Home Is Where The Heart Is

UPDATE: The winner of my recent blog candy is Lynn Stevens from Trash To Treasure Art. Lynn I will contact you and get your gifts out in the post very shortly.

I've decorated a small canvas for my DT creation for Creative Expressions using the fabulous Art Houses by Sam Poole.

I have sprayed my background with Dylusions sprays, blending with water and adding random stamping with white acrylic paint.

I stamped the house onto tissue paper and painted with the same sprays on the reverse. I added computer generated text "Home Is Where The Heart Is", blending fired brick Distress Ink around the edges.

I added the keys around the sides of my canvas, again adding touches of text with white acrylic paint.

I tore a heart from scrap paper adhered to my canvas and then covered the heart in tissue paper that I had mopped up any excess ink with, creating fabulous texture. I added touches of Treasure Silver on the raised areas to highlight the texture.

I added touches of silver Paint Dabber around the edges of my canvas to give a little more interest.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x 

PAPERBOY

Amazing vintage photographs of "newsies" were used as the inspiration for Artistic Outpost's newest release, PAPERBOY.

 

This collection features iconic newsboys and girls from the early 1900's when children hocked the latest news on the street corners of America's busiest cities. Also included are a newsprint collage, a megaphone for announcing the latest and greatest, and sentiments professing that "you are the hero in your own story".
The collection is available in both unmounted sheets of red rubber for $14 or mounted on EZ Mount cling foam and pre-cut for you for $22.99. Mounted version comes with a cling card for easy storage.

I decided to create a book for my first piece which I covered in some vintage newspaper which I purchased from an antique fair, perfect for this stamp plate I thought. I added a few splats using Distress Stain to add to the aged feel along with a little colouring with the help of brushed corduroy ink.

I stamped the newsprint collage onto a piece of white card with Distress Ink, distressed the edges and then coloured with brushed corduroy Distress Ink, stamping the paperboy on top of the text with black Archival Ink and adding a piece of mica over the top. I found an old buckle which I distressed with black acrylic paint and added to the top of my collage. I also added a wooden number for further dimension and interest.  

I added a piece of ruler which I distressed with a touch of ink, adding "What's the buzz?" to the top of the ruler, stamped onto a piece of calico. I added NEWS to the top of the front cover using Alpha Parts.

I added a small piece of numbered tape and the EXTRA text to complete the front cover. 

The inside has also been covered with newspaper and again aged with ink and splatters. I have stamped the paperboy onto kraft card and added him to the centre along with a key which I have aged with black acrylic paint and a piece of numbered tape to echo the piece on the front cover.

I added Alpha letters once again and the text EXTRA stamped onto card and coloured with Distress Inks.

I have added more images to the left hand side adding more tape and text from this fabulous set.

My fellow Design Team members have made some fabulous pieces to inspire you, please pop along and visit their blogs and be inspired along the way

• Gerrie Johnnic
• Lisa Somerville
• Suzanne Czosek
• Tracy Evans
• Linda Coughlin
• Alison Bomber
• Terry Horrall
• Kate Yetter

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x 

Tattered Floral

Tim Holtz has a tattered floral challenge running at the moment and as it's been such a long time since I joined in a challenge I thought I would play along just for the fun of it.

I didn't want to just create a tattered floral on its own so thought I would create a card using my favourite colours of the moment, mowed lawn and salty ocean.

My tattered floral has 9 layers all cut from white card that has been coloured with mowed lawn and salty ocean Distress Stains. To add a little life to my flower and to give a water lily type of appearance, I curled each petal, adding one of Wendy Vecchi's antique buttons to the centre.

The top of my bird cage has wings added, distressed with a little pitch black Paint Dabber.

My background has been created with mowed lawn and salty ocean Distress Stains, adding a few splats of water for further interest. I have also stencilled to large wings behind my bird cage for another layer of interest and added random stamping using black Archival Ink.

