot of people!

Those Were The Days

We'll also cover direct-to-paper colouring techniques and hand-tinting vintage photographs.

B for Birds, Bees & Butterflies

Hope to see you then!

LITTLE LOST FOX

I just found this adorable animated story by illustrator Alicia Padron.

Make a cup of tea, settle down and prepare to be charmed and amazed.

NAPKIN TISSUE TECHNIQUES

I've had quite a few people asking me about how to stick napkin tissue to paper, card or in altered books - there are so many lovely designs, and they make great textured backgrounds, very touchy-feely.

Scrapbookers need to be aware that napkin tissue is not archival and acid-free, so you may want to use my method for scrapbook pages (below) as the acrylic content in the glue encapsulates the paper, neutralising/encapsulating the ph values.


ATC Altered Book
copyright Susie Jefferson







The PVA Glue Method

This entire Altered Book - niche, pages and all - was covered with a tulip print napkin tissue. Books require a different approach from the methods below (I wouldn't like to use an iron in a book!) and I have a complete tutorial here on my 1stFloorFlat site in the Techniques section.

The Clingfilm Method

I just found this great YouTube link for you (below) by Michelle Wedmeyer, which is beautifully demonstrated and well worth a view.

Here is another link as well, by Pennywise Arts, which demonstrates the same method in step-by-step photographs.

I have heard about people struggling with glue sticks, UHU etc - struggle no more!

QUEEN FOR A DAY

We all deserve to be Queens For A Day - especially on birthdays, anniversaries, Easter, Christmas,walking the dog, when doing the washing up....



Project and photograph copyright Shari at Creative Chatter







So here you are - don't say I never think of you all.

I had to include this project - I actually thought it was made of metal!

This glorious crown was made by Shari at Creative Chatter.

This is how she did it:

The template for the crown was from the Stamper's Sampler "Tempting Templates" section.

I cut out the template from a piece of heavy poster board. I gessoed both sides of the poster board and allowed it to dry (with a little help from my handy-dandy heat gun!).

I then used Golden's Soft Gel Medium to adhere torn pieces of dictionary pages over all to give it strength and flexibility. Again, I allowed it to dry completely.

When dry, I added a thin layer of Golden Modeling Paste. While the Modeling Paste was still wet I stamped into it with stamps from Invoke Arts Mosaic Elements Sheet and a Stampotique Original – Josie Cirincione stamp that looks like Punchinella.

After the Modeling Paste was dry I painted it with Sophisticated Finishes Copper Metallic Surfacer. When the paint was dry I used Patina Green to make it look like verdigris.

I stamped onto the Chipboard letters (K&Company) with a small flourish stamp (company unknown) and painted the same as the crown. I embellished with metal found objects that I also painted to match the other elements.

Note: If you can't get the modelling paste, try heavy gel medium - or even Polyfilla mixed with some PVA (white) glue!

Isn't it fabulous! Gotta make myself a special Sitting At The Computer one - and can't you just see a glittery version with net and silk flowers...

BABY SHOES PROJECT

After all the fun & excitement of the competition - I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a little flat! So we need something rather wonderful to cheer us and head us up towards Summer!

Here's an adorable project for you - from Kim Prince (one of our Competition finalists) and originally made for QuietFire Design. Reproduced here with Kim's permission (hooray!)

NEW BABY CARD & MATCHING BOOTEES

All images copyright Kim Prince

Creative Diversions

Go here for full instructions, and go here for the template which will print on A4 paper.



And the back view...

And here's another one - this idea is so adaptable!




Kim often makes the shoes and matching card as a set for a pregnancy announcement, baby shower, a new baby etc - fun and FAST! (When aren't we all in a hurry!)

THE WINNERS!

I am very pleased to announce the winners of the first BladeRubberStamps Art Stamping Competition!

The prizes are all unmounted stamps from BladeRubberStamps' own exclusive range, and Blog Buttons which I wrote & designed specially.

First prize

5 unmounted stamps & 1st Prize Blog Button

Carol Quance

at AlcoholInky

2nd prize

3 unmounted stamps & 2nd Prize Blog Button

Jo Capper-Sandon

at Jo Blogs

3rd prize

1 unmounted stamp & 3rd Prize Blog Button

Dianne King

at Passion For Stamping

All the finalists will receive a Finalist Blog Button as well, as something of a consolation prize - you're all winners!

This was a fabulous competition, we had some wonderful entries - I wish I could have given everyone a prize! So well done everyone, and thank you!

COMPETITION RESULTS! WE HAVE A WINNER!

First of all, thanks to each and every one of the artists who entered their cards, and the ten finalists. And thanks to everyone who voted.

The winning cards are:

1. LiveLifeBeHappy with 92 votes
   
2. Floral Papillon with 64 votes
   
3. 3 Vases with 39 votes
   

I will be emailing the winners to let them know, then will announce the names on Sunday.

COMPETITION - VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE!

We've finally finished discussing and wrangling, and here are the 10 competition entries for you all to vote on.

Here you are, in no particular order of preference:

1. Flower Girl















2. Dreaming























3. Floral Papillon























4. Caring Thoughts

















5. Three Window Flowers



















6. Brand New Ending
















7. Three Vases



















8. Live Life Be Happy























9. Rose

10. For You

You'll notice two cards use the same stamp - these are by different artists, which just goes to show great minds think alike! We liked them so much, we couldn't choose between them so they both had to go in.

You'll also notice the cards are anonymous - we thought this was fairest, so you'll vote for the one you really like!

Just click a button on the panel in the sidebar to register your vote. The voting will be open for the week, and I will announce the winners on Easter Sunday.We've had some fabulous artwork sent in - so thank you, one and all! I'm only sorry the voting has had to be limited to 10 - if I had my way, you'd all get a prize!

PUNCH ART - DAFFODILS

I just found this wonderful Punch Art tutorial for you on the Inspirational site.



Daffodils copyright Joanne at Mainly Flowers
Inspirational Tips, Techniques & Tutorials


I've put the Inspirational widget into the sidebar so you can find it easily.

For all of you that are admirers of Leonie Em, who invented this style of punch art, here's how to make gorgeous 3D flowers, step by step.

BLOG CANDY - FREE BUTTON

Do you love Marie Atoinette?

The film, the gowns, the whole Rococo ambiance?

Got a blog of your own? Then you might like to take a copy of this free button to add to your blog, courtesy of Joy Jones at Cupids Charm blog, for everyone who loves the whole Marie Antoinette & fairy princess vibe.

Joy knows everything there is to know about Marie Antoinette, and would love to see Marie Antoinette appear all over the world, so feel free to copy and share - and do visit her blog. Stampington are bringing out the new Marie magazine any time now, and Joy of course is in it!

Here's how to add the image to your sidebar:

• Click on the image to bring up to full size
• Right-click on the picture and Save Image As to your My Pictures folder
• In your blog, go to Layouts
• Click Add A Gadget and choose Picture
• Browse the image from your computer
• Click Save, and that's it!