DISCOVER

This week its all about sentiments at Simon Says Stamp and Show, something I love to use in my artwork. I feel it's a great starting point for a project or the perfect finishing touch, I could not be without them. The perfect sentiment for me this week was from the Huck Finn plate by Artistic Outpost a great starting point for my sailing piece.

I love this sentiment, it's something that has been said to me many times in my life and it seemed the perfect time to use it and works perfectly for me in this piece. Lots of blended ink create my scene using faded jeans and weathered wood Distress Inks. I masked my card with scrap paper leaving only a strip which I coloured and blended with Distress Ink and then spritzed with water.

I stamped the sentiment with black Archival Ink to the top of my card and added EXPLORE AND DREAM to the opposite side to balance, colouring with distress ink, adding black to the edges for definition.

For a little dimension I added a Blue Moon embellishment attaching some natural cord attached with a jump ring. I also added some mini gears cut using the Mini Gears die and coloured with faded jeans ink.

I added a banner cut from white card using the Tattered Banners die and stamped DISCOVER to the top. A further mini gear was added along with a mini sprocket.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog and take a look at my fellow team members they have created some inspirational projects. Remember there is also the chance to win a $50 prize from Simon Says Stamp.  I always look forward to seeing your creations each week.

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

 

STEAMPUNK MACKEREL TIN

I have a new addiction, its Vintaj Patina Inks and altering mackerel tins! The Patina's give absolutely fantastic coverage on metal and are ideal for altering my mackerel tin, which is this weeks DT piece for The Stamp Attic.

I began by sanding my tin a little and then covering the entire piece in Vintaj Patina Inks, this time around using the Weathered Copper set. Once my tin was decorated with ink, I aged a little by sponging some timber brown StazOn ink randomly around the tin. It then took me some time to decide how I could get my tin to stand, but a trip to my local DIY store sorted that for me in the form of a household bracket which I coloured with inks and adhered to the bottom. The things I will do for this addictive hobby! I also added a Clock Key to the top of my tin to give a little more interest.

To give an industrial feel I added some garden chicken wire to the back of my tin again coloured a little with StazOn timber brown ink and adhering into place with Glossy Accents. For further interest and dimension I added a Numeral, coloured with moss Patina Ink, along with gears cut from white card using the Mini Gears movers and shapers die, coloured with walnut stain Distress Ink. Gold Paint Dabber has been added to all the edges of my gears and banner. Game Spinners have also been added to my Mini Gears.

I cut a banner from white card using the Tattered Banners die, sponging with vintage photo ink to age, stamping STEAMPUNK with black Archival Ink to the centre from Wendy Vecchi's Steampunk Art set. For added dimension I have included Mini Gears to either side of my banner. The handsome gentlemen from Wendy's Steampunk Art set has been stamped onto white card and coloured with vintage photo ink, cut out and added to a small piece of wood so that he stands away from the back of the tin, adding yet a further layer of interest. He also has Mini Gears added to his jacket and hat to add to the steampunk feel.

From this angle you can really see all the layers achieved along with the fabulous dimension from the Light Bulb I have added. To add a little interest to the outside of the tin I have adhered Mini Gears again coloured with vintage photo ink and a little gold paint dabber to the edges.

The opposite side has also had gears added and from this angle you can see that I have also added a Pen Nib to the bottom of my bracket.

To complete I printed STEAMPUNK from my computer and added to the bottom of my bracket. I really enjoyed making this fun quirky piece; you may be seeing a few more of these!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

So Very Stylish.......

......That's how I would describe this month's stamp set from Creative Expressions.

We are working with the Gala Event stamp set and I decided to go for a very classy black and white theme.

I embossed my background using the large polka dot mask, to coordinate with the dots on the dress. Each dress was stamped onto black and white paper, cut out and added to the card blank. I added some black and white CANDI to embellish each corner. The sentiment is also from the same stamp set.

For added interest and dimension I have included a small pearl and a jewel to each dress along with mini coat hangers.

I added three dimensional flowers cut using the Spellbinders Blossom One die, cut from black and white paper. The white flower has been sponged with a little black soot Distress Ink. For further interest I have also added black bead pins.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend. Tracy x x 

Time for my weekly post for 100 Proof Press using the fabulous Tall Conifer stamp to create a Christmas Card.

I stamped my background with a snowflake stamp using faded jeans Distress Ink, spritzing the stamp with a little water.

I used the vintage cabinet card die to cut my shape and then stamped the Tall Conifers with black archival ink, sponging the top area with broken china Distress Ink and spritzing with water for that snowy feel. I embossed the frame with one of Tim's texture fades and sponged with faded jeans ink adding a little walnut stain around the edges. For added dimension I included one of Tim's Christmas embellishments (the wreath) at the top of the arch along with a wooden bird coloured with broken china ink and a coordinated ribbon tied in a double bow.

I have also added a little wooden bird to the bottom of my stamping and also added a little shading at the base of my trees.

