Happy Spring

I've used the BIRD PARTY stamp from 100 Proof Press to create a Spring inspired card.

My background piece is white watercolour card coloured with Dylusions Ink Sprays, adding sea salt whilst the ink is still wet then setting aside to dry. Once dry I added some white hessian type material as a contrast adding the perforated edges from the watercolour card to the top and bottom of my card, secured in place using the tiny attacher.

I coloured a panel with mowed lawn and salty ocean Distress Inks, applying the ink to a non-stick craft sheet, spritzing with water and mopping up the ink with my card. I then samped the BIRD PARTY onto the coloured card with black Archival Ink and added some stitching to the top and bottom of the panel. Two hearts have been cut from white card and coloured with mowed lawn Distress Ink, adding black soot to the edges along with the sentiment "Spring is here", perfect for this time of year, although we do not have those Spring temperatures yet, I am still holding out hope for the Easter holidays as I really do need to get out into my garden and do some clearing and sorting. To complete my Spring card I have added a pewter bird attached to the hessian in the background.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

HAPPY EASTER.

Tracy x x x

Textural Canvases

Here are a few more sneak peeks of my samples for Sheena Douglass' shows on Saturday on Create and Craft, 11am, 3pm and 7pm.

I painted three canvases adding old book pages in the background and adding the lily from Sheena's A Little Bit Floral range. I then added the three canvases to three small frames approximately 6" x 6" and painted the frames to coordinate.

This is a larger canvas I decorated, mixing the paints cerulean blue and primary magenta to get the colour I wanted. The Iris has been stamped onto acetate and painted on the reverse. I also added masking tape in the background on my canvas to add more texture and interest when painted.

I also added some brass letters for further interest.

My last canvas I added to a black frame again stamping the magnolia's onto acetate and adding masking tape in the background and adding more of the brass letters.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Paperboy

I have been using the fabulous PAPERBOY plate from Artistic Outpost.

I had a blast creating with these images, creating a grungy card using lots of layers. My backgroud is a piece of white card coloured with brushed corduroy and walnut stain Distress Inks, the edges torn for that aged feel and splats added with Distress Stain.

A background piece was created using the background text stamp/newsprint from the Paperboy plate, stamping with coffee and black Archival Ink and colouring with brushed corduroy Distress Ink. I purchased an old newspaper from a vintage fair which was perfect for this piece, I crumpled the paper and curled the edges and die cut each page using a Spellbinders die to create a book/newspaper and tied some natural twine across the centre.

I added NEWS using the alphabet background stamp from the Secretary Pool plate, again colouring with brushed corduroy Distress Ink. I stamped the paperboy onto white card and coloured with Distress Inks and added him to the top of my page, adding a philosophy tag for further interest.

I stamped EXTRA, EXTRA onto a lollipop stick, coloured with Distress Inks and added to my piece for further interest and dimension. A few more splats and torn edges to age and my piece is complete.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Mixed Media Canvas

Sheena Douglass is back on Create and Craft again this Saturday at 11am, 3pm and 7pm, showcasing some fabulous new products. Sheena will be encouraging us to create home decor pieces and mixed media art pieces. This is one not to be missed, shows full of art techniques, the next progressive step for stampers.

I decorated a canvas using products that will be on the show.

I began my canvas by adding lots of textural items, doilies, hessian, book pages and gel.

The canvas was then painted with Gesso.

I love texture in my pieces, they give wonderful interest, dimension and create a very tactile canvas.

I then added a wash of colour and once each layer was dry I would repeat the process.

I added a few lilies using Sheena's A Little Bit Floral range, these area actually created from tissues, creating a paper cast of the lily. I then coloured with paint and gilding wax.

I love the texture and patterns from the painted doily. Tranquil was also stamped around my canvas using black Archival Ink.

I also stamped the crackle background from Sheena's A Little Bit Sketchy stamps onto the canvas using coffee Archival Ink.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I will be back with more samples I created for Sheena's shows at the end of the week. Tracy x x

Steampunk Dressform

I thought I would make something  a little different this week for my Creative Expressions DT. We were given a fabulous selection of products this month and one of the stamps I have used this time around is the fabulous Steampunk Dressform designed by Sam Poole.

I have decorated one of Wendy Vecchi's Art Parts (small creative covers), stamping the steampunk dressform onto a piece of Tim's Vintage Shabby paper stash papers and then adhering to the cover. I then added an Art Parts Steampunk Gear, Tim's Idea-ology mini gears and light bulb along with other metal pieces.

Once I had added my metal embellishments I then added embossing paste for texture and painted over the entire piece with Gesso.

The whole piece was then painted with Distress Paints mowed lawn and salty ocean. Once dry I added highlights with Gilding Wax.

To add a little more interest I also added some random stamping around my piece using black Archival Ink.

Creative Expressions DT will be holding a blog hop next week Tuesday, 2nd April and there will be some fabulous prizes on offer, pop by next week for all the details or stop by the Creative Expressions NEWS BLOG.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

An Impulse To Soar

Simon Says Stamp and Show is all about QUOTES this week, it could be from your favourite lines in a movie, a favourite sentiment on a stamp, an inspirational quote or a favourite quote from a family member. Whatever your choice let inspiration strike and join in our challenge.

I have been inspired by birds this week to create a nature inspired card.

I love March, it's the start of the gardening season for me, I love my garden and everything that entails, including the wildlife, and birds are a must in my garden and I encourage them to visit as much as possible, a garden is not complete without birds. The Birds Of A Feather stamp set from Artistic Outpost was the perfect starting point for me, a beautiful image and perfect for stamping onto calico. The quote I used is one of my all time favourites from the Quotes and Quotables stamp sets from Artistic Outpost and perfect for my focal image. I wanted a real natural feel to this card and I think the muted tones showcase that beautifully.

