Saturday 28 April 2012

COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES VOL 2 - TECHNIQUE #3 PAGE 46, MARBLED STAINS

If you want to join in this week, HERE is the link. There is a generous prize of $25 gift certificate from eclectic Paperie up for grabs too. Tim's new book, Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2 has all this week's details on page 46.
I decided to make a tag which I also decided to keep simple so that I could use it on a card in the future. Here is my effort:
The details of how I achieved the challenge are on page 46 so I will not say more about that here - wouldn't really be fair eh! however, this is what I used:
CC2
a Ranger tag
Acetate from some ranger packaging
Vagabond
On the edge die - Scrollwork
Movers and Shakers - Mini butterflies
Movers and Shakers base tray
Ideaology - leaves and flowers
Stickles
Multi Matt Medium
Ideaology - mini safety pin
Distress Stains - various colours including Picket Fence
craft Sheet
Tonic Scissors
Distress inks - tumbled glass, brushed corduroy
Stamps - Urban Tapestry, Spring Sprung
Archival ink - chrome yellow, blue violet, viridian, aquamarine, french ultramarine
mini mister

Friday 27 April 2012

ATCs/CARDS WITH ATTITUDE #12 - ANYTHING GOES/ONE LAYER


How could I resist this utterly gorgeous image. Isn't she just beautiful. My first attempt at this card was a failure so I painstakingly coloured her with both Archival vermillion and magenta hue and copics, then cut her out. The background for this ATC was made by distressing it all over with evergreen bough and iced spruce DIs before spritzing a harlequin stamp with water which I used to take the inks away leaving the subtle effect you see. I then used a tape roll and 3D foam to attach the image to the card and added a few tiny feathers for her wings, a tiny flower and some curled wire for her hair slides.
Pop over to our challenge blog here, where you will not only find details of this fortnight's challenge, sponsor details and gorgeous samples from our lovely DT, but also details about a call for a Design Team for our sister challenge blog - Fat Pages.

Thursday 26 April 2012

SDC 53 - ATCs

This weeks challenge over at the Stampotique Designers Challenge blog is - ATCs.
I thought I would have a go at this one, so here is my card:
2 sticks have been framed - again!
I sprayed some Adirondak inks onto some pre-wetted cardstock and then sprayed water through a stencil over the top of the ink. A bit of dabbing and drying made the base. I then simply used a Copic multi liner pen to draw the frame and coloured every other section with butterscotch acrylic dabber. I stamped 2 sticks with Archival black and again onto some card. They were coloured with Copic caios and the bodies 3D foamed onto the stamped images. I then used studio g stamps for the words which I cut out after colouring them with mustard seed DI. They were stuck down with glossy accents.
I love 2 sticks, they are amongst my favourite Stampotique stamps - which are all of them!!!!

Wednesday 25 April 2012

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC - #29 - YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

We could certainly do with some sunshine in the UK today. Storms have caused havoc in the south and are now venturing north to me. At least the lovely cards that the Wicked Wednesday ATC DT have made bring a smile and warmth to your soul.
I decided to heat up my melt pot and make a face for my sun. Here it is:
I used alcohol inks for the base card giving the effect of a lovely blue sky. The rays are stamped in saffron Archival ink. I coloured the ruff with mustard seed distress stain and stuck everything down with multi matt medium including the defintion which I cut from an old dictionary.
Right then, next task........

WOYWW WEEK 151

Time to fly around the world again stopping off at fellow crafters in order to have a good old nosey at what's on their work spaces. All this excitement courtesy of our Julia who does exactly the same thing every Wednesday. My desk this morning looks like this:
No, that's not a bit of orange peel, it's some ribbon coloured with mustard seed distress stain and my specs of course. Not very interesting. Actually, all the interesting bits are on the left, pushed out of photo shot so you can't see them because I'm working on a challenge. So far I'm struggling with it too. Anyway, due to the lack of interest here, I thought I would show you the inside of a cupboard instead:
You may just make out some Sizzix dies, a  chunky book, a couple of paper trimmers, an MS circle cutter, an air spray can, some tiny tinsel, a bit of stationery, some plates ----- what? plates? Yes, some of my stash is in a kitchen cupboard. To be truthful, more than one cupboard. I'll show you more next time. On that revelation I'd better go. See you next Wednesday xx

