12 Tags of 2014 - June

Time to post my June entry for Tim's Twelve Tags of 2014 Challenge. Tim has challenged us to have a go at 'mono-printing' with his fabulous Layering Stencils. You can see his lovely tag here. After experimenting with several different Layering Stencils and a variety of different colour ways, I decided on this monochrome version as it fitted so well with my current obsession for all things 'circus'.. and yes I hold Mr Holtz wholly responsible for re-kindling my love of circus imagery, after I acquired his fabulous Big Top stamps. Although the delightful images from that set are taking a rest, after being used on several birthday cards I've made recently, the sentiment managed to find it's way onto this tag as it seemed so appropriate for the stamp I've used.

Here are a few of the backgrounds I've reserved for future projects. I love the effect of the first one, which was achieved by printing a second time with the Stripes Layering Stencil, placed at a 90 degree angle to the first print. So that's it. My tag finished and posted and it's not even the last day of June! wonders will never cease. x

Come and Join Us ! Add a Little Dazzle and eclectic Paperie Blog Hop - Day 1

Welcome to our joint blog hop with Add a Little Dazzle. We are so excited to partner with them and have had so much fun playing with their products.  They have a beautiful collection of metal sheets, in a variety of colors, that are perfect for mixed media projects
  We have two amazing days of inspirational projects so make sure to stop by tomorrow. First we’d like to share a little bit about the two companies…

eclectic Paperie is a different breed of craft store, conceived as more than just a place where you can purchase supplies, we believe in the strength of collaboration, in coming together and sharing with like-minded crafters. Our goal is to offer a mixed media marketplace where a generation of artists can congregate, explore, imagine, and inspire one another.

We specialize in an exclusive line of craft metal sheets that helps you take your crafting to the next level. Whether you are a seasoned or new crafter, our craft metal sheets will help you create unique projects that will make you stand out among the crowd. Are you ready to take your crafting to the next level? Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheets will help you turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Prize Alert!

Make sure to stop by and visit each of the Design Team Blogs for a chance to win 1 of 2 prize packages from eclectic Paperie and Add a Little Dazzle  valued at $25.  You have until Friday, June 27th to enter.  The winners will be announced on both blogs on Saturday, June 28th.  You must leave a comment on all blogs.

So Are You Ready for Some Amazing Inspiration?

I was thrilled to receive a selection of gorgeous Add a Little Dazzle Craft Metal Sheets and couldn't wait to start a project. The colours were so fabulous that I knew immediately that whatever I did it would have to be multi coloured !.... So this is what I came up with...

It's a stationery folder, and just may help me to get more organised ! The cover design, is based on a royalty free plan of a stained glass window. I've altered and re-sized it to suit my purposes. I began by choosing several of the A4 Craft metal Sheets and cut a strip off each one just wide enough to fit an embossing folder. I didn't want to waste a jot! I then ran each one through my Big Shot, using a variety of embossing folders. I gave the surface of each piece a light sanding to reveal the silver base colour and enhance the embossing. I then printed out two copies of the final design onto thin card. I used one as a pattern, cutting out the individual shapes and placing them on the embossed metal sheet before cutting around the shape. I used low tack tape to prevent the pieces from moving whilst cutting them out. This made it super easy to get a snug fit between each shape.

and.......

I used Helmar-450 Quick Dry Adhesive, to attach each shape as I went along. I think it's probably easier to do it this way, than to cut out all the shapes and adhere at the end. This way ensures that none of the pieces get lost and you can check for colour and balance in the design as you go. Once all of the pieces were adhered, I used a technique I learnt from Mr. Holtz, in my earliest blogging days. It's called 'Enamelled Metals' and gives the appearance of vintage tin. To do this I went over the surface with Vintage Photo, Black Soot, Gathered Twigs and Walnut Stain Distress ink, darkening the colours around the edges and working the Distress inks around the embossed patterns.

I then covered the surface with clear embossing powder and heated. This results in a lovely finish and adds a kind of vintage style depth to the already gorgeous colours.

I also adhered a few gems for and added touch of luxury! Once this was completed, I set too with making the folder. I used two pieces of chipboard and covered one side of each piece with patterned paper, and added a piece of purple coloured Kraft Core paper to the back of one piece. I attached the metal embossed cover to the front of the other piece. I used heavy bodied gel medium to adhere the cover. I won't go into too much detail on the construction of the folder as I've just remembered this is a blog hop and if I keep going on, you'll have no time to for hopping ! Here's a couple of pics showing the inside and the back,

To finish off, I've adhered two large envelopes to the inside cover front and back covers and added some metal corners. To keep the folder closed I've used an idea shared by Sheena Douglass, it's basically a loop of elastic with a button attached. It's detachable and works a treat!

