29 Nov 2011

Wild and Windy Tuesday

Another ATC and Wicked Wednesday Challenge

Hi everyone OMGoodnes it is sooooo windy here and the rain has just started, I have spent all morning moving things in the garden to make them secure, the wind has broken my whirly line snapped it off in the ground so that will have to wait for DH to get back as it is stuck fast.  After the morning events I decided to retire to my craft room and do some Christmas crafting but my Christmas mojo seems to have gone awol!!!!  So I have made an ATC instead for the Wicked Wednesday which this week is Books/Reading Challenge. 

I love reading and have so many favourites so really struggled to choose just one thing, and then I remembered a super quote I had found which summed up exactly what books mean to me..... so this is what I based my ATC on.

Quote was printed onto card and inked with DI tea dye  torn edges were also inked in same ink, a page was torn from an old dictionary, this was inked in tea dye and spun sugar and stamped with a flower image and embossed in white, I also stamped same flower head at the top of my ATC onto the background which was a piece of Tim Holtz papers, edges were also inked with tea dye.

Storm is raging outside again so will quickly post this as I feel we may have power cuts!!!!!!

Bye for now

24 Nov 2011

Decoration............in Wonderland

Crafty Individuals Challenge.........Winter Wonderland
Hello everyone long time no blog,,,,,,,,,,,,I haven't had much crafting time lately  Mom has not been too good so I have been spending  lot of time with her and sleeping in the evenings...............anyway I had another light bulb moment at the weekend and wanted to make some Christmas decorations for Me!!!
 I like to decorate my doors with hangings and so with this in mind I set about routing through my Spellbinders Dies and started cutting.  I have been fiddling I mean designing lol for a few evenings until I finally settled on this one.  I will be making about 6 and they will all be slightly different the Stamped image will stay the same with a few variations I'm thinking.


For the stamped image I have used CI 056 from Crafty Individuals which I then realized meant I could enter their challenge for November I really thought I would have to miss this one. Hope it fits the challenge ok.
This was inked in grey memento ink onto white card and then inked over with antique linen distress inks, I also inked the other die cuts with same colour.
snowflake was cut out using Tim Holtz papers and the flower behind the organza rose was from his tattered flowers die inked with stormy ski. I added a touch of glitter to the Angels wings ( I really like this image) and to the edges added rose and hat pins and ribbon  (creative expressions).  I'm very pleased and hope to finish all the others soon...... will blog them all when I have done so.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to visit me and leave lovely comments they are all very much appreciated

'till next time
bye for now

20 Nov 2011

ATC and Alcohol Inks..............

Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge this week is Flowerful.  The design team have used a digi image from Dilly Beans Digi Stamps, who are providing the prize.  Great inspiration.
As I had been playing with Alcohol inks in my last post and it was a little addictive... I decided while they were out I would make an ATC! !
I covered a piece of Acetate with cranberry and pitch black and blending solution and with archival ink I stamped a flourish 3 times and wiped the ink away.....I love this and it never ceases to amaze me how the design pops.... then I stamped my flowers and embossed with black, also a little butterfly crept in as well......... where there are flowers there are butterflies......yes!!!!

I mounted this onto silver mirri card and secured with silver brads, the whole ATC has a very metallic look to it and the embossing gives texture, The hardest part was taking a photo!!! I think this is the best one for light here below are couple more I took



Looking more metallic in this one but a bit blurred!

This one shows up the background a bit better ................maybe

Thanks for the challenge

Stamps used : Flowers Sheena Douglas A Little Bit Sketchy her new range ,
flourish Creative expressions (I think)
Ranger Alcohol Inks, Versafine Black ink and Cosmic Shimmer Black Embossing powder
Heat resistant Acetate, Silver Mirri Card

bye for now

18 Nov 2011

Going Grey.........................

 Gingersnap Creations GC124


Firstly I want to say thanks for choosing me as a Gingergem for challenge GC124 Ravens........thanks ladies ......wearing my badge with pride. :-))

Right onto this challenge GC124 black and grey... well I nearly didn't play with this one as everything I tried I hated  these colours really challenged me until to today when my little grey (no pun intended) cells kicked in and I had a light bulb moment you know the ones I mean.....lol. A technique had popped into my head with Alcohol Ink, Acetate and  resist......... here is my finished card. I have used grey and black honest but for some reason the colour looks a little blue, the light here is awful another dull day so maybe that is why!


I started with a piece of acetate and used pitch black and slate alcohol inks and blending solution and applyed going over until I got the result I liked.  Flourish was then stamped on top with black archival ink leave a few moments and then rub away......this never ceases to amaze me how the designs pops here is a close up of the background



Bird was stamped and embossed in Silver Metalic embossing powder on the opposite side to the inks and then this was mounted onto grey mirri board with brads.  mounting on mirri board gives a metalic look to the background which is what I wanted,.....really it does in real life.
Black and grey card were used to mat and to cover the card blank, edges inked with black soot DI,  Sentiment was stamped in black archival and cut with  spellbinder shape and inked while in the die again with black soot.

