Funkie Junkie Twelve Tags of Christmas, Bonus tag 1.

Hello peeps, hope you have had a really good Christmas? I had my beloved girls and their lovely men and my grandson for the day, it was splendid! I was sorry to hear that Linda of The Funkie Junkie has been poorly with the flu, so I send her my very best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery. I managed to get some time in my craft room yesterday afternoon, (I was clearing up - honest!) and then managed to make this tag inspired by Linda's lovely extra tag found here on her blog. I have beeen inspired by the frosted filmed Clearly for Art holly that she used on her thank you tag. I found myself using a black tag again, sorry, but I tried other backgrounds and they didn't work as well.



First I put the frosted film over the Clearly for Art and die cut the holly leaves and branch. Then I used Archival ink in green and brown to colour them. I love the way you can shape the Clearly for Art and it holds the shape after it cools down. Next I die cut a lantern,  used Potting soil Archival and Distress Tea dye embossing powder over it and brushed off the excess crystal to leave it looking lovely and rusted, then went round the edges with Walnut Stain. The only black tag I had was a size #8 which wasn't big enough and so I covered a Prima long tag with Black Soot DP. Because the paint doesn't look as dense as black card I think it gives a better impression of the night, what do you think? Another time I might try and give and sense of a landscape but I only thought of that after I had stuck it down. The light in the globe is painted with DI. Then I added some rusty wire to hang the lantern from the branch and added red holly berries and white snow paint. I love the way the frosted film looks as if it has caught a glow from the light. I am delighted Linda has extended her wonderful challenge which has been sponsored by the marvelous Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Thanks for the inspiration Linda.
I had a wonderful embroidery machine from my dear husband which was a complete surprise so I am off to try and understand the instructions! Hope you all had some lovely crafting goodies to play with. A very Happy New Year to you all and thank you so much for your kind comments on my little blog this year.

Funkie Junkie Twelve Tags of Christmas, week 12.

Well here we are with week Twelve of Linda's wonderful challenge found on her blog here. It is of course sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique - click here to be whisked to shopping heaven!

I know my tag doesn't look anything like Linda's beauty, but I was inspired to use embossing paste through a metal Dreamweaver stencil I have had for some years and used embossing paste onto a black tag and then covered it in Rock Candy glitter. I like the way Linda emboss pasted her stars onto the tag. Then I used a white TH rub-on at the top of the tag which I think Linda used for her sentiment - and finished off with silver baubles and some glitter yarn. The sentiment at the bottom is lifted up with sticky fixers.

I do not have any silhoutte stamps but hope you agree the stencil gives a similar effect? I hope you are all nearly there for Wednesday, I am challenged this year but no doubt all will be done in time, it always is - or no one notices if it isn't! Merry Christmas dear followers, thank you for all your lovely comments this year, I raise my glass to you all! xx

Twelve tags of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style Week 11.

Over on Linda's blog the Funkie Junkie we  are up to week 11 of her fabulous challenge sponsored by her shop The Funkie Junkie Boutique. There is always such a lot to be inspired by in her fabulous tags and this week is no exception. Click on the link above to see her wonderful tag which has got me going in a different colour mix to her. I have used the on the edge snowflake die and the trees and the deer as a basis for mine.

 

First I took some card stock and gently distressed it and then found two incidental pine tree stamps which I layered with coffee archival ink using some of the impressions as second stamping so that they faded into the background. I die cut the young reindeer out of burlap which was stuck onto mountboard. Then I edged the right hand side with DG in Mustard Seed and then die cut the on the edge snowflake die out of some brown packing card and brushed Gathered Twigs DI around the edge. A strip of brown music paper over that and two rusty snowflakes one on the deer and one at the top. A frayed tartan strip and a metal snowflake at the top and that is my try this week.

I have brought the little easel die which is really useful and so my tags are turning into cards. Another one done, such fun.

I was thinking how sad it was that there was only one more tag to go but Linda has decided to extend the challenge with an extra two which is fabulous do hop over to her blog to read all about it. See you soon, Seasonal Hugs to all! x 

Tim's December Tag.

Im trying to finish my Christmas cards, you would never believe I started last month! When I saw Tim's December tag I fell in love with the way he had made the poinsettia and managed to get a roll of frosted film. I have just spent a lovely inky time making a couple, first one not right but here is the second one I have put on the tag.

