Inspire, Imagine, Dream

Morning, hope you are all enjoying your weekend. We have another fabulous challenge for you over at the Love to Create Challenge Blog where the theme is Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes.

This week I decided to create an artsy card using an image I love from Tim Holtz. The background was created by applying scribbly lines with Drawing Gum and allowing to dry completely. I then coloured the background with PanPastels Turquoise Tint, a touch of Turqoise Shade and Turquoise Extra Dark around the edges. I then added a few grains of Brushos in red to the centre and spritzed with water and then blew the ink with a straw and then dried with my heat tool. I then rubbed away the drawing ink to reveal the scribbly resist areas.

I stamped the girl with Black Archival and added a small heart to her dress for added dimension. I also added a piece of rusty wire across the bottom to ground the image, secured in place with the Tiny Attacher.

I coloured her wings with Permanent Red PanPastel and then coated each of the wings with Triple Thick by DecoArt to give a glass tile like finish., I then stapled rusty wire into place to echo the shape of the wings.

I stamped the crown onto a separate piece of card, coloured with Permanent Red PanPastel, cut out and then added a coat of Triple Thick and added to my image.

To complete, I stamped Inspire, Imagine, Dream with Black Archival using stamps from Visible Image.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

PanPastel Turquoise Tint

PanPastel Turquoise Shade

PanPastel Turquoise Extra Dark

Permanent Red

PanPastel - Sofft Tools Kit

Artistic Outpost Blog Hop

Welcome to the monthly Artistic Outpost Blog Hop. This month the Design Team are showcasing imagery from the Holiday Stamp Category.

I am showcasing the MIDWINTER stamp set this month, set against a brayered background. I placed one of Wendy Vecchi's Frames into the centre of my card and then brayered over the frame with Broken China followed by touches of Brushed Pewter Distress Paints. The Brushed Pewter adds a wonderful shimmer to the background. I then flicked touches of each paint to the background to give delicate splatters. I then removed the Frame which leaves an aperture for my focal imagery.

I placed the Star Layering Stencil into the centre of the aperture and applied Broken China Distress Ink over the stencil. I then stamped the stag with Potting Soil Archival Ink, placed  a mask over the first image and then stamped him once again. I also added the sentiment to the top of the aperture.

I added a decorative bow, coloured with Broken China Distress Ink and I added touches of SnowTex to add to the frosty/snowy feel of my piece. I also attached a token and addes some foliage which is covered with Distress Glitter adding yet more shimmer to the design.

This picture highlights the shimmer from the glitter a little more and you can also see the layers added to my design with the stamping and stencilling.

I die cut 25 from card and then coloured with Broken China Distress Ink and then added a coat of Clear Rock Candy. I also added touches of SnowTex to the aperture.

I also decorated the inside of my card, again with a brayered background and stamped the stag and sentiment once again.

My fellow team mates have created fabulous pieces of art to inspire you along your journey.

Terry

Tracy

Shari

Kate

Gerrie

Lisa

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Dream a little dream

Morning, hope you are all enjoying your weekend. We have another fabulous challenge for you over at the Love to Create Challenge Blog where the theme is Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes.

Today I opted for a red and black theme with touches of rust, something a little different image wise which I thought was perfect for today's challenge as we are celebrating Father's Day in the UK.

I coloured a piece of white card with Permanent Red PanPastel and then added Permanent Red Shade around the edges. I stamped the focal image (one of Tim Holtz) with Black Archival .

I added a touch of dimension to my focal image on the wings, text and crown and kept them white, which I love against the more prominent red background. I also included a touch of stencilling, applying Black Coarse Pearl Medium PanPastel over a Tim Holtz Layering Stencil.

I wanted to add touches of rust to my design and so included a circle of wire around my focal image along with two strips of rusty wire down one edge, all stapled into place with the Tiny Attacher.

CREATE and DREAM has been added to the top of my card, applying VersaMark Ink through a stencil and applying Permanent Red Shade to the top for a tone on tone effect.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x x

Permanent Red

Permanent Red Shade

Black COARSE Pearl Medium for PanPastels

PanPastel - Sofft Tools Kit

Guest Creative Guide at A Vintage Journey

I was delighted to receive an email from Brenda asking if I would like to be a Guest Creative Guide at A Vintage Journey, The theme this time around is 'Celebrations' hosted by Sandy who describes the challenge as follows:-

Share your celebrations with us. It can be the end of the school year, a birthday, Father's Day, A Wedding or a special Anniversary. Use any of Tim's products or techniques.

I was inspired by Tim Holtz tag for June which you can find HERE. I use this technique with the stencil many times and I love the look and I particularly liked the green this month.

I decided to create a canvas this time around for a family birthday celebration, inspired by my garden along with Tim's June tag.

This is how the canvas looked without any decoration, I love the colours.The only difference from Tim's June tag is that I used Distress Spray Stain in Antique Linen in the backdrop as I just wanted a subtle touch of colour.

I love layers in my designs along with texture so I added a further layer to my background using the Dot Fade Layering Stencil along with Texture Paste.

I adore that subtle layer of texture to the design, so tactile!