Spring is here has been added to the bottom of the card, I really am longing for Spring! I have also added black charcoal around my sentiment to lift it from the background.

Black charcoal pencil has been added around my cage along with random text. I have also added touches of treasure silver around the edges of my card and cage.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Quirky Bird

Please note my BLOG CANDY post is HERE.

The challenge this week with Simon Says Stamp and Show is to use a stamp we love but don't use. Any stamper has at least one, or in my case several that have never been inked. It could be a new purchase or a stamp you have had for years. The challenge this week is to use that stamp or several stamps and use in your project in some way.


I decided to create a quirky card this week using the Hero Arts Birds and Branches stamp.

I spent quite a while looking through my cupboards at stamps I have never used and to be honest I was quite embarrassed and have now decided to put that right beginning with this challenge. 2013 will be the year I use all those neglected stamps. Simon Says Stamp Large Heart Craft Die came to my rescue for my background, spritzed with postbox red Dylusions ink spray adding sea salt into the mix for added interest along with vibrant turquoise to add a second pop of colour. A touch of lace using the Vintage Lace die adds a feminine touch and grounds the bird. I don't think this bird will be neglected in the future!

To create the background I cut several hearts from card using the Simon Says Stamp large heart craft die, lay each heart onto watercolour card and then spritz with postbox red spray ink and whilst the ink was wet I sprinkled some sea salt over the top and set aside to dry. Once completely dry remove the hearts and the sea salt. A second piece of card was coloured with vibrant turquoise ink spray, again sprinkled with sea salt and used for all my stamping. I stamped the quirky bird onto the inked watercolour card cut out and added to my card, stamping the bird a second time, cutting out his chest and adding to the first image for dimension. I added one of the hearts I used for the background and added to his chest. I added SOAR using an Adage Ticket, colouring with fired brick Distress Ink for further interest. I also gave the quirky bird a crown cut from the coloured card using the mini crown and fleur de lis die.

I cut the birds from the coloured card using the Sizzix Birds On A Wire strip die, another item I have used for the first time. I added the birds to the top of my card. Before adding any elements to my card I did add faux stitching to some of the hearts using a fired brick Distress Marker. I added a second heart to the top of my card, again from the background I created, adding FLY cut using the Typeset Alphabet strip die. I also added FLY again to one of the other hearts.

BIRD has been added to the bottom of my card using Alpha Parts which adds another dimension and texture to my card. The lace strip has been secured in place using the tiny attacher. Chitchat stickers have been added to a couple of the hearts, coloured with peacock feathers Distress Ink.

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 

Products Used:

Simon Says Stamp Large Heart Craft Die
Dylusions Ink Sprays - Postbox Red, Vibrant Turquoise
Tim Holtz Alterations - Vintage Lace Strip Die, Typeset Alphabet Sizzlits Die, Mini Crown and Fleur Die
Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Alpha Parts, Chitchat Stickers, Adage Tickets
Hero Arts Birds and Branches Stamp Set
Sizzix Birds On A Wire Decorative Strip Die
Distress Markers - Fired Brick
Distress Inks - Peacock Feathers, Fired Brick
Black Archival Ink
Tiny Attacher

A Bird Sings Because It Has A Song

Please note my BLOG CANDY post is HERE.

Time for my weekly post for 100 Proof Press and this week I am showcasing the  BIRD PARTY image.

I enjoyed decorating a tag this week, painting the background with a stencil using Fresco Finish Paints.

Once I had added the stencilled background I then coloured over the top with broken china ink, distressing the edges and colouring with walnut stain Distress Ink. I love this sentiment and thought it was perfect for the bird images I have used.

I added the BIRD PARTY birds along the bottom of my tag, colouring with the Fresco Finish Paints adding white highlights to some of the areas. I also stamped the BINGO CARD onto white card using Archival Ink adding a heart on the top for added dimension and a bird cage charm for further interest.

