life does not have to be wonderful...to be perfect for creative expressions DT

well thankfully my dt makes were made before my hand was really bad, so still being a good girl and resting it as much as possible.....so hard

it is still sore and I am resigned to the fact that it will be strapped in some way for a long time...I am creating some pieces very slowly...and trying to comment for as many people as possible..thanks to everyone for the kind thoughts..i really am resting my hand as much as I can!! it is true crafty people are really kind!

but onwards here is my make for creative expressions this week with the wonderful art houses stamps designed by Sam Poole and also a wonderful embossing folder uber by couture creations..

So here is my make :

and the inside, perfect for a gift card or use the card inside

for a personal message

 

 

I started by folding a large tag in half and punching a matching hole in the inside/ other half..for the seam binding later.. I then embossed the front half. I coloured using broken china, and added splats of broken china distress stain . (I am loving splatting these stains!)I then embossed one half using the fab uber embossing folder from couture creations . The tag was then coloured using broken china distress ink and edged with peacock feathers .

Outside:
I stamped out the house stamp in peacock feathers and then added some water to the crown, using a waterbrush. I added broken china to the rest .

 

when dry I added a screw brad for the door handle.. and some glossy accents to elements on the crown.

I added a philosophy tag, coloured silver and a mini crown from my stash.

Inside:

I stamped out the great sentiment onto a piece of card, and added to create a pocket. I made an atc with a greeting but you could easily add a gift card in here instead..

The seam binding was coloured with the distress stain and enough to tie a double bow...I love seam binding, it can be coloured scrumpled, stamped ..fab stuff!

well hope you like my make..will be back next week..with a card and I have used more than one colour!!

supplies:

art house stamps set
uber embossing folder
distress inks : broken china, peacock feathers
distress stain: broken china
seam binding
philosophy tag
glossy accents
screw brads

have a fun and inky day!

trace x

share a word and layer it up for Frilly and Funkie DT

The challenge this fortnight over at Frilly and Funkie hosted by Sue is to share a word and layer it up. There are some amazing DT makes so make sure you hop across to have a look. Hopefully you will be inspired to join in as the challenge is generously sponsored by the lovely Linda and her shop the Funkie Junkie Boutique.

As I am still trying to be good, and rest my hand, this post is being typed by hubby Steve. I am finding it hard not to get my hands on the keyboard!!!!

So my word is Love and I have chosen to create my layers using my yummy new distress paints, dylusions sprays, and distress inks in. I have decided to have another bash at journal pages in my own kind of way.

Here is my make:

One of the fab things about the new distress paints is that once dry they do not re-wet and can therefore be used as a resist for other inky layers. I started by applying distress paints through dylusions stencils (all the supplies I have used, which are available from the Funkie Junkie Boutique, are detailed below). I then dried these with my heat gun.

I spritzed the page with water then the dylusions sprays, and a bit more water for good measure, allowing the colours to bleed then blotted off using kitchen roll and dried thoroughly.

I added torn pieced of tissue tape coloured with distress paint to create another layer of interest.

I then set to work using various stamps and distress inks and applied them over the background in random fashion. I love how the distress inks and sprays coordinate so well together....

The main heart was cut from an old book page glued to card and then embossed with the music score embossing folder and then inked with walnut stain distress ink. I then added a twirl of rusty wire for good measure and added to the page. To add definition to the page edges they were inked with walnut stain and peacock feathers distress ink.

The word Love was cut from card stock using the word play die, coloured using walnut stain distress paint and when dry edged with antique linen distress paint. Finally I added some stamped words to create phrase "fill your heart with love".

There is still a week to go of this challenge so hopefully you will be inspired to play along.

I am entering this for simonssaysstampandshow - as they want to see un-inked stamps, and I love the ultimate grunge set and have had it for a long time but most is as yet un inked until now..
http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.co.uk/

I would also like to enter it for love theme @ http://blog.inspirationemporium.com/?p=1360

Dyan Reaveley′s Dylusions Ink Spray - White Linen	Dyan Reaveley′s Dylusions Ink Spray - Melted Chocolate	Dyan Reaveley′s Dylusions Ink Spray - Calypso Teal	Dyan Reaveley′s Dylusions Stencil - Chequered Dots (5x8)	Dyan Reaveley′s Dylusions Stencil - Dotted Flowers (5x8)	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Weathered Wood
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Walnut Stain	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Frayed Burlap	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Antique Linen	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Walnut Stain	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Frayed Burlap	Ranger Tim Holtz Spring Seasonal Distress Ink Pads
Ranger Inkssentials Ink Blending Tool-With 2 Blending Foams	Tim Holtz Sixxiz Texture Fades - Postcard and Sheet Music Set	Sizzix Alterations Tim Holtz Word Play Die	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Spills and Splatters	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Ultimate Grunge	Artistic Outpost Ephemera Backgrounds Unmounted Rubber Stamps

Have a fun and inky day!

Trace x

my make for Tim's tags february 2013

well how has the month gone that fast! this is a quick post as Hubbie is typing to save my hand! see..trying to be a good girl!!

This tag for February from Tim is fab , as always and sadly I am so NOT HAPPY with mine but only meant to be using one hand and running out of time I will not be able to make another! gutted..

So I made all 12 last year and want to do the same this year so here is my poor tag:

well short and sweet today..
I am linking this for Tims tags 2013..
and will be back tomorrow with my make for the share a word and layer it up over at Frilly and Funkie.

