INSPIRATION STATION #89

I love our inspiration photo for you this month at Inspiration Station as I'm in full Autumn mode and looking forward to some cooler weather here in Wales.  I decided to create some home deco with some of Tim Holtz leaf dies Leaf Fragments. 

I used some old packaging - tearing off the top layer to reveal that lovely corrugated inside.  I added some gesso in places. I created the panel on some water colour paper.  I added some Distress Oxide Ink around the edges in Rusty Hinge, Ground Espresso, and Wild Honey.

My leaf stamping were from various sets - an old Clearly Besotted leaf set and some leaves from Tracy Evans at Aallandcreate. 

The leaves were cut out of backgrounds I had lying around - some were mop ups, some were card fronts I hadn't liked and some were stencils backgrounds.  I added some stamping with an old Hero Arts wooden stamp!  I don't often use wooden stamps but some are my old favourites and it's actually nice not to have to look for a block to put them on! I added extra stamping to the background.  

I added some material behind the word Autumn which was also added to the bottom of the piece.  I love these little hangers from Tim Holtz and I found the perfect quote which fit in the space. 

I'm adding this into the following:

Papercraft Crew - Hello Fall

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Texture Tim Holtz 

Crafty Gals - AG Fall 

Paper Rock Scissors AG 

Colorful Options - earthy colours 

Dream VAlley - autumn colours 

A Cut Above - die cuts 

We love stamping - trees and leaves 

Unicorn - Not square 

Four Seasons - Autumn

Outlawz - anything but a card 

Simon Says Stamp - Monday Stamp it 

CREATIVE ARTISTE MIXED MEDIA - #130

Welcome back to Creative Artiste Mixed Media where we want to see your projects with at least 3 difference mediums added to make it clearly Mixed Media.

I'm sharing a journal page today - I recently purchased the Dina Wakeley Ledger Journal - normally I use my own but I fancied having a go at creating on something this large.  The pages are a little too yellow for me so my first thing is to cool them down with either paint or gesso.  I love how this page turned out - I never have an idea of what I want when I start any piece - I just seem to go with the flow and hope things will come to me as I go along.

I found these two Paper Doll Images in my Tim Holtz collection and the page started to make sense.  When I found the quote in an old quote book it was meant to be.  Alison Bomber has taught me to try and tell a story in my pages and that's what I tried here. 

I used Tim Holtz stamps from The Professor and some of his tissue collage paper Photographic.  The little strips of paper that say Tea come from my own family copy of a ration book from World War 2.  I photocopied them rather than use the originals.  

ADDICTED TO STAMPS AND MORE #525 - DIE CUTS/STENCILS

Welcome back to ATSM and our challenge of die cuts and/or stencils.  I've used both here.  I don't often use Die Cuts but if I do they are normally by Tim Holtz and his Leaf Fragments are some of my favourites.  I'm in full on Autumn mode even though I'm a bit early but I'm looking forward to the cooler days after the hot summer we've had here in Wales and the UK.

I started my tag off with an embossing folder.  I haven't used embossing folders in a while and the one I did use was for the first time!  I'm not sure of the make but it gave the 3d effect which was what I wanted. I then added some Embossing Ink over the raised parts and added Crackling Campfire embossing glaze over it.  I then used some Distress Ink in Weathered Wood and water coloured over the remaider of the tag.  I added various stamping by Tim Holtz.

I cut out some of the leaves from some background papers I had made and added extra Crackling Campfire to match the background.  These were also embossed to give the leaves some shine.  I then built up my collage using some tickets from Ideaology and some extra stamps from Tim's set The Professor.

I chose these paper dolls as I thought they suited the quote I found of The Chemistry Club.  I had earlier created some ephemera from book pages and sellotape which just happened to have the names of four gentlemen so I added that to the bottom.  

The ribbon at the top has been hand dyed using indigo plant dye.  I only used a small bit as I'm eeking it out!  

I'm adding this into the following:

Tuesday Taggers - Embossing - Heat Embossed and Embossing Folder 

Unicorn - Not Square 

NBUS - Embossing Folder 

Four Seasons - Autumn 

Simon Says Stamp Monday - get in shape - 

INSPIRATION STATION #85

We are back with another inspirational photo for you from Inspiration Station.  How will you be inspired by this?  I was inspired by the colours of the red and blue and also the idea that these people have finished their studies and are off out into the world.  I know this happens in May in the US but doesn't really happen in the UK until July which is when our schools and universities finish for the summer. 

