Cooling Down A Little

I'm thinking of cooler times with my Christmas Card this week for 100 Proof Press using the fabulous Tall Confier image.

This stamp just cries out to be used for Winter cards, Christmas, birthdays or other occasions, I love it combined with the icy blues.

I masked the top and bottom half of my card to create a strip in the centre which I then coloured with Distress Inks broken china and faded jeans ink, spritzing with a little water for that snowy feel. My trees have been stamped with black archival ink with white highlights added to the brances with a white gel pen.

I added a large ornate snowflake cut using a Memory Box die, adhering two together for added dimension including a wooden snowflake added to the centre for further interest.  Happy Christmas has been stamped onto white card and coloured with broken china ink.

I also added a Tall Conifer to the inside of my card to give a professional finish.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Enjoy your weekend, I have a busy crafting weekend scheduled meeting deadlines and maybe a little time gardening. Tracy x x

A Touch Of Glamour

A touch of glamour this week for my DT piece for Creative Expressions using the Gala Event stamp plate.

I used Spellbinders Labels Twenty to showcase the fabulous gown. I added a little colour to my die cut shape using Distress Ink dusty concord, adding a little faux stitching to the outside edge using black soot Distress Marker.

I stamped the dress onto two shades of purple card, adding a little dimension to the bottom of the dress, adding two layers. I also included to dimensional roses, cut using the Tattered Pinecone die. I added a mini coat hanger for a little more interest.

No glamorous outfit would be complete without a hat, which I embossed with Cosmic Shimmer Ultra Thick Embossing Crystals, adding a little silver Paint Dabber to the raised areas. I also included a few black gems, added to the hat and dress to give that extra touch of glamour.

I stamped "Simply Fabulous" onto white card, sponging with a little dusty concord ink.  For further interest I added faux stitching to the outside edge of my card using dusty concord Distress Marker. A double bow and black bead pins add that extra touch of dimension and glamour.

Thanks for stopping by. Tracy x x

A NEW LEASE OF LIFE

The challenge this week for Simon Says Stamp and Show is perfect for me as I am trying to use my paints a little more in my creations, and with the theme of 'PAINT IT UP' what better way to showcase those fabulous Fresco Paints.

A found neglected frame was the inspiration for my heartfelt home decor piece.

I love hearts in my artwork, I love the shape and although it often symbolises love and affection I think it's perfect for so many occasions. I adore the combination of wood and paint, a coat of PaperArtsy Fresco Little Black Dress, followed by the Crackle Glaze and top coat of Snowflake, and a once neglected frame is given a new lease of life.  This is going to be a perfect birthday gift for one of my family members.

Fresco paints are a real must for me for a crackle background they are so simple to use and for someone a little impatient like me they work so quickly. Whenever I think of using paint I always think WOOD, its the combination of natural wood and paint that appeals to me, I love the finish you achive from just a coat of paint.

The heart aperture's were given a little metal treatment using metal foil sheets which I embossed with the Cuttlebug birds and swirls embossing folder, which I aged a little with a black paint dabber. I did apply some paint with my finger to get into all the crevices, oh and any excuse for messy fingers!

I've added a word band to each side of my frame again adding a little paint dabber to give that aged, industrial feel.  For further dimension I have included some Idea-ology foliage and locket keys.

On the opposite side I added a key which I painted with silver paint dabber to coordinate with my metal pieces. I also cut two hearts from the metal foil, embossed with the Cuttlebug folder adding paint dabber to the top.

I love the embossing on metal foil it adds such fabulous texture and dimension and the wording etched on each word band make it a perfect personal touch for one of my family members.

To give a little more interest I added the bird from the caged bird die embossed with the regal flourishes texture fade, which I also love as the bird echoes the birds on the embossing in the heart apertures.

The bird and branch cut using the bird branch die again embossed with the regal flourishes adds further interest to the opposite side of my frame.

I look forward to seeing your use of paint in your creations this week. 

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  

 

InLinkz.com

The Altered Alice Challenge - Chapter 18, Week 1 - Now you see him.....No you don't

Time for the next challenge with The Altered Alice. Just like the Cheshire Cat, we would like you to make a card where things appear and disappear! It could be as simple as a tag in a pocket or something more interactive and fun, for example a wiper card, a slider box or a slider card or even a double slider card, a telescoping card, a T-slide card, a swing (flip-flop) card, or a ViewMaster card. These tutorials from Splitcoaststampers are for inspiration; your project does not need to be a card.

Our quote for this month:

`Do you play croquet with the Queen to-day?'
`I should like it very much,' said Alice, `but I haven't been invited yet.
`You'll see me there,' said the Cat, and vanished.
Alice was not much surprised at this, she was getting so used to queer things happening. While she was looking at the place where it had been, it suddenly appeared again.
-- Chapter 6, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 

I decided to create a gatefold card, decorating the front panels with a little embossing using a heart embossing folder, perfect for Alice in Wonderland.  I coloured my embossed panels with fired brick Distress Ink and before attaching to the card I cut two windows from each panel, adding hitch fasteners to the windows and to the panels so they appear to look like doors. I added two gorgeous heart embellishments for further interest along with a watch face adding 'A' for Alice to the front.  I printed ALICE on my computer, coloured the edges with fired brick and added to the front.  For further interest I also added a ribbon trim to the top, adding Alice in Wonderland.

If you lift my windows using the fasteners you can see the fabulous Cheshire Cat, one of the fabulous images we are using from our sponsor Dilly Beans..

Open the doors to my gatefold card and you see the Cheshire Cat once again, in all his glory!  I have coloured him with my Prisma pencils and again I have added a background panel, embossed with the same heart embossing folder.

