Sunday 29 September 2013

The Twelve Days of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style. Tag 1.

Can you believe it is only twelve weeks to Christmas? I am determined this year to BE PREPARED! So I am joining in with Linda's wonderful Twelve Days of Christmas tags which you can find here on her blog along with her beautiful tag. She invites us to be inspired by some element on her tag in which she uses the Artistic Outpost 'Christmas Chalk' stamps and you must go over on the link and have a look as it is beautiful! It has inspired me to make a tag using black and white and the tiny splash of red as she has, so here goes.
 
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I cut a tag in heavy black card stock and then ripped a slightly smaller tag in white and set it inside. Then I die cut some Tattered Poinsettias using black card and then embossed them inside the Tattered Poinsettia embossing folder both of which are Tim Holtz products incase you didn't guess! I do love his dies that you can then emboss such detail on and this one is open to all sorts of decoration. I then took some of the petals, covered them in Glue and Seal and then sprinkled Picket Fence distress Glitter over the top, it gives a lovely vintage feel to the leaves. I hot glue gunned them in place, alternating with some plain sections and put a red glitter brad in the centre. The tiny swirls are from Tim's Seasonal Festive Greenery decorative strip die. Then I cut from his Christmas Stacked Words the 'Joy to the World' and shone it with glossy accents. The snowflakes were wooden ones that I had in my stash which I painted with Black Soot distress paint and then covered in ordinary fine black glitter. I finished it off with a red ribbon from a box of chocolates!
Please go to Linda's blog and visit her wonderful Boutique here which is sponsoring this wonderful challenge which will help to get us all in the seasonal mood! Linda says that it need not be a tag but can be a card, a home piece, a scrapbook page, anything as long as something on it is inspired by her weekly piece of art.

Monday 16 September 2013

For no particular reason other than...

This weekend I decided to play with my recently aquired Brenda Walton Country Cottage die. It was a considered purchase being a big die, but for no particular reason other than I loved it I splashed out and have had an enjoyable play...isn't that what crafting is all about? My first attempts are a bit wobbly but after the fifth attempt I think I have mastered it and it has used up some bits of lovely paper in my stash!

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You can lift the cottage up and put a battery night light in it as there is a hinge piece at the back of the base. It even has shingles and the shutters come as well. If you look on you tube here you can see the delightful little sea side cottage she has made. They look lovely lit up as I had a test run last night but they didn't photograph well so here they are lined up in the conservatory. I'm thinking they will make little gifts for Christmas or perhaps I can do some spooky ones for Halloween, I'll keep you posted!
Can you spot the hideous mistake? I put frosting on the first red roof but didn't seal the distress ink and it has bled through. Thought I would post it warts and all though!
Hope you all had fun this weekend, thanks so much for looking. x

Saturday 7 September 2013

Tim's tag for September.

Had a lot of fun with Tim's tag this month although I haven't got his wonderful stencils yet, so I improvised! To see his challenge go here to see his wonderfulness. I had great fun using layers and some stencils I had and using the embossing paste as per his instructions. I really want the star stencil, so to be able do this tag without his stencil I made one by taking some thick acetate packing and punching out some stars. Next on my list is to get his collection however, as they are perfect!
 
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I used Mowed Lawn and Picked Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade, love the texture of the embossing paste! I also really love the way the ribbon can be stenciled at the top, although this photo doesn't show it too clearly, great tip, thanks Tim! Lovely to make depth in something without layers sticking out for a change. He always challenges us to think anew with his tags, just wish I could do it as well as him! Love to you all x

Wednesday 4 September 2013

The Eyes have it!

Just to prove I have made something this week I am posting my tag for the Tag Tuesday challenge. The theme for this week is Eyes and here is my offering.

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I stamped the background with Coffee Archival ink using the papillion background stamp by Tim. Then I used a PaperBag Studio stamp of the girl - I love her eyes they seem to follow you around wherever you go. The branch die was cut from some spare packing and inked with Distress stains. The quote is another from PaperBag Studios. Then I added a small Kraft tag at the top with the a stamped butterfly and the word Eyes. The butterflys were cut from another on the edge die from Tim and I used some experimental paper I saved when practising with my new Gelli Plate using some brown acrylic paints. I made the background with an assortment of background stamps on the plate and rather like the effect! The co-ordinating ribbon and there you are - proof I have done something. Had a bit of a manic week, hopefully all will calm down and I will be in the craft room again soon. Love to you all, enjoy the sun! x