Happy Birthday Tim....

Hello Friends

Over at Studio L3 Linda has asked us to make a card for Tim Holtz whose birthday it is tomorrow, using any technique or products we choose.  So in honour of Tim's Birthday tomorrow, here is mine....

The main image is an Artistic Outpost stamp and I chose it knowing that Tim is a fan of anything antique as this is certainly an old image.  I also love the saying up the side of the card as playing with inky things is fun and yep....fun is good!

The background paper is a Papermania pad I have had for sometime and the houses across the bottom is one of Ranger's on-the-edge dies.  The background of the stamped image is made from a piece of cardstock which had been in the bottom of my spray box.  I place plain cardstock in an old pizza box which I use as a spray box and in which I received goodies.  When the card looks "interesting" I replace it and use the card for projects.  So this look has been created from a mixture of Colourwash and reinker sprays, Perfect Pearl mists, Glimmer Mist and so is quite unique!  I have embossed this with a Ranger embossing folder.  There is a Snippet of Ranger die cut ribbon and the main image has been stamped using Archival Latte ink and distressed and edged with Gathered Twigs DI.  The whole card has been sprayed with Perfect Pearl mist.

Hope Tim likes and Happy Birthday for tomorrow!

I am also entering this into the Playground as it includes Snippets and to Simon Says Stamp as the theme this week is "Anything Goes".  I cannot believe this is the last CC2C Challenge.  Roll  no 3!

TTFN

Hettie

Christmas is only ..... days away!!

Hello Friends

I am sure the Elves up in the North Pole are working flat out in readiness for The Man in the red coat to deliver lots of presents next month and much the same can be said for crafters across the globe.  I saw quite a few desks on the WOYWW hop last night with Christmas projects on them.  

I thought I would share a little something I have made this week and has been in the planning stage for quite some time.  Hope you like it..... 

Shall I let you into a secret?  This Wreath is actually old and recycled!  Yep!  The wreath is willow and I originally decorated it some 4 maybe 5 years ago when I first had my Silhouette machine and discovered Perfect Pearls!!  I cut out lots of leaves out on the Silhouette and then inked them up and sprayed them with Perfect Pearls.  I also made some wire spirals and paper beads, which I had learnt how to make the first time I went to Cornwall. 

And here you can see the wire spirals and paper beads (also recycled).  The flowers are primarily made from metal, some with chipboard bases for firmness.  Some of them are made with metal sheets left over from a project I did in Cornwall nearly 2 years ago and some of them with metal card which I had from Paperartsy when I renewed my subscription to a certain magazine (CS) some time ago.

My new TH Poinsettia dye has been used here with an extra layer at the bottom of chipboard which was covered with paper, inked and stamped.  I wanted to ensure that the poinsettia did not try to wrap itself around the willow wreath.

All the metal was inked with TH alcohol inks, stamped with various stamps, embossed with embossing folders, sanded and then layered using hot glue.  Once I was happy with the flower shape I arranged around the wreath, wrapped the wreath in ribbons, added spirals and beads which were wired in place and then set about attaching the flowers, leaves, pinecones and rosettes using my glue gun. 

Here is a SU punched flower which was actually left over from my recent Halloween Mail Box project which I added some "snow" using my Ranger paint dabber.

Some of the paper beads I used as centres to the flowers and the various snowflake buttons and elements were brought back from the US by my friend last year.  The rosettes were in my box from making them last Christmas for my Christmas Album cover.

Unfortunately these photos were taken in the house so the sheer shimmering effect cannot be appreciated in these photos.  I have sprayed the whole Wreath with Perfect Pearls Heirloom Gold mist which has given it even more shimmeriness!

Thanks for sticking with me to the end!  I hope you like my Wreath and maybe you will feel like making one yourself.  It really is quite simple though a little fiddly.  Also, be careful when using hot glue to affix the metal layers....the metal gets hot too when you push the top layer down with a finger.  Use a pencil instead! 

