LOVE IS IN THE AIR

You can tell it's February as there are hearts all over crafting blogs. After the year we've all had - we all need some love and what nicer way than to send a card to cheer someone up.

I fancied having a play with a very old Tim Holtz heart stamp I found in the bottom of my stash and which hasn't had any love shown to it in a while.  I followed the colours of the Retro Rubber Challenge blog and limited myself to Grey, Black and Red.

I started off by blending a very pale covering of Hickory Smoke over some TH watercolour card stock - I then used Fired Brick with a heart stencil from SU for the red hearts and added a touch of an old script stamp by TH.  I then added the dots stencil from TH with the Hickory Smoke also.

The heart stamp was stamped in black and coloured in with a watercolour brush using TH Redbrick and a touch of Festive Berries.  There is also a little bit of grey metallic distress crayon to give it a bit of a shimmer around the heart and around the edge of the card stock.  The heart has been covered in Glossy Accents to make it stand out.  The kiss sentiment is from a Clearly Besotted stamp set and the other sentiments are from a Simon Says Stamp set called Take Heart.  All sets are quite old to fit in with Retro Rubber's Challenge.

I’m delighted to have won the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge with this card - my first time entering too - what a lovely surprise 

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

Retro Rubber - Red Black White and Grey

Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - hearts

Little Red Wagon - Hearts

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Love is in the Air

Double D Challenge - hearts

Splashy Mix Challenge - moodboard - the hearts and the couple kissing

Crafting Happiness Challenge - hearts

Use your stuff - hearts 

Crafting Happiness Challenges - love

TRY STAMPIN ON TUESDAY - #TSOT492

Another great sketch for you at TSOT this week with the added challenge of Love is in the Air.

Valentine's isn't really as popular in the UK as it is in the States with cards really only going to sweethearts whereas I think it's much more of a holiday feel to it in the US.  This card is for my hubby.  We are both Welsh and I couldn't resist these little sheep from Clearly Besotted Kiss Me Quick stamp set.  After nearly 10 years of wanting to return to our homeland of Wales from England we are finally making the move this March.

I used some heart die cuts I had and stamped the sheep on the smaller one using Stampin Up Stampin Blends in Light Grey and Dark Grey for the sheep with a touch of white gel pen for highlights.  I inked the edges with TH Distress Ink in Worn Lipstick and added one of the sentiments from the set.

I used some old SU Designer Series Paper from my stash for the background and added the other sentiment.  The washi tape is from my stash and I just added some little x's on the top with a white gel pen.  The little heart gems were from my stash. 

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

 Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge of Love/Hearts

Little Red Wagon - Hearts 

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Love is in the Air

Double D Challenge - Love 

             

SPARKLES CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE - SNOWMEN

Our theme this month at Sparkles Christmas Challenge is snowmen.  We don't often get a lot of snow in the UK but we did get a flurry a few weeks after Christmas but it didn't last long. We also had one day's snow in January followed by a lovely clear blue sky which often doesn't happen in January.

I had this die set from Tim Holtz called Cool Yule that I hadn't used the snowman from yet - I started by inking a piece of cardstock with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Weathered Wood and Chipped Sapphire.  I then used a TH stencil for the stars using Chipped Sapphire distress ink.  The Snowman was cut out in various coloured cardstocks and papers and I added some Tri-Spectrum Glitter pen in orange for his nose and his hat.

I used TH shadow alphabet dies for the letters keeping the snowman as the O.  Gesso at the bottom provided the snow. 

I'm also adding this into the following challenge

Craftygals Corner - Snow

 

TIME TAG

The new challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge is Let’s Be On Time.  This seems to be a theme on my mind at the moment - one of my new goals for the year was to start my own Journalling and my first page was all about Time. 

After ten years of wanting to move house 2021 sees me moving back home to Wales and that was what my journal page was about.  My tag today will find its way onto my journal page 

I started off by adding some white Gesso to a Tim Holtz tag.  Once dry I added some Frayed Burlap and Speckled Egg Distress Oxide Ink.  I added some TH Gel medium and added a clock face from a collage pack from Shawn Petite and added a small clock on top from TH Ideaology pack.  I have a very old TH stencil which shows a clock face with roman numerals - it’s now starting to give way after nearly 20 years but I managed to stencil some of them using some of the Frayed Burlap.

I used some Crackle Paste and a TH stencil and added some Speckled Egg Embossing Glaze on top.  I added various stamps using Black Soot Oxide ink.  The word Time was stencilled from a TH stencil onto some tissue paper using Black Soot and then I used some Collage Medium in Vintage to add it together with the sentiment underneath from a TH Ideaology pack.  We certainly are having the time of our lives at the moment as the world tries to cope with this pandemic.

I added some ribbon and lace and coloured the lace in the Frayed Burlap and added a brass brad to the top.

