inkypinkycraft

My Tims tag for February, back soon!thanks for the kindness

2012-02-27T18:42:00.000Z

Hi ,
Well here is a super quick post as I didn't want to miss the start of Tims tags 2012, wouldn't be happy of I didn't have a go at this, despite the sad times we are in at the moment,see post below for details
Thanks for all the kind words,
They have been very very appreciated,
So here is my version of the tag, as to my husbands surprise I didn't have most of the stash.!!

I am linking it up here, for the start of the fun, February's tag.
I will be back next week with my dt piece and then hope to get back to blogland proper.thanks for all your kind comments
Hugs trace x

things will be a bit quiet here for a while..........sad times

2012-02-19T11:06:00.001Z

Things will quiet here for a while as our family has had some very sad and shocking news.

Devastatingly , my husband received the news that his sister had died suddenly on Thursday.

We are all numb and very shocked and saddened by this news and blogland will be quiet from me for a while.

sleep easy Sara.

all our love

xxx

trace x

Woyww #141, I have been crafting!!!!yippee!!!!

2012-02-15T06:12:00.001Z

Hey there,
Well it that time of the week again , where courtesy of Julia, our hostess we get the chance to desk hop around blogland to see all the fab crafty spaces and creations this week!!!it is what makes Wednesday's great!
So here is mine..

I have had a birthday recently, and was a very lucky girl and here are some of my goodies from hubbie and the children!!! also you can see some porcelain roses that i made playing with my melt pot!!

I have also added a picture of what is above all this ribbons and for those of you you who liked my stamped butterfly,here are where the others are...it felt very naughty but great at the same time!!!!

I have had lots of crafty time the weekend just gone and loved playing with some of my new and some of my old toys!! Hope you have all had a good week, thanks for stopping by , hope I got back to most if not all of you...I will aim to do that this week but with half term I may be slower!!!
Well enough waffle, off to get hopping!!
Make sure you pop across to see all the fab places, thanks Julia!!!

Have a fab, fun and inky day
Hugs trace x
Thanks for stopping By and for all the lovely comments,they make my day!!!!
Have a good one!

thanks!!!!!!!

2012-02-14T08:49:00.000Z

I want to say a big thanks to Mel @ http://theyorkshirefox.blogspot.com/ for sending me this blog award...

my first ever!! thanks ..

so here is what i have to do..

The Liebster blog award...the idea is to highlight 5 blogs with less than 200 followers that you visit on a regular basis and you find inspiring...
This is so hard as i have many places i love to stop by and so i found this very hard!!!!
I am loving being part of the blogland!!!!!!!!

Firstly there is 5 Rules...
1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them...
thanks Mel @ http://theyorkshirefox.blogspot.com/

2. Reveal your 5 picks and let them know...
mine are below....................................

3. Post the award on your blog...

4. Bask in the love from the most supportive on the blog-share (other bloggers)...

5. Finally and the best is to have fun and spread the love!!...

Here are the 5 blogs that I am sending the award to:

http://stampingbyh.blogspot.com/

http://underacreativespell.blogspot.com/

http://scrapsfromabroad.blogspot.com/

http://barniesbaustelle.blogspot.com/

http://meggysway.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping by
have a fab, fun and inky day
hugs trace x

To my valentine!!!love you mr!!!

2012-02-13T16:58:00.000Z

Hey there
Well he is a very unlike me card, made with some more of my new birthday pressie stamps....and I am chuffed with the end result...this is for my hubbie, love you mr!!!
So here it is:

I started with the background using DI and the spritzing with water and drying..I
I love this technique and never tire of it........then I stamped the love definition in aged mahogany..to create a background.The other half was coloured with DI and then this fab Tim flourish stamped over it.

The middle panels are made on the same way and the sentiment and cherub were stamped with gold black detail embossing powder....I coloured the cherub using DI.

I added a small amount of fired brick stickles to the cherubs wings.The ribbon and lace were coloured using DI from craft mat. I made the heart using utee in my melt pot and a craftynotions mould...I know Mrs predictable...just love making these! I added some brads to some of the flowers and made a heart piece to go in the type charm.Finally I added a couple of keys.

Let me know what you think,
All Tims fab ideas and techniques can be found here.

Thanks for all your kindly comments, they make my day!!

I am entering this for the following competitions:
valentines Tim style, grungy monday #36 @ http://www.studiol3.blogspot.com/
for a true love @ http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/
put a heart on it @ http://blog.inspirationemporium.com/?cat=18
valentines @ http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
one I love @ http://glittergeeks.blogspot.com/
love is all around @ http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.com/
vintage love @ http://www.blog2.ourcraftlounge.com/
masculine valentine @ http://sugarcreekhollow.blogspot.com/
raspberry delight @ http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.com/
love for sunday stampers @ http://www.pinkleart.blogspot.com/

Have a fab ,fun and inky day!
Hugs trace x

Time flies when I am with you!!!!

2012-02-12T17:37:00.000Z

Hey there,
Well I was lucky enough to have some play time yesterday and here is the result:

This tag combines a number of my favourite challenges including Simon says challenge, which has to have torn edges, a button,wings and distress inks....I love all these except the button, but managed to get one on...,fashionable stamping and a new favourite pans pastels.

I started with a tag that I had crackled using crackle medium and emulsion...this was coloured with DI and spritzed with perfect pearls mist in heirloom gold.the left hand side is part of another tag coloured with DI and over stamped with heart stamp(free from craftstamper).
The main tag was over stamped with a clock stamp from some whimsy stamps and text a Tim one in aged mahogany. The sentiment is stamped and clock are stamped in black gold detail embossing powder from craftynotions. The wings are grungepaper and coloured with DI.

The ribbon and ribbon roses were coloured by splodging...technical term, into distress stains that had been swiped across craft mat and spritzed.

I have added little keys,clock charm,ideology and old watch parts.I made the heart using utee melted in a melt pot and poured into a crafty notions mould that had been brushed with perfect pearls gold.

Am chuffed with how this turned out, let me know what you think!?
I am entering this for the following competitions:
recipe @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/
love @ http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
love/romance@ http://panpasteluk.blogspot.com/
monochrome and one other @ http://fashionablestampingchallenges.cottagecrafts.ie/
time @ http://dragon-dragonsdream.blogspot.com/
valentine @ http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/
love themed @ http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.com/
love,love,love @ http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/
love @ http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/
tone on tone monochrome @ http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.com/

Thanks to all my new followers and all your kindly comments , they make my day!
Have a fab fun and inky day
Hugs trace x

GM#35..Tim inspired atc for grungy Monday, the first time I have entered!!!!!

2012-02-12T08:37:00.000Z

Hey there,
Well have I had some crafty fun time this weekend and i love following Grungy Monday and looking at all the fab entries but this is the first time I have plucked up the gusto to have a go....this weeks theme is to create and atc, inspired by a Tim technique....hard to choose as there are so many awesome techniques....
I decided to have a go at rusted enamel, as detailed on page 41 of compendium of curiosities, can't wait for no two!!!!
So here is my atc:

I started by creating the background using the rusted enamel technique,I then stamped a clock stamp in black archival ink overlapping the corners.
I then stamped umbrella man in black soot and clear embossed, colouring with vintage photo and cutting out. The sentiment was stamped onto card coloured with weathered wood DI, in black soot, I then used the same technique tapping a lot of the clear powder off, embossed and coloured in vintage photo.

I am really chuffed with the results and loved doing this, despite the fact that there was so little space on an atc!!I will definitely be using this technique again soon!
I am entering this for the following competitions:
A Tim inspired ATC @ http://studiol3.blogspot.com/2012/02/grungy-monday-35-holtz-ian-atcs.html
thanks for stopping by,
your kindly comments mean a lot!
have a fab, fun and inky day
hugs trace x

woyww #140.........the crafty aftermath!!!!

2012-02-08T06:07:00.000Z

hey there,
well it is the fab fun midweek hop around the desks courtesy of our hostess Julia, who hosts this fab desk hopping midweek crafty thing..so here is mine..:

I did it...i actually crafted for a teeny tiny spell this week!!!yipee!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we have heat and hot water now phew,and the fridge man is coming to fix the fridge Friday, then my car had a new battery saturday..so heres hoping thats my 3!!!!
the desk has bits left over from my post below and also some pieces I am playing around with..
I made a fab chunky atc, details below and am now playing with a new crafty individuals stamp, some books and have a haul of new crafty stash from my birthday, will show you later!!
And here are my fab butterfly lights and the butterfly I stamped on the wall...not sure if i have shown these before!!!!

also here is a haul of knobs and keys and things, spilling onto the computer desk...

well hope you have had a fun week, I am off to get hopping and see what crafty fun is around...
make sure you pop across to chez Julia and see all the fab and crafty people and their crafty places...
have a fab,fun inky day
hugs trace x

For the love of it, and my dt piece for bingo at anything goes challenge

2012-02-07T06:24:00.000Z

Hey there,
Well what a week!! Crafting has been fairly non existent but here is a piece to combine my bingo dt piece for anything goes and all the challenges I love...so here she is:

I have so wanted to do a piece on a bit like all the fab chunky atcs around and so that is where this started,then I wanted to include all the things I love and follow the bingo board over at anything goes to use this as my dt piece...so hop across to anything goes to see all the fab dt pieces and welcome some new members to our design team....the bingo board for the challenge is below...

I used make your own flowers, my choice(distress) and bling

Now onto the details:
Well there is so much to detail , I will just add some trace highlights....the block was coloured and all pieces added using distress inks, bling in the form of the fab Tim's idea-ology and stamps from Wendy Vecchi, Artistic Stamper and Tim Holtz.
I love all things in the distress range...just love them!!!does it show!??
I coloured the wooden hearts with DI and added a butterfly to one and love and some wings to the other, which were embossed using fine detail powder.

I made some hearts using a fab technique from Tim's twelve tags of Christmas here and love these.

The sides are covered in Tim paper from crowded attic paper stash , coloured with DI and perfect pearls and then embossed.

Most of the embellies are idea-ology and some are stash...the flower is handmade and the flourishes Tim die cuts coloured with DI.

The feet are wooden beads coloured using DI and the top knob is a fab idea-ology one....I have stroked these for a longtime before daring to open them!!!!
I am chuffed with how this has turned out....let me know what you think!!!
Make sure you hop across and join in the bingo fun!!!! at anything goes challenges
For all you crafty goodies hop over to Lynne's at craft den for fab goodies and great service!!!

I am entering this for the following competitions:
love a technique @ http://happydazedesignteam.blogspot.com/
embellish it @ http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/
love/hearts @ http://snazzysdesignteamblog.blogspot.com/
hearts @ http://theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.com/
hearts for sunday stampers @ http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/
mono magic @ http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/
words of wisdom @ http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/
love,love,love @ http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/
share some love @ http://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/
anything but a card @ http://cutiepiechallenge.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!!!
Your kindly comments mean a lot...
Have a fab fun and inky day
Hugs Trace x

just a quick post, happy 7th birthday Oliver!!!

2012-02-04T17:25:00.001Z

Hey there,
well the heating is hopefully fixed, the fridge will be looked at on Monday..fingers crossed and then my car died and need a new battery!!!what a week, then i had a birthday and despite no heat...was still a lucky girl, lots of crafty stash..., crafting has been NIL...but i want to wish our second child,Oliver a happy seventh birthday for today, love you little man!xx

where does the time go?

have a fab fun and inky day

hugs trace x

A melt pot adventure with beeswax.

2012-02-02T06:07:00.000Z

Well hey there,
well we now have, fingers crossed some heating!!!!but crafting has been nil, so here is a card made a while ago...an adventure with beeswax and a melt pot...here she is:

The background of the card was made using DI and perfect pearls, then when dry..I added a very thin coat of rock candy, not sure if it will show up I pics!!!
The decoration for the card came in the shape of an averted disaster in the melt pot stakes, after I had such beeswax success I was buoyed up to try again and boy did I make a mess!!!I started by cutting the cogs , using Tim die, inking and dunking in beeswax, only to find I DID NOT like them, boo hoo....so I spritzed with perfect pearls mist, which of course sat on the top and then blasted with my heat gun, thinking...I couldn't make matters any worse!!!!!and wow the droplets were captured in the wax, this I DID like!!!

The butterfly is from the Artistic Stamper and was dipped for good measure, and some bedazzles added.

the mini cogs inside the beeswax cogs are old watch parts and the sentiment was a paperartsy one covered in rock candy.I added a mini clock charm and pen nib to finish!!!

I am entering this for the following competitions:

open with butterfly @ http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/
punches/dies @ http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/
butterflies or dragonflies @ http://mimchallegeblog.blogspot.com/
Well it's good to be back,
have a fab fun and inky day
hugs trace x

Woyww #139.....a lonesome desk!!!

2012-02-01T06:04:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
Well it is that time of the week where curtesy of Julia, our hostess with the mostess we hop around the crafty spaces in blogland!!!so here is mine:

Life has definitely made adventures in blogland difficult this week, my eldest is still off school and then no HEATING!!!! So sorry it has been quiet, my fingers are crossed that heat will be restored today, I hope!!! so,I have not been meant to craft this week and everything that could have stopped me , probably has!!!!so it is just my lonely desk....waiting for some inkiness and crafty mess to descend!!!
Hope you have had a more successful crafty week!!!
Make sure you hop across to Julias to see all the fab crafty spaces in blogland,
Have a fab inky day
Hugs trace x
Off to get hopping!!!!

My fourth and sadly final piece as visiting artist for gingersnap creations!gorgeous greens!

2012-01-25T06:20:00.000Z

Hey there ,
Well here I am with my fourth and sadly final piece as visiting artist at gingersnap creations. I have been chuffed to bits to have this fab opportunity and want to thank everyone at gingersnap for having me along!!
Anyway the challenge this time is gorgeous greens, I loved this so here she is:

I love using greens in DI range, and always wonder why I don't do it more often!!I started by creating the background. I coloured the card with shabby shutters,peeled paint, forest moss and broken china...Then I stamped the text from Wendy Vecchis set botanical art...this is a gorgeous set....!!!
The middle section is Tims tissue wrap coloured also in greens, then the last piece is coloured in same inks and stamped with the flower design.
The flowers were made from grungepaper using the large flower from flower power set from The Artistic Stamper....even if they do look a bit like cabbages!!???