I am entering this wreath in to the following challenges:-

Compendium of Curiosities - Texture fades

Frilly and Funkie - Chipboard and Metal

Snippets Playground - Snippets
CC101 - Altered Metal 

TTFN

Hugs

Hettie

CC2C - Challenge 26 - 'Tis the Season

Hello Friends

Linda over at Studio L3 has asked us to turn to P 41 of the Compendium of Curiosities Boo II for this week's Challenge and this week the Challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique with a prize of a $25 shopping spree.  Now who wouldn't like a chance to win that with all the new goodies that Mr Tim Holtz and Ranger have released in recent months?

I am sneaking in by a cat's whisker as time seems to have passed me by this week for some reason!  As usual we are not able to share the technique in respect to Mr Holtz but you can, of course, buy the book and join in the last 10 challenges of Linda's.  

So without further ado...

Not done a tag recently for my challenges, but I do rather like this one. I think it will lend itself to going on a card for someone, but someone I am giving to as the post will be horrendous!  

I have used a few new goodies on this tag.  

(1) the product which we used for the challenge itself. 

(2) antiqued bronze distress stain - LOVE IT! 

(3) the Poinsettia die - LOVE THAT TOO!  I was lucky enough to have a little go of Helen's die at The Crop and fell in love with it instantly.

I wish you could see this up close as the shimmer from the bronze distress stain and the perfect pearls mist is gorgeous.  The poinsettia itself is made from some book pages which were adhered onto thin chipboard for previous projects and were in my Snippets box, hence the different types.  I can see a french novel and a dictionary page there.  

Thanks for popping by and please feel free to leave me a comment.  I love comments. 

TTFN

Hettie

Ingredients:-  Distress stains, distress inks, dies, stamps, ink refresher - all Ranger/Tim Holtz, lace, ribbon, kraft cardstock.

CC2C - Try a little etching....

Hello Friends

I am doing something tonight that I don't do very often....no! Not housework...but a second posting.  The lovely Linda has suggested we try something a little different and out of the box but fun nonetheless this week.  Glass etching.  On reading the information on Friday night I set about trying to locate some etching cream. You would not believe the number of sniggers I got and then having to repeat myself emphasising the ETCHing!!  Every place I tried within a 20 mile radius told me that you cannot get it any more....(where have I heard that before) although I found I could buy it online.   However, as we passed the Model Shop I asked Hubby to stop...politely....and the chappie in there told me for the umpteenth time that they could not sell it due to EU rules...something about toxic, fire risk, irritant ......(my eyes glazed over at this point....if you are going to eat it, rub it in your eyes whilst smoking that is your lookout), but he did have a spray version.  Out came my purse and I snatched the can up before he asked if I would be having adult supervision!!

So here is the result of my playing with the spray can last night.......

I LOVE it!  So much so I have ordered some cream now to finish the other four glasses I bought.  I would say that on a die cut this large it might be easier to use straight sided glasses but what is a little tuck and crease here and there?  I am going to get some glittery pebbles to go in the bottom of the glasses  and a tea light in each for Christmas.  I will also make the other four up for gifts, also with glittery pebbles and tealights.  

If you want to see the tutorial which Linda has done for this technique click on HERE to be whisked off to Simon Says Stamp blog.

Thanks Linda for this.  Thank goodness for the Model Shop in Abergavenny or else I would have missed out!  Woo Hoo!  I promise I won't rub the cream/paste in my eyes too!

I will be back tomorrow, as it is a VERY important day!!

TTFN

Hettie

CC2C - Like a bit of alcohol.....ink!

Hello Friends

Linda over at StudioL3 has asked us this week to turn to page 59 of the Compendium of Curiosities 2  and following the instructions there make our creation.  I cannot tell you the techniques used but I can tell you it involves alcohol ink.  So here is mine......

I used the 1.5" Memory Glass and frame to make a double sided piece for my Christmas Album that I am currently making, which piece I want to hang on the spine of the book.  Here is the other side.....

I used Terracotta, Red Pepper, Cranberry and Black alcohol inks all by Ranger and then two of Mr T!m Holtz's lovely Christmas stamps to create the pattern with Archival ink.   The frame is also by Ranger and you are not seeing double with the link on the top, I have already added a jump ring to enable me to hang the frame when it is ready! There is also Snippets of metal foil in between the glass so that you can see the stamped patterns nicely.