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS - #356

We have a sketch challenge for you this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I found I needed cheering up what will all the doom and gloom of yet another full lockdown here in the UK and the constant grey skies.  Although yesterday we had snow and today we have the sun but generally January is a grey old month.  My card therefore has a real spring feel to it.

I started out with a stencil from Stampin Up and I used Pear Pizazz ink and a blender brush to colour it.  The sun is from a retired SU set called Kinda Eclectic which was embossed in some old SU embossing powder and cut out with a stitched circle.  The butterflies were cut out with SU butterfly punch and coloured and edged with So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz.  I used Old Olive for the bottom strip of stamps which are from the same set and a there is a touch of Washi Tape just behind.

The sentiment is from a Clearly Besotted set.  

BIRTHDAY TAG

The challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge this week is We're on a Roll'!.  I was inspired by Emma Williams where she had rolled the paper as this was a new technique for me.

I started off my using white gesso for my tag and then adding some Tim Holtz paint in Iced Spruce and Victorian Velvet.  This was my first time for using the paints too which I had great fun in using.  Once dry I used the Tim Holtz music stencil in Weathered Wood - the floral stencil and words stencil in Aged Mahagony.

I then used some of the Tim Holtz Christmas wallpaper to roll up my candles.  I covered the parts that showed the holly with a Happy Birthday die cut which I found in my stash.  I added some strips to the tops of the candles and used a Spectrum Noir sparkle pen in Harvest Moon to add a touch of glimmer to the flames.

We are moving house over the next few months and having a sort out - Hubby yesterday found an old dictionary which had seen better days and he was about to throw it out when he asked if I could use it for my crafting!!! Haven't I taught him well lol!  So I cut out the Birthday and the meaning and added that to the bottom of the tag - the other sentiments are from Tim Holtz Idealogy Clippings Sticker Book.

I added some ribbons to the top from my stash and a brass brad.

 

TRY STAMPIN ON TUESDAY - #TSOT490/DOUBLE TROUBLE CHALLENGE

We are teaming up again today at Try Stampin on Tuesday with Double Trouble Challenge which means you get the chance to join in with two challenges in one go if you fulfil the criteria.  Follow our sketch and to be able to join in with Double Trouble add a musical theme to your project.

I started off my card by using a new Tim Holtz stencil I got with the lovely musical notes and I coloured it with Distress Inks Peeled Paint.  I then stencilled over this with a stencil from Sheena which was gifted to me by a crafty friend from my Facebook Group - I used TH Frayed Burlap for the trees.

The bird is made with one of TH's dies.  I cut it out first in cardstock and then used some very old scraps of music paper I have and layered them on top.  The music paper is from my own stash - I play piano and have had some of these papers for over 40 years but they are much older and were all torn but I didn't have the heart to throw them away.  Using them for mixed media has given them a new lease of life.  I used TH distress inks to colour in the bird.  I added a nest from Kaisercraft ephemera.  The little piece of Washi tape I found in my stash and was delighted to see the musical instruments on it!  Just goes to show you don't always know what you have.  I added some linen thread and the sentiment came from Stampin Up Home to Roost which seemed ideal.

 

SWEET STAMPIN - THANK YOU

Our challenge this week at Sweet Stampin is thank you.  I chose to do a tag for my thank you and not a thank you for a gift but a thank you for a friendship that has seen me sane over the past year.

I started out with a Tim Holtz tag die to cut out my tag.  I added lots of layers of papers from TH Christmas pack and then covered with some gesso.  I added layers of ink, stencils and some texture paste.

I used Tim Holtz Flower Jar stamp set and cut out the jar and flowers by hand.  I used Distress Inks to colour in the flowers.  The butterflies are from TH Ideaology packs.  

The sentiments were some I had in my stash of stamps and I added some SU ribbon to the top and the bottom.  I even added a brad!! 

 

FAIRYTALE TAG

The challenge over at Tag Tuesday this week is Faery Garden. I fancied playing along and got out one of my Tim Holtz Tags and sponged it in Peeled Paint Distress Ink and Wilted Violet.  I added some Tim Holtz wildflower stencils in Frayed Burlap.  The fairy stamps were gifted to me by a crafting friend from my Facebook Group The Joy of Sets.

I added the toadstools and the sentiment from Kaisercraft stamps called Enchanted.  I added some Tim Holtz Ephemera from an Idealogy pack and some Distress Crayons around the outside.

 

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS - IC355

Happy New Year everyone and welcome back to Hand Stamped Sentiments where we will have another great year's worth of challenges for you to join in with. Here's our inspiration challenge for you for this week 

I got my inspiration from the girl in front of the trees holding the mug and the gorgeous colours of the fox. 

