Stampotique Designers Challenge

The Stampotique designers are celebrating the holidays this week and are challenging us with the theme Christmas in July.  You can use any stamp, however, I really wanted to use a Stampotique stamp but the problem was I don't have any Christmas Stampotique stamps in my stash.  I thought for a whole night about what I could use and decided on......

....the Welcome Door, problem was on its own it does not look very Christmas like.  I decided to sponge my background with snowflakes using a Glimmer Screen stencil and DI ink tumbled glass.  I then stamped the Welcome Door onto the background using StazOn black.

I have added Santa and here to my door to give the sentiment Santa welcome here as I thought this could be a Christmas card for my daughter who is 9 and is always asking if Santa really exists.

I have added the word Believe as I am always saying to my daughter at Christmas that "you have to believe or we don't get any presents under the tree" LOL.    I have added a few snowflakes around the card and inside the door along with a Winter sentiment/definition and a key for my door to complete my alternative Christmas card.  The Stampotique stamps are available in the UK from The Stamp Attic.  Phew that took some thinking about to get it to look somewhat like a Christmas card...... hope my daughter likes it.  Pop over to The Stampotique Designers Challenge Blog to see some very creative Christmas cards.  Have a good day everyone, Tracy x

WOYWW 14th July

Yes it's Wednesday again, another week rolls by, can't believe how quick the weeks are passing by, my mum always used to say that as you got older the time went quicker, I used to think what a load of rubbish but she is so right and since I have finished with the shop the day's just zoom by.   Anyway less waffling and to the point,  it's time for What's on your Workdesk Wednesday.

Not much to show you this week sorry, there is my art journaling book, something I have just started and I must admit I am quite enjoying.  The journal pages and the card on the easel are for The Play Date Cafe Challenge and my WOYWW easel is towards the back of my desk, which I love and use all the time (thanks Julia and Mr. Dunnit).  There are also two new purchases, two Stampotique stamps and to the left is a Hand Lettering book which I am hoping will help me with lettering in my art journal.  Not very interesting for you this week probably because when I work I always tidy everything away when I have finished crafting, it's just the way I am, I even try to work tidy whilst I am crafting which will probably irritate some folk but its just me a tidy freak LOL.  If you would like to join in the fun pop over to Julia's place the Stamping Ground and play along all the details are there for you to follow, all very simple.  A big THANKS to everyone who left me a comment last week, much appreciated.  Have a good Wednesday everyone, I'm off to pick some fresh flowers from my allotment, oh and some veg LOL,  Tracy x

Compendium Of Curiosities, Week 5

It's week 5 of the Compendium Of Curiosities challenge and this week sees the challengers using Distress powders, turn to page 43 in the book for the technique.

I must admit I have never used the Distress powders, probably because I do not emboss much these days, but there is always a first time.  However, the only pot of Distress powder in my cupboard was milled lavender so I needed an image to do it justice.  Whilst rummaging through my cupboards I found this Tim Holtz stamp that had never been inked, so it has had its first inking today, one good reason to join in with these challenges if only to make use of those products stashed at the back of your cupboard.  Now I have used it I quite like what I see so it will probably get used again now LOL.  A lesson learned me thinks!

I have made a tag this week, a change from a card but very simple to create.  I have embossed my image with the milled lavender distress powder, added numbers and sponged my tag with DI inks, milled lavender, tattered rose and peeled paint.  To complete I have added ribbon, a heart and a metal embellishment.

If you would like to join in the challenge why not pop over to Studio L3 where Linda is hosting the challenge and gives all the details along with some great prizes.  This weeks challenge is being sponsered by Simon Says Stamp, go on join in the fun.  Tracy x x

DT - The Stamp Attic

This is my third DT piece for Wendy at The Stamp Attic, so I wanted to do something a little different, in that I wanted to show that you can use this set of stamps in conjunction with any other product/stamps.  I love this set as it is so versatile, either as individual stamps or as background pieces.

For the first sample I have used the flower flourish as a branch for the bird cage.  The detail is fantastic on these stamps and that little bird is lovely.

I have stamped the same image onto the bird's body and along the sides of the card giving a lovely delicate touch to the bird and the card.  I have used StazOn timber brown for the stamping.  Add Tim's embellishments to the Caged Bird, although my bird has been set free and is no longer caged and hey presto one card in all its glory!

I thought I would make a second card for a matching set, using all the same images/embellishments.  The paper/card is My Mind's Eye, So Sophie range, which are beautifully co-ordinated.

A different angle so you can see just how detailed this stamp really is and how beautifully it works with other products.

I have added the sentiment 'Birthday Wishes', also included in this set.  Until the next time, have a great Monday, Tracy x x

Sunday Stamper Challenge

The Sunday Stamper challenge this week is to use the colour BLUE.  It is so hot today I feel drained and think the heat has taken away my mojo once again.  I found it really difficult to get started with this theme.  I decided to make a simple card as my energy levels were running low. 

I have used a Penny Black stamp, an Iris.  I stamped the Iris onto a magazine page and clear embossed and then applied DI ink tumbled glass over the top with highlights of peeled paint.  Once happy with the depth of colour I removed the ink from the Iris.

I have added pearl embellishments and the IRIS text to complete.  If you would like to see some great artwork for this challenge why not pop over to Hels' blog.  Have a great Sunday, Tracy x x

The Play Date Cafe Challenge

Over on The Play Date Cafe this week there is no specific colour badges, just this picture which you can interpret in your own way within your artwork.  This picture feels very mediterranean to me and I love the fact there are lots of colours we could use.

I knew I wanted to use some Twiddleybitz I had purchased recently and that is where my inspiration began.  I have coloured the embellishments with butterscotch, lemonade, watermelon and aqua Adirondack acrylic paint dabbers to give me that mediterranean feel for my card.

I have used a stencil on the background along with the same paint dabbers.  Added a few co-ordinated buttons and hey presto my card in it's final glory.  I also thought I would have another go at art journaling using these colours.

I have used all the same colour paint dabbers and a large floral stencil for this double page spread along with a bird from TwiddleybitZ which I absolutely love.

I have cut up a gardening book and added text to my page along with another Twiddleybitz piece and some cirles.

Must admit I am quite please with this attempt at art journaling.  Off to pop over to The Play Date Cafe to look at some fab artwork, why not join me.  Have a good day everyone, Tracy x

DT Piece For The Stamp Attic

As part of my DT challenge, Wendy sent me a leaves stencil, which I absolutely love.   I love stencils they are so adaptable and always give professional results when coloured with inks.

These stencils are so cheap and versatile, I often use them in conjunction with my stamps or simply on their own.  These stencils can be purchased at The Stamp Attic here.

For this piece I wanted to make something very autumnal, I love autumn and all the earthy colours, my favourite combination.  I applied DI inks to the background card, applying directly from the inkpad and spritzed with water, the background was coloured with antique linen, shabby shutters, peeled paint and rusty hinge.    Then onto the leaves which I simply sponged colour through the stencil directly onto the card, colours were applied in the following order; wild honey, forest moss, peeled paint and rusty hinge.  I added three images to the background piece but only using part of the image in places.

I repeated this process for the single leaf and then added one layer of clear emboss powder.  I have then matt onto a piece of Bazzil card, added a Maya Road trinket pin leaf and wrapped thread around the pin.   For my leaf embellishment I sponged colour onto shrink plastic this time using VersaMagic inks, hint of pesto, tea leaves, and niagara mist.   To complete my piece I have hand stitched the sentiment 'LeavEs onto the card.  Have a good day everyone, Tracy x