Happy Halloween

This is my last Halloween creation for 2012, cannot believe it. I have created a card using the SKULL image from 100 Proof Press.

I have used Distress Stains rusty hinge and peeled paint to colour each skull and the background of each layer.

I added STAND OUT IN A CROWD printed on my computer and coloured with rusty hinge and black soot Distress Inks.

I have added a little dimension to one of my skulls along with a bat cut from black card using the bewitching hour die. I have also added a few white highlights so that this one skull STANDS OUT FROM THE CROWD!

Wishing you all a wonderful and fun HALLOWEEN. Tracy x x

Pearlized Christmas Arch

Simon Says Stamp and Show would like you to "Just Add Pearl" to your projects this week; be it adding a pearl accent, a strand of pearls, Perfect Pearls or Pearlized mists, we would love to see that pearl creation this week.

Inspiration came in the form of paint and texture for me this week in my pearlized Christmas arch.

I really wanted to try a different colour palette this week for my Christmas creation and that colour came in the form of  Claudine Hellmuth's Studio acrylic paint in modern red, perfect for a traditional Christmas piece, toning down the vibrancy a little with snow cap Paint Dabber. No Christmas creation would be complete without a touch of pearl which I have added using Liquid Pearls white opal through a Dylusions Let It Snow stencil (Kaz has a great video HERE on this technique). Add into the mix some Melissa Frances cream pearls and my arch is pearlized to perfection!

I began my framed arch by adding texture in the form of texture paste, ensuring there were lots of bumps and lumps and then setting aside to dry. Once completely dry I painted with modern red paint but it still needed something else and after much thought I decided to dry brush a little snow cap Paint Dabber over the top to give my piece more of a Christmas feel.

My focal image comes in the form of the reindeer cut from mountboard using the Reindeer Flight die, I adhered six layers together to give fabulous dimension to my reindeer and so that he appeared to stand away from the frame.  I added texture to the reindeer in the same way and then painted as with my frame.

I needed a contrast against the red and decided to add JOY to metal foil using Alpha Parts and colouring with Alcohol Inks gold mixative and a touch of cranberry. I then added gold pearl gems to the outside of my frame to coordinate with my JOY label.

25 has been added to the top of my arch cut from mountboard using the Mini Reindeer and 25 die. I coloured the 25 with snow cap paint dabber and once dry I used the ticket stamp from the Odds and Ends set using fired brick ink to stamp part of the text onto the numbers.

For a little more interest I have added a Christmas muse token and mini bauble to the reindeer's neck tied with natural twine.

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:

Claudine Hellmuth Studio Acrylic Paint - Modern Red

Paint Dabber - Snow Cap

Dyan Reaveley Dylusions Let It Snow Stencil

Melissa Frances Cream Pearls 

Liquid Pearls - White Opal

Tim Holtz Alterations - Reindeer Flight Die and Mini Reindeer & 25

Ranger Metal Foil Tape

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Alpha Parts Newsprint, Christmas Muse Tokens and Baubles Pearls

Alcohol Inks - Gold Mixative, Cranberry

Distress Ink - Fired Brick

Tim Holtz Odds & Ends Stamp Set

Twine

A White Christmas

I am back this week to showcase the fabulous Teresa Collins CHRISTMAS COTTAGE designer paper pad and coordinating STAMP SET from The Stamp Attic.

I've gone for a totally different look to my trees this week using Stampendous Frantage Shabby White Embossing Enamel. The backing paper is from the designer pad and I have added a little aged mahogany Distress Ink to the edges.

I cut all my trees from mountboard, applied VersaMark ink to each and then added the Frantage Embossing Enamel. I added two layers of enamel and then took my stamp and stamped into the enamel whilst hot.  I applied maroon archival ink to my stamp prior to placing into the hot enamel. The enamel adds so much texture and dimension, its fabulous.

I cut 25 from mountboard using the Vintage Noel Bigz Die, coloured with aged mahogany Distress Ink and applied clear embossing powder, adding three layers for added dimension. I also applied gold Paint Dabber to the edges and a little to the top of my numbers.

I added pots to all of my trees again cut from mountboard and decorated with Frantage Embossing Enamel.  For a little more interest I added JOY cut from white card using trhe Alphabetical Strip Die, colouring each letter with gold Paint Dabber.

From this angle you can see the fabulous enamel at its best, giving wonderful texture to my piece.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Steampunk Tag

I decided on a steampunk tag this week using the fabulous Steampunk Christmas A5 stamp plate by Sam Poole from Creative Expressions.

This stamp set is perfect for those non traditional Christmas cards which I have made over the past few weeks and also for your steampunk creations.  I decided to indulge in my love of steampunk for this creation along with some step by steps detailing the process from start to finish.

To begin my tag I started with an inky background using broken china and walnut stain Distress Inks.

