Messing about with JOFY

For those of you familiar with the shop you will know that my trusty sidekick is also called Wendy, we call her Wendy2 to make life simpler for us. Wendy2 has been messing about with JOFY stamps and some new paper pads that we have in stock.

The tag bases are from the Prima Mixed Media Dolls range by Julie Nutting. Wendy2 has stamped the JOFY images onto pages from 6x6 paper pads. She has used Basic Grey Mint Julep but many of the smaller pads have suitable patterns in them. She has stamped the images onto the tags and then again onto the papers, cut the images from the papers and layered them over the images on the tags, also known as paper piecing. 

Don't try to cut around the squiggles, they will magically reappear once you have adhered the cut out pieces to the base.

See here, the butterfly wings have been cut out but the body and antenna are the original base image. Cutting two sets out gives you room to layer for a three dimensional look.

She gave the same treatment to this stamp set using the new Graphic 45 Secret Garden papers, again a completely different look is achieved. 

Here is a close up, see the layers cut to make it 3D again?

Add some small buttons, gems or pearls and you can create amazing results fast.

The Secret Garden papers have lots of lovely cut outs of quotes to use too, 

Good job Wendy2!

Happy post.............

 I opened the mail today to find the most amazing book, handmade by one of my lovely customers and sent as a gift to me, I could not believe it. Chris constructed the whole book from scratch using the Prima Romance Novel range of papers and a couple of extra free downloads Prima had offered and I had sourced for her................the book is about 6x4. This is the front cover.................

and opened out to show the binding and the back cover..............

inside the pages are all edged with black and have hidden pockets stuffed with tags and journal notes

each set of pages (signature) is hand stitched

and all bound using the Coptic style of binding

truly just an amazing book and I am so very honoured to be the recipient of such a beautiful piece of work.

Thanks Chris, so very very much.

JOFY............

Jo Firth-Young, talented designer of the JOFY range of stamps from PaperArtsy, is coming to teach some workshops at The Stamp Attic in May

Jo's work is stunning, check out her blog and see for yourself......
Two days of inspiration and lots of information on using Fresco Paints, Distress Inks and of course JOFY stamps!!

DecoArt

Now, unless you are living on a different planet for most of the time, you cannot help but have seen all the latest excitement around Gelli Plates, Books of Ruination etc. and the artistic amazingness that is Andy Skinner!
Well, getting hold of all the fantastic paints, varnishes and mediums that Andy uses has become a bit of an issue lately after the DecoArt UK website closed down, but............don't panic...............we are becoming a major DeocArt stockist!!
As of today, I have just put the first products online, DecoArt Traditions Acylic Paints.
Keep your eyes peeled for the rest of them but don't fret if you need something and cannot find it online just yet............we can get any of the DecoArt products for you, so all you need to do is email or phone us at the shop.........its that easy.
We will be featuring lots of Andy's work on here to support the use of the products and you can see lots of his work on his blog here

Stamp Carving

Ever thought about carving your own stamps, like the good old lino cut prints??
Today we got these into stock.........

by Speedball the rubber specialists.
Sheets of carving block in either a 4x6 or 6x12, easy carve, no crumble rubber for great results everytime.

and of couse the tools to do the job, a new style handle, fits any of the speedball blades with blade storage in the handle

and then the blades, we have six different sets, all the shapes you will need for carving fine detail shapes and images. The range includes fine knives for the final trimming and cleaning.

amazing!!!

Stop Press..............

Just stopping in quickly to say the all new 

Andy Skinner Masks and Stencils 

are nowOnline to Pre Order. 

Due in stock week commencing February 18th.

Choose from 6x6

8x8

or 3 x 12

For lots of artwork and inspiration hop on over to Andy's Blog

Sorry....

I have been absent for while, few family issues needed sorting out.................but I have some new things arriving which I thought I would let you know about and also tell you about our workshop schedule so far this year.
Workshops first, we are lucky enough to have Andy Skinner coming to teach a Gelli Art workshop. I am sure you have seen his wonderful creations using the Gelli Plate, on his blog, if you haven't then follow the link and take a look.
Our first workshop date booked out very fast but despite being a very busy man, Andy has agreed to let us have a second date, so if you want to join us get in there fast before that one books out too. It's on March 30th.
Okay, new stuff...............Roller Stamps from Glitz. A collection of rolling stamps, perfect for creating borders, edging cards, creating backgrounds, great for cards, scrapbooks or journals..........and great prices too.

Colour Me Happy, one of the new collections from Glitz, lovely and bright.

Stationary Noted from Teresa Collins - this is my favourite collection, the papers are soft and linen like, the colours are chic and the style is clean.............love it.

Also from Teresa Collins, Far and Away collection which includes maps and postcards.

Both collections include a clear stamp set and washi tape.

CHA releases are coming thick and fast and going online just as fast as I can get them up there, watch this space as this week appears to be big on the boxes from the US front!!