Twelve Tags of 2015 ~ November

Back to normal here at craft dabbler central! Here I am, posting my November entry for Tim's Twelve Tags of 2015 challenge, with only hours to spare ! As it is so late, I felt as though I'd missed the opportunity to recreate Tim's fabulous Autumn tag, so I've skipped a season and gone straight into winter ! There are several things I love about the techniques Tim has shared this month. Firstly the 'linen look' background, very cool and I will certainly use that again. Next, the transfer foil used around the edges. I've gone with a silver holographic foil on this tag, it's something I've had for ages so it's great to give it some use. I also love the cut out letters, I've used a word from the Sizzix 'Happy Holidays' set I bought last year and cut it from a strip of shop bought, gessoed canvas. I think the ripped edges add an extra touch of frostiness. There's also a touch of glitter added to the snowflake, Let me know if anyone out there finally nails the secret to photographing glitter. It's there in my view finder! So there you have it!  Once again a great tag to make. Thank you Tim, we're almost there now, and I've got another fab tag to add to my growing collection! x

'Remember, Remember....' ~ Stamps and Stencils ~ New Challenge

Hi everybody ! It's the first Thursday of the month and that means it's time for a new challenge over at Stamps and Stencils. I hope you enjoyed our last challenge along with the blog hop. Many thanks to all of you that joined in and paid me a visit. Ruth is our talented host this month and she has chosen 'Remember, Remember'. This is what she has to say .......

Hi, Ruth here with this months challenge which is 'Remember, Remember'......it may be the 5th of November today (Bonfire Night in the UK) but for this challenge we want to see mixed media projects inspired by 'favourite memories', you can interpret this in any way you like as long as you include some stamping or stencilling in your mixed media piece. What we want to see is how a favourite memory has inspired you, so don't forget to mention this in your post. 

Roberta and Me and the Bumble Bee
When I started thinking about the challenge, I soon realised how lucky I am to have a lot of happy memories, from my childhood right up to the present day. You can't ask for more than that ! I decided to go with a memory that always makes me smile. I was about 6 years old and it was one of those endless summers that you only have when you're a child. My best friend Roberta and I, had been 'playing out', when we noticed that an 'enormous' bumble bee had landed on the skirt of her dress. Now, as inner city kids, all we knew about bees was that they made 'hunny' and if they landed on you, you had to stay very still or they would sting you. We stood perfectly still, for what seemed like hours. I can't begin to tell you how terrified we were! I'm not sure how our dilemma ended but needless to say neither of us was stung.
So my project is this journal spread of Roberta and I in our summer dresses. who knows it could even have been taken on the same day!

I started off by taping two pieces of watercolour paper, side by side, with masking tape. I then glued on various textured elements including some pieces of bandage and washi tape. Finnabair, showed us this technique during one of  her workshops I attended last year. Working on   both pages at the same time, helps the flow and balance. 

After coating the surface with white gesso, I stamped, using some of my homemade stamps, with fluorescent acrylic paint. 

I then sprayed here and there with Dylusions Sprays and encouraged some 'drippage' by spraying with water.

I added some stencilling and doodled around the flower with black and white pens. I'm still looking for the 'ultimate' white pen ! I also used a black Stablio pencil and water brush to add a bit of depth.

I then stamped Dina Wakley's bumble bee and coloured it with paint, and then added a bit more stamping around the edges, using black Archival ink. It was then time to remove the pages and try them in my journal. I adhered them with matte gel  and added a print of the photo and a few finishing touches. So now it's over to you, this has been a great fun challenge for me and I'm sure you'll enjoy it just as much as I have. 

Such happy care free days when all we were scared of was a bumble bee !