The clock is the one and only Tims weathered clock die coloured with DI and then I added some fab gilding flakes in variegated green from craftynotions.

The butterfly is from the same stamp sheet and some gilding flakes and a pen nib added.
The sentiment is from Tim holtz set boundless flight and I love this sentiment.

Why don't you pop over to gingersnaps and see the fab dt work and maybe pop in an entry yourself,
Thanks again to gingersnap creations for having me, I have loved it!!!!
I am entering this for the following competitions:
butterflies @ http://fashionablestampingchallenges.cottagecrafts.ie/
use 2 of something @ http://panpasteluk.blogspot.com/
use 3 from list...monochrome,metal,handmade flower,distressing @ http://desertislandcraftschallenge.blogspot.com/
distressed @ http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/
things with wings @
http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/
Thanks for stopping by and for all your kindly comments
Have a fab fun and inky day
Hugs Trace x
see previous post for woyww!and some more 3-d roses!!!how hooked am i!?

Woyww#138,what has happened here then?!

2012-01-25T05:59:00.000Z

Hey there,
Well it is that time of week where we wander through craftiness courtesy of our ultimate hostess Julia...so here is my desk, I mean bomb site, I mean desk!!!

thought it might look better form this angle, but er..no!!!

Well moving swiftly onwards from the mess that is..
thanks to everyone who stopped by last week, apologies if I didn't get round to you all ..I am on a mission this week!!!!!
my desk shows my weekend craftiness and still stands in this state!!but boy did i have fun and can't wait to share the finished piece soon!!!
For all of you saw the cabbages, I mean flowers last week....I have worked hard and improved I think so here are some more...

I hope you will agree , these are far better flowers and far less like the cabbages, i mean flowers from last week...however i will be back later with my last and final post as visiting artist for gingersnap creations and you can see where the cabbages I mean flowers from last week ended up!!!!

Make sure you hop across to Julia to see all the fab crafty people...and I am off to get desk hopping!!!!a woman with a mission!!!
have a fab inky day
hugs trace x

dt piece at anything goes, theme for the one I love..

2012-01-24T06:32:00.000Z

Hey the bloggers,
Well it is challenge time over at anything goes again and this time the theme is , for the one I love also there is a fab prize of £20 from indigo blu

http://www.indigoblu.com/

Quintessentially English rubber stamps, with unique and highly detailed deep etched designs – all made in England. IndigoBlu stamps have been featured on Create and Craft a few weeks ago.

so here is mine:

Make sure you pop across to lynnes @ craftden for all your crafty goodies and to Anything goes challenge to seethe fab Dt pieces and maybe pop in an entry!
So here is what I did:
I started with a limited palette as this theme is definitely not in my comfort zone,I started with a brand new set of darkroom door stamps....some DI in vintage photo and antique linen.
The background was made by colouring with DI and then over stamping with script and the postcard word stamp.The main image was stamped in DI onto pre coloured card using DI and cut n dry foam.
The roses were made using grungepaper , as were the flourishes which were over stamped in script using aged mahogany DI.

The little love letter was the script stamped onto white paper and lightly coloured then rolled and tied.
The sentiment is stamped in a two tone cosmic shimmer embossing powder and held in a Tim memo pin.
Finally, another melt pot play produced the heart,....i melted utee, then used a craftynotions mould which i had brushed with cosmic shimmer pigment..then poured the utee into the mould, left to cool and there she is...a fab heart embellishment!

hope you like the card ..found this a hard challenge, so why don't you hop over to anything goes and challenge yourselves and pop in an entry!you may even bag the prize!!!

I am entering this for the following challenges:

vintage @ http://theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.com/
eyes for sunday stamper..@ http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/
The Look of Love..as song title Dusty Springfield...@ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/
distressing @ http://craftyourdaysaway.blogspot.com/
love @ http://drunkenstampers.wordpress.com/
love @ http://thepoodlesparlour.blogspot.com/
love is in the air @ http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com/
love @ http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/
thanks for stopping by, your kindly comments mean a lot!!!
have a fab fun and inky day
hugs trace x

oops sorry, wrong button..you will have to wait till tomorrow!!!

2012-01-23T14:05:00.002Z

Sorry wrong button, you will have to wait till tomorrow...
SORRY!!!!

do you believe in fairies?!!

2012-01-23T06:31:00.001Z

hey there,
well today is a tag, and the starting point was the Try it on Tuesday competition of , fairies...they have a DT call at the mo too..So here she is, not so much the usual me, but here she is:

I didn't have any fairy stamps but love making tags so went with this fab stampotique girl and some beautiful butterfly that I used as wings from The Artistic Stamper. I started by making a DI background using stormy sky, faded jeans and dusty concord, spritzing, and drying, adding more colour and spritzing again.When totally dry i added embossed details ..sparkle holographic splatters and silver swirls..i love these...I also added some little silver stars
I stamped the girl onto the bacground so I didnt have to cut out herhair!!!then again onto white card.

The wings and her dress were painted using DI.Once dry i glued on the wings and then added the girl...i left her white as i love the contrast.

The sentiment is from the net and i coloured this using DI and added a silver star pin for a wand.
hope you like her...!!!

I am entering this for the following competitions:
do you belive in fairies @ http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/
embossing @ http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
open , plus fairy @ http://flutterbywednesdays.blogspot.com/
things with wings @ http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping by, your kindly comments mean a lot!!!I love them!!!
thanks also to all the people that have chosen to follow my journey!!thanks
have a fab inky day!
hugs trace x

Seeing red but in a good way!!!!

2012-01-20T17:03:00.003Z

Hey there bloggers,
Well here I am again with a piece in red for the stampman, I wanted to make a small dimensional piece and have a plaŷ, So here she is:

I started with some crowded attic paper from the one and only Tim, which I coloured using fired brick and aged mahogany DI.I covered a small square arts part with the paper and inked edges with aged mahogany.Once dry I stamped a script over the pre coloured paper, again using aged mahogany.When dry I added a Tim flourish stamp, in gold dabber down the right hand side..I coloured a scalloped part in the same way to add to bottom, sanding in places and adding some gold dabber .
The flourish is coloured in fried brick .

The flower was made using paper coloured in same way as background and cut from stamped images using large flower stamp from The Artistic Stamper.I used a tutorial found here from Hels to get the hang of these fab flowers and boy am I hooked!!! I then spritzed with perfect pearls heirloom gold.
The little bottles are filled with glitter and glass pearls coloured using alcohol inks in a bag and smooched around!!I alos coloured the little heart pins!

I added a few more idea-ology and stash bits and voila!
Thanks for stopping by, your kindly words mean a lot!
I am entering this for the following competitions:
red @ http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/
gold for sundaystampers @ http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/
try something new ,the flowers @ http://hookedoncraftchallenges.blogspot.com/
valentine @ http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/2012/01/153-valentine-theme.html
something new@ http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/2012/01/wow-it-feels-like-forever-since-i-have.html
make your own flowers @ http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/
love is in the air @ http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com/
'love'@ http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
have a fab fun and inky day
hugs trace x

my third proud piece as visiting artist for gingersnap, it's a wrap!!

2012-01-18T05:55:00.000Z

Well hey the bloggers,
Here I am again with my third and sadly penultimate piece as visiting artist for
gingersnap creations.This time the challenge was to use some favourite papers, if you stop by here often you will realise my favourite is White,that I can colour myself...but my new found all time fab favourite has to be the one and only Tim's tissue wrap. it is amazing!!!I love love love it!!! So here is my piece a fully functioning pen box:

I started with a blank pen/pencil box which I painted with neutral paint and then covered using fab tissue wrap...this stuff is so fab and so versatile, love it!!!So I covered the pencil box in multi medium and applied pre cut pieces of tissue wrap to cover sides, back, base top etc I then set aside to give the multi medium plenty of time to dry.
Once dry I stamped stampotique splatter randomly using black soot DI.
The flower was made by covering grungepaper in tissue wrap, stamping out flower from The Artistic Stamper flower forms set, inking with black soot and pumice distress inks, I then shaped and dipped into wax in my melt pot, when dry I then spritzed with perfect pearls, and blasted with my heat gun...this catches some of the mica in the wax,then leave to cool.To finish the flower I added a fab idea-ology Tim button, a new pressie from Santa!

The letters are grungeboard, inked and spritzed. I added some pens nibs, a little Tim bottle , which I added a few drops of black alcohol ink into, and a type charm with some old book text in.

Hope you like what I have done with my favourite paper, make sure you pop over to gingersnap creations to see the fab DT work and why not pop an entry in yourselves!

I am entering this for the following competitions:
anything but a card @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://letsinkitup.blogspot.com/
something new @ http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/
metal@ http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/

See post underneath for woyww#137 and the finish of those grungepaper roses!
Have a great inky day
hugs trace x

Woyww#137,distress inks, mess and general inkiness.

2012-01-18T05:52:00.000Z

Hey there,
Well it is that time of week again where courtesy of Julia we hop around blogland looking at people's creative places and goodies!!!what a great way to spend a few hours!!!
So here is my place today

There is lots of mess and general post inky fun mess here...I haven't had a lot of time to play but can you that from my first foray into grungepaper flowers last week

to the finished result here

I have become officially hooked and much of my crafty time has been stamping flowers from The Artistic Stamper set flower power, cutting them and they await inking, cutting and possibly dunking in the melt pot?!!
However..is it just me or because of the colour do these look like little cabbages?!!not quite what i went for!!!Do you think they will catch on?!

Anyway make sure you pop across to http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/, to see all the fab creative places and hop around , the desks I mean!

I will be back later with my third piece as visiting artist for gingersnap creations,
have a fab inky day
thanks for stopping by
hugs trace x
right off to get hopping...

Just playin the blues!!!

2012-01-17T07:47:00.000Z

Well hey there,
Bet you wondered where I had gone!!!Been busy busy and sadly not all crafty busy, but I did have time to have a little play...so here she is...a teeny tiny quicker project..playing with the blues:

I started by crackling this little notebook and once dry I coloured using various blue distress inks.When these were dry I stamped script randomly over the cover using faded jeans, which I haven't used for ages and only found when rummaging for another colour, well what yummy colour!!I added some Tim tissue wrap, so hooked on this I had to have the other design!!!I had pre coloured the tissue wrap with picket fence distress stain and DI, then added some script stamp.The flower as made from grungepaper and I used a flower stamp from The Artistic Stamper set flower power to make it.I inked and spritzed with perfect pearls mist in turquoise and blasted with my heat gun!

Those of you who stopped by woyww, will have seen some flowers, my first in progress, and oh dear have I started something mow!!!!I am hooked....these are so fab!!!
Anyway, onwards.
I made the leaves from coloured tissue wrap and used a leaf stamp from the Artistic stamper and some crystal stems. To finish I added an Eco board, coloured with DI and sentiment added...I love this sentiment!

The little butterfly is the final addition, again coloured using DI and perfect pearls...
Thanks for stopping by! I will be back on Wednesday with my third offering for visiting artist at Gingersnaps,ooh and woyww....see you then, I hope!
I am entering this for the following competitions:
y for you choose @ http://alphabetchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
in blues @ http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/
anything but a card @ http://littleclairesdesigns.blogspot.com/
anything goes in blue @ http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by, all your kindly comments make my day,
Have a fab inky day
Hugs trace x

Dt call for anything goes blog........

2012-01-17T06:15:00.000Z

hey there ,
just a quick one to let you know there is a design team call for anything goes,
why dont you pop across and see the fab DT and throw your hat into the ring!!
Come and join the fun @ http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/

have a great inky day
hugs trace x

Second proud piece for visiting artist at gingersnap,show us some ribbon!

2012-01-11T06:47:00.000Z

Well hey there,
Here I am again and who took my week?!
I am back with my second piece for gingersnaps as visiting artist and can't believe how the week has flown!This time the challenge is ribbon and I will be the totally honest that although I have my fav vintage seam binding which I love to use , the colourful ribbon rainbow above my desk is never used and ribbon is not really me...but I am mightily chuffed with where this piece ended up!! So here she is:

I started with a trusty tag and some of my favourite blue distress inks, a Tim set of stamps and some ribbon, I even surprised myself and decided to use White ribbon.I made some White ribbon flowers which were fairly fiddly to do but I was determined!So here's what I did.
The tag was done in two halves,one using clear embossed images as resit and then coloured with DI , then when dry the image was stamped in silver paint dabber.The other half was coloured with DI and the same image stamped using a draker shade of DI.

The bird and cage were cut from grungepaper and I used a faux mercury technique on that can be found here @ http://shellyhickox.blogspot.com/2011/12/grungy-monday-new-technique.html to cover cage and Wendy vechhi leaves.

The flowers were made from tissue wrap and my ribbon roses added.Finally some crystals on stems and some Tim ribbon roses trim, far better than mine and ribbon trim were added.
Make sure you pop over to gingersnaps and have a go yourself!!!

I am entering this for the following challenges:
things with wings @ http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
more than 2 layers @ http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com/
use a resist technique @ http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/
winter colours @ http://cachallenge.blogspot.com/
blue, silver and white @ http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/

see post below for woyww#136..
Thanks for stopping by
Have a fab inky day
Hugs trace x

woyww #136, some inky grungepaper

2012-01-11T06:44:00.000Z

Well hey there bloggers and crafty friends,
This week has been a busy week as my eldest son was nine, cannot believe where the time goes!!!So there was more presents, cake and a trip to the deep aquarium at Hull.
I have had some crafty fun playing with my melt pot, a Christmas pressie and have had some awesome and disastrous results, in fairly equal measure!!!However whenever there is a disaster something good usually comes out and I had a beeswax and melt pot moment where disaster was averted when I added perfect pearls and blasted with my heat gun, I will post the results later in the week...but there were a few hairy moments I can tell you!!!!
Anyways here is the desk today...