 



I really want that splatter brush Tim used and it is on my Christmas list now as the first go at splattering was a complete disaster although my cat Molly who was looking on has an interesting white mottled coat now! I didn't have the right stencil but used a Dylusion one on the slant, but I am so loving the poinsettia technique! Thanks again Tim, great lesson.

So as not to waste the badly splattered poinsettia I used it on a card with some lovely old Christmas paper I had in my stash and to show you how I get things wrong!

 

I hope the recipiant won't notice the long splats too much, but doesn't it go well with the paper?

Hope you are all having a great weekend. Hugs Barb x

Twelve Tags of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style. Tag 10.

Here I am again with my tenth tag for Linda's brilliant challenge here sponsored by her great Funkie Junkie Boutique which can be found here and is great fun to take part in let alone having the chance to win a generous prize! Linda as you know asks us to take something from her tag to be inspired by. This week I loved her use of the Ornate Frame and holly and an embossing folder. Here is my take on it.

 

First I swiped  a Prima tag with Antique Bronze and Mowed Lawn DS. Then I dry embossed with the small poinsettia folder. I would like to have used the holly as Linda did but do not own it. then I swiped Pine needle DI over the top but it came out a bit too dark so I used Picket Fence DS over the top to mute it down. The Ornate frame is cut from gold corrugated card and the center stamped (I don't have the holly stencil either - drat!) with a holly flourish I have had a while in Archival green with Festive Berries DM for the berries, then edged with Tea Dye and Walnut Stain DI. I die cut the holly leaves in spotted green CS and added the gold ribbon which is wire edged and has snowflakes on it, added three red holly berries and a red star and sari ribbon at the top. The sentiment is from Tim's Simple Sayings stamp set. Just got it up in time before I set off to find her challenge 11!

 

Can I take the opportunity to thank the kind peeps who have left congrats for me on winning Tim's November challenge. I couldn't believe my luck and am as they say 'chuffed to bits'. I just hope I get a bit more time to play this week and can get hold of some of his frosted film for the December tag as it seems to be selling out fast everywhere!

Happy christmas shopping one and all. x

The Funkie Junkie Twelve Tags of Christmas: Week 9

 Here is my contribution to Linda's wonderful challenge found on her blog here and sponsored by the wonderful Funkie Junkie Boutique where generous prizes are to be awarded. Do take a look on Linda's blog where you will find all the details.
I am a trifle behind this week, as we went away for a long weekend. I particularly loved this tag and the way Linda has used blue and silver, and the heart and snowflakes and the roses oh and the labels so actually I am inspired by her entire tag! Here is my offering.
 

I took a large Prima tag and embossed small snowflakes over the base then swished broken China and brushed Pewter DS over it. Nest I die cut a heart from an old Sizzix die, painted it with Brushed Pewter DP, decorated it with a small die cut snowflake that I glittered and bejewelled. Then I sprayed some white roses with some blue ink and die cut the sprays from Tim's tattered pine cones and glittered them. The two labels are from a Spellbinders die with Tim's music score stamp and some Picket Fence over the top and some Walnut Stain round the edges topped with a large glittered snowflake adorned with a few pearls.

Do take a look at Linda's beautiful creation  and join in as the challenge is open until the 22nd December! Be back later with this weeks offering! Off to work now. Take care out there. x  

Here I go again! The Sunday Stamper RED.

Two posts in a day well, the postman bought me my Easel die that I had ordered and I had to give it a run through the vagabond to check it worked! I love making tags and have invested in the easel die so that I can send them as alternative Christmas cards, well that's my excuse! Then I was attempting a clean up when I came across all my Tim tags and remembered that he got us to use honeycombe paper on that Valentine tag and so after more rummaging I found some and incorporated it on this tag, duly attached to the easel which I am very pleased that I purchased.



I know it's a bit bright but I shall make some more subdued attempts and I do love the tatttered poinsettia coloured in Festive Berries DS. I DP the leaves and cut a gold glittered flourish. Then added the Christmas tree from the honeycombe paper, (it is a tree, honest, look closer) then added a seasonal tag with some red twine and some red small tinsel on the bottom. The background of the tag is Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen DI swished on and faint background stamps in Archival  Caramel but they don't show up much in the photo. Then I rubbed Viva gold paste around the edge for a change and gave it a buff up. Now it is all over my fingers along with red ink so I must go and look out my scrubber. That was fun!
I am entering this for Hels challenge the Sunday Stamper, in by the skin of my teeth as they say. This week she has challenged us to use red and I hope I qualify as the stamping is hidden behind the tree and the poinsettia and hardly shows! Sorry Hels!
Hope you are all enjoying yourselves and getting inky fingers too! x

Tim's Tag for November.

