Tag 4

Tag 4 is my new favourite. For the background i used Dylusions ink sprays and distress stains. I stamped in distress stains picket fence and weathered wood. The snowman and snowflake is grungepaper painted in picket fence and die cut with Tims die, rock candy crackle and i liked the white so left him white. The 25 die cut out then backed and filled with glossy accents exactly the same as Tim did.Two buttons with tulle threaded through and a tulle scarf for the snowman with some embellishments and a christmas muse token finished the tag.
Thankq for looking x

Tag 3

So Tag 3 and i didnt have this stamp so i used a paper artsy one. I added the holly grunge and this was just a simple tag easy to make
Thankq for looking x

Tag 2

Tag 2 is my favourite so far as I found it quite simple to do. Again I adapted his as I didnt have all of his supplies but as i have found out I have a lot of it. I think this tag is easy to do a lot of them as I usually find one or two I like and do loads because I try each year to make all my own cards.
Thankq for looking x

Tims 12 tags tag 1

I couldnt wait until the 1st of December for Tims tags again. I have the dilemma of not having all the things he uses but i have a similar item and this year i decided to have a go each day so although slower than his 1 a day i have done the first two up to now , Tag 3 is underway and am just awaiting an order from the lovely Laura at Artful splodger to enable me to get cracking on tag 4 and catch up abit. So i am obviously varying his ideas to use what i have.
Thankq for looking x

December is here

For December i tried to recreate a wintery nightime effect. I used Black primer and white Dylusion paints for my background then stamped over with a snowflake stamp in snowcap white when dry.
The tree is a blonde moments stamp i have which i create a tree effect and its one of my fav christmas stamps so versatile. I used 2 distress inks crushed olive, peeled paint and a big and juicy pad with dark green.The snowman is of course Tim Holtz and his fence both were die cut. The fence using coredinations and i sanded it to give a rustic feel. My snowman i used Crackle paint and rock candy to add a shimmer but added black to his hat and an orange nose. The snowflakes are also Tims die cuts and to finish a calendar page with 25th circled.
I have really enjoyed doing this calendar challenge with Kate so thankyou Kate for challenge, and it prompted me to start a blog which although i find hard to keep up with i am hoping to keep it going.
In case i don't post again before Christmas as December is usually a hectic month all round I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a good New Year.
Thankq for looking x

Catch up with November

Well this month has flown and i have just finished November , my theme being Autumnal colours and leaves. Basic really but used Dylusions stamps which i love.
My background is using white paint through a stencil as i ran out of Gesso! But it works well for added texture.
Thankq for looking x

Happy Holidays

Well i havent blogged for a few weeks been so busy with work and life so just a quicky as i am away on holiday tomorrow for 2 whole weeks sailing around the Carribean. My first ever cruise so will be back with the calendar challenge then.
Thankq for looking x

Canvas board class at Art from the heart

Had an excellent day with Dyan Reaveley yesterday making canvas boards. I used Dylusion products to create these fab boards the first one is more muted backgrounds and the second more vibrant.

Had so much fun and loved the day.
Thankq for looking x

Octobers here

So a predictable theme of Halloween i guess.
I started off with Dylusion spray inks i used Pomegranite and Pomegranite pearl. I gessoed through a harlequin stencil and reversed it in areas. Then spray Holly through an alphabet stencil and again reversed it in areas. The border is Dylusions around the edge which is one of my favourite sets. I added splats of Holly and added the birds spiders web, spider  and bats from Dylusions bits and bats. I stamped the stampotique characters on card and painted them using the same ink sprays gave them hats and stood then on some music sheet. My Journalling blocks are mostly Blonde moments all i want for christmas and some craftwork cards paper.
This is such a busy month for me i am at Art from the heart twice this month so looking forward to meeting Kate doing a mini journal and canvas boards with Dy. Then at the end of October going on a cruise as i will be the big 40 next year my dad will be 70 and mum 60 so a big family holiday for us all.
Thankq for looking x

Canvas

After my canvas class at Art from the heart i went out and bought too many cheapy canvases to alter. I have a good collection of sizes now and am just deciding where they are going etc. My husband picked these colours and roughly told me how he wanted it. He liked the quote which is from Dyans downloads and i printed it on sticky canvas. The only thing now is finding somewhere to put it.
Thankq for looking x

Journal Page.