I am having my first, yes you got that right my first ever attempt at proper 3-d Tim grungepaper flowers!!still a work in progress!
Thought I would show you around some of my crafty storage, just because..

and here is some more storage and I still have boxes in front that i havent had time to home!

make you you pop across to julias, our fab hostess with the most-ess to see other fab crafty spaces and creativity!!! @ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/
see my later post today for my visiting artist piece for gingersnaps!
have a a fab inky day
hugs trace x

Anything goes dt piece for anything goes challenge blog!

2012-01-10T06:17:00.000Z

Well hey there!
it is challenge time over at anything goes challenge blog again and this time the theme is ...anything goes!
So he is, my bit of anything goes:

I decided to do another book as these are fab and very addictive!!This time I tried to do a more masculine themed book, using some fab stamps from the Artistic Stamper, some idea-ology and some arts parts shapes.
I started by covering the book with watered down gesso!shocked you, no crackle today!!!Then when dry inked with distress inks and left to dry.When dry I stamped the fab splat stamp from journalling plate in antique linen and then vintage photo.When dry I added some calligraphy script, also from the artistic stamper.Once totally dry I stamped some Tim pen nibs in walnut stain, heated to dry and then stamped a smaller version of same set in coffee archival.

I covers the left hand side in my favourite thing, tissue wrap.
The middle panel was White card coloured in antique linen DI, the I stamped the journal word..imagine in same DI, to get a very subtle effect. I then added the splat stamp using vintage photo and pen nibs in walnut stain.

The sentiment is a journalling stamp from the Artistic Stamper and the bottles are arts parts from Wendy Vecchi, coloured and crackle paint and metal tape added the top(this was also painted).Finally some idea-ology was added and some computer generated text added.
Sorry another marathon post, must try harder to waffle less and get to the gist, but then I never was very good and short and sweet, why use 1 word when 10 will do!!
Anyway make sure you hop across to see all the fab dt work and for all your craft needs visit Lynnes craft den.
I am entering this for the following competitions:
anything but a card @ http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://trulymadlycraftychallenges.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/
Have a fab inky day
Hugs trace x

Some more inky playing in monochrome and Happy 9th Birthday James!!

2012-01-07T17:13:00.001Z

Hey there,
Well here I am again with a card that came out of playing with a few themes in mind, I wanted to try and play along with try it on Tuesday's, where the challenge was to make everything on a card yourself and also to play along with the gingersnap theme of wax.Especially as I was a lucky girl and got a melt pot for Christmas, so he she is:

I also decided to try and tie this in with a monochrome theme and use a couple of barely used distress inks, rusty hinge and wild honey.I started by making the background using DI, spritzing, blotting and drying, I never tire of this...does that make me predictable?!!hope not! then added some DI coloured card over stamped with script from my first ever set of Wendy Vechhi stamps from a while ago...once dry I spritzed with perfect pearls mist in heirloom gold and blasted with my heat gun!!

The sentiment was stamped onto card coloured with wild honey and then stamped and edged in rusty hinge.The leaves were stamped in rusty hinge from one of my new sets of Wendy stamps, coloured with wild honey then spritzed and quickly dried.I loved the way this really made the wild honey 'pop'!!
NOW......THE FLOWERS! oh wow I want to make more and more and more!!!!!

I started by stamping the two sized flowers onto card, colouring and stamping text over.I coloured both sides so no White showed.I curled and layered using pin flair glue then when dried cracked out my new melt pot!!!yippee!!!I melted some natural beeswax and with some , oh golly what am I doing dipped the flowers in, coated and set aside to dry!!!I am in love...I fear I could be dipping many things in beeswax now!!!!

The centres were made with a gold pearly pen thing, very technical!
Anyway I am delighted with my new toy and can't wait to get dipping again!!!
Am entering this card for the following competitions...
wax as a supply @ http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/
make a card yourself @ http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/
monochrome @ http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/
Thanks for surviving the ramblings!!
Before I go, I just want to say Happy Birthday James to my eldest son, who is 9 today!!!Love you.xx
Where did the time go?!

Have a great inky day!
Hugs trace x

First piece as proud visiting artist for gingersnap!!!!how excited am I !!!

2012-01-04T07:13:00.000Z

well hey there bloggers,
Today is an exciting day as here is my first piece as a proud visiting artist for gingersnap creations!! I was so excited and chuffed to be asked..The challenge this time is to use a set or range of stamps...I went for the one and only TIM!!So here is my piece:

I decided to use a great set called fairytale frenzy and an additional Tim text stamp, some distress inks and some idea-ology.
I started with a blank book which had been been pre painted and crackled, using crackle medium and household emulsion!Once dry..I inked the book cover using antique linen, iced spruce and broken china.
I then added a strip of tissue wrap, which I think I can officially say I am addicted too!!, to the spine and left hand side of book, this was covered with picket fence distress stain and then when dry covered in DI.I over stamped the cover with the flowery flourish thing in broken china, direct to the cover and left to dry.

Th middle panel is made using all the same DI, spritzing with water and drying and then stamping with the no's in antique linen and the butterfly in stormy skies and the script in broken china...I love layering stamps to build up backgrounds, so much fun and you never quite know where you will end!!
The central panel is coloured using DI and the sentiment stamped in archival black ink.

To complete I added flourish die cuts which were inked and butterflies which were inked and covered in script stamp.The butterflies centres are spinners and I added a word key and clock and some corners all from the fab Tim's idea-ology range.
make sure you hop over to Gingersnap Creations to join in all the fun!! See you next week for more gingersnap fun!
I am entering this for the following competitions:
anything goes with santa stash @ http://fashionablestampingchallenges.cottagecrafts.ie/
new beginnings @ http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/ , starting anew from now..
something old, something new @ http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/ , old stamps, new idea-ology
please see post below for woyww #135!
have a fab inky day
hugs trace x

woyww #135, a new year, same old desk!!!but some inkiness too!

2012-01-04T07:10:00.000Z

Hey there,
well happy new year woyww!!!
Happy new year and welcome to the new year, with same old me, same old desk but some new inkiness afoot!
Make sure you hop across to Julias @ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ to see allsorts of creativeness and inky stuff!!
So enough waffle, here is my desk today:

And finally some craftiness has come my way, inspired by new crafty stash from Santa, the hubbie and the children, as well as some me time to play!!! I know not too exciting yet, but my head is buzzing!!!I just need more time to finish!!
and because it would be rude not too, I spilled craftiness onto the computer desk as well...:in the form of yes, more work in progress...

That is what happens when your brain is trying to do many things at once lots of bits and no final "thingamajig".
I was a very very lucky girl and the children and my fab Hubbie certainly outdid themselves with all my new crafty stash,thank you!!!but so much to do, so little time!!!Heres hoping to get some more me playtime soon!!!
Don't forget to hop across and see all the fab creative desks and creativeness over @ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/
happy woyww!
have a fab inky day!
hugs trace x

Some inky fun for the new year,!!

2012-01-03T09:59:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
Well today was a chance for me to play and have some inky fun!!I started with a collage frame from The Artistic Stamper, some tissue wrap and Tim things and some new and old Wendy Vechhi stamps and art parts.
so here she is

I started by covering the collage frame using Tissue Wrap, which I just love!!I applied it using golden gel matte and when applied a coat on top as well, once dry I washed over a watered down layer of gesso. Once dry I inked this with DI in broken china and dusty concord and chipped sapphire.
For the centre I cut a piece of card stock to fit, and covered in DI, then spritzed with water and dried...I never tire of the soft and varied effects this makes!When totally dry I inked the Wendy text stamp from an old set ,in broken china and stamped.The edges were then coloured using dusty concord DI.
To make the embellishments/flowers inside I stamped the small flower onto grungepaper, another thing I love!!! this was coloured with broken china and then over stamped using script stamp in Dusty concord.The centres are idea-ology bits and the flourishes are a Tim die cut and coloured using DI!

The outside flowers are a large arts part flower, two flowers stamped onto grungepaper and an
idea-ology centre.All the flowers were coloured using DI and over stamped using fab spotty background From The Artistic Stamper.
The leaves are made from my new Wendy stamp, stamped onto grungepaper using forest moss DI, and then cut out and coloured using peeled paint.Finally, I added a little calendar and my Hubbie has hung it in the kitchen!!!

I am chuffed to be able to have been able to have time to have some inky play, and I am chuffed with the finished results!!!
I am entering this for the following competitions:
anything goes for sunday stampers @ http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
something new @ http://addicted-to-stamps-challenge.blogspot.com/
something old and something new @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/
anything goes with new stash @ http://fashionablestampingchallenges.cottagecrafts.ie/
thanks for looking!
Have a fab inky day!
Hugs trace x

My favourite for the Stamp Man 3rd annual awards challenge!

2012-01-02T16:46:00.002Z

Well hey there bloggers!
Happy New Year!
well over at the Stamp Man Challenge blog it is the Stamp Man's third annual awards and you have to choose your favourite piece of the year...
see link in my sidebar..Or click above on stamp man above to whizz across,

here is mine:

This was my final piece for my guest artist spot in December for The Artistic Stamper, an opportunity I was very proud to have been given.
I had never been brave enough to try a configurations box before but loved it! and know there will be lots more to come!!!!
The details for this piece can be found over at The Artistic Stamper ,and the piece is default linked to my blog but can be found at http://theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.com/ date 28th december, sorry for the confusion!!!
Have a fab inky day,
hugs trace x

Here are a few of my favourite things and Happy new year!!!!

2011-12-31T10:56:00.000Z

Well what a difference a year makes!!!!

Last year I was a blog novice, had not visited blogland and didn't belive I could do this and now after 6 months I have had so much fun, been a honoured guest artist for Artistic Stamper,proudly joined my first design team @ anything goes challenge and got many much appreciated followers.

Thanks for all my followers and their lovely comments, that have made me feel welcome and happy to be part of this fab place ..blogland...can't believe it took me this long to take the plunge!!!

So, as crafting has been slim on the ground I decided to look back over my first few months in blogland and choose some of my favourite things!! I have tried to choose one from each month I have been in blogland!

July...

August...

September...

October...

November...

December...

Well, all that is left is to say a huge thanks to all the people who have been so kind to me,

a huge Happy new year to everyone..

Here's to a happy, healthy new year for everyone, with lots of creative ventures along the way.

hugs trace x

Guest Artist for Artistic Stamper , sneaky peak...last part!

2011-12-28T00:01:00.001Z

Well hey there bloggers, here is my next and sadly last piece for my guest artist at the Artistic Stamper.

I have had a ball and loved every minute and am so grateful

for this opportunity. I want to say a huge thanks to Jennie and Hels!

So here is my sneaky peak, to see the piece in all its glory, with details, please hop across to the Artistic Stamper.

Hope you like what I have done , I truly have had a great time playing!!!

Thanks for stopping by

have a fab time,

hugs trace x

Something blue for DT piece at anything goes .

2011-12-27T08:30:00.001Z

Hey there bloggers,
well it is challenge time again at anything goes, the theme is blue and another colour, so here is my piece:

I love making tags , so decided to do another tag, make sure you pop across and see all the fab DT work @ http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ and for all your crafty goodies pop across to Lynne's @ http://www.craftden.co.uk/
I started with the fairytale frenzy set of Tim stamps and I do love this set.The background of the tag, was yes you have guessed split into traces two bits!!!However hard I try I cannot help myself! I started by covering the tag in tumbled glass distress ink.Once dry I added the large no stamp using darker blue DI, then stamped the butterfly in an even darker blue...sorry forgot which ones! Then I added script text printed in snowcap paint dabber. I love the way that the backgrounds build up to create a whole..if that makes sense!

The left hand side is another favourite of mine tissue wrap from Tim's district market range, which I added some patches of ink too and stamped with the butterfly.
To finish I spritzed the background with perfect pearls mist.

To complete the tag I added flourishes, mini butterflies and a large flower, all coloured with distress inks and stamped with script text, oh and spritzed! the centre of the flower is a washer and I added some handmade hat pins, just because!
hope you have all had a happy and healthy Christmas,
thanks for stopping by
hugs trace x

Happy Christmas!!!!!!!

2011-12-25T00:01:00.001Z

Well hey there bloggers!

All I want to say is HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!

have a good one!

A snowy scene from last year!!..My Hubbie took it!!!BLIMEY!!!

have a fab fun time

hugs trace x

happiness is hatpins!!!woyww 133

2011-12-21T09:21:00.000Z

well hey there bloggers,
I wasn't going to do my desk today as craftiness has been thin on the ground.but wanted to say happy Christmas to everyone in blogland and thank everyone who has stopped by and made my first months in blogland so happy...THANKS!!!
Well here are the only crafty things that have been happening due to poorly children..hatpins and hatpins and more hatpins!!
Make sure you hop across to other far more crafty spaces @ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/.

I have been adding them to my presents to give them that little something different and am really rather pleased! And here are my Tims tags, still in bits!!!

Thanks again to Julia for this fab Wednesday visiting place full of craftiness!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR MAKING ME FEEL SO WELCOME IN BLOGLAND AND FOR ALL THE LOVELY COMMENTS

hugs trace x

trying to keep it simple!!!!

2011-12-20T07:50:00.000Z

hey there bloggers,
hope you are all having a good day!Mine is not so great blogger issues and grr!!!! this was made a long time ago as still crafty nothingness here!
This card started off as something and ended up as something quite different, and yet I am pleased with the outcome.
So without further ado here she is:

I started off by trying to keep it simple,well for me anyway...I stamped the flower head around the card blank and the when dry added some DI, weathered wood and stormy skies. The middle panel is coloured with DI, same as edge but I added in some broken china too and some black soot around edges, this was then spritzed with perfect pearls mist in pearl and dried, using heat tool.
The middle panel was stamped, spritzed quickly with perfect pearls to soften image and then heated, when dry I added some fine crystal glitter.

the sentiment is made using same DI.The flowers are cut from Tim tattered floral die and coloured and then a black brad and some crackle accents added...The flourish is also covered in crackle accents.
thanks for stopping by
ta trace x
have a great day!

