summer of creative chemistry - week three - part 2 - I love us

Well so after a weekend of Creative Chemistry summer school - week three , here are the rest of the results from my playtime... part one can be found here 

If you would like to see the results please see previous posts ...

So here are the results of the tag ... using crackle paint resist and also shattered stains... there are some more shattered stains here in part one ...of week three .

I used the shattered stains technique...and I brushed this with perfect pearls..it looks super shiny ...but is hard to photograph..

I added stamped layers and distress crackle paint, finished with a bow tied in seam binding dyed with perfect pearls mist spray 

I finished with mini staples and film strip and idea-ology and tissue tape.

I added some tied seam binding at the bottom of the tag ..

and here is the stapled wire ...

thanks so much for stopping by ..

keep those fingers inky!

trace x

summer of creative chemistry - week three - part 1 - creative adventures

Well after some playtime following some more of summer school at creative chemistry 101 - week three ..these tags are the results of my playtime using perfect pearls...

I will admit that I don't use them very often but have had fun with these ....

Here are some of the backgrounds ...

These used perfect mist distress technique and also perfect splatter technique .. the stamped background uses ...perfect distress technique .

here is my first tag ...

I created the background using perfect pearls and the effect is fab , but hard to take photos! 

I added some of the new Tim Holtz gears created using shattered stains effect

here are some close ups ..

I added one of the fab found relatives , some idea-ology and rusty wire ..

and tissue tape.

here is the background..

I added some seam binding.. to the top of the tag ..

and now for tag 2 -

using paint resist and shattered stains ...

I created the background using distress stains in colours to coordinate with 

the paint resist on canvas ..

and the gears created using shattered stains 

I added a photo booth and some idea-ology ..

I added some dyed seam binding..

and more idea-ology 

Here is the details of the canvas section..

So here are the results of the first part of playtime...

be back tomorrow with the results of the rest of playtime..

keep those fingers inky!

trace x

Summer of Creative Chemistry - week one - part two - inky playtime

So I decided to have some more playtime with some of the backgrounds I had created in  my Creative Chemistry playtime ...for the first final tag I made please hop here ... and all the details of how you can join in the fun can be found here ...

So here are the results of my playtime today :

The first tag is another using brushless watercolour tag and the same windmill image ...but this time using wrinkle free distress ...

so I used one of the backgrounds and the windmill from yesterday...

to create a tag 

Tag 1 for today : 

So here is the finished tag and yesterdays using same colour palette can be found here ..

I added a bit of stamped and clear embossed detail first 

Here is a close up of the detail of the top part of the tag ...I added a sticker and some stapled detail..

for the bottom part of the tag I added some twisted rusty wire..

Tag 2 for today :

I layered two tags , one larger and one smaller ...edged with ground espresso..

and added some stamped detail..

I added more idea-ology and some dyed seam binding..

coupled with a brushless watercolour stamped image ...

at the bottom part of the tag , I added some twisty wire and a light bulb...

Tag 3 :

using some brighter summery colours ..

I used wrinkle free distress for the large tag .. and used four colours of distress as per the challenge

I added some dyed seam binding..

and tried to keep the tag simple..........

here is a close up of the top of the tag 

here is the base of the tag...

Tag 4 :

The lovely Amanda ..mentioned maybe I could try using the bright colours that Lucy had used ...

so this one is for you Amanda ...

not sure I am as successful as little Lucy was here  .. at the end of this post

here is a close up of the tag ..

and here is a close up of the bottom of the tag ...

so thanks if you have made it to the end of the post...

I am loving playing !!

keep those fingers inky!!

trace x

masculine monochrome

Well having been inspired to enter my first challenge over at A Vintage Journey , in a very long time...I decided to have another go ... and those of you who stop by here once in a while will know that I do love a neutral and monochrome palette ...
so when I saw that the challenge over at Simon Says on Monday was monochrome ...I decided to play along.

So here is my masculine make in monochrome...in yet another little shrine... I bought mine from Country View Crafts here ... so here goes:

And here is a photo that shows a little better the dimension ... I am having so much fun making these and my previous one ( a sewing inspired one ) , for those who are interested can be found here .

I started by painting the piece with DecoArt media paints , sanding , then adding a layer of

 crackle glaze and leaving to do its magic ... then added some antiquing cream and rubbed off ..leaving the wonderful crackle highlighted ...gotta love some crackle !

 

In order to make my gent , cut from one of Tim's gorgeous found relatives cards to stand proud of the background I added a couple of mini spools , painted to his back...

To decorate the inside , I used a piece of paper from the dapper paper stack, again from Tim Holtz..some rub ons and some yummy idea-ology...

it is amazing how much detail you can fit inside..

I added some seam binding , tied around the edge that had been dyed using hickory smoke...I do love this colour .

Here is this wonderful vintage gent...standing inside

and finally a last few images of the inside ...

So thank for stopping by... I am entering this into Simon Says Monday ...where the challenge is monochrome..

keep those fingers inky!

trace x

A stitch in time ....

Well I am struggling with crafty mojo at the moment ... and have been pinging around playing with this and that and not really finding my groove .... but I saw the challenge over at A Vintage Journey ... and decided to have a play ... so here is my sewing inspired make :

I created this little make using some great new shrine kits and had fun filling it full of sewing inspired pieces, some of the new Tim Holtz gears were rusted up ...and well just plenty of playtime really, so I wont bore you with all the step by step details...

I added Decoart weathered wood crackle, on piece , then clear embossing and plenty of distress goodness!

I added some idea-ology, weathered up a bit with a painty wash.. some sanding...

Inside I nestled some spools covered in hand dyed seam binding, vintage lace and some more idea-ology...rusty wire ...and some little vintage buttons

Here is a little side shot , to show the wonderful dimension , these little things have ...

A more sunny shot ....just because I loved the shadow the rusty cogs gave ...

here is the close up detail of the hand dyed seam binding I tied around the inside before securing...I love the contrast of the blue tones against rust....

And finally one last sideways shot....

So thanks to the team over at a Vintage Journey for inspiring my playtime ....I will be adding this the challenge, cant remember the last time I linked up and played in a challenge...and I loved this playtime ...so thanks x 

Well that's all for today ...I am off to teach a few more lesson for James...IT today amongst others , so not my strong point!! give me some inks anyday ...

that and running Oliver to and from school, looking after Lucy ..who is under the weather to say the least ....

and well that about sums up my day ...

oh and trying to find a snippet of time to do my Tim's tag...which yes I am behind on again....oops !

hope you have a great day !

keep those fingers inky x

trace x

The colours of Summer for Country View Crafts summer challenge

For my second offering for the Summer challenge over at Country View Crafts , I have again used the gorgeous summer seahorse die to create summery card - hopefully reflecting the colours of the sea and the creatures hidden beneath .x

I created an inky layered and stencilled background, building soft layers of stencilled ink , spritzing with water and finally adding walnut stain distress ink to the edge.. I love the watery feel the splashes / spritzes of water give when mottled with the inky layers..

For the seahorse I applied some texture paste through a stencil and left to dry and then added orange tone distress inks, adding walnut stain lightly to the edges.. Some die cut winter foliage from Tim Stack paper...lightly inked made for the sea weed

To complete the card I added a hashtag stamp to the bottom...

To finish off I added some tied , dyed seam binding to the card tied to form a bow.

So there is my simple summertime make ...as time has been a bit short....

keep those fingers inky!

trace x