You Are The Hero In Your Own Story

Where has the time gone! I cannot believe we are on the 9th January already and it's time for my weekly post for Artistic Outpost.

Today I am using the fabulous Paperboy stamp set, it was great to break away from Christmas makes and enjoy something a little different. The background has been creating using the Alcohol Ink Splatter Technique using Alcohol Inks Pesto and Ginger.

I cut a panel from white card and coloured the background with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink flicking the background with water to add blotches to add further to the aged feel, I also distressed the edges and tore areas and again applied more Distress Ink to the edges. I added a pen nib aged with Alcohol Inks along with the sentiment "you are the hero in your own story". I also included a further layer adding stencilled letters to the background and tucking this layer behind the focal image.

I found an old newspaper which I cut up and tied with natural twine and also added Remnant Rubs for a further layer of interest.

I love the splatters of colour in the background and the fact the stencilling is still visible as a further layer. I included more Remnant Rubs to add yet another layer to my design.

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Tracy x x x 

Time to Celebrate

Morning, Thursday so that means it's time for my weekly post for Katzelkraft.

I have used the Hologe stamp set, I love the large clock face image on this one and have used it as my focal point on my card. I thought this would be perfect for a masculine birthday. I have applied crackled texture paste through Tim Holtz clockwork layering stencil and once dry I spritzed the background with Weathered Wood and Iced Spruce Distress Spray Stains and added touches of Tarnished Brass as a contrast.

The focal image has been stamped onto a piece of white card that has been coloured with Iced Spruce and Weathered Wood Distress Inks, stamping with black Archival Ink for a bold focal point. I have also added an Idea-ology sprocket for added interest. I have also included a bottlecap with part of the image stamped on the inside, adding watch parts and then filling with clear Ultra Thick Enamel. A Game Spinner has been added to the top. For further interest I also included Memo Pins with added lettering to spell TIME which I filled carefully with clear Ultra Thick Enamel. I normally use Glossy Accents but I did not want to wait so long for them to dry, too impatient!

'Just Celebrate' had been added for the sentiment which I thought was perfect for any occasion including a birthday. Mini tags have been die cut from white card, coloured with Weathered Wood Distress Ink and I have stamped 2015 onto each one. I adore the shimmer from the metallic Distress Spray Stains, I added a touch of Brushed Pewter Distress Spray for added shimmer which combines beautifully with the Weathered Wood and Iced Spruce.

For added texture I also included a twine bow behind my bottle cap.

I would also like to enter this into the TRY IT ON TUESDAY challenge which this time around is'My Favourite Things' and this card has my favourite things in abundance, texture, dimension, embellishments, layers, I love them all.

I would also like to enter this into the FRILLY AND FUNKY challenge which this time around is Anything Goes and there is gorgeous artwork on display to inspire you. 

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

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Eileen Hull Art With Heart Challenge

New Year, fresh start and time for our first challenge of the year with Eileen Hull and the Art with Heart Challenge. This time around it is all about fresh ideas, a fresh start, so ANYTHING GOES.

I decided to use Eileen Hull's Flower, Petal Power die to create a dimensional blossom taking centre stage on my design. As soon as I thought of fresh starts I began to think of fresh flowers and longing for Spring already and those wonderful spring blooms, hence I used a flower in my design.

I began by applying Salty Ocean and Mowed Lawn Distress Ink to a non-stick craft sheet, spritzing with water and then mopping up the ink with my card. I repeated this process for several pieces of card which I will then use for die cutting. I dried each application of ink with a heat tool and then added more ink where necessary.

I die cut the petals from the coloured card and then applied Salty Ocean Distress Ink around the edges of each petal for definition.

Each petal was then placed into Eileen Hull's Starflowers Embossing Folder and run through a die cutting machine to emboss.

I love the added detail the embossing gives to the petals.

To add further detail I dry brushed white paint over each petal to highlight the wonderful texture and design.

The white paint really lifts the detail from the background.

It's then time to build the flower layer by layer. Once each layer was dry I then bent and added life to the petals.

To complete the flower I added one of Tim Holtz idea-ology pieces to the centre.

I used the Alcohol Ink Splatter technique in the background and then applied Crackle Texture Paste over a layering stencil to the background which I mixed with a touch of Juniper Alcohol Ink so that it blended with my backdrop. I used Sail Boat Blue, Juniper and Mermaid Alcohol Inks in the background. I adore the touch of crackle to each of the stencilled letters.

I die cut leaves using the Garden Greens die, adding just a touch of colour to the edges of the leaves which I then tucked behind my flower.