I really did go up to the craftroom to attempt some order into it but I had a piece of chalk in my hand and so I got way-layed into making Tim's November tag found here - as you would! After all, the room will just get untidy again won't it? Ahem, back to the matter in hand!

Tim's tag sports the awesome chalk technique with his stamp and cut framelit leaf set. I haven't got one of these yet, but I do have the Christmas blueprint set and so I used the Christmas tree and cut it by hand.

 

I did three layers of the tree, the last one I cut up the center. I think it is very clever and had fun with this when I did Creative Chemistry 102. It looks so realistic, just like an old school balckboard that I remember from years back. I am making some Christmas cards at the moment incorporating this and hope to post later. As Tim said in his post the trick is to get the embossing powder to the right heat. After taking CC102 I invested in a Ranger heat gun as Tim explained how the gentler heat is more appropriate to a lot of techniques. I wish now I had got one earlier as he was spot on and my spritz and watermark cards are better with the Ranger gun. I have to say that everything The Man says and designs works so well, you know you never waste any money, and everything inter-relates. (Is that a word?) So thanks again Tim, you teach so well!

Have a good weekend everyone, thanks for looking. x

The Funkie Junkie Twelve Tags of Christmas: Week 8.

This week on Linda's funkie Junkie Blog you can find here is her lovely tag for week 8 of her challenge sponsored by the great Funkie Junkie Boutique.  All details can be found on her blog and it is a great challenge with some awesome inspiration for your Christmas crafting every week.

Her tag this week sports a great embossing technique on the background which I chose as the start of my tag.

   

I used Salty Ocean DS and then clear embossed the Stampendous Cling Sweater Square stamp over the top. Then I layered three thin swipes of Picket fence DS over the top. I love the effect this gives and as Linda recommended we peeped at Tammy Tutterow's blog for this here  I thought it would be rude not to and now I'm hooked, do try it out, it looks better in real life.

Next I wrapped a strip of silver fabric around the tag and punched out a Martha Stewart snowflake border. Then in a fit of glittery festivity I die cut a very large silver snowflake and a smaller one. Some paper snowflakes and Tim's banner strip with winter wonderland from his seasonal rub-ons. I was going to leave it there but taking inspiration from Linda's stamped and coloured Santa on her tag 

I stamped the blue print Snowman and  decoupaged his hat and scarf after colouring them with  DM's. A white glittered ribbon at the top and there we are, week 8 already!

Hope you are all having a good week, love to you all, thanks for looking. xx

The Funkie Junkie Twelve Tags of Christmas week 7.

Number 7 already, how the time flies! I am of course refering to Linda's Twelve Tags of Christmas challenge, found here on her wonderful blog and sponsored by the marvelous Funkie Junkie Boutique. This week her beautiful tag has the most amazing background of embossed small poinsettias that I had to use. Also the little tags showing the word Joy were brilliant and as I had the little tag die I had to use them as well. So here is another card inspired by these elements.

 

A card blank was covered in tartan paper (it has come out purple in the light but I promise it is red, I think it is the late afternoon light - drat!) Then I used a strip of RED  lettered Christmas paper and then the embossed poinsettia piece. This really glitters as when I had dry embossed it and coloured it with tea dye DI  it was swiped over with an embossing pad and heat embossed with WOW enchanted gold powder, yum yum! The little tags were stamped with a script stamp and embossed with clear powder then inked with various green DI's. The Joy letters were cut and glittered from Word Play and the little snowflakes were punched from a Martha Stewart on the edge die and snipped off, then some frayed net added. The arrangement in the top right hand corner consists of TH die cut Holly leaves, distressed and over stamped with a music piece, then red berries from my stash and a bow made from red and cream net.  I am annoyed about the colour looking purplish on the card paper but I can only photograph when I get in from work, never mind!

Another card made for the pile, I have never been so organised so early. Hope you are all having a great week. Hugs to all. x

Tags of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style week 6.