I started off by inking my cardstock with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Weathered Wood with a touch of Chipped Sapphire at the very top.  I then used one of his tree stencils and inked the trees in  TH Forest Moss. 

The mugs are from Sunny Studios stamp set called Mug Hugs. This set is quickly becoming one of my favourite sets with great sentiments as well as fab mug images.  Here I've used the coffee takeaway mugs - although mine just might have hot chocolate in it!   I coloured them in with TH Crackling Campfire and Vintage Photo.  I used a metallic distress crayon for the snowflake.  I cut them out and added them to some TH greenery dies coloured in Forest Moss and Pine Needles. 

I added some gesso at the bottom for snow and some Liquid Pearls in Pewter.  The sentiment is from the same set and I white embossed it and added some snow flakes with a white gel pen.

I'm also adding this into the following challenges:

Everybody Art Challenge - Anything Goes 

A place to start - Anything Goes

Sir Stamps a Lot - Favourite Stamps

 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge

I spotted the challenge over at Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge and it was just the prompt I needed to use some new stash!  I had some of the lovely botanical Collage papers from Tim Holtz which hadn't yet been used - I'd had great fun with the Christmas papers but had yet to try and use the botanicals.

I started off with a piece of TH watercolour card stock and added some liquid gel medium and some papers from an old Postage Stamp book I found whilst clearing out some old books.  It has loads of images of old Commonwealth stamps in it dating back to the 1970's and is a great book for collaging.  I then covered them with a thin later of Diana Wakley White Gesso and let it dry - who am I kidding?  I dried it with a heat tool lol!

I took some of the papers from the Collage set and gently chose the pieces I wanted with a wet aqua brush fixing them on with the gel medium.  I used just Speckled Egg and Peacock Feathers re-inkers to colour in the flower and some Rustic Wilderness Distress Crayon for the leaves.  I added some extra interest with an old TH script stamp in the same colours.  I added a butterfly from my stash and coloured it with the same colours and added an old arrow brad to the middle of the butterfly.  I used the sentiment Spring from an old Stamp and the In My Heart from TH and added some old lace. 

We are back in lockdown here in the UK which means staying at home for the next month or so - seeing no-one, friends nor family and only going out for essential shopping.  My piece came about as I, along with so many others, are looking forward to the spring when maybe the worst is behind us with Covid and the warm weather means we can get out and about more.  My muted colours are not particularly spring like as I think they reflect the somewhat sombre mood I find myself in.

I'm also adding this into the following challenges:

Shopping our Stash challenge which is New Stuff 

Try it on Tuesday - motivational quote

A Place to Start - Anything Goes

Make My Monday - something new in your stash

Path of Positivity - Look for the positive

The Paper Players - Use something new

We love 2 create - anything goes mixed media

Allsorts Challenge - anything goes

I'm delighted that this piece won at the Path of Positivity challenge and I was gifted a digital image.

 

TRY STAMPIN ON TUESDAY - TSOT488

Happy New Year everyone and welcome back to Try Stampin on Tuesday where we hope you will find lots of inspiration for the year ahead.  Here's our sketch for you this week with the optional added challenge of Party Time.  Sadly there were no New Year's Eve parties here in the UK this year - just hubby and I and for the first time in I don't know when we didn't even stay up to see the New Year in!  However I was still in party mode for making my card.  I started off my inking a panel with some Tim Holtz distress inks in Spun Sugar and Seedless Preserves.  I used a Tim Holtz stencil for the stars and added the wine glasses from SU's Happy Hour retired set.  The sentiment comes from the same set and I layered it onto some Rich Razzleberry card stock.  I had the little dies in my stash and cut them out of the same card stock and added a touch of glitter from a Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen.   I had some pretty coloured card stock that someone had gifted me which I'd never used and thought it looked perfect as the background.

I'm also adding this into the Paperminutes challenge of New Year

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR - SPARKLES CHALLENGE - HOLIDAY TREATS

I would like to start the New Year off by wishing you all a Happy New Year - let's hope 2021 does not prove to be as tough for everyone as 2020 was.

We have some treats for you over at Sparkles Challenge with our theme of Holiday Treats - this nearly had me stumped when I remembered my fab set called Mug Hugs from Sunny Studio. 

 I started off by stamping the mugs and the treats.  I added some retired Stampin Up Stamps Background Grunge for the details on the mugs stamping it in Ranger Archival Ink in Vermillion.  I then used a Tri-Blend pen by Spectrum Noir in Antique Pink blend to colour them in and add shading.  I used SU Grey Granite Stampin Blends for the cream and the marshmallows.  I used a Tri-Blend pen in Muted Brown for the cookies and the same pink and red for the icing - covering them in Glossy Accents to make them shine.  The candy canes were coloured in with Lime Otter watercolour brush pen and Wink of Stella was added over the pens and the cream and marshmallows to give them a shine.  I cut them all out by hand as I don't have the matching dies.... yet! 

