A Compendium Of Curiosities Challenge

Over on Studio L3 blog it is the 3rd week of the Compendium Of Curiosities Challenge.  This week the challenge is Alcohol Ink Monoprint.   I have used this technique quite a few times and we used it a great deal when I had the shop, so I enjoyed revisiting it.

I like this technique cause just like Forrest Gump says in the film, "it's like a box of chocolates, you never know what you goin a get" LOL.  I have used So Sophie papers for this card, available from The Stamp Attic, which I am loving working with at the moment as all the papers are so co-ordinated.

I had some bits left over from playing around with this technique, using different colours so thought I would make a second card too rather than just store any bits and bobs.  Off to look at some great samples over on Studio L3's blog now, why not join me.  Happy crafting, Tracy x x

WOYWW 30th June

Morning to all you WOYWW'ers, another week passes us by, and what a scorcher it has been. I'm afraid this hot weather does not go well with my auburn hair and pale skin.  Does not help on the crafting front either, not much productivity happening on my desk this week.

I have, however, completed my first DT piece for The Stamp Attic, which you can see on my desk (and a close up below), which has been left where I finished it LOL. There may not be much to show on my desk this week, but I have been working hard in the garden so I thought I would show you where I've spent most of the last week.

DT piece for The Stamp Attic.

This is where most of my effort has been focused this week.

Hopefully the weather will cool down a little, just a little and I will get a little more crafting done LOL.  If you would like to join in the fun, pop over to the Stamping Ground to see our chief, Julia and other fab craft spaces.

Thanks for popping by, I'm off to check out all the other craft spaces now.  Have a great Wednesday, Tracy x x

First DT Piece For The Stamp Attic

It's now time for my first DT piece for The Stamp Attic. The stamp set for my first DT is to use an Inkadinkado set Garden Flower which you can find here. 

My inspiration for this piece came from some papers (So Sophie) I purchased from The Stamp Attic.  I just love these colours together.  I have used DI ink mustard seed and Adirondack currant for stamping.

This set has very delicate flowers and would work beautifully in any collage composition.

For my first piece I thought I would have a go at a Tri-Shutter card. I have shown this image flat so that you can see the detail.  These are very simple to make.


Cut a 12 x 12 sheet in half.
Score along the long side at 2, 4, 8, and 10 inches.
Measure from the top and bottom edges 1.5" and cut from the first score mark to the last on both the top and bottom edges.
Simply fold to create your Tri-Shutter Card.

When the card is standing you can see the folds quite clearly.  To complete I have added ribbon, butterfly (Martha Stewart punch) and ribbon.  All these are available from The Stamp Attic.  Have a great day everyone, I'm off to watch some Wimbledon.  Tracy x x x

Sunday Stamper Challenge & Play Day

The Sunday Stamper challenge over on Hels' blog this week is to use PEARLS in your artwork.  Well it took me ages to find some, but find some I did thank goodness as I did not know what I was going to make if I had none in my stash.

I started with a Wendy Vecchi flower which I stamped onto BoBunny paper, cut out and rolled to shape.  I added my PEARLS to the centre of the flower, along with leaves from another Wendy Vecchi set to embellish the flower.

I then decided to decorate this tiny frame I found in my stash.  I painted the frame with Claudine Hellmuth traditional tan paint and allowed to dry, which in this heat did not take long.  I added texture paste to the frame and once again set aside to dry (popped off for a brew).  Once dry I coloured the frame with DI inks broken china and bundled sage..  Stamped the frame with Wendy Vecchi background using StazOn timber brown ink.   I added a piece from the Tim Holtz Lost and Found papers to the centre of the frame, added the flower, more pearls and a bird embellishment.  To complete, I sprayed the whole frame with Crafty Notions silver spray.

I have had a busy weekend this weekend and thought whilst I was posting my Sunday Stamper challenge I would also show you a few pictures from a play day we had yesterday at my friend Julie's house.  Julie asked if I would do a workshop for her and another friend Carol at her house and we had a great day together.

This is Julie and Carol at the far end very engrossed in their projects LOL.  They will kill me for this picture.  This was 5 minutes after I had just sent the PVA glue all over the table and floor, a great start to the day, which we all found very amusing at my expense LOL.

These were a couple of canvases that Julie and Carol completed, Julie's on the left and Carol's on the right.  I was very impressed especially with those tissue flowers we did.

