Nautical Extravaganza

This week the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is all about creativity on the high seas! From mermaids to sea critters, rich ocean blues to sandy glitters and embossing powders – let’s sea what you can come up with! Whether you are inspired by the glamour of the cruise liners of the olden days or are thinking about ye olde pirates, going to scrapbook that trip to the islands or want to break out that stamp with bubbles on it – join us aboard the ship known as the Stamp & Show!

I have a tutorial for you this week using the fabulous Treasure Gold Waxes. Here is a sneak peek of my project which will be shown on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog this Wednesday 16th October. I would love if you could pop back to the Simon Says Monday Challenge Blog to take a look. 

In the meantime why not join in our Nautical challenge this week.

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. Tracy x x 

Memories Are Stitched With Love

This weeks DT creation for Creative Expressions uses the Vintage Sewing stamp set by Sam Poole.

The first piece I created was a rustic gift bag made from a piece of Hessian I had left in my collection.

I stitched a piece of Tim Holtz fabric to the background as I thought the ruler design was perfect for the stamped images and also complemented with the natural element to my design. I stamped a piece of Calico with the images from the Vintage Sewing set using Coffee and Black Archival Ink. I did not add the background stamps to an acrylic block I used them as is to give a more random feel.

I added the sentiment "Memories Are Stitched With Love" to the Calico, stamped with Black Archival Ink and I also added a wonderful dimensional flower to the top corner of my design.

SEW has been added using Signmaker Alpha Parts for a touch more dimension and to add a further layer of interest.

A touch of natural ribbon and a sewing machine charm were also added and I stamped the dress form once again onto a piece of Calico, cut out and then stitched to the first stamped image to add a touch of dimension. I love how tactile this bag is.

I also created a coordinated gift tag to go with my bag again with a very rustic feel.

I coloured the tag with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink and then frayed the edges to add to the aged feel.  I then added background stamping using images from the Vintage Sewing set and Coffee Archival Ink.

A second smaller tag has been added to the top of the larger tag, again the edges have been distressed and the tag has been coloured with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink. I also crumpled the tag in places to add to the aged feel and then added more Distress Ink to the creases. I added background stamping and then stamped the dressform in Black Archival Ink. SEW has been added using Signmaker Alpha Parts. I also added some tape measure ruler and natural ribbon and machine stitched them into place.

Natural twine has been added along with a large button threaded with black twine all added to compliment the rustic natural feel of my tag.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

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HARVEST

I am showcasing the HAYRIDE plate this week from Artistic Outpost to create a card with a wonderful Autumnal feel.

I coloured the backdrop with Broken China Distress Ink and aged my piece by distressing and tearing the edges of my card.

I added bales of hay to the backdrop stamped with Distress Ink, masking to create the bales one on top of the other.

A pumpkin patch has also been created for my young boy to nestle in and I have also added the fabulous tractor to one side and added a sign "harvest homecoming". To add a touch of dimension I have also included HARVEST added with Alpha Parts.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Rag Quilt Bag

Something a little different from me today! I was recently searching for some fabric when I stumbled across a wonderful Aladdin's Cave, Terrys Fabrics, their selection is absolutely amazing and their service is also fantastic.

I recently also purchased a sewing machine, solely for the purpose of adding machine stitching to my cards which I love. However, this weekend I decided to challenge myself to try something a little different. My sewing skills are extremely limited but I wanted a challenge and also to just have some fun with my sewing machine.

The two fabrics I have used for my bag are the Postcard Curtain Fabric Natural and Geisha Curtain Fabric Graphite. I chose these fabrics as I thought they would also work beautifully on cards, canvases and tags too.

I added machine stitching to each square and also cut into the seams, without cutting the machine stitching to give the rag quilt appearance.

I have also added a coordinated button to each bag to act as a fastener.

The bird images combined with the text and postcard images really appealed to me in these fabrics and I also love the natural tones too.

Terrys also have an Interior Design Blog should you wish to pop and take a look.

Suzie Newton was a great help and delivery was fantastic.

I will probably use these as an alternative to a gift bag for a special birthday.

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

Seasonal Assemblage Clock

This week the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge would like you to take inspiration from the talented Tammy Tutterow. Tammy has amazing tutorials every Tuesday; you could be inspired by one of the many she has posted or simply be inspired by her style or by a particular project Tammy has made and make it your own. Put your own spin on one of Tammy's techniques, a small element she has used or anything else that inspires you during your visit to Tammy's blog.

