"Numbers" is the theme at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog

Hi everyone x I do hope you are keeping safe while we weather this global pandemic. With numbers rising again it continues to be a real concern, particularly for the vulnerable. It is at times like this that I am grateful to have various crafts to keep me occupied x

Today sees the beginning of a new monthly challenge over at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog, where I am on of the creative guides. As host for this month I chose the theme  "Numbers" and it's up to you how you use them in your creations. Here are the details :

"Numbers is our challenge theme for this month and we would like to see them being a focal point in your project entries. 

You can use stencils, die cuts, fussy cuts or rub ons, rust them up, use texture paste or paint them, the decision is yours as long as the numbers are prominent. Just remember to create your project in one of our preferred styles: vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk."

 

I created a shadow box using a  Tim Holtz Vignette Tray and also used many of Tim's products.

More photographs and a step by step process will be shared on the AVJ blog in 2 week's time. 

I do hope that you can find time to create and join in with us as the challenge runs until 18:00 hours on the 5th November.

 To view the  fabulous challenge projects created by my fellow creative guides please click HERE 

Thank You for dropping in x

 

Take care and keep safe

Annie xx 

We Are All Getting Older @ A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone xx I hope you had a lovely Christmas and I wish you a Happy and Creative New Year 2020 xx

It's time for a new challenge theme over at A Vintage Journey blog and Alison, whom many of you know as Butterfly, is our host.

Here is what Alison has to say about this month's challenge theme

"Time for weathering and distressing, or some ageing and antiqueing. Make a project using techniques for making the new look old, whether that's paper projects, altered art or mixed media. Just remember to ensure that you create in one of our preferred styles of vintage, shabby,mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk".

I decided to age a small canvas and papers/photos from my stash, using coffee, rusting powders, distress inks and splatters of gold powder.

I apologise for the poor quality photograph but it has been rather dark here in the West of Scotland the last few days, therefore I have had to take the photo indoors.

Here are a few photographs of the step by step :

To start the process some strong coffee was applied to the canvas, drying each layer before dripping, splatting etc.

You can view some of the coffee layers above.

Vintage Photo Distress Ink was then applied around the edges of the canvas, creating depth and intensity of colour.

Acrylic wax and rust powder, which is then sprayed with vinegar, was applied to the edges of the canvas.

Here you can view the rusted areas

The ageing process is quite dramatic in contrast to the original white canvas

Some splatters of gold really add to overall appearance.

I then began to layer papers, some of which were also aged with coffee and distress inks. Papers were adhered with Ranger Distress Collage Medium Crazing, again creating some texture.

The word 'Journey' was purchased from Calico Craft Parts and was adhered using cosmic shimmer glue.
Some Washi Tape, a tag, a stamp and a few fragments of paper provided the finishing touch.
We hope that you can join in with us for this fabulous new challenge theme, which if the first of the year.
For inspiration you can hop over to A Vintage Journey Challenge blog, where you can view the projects created by my fellow Creative Guides HERE

Thank You so much for dropping in xx Your visits are truly appreciated and I shall return the compliment xx

Take care and huge crafty hugs
Annie xx

Inky Wings at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog

Hi everyone xx Hope you are good  and keeping cosy xx I cannot believe that we are now in October !!! It's been such a quick year xx Today I am sharing a sneak peek of my project created for A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog where I am hosting this month's challenge. 

 

To view the whole project please click HERE , which will take you to the AVJ blog where you can read the challenge details and be inspired by the amazing projects created by my fellow creative guides. 

The challenge runs until Thursday 31st Of October and we would love to have you join in with us xx

Huge Hugs & Happy Crafting

Magic Of Three at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog

Hi everyone....I am delighted to be the host of this month's challenge over at A Vintage Journey. The theme is "The Magic of Three"

It is said that using three of something adds more interest and power whether it is a conversation, art or numbers. Let us see you use three of something in your challenge project (numbers, techniques, stamps, colours, words, products - the list is endless!) Let us know your magic 3 components and ensure your project is in our vintage; shabby; mixed media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn or steampunk styles that we favour.

Our sponsor this month is Emerald Creek Craft Supplies, whose online store you can visit by clicking HERE

For my project I have used Three of Tim's Tiny Houses, three of his finials, three of his Quote Chips and various other products by Tim, including papers, number, arrow, Idea-Ology Botanicals and Paper Dolls. The roof on the Tiny Houses was ran through a TH embossing folder then covered in Pebeo gold and brass coloured wax, finished off with Decoart Antiquing Cream in Patina. I also covered the number 3 with the DA Patina.

 The three houses together certainly look better than two and I just love the quotes. The butterfly wings look so cute too.

My fellow Creative Guides have really pulled it out of the bag as they always do !!!! Do pop over and have a look at their marvellous projects and remember that we have a randomly drawn winner every month as well as three Pinworthy projects chosen by the Creative Guides who will receive a badge for their blog and a chance to guest here at AVJ. To visit the AVJ Blog click HERE

Thank You so much for dropping in and for leaving a comment.....it really does mean so much to me xxx

All Aboard @ Vintage Journey Celebrations

Hi everyone......thank you for dropping by x Its so nice to have you here in my little craft corner of Blog Land x

Today I am sharing my All Aboard project as its the 3rd Anniversary over at AVJ. We also have some new creative guides to introduce to you and numerous projects to inspire you.

Our Sponsor this month Is Country View Crafts who are offering a £20 gif voucher to spend at their online store to our randomly chosen winner.

