Twelve Tags of 2012 November

Well once again at the 11th hour I've finished my tag for the Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012 Challenge. The technique is to create a kind of 'faux batik' using clear embossing powder.Tim's tag is a beautiful Thanksgiving composition in Autumnal colours. I've decided to go with  the Summer Distress inks and a home made stamp, to make this 'peace' tag with a kind of early 1970's feel when we (those of us old enough to remember) aspired to the spreading of peace and love everywhere. The message is still as strong as ever.x

WOYWW #182

Better late than never, I think that is my motto! I just had to join in with the 182nd WOYWW and post this pic of my very good friend Sandy at my kitchen table. I've not been very well this week as I've had a sore throat. A late afternoon craft session has perked me up a treat. Sandy has been guiding me through the task of making a Christmas book using envelopes stuffed to the hilt with all sorts of tabs and tags. Sandy has supplied all of the papers and has done pretty much all the cutting. When it come to measuring and calculating Sandy is your gal. Thank you my dear friend x. You can see some of Sandy's lovely work over at her blog, Sandy's Piece of Heaven .  More pictures to follow later as the book develops. Many thanks to Gail at the Craft Barn for teaching the original project. If you don't know about WOYWW then hop over to Julia's Stamping Ground blog and get involved. x

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #29

Ok, Ok, late again! I just couldn't resist playing along with The Compendium of Curiosities Challenge with Linda over at Studio L3. This week's technique is 'texture fades', it can be found on page 64 of Tim's book. This little tag was inspired by a project I saw in this months Craft Stamper magazine by Helen Chilton. She has created some fabulous Christmas tags using die cut arched frames. For the background of this tag I've used a Cuttlebug embossing folder with that beautiful Craft Core card. the frame has been gessoed  and coloured with distress inks then stamped with black Archival ink. Well this is my first Christmas make and quite enjoyable it was too. x

WOYWW #181

Well here's my desk, those who know me will recognise the usually chaos with lots of stuff jostling for my attention. Why am I posting this? because it's Wednesday of course and time to join in with Julia at Stamping Ground's WOYWW, or What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday. I've had a lovely few crafty sessions this weekend, and this is the remaining mess with a few added extras. Instead of putting things away I've added to the pile by getting out some Christmas Stamps ready for some action later this week, I hope. i think I'll have to clear a space first though! I would like to use this post to wish all our American crafty friends a very happy Thanks Giving Day for tomorrow. Even when life seems pretty grim I think we can all find something to be thankful for. Happy WOYWW everyone. x

Jumbo Fish Tag

The theme over at the Simon Says Stamp and Show this week is to stamp without ink, there is also a $50 gift token for one lucky person. Stamping without ink has given me the ideal opportunity to have a go with my newly acquired Indigo Blue, 'Flitter Glue' and gilding Flakes. I cut myself a big tag from cream card and sprayed it with some of the green shades of Dylusion inks. I then used a Japanese wave mask which I cut on my Pazzles Inspiration machine, and over sprayed with blue. I then stamped the fish with Flitter Glue and followed the instructions for adding the gilding flakes. Those flakes have a mind of their own ! the least bit of static and they fly up everywhere. I then stamped out the foliage again in flitter glue, but this time I used silver transfer foil. A little bit of walnut stain around the edges and Voila! Oh and there is also a bit of stamping with Pewter Distress stain with an Indigo Blue bubble stamp. The whole tag is very sparkly a lovely effect which unfortunately the camera has not captured. x

All That Jazz

'Musical' is the theme of The Fashionable Stamping Challenges this fortnight. I'm pleased because it has enabled me to use one of my favourite stamps, this jazz band from Graphic 45. My brother is a jazz and blues musician as was my late father and we grew up with a lot of different types of music playing in our house, so music has always been an important part of my life. I love this band, it looks so joyous. Each time I use this stamp I feel compelled to place it on a vibrant background to reflect the joys of making music. The background stamps are from a Tim Holtz collection. I've also used his technique of enamelled stamping, though I'm not sure it shows up so well in this photo. As usual the challenge is sponsored by the lovely people over at Cottage Crafts.x

Compendium of Curiosities Challenge #28 Reflections Stamping

This weeks technique for Linda's  Compendium of Curiosities Challenge is 'reflections stamping'. Tim demonstrates a couple of different ways of using the reflections stamps on page 65 of his book. The challenge this week is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp to the tune of a $25 gift token. I was quite excited when I saw this weeks challenge, as I was keen to carry out an idea I had a while ago. Last year I was lucky enough to have an article published in the Craft Stamper magazine about stamping onto transfer paper. At the time I had really wanted to use some text but knew I couldn't do this with direct stamping. When I later discovered Tim's reflections stamps I knew they would be ideal for this method. My project for this week is a calico tote bag decorated with brayered and stamped transfer paper.


Here are some pictures showing the three stages of stamping onto the transfer paper. I've really enjoyed making this and am looking forward to using the reflections stamps more often.

I've used Archival ink and VersaMagic chalk inks. If like me you keep all your Craft Stamper magazines you can find my original article in the January 2011 issue. x

WOYWW # 180

Well it's been a few weeks since my last WOYWW post! I don't know why but Wednesday seems to have become my busiest day, so in an effort to overturn this I'm joining the lovely Julia over at her Stamping Ground blog for a quick post on what crafty things have been going on in my attic. My table is the usual higgledy piggledy mess, with a postage size area for actually working on. You may spy a couple of cards which I finished in a crafty session yesterday evening. They feature a stamp from a set I bought in a Madrid art gallery, see, my recent short break wasn't all eating and drinking! I've had a big craft spend recently after going to the NEC last Friday. You can see some of the evidence in the shape of theelusive white Sharpie. I've being dying to get my hands on one of thses for ages and now I've got 2! so hopefully I'll be getting down to some serious crafting soooon. Happy WOYWW everybody, it's good to be back x

Alcohol Inks and Acetate

It's time for another Studio L3 post. It's challenge number 27 and we're on the home straight, too sad! Linda has done a fantastic job of hosting Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2 challenges. This week's technique can be found on page 52. It's a great chance to get out those fabulous alcohol inks. I've plumped for something pretty and feminine and made a little note book featuring a lovely Crafty Individuals Stamp, CI-132, which has been stamped on acetate and coloured with alcohol inks. Full details on how to do this can be found in the book. Not got it yet? well Christmas is definitely coming so hop over to Tim's blog and get that copy on order cos you'll love it! x

Still on the Dark Side

Another late post for Studio L3 Compendium of Curiosities Volume 2. It's time for challenge number 26 using Tim's Crumpled Kraft Suede technique. For full details, turn to page 40 of CC2. I'm still in halloween mode and have made a rather 'dark' valentine card as I was keen to use this heart stamp I bought sometime ago from Stampfrancisco. They have some really quirky stamp designs. I don't think this is quite finished  as I feel the flower isn't quite working for me. I may have to come back to it... or not as the case may be I think I am done with Halloween now. Still I really wanted to enter Linda's challenge as I missed the last one. This week's challenge is sponsored by the lovely people over at The Funkie Junkie Boutique with a $25 gift certificate. I am also entering this into The Fashionable Stamping Challenges where the theme is Halloween. They also have kind sponsor in  Marina at Cottage Crafts x.