More Stampendous Fran-tage

I've been playing again and this time it is a much prettier card than I'd normally make, pink and lilac aren't colours I usually use.

I used the Woodware chalks again, I am really loving using them again and wonder why I ever stopped using them, I suppose something new came along at the time.

I used my Quickie glue pen and gold leafing flakes to add highlights.

I have used gold and silver on this card, and the green in the flakes works well with the pearlised mica and the mother of pearl button.

I used the following products:
Stampendous CRP147-R Cling Butterfly Post
Stampendous FREK01-R Fran-táge Embossing Kit
Stampendous FRMK01-R Fran-táge Mica Kit
Stampendous Fran-tage Treasures Fran-tage Glitter Kit (FRGK01)
Woodware Blending Chalks (2887)
Mark Richards Self Adhesive Pearls 3mm (MR1951)

I did try to lighten the photos but it is really dark here again today so they still look dark, oh for some sunshine!

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Jill x

By the Sea with Stampendous Fran-tage

Today's card features a bit more Fran-tage.  I really had fun making this, it is an adaptation of a frame that I am currently working on that some saw me working on at the Harrogate show recently.

I loved these stamps when they first came out and the mermaid is particularly suitable for Fran-tage.

I coloured the mermaid first then cut her out.  I laid on the Fran-tage embossing enamel, crushed glass glitter and the fragments onto the textured part of her tale then heated from below.  Once it had a bit of a hold I then heated it from above carefully to avoid the particles flying everywhere.  I didn't use any ink initially so it simply stayed where I had sprinkled it.  I added a little more embossing powder over the top while it was still hot.  It was just a pinch or 2 randomly sprinkled to make it a little more random and to ensure any loose glitter glass or fragments were held in place.

I then put clear embossing enamel over the tail fin, I did apply Versamark ink as I wanted to create a smooth finish and  heated it until I got a smooth shiny wet look.  I did the same for the rest of her, including her hair.

I wanted to give the shell a mother of pearl effect and as I needed to keep the powder only on the shell I used a Versamark pen to colour over the top of the chalk colouring.  I added a couple of layers of pearl embossing powder and while it was hot I sprinkled in some gold halo and champagne glass glitter.

I needed to use a translucent powder as the stamp is very detailed and the design was lost when I used the opaque chunky embossing enamels.

I also embossed the mesh ribbon.  The ribbon is 100% cotton so it wouldn't melt.  I pulled at it and roughed it up so it resembled well used fishing net before applying glue.  This helped keep some of the powder in place while I heated it.  I managed to add the Aged Gold embossing powder and the gold champagne glitter glass and it happily stayed in place.  The glue worked to stick the ribbon to the card as well.  I used USArtQuest PPA matte so any stray bits of glue don't show on the card when dry and it is well stuck to the card.  The ribbon element was a  successful experiment all in all :)

I coloured this part of the ribbon with chalks once it was stuck to the card.

I used chalks on the background and also at the bottom of the card after I had stamped and embossed a border stamp across the bottom with Versamark.

I made up my own mix and used ultra thick clear enamel and aged gold embossing enamel and a mix of fresh green and steel blue fragments and some of the glitter glass.  I put them into an empty embossing jar (I keep everything, just in case!)  I then shook it up to mix it up and sprinkled on.

I wanted it to represent a sea bed and was pleased how well it turned out on the textured card as once I had gone over it with the chalks the clear enamel and Versamark took the chalk colour too. I finished it off with some pale blue self adhesive mosaics.

If you fancy having a go at this, here's what I used:

Stampendous CRP151-R Cling Mermaid
Stampendous CRW068-R Cling By The Sea
Mark Richards Self Adhesive 5mm Mosaics - Light Blue (MR5547)
Stampendous Frantage Shabby White Emboss Enamel (FREG027)
Stampendous Frantage Treasures Frantage Glitter Kit (FRGK01)
Stampendous FRG06C-R Fresh Green Glass Glitter
Stampendous FRG07C-R Steel Blue Glass Glitter
Stampendous Deep Impressions Emb. Powder (EG020)
Stampendous Frantage Aged Gold Emboss Enamel (FREG024)
Woodware Blending Chalks (2887)
Sakura - XONB11 - Gelly Roll Quickie Glue Pen

If you fancy having a try before buying all the individual larger pots then the kits are a really good way to start, there are 3 kits, the embossing powders, glass glitter and mica fragments.  All the Fran-tage products can be found HERE.

Here's a little peek at a bit of the frame I am working on that shows the larger mica flakes.

I hope you manage to catch some of Fran's shows on Create and Craft today and tomorrow.

I have more to show another time, thanks for visiting and have a great week.

Jill x

Fran from Stampendous on Create and Craft Tomorrow!!

I have just noticed that Fran from Stampendous is going to be on Create and Craft TV tomorrow and Tuesday showing her Fran-tage technique!

So I thought I'd make a start on showing you the cards I made recently using these products/techniques.  I absolutely love it, it really is my thing!

