Friday 28 February 2014

Pursue Happiness

Today I am using the fabulous Swirl Background Stamp in conjunction with the Daisy Silhouette Mask from Creative Expressions.
The background has been stamped with the Swirl Background stamp using Aquamarine Archival Ink and I have then added shading around the edges with Broken China Distress Ink and matted onto a piece of Teal Foundations card.
Two banners have been added, stamped with the Swirl Background stamp and coloured with Mowed Lawn Distress Ink, backed onto pieces of Teal Foundations card.  I have added three Bitty Blossoms cut from Teal Card and added Pewter Gilding Wax to the edges of the petals.
I decorated a piece of card with Mowed Lawn and Salty Ocean Distress Ink, applying the ink to a Non-Stick Craft Sheet spritzing with water and mopping up the ink with my card, and then heat setting with a heat tool. I then placed the Daisy Silhouette Mask onto the card and coloured the daisies with Salty Ocean Ink and the stems with Mowed Lawn ink. Background stamping has also been added using the background stamp from Tim Holtz Classics 9 Stamp Set. 'Pursue Happiness' is from Taylored Expressions Discover Your Wings Stamp Set.
'BEAUTIFUL' has been stamped onto white card using Aquamarine Archival Ink, cut into a banner shape and added to the larger banners. For added interest I have also added Victorian Metal Corners which I have coloured with Pewter Gilding Wax.

Don't forget it is "Fun Time Friday" once again on the Creative Expressions Facebook page, simply leave a comment and you could be in with a chance of winning a fabulous prize.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x



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Wednesday 26 February 2014

Life Moments

Time for our monthly BLOG HOP with Artistic Outpost and this month it is designers choice, so we have artistic freedom to use any of their fabulous selection of images.
I decided to showcase the fabulous Generation Redux plate, I have admired this plate for a long time and when it arrived a few days ago I knew this would have to be inked immediately.
I applied Wendy Vecchi's Crackled Texture Paste to the backdrop and then applied Brushed Corduroy and Walnut Stain Distress Inks over the crackle once dry to give a wonderful aged feel. I die cut an Ornate Frame from white card, stamped the vintage image to the central panel which has also had Crackled Texture Paste applied and I coloured the outer frame with Black Soot Distress Ink.
The crackle seemed perfect for the vintage image, adding wonderful texture and a fantastic aged feel to my piece. I also added background stamping using the numbers from the same plate stamped with Black Archival Ink.
I added a repeat stamping of the focal image, this time to the oval panel only, colouring the backdrop with Distress Inks and flicking with water. The hearts are a gift from my fellow team member Linda and fitted perfectly into my design.
To complete I added 'Life Moments' sentiment which I thought fitted perfectly with the focal images.

My fellow Design Team members have made some fabulous pieces to inspire you, please pop along and visit their blogs and be inspired along the way.


Artistic Outpost also has a fabulous REFERRAL THEME taking place for February and the theme is ANYTHING GOES using your AO images. There is also a fabulous prize on offer, upload your designs HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Tracy x x

Monday 24 February 2014

FROM THE HEART

Stencils are all the rage along with an increasing variety of paste mediums to go along with them. This week Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge would like you to get out your paste or stencils and make some texture on your project! Whether you are a fan of gel mediums or embossing pastes, using gesso and a stencil to make texture or you just love 'pasting' bits of paper together decoupage style, we would love to see what you create.
Embossing Paste is a favourite medium of mine at the moment, I love the texture it adds to a design, adding yet more interest to any artwork. I opted for Wendy Vecchi's White Embossing Paste along with Wendy Vecchi's Lovely Large Flower Stencil combined with the Large Heart Stencil.
I began with a piece of 6.5" x 6.5" piece of white card stock applied White Embossing Paste over the card, applying a thin layer with a palette knife and then setting aside to dry.  Once the Embossing Paste was completely dry I painted with Broken China Distress Paint and I then added some background stamping using the background stamp from the Tim Holtz Classics 9 Stamp Set using Vermillion Archival Ink. I also distressed the edges of this piece with a Paper Distresser and then applied Fired Brick Distress Ink around the edges. I cut two hearts from white card drawing around Wendy Vecchi's Large Heart, I then applied Kelly Purkey's Washi tape to one of my hearts and applied White Embossing Paste to the second heart and coloured with Fired Brick Distress Paint. Once the Embossing Paste was dry I then dry brushed Broken China Distress Paint over the heart and added background stamping using Cornflower Blue Archival Ink.
To add further dimension and texture I placed the Lovely Large Flower Stencil over the heart and applied White Embossing Paste over the stencil. I love this effect, applying texture on top of texture. Once the Embossing Paste was completely dry I placed the stencil over the flower once again and then coloured with Broken China Distress Paint and again once dry I dry brushed Fired Brick Distress Paint over the texture.
The dry brushing really highlights the wonderful texture achieved from the Embossing Paste.
I affixed the two hearts onto my background piece and added staples to the bottom of each heart using a Tiny Attacher.
I stamped the sentiment 'from the heart' three times with Cornflower Blue Archival Ink onto white card using the Simple Sayings Stamp Set. Each sentiment has been coloured with Broken China Distress Ink and then added to the card.
For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog and take a look at my fellow team members artwork, 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. Tracy x x