I love all the elements in Linda's tag this week and so have incorporated the lettered Pine tree, the sewn pieces of Christmas Paper and the bow with the little splashes of red using the stash I had and made them into a card. Click here to see Linda's beautiful tag, the challenge is sponsored by the Funkie Junkie Boutique.

 

I don't know about Officially Winter, but  our recent UK storm seems to have brought Autumn to us here, I may be old fashioned but the really warm weather through October just didn't feel right, I went to London at the weekend and we were walking round in  summer tops! The wind was getting up but it was too warm, I like the seasons to be right. So a happy week to you all, I hope you weren't Knoctobered out by the storm. x

Tim's October tag.....just in time!

Been waiting for my final pot of distress glitter to get my tag done in the nick of time. To  see Tim's fabulous version click here and you will see everyone else's fabulous entries! I had to use slightly different die cuts to Tim, so here is my entry.

 



I used Brushed Pewter, Mustard seed. Seedless Preserves DP on the tag, the Alchenist recipe stamp then the Ornate Frame, Raven and Large Moon dies and appropriate DG and the Halloween stamp from the Mini Halloween 3. I wish the brushed Pewter showed up as well on the photo as in real life! I just love those paints and the Distress Glitter, lovely stuff!

Happy Halloween wishes to you all! x

Sunday Stamper week 279: Winter.

It's quite shocking when I see that I haven't managed to do one of Hels challenges for quite a few weeks. It starts on Sunday and it is Saturday night before I know it so I was determined to make a card for this weeks challenge which is Winter. My little stack of Christmas cards and tags is now growing nicely!

 

I matted black card onto white and die cut the branch from Tim's bird and branch across the top. then I stamped out this lovely wintery scene from PaperBag Studio's and coloured in the lamps with cosmic shimmer and golden yellow watercolour paint. Three of the snowflakes were embossed and two were wooden that I painted with Pearl dabber and used Clear Rock Candy Distress glitter over the top then fixed them onto pads for dimension. The words underneath are from Tim's seasonal rub-ons and I am so glad he has done them in white too. Simples card and it looks better than it has photograped, honest! Off now to try and make my card for Tag Tuesday and then I will be up to date. Have a good week one and all. x

12 Days of Christmas Tags Funkie Junkie Style no 5.

I have been seeing clients at home today and so I have had a play inbetween times! There are lots of crafting things I want to do but as soon as I saw Linda's challenge for her Christmas tags on her blog here I had to get out my Santa stamps and have a go! The challenge is good fun and is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique which can be found on the link. I am really enjoying being inspired by Linda's lovely tags. This week it was the framing of Santa on her tag that got me going so here is my final offering.

I tried to do the same background but used a fir branch stamp agains the Vintage Photo distressed background with an occasional script stamp. I have just purchased the ornate frame die as I am trying to do Tim's October tag and felt it would be silly not to use it, so I cut it from some brown card that I distressed with Walnut Stain DI. The Santa is an old favourite stamp and I aged the edge of him with more Vintage Photo. Then I used Tim's Festive Greenery decorative strip which I cut out of white card and used some more Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain on with some gold gems in the center. The top has a strip of Vintage Lace die and then I coloured some lace for the bottom with Happy Christmas stamped (I now see wonkily) at the bottom! It's funny the imperfections you don't see until your photograph it!

Talking of imperfections I thought I would add my first attempt that I wasn't very happy with.

 

This try had the Santa stamped in Coffee archival and a Black frame that I rubbed Viva gold paste over. Then I die cut 25 and gold glittered it and made a tattered poinsettia from kraft glassine paper and muslin material accented with a branch and holly leaf and some pearl gems. I think that the balance was out on this one, what do you think? Linda has balanced hers beautifully and looking at hers again I think because her frame is slightly smaller it looks much better. Never mind, I think that it will look ok on a Christmas present, perhaps wrapped in brown parcel paper, I'll let you know!

Funkie Junkie's Twelve Tags of Christmas no 4.

I have just been laid low for a few days with a nasty bug, I won't distress you with the details, but it has let me recuporate by thinking about Linda's challenge on her blog The Funkie Junkie which I am having a lot of fun taking part in! It is sponsored by her shop the Funkie Junkie Boutique which you can find here, and there are three lovely prizes if you take part but to be honest I am just really enjoying playing along. Linda's  tag this week is beautiful and I have been inspired by her to try for the country look with browns and muted reds. I also loved the way she framed Noel inside hessian squares so this is my try. Do go and look at hers for the master at work!

