ANYTHING GOES

It's time for one of your favourite challenges this week from Simon Says Stamp and Show, yes it's ANYTHING GOES this week, so go wild and create anything that takes your fancy!

My fellow Design Team member Sarah has recently given birth to a beautiful baby daughter Ruby and when Sarah sent the team a snapshot I was inspired almost immediately to create a card to commemorate this special occasion.

The red in Ruby's little outfit inspired me to get my fired brick Distress ink out and create an inky background to showcase Ruby's beautiful snapshot. This card just flowed from start to finish and came together beautifully, I love creating when everything works so perfectly! To add that personal touch I added Ruby's name to jump rings adhered with Glossy Accents along with many gold highlights and machine stitching for that hand made feel. I added Ruby's picture to a piece of paper from the Lost and Found paper stash, adding a little vintage photo to the edges.

To create my background I simply applied fired brick and a little vintage photo ink to my non-stick craft sheet, spritzed with water and mopped up the beads of ink with my card, heat setting between each application of ink. I stamped numbers in the background using the numbers from Wendy Vecchi's Art Parts stamp set and coffee archival ink. I thought the GIGGLE on the addage ticket was a perfect addition to a baby card, ageing a little with vintage photo ink.  I little wooden bird veneer has been added, coloured with fired brick ink.

I cut two hearts using the Mini Hearts die, again colouring with fired brick and a little vintage photo ink. I added two Chitchat stickers to each heart for further interest. Cherish and Adore are perfect words for a baby card.

A word band (live in the moment) has been added to Ruby's picture, coloured with a little gold paint dabber to coordinate with all my other touches of gold. I've added a piece of film strip ribbon and stamped the word CHERISH across the centre. To add a little feminine touch I have included some Ideaology foliage pieces.

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  

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Skeleton Keepsake Box

Morning all, time for my second piece for The Stamp Attic using those fabulous images from Stampendous, this time around I am using the Skeleton Poem.

I decided to decorate one of the jewellery boxes Wendy has in stock, perfect to house a little Halloween gift. I began by painting the box with a coat of Gesso before applying any acrylic paint.

To give more interest to my box I added pieces of iron gate cut from white card using the On The Edge Iron Gate die, adhering with Mutli Medium Matte.

Once I had adhered the iron gate pieces I then painted with Americana burnt umber acrylic paint, applyng two coats. Once dry I then applied Americana burnt orange over the top, using very little paint, in fact my brush was almost dry. Once the paintwork was completely dry I added a Hitch Fastener to act as a knob to the front of my box, adhering with Glossy Accents.

To decorate the top of my card I cut a piece of white card 3" x 3" and coloured with Distress Inks rusty hinge and black soot, applying to my non stick craft sheet, spritzing with water and mopping up the beads of ink with my card, drying with my heat tool between each application. I stamped the skeleton with black archival ink and added Aged Copper Embossing Enamel to the outside edges of my card. I added 31 using mini numerals, coloured with butterscotch Alcohol Ink, along with a skull brass charm for added dimension.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

NOEL

Another of my seasonal cards using the fabulous Tall Conifer from 100 Proof Press. The more I use this stamp, the more ideas spring to mind!

I do love broken china and faded jeans for my Christmas cards, they give a fabulous snowy feel when spritzed with water, which is exactly what I have done in my background for this card, masking off the central panel for my row of trees.

I stamped the row of Tall Conifers with black archival ink and added a little broken china to the bottom of the trees to ground them and give the appearance that they are sitting in snow.

I stamped the sentiment NOEL twice onto white card coloured with broken china ink and added to the top and bottom corners.  For further interest I included wooden stars to the opposite corners, again coloured with broken china ink.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Vintage Glamour

A touch of vintage glamour for my DT piece this week for Creative Expressions using the Gala Event plate. These images would work perfectly for party invites, they are so glamourous.

I decided to create a vintage tag this week stamping the background with the lace stamp from Wendy Vecchi's Sentimental Art stamp set. This stamp instantly gives that vintage feel to a piece and I love the detail.

I cut an oval from cream card using the Spellbinders Nestabilities Floral Ovals die, very elegant and perfect combined with the gown. Vintage photo and walnut stain Distress Inks set the vintage tone for my tag. I stamped the dress onto the oval shape and then added a little dimension to the gown stamping two layers onto vintage book pages.

For further interest and dimension I included three coordinated mini buttons and two rusty hearts which also add wonderful rustic texture to my tag. STYLE has been stamped onto CANDI and added to the oval along with the sentiment "Hope your birthday is a Gala Event", perfect combined with the focal image.  Gems have been added to the gown and the sentiment.  To complete, I have added Chitchat stickers.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Back To School

Time for our monthly blog hop with Artistic Outpost and this month our theme is BACK TO SCHOOL.

