Welcome Autumn

The weather has really changed over the past couple of weeks and it feels very Autumnal, a great excuse for an Autumnal card and a perfect time to showcase the HAYRIDE PLATE once again from Artistic Outpost.

I coloured the background of my card with Distress Ink and flicked with water. I stamped the vine to the top corner of my card with Black Archival Ink.

I created a window type frontage using the Vintage Cabinet Card die, adding several layers to add depth to my design. I stamped the frame and the background with the background stamp from the EPHEMERA BACKGROUNDS plate., stamping with Coffee Archival Ink and colouring with Distress Inks, again flicking with water. I stamped the young girl who is watching the stall with Black Archival Ink. I added a shelf using Art Parts, again coloured with Distresss Inks. Faux pumpkins have been added to the shelf along with signage and buckets of apples all from the HAYRIDE PLATE.

I have added a small pumpkin patch and sat the young boy within the pumpkins, I love his adorable little face! Again I have added a sign and included "pumpkin patch" using computer generated text. The pumpkins have been coloured with Distress Markers.

This picture shows the dimension on the frame, I love including dimension in my pieces. To complete, I have added the sentiment, stamped with Black Archival Ink and coloured with Distress Inks.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

BE Happy

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge has an ANYTHING GOES challenge this week, you can join in the fun with absolutely anything, scrapbook page, altered art, quilting, journaling, cards, you name it we would love to see how you are inspired this week.

I decided to unwrap my Gelli plate which had been in its packaging for over six months, how embarrasing! I did not want to look at any videos or step by steps I simply wanted to play in my own way and see where inspiration took me. I began with Fired Brick Distress Paint, simply applying a little paint at a time.

I took a book page which we were given in our STAMPtember® art journaling kit and adhered it to a piece of thick white card using Multi Medium Matt. Stamped the Prima Doll onto the text paper with black Archival Ink.

I then stamped the Prima Doll onto a piece of scrap paper cut out and created a mask. Placed the mask over the stamped image and then began to decorate using the Gelli plate.

The Distress Paints are a lot more liquid than other acrylics but I also loved that as this also gave wonderful interest to the card. Simply brayer the paint over the Gelli plate.

I also repeated the process with Broken China Distress Paint, as you can see the Distress Paint does not give even coverage over the plate but the results are equally pleasing.

White card was then placed over the Gelli plate rubbed over with my hand and then removed. As you can see the Distress Paint also gives a wonderful mottled background which you will see I use throughout my artwork.

I then applied Claudine Hellmuth's Classic Teal acrylic paint to the Gelli plate and this time you can see that this paint gives a more solid coverage over the plate (remember you can always take away any excess paint should you add too much).

To add more texture to my background I scrunched a piece of scrap paper and then dabbed it onto the painted Gelli plate and then removed.

I then placed a sheet of white card over the plate and removed. I love this effect, the scrunched paper really adds wonderful texture to the background.

I then applied a coat of Modern Red paint over the Gelli plate and then die cut five circles from white card using the Spellbinders Standard Circles Large die, placed the circles onto the plate and then re applied the coloured card in the previous step to the plate.

I was very pleased with this result. This is quite addictive!

I then added some background stamping to the decorated piece using the background stamp from the Tim Holtz Classics 4 stamp set, using Classic Teal and Modern Red paint to add the tone on tone stamping. I added a touch of black stamping using black Archival Ink and the Distressed Quilt stamp.

The background stamping really finishes this piece for me, I love it. Time for some decoration.

This is the completed card which I created for my daughters birthday and she loved it.

Her dress is also a piece from the decorated card which I love it almost looks tie dyed. The circles are the masks I used on the Gelli plate, nothing was thrown away.

I die cut a mini tag using the Tiny Tabs and Tags Die and added it to the side of the card adding 'Be' die cut using SSS Be Sentiments and Die set. I also added the sentiment to one of the circle die cut masks.

I also had a piece of scrap paper that I had scrunched and brayered over to remove some of the excess paint and I used that to die cut a flower using the Spellbinders Spiral Blossom 3 die, again this looks tie dyed, love it. I also love the tone on tone stamping.

The black stamping really pops against the background and I think the Dolls work perfectly with the artsy backdrop.

 I then decided to create a second card using the Distress Paint backgrounds I created using the Gelli plate.

This is the text paper decorated with Distress Paints applied to the Gelli plate. I also used the Crafters Workshop Mini Circles Grid Template on this piece adding Black Soot Distress Paint to the plate. I decided to add a touch more detail to the background using the Ranger scraper and Broken China Distress Paint. Simply dab the scraper into the paint and then add to the background.

Apply the paint directly to the background.

I repeated this process randomly around the background.

Here is the completed card.

I added circles of paint using Broken China Distress Paint and a lid from one of the paints again to add a further layer of interest.

I die cut hearts from one of the decorated pieces we created using the Distress Paint, die cut using the SSS Large Hearts Die and then added machine stitching through the centre of each heart.

I also added a touch of background stamping using black Archival Ink for yet another layer of interest. 

Lace ribbon has been added to the bottom of the card and machine stitched into place. I also added tiny random pieces of lace to the background along with BE happy stamped onto more Gelli plate backgrounds.

Her dress was painted with Broken China Distress Paint. I love how the book pages can be seen on the doll, tiny details like this make me happy!

I still had lots of pieces left to create a huge tag.

The Doll is actually the mask we created earlier from scrap paper, she looks fabulous and you would never know she was a piece of scrap paper after all the layers of acrylic paint that have been applied.

