Tuesday 28 February 2012

Garden Chic

It feels like Spring is just around the corner today, I have frogs and frog spawn in my pond, new shoots in the garden and bulbs showing their heads so it seemed appropriate to use the Eco Green Garden Chic set from Creative Expressions for my creation today.

My background has been coloured with Distress Ink wild honey and spritzed with water. I have stamped my flowers with wild honey Distress Ink, coffee and vermillion Archival Inks to add layers of interest.
All the edges have been distressed with Tim's paper distresser and added to co-ordinated card stock.  I have also punched a medium square from white card and again coloured with Distress Ink wild honey and added the floral image to the square to echo the design on the main card.
The sentiment has been added to the top corner along with a pewter bee to echo the stanped bees on my card front.

Thanks for stopping by, Tracy x x

Monday 27 February 2012

Idea-Ology Bonanza

Morning all, here we are once again, Monday morning which can only mean one thing, time for another fabulous challenge with Simon Says Stamp and Show. This week is an Idea-ology bonanza which is just perfect for me as I LOVE my embellishments!
Art Parts Sweetheart Frames was the starting point for my creation this week, a piece perfect for someone who has just moved home.  Decorated with Artful Dwellings, covered with Metal Foil and embossed with the Postal, and Rays and Retro Circles Texture Fades. Add into the mix plenty of Idea-Ology including Hitch Fasteners, Jump Rings, Plaquette, Accoutrements Buttons, Alpha Parts Newsprint and Ransom, Hinge Clip, Timepiece, Game Spinner, Word Key and Word Stick Charm.

The Art Part has been covered with vintage paper from an old book which I have coloured with Distress Ink aged mahogany and then added a layer of Distress Stain picket fence to mute the colour a little. The Artful Dwellings were then covered with metal, embossed with texture fades and coloured with Alcohol Inks Red Pepper, Rust and Espresso.
I cut two hearts from grey board using Tim Holtz Alterations Mini Hearts Set, covered with metal, embossed and coloured with alcohol inks and added to my Art Part. I added HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS using Alpha Parts which I pounded with Gold Paint Dabber to give added texture to each letter. I also added the gold paint to some of my Idea-ology embellishments too.

HOME has been added to jump rings, adhered with Glossy Accents and added to one of my dwellings.I must work with metal more often, I do love the texture and the interest it gives to a piece of art.

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 and 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  
 

Saturday 25 February 2012

Its Those Handsome Hares Again

I'm really enjoying using the fabulous Handsome Hares from 100 Proof Press again this week along with the Angle Pocket Watch.
I've coloured a piece of white card with Distress Stains wild honey and vintage photo, blending with water until I was happy with the tone and then for more interest I added vintage photo Distress Ink through a Crafters Workshop template. A little machine stitching to the outside edges lifts the background a little and adds a little more interest.
The hares have been stamped onto the same coloured background with coffee Archival Ink, cut out, added to black card to lift from the background and added to the card. The Angle Pocket Watch has been stamped onto a piece of the coloured card with Archival Ink, added to a piece of black card and Glossy Accents added for dimension.
HARES has been stamped onto punched out squares and added to the card.

Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy the weekend. Tracy x x

Friday 24 February 2012

DREAMER

Another vintage creation, a little more feminine this time, working outside my comfort zone of earthy tones. The fabulous VINTAGE set is available from The Stamp Attic.
My background piece is from the Vintage Shabby paper stash which I then aged with vintage photo Distress Ink along the edges adding some machine stitching for dimension.
I then took three nested frames from Maya Road (contact Wendy at The Stamp Attic) and painted with Gesso mixed with a little aged mahogany Distress Stain and then stamped my vintage images with coffee Archival Ink. The edges of each frame have then been sponged with aged mahogany Distress Ink.
For more interest and dimension I have cut a flower from the Vintage Shabby paper stash using the Tattered Floral die and created a dimensional flower, again edged with aged mahogany Distress Ink.  For further interest I have added YESTERDAY to a Memo Pin. Before adding the frames to the card I have added co-ordinated ribbon to the centre.
To complete I have stamped stars either side of my nested frames.

