express yourself!

Well hey there,
Here I am today with....no not a tag!!! An ATC..
It is challenge time over at stampotique and I have not joined in for such a long time, I decided now was the time!!!So here she is:

I started with the specialty stamping paper from ranger atc and stamped this fab lady.
I then made a mask for her and inked the background using green DI.When dry I added splatters in pumice stone and flicked water and blotted . Love this effect on this specialty stamping paper.I then added a cobweb using wings stamp and some of these great swirly things..technical term there! All the stamps are Stampotique.
Finally buoyed along the faux patina road, I made some faux patina wings, and added a little bottle filled with beads..which I coloured using alcohol ink.

To complete I added the new chit chat stickers for my sentiment.
I am entering this for the following competitions:
ATCs for Stampotique @ http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/sdc53-atc-artist-trading-cards.html
anything goes @ http://thepoodlesparlour.blogspot.co.uk/
I had so much fun making this , I can feel a few more ATC's coming on....

oh and before I go , I am having some wonders worked on my blog, more on that later ..so if things change they are being made wonderful by Susie @ http://1stfloorflat.co.uk/.

have a fab, fun and inky day!
hugs trace x

our house in the middle of our street.

hey there,
well here I am again, with yes another tag!!I have been having another play with these fab new house stamps from The Artistic Stamper..and had a look through some of my inspiration tags from creative chemistry 101..the great Tim online course, which is still available. and so, ramblings over here is the result:

I started by using archival resist technique to create a  background and some background stamps from Tim's set.... and some of the houses and sentiment from The Artistic Stamper.I decided to use a little wooden house (not sure where from sorry!) to make a keyring..so i stamped with a house from the set using black archival and when dry coloured using distress markers.

The sentiment was stamped onto card and coloured with DI and I used rusty hinge DI to colour the ribbon.

I added some little keys form stash and there you have it! let me know what you think?

I am entering this for the following competitions:
on the street where you live (houses) @ http://rainbowladyschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
houses @ http://www.sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
anything goes @ http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
anything goes @ http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
resist technique @ http://challengeupyourlife.blogspot.co.uk/
Have a fab, fun and inky day!
It is so wet here that is the best thing to do!!!!
hugs trace x

a dream is a wish your heart makes!

hey there,
well here I am today with yet another non tag !!! how shocked are you!? I am here with my first ever foray into a spool piece using Wendy Vecchi arts parts, so here she is :

Not sure this photo does the colours jsutice!?sorry
I have always admired the fab spools others have made and Hels here makes fab pieces using them..so I wanted to have a go. i started by colouring the pieces using one of my all time favs in DI..broken china, i then over stamped some script in picket fence distress stain, blasted, re - inked and then stamped the script in black archival.

The watch was arts parts coloured , glued and then script stamped across top layer.Once the main elements were ready I played making butterflies with the fantastic clearly for art film and butterflies onto grungepaper coloured with DI. I love the way these two layers gives a fab effect.

 The flowers were made using Tim's movers and shapers tattered floral die and spritzed with perfect pearls mist when ink dry.

To complete I added a large bottle to help support the watch part, a little bottle,the word dream from a Wendy quote, and a quote at the base.

I am chuffed with this monochrome piece and can see me playing with these lots more!! for more fab arts parts inspiration be sure to visit Hels here as she is the Queen of arts parts!
thanks for stopping by,
I am entering this for the following competitions:
butterflies @ http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.co.uk/
butterflies and add some flowers @ http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
anything goes @ http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/

have a fab fun and inky day!
hugs trace x

compendium of curiosities 2 challenge ,technique 2: faux patina

well hey there,
here I am nearly missing the deadline, so it is challenge 2 for compendium of curiosities vol 2 challenges, hosted by the wonderful Linda here...the technique this week is faux patina and can be found on page 58..I cannot post the details but all details are very carefully explained by the man himself on page 58. So here is mine :

I have never tried this before and loved it and it will definitely be something I will play with again. I loved it so used it on the tag background, the trinket pin and main plate

..over at Simon says stamp it is favourite word and Love has to be mine...
love gives us wings and helps us fly, it gives us strength and make us who we are, the love of our family and friends is the strength we need in good times and bad..so LOVE is my word...for Simon says...heavy stuff over..onwards...

sorry about the pictures, cant help myself sorry!!!

