MARCH - NEW BEGINNINGS (EXCITING NEWS!)

I am absolutely thrilled and over the moon to have been invited to join the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team. Today Amy Bowerman and Eileen Hull are introducing the team and we are sharing a few of our favourite projects with you our readers. You are also invited to share your favourite project, simply create a new post with a link to the challenge for "The Art with Heart" kickoff challenge and you will be in with a chance to win a great prize at EileenHull.com. You can also follow along with the PaperTrail tour beginning 27th March 2014.

This is a new beginning for me and I am really looking forward to embarking on this new journey using Eileen Hull's Sizzix dies. For me I love the versatility of dies and the fact that you can make wonderful dimensional pieces with ease. I love the versatility of Eileen Hull dies and the fact that one die can be used in many ways. I hope you will join me in this new creative journey.

Now onto a little bit about me and three of my favourite pieces.

I love this piece as it showcases my love of dimensional pieces and I love to use embellishments in my pieces and I feel this uses them in a quirky way. Here is a link to my ORIGINAL POST. I also love altered art as I find this an alternative way to use my products, creating pieces whilst having fun, that's what its all about!

I love this piece as it showcases my love of Distress and using corrugated card in my pieces. I love to recycle where I can and in this piece I recycled packaging. I also love to use Embossing Paste in my designs as it adds wonderful texture, another key item I like to add to my artsy pieces. The original post can be viewed HERE.

My third piece showcases my love of using layered elements in my creative pieces. This piece has many layers, lots of texture and is extremely tactile, something I love. I love adding many layers of interest and keeping the reader coming back to view more that they may have missed on their first viewing. I also love the little details like touches of background stamping and the mini cameo tucked behind my dimensional flowers.

Thanks so much for stopping by and indulging me in my EXCITING NEWS, I really do appreciate it. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Amy and Eileen for inviting me along for this exciting journey. THANK YOU.

If you would like to join in the challenge and showcase one of your favourite projects then simply stop by to
EileenHull.com.

Many thanks. Tracy x x 

Think and Wonder

This week I am showcasing the Think and Wonder plate from Artistic Outpost.

This week I wanted to go for an aged vintage feel but with a wow pop of colour. The backdrop has had Crackle Texture Paste applied through a Prima Stencil and then coloured with Brushed Corduroy and Walnut Stain Distress Ink.

The angelic girl has been stamped onto white card with Potting Soil Distress Ink and then coloured with Distress Inks and flicked with water. I have added a matt of black card to lift the focal image from the backdrop. From this picture you can also just make out the subtle crackle in the textured backdrop.

I have added three Bitty Blossoms for added dimension which I have sprayed with Squeezed Orange Dylusions spray for that wow pop of colour. I have also applied Treasure Gold Olive Bronze Wax to the edges of the petals along with a pearl bead to the centre of each. I have also added Wax to the textured background.

I hung the central stamped panel attached with twine and hitch fasteners and also added a cameo pin for added interest.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Dreamer Of Dreams

From inking edges brown to Tim Hotlz Distress products, sanding paper to ageing with tea stain, Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge would love to see how you will distress this week.

I decided to create a rustic wall hanging this week incorporating a heart niche surrounded by corrugated card. I began by cutting a heart from thick card using the Spellbinders Media Mixage Heart Die. Once one heart was cut I then drew around the heart onto six further layers of card then placing the heart die onto each piece taping into place and then die cutting each piece. Alignment is made easier this way and gives a perfect finish.

I then coloured the top piece of card with Walnut Stain Distress Ink and then placed a Prima Poppies and Peonies Stencil over the top, mixed Wendy Vecchi's White Embossing Paste with Walnut Stain Distress Paint and then applied a layer over the centre of the card; then applying White Embossing Paste around the edges for contrast. I then set this piece aside to dry. Once dry I then coloured around the edges of the heart once again with Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I added a piece of chicken wire to the back of the first piece before layering onto the other die cut pieces of card. I added a Media Mixage Heart Bezel to the top corner adding a Chitchat Sticker and small Flower  to the centre and then pouring hot Clear Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel into the bezel. I also added a key attached with a Jump Ring to the bezel for added dimension and interest.

I added Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms to the top and bottom cornerns adding Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the edges of the petals.

I have included a Graphic 45 Ornate Metal Label Holder, adding a Remnant Rubs Word to the centre and then pouring a thin layer of Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel into the centre.

I added a charlotte doll which I dipped into hot Beeswax to age a little and to tone down the white colouring. I wrapped her in rusty wire and then attached to my wall hanging.

Book pages from an Alice In Wonderland book were added to the back of my niche; I am loving the niche idea, again a great way to add depth to a piece of art.