Thanks so much for stopping by, hope you enjoyed my first challenge piece of the year. We would love to see your creations and how you are inspired this time around.

Tracy x x x

Katzelkraft Challenge - Coloured Winter

Morning all, Happy New Year! Today it is time for my weekly DT creation for Katzelkraft. The challenge for January is Coloured Winter.

There are many things I think of when I think of Winter and as we have only just left another Christmas behind us I am still thinking along the lines of decorations and baubles so my take on the challenge are coloured Winter baubles. The background of my card has been stencilled with Tim Holtz Stars Layering stencil using Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.

I wanted to make the central bauble stand out from the crowd so I added a cicular piece decorated with stamped Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel. I cut a circle from mountboard using Tim Holtz Sized Circles die and then added black UTEE and Tropic Red Embossing Crystals to my melt pot and once melted I poured onto the circular piece and then pressed the Geometric Ornament stamp onto the hot enamel, allowed to cool a little and then removed the stamp.  Once it had cooled a little I also cut around the shape with a pair of scissors to remove any excess UTEE from the edges. To highlight the wonderful design I applied White Fire wax to the top.

I died vintage seam binding with Fired Brick Distress Ink and added a bow to the top of each of the baubles along with a Christmas button to the centre of each for added interest.

Thanks so much for stopping by, hope you like my take on this months challenge.

Tracy Evans x x x

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Enjoy The Beauty of The Season

Hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and are continuing to enjoy the festivities. Wishing you all a wonderful New Year too.

Today I am using the Christmas Chalk and MidWinter stamp sets from Artistic Outpost to continue with my rustic Christmas designs. I have stamped the Let It Snow randomly onto the background of my card using Potting Soil Archival Ink along with the foliage stamp from the MidWinter stamp set around the edges of the background for a further layer of interest.

I have also added stencilled stars to the background using Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and I have added delicate splatters of Picket Fence Distress Paint to the backdrop.

I die cut two baubles from white card and then added a good thick coat of Wendy Vecchi's Crackle Texture Paste and then set aside to dry. Once completely dry I painted the baubles with Walnut Stain Distress Paint adding a couple of coats and drying with my heat tool. I then spritzed each of the baubles with Tarnished Brass Distress Spray Stain.

To add a further touch of shimmer I rubbed over each of the baubles with touches of White Fire Treasure Gold Wax. I have also included two enameled tags, decorated with remnant rubs, attached with jump rings from my rustic bows. The fabulous "Enjoy the beauty of the season" sentiment is from the MidWinter stamp set.

To comnplete I added 25 using Stencil Marks to the top of my card, it adds another touch of interest to my design.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you continue to enjoy the festive period.  Tracy x x

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Today I have opted for greens and browns for my colour scheme using the fabulous Geometric Ornament from Katzelkraft.

To begin I added stencilled stars to my background using Peeled Paint Distress Ink and Tim Holtz Star Layering Stencil. I then stamped the Geometric Ornament onto the background twice using Fern Green and Potting Soil Archival Inks. I love how the stencilled stars are still visible behind the bauble in the background.

I then die cut a medium and small star from white card, inked the Geometric Ornament with Potting Soil Archival Ink and then pressed each of the stars onto the ornament. I have then added the stars to the top of each bauble for added interest and dimension. I have also added mini tags, stamped with winter and 25 along with coordinated twine.

I die cut some Christmas greens from white card using Tim Holtz die, coloured with Peeled Paint and Gathered Twigs Distress Inks and added to the top of the card along with vintage seam binding died with Peeled Paint Distress Ink. I also included three stacked stars to the top of my card for added interest.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Hope you all have a fabulous Christmas Day and Very Best Wishes for The New Year.

Tracy Evans
xxx

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A Rustic Christmas

Morning and welcome to my blog, hope you enjoy your visit and a huge warm festive welcome to my regular followers.

Today's card measures 5" x 7" and the background of my card has been coloured with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink with delicate touches of stencilled stars using the same Distress Ink to give a tone and tone effect. The focal point of the image is a die cut bauble which I have then stamped with the reindeer from the MidWinter stamp set from Artistic Outpost.

The background of the central panel has been decorated using Tim Holz Christmas Layering stencil applying embossing paste over the stencil which has been coloured with a touch of Potting Soil reinker to coordinate with my design.

Tucked behind the bauble is a die cut snowflake, die cut from white card using Tim Holtz die, colouring with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and then spritzing with Biscotti Perfect Pearls Mist and adding a metallic touch with White Fire Treasure Gold Wax. I also included a Merry Christmas sentiment to the top of the bauble.

I have also added touches of the White Fire Wax to the background of the card to add a touch of sparkle.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x