I am entering this for the following competitions:
technique 2 faux patina , compendium of curiosities vol 2 @ http://studiol3.blogspot.co.uk/
favourite word @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.co.uk/

have a fab fun and inky day!
hugs trace x

a little bit of madness..in our street

hey there,
well here is my offering today, made with some fab new stamps from The Artistic Stamper and yes it is a tag!!! so here she is :

I wanted to have a play with these great stamps, love the quote and for those of you who are as old as me, it may conjure up the madness song?!! or maybe I am alone in that!?

So I started by making my favourite backgrounds at the mo using distress stains and wrinkle free technique, I just love the depth and texture this can build up.
I then stamped the house stamps , and cut some to add to length of first row and to have some to tuck behind...are you with me?
I coloured the houses using fab distress markers and also water colouring with the markers, when dry i added glossy accents to the doors.
The sentiment was stamped in black archival and a background made using distress inks and water.I added some ideaology and some floral trim and edged the tag with DI.The hearts for chimney smoke are from stash and the vintage ribbon has been dyed usng stains.

hope that all made sense, it does in my head...

I am entering this for the following competitions:
spring fashion colours @ http://rogueredheaddesigns.blogspot.co.uk/p/our-current-challenge.html
something new (my stamps)@ http://crafts4eternity.blogspot.co.uk/
anything goes @ http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
distressing @ http://whimsyinspires.blogspot.co.uk/

have a fab, fun and inky day!
hugs trace x

a little bit of not a lot..for woyww #151 and some squeaky new additions!

hey there,
well it is that mid week time of the week again, where courtesy of Julia, we hop, fly, whizz around the crafty spaces and places in blogland.So without further ado, here is mine:

sorry same photo as last week nothing has changed!!
well after last weeks tidy up my spruced up workspace has been played upon, road tested and I am plaesed to sya is great!!! but all the crafty goodies and creations have been squirrelled away back into there new founds homes, aren't I good!! well not always the floor at the other end hides all the bits I don't know where to put..yet?!!!
see i am not that good!!!
but before i go , meet the new squeaky additions to our family...we only went for a hamster!!!

they are , as james , oliver and lucy have named and chosen.....finn, lewis, goofy, flash and zippy!!!

so short and sweet from me today...
I never make it all the way round , just randomly dabble and try to visit all the kind people who visit me, hope I succeeded?!
have a fab fun an inky day..
make sure to pop across to Julia's here to see all the fab crafty spaces!
hugs trace x

Summer colours and not a tag in sight!!!!! second post today..

hey there ,
well for those of you that are kind enough to stop by regularly, you will know I have a bit of a thing for tags!!!so you will be shocked to see that there is not a tag in sight today!!Shocking but true..
so here is my crafty offering today, inspired by Hels challenge for Sunday stampers, summer colours:

These are not my usual colour choices but I love joining in with Hels Sunday stampers so I gave it a whirl . i started with a small screen which I had crackled a long while ago and added some distress inks in summer colours.Then when dry...had to be patient so as not to ruin my crackle no heat gun blasting allowed...
So when dry,  I stamped a fab Wendy Vecchi stamp in coffee archival and then when dry a smaller flower stamp in black archival.The quote was also stamped in black archival and i do love this quote.

i added some summer coloured flowers made with the movers and shapers tattered floral die ad spritzed with perfect pearls, a small key and some butterflies.oooh and this likkle spider stamped in black and some glossy accents added to his body.
The butterflies were made using a Wendy stamp, some fab fab fab clearly for art film and some alcohol inks.I love this stuff, can you tell!!?!!