To add definition to the edges I applied Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

Once I was happy with the background I then set about creating the decorative elements, beginning with two feathers cut from white card using the Feather Duo Die, coloured with Peeled Paint and Walnut Stain Distress Inks, applied to a non-stick craft sheet, spritzed with water and then picking up the beads of ink with the feather die cuts. I then dried with a heat tool and then spritzed with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain.

I love this bird which I die cut from mountboard using Tim Holtz Bird Silhouette Bigz Die, also cutting the top layer from the Wildflower Paper Stash. I then added touches of red using Fired Brick Distress Ink through the Dot Fade Layering Stencil and stamped 'Special Delivery' using the Correspondence stamp set and Vermillion Archival Ink. I then applied Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the edges of the bird to hide all the white edges.

To embellish I added a Collage Key coloured with Alcohol Inks Rust and Ginger.

To add a few more touches of red, I applied Fired Brick Distress Paint to a non-stick craft sheet, dipped a wet paintbrush into the paint and flicked the paint onto the background.

The subtle splatters pop against the green backdrop. I also die cut three hearts from mountboard using the Heartfelt Bigz Die, coloured with Fired Brick Distress Ink.

From this picture you can see all the wonderful layers to my design.

I also included a couple of Remnant Rubs to add further interest.

I love how the subtle colour in the backdrop is still visible through the stencilling and splatters.

I addede the key to the bottom of my canvas along with some Burlap for a natural touch to the design and to add further texture.

I also included a ring of rusty wire, another element to add texture and dimension to my piece.

A Vintage Journey is a monthly challenge which is sponsored by Country View Crafts and there is a fabulous £20 gift voucher for one randomly drawn winner. Good Luck.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x x

Adventure is worthwhile in itself!

Today I have my weekly post for Artistic Outpost and this week I am showcasing one of my favourite sets Charles and Amelia.

I wanted to create something a little different so opted for a canvas this week full of rusty texture and dimension.

My focal image from the Charles and Amelia stamp set has been stamped onto white card and coloured with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and then flicked with water to age. I then adhered my focal image to my canvas and then began with the following steps:

1. Die cut cogs from thick card using Tim Holtz Gadget Gears Die and adhere to the canvas.
2. Apply a coat of DecoArt Media Crackle Paste with a palette knife,remembering to apply around the edges too and then set aside to dry completely.
3. Apply DecoArt Texture Sand to the top of the gears and randomly around the canvas and allow to dry
4. Paint the whole canvas with DecoArt Carbon Black Fluid Acrylic and dry with a heat tool or allow to dry naturally. 
5. Spray the canvas with Carbon Black Mister, to cover any remaining white areas and dry with a heat tool.
6. Dry brush with Titanium White Fluid Acrylic.
7. Add a small amount of Phthalo Turquoise to a paint pallette and add water to create a wash and then paint the wash over the canvas but not around the central area, dry with a heat tool.
8. Add a small amount of Quinacridone Gold to a paint pallette and add water to create a wash and then apply the wash randomly over the canvas, trying not to cover up all the Phthalo Turquoise areas. Dry with a heat tool.
9. Add a small drop of Quinacrindone Gold Fluid Acrylic to a non-stick craft sheet and pick up a tiny amount of paint on the edge of a paintbrush and apply around the canvas, to give a further depth of colour to the washes. Dry with a heat tool. Repeat this process adding layers of colour until you are happy with the depth. I tend to use a flat brush and use a dabbing motion to apply the neat Quinacridone Gold.
10. Apply a dirty wash (Quinacridone Gold, Paynes Gray and Ultra-Matte Varnish) over the whole of the canvas.
11. Apply IndigoBlu Flitter glue randomly around the canvas and allow the glue to turn clear (this then means that any flakes can then be applied). Add Chocolate Box Mega-Flake to the areas where the glue has been applied. Press the Mega-Flake with your fingers to make good contact and then rub over the areas with scoochy foam to remove the excess flakes.
12. Apply a coat of Ultra-Matte Varnish once the canvas is completely finished.

This picture shows the fabulous textures and amazing crackle along with the touches of Mega-Flakes added randomly around the canvas.

I also wanted to join in with the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 30 which this time around is Faux Cracked Glass. The technique is on page 54 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities Book Volume lll.The Funkie Junkie Boutique is the fabulous sponsor this time around. I had a couple of vintage monocles and decided to use both in my piece and I applied the technique to the monocle and also to one of Tim's Tiny Vials.

I have also added a Prima Marketing embellishment to the top of my monocle along with a Remnant Rub for added interest.

I have also included a few rusted mini sprockets which again have been rusted and aged.

The focal image from the Artistic Outpost Charles and Amelia stamp set has been encased behind a vintage monocle and I have added a Remnant Rub to the top and aged a little with a touch of Rust Alcohol Ink.

I stamped the sentiment "Adventure is worthwhile in itself" from the Charles and Amelia stamp set, stamped onto white card with Black Archival Ink and coloured around the edges with paint. As this piece is full of texture I thought I would also enter this into the Craft Stamper Take It Make It June Challenge which this month is all about TEXTURE. I am also entering this piece into the Mixed Media World Challenge which this time around is Masculine/Father's Day.

I would also like to enter this into the Anything But Cute Challenge, run by the wonderful Pamellia, where the theme is "Make it Masculine".

Thanks so much for stopping by, hope you enjoyed the step by steps for my mixed media canvas. Tracy x x