WW #58 - BE THANKFUL

So many ways of being thankful, that being the theme over at Wicked Wednesday ATCs this week. I decided to go with a sort of harvest card in the style of Tim's November tag.

I used a cream base card, stamped the grasses with embossing ink and added clear powder which I heat set. I then used various distress inks on the background and 'flicked' water over it to add some 'bleached' areas. I stamped the word thankful (a Hero Arts stamp) in black Archival and the background stamps with distress ink wiping away any ink from the embossed grass. I then stuck a little array of tiny leaves and an acorn to the bottom corner. Oh, and I roughed the edges of the card too.
It's a cutie eh?

WOYWW #179

I'm up a bit earlier this week in practice for a very early start tomorrow in order to travel down the horrid M6 to the NEC show. I wonder whether our leader of the Wednesday desk hop, Julia will be there or any of you fellow woywwers. If so, give us a wave.
I've actually been crafting my little heart out this week although some of my work has been on the computer and to do with my DT slot. However, I've made Tim's tag, a couple of ATCs and am now working on a birthday card which I hope to finish today. So this is the state of my desk:

Obviously taken last night but it is still the same this morning except for the banana. I ate that! Lots of distress stains and ink pads together with a few leaves, die cut from the Autumn strip die. The rest is probably the same as always.
Right then, I'm off to start my travels and hopefully leave a few comments, that's if Blogger doesn't play up like it has for the past 2 days making my life so difficult.

12 TAGS OF 2012 - NOVEMBER

Another wonderful tag from Tim for this month. I adore the Autumn colours although not the season. I much prefer it when everything is springing into life rather than going to sleep because the awful cold is coming.
I had all the distress inks and stains plus the strip die, but that was it really, so another compromise which I think has worked really well.

I think the squirrel has his eye on that acorn but he had better wait a while because the glossy accents aren't quite dry!!
The leaf stamp is from Tim's Falling Leaf collection, the word is a Hero Arts stamp, the chicken wire stamp is from The Artistic Stamper and the gingham stamp is from Wendy Vecchi.
Another fun project which has given me a great idea for a birthday card I have to go and make now for an elderly male neighbour. Thanks Tim.

MY HELS WORKSHOP PIECE

I knew I'd taken a couple of photos but they weren't on my camera or computer, then I realised, I'd used my phone. A bit of bluetoothing later and here they are:

We began with a 12"x12" page from one of Tim's stash and cut and folded it before decorating it with distress inks and masks. We used 3 techniques to decorate 3 tags and then made up our own decoration for a 4th tag using any of the techniques that Hels had shown us. I managed to stick to the colour combinations on the paper for all of mine and used the 4th tag to help decorated the outside middle of my sample.

The tags were placed in little pockets on the inside, held in place by 3 tickets on which we stamped various sayings.  I loved the use of several masks (stencils) on one tag, building up the decoration with different colours. I also adored the effect that the new metallic stains give, although I am still to open mine at home.
The whole project took all day so you can judge how many techniques we were shown.
Some samples were simply stunning especially the tickets made by Lou who had used a diamond mask inked through with red/white/blue. It looked amazing.
I hope Hels gets invited back to take more workshops because the day was fantastic.

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC #54 - BUTTERFLIES

Last week, over at Wicked Wednesday ATC, was a celebration of their 1st birthday and there were umpteen prizes to be given away. Guess what! I won a $12 voucher to spend on Just Some Lines digis - which I have, whoopee and a big thank you.
This weeks challenge is a favourite of many I guess, butterflies. I am having fun using gesso and bits of paper, ribbon, grungepaper, etc. so this is my card:

The base is mountboard rather than just card because using both gesso and inks/paints on card makes for a disintegrated mess! I stuck little material butterflies together with hand - cut diamonds from grungepaper and scrap pieces of card border to the base before giving it the once over with white gesso. Once dry I used various green distress inks over the top. I have a gorgeous luscious green ink spray that has refused to spray from day one but it does make the most wonderful 'blobs' of colour which is what you can see in places. Finally, I distressed 2 card butterflies that have been waiting in my stash for years to be used on this ATC, stuck them together, added flower stamens for antennae then some seed beads for it's body. Another little punched butterfly and some darker distress to the edge of the card finished it off.
I enjoyed making this and it was so quick. Enjoy the different colours that my butterfly tea light gives and I'll see you next week:

PLAY DAY

I played all day long yesterday and got very inky indeed. Had a jolly good laugh, saw some fabulous art, caught up on the goss' from the girls, learnt loads of new techniques, played with some wonderful stencils/masks, tried out various combinations of distress and all in all, had a ball.
I didn't finish my workshop project probably due to all of the above, but it is near completion and I'll show you when it is.
However, I took all my special crafty bits and bobs with me, made by my pal Sylvia, and boy oh boy did they make a difference, especially the cushion, plus they were admired by the girls who told me I was very lucky and that Sylvia is one clever lady. I took this to show them all in their glory at their first workshop -

The tote bag was amazing because it just expanded and held all I needed yesterday.
So, Hels took off back down the M6 after a successful demo day at Inspirations on Friday and then yesterday's workshop. We all just hope that she is invited back very soon indeed.

