Dream Lover Additions

Soooo......I liked the Dream Lover sketch of a face I did so much...

...that I decided to have a bash at carving a stamp based on it.

I'm rather pleased with it ;)

Looks proper lino sketchy doncha fink? LOL

I purposely omitted the pupils so that in future I can have her looking any which way LOL

Thanks for looking

xoxo Sioux

P.S. Come back tomorrow for my second piece for The Artistic Stamper this month and yet another chance to win some rubber ;)

Dream Lover

Do you remember this? 

It was experimenting a while back in February with some new inks I got. Well it's been stuck in my A5 journal doing nothing ever since until yesterday when I added the hand drawn face.

And then neo colours etc.

Thanks for looking.
xoxo Sioux

Only You!

Mmmm.......Don't feel like stamping much at the moment.....quick get the smelling salts!!! ROFL.........Too busy reading that's my problem ;)

So I was trying out the bleach effect that Dyan showed us here. Thanks Dyan!

And one thing led to another.....at one point these pages were so dark I did not know what to do with them but with the aid of the bleach effect (although by now you can't really see where I used it!) a little touch of gesso, a zingy little spritz of Dylusion sprays and just the right journal words it came together and once again helped me get out into the open the absolute rubbish that floats around my brain!!! LOL

Only you can make the darkness bright!
In other words there is no one but me who can change things round here.

Thanks for looking.......out of a mojo less doldrum I managed to make this over a period of about 5 days...thinking about it....not liking something then having to gesso over it etc etc!!!
But in the end I like it...it's the little things that make me happy ;)

xoxo Sioux

P.S. Dancer, Carpe Diem
(I so love that term, seize the day or however you interpret it yourself......pity there is no one to seize around here! Which is partly what this page is about! ROFLIA)
and clock face stamps available from The Artistic Stamper... the border stamp is my own hand carved creation.

Knock, Knock!

There are so many beautiful doors and knockers in Florence...why do I like hardware so much? LOL

Here are a couple of my favourites.

One from Pisa...

...and one from Siena too ;)

A close up on the fountain outside our hotel.

On our travels through the maze of streets in Florence we stumbled across this wonderful shop called Il Papiro.

Where this man demonstrated how to lay inks onto the surface of the water and how to manipulate them into patterns.

To make beautiful papers.

The shop was full of lovely paper stuff made with the papers and calligraphy, inks, pens and the like...
...I thought I had died and gone to heaven!! LOL

Thanks for looking

xoxo Sioux

Time after Time for The Artistic Stamper

I'm sharing something a bit different from my norm today over on the The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog where we are celebrating the two year anniversary of the creative team blog with a giveaway :)
You can see more details on my piece over on The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog.

Now I usually ask you not to comment on my blog as well as the creative team....but just for this month it might be worth it to do both....trust me ;)


We were asked to choose a set of stamps to use in our posts this month that Jennie will give away to a lucky comment pooled from both this blog and on the creative team blog....so generous Jennie, aren't you a lucky lot :)


Well I chose the "Tick Tock" plate....

...and additionally.....because I had this scene idea going round in my head for some time and I've been on the team almost two years myself...
...I am giving away my "Dance" plate to a second lucky person who comments :)

Told you it would be worth it!


The giveaway lasts throughout August and at the end of the month I will choose two winners from comments left on my Artistic Stamper posts here and on The AS Creative Team blog. 

Curious? Then just hop on over to The Creative Team Blog for all the details.

Thanks for looking and happy stamping
xoxo Sioux

Florence 1st installment

One could spend a lifetime in Florence and still be in awe of the architecture and art.

I'll tell you now that I would not say no to returning one day :) :)


The journey there was a breeze and we caught the Terravision bus from Pisa airport to Florence which was an hours journey with fields of sunflowers smiling at us in the Tuscan sunshine :)

A brief and easy couple of minutes walk from the station got us to our hotel Corona D'Italia and would you believe it but if you click the link that is the exact room we stayed in!!! The bonus was that our room was ready even though we were quite early ;)
(I am still trying to find our what that plant is at the entrance...I desperately want one!! LOL)

Just across the street (you see it as you come out of the hotel door) was this fabulous fountain it was so old it does not bear thinking about.....and it still works!!!

We quickly unpacked and found a pizzeria close by for the first cooling beer of the holiday and lunch

(my friend expressed the happiness we all felt about that as it was hot..hot..hot!)
...then on for a walk around the surrounding area taking in the daily market stalls that were on the side street of our hotel.

Leather bags everywhere...

...fabulous hand made books in leather and Florentine papers...I bought both my journal books from this stall ;)

Within 10 minutes (even with the market crowds) we were in...

...where the Duomo is of course spectacular but also so large that you cannot possibly get a photo of it in all it's glory :(

Guess what? I found some manhole covers too...surprise, surprise!!

And just one of the many door knockers that abound all over the city....sigh...sigh..sigh!! LOL ;)

There will be more of those in future posts ;)
Hey...even the lollies are designer!

I can't help but think that in the U.K. we would be made to have a paper wrapper on them and what a crying shame that would be!