This picture highlights the dimension on my BINGO CARD.

To add a little more interest to my background I have stamped the HONEYCOMB TEXTURE with Fresco Finish Paint and added circles cut from a second stamped BINGO CARD.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Another Brick In The Wall

Please note my BLOG CANDY post is HERE.

Time for my weekly DT piece for Creative Expressions using the wonderful Art Houses from Sam Poole.

I decided to create a card this week using Sam's fabulous stamps, creating the background with Wendy Vecchi's brick wall stencil.  I created the background using Distress Inks brushed corduroy and walnut stain.

I stamped the houses onto white card and coloured with Distress Inks, adding a small domino for the chimney on each image, colouring with ginger Alcohol Ink.

The text seemed perfect for this piece which is computer generated and coloured with Distress Inks. I also added birds to the top of my wall again coloured with Distress Inks and stamped with Sam Poole's Newsprint stamp plate using black Archival Ink.

I stamped DREAM BIG onto a piece of white card and stencilled the brick wall in the background for further interest. I also added the heart to the top of the card, taken from the house image, stamping into Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel coloured with Lapis Black Cosmic Shimmer UTEE and a touch of Perfect Pearls, and stamping into the enamel whilst hot. I rubbed over the raised areas with a touch of silver Paint Dabber.

I am really enjoying using these stamps, hope I am inspiring you along the way. Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

ART HOUSES & THANK YOU BLOG CANDY

I am thrilled to have been invited to be a Guest Designer over at Sam Poole's Creative Studios. I have been creating with Sam's new release ART HOUSES .

I just have a sneak peek for your here but if you would like to see more detailed pictures and the how to details then pop along HERE to Sam Poole's Creative Studios for all the details. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Sam for inviting me along, it's always a pleasure to create with Sam's designs. THANK YOU.

To celebrate my Guest Designer slot I also have a little gift from me to you for all your wonderful comments and support along the way.

To be in with a chance of winning my blog candy which is a set of Tim Holtz stamps, the Mini Blueprints 3, simply leave a comment on my post below, and on my post over at Sam's Creative Studios and I will draw a winner on 1st March. If I get more than 50 comments then I will add the Easter Blueprint stamp set to the prize. Please note you do not have to be a follower to be in with a chance of winning, this is simply my gift to you to say a huge THANK YOU for your support.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Off To Neverland

Time for our monthly BLOG HOP with Artistic Outpost and the theme this month is LITERATURE or CHILDREN'S BOOKS.

I decided to showcase the NEVERLAND plate stamping Wendy and Peter into a book which I created from a Spellbinders die (Labels 29) which I thought was perfect for our theme this month.

I cut five pages for my book and then coloured with Distress Inks brushed corduroy and walnut stain to age, tearing a few of the edges to add to the aged feel. I stamped the background with the Ephemera Background plate usng coffee Archival Ink to add a little more interest. I then stamped Wendy and Peter in black Archival Ink and coloured with Distress Inks to add further shading. I added twine to the centre of my book along with some chain tassel for added dimension and texture. I stamped Wendy and Peter and I'm Peter Pan in black Archival Ink.

My background has been coloured with brushed corduroy, walnut stain Distress Inks and antiqued bronze Distress Stain, applying each to a non-stick craft sheet, spritzing with water and mopping up the beads of ink with my card stock. I then tore a few of the edges and distressed to add to the aged feel, adding walnut stain Distress Ink to the edges. I stamped the sentiment onto white card, coloured with Distress Inks and added to the bottom corner.  For further interest I also included a word band.

I used the alphababet background stamp from the SECRETARY POOL plate to add READ to the top of my card, again coloured with Distress Inks. I also added birds also from the Neverland Plate stamped in black Archival Ink.

To complete I added OFF TO NEVERLAND to the bottom of my card stamped in black Archival Ink.

My fellow Design Team members have made some fabulous pieces to inspire you, please pop along and visit their blogs and be inspired along the way.