Well there you have it..
let me know what you think?
I am entering this for the following competitions:
summer colours @ http://pinkleart.blogspot.co.uk/
add a flower @ http://panpasteluk.blogspot.co.uk/
anything but square or rectangle @ http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.co.uk/
spring fashion colours @ http://rogueredheaddesigns.blogspot.co.uk/p/our-current-challenge.html
anything goes @ http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.co.uk/

thanks for stopping by, our kindly comments make my day!
have a fab, fun and inky day!
hugs trace x

My tag for Tims twelve tags, April 2012

Hey there,
Well how come I have a whole month to take part in Tim's tag and always leave it...so here is my tag , you can see Tim's here...here is mine:

 I loved the colours of this tag and tried to mirror those, although I didn't have the bird die and improvised a little with a pre cut flourish and a different Tim die. I am really pleased with how this turned out and determined, yes determined NOT to be so late next time!!!!!!

It is always great to see how putting all the elements together makes a fab tag...and I always think, ooh I will do that again?! Anyway make sure you pop across to Tim's blog here, to see his inspiration..there is still time to link up!!!
Have a fab fun and inky day!
 Hugs trace x

There are plenty more fish in the sea!!!

hey there,
well here I am again..with yes another tag!!!!
so here is my sea of greens for the artful times challenge and a few others too,:

I am not a green person, but I love, love crafting using greens..so  i started by making a inky background with my distress stains, i now love these almost as much as my DI!!! I did say almost!  When dry..ok I admit i blasted it with the heat gun, i stamped the fab image from paperartsy in jet black archival..and the great quote..

I added some of the small fish stamped in shabby shutters and a fab Tim flourish in jet black archival.
I added some ideaology to the fishy balloony thingy and some glossy accents to the eye. To complete some vintage ribbon coloured in stains, a paperartsy quote and some fab floral trim, coloured with stains to represent the sea...

Finally added some fab fish using a fantastic Tim technique..using shrink plastic, utee and a melt pot...just loved making these!!

I am entering this for the following challenges:
sea of greens @ http://artfultimes.blogspot.co.uk/
a tag @ http://daringcardmakers.blogspot.co.uk/
tags @ http://www.creativeinspirationspaint.blogspot.co.uk/


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

Going round and round in circles

Hey there,
here I am again and  yes you have guessed it, another tag!!!
 I started with the background of the tag using the fab retro circle embossing folder,some Tim stuff...of course!! And some creative expressions steam punk stamps..so here he is:

The tag was embossed and coloured using DI, surprise!!?
 The main image was stamped onto a circle of stampbord and some metal added to eyes and filled with glossy accents, not sue if the picture will show this?!

..the quote was stamped on distressed card. I added some of my fav little bottles filled with old watch parts and stood them on a Wendy vecchi arts part shelf...some ideaology and vintage ribbon and voila!!!

 I am entering this for the following challenges:
circles @ http://thepoodlesparlour.blogspot.co.uk/
its a man thing @ http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
no girls allowed @ http://craftybootschallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
earth tones @ http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks for stopping by, your comments and company mean a lot!!
Have a fab,fun and inky day!!
Hugs trace x

Technique one for compendium of curiosities 2 challenges, we are off!!!

Hey there,
Well here is my entry for the start of the fab compendium of curiosities vol 2,the fab book by Tim Holtz, which is where the fab Linda guides us through the challenges here.
It is the start of this challenge:
Technique 1 - custom foam stamps and all the details from Tim can be found on pg 66 of compendium of curiosities vol 2.
So here is my entry:

I cannot share the techniques for making the custom foam stamp, page 66 gives all the details, I used my custom stamp to create the background using DI,and embossed in pewter for background.

Then I added some fab Tim stamps, some ideaology, some stash washers and some die cuts ...coloured with DI and embossed in patches with pewter embossing powder.
Let me know what you think?!