 

I took a piece of corrugated card and swiped white dabber over it and inked the edges. Then I made the background paper by stamping Tim's Christmas advert in Frayed Burlap and was pleased  that the words istmas Ornaments peeped through at the top! Then I frayed little squares of hessian and used some sticky letters I had in my stash. The tree is made from scraps of card stuck on a coffee stirrer and the star at the top is a Stampotique stamp. The little tree ornaments came from somewhere and I found them when attempting to clear out my room the other day! The little ribbons are paper and the decorative edge die byTim is cut from dull gold paper. The ribbony stuff at the top is from a hardware shop and is gloriously useful. Oh and the pot for the tree is a brad I have hoarded for ages, I thought it went!

Can't think where the time is going can you? Week four already, yikes, I'd better make a Christmas list!

Twelve tags of Christmas Funkie Junkie style: week 3.

Life seems so hectic at the moment I only have time to take part in a few challenges, but one I don't want to miss is Linda's wonderful challenge to be found on her blog here. This week she has a glorious tag full of gold deliciousness and the Tim Holtz vintage Noel die cut. I decided to take this as the focal point for my Christmas hanging and also to use at least one stamp from the the Joyful Song collection as she says to take an element or all she uses for inspiration.



To make this I took an off cut of wood with the bark still on and sanded and gessoed the surface to within an inch of its life! Then I primed it again with white acrylic and stamped the angel in black archival. Then I overstamped the image with the crackle stamp in Brushed Curduroy and randomly used the music script around the edges with it. The Noel was cut from red glitter card and then I made up and embossed my favourite tattered poinsettia. Several wooden snowflake shapes were given the gold glitter treatment and I attached some twine to two eyelet screws for hanging. I think it may go in the centre of my front door wreath this year as we have recently painted the front door bright red.

If  you want to take part in Linda's wonderful challenge there are prizes at the end sponsored by the wonderful Funkie Junkie Boutique click on to be transported to shoppers paradise!

Must dash now - late for work otherwise! Love to you all.x

Twelve Tags of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style. Week 2.

Hi everyone. I am now taking part in Linda's weekly challenge up to Christmas which you can find on her wonderful blog here. This week she has made a beautiful tag using an embossed reindeer die. I hope she doesn't mind but I had to use a lot of the elements she used as I love her tag, although she says you can just be inspired by anything on her tag and make what you like from it. I have turned my contribution into a card this week.

 

 

I took a cream card blank and gold embossed a star from one of Tim's christmas sets around the edge then inked with Brushed Corduroy ink and then I rough cut a dark brown mat. The background on cream card was made using the same recipe but different colours as Linda. This was Walnut Stain DS, picket Fence DS and Heirloom Gold perfect pearls on the craft mat and the card swished through. I then stamped a scenic winter stamp I have had for years and usually colour with watercolour paints, but I like the muted effect against the goldy background. Then I die cut the reindeer and after embossing three layers of gold onto her I pushed in a music score stamp and then added tiny bells around her neck. The Twigs on the edge die was cut from some packing and coloured with Gathered Twigs DS with a sentiment adhered to the edges. The stars at the top were cut from my new Tim die, the Moon and stars one. The stars were stamped over in black archival and a script stamp and then glittered with Clear Rock Candy Distress glitter which is becoming a firm favourite for me!

I do not like this as much as Linda's beautiful tag but several attempts went in the bin and I think I can send this one to a friend. So one card down and it is only October, woohoo!

If you take part in Linda's challenge which is sponsored by her wonderful shop the Funkie Junkie Boutique then she is very generously giving away three prizes and we will all have twelve cards, tags or Christmas decorations ready as well! A no brainer as they say! Do click on the link at the top of this post and look at her wonderful work and all the rules for the challenge.

Off now to do the shopping but hope to make something else later, enjoy your weekend. x

The Twelve Days of Christmas Funkie Junkie Style. Tag 1.

Can you believe it is only twelve weeks to Christmas? I am determined this year to BE PREPARED! So I am joining in with Linda's wonderful Twelve Days of Christmas tags which you can find here on her blog along with her beautiful tag. She invites us to be inspired by some element on her tag in which she uses the Artistic Outpost 'Christmas Chalk' stamps and you must go over on the link and have a look as it is beautiful! It has inspired me to make a tag using black and white and the tiny splash of red as she has, so here goes.
 