Snowflakes steampunk style!!!

2011-12-17T06:42:00.000Z

Well hey bloggers,
Hope you are all ok in blogland, well my little brood are much better although still full of sniffles, but that I can cope with!!So here I am to blog a tag I made a while back, I have not crafted for at least two weeks!!!poor me!
So here she is:

I started in typical trace style with two halves to my background, just can't help myself!!The left hand side was made with an tissue wrap which I love, love, love!!I stamped some cogs from steam punk Christmas plate from chocolate baroque and added some pearly dots.
The right hand side was coloured with DI, tumbled glass and iced spruce, such a fab colour!! stamped the coggy Christmas trees to overlap.

Finally I added die cut snowflakes which had been coloured up with DI and added some small cogs(old watch bits)to the centres.
so, that is my quick snowflake tag!

Thanks for stopping by and thanks to all the people who have left lovely comments and who are following my blog!!!thanks, thanks, thanks!
Hugs trace x

Guest Artist for the Artistic Stamper, sneaky peak 2

2011-12-14T00:01:00.003Z

hey there bloggers,

well here I am back again for my second offering as guest artist for the Artistic Stamper,

I have had an absolute ball making this piece,

so here is my sneaky peak:

To see the full piece and all the details hop across to the Artistic Stamper!
Thanks again to Jennie and Hels, I am having a fab time !
Have a great inky day!
hugs trace x

A Christmas tag for anything goes challenge DT

2011-12-13T07:45:00.001Z

Hey there bloggers,
Well crafty wise I am here today with a festive offering in red and green today,a festive tag for Christmas tags at anything goes for my DT piece, so here she is,

Hop across to anything goes to see all the fab DT pieces and to join in the challenge @ http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/
For all your crafty goodies hop across to Lynne at @ http://www.craftden.co.uk/
So here is how I made my tag:
For the base tag I cut a piece from Tim holtz Kraft resist Christmas rad and coloured using distress inks from the Christmas set of Distress inks.

The left hand strip is tissue paper from district Market collection from Tim Holtz...of course!!!
This strip was coloured using picket fence distress stain and then inked and some gold paint dabber added.The flourishes and 25 were cut using Tim dies and coloured to match tag.
Finally I made two large flowers using Tim Holtz tattered floral die, cutting the flowers from canvas on a roll, colouring and stamping with script.

When dry i assembled the flowers using pin flair glue and added Tim Holtz washers and brads to centres of top flowers. To complete I added a handmade hat pin.

Hope you like it, remember to hop across and see the other fab DT work and maybe join in yourself!!
have a great inky day
hugs trace x

Show us some livestock for gingersnap!

2011-12-11T06:17:00.000Z

Well hey there bloggers,
I am blogging this while my poorly little girl is asleep,this card has been made a long time but I have not had chance to blog it , so here it is :

The theme at gingersnap creations was livestock which I did find hard, then craft stamper came to my rescue with this free cover stamp!, they must have known I needed an animal!
The colours used were black soot and pumice stone, a great combination.The background stamping used some foliage stamps from chocolate baroque, stamped over background using both colours to build up the layers.
I added black flourishes and some paper string and finally a flower cut from canvas from a roll, inked and over stamped with the foliage stamp.

sorry short and sweet today!!
I am entering this for the following competition:
livestock @ http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/
thanks for stopping by!
have a great inky day
hugs trace x

Let it snow raffia style!

2011-12-08T05:50:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
Well over at gingersnaps the theme was to use raffia and I will admit is rugged with this a little as it is not something I would usually use..so I decided to continue with snowy makes and add raffia?! So here she is..

I started by making a distress ink background and stamping Tim snowflakes onto it in same colour, then I stamped some in darker broken china on the right and script stamp on the left, then spritzed with perfect pearls in pearl.Once dry I added pearly dots to snowflakes centres.I added three strips of raffia, then added some pre-made pearly glittered snowflakes, with pearly dot centres.

To finish I added some vintage cream ribbon down the side, a big bow..something different for me! and two hat pins....having a ball making these!

This is another made ages ago waiting to be blogged card.
I am entering this for the following competitions:

raffia @ http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://theribbonreelchallenge.blogspot.com/
snowflakes @ http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/
let it snow @ http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/
anything christmas with pearls @ http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.com/2011/11/challenge-18-anything-christmas-with.html

have a great inky day!
hugs trace x
share the love and leave a comment, they make my day!

Woyww #131, Tims tags in bits!!

2011-12-07T06:13:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
Well is it really Wednesday?It is the time to hop around desks to see other peoples work spaces and crafty creations. I have had an amazingly inspiring week looking at Tim's tags for Christmas, but a frustrating and slow crafty week as now the boys are better, little Lucy now has been poorly for a week and has an ear infection, so my desk is Tim's tags in bits!!! Here it is:

Even the cooker crafting of a few weeks ago is slow and I am suffering from crafty withdrawal!!! So it is short and sweet from me today, here's hoping that I catch up with all my tags, blogging and my little brood get well! Santa is very behind!!! Have a happy woyww! Make sure you pop over to http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ courtesy of Julia to see all the fab crafty spaces and craftiness going on!!!
Have a great inky day,
Thanks for stopping by
Hugs trace x

Tims tag no 2!!! talk about behind!

2011-12-06T17:12:00.000Z

Well hey there bloggers,
What can I say Tim has surpassed himself, with wonderful tags, tips and techniques...I have three half finished as my little girl has been poorly and so crafting has been slow and slim pickings, but I will catch up!!!!
Anyway, Tim's twelve tags can be found here...and here is my tag 2,

I think my deer is slightly smaller and I didn't, have the die so hand cut a border and the little deer has a bell instead...

I loved making this tag and am chomping at the bit to have a go at the next ones and finish the others!

Have a happy inky day!
Hugs trace x

I'm snow angel!!!

2011-12-04T07:16:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
well there is so much going on and I am SO behind with blogging!! Anyway this card has been made ages and was wondering if it would ever get blogged so here it is:, my offering for non traditional Christmas cards for stampotique @ http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/ :

I started by making the background using distress inks and sand texture gel through a stencil.Once dry I added some snow cap paint dabber to the snow and then some pearl glitter in patches.

The top of the card was stamped with fab splatter stamp. I added glossy accents to form icicle shapes and added more pearl glitter.
The little man is so gorgeous but can't remember his name! I added grungeboard wings and crown painted with silver crackle paint.

The text is computer type and there is my snow angel!! Who is no angel!
I am entering this for the following competition:
non traditional Christmas cards @ http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/
thanks for stopping by, have a happy inky day!
hugs trace x

twinkle twinkle little star!

2011-12-03T19:17:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
well hey there bloggers, wow what a week, I have been inspired by Tim's 12 days of tags, although still have tag 1,2 and 3...half done!!The tags and Tim's talent are amazing and I have to say I have been shocked that despite having a huge crafty stash and being very lucky there have had to be a couple of purchases and much improvisation..but plenty of inky fun and many more goodies for Santa's list!!!
Anyway, here is my tag for Sunday stampers hosted by the fab Hels @ http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/. This tag has been waiting to be blogged for half the week!!!So here she is:

I started by dividing the tag into two halves.The right hand side was inked, then over stamped with a text script in broken china. Once dry I spritzed with perfect pearls in pearl.The stars were stamped using a cover stamp from craft stamper designed by the very talented Jo Capper-Sandon.They were stamped in snow white paint dabber and then filled in with crackle glaze to give a soft subtle finish!!

The left hand side was covered with Tim tissue wrap, which had been coloured with picket fence distress stain.The 3-d stars used the same stamp and were covered with glossy accents and then some pearl glitter, thanks mum!

I am entering this for the following challenges:
stars @ http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/
stars @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping by,
let me know what you think
have a great inky day
ta trace x

Guest artist sneaky peak for the Artistic Stamper for December!!!

2011-12-02T00:01:00.001Z

Well hey there bloggers,
This has got to be an all time exciting post for me today ...as I am honoured, chuffed, excited and more to have been asked by Jennie and Hels at the Artistic Stamper to be their guest artist for December! I know, little me!!!..how exciting.
So without further ado here is a sneaky peak of my first offering:

Hop across to the Artistic Stamper creative blog @ http://theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.com/ to see all the details,
All the products can be found at http://www.theartisticstamper.com/
Thanks to Jennie and Hels, I am so chuffed and hope this does you proud!!
Have a great inky day
Hugs Trace x

Down the farm, in vintage style...

2011-12-01T16:14:00.000Z

Well hey there bloggers,
Here I am today with another offering and this time the theme was down on the farm over at gingersnaps here , now this struck some fear in me, as I really didn't have anything to suit...I stuck to my favourite colours of distress inks for vintage feel cards and a stamp from eBay..
So here she is :

I started in my usual fashion of doing two halves for my background.
The left hand side was on card coloured in tea dye and gathered twigs DI, then stamped over with script, Tim one...an absolute favourite!
The right hand side was card coloured in antique linen, then spritzed with tattered angels glimmer mists in creme de chocolat, when dry I then edged in gathered twigs DI.
Right down the left hand edge is my some Tim tissue wrap...I LOVE THIS!!!! I coloured this with picket fence distress stain and then when dry gathered twigs DI.
The main panel is made by colouring card with DI, spritzing with water and dabbing off , drying and then the image stamped on.
The panel behind the image is some canvas off a roll, torn and coloured with DI.
To complete I added lace, a sentiment and a flower made from plaited paper string.

I am entering this for the following competitions:
farm @ gingersnaps
thanks for looking and have a great inky day!
hugs trace x

woyww #130.....a boring desk!!sorry!?!!

2011-11-30T06:19:00.001Z

Hey there bloggers,
well where did my week go ? It is that fab time of the week where we get to wander through crafty wonderland looking at other peoples crafty places and showing our own courtesy of our hostess Julia..@ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/
Well here is my sad looking desk today:

There has not been a lot of craftiness this week, so I am afraid apart from a few hat pins , there is not a lot on my desk!boring eh?sorry..but I am hooked on this thing and didn't want to miss a week.Even cooker crafting of last week has been slow as little Lucy has been off colour, we have been decorating and well life just was this week!!!
have a great crafty day and hop around, the desks I mean and look at others far more exciting spaces @ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/
happy woyww
hugs trace x

A snowy tag for the stampman!

2011-11-29T17:31:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
well here I am on a very wet and windy day, yuck!!!
This is going to be short and sweet, but here is my entry for the stampman challenge, which is to use one of Tim's fabulous tags as inspiration or to follow the tag whole, follow not swallow!?
So here is mine:

I tried to follow the instructions for this tag no 1 , 2009.......using the supplies I had and as good as possible replicate the tag, which is no mean feat, for this reason I have not put the instructions as the one and only TIM can do this so much better....@ http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/12-tags-of-christmas-2009/
So a couple of pictures of various pieces of my tag:

I am entering this for the following challenges :

Tim's tag techniques @ http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/
snowflakes @ http://4craftychicks.blogspot.com/
tag you're it @ http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
christmas @ http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/
snowmen @ http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
christmas and winter @ http://gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com/

have a great inky day,
ta trace x

Altered or decorative corners for anything goes challenge.

2011-11-29T07:30:00.001Z

hey there bloggers,
Well it is challenge time over at anything goes and the theme this time is altered or decorative corners, so here is my dt piece:

Make sure you hop on over to see the other dt members fab creations @ http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ and for lots of crafty goodies hop across to thecraft den @ http://www.craftden.co.uk/
I started by creating a background using tumbled glass DI,with some iced spruce around edge, then I spritzed with perfect pearls mist in pearl..Once dry I stamped small snowflakes from creative expressions plate using tumbled glass and silver paint dabber.I added a torn strip to the top this time, coloured in same way..there is a simple satisfaction in starting with White card and ending up with a complete card or tag.
The central tile is a square tile coloured using emulsion and crackle medium.
The sentiment was stamped from creative expressions plate in iced spruce and then ink added to edges of torn shape and then rock candy applied to give icy finish.

Finally the decorative corners were made using fab Tim snowflake die cuts, four left white and pearl glitter added and four inked lightly and spritzed..pearls have been added to the centres of all of the snowflakes .the snowflakes have then been added to the corners on flourishes.

Make sure you pop across and join in the fun @ http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/
have a great inky day!
hugs trace x

100 posts in blogland!!!!!!!!!!thanks everyone!

2011-11-28T16:04:00.000Z

Well hey there bloggers,
this will be my hundredth post in blogland, little did I realise that this journey would be so rewarding and open up such a fab crafty world full of some lovely people and true crafty gurus!!!
thanks for all the lovely comments and opportunities and thanks to all my followers, it means a lot!!
have a great day!!
hugs trace x
and THANKS!!!!

Hunt the snowman!

2011-11-25T18:48:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
Well over Sunday stampers @ http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/ run by the super talented Hels, it is snowmen on the menu, so here is my offering..

I did a tag as I have decided not to make the dreaded christmas cards and so wanted to play, I crackled the background of the tag using emulsion and crackle medium..When dry I added iced spruce, (which is from the winter set of DI and I love it,yummy colour,), then I inked up my new stamps from the stamp man, thanks Jill..I was chuffed to have been picked for the prize and these Tim stamps were what I used my prize voucher towards...they are even better than I hoped, still what more could I have expected from TIM. Anyway, enough rambling, I stamped the snowflakes using iced spruce randomly over the background and then when dry added small pearls to centres. The left hand side is yet again tissue wrap from Tims district market range, which I love..I coloured with picket fence distress stain, left to dry, spritzed with perfect pearls mist and then when dry added iced spruce.

The snowflakes are using kraft paper and alcohol inks, trying to replicate a Tim technique.
Finally I added some more pearl glitter, thanks mum!,a snowman and the greeting...I called it hunt the snowman..as when I put him on the tag he looked a bit small!!!!
I added a snowflake charm and some beads added onto wire.The ribbon is a staple for me vintage seam binding!!

