If I had wings...

This month the DT at Creative Expressions have been given the stamp set Art Sayings designed by Sam Poole. These are an incredibly versatile set of over 30 words and sayings that would accompany pretty much any project you could make! I chose the phrase 'If I had wings...' and cut out an ATC (3.5" x 2.5") and edged it with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink. 

I stamped out two corners from the Accents for Art set by Wendy Vecchi in Jet Black Archival Ink and edged them as before. the Butterflies were stamped four times, again in Archival Ink. Two were edged with Fired Brick Distress Ink and two just had the word 'Fly' cut out and this was adhered to the centre of each butterfly. The phrase was stamped, cut out and edged and adhered to the centre of the ATC. 
There is so much choice on this stamp set that I'm not sure what I'll make next - isn't it lovely when you are spoiled for choice?! Thank you for popping by and I hope you have a lovely weekend x

To Dye For...

At Dragons Dream this time we are following the rather lovely Sue's recipe of... spray ink(s), die cut(s) and embossing... oh! And a stamp... all on a tag! So. What did I do with the ingredients?! I took a kraft card tag and sprayed it with Stream, Sailboat Blue and Espresso Colour Washes. Then I embossed it with a Texture Fade and then sanded the raised areas quite vigorously! 

The kraft card die cut heart was sprayed with a Cosmic Shimmer spray and then, while wet, embossed with clear embossing powder. Then I sprayed Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist over it, and again while wet, clear embossed it again. Then I took a little kraft card and stamped the 'xoxo' in Jet Black Archival ink, stuck it to the heart and gave the heart a final embossing. Unfortunately my (sometimes not so) lovely dog, affectionately known as 'She Who Eats Art' lived up to her name again and promptly ate the stamp... Believe me - cross words were spoken!

The wings were sprayed with a layer of Silver Cosmic Shimmer spray and then Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist and embossed as I described above. A final spray of Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist on the tag itself and I neared the home straight! Just a ribbon, a heavily beaten washer and brad and a little Gathered Twigs on the edge of the tag and that was that! Please do pop on over to the blog and see the terrific ideas the rest of the DT have had - they really went to town this time! All that remains is for me to thank you for dropping by and for any comments you leave - they are much, much appreciated!

Happy, happy anniversary WOYWW! #156

Gosh! What's on your workdesk? Wednesday is three today! I haven't been playing along for all of that time but I have for some of it and it's been such fun! Thank you, and congratulations, must go to the rather wonderful Julia for her dedicated hosting! I shall, in true WOYWW anniversary honour, be making an ATC for the next in line - and I'll show it here next week when the recipient has received it! Want to be that person? Then pop on over here and join in! In the meantime here is a photo of my desk this week....

I am in the middle of a creative mess - with me trying to finish a Smash book page - I have used my Smash book as an unintentionally 'secret' diary as once I opened it I suddenly felt compelled to write my inner most feelings so it will rarely make an appearance on my blog in case you discover my secrets! There are all sorts of other things lying around - including a few Ms Vecchi stamps making an appearance to my left!

Bowtastic

Well, it's Monday again (comes round quickly doesn't it?!) and time for a new challenge at Crafty Boots. This time Stephanie-Emma has chosen Bows. I die cut a Cabinet Card from mountboard and inked with lots of Distress Stains and Inks. I did it in about five layers to ensure that there was a real depth of colour, making pools of colour on my craft mat and dipping the card into it. I added a Studio 490 stamp over the top and it looked like this!

The cage was die cut from card and inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, highlighted with Black Soot Distress Ink and I sprayed a little Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist in places. The bird is a Studio 490 stamp.  I covered grungepaper with Beach Hut Fresco Finish Paint and stamped the bird in Jet Black Archival Ink - I stamped an extra wing for dimension! There's an ideaology crown at the top of the cage for balance. 

The bow was laced through the cage and tied in the middle. The sentiment is from Studio 490 and was stamped on kraft card, cut into sections and the edged in Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The flowers and leaves are die cut from Core-Dinations card, sanded and edged in Vintage Photo again.

So, what will you make with a bow, or bows, on? I'm really looking forward to seeing your project! In the meantime, have a great week!

WOYWW 155

Gosh I am late today - too much going on elsewhere! So, in brief I am no longer as tidy as last week! "Hurrah" I hear you fellow messy pups cry and a "boo" from all you tidy crafters! I can't stop and chat today - busy, busy, busy! Will try and get round as many desks as I can but in the meantime why not pop and see the lovely Julia who is a safe harbour for all creative spaces! I'm really looking forward to next week's ATC swop so I need to swot up on the rules - if you need to too the info is here. Happy Wednesday y'all!

