Twelve Tags of 2014 - March

Just managed to fit in some time to create my March entry for Tim's Twelve Tags of 2014 challenge. I've followed Tim's instructions quite closely with just a couple of substitutions. I definitely need more practice with the Distress Marker Spritzer. I started off by getting in a little too close and had a few dark patches, then I moved a bit further away and wasn't sure any ink was going on. As  I peeked under the stencil though, I could see it was, but a bit more of a subtle effect. I also made the second tag as well, I'm always amazed at how much ink can be released by just huffing on the stamp. Tim ... you are a wonder... how on Earth do you keep coming up with these ideas ? x

Jumbo Tattered Florals - Oooooo! What Fun !

Hi everybody ! It's my turn to showcase a project over on the eclectic Paperie blog today, here's a little peek. I've been playing with my Jumbo Tattered Florals die and used a flower making technique, which I shared as a step by step on my blog some time ago. I was interested to see whether it worked with the jumbo sized flowers and and I'm pleased to say that it does. You just need to be a bit more careful when scrunching up the petals when they are damp. If this makes no sense whatsoever and you fancy trying it out, you can find the post by following this link. You can also see the full post for this project on the eclectic Paperie blog by following this link. I used the Jumbo Tattered Florals die recently, for a Mother's Day project with a group of the mums I work with at our local Child Development Centre. I thought I'd like to share a picture of the results. The children and mums had fun decorating the petals with lots of glitter glue. I then took them home and applied a little Tim Holtz style magic with Distress inks.

 Considering the resources were pretty limited, I think the flowers turned out pretty good and everyone seemed very happy with their mother's day treat ! Enjoy the rest of the weekend and don't forget UK friends, the clocks go forward tonight, Hurray for light nights ! x

Over the Seas and Far Away

Here's a project I'm sharing over on the eclectic Paperie blog today. Taking centre stage, is a photo of my dad when he first came to England. If you'd like to see how I put it together, hop over to the eP blog http://eclecticpaperie.blogspot.co.uk/ and all will be revealed. As I've used lots of Tim Holtz products, I'm also going to enter this into a brand new challenge  blog, rather aptly named  'A Vintage Journey'. Their first challenge is called 'Anything Tim' and I think this may just qualify.... So there you have it, two places to visit today. Hope you get chance to have some inky fun this weekend ! x

Push Your Boundaries ! Brand New eclectic Paperie Challenge and Blog Hop.

 

Welcome to eclectic Paperie’s ePlay Challenge – Push Your Boundaries!  We’re altering our challenges in 2014, creating one, month-long challenge, increasing the prize drawing, holding a design team blog hop, and including a product discount with each new challenge!  Check out the details below:

•  We’ve combined our two challenges into one, announced on the first Thursday of each month.  This gives the design team more flexibility with challenge topics and projects and allows you more time to enter! 
•  We’ll also feature a product each month, and during the first day of the challenge, you’ll receive a discount on the featured product….be sure to check for the special code! 
•  Our prize drawing is increasing from $15.00 to a $25.00 gift certificate and the winner of each challenge will be announced on the last Thursday of each month and will be featured on the eP blog. 
•   Each month we’ll hold a blog hop featuring the beautiful artwork from our design team…just scroll down to the bottom of the post for all of the links!  Talk about inspiration!

Our challenges are about encouraging you to explore your creative journey and inspiring you to step outside of your comfort zone.  When you submit your artwork, share a unique card, scrapbook 

or journal page, a canvas, home décor project, or anything that you’re excited to share!  We’re looking forward to crafting with you!

Today’s special is on Liquitex Gesso and for one day only, you can save 10% on a bottle of gesso…perfect for all of your altered projects!  Simply use code GESSO03 when checking out.
 

So without further ado, Karen is our super talented hostess for the very first Push Your Boundaries challenge and she has asked us to alter a book. I chose a little craft diary I had free with a magazine. Ooooo! I do love a bit of free stuff ! here's the book before I got started, some of you may recognize it.

I started by covering the outside with book pages adhered with Studio Matte Multi Medium. It's taken me a long time to get over my fear of ripping pages out of books, I actually quite enjoy it now !

Once dry, I set to with the Liquitex Gesso, and a wonderful Wendy Vecchi Studio 490 ' From The Garden' stencil. I got so carried away I forgot to photograph the cover but here's a picture of the gesso stenciled onto the pages I used on the inside cover.

You can just about see the stenciled flowers. I applied the gesso with a small piece of Cut and Dry Foam, I find it's easier to control than a brush. I speeded up the drying process with my hot air gun. The gesso does need to be completely dry before the next step. I then sprayed the book cover and loose pages with Dylusions Spray Inks. I love this part, the gessoed image appears through the ink, as if by magic! Extreme closeup....

and the inside pages .....

The gesso acts as a marvellous resist to the ink, but takes on just enough colour to make the effect more subtle. You can also see how the text is almost obliterated by the gesso. I love this batik effect.. I cut the green papers to the size of the covers and the first page and adhered them on the inside front and back covers, with more Multi Medium. This just about finished off my supplies! I sealed the outer cover by painting on Golden Matte Medium. I think this will make it more durable.  My little book was starting to look a lot more elegant. I decided to follow through with the 'elegant theme' and added an Ideaology Ornate Plate, with my favourite Donna Downey stamp,' Make Art Everyday' from her Art Possibility set. Such great advice! I stamped it onto a piece of manila card and secured to the back of the Ornate Plate, before filling the recess with Glossy accents. I also used Glossy Accents to secure it to the book. To complete the look, I threaded a fancy button onto a piece of vintage seam binding I've been hoarding and tied a little bow. The transformation was now complete. Ta Dah!

If you fancy Pushing Your Boundaries and altering a book in whatever way you choose, come and join us over on the eclectic Paperie blog. Click on the thumbnails below to join in the blog hop and see what the rest of the e Team have been getting up to with their altered books !