And just so you can see my Christmas Album in creation (not finished yet), I can show you the undecorated cover with a few other embellishments I want to use on the cover/spine of it....

Thanks for popping by and please leave me a comment.  There is still time for you to join in with this Challenge as you have until Thursday evening.  I am quite surprised that we are on Challenge 24 this week!  It doesn't seem that long ago we started on the first Challenge!  I do love these challenges so thanks Linda!

Don't forget to call in at Mr T!m Holtz's blog for more wonderful ideas and creations.

TTFN

Hettie 

CC2C - I am not going to let a lickle painey get me down!! So there!

Hello Friends

As the title on my post suggests, I am still hurting from my failed Broomstick Lesson yesterday but it is not going to keep me down.....not for long anyway.  I have some very interesting bruises in places I haven't known have existed for a while and I am already trying to figure out what colours of Distress Inks I could use to match the colours up for future projects.  At the moment I am thinking Dusty Concord, Peeled paint, Weathered Wood, Mustard Seed, amongst others, but I am sure these colours will change as the days go on.  My left arm and shoulder hurt like crazy and we don't talk about the a**** (that is 5 letters not 4!) or else it will start to hurt again too. So armed with ibruprofen and arnica I am carrying on regardless!  

So for those of you who called by yesterday and saw my desk you will possibly remember I had the makings of some C cards on my desk.  Well here they are made up....

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I did a twofor!  I stamped both Inkadinkado stamps with Archival ink and then turning to page 50 of T!m Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities II, as I was instructed to by Linda of Studio L3, I coloured in some parts using Distress Markers (building up my collection slowly but surely now)




Once they were dry I inked around the edges using Vintage Photo Distress Ink and used my Rock Candy Distress Stickles for the Santa picture and Scattered Straw for the other.  I just love how they add a subtle glimmer to your pictures and makes them look oldey worldy.  Once all that was done I then turned them into some C cards to be sent in the not too distant future now!! 

Before I leave you I want to Thank Tracy of Cuddly Bunny (go check out her blog as she does some awesome projects and some hilarious posts) for sending me a lickle parcel which my neighbour brought up last night.  

We "met" when I saw her awesome little Domino book for another of Linda's Challenges and she kindly offered to send some dominos to me as I only seem to get black here in the UK.  I was absolutely chuffed to bits to receive these last night, especially after the day I had yesterday.  The tag is soo rich and gorgeous too and another for my wall.   I shall hopefully make something that you will be pleased to see soon.  Thank You sooo much Tracy!

Off to track some more ibrupropen (or however they are spelt!).

TTFN

Hettie

A Reflective Piece - CC2C & Tim Holtz

Hello Friends

I thought I would share with you something I have been working on the last few evenings.  Linda over at Studio L3 has asked us to turn to page 57 of the Crafters Compendium II and make a piece of artwork using the technique on that page.  This month The Funkie Junkie Boutique are sponsoring the challenge giving away a $25 voucher.  This week's challenge happens to coincide with Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2012, so it is a twoferone week!!

Here is a my piece.....

A little bit bigger than a tag or card from me this time!!  The whole surround to the mirror is about 11" square.  I have been holding on to it for quite some time with the intention of covering it with paper and making an arty piece but when I saw the new Crafters Compendium with this technique I knew what I would be doing with it.  So, when I saw Linda's Challenge for this week I dug out the mirror and set to work in making this piece. 

I have added some metal embellishments  which I have collected along the way.

Including some watch pieces saved from previous projects,  some of which are real watch pieces.

And of course, some die cuts from Ranger and a rusty cockeral in the middle.  For some reason our cockeral has not quite got used to the darker mornings and is to be heard at 5am!!

I just love this little piece which I bought in Hobbycraft a month or so ago.  Wish I had bought another one now.  I love the way the light reflects on this piece but it makes it difficult to take decent photos, especially early in the morning on a dull day!

Here you can see a before and after version with the back of the mirror as it is now and the new version.  Think I like the right hand one better myself!  (Though I was finding it difficult to take a picture without my face in it....I can assure you that at this close range and first thing in the morning that would be scary!) 