I have also added a wooden snowflake which I have coloured with ultra thick embossing enamel and some embossing powders and whilst the enamel was hot I have stamped into it, highlighting the raised areas with silver paint dabber.

For that finishing touch I have also included one of the Tall Conifers to the inside of my card.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment.  Tracy x x

New Release from ARTISTIC OUTPOST

Artistic Outpost have released a fabulous new plate MIDWINTER, perfect for those winter birthday cards, Christmas cards or seasonal makes.

Artistic Outpost is experiencing the same record heat as the rest of the US. 100 degrees in the shade. What they wouldn't give for one day of snow!

As they cannot get the snow in real life, we can just stamp it. "MidWinter" is Artistic Outposts' newest release featuring scenic snow drifts and seasonal flora and fauna. This collection was inspired by one of their favourite Christmas hymns, "In the Bleak Midwinter", however, the stamps have been designed to be versatile beyond the holiday season.

Images in the collection include: a frozen creek scene, a cabin in the woods, a strong reindeer, a forest hare, a royal cardinal, and appopriate sentiments.  We hope you love them as much as we do.

For my first creation I decided on a heart Christmas hanging for the tree, fireplace, or as an alternative Christmas card. I painted the heart with a snow cap paint dabber and once dry applied a little fired brick Distress Ink and spritzed with a little gold spray for a little shimmer.

I stamped my image onto a piece of white card using black archival ink and Distress Markers to colour, adding vintage photo ink to the edges and spritzing with a little gold spray. I also added part of the image around the outside edges, applying colour to the image with Distress Markers and stamping into place. JOY has been added to jump rings for added dimension.

I coloured the small hearts with a little fired brick ink and stamped the reindeers with black archival and you can just make out the shimmer of gold from this picture. Red/beige ribon has been added to the edges of the aperture for further interest and texture.

I have also included two wooden birds and a wooden snowflake, coloured with fired brick ink along with the fabulous sentiment "Enjoy The Beauty Of The Season".

Pop along to my fellow DT members, inspiration is abound!

·  Gerrie Johnnic

·  Lisa Somerville

·  Suzanne Czosek

·  Tracy Evans (me)

·  Linda Coughlin

Thanks so much for stopping by, Tracy x x  

Dream As If You Will Live Forever

Our challenge for this week over at Simon Says Stamp and Show is "Hey Girl", think of those feminine images, a feminine touch, a female hero in your life, we are paying tribute to the females in our life this week. I decided to use the Winged Things 1 for my grungy feminine piece this week, adding lots of texture and interest.

I love this young feminine image, I find it so dreamy and perfect for the ladies in our life, young or old.  I love adding lots of texture and interest to my pieces including a dimensional flower cut using the Spellbinders Spiral Blossom One die. I added further interest in the background with a little stamping using the Mixed Media stamp set.

For my background I added faded jeans and vintage photo Distress Ink to my non stick craft sheet and then mopped up the ink, drying between each application and repeating until I was happy with my coverage of ink. For more definition I also sponged a little more vintage photo ink to the edges of my card and rounded all the edges of each layer with a corner rounder punch.

For added interest in the background I also stamped the sequin waste image from the Mixed Media stamp set using coffee Archival Ink. I also love a little dimension in my work and here I added dimension to the wings and crown adding Clear Rock Candy to the top, for extra texture. I also added Clear Rock Candy to the background of my card, adding randomly to the background, blending more vintage photo ink into the cracks. A Word Band was added for a little more interest.

I used a scrap of card and inked in the same way as my background and then stamped SERENDIPITY to the top with coffee Archival Ink. I added a wing from the Regal Adornments coloured with latte Alcohol Ink. A little more interest was given to the bottom of my card with the addition of a vintage lace trim cut using the Vintage Lace die.

I'v added a hinge clip to the side of my card along with two small bauble pearls coloured with latte Alcohol Ink.

A little close up shot so that you can see the texture the Clear Rock Candy gives to my background.

 I also stamped the image on the inside of my card, I think this gives a real professional finish to a card.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp and Show blog and take a look at my fellow team members they have created some inspirational projects. Remember there is also the chance to win a $50 prize from Simon Says Stamp.  I always look forward to seeing your creations each week.

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

DREAMER

I've been using the fabulous Vintaj Patina Inks once again for my DT piece for The Stamp Attic, and the more I use them the more I like them, the coverage is fabulous and the colours are wonderful, I have used the Victorian Gable (amethyst and marine).

I cut a tag from white card and silver metal foil using the tag and bookplate die and then embossed with the regal flourishes texture fade. I then find that you achive the best coverage with a flat paint brush and dab the paint into all the crevices of the embossing.