A couple of other completed pieces of art.  Both turned out beautifully.  I did take several more pics of the total mess/devastation we created in Julie's kitchen, unfortunately, they were blurred, sorry about that.  I had a great day, chatting, drinking, playing, eating chocolate biscuits and enjoying good company, so thanks Julie and Carol.  Oh and a big THANK YOU to Peter for all the running around LOL.  Have a good evening everyone.  Tracy x x

The Play Date Cafe Challenge

The Play Date Cafe Challenge colours this week are just gorgeous and have been picked by Sarah Anderson.  I so love how the colours appear on these chairs, they would look fantastic in my garden LOL.  I find these challenges great for encouraging you to look through your stash and maybe use products that you may otherwise not use and would just gather dust.

I really love this Penny Black stamp and use it so often.  I found some perfect BoBunny paper to use too.  I stamped the image directly onto the paper with StazOn timber brown and sponged the edges with DI ink fired brick.

I have repeated this stamping three times, matted onto brown card and then onto a turquoise card.   I have also used a dabber to swipe across the card here and there.  To complete, I have punched out three small squares, added part of the same image, adhered to the card and added the Imagine sentiment.

I have also created this card using a PaperArtsy stamp, which has been inked with StazOn timber brown ink and stamped onto turquoise card.  I have repeated this stamping on the orange BoBunny paper and cut a small rectangle.  Both have been layered onto brown card and adhered to the main card.  I have added text from a wild flower book, buttons and punched two butterflies from red card.

I have also added some scratchy like lines using an old credit card.  To complete, I have added Distress Stickles to the flower head.

Finally my third stamping.  A simple stamped card, matt and layered onto co-ordinated card, ribbon and sentiment added.  Happy crafting everyone, Tracy x

Stampotique Designers Challenge

This time around the Stampotique Designers Challenge is FREEDOM and what it means to you.   After looking at my friend Sue's blog I was inspired to have a go at Art Journaling.  I don't know much about Journaling other than what I have read and the blogs I have visited.  I am not very good at putting my thoughts down on paper either so I thought I would keep this first attempt simple.

All the crafty stash I have and I never have the colour I want in paints, threads buttons etc., I had to improvise and use what I did have. 

I really needed some thicker thread but had to make do with cotton, but the result is ok.  FREEDOM to me means being FREE to do whatever you want and that is how my page evolved.

I used texture paste to give me some texture in the background and paint dabbers for the colour.  The rest was simple stamping and colouring.  A liitle more practice is needed, and maybe some more reading but I have enjoyed having a relaxed play with some different ideas and now I can keep this page for future reference, like Sue said, one advantage of Journaling you can refer back to it.  Have a great Wednesday everyone, Tracy x

WOYWW 23 June

Well it's Wednesday again and time for what's on your workdesk wednesday. If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about then pop over to The Stamping Ground and take a look.

Nothing much on my desk this morning as I have been spending most of my time working outside on my new allotment and there is lots to do.  I have however made a couple more purchases which you can see on my desk.

I have tidied my basket this week so its not quite overflowing as with the past 2-3 weeks.

I have also found time to put my ART letters on the wall, I purchased these a while ago and had them free standing but I decided they do look better on the wall.

This is where I have been spending most of my time, my new allotment.  I have never grown vegetables before so quite pleased with the results so far, at least something is growing anyway LOL.  Have a great Wednesday everyone, Tracy x x

Sunday Stamper Challenge

On Hels' blog this week the challenge is to use METAL in your artwork.   On this weeks challenge I decided to use some metal embossed with a cuttlebug folder.

The first embossing folder I came accross in my stash was the holly so I thought why not.  How stupid, the sun is shining and it's very warm in my craft room so inspiration was not flowing for Christmas cards at this time of year but I persevered, probably took me more time to find Christmas paper than actually make the project LOL.

Products used: Metal sheet; Cuttlebug folder; BoBunny paper; StazOn inks blazing red, olive green, timber brown; Tim Holtz embellishments; Wendy Vecchi Just Word Art stamps; Darkroom Door Christmas Reindeer set (text only used); circle punch for flower and button.  An the finished result:-

Have a great Monday everyone,  Tracy x x

Studio L3 Challenge

There is a new challenge taking place over on Studion L3.  The challenge is to have a go at the water stamping technique as featured in Tim Holtz  "A Compendium Of Curiosities" book.  Thought I would have a go and I must say it's quite addictive, pop over to Studio L3 to see more great artwork and the blog candy.  Have a great Friday, Tracy x x

Play Date Cafe Challenge

The Play Date Cafe challenge this week is a colour splash with Julie Ranae, with the splash of colour being blue.  My mojo left me today so I did struggle to get started, I just sat there looking into space wondering what to do.  After about half an hour of sitting this is what I have come up with.

Products used are Caged Bird Alterations die, Black Market Paper Society papers, sequins, Twiddleybitz, ribbon, StazOn ultramarine and Tim's embellishments and the end product being:-

Then I decided to play around with a few things, especially as I had some time on my hands for a change.