Thanks for looking.
xoxo Sioux


P.S. It's my first project of the month for the Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog 2nd anniversary celebration tomorrow.....you might not want to miss it...there is candy give away involved ;~)
xoxo Sioux

Holidays for The Artistic Stamper

Thanks for sharing all your "Circles" creations for last months challenge :)
So....this month we are sharing

"Holidays" :)

That's the theme for the challenge for August over at The Artistic Stamper Creative Team ;)


I love holidays....I love seeing new places...I'd love to take off on a bicycle and pedal down quiet country lanes staying overnight in atmospheric pubs along the way...discovering new things around every bend in the road.......there is only one problem...
...I've never learnt to ride a bike!!! LOL


I made this little card using stamps mainly from the Ephemera 1 plate and the Open Road plate.

The front has the addition of the sentiment from Travelling Words and the cute little heart from Journaling Words II stamped in Distress Ink aged mahogany.


Inside I stamped the bicycle, the map front and the cycling knickers in Archival coffee adding the words using Distress Markers to colour in fired brick and chipped sapphire.

The card was then aged with Distress Inks in tea dye, wild honey, weathered wood and vintage photo.


You really must take a look at the "Holidays" creations the rest of the team have made as inspiration for you.

So don't forget.............the monthly challenge is "Holidays"

The rules are simple... all you need to do is make a piece of art, be it a card, ATC, wall art, altered art, scrapling ;)... just remember that it must include some rubber stamping and the theme... and... if you use Artistic Stamper stamps on your entry you will be entered into the draw twice! The prize is £15 worth of stamps from the Artistic Stamper shop... along with the KlingOn to mount them onto.

I hope you get chance to play at the challenge... it is open until August 31st and the winner will be chosen by Random.org shortly after :)

Thanks for looking and happy stamping

xoxo Sioux

Home from Florence

Happy Sunday!

I am back from my short break to Florence, Pisa and Siena.

Would you like to see some photo's?

How many photo's would you like?

I have 694 to choose from! LOL

We arrived back on Friday to learn that the weather here had been hot...and I was greeted by my friends who had been holidaying in my house and had fixed my shed roof...thanks so much...love you lots ;)

I've only been gone 5 days but everything in my garden seems so much brighter :)

My red rose had two blooms...

...and my clematis had flowers too.

Besides the goodies I bought in the first photo....two gorgeous small journals...one leather bound and the other with a Florentine paper cover....some hand made Florentine paper....a new pen....two masks.....I could not resist and at only 2 euro each they were a bargain ;)

All three of us could not resist buying an ice bag and I chilled on Saturday in my garden with happy memories of Florence that I will share with you over the coming days.

...I just need to choose my favourite photo's but at the moment that is looking like erm.....694!!!!!

...give me a little time to get myself sorted and I'll be back :)

This was our room with a view.....sigh!

Thanks for looking

Ciao, ciao!

xoxo Sioux

Pearl of a Tiny Journal

I was watching Girl with a Pearl Earring last night.....again!

How I love that painting.....and the book.....and the movie! ;)

And how I love that I have some rubber (Stamp Fransisco) to be able to do this little page in my tiny journal when the muse got me late last night. :)

It's a little Moleskin 9x14cm with a kraft cover....the pages seemed quite thin but they do seem to hold up to the ink being spritzed all over them! :)

Stamp happy......thanks for looking

xoxo Sioux

It's not what you think! SSS&S and SS

Reading the "Fifty Shades" trilogy was a bitter sweet experience for me as so much of it brought back memories of Pip.....now, now, now.....don't even go there! LOL

As is so often said in the books "It's not what you think"...it's the romance side I am thinking of ROFL ;)

I felt the need to channel my negative thoughts into a positive piece of work to remind me of the sheer joy of the read that also left me bereft when I finished the last book as it coincided with what would have been my 35th wedding anniversary.....strangely it felt like I'd lost Pip all over again....and I don't care what anyone says I gain no comfort what so ever thinking about him and remembering the good times....it makes me feel rubbish.....I'd rather hope my future is bright.....life is for living...and not getting upset about something I cannot change and if I think about him I get upset...
...sooooo...it may sound bad...
...but not thinking about him seems to be the only way I can do this unless I want to spend the rest of my life getting upset and I most definitely do not want that !!


My darn imagination is just too powerful sometimes....then I get maudlin and forget to concentrate on the good things! LOL

Anyways.....instead of the journal page I might have done (might still do) I wanted to make something to look at on my wall for a change that would make me happy :)

Using my favourite guy stamp by T!m and one of my favourite lady images by Stamp Fransisco.