I chose to create a tag using one of Tim Holtz die cuts to create the tag which gives a nice big tag to work on.  I started off by painting red and blue stripes with a paint brush with some Tim Holtz paint direct to the tag. I also added some strips of washi tape in red and white.  I then added some extra stamping from Bipasha BK for Aallandcreate - I liked the words which I thought really fit the theme.  

I then had a look through my Tim Holtz paper dolls and found these three ladies who looked as though they were just about to embark on something exciting and I found the perfect sentiment from Tim's quote book.  I added some ephemera pieces too which fit the theme. I added some cheesecloth behind the image to add some extra texture and I hand drew a stitch line around the edge of the tape as I really can't sew! 

I'm adding this into the following:

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Feminine 

Crafty Gals Corner - AG 

The paper players - feminine 

Tag Along 

THE MALE ROOM CHALLENGE - #207 CAS

Welcome back to our February challenge at The Male Room and we would like to see your CAS cards.  As regulars to my blog will know I find CAS very difficult - I like to throw everything at my paper lol!  

I created my background with the gel press and two Tim Holtz Distress Oxide colours - Frayed Burlap and Iced Spruce.  I stamped this wonderful image of the binoculars from AallandCreate by Bipasha Bk and embossed them in black.  The sentiment from Tim Holtz Ideaology was just perfect for the image. 

MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES - #184 SANTA

Welcome back to another challenge at Moving Along with the Times - I hope you can find the time to play along with us at this busy time of the year.  Our theme is a nice simple one at this time of year - Santa!

I created a canvas for my piece - I used some Tim Holtz paper strips as the background for my collage - so many wonderful vintage images it's hard to choose a favourite if you love vintage like I do.  I stamped and coloured the Santa image another one of Tim's and added him with an Ideaology label.  I also added some die cut greenery and some extra wooden embellishments from my stash - the star, the bells and the Christmas tree.   I added some extra greenery die cuts under Stanta's feet. 

I'm adding this into the following:

We Love to Create - Mixed Media 

Polkadoodle - AG 

CRAFT challenge - AG 

SSS Wednesday - AG 

THE MALE ROOM - #205 - CHRISTMAS COLOURS (RED AND GREEN)

Welcome back to another challenge at the Male Room - we hope you will find time in this busy month to be able to play along with us.  Our challenge this month is quite simple - Christmas Colours - Red and Green. 

I've kept my card really simple which is so unlike me lol!  I recently won this gorgeous stencil from Polkadoodles Challenge blog and it's just perfect for making quick fabulous looking cards.  Made by Polkadoodles it's called Winter Wishes Stencil.

I inked it first in Iced Spruce - one of my favourite greens especially at this time of year - although it doesn't show up very green in the picture.  I added an extra colour of Festive Berries for the mug.  The sentiment is from Tim Holtz Ideaology and the added pearls are also Tim's.  I do like a Tim Holtz Christmas!  I added some Spectrum Noir sparkle pen on the cocoa mug.  A simple quick card which can easily be put together if you need extra cards.  Now where did I put that long envelope? 

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Peaceful Christmas however you may or may not celebrate it and thank you for playing along with us during the past year.  See you next year.

I'm adding this to the following:

Christmas Kickstart - anything Christmas 

Everybody Art - top line - green, red, christmas 

Colourful options - mugs, colours, 

CREATIVE ARTISTE MIXED MEDIA

Something a little different from me this month for Creative Artiste Mixed Media.  A dear friend's birthday is today and she is a very talented seamstress and embroiderer.  What she can do with a sewing machine and some needles is just amazing and for someone like me cannot sew for the life of me I'm always in awe of what she does.  She has a fabulous craft room where she runs workshops and I thought for her birthday I would make her a door hanger.  I have made a few of these in the past and we are even running a door hanger swap on my Facebook Group.

To start I used some strong cardboard - actually the back of an old paper pad which is sturdy enough to sit on a door handle. As she is a sewer I created my theme on that idea.  I have a very old book which I use for junk journaling which is all about embroidery and sewing from the 1950's.  I was never going to use it for advice so it is great for my background papers and is just perfect for this challenge.  I daren't tell her as she may well have loved the old book!! 

