Twelve Tags of 2013 - November

'I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!' Yes, here I am posting my November tag for the Tim Holtz, Twelve Tags of 2013 Challenge, with only hours to spare. I must confess I had been putting this one off as it's not a technique I find particularly easy. Tim likes to challenge us and for me this was a challenge. I've decided that I don't really like chalk, the feel of it, the dust and as a teacher.... well.... you get the picture!  I am sure anyone who crafts will have experienced that feeling when you're making something and you're not sure if it's working but you hang in there and it almost magically,  starts to all fall into place. Well I had one of those moments with this and have ended up being quite pleased with the results. I've used the  Holiday Joy, Alterations Framelits set, which  I received from Kim's eclectic Paperie shop earlier this week. Very cool! Stamps and corresponding dies, no more fussy cutting! I for one will be looking forward to seeing whether Tim adds more of these to his range. So, with only one more tag to go,  I'm sure I'm joined by many of you in wondering where the last year has gone! x

Art Doll Challenge for eclectic Paperie 'Nobody Puts Baby In a Corner'

Well at last I've managed to snatch a little crafting time so that I can add my contribution to the latest 'Get Altered Challenge' over at The eclectic Paperie blog. Bonnie is our hostess for this month and she has chosen the theme of ' Art Dolls'. Her creation is amazing, so whether you join in or not, do hop over to the eP blog and take a look, it will certainly make you smile ! My little art doll shrine started life as an empty sardine tin. I've had a couple knocking around my craft room (clean ones!!) for sometime. I started off by creating a background with Distress Paints on a piece of manila card.

I love the way these paints marble together  when sprayed with water. I haven't mastered the spraying technique yet but it's fun practicing. I used the Tim Holtz Rays Layering Stencil with Tarnished Brass Distress Paint, and added a few little stars to finish the background.

 I gave the sardine tin a coat of gesso in order to prepare the surface for painting. I then painted it with Tarnished Brass Distress Paint and heat embossed it with Antique Gold, Frantage Embossing Powder. I sprinkled a bit of gold glitter onto the surface before the embossing powder set and heated it a little more so that it embeds into the embossing enamel.
The little doll I've used, is actually a UTEE cast, made in a silicone mould of one of my Ideaology Fractured Dolls. It was good to get my Melt Pot out, as I haven't used it nearly enough! I used a piece of nylon curtain tape and gathered ribbon to make her skirt. The wings are from Wendy Vecchi's  Art Parts, covered with Clear Rock Candy Dry Glitter.

I mounted the doll onto a little block of wood which I treated in the same way as the tin. The outside of the tin is covered around the sides, with Tissue Tape, and I've used an Ideaology Ring Fastener on top as a hanger. These are so cute.

 I've left the back untreated to remind myself that it's a sardine tin! I couldn't resist adding the quote as it just popped into my head whilst I was working on her. I just love that scene in the movie! No points for guessing what it is. let me know, if you are one of the few that doesn't know and I'll let you into the secret!  So.... if you fancy joining in with our Art Doll challenge, you still have a few days left. Hop over to the eclectic Paperie blog, and follow the link  to the Get Altered Challenge on the left hand side, where you'll be able to see Bonnie's wonderful Art Doll, as well as some brilliant pieces by other design team members. Your creation can be flat or 3d, anything goes! So why not step out of your creative comfort zone and join in the fun! You might even win a $15 dollar voucher to spend in Kim's wonderful, ever expanding, eclectic Paperie shop. I'll be back next week to show you a project I've been working on. In the meantime have fun! x

Here are some of the supplies I've used available from the eclectic Paperie shop.

Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Crushed Olive	Tim Holtz - Tarnished Brass Distress Paint	Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Salty Ocean	Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Chipped Shappire	Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Rays
Tim Holtz - Distress Stickles Dry Glitter - Clear Rock Candy

A Time and a Purpose for Everything

I just thought I'd share my journal pages which are featuring on the eclectic Paperie blog today. I wanted to get to grips with the physical act of writing  on to the pages, so I chose to write out the lyrics of the song 'Turn! Turn! Turn!'. This was written by Pete Seeger and recorded by The Byrds, back in the day! Autumn, I feel is a time for reflection and I think the words to the song perfectly express this.
 I've used a 'faux batik' method for the flowers and lots of Distress Stains for the colouring. You can check out further details over on the eP blog by following the link here. I'm really starting to fall in love with my Dylusions Journal, It's no longer pristine, a few painty finger marks and splashes on the cover, it's starting to look the business !
 As I'm sharing this current spread, which is only my second in this journal,  I'll also show you the first page, which I completed for the eP blog a couple of weeks ago. I posted a little tease on my blog showing a paper napkin I used, but never got round to showing the completed page on my blog so here it is........

I've used lots of Distress Paint, Distress Inks and  stencils, to produce this tribute to Michelangelo .You can see the full post with more details, over at the eclectic Paperie blog, by following the link here. So as you can see, I'm getting the Journaling bug! Have a good weekend, back to work on Monday ! x