THE MALE ROOM - TRAVEL #176

Welcome back to another great challenge here at The Male Room.  We have chosen Travel for this month's challenge.  It's something I haven't really done since pre-Covid - especially not out of country - apart from nipping into England from Wales to visit my son but I'm not sure that really counts.  I still don't feel comfortable with air travel and all the hassle of the airports and planes so a trip to Greece is still going to have to wait a few years!  In the meantime I went off on my travels by creating this postcard.

My background was made with  my gel press with some Tim Holtz paints to give a vintage feel.  The stamps are all various Tim Holtz as is some of the ephemera.  I found a lovely picture of this old vintage bi-plante and added it to give more of a vintage feel. I distressed all the edges of the ephemera.  The stamps at the bottom are also old Tim Holtz ones I didn't even know I had!  So, let's be honest, this is sort of a Tim Holtz collage lol!  

HAPPY LITTLE STAMPERS - WATERCOLOUR CHRISTMAS

Happy Early Christmas!  We are celebrating Christmas as an option this month at Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge.  Well, I am always up for a bit of Christmas crafting.

I decided to go with a tag as I use so many of them at Christmas time on gifts for the family that I need to have a lot ready by the big day.  Some I save and re-use them the following year but shh don't tell the family they never notice.  They are too nice just to throw away.

I love this vintage image of Santa by Tim Holtz and he is now my go-to Santa for Christmas projects.  He came as a small set with some matching stencils called Vintage Holidays.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks to create the background and did some background stamping.  

I coloured in the Santa with Distress Ink re-inkers and a water brush to give a bit more of a stronger look to the colour.  I used a white Posca pen for the white bits on his coat. All the extra details came from Tim Holtz Idealogy Christmas pack from a few years ago.  The gorgeous ribbons are also Tim Holta Idealogy - I just kept adding little details and really had to stop myself and say enough it's done lol! A few white splatters just to lift the colour a little bit and I decided that was it.

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

Tag Tuesday - Hot Colours 

The Holly & Ivy AG Christmas 

Double Trouble - Christmas in July 

ABC Christmas Challenge - Lots of Layers 

ONCE UPON A TIME - BEAUTIFUL OOPS

Welcome back to another challenge here at Once  Upon a Time.  We have this great book cover to inspire you this month.  

My card uses one of the great sets by Anita Jeram called Paint Town.  I thought that little guinea pig was just perfect for my card. I used Tim Holtz Wild Honey Distress Oxide for my background leaving a white edge around the stamped image.

 I added lots of water colours to show the ink oozing out of the paint pot.  The oops words were Tim Holtz word die cuts and the sentiments came from Colorado Craft Company stamp set.  Now all I need to do to use this card is forget someone's special day lol! 

Christmas Craft Creations Heat Embossing

A great theme this month at Christmas Craft Creations with Heat Embossing.  I chose to use a lovely stamp from Visible Images for the background words.

 My choice of red hot colours was inspired by the challenge over at Inspiration Station.  I used Tim Holtz Crackling Campfire to emboss it.  Before I embossed I used a stencil for the background with the same coloured ink by Tim Holtz.

  I then added one of Tim Holtz's snowflake dies and used the same colour embossing powder and added some glitter.  I used white embossing powder from the sentiment from Tim Holtz.

I'm adding this into the following

Shopping our Stash - Sentiments 

Stencil Fun - Tim Holtz stencil 

Inspiration Station - my inspiration for the colours of my card.

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS #417

Welcome back to another challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments and this great mood board for your inspiration.  I took mine from the bottom photo of that lovely jug.  I used the old Stampin Up set Country Home for my jug and the flowers.

I used a stencil for my background.  I added a doily lace I made and coloured to stand behind the jug and the flowers which were fussy cut. I added some ribbon from my stash and the sentiment.  

BUTTERFLY CANVAS

This project didn't start off anything like it is now.  It was going in a completely different direction with papers, tissue stamped images, texture paste but I just wasn't feeling it so I ended up ripping everything off and starting again.  You can just see a few darker images still there where it didn't all come away but I wasn't going to waste my little canvas.  So a few deep breaths, a step away from the craft table and I started again!

I started off by using Distress Oxide in Uncharted Mariner, Salty Ocean and Peacock feathers to add the blues to start me off.  Once dry I added some Fossilised Amber to add a touch of brightness.  I then added some texture paste through an old SU stencil.  It should have been white but it looked like there was a touch of pink paint still on the stencil - which is unusual as I'm usually very good at cleaning them, so the paste came out a bit pink but I left it light that.  I added some Liquitex Acrylic Ink in Muted Grey and spritzed it with water to let it add some extra darker parts to the colours and some extra splatters. 

