Twelve Tags April

Just noticed the date and thought it was about time I got my tag posted to Tim's Twelve Tags of 2012 challenge. I've had to do a fair bit of improvising as I haven't got all of the recipe items but I think it's worked out ok. Can't believe it's nearly the end of April where does the time go? x

Faux Patina Tag

Wow! 2 posts in one evening. I do love making tags, quick pieces of art as simple or as elaborate as you like. I'm entering this tag into a challenge over at Studio L3 Where each week a challenge is set using a technique from Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2. This week the technique is Faux Patina. I've used Ranger alcohol inks in Stream,Pesto, and Clover with Snow Cap White and a touch of Gold Mixative, to create the patina effect on the tag and on the little frame, which is one of my Pound Land bargains (see WOYWW post below) I used part of a Paper Artsy stamp for the portrait, which is stamped with Archival ink in black and painted with distress inks. The lace and ribbon have been vintaged with distress stain in Antique Linen. The charms on the pin are a little metal heart and an old key I found in a draw at home, I've know idea what it opens but I guess I'll find out one day! x

WOYWW # 151

Just got time to post my pics for WOYWW # 151, Julia over at her Stamping Ground Blog continues to host this fascinating site. So what have I been up to this week? My table is still messy as I tend to just launch into things when I have the time. If I spend time tidying up I don't have time to play. I've had a couple of sessions this week, I made a tag for the Fashionable Stamping Challenges, completed my Tim Holtz Twelve Tags April challenge and made a tag for the Compendium of Curiousities 2 challenge, hosted by Studio L3. So its been tags all the way. I was pleased to make the top three over at FSC for my entry into their 'Nautical' challenge.You can see the tag in my previous post. Also on my desk just to the left side is a packet of picture frame magnates bought from my local Pound Land shop. I just love having a mooch in there. I've altered and used one on the tag you can see in the picture and it was just right for Tim's 'faux patina' technique. I think they're pretty good value and very easy to work with. I'll be posting a picture before the challenge closes if you want to have a closer look. Anyway have a good crafting week  until we 'meet' again x

Pound Land Bargain! they're only plastic but good for altering.

Something Fishy for FSC

I've Just completed this tag for the Fashionable Stamping Challenges #19 'Nautical'.  I've used a Paper Artsy stamp of a child with a fish stamped in black Archival ink onto watercolour paper and coloured with Distress re-Inkers using my newly acquired Tim Holtz water brush, I don't know why I haven't had one of these before, great fun to use.  The small shells were stamped with a tiny Clarity stamp I've had for ages and coloured with various distress inks and glazed with glossy medium. I've also added a real shell. The starfish have been stamped and embossed with Ranger distress embossing powder. I then coloured them with Stazon ink for variation. The palm fronds are from a set of stamps from Stampscapes inc. I've actually double stamped the child and cut 'him' out and raised him up on foam pads. All in all an enjoyable evenings 'work'

Here's a close up showing the dimensional aspect of the tag.

WOYWW 150

Time for a peak into the attic to see whats been going on. It's WOYWW over at Julia's Stamping Ground blog

so I thought I'd better get on it and claim my place! I don't think I'll ever be organised enough to get one of the top ten places. As you can see by my table organisation is not a skill that comes naturally to me. So what's going on... I've got several things on the go at the moment, I've had a little go with my Dylusion Inks and as I suspected it's not that easy. I Tended to get the whole area sopping wet, with the colours leaking under my stencils. I know that there are no 'mistakes' with this kind of art but I would like to get a bit more definition. Still after some doodling on the page it almost looks like it's meant to be. My friend Sandy suggested decanting some of the inks into mini misters so I'll have a go with that. I can't really afford for all that gorgeous ink to end up on my kitchen roll even though I know this can also be put to good use at a later date. I've also made a ticket strip file to cut on my Pazzles Inspiration. If anyone out there has the same machine I will happily send on the file. If you like using tickets check out the video'How I Use My Tim Holtz Ticket Strip Die on You Tube by

http://www.youtube.com/user/ArtOfCraftNZ Its very inspiring. Anyway time to get ready for Tai Chi have a good crafting week all x

Bit muddy but I'll keep trying!

WOYWW 148

The aftermath! Well underneath all those products and stamps lies my big table. The table remains as it was on Sunday after finishing the Creative Chemistry 101 online class. Great fun and quite a challenge to keep up but I did it!! So here we are at another WOYWW, thanks Julia, I wonder what the other work tables are like this week. I'm on holiday now so I look forward to having a good snoop around. Just to the bottom left in my pic is my new stash of Dylusions ink sprays, I just had to treat myself to these after watching Dyan Reaveley demo them at CHA 12 on You Tube. She makes it look so easy, but we shall see...

Graduate of CC101 !

Week One

Week Two

Last Day

Well that was fun! I just managed to finish and upload all of my Creative Chemistry 101 tags on Sunday night after a couple of marathon sessions. I've been a bit shell shocked since then but hope to put some of the things I learned into practice very soon. It was a pleasure to take part in the course and Tim produced some excellent videos and PDF's to accompany each technique. I stuck quite closely to what he was doing and used the same stamps and products where possible even though I didn't have every product and stamp. Strangely enough though, I managed to add a few newbies to my stash after attending the Hobby Crafts show at the NEC !!