Add ink directly to a non-stick craft sheet, pressing firmly to release plenty of ink.

Spritz the ink with water to give beads of ink ready to mop up with a tag.

This is the first application. Dry the ink in between each application to prevent any mudding of the colours.

Dab the tag into the remaining ink to give blotches and splatters of ink randomly around the tag, move the tag around whilst tapping the tag into the ink.

Distress the edges with a paper distresser or the edges of a pair of scissors.

Blend walnut stain distress ink around the edges of the tag using an ink blending tool.

I love this technique as a different result is achieved every time and it adds so much interest to a background.

I needed a little more interest in the background and so decided to use Sam Poole's A6 Bubble Wrap stamp. I did not place the stamp onto an acrylic block I used the stamp as is, giving me a more random feel to the background.

I used walnut stain ink to add the Bubble Wrap background, I love the tone on tone look.

The next step was to cut several cogs using Tim's mini gears set, cut from thick white card.  I cut two of the gears in half to add to the edges of my tag.

Texture paste was added to each gear to make my tag a little more tactile and to add yet another layer of interest to the background.

I left my cogs to dry which took a couple of hours but you could also dry with a heat tool. This is my excuse to take a break and have a well earned cup of tea!!

Once the texture paste was completely dry I painted with a black Paint Dabber.

I found the black on its own a little flat so added highlights of gold paint dabber with my finger.

Stamp the bird image onto white card using black archival ink and cut out.

Colour the steampunk bird with walnut stain ink. Stamp the bird once again this time cutting out the wing only to add a little more dimension to the bird. Colour the wing with walnut stain ink and add a layer of Clear Rock Candy and once dry add a little more colour with your finger rubbing into the cracks.

 

For a little more interest and dimension I have added mini gears to the wing and his hat. I have tied several strands of natural twine into a bow and added a mini gear to the top of the bow.

Game spinners have been added to two of the gears and I have added "Steampunk Art" stamped onto white card and coloured with walnut stain ink, using the fabulous Art Sayings A5 stamp plate by Sam Poole.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Steampunk Bird

Simon Says Stamp and Show would like you to be inspired by Studio 490, whether you are inspired by Wendy Vecchi's signature style, want to create with some of her stamps, Art Parts, Blossom Bucket accents or try one of her fantastic techniques. We would love to see how you are inspired by the art or techniques of Wendy Vecchi.

We also have a second treat for you all; Wendy Vecchi as our Guest Artist this week too and she is also showing two exclusive tutorials to inspire you even more.  Pop along to Wendy's blog HERE and enjoy.

Art Parts were the inspiration for my quirky steampunk piece this week.

This piece uses everything I love,  a bird in the form of the Art Parts birds with wings; dimensional embellishments from Blossom Bucket, the quirky black top hat, cream hearts, and the floral pattern trinket. This piece has been enjoyable to create from start to finish, helped by the fact that I love birds, hearts and dimension and all used in abundance. Its such a pleasure to create when the process is so enjoyable!

I think I enjoyed this piece so much because it just came together so beautifully and uses so many things I love including a couple of fabulous techniques from Andy Skinner's TIMEWORN workshop. I have used a peeled paint technique and a rust technique in the background, takes some time but so worth the effort. Once I had completed the peeled paint technique I added lots of black paint dabber to colour and to give a little more interest to the background I also added some mini gears cut from white card using the Mini Gears die. Don't you just love the quirky top hat! I have added a cream heart to the top of my hat, colouring with butterscotch Alcohol Ink and stamping with the background from the Be Inspired...Make Art stamp set from Wendy using black archival ink. I have added a mini sprocket gear for his eye adding to that quirky steampunk feel of my piece.

From this picture you can see the fabulous texture from the peeled paint technique. I have added a word band "the journey awakens the soul" seemed perfect for a bird with wings piece.  For a little more interest I have also added bird wood veneers, stamped with the background stamp once again and black archival ink, colouring with a little vintage photo Distress Ink to blend with my background.

The birds wing has been coloured with rusty hinge Distress Stain and again stamped with the same background stamp from Wendy Vecchi.  To give the wing a little more interest I have also added mini sprocket gears and a bird wood veneer. Melissa Frances pearls also make for fabulous rivets on my piece. I absolutely love the Blossom Bucket floral pattern trinket that I have used for the birds tail feathers, which I have coloured with butterscotch Alcohol Ink, rubbing over the raised areas with coffee archival ink.

The finishing touch to my quirky steampunk piece is a clock key as this bird needs winding up a little to get going! Hope you enjoy looking at my creation as much as I have enjoyed making it.