I am entering this for the following competitions:
snowmen for sunday stampers @ http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/
Little red wagon @ http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com/
tag you're it @ http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
winter @ http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
anything but square @ http://stampwithsarahkay.blogspot.com/
tag you're it @ http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping by, the lovely comments mean a lot!
Have a great day
Hugs trace x

Snowflakes are falling!!!

2011-11-24T17:21:00.001Z

hey there bloggers,
Well hope you are having happy healthy well!!!I am feeling be it like a nurse at the moment, although not that I can take credit for being at all skilled, as they are! so crafting has been sporadic and on the hoof, but here is my frosty offering today!

Started with the background in two halves, what a shocker!!!..the left hand side was made by using DI, overstamping with script stamp(Tim),then when dry smooshing some picket fence crackle paint, thicker at top and thinner down to none at bottom, leave for the paint to do it's magic!!!
The right hand side was distressed using tumbled glass and stormy skies, then I stamped a chocolate baroque snowflake, when dry I added some cosmic shimmer White drawing ink and some more pearl glitter, thanks again mum!!

The trees are Tim pine tree die cuts, inked, painted and then some pearl glitter added, for that frosty feel..The snowflakes are done in the same way.The number 25, was inked and then crackle accents added, this tiny nozzle is great for accurate application! Ooh err very technical!

Anyway, I am pleased with this frosty, snowy offering!let me know what you think!
I am entering this for the following competitions:
snowflakes @ http://www.thehousethatstampsbuilt.com/
white christmas @ http://fashionablestampingchallenges.cottagecrafts.ie/
christmas or winter related @ http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/
monochromatic @ http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/

Have an inky day
Thanks for stopping by, your comments chuff me up!
Hugs trace x

Simon says tickets please.!!

2011-11-24T06:57:00.002Z

well hey there bloggers,
So Simon wants some tickets and here are mine!!

I applied antique linen DI to the base card and then spritzed with heirloom gold perfect pearls mist, another new one! when dry I added tea dye DI and then walnut stain around the edge..I then inked a Tim flourish stamp with walnut stain and then stamped just on corners. The other background pieces are my new must use all the time Tim Holtz tissue wrap which comes in a huge roll!!!It is awesome! I coloured with picket fence distress stain, another Tim wonder and then when dry applied some perfect pearls spray and then when dry overstamped in script.
The middle section is some Tim kraft embossed paper, coloured with pearl paint dabber, then I did stamp some script in White which looked great but got covered up!!!
The flowers are cut using Tim holtz die from various kraft card stock, edged with walnut stain DI and spritzed...stay too long and I may spritz you!!!

I added script detail to a couple of the layers and my final layer was snowflake, spritzed and coloured around edges..the centres are washers and Tim pins.
Finally, the tickets, these are creative expressions tickets and were stamped and spritzed as flowers...see I went spritz mad!!..I don't get put much!!!!!!

I am super chuffed with the result and really enjoyed just playing,is so nice when it all works out!!!!
I am entering this for the following competition:
show us your tickets @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/
free for all @ http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.com/

Have great day
Hugs trace x

woyww #129.....where is my desk?

2011-11-23T06:45:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
well here is that time of the week where we all have a sneaky peek around blogland desks, full of glorious craftiness courtesy of our hostess Julia @ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/..so here is, i mean here is my ermm, well, not my desk but as good as it gets!!!

As some of you will know, who pop here often my son no 1(James) has been off school for nearly three weeks and now son no 2(Oliver) has decided to get in on the act (Lucy is thrilled!!)..just as son no 1 is fit for school, she says crossing her fingers......still here?!! so my desk has become anywhere and anytime I can grab some craftiness, hence the kitchen worktop and even on the top of the cooker!!

The kitchen is thrilled as it is the most creative i am ever likely to get!!!cooking is so NOT my forte!!
Anyway hope you are all having a great week and will be hopping around, not literally, desk hopping later.
Hop across to julias to see all the fabby workplaces and awesome creativity..@ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ and share some love!There is lots of crafty love out there in blogland.
have a great woyww
hugs Trace x

let it snow, let it snow,let it snow..

2011-11-21T14:09:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
well sorry for the rather uninteresting title ! Here is my offering today..

Sorry I struggled to photograph this one!
This card was an experiment for me and every time I look at it I am not sure whether i like it?!!!Still, I started with a blank stepper card, coloured with DI and then spritzed with my latest addiction, perfect pearls mists..they are scrummy.Then I over stamped with snowflakes form creative expressions (snowy day plate)in pearl and silver paint dabbers.
I really love the background.it is just what i had hoped for.

The front snowy panel was a torn piece of card, spritzed with perfect pearls mist and then when dry i added some rock candy and sprinkled some chunky pearl glitter, from my mum, into it.
I stamped the trees from creative expressions stamp plate in the fab iced spruce DI.
The die cut trees are Tim's as are the snowflakes.To give the trees a texture they were cut from canvas on a roll, inked, covered in random blobs of rock candy and glitter dropped on, then when dry I dabbed snow cap paint dabber on.

The snowflakes were inked using tumbled glass and stormy skies DI, then covered in glossy accents and the pearl glitter..thanks Mum!

The sentiment is creative expressions and was inked and stamped using iced spruce, tumbled glass and stormy skies.
Finally I added rock candy and sprinkled in pearl glitter, again, to look like ice. the 3-d snowflakes are meant to look like they are falling form the sky and in my head they did!!!

I am entering this for the following challenges:
snowflakes @ http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
die cuts @ http://hookedoncraftchallenges.blogspot.com/
let it snow @ http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/
die cuts @ http://frosteddesigns.blogspot.com/
blue @ http://frosteddesigns.blogspot.com/
dreaming of a white Christmas @ http://fashionablestampingchallenges.cottagecrafts.ie/
thanks for stopping by, have a happy inky day
hugs Trace x

Falling leaves for Alice! second post today..

2011-11-20T16:02:00.001Z

Well hey there bloggers,
Here's my offering today, a tag with falling leaves, which I have put Alice and the White rabbit floating in...hope that comes across..

The background has been made using DI...shock horror!!The right side of the background using my favourite technique...where the DI are applied to tag using blending tool and then spritzed with water.One dry I overstamped with who in the world am I and then I stamped the leaves in coffee archival..and yes they are meant to be falling down!!oops.

The left hand side has a panel which has been inked darker and script stamp stamped.To add depth I have then added tattered leaves die cuts colours in same way and stamped with text..hope the photo shows this up.
I stamped Alice and White rabbit in coffee archival and made leaves using clearly for art , which I coloured using alcohol inks!!I just love this stuff!! I attached these to the tag and then positioned Alice and the White rabbit so that they ...hopefully!!!!...look like they are floating to the ground in the leaves?!!!

To finish I added curiouser and curiouser on DI background and a small metal watch charm.

The ribbon is vintage seam binding coloured with DI and spritzed and scrunched!!

I am entering this for the following competitions:
falling leaves @ http://alteredalice.blogspot.com/
3 of the same @ http://funwithshapesandmore.blogspot.com/
anything but a card @ http://blog.craftyribbons.com/category/Challenge-Blog.aspx

thanks for stopping by, thanks for all the lovely comments too, they mean a lot!
have an inky day!
hugs trace x

Hope you have a great inky day,
Thanks for stopping by, your comments mean a lot!
Ta trace x

Autumnal colours for saturated canary..

2011-11-20T15:41:00.000Z

Well hey there bloggers,
Here is my offering today, and the challenge over at saturated canary is autumnal colours, and I decided to have a go to try and get better at my colouring, which is not too hot....I usually like to get inky and messy but with my son being off school for nearly three weeks, I thought a little colouring might be relaxing!!
so here she is:

I love the her big eyes....although I am much more at home with inky things, I understand that is not every ones cup of tea and I had a card to make that I thought this would suit, so I do try other things every now and again...just to see what happens..I still managed some DI and am really pleasantly surprised at how she turned out!
I colours her with copics...a new an undiscovered land for me...inked the edges and added various DI coloured embellies and some raffia...and had a go at a circular flower.

Thanks for stopping by, will be back in a bit with a much inkier, more trace like creation!
I am entering this for the following competitions:
autumnal colours @ http://saturatedcanarychallenge.blogspot.com/

have a great day
hugs trace x

believe in the magic of the season............a lonesome pine

2011-11-18T12:32:00.000Z

hey there bloggers,
well here I am again with another crafty offering......I have missed Sunday stampers hosted by the super talented Hels for too long and so here I am with an offering...

For those of you who visited my desk on wednesday..this is the finished tag!
I started with my super favourite a blank tag, crackle paint medium and distress inks, now that makes for a happy girl! I started by painting the tag with emulsion, leaving to dry and painting with crackle medium, then about 30 mins later painting with cream emulsion and leaving to do its magic! once dry I inked with iced spruce and tumbled glass DI. I love the new winter colours and iced spruce is just too yummy!!!
Once dry I added a piece of tissue wrap from The one and only, he is to be revered Tim Holtz......I coloured using picket fence stain and then when dry iced spruce.I glued onto left of tag using micro glue dots..added some gathered twigs DI around edge and stamped a pine needle stamp from Creative expressions around edge and on corner of tag.

I stamped some mini creative expressions snowflakes onto tag using paint dabber and when dry added crackle medium...
You still with me?!!! What a waffler I am becoming!!!Who am I kidding, I always am and will always be..its just me!The pine tree was cut from a piece of card embossed with script folder and then the tree cut, it was then coloured using evergreen bough DI and some rock candy blobbed on and glitter sprinkled in.When dry I splodged, being a very technical term, some white paint over to hopefully make it look snowy?!
Finally the sentiment was stamped, coloured with DI and then rock candy applied and left to dry.

Gosh, we made it I didn't realise all the stuff I had done!Oh and the ribbon was coloured with DI and spritzed with perfect pearls pearl mist ..another new fav.
I am entering this for the following competitions:

die cut and christmas tag @ http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/
trail of the lonesome pine @ http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/2011/11/sunday-stamper-week-180-trail-of.html

have a great day,
ta trace x

Who spilt the ink?!

2011-11-17T10:19:00.000Z

well hey there bloggers,
This fortnight at stampotique challenges @ http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/ is sketch time!!

I saw this and felt my heart sink, they are so not me..I like to meander around in crafty land and end up wherever...sometimes this is good, sometimes..destination bin!
Anyway I was determined to challenge myself and was mightily pleased with the results..so here they are:

I started by masking off the middle strip and inked background using black soot and pumice stone DI, using a Tim splatter and paperartsy splats.One of the strips I used black card and managed to leave it alone!!!
The second strip was my latest purchase some Tim tissue wrap, I am in love already, this comes on a huge roll and I already love it! I cut a strip and coloured using picket fence distress stain, then set aside to dry, well if i am honest I blasted it with my heat gun!!!!
Then I added black soot DI and stamped the splatter stamp over , again in black soot.

The text is computer printed.The image is another fab stampotique stamp..........these little guys are so cute, mischievous and well just great! I inked in black soot onto a square of card, that I had distressed the edges on. Then I inked the edges lightly.I mounted this using 3-d foam tape to give a bit of dimensions and couldn't resist adding a pen nib..

I am really pleased with how this turned out, but hopeful..it won't be sketch time again for a while!

I am entering this for the following competitions:
sketch challenge @ http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/
monochromatic @ http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/
humorous @ http://glittergeeks.blogspot.com/
black, white and 1 other (i used grey ) @ http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping by, have a great and inky day!!!
ta trace x

woyww, #128, how hooked am i????and what a mess on the floor!

2011-11-16T06:28:00.000Z

hey there bloggers,
well here we are Wednesday again?where did my week go?
So here we are again on the fab desk tour of sharing courtesy of Julia over @ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/
Anyways, enough of the old waffle here is my desk today...(well i took the pictures yesterday,butit still looks the same!)

I mean here is my messy desk!!!What a pickle, I used to be a tidy crafter and now..WELL WHAT CAN I SAY..there are piles of inks, stamps on the floor and I am having A BALL!!!! Here is to messy and happy crafting!!!
Here is a close up of the desk, ..

And here for a bit of excitement, only kidding..is a piccie of my shelves from a very well known Swedish shop, full of jars of buttons and goodies!

Oh my golly and look at the pile of stamps that are strewn on the floor..naughty naughty!!!
Anyway for more fab fun desks and far more exciting craftiness than me, hop across to woyww @ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/
and why don't you pop your desk on and hop around ( not literally) and feel the crafty love too.x
have a great woyww,
hugs trace x

As sweet as pie!! Sweet things at anything goes..

2011-11-15T10:01:00.000Z

Hey the bloggers,
Well here I am with my dt piece for anything goes challenge blog this week @ http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/.
I have gone for another vintage feel piece this week as I don't have any really cute, sweet images...these vintage baking stamps from creative expressions are fab.So here she is:

I divided the background into three, rather than my usual two as I wanted to add the corrugated texture and build up layers of interest.The left hand side is corrugated card, with DI rubbed over the top and the middle section is made using DI, no shock there then!!! And over stamped with rolling pins and the left hand side is using distress inks and over stamped with hearts.
The elements are stamped with walnut stain onto card pre coloured with antique linen...my favourite!!!

The tag was a small chipboard tag painted and then coloured, be aware the paint absorbs some of the ink and softens then colours.I added paper strong to continue the vintage feel.

The little hearts were cut out from border stamp and then added to pie and background.

To finish I added..mmm,mmm,Good! And a mini rolling pin and spatula...from stash..think these are dolls house accessories!

The last touch was a little bit of crystal glitter.
I am entering this for the following competitions:
food @ http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/
food @ http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/2011/11/fbc-72-whats-cookin.html
monochromatic @ http://houseofgilli.blogspot.com/
Well make sure you hop across to anything goes challenge blog @ http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ to see the fab DT work and maybe pop in an entry yourself.
have a great inky day
ta trace x

swirls and pearls, .bet that shocked you!?I didn't think I was a pearly girlie either?!