Kim is now stocking these wonderful Add a Little Dazzle Metal sheets in The eclectic Paperie Shop. If you'd like to get some fabulous inspiration and maybe win one of the two prizes of $25 worth of goods from The eclectic Paperie or Monica's Add a Little Dazzle, then join in the blog hop. Don't forget to leave a comment at each blog and let us know what you think, Here are the designers taking part  today. So why not hop along and have some fun ! x



Monday's Team.......

Monica Weaverwww.addalittledazzle.com Bonnie Irvine - http://www.artfuldigits.blogspot.com/ Kim Schofield – http://paperiepetals.blogspot.com/ Martha Lucia Gomez- www.stampartpapel.com Sherry Cheever - http://sherrycheever.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ Sue Lelli - http://suelelli.blogspot.com/ Toni Burrows - http://craftdabbler-toni.blogspot.com/ Lydia www.lydiawalker.blogspot.co.uk Adriana Templeton - http://www.scrappygoddess.blogspot.com/


Tuesday's Team.......
Sue Carrington - http://stampingsuestyle.blogspot.com/ Monica Weaverwww.addalittledazzle.com Karen Crossen - http://ijustneedmoreglue.blogspot.com/ Cathy Parlitsis www.StampsAndScrapbooks.com Julia Aston - http://www.createwithjulia.blogspot.com/ Mary Ann Maldonado - http://lumpbumpandclump.blogspot.com/ Micki Harper - http://artfulxpressions.net/ Vicki- www.allidoisstamp.blogspot.com Broni Holcombe - http://bronih.typepad.com/splashesofwatercolor/

CC3 Challenge 4

I'm starting to make a habit of these late posts, but as they say better late than never! This is a box I've altered using Tim's Layering Stencils and embossing paste for Linda's Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge 4. You can find details of how to do this technique on page 49 in A Compendium of Curiosities Volume 3. I won't go into detail of the exact technique as that really wouldn't be fair to Tim. It's the turn of the Funkie Junkie Boutique to sponsor this fortnight's challenge, to the tune of a $25 gift certificate. There is also a lovely hoard of goodies which have been donated by Tim and Mario, for the lucky project chosen by The Curiosity Crew. So here are a few pics of my box in progress it started life as a plain wooden box...

I used embossing paste and Tim's Doily layering stencil for the top......

and the Harlequin Layering Stencil for the sides. The Tag like shape of these stencils made them much easier to manipulate on a 3d shape.

I painted the surface with black gesso before burnishing with Inca Gold paste. I then used gold foil on the embossed surface to add a real bit of glitz, as usual its pretty hard to capture the shine with my photographic skills, here's the front with a light shining onto it,

and here's the top...

 I love projects like this, where you can take something very plain and simple and transform it into something much more decorative. In this case those lovely layering stencils have certainly helped. Right, I'm off to do some blog hopping ! x

Texture ,Texture and More Texture!

Just a quick share of my journal pages inspired by a very inspirational  Finnabair workshop I attended recently and featuring over on The eclectic Paperie blog today. If you'd like to know how I used fabric to achieve some of these textures, hop over to the eP blog to see more details. If you fancy trying your hand at using fabric in a project, why not join in our latest ePlay challenge, you could be the lucky winner of a $25 gift certificate for Kim's wonderful eclectic Paperie shop. I'm also going to enter this into The Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge ' Spray It, Ink It, Paint It,Smear it'. Rather appropriate for this piece I think ! x

Everything's Coming Up Roses CC3 Challenge 3

Well it's late and I've just about finished this tag in time for Linda's Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge. This week the team have turned to page 65 and challenged us to have a go at making Tim's Faux Tea Roses, using the Tattered Pine Cone Die. It's a fun technique once you get the hang of it ! I ended up with rather sticky fingers after a session of making these. This fortnight's challenge is sponsored by the lovely Inspiration Emporium with a very generous $50 spending spree for one lucky winner. The team's favourite choice will also be the lucky recipient of a selection of wonderful goodies from Tim and Mario. Woooo hooooo! what's not to love about these fabulous CC3 challenges ! xx