I'm pleased with the finished card but wish I had thought of this technique earlier and avoided going  grey...... now you see where my title is comming from...... lol :-)  Thanks for the challenge it really did challenge me! 

I have enjoyed playing with this technique be warned I may be back with more................

Products used
Stamps Tim Holtz Take Flight and Sentiment stamp from a Visual Artistry plate
Alcohol Inks Pitch Black and Slate and Blending soloution
Inks DI and Archival Black and Embossing ink
Embossing Powder: Cosmic Shimmer Silver Metallic
Card Stampin Up
Acetate sheet
Brads SU

'till next time

16 Nov 2011

Reindeer in the Sky...........

Grungy Monday 27

This week Linda over at Studio L3 transported us back to 2007 with a link to  Tim's 12 days of Christmas Tag. This was another great one to do and it means I'm adding to my Christmas Tags too, thanks Linda!! 
I cut my tag from craft card with TH Tag and Bookplate die, Inks used for background was faded jeans and gold perfect pearls.


masks were cut from masking sheet using reindeer flight die and inked with frayed burlap this has made the background a bit grungier (is that a word...!!_ oh well it is now lol;  I also used the negative to mask and stamped in blacksoot with music stamp from Mini Holidays sheet,  Stars are grungeboard sprayed and edges inked with black soot the bookplate was swiped through the ink that was on my craft sheet so was a spare piece and I punched out a scallop oval with Seasons Greetings stamped first from same stamp sheet mounted onto foam pads.  It isn't this blue in real life............. not sure why it is in photo think it must be the electric light.   The shimmer on the background is gorgeous in real life couldn't capture it in the photo!

15 Nov 2011

Ravens



Woohooo!! I just had share with you that I have been picked as a GingerGem over at Gingersnap Creations GC123 Ravens.  There was some amazing art for this challenge and I am so honoured it has made my week..... wearing my badge with pride!!   Pop over and take a look at the art over there and great challenges too.

Here is the link for my entry if you want a peek

Bye for now


14 Nov 2011

Romance tag

Another Tag -  Dragons Dream Tag It On Challenge 104 Letters to Juliet - Romance. 
I have been making Christmas tags and things so this was a nice change, I don't always get chance to play here at TIO but as I was in the process of making tags it seemed I could just make one more.........lol
I will also join in at Simon Says Stamp and Show  Some Women Only Challenge (hope this counts)!!

The background was made using Distress Inks over a stamped image which I stamped in versamark if you look closely in the photo below you may see  it is quite subtle and the fact that I stamped over it and kept adding to the tag there's not a lot of space left to see it......lol.

Using Stampin' Up! set Artistic Etchings I stamped in frayed burlip distress inks, then next layer in black soot, postage stamp was stamped on separate piece inked with tattered rose and cut out, pen nib was also cut out this stamp and sentiment are Tim Holtz. Lastly I added lace from my stash to the bottom edge, string from the tag and lace and fibres at the top,  flower which is three layered together and the tiny one already had a bead in the centre, these were inked also but sorry they don't show up in photo as it was so subtle!!


Hope you like my interpretation of the challenge

Bye for now

Angel ATC

Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge blog

This week the challenge is Angels I love ATC's and have neglected this little gems for some time and when I came across this blog I knew I would have to try and play over there and last night I made this ATC.


I had to search through my stamps to find these Angel stamps, they are separate stamps, I haven't used them for a while and when I saw the challenge theme they popped into my head immediately so I had to run with it.  I love the Peeping Angel- this would be me ...... if I was an Angel.... which I'm not rofl!!!
I stamped the Angels in Archival black Ink masking the middle image to get them close together.  Background was made with Distress Inks as they were already out on my desk I used barn door and peeled paint for the swirls which was a Tim Holtz flourish stamp.  Not sure about the Angel Stamps I think they are Judikins but I have had them years. Their clothes were painted with peeled paint to get the watercolour soft effect I wanted, hair was coloured same way with aged mahogany and glitter added to their wings and halos. 
Thanks for the challenge I really enjoyed getting back into ATC crafting looking forward to seeing what the challenge is on Wednesday.....hopefully I will be able to play a little earlier!!!

Bye for now

13 Nov 2011

Christmas Tags.....

Grungy Monday 26
and
Sunday Stampers week 180
 2 posts in one today, I had some time to myself so off I went to the little room of craft and got inky and had a fabulous time...... talking of time I have only just made GM with hours to spare I missed last weeks and was determined to play this week so while I was inky I got another tag made for Sunday Stamper challenge.

Firstly GM 26 Linda asked us to follow Tim's 12 tags of Christmas Tags 2009, day 7  how could I refuse.... now I did make a few adjustments but really I followed Tim's  except for the paint dabber in a different colour as I have run out of white.  Great technique and I really love the way the background just pops.  Thanks again Linda for a fab week....... hope Tim is doing his 12 tags again this year as I actually did all 12 last year  Yayhee !!!

I made my mask with a post it note and used paint dabber lake mist instead of the white everything else is more or less the same as in the video oh yes nearly forgot I used a holly sprig stamp instead of the snowflakes....can't really see them  in the photo but they are there.

sorry close up seems a little blurry.