Products Used:

Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Classics 9 Stamp Set
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Simple Sayings Stamp Set
Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste
Wendy Vecchi Stencils For Art - Lovely Large Flower, Large Heart
Broken China Distress Paint
Fired Brick Distress Paint
Fired Brick Distress Ink
Broken China Distress Ink
Vermillion Archival Ink
Cornflower Blue Archival Ink
Tonic Paper Distresser
Kelly Purkey Washi Tape 8 Pack
Tiny Attacher


Friday 21 February 2014

Daisies

This week I am using the fabulous Leafy Background combined with the daisies from Taylored Expressions Oops A Daisy Stamp Set from Creative Expressions.
The background to the card has been stamped with the Leafy Background stamp using Maroon Archival InkBlack Soot Distress Ink has been applied to the edges of the background piece for definition.
I stamped the daisies onto white card using Maroon Archival Ink, masked off the flowres and stamped five blooms in total. Two of the daisies have been given added dimension with two layers added along with a coordinated button threaded with twine.
Background stamping has been added using the background stamp from Tim Holtz Classics 9 Stamp set. The stamped piece has then been matted onto a pice of black card.
An enamelled heart has been added to a bow, created by placing a heart cookie cutter onto the Leafy Background stamp and pouring hot Blue Raspberry Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel into the cutter. I have then applied Golden Light Gilding Wax to the heart to highlight the wonderful texture.

Don't forget it is "Fun Time Friday" once again on the Creative Expressions Facebook page, simply leave a comment and you could be in with a chance of winning a fabulous prize.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x



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Wednesday 19 February 2014

EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA!

This week I am showcasing the fabulous PAPERBOY plate from Artistic Outpost.
I opted for a grungy background using the Splatters Layering Stencil from Tim Holtz in combination with Brushed Corduroy and Walnut Stain Distress Inks.
I stamped the paperboy with Black Archival Ink and then used a mask to cover the image and then add the splatters in the backdrop. I have also added some shading to the paperboy using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a water brush.
I stamped EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA! onto white card using Potting Soil Archival Ink and coloured each with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink, adding Potting Soil to the edges of each piece. Background stamping has also been added using first and second generation stamping.
I also added a mini newspaper to the bottom of my card attached using the tiny attacher and aging the pages with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x


Monday 17 February 2014

A Cameo Appearance

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge is all about cameos this week. Do you love vintage cameos or is there a product that you will give a cameo appearance this week?  We would love to see what you create this time around.

I decided that one of Tim Holtz Artful Silhouettes would make the perfect cameo in my piece this week showcased in a Maya Road Heart Tart Tin.
I began by applying White Embossing Paste through Wendy Vecchi's 3 Flourishes Stencil.
I added two stencilled flourishes to my white card and once completely dry I placed the stencil back over the flourishes and added a further layer of Embossing Paste to give even more depth to my design.
I cut out a heart from white card and then stamped one of the Artful Silhouettes onto the heart with Watering Can Archival Ink.
Colour the heart with Weathered Wood Distress Ink.
Add background stamping to the heart using the background stamp from the Classics 9 Stamp Set and Watering Can Archival Ink.
Continue to add background stamping until you are happy with the design.
Now back to the background piece. Paint with Weathered Wood Distress Paint.
Add both Weathered Wood and Black Soot Distress Paint to a Non-Stick Craft Sheet.
Mix the two paints together.
Add the darker colour to the background piece.
Once the background has been painted with the darker tones, dry the paint with a heat tool and then dry brush with Treasure Gold White Fire Wax to highlight the wonderful texture and dimension from the Embossing Paste.
Add background stamping to the painted piece using the background stamp from the Classics 9 Stamp Set and Watering Can Archival Ink.
Die cut a Bitty Blossom from white card.
Roll the flower to create the dimensional bloom. Repeat this process for five blooms.
Colour the edges of the flowers with Watering Can Archival Ink.
Stamp the sentiment onto white card with Watering Can Archival Ink, colour with Weathered Wood Distress Ink and add to the top of the card.
Add the Heart Tart Tin to the card along with a small heart coloured with Weathered Wood Distress Ink, applying White Fire Wax to the edges.
I have added a Webster's Page Heart Cameo Pin to the flowers for added interest, these are definitely making a cameo appearance in my project this week and I love them, they will definitely be used more often.
I have also added a further cameo using the Maya Road Portrait Chipboard pieces, colouring with Weathered Wood Distress Ink, applying White Fire Wax around the edges.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog and take a look at my fellow team members artwork, 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 Stampers Anonymous Artful Silhouettes
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Classics 9 Stamp Set
Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Simple Sayings Stamp Set
Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste
Wendy Vecchi Stencils For Art - 3 Flourishes
Maya Road Heart Tart Tin
Maya Road Portrait Mini Chipboard Set
Archival Ink - Watering Can
Distress Ink - Weathered Wood
Distress Paint - Weathered Wood, Black Soot
Non-Stick Craft Sheet
Heat Tool
Ink Blending Tool
PaperArtsy Treasure Gold White Fire Wax
Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms
Webster's Pages Heart Cameo Pins