I added some stamping of some old Cherry Pie Art Stamps for the two ladies on both sides.  I added extra stamping, some Tim Holtz Ideaology and some sewing themed washi tape I found in my stash - who knew I had that?! She is also an avid tea drinker hence the tea cups. The creativity sentiment is from Visible Image stamps.  I added some little buttons,a sprig of dried flowers .. just because ..and edged it all in gold gilding wax as she loves creating gold work - beads etc I think! I trimmed it with some black lace and ribbons at the top and a few charms just to finish it off.  I hope she likes it! 

I'm adding this into the following - 

The Outlawz - Card free 

Creative Fingers - AG 

Outlawz Festive - Friendship 

Hearts Quest - Shaped Card/tag

Triple B - Butterflies 

Craft and Create - AG 

Krafty Chicks - Birthday 

Craft-alnica - oldest stamp - my Cherry  Pie are the oldest stamps I own dating back to 2002

ADDICTED TO STAMPS #504 - ANY OCCASION

Welcome back to another challenge from ATSM and we would like to see your Any Occasion projects.  

I'm showing a tag recently created when I couldn't sleep.  Crafting really helps when those nights strike and it's so peaceful in the craft room I can lose myself for hours.

The background of the tag was already made - it features the mosaic stencil from Tim Holtz which is one of my favourites.  It's hard to see as I've covered it nearly completely but I can see snippets of it.  One of the things I've really got to try and learn to do is to leave some white space or open space.  I'm trying to remember this but I always seem to forget lol!

I added some extra background stamping with stamps by Alison Bomber. The leaves were in my stash from a previous play with Tim Holtz Leaf Fragments dies.  I added some extra pieces of Ideaology as I wanted this dapper Paperdoll man by Tim to have something to sit on.  I'm learning to try and tell a  story as I've seen Alison do - so he is waiting to open his parcel which he has signed for and marked as received.  The Ideaology pieces show a registered letter and signatures and I added extra stamping with the signature and a stamp from Alison with Albin Foertl's name.  The sentiment is from Tim Holtz and I white embossed it on to some black card - his surprise will be whatever is in his letter!  Extra stamps were from Creative Expressions. 

I love the way Alison says she can't use a sewing machine - neither can I and I'd love to be able to add all those threads I see around craft land - but like Alison I resort to a pen around the edges.

I think this tag would look great on a present as the gift would be the surprise. 

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

Little Red Wagon - not a card 

Ellibelle - Wednesday - AG 

Paper Funday - AG 

We love 2 Create - AG 

PEARLY SPARKLES - #107 BLACK AND WHITE PLUS ONE OTHER COLOUR

Our challenge this month at Pearly Sparkles is Black and White plus one other colour.  I've gone for a CAS card - yes I know not my usual throw everything at the paper style lol! 

I started with a gentle water colour wash of Dusty Concord Distress Oxide Ink as my colour.  I then stamped the lovely Umbrel heads from Alison Bomber for Paper Artsy in black.  I added a sentiment from Tim Holtz Ideaology which fit perfectly.  

I'm adding this into the following:

Simply CAS - Flowers 

Four seasons challenge - spring 

Ellibells corner - spring flowers 

Simon Says Stamp Wed - AG 

SIMON SAYS STAMP MONDAY CHALLENGE GUEST DESIGNER - WHATEVER THE WEATHER

SIMON SAYS STAMP STORE

It's my final week as Guest Designer for Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and it's been an honour to have been part of this great challenge for the whole of April.  

The challenge theme this week is Whatever the Weather.  Spring is definitely on our minds as we hopefully turn to warmer weather here in the UK and the birds on their nests.  

I started my card with spritzing some Tim Holtz Distress Oxides direct to the card to give a mottled effect.  I then used the Tim Holtz stencil with Speckled Egg to create the extra markings.  I wanted it to look a little bit like a birds nest - all jumbled together.   

I added a stamp from Alison Bombers set Winter Grasses for Paper Artsy stamps just behind the die cut of the feather.  

The die cuts are from Tim Holtz Thinlets set Funky Nature - I just love the addition of the feathers and the eggs in that set.  The little bird is one of Tracy Evan's Boutique Designs stamp set New Beginnings which I stamped and cut out and tucked behind the eggs. 

The sentiment is from another Tracy set with an additional quote from Tim Holtz Ideaology cuttings book. It doesn't show up very well on the picture but I also stamped the quote New Beginnings on the right hand side of the card and embossed it in white embossing powder - to give extra texture. 