Sunday 22 April 2012

COMPENDIUM OF CURISITIES VOL 2 - PAGE 58, FAUX PATINA

This week's challenge details can be found HERE. Taken from Tim's Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2 page 58, we have to make something using the technique Faux Patina.
I decided to make an ATC.
After last week's gaff when I misread the challenge and then didn't even check in the book, I made sure the first thing I did this time was go to the relevant page.
There is a wonderful prize up for grabs to one lucky participant this week, courtesy of Angie Lentz. A messenger bag autographed by Tim himself.
This is what I used;
Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2
Speciality cardstock
Alcohol inks - various colours
Blending solution
Idea - ology - flowers, leaves, tassel, brads, jump ring,
Archival ink - veridian, vermillion
Stampers Anonymous - stuff to say
Heat gun
Craft Sheet
Blending tool
Felt pads
Ideaology ruler

Saturday 21 April 2012

SATURDAY REMINDER OVER AT WICKED WEDNESDAY ATCs

Jenn always posts a reminder on Saturday for you to join in that week's challenge and today is no exception. This was my second week of being a Guest Designer, I've enjoyed every minute. The images I was sent to work with were just so special and everyone made the most lovely ATCs.
However, I also got to make a card of my own choice following each theme, this week it was Earth Day. This was my entry:
Grunge flowers, butterflies and leaves made using Studio 490 stamps I simply distressed and stamped each part and then stuck them together within the allowed measurements.
I've had so much fun and will continue to join in each Wednesday.
For those of you new to ATCs and for those who still don't see the point of them, remember, they make wonderful card toppers!!!!!

Wednesday 18 April 2012

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC - #28 - EARTH DAY

Over at Wicked Wednesday ATC are some lovely cards from their design team. The sponsor this week is Just Some Lines and I have been honoured again to share the images and make a couple of cards as Guest Designer.
Earth Day doesn't seem as popular in the UK as other countries, but I had fun representing it with the images which were really, really lovely.
I used one of my stock backgrounds (that's card I have used to mop up inks from my craft sheet) and punched the corner with a Martha Stewart punch that has a little bird on it. the border at the bottom is the corresponding border punch. I printed the image onto card, coloured it with distress markers before cutting it out. I simply used 3D foam to stick it to the card. Love this one.

I didn't quite make out this image when  I received it, but once I started to colour it - again with distress markers - I realised it's whole meaning and fell completely in love with it. I used several shades of distress scribbled onto my craft sheet and spritzed with mint perfect pearls to shade the background. A couple of leaf brads, some twisted wire and tiny sticky gems finished it off.

COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES VOL 2 - TECHNIQUE 1, CUSTOM FOAM STAMPS

Having already entered Linda's challenge this week, I was surprised at the comments I received as they were negative.  I couldn't understand why until I went through all the other entries and saw that none of them had used the technique I had, DER!!! I read foam stamps as felt stamps and thought, I've just done that on Tim's Creative Chemistry 101 so I can use the same stamp. Can you see where I am coming from yet? Non clever me didn't even bother to look at page 66 in the Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2, which is our challenge page, so today, I am washing egg off my face. I have emailed Linda and asked her to remove my entry because I obviously now realise it doesn't conform to the rules. When will I ever learn!!!
I hope this card will be correct:
Materials used:
Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2
Lost and Found papers
Alteration strip dies, Autumn gatherings, Festive Greenery, Tattered Flower Garland
Alterations on the Edge die, Butterflight
Speciality stamping paper
Distress inks, Barn Door, rusty Hinge, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogony, Dusty Concord. Tumbled Glass,
Multi Matt Medium
Visual Artistry stamps, Regal Flourish
Vagabond
Packaging from Idea-ology
Idea-ology ruler
Tonic Scissors