Now what am I going to do with this? is a question I was asked last night by my friend.  Not sure yet.  I thought about a C gift for my nephew and his soon to be wife, but Hubby says no!  Put it in the Den and make another one for Rhys was his reply. The first is always better than subsequent ones. I did warn him that would mean another trip to the "Ishopwhichcannotbenamed" (Ikea!)!!  Hee Hee!  We shall see ey!

Thanks for popping by.  Do go and look at the lovely pieces that have been made both on the Tim Holtz Blog and Linda's.  There are some stunning pieces.  And of course, don't forget to check out the Funkie Junkie if you want/need some stash!

TTFN

Hettie

CC2C - 21st Challenge - Blended Stains

Hello Friends

Linda over at Studio L3 has asked us this week to pop over to page 45 of the Compendium of Curiosities for this week's Challenge and follow the instructions on that page and make your project.  This week the lovely Guys and Gals at Simon Says Stamp are sponsoring the Challenge too!  Simon Says Stamp are also asking us to use Tape on their Challenge this week so I am entering this piece there too! 

Here is my take on the Technique.....

As you see I have a bit of a "Love" theme going possibly due to it being mine and Mr Hettie's wedding anniversary coming up.  For the tag I used some SU Very Vanilla cardstock and my TH tag die and a mixture of Dusty Concord, Chipped Sapphire, Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint and Black Soot Distress Stains and Distress Inks.  The background stamp is my TH Butterfly collection and stamped with Cobalt Archival ink.

For the tape I used Purple Archival ink and my TH Christmas stamp to stamp on some masking tape.  I then added a little Dusty Concord DI ink once it had dried. The Lace was created using my TH lace die.  The flowers were made using the TH Pinecone die, glue gun and I added some DI and micro beads to the centre.  You can see the bees have been and dropped some pollen on their way out!

I finished it off with a word tag, again from TH and some ribbon bought on our recent trip to Prague!   Now that I have completed this tag, I have plans to use it on a scrapbook layout using a photo taken on our recent trip to Buckingham Palace.

Thanks for popping by.  Do go and see some of the other wonderful pieces using this technique.

TTFN

Hettie

CC2C - Christmas is coming....

Hello Friends

The Lovely Linda over at Studio L3 has asked us this week to turn to page 44 of the Compendium of Curiosities book II, follow the instructions and put the technique to use.  Well, as Christmas is lurking ever closer this technique was crying out for me to play with some recently acquired stamps to let them play!

Here is the first one using Pine Needles, Pumice Stone and Walnut Stain DIs on cream cardstock.  I then used some Christmas paper and punched a strip using my EK Success 2in1 punch adding some stickles to add a touch of sparkle. punched a label to add a sentiment on edging with Fired Brick DI.

And for the second stamp I used Coffee Archival ink, Antique Linen and Walnut Stain DIs on white cardstock.  For the background papers I used some glassine and alcohol inks and then layered this onto some more Christmas Bo Bunny card and wrapped some fibres tying them in a bow.  Both stamps are Inkadinkado.

Loved the look of this technique and can see some more Christmas cards coming up using this technique.  Thanks Linda!

There is still time if you wish to join in with this technique.  You just need to ensure you have Mr Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities II book and play along.  Don't forget to pop along to Tim Holtz's website for more ideas and how tos.  

Thanks for popping by.  

TTFN 

Hettie

CC2C - Card for my Daddy

Hello Peeps

It is time for me to share with you the card I have made using the technique which the Lovely Linda has asked us to use this week.  Linda asked us to turn to page 47 of the Second Compendium of Curiosities Book (I do so hope Mr Holtz is working on the Third book!).  This week the Challenge is being sponsored by Funkie Junkie, who are giving away a $25 gift voucher, so it is worth joining in.   As is the Rules I cannot tell you what the technique involves but here is what I made using it.  A card with Lilies on for my Dad whose birthday it is on Friday.  He does so love his flowers so I used more "manly" colours for this card.

I used a little Spritz and Flick technique on the background and on this second photograph I was trying to show the Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls mist but I am not sure if you can see it.

The stamp is a new one I bought on Sunday, and silly me I have forgotten to look what make it is to let you know.  It was a bargain at £4.99 BOGOF!!  Woo Hoo!  Love the old bargains.

