Wednesday 29 June 2011

PAPILLON

Another creation for Simon Says Stamp and Show A WORD.

I used Adirondack Color Wash denim for the background onto watercolour paper.
All my images have been embossed in white and machine stitching added to the edges, along with a trinket pin for the butterfly body and wing charms to the top of my card.
Lace and buttons complete my piece for this weeks challenge.

I also have two cards using Tim's Papillon set in this months edition of Making Cards magazine along with a couple of other cards using bird images, thanks Joanne. Unfortunately Blogger will not let me upload a picture of the magazine cover, yet another problem with Blogger this week Grrrrr!! However I have placed a link above.

Enjoy the remainder of the week. Tracy x x

Monday 27 June 2011

Flying The Flag

Once I saw the colour challenge over at The Play Date Cafe I knew that I would be using my new stamps from Artistic Outpost, London Underground and Loverly London.
These colours just screamed out for me to use my London stamps and here is the card I created.
I stamped the flag using Distress Stains fired brick and faded jeans along with Keep Calm And Carry On, cut out and sponged the edges with faded jeans ink.
I have also added some stamping in grey and added one of the images to a bottle cap and added Glossy Accents to give a dimensional finish. As I have used words on my piece I would also like to enter this piece for the Sunday Stamper which this week is to use WORDS in your artwork along with Simon Says Stamp and Show A WORD. I'm hoping I can create a second piece for Simon Says Stamp and Show too this week with being so early off the mark for a change LOL.
To complete I have added two small squares with highlights of the images and matt and layered onto co-ordinated card.

Thanks for stopping by.  Tracy x x

Thursday 23 June 2011

Spool of Florals

Time for this weeks DT piece for 100 Proof Press.
I have used Flower Face to decorate my spool which I have also created from white card. The top and the bottom of the spool has been stamped with Number Set, Block (I love these numbers for backgrounds) and the centre of the spool has been stamped with the Profit and Loss sheet.
I have used Alpha Parts to add bloom to the centre of the spool and used match sticks to which I have attached the blooms.
Buttons have been sewn to the centres of each bloom to give that pop of colour and I have sponged the edges of my piece with DI vintage photo to give an aged feel.


Thanks for stopping by, Tracy x x

Wednesday 22 June 2011

Specimen 2a

My next piece has been created for the following challenges:-
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Some Metal.
Grungy Monday - Following Tim's technique HERE.
The Stampman Challenge - Butterflies and Dragonflies.
 
This is my background piece which I have photographed separately as it is very difficult to photograph behind glass. I have decorated this piece using Tim's technique highlighted above for Grungy Monday.
I have added butterflies from Tim's Papillon set if stamps, stamped onto the Retro Grunge paper stack and added metal embellishments to the bodies along with a metal philosophy tag from the Idea-ology range.
I placed my piece behind a frame which has been painted with Fresco paint Toad Hall and I then dry brushed Honey Dew over the top to give a washed appearance.  Metal corners have been added along with wings top and bottom.
Specimen 2a has been added using Tim's Alpha Parts.
A close up shot to show a little more of the detail, sorry about the glare but it was very difficult to get a photograph behind the glass. 

Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate you taking the time to comment.  Tracy x x

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Bright and Cheery Florals.........

...............are the order of the day for The Play Date Cafe.
This is our colour inspiration for this week, very bright summer colours.
I chose to use an image from Hero Arts (Sweet Threads) inked with Distress Inks.
I have added little bottles as vases and added orange seed beads to each.
Three small squares have been added, stamped with a small section of the floral image. The completed piece has been layered onto co-ordinated card stock.

Thanks for stopping by, Tracy x x

Sunday 19 June 2011

London Calling again........

..................with a tag this time around for the Sunday Stamper where the challenge this week is HATS and a first for me joining in the challenge that is Tag It On and Helen has chosen NUMBERS as the challenge this time around.
I have used the images from Artistic Outpost again, London Underground and Loverly London and this tag co-ordinates perfectly with my card below this post, great for my husband's birthday next time around.
A quick post from me tonight as I have lots of ironing calling me.  Enjoy your week, Tracy x x

Saturday 18 June 2011

Keep Calm and Carry On

Following a glance around blogland I noticed that Lynn Stevens, Gerrie Johnic, Lisa Somerville, Suzanne, Louise, Barbara Washington, Judy Hayes and Stephanie Severin had used the new stamps from the Artistic Outpost, LONDON UNDERGROUND AND LOVERLY LONDON and I knew as soon as I saw all their fabulous artwork that I needed these stamp sets, especially as my husband spends a great deal of time in London so would make great images for a masculine card for his special occasions. Thanks so much for the inspiration ladies.