WOYWW #150 - AND MY BLOG IS 4 TODAY

Until I checked the number for today's woyww, I hadn't remembered my blog anniversary. How remiss of me. 4 years since I started this little extension to my crafting heaven. It's been the best thing I ever did, allowing me to meet so many people, make so many friends and, courtesy of our Julia, take a weekly trip around the world and have a good old nosey into more and more craft delights.
Last week's photo of my space gave rise to lots of comments about my hanging blending tool holder. I thought I had shown this before, but obviously not on a Wednesday, so here it is folk:
It started off as a double holder which stood on my work surface, but as Tim brought out more distress inks I decided that a blending tool for each of them was best for me. I don't like to wonder what colour I am going to get from the foam pad, I would rather make my colours by blending them myself. So the holder had to increase and because it now holds a tool for all 36 inks, plus the 6 seasonal ones, plus a couple of spares, it was far too big for my desk. DH not only made most of the tools but made it hang from the ceiling too - genius.
The space on the bit of wall to the side of it has shelves holding my distress stains, paints, perfect pearls sprays, Adirondak sprays, gesso etc. etc., the little drawers are full of all sorts of things like metal charms, embossing powders, buttons, glitters etc., there's a box which stores my sticky gems, bindies, stick pins, my Big Shot, another has my challenge ATCs in it and then there's my flat screen 240/12v tv/pc monitor.
My little room is tiny so I have to keep it neat or I can't even get in it. Also, as it's Spring, I've just had another clear out and put 65 items on Ebay last Sunday. Can't tell where it all came from though!
Right, another chance to go on a world wide trip today, so I had better get started. x

Tuesday 17 April 2012

COMPENDIUM OF CURIOSITIES TECHNIQUE 1 - CUSTOM FOAM STAMPS

Linda's fun has begun. Pop over to her blog HERE for the details re this first challenge from Tim's book Compendium of Curiosities vol 2.
The challenge is Custom foam Stamps which is detailed on page 66. A bit more excitement comes from Simon Says Stamps who are offering a $25 voucher to a randomly picked winner. How much more fun can we get.
I've had a go -
The butterflies are the challenge. They should have been a bit brighter but I used a foam stamp that I made when completing Tim's creative Chemistry 101 class, and I think that the box I kept it in was not airtight enough and it dried out a bit. Having said that, it did still work and I think the delicateness shows through against the strong colours elsewhere on the card. This is what I used:
Lost & Found papers,
Alterations strip dies, Tattered Flower Garland, Festive Greenery, Autumn Gatherings
Stamps, Papillon, Stuff to Say
Vagabond
Multi Matt Medium,
Archival black ink
Paper Distresser
Distress Ink pad, Victorian Velvet
Cut & Dry stamp pad Felt
Various colours of re-inkers

Saturday 14 April 2012

GETTING BUGGY

The Saturday reminder is posted over at Wicked Wednesday ATCs. I have the honour of being a guest designer this week and made a little bug house for today.
I dry embossed an ATC sized piece of grungepaper which I stuck to some card for stability. This was distressed with wild honey DI - I thought the honey may attract some bees LOL. The little door and barge boards were distressed in green and then either stamped with bugs or written on. I stamped the gorgeous butterfly on to card and coloured and glittered it. I just had to include a bead dragonfly from the lovely Heather Fenn-Edwards book. I have made so many of these now that I have lost count. A few tiny leaves, a ladybird and a glow in the dark ant finished the little bug house.
Such fun too.

Friday 13 April 2012

ATCs/CARDS WITH ATTITUDE #11 - ANYTHING GOES


This cute dragonfly from our sponsors 'Limited Runs' caught my eye because I wanted to make a child's birthday card this fortnight. The base card is 8" x 8" over-layed with some scrunched up Tim Holtz tissue wrap and retro grunge paper. The paper was torn and then distressed with fired brick distress ink. I made a little ATC for the bottom R/H corner using liquid applique for the body, distress markers to colour the wings and sticky gems for added bling. The big dragonfly has a button body but the same treatment for it's wings. Both have tiny, tiny sticky gems as eyes. The birthday greeting is re-cycled from a card I received for my birthday. The last little embellishment is a metal dragonfly brad.
Pop over to our blog here and see what our design team have made for this fortnights challenge. Why not join in, it's fun.

Wednesday 11 April 2012

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC #27 - GETTING BUGGY

This week at Wicked Wednesday ATCs is an exceptionally special one for me because they asked me to be  a guest designer. How 'wicked' is that?
Never, ever happened to me before so to say I am chuffed to bits is really an understatement.
This beautiful image from Dilly Beans was sent to me so that I could join the team for this challenge, and because I think she is so lovely, I just couldn't bring myself to chop any part of it other than to make it ATC size.
I used my Distress Markers to colour her and Copics to colour the acetate butterflies (bugs). I followed the outside line with a Versamark pen and then embossed it with black powder. A few sticky gems here and there and my first guest card was complete.
Thank you to Jenn and her team for allowing me this priviledge spot.

