June Guest Desginer - Michelle Jackson-Mogford - Part 2!

We had so many wonderful submissions for the 2009 Banana Frog design team that in addition to our amazing design team, each month we will have a guest designer showing you fantastic creations. The guest designer will have two days to show their lovely projects, 1st and 15th of the month.

This month we welcome Michelle Jackson-Mogford to Banana Frog. You can see Michelle's first projects with Banana Frog here. Over to Michelle once more:

Hi all, me again! Thanks for all the lovely comments from my first guest spot; I hope you enjoy my offerings as much for this spot! And without further ado let me share them with you!

 

A Passion for Fashion

This is another LO done with a mobile phone picture (what a brilliant invention!) This photo of my niece was sent to me by my sister and is Lilly off to the post office; she is such a fashionista so any excuse to try out a new outfit!! I also decided to challenge myself to stick to Lilly’s colour scheme of red, black and purple for this Layout.

When I first saw the stamps that Bev sent me I knew they would make great backgrounds, especially the shapes in diamonds are forever and decided this was the LO to put my theory to the test.

I tore 3 strips of basic grey paper, 2 different reds and a black and used another 12x12 piece of purple basic grey for the base.

Using the solid diamond from the diamonds are forever set I stamped a repeat pattern on the wider red strip with black ink, then using the dotty outline diamond and clear versa mark I stamped in the spaces, applying blonde moments savoury lilac embossing powder as I went. I then heat embossed the finished pattern, I love the iridescent texture I got from this.

On the thinner red strip I used one of the other diamond patterns and made a repeat pattern down the strip using purple ink.

I inked the ripped edges of the strips and adhered them all to my base, distressing the edges of my 12x12 and inking

I love the cross hatched diamond stamp and it made me think of darning, so I ripped a triangle from the top left of my LO, curling back the edges and inking, then stamped the pattern on some transparency with black stayzon, I ripped the edge of that and stuck it behind the torn V shape. Tearing a rectangle of some of the red basic grey paper I mounted my photo on to it, off centre. I wanted to block out the car and some of the background that’s in the photo so I used black stayzon and the 2 wavey stamps from It's all about circles to stamp around the edges. I stapled some red net along the side, to echo the tutu and stuck the photo in place, finally adding lace and a button.

Using some thin chipboard I made 6 embellishments by stamping the solid diamond on to it with clear versamark and embossing it 3 times with clear thick embossing powder, while the last layer was hot I applied a mix of blonde moments savoury lilac and festive berry embossing powder. At that point I prepared the larger wavey stamp from all about circles with black stayzon and then heated the final colour layer, while the enamel was still hot I stamped into it with the wavey stamp (Tip when doing this stamp straight down on to the enamel and don’t press too hard, it will slide!) I then cut out the diamond shapes with sharp scissors which trimmed up the edges of ‘splatted’ enamel. I love the different looks you get with this and seeing the patterns the enamel makes around the stamp.

I laid ribbon and lace across my page and added black flowers, buttons and a prima black key; I also used one of the embossed diamonds in this arrangement. I stuck the remaining 5 diamonds vertically down the page with silicon glue for extra dimension

I stamped the word fashion with the steelfish alphabet on to some more of the red basic grey and cut the letters out as alpha tiles, inking the edges and overlapping them into place, I then added a prima diamante flourish over the top. 

Finally I stamped with the large dotty circle from round in circles on the bottom left corner with black ink and then put a silver brad through each dot to look like studs tearing a journaling circle from a notebook and inking it. I enjoyed the challenge of staying within the colour scheme for this LOL and also enjoyed using the stamps to make backgrounds as well as embellishments.

Mardi gras masquerade

One of the things that sprang to mind looking at the diamonds are forever stamps was a harlequin pattern. I used to love making masks for theatre and thought a mask would be ideal for the pattern in my mind, however instead of making them I went to the fancy dress shop and bought some plain white ones to alter instead.

Now as the masks are shaped I knew I couldn’t really use the stamps on an acrylic block so I decided to play with an idea I had been toying with and used the stamps with out the block! It worked brilliantly as I was able to mould the stamps into the places I wanted them (you will need to wash the stamps in soapy water afterwards to bring back the sticky on the back from pressing greasy fingers on them!)