Exciting news!

I have been ever so good and have kept a little secret but now I know I can tell all! The rather lovely Susan at Country View Crafts has asked me to be part of her Design Team. I am absolutely thrilled to be asked. It's a select team of one at the moment but I am sure it will grow! I am busy on my first submission but in the meantime why not check out all the lovely new goodies they have in stock. Thank you Susan - I am a teeny bit excited, can you tell?!!!

Tweet Tweet Tweet!

I thought I might share a new Creative Expressions project today using the lovely 'Birds' stamp set. I wanted to make something for a friend who has dipped their toes into the wonderful world of Twitter! I absolutely love Twitter and have made some truly lovely friends through tweeting and have been lucky enough that the friendship has lasted even when we've met in real life! So this is a little something she can prop up by her computer! I used cream mountboard and inked the sky and grass with Tumbled Glass and Shabby Shutters Distress Ink. The branch was turned round to become a tree and was inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink as the bark and Peeled Paint Distress Ink on the leaves. The bird on the branch was inked the same but had Gathered Twigs Distress Ink on the bird itself. 

The birdhouse was stamped in Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and then I stamped the image twice on mountboard and cut out the house and then the roof, assembling it as if it was an Art Part. I added Gathered Twigs on the edges of the birdhouse before gluing. The 'Tweet' was stamped three times on mountboard as before and mounted to show dimension. I added a few leaves and that's that! I need to go and wrap it up and give it to my new 'Tweeter'! Thanks, as always, for popping by today.

Symphony of Flowers

Welcome to a new fortnight's Tag It On challenge over at DragonsDream blog! This time the divine Helen chose a "Symphony of Flowers" as her theme and as we are following a recipe - the required elements are: it is a tag with a pinch of greenery, buttons and a butterfly or two... 

I inked a kraft card tag with Broken China and Peeled Paint Distress Inks and I sprinkled water on to give the background a little interest. The butterfly was inked with the same inks as the flowers below and the sentiment was from Tim Holtz's ChitChat stickers with Broken China Distress Ink on the edges.

The fabulous flowers and leaves are from Dyan's How does your garden grow stamp set with Wendy Vecchi stalks! The flowers and greenery were inked with Distress Inks (Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick, Seedless Preserves and Peeled Paint). Three buttons and a little Sari ribbon finished the tag off. I am really looking forward to seeing what you will make and a huge thank you, as always, for stopping by - it is much appreciated!

WOYWW 154

Well, I spent all yesterday thinking it was Wednesday so I can officially confirm I am really confused this week! If you are desk curious then can I suggest that you pop by the rather fabulous Julia for more creative Wednesday desk madness! After last week's horrifying confession I have been a tidy girl and genuinely this is what my desk now looks like! I am polishing my halo! Edit: My submission for Dragons Dream Tag It On challenge has now posted: A Symphony of Flowers! Thanks for popping by x

Good Luck!

Well it's a new week and a new theme at Crafty Boots! This time it's been chosen by Sara and it's 'Good Luck'. I know that the next few months are full of exams and nervous brides and a whole host of reasons why you'd need a good luck message so I have made a hanging that might be suitable for a whole range of people!

The frame was triple embossed with silver UTEE and then stamped on with Jet Black Archival Ink (with Stampin' Up stamp - not sure if it's still available!). The flower is die cut Black Soot Core-Dinations paper using the Tattered Pinecone die. I sanded it and then edged it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The leaf was cut using Kraft card, covered in Black Soot Distress Ink, sanded and inked with Vintage Photo.

Luck was cut from kraft card, using the Word Play die by Tim Holtz, and inked with both Black Soot Distress Stain and Ink. The little good sticker is from Tim's Chit Chat Word Stickers, edged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The background in the frame is embossed black card. Well, that's my good luck piece - what will you make I wonder?! Have a great week.

Another Birthday Tag!

Well, we are in the lucky position of being invited to two birthday parties today! The first, the lovely Kitty's, is in Derby and then we will hot foot it back home to the second, our neighbour's 60th! What social butterflies we are! The lovely Kitty's card (a tag!) will be blogged on Wednesday so I am sharing our neighbour's card today! 

I did, to be honest, make it as an excuse to use more of Wendy Vecchi's fabulous stamps! The tag is cut from kraft card and I used Grunge Paper for the leaves, telephone and numbers. The sentiment is from Card Art Essentials. 