2011-11-14T18:49:00.002Z

hey there bloggers,

yes it is still me..I try to do some different things every now and again and here she is, a swirly and pearly little number:

I made my background in yes you have guessed two halves, see it is still ME!
The left hand side was made using an old and never inked stamp from the now chocolate baroque and I inked with perfect medium and clear embossed to create a resist...I never tire of this technique.
Once dry I added perfect pearls mists in blue smoke and perfect pearl, I have never used these before and they are great!!!, When dry i added some iced spruce from the winter DI, it is so yummy!!!!I added it over the embossed images to make them 'pop'

The right side was made using iced spruce DI, applied to card using cut n dry foam, then I stamped the same stamp, using iced spruce, when dry i added some Tim snowflakes, in snow cap paint dabber.

The pearls were added to the details on the snowflakes.To complete I added flourishes ( another fabbie Tim die), white lace and finally a charm fragment I have been itching to use!!

I am entering this for the following competitions:
pearls and swirls @ http://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/
no black lines @ http://prairiefairyfridays.blogspot.com/
snowflakes @ http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/
pearls @ http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.com/
let it snow @ http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com/
favourite technique @ http://letsinkitup.blogspot.com/
the colours of winter @ http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/
pearls and lace @ http://addicted-to-stamps-challenge.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping by
thanks for sharing the love with your comments, they mean a lot
have a great day!!!
ta trace x

thanks..........a card and thanks to you too.

2011-11-13T12:37:00.000Z

hey there bloggers,
well firstly I want to say a huge THANK YOU!!!! to my new followers and all my other followers for the lovely comments and for stopping by, it means a lot to know there are people out in blogland who like what I do, or think it is okay at least!!thanks!
Well enough waffle, here is my card today, using a great Megan Suarez digi:

This card was relatively simple to do,..I started with my background and for the newbies I have a thing about two halves..both halves here were made with fab dylusions paints and the same colours, just in different ways..

The flowers are made from old book pages, cut with the one and only Tim die, painted with the same great paints and then when dry scrunched and a gem added to centres.

The leaves are some from stash, the greeting is from the pc and the lovely image is from @ http://sillydillybeans.blogspot.com/ and coloured using promarkers.

There a short and sweet one from me today..
I am entering this for the following competitions:
anything goes @ http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
use a digi @ http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
be thankful @ http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/
thank you @ http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
blue and green @ http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping by have a great day,
ta trace x

poe in black and grey, collage style background

2011-11-10T11:15:00.000Z

hey there bloggers,
well here is the last of my Poe creations for gingersnaps and collage background for the stampman and backgrounds for the artistic stamper, links are below at bottom of post.
I have really enjoyed this although It was something I admit I thought I might struggle with..this card has been made a while and waiting to be blogged..so here he is:

I do make myself laugh that my pieces are here he is..or here she is...weird eh??Anyway, enough onwards.
I wanted to include Poe and decided to use him as part of the background...This time, you will be shocked to learn the are 3 pieces to background, well you will if you stop by here or have before as I have this thing for two parts to my backgrounds, I digress..
The right hand side of this collage style card was made using DI in pumice stone and then I stamped cobwebs, blots and pen nibs in black soot.The middle section is pictures of Poe, inked over with DI pumice stone and the left hand side was made using tissue tape. The collage effect was added to with pieces of text from the book my sister gave me..which I highlighted..beating of and heart..using The Tell-Tale heart , as inspiration.

To continue to build up the background, I added staples...(a thing of mine!!!),a stampbord tile, edged with metal tape and stamped with a heart and pen nib added word heart, ink blots and some cobweb stuff.

Sorry , hope this all makes sense?!! Overall I love the collage style background and love just playing, this really is a product of playing and seeing where I ended.This time I liked the journey and the destination!!sometimes the destination is the bin!!!

I am entering this for the following competitions:
black and grey @ http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/
backgrounds @ http://theartisticstampercreativeteam.blogspot.com/
collage backgrounds @ http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/
textalicious @ http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/
masculine @ http://stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by, your kindness and comments make my day and thanks for managing to make it to the end of this post!!!!
Have an inky day
Hugs and thanks trace x

WOYWW ~#127 a seasoned pro!!? NOT!!!!

2011-11-09T06:20:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
well here I am today on the wonderfully addictive woyww desk tour courtesy of Julia @ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/
I am eagerly awaiting hopping around the desks later today..and here is my desk today:

and below is the fab hanging, well i like it,..on the back of the door..just beacuse..my desk wasn't too exciting sorry!!..and some butterflies I stamped on the wall(naughty girl!!) and some draws that have been sanded for me to decorate..sometime!

Well sorry bloggers but not much inky excitement here today, just a crackled frame on the desk awaiting some tlc...which has been going to my poorly son, hence lack of inky inspiration on my desk...
So, as there is not much of my crafty offerings I thought I would show you my childrens arty books from half term..hope you dont mind?!! So here are my young crafters in half term training!!!

And here are some of their books!!

The top two are james and olivers and the bottom is little Lucys, just two..bless I promise I will be back with some more inkyness of my own soon..
happy woyww, remember to hop on over @ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ and have a look around, there are some awesome things to look at and great crafty love around! Why don't you pop your desk on and join the fun!
have a great day
hugs trace x

As simple as one, two, three for saturated canary challenge!!

2011-11-07T18:55:00.001Z

Hey there bloggers,
Well this will be short and sweet as my son is poorly, so I am posting and then I am off.Every so often I like to challenge myself to do something that is different for me...and following a recipe ..of any kind is something I find hard.Anyway I tried for the challenge at saturated canary and here she is:

The challenge was to use 1 image, 2 patterned papers and 3 embellishments...I found this really hard!! I guess I usually just ink and play and end up somewhere and this time I had to follow the rules, so she is simple, and yes I had to add some Distress ink!!!

Anyway, let me know what you think?! I added the photo just to prove I really did stick to the rules and boy was it tough!!!
I am entering this for the following competitions:
follow 1,2,3 @ http://saturatedcanarychallenge.blogspot.com/search/label/current%20challenge
anything goes @ http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/
use a digi @ http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/
Thanks
OOPS..i have added this link as this is where the papers are from, sorry forgot!!! http://tiddlyinks.blogspot.com/
Have a great inky day,
Hugs trace x

Totally Tilda christmas gd spot in gold and cream

2011-11-06T08:20:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
Hope you are having a great day,
Here is something totally out of the norm for me, I was lucky enough to win a guest design spot at Totally Tilda @ http://totallytilda.blogspot.com/
It is not my usual style but I hope I have done the image and the team justice...so here she is:

I started doing the right hand side of the background using antique linen DI, which I sprayed with water and then blotted off, the left hand side is patterned glittery paper, coloured with antique linen and then edged with tea dye.
The image was coloured with pro markers and glittery Sakura pens , I then added some crystal glitter to add detail.
The flowers are using Tim holtz tattered floral dies, and inked with antique linen. The centres are pearls coloured with burnished brass crackle distress paint.

The leaves are die cuts coloured with the same paint.. I added the sentiment to the little tag and some of the paper across tag.

Why don't you pop across and see the fab dt work and maybe enter yourselves @ http://totallytilda.blogspot.com/
Thanks for stopping by
Share the love and leave a comment
Ta trace x

Love potion for the altered poison bottle at stampotique

2011-11-04T11:50:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
Well here I am again with an altered item, which is something far from the norm for me, not sure about the results but I enjoyed the journey!!
So here is my love potion, my entry for the altered poison bottle at stampotique:

I started with a plain cider bottle ( liked the shape , tipped the cider away..yucky stuff to me!) and then needed a stopper and happened across this light bulb...my eureka moment!! I don't do big eureka moments...!!!, but it seemed to make a great stopper.
I coloured the outside of the bottle by dripping alcohol inks down and over the light bulb.

I then set about making the potion, you cannot see it clearly until shaken, but i used water coloured with alcohol inks, fine glitter and olive oil, when shaken the blobs float around and I liked that!!!
The labels were made from sticky ellipse tape (usually for masking), they were coloured with DI in tumbled glass, broken china and dusty concord.I the stamped the heart collage in dusty concord and spritzed, when dry I added rubons for letters and hearts on a string in black soot.

The ingredients label was to cover the bar code on the bottle and made in the same way, and i did some handwriting, oh my gosh!!
please excuse the rubbish photo...not my forte..it says handmade for you with love..ingredients, my heart, my soul, my love..

The tag itself was a small tag coloured in same way, this little chappie,(who I love!!)the 3-d hearts are from the stampotique door.. I added and rub ons and stones to add a bit of something!?

I wound paper string around neck and secured the light bulb, I hope!!!!, and dripped wax down the bottle..
All in all it was a real change for me and is okay, but hop across and see the designers , there are some stunners!!! @ http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/

I am entering this for the following competitions:
altered poison bottle @ http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/
anything but a card @ http://cookingitupwithkatie.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/2011/11/fbc-71-nov-prize-challenge.html

Thanks for stopping by, your kindness and comments makes my day, which is feeling a bit mojoless and flat at the moment,
have a great inky day
hugs trace x

steampunk tag with perspiration and inspiration!!!!!

2011-11-03T16:13:00.001Z

Hey there bloggers,
well it has been a real grey day today, so excuse the light on the photos which is a bit strange!!!
so the theme over at dragonsdream is steampunk for challenge #103,
so here he is:

I started by making the background of the tag using a Tim mask and various DI (weathered wood, tea dye, frayed burlap and walnut stain).I kept moving the mask and over inking to create a mixed cog background, which I was rather chuffed with.

The elements are from Tim and creative expressions and were inked in black soot onto card pre coloured with DI.

I used a quote as the focus and this quote is too fab not to be the focus...it makes me smile!

I added some metal gears, spinner and bulb, all Tim's ideaology to give that steampunk feel.
The ribbon was coloured in the same DI..

I have missed joining in at dragonsdream, so hop across and have ago..

I am entering this for the following challenges:
#103 steampunk @ http://dragon-dragonsdream.blogspot.com/
distressing @ http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/
masculine @ http://stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/
lanterns or lights @ (lightbulb) @ http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/
spooled item, i.e. ribbon and anything goes @ http://ribboncarouselchallenge.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by, share the love and leave a comment!
have an inky day!
hugs trace x

WOYWW, I am officially hooked!!!! #126 or no 3 for me!!

2011-11-02T11:43:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
well happy WOYWW !!! Sorry this is late but I have been crafting!!I know in the week!!!Lucy is being looked after and I have been playing and oh my golly...what a crafty mess and what fun...
so here is my desk..a little earlier , believe me you can't see it now!!!

Anyway , pop on over to Julia's @ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ and look at all those crafty spaces and goodies and maybe pop your desk on, believe me this is addictive..

I will desk hopping later, as must make the most of the mid week crafty time...it doesn't happen often!!!

have a great inky day

hugs trace x

Some vintage stitching in coffee, cream and dark chocolate.

2011-11-01T05:41:00.001Z

Hey there bloggers,
Well it is challenge time over at anything goes again @ http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ ,the challenge theme for challenge #53 is real or faux stitching. Make sure you pop across and see the stunning DT work.
If you fancy having a go you can pop also across to Lynnes at craft den @ http://www.craftden.co.uk/ for all your crafty supplies!
So here is my piece:A 3-d mini wooden screen,

There is lots going on so I will try and ramble as little as possible, but giving all the details and I am afraid lots of pictures..

I started with a blank screen and painted it with dark paint, crackle medium and the cream paint, i never tire of this fab crackle effect.I then added DI in antique linen, tea dye and frayed burlap to soften cream and make it look more distressed.

My real stitching is the lace flower and the stitching sample, made form canvas coloured with DI and embroidery thread, I also added some faux stitches using walnut stain DI.

The two of the bobbins, mannequin and buttons were cut from grungepaper using TIM die.The buttons were then painted, stamped and glazed using rock candy crackle glaze.Once dry walnut stain was added to show crackle even more.

The other elements were from the toodles and binks stamp plate , la couture and Tim Holtz seamless experience set, all were stamped in walnut stain onto card coloured with antique linen ( my favorite ) and tea dye.The mannequin was painted and grunged using walnut stain stickles, which was sanded when dried and ink added. The dress was made from canvas coloured using distress inks and a seed bead necklace added.

I wound thread around the bobbins and lace around one.

Then all the pieces were assembled using pinflair glue.

I am thrilled with this coffee and cream coloured piece, I may even put it in the lounge!!!blimey!!!!

Anyway, hope you are still here and thanks for putting up with all the pictures and the rambling!!

I am entering this for the following challenges :

coffee, cream and dark chocolate @ http://fashionablestampingchallenges.cottagecrafts.ie/

sew what @ http://raisethebarchallenge.blogspot.com/

anything goes @ http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/

anything goes @ http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/

vintage @ http://addicted-to-stamps-challenge.blogspot.com/

vintage @ http://stampsfun-creativity.blogspot.com/

distressing @ http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/

buttons @ http://stampwithfun.blogspot.com/

au naturale @ http://tsgclearstamps.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping by! let me know what you think?!!

have a great inky day!

hugs trace x

Manuscript found in a bottle, Poe style for gingersnaps,second post today!!

2011-10-31T13:56:00.001Z

Hey there bloggers,
Well I have to say, despite not being sure, I am LOVING the go Poe month of challenges at gingersnap, this using alcohol inks, @ http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/ ,make sure you hop across and see the fab dt work, and entries.
This was not something I had turned my hand to before and I can honestly say I have loved all four of the challenges and will be sad to see the month end...I will even miss Poe!!!
Anyway, enough waffling..here is my piece:

The challenge at gingersnaps this time was using alcohol inks, which I definitely don't use enough!!!
I started by making a background piece using alcohol inks, I also applied them to a fragment and then removed the colour from centre using blending solution.The alcohol inks were also applied to a stampbord tile.
Once the background was dry I added strips of tissue tape,.....,
The other half of the card was covered with text from a book kindly given to me for this by my sister.

I chose manuscript found on a bottle... I made a scroll from a piece of the text and added some inside a bottle...which I dripped alcohol inks down the outside of.

The stampbord tile was over stamped with pen nibs and Poe added.