There is one of my favourite quotes around the edge by Wilde....he would definitely be on my guest list for dinner ;)

"One's real life is often the life that one does not lead"

To which I added


"Which person behind the mask will you reveal today?"

my imagination keeps me sane........just about........most of the time! LOL
So the canvas is full of favourite stuff that makes me happy just looking at it :)

I love the patina I've managed to get on the metal bits with paint dabbers in gold, juniper and espresso. :)

Thanks for looking and coping with my emotional outburst and moans today...my excuse...
..if I need one...is the red hair...it takes over just occasionally!
I'm hoping my spirits will be lifted on my trip to Florence...it's been an emotionally difficult last week for me ;)

Ooh! I've just realised Simon Says is "No Rules" this week so I am linking it there ;)
Who knows it just might be my lucky week to win the fabulous prize from the generous people at the Simon Says shop of $50.oo how cool would that be? :) Although if I do I'll be on holiday and then I'll probably be too late to claim the prize!!! Hey Ho LOL ;)

Also there is "Bits and Pieces" use embellishments, and there are plenty of them on my canvas so I'm linking it to Hels Sunday Stamper too thanks for looking :)

Sorry for the marathon post!!! LOL Life's too short...spend your time happy ;)

xoxo Sioux 

Moth to a Flame for The Artistic Stamper

I'm sharing a tag again today over on the The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog

Curious? Then just hop on over to The Creative Team Blog for all the details.

Thanks for looking and happy stamping
xoxo Sioux

P.S. I appreciate each and every comment here but time is short in all our lives so please do not feel obliged to comment both here and on the creative team post.
...I'll see your comments and share the feed back all at the same time if you use The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog post ;)
Thanks

My World is Grey!

Yep....my world is definitely going to be less colourful having finished the last book in the Fifty Shades trilogy ;(

I think I had better re-read Jane Eyre again next....

...so that I can cool off a bit!! LOL

I smiled when the title was mentioned on page 339 of book three.....I just knew ;)

I am having a fabulous fantasy at the moment imagining RA being cast as Mr. Grey.....even though....in theory.....he is too old for the part and has dark hair...

...I'm also too old...in theory....for the leading lady but I wonder if they could ignore my saggy bits and let me audition? !!!!

ROFLIA :D :D

It's a good job I can escape to a fantasy world....I don't know how I'd get by without it! ;)
xoxo Sioux

Dream for The Sunday Stamper

I was enjoying being outside in the sunshine today.....crikey that's been a long time coming!! LOL (But not for long I fear!)

I had this thought as the sun caressed me and had to put it down on paper....you know what I mean ;) It was a dreamy day.

In a million years I would never skinney dip but the thought is quite beguiling :)

Thanks for the inspiration Hels....why not join in here?

Nude lady available from The Artistic Stamper.

Thanks for looking

xoxo Sioux

It is not written!

35 years ago it was the Queens silver jubilee...

...35 years ago Virginia Wade won Wimbledon...

35 years on, in the Queens diamond jubilee year, Andy Murray was not destined to be the winner.

35 years ago tomorrow I married Pip...

...we were not destined to be together forever!

Life can be shit sometimes can't it?

Wishing you a lifetime of a love shared...

...I'm off now to continue reading the Fifty Shades trilogy...

...life is not all bad!!! ROFL

xoxo Sioux

My, My, My Mr Grey!

Yep....I finished reading Fifty Shades of Grey (in double quick time I might add LOL) and....

...Yep....I'm now reading the next one! ;)

Heavens Mr Grey you are fair wearing me out!!! ROFLIA

I have enjoyed the read so far...

...I can see why she walked away at the end of the first book...'cos I certainly would!!

...I can also understand why she has returned to him at the beginning of the next book.

It's those darn pheromones you see....and the fact she wants him to be something else more to her...which is proving quite difficult for him but bless him, he is trying...

...will it all end in tears again?!!!

xoxo Sioux

P.S. As I read it I can't help but compare it to Jane Eyre..........my all time fantasy and IMO theeee most sexy book of all time.....I know, I know....there is no sex in Jane Eyre but in some ways Fifty Shades shares the same principles..........older, charismatic and richer man. Younger, inexperienced.....not afraid to speak her mind woman, sexual chemistry and playful flirting....I do like a bit of flirting ;), man who is basically decent but life has thrown a curved ball at him...the more I read the more I see the similarities.

I'd go so far as to say that Christian is the new Mr Rochester.....well he is to me anyway, hopeless romantic that I am! ;)

Time Tag for The Artistic Stamper

I'm sharing a tag today over on the The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog

Curious? Then just hop on over to The Creative Team Blog for all the details.

Thanks for looking and happy stamping
xoxo Sioux

P.S. I appreciate each and every comment here but time is short in all our lives so please do not feel obliged to comment both here and on the creative team post.
...I'll see your comments and share the feed back all at the same time if you use The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog post ;)
Thanks

Dance with me?

I've been playing with these pages on and off for a few weeks ;)

I had to get something off my chest this weekend and wrote down the side in India ink. I hope next door were not looking when I did this in the garden as it made me cry...but my goodness it does not half help transferring the thought to paper instead of having it whirling around in your mind!!! LOL

If I do say so myself.....I'm very pleased with the bright fire like border made with Croco bronze crackle ;)

I'm not....for once....going to write here what it says....if you are desperately interested I'm sure you can get the gist of it if you enlarge it!! ;)

This was made in my large A4 journal.... ballerina stamp available from The Artistic Stamper.

Thanks for looking.

xoxo Sioux