I stamped the wonderful bird onto a piece of calico cut into a heart using black Archival Ink, I love the detail in this stamp.  I also added a panel of calico behind the bird and machine stitched to a piece of kraft card. I stamped the egg image and text also from the same stamp set and added touches of text using coffee Archival Ink randomly around the heart piece.

I stamped the fabulous quote onto white card with black Archival Ink and coloured with brushed corduroy Distress Ink, adding walnut stain around the edges. I added a few strips of lace to add to the natural feel of this piece.

I stamped "keep a song in your heart" onto the calico from the Artistic Outpost Songbirds stamp set and added two Melissa Frances heart resin embellishments for further dimension.

I also added some heart twine from my collection and two ornate corners.  I stamped the eggs to the bottom left hand corner and added a few stamped birds onto the kraft 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 

Products Used:

Artistic Outpost Birds Of A Feather Stamp Set
Artistic Outpost Quotes and Quotables Stamp Set
Artistic Outpost Songbirds Stamp Set
Archival Ink - Black, Coffee
Distress Inks - Brushed Corduroy, Walnut Stain
Melissa Frances Lace Trim Ribbon
Melissa Frances With All My Heart Resin Embellishments
 

Bird Party

I have been using the BIRD PARTY  from 100 Proof Press to create this weeks DT creation.

I used a piece of corrugated packaging for the backdrop, painted with a wash of Gesso, matting and layering onto natural tones.

The Bird Party has been stamped onto a panel of white card coloured with brushed corduroy Distress Ink and I have then used a water brush to bleach out the birds bodies and then spritzed with a touch of Radiant Rain shimmering mist. The edges of the panel have then been coloured with black soot Distress Ink.

I have added a fabric flower, again in neutral tones to add to the natural feel of this card. The flowre has also been spritzed with the shimmering mist.

I have added a doily behind my bird party and machine stitched around the heart for added interest. I added the sentiment to the top of my heart.

Eclectic Paperie are holding a challenge at the moment to use corrugated card in your project so I am entering this piece into their challenge too.


I also have some blog candy to give away, a copy of the April edition of Making Cards and two stencils too, the Crafters Workshop 6" x 6" Mini Branches stencil and the Special Touch 6" x 6" Trellis Mask. Simply leave a comment HERE and I will draw a winner at the weekend.  I will also probably include a few other bits and bobs too.

This is the front cover of the Making Cards magazine, one of my cards is featured on the front cover, the one at the top right hand side in the turquoise colours.

Making cards also have a wonderful MAKING CARDS MEN special edition and you can pre order your copy HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x 

Die'sire Sneak Peeks

The fabulous new Embossalicious embossing folders are being showcased on Ideal World and Create and Craft this week. These folders are fabulous and range in size from 6" x 6", 8" x 8" up to a massive A4, the creative opportunities are endless.

I am showcasing a couple of my favourites today, the first being the Celtic Frame, giving just a touch of embossing in each corner, perfect for framing a central focal piece.

The central panel has been embossed with the Argyle embossing folder and coloured with peacock feathers Distress Ink. The fabulous dimensional flower in the centre is created with the large and small Sunflower Die'sire Quilling dies. I have coloured the edges of the die cuts with Distress Inks. I also sprayed the central flower with gold Spray and Sparkle.

The Argyle embossing folder has also been used on my second card, this time colouring with ripe persimmon Distress Ink and the papers give this card more of a vintage feel. Again the dimensional flowers have been created using the fabulous sunflower Quilling die.

My favourite samples from all those that I created for the show is this heart wreath, decorated with many Die'sire Quilling dies, including the large and small sunflower and the blissful flower and again spraying with gold Spray and Sparkle.

I added lots of large and small wooden hearts to give dimension and further interest to the wreath and then tied a piece of twine and double bow to hang.

So difficult to just pick one favourite, I also love the Paisley embossing folder too used here in the background on my tag accordion.

This is the reverse of my accordion again decorated using the Paisley embossing folder and those fabulous quilling flowers and stamps from Sheena Douglass. 

Hope you have enjoyed a few more of the samples I made for the Die'sire DT.  Look out for the shows on Create and Craft.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

An Impulse To Soar

My Blog Candy post is HERE.

Time for our monthly blog hop with Artistic Outpost and this month our theme is BACKGROUNDS/TYPOGRAPHY or SENTIMENTS.

My background has been painted with sky Fresco Finish paint and then stamped with the background from the Secretary Pool plate using cobalt Archival Ink, adding machine stitching around the edges for further interest.

I created a paper cast of my focal image using tissues and pva glue, and once dry I coloured with salty ocean Distress Ink and highlighted the raised textural areas with Treasure Silver. I also added a mini tag, adding SOAR to add further interest to my card.

I stamped the bird from the Birds Of A Feather plate onto white card using black Archival Ink and coloured with salty ocean Distress Inks, adding splats of water to bleach out some of the colour, adding further interest to the background. I also added some random stamping using the background stamp from the Ephemeral Backgrounds plate. Again I also added machine stitching to the edges of the focal image. I have added the sentiment from the Quote and Quotables plate, one of my favourite at the moment.

I have added a dimensional flower and pieces of doily to the edges of my stamped design, again stamping the doily with the Ephemera Background stamp.

A close up shot of my paper cast, highlighting the fabulous detail from the stamp.

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 March 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