If I have missed commenting I am sorry , trying to keep up with DT commitments and rest my hand as much as possible, normal service will be resumed soon...I hope..i have things I want to be inking!!

have a fun and inky one!

trace x

watch the birdie

Over at Simon Says Stamp and Show this week the theme is metal-ology and even with a poorly hand (which I am now resting as Hubbie is typing this) I couldn't resist playing along. Thankfully most of my little bird was made before I was told I had to rest my hand a wear a splint for at least the next three weeks. Boo hoo!

Having tried one handed crafting today I now realise it is going to be a long three weeks!!!

So here is my metal tape meets distress paint birdie number 2. Details of number 1 (Bertie) can be found here.

So here she is:

I started by embossing metal DIY tape using my fab new Blueprints and Gears embossing folder and then cutting into pieces and covering the paper mache bird. When she was totally covered I set to colouring the foil tape with yummy weathered wood distress paint. When dry I spritzed with turquoise Perfect Pearls mist and then when dry brushed with treasure gold in pewter, sapphire and aquamarine.

I love the fact there are matte and metallic patches in various colours. To continue with the metal theme I added winter foliage for eyes.

I added some wire around her neck with a muse token and little heart.

For her feet I used pen nibs...

Finally for her wings and tail I stamper Creative Expressions Ruler Background designed by Sam Poole onto some pre-coloured card (weathered wood distress paint). Using black archival cut into strips curled and stapled to make wing and tail shape. Attached to bird using spare pieces of embossed and coloured metal tape. Because I couldn't resist I added some twirls of silver wire.

And one final photo:

I am entering this for the following competition:

Metal-ology @ http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.co.uk/

have a fun and inky day!

steve  will be back with more typed posts later this week.....

 

hugs trace xxx

home is where the heart is for creative expressions DT

well , slowly , typing one handed and being a good girl and resting my hand.. is my post for creative expressions DT using the fab arthouses set designed by the lovely Sam Poole.

These stamps are fab and can be used for so many things and luckily I got playing before I was told to be good and rest my hand for at least 3 weeks, well day one done..itching to get inky already..may give it a one handed go!?

Anyway here is my make this week:

 

 I made this at the weekend and couldn't believe it when I saw the fab Butterfly had made a similar thing!
I started with some beer mats which I painted , then added furniture restorers crackle medium and a layer of calico emulsion. When dry I edged with vintage photo distress ink and stamped some script from timeless journey set in vintage photo and also added some bubble wrap stamp using pebble paint dabber.

Then is set about decorating....

the first piece, had the word home cut out and inked, this was from the word play die but creative expressions have a fab grungeboard letters in sets here.

For the middle section:

I used the fab house set and stamped the house in coffee archival, then I inked and used a waterbrush using distress inks. I added glossy accents to the centre piece, and also added some great arts parts wings, coloured with vintage photo distress stain.

now for the last section:

I used a technique from one of tim's tags last year found here, I used a grungeboard heart from this set and covered with wonder tape sheet..( this is sticky on both sides but will also cope with being heated..
 I then stamped out the house in archival and coloured the text pieces with vintage photo distress and snipped up into small pieces which I added to the heart shape. when happy I added a mix of walnut stain, tea dye and vintage photo distress embossing powders to it and heated. then added glossy accents to the pieces.
to complete I added mini stamped words and some rusty wire..of course!

I added rusty wire to the top and used idea-ology lace chain to connect the mats together..
These were blank beer mats , but you could use any thing really..

I love how you can use pieces of the stamps in different  ways, the two pieces I have done have been browns but will be back next week with something more colourful, using these stamps.

thanks for stopping by............have a fun and inky day!

one handed!!

just a quick post to say thanks to everyone who has been so kind over my silly hand injury!

I was a good girl and after many kind buddies, hubby and pharmacist saying ..you should really get it looked at I did!

now typing one fingered as hand has been x-rayed, thankfully no broken bones just bruising and ligament damage ... so it has a nice splint which has to be worn for at least three weeks and I have to rest it!

easier said than done with 3 children, but I am being good..

i will try and leave all my comments but if I miss one in the next few weeks please forgive me!

my creative expressions DT make will be tomorrow .

thanks to everyone who has been so kind, it is true crafters really are the kindest people!
..i still hope to blog, comment and craft ...slowly!! and one handed..

(the altered book I hoped to blog will wait, missed deadline!)

 

have a fun and inky one!

 

fly like a butterfly for dragons dream DT

well it is time for a new series of recipies from the dragons dream team and they lovely May starts us of with a great one.
 so it is: orange, purple and butterflies.
remember you must make a tag, use at least one real stamp and most of all have fun!

hand update : thanks to all those kind people who have left messages, my left hand still bad so typing this very slowly one handed! (may have to give in and get it checked...so blogging. commenting and crafting slow!..slow! ...slow!!)

so here is my make:

the rest of the team have some fab makes too so hop here to see them.. and hopefully pop in an entry and join in the fun!

here's some close up pictures, well as  least this one fingered typing cuts down the amount you have to read!!

and one more:

 

sorry short and sweet back later if I have finished typing with an altered book

have a fun and inky one !

I promise I am trying to keep up with comments and am hopeful that I will be back to typing and crafting speed soon, if I have missed commenting please accept my apologies ! hugs trace xx