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

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!

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,!!

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!

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!!!!

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!

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 .

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