WOYWW # 161

Nearly didn't join in this week. I got up about 6.20am but my neck has been so sore that I couldn't sit at my computer, especially without my lenses in as I have to lean forward to be able to see the screen, so I went back to bed. Anyway, I've joined in for almost every woyww so it would be wrong to let our leader, Julia down for something like a 'pain in the neck' - not my DH either this time!!LOL
Here is my desk then, it's very exciting - NOT.

Can you tell my neck is sore?? The only thing on my work surface is a lonely little butterfly left over from a tag I made the other day. However, my prize came from Ranger - the summer distress inks, but as I had already bought a set I have put these on Ebay. My heat gun sits in it's place, not plugged in. I never leave any electrical tool either plugged in or switched on if the socket has a switch. I reckon that's why so many go wrong, power surges and all that. Actually, it's really because I am scared of electricity after getting a shock off my grandad's table lamp when I was about 4 years old.
Well, we have another beautiful rainy day here in the NW of England!!!!!! I'm sure my feet are turning into flippers, and my DH wants to go out. He'll have to drive as I can't turn my head, be round to some of yours later though. Bye.

SUMMER DISTRESS INK PADS

Ranger have picked me to win one of 12 of the new Summer distress ink pads.

yippppeeeeeeee!!!

Just had to share this as I am so excited. I knew 2012 was my year.

HAVE YOU SEEN THEM???

Better still, have you got them yet??

SALTY OCEAN
MOWED LAWN
PICKED RASPBERRY

12 TAGS OF 2012 - MAY

We've had a little wait for this month's tag because Tim has been teaching at Ranger U, but he caught up with the May tag just the other day.
I started mine yesterday but didn't get it finished because I needed to lift my big sewing machine - my titchy craft one doesn't do zig zag - and my right wrist is sore with arthritis just now so I couldn't manage it yesterday. However, onwards and upwards as they say and I just got on with it today.

I got to use one of the brass type charms that my DH made for me before he sold all his engineering machines and tools. Cute eh? I so love making faux porcelain flowers and adding a bit of distressing with the new spring colours made them even more special.
I really like this month's tag. It was simple to make but is so effective.

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATCs #31 - TOTALLY TROPICAL

I missed this little ATC challenge blog in it's first week, didn't know about it, but once I found it, I've tried to join in each week. So when I saw that this week is no. 31 I couldn't believe it. I have lots of ATC swaps now except for those that I think are better than the others. They are going on cards.
So, Totally Tropical is the theme this time. Click HERE for a quick trip over to see all the details.

I swiped a few distress ink pads on my craft sheet, spritzed lightly with water and dragged my card through it. To soften it a bit I then used a blending tool to make the sand stand out more. The wonderful palm trees are from the amazing Lindsay Mason's Christmas stamps. See, not everything is just for Christmas.. The deck chair was 'pinched' from one of my hubbies retirement cards and that was 6 years ago so just goes to show, us crafters never throw anything away!! The enamelled charm is also from my stash which is ages old.
Just a bit of fun again. x

SDC 53 - ATCs

This weeks challenge over at the Stampotique Designers Challenge blog is - ATCs.
I thought I would have a go at this one, so here is my card:

2 sticks have been framed - again!
I sprayed some Adirondak inks onto some pre-wetted cardstock and then sprayed water through a stencil over the top of the ink. A bit of dabbing and drying made the base. I then simply used a Copic multi liner pen to draw the frame and coloured every other section with butterscotch acrylic dabber. I stamped 2 sticks with Archival black and again onto some card. They were coloured with Copic caios and the bodies 3D foamed onto the stamped images. I then used studio g stamps for the words which I cut out after colouring them with mustard seed DI. They were stuck down with glossy accents.
I love 2 sticks, they are amongst my favourite Stampotique stamps - which are all of them!!!!

GETTING BUGGY

The Saturday reminder is posted over at Wicked Wednesday ATCs. I have the honour of being a guest designer this week and made a little bug house for today.

I dry embossed an ATC sized piece of grungepaper which I stuck to some card for stability. This was distressed with wild honey DI - I thought the honey may attract some bees LOL. The little door and barge boards were distressed in green and then either stamped with bugs or written on. I stamped the gorgeous butterfly on to card and coloured and glittered it. I just had to include a bead dragonfly from the lovely Heather Fenn-Edwards book. I have made so many of these now that I have lost count. A few tiny leaves, a ladybird and a glow in the dark ant finished the little bug house.
Such fun too.

ATCs/CARDS WITH ATTITUDE # 9

Pop over to our challenge blog HERE for all the details on this fortnight's challenge. After all, there is a prize of 4 digis up for grabs.