I cut a tag in heavy black card stock and then ripped a slightly smaller tag in white and set it inside. Then I die cut some Tattered Poinsettias using black card and then embossed them inside the Tattered Poinsettia embossing folder both of which are Tim Holtz products incase you didn't guess! I do love his dies that you can then emboss such detail on and this one is open to all sorts of decoration. I then took some of the petals, covered them in Glue and Seal and then sprinkled Picket Fence distress Glitter over the top, it gives a lovely vintage feel to the leaves. I hot glue gunned them in place, alternating with some plain sections and put a red glitter brad in the centre. The tiny swirls are from Tim's Seasonal Festive Greenery decorative strip die. Then I cut from his Christmas Stacked Words the 'Joy to the World' and shone it with glossy accents. The snowflakes were wooden ones that I had in my stash which I painted with Black Soot distress paint and then covered in ordinary fine black glitter. I finished it off with a red ribbon from a box of chocolates!

Please go to Linda's blog and visit her wonderful Boutique here which is sponsoring this wonderful challenge which will help to get us all in the seasonal mood! Linda says that it need not be a tag but can be a card, a home piece, a scrapbook page, anything as long as something on it is inspired by her weekly piece of art.

For no particular reason other than...

This weekend I decided to play with my recently aquired Brenda Walton Country Cottage die. It was a considered purchase being a big die, but for no particular reason other than I loved it I splashed out and have had an enjoyable play...isn't that what crafting is all about? My first attempts are a bit wobbly but after the fifth attempt I think I have mastered it and it has used up some bits of lovely paper in my stash!



You can lift the cottage up and put a battery night light in it as there is a hinge piece at the back of the base. It even has shingles and the shutters come as well. If you look on you tube here you can see the delightful little sea side cottage she has made. They look lovely lit up as I had a test run last night but they didn't photograph well so here they are lined up in the conservatory. I'm thinking they will make little gifts for Christmas or perhaps I can do some spooky ones for Halloween, I'll keep you posted!

Can you spot the hideous mistake? I put frosting on the first red roof but didn't seal the distress ink and it has bled through. Thought I would post it warts and all though!

Hope you all had fun this weekend, thanks so much for looking. x

Tim's tag for September.

Had a lot of fun with Tim's tag this month although I haven't got his wonderful stencils yet, so I improvised! To see his challenge go here to see his wonderfulness. I had great fun using layers and some stencils I had and using the embossing paste as per his instructions. I really want the star stencil, so to be able do this tag without his stencil I made one by taking some thick acetate packing and punching out some stars. Next on my list is to get his collection however, as they are perfect!

 

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I used Mowed Lawn and Picked Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade, love the texture of the embossing paste! I also really love the way the ribbon can be stenciled at the top, although this photo doesn't show it too clearly, great tip, thanks Tim! Lovely to make depth in something without layers sticking out for a change. He always challenges us to think anew with his tags, just wish I could do it as well as him! Love to you all x

The Eyes have it!

Just to prove I have made something this week I am posting my tag for the Tag Tuesday challenge. The theme for this week is Eyes and here is my offering.



I stamped the background with Coffee Archival ink using the papillion background stamp by Tim. Then I used a PaperBag Studio stamp of the girl - I love her eyes they seem to follow you around wherever you go. The branch die was cut from some spare packing and inked with Distress stains. The quote is another from PaperBag Studios. Then I added a small Kraft tag at the top with the a stamped butterfly and the word Eyes. The butterflys were cut from another on the edge die from Tim and I used some experimental paper I saved when practising with my new Gelli Plate using some brown acrylic paints. I made the background with an assortment of background stamps on the plate and rather like the effect! The co-ordinating ribbon and there you are - proof I have done something. Had a bit of a manic week, hopefully all will calm down and I will be in the craft room again soon. Love to you all, enjoy the sun! x

Bank Holiday Spiritual Uplift.

It was such a glorious day here in the UK yesterday that I forsook the craft room for a day out at one of my favourite places in all the world. We packed a picnic and our canvas chairs and headed to Tintern Abbey in Monmouthshire. It is a beautiful ruin of the second Cistercian foundation in Britain and the first in Wales. It dates back to 1131 and must have been the most fantasic sight before it was dissolutioned by Henry V111 in 1536. It still feels like entering a sacred church even though the roof has long gone. I thought I would share just a few of the many photographs I took.