Instead of trying to get an exact pattern on the harlequin mask, because it was too difficult LOL, I cheated by suggesting it. I used the solid diamond stamp and stamped with yellow stayzon, spacing the diamonds out roughly, I then did the same with pink stayzon filling in the gaps

Then using the smaller patterned diamond stamp and green ink I filled in some of the white spaces

I used a couple of the dotty stamps from round in circles to stamp semi circles on the bottom right corner and added turquoise sequins to the dots. I then used a smaller dotty stamp and stamped at the left corner of the left eye with turquoise stayzon applying pva to the dots and round the eyes and adding turquoise glitter

I cut a crown from heavy weight silver card and used the 2 wavey stamps from all about circles to decorate it with turquoise stayzon. I curled the points of the crown, added bells to the points and adhesive diamantes for decoration then stuck it to the mask. I tied some coloured ribbons together and stuck them just above the elastic holes

As I’d bought the 2 shaped masks I couldn’t help myself but keep stamping! I used pink stayzon and the 2 sizes of wavey stamps from all about circles for the masquerade mask. Stamping in the same way, moulding the stamps into place with my fingers, making a random pattern

Then in some of the white spaces, but not all I applied pva glue and added pale lilac glitter, I also used pva and purple glitter around the eyes.

I added some pink diamantes and finally the feathers. An effective but simple project as the stamps do all the decorating work!

You could show your masks off at a ball or fancy dress party but I also think they would make a great piece of wall art! And now I’ve discovered the stamping with out the acrylic block, no shape is safe LOL

Diamonds are forever

Well I had to didn’t I? The stamp set of the same name shouted jewellery and diamonds!  And, as I discovered it is so easy but super effective to make the mock diamonds.

All you need is a sheet of clear shrink plastic, the dotty line diamonds stamp, the frame edge stamps from all about circles, silver ink, a metallic pencil and an inexpensive silver bracelet oh and a nail file block with a smoothing side!

Stamp out a sheet of dotty triangles on the shrink plastic (leave gaps for cutting them out)

Turn the plastic over and run the smoothing side of the nail file block over the plastic to scuff it up a bit then apply ‘splodges’ of metallic pencil, it looks pale but intensifies in the shrinking!

Cut the diamonds out with a border to make them slightly larger and punch a hole in the top of each one (I used the larger punch on my crop-a-dile)

Put the two frame edge stamps from all about circles back to back on a block and apply clear versamark to them (this acts as a resist in the hot plastic)

Then the fun bit, shrink a diamond and while it is still hot stamp into it with the circle stamp, by putting these two stamps back to back it gives lots of pattern options, but the detail remains fine enough for such a small stamping space

Admire your heist!

I used an inexpensive silver bracelet and some silver jump rings and attached my diamonds.

Doesn’t it look pretty? People have been fascinated by it; it’s definitely a bespoke conversation piece, next thing matching necklace and earrings!!

I’ve loved my month with Banana Frog and really enjoyed playing along. I hope I’ve inspired you to get stamping! I will continue to play and invent with all the delicious stamps that are on offer, they are just too ‘moreish’ (and indestructible LOL) Thanks for having me over to play Bev, I’ve had a blast!!

 

Well what can I say, Michelle has done an amazing range of projects and we are all totally blown away. Thank you so much Michelle for giving lots of inspiration -and also showing that I am not the only messy stamper :)

We are delighted to say that Michelle will be joining the Banana Frog design team on a permanent basis. So look out for more fantastic projects!

Check back next month to meet another talented guest designer!

Comments

[Julie K]

Wow Michelle - more fab work. Those masks! That'll be the stage designer in you fighting her way back out I suppose? Great projects ...again.

Welcome to the DT. xxx

[michelle]

Thanks Julie, on all counts, super excited! and Bev LOL at being a messy crafter!!!

[Sonja]

Love your projects. That bracelet is fab!

[TracieH]

Welcome to the team MJM....lovin those masks LOTS.

[Fancy Dress]

Nice photographs reall.

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ya that's good design....i like your idea of work...

[vintage style rings]

Nice post, I love your way to design your works. They are awesome, I would like to get a part of your crafting talent. Especially I love to deal with jewelry stuff. Can you, please, give me some more tips to work with jewels. Thanks!

[hannah guthre]

well i like the mask idea. i cant think of any designs for my 13 birthday party. if you canhelp please contact me i need ideas.

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I am blown away by all of your wonderful creations! So very very inspired to go create for myself.. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous work!

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