I am entering this for the following challenges:
Technique 1 from compendium of curiosities 2 @ http://studiol3.blogspot.co.uk/
Man of the world for Hels @ http://pinkleart.blogspot.co.uk/
Die cuts @ http://sugarcreekhollow.blogspot.co.uk/
Die cuts @ http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks for stopping by and all your fab comments!
Have a fab, fun and inky day
Hugs trace x

A spruced up crafty space for woyww #150,

Hey there ,
Well I didn't tidy up for woyww...fancied a change and was fed up faffing around trying to find my distress inks and stamps in draws..so before I ramble on ..it is that fab time of the week, where courtesy of our hostess Julia we get to hop around all the midweek crafty spaces, places and creativeness!!!! So here we go..
Here is my new and improved, clutter free( well for a few minutes )...minus the hanging ribbons but with bagpuss still in residence.

Sorry about the light!!! the drawers are awaiting stamping and distressing, as they have been decorated but no longer my taste!

Then onto my new improved tidied shelves...holding stamps, stamps, Tim papers, embossing folders and dies...my Tim binders..need a few more of those, childrens clay owls on the top and their arty things just on left of picture, calendars they have made..

and finally a space for my vagabond and some stuff awaiting alteration..

Let me know what you think of my new crafty space...the test will be a good crafty session to decide if this is the finished plan..oh a trip to that well known Swedish shop to get some more shelves!!! A girl can never have too many , right?

Make sure you pop across to Julias, to add your crafty space and catch up with some fab crafty spaces!!!
Have a fab fun and inky day!
Hugs trace x

Time ticks on Dt piece for anything goes challenge

Hey there,
Well here I am with another monochrome offering and a tag, two firm favourites.The challenge over at anything goes this fortnight is time with a steam punk twist if you like. Surprisingly I haven't done a steam punk tag, which I thought I would but I love the tag I have made, it just happened and worked!!! So here it is:

I started by making the background using a DI to colour a tag and then embossing using fab Tim time embossing folder. Then I added a great chipboard clock from The Artistic Stamper and the co-ordinating Time stamps, inked in Archival. I coloured it with DI and then added glossy accents to the clock face.

The sentiment is another that I love and was stamped onto a DI and spritzed piece of cardstock.
I finished the tag using flowers made from the tattered floral die, some ribbon trim coloured and some vintage seam binding.

make sure you pop across to anything goes to see the fab dt pieces and also to pop in an entry yourslves! For all your crafty goodies pop acrsos to lynnes craftden.

I am entering this for the following challenges:
handmade flowers @ http://trulymadlycraftychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
girlie but no pink @ http://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
time @ http://takeaword.blogspot.co.uk/
pastel/ gentle colours @ http://cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.co.uk/

have a fab, fun and inky day!!!
hugs trace x

Ship ahoy for fashionable stamping nautical challenge

Hey there,
Well sorry but here I am with yet another tag, got a bit hooked on them...they just seem to be the right shape, the hole is great for adding embellies and i love them!!!reason enough, I guess!
So here she is my monochrome, nautical themed,( meant I could play with my new Tim stamps),tag:

I started with an inky background created using distress stains in blues and greens, I used these to colour the tag in a wrinkle free technique and then to colour the ribbon and the floral trim, that I used to represent the waves...not sure if that comes across.

Once the tag was dried I added the Tim boat image and a fab Tim quote, both stamped in black archival.

I love this sentiment.To complete I added a little bottle, yes i know another one!!!!!, some ideaology and some floral trim.
I am entering this for the following competitions:
nautical @ http://fashionablestampingchallenges.cottagecrafts.ie/
nautical @ http://glittergeeks.blogspot.co.uk/
monochrome @ http://blingitonchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
anything goes @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.co.uk/
anything goes @ http://papersundaes.blogspot.co.uk/

thanks for stopping by, welcome to my new followers, thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!
thanks for all the lovely comments
have a fab, fun and inky day
hugs trace x

Be a designer of dreams in vellumfor the stampman...