This is the scene  as you enter through the shop.

 

 

Many beautiful doorways, this is looking out through the warming room where the monks used to have a fire from November through to April, bet it was much used!

 

Can you imagine these windows filled with magnificent Medieval stain glass?

 

So high! It must have been awesome.

 

View from the South Transcript. If you listen very carefully you can hear the echoes of the white robed monks filling the space with their singing.

Hope you didn't mind me sharing, I just love this place.Hope you all had a great Monday too! x

Sunday Stampers: Titanium..plus some etc's!

I have been a bit lapse in my postings recently so wanted to get on and do one of my favourite challenges which is Hel's Sunday Stamper, click here to be transported to her blog! Hel's asks us this week to do something metal so I challenged myself to do steampunk as I am not very good at it. I restricted myself to a tag (nothing new there then!) and this is my offering.



Firstly I embossed the tag with the cogs folder and using weathered wood distress and then Pewter distress paint I 'metalised it a tadge. The stamp at the bottom and the robotic human are from a Paperartsy Hot Pick and I layered him for extra dimension.

 

Then I die cut some cogs out of shrink plastic and shrunk them, then coloured them with black archival and Pewter Paint and also added a watch face for interest. Then I used Tim's rub-ons over an enamel tag and finished it off with some tape ribbon.

The next thing I played with was my new Brenda Walton die of paper cups and here are my first offerings, I hoping for grungy tea set eventually!

 

I found them just a lttle fiddly to begin with but I'm sure I will improve as they are quite simple really. I used some Tilda double sided paper for this practice run, but want to make some that I have stamped on next. There is a Blue Moon Scrapbooking video on You tube that show case some of these pretty cups. I wish my girls were still little, they would have loved them!

I think they have possibilities for Christmas filled with sweeties or a sachet of hot chocolate! I love the little tea bags don't you?

Just to prove I have done other things here are my Tag Tuesday tags so far for this month.

 



This one was for the theme of doors, windows, portals and Gates. I used some Graphic 45 papers from their Secret Garden collection and added a die cut Ivy , brick embossing folder and a rusted grungeboard key.

 

Here is the view inside the door.

The next tag was for the Wedding theme.

 

It shows a pair of hands trying to catch the Bride's thrown bouquet which was decoupaged flowers that I coloured with distress markers and sprayed with gold for a touch of glitz. I popped some dangly crystals on the bottom and drew in the floating ribbons from the flowers.

Finally here is the tag for the theme 'Complimentary Colours'.

 

I used a Dina Wakley stamp and Mowed Lawn and Festive Berry distress ink plus a pair of punched hearts and crinkle ribbon dyed to match.

I layered up the green image to give it a bit more body ha ha no pun intended!

 

Hope I haven't bored you all senseless, but it was good to post a bit extra! I haven't finished in the craft room yet either, another day off to go - hope I get back, happy days everyone. x

Tim's Tag for August 2013

I'm hoping to be able to spend some time playing crafting this bank holiday and so have started by making my August Tim Tag  as I have managed to get some masking film to try layering up. I always used post it paper before but the film makes it so easy!



I used an assortment of stamps and Tim's car but used Spiced Marmalade and Wild Honey stains for the background. The one thing I love about doing Tim's challenge is that as well as using new products he reminds us about some old techniques as well and I had forgotten how effective this masking could be. He also asks us to say what our ideal journey could be. I have many but I've got to say I would love, love, love to go to America and attend one of Tim's workshops and visit CHA. How good would that be?

If there is anyone on the face of this earth that has not seen Tim's blog (ha ha I joke) then click the link above and have a wonderful journey!

Hope you are all having a great bank holiday in the UK and if you are journeying then be safe. Hopefully will return later this weekend with another make!

Sunday Stamper: Diamonds are Forever.

Hi everyone, I seem to be a bit remiss with my posts, it's the weather and the holidays but I've managed to produce a tag for Hels challenge over at her blog this week.  She asks us to incoporate diamonds into our offering so here is mine.

 

I've taken a diamond stamp from Paperbag Studios and used it as the background against a distressed tag using Mustard Seed and Squeezed Lemonade. then I water coloured my Diva stamp that was stamped onto watercolour paper (can't find the maker - sorry!) and edged it with Walnut Ink and added the sentiment which I treated to match. Then I did another image of the girl and added her with sticky fixers.