Alice and the Queen also make an appearance inside my card, both coloured with Prisma pencils, again images provided by our sponsor.  I cut two hearts using the mini hearts die from my Alice in Wonderland book, colouring with fired brick ink adding walnut stain to the edges.

I have covered my left and right inside panels with pages from an Alice in Wonderland book and on the left hand side I have highlighted the Queen and Cat text that appear on the panel from my book.  To give the Queen a little bling I have added gems to her crown and one as a necklace.

On the right hand side, if you look closely, you can just see that I have highlighted the word vanished, thought that was perfect as I am making my Cheshire Cat appear and disappear! It's little touches like this that make me happy with my craft, does not take much! Alice also has a pale blue heart gem added to her neck as a necklace and for a little added dimension.

To complete I added CHESHIRE CAT to some CANDI, sponging the edges of each letter with fired brick ink. I also added a brass heart embellishment to the Cheshire Cat for his little bit of bling, and I always think of hearts when I think of Alice in Wonderland.

Enter by August 24 , and the winner will receive three digi stamps from our sponsor!

Our sponsor this month is Dilly Beans, featuring the whimsical art of Megan Suarez, famous for her charming big-eyed girls! You can see the digi stamps and collage sheets on her blog, Dilly Beans Stamps. There is also a Dilly Beans design team challenge blog and an Etsy shop with Megan's artwork to inspire you. Dilly Beans offers four Alice-related digi stamps: Alice in Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat and some whimsical mushrooms; the design team will be featuring the first three.

I am really looking forward to seeing your creations this month.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x  

BIG on Texture

I cannot quite believe it but its been a year since I joined Creative Expressions as a DT member, and the exciting news is that they have now announced a DT call for the next DT term, to find out how to enter pop over to the Creative Expressions blog for all the details.

As part of the challenge you are requested to create an artisitc piece that showcases texture in some way. I decided to decorate a wooden heart that I found neglected in my stash so I decided to give it a new lease of life. Quite apt I thought as this is for a new DT call.

I covered my heart in metal foil tape which has been embossed with the riveted Texture Fade, which adds fantastic texture to the background of my heart, its so tactile! To add to the industrial feel I have coloured the metal with ginger and pitch black Alcohol Inks and then sanded with wire wool.

I stamped "Always Dream BIG" from Sam Poole's Art Sayings plate as I thought this was the perfect sentiment when responding to a DT call. I have added a little colour in the form of broken china Distress Ink adding a little walnut stain to the outside edges. For added texture and dimension I have also included some spirals of rusty wire.

I wanted to add further stamping but in a slightly different way so after much deliberation I decided I would use ultra thick embossing enamel and stamp into the enamel whilst hot, again giving me further texture to my piece. Whilst the enamel was hot I added Lapis Black and Malachite Fire Embossing Crystals to add colour and interest to the enamel. Whilst the enamel was hot I stamped Sam Poole's Bubble Wrap stamp into the enamel and then added highlights of silver Paint Dabber with my finger. "INSPIRE and CREATE" has been stamped onto white card, coloured with Distress Inks and added to my background.

Two of my hearts were stamped into for added texture and the other three were left as is, but the enamel still gives a wonderful smooth tactile finish.  For added interest I included Chitchat stickers, again coloured with Distress Ink to blend with my background. Two of the hearts have wings attached using the Simply Wings Art Parts, coloured with broken china ink, I love the dimension the wings give to my creation.

This close up shot shows in more detail the fabulous texture in the background and I love the industrial combined with the softness and texture of the enamel.

To complete I added black ribbon to hang the heart and again to add further texture and interest.

Good luck with your applications.

Thanks for stopping by. Tracy x x

Happy Christmas......

Time for my weekly post for 100 Proof Press and once again I have been using the wonderful Tall Conifer to create a Christmas Card.

I used a stencil to create my snowflake background using Distress Inks broken china and faded jeans, sponging the edges with a little broken china.

I have added the fabulous Tall Conifer to a ticket using Tim's mini ticket die, sponging with broken china ink and spritzing with water to give that snowy feel.

I cut three tickets and added a tree to each, matting and layering onto coordinated card.  I added the Happy Christmas sentiment onto white card sponging with broken china ink.

For added dimension I cut a snowflake from white card using a Memory Box die and added a wooden snowflake to the top for further interest. 25 has been added to the top of my card using Tim's alpha cards.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x x

London Elements

The August referral program for Artistic Outpost is ANYTHING GOES, that's right you can choose your own theme using any of the fabulous Artistic Outpost images and you can enter as many times as you like.

I decided to use images that I have not yet inked from the London Elements plate, perfect this time around considering those of us in the UK are celebrating the Olympics.

I covered my tag with some Portobello Road papers from Papermania, sponging the edges with fired brick Distress Ink. I then added a union jack door knob to the top, which gives fabulous dimension.

I added the clock image from the London Elements plate to a bottle cap, sponging the edges with fired brick ink and adding game spinners for the hands.  I also coloured the bottle cap with denim alcohol ink, adding LONDON from the Loverly London plate to the top of the cap for dimension, colouring with faded jeans Distress Ink. I added the fabulous pigeon image to the top of my clock piece. I stamped the LOOK RIGHT hand with black archival ink, sponging with a little faded jeans ink and adding a Union Jack circular embellishment to the finger.

I have been collecting jewellery pieces and using them for embellishments and the mini telephone box was perfect for this piece, to echo the iconic red telephone boxes that I stamped with vermillion archival ink.

I stamped the welcome sign onto white card, coloured with faded jeans ink, adding a metal crown to echo the crown on the right hand side on the Portobello Road paper.

Please link your creations HERE for your chance to win a fabulous prize.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x