Layered using Snippets from my boxes and I used Brushed Corduroy, Mustard Seed, Victorian Velvet, Broken China, Peeled Paint DIs as well as Picket Fence Distress Stains.  Martha Stewart Butterflies as well as my favourite Tim Holtz flourish stamp and my distressing tool around all the edges.  

Thanks for looking and please leave a comment in the Visitor's Book so I know you have been.

TTFN

Hettie

CC2C - Cordinations Challenge

Hello there Bloggers.  Happy Tuesday to you and I hope the weather is being kinda OK or better, i.e. not raining!

Linda over at Studio L3 has set us the task of turning to page 61 of Vol 2 of Mr Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities where you will find this week's technique, which involves Cordinations papers.  This week the lovely Guys and Gals at Simon Says Stamp are offering a prize of £25 to one lucky participant so it is worth joining in if you can.  Click HERE for details of this week's challenge with Linda.

The Peeps at Simon Says Stamp are also asking you to use your favourite technique for a chance to win $50 and as this piece includes a few of my favourite techniques I shall be entering it there too.  If you have not noticed the new blinkie on the top of my margin, I was very lucky to come in the Top 3 last week with THIS piece and I was on Cloud 9 when I found out on Friday.  Thank you!  

I have to confess that I only recently ventured into my Cordinations book and actually used any of the papers last week when I made the Christmas Trees.  You see, I like to hoard them until I find the right project for them.  I had the urge to use the Victorian Velvet sheet for this project as I was finally going to use my Destinations papers, which again I have had a while but not used, and there are hints of Victorian Velvet  in the paper.

Right then, enough waffling.  Here is the layout which I have created using the technique on page 61.....

One of our favourite photos of the Eiffel Tower as it shows the sheer awesomeness of the Tower as well as the ingenuity which went into building it all those years ago.  The text was cut out using my latest toy, my Cricut using the font Stone Script.  The centre panel next to the photo has had a mixture of DI and gold wax rubbed over the embossing.  Throughout this layout I have used Victorian Velvet, Walnut Stain and Vintage Photo DIs and all edges were distressed using the TH Distressor and Walnut Stain DI.

I recently came across my tin of stamps which I used to collect as a child (just a couple of years ago!) and so I decided to have a little rummage through the tin as I was sure there would be some French stamps in there.  Sure enough there were and the stamp which is still affixed to the envelope with the frank mark on there is dated 1980! The stamp to the left is actually a Tim Holtz stamp, and the mini map is a Cavallini sticker. The sprockets are TH as well as the film strip. All the brads I used I bashed with my TH hammer.  It is OK, I am old enough to use a hammer unsupervised!  We came back from Paris with somewhere 700 photographs between us!  I love this little heart charm but cannot remember where I bought it!  There had to be a heart on there somewhere as it was our 20th Wedding Anniversary (I was a child bride!).

Unfortunately I have taken these photos under lights and you cannot see the full effect of Perfect Pearls (PP) which despite being one of the messier products to use, is one of my favourites and I like to stamp on paper using DI and then powder the PPs and then mist to wick the ink underneath.  You can also see some PP used on the tag too.  More of that to come in a moment.

Here you can see the stamping direct on to the background and the washi tape and tissue tape I have used.  I only have two washi tapes but I can see I will possibly be buying more at some stage!  There has to be some purple tape available somewhere!

Here you can see the tag which I have removed from behind the photograph.  I got the distressed effect by placing a TH flourish mask on my craft mat, then placing the tag over the top and sanding the card with my sanding block. Loved doing this and cannot believe it has been ages since I last used this technique.  Then I stamped a flourish over the top and dusted with PP.

Thanks for visiting today and please sign in the Visitor's Book so I know you have been here.

Hugs

Hettie

CC2C - Christmas in July

Hello there!

Most of you who follow my blog will know that I take part in the Lovely Linda's Compendium of Curiosities II Challenge, whereby Linda sets a challenge every Friday by asking us to turn to page____ [fill in a number here] of the lovely Tim Holtz's Second Compendium of Curiosities book and make something using that technique.  

