HAPPY CHRISTMAS

I've created a rustic Christmas card using the fabulous SPRUCE stamp from 100 Proof Press.

The SPRUCE has been stamped onto kraft card using black archival ink and I have then spritzed with a gold spray to add a touch of glitz.

I have added two dimensional poinsettia's using the mini poinsettia die.  I added six layers from kraft card and then sprayed with gold spray and added a black button threaded with twine to the centre of each.

Seasonal Chitchat stickers have been added to the top, coloured with a little walnut stain Distress Ink.  I have also added a wooden heart for added dimension to the bottom corner along with the sentiment HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x 

 

INVISIBLE CROWN

I've been using the If The Crown Fits stamp plate from Creative Expressions to create another classy card.

I've really enjoyed working with black and white for this stamp set, a move away from my usual grungy style.

I began by stamping the background with the ornate key stamp using black archival ink.

I then added a heart tin and then stamped the sentiment onto a heart shaped piece of card, adding faux stitching around the edge and an ornate key charm to the bottom to echo the keys in my background.  I stamped the ornate crown above my heart.

As I was using the sentiment "Always act like you are wearing an invisible crown" I thought it would be fun to use acetate to act as that invisible element.

This picture shows the dimension the acetate adds to my card.

I added more faux stitching to my decorative piece and then added the acetate to the outside to give wonderful dimension and interest to my card.  I then added layers of coordinated card.

I really love the acetate element, although it was a little difficult to photograph.  You can just make out the sentiment on this picture.  I also added a few crystal gems to my crown for added dimension and a touch of bling, no crown is complete without a touch of bling!

I thought the sentiment was perfect for my heart shaped tin and this was the inspiration for my creation.

I added a wooden heart coloured with black soot Distress Ink adding silver Paint Dabber to the edges along with some black and white Bakers Twine for further interest. A pewter crown charm has been added to the top of my heart to echo my stamped crown.

If you are looking for more inspiration there is also a FREE card project from Sue Wilson on the Creative Expressions Blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

She Makes Her Own Way

I am really enjoying my creative journey at the moment, and I have really enjoyed using the newly released Cowgirl Strength plate from Artistic Outpost.

My inspiration for this piece began with the star on her dress, which inspired my whole piece. I knew I wanted to use stars in my creation.  I also knew that I wanted a faux leather kind of look in the background too. I began with the large wooden star which I coloured with brushed corduroy and vintage photo Distress Inks and then added the print to the top with black archival ink.

I then began to decorate a piece of Glassine paper, which I spritzed with Ranger Ink Refressher, its a fantastic product when used with Glassine. Simply spritz and then crumple your paper, the more you work it the softer and more material like it seems to get.  Once dry I added a little antiqued bronze Distress Stain to the raised areas for definition. I then added this piece to coordinated brown Bazzill card stock.

I added two tiny brass stars to opposite corners along with natural twine and smaller wooden stars. I really love the natural feel to this piece.  I coloured my image with Distress Markers and added some brass studs and star to her dress for added dimension.  The fantastic sentiment "She Makes Her Own Way" completes my piece.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

JOY

Simon Says Stamp and Show would like you to find inspiration from one of Tim's past tags, whether it is a design, technique or other idea we would love to see your artwork incorporated into an ATC, tag, card, scrapbook page, altered art whatever your choice, we would love to see it.

I was inspired by Tim's 12 tags of 2012 the month of February to create my seasonal card.

Tim's tag for February inspired me the most as I love the dabber resist technique, used here with the background stamp from the Seasons Silhouettes stamp set along with snowcap Paint Dabber.  I also love hearts so the dimensional heart was also perfect to add to my seasonal card, cut using the Mini Heart die.  I always like to add my own twist on things with my two dimensional reindeers cut using the Reindeer Flight die. Another Christmas card ticked off the list!

I decorated a piece of white card using the dabber resist technique and the background stamp from the Seasons Silhouettes stamp set. I also created a dimensional heart as Tim created on his tag back in February adding a Chitchat sticker to the top of my heart for a little more interest.  These three elements including some corrugated card were the starting point for my card.

The next step was to add my dimensional reindeer which I cut from greyboard but any thick card or mountboard would work perfectly.  I cut five reindeer and adhered them together to give me wonderful dimension to my piece.

I love texture in my creations so I added texture paste to each reindeer using a palette knife and then set aside to dry for a couple of hours.

Once the texture paste was dry I painted each reindeer with acrylic paint.

I added gold highlights to each reindeer using gold Paint Dabber and my finger.

I sponged the edges of my layers with walnut stain Distress Ink and added all my elements to red card stock. I added one of the reindeers to the dabber resist background adding a Chitchat sticker to his body along with a rusty bell for further interest.

My dimensional heart has been added to the top corner of my card along with two ornate corners to the stamped panel.

The second reindeer has been added to the bottom corner of my card and again I have added a Chitchat sticker and rusty bell.

JOY has been added to the top of my card using grunge blocks, colouring each letter with gold Paint Dabber and once dry rubbing over a little walnut stain Distress Ink using an ink blending tool.

