Winter Skates

I am always thrilled to be published in the Making Cards Magazine and this time around I thought I would showcase two of my favourites from October's Edition.

The first card made it onto the front cover of the magazine which is a huge thrill for me.

I love how detailed the skates are and look so textural. Obviously I will not go into details re how you make the card as that is in the current issue of the magazine.

Here is a copy of the magazine, my pumpkin card also appears on the front cover too.

I also created a second card to complement the first.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a lovely creative weekend. Tracy x x

Enjoy Today!

Today I am showcasing the fabulous COLLAGE EQUINOXE stamp plate from Katzelkraft.

To create the background I mixed turqoise and lime paint (Dina Wakley range) with white embossing paste and applied to the background using a palette knife, I love the textural feel this gives to my background. I then dried with a heat tool.

I die cut an ATC from white card using Tim Holtz ATC & Corners die, brayered the background with paint and then stamped the image with Black Archival Ink. I also matted the ATC onto a piece of black card so that it popped against the background. I also included a Botanical Remnant Rub "enjoy today" to the design.

Die cut leaves have been added which I then painted with lime and turquoise paint. I also added random stamping to the background using the text from the COLLAGE DRAGONFLY stamp plate. I also applied white embossing paste through a stencil and added random circles to the background for added interest along with delicate black splatters. I highlighted some of the wonderful texture and dimension with silver Treasure Wax.

Small roses and butterfly embellishments (a gift from Sandra, thank you) were added for further dimension and interest. I also included some coordinated twine for further texture.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

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Artistic Outpost Blog Hop - Autumnal/Fall

Today it is time for our Artistic Outpost monthly blog hop and this time around we are showcasing Autumnal/Fall colours or Artistic Outpost stamp sets that work with this theme. I decided to use the  SERENITY plate and the TYPOGRAPHY plate.

I decided to create an artist trading block colouring the sides with Archival Re-inkers Orange Blossom and Potting Soil and then stamped the image with Potting Soil Archival Ink. I love the combination of the warm Autumnal tones and the detailed image. I also added an 'autumn' Chitchat sticker for added interest.

I added some die cut Frameworks which I coloured with Distress Paints Fired Brick, Peeled Paint and Rusty Hinge.

I adore this sentiment and I love the font too perfect for an Autumnal piece I thought!

Another wonderful sentiment from the SERENITY plate added to the opposite side of my block.

I stamped 'Life is good' to the top of my block and added some die cut Tattered Leaves coloured with Distress Paints, bending each of the leaves to give movement and colouring the edges of each of the leaves with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I also included three mini pumpkins to my design. I have also coloured the inside of my block with Archival Re-inkers, making it perfect to house a gift for someone who has a birthday during Autumn.

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.

Terry

Tracy (me)
Kate
Linda

Gerrie

Lisa

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Do More Of What Makes You Happy!

I have used the fabulous THINK AND WONDER plate against a mixed media background this week for my DT piece for Artistic Outpost.

I have gone for a more vibrant colour palette this week using Dylusions Ink Sprays and added layers of stamping to the background along with a few stencilled areas.

I stamped my focal image with Black Archival Ink and added black tape across the bottom to ground my image. I also added a few delicate paint splats with Black Soot Distress Paint.

I love how all of the layers are visible in my design, I love adding layers to my backgrounds.

The sentiment has been stamped onto white card with Black Archival Ink using the TYPOGRAPHY plate. I did not add any colour to the sentiment as I thought it made a lovely contrast to the background . I also used a charcoal pencil to draw around the sentiment and added black circles using a lid and Black Soot Distress Paint.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Under The Sea

Time for this weeks DT creation for Katzelkraft and this week I am showcasing the fabulous Seahorse

Décoratif plate.

I decorated the background of the card with Wild Honey and Broken China Distress Inks, applying the inks to a non-stick craft sheet and spritzing with water and then mopping up the ink with my card and drying with a heat tool.  I also dipped the top of one of my paints into Rusty Hinge Distress Paint and added random circles to the background. For further interest I also included random background stamping and some delicate splats of Black Soot Distress Paint.

I cut three panels from white card and coloured with Broken China Distress Ink adding a touch of background stamping using Rusty Hinge Distress Ink. I stamped the Seahorse image with Archival Ink and matted each piece onto a second layer coloured with Rusty Hinge Distress Ink.

I also included Label Letters to add 'SEAHORSE' to the background, I love the bold black against the more colourful background and stamping.

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

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Compendium of Curiosities 3, Challenge 11 - Effect Powders

I am really enjoying the Compendium of Curiosities challenges and this time around we are shocasing Effect Powders page 52 of Tim's book. As always the Curiosity Crew have some fabulous artwork to inspire you along the way. The winner of the challenge wins a fabulous prize package courtesy of Tim Holtz and Mario Rossi and there is also a very generous $50 prize from Inspiration Emporium .

This time around I decided to create a spooky tea light holder which I have showcased on a chunky ATC. I began by covering the ceramic skull with Wendy Vecchi's Embossing Paste and allowing to dry overnight. I then painted the skull with Black Soot Distress Paint and allowed to dry and then dry brushed with orange to give a rusty appearance.