Thanks for stopping by, Tracy x x

Wednesday 22 February 2012

NEW RELEASES - ARTISTIC OUTPOST

Introducing four new stamp releases

The wait is finally over.  Artistic Outpost is pleased to bring to you four brand new rubber stamp collections that are vintage, edgy, and extremely artful.
We are happy to present: Diesel Punk, Charles and Amelia, Industrial Chic, and London Elements.
What is Diesel Punk? What happened to Steampunk?  We still very much love the Victorian magic that is the rage of steampunk, however, we decided to advance the timeline and the trend to a more modern look.  It’s like steampunk but with a combustion engine.  To us, Diesel Punk is a style that blends the “edge” of steampunk with the art and culture of the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. We think of motorcycles, roadsters, red lipstick, trench coats, jetpacks, and jet engines.  Three of our new releases evoke our interpretation of this style.

Diesel Punk:
Includes images of good looking guys, a beautiful dame, a kid ready to be a rocketeer, and fast machines to tempt their fates.  
Images featuring the king and queen of the skies when flying was more than transportation – it was an adventure.
I have created a hinged card with the Charles and Amelia plate, the front has been created from some Christmas packaging I saved, painted with Gesso and aged with Distress Stains. I added four pieces of card to the background covered in vintage paper then added the stamped images in coffee Archival Ink, sponging the edges with vintage photo Distress Ink to add to the aged feel. The actual card is also made from grey board and coverd with kraft card and then attached to the door hinge.
I have cut cogs from grey board using the mini gears set, coloured with Distress Inks and added clear rock candy to the top of each. I love the propeller and added this to the centre of my piece adding a copper brad to the centre.
The inside of my hinged card uses images from Industrial Chic below, which works perfectly with all of the other new releases, a perfect combination together.
Industrial Chic:
Backgrounds for any of your projects – steam, diesel, or any other kind of punk.
More of our favorite images featuring the fun icons of London. These work beautifully alone or combined with London Underground or Loverly London.

Pop along to my fellow DT members, inspiration is abound!


Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the new releases as much as I have. I will have more artwork with the new releases over the next few weeks so stay tuned. Tracy x x



Monday 20 February 2012

Take Your Pick London/Paris/New York

We have a great theme for this weeks challenge over at Simon Says Stamp and Show, take you pick London, Paris or New York.
With the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympics there was only one choice for me, it had to be LONDON, using the fabulous London Underground and Loverly London plates from Artistic Outpost to create my door hinged card. Add into the mix plenty of colour from vermillion Archival Ink, brushed corduroy and vintage photo Distress Inks.
My pieces are cut from grey board to give some stability and then hinged with a simple door hinge.  I have stamped LONDON on the background of the front piece and sponged with Distress Ink brushed corduroy and added vintage photo to the edges. All my stamping is with vermillion Archival Ink. The handsome gentlemen has been added to a bottle cap, adding Glossy Accents to the top for dimension. A hand stitched button completes the front.
I've cut three hearts from white card and added images to each heart with vermillion ink and aged with brushed corduroy ink. LONDON has been added to jump rings for further interest.  On the opposite side I have added stamping in the background using coffee Archival Ink and added the Union Jack to the centre, adding LONDON to the centre of the flag. Blue Moon London Metal Charms add to the theme.
The back of my card has images stamped in black Archival Ink and vintage photo Distress Ink. This would be perfect for anyone celebrating a birthday or anniversary sometime around the Queen's Jubilee or the Olympics.

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 and 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 



Saturday 18 February 2012

Large Handsome Hares

I've been using the fabulous Handsome Hares from 100 Proof Press for my creation this morning along with the Angle Pocket Watch.
I have used the Vintage Cabinet Card in the background cut from Kraft-Core card which has been embossed with a texture fade and sanded. I have stamped the Angle Pocket Watch randomly onto the Kraft base card, again with coffee Archival Ink.
I have stamped the Handsome Hares with coffee Archival Ink and added to the top of the Cabinet Card, adding three jump rings adhered with glossy accents to his top for a little dimension and interest.
The clock is from BoBunny and has also had glossy accents added.
HARES has been added to jump rings and adhered to the top of my Cabinet Card, again for a little more interest.

Thanks for stopping by by, enjoy your weekend. Tracy x x

Thursday 16 February 2012

Moments To Remember

A little vintage creation for my DT piece this week for The Stamp Attic using the fabulous VINTAGE set.
I have stamped the ruler and crown in the background with Archival Inks coffee and black and then sponged with Distress Ink brushed corduroy to give that vintage feel to my card. Throw into the mix a little matting onto Bazzill card and some machine stitching and my background is complete.
I have cut three hearts from thick card and covered with torn vintage paper added a little Distress Stain picket fence to tone the text down a little and to add to that aged feel, added a little machine stitching for dimension and stamped my images with Archival Ink. To add a little more interest I have hand stitched three of the Maya Road mini spools to one of my hearts.
"Moments To Remember" sentiment seemed the perfect finishing touch to my card.