Most of you who follow my blog will also know that I LOVE Christmas.   What some of you who follow my blog may not know is that I have an absolute passion for Christmas trees!  I am quite happy to see a Christmas tree with just lights on, and if I go to a town or city at Christmas (especially Prague) I always make a bee line for the Christmas tree.  Which is why I am desperate to go to New York to see the Christmas tree in Times Square.  

So, when I saw Linda's challenge for this week, out of nowhere Christmas trees popped in to my head. I remembered that Mr Holtz had done a posting involving Christmas trees on his blog some time ago so an idea was born....

Linda asked us to turn to page 54 of the Compendium and make a project using Perfect Pearls Mist.  So these trees were made with Cordinations cardstock and then sprayed liberally with Perfect Pearls Mist.

The black tinsel is quite a fine tinsel with little stars in that were adorning some of my Christmas presents from my Buddy Mandy last Christmas!  As they are technically Snippets, I will be entering these into the Playground ready for Christmas!

And just so ya know what I used to make the trunks with, the first one was made using one of these.  No, I didn't break one to make it.  Some time ago when one of these spongey things was past it's best I thought to keep the handle as "it would come in use some day"!  I had to trim it and as I could not find the mitre block I just cut it with a saw on the end of the desk and managed to cut my finger with it!!  Big Owch!  I only had two of these tiny flower pots so I went online at lunchtime today and ordered some so I can make more!  I know they will make great little gifts at Christmas!

I cannot wait until the new Christmas trees from Ranger hit the shops over here.  When I saw what Mario did for the recent CHA show I was all for hopping on a plane and taking them off the display.  Not sure what Hubby would say about having 40-something different coloured trees adoring the house though!

I hope you like what I have done and if I have inspired you at all, then why not pick up a copy of the Compendium II book and join in with the challenges.  If you want to know how I made the trees, just search for Christmas Trees on Tim's blog.

Please sign in the Visitor's Book so I know you have been.  Thanks for looking.

Hugs

Hettie

CC2C 15 - SSS - Honeycomb Sentiment

Hello Bloggers

Before I start my post today, I just would like to say a huge Congratulations to the British Team for all their achievements in the small event which is taking place over here called the Olympics.  You have all done a wonderful job regardless of whether you have achieved medals.  Well done boys and girls.  You are doing the country proud!  I have never enjoyed an Olympic event so much as I am this time. It may be possibly due to it all taking place in sociable hours!

Right, little ramble over, now I want to show you my latest piece of work for the Lovely Linda’s Compendium of Curiosities II Challenge as well as the Simon Says Stamp for this week.

Linda has asked us to turn to Tim Holtz’s book II at page 56 and make a piece using that technique.  As it happens, I had recently bought a new set of embossing folders which were dying to break free of the packaging and on Tuesday a new stamp arrived, which I had ordered.  So an idea was born to create this……  

The background was inked using Distress Inks (Wild Honey, Forest Moss, Rusty Hinge and Brushed Corduroy), spritzed with a little water and then stamped with a flurry of stamps (Hero Arts, Penny Black, Paperartsy, Blade Rubber).  The background for the sentiment was inked up and again spritzed, the sentiment stamped with Archival (coffee) and then embossed with clear embossing powder.

My Bees were stamped onto grungepaper using black Archival ink, embossed with clear embossing powder.  The bodies were coloured using Distress markers (Wild Honey) and the wings were painted using Pearl Perfect Pearls and waterbrush.   When I got home from work last night, Hubby had been decanting our first crop of honey into jars during the afternoon.  Mmmmmn!  Beautiful Honey on toast!  Perhaps that is why I love using these Bee stamps so much! 

I mounted the black cardstock onto canvas board, a little washi tape around the edge and then layered all the elements on top, punched hanging holes using Crop a dile and then wired the hanger, and added a little fluff to the wires and applied a liberal amount of Gold Glimmer Mist over the whole piece.  (Well!  Team GB did get two lovely gold medals yesterday didn't we!)

Simon Says Stamp is looking for sentiments so I am entering this piece in there too. 

Thanks for looking and please sign in to the Visitor’s Book so I know you have been.  Gotta love comments!

TTFN

Hettie