Time to say goodbye...........

Well after much hearflet thought and consideration this will be my very last blog post here ...well for a very long while anyway.....

It has been a hard decision and not one I have taken lightly but I also know for now it is the right one ...for me and for my family xxx

So it just remains to say a huge thank you to everyone for their kind visits and comments on my blog...for friendship and for inspiration and so much more....

I would also like to thank the people on whose teams I worked....I loved it!

so keep those fingers inky!

and those hearts full

trace x

Beware - for Country View Crafts Numbers challenge

Well for my second piece for Country View Crafts number themed challenge  I have used one of my most favourite skeleton stamps and ...am eagerly awaiting the new Halloween stamps for this year! I love Halloween crafting..even though I am a little early...

So for this number themed make I used one of the gorgeous number plaques and added lots of numbers using some of the fab rub ons ... I started with a piece of Tim Holtz paper and covered a large tag, scuffing the edges and then adding some rub ons...including lots of numbers.

Here are some of the pieces I collected together to use on this layered tag..

To help place the rub ons I usually lay my smaller tag on top , add rubs ons and the take tag off until ready to glue on..

Because I wanted to add a gorgeous idea-ology frame, but didn't want to see rub ons I added a small piece of coordinating paper to cover this bit...

Now I added the second tag, again covered in paper and also added some idea-ology borders ...

Hare are the two layers, inked and ready for the stamped image and final finishing touches to the layers...

 I added the frame...just love these ...

To complete I  added the stamped image, inked...added some mini attacher stapled crosses, another rub on, some dyed seam binding and one of the new idea-ology tags from the new idea-ology release for halloween...

And finally the number plaque inside...I like the neutral colours against the silver tones of the embellishments...

So hope you will find time to join in the fun over at Countryviewchallenges.... for our numbers challenge.

keep those fingers inky!

trace x

softly falling snowflakes - sneak peak for Country View Crafts

Well sorry for not being a very good blogger...but needs must at the moment ....It is my turn over at Country View crafts to day and here is a sneak peak... for all the details please hop here . x

keep those fingers inky!

trace x

we are fearless, independent and original for Country View Crafts Numbers challenge

Well new month and a new theme for the new challenge over at Country View Crafts challenge blog... and the theme is numbers... I love using numbers in my crafty makes, especially odd ones for some reason....

So here is my number inspired creation, a double layered tag....inspired by ...have you guessed another found relatives card...and this time these three cheeky chaps...who make me smile every time I look at them.... so full of mischief... the 3 amigos...no less ...ready for adventures... fearless, independent and original...

don't you just love them ? x

 So to start I collected together bits and pieces that I wanted to use - sometimes I completely change them , some make it, some don't and sometimes I use them all

I started  by covering the largest tag in this yummy Tim Holtz number paper

I scuffed the edges and inked with walnuts stain distress ink...then began to add pieces to this layer..I tend to place second tag over tuck pieces behind to get idea of placing , then take top tag off and adhere..

For the second tag, I inked and spritzed and dried and then added some cut out numbers from the paper stack to parts of the tag, scuffing and distressing as I went..

Now adding this to the large tag...gotta love lots of layers inky and otherwise!

Now for all the details... I added some red toned dyed seam binding ..to tie in the bingo numbers red colour...lots of yummy idea-ology and some little stapled kisses for these gorgeous boys!

More idea-ology and ...yes more staples.....some rusty wire....

And finally for these gorgeous boys .. a small talk sticker cut and distressed ....

So hope you like my number inspired make....hope you have time to join in this fun challenge...and pop across here for lots of inspiration from my team mates xx

keep those fingers inky!

and those hearts full. xx

trace x

Destination Inspiration, sneak peak for Terminal 4

Well it is my turn over at A Vintage Journey today , for the Destination Inspiration post....where we have a list of four ingredients chosen by my fellow guides and myself.... here are the ingredients..

1. Product - Alcohol Inks

2. Technique - Alcohol Ink Ombré CC Vol 3, Page 57

3. Colour - Butterscotch

4. Substrate - Metal Foil Tape

If you would like to see what I created ...

please hop here ...

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

Take note .. sneak peak for Country View Crafts

Well it is my turn over at Country View Crafts and for todays make I have some vintage , masculine inspired notebooks ...a twist on some feminine ones I created a while ago...

So if you would like to see how these turned out ...then hop here . x

keep those fingers inky!

trace x 

My take on Tim's tag for August 2015

Well for once I am not last minute and have managed to complete my tag more than a few days before the end.... miracles do happen... so here is my take on the tag ...Tim's inspiring tag can be found here..... so I will not be sharing the details as all his wonderful steps can be found here...

 I followed all the steps to create my background but took a different slant...as I love Halloween I went down the Halloween route and I do love the boys with their pumpkins . x   I love collage and loved the making of this tag...although part way through I wasn't sure I hadn't created a mess, I carried on following Tim's steps and am really happy with the final result..

i love the inspiration that these tags provide and never fail to learn some cool thing!

I added some of the new Halloween goodies and even though I really don't like spiders ...I don't seem to mind this one!

I do love these cheeky boys...and the new cobweb stickers made a perfect addition on the corners...I do love my idea-olgy.

I layered some of the new Halloween ephemera...yummy!

I completed my tag with some dyed seam binding ...and that finished my tag.

Thanks again to Tim and Mario for the continued inspiration!

For all the details of Tim's tag ...hop here.x

keep those fingers inky!

trace  x

Bird is the word - sneak peak..for Country View Crafts

Well it is turn over at Country View Crafts and I am playing with the crazy birds...but in my much loved neutrals... so here are  some sneak peaks...for all the details please hop here ...

For the finished cards and all the details ........please hop here ....

keep those fingers inky!

trace  x

Always take the scenic route for Country View Crafts Summer challenge .

Well it is the start of a new month a new challenge over at Country View Crafts where the theme is summer... for me Summer inspired me to go with the delicate soft blues of water and gorgeous sea creatures that make me think of happy times near the sea.

For these I created two cards using Eileen hull recipe card die, plenty of distress goodies and Tim Holtz goodies and some fab crackle glaze from DecoArt .

I started by creating the background using the recipe card die from Eileen Hull and cutting two cards from thick card , I then applied some modelling paste through the yummy flourish stencil from Tim Holtz and left to dry. I then applied some tumbled glass distress paint using cut n dry foam and left to dry. Then I applied a layer of DecoArt crackle glaze over the whole surface and left it to do its magic!

When dry I rubbed in some walnut stain distress ink and edged in walnut stain distress ink.

To complete the base card I added some dyed seam binding and a piece of industrial borders from Tim Holtz.

I love the aged finish created .

 

And the contrast of the soft seam binding..

So to complete the first card I added foliage thinlit from festive foliage thinlit set..cut from patterned paper, a seahorse movers and shapers die cut, a small talk quote cut in pieces and inked...and an idea-ology token..

The second one was finished in much the same way..

So that's my taste of summer , make sure you pop across to see the pieces my team mates have created ..you wont be disappointed and hopefully you will find time to join in this month x

 

Some close up pictures of some of the details...

I do so love a bit of crackle .. and making things have a gentle and vintage feel makes me happy 

keep those fingers inky!

trace x