I then attached the completed piece to a piece of corrugated cardboard, tore the edges to add to the aged, distressed feel and added rusty wire to hang.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog and take a look at my fellow team members art work, 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:

Spellbinders Media Mixage Heart Die
Spellbinders Media Mixage Heart Bezel
Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms
Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste
Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Chitchat Stickers, Foliage Flowers and Leaves , Locket Keys , Jump Rings, Remnant Rubs Words
Distress Ink - Walnut Stain
Distress Paint - Walnut Stain
Non-Stick Craft Sheet
Ink Blending Tool
Melt Pot
Project Pan
Clear Utlra Thick Embossing Enamel 
Beeswax
Graphic 45 Ornate Metal Label Holder


 

Simply Fabulous

Today is my final post for Creative Expression. After nearly four years and a great deal of thought, I have taken the very difficult dicision to step down from the Creative Expressions Design Team. I would like to wish everyone at Creative Expressions the very best in all their future endevours. It has been a pleasure to have been part of such a wonderful team. THANK YOU.

My final piece uses the Art Deco Delight Singles stamp which I have stamped onto Kraft card and coloured with pencil crayons. I have also masked the image and then stamped the perfume bottle a second time.

The background has been embossed with Cascading Hearts Embossing Folder. I cut a piece of Kraft card 6.5" x 6.5", applied Potting Soil Archival Ink to the debossed side of the embossing folder and then placed the Kraft card into the folder and ran through my Grand Calibur.

Three Bitty Blossoms have been added to the bottom corner of the card for added dimension. I have applied Potting Soil Archival Ink to the edges of the petals along with a touch of Golden Light Metallic Gilding Wax. I also applied touches of the wax to the embossed backdrop. I have also stamped the perfume bottle onto a piece of Shrink Plastic and added as a further embellishment to my design.

I added the sentiment from the same stamp set, stamped onto Kraft card with Black Archival Ink, colouring the edges of the sentiment with Potting Soil Archival Ink. I distressed all the edges of my card with a pair of scissors.

To complete I added a Victorian Corner which I coloured with a touch of Gilding Wax. I also added some text background stamping to the perfume panel using the background stamp from the Tim Holtz Classics 9 Stamp Set.

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 and being a part of my creative journey.  Tracy x x

Creative Expressions Webpage

Creative Expressions Facebook
Creative Expressions News

Think and Wonder

This week I am showcasing the fabulous Think and Wonder Plate for my weekly DT piece for Artistic Outpost.

The background for my card has been created by applying spray inks to bubbles and then simply pressing the card onto them, I love this effect!

I stamped the focal image with Black Archival Ink, I love the contrast between the black ink and the more subtle background.

I added three Bitty Blossoms die cut from vintage book pages and coloured the edges of the petals with Salty Ocean Distress Ink.

I added a piece of torn book page to the bottom of my card to ground the focal image and I also included coordinated twine and an enamel tag, with Remnant Rubs Words added to the top.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Time Flies

This week DT member Sandra challenges us to be inspired by time. From clcocks to gears to challenging yourself to create a project in a specific amout of time - the choice is up to you. The clock is already ticking down to the time left to finish this challenge!. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge cannot wait to see what you spend your time creating this week.

I found this dressform lying around in my craft room and was really inspired to decorate it for this weeks challenge. I began by covering the dressform in Tissue Tape and then colouring with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink and then applying a coat of Claudine Hellmuth's Multi Medium Matt to seal.

I added a skirt using Tim Holtz fabric which also included clock faces. I added touches of colour to the fabric using Walnut Stain Distress Stain.

I added a Prima Flower Clock to my dressform, coloured with Ginger Alcohol Ink and sanded to age. A Clock Face has been added to the centre of the Prima Clock along with a Game Spinner and I also included wings to the back.  A Locket Key has been added attached with a Jump Ring.

I have also included a Word Band at the waistline again coloured with Alcohol Ink. Mini Gears have also been added for further interest and to add to the steampunk feel.

A small cupid has been included colouring with a touch of Treasure Gold Olive Bronze Wax.

A lock has been affixed to the top along with Label Letters to add 'Time Flies'.

I have added a further timepiece to the top of my dressform, perfect for our Tick Tock challenge.

For more great ideas please pop over to the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog and take a look at my fellow team members art work, 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 Tissue Tape - Sketchbook, Journeyman
Tim Holtz Fabric Eclectic Elements Documentation
Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Timepiece Clock Face, Game Spinners, Regal Adornments, Word Bands Observations , Locket Keys, Jump Rings, Mini Gears , Label Letters
Claudine Hellmuth Multi Medium Matte
Distress Ink - Brushed Corduroy
Distress Stain - Walnut Stain
Alcohol Ink - Ginger
Prima Flowers Clocks
PaperArtsy Treasure Gold Olive Bronze Wax
7 Gypsies Big Ben Book Knob

BLOG CANDY

It's the first of the month today and I thought it would be the perfect time to offer some BLOG CANDY.

My blog candy includes:

Bird Box

Natural Heart Twine

3 x 10cm x 10cm Board Canvases

Mini Canvas and Stand

2 Packs of Glassine Mini Envelopes

Clock Chipboard Shape

Memory BoxMeadow Flowers Cling Stamp

Christy Tomlinson Unity Stamp Distressed Quilt

Tattered Lace Rocking Horse Die

Tattered Lace Leaf Dies

Julie Nutting Mixed Media Stamp 

JustRite Moroccan Lattice Background Stamp

To be in with a chance of winning my blog candy simply leave a comment below and you need to be a follower of my blog. I will draw a winner on Monday night 3rd March.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x