When it was all dry I added some stamping.  The butterfly is a Tim Holtz Stencil - I kept it white but added some stamping to it and a touch of Spectrum Noir Sparkle. I added some washi tape from Aallandcreate and the words are from Tim Holtz.  The touch of ribbon is some I had from my stash and is the very last piece of it. I don't know where I got it from but am sad it's all gone.

So the moral of the tale is if things go wrong - peel it all off and start again lol!

I'm adding this into the following:

Crafting from the Heart - no cards 

We love to Create - AG 

Allsorts - AG option butterflies 

SnarkyStampers - C is for Critters - not sure whether a butterfly counts?

Just us Girls - blues from the images

Alphabet Challenge - F for Flying 

Creative Fingers - AG 

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS - sc416

Welcome to our Sketch Challenge here at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I grabbed a new set I purchased recently from Aallandcreate by Bipasha BK.  I thought the images would come in really handy as I send cards through my Facebook Group and I loved all the postage style imagery on the stamps.  

I added an old script stamp I have for the background - I have no idea where this stamp came from and it is starting to wear out which will be real shame.  The middle part is Tim Holtz Idealogy paper called Typeset/Composer.  I kept the colours monochrome to enable the red post box to stand out more.  I coloured it with a Posca pen.  

THE MALE ROOM CHALLENGE - SHAKER CARDS

Welcome back to another month's challenge at The Male Room and this month we are all about shaker cards.  I'm not sure if you are like me but I see the words Shaker Card and normally come out in a cold sweat lol!  I just never seem to have the right foam or use enough of it.  So imagine my delight when I found this tip on youtube ages ago to make a shaker card out of recyling the plastic that stamps come in.  It's a win win.

I started my background with a gel press to create the blues and browns of the background and added some stamping from Tracy Evans stamp set Pen and Ink. I used some of Tim Holtz letter dies for my shaker pieces and added a real feather behind for extra interest. 

CREATIVE ARTISTE MIXED MEDIA - ANYTHING GOES

Welcome to another month's challenge here at Creative Artiste Mixed Media.  The weather has certainly changed here in the UK and it's almost too hot to craft lol! 

My piece today is a strange one - I am a member of our local WI group (Women's Institute) and each year they have a show with various categories for everyone to compete in.  The theme for this year's show is Treasure Island and one of the categories was create a Treasure Map. So, in true Mixed Media fashion, I decided I was up for the challenge.  And boy did I find it a challenge.

I started out with a piece of soft canvas which I covered in paint and ink for the sea.  I added stencilling for waves and covered it all in crackle paste to give it texture.  The Island was cut out of scrapbook paper and I added all the details on which I thought might be on a Treasure Island map.  I cut out the skull and cross bones and added a skull Island - just because.  I even found a little skull and cross bones charm in my stash.

I have some Creative Expressions turtle dies so decided to use them and give the area a Turtle Sea and again I found a turtle charm.

X marks the spot where the treasure is and if you lift it up there is a treasure die with gold coins.

I tore all the edges to give it some age and added distress wax and then scrunched up the whole map to make it less pristine.  I'll let you know how I get on in July lol! 

ONCE UPON A TIME - ENJOY THE JOURNEY

Welcome back to Once Upon a Time Challenge - the monthly challenge where Deanna gives us a child's book cover to inspire us.  Well, I have to admit I was stumped with this one for a long time.  I don't know the book and couldn't get past trying to use some sort of train!  Deanna suggested using the title for inspiration and that made something click in my head so here's my card and I'll explain my thought process for you.

I started with stencil#7 from Aallandcreate because to me the lines looked like train tracks.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Oxide in Vintage Photo to create the tracks.  I then added some Distress Ink in Peeled Paint and Spiced Marmalade for the infill colours to match the book cover.  

My uplifting sentiments came from Visible Image stamp set Just Be Happy and I thought the journey one was perfect for representing the train.  I added some flowers to the side and the butterfly to represent the journey also - both stamps from Creative Expressions.  

I look forward to seeing what you come up with. 

HAPPY LITTLE STAMPERS - WATERCOLOUR BRIGHT

Welcome back to another challenge at Happy Little Stampers Watercolour.  We have the added option of something Bright and this lead me to realise I really don't do bright very often.  Even all my inks are muted and rarely bright.  However I had a go with the Tim Holtz colours I had to try and make a nice bright card.  I think it was brighter in real life lol!

I started with a stencil from Visible Image stamps of the lovely flower burst and used Tim Holtz Spiced Marmalade and Twisted Citron for the background.  The sentiment is also from Visible Image.  The sunflower is by Tracy Evans and I used some of her stamps for the background stamping also.  

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

Little Red Wagon - Warm colours 

Double D challenge - Flowers 

The sisterhood of crafters - birds 

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS CC415

We have a lovely soft colour palette for you this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  My card uses a new stamp by Francoise Read for Woodware Craft Collection called Three Butterflies.  I used three of the colours for the butterflies and kept the Petal Pink for a soft water coloured background.  I added the sentiment from a set from Colorado Craft Company called Olive Branch and popped it on dimensionals and added a co-ordinating bead to finish it off.