I decided I would create something for Grungy Monday, only just in time I might add but everyday life has been getting in the way of crafting fun again so a quick make from me this week in the form of a card.  This week we are following another of Tim's techniques which you can find HERE.
I have used Tim's technique in the background on my flag. The background pieces of card have been coloured with DI tea dye and vintage photo. All my edges have been distressed and so I can add this as my second piece for Simon Says Stamp and Show your distressed/torn edges and I have plenty of those in this creation.
I have added ribbon, a bus and crown to embellish my piece. A quick post from me today, well quick for me anyway as believe it or not I am still in the middle of preparations for Father's Day.  Enjoy what's left of the weekend.  Tracy x x

Friday 17 June 2011

Quiet Place

The challenge set by Stampotique (Joanne) this time around is clean and simple. Those of you who follow my blog know that I love love my embellishments so this was a REAL challenge for me.
I have used Smushasha from Stampotique, stamped in cobalt archival ink.  I cut three circles from scrap paper and used as masks and sponged colour through each mask using DI broken china.
Of course me being me, I could not quite leave it like that so I added dots around each circle.  The circles are meant to represent bubbles.
I added sentiment also from Stampotique and added "quiet" and "place" to the bubbles.  To complete, I added machine stitching and a little pop of colour with the gem in her hair and around her neck.  This is my version of CAS, hope it passes LOL. 

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, I really appreciate them all.  Enjoy your weekend. Tracy x x

Wednesday 15 June 2011

Long Legged Steampunk Bird

Time for this weeks DT piece for 100 Proof Press. I have used the Generic Bird Diagram to decorate my long legged bird (from PaperArtsy). I have painted the bird with Fresco Paint Little Black Dress, cut a circle from thick board and painted with a layer of Little Black Dress then the Crackle Glaze and a top coat of Honey Dew to give me my crackle.  The Generic Bird Diagram has then been stamped over the top of the crackle with archival ink.
I have added watch parts from an old watch for the birds eyes.
The base again thick board has been covered with Tim's ruler ribbon and machine stitched into place and the edges have been frayed and distressed.  I have added two of Tim's sprockets and a few black snaps to decorate the base and add to the Steampunk feel of my piece.
The bird's plumage has been created using the Flower Face stamp from 100 Proof Press. I have stamped two flowers onto 7 Gypsies Paddington paper which has clock faces and is more visible IRL, cut out and added to Grungepaper to make them more sturdy. I have added a little Honey Dew paint to the petals to match my bird's body pieces.

This is the reverse of my long legged bird and this time around I have used the Number Set, Block stamp from 100 Proof Press to decorate the centre of my bird's body.
A close up shows the stamp in a little more detail.
I have made a necklace for my bird, for identification of course, all birds need some form of identification, right???  My necklace has a bee, birdcage, wings and a clock dangling from it.
The legs have had pewter keys added along with some watch parts dangling from each one.

A close up of my birds identification necklace LOL.
Clocks have been added along with watch parts all around my bird.
To complete I have added a key behind my bird's plummage which again has watch parts dangling from it.

I would like to enter this piece for:-
Simon Says Stamp and Show Your - Distressed/Torn edges - all my card pieces, paper and wood have all been distressed with a paper distresser and sand paper to add to the worn feel and my ribbon at the base has had the edges torn/shredded.
The Sunday Stamper - Steampunk.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I love to read your comments. Tracy x x 

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Floral Thank You

Gorgeous colour challenge from The Play Date Cafe this week, I love the dusky pink and blueberry together. 
I went with a thank you card this week with images from Hero Arts stamped with Adirondack ink.  The background is stamped with Distress Ink victorian velvet.  I have added one floral image to a fragment in the top corner.
To complete I have added some cream lace and a co-ordinated brad and layered onto Core'dinations Distress collection card stock.