Hey there,
Well I was thrilled to have found out that I have won the stamp man for the bingo challenge, last time thanks so much for picking me!!! so here is my vellum entry for this fortnights challenge , this was a challenge for me as i very very rarely use vellum:

I started with some Wendy vecchi arts parts, Wendy vecchi stamps and some distress inks .It is ages since I have played with these art parts and decided to have a go...
I started by inking the atc with broken china, drying with heat tool, as I am a teensy bit impatient and then colouring again..I repeated this and then stamped over this with large background stamp in archival blue and then picket fence distress stain...then spritzed, dried and re inked with broken china. The scalloped parts were inked with broken china and the sentiment stamped on one with black archival.

I edged these pieces with pewter gleams made by crafty notions. Then onto the vellum....I steered by stamping the flower in archival blue, blasting with heat gun..for good measure and then colouring with broken china.Once dry, another quick blast...I over stamped in picket fence distress stain...love this stuff!!!

the leaves were stamped in archival ink on vellum.
To complete the piece I added two of my favourite little bottles, and two pen nibs for stems, from my stash.
The centres of the vellum flowers we some resin blooms from stash.
I am entering this for the following competitions:
Vellum @ http://thestampmanchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
Anything but a card @ http://ditzy-craftymesschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/
3d embellishments @ http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks for stopping by,
Have a fab, fun and inky day!!!
Hugs trace x

Learn to pause...and some shattered stains!

Hey there,
Well here I again again with my favourite colours, well some of my favourite colours and a tag, how happy can a girl be?!!
So today my tag combines challenges for the fab new challenge frilly and funkie and inkiness for unruly paperarts reader quest a great new blogzine, as well as a few others, details at end.
So here she is:

I started by creating a background using the wrinkle free distress technique..for my inky background and my favourite blue distress inks. when dry I added these great flourishes using broken china and then black archival to give a contrast.
The sentiment, a fab one in my opinion was also stamped in black archival.

The butterfly was some pre cut grungeboard wings which I used the shattered stains Tim technique, from creative chemistry course.

I added some ebay stuff, ideaology (of course)!! and some of the floral trim from crafty individuals...i bought a lot!!!!
I love the colours in this and hope that you do too!

I am entering this for the following competitions:
inky backgrounds for unruly blogzine @ http://unrulypaperarts.blogspot.co.uk/
sentiment as the focus, i'll take your word for it @ http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/ill-take-your-word-for-it.html
monochrome @ http://blingitonchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
things with wings @ http://paperplaychallenges.blogspot.co.uk/

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

Enjoy the journey with a Tim technique , or two for Simon says!

hey there,
well here I am again with my second post today , to show some Tim techniques for Simon says challenge, details at end of post. So, here he is , an altered book:

I started by using distress crackle paint resist, painting a section of the book with picket fence distress crackle paint. When dry I inked the book with various blue and brown distress inks.I love the way the colours vary on the picket fence crackle to the book...

I then used various Tim stamps of clocks and the new hexagon background stamp and bits to stamp onto the cover and wiped off the images on the areas where there was paint!!!
The sentiment was stamped in black archival to give a real contrast.
The weathered clock Tim die was coloured with DI and then walnut stain distress embossing powder and i tapped and rubbed some areas off , to allow some of the ink to show through.

The hands, again Tim stamps were made using Tim's rusted enamel technique , from his compendium of curiosities vol 1.

Finally a little bit of ideaology for good measure!!!

I ma entering this for the following competitions:
Lord Tim technique @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.co.uk/
distressing @ http://letsinkitup.blogspot.co.uk/
distressed @ http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.co.uk/
masculine feel @ http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.co.uk/
distress @ http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/

thanks for stopping by and welcome to my new and very much appreciated followers!!!
have a fab, fun and inky day!

hugs trace x