Monday 30 June 2014

Spread Your Wings

This week the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge would like you to use WHITE in your design. There are so many shades of white and many applications from nautical to patriotic to winter. How will you use white this week? Will it be with Gesso? ink? pen? Or perhaps you will transform simple white cardstock, the choice is yours.
I opted for a black and white colour scheme this week, I love the classic feel this gives to a piece of art. I decided on an Artist Trading Block using bold imagery from Tim Holtz Nature Walk stamp set.
I added a dimensional bird to the top of my block cut from mountboard using the Caged Bird die. I die cut four birds and adhered each bird together to create dimension and so that my bird would stand quite nicely on the top of the block. I coloured the bird with Black Soot Distress Paint and then applied Snowflake Fresco Finish Paint through the Latticework Layering stencil onto the birds body. I added a feather at the back of the bird, die cut from black card using Kelly Purkey Feathers die and I added a touch of background stamping to the feather using the background stamp from the Classics 9 stamp set. I also included a letter 'B' for BIRD, colouring with Black Soot Distress Paint and adding touches of Silver Treasure Wax.
I addes stamped panels to each side of my block, stamping each image with Black Archival Ink. I placed the Latticework Layering Stencil over each image and lightly applied Black Soot Distress Ink over the stencil to give a more subtle backdrop. I also included a further die cut Feather. Once I had completed the stamping I also flicked Snowflake paint onto my design to add tiny splatters of paint .
Spools have been added, painted with Snowflake Fresco Finish Paint and I also added Botanical Remnant Rubs to the front spools.
The opposite side has been stamped with the nest image, a die cut feather added and a further Botanical Remnant Rub.
I also included stamping to the inside of my block.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog and take a look at my fellow team members artwork, 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. Tracy x x

Products Used:





Thursday 26 June 2014

Life Moments

Time for my weekly post for Katzelkraft.
This week I am showcasing the Tampons décoratifs Physalis - Hummingbird stamp set. I have created a background with Distress Inks, die cutting a circle from white card, placing the die cut into the centre and then blending Distress Inks around the die cut. I also used the Harlequin Layering Stencil to add further interest to the background.
I have inked the focal image with Archival Inks, adding three colours to the stems and then stamping the image three times.
For added dimension I have also included a small wooden bird.
I also stamped the Hummingbird onto white card, coloured with pencils and then added above the stems. I also added a touch of delicate shading to the circle . Summer is definitely inspiring my makes at the moment with these hot colours, I love them!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x


Tuesday 24 June 2014

Keep A Song In Your Heart

Today I am sharing my DT creation for Artistic Outpost using several of the fabulous images to create an Artist Trading Block.
The background of my ATB has been brayered with Broken China and Rusty Hinge Distress Paints, a colour combination I am really enjoying at the moment! The focal image on this side is from the Songbirds plate which I have stamped in Black Archival Ink. The sentiment is also from the same plate. I have added a letter 'B' for Birds.
Moving around the block I have added one of my favourite images from the Songbirds plate again stamped with Black Archival Ink. I have also added some random background stamping using Rusty Hinge Distress Ink.
I love the detail of this stamp and I love how you can see the subtle stamping and layers in the background.
One of my favourite sentiments has been added to this side along with another stamped bird and subtle background stamping.
To complete I have added a tissue flower to a wooden spool to the top of the ATB, colouring the edges of the flower with Distress Ink to coordinate with the colours on my ATB.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Monday 23 June 2014

FRIENDS

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is challenging you this week to use those products that don't get used nearly enough. Perhaps it is a stamp or maybe it is a particular ink colour or technique. This is your chance to be inspired and get it used and share!
I have recently spent many weeks decluttering and tidying my craft room and theTim Holtz Traveling Friends stamp set kept catching my eye, a stamp which has been inked for the first time with this project. I was drawn to this image as being a dog owner the image reminded me of my dog Mitzi and me as we are the best of friends, there is no companion like her.
My piece of art actually began with the Postage Stamp Frame Die which I thought was perfect for showcasing the best of friends image well that's what I call them anyway!. I die cut the Frame from white card and then stamped the image in Black Archival Ink. I then added the sized rectangle to the Postage Stamp Frame and die cut five frames to layer one on top op the other. I coloured four of the layers and the stamped image with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and I flicked the stamped image with water to add water blotches to the background. I layered each frame to create dimension and the top frame was covered with Wendy Vecchi's Gold Embossing Paste and once dry I then applied a good coat of Crackled Texture Paste. I absolutely love the crackles this gives. To highlight the fabulous crackles I then applied a coat of Walnut Stain Distress Stain which seaps into the cracks, I love it.
Before affixing the framed piece to the panel I applied White Embossing Paste through the Tim Holtz Numbered Layering Stencil to echo the number within the stamped image. Once the paste was completely dry I then painted the background with Walnut Stain Distress Paint and dried with a heat tool. Too add some contrast I flicked some Snowflake Fresco Finish Paint over the background and I also added some stamping in white using the background stamp from the Traveling Friends stamp set. I also added a couple of mini canvases to my design, this one showcases the wording 'TOGETHER' using Tim Holtz Alpha Parts Framed, which I thought was perfect for the image of the boy and his fury friend. I also added touches of Olive Bronze Wax to the wording and the mini canvas, and I also included an arrow pointing to the focal image to echo what the wording 'TOGETHER' means.
I added 'FRIEND' to the bottom of my hanging using Alpha Chips again adding a few touches of Olive Bronze wax to the edges. I also added a touch more background stamping using the background stamp from the Classics 9 stamp set.
I added the focal image once again but this time to a mini canvas, stamping onto a piece of tissue paper. The mini canvas was coloured with Walnut Stain Distress Stain prior to adding the stamped tissue piece. I also added a 'love' Chitchat sticker to represent the love between the two friends.
To complete, I added a heart charm to the bottom of the mini canvas.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog and take a look at my fellow team members artwork, 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. Tracy x x