Stamps - Tracy Evans Boutique Designs - The Wonder of Nature - TE14

                Tracy Evans Boutique Designs - New Beginnings TE004

        

                Paper Artsy Alison Bomber Winter Grasses - EAB42

Stencil -     Tim Holtz Doodle and Bubble 

Dies -         Tim Holtz Funky Nature thinlets 

Inks -         Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Spray - Speckled Egg 

                    Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink - Bundled Sage 

                    Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink - Evergreen Bough

                    Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink - Frayed Burlap

                    Versafine Clair - Pinecone 

                    Posca Fine White Paint Parker 

Sentiment -     Tim Holtz Ideaology clippings Small Talk 

Embossing Powder - Ranger White 

Don't forget every week  Simon Says Stamp generously give away a FABULOUS $25 voucher to shop at the Simon Says Stamp Store!  One lucky participant chosen at random has the chance to win the voucher - You can join up to 5 times which gives you 5 chances to win.  You have until next Monday at 8 a.m. Ohio time 1 pm UK time, 2 pm CET time to join in.  Good Luck everyone

DAY OF THE MONTH CHALLENGE #69 GUEST DESIGNER

I'm delighted to be Guest Designer over at Day of the Month Card Club challenge blog for the above challenge.

Now this really got me thinking as I really don't have any suitable stamps - however I remembered I do have the Tim Holtz Fresh Baked dies from years ago which haven't been used in a long time.  I decided to go with the biscuit one which felt more fitting for the theme. 

I started by using a set of Tim Holtz stamps called Tiny Text Christmas and I used the whole set of individual stamps to create the background.  I then added some Adhesive Burlap paper which I found in a local craft shop.  What a find that was!  I die cut the cookie and inked the edges and added the snowflake in white to look like icing.  I cut out a variety of  Tim Holtz Holiday Greens Thinlets in cardstock and old book papers and inked with Distress Inks. 

I added some extra pretty berry paper top and bottom.  The sentiments are from Tim Holtz Ideaology for a few years ago.  The little candy stick is from my stash and I coloured it red and white.  The sentiment stickers are from a TH Ideaology sticker book.

I'm adding this into the following challenges - 

Double Trouble - layers 

 A cut above - 

Crafty Calendar - AG 

We love stamping - AG 

Paper Funday - AG 

Daisy Chain Challenge - Christmas 

The holly and Ivy  - AG 

We love 2 create - AG Mixed Media 

Peace on Earth - 

CREATIVE ARTISTE MIXED MEDIA

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations, we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

Welcome back to our challenge for August at Creative Artiste Mixed Media.  As always it is an Anything Goes challenge but as we are Mixed Media we do ask that you bear in mind our rules as above - and please use at least three different mediums on your project. 

I'm sharing another canvas I've created recently.  I do love making these and have quite a collection now - just now sure what to do with them all!  

My background was created with some touches of distress ink on top of dried gesso and then I added some texture paste through a stencil in white paste.  Once that was dry I stamped an image from Creative Expressions in Versafine Pinecone.  I also added some old book papers.  Some of the background flowers are from Taperlogy and are rub ons - some were put straight on and others were rubbed on to some calico.  

I then stamped a variety of images from Tracy Evans such as the vases, pots, flowers and bird and fussy cut them out.  The larger butterfly is also from Tracy Evans and has some twine behind it.  I've added some clock faces, buttons and the sentiments from Tim Holtz Ideaology to remind myself to Live In The Moment. I even found a little bee embellishment in my stash and included it.  

I'm adding this into the following:

We Love 2 Create - AG Mixed Media 

Triple B 

Creative Inspiration 

ADDICTED TO STAMPS AND MORE - #472 CHRISTMAS

I'm delighted to be part of the Design Team for Addicted to Stamps and More.  After playing along for years it's great to be on their DT.  Here's my first contribution which is Christmas.  It's always a good idea to make Christmas cards throughout the year to try and avoid the rush nearer the time when we all have so much else on but still want to send our hand-made cards.

My Christmas cards always tend to be more of a winter style card and I loved one that Tim Holtz did which inspired my card.  I used the gel press to create the background and used stamps by Tracy Evans for the leaves and the pine cones.  The word stamp In the Bleak Midwinter is a lovely stamp by Alison Bomber for Paper Artsy.  I used Tim Holtz marker pens to colour in the pine cones and the leaves.  The snowflake is from TH Ideaology tied on with a bit of twine. 

I added it to a background piece of paper stamped with an old script stamp which you can just spot around the edges.  I then added it to some kraft card stock and added some white splatters.