The tile had a picture of Poe added. To complete the card the pieces were assembled and then a pen nib added.
I am entering this for the following challenges:
alcohol inks @ http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://www.comeandgetitchallenges.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by and taking time to look , it means a lot!
leave a comment and let me know what you think!!

ta trace x
have an inky day!!!

night skies for the stampman..

2011-10-31T06:44:00.000Z

Hey there bloggers,
I want to say a huge welcome to my new followers and also a huge thanks to all my followers and for the lovely comments I have received, they make my day and I appreciate the time you all take to stop by and look around, thanks I am loving being part of blogland!!!
Onwards, the challenge at stampman challenges @ http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/ is night skies, I had a clear idea of what I wanted to do and then did this instead..and am really pleased..I love the way inkyness evolves and you suddenly find all this things long forgotten, play and end up with a pleasing result!!!! even if my room looked like a hurricane had just passed through, I used to be such a neat crafter!!!
So, here she is :

I started by making the background using DI, I used the variations of : tumbled glass, stormy skies,pumice stone,chipped sapphire and black soot.The dark colours were using sparingly.I then stamped the birds on a wire and the collage image and clock on paper coloured in the same way, the one and only TIM stamps from lost and found, lifes possibilities and ornate collages.

The elements were then all layered up using pinflair glue.

I am entering this for the following competitions:
night skies @ http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping bay, if you have time stay a while,
have an inky day!!
hugs trace x

B is for boo!!!!

2011-10-30T11:49:00.001Z

hey there bloggers,
Well here is another little canvas today, my last Halloween piece of the year I should think!??but who knows??..i know it isn't now as there is a Halloween challenge over at the Sunday stampers!! http://pinkleart.blogspot.com/, pop over and see Hels inspiration, it is fab!!
Anyway here he is:

i made this canvas for the Halloween challenge at the Octopode factory..@ http://toffchallenge.blogspot.com/
I made the background by covering in orange paint and then brushing corners with black soot DI. I then stamped cobwebs in black and pearl paint dabber. Once dry I added the bats and the letters.The cute little ghosties are Lilys.

I am entering this for the following competitions:
Halloween @ http://toffchallenge.blogspot.com/
b is for boo @ http://abc-challenge.blogspot.com/
Thanks for stopping by,
Ta trace x
Have a great inky day!!

WOYWW, second go I am hooked!...third post today..like buses my posts!!!

2011-10-26T08:55:00.000+01:00

Well hey there bloggers,
I entered for the first time last week and officially hooked!! I may not get much crafting done today as the children are on half term but have projects afoot, that lay on my desk awaiting attention!!!!
So here is my desk today...

Then I thought you might like to see what hides above bagpuss and my crafty efforts!!

and one more for luck!!

I cannot wait to hop around and look at other peoples!Why don't you hop over to Julias and have a look and put your desk in the mix at http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/
My crafting today will be helping my children with crafty projects as James (8) wants to make a mosaic box, Oliver (6) has some air dry clay to play with and Lucy (2), well,she will just get messy I guess, but hopefully a great time will be had by all!!!
have a great day!
ta trace x

Horror stories for gingersnap...second post today

2011-10-26T08:38:00.000+01:00

Hey the bloggers,
Well this challenge was horror stories and Edgar Alan Poe inspired...I thought and thought and then went for it!!!

I started with a tag and covered half using Edgar text from his book, which felt a bit naughty but looked good!!! I over stamped the other side of the tag in text inked with pumice stone.
I inked the tag using distress inks in pumice stone, black soot and aged mahogany to create an eerie feel, I hope!!!!
Then I waited for the ink to dry (well blasted it again actually, patience is not my strong point when I am on a roll!!!).When dry I heat embossed the Tim pen nibs, which I just love, and embossed using detail embossing powder.I love the detail and shine in contrast to the eerie smudgy background.
finally I added a splat stamp using aged mahogany DI.

I added staples down edge of text, pen nibs, a heart cut from grungepaper and half covered in tissue tape with text and finally a treatment with. Picture of Poe himself.
To add to the stories and writing element, I stamped pen nibs onto the ribbon.
My favourite piece is the dolls house books which I added some text and blood to one of the pages.

I love the feel of this tag and how it all came together, let me know what you think, gently!!!
I am entering this for the following challenges:
Horror stories @ http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/
Emboss it @ http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/
Books @ http://drunkenstampers.wordpress.com/
Emboss it @ http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/
spooky/scary @ http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.com/
no designer paper @ http://craftysentiments.blogspot.com/
spooky @ http://stampinfortheweekend.blogspot.com/
Thanks for stopping by, it makes my day!
Have a good one !
Ta trace x

let it snow, vintage style..

2011-10-26T07:15:00.000+01:00

Hey there bloggers,
My first post today is vintage and wintery inspired..so here she is:

I started by craeting the background using some fantastic creative expressions stamps, which I was so lucky to win...and my oh so favoruite distress ink from the one and only TIM!!
I created the background in two halves, I know how predictable!!?! The left hand side was coloured with antique linen. and then over stamped with snowflakes in antique linen and tea dye DI.
The right hand side was stmped with tress, over coloured with DI to soften them, spritzed and dabbed off and then when dry more trees added to create depth and detail....i hope?!!

Vintage ribbon and paper string coloured with tea dye were added to left hand side. The main image was stamped and the edges gently inked, with same colours..although to add a bit more definition I added some walnut stain,very gently...which has to be said is not always my forte!!!

The swirls, and flowers use Tim dies and the flowers were cut from an old book and coloured with DI.

I am not usually a pearl person, but they seemed to suit this, oh and a bit of glitter for snowy trim and tress. The sentiment is again creative expressions.

I am entering this for the following competitions:

let it snow @ http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/

one colour only @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/

winter sentiment @ http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/

layer upon layer @ http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/

vintage christmas @ http://christmasblogchallenge.blogspot.com/

distress it @ http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/

card competition @ http://www.creative-expressions.uk.com/aboutus/promotions/index.php?pid=3

recipie @ http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/

thanks for looking, hope you have a fab inky day!

ta trace x

Home is where the heart is....second post today!

2011-10-23T19:18:00.001+01:00

Hey there bloggers,
Well my second offering today has amazed me!! It started life as a very cheap canvas and I am thrilled with the results!! So here she is:

I wanted to enter the houses challenge over at The Octopode factory @ http://toffchallenge.blogspot.com/ but didn't really know where I was going to end up...quite often I have a firm idea of where I am heading at least, but this time I went with it and loved where I ended up!!! I may even hang it up !!!!!
I started with my scrummy dylusions paints and added colour to the canvas board, then when dry I added some white through sequin waste, dried (yes I blasted it with my heat gun!!!) I added some of the rusty red colour using sponge dabber to soften some of the white. I added some aged mahogany distress ink around the edges when dry..( I couldn't not, if you read my previous post I didn't use any DI and was still shaking!!!).

Onwards, I took Lilys house Digi and just added colour to the heart, using DI.I also added some grass, a Lily rubber stamp.
The font was from the computer and I cut a heart to put 'heart' onto using Tim movers and shapers die, coloured using DI.
The small hearts were made using the same die, I cut them from clear shrink plastic (forgotten how much I love this stuff,) then I made the whole. They were coloured using alcohol inks.... which I then remembered were flammable!!!, so wondered if that and heat was such a cool idea?
I heated the pieces with some trepidation, but was ok...phew!!!!
I added two as smoke from chimney and the rest to the wire to hang the piece up.

I am entering this for:
houses @ http://toffchallenge.blogspot.com/
new beginnings i.e new house @ http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by, let me know what you think?
I am really pleased and can see a few more hangings coming on !!!!
Have a happy inky day
Ta Trace x

Autumn leaves..

2011-10-23T18:58:00.001+01:00

Well hey there bloggers,
I am going to try and do a short and sweet post, which if you have stopped by before you will know is hard for me!!! So here is my offering today:

I have done this card using a simple style background and guess what? NO DISTRESS INKS!!! Yes, I am shaking at the thought!?I managed to do this all without those fab favourite, crafty staple!
The background was made using big n juicy, spice ink pad overstamping with a Tim script.The image is a tiddlyinks one bought from my winnings, thanks to everyone at tiddlyinks or picking me!!She is flower girl but I though would suit autumn colours too, I added a little glitter just to flowers.
I added some pre bought fabric leaves, that I added ink to deepen colours and a couple of Tim flourishes.
I am entering this into the fall cards @
tiddly inks fall card @ http://tiddlyinks.blogspot.com/
autumn @ http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/
autumn @ http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/
fall @ http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
There I managed a short and sweet post!!sort of? I will be back soon and yes there will be more crafty ramblings I am sure!
Have a great day
Ta trace x

Nevermore quoth the raven! fourth and final post today!!!promise!!!

2011-10-21T16:17:00.000+01:00

Hey there bloggers,
Well gingersnap are having some spooky Edgar Alan Poe inspired competitions and this one is ravens.
http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/

I started with a copy of the raven that my sister had kindly given to me for this!!!
I tore the pages out of the book , which felt very naughty!
I covered the card with the poem and then coloured using my seasonal Tim Holtz inks that had just arrived and just couldn't wait to be used!!!
I chose seedless preserves and gosh is it gorgeous!!!, and black soot.I then had to add a torn strip, be rude not too, and I coloured this using same DI and overstamped with script using black soot.Then I added some mini staples!!!!
The right hand half was stamped with barbed wire stamp and then a shadowy raven added, I love the way the text peeks through although I still feel slightly guilty about the book!

The tile of Poe was made using an Internet image ,glossy accents and a TIM fragment.
I added a fence using pen nibs, embossed in silver..hope that idea translates from my head to the card?!!!

Finally I finished with the ravens quote...nevermore,using scrabble letters coloured with ink
I am entering this for gc123- Ravens @ http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/
embossing @ http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/ (I used heat embossing on the fence)

I didn't know how this would turn out but I am thrilled and suprised at the finished result, let me know what you think..be gentle!!

Thanks for stopping by
Hugs trace x

Happy Halloween....third post today!

2011-10-21T16:00:00.000+01:00

Well hey there bloggers
third post today!!!I am making the most of having a minute to myself to catch up on posting!!
Gosh it has turned so cold, might have to put my flip flops away for good!
Anyway, here is another orange looking card for Halloween, promise I will do different colour next time!!!

Those of you who happen here often will be shocked to find that this card has one background, not split into two halves!!!I know I had to question myself but managed not to add another part!!!The background was made using DI and then dripping large drips of water onto the colours and blotting off...I adore the effect this gives..very time it looks different and works with all colours and most size drips!!
Then to darken the drip splits in added DI in pumice stone and gently with some black soot!
The background was then overstamped with bats, swirls and cobwebs.

The main image and sentiment are from chocolate baroque.I painted the main image using DI and then added some black glaze pen to add detail.

I am entering this for the following competitions:
Halloween @ http://drunkenstampers.wordpress.com/
spooky fun @ http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/
S for soon to be Halloween @ http://alphabetchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Halloween@ http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.com/
Halloween@ http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/
Halloween@ http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.com/
Flying things @ http://corrosivechallengesbyjanet.blogspot.com/
Halloween@ http://ibrakeforchallenges.blogspot.com/
spooky hues....@ http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/
Thanks for stopping by
Have a happy inky day
Share the love and leave a comment, they make my day!
Hugs trace x

Just batty about bats!!! 2nd post today!!!

2011-10-21T12:57:00.000+01:00

Well hey there bloggers!!!
second post today!!!
Today I have been playing with paint and ink and having a very messy and fairly productive time!
It makes me realise that these paints are nowhere near as good as the dylusions ones and I need the other colours,still the background is great for this card as I was overstamping and stuff!
Anyway here is my offering today..

I started with my painty background and then added stripes from Lily at the octopode factory and bats form the one and only TIM!!The image is from tiddly inks a range of digis that I am growing very fond of, and me the girl who was NEVER NEVER EVER going to do digi! Anyway here she is batty, just batty about bats and I am rather fond of the little fellas myself!
The images are all coloured in monochrome and the flowers are cut on stripy paper which I have darkened with black soot distress ink.

And yes I did have to add a few , only a few mini staples..couldn't help myself!!!
I am entering this for the following challenges:
monochromatic @ http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/
no patterned paper @ http://blingitonchallenges.blogspot.com/
Halloween @ http://tiddlyinkschallenge.blogspot.com/
stripes @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/
balck and white image @ http://someoddgirl.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping by and for all the lovely comments , it means a lot!
have a happy inky day!
ta trace x

Let your imagination give you wings!

2011-10-21T08:58:00.000+01:00

Hey there bloggers,
Well this time I will get this post right!!!
Hope you are having an inky day,
It is challenge time over at stampotique and create a tag, http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/10/sdc40-its-tag-time.html , which I love making, so here she is:

I love Halloween stamps but it was so nice to do a non halloweeny coloured piece (as I seem to have made lots of orange lately!!) and that is why I decided on some of my favourite colours, blue and green.
I started off with some masking, stamping the stampotique girl, then masking off using eclipse tape, then I inked up some TIM wings in perfect medium and heat embossed.
Can't remeber her name, sorry .. that is really bad , when I had a classfull Iwas really hot at names, now I can't remember one, even if she is a stamp!!!!
The background was made using my favourite background technique of the moment, colouring tag with distress inks,then splatting with big drops of water and blotting dry with kitchen towel , if only I was that creative in the kitchen, which believe me I AM NOT!!!!I then let this dry ( no I wasn't that patient, I blasted it with my heat gun!!!!). Once dry I buffed off the wings with kitchen towel to remove any DI left on them.

The tag was then stamped with Tim script stamp, in peeled paint DI.
To add that last bit I added my brand new, much sought after Tim flourish, gosh it is yummy!!!
To finish I added this great quote from Tim stamps and some vintage cream seam binding which I coloured with DI and spritzed with water so the colours blend.