 I stained the ribbon at the top and left it there. I feel I need to add something but can't think what, any ideas anyone? I hope to find some more in depth time to craft this weekend, fingers crossed! Thanks for looking xx

Tim's tag for July

Hi everyone, I'm back from my fabulous holiday in France, where I climbed a mountain to watch the Tour de France  pass by - I have the blisters to prove it and it was marvelous! So for Tim's fab challenge for this month I thought I would adapt his tag to celebrate Chris Froome's fantastic win for Sky and Britain!

To see Tim's great tag see here where he acknowledges the fallen fire-fighters of Prescott with a patriotic tag using some great techniques. Here is my acknowledgement of the great win by Chris!

 

Firstly I made the brayered background as per Tim's instructions. Then I die cut the Eiffel tower which is near the end of the race but decorated it with two little Union Jacks. I then stamped two bicycles and the words 'you're a star'. The label has well done Chris by a patriotic button and an arrow and a star given the same crackle treatment as the Eiffel. The No 1 comes from his rub-ons and the ribbon was stamped with the same 'you're a star' quote. I downloaded the Tour emblem and glazed it with Crackle accents to match.

I have to tell you all, I was on the telly! We stood near a hair-pin bend that was favoured by the camera, so when we staggered back to the chalet to watch the high-lights there we were!

 

They went by so fast that I didn't catch Chris but here is one of his fab team mates. There were so many people there, it was like a carnival.

We stayed at St Jean du Alps that had the ruins of an Abbey nearby. Beautiful! What more can I say.
 

We walked here early one morning with dew in the air and the sun coming up.

 

Stunning lakes where we sat with our dearest grandson while his mum and dad chucked themselves down mountains on their bikes!

 

Absolutely fabulous meringues, look at the colours in these! They tasted divine.
Back to work today, it goes so quickly. Hope you are having a good week too!

Sunday Stamper: Build me up Buttercup.

I have my dearest friend Sally coming to stay and so braved the sauna/craftroom to try and tidy it up a bit before she comes. Unfortunately my new Eiffel Tower die cutter yelled at me and as I am going to visit France this year I felt beholden to try it out! So sorry dear friend, the room is still in a pickle!



Firstly I swished a tag through Mustard Seed, Walnut Stain and Bronze distress stains and then overstamped Tim's French Postage stamp in coffee archival. Following this I ran the tag through the French embossing plate and used Brushed Corduroy distress ink over the top and round the edges.  Next stage was to die cut two Eiffel Towers and a Fleur de Lis and lay them on the embossing plate and send them through the vagabond. After this I coloured the Eiffels with Bronze stain and Walnut stain ink and layered them up over the impressed images. The Fleur was painted with bright yellow acrylic fluid paint and then high-lighted with Viva gold paste.

 

 

The Obelisk and Metro and flag came from a Personal Impressions stamp set and were coloured with distress markers. The Tour de Eiffee came off an old post card.

I have had my lunch and must brave the H word before I start work again later. I will try very hard not to get way-layed, but I'm making no promises. I blame the heat, it's doing things to my 'best intentions'! Keep cool one and all. x

Now don't laugh!

I really am not designed for the heat and the craftroom is like a steam room and so I really have not been able to do any papercrafting. I've tried but everything looks wrong and I can't finish it so I thought I would just show you my first attempt at rust printing! I have recently subscribed to Linda and Laura Kemshall's DMTV and have been enjoying their video lessons. If you have not already discovered their beautiful work and blogs please start here  because their art work is fabulous! Rust printing was one of the lessons and here are my pieces of fabric waiting to be included in my first attempt at an art quilt.

 



 

I have little piles of fabric I keep stroking now. I have made patchwork bed quilts and wall hangings in the past but am excited about the prospect of making an art quilt. I am determined to do this methodically and not rush in as I usually do. I'm working on some sketch books of ideas at the moment and will post a view of these when I think I have done something you may like to see.

 

Well done Chris in the Tour, I have just sat in front of the tv with a fan full on yelling my head off at the end. Goodness knows how they manage to ride like that up mountains, I felt ill just looking at them! Talk about modern day gladiators, it was marvellous! Hope you are all surviving in the sun, hope to be back soon with something papery and crafty! XX