I decided to take inspiration from Tammy's blog post HERE, showcasing a fabulous Assemblage Clock. I had one of Tim's clocks on my shelf and was inspired to create one of my own as an alternative to a Christmas card for a family member.

I began by sanding the clock and then applying a coat of tarnished brass Distress Paint.

I then applied mushroom and ginger Alcohol Inks to the top of the paint to give a rusted aged feel to the clock.

Next I wanted to add some snow and I need to thank my good friend and fellow team mate Candy for sending me some Snow-Tex as this was perfect for the snow element, to which I added Distress Stickles Dry Glitter Clear Rock Candy to add a touch of sparkle. I also embedded a snowflake Christmas Adornment and Festive Foliage into the snow for added interest.

I added some peeled paint reinker to a mini mister and then added water.

I placed a woodland tree into a plastic bag and then spritzed with the reinker solution to colour.

I added the tree to my clock and added touches of snow and glitter to the tree for added sparkle.

I decorated the back plate to the clock with a piece of card from the Seasonal Paper Stash again adding touches of glitter. I also sanded the edges to add to the aged feel.

The next step was to die cut six mini reindeers from thick card.

I added stamping to one of the reindeers using the background stamp from Wendy Vecchi's Art Of Making It Merry stamp set.

The reindeers were all adhered together to give me a fabulous dimensional reindeer to add to my clock. I coloured each reindeer with gathered twigs Distress Ink.

I die cut the Tattered Poinsettia from white card and coloured with fired brick Distress Ink, added some background stamping to each piece, shaped them and layered together to add to the top of my clock.

A tattered banner has been added, coloured with fired brick Distress Ink, Christmastime added and then attached to a memo pin.

BELIEVE has been added to the side of my clock from the seasonal salvage stickers.

Twine was added behind my dimensional poinsettia along with a coordinated button and twine to the centre.

A mini poinsettia was added to the back of the clock along with more natural twine.

A reindeer Christmas Adornment has been added to the side of the clock coloured with Alcohol Inks and attached with jump rings.

25 cut from red card has been affixed to the back of the clock along with a mini wreath again coloured with peeled paint reinker.

The dimensional reindeer has been added to the side of my clock and a SNOW sticker has been added to the background.

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.

Don't forget our new name Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog and our new home is HERE. Same fantastic challenge just a new name and home!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Products Used:

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Assemblage Clock, Christmas Adornments, Festive Foliage, Woodland Trees and Wreath, Memo Pins, Jump Rings
Tim Holtz Alterations - Mini Reindeer and 25 Movers and Shapers Die, Tattered Poinsettia, Tattered Banners, Mini Cardinal and Poinsettia Movers and Shapers Die,
Tim Holtz Distress Stickles Dry Glitter Clear Rock Candy
Tim Holtz Seasonal Paper Stash, Seasonal Salvage Stickers
Wendy Vecchi Art Of Making It Merry Stamp Set
Distress Paint - Tarnished Brass
Distress Ink - Gathered Twigs, Fired Brick
Peeled Paint Reinker
Alcohol Inks - Mushroom, Ginger
Ranger Mini Mister
Twine

ARTSY FLORAL CARD

Time for this weeks DT creation for Creative Expressions using the fabulous Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Classics 4 Stamp Set.

The backdrop of my card has been created with Mowed Lawn and Salty Ocean Distress Ink, applied to a Non-Stick Craft Sheet and spirtzed with water.

I've added a dimensional flower using the Heartfelt Delicate Asters, adding twine behind the flower for further interest along with a button to the centre.

Background stamping has been added using the stamp from the Classics 4 Stamp Set giving tone on tone stamping and then adding a further layer of interest with stamping in Black Archival Ink. I have also added a Victorian Metal Corner Embellishment for added dimension. I have coloured the corner with a touch of Pearl Moon Gilding Wax.

To complete I have added 'Make A Wish' using the Tim Holtz Simple Sayings stamp set along with ART using Signmaker Alpha Parts.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

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Happy Haunting

I have another Guest Designer piece today for Sam Poole using her fabulous Trick or Treat Singles Stamp and Happy Haunting Singles Stamp.

Here is a sneak peek of my creation. Please pop by Sam's Creative Studios HERE for a closer look.

I love to read your comments and appreciate everyone.

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment.

Tracy x x