For the background I used some Tim Holtz ink in Vintage Photo to distress the edge and used the coffee stain stamp from SU in TH Ground Espresso.  I used SU Chocolate Chip for the easel which is from the retired set Painter's Palette.  I used some embossing powder in white for the sentiment on the black card stock and added some hearts and snowflakes and then used a square die cut to cut this out and add to the easel.  

I'm also adding this in to the following challenges:

Winter Wonderland challenge which is also Sweet Treats 

The Holly and the Ivy challenge - anything goes.

Color My Heart Colour challenge 

Double Trouble - Warmth, Dies,

Merry Little Christmas  

 

SWEET STAMPIN - LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS

What a great challenge for you at Sweet Stampin this week.  I'm sure everyone gets to a point where they may need a last minute Christmas card but as card makers we are lucky enough to be able to make our own.

My card couldn't be simpler - I chose to ink the background with Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Weathered Wood, Chipped Sapphire and Fossilised Amber Oxide.  But you could even miss out this step and use coloured card stock.  I then used some Tim Holtz stamps and some silver embossing powder.  Simple, quick but very effective.

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and let's hope 2021 is a better year for us all - thank you for playing along with us all year.

 

JOY OF SETS BLOG HOP - DECEMBER 2020 - CHRISTMAS MUSIC

It's been all change at Joy of Sets over the last month as I re-evaluate how the Facebook Group will proceed.  Personally I am using Stampin Up less and less in my crafting.  Although the group was originally set up as a SU group when I was a demo - it has evolved and we share all stamping companies.

However, I am aware that the majority of girls who join in with this Blog Hop are demos as is Angie McKenzie who does all the hard work in getting us organised.  So I approached Angie and asked her if she would like to take this on permanently as her own baby under her own banner - it seemed only fair.  She has agreed and from January you will be in the safe hands of Stamping Inkspirations Blog Hop.

This then may be my last blog hop with the group and I love the theme that Angie chose for us for our last one this year - Christmas Music.

I wonder how many carols you can name in my card?  I'd love to see your guesses.

I started off by layering three Distress Inks, - Weathered Wood, Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot for my background.  I then used the SU set Star of Light to add the star in Silver Embossing powder, together with the little stars.  The Angel and the Three Wise Men are from Tim Holtz - the angel was embossed in gold embossing powder.  I added the Silent Night from Tim Holtz Tiny Text Christmas and the background music stamp is also one of TH's.  

I  make it at least nine carols - how many do you get?

To carry on with the hop please click on the Next button below - I have listed the full hop in case you get lost.

Angie McKenzie

Annette Ball

Narelle Fasulo

Pia Gerhardt

Tricia Butts

Libby Fens

Fiona Whitehead

Susan Webster

JoAnn Pollock

Gez Carpenter

Mo Rootes

Jill Chapman

Sue Allen

Brenda Nelson

Allie Gomez

Linda A. Moore

 

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS - #CC354

Our colour challenge this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments features the following colour - don't forget they are just guidelines for any similar colours you may have. I didn't have the Misty Moonlight in  my stash but substituted it for an old SU colour Bordering Blue - which looked very similar.  I used it for my background with the SU stencil more green in the picture.  I used the Old Olive with the same stencil for the Tag and the sentiment is from an old Tim Holtz stamp set.

I added a TH jingle bell with some SU linen thread - the bell actually jingles!  A couple of SU glitter dots finishes off the card.

 

JOY OF SETS TIC TAC TOE - DECEMBER 2020 - OUR FINAL FAREWELL

Hello all and I'm sorry to say this is our last Tic Tac Toe from Joy of Sets.  It's been a great two years but I feel it's time to say a fond farewell.  I'm very grateful to all the Design Team members we have had over the past two years - all the Guest Designers who joined in with us and all of those of you who played along.  Running a challenge blog takes up an enormous amount of time behind the scenes and I've found that with the year we've had something had to give and sadly this was one of them.

Here's our final grid - each of the Design Team members chose a square - 

I chose Sparkle, Non Traditional and Snowflake for my tag.  All made with Tim Holtz products and inks - I used Antique Linen and Speckled Egg Distress Inks.  I used a Tim Holtz stencil for the boughs and used Crackle Texture paste to give it... well some texture!  The Snowflake is a TH dieand I coloured it in Spun Sugar and added some tiny pink jewels to the edges.

The deer are Tim Holtz - I love deer on cards at Christmas and here they are tucked behind some trees.  The bottom edging is a wonderful 3d embossing folder from TH which cuts as it embosses and I've coloured it in the Spun Sugar.  There is a touch of lace at the bottom and at the top of the tag - the sentiments are from TH.

Wishing you all a safe and peaceful 2021 - let's hope life gets back to normal very soon.

.