Stamps Be Gone! at Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone and welcome. It's the second week of the current challenge over at Frilly and Funkie and this time our fabulous host Pamellia has chosen a great theme, 'Stamps Be Gone'. How would you decorate your project if you didn't own any stamps? Embossing folders, stencils, or perhaps a little hand doodling? Well, let's put it to the test for this challenge. Other than a small sentiment you need to use no stamps at all on your vintage or shabby chic creations.

And why enter? The Design Team will choose their top four picks with the winner being invited to join us in a Guest DT spot at Frilly and Funkie and the next three will receive badges to display on their blogs. Everyone who enters and follows the rules will be entered into the draw to have the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

At this point you're probably wondering if I've lost the plot! If you haven't seen my Facebook page recently, you'll not know that a long held dream of mine came true at the beginning of September when my darling hubby booked a romantic trip for two to Venice (to celebrate our Silver Wedding Anniversary)... oh be still my beating heart! Visiting Venice has been on my 'bucket list' for ever and it COMPLETELY lived up to all expectations. I have so many wonderful memories and took hundreds of photos, and my 'Stamps Be Gone' project focuses on one of these...

(click on each image for a closer look)

Wherever you look in Venice there's another gorgeous view featuring it's famous canals and colourful crumbling architecture. Renovation is an ongoing battle when you are surrounded by the sea but, like a fine wine, they seem to have improved with age and even dilapidation looks fabulous! I took this photo along one of the many tiny side 'streets' enchanted by the ornate archway and exposed brickwork. Warm colours and wisteria blended beautifully and I wanted to capture all of this on a canvas, keeping the photo as the focal point.

I adhered paper from Tim Holtz's Wallflower Paper Stash to a blank canvas with Glue n Seal, sanding the edges for a worn look. Mixing Frayed Burlap Distress Paint to texture paste I scraped on an uneven layer of 'plaster', then added Fired Brick, Fossilized Amber and Hickory Smoke flavours to what was left and spread it through the Wendy Vecchi Basically Bricks stencil. A quick spritz of Pumice Stone and Frayed Burlap Distress Stain Sprays added extra mottling.

To echo the photo I added a similar die cut pediment and kraft core window directly onto the canvas. I'd already layered the photo onto similar sized pieces of Tim Holtz Menagerie Paper Stash, sanding back all the edges and adding some spare mountboard to ensure it 'floated' above the surface of the canvas. It allowed for the trailing leaves to be inserted underneath and in-between those layers to echo the foliage in the photo. Having used various shades of green Distress inks on manilla card these were die cut with the Garden Greens and Fall Foliage and layered with brass leaves and Heirloom Roses. I finished as usual with some splattering - Hickory Smoke and Antique Linen Distress Paints with Lindy's Stamp Gang Golden Doubloons Moon Shadow Mist (an essential these days!)

It has to be said I did miss using my stamps but as Pamellia said, there are plenty of other ways to add interest and detail to your projects. I can't wait to see what you come up with! Now, for some more inspiration a trip to the Frilly and Funkie challenge blog is essential where my Funkie team mates have some stunning projects to share with you.

Whatever you're up to this Wednesday take care of yourselves. Jenny xxx