I have altered a Jack Daniel's Bottle, using Decoart Chalk Paint, Decoart Varnish as well as napkins, Tim Holtz Stamps, Butterflies and Distress Inks. ( plus some items from my stash)

Below you can see how I inked a word stamp and sentiment stamp on to tissue paper  (Archival Jet Black ink) and then adhered them to the bottle with glue medium. The hessian was adhered with Tacky Glue. The bottle top can be removed to enable flowers to be placed inside if required.

The sentiment is one of my favourites and it is so true. Hope you have time to join in with our "Celebrations" we just love to have you on board and there's always  a prizewinner and pinworthy badges, with a chance to join in with us as a Creative Guide on the AVJ blog.

To hop over to the Vintage Journey blog and to view the inspirational makes by my CG sisters as well as other details please click HERE

Take care and best wishes xx

Winter Magic at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog

Hi everyone.............It's time for another challenge over at A Vintage Journey and this month the host is our very talented Deb, of Paxton Valley Folk Art blog, which can be found HERE

Deb has chosen the theme "Winter Magic" and here is what she has to say:

"For us in the northern hemisphere December brings the start of winter and for many that means freezing cold weather and Christmas. But winter is so much more than that and so we ask, how would you interpret the magic of winter? Snow, icicles, colours of blue, silver and white, the festivities of Christmas, misty winter landscapes; show us what your magical focus is for the season and in a vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journaling; industrial or steampunk style."

As someone who just loves Christmas time this theme conjured up memories of  snow and  in particular very cold and frosty mornings. 

As a child I remember Jack Frost making the most beautiful patterns on the window of our bedroom, something not many people see nowadays with central heating in most homes. I also love snow globes and the magic of the glitter dancing within the globe...so so pretty xx

Below is my creation for Deb's Winter Magic challenge

 It's such a shame that I cannot catch the glitter on my camera, even when taking the photograph outside.

Below you can see the snow globe stamp, which was one of a large set of stamps free with Creative Stamp Magazine

 Some Die Cut leaves from Tim Holtz thinlits

 Now beginning to come together...now what shall I create the background with ??

 Some snowflakes to start off!!

 Followed by some Decoart Snow-tex, which I also used on a  TH snowflake stencil and was really pleased with the results. ( I added some water to the snow-tex to make it easier to apply with my paint brush stucco style)

 I then decided to stamp the snow globe and scene in blue, using Wendy Vecchi Archival ink in Manganese Blue

 Some watered down gesso was splattered using a paint brush

 And then some die cuts of Tim Holtz stamp and die sets..........absolutely love this snowman, who appears to like this  snow globe as much as I do !!!

 A little piece of tartan ribbon and some Ranger Stickles glitter applied to the snowflakes, trees, globe and Santa complete the look.

Thanking for dropping in today....it's always nice to know you have visited xx For more inspiration please visit the AVJ blog, where my lovely talented DT sisters have more inspiration for you.  Please CLICK HERE

It would be lovely to see you join in with us this month and our sponsor is in fact Country View Crafts who are offering a £20 voucher to spend in their online store. The winner is randomly chosen so everyone who enters is in with a chance of winning xx

Sending huge wishes to you xx

Celebrate with Fireworks at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog

Hello friends xx Today sees the start of a new challenge at A Vintage Journey. The challenge theme is Baby You're a Firework and our host is Nikki ( Frankie Eats Worms Blog)

Here's what Nikki has to say about the challenge:

"Fireworks are a big part of celebrations at this time of the year. Be inspired by them to create a Tim style project; think Distress Glitter, bold colours, ink and paint splats and fun. Go on, light up that night sky"

And here is my project

 First of all I painted a piece of  7.5" x7.5" card several times in Fresco Finish Inky Pool paint to create the night sky. I then applied  Perfect Medium embossing ink to a firework stamp in my stash, heat embossing red, gold and white sparkling embossing powder. (nb I layered the  firework stamp one at a time)

 A Tim Holtz stamp was applied to  a piece of card and then inked with Vintage photo distress ink. To create a frame I cut out Tim Holz Sizzix postage stamp die, which was embossed and then inked with Ground Espresso and Hickory Smoke Distress Ink. Tim's pediment die was adhered to the top of the ps frame and the word twinkle added ( the word twinkle is from a TH thinlits die.

 I then trimmed one of Tim's Artful Dwellings die cuts to make a rocket adding some bakers twine to the bottom of it.  It's now ready to be lit then it will soar in to the  night sky :-)

You can also see some pieces of Tim's tissue tape, which were adhered to create some further  background detail.

 Some  Tim Holtz Idea-Ology stars and an adage ticket were applied, then 

the edges of the card and mat were  distressed with my scissors.

For more inspiration by my fellow DT sisters you can click HERE

AVJ is now a monthly challenge so you have until the 3rd December to create you projects and enter. Our sponsor is  the fabulous Country View Crafts and the randomly chosen winner will receive a £20 gift voucher to spend online at the CVC store. The  Creative Guides (DT)  also choose three pin worthy winners who will receive a badge to display on their blog as well as the opportunity to join us as a Guest Creative Guide............so it's all worthwhile and we look forward to having you on board with us on our November journey.

.

Thank You for dropping in to visit  me and also for leaving a comment, which I love to read.

To find out even more of the latest news at AVJ....i.e "a special announcement"  click the link below

A Vintage Journey

Have a wonderful weekend xxxx