WOYWW #149

I had to take my photos yesterday because I am looking after a monster today. Correct, babysitting a 9yr old. Grandad looked after her on his own yesterday and was in bed before 9pm last night!!!!!! We are both with her today so may not be seen any more after today..............................
With that in mind, this may just be my very last woyww so I am making my apologies to you all and our wonderful leader, Julia, just in case I am never seen again.
Please take a look at my little space, full of happy 'goings on' with distress inks and the like. I just hope my mind will not be too fuzzled by this evening and that I will be able to carry on with the wonderful excitement that is crafting.
Here is another view -
Well, wish me luck as I venture into the abyss. I've loved our little sessions. x

Sunday 8 April 2012

TIM's CREATIVE CHEMISTRY 101 - MY VERSIONS

Our wonderful classes have long since ended, but Tim gave us until Easter in which to continue to ask questions of him and also to upload our versions of all the techniques we were shown.
After each day, I did my best to make just 1 tag incorporating the  wonders we were taught. I thought I would put them altogether as a reminder to myself of the genius that is TIM HOLTZ.
Happy Easter everyone. x

Friday 6 April 2012

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE

I wanted to share these beautiful Easter cards with you, made by my pals Barb and Sylvia. Aren't they just special. Barb used some very fine glitter on the flowers which make them 'pop' from the card - my favourite colours too. Sylvia has stamped and coloured a daffodil on a punched edge base card, then sued the same punch on some yellow vellum which she has over-layed covering the edge with ribbon. There is a tiny thin peel off down the inside edge of the card and if you look closely, she has used the smallest bits of left over peel off and carefully added them to the punched edges.
I love my cards. The girls are so clever and so very neat. Thank you. When Easter is over they will join all my other hand-made cards in a big folder. I may just get that out some time and show you the 'genious' of my friends.

Wednesday 4 April 2012

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC #26 - WOODLAND NYMPHS & FOREST FAIRIES

Thank you Jenn and team from Wicked Wednesday ATCs for picking me in your top 3 last week.  Such an honour.
I have looked forward to this week's challenge so much (to see a list of upcoming themes, pop over to WW blog for details). I wanted to do something different this time so I've made a 3D card. It was such fun:
The fairies/nymphs are made from shrink plastic -

I used a hot glue gun for an immediate result -

The mushrooms were stamped on card and coloured with Distress Markers -

The 'trees' were cut from Alterations strip dies and a Martha Stewart punch -
The forest floor is sea moss, the flowers are Prima and there is some stickles and glitter mixed in too -
This will have to go on my little craft shelf now as there is no way it will fit in an ATC pocket, LOL.

WOYWW - IT's SPRING - I THINK

I was summer last week, winter this week, not sure where autumn went, so it MUST be spring and today it's WOYWW, isn't it Julia??  Julia will know because she knows what Wednesdays are. The day when we all get to visit one another's craft spaces - that's if we get the time. Sorry, but for the last 2 weeks I have been taken up with Tim's Creative Chemistry 101, a whole weekend of workshops with Hels plus some DT work. Phew, I'm crafted out!!
This is my unusually busy little space:
Stickles galore plus bits of card that I was using to make 'trees'.

Glitter, Prima flowers and die cut 'bits and bobs'. If you follow the challenge blog, Wicked Wednesday ATCs this week, you will see what I have been up to. Other than that, I haven't done much else except 2 weeks worth of ir***ng which mounted up because of the Timmy classes. I suppose I should tackle the du***ng next --- or not!!!!!
Enjoy your woyww.

Monday 2 April 2012

12 TAGS OF 2012 - APRIL

Had a little break from crafting yesterday after my marathon 2 weeks of fun. However, today I just couldn't wait any longer to have a go at Tim's latest tag - April.
The only things I used which matched Tim's tag were the stamp, the embossing folder and the inks, everything else is different. It worked though. Have fun with yours this month.