Enjoy your week and thanks for stopping by, Tracy x x

Saturday 11 June 2011

Grungy Steampunk

Simon Says Stamp and Show - a TAG.
Grungy Monday -Distress Ink-o-Rama (http://www.timholtz.com/)
The Stampman Challenge - Boys and Men.

I have created a tag accordion by simply drawing around a tag three times.  I have coloured the tag with DI peeled paint and Distress Stain faded jeans. Numbers have been added to the background which have been highlighted with a white gel pen. The stamped images are from Tim's Steampunk stamp set.  Steampunk has been added using Alpha Parts.  Washers have been sewn to one side of the accordion and brass keys added along with mini gears movers and shapers from the Alterations range.  All the edges have been sponged with black ink.
Small lightbulbs have been added to the male images along with several sprockets for added dimension.
The reverse of the tag accordion has a stamped image from Scrolls Work Stamps and gears cut using the Alterations Gadget Gears die. Brass keys, black buttons and some of my own finds have been added, you know how much I love my embellishments.
I love the old clock face I found in my stash.  I also spritzed my accordion with Fresco Paint Snowflake, I love the effect it gives adding a lovely chalky finish to the piece.

Time for some much needed gardening now, thanks for stopping by, enjoy the weekend. Tracy x x 

Thursday 9 June 2011

All Sewn Up

Time for my next DT piece using A Form Of Art set by Wendy Vecchi.  I decided I would make a card and matching gift bag for my piece this week.
My card is created from Bazzill cardstock and measures 6" x 6" . I have stamped the bodice three times onto the same Bazzill cardstock and cut out.  I have added ribbon to the centre bodice along with a flower cut from felt using the Tattered Florals die, using the small flower only and attaching a button to the centre. The other two bodices have been hand stitched along the corset line with black thread and I have added Trinket Pins holding a Pen Nib on one and a Brass Charm on the other.
I have then added the bodice to a panel of Bazzill cardstock and machine stitched around the edges and matt onto black cardstock and then onto the card blank. "Specimen 2b" has been stamped in the centre of the panel using Ranger Black Archival Ink and "Every Accomplishment Starts With The Decision To Try" stamped onto Bazzill card and adhered to the top corner along with a Hanger Clip from the Idea-Ology range. The heart in the corner is cut from black cardstock using Tim's Mini Hearts Mover & Shaper in the Alterations range and embossed with an embossing folder and sponged with Claudine Hellmuth's Traditional Tan Studio Paint, applied with a baby wipe. 3 Snaps have been added to one side of my card for added dimension. To complete, I have added corners cut from black cardstock using the ATC & Corners Die from Tim Holtz.
My co-ordinated bag is made from Calico and my images have been stamped with Ranger Coffee Archival Ink.  I have added a flower from the FLORAL Art Parts which has been stamped with the text from A Form Of Art set and I have added Trinket Pins to the back of my flower.  The same ribbons and flower have been added to co-ordinate with my card.
My handles are also made from the same ribbon I have used throughout my project.  I have hand sewn square black buttons to one side of my gift bag.
To complete I have added a stamped bodice to the back of my gift bag.

Thanks for stopping by, Tracy x x.

Wednesday 8 June 2011

Generic Bird Box

Time for this weeks DT post for 100 Proof Press.  I decided to decorate a box this week and take a break from cards.

I have used the Generic Bird Diagram (6271-WC), Calendar Blocks (6174-XC) and Old Script (6206-TC). My box has been painted with Fresco Paint Little Black Dress.  I have then cut pieces from thick board to fit my box and painted with Fresco Paints Little Black Dress and Honey Dew along with the crackle glaze. The Generic Bird Diagram has been stamped onto the top of the box with black archival ink. I have also added the word BIRD to one side of my box using Tim's Alpha Parts.
I have added the Calendar Blocks to two sides of my box and sponged the edges with DI Black Soot.
Old Script has been added to one of the other sides of my box and again the edges have been sponged with Black Soot ink.
I have added corners to two sides of my box and aged each corner a little with black acrylic paint and then removed any excess.
To complete, I added 3 black snaps and a pen nib. If you would like to see more inspiration from the Design Team, pop over to the 100 Proof Press blog HERE.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, much appreciated.  Enjoy your day, Tracy x x