Products Used:

Tim Holtz Alterations - Postage Stamp Frame Die, Sized Rectangles


Thursday 19 June 2014

Life Is Good

A combination of Distress Paints and the Dragonfly Collage stamp from Katzelkraft were my choice this week for my DT creation. I added the Distress Paints to a non-stick craft sheet, spritzed with water and then mopped up the paint with white card spritzing with water to blend further.
I stamped the focal image with Potting Soil Archival Ink and added the hashtag sentiment, coloured with Distress Inks.
I then added a circular spotlight of the dragonfly image, die cutting a circle from white card and colouring with Distress Paints and stamping the image with Archival Ink.
A second smaller spotlight has been added to the bottom corner along with some torn book page for added interest.

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

Tuesday 17 June 2014

SOAR

I have been spending a great deal of time in the garden enjoying the sunshine which inspired my tag for Artistic Outpost this week.
I have used the SONGBIRDS plate this time around stamping the image onto a brayered tag using Broken China and Rusty Hinge Distress Paints.
I added touches of background stamping using Rusty Hinge Distress Inks and also included two hearts stamped with the Songbirds image. SOAR has been stamped onto white card coloured with Rusty Hinge Distress Ink using the QUOTE and QUOTABLES plate. I also included a small wooden bird perched on top of the sentiment.
Seam binding has been coloured with Distress Inks to coordinate with my design and I have added a Heart Charm for added interest. I have also included Botanical Remnant Rubs to the background.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x


Monday 16 June 2014

ANYTHING GOES

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge has a real simple challenge for you this week, ANYTHING GOES!
It's my son Ryan's 18th birthday this year so I thought I would take this opportunity to create him an alternative to a birthday card, an 18th wall hanging. The background is canvas board which I coated with Wendy Vecchi's White Embossing Paste, applying randomly to the background. Once the paste was completely dry I then applied a good coat of Black Soot Distress Paint which I heat set with a heat tool. The next stage was to dry brush Gathered Twigs Distress Paint over the top to highlight all the wonderful texture. I then dry brushed Rusty Hinge Distress Paint over the background to add further to that rusty feel. To complete I mixed a small amount of Salty Ocean and Mowed Lawn together and dry brushed over a few areas.
I added some chicken wire to the background which I coloured with Pitch Black Alcohol Ink so that it toned in with my background. I hung a heart charm from the chicken wire which incorporates the word 'wish' to represent a birthday wish to my son. I also added circles of Rusty Hinge paint to the background using the lid from one of my Distress Paints, I love the pop of colour this gives.
The numbers were covered with Ranger Metal Foil tape and then embossed with the Riveted Metal Texture Fade and then coloured with Pitch Black and Ginger Alcohol Inks. I then rubbed over the metal with wire wool to add to that industrial feel.
I coloured a piece of white card with Gathered Twigs and Rusty Hinge Distress Paints and then die cut the Honeycomb Frameworks from the painted piece. I then cut the Frameworks up into pieces and then added to the background for further interest. For added dimesion I also included ENJOY using Tim Holtz Letterpress letters. I rubbed over the top of each letter with a touch of White Fire Wax.
I coloured a further piece of white card with Gathered Twigs and Rusty Hinge Distress Paints and then added the Tim Holtz sentiment from the Stuff To Say stamp set stamped with Black Archival Ink. I also included a few Words Remanant Rubs to the background.
I also added a touch more interest to the background using Wendy Vecchi's 'Add A Stencil' from her Stencils For Art range. I applied White Fire Wax throught the stencil to add a few highlights to the background.
I added #happybirthday using Tim Holtz Hashtags stamp set. Teenagers are hard to please so fingers crossed my son is suitably impressed with my efforts!

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog and take a look at my fellow team members artwork, 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. Tracy x x



Products Used:

Tim Holtz Idea-Ology - Heart Charms, Letterpress, Remnant Rubs Words
Alcohol Inks - Pitch Black, Ginger