I found this owl in my stash and this is where my next card began, using Tattered Florals Alterations, Stylized Flowers embossing folder, VersaMagic cloud white, brad, Twiddleybitz, Wendy Vecchi Just Word Art stamps and Craccle Accents which does not show up to good in the photograph.

I also made a couple of other cards:-

Products used: Kaleidacolor blue breeze, Hampton Art background stamp, Penny Black Youthful stamp, and Wendy Vecchi Just Word Art stamps to produce:-

And finally my last creation:-

If you woul like to see some wonderful creations and the design team artwork pop over to The Play Date Cafe highlighted above and enjoy.  Have a good afternoon, Tracy x x 

WOYWW 16 June

Same desk, different week, yes it's WOYWW and my desk is untidy for me but it has not changed much as I have spent most of my time in the garden and on my allotment.  I seem to have samples all over the place at the moment, unable to put them away as some need finishing touches and some need to be sent in the post.  That's my problem, I start one project before finishing the first LOL.

This is to the left of my desk, again samples all over the place, I will have to tidy up sometime today cause this will drive me mad.  I'm a bit of a tidy freak.


I seem to have had one of those mornings already, my pug pup jumped in the pond and I had to bath her before I could start on taking pictures of my desk.

To the right of my desk is my basket of yet more samples that just keeps getting higher with every week, I will do something with that today too. 

If you wold like to have a good old snoop around other desks why not take a look on Julia's blog the Stamping Ground and have some fun.  Have a great Wednesday everyone, Tracy x

New Challenge, DT Member for The Stamp Attic

I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the design team at The Stamp Attic.  I am so pleased to be considered and I am really looking forward to this new challenge.  I have recently closed my shop in Alsager and this is just the new challenge I need and thrive.  I really enjoy my hobbies which are gardening and crafts along with a recently acquired allotment, but needed something else to continue to stimulate my creative side and this is just what I need so THANK YOU for this opportunity Wendy.

I will be joining a host of very talented design team members which include Wendy Stevenson, Sue Roddis, Sarah Anderson, Penny K, Kerry and Hels Sheridan. Sorry I don't have the links at the moment for the others but will update once I know any details.  All these ladies produce fantastic art and I cannot wait to meet the new challenges ahead of me.

Stitchy, Waxy, Canvas (Sunday Stamper Challenge)

I have been enjoying a workshop today with Sarah Anderson.  We have been making a stitchy, waxy canvas, what FUN we had.  I am also entering this for The Sunday Stamper challenge which is to use NUMBERS in your artwork and I have used plenty of them.  Pop over to Hels blog to join in, Hels is giving aways some fantastic blog candy which you can see on my side bar.  It's a special occasion for Hels she is the BIG 40 today, so a big happy birthday Hels, have a fantastic day.

Once I arrived home I knew I needed to add something to my canvas just to lift it a little so I added some buttons and a couple of Tim's Idea-ology, which just finishes it off quite nicely.

We decorated the canvas using paint dabbers, stamps and sponging through sequin waste.  The flowers were stamped on a page of an old book and stamped images added afterwards.  These were then adhered using melted beeswax, great fun.  To complete we added some stitching around the flowers.  Thanks for a great workshop Sarah, I had a fun, relaxing day, THANKS x x

Stampotique Designers Challenge

Over on the Stampotique Designers Challenge blog, we are challenged to make something to show "What Summer Means To You".  Well I thought long and hard about this one, problem is it means so many things for me; time in my garden; fun with the children; growing veg on my new allotment; laughter and lots of fun.  Bit difficult to put in one card but I've tried LOL.

I have tried to use images that reflect what Summer means to me, I could have decorated a book for this one but time was not on my side so here is my card in all its glory.  If you would like to see some fantastic artwork pop over to the Stampotique Designers Blog.  Have a good evening and happy crafting, Tracy.

Play Date Cafe Challenge

Over on the Play Date Cafe this week the colour challenge is a wonderful combination, in fact one of my favourites, I especially love the raspberry and aqua combined.  Where to begin was my main challenge LOL, when I remembered I had ordered a few postcards from Wendy at The Stamp Attic so that is where I began. However, I only had cream tags left so I drew around one onto white card stock.

I then decided to use my new recently purchased stencil (daisies) again available from The Stamp Attic and I am really pleased with these stencils.  I simply sponged colour through the stencil directly onto the tag (Distress Inks victoria velvet and tumbled glass) and I feel these colours work beautifully together even if I say so myself LOL.

I have then used a Stampington stamp (Floral Document Heart) and some tissue paper to give me this 3D like heart embellishment and once again coloured with Distress Inks.

A few embellishments, a Maya Road bird, ric rac and a couple of small hearts finish my entry for this week.  Have a great Thursday everyone, Tracy x x