I made my skull a funky top hat from black card and then covered it with a good covering of Embossing Paste and allowed to dry completely. This made my hat really strong and sturdy (I cannot tell you how long it took me to make this hat, I seem to be fiddling with it for an age!) and I then die cut pieces from white card using the Graveyard On The Edge Die and adhered to the top hat, applying Embossing Paste around the die cut pieces so that it blended into the background. I also added a Crossbones Adornment to the centre of the hat. Once everything was completely dry I then painted the hat with Black Soot Distress Paint and dry brushed with orange. I adore the texture and rusty appearance!

I sat the skull onto a chunky ATC which also had the same paint treatment and I then added 'BOO' to the base showcasing Tim Holtz Effect Powders technique.

I added a skeleton to the base which I coloured with touches of paint and added a witches hat along with a spider balloon. The spider was die cut using Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers Die and again the Effect Powders technique was applied.

From this angle you can see all the wonderful texture, dimension and detailing on the hat.  This piece is so tactile!

I adore the rust effect the powders give to my spider. This will look great on my table in the lounge.

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment, I really appreciate you popping by.

Wise Owls

I have just joined Kate Crane's Journal 2 Soup on line class and its fabulous, I am really enjoying just playing for fun and working outside my comfort zone.

I am loving the use of colour on the first pieces I created using Distress Paints.

I added painted circles dipping lids from my containers into Distress Paint and adding to the background, I love the black against the pop of colour.

I used Tim Holtz ShadowPress to add 'GOOD TIMES' to the background as I thought this card would be perfect for my daughter's birthday, along with small painted circles added with the end of my paintbrush for added texture and interest.

The background to this one has been created with Dylusions Sprays, I am loving the vibrancy and the whimsical feel to this.

I love adding layers to my pieces and I love how you can see each colour layer by layer, really appeals to me. I added 'HOOT' using Tim Holtz Label Letters and a few paint splats using black paint.

I found some small alphabet letters in my collection and used those to add 'wisdom' to my design.

I can really recommend Kate's on-line courses, they are great fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Compendium of Curiosities 3, Challenge 10 - Assemblage Clock

I could not sleep last night so decided to join in with the Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge, getting in just under the wire! The Curiosity Crew are showcasing some fabulous altered Assemblage Clocks and there is a fantastic $25 prize on offer from Linda at The Funkie Junkie Boutique and if you would like a copy of the book you can find that HERE.

I decided to create an altered Halloween piece using the Assemblage Clock adding it to a platform of wood that I found lying around in my hubby's collection. I painted both the clock and wooden base with Gesso, added some embossing paste around the outside of the clock along with the word 'SPOOKY' applying paste through the Halloween Layering Stencil. I then painted all the pieces black and dry brushed with orange paint to give a rust effect.

I used the Halloween Layering Stencil to add "BOO, WICKED and HALLOWEEN to the back of the clock colouring the background piece with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.  I then stamped the cats from Tim Holtz Halftone Halloween set in Black Archival Ink and added Remnant Rubs for added interest. A skeleton sits proudly inside the clock along with several mini pumpkins.

I added the large Pumpkin to the base die cutting several layers using the Pumpkin Parts die, adhering the layers of the pumpkin together so that it would stand, colouring with Spiced Marmalade and Ripe Persimmon, applying Walnut Stain to the edges of the pumpkin and adding a few speckles using Walnut Stain Distress Marker and the Tim Holtz Spritzer. I added more spooky text to the base once again using the Layering Stencil and dry brushing over the texture with orange paint. I also added more mini pumpkins, a broom and a mini skull to the base.

I was inspired by Shelly Hickox to use the Found Relative and I gave her a spider balloon along with a mini spider belt buckle die cut from shrink plastic using the Mini Spider Movers and Shapers die and I also added a mini spider to the top fo the pumpkin too. I cut a hat from black card and added Remnant Rubs to her hat.

This picture shows the side of the clock and the texture I added using Embossing Paste and then dry burshing with paint to highlight the texture and design.

Not forgetting the back of the clock, I also added "FRIGHTFUL" and again painted with black paint and then dry brushed with orage to highlight the texture.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Have a fabulous creative weekend. Tracy x x

One Of A Kind

This week I am using the fabulous COLLAGE SYMPHONIE along with the SEAHORSE stamp plates from Katzelkraft.

The background has been coloured with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink and then flicked with water to add blotches to the background. I then added background stamping using the Collage Symphonie image using Potting Soil Archival Ink.

The central piece is 4" x 6" and I have decorated the background with Brushed Pewter Distress Stain and Peacock Feathers Distress Ink, applying both to a non-stick craft sheet and spritzing with water and then mopping up the beads of ink with the card. The Collage Symphonie image has been stamped with Aquamarine Archival Ink and I have added a few splatz of ink using a Distress Marker and Tim Holtz Spritzer tool.

I added a circular spotlight to the background stamping the Collage Symphonie image a second time onto a circular piece using Potting Soil Archival Ink and Vintage Photo Distress Ink around the edges. I also added touches of Vintage Photo Ink to the shells in the background. I added "one of a kind" using Chitchat stickers again coloured with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I stamped the Seahorse image with Potting Soil and Aquamarine Archival Inks and then cut out each image and added to the bottom of the card to add a touch of dimension along with a Seahorse embellishment for added interest.

A couple of shells add further interest along with a burlap material for added texture. Tim Holtz "One of a kind" sentiment has been added to the bottom and the completed design has been added to a matt coloured with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

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