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

Products Used:

Tim Holtz Seasons Silhouettes Stamp Set
Tim Holtz Alterations - Mini Heart Die, Reindeer Flight Die,
Paint Dabbers - Snowcap, Gold
Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Chitchat Stickers, Grunge Blocks
Distress Inks - Fired Brick, Walnut Stain
Ink Blending Tool
Heat Tool
Non-Stick Craft Sheet

 

RUSTIC CHRISTMAS

I have made many Christmas cards this year and many have been in icy blues so I thought this time around I would go for a more rustic look. Anyone who knows me will know that I am a huge fan of rustic Christmas decorations and the whole rustic look, in fact my Christmas tree and most of my decorations are quite rustic. I few days ago I was informed that there is a fantastic competition taking place at the moment all of the details of which you can find HERE. There are some fantastic prizes, the first prize being a mini IPad (which my daughter would love), second prize is £100 of Hobbycraft vouchers (which mum would love) and third prize is £50 of Hobbycraft vouchers (which mum would also love).

I decided to create a rustic pop up card using the fabulous Karen Burniston Pop 'n Cuts die combined with the fabulous SPRUCE image from 100 Proof Press. The front of my card has an embossed panel embossed with the leaves texture fade coloured with brushed corduroy and vintage photo Distress Inks to add to that rustic feel, spritzing with a little water to give a little more interest to the background.

The SPRUCE is my focal image stamped on a styled label and matted onto a piece of black card to lift a little from the embossed background. I have added a little text in the background using the Ephemera background stamp from Artistic Outpost using coffee archival ink, subtle addition but adds so much more interest to the background and gives a perfect backdrop for the SPRUCE. I added the fabulous tattered poinsettia to the bottom corner, cutting a few extra layers for added dimension, I love it.  I coloured each layer with brushed corduroy ink, adding vintage photo to the edges, adding an antique button for further interest.

I cut a tiny circular tag from white card, stamped with the Ephemera background stamp and added TREE to the top along with "festive" using a Chitchat sticker. The edges of the tag have been coloured with vintage photo ink for definition.  I added some natural twine to the top of my decorated piece to add to that rustic charm.

This is the INSIDE of my card, I so love the Pop 'n Cuts they add so much interest and fun to the interior of a card, I love them.  I cut the pop up element from Kraft card again to add to the rustic feel, stamping the SPRUCE to the bottom corner to echo my focal image on the front of my card.

I cut a heart from the central panel and added JOY to the interior again colouring with brushed corduroy and vintage photo ink.  I cut a large snowflake from white card, stamped text from the Artistic Outpost Midwinter plate and coloured with Distress Inks. To add some contrast I also added some pearl snowflakes. I cut a tag from white card, added the Ephemera text to the background and added the sentiment from the Artistic Outpost Midwinter plate and sponged the edges of the tag with walnut stain Distress Ink, adding natural twine along with two wooden snowflakes for added dimension.

The two wooden snowflakes have been coloured with Distress Inks and a little antiqued bronze Distress Stain added to the edges for a little sparkle.  I have added several seasonal words using Chitchat stickers.

A larger snowflake has been added to the bottom of the pop up, again I have stamped this snowflake with the Ephemera text, colouring with Distress Inks, adding antiqued bronze Distress Stain to the edges.  To complete, I have added more seasonal Chitchat stickers.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

NEW YEAR

I've been using the fabulous Auld Lang Syne plate from Artistic Outpost to create a NEW YEAR card.

Although this plate has images specifically for NEW YEAR the clock images could be used at anytime of the year and in conjunction with many other images. My background has been created with Distress Stains tarnished brass and antiqued bronze, applying the stains to my non-stick craft sheet, spritzing with a little water and mopping up the ink with my card. I thought these metallic tones work perfectly for a NEW YEAR card.

I stamped the clock images in the background using coffee archival ink, adding across the length of the top edge.  I also added a clock which I clear embossed to the top of my card to embellish and add further dimension. I stamped my focal image onto white card and coloured with tarnished brass Distress Stain and then matted onto coordinated card.  I then hung the focal piece from natural twine connected to the two top corners of my card, attached with brads.

The lettering for NEW YEAR is from the alphabet in the Secretary Pool plate and the 'N' is an alpha part.  I stamped "For Auld Lang Syne" onto white card with coffee archival ink, cut up and added to the side of my card.

I stamped the clock from the focal image once again onto white card, added clear embossing to the top of the image for dimension and texture and added to the side of my card.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Sparkle On

I'm working with a new set of stamps this week from Creative Expressions, something a little more sophisticated for me, If The Crown Fits A5 Stamp Plate.

As soon as I saw the stamps I knew I wanted to create something in classic black and white.  I began with an embossed background using the Spellbinder M-Bossabilities Hearts Embossing Folder.

I matted the embossed piece onto a piece of black card and added faux stitching with a white pen for a little more interest. I stamped the fabulously ornate crown onto white card using Black Archival Ink, matting onto black card and adding clear gems for added dimension. I also added a pewter crown embellishment to the top corner to echo the stamped image. I stamped "Sparkle On" onto white card and added to the bottom of the crown.

I cut a heart from white card, sponged the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink, stamped the sentiment with Black Archival Ink and added to the top of my card, tucking behind my stamped panel. For further interest I included an ornate pewter key.

To add to the sophisticated feel of my card I added a large black bow, large Dazzler embellishment and black hat pins.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x