Sunday Stamper challenge set by Hels has the title "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" to use Pine Colours/Pine Trees/Branches, so while humming this tune as by now it has stuck in my little grey cells trouble is I only know a few bars...........less said the better so onto tag,


I used TH embossing folder with Pine trees and inked over in peeled paint and pine needles DI and walnut stain around the edges, pine sprig was stamped in pine needles and vintage photo, I went around the edges of trees and branches with white pen as it had been snowing, by the look of the splashes I made I think a blizzard would be more apt....think I was a bit to heavy handed with the water!!  Tim's tape was added to the bottom edge and top corner, also a bell as before with some bakers twine in green.
Long post I know hope you made it to the end  with me..........thanks for looking

bye till next time

12 Nov 2011

LEAVES............Less is more

Less is More challenge Week 41 is Leaves and I knew I just had to make time today to play, firstly I love leaves at this time of year and I just had to get inky......

I tore a mask and got out my Distress Inks and my favourite nature stamp sets and here is my card


Leaf stamp was inked with a mixture of DI's using the lightest first so not to contaminate the colours, I just love this sentiment stamp which I think just sums up nature for me. :-)

Stamp sets are Stampin' Up Lovely as a Tree and Touch of Nature
Distress Inks Tea Dye, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Vintage Photo

Thanks Limettes for all of you that popped over to my blog last week and left such lovely comments I really do appreciate them all.
 Must dash now to get a meal before Strictly and Merlin ...Saturday night must watch TV in this house!!

See you next week ...... this is getting addictive lol ;-))

10 Nov 2011

Gingersnap Creations GC123

Random Redheads Challenge Ravens...........

This subject really was a challenge...........we have 2 that come to the large tree on the edge of the garden daily and I love to watch their antics magnificent birds ....... anyway I had just recently purchased this stamp from Artistic Stamper and have had this project on the go for a while, I had stamped out several images with different effects and just could'nt put a card together..........I hate it when this happens lol!!!! 

Well with all that has been going on lately I only went back to it last night and everything just seemed to click and this is the result...



I stamped onto a background of DI tumbled glass, which was made by putting ink onto craft mat and spritzed with water and swished card through it, then when dry I stamped with versamark and embossed in black, tore the edges and mounted onto black card,  Tim Holtz Ranger Distress collection card in weathered storm was embossed using a mask of cog wheels and sanded........ I am loving this Distress card and all the colours match the DI's  - fabulous...... now you may be wandering why I didn't use the same colour as the background....... simple the same colour looked wrong and weathered wood looked right.....see simple lol :-))  The edges were distressed with scissors as I can not find my distressing tool I have hunted everywhere I am very distressed I expect it is buried somewhere in my very very untidy craft room - note to self tidy up!!...........sorry back to card... I inked these edges with black soot and mounted onto card.  Dream ticket was stamped in black soot and with  Ideaology pin stuck into bakers twine which was tied in a knot.

Hope you like my interpretation of  "The Raven" poem by E.A. Poe I had not read this poem until I googled so this was something else I learned this is the reason I love challenges not only do they challenge me out of my comfort zone but I am always learning something.  Pop over to Gingersnap Creations and see some amazing art.  Thanks ladies for some amazing challenges and DT work.


I am also playing at Artistic Stamper Creative Team blog where this month challenge is backgrounds.


Items used

Stamp Raven - Artistic Stamper

Ticket Stamp, Mask, Black embossing powder - Creative Expressions

Inks DI  Tumbled Glass, Black Soot , Distress Card - Tim Holtz/Ranger

9 Nov 2011

Less is more.....................

Hellooooooo.... I have not blogged for a while as life has been hectic here with Mum going into hospital  on 2nd November for a pacemaker to be fitted 2 days before her 90th Birthday!!!!  She was out  the same day very tired and very sore and came to stay here, then on Friday 4th it was her 90th and her brother and wife travelled over to spend time with her staying overnight, then Saturday my  Daughter and Son and partners including Grandson and new puppy all arrived.........phew!  Mom enjoyed all the fuss and attention and the puppy!!  Sunday was a day of rest for us all,  visitors had gone and we caught up with Strictly and Merlin.... and slept.   Mum is now back home and today I managed to get into my little room of craft and play.

Here is my card which I made for Less is More challenge Red and Orange



I have used Stampin' Up! stamp set Baroque Motifs, Inks SU Tangerine Tango and Cherry Cobler, 2 of the flowers were inked up with tangerine tango and the lightly rocked onto the cherry cobler to give a more textured flower the 3rd was stamped in tangerine tango only. Words were stamped in Basic Black with Whimsical Words Set.

Here are a couple of photos from the weekend Mum opening cards




This is the only picture I could get of Puppy as he didn't sit still long enough and all the others are blurred he is only 12 weeks old  and soooooo cute





bye for now

Winter Walk

Hello again  Once again life has taken over and it’s been a while since my last blog. Unfortunately my Husband had a heart attack sev...