The first card is my late entry for our Distress/Shabby Chic challenge

I used the following products that you will find on our website

Stampendous Cling Frantage 2011 - CRP144 I Love Paris
Stampendous Frantage Aged Gold Emboss Enamel (FREG024)
Woodware Crafty Edger - CP43-SET - Starter Set
Woodware Cassette Border - CP43-01 - Antique Floral
Woodware Blending Chalks (2887)
Woodware 80 Gold,80 Silver - Mini Heart Brads (JL104)
Woodware Dragonfly Brads (50) Bright (JL122)
Sakura - XONB11 - Gelly Roll Quickie Glue Pen
Sakura - XPFKC51 - Pen Touch Calligraphy Marker Gold - Medium
12" x 12" Vellum Pack - Pastel Colours - pk 12 sheets

Although with true Fran-tage I should not perhaps have used the Quickie glue pen around the edge of the card, just dipped the card into the powder and heated from underneath but I found I got a better random edge squiggling the glue along the torn edge, the kraft card underneath is edged with the Pen Touch gold pen. The chunkiness of the Fran-tage powder really adds texture.

I have enjoyed revisiting blending chalks, I recently demonstrated with them at the Harrogate show and although I already have chalks, I was using the Woodware chalks which I love and they are very reasonably priced too.

I made a little tag to hide the springtime wording on the stamp design to make it more usable image all year round.

Please visit our Challenge blog if you'd like to join us this fortnight

The second card uses most of the same products as above but I have used the border design from the Stampendous CRS5031-R Cling Jumbo Hollyhock set.

I have used the Aged Gold Fran-tage chunky embossing powder with the border stamp.  I think this is my favourite colour (at the moment!).

Sorry for making you have to tilt your head to see the cards, I was trying to get a good angle in the light as it has been dark and gloomy today, I didn't realise until afterwards how wonky they are!!

I'll show more cards tomorrow that have a lot more Fran-tage technique on them.

Thanks for visiting!

Jill x

New Stampendous April 2012 Supplement

Lots of lovely new stamps in this supplement that compliment designs from the January supplement.

The design above is a special design from Stampendous that will be useful for Jubilee, Olympic or even steampunk projects, in fact there are quite a few great new steampunk/vintage images.

Here's a selection from the supplement, I've picked designs to show you that will work the the previous designs but do visit our website to see the others.  There are new clings and clear stamps.

OK, I'd better stop there...  Click HERE to see more :)

We have a new challenge that started yesterday on our Challenge Blog.  The theme is Distress/Shabby Chic, you have almost a fortnight to join in.  Do take a look at our Design Team's inspiration as they have excelled themselves, yet again!!

Right, I'm off to make some cards, on a Saturday too, that's unheard of, it's so nice having some full weekends now :)

Have a great weekend too!!!

Jill x

Two new show dates added

A quick update to let you know that we have just booked 2 extra show dates:


THURSDAY - SATURDAY AUGUST 30TH - 1ST SEPTEMBER  2012
The Creative Crafts Shows
Manchester Central, Manchester - Stand D22
Thursday 10.00 - 17.00, Friday 10.00 - 17.00, Saturday 10.00 - 17.00
More Info:  http://www.stitchandcreativecrafts.co.uk/exhibit_stitch.asp


THURSDAY 18TH - SATURDAY 20TH OCTOBER 2012
The Creative Crafts Shows
Saviles Hall, Royal Armouries, Leeds - Stand D5
Thursday: 10.00 - 5.00pm, Friday:10.00 - 5.00pm, Saturday:10.00 - 5.00pm
More info:  http://www.stitchandcreativecrafts.co.uk/exhibit_stitch.asp

Please see the top of the page for other shows we are attending this year.

Our next show is...


SUNDAY MAY 6TH 2012
Bonus Arena at KC Stadium, Hull, HU3 6JU (10am-3pm)
More Info: http://www.rosspapercraftshows.co.uk/

Then...

SATURDAY 12 MAY 2012
Port Sunlight, Wirral
More info: http://happystampersnorthwest.co.uk/


Jill x

Show this weekend, plus new Special Offers added to our website

Just a quick reminder about a show we are attending this weekend.  It is a new venue so we hope any one living locally will be able to visit and support it.  We will have some good bargains with us so it is worth stopping by for a look

SUNDAY APRIL 15TH 2012
Eston Sports Academy, Middlesborough, TS6 9AE (10am-3pm)
More Info: http://www.rosspapercraftshows.co.uk/


Also, I have added more Special Offers to our website, they are great offers and are being snapped up pretty quickly so don't delay!


Have a great weekend!


Jill x

Lots of new Special Offers added to our website!!

We have added lots of items to the Special Offers section of our website and more will be added in due course. There aren't many of some items so it would be good to order them quickly and keep calling back to see new offers added. 

Many of the special offers are reduced by over 50% and include Hero Arts stamps at the moment so it is definitely worth taking a look!!!

There is a least 20% off most other products on the website.

The shopping basket will show the price you will pay for an item as any discount offered has already been deducted. Click on the item to see original RRP and stock status.  

We have also added a lot of products in the General Tools section recently.  There are some great prices! 

Many are old favourites but there are some new tools so it is worth taking a look!  Here's a random selection but do visit our website to see more

Heavier items such as trimmers may have an additional postage charge due to the weight/cost of postage, this information will show when you click on these products.  

Unfortunately we have to add this charge to justify selling these products at these prices.

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday and have had some sunshine today

Jill x