The tag has been covered with a piece of the Gelli pate background created with Distress Paint and once again I have added random stamping. I have added three tiny hearts to the doll die cut using the SSS Mini Hearts Craft Die.

More hearts have been added again die cut from Gelli plate backgrounds and once again machine stitching has been added through the centre of each heart. BE happy has also been added, perfect I thought for my daughter.

I think I will be using my Gelli plate a lot more from now on, these backgrounds have been wonderful to work with.

To complete, I also added stamping to the ribbon.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge 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.

Have you visited the Simon Says Stamp BLOG, pop along  for wonderful inspirational ideas, tutorials and videos.

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

Products Used:

Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Classics 4 Stamp Set

Unity Stamp Distressed Quilt
Tim Holtz Alterations - Tiny Tabs and Tags Die
Simon Says Stamp Be Sentiments 
Simon Says Stamp Be Sentiment Craft Die 
Simon Says Stamp Large Hearts Set Craft Die
Simon Says Stamp Mini Hearts Craft Die 
Distress Paints - Fired Brick, Broken China, Black Soot
Claudine Hellmuth Studio Acrylic Paints - Classic Teal, Modern Red
Black Archival Ink
Claudine Hellmuth Multi Medium Matt
STAMPtember® Art Journaling Kit
Prima Flowers Doll With Peasant Dress
Spellbinders Standard Circles Large 
Spellbinders Spiral Blossom 3
Crafters Workshop Mini Circles Grid Template
Ranger Craft Scraper

Memories Are Stitched With Love

I'm using the fabulous Vintage Sewing set by Sam Poole for this weeks DT creation for Creative Expressions.

The background is paper from the Vintage Shabby Paper Stash which I have distressed and added a touch of colour using Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. I have then added machine stitching to the outer edge for further interest.

The bodice have been stamped onto Coconut White card with Black Archival Ink and coloured with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. I have then used a water brush to bleach out some of the areas. I have also distressed the edges with a pair of scissors. I have added a dimensional flower using the Heartfelt Delicate Asters.

I have added Idea-ology Ruler Ribbon to the backdrop which I have machine stitched into place. I have also incuded a tag from a recent clothes purchase and added a safety pin for added dimension and interest.

The sentiment Memories Are Stitched With Love has been added to the top of the card and once again I have distressed the edges. I have torn some of the edges to the card to add to that aged feel and added random stitching to the background.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

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Trio Of Baubles

This week I am showcasing the CHRISTMAS CHALK plate from Artistic Outpost

I thought this plate worked so well in red and white and I love the layered look too. I embossed the backdrop with a snowflake embossing folder to add a touch of texture.

I die cut three baubles from red card and then added the stamped images, embossing with white embossing powder. I also added twine and snowmen pewter embellishments.

An aperture has been cut from the centre and then a die cut bauble added to the centre again with stamped images embossed with white embossing powder. I have also added an ornate wooden snowflake alont with twine and ribbon to the top of the large bauble.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

SPOOKY UMBRELLA MAN

This week Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge are looking towards Halloween and all those spooky creations. The possibilities are endless; a Trick or Treat bag/sign, embracing your dark side using dark colours or images, we are all about embracing the SPOOKY this week and we would love you to join in the fun.

I have a collection building up at the side of my desk of new products yet to be used, old products not used for a while and a few gifts from blogging friends, so for this challenge I decided to use a mix of all these elements. I wanted to use the Tim Holtz Laboratorie Paper Stash, I have not used the Umbrella Man Die for such a long time and wanted to incorporate that in some way. The ornate metal piece is one of many kind gifts received from my friend and DT team member Suzz (THANK YOU, THANK YOU). I also had the board left over from Wendy Vecchi's Art Parts Film Strip Frame and thought this would be the perfect base for my design.

I covered the Art Parts board with a piece of the Laboratorie Paper Stash and coloured the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink.

I coloured the ornate metal piece with Black Soot Distress Paint.

The ornate trim has been added to the top of my board.

Suzz also sent me the fabulous Crafters Workshop Mini Branches Rev Template as a gift and it was perfect for adding a few bare branches to my piece using Wendy Vecchi's Black Embossing Paste.

This is my completed spooky piece.

I die cut the Umbrella Man from black card and added the skulls head using the Apothecary Remnant Rubs and I also added some of the white Remnant Rubs to his coat.

I decorated the umbrella with paper from the Laboratorie Paper Stash and coloured the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink. I added Treasure Gold White Fire to the ornate trim to highlight all the wonderful detail.

The bats were die cut from black card using the Bewitching Hour Die, added to wire to give movement and they can be bent in any direction.

To add further to the spooky feel I added a skeleton hand, coloured with Black Soot Distress Ink adding highlights with the White Fire Treasure Gold. I also added a die cut bat to the hand for further dimension and interest. More Remnant Rubs have also been added to the base.

31 has been die cut from black card using the Mini Spider and 31 Movers and Shapers Die again coloured with a touch of White Fire Treasure Gold Wax. I have also added touches of the wax to the branches to highlight the texture.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge 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:

Tim Holtz Laboratorie Paper Stash
Tim Hotlz Idea-ology - Apothecary Remnant Rubs 
Tim Holtz Alterations - Umbrella Man Die, Bewitching Hour Die, Mini Spider and 31 Movers and Shapers Die
Distress Ink - Black Soot
Distress Paint - Black Soot
Wendy Vecchi Art Parts Film Strip Frame
Wendy Vecchi Black Embossing Paste
Crafters Workshop Mini Branches Rev Template
PaperArtsy Treasure Gold White Fire