The Secretary Pool plate was the perfect option for me this month with the alphabet being perfect to create my background. I stamped the alphabet several times in the background using manganese blue archival ink and I toned it down a little with watered down Gesso, to give a wash effect and it feels just like chalk, perfect for a back to school piece. I also added machine stitching in rows to appear like lined paper, leaving loose threads at the end for further interest.

I then stamped the young girl image from the Kudzu Kafe plate, colouring her with Distress Markers, adhering her with silicone to give a little dimension. I then stamped the alphabet once again and added a strip in front of my girl. For further interest I added paperclips and stamped pencil. For added dimension and texture I also included letters cut from mountboard using the word play die, adding embossing enamel for texture. I stamped into the hot enamel on two of the letters using the background samp from the Secretary Pool plate. I also included three mini numerals, coloured with alcohol inks.

My blogging friend Candy sent me some wonderful goodies in the post including the fabulous mini chalkboard clip you see on my card, perfect for this piece. I added "back to school" using a picket fence Distress Marker and coloured the background with alcohol ink.  To complete, I added three small wooden pencils tied with natural twine.

My fellow Design Team members have created some fabulous pieces, pop along and be inspired along the way.

• Gerrie Johnnic
• Lisa Somerville
• Suzanne Czosek
• Tracy Evans (ME) 
• Linda Coughlin 

Artistic Outpost are also holding a fabulous Referral Program, the theme being ANYTHING GOES/ANY OF THOSE AO IMAGES. Why not pop along HERE for all the details and there is a fabulous prize on offer too.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Enjoy the rest of the week. Tracy x x 

GIRLS RULE

Simon Says Stamp and Show would like to see your FAVOURITE TECHNIQUE this week, what is your current favourite? Join in the fun, we would love to see your favourites.

I was inspired by a new stamp purchase to create my feminine tag.

My favourite technique right now is the Multi-Medium resist, I still love the wow factor achieved from such a simple idea. I was also inspired by the Spring seasonal Distress colours peacock feathers and squeezed lemonade; I was in the mood for a brighter colour palette this time around. I often use browns in my artwork and wanted to try something a little different, a move away from my usual grungy style. The Girls Rule image adds that feminine touch.

Here is my tag before any decoration. I applied the Multi-Medium to the Fabulous Flourishes stamp using Cut N Dry Foam and then stamped onto my tag. Once dry I applied peacock feathers and a little squeezed lemonade, spritzing with water to blend my colours. The Distress Inks resist the image I have stamped with the Multi-Mediuum, I love it.

I stamped the Girls Rule image onto white card with black archival ink and coloured with Distress Markers, blending a little Distress Ink around the edges of my decorated piece.  I then added the image to a piece of Tim Holtz ColorCore Cardstock Distress collection and added to the tag at a slight angle.

I have added the same image to a Memory Frame, colouring with Alcohol Inks sail boat blue, stonewashed, citrus, denim and pearl mixative.  I simply added a drop of each colour to an applicator and tapped the colour onto my frame. For added interes I attached a word stick, again coloured with the same alcohol inks. I added a mini numeral to coordinate with the number on the stamped image adding alcohol ink to blend with my background. Two small wooden birds coloured with peacock feathers ink have been added for further interest.

For added decoration I have included a flower cut using the Spellbinders spiral blossom two die, colouring with Distress Inks, adding a little twine to the back tied in a bow. For further dimension I have included a label pull, adding a Chitchat sticker to the centre and a fractured doll coloured with a little alcohol ink.

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

RAVEN

I'm working with the fabulous new Stampendous stamps for my DT pieces this time around for The Stamp Attic and I have to say I love them.  My first piece uses the Raven Background.

I began colouring two pieces of card with Distress Inks dusty concord, shaded lilac and black soot; applying the inks to my non stick craft sheet, spritzing with water and mopping up the ink with my card, drying between each application.

Once I had my pieces of card coloured with ink I then stamped the fabulous Raven with black archival ink adding Aged Black Embossing Enamel to the outside edge, giving fabulous texture and interest to my piece.

I stamped his hat once again, adding Clear Rock Candy for further texture, bending a little to give a more realistic appearance. For added dimension I also included a skull brass charm to the top of my card coloured with Vintaj Patina Ink amethyst from the Victorian Glade set.

For further interest I used the On The Edge Iron Gate die, cutting pieces from white card and colouring with black soot ink and adding to the outside edge of my stamped image, acting like a frame.

I added a further skull brass charm to the bottom corner of my card and stamped Raven from the Raven Background stamp, cut out and coloured with dusty concord ink, adding a little black soot to the edges.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x