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:

Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 Be Inspired...Make Art Stamp Set
Wendy Vecchi Art Parts Birds With Wings
Blossom Bucket Embellish Your Art Trinkets - Top Hat, Cream Hearts, Floral Pattern
Tim Holtz Alterations - Mini Gears Die
Alcohol Ink - Butterscotch
Archival Ink - Black and Coffee
Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Mini Sprocket Gears, Word Bands and Clock Keys
Melissa Frances Pearls
Studio Calico Wood Veneers Birds
Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
Distress Stain - Rusty Hinge
Black Paint Dabber

100 Proof Press & Faber-Castell Blog Hop

Today is the start of a fabulous blog hop between Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft and 100 Proof Press! We are very excited as this is our first collaboration with them! Hop with us today for a blog hop packed with inspiration and techniques!

We also have PRIZES for those who participate.  Be sure to visit and leave a comment on each designer’s blog.  When you are finished, comment on the company’s blogs to be eligible for the following great prizes:

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft will be giving away a $40 prize pack, and 100 Proof Press will be giving away a $30 gift certificate!

Want an extra chance to win some prizes?  Tweet Design Memory Craft at @DesignMemCraft about a technique you learned on the hop for a chance to win their NEW Stamper’s Big White Pen!  Or like 100 Proof Press’s Facebook page (https://console.mxlogic.com/redir/?2ehpsjvuodELcIICzB4QsCOsVHkiP2DeXrO5qBunNrifQN6ZOUmzmHFsbh-B2Ubr84fyn69x2C8ELffFIfL8LfLLfCyATvAXTLuZXTKrKrFIt1idXHhHlRqfQFOVJNZAQsCQmm3hOed79EVsd7bVJ5MS2_id47EiDW1EwB2sqCV-7PNo_pgdFCQn3qbPbbbMUsr6_PziGQo for a chance to win the calendar you saw on this hop!

The blog hop will be open until MIDNIGHT on OCTOBER 26th, and the winners will be announced on OCTOBER 29th on the company’s blog/twitter.

If you arrived here from Jennifer Matott's blog you are on the right track.  I have also included a full list for the hop should you get lost along the way.

I have created a steampunk Halloween tag for the hop using the fabulous SKULL image from 100 Proof Press, Faber-Castell Gelatos and Pastel Pitt Pencils.

To create my background I used green and black Gelatos and I have included step by steps to make it a little easier to follow.

These are the products I used for my background. A background stamp, any detailed background stamp is perfect for this technique, black and green Gelatos.

The Gelatos have a lovely creamy texture and are so easy to apply direct to a stamp.  Apply the lightest colour first which in this case is green and then add areas of black.

Once your stamp is covered with colour spritz with water and then press your tag onto the background stamp. I found that I could decorate two tags with the same ink as the pigment is so good, simply spritz once again and press a second tag onto the background, obviously the second stamping will be lighter in colour but still looks very effective.

Here is one of the tags I decorated using this technique, I decorated several tags, some to use at a later date. Gelatos are also fabulous when used over an embossed image. Simply emboss your background stamp with clear or white embossing powder and apply the colour over the top, blending the colours with your finger.  You can also make your own spray with the Gelatos, simply take a plastic container, apply some of the colour to the container straight from the stick and then add water to the colour and pour into a spritz bottle and you are then ready to use with your stencils or directly onto your card. 

I stamped the SKULL image onto white card and coloured with the Pastel Pitt Pencils, they are so soft and rich in colour and you can smudge with your finger to blend, which I love! I also added white highlights to the SKULL's teeth using a white pencil and once I had adhered the skull to my tag I added black pencil around the skull and smudged with my finger.

To add to the steampunk feel I added clock keys to the top of each skull and a mini sprocket to an eye on each of my skulls. I also added BOO to the head of each skull and 31 using a wooden circular number, again colouring the outside of the number with the green Gelato.

A Happy Halloween plaque has been added to the bottom of my tag for a little more interest, again coloured with Gelatos, applying the colour directly to the plaque, spritzing with water to blend. I also added a small skull to one corner.      

Your next stop on the blog hop is Colleen McGinty.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Enjoy the blog hop and good luck. Tracy x x

BLOG HOP LIST:
 
100 Proof Press   http://www.100proofpress.com/_blog/Blog
Tiffany Johnson  http://iheartartblog.com/
Jennifer http://justjingle.blogspot.com/
Jen Matott  http://arttalk-sigmagirl.blogspot.com/
Tracy Evans http://craftaddicts-tracyevans.blogspot.co.uk/
Colleen http://artbythelake.typepad.com/my-blog/
Gladys http://gladyschia2010.wordpress.com/
Mou Saha http://collagecollagecollage.blogspot.com/
Sara http://zemphira.blogspot.com/
Amy http://tsurutadesigns.blogspot.com/
Rita http://letsembellish.blogspot.com/
Gerri http://gerriherbst.blogspot.com/
Alexa  http://alexalett.blogspot.com/
Nicole  http://nicoleeccles.blogspot.com/
Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft  http://designmemorycraft.typepad.com/design-memory-craft/