The inks I used were Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Jet Black Archival Ink, Peeled Paint and Antique Linen Distress Stains. I really enjoyed the excuse to play with my new stamps... I still have one set uninked... Can't wait to put that right! I'm really looking forward to a day of parties - I hope your Sunday is as exciting!

Supplies for an ATC

One of my favourite challenges can be found over at the Everything Wendy Vecchi group. This week the theme is #41 and is an  ATC - the only stipulation was to use at least one of Wendy's stamps. Today my birthday present saga came to an end with the delivery of a few of Wendy's new stamps and coordinating Art Parts. To say I was excited doesn't really cover it! 

So I put it to great use by inking Supplies for Art as the main set with the background stamp from Be Happy... Make Art as, well, the background! The ATC itself is inked with Wild Honey Distress Stain, edged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. All of the stamps were stamped on to Grunge Paper with Jet Black Archival Ink. I used Antique Linen and Broken China Distress Stains on the stamped images with Vintage Photo on all of the edges. The only exception to this was the little ribbon on the bottom pen nib advert with was painted with Portfolio Pastels.

I stamped more than one of each image and cut sections out to make layers. I hope the photos show these as they look really good in real life!  I did cover a little Grunge Paper with Silver Paint Dabber before I stamped the final pen nib image. I cut two slits in the main advert image and threaded the pen through. I am thrilled with my new stamps and I hope my enthusiasm has come through! Thank you so much for stopping by, and for any comments, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

New Home Plaque

For this week’s project for Creative Expressions I have made a ‘new home’ plaque which can be easily hung or attached to the front of a card. I used Tim Holtz Core'dinations and a little kraft card for the piece. I started by die cutting a plaque from  Core'dinations  card and then sanding it and adding Vintage Photo Distress Ink. It looked a little too inked so I liberally sprayed it with water and removed the excess ink. 

The roses, and greenery, are all die cut, sanded and inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. They are held together with Glossy Accents (if you look carefully in the photos you can see that I was too impatient to wait until they were dry!) 

The bird cage is from the fabulous Sam Poole designed ‘Birds’ stamp set and I stamped it with Jet Black Archival Ink and then added Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the edges. The sentiment was stamped and inked in the same way. The little bird was stamped onto kraft card with Broken China Distress Ink. As always, thank you for visiting and do let me know what you think of my little plaque!

WOYWW 153

Ok. It's Wednesday. This is when the esteemed Julia says we can be honest and show just how creative our work spaces can be. So for this week I offer you the truth. I can assure you that what you are about to see may be shocking and, if I get a spare few minutes I'll sort it out! Thank you for stopping by, as always I don't get much chance to visit other desks but I do try so let me know you've been and I'll try to return the favour! Enjoy your day x

My desk!

The other side of my desk!

PaperArtsy paints!

Behind me!

My favourite stamp...

Simon Says Stamp and Show are challenging us to use our favourite stamp. This was so easy for me to choose as I have a very favourite stamp that I use over and over again. Can you guess which one it is?! Perhaps the hand is a big give away! Hels' Sunday Stamper challenged us to use blue and brown this week so I thought I'd combine the two. I had such a great time using my favourite stamps - a bit like being a kid in a sweet shop!

I took one of Wendy's new Art Parts and covered the frame in Vintage Photo Distress Stain. The background was Tumbled Glass Distress Stain and the hand had Spun Sugar Distress Stain on it.  I won't go into every detail because it will take too long but the stamps are all stamped onto Grunge Paper with Jet Black Archival Ink. 

I have used some ideaology and even a press-stud donated from a pair of Tom's jeans! I principally used Tumbled Glass, Peacock Feathers Vintage Photo and Peeled Paint Distress Inks.

I added a little scalloped trim as a shelf My second favourite stamp is the dotty stamp that I probably over use and so I used it twice in this. My very favourite stamps to use are Studio 490 once, mainly because they are so incredibly versatile and combine together so brilliantly! I didn't use any from the Funky Flowers set (which is another set I probably over use!) so I could always make a companion piece for this one showcasing more of Wendy's stamps... mmm... more ideas!
The sets I used were these (I have probably forgotten one!)

• Be Happy... Make Art
• Let Your Art Have Wings
• All About Art
• Be Inspired... Make Art
• Live and Make Art
• Botanical Art
• Mail Art
• Destination Art
• Dreams of Art

Thank you, as always, for stopping by and any comments are really gratefully received x