I just couldn't resist this image from our sponsors Delicious Doodles. She's called Pirate Polly. I printed her onto card suitable for my Copics which I used to colour her. After very carefully cutting her out, I used 3D foam to mount her on some pre-coloured card (I just swiped a distress ink pad over it) to which I had glued tiny shells, pearls and a brass lighthouse coloured with alcohol inks.

ATCs & CARDS WITH ATTITUDE #8 - ANYTHING GOES

This cheerful little sunflower, called Sunflower Smile by Robyn's Fetish, is dancing merrily in the sunshine.

I printed the image onto printed sticky paper and again onto card. Each was coloured with Copics. The card image was cut out and fastened over the other image with a coloured brad. I punched some grass out of green patterned paper and using 3D foam stuck it to the bottom of the card. A few Prima flowers, seed beads and glossy accents on some of the sunflower petals added interest. I then distressed the edges of the card with spiced marmalade distress ink.

 

Come and join us this fortnight over at ATCs & Cards with Attitude, you can make anything for the theme so long as it's either a CARD or an ATC.
Our wonderful sponsor is Robyns Fetish who is offering the winner their choice of 5 digi images.

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATCS #18 - LOVE/HEARTS OR VALENTINES DAY

I'm playing catch up today. Just one more card to make then I'm on top again. This ATC is for this week's Wicked Wednesday ATC challenge.

I thought I would use some of my stash for this one, so out came my grungeboard sheets. I started by using picket fence distress stain over a swirl stamp which I stamped on a cream base card. Over this, once dry, I blended victorian velvet, aged mahogony DIs and blended the edge with walnut stain. (Thanks Hels for today's tutorial and the reminder of this fab technique). I used gold dabber on the letters and edged those with walnut stain also. The heart is coloured with fired brick distress stain and the key with walnut stain distress stain. I stuck everything down with glossy accents including the red rose.
A simple card but I enjoyed making it and got my fingers covered in ink........well, that's all part of the fun eh?

GRUNGY MONDAY #35 - A HOLTZIAN ATC

I'm a bit late this week but I've made it just in time. Having said that, I don't always join in with Grungy Monday which is the brain child of Linda Ledbetter, but I try if I can. This weeks challenge is to make a 'Holtzian ATC' using at least one of Tim's products or techniques.
Here is my card:

I used a grungeboard butterfly,
vintage photo and aged mahogony distress inks
blending tools and foam pads,
paper from some of Tim's Idea-ology range
glossy accents.

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATCS CHALLENGE #14 - OCEAN/AQUATIC

All the deets for this super challenge are HERE.
I enjoyed this one - but then I enjoy all the challenges I have a go at - and got to use my precious Brixham shells again. Any excuse to use those because when they are all gone I will be able to make the excuse to go to Devon again for more!!!

The base is mount board covered in Terra - Sahara - which gives a sandy effect when dry smeared with a bit of broken china distress stain. I used the top of the branches from an Andy Skinner tree stamp to stamp sea weed in forest moss DI which I then clear embossed. The rest of the scene is made up of sea moss, Martha Stewart punched branches, shells, a sea horse charm, a fish button, some sparkly sticky gems and a brass anchor embossed with aged mahogony distress embossing powder. The whole effect was glued together with multi matt medium.
Thanks to Wicked Wednesday ATCs for picking me as one of their top 3 again last week. It's such fun to have a go.

GRUNGY MONDAY #31 - A BIRTHDAY CARD FOR TIM

Having won a prize from Tim this week, it would be rude not to say another thank you to him so I have joined in the Grungy Monday challenge this week.
Here is what I came up with:

I used a base card 8"x8" and covered the front with a piece of kraft resist paper which I painted with picket fence distress stain. I die cut the hanging sign from core'dinations card together with the autumn gatherings and letters from vintage market strip dies. All from Tim's core'dinations distress card. I also used his jump rings, glossy accents, DIs walnut stain, rusty hinge, peeled paint, shabby shutters, bundled sage and forest moss. I die cut some tattered leaves from shrink plastic, coloured them very lightly with DIs and shrank them in my melt pot using clear UTEE.
This was a lot of fun but quite worrying too. After all, making something for the King of Distress which is worthy was somewhat daunting. Hope it's ok.

WICKED WEDNESDAY ATC CHALLENGE #10 - CHRISTMAS

Another week so another challenge over at Wicked Wednesday. This time the theme is Christmas or if you prefer not to do that you can choose Winter Holiday.
I have some new Xmas stamps, well they are new this year, and have already had a little play when making Xmas cards, so I decided to use some of the smaller ones to make my entry and chose, Christmas.

I used a mixture of different alcohol inks to make a setting sky, stamped the 'inn' twice and coloured it with distress inks before using 3D foam to stick it to the base once I had stamped the palm trees. I used some Brilliance, moonlight white to stamp the star. I then stamped the words with Archival and coloured the background with iced spruce DI.
Do you know what? I don't have any ink on my hands and no, I didn't wear gloves. I must be slipping!!