• Gerrie Johnnic
• Lisa Somerville
• Suzanne Czosek
• Tracy Evans
• Linda Coughlin
• Alison Bomber
• Terry Horrall
• Kate Yetter

Artistic Outpost also has a fabulous REFERRAL THEME taking place for February and the theme is ANYTHING GOES using your AO images. There is also a fabulous prize on offer, upload your designs HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Tracy x x 

Heartfelt Transformation

Simon Says Stamp and Show are looking for your touches of METAL this week, anything from foil, to metal brads, metal embellishments, gold glitter, any way you would like to incorporate metal into your project.

We also have a special guest this week Janeen at SuburbNgypsy who has created a fabulous Easter project.

I have set myself a personal challenge to use up all the alterable items lying around my craft room and this bracket book cover was crying out for a transformation.

Metal foil is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of metal, I love the texture, the flexibility and the Riveted Patchwork Technique from Tim's Compendium Of Curiosities Volume ll works fabulously in combination with the metal. This is the second bracket book cover I have altered, a kind gift from fellow team mate Suzz so I decided to give it some TLC, hence I used hearts cut from thick card using Wendy Vecchi's Large Heart Stencil and Distress Stains mowed lawn and salty ocean, two favourites of mine at the moment. Hearts are key in this piece, using hearts from Simon Says Die and stamp set Plenty Of Hearts and Simon Says Mini Heart Set Craft Die. I think I have given this neglected piece some LOVE don't you!

Once I had cut the large hearts from thick card I then applied mowed lawn and salty ocean Distress Stains to my non-stick craft sheet, spritzed with water and mopped up the colour with the hearts. I then tore the hearts in half, stitched one back up with black twine and stapled the other together using the tiny attacher. I cut the tiny hearts from metal foil using the Simon Says Mini Heart die, coloured each one with ginger Alcohol Ink and rubbed over each with wire wool to add to the aged/industrial feel. For further interest I also added Chitchat stickers to one of my hearts.

I added a large crown to the top of one of my hearts for further dimension and interest, colouring a little with black Paint Dabber. I used Simon Says stamp and die set to add hearts and stamped hearts around my piece.

I added two Alpha Cards (XO) which I crumpled a little to add to the aged feel, colouring with a little peacock feathers Distress Ink. I also tore a few of the edges around my heart to continue the aged feel to the whole piece. A wooden arrow has been added for further interest, again coloured with peacock feathers Distress Ink.

This is a sentiment that has never been inked up, goodness knows why, I love it and it works perfectly for this piece. Something else I am determined to do this year, use all my products!

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 

Products Used:

Metal Foil Tape
Tim Holtz The Mind Stamp
Tim Holtz Compendium Of Curiosities Volume ll
Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Chitchat Stickers, Regal Adornments, Alpha Cards,
Distress Ink - Peacock Feathers
Wendy Vecchi's Large Heart Stencil
Distress Stains - Mowed Lawn and Salty Ocean
Simon Says Die and Stamp Set Plenty Of Hearts
Simon Says Mini Heart Set Craft Die
Non-Stick Craft Sheet
Twine
Tiny Attacher
Alcohol Ink - Ginger, Pitch Black
Paint Dabber - Pitch Black
Studio Calico Hearts and Arrows

Spring Is Here

Well I can but hope, it's nearly hear, SPRING that is and my card using the LARGE SHARP OWL from 100 Proof Press reflects that.

I used one of my favourite colour palettes for the background, mowed lawn and salty ocean Distress Stains. I also added a few splatters for further interest.

I stamped the SHARP OWL onto a piece of scrap card that was left over from colouring my background and I added a few areas of random text stamped in salty ocean Distress Ink. I added coordinated buttons threaded with twine to his body for dimension and added the sentiment "Spring is here".

I added circles to the bottom of my card and machine stitched across the centre.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x