Thanks for stopping by, Tracy x x

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Monthly Blog Hop.....................

........................With Artistic Outpost, yes it's that time of the month where we showcase some of the fabulous images available from Artistic Outpost and this month we are highlighting the London Underground and Loverly London plates, absolutely perfect when you consider it is the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympics this year.
                                           London Underground       Loverly London
 
I decided to decorate the letters UK to represent the United Kingdom and decorate with the fabulous images from these two plates giving a vintage feel to my overall theme.  The letters have been covered with torn pages from a vintage book front and back and coloured with Distress Ink brushed corduroy and vintage photo.
Once completely covered with torn paper and coloured I stamped LONDON randomly over the letter U in vermillion Archival Ink. I added the Union Jack to one side of my letter hung from a screw eye, again stamped with vermillion ink and sponged with brushed corduroy. I cut three circles from white card and added images to each with coffee Archival Ink sponging with brushed corduroy to blend with my background on the letter. Each circle has been edged with black soot Distress Ink to give a little dimension and to lift from the background. A collage of images have been added to the bottom corner along with a mini Union Jack food flag I found in a local store.
Again I have covered the letter with torn vintage papers, stamped CHEERIO in vermillion Archival Ink. I have cut three circles from white card and added images stamped with vermillion and coffee Archival Ink, I love how all these images combine so well together.
They look great together and would be fabulous as a table decoration for the Queens Jubilee, mmmmm may even consider doing a special tea for the occasion!

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

Artistic Outpost are also holding a fabulous Referral Program, the theme being SHADES OF RED why not pop along HERE for all the details and there is a fabulous prize on offer too.


Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the blog hop. Tracy x x
 

Tuesday 14 February 2012

Les Fleurs

A little floral creation using the fabulous Eco Green Garden Chic stamp set (made entirely from recycled rubber) from Creative Expressions.
I stamped my image onto paper with coffee Archival Ink and tore into random strips and added to my background and coloured with Distress Inks wild honey and worn lipstick.
My main panel was stamped onto white card with Archival Ink and sponged with Distress Inks to match my background and matted onto a piece of brown card. I punched small squares from white card and added part of my image to each square giving dimension to my piece and added the sentiment in the bottom corner, sponging the edges with Distress Ink.
I also added a punched square to the corner of my panel to add yet more interest.

Thanks for stopping by, Tracy x x

Monday 13 February 2012

Anything Goes........................

 ..............At Simon Says Stamp and Show, anything you like!

I decided to liven things up a little this week with a few bright colours from Distress Stains spiced marmalade, fired brick and mustard seed along with funky images from Dylusions in the form of Love Struck Lucy, Around The Edge, How Does Your Garden Grow and Basic Backgrounds stamp sets. A little texture from Gesso and machine stitching add to the interest of my tag accordion.
The background has been coloured with Distress Stains and I have used the Mini Harlequin Crafter's Workshop template to add a little more interest adding Fired Brick Distress Stain through the stencil in a random fashion. I have stamped numbers with coffee Archival Ink and Picket Fence Distress Stain, again adding more layers of interest. My images have all been stamped with coffee Archival Ink and coloured with Distress Stains. Gesso has been added through sequin waste for a little texture and dimension.
The reverse of my accordion has had the same techniques applied, lots of layers and dimension from images and Gesso.
I really enjoyed creating this piece and it made a refreshing change from my usual grungy, earthy tones and was great to work outside my comfort zone, something I find is a real challenge.

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 and 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  
 

Saturday 11 February 2012

HANDSOME HARES

I've been using my favourite stamps from 100 Proof Press to create a card; the Large Handsome Hares and Med. Many Line Circle.
I love working on Kraft card and decided to add the lined circle stamped randomly in the background adding highlights with a white pencil crayon.
I've stamped the Handsome Hares with black Archival Ink and again added highlights with a white pencil, adding faux stitching to the outside edge for a little interest.
Three circles have been added with the hares faces to give a little dimension and more interest to my card.

Thanks for stopping by, Tracy x x