Bought a huge roll of this ribbon and thought I must be mad to spend that on such a massive roll, but it is GREAT..you can colour it , crinkle it, stamp it..so much fun!
Anyway enough rambling, I am entering this for the following competitions,
Tag time @ http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/10/sdc40-its-tag-time.html
Tag using a quote @ http://rogueredheaddesigns.blogspot.com/2011/10/rc004-tag-lines.html
taking to the skies tag @ http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by,
Have an inky day
Hugs trace x

Oh my golly!!

2011-10-21T07:04:00.002+01:00

Hey there bloggers,
if you accidentally got a whiff of my post, it will be back but I pressed post and hadn't finished or added any pictures, that is what comes of trying to post with 3 children already up!
Ta trace x

woyww, my first ever entry!!

2011-10-19T12:15:00.000+01:00

well hey there bloggers,
and for my second post today I decided to pluck up the courage and enter my desk into the woyww..
I don't often craft during the day as I have little Lucy to keep me out of inky mischief, however she went into town with daddy on a rare day off and inkyness called...nothing finished quite,but boy I have made some inkyness today!
so here goes..my desk..

Anyway why don't u hop on over and have a nose around other peoples desks..really love looking at what people far cleverer than me are doing.. and where they get inky! WOYWW @ http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping by, stay a while if you have time

ta trace x

We are all mad here, orange and black for the Octopode factory

2011-10-19T08:43:00.002+01:00

hey there bloggers,
Well it is challenge time over with Lily at the Octopode factory..@ http://toffchallenge.blogspot.com/
The theme is orange and black so I decided to use Alice to make a Halloween themed card.

The background is DI which will come as no shock to anyone if you have happened across my blog before..I Love them!
I used wild honey, spiced marmalade and black soot.
The background, is yes you've guessed in two halves...another trace trait!!!Both are coloured in very similar colours this time.The left had side has then been stamped with cobwebs from TIM and the right hand side using a fab stampotique swirl and some Tim bats.
The sentiment is one of Lilys and I love it!!The design elements are Lilys and I have used snowy runs elements to make the poles for the pumpkins heads.

I used Alice and coloured her rather differently and used black glaze pen to add stripes to her hair.
I then put the card together and hope it makes you smile?!..it makes me smile!

Why don't you hop on over and have a play..
I am entering this for the following competitions:
Orange and black@ http://toffchallenge.blogspot.com/
Pumpkins @ http://freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/2011/10/fbc-67-prize-challenge.html
Halloween@ http://cheerfulstamppad.blogspot.com/
spooky@ http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/
halloween @ http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/
halloween @ http://gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com/
happy halloween @ http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/
Thanks for stopping by, your comments make my day
ta trace x

Time flies, using chipboard letters for anything goes.

2011-10-18T06:53:00.000+01:00

Hey there bloggers,
Well it is challenge time over at anything goes @ http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/
here is my design for the to the letter challenge.

I decided to go for something other than a card and decorated a Notebook.I firstly crackled the outside using crackle medium and paint.Once dry I coloured using distress inks, these and lots of other supplies are available at the craft den @ http://www.craftden.co.uk/
I used tumbled glass and broken china. I used a Tim holtz mask of a clock to leave some of base colour of book showing through and then removed.The letters were plain chipboard letters, coloured with DI and then over stamped with a clock stamp, then I applied clear rock candy..which crackles when it dries.

The butterfly is a grungeboard butterfly (Tim ) and this was coloured, stamped and crackled in same way as the letters.

The mini butterflies were cut using movers and shapers die from card and coloured using DI, then I added pearls to centres.The flourishes were also cut using Tim Holtz die.

The flowers were made using fantastic paperartsy stamps and the coordinating die, the centres were made using |Tim Holtz washers and brads.

Finally,the centre of the main butterfly was a pen nib.Then the whole piece was assembled.Sorry I forgot to take some step by step photos, will try to remember next time, just got carried away making!!!
Why don't you hop on over to anything goes challenge@ http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ and have a go and see all the dts fab work. For supplies hop over to the craft den @ http://www.craftden.co.uk/
I am entering this for the following challenges:
anything but a card @ http://fashionablestampingchallenges.cottagecrafts.ie/
no patterned papers @ http://blingitonchallenges.blogspot.com/
flowers @ http://heartsonginspirations.blogspot.com/
flowers @ http://emeraldfaeries.blogspot.com/
free and easy @ http://cutedaisymay.blogspot.com/
Have a great day,thanks for stopping by
share the love and leave a comment
hugs trace x

Spookylicious for forever nights...

2011-10-17T19:28:00.004+01:00

Hey there bloggers,
Well here I am with my black and creepy card for the challenge over at forever night challenges @ http://forevernightchallenges.blogspot.com/

I started by, yes you have guessed it, my two backgrounds for each half...the left hand side was created using my dylusions paints and then adding distress inks when dry.

the right hand side was created using DI in pumice stone and black soot..then over stamped with stampotique skull heads to give hopefully an eerie feel.

The main image is another new stampotique stamp, masked so that I could add these super cool bat wings!!!
I coloured the image using pro markers and then added some black glaze pen.
To complete I added a spookylicious sentiment from chocolate baroque and then, yes I know more staples!!!I am officially HOOKED!!!!!

Anyway, hope you like it, why don't u hop on over to forever night challenges @ http://forevernightchallenges.blogspot.com/ and see the fab entries, have some creepy fun!!
I am entering this for the following challenges ;
forever night challenges as above,
simon says stamps, halloween/goth @ http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by
Share the love and leave a comments
Hugs Trace x

why this watch is exactly two days slow!!

2011-10-16T19:26:00.000+01:00

hey there bloggers,
well here is my entry for the tiddlyinks challenge, boys/men...I chose to go with the madhatter from tiddly inks which was an image which appealed to me....and then dived into my Alice goodies and time themed things!
so here it is:

I am more than happy with the outcome of this card, which is more than can be said for some of my crafty escapades today!!
I started by printing and colouring the image and I am now a dab hand at resizing, for me a MAJOR achievement!!

This background is in three pieces - the first using an Alice watch stamp in pumice stone DI and then blending over the top.The middle piece is embossed and coloured using DI pumice stone and black soot and the third piece is coloured with dusty concord and stamped with pocket watch in black.

I added a quote stamp and a little pocket watch charm from ebay and a piece of chain from a broken bracelets safety chain..and voila!
Oh and a few staples from my addiction of the moment, my tiny Tim Holtz stapler attacher.
I am entering this for the tiddly inks challenge @ http://tiddlyinkschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/10/challenge-68-boys-will-be-boys.html
thanks for stopping by,
I really appreciate and love all the kind and wonderful comments that are left!
thanks ta trace x

The best way to keep love is to give it wings

2011-10-16T13:29:00.001+01:00

Hey there bloggers,
well as seems to be my way at the moment I am nearly going to miss simonsaysstampsandshow again!! But, in my defence my baby girl turned two on Thursday and it has been cakes and presents and treasuring those memories!!And here are my gorgeous three children,wanted to indulge myself, sorry!!onwards to craft land...

Anyway onwards, here is my entry for things with wings over at simon says stamp and show @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/

I decided to try and do a love themed card which is very unusual for me and found a really beautiful quote as my centre piece..

"The quickest way to receive love is to give;

the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly;

and the best way to keep love is to give it wings"

Anyway , I love it, must be feeling all sentimental!

I started by cutting the hearts from grungepaper and colouring using aged mahogany distress inks, then adding some Tim tissue tape over part.

The wings were created using clearly for art film cut into butterfly shapes, coloured with alcohol inks, over stamped with script and then heated and shaped.

I the glued these behind the heart shapes, giving love its wings!!- if you get my drift?!!!

The left hand background was a much loved script stamp, From Tim, inked in aged mahogany distress ink and some blended around edges.

The right hand side was a background paper coloured with same DI and the quote printed over.

The butterfly was made from same film and an ideology spinner used as body.

I added a couple of flourishes and two hearts over stamped with script to finish.

Hope you like it and I will be back later with another post,

thanks for stopping by,

have an inky, happy day

ta trace x

Music for the Octopode factory

2011-10-12T07:36:00.000+01:00

Hey there bloggers,
Well it is challenge time again over at the Octopode factory @ http://toffchallenge.blogspot.com/
Why not hop on over and have a little look.
the theme this week is music and I decided to try something different and use one of Lilys collage sheets!I know brave eh?
I had to do some stamping and use my DI, the thought of not makes me feel peculiar!!?

I used DI in. To colour the background.This was then overstamped with a Lili of the valley music background stamp, then I added a splatter stamp from Tim.I added a band of printed musical notes, found on net.The middle part was an act course, distressed and stamped.
The broken heart and man were from Lilys collage sheet, which I printed outbid black and White although it comes in lovely colours.The quote, I found and I love.."music is the medicine of the breaking heart." Leigh Hunt.
Anyways, hope you like it, let me know as it is something a bit different for me!
Share the love and leave a comment

Ta trace x

Trick or treat?

2011-10-10T20:14:00.000+01:00

Hey there bloggers,
Well here I am with a halloweeny card, I don't know why but I am drawn to halloweeny things, not too gruesome though , I am officially a scardey cat when it comes to super spooky things!
This card kind of developed and let me play with the wonderful Halloween Tim stamps again , some DI and my new fab stampotique stamp and a few more staples from my attacher I know, I don't think I used it in the last post so I HAD too!!!
Here she is:

The background was again made in two halves which is my thing of the moment!!!I have quite a few!!!things of the moment I mean?!
The lhs was made using DI, then I spritzed with water and blotted off.I blasted it with my heat gun until nearly dry and then over stamped with script, so it bled slightly. Once completely dry I added a couple of black cobwebs...I love this stamp!The rhs used my fav resist technique, stamping my much loved cobwebs in perfect medium, clear embossing and then adding DI.Once dry I overstamped with bats and barbed wire (such a useful stamp).Then I added some black soot DI using cut n dry, gently does it!!!

The label and date were stamped and coloured.
more piccies...I know I now too many!SORRY!!!

The text is my favourite computer script, The fab stampotique stamp was coloured using pro markers and glaze pen, I added some pumice stone DI around edges...as I knew I wouldn't get my attacher all the way round I cheated...well used cunning and stapled first then glued on background!!!

I added a mini ideaology paper clip to poison label.

thanks for ploughing through all my ramblings!!

I am entering this for the following competitions:
Halloween @ http://www.vostamps.blogspot.com/
Old supplies, my DI and halloween @ http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/
Halloween @ http://cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/
Halloween @ http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.com/
Black and orange @ http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/
Halloween @ http://forevernightchallenges.blogspot.com/
Halloween @ http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/
Halloween @ http://tuesdaythrowdown.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by, share the love and leave a comment..only if you have time!
Ta trace x
Have happy inky day x

wendy vecchi style in purples and blues...

2011-10-09T19:45:00.001+01:00

hey there bloggers,
well here I am with my second post of the day and something that I started with trepidation but finished chuffed with what I had achieved...I am not sure if I have done Wendy Vecchi style proud but am more than happy with the outcome anyway!
here is my offering:

I am afraid as usual I have taken far too may pictures and yes I am going to blog FAR TOO MANY!!SORRY!!!
I started with a notebook which I covered with DI.The background pieces were made using various combinations of colours - tumbled glass, chipped sapphire, broken china and dusty concord, to create 3 different pieces. The background layer was lightly spritzed and dabbed off, the middle section was colored onto a piece of text from an old book and the front piece was coloured and then overstamped with script from studio 490, Wendy Vecchi, live and make art.
These stamps are brand new and I have now decided I definitely NEED more!

The flower was made from another new toy, Clearly for art modelling film, WOW this stuff is so cool!!!
I cut the flower using tattered floral die and tattered leaves die and then coloured using alcohol inks.They were then stamped using dots stamp in stazon.
This film is so cool I heated and then shaped, when cooled it maintains the sculpted shape...let me tell you it can be reheated and shaped many times, trust me I know!!!

The centres of the flower are ideaology washers and brads.
The other flower was made using the stamps, layered and again centre added.

The sentiment was added in ideaology memo pin.
I am entering this for the following competitions:
Wendy Vecchi style @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/
gc120 colour challenge, blue turquoise and purple @ http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/
anything but a card @ http://fashionablestampingchallenges.cottagecrafts.ie/
favourite colours @ http://papersundaes.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://craftycardmakers.blogspot.com/
die cuts @ http://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://sweetstampsblog.blogspot.com/
anything goes @ http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping by and for all the lovely comments
they really do make my day!
ta trace x

the whole of the moon...........

2011-10-09T14:12:00.000+01:00

Hey there bloggers,
well the rain is clearing here and so are the clouds in my crafty head, after yesterdays not so great crafty day, I seem to be happier with what I have accomplished today!yippee!!!!
So here is my tag inspired by the challenge over at dragonsdream, which I have naughtily missed for a few weeks..and I had a go at using a digi...from tiddly inks.
so here she blows..

I started by printing my digi and masking over it fairly roughly, as I wanted a kind of ghostly halo round the image.I also masked off the moon. Then I set too with my yummy dylusions paints and made a painty background which I then overstamped with various stamps from Tim Holtz, and a stampotique swirl, which is yummy and so useful!

Once dry I removed the masks and coloured the image using promarkers, overstamping the moon with bats, I love bats!!do you?

The quote was also from tiddly inks and I am very proud as thanks to the advice I managed to re size it!!!I am not so hot on technology so for me to do this unaided and without a safety net was pretty WOW!!

Finally I added vintage seam binding ribbon, some crystal glitter and glossy black glaze pen to her crown.

I hope you like it and I am entering her for the following challenges:

the whole of the moon TIO#99 @ http://dragon-dragonsdream.blogspot.com/

anything goes @ http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/

monochrome @ http://4craftychicks.blogspot.com/

monochrome @ http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/

paint and tiddly inks image @ http://tiddlyinkschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/10/challenge-67-paint-it-up-use-paint-on.html

anything goes @ http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/

use a digi @ http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/

spooky @ http://ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com/

thanks for stopping by, stay a while and look around if you have time, let me know what you think?!

share the love and leave a comment

have a happy inky day

ta trace x