The dreamer image from the Vintage set by TJ Designs is stamped with black Archival Ink and coloured lightly with Distress Inks broken china and dusty concord. For added dimension I have included flower and leaves from the Idea-ology Foliage. I have also added the same image to a bookplate, again cut from silver metal foil, coloured with the Vintaj Patina Inks and then stamped with the ruler image from the Vintage set using StazOn black ink. For further interest I have also added cherish, memories and photo from the Chitchat stickers, coloured with dusty concord ink.

I have also included a circle brass blank embossed with the fern fronds embossing folder, colored with the Vintaj Inks and then sanded over the raised areas with the precision sanding block, I love this effect. To add further to the vintage feel and to coordinate with the inks I have added some ribbon tied in a double bow. For a little more dimension I have also added two mini numerals which again have been coloured with the inks. I have stamped the ruler image from the Vintage set onto white card, coloured with dusty concord ink, cut in half and added one half to the bottom and one to the top of the tag.

The star image has been stamped onto white card three times with dusty concord ink, cut out and added to one side of my tag. From this angle you can just make out the fabulous texture achieved from the texture fade and the wonderful coverage of ink.

 I am really hooked on these inks and think I will try out another colour palette next time around.

Thanks so much for stopping by, much appreciated.  Tracy x x

The Master Builder

Time for my weekly post for 100 Proof Press using the fabulous Tall Conifer stamp to create a Christmas Card.

I created my background with Distress Inks broken china, applying faded jeans around the edges and spritzing with water for that snowy feel.

I have used a snowflake stencil in the background, sponging through the stencil with Distress Inks, adding a couple of snowflakes randomly to the background. The sentiment is one of my favourites, an old Inkadinkado stamp which I have stamped with manganese blue archival ink.

The Tall Conifer has been stamped with black archival ink and I have added a little Distress Ink to the bottom of each tree. For added dimension I have also included three small wooden birds, coloured with broken china ink.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend. Tracy x x

Made With Love

Time for my weekly DT post for Creative Expressions using the Butterfly Girl by Sam Poole.

I stamped the swirl in the background using Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi-Medium, applying with a piece of cut 'n' dry foam directly to my stamp and then stamping in the background.  Distress Ink vintage photo was then blended over the top, the Multi-Medium resists the ink. The swirl was then stamped with black archival ink for a further layer of interest.

I stamped the butterfly girl on an old gardening book page, cut out and coloured with Distress Ink adding a few gold gems to her dress and hair.

For further interest I added a brass ornate corner and Chitchat stickers.

I also included a rusty heart and wooden bird along with some lacy ribbon for added dimension along with sentiment from Sam Poole's Art Sayings plate. I added a vintage trim to the bottom of my card, coloured with vintage photo Distress Ink.

Thanks for stopping by. Tracy x x

ARTISTIC OUTPOST BLOG HOP

Time for the monthly blog hop for Artistic Outpost and this month we are showcasing the Design Team's personal favourites, for me its the Gatsby plate. I have a new favourite every month!

My inspiration began with a wooden arch, plenty of space to showcase all the images on this fabulous plate. I gave the wood a coat of gesso and then applied a light coat of vintage photo Distress Stain, I did not want my background to appear too dark. My creation began with the fabulous number plate that my dear blogging friend and fellow DT member Suzz sent to me, I love it. I coloured the plate with ginger alcohol ink and added faux screw brads to each corner. I then stamped the fabulous car image, a wonderful symbol of the roaring twenties onto white card and coloured with vintage photo Distress Ink.  Mini sprocket gears have been added to each wheel for a little dimension along with the text "The Great Gatsby" to some tape (also sent to me by Suzz, thank you) again sponging a little with vintage photo ink. I found some mini alphabets in my goodies and added GATSBY to the body of the car.

The inside of my wooden piece has an eclectic mix of images and embellishments to decorate.  I found a fabulous acetate film strip which I thought was perfect for the female image adding THE LOST GENERATION to a little more of that tape.  The champagne bottle has been stamped onto white card, coloured with vintage photo Distress Ink and clear embossed. I added a little vintage ribbon to the top with REMEMBER added along with a vintage button and a little twine. The handsome gentleman has some numbered ruler ribbon added along with a ticket, stars and buttons for added dimension.

The back of my piece has yet another of the fabulous images from the Gatsby plate again coloured with vintage photo Distress Ink to add to the aged feel along with some film strip ribbon, stamped using an alphabet set to spell GATSBY along with some vintage ribbon with MEMORIES added. The wooden star embellishment was yet another lovely gift from my blogging friend.

This picutre gives you a better view of the front and back of my wooden piece.

These images take me back to those old movies and the roaring twenties, I love them.

My fellow Design Team members have created some fabulous pieces, pop along and be inspired along the way.

• Gerrie Johnnic
• Lisa Somerville
• Suzanne Czosek
• Tracy Evans (ME) 
• Linda Coughlin 

Artistic Outpost are also holding a fabulous Referral Program, the theme being ANYTHING/ANY OF THOSE AO IMAGES. Why not pop along HERE for all the details and there is a fabulous prize on offer too.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Enjoy the rest of the week. Tracy x x