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

Love to Craft - AG 

Crafting Happiness - AG 

CHRISTMAS CRAFT CREATIONS - NO STAMPING

Well I  must admit I found this challenge tricky.  Our challenge this month at Christmas Craft Creations is No Stamping!!! It took me a while to get a card I was happy with.  

I started off with a dots embossing folder and used some red cardstock for the background.  I then found another lovely Christmas words embossing folder in my stash and used the kraft paper for this one.  I had some wonderful Silent Night Christmas sheet music which I had downloaded from Shawn Petite where she gives us free downloads. 

 I used a Tim Holtz Wreath and cut it out of the notes part of the music.  The title was also part of it which really helped with the whole non-stamping part.  I added some red dots and the bow and finished with some white splatters. 

I'm adding this into the following :

Everybody Art - Die Cut 

The Holly and Ivy - AG Christmas 

52CCT - Music 

Jingle Bells Rock - No Stamping 

Delighted to have had my card chosen in the following challenges - and to think I very nearly threw it in the bin! 

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS - IC414

I hope you are inspired by our beautiful mood board this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I was drawn to those lovely pink flowers which look like Gerberas to me and I had those at my wedding some ahem 38 years ago lol! 

I started my card by using a stencil I found in my stash which I've never even inked up before.  Over on my Facebook Group the challenge this month is to use something from your stash that has never seen the light of day and then I found this.  It is from Creative Expressions.  I used Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers in Distress Oxide to create the background. 

The stamp is from Visible Image and is called Break Free.  I stamped it on to some card and then cut it out.  I coloured it with Distress Oxides and added some Tim Holtz Distress Icicle paste to make the glass shine.  I also stamped the flower on to a separate piece and cut it out and layered it to give it a bit of dimension.  One of the sentiments is from the set the other is from a Tracy Evans stamp set. I added some glass beads to add to the sparkle.

We are desperate here in the UK to get some warm sunny weather so I really wish summer would Break Free!

CREATIVE ARTISTE MIXED MEDIA - ANYTHING GOES

Well hello there - today is my birthday.  I'm not telling you how old but the years are creeping up on me.  I had lots of lovely new crafty things to play with which I will be able to use in my Mixed Media makings.

Welcome to another month of Mixed Media loveliness from Creative Artiste Mixed Media.  Another 5" x 7" canvas from me today.  I was inspired by an old video of Tracy Evans which I found on You Tube and I happened to have the stamp set she was using which is called Plant Your Dreams and has this wonderful wonky pear as she calls it.  This was a new technique for me and I just had to have a go.  I'll be doing a lot more of these as it was such fun.

I started by covering my canvas with gesso to prepare it for all I was going to throw at it.  I get these little canvases from The Works here in the UK and they are such a good price and they are fast becoming my favourite thing to make.  

Once the gesso was dry I used an Aallandcreate Stencil called Bloomed Roses and added some Daler Rowney texture paste over it in the bottom left corner.  In the top corners I used an old dot stencil from Tim Holtz and used Cosmic Shimmer Antique Sand Paste by Sam Poole in Moss Blanket.  I adore this colour and these pastes.  I love the muted tones they give.  I added an extra touch to the chipboard no 1 I found in my stash after I had covered it in black ink.

I used some strips of paper I had made from a gel press background to sit the pear on  The pear is then stamped and sculpted with extra Texture Paste.  I'm sure lots of you have done this but this was my first time and I loved doing it. Before it dried I added a chinese coin embellishment from my stash.   I was very patient and left it overnight to dry to ensure it was completely dry and sturdy.   I added some extra inks and colours to the background and some stamping.  Another of the stamps from Tracy's set was the little seal - I stamped it and also cut one out and added Sepia Accents gloss medium to it to make it look more like a seal.  I added some of the words from the set to some calico.  The little tag was made from two sets and I added a Tim Holtz clip.  I also added some bits of Aallandcreate Washi Tape.

My final bit was adding some Pebeo gilding wax in gold.  This was a new thing to me and I had seen Tracy use it - good old Amazon had some in stock.  I added it to my pear, the little seal, the little cip, a touch on the chipboard and some round the edges.  I could have gone to town adding it but decided less is more lol!  

I'm adding this into the following challenges:

Stamping Sensations - AG 

We Love 2 Create - AG 

We Love Stamping - AG - in the garden 

The Outlawz Challenge - Embellishments - no cards 

As You See It - new to me was the Pebeo gilding wax 

Beyond the Blue - stencil paste 

Tuesday Taggers - Use a stencil - I used two different stencils on the background 

Pearly Sparkles - anything but a card 

Crafting from the Heart - No Cards

Love to Craft - AG