And now for something completely different...

Hello and welcome all, with an especially big welcome to the newest followers - thank you so much for joining the fun!

It's a big day today... it's time for the first of the new PaperArtsy stamp releases, designed by the completely fabulous Darcy as part of the PaperArtsy Eclectica range.  It's been so exciting to get to play with these brand new stamps, creating samples for the PaperArtsy show boards.

The stamps are full of quirky and sometimes steampunky images - creatures and plants as well as some adorable little houses.

As you'll see, they're not my usual style, and I was worried when I first saw them that I wouldn't be able to do them justice.  But it was fascinating playing and seeing what new ideas and possibilities arose on the craft table in front of me.

I'll give you a brief peek today at some of the projects I created, and will post them in a bit more detail over the next couple of weeks.









And I'm saving one of my favourites to share with you over at the PaperArtsy blog as my February guest spot later in the month.

Of course, over at PaperArtsy there are loads of inspirational projects from Darcy herself as well as other members of the PaperArtsy troupe of designers.










So here's the full line-up of Darcy's new Eclectica stamps... four large sets, codename EDY (click for a larger view):

And eight ATC sized minis, codename EM (Eclectica Minis):

        

You'll see I've used stamps from all the large sets on my samples and some of the minis too.







What I forgot to do before posting the samples off to Leandra at PaperArtsy was to take a picture of all my projects together (sigh!), so you're getting them one at a time.











I had lots of fun adding metal-wear to some of the images - like the fabulous flamingo (?!) you've already seen, and these bold beautiful flowers...












And I played with lots of my favourite techniques, like crackle glaze for my backgrounds, as on this little ATC...













... another quirky bird celebrating his uniqueness!  I think this is my favourite of the sentiments included in the stamp sets.








Obviously there's corrugated cardboard involved, and I love sponging my Fresco paint on for texture in the background.

I used some of Darcy's wonderful grasses behind these little faerie houses, as well as the funky border stamp along the top flaps.  Yes, they're stamped on cash envelopes!

A bit more crackle glaze behind this magnificent bird, as well as some more metal additions and a new-ish ingredient for me - Liquid Pearls.

I did my "colouring in" using washes of Fresco paint, with some penwork to shade and highlight areas.  And that funky border comes into play again top and bottom.













In some cases I added wood rather than metal...

Lots of clear-embossing for extra definition and texture...












... as well as some white embossing to really make those stars twinkle high above on this 8 x 8 canvas.









And here's a sneak peek of maybe my favourite make (it's a toss up between this and the faerie houses I think, though I am quite fond of the flamingo too!) - I hope you'll be able to catch it later in the month.

So that's just a taster of some of Darcy's brilliant stamps.  They'll be available in your local PaperArtsy stockists after the official launch at Stitches Trade Show, February 16th - 18th.  Do hop over to PaperArtsy for all the details, and to see what my fabulous team-mates got up to with these stamps.

I'll be back to give you the lowdown on some of these projects here at Words and Pictures over the next wee while, and there's lots more excitement and new releases to come here and over at PaperArtsy too, so keep an eye out!

Move out of your comfort zone.  You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.
Brian Tracy

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.
J.B. Priestley