A Journal page using Dylusions ink spray in Jade and Sky blue with a touch of Fuschia. I used an alphabet stencil and a circle stencil with the fuschia spray.I stamped the leaves using peeled paint distress and Dylusions around the edge stamp set. These were coloured in with distress inks. Using Kates grounding tip i stood Ruby Rainbow on the music paper, she was coloured using distress inks too. The quote is from Dylusions say what you mean which i love them all. Grunge circles and splats of Tim Holtz, then finished with an adage ticket.
Thankq for looking x

September Calendar

Well September just kind of arrived from no where so its a quick page. I used coredinations paper as i didnt like my background then i just stamped quotes from Dylusions and Tim Holtz that i love. Its my birthday month hence a journal block of a present. I will try to be more organised for October.
Thankq for looking x

August

August all complete at last.
I used Dylusions inks and paints and Adirondack dabbers. Stencils are just alphabet and circles. My journalling blocks are using a 7 gypsies stamp for a change this month. The August stamp is 7 gypsies .
The quote is from Dyans downloads and the page was inspired by her canvas class day.
Thankq for looking x

Fun day @ Art from the heart

Had an amazing day @ AFTH today doing the canvas painting it started life like this

But after Gesso, paints,stencilling,sticky back canvas and excellent tuition it was transformed. Had a lovely day and met some lovely people too
Thankq for looking x

Julys on time

For July i used Dylusion ink spray in Hot Pink, Sky Blue and a touch of jade. I used a few coats as i wanted a bright page.This one is basically paint dabber lid circles in Pool and Raspberry with blck and white rings around them. an old credit card to add black and white lines then Tims mini muse stamp to add a bit of grunge to it. The month stamp is the 7 Gypsies again. My journalling blocks are Blonde moments collection.
Thankq for looking x

Journal page.

It is ages since i did a journal page and i like to ask my friends etc for a word. I got juicy and i did this. The background is dylusion ink with dylusion around the edge stamp in black. Words are grunge just inked and spray with a pearl mister. The image is downloaded and printed on Claudines fabric sticky sheet. Then i wanted it to look abit wet so i used Glossy accents.
Thankq for looking x

Poppies

I wanted to find a field full of poppies but i only could find a few i am still looking but my favourite subjects or at least one of them who loves having her photo taken my daughter.
I love poppies and my fav colour is red so really thats no suprise.
Thankq for looking x

June at last

For June i used Dylusion spray inks in Lime, Lemon and Burnt Orange which i sprayed then took the tops off and dripped and splattered. I stamped the vine from Dylusions around the edge set in sepia ink and the same ink for the flowers from the Blonde moments Just plain dotty collection. I coloured the flowers with promarkers just to add abit more orange and the flower stalks are from Dylusions Ruby Rainbow collection. The June stamp is a 7 gypsies calendar stamp.
And here is May which i have not added to and i am not sure i will as i like the clean tissue tape at the moment

Trying to get around to blog hopping again as my art has taken a back seat at the moment.
Thankq for looking x

So behind with life

Well better late than never i have finally got into May. Life is just a bit too hectic even for my standards at the moment and i know it wont last forever but still finding it so stressful.
I had this idea in April but just got around to finishing it. Its so basic but i wanted a graffitti theme but used Tim Holtz tissue tape all over the page then added journalling blocks of pale mottled grey and white. Then i just wrote May and stamped my days. Its not finished as i am hoping to add more Graffitti later.
Thankq for looking

Fancy dress party

Just to show i do have a life outside crafting . Saturday night was my team mates 30th birthday and she chose a fancy dress party. I have not been to many and after finding most outfits are either very very short or just were not appropriate with small children present at the start of the evening, i opted for Ms Cole's military outfit. Had a fab night
Thankq for looking

More cards

Another two cards made as before with LOTV topper, Vellum, tattered floral die and some free backing papers.

Thankq for looking

Happy Mothers day and Oscars birthday

I have got out of making cards as Journalling has taken over a bit but i enjoyed making this for my mum. I used some free papers, vellum, red card and a lily of the valley topper. The flowers are Tim Holtz tattered floral die.

My nephew is 2 today too so he got a special card.Again it was a free paper with lily of the valley topper. I used distress inks in spiced marmalade and weathered wood.
Thankq for looking

April calendar challenge

April although means Easter i wanted to add Butterflies which i love and make it a bit more spring like with the colours. I have used Dylusions paints, stencils, bubblewrap and stamps on the background. My Journal papers were free with a magazine. I have got ideas for May already so will start it soon and here is March all finished.

Thankq for looking

Tim Inspired Frame

This frame started out as a flower picture which i gessoed and painted with crackle paint then rubbed distress ink in to enhance the crackle.I used Tims fragments with various papers, stamps and salvage stickers to create my tiles. The life blocks are grunge blocks with grunge letters fixed on painted then  sandedand inked to look like letterpress blocks. The backing paper is some i had spare with tissue tape on two edges and film strip over the top of one edge. The stamp and the larger wording down the side is from Stuff to say collection. Some ideology on the bottom just to finish it off.
All my materials are from Art from the heart.www.afth.co.uk
Thankq for looking

Stampotique Challenge Faux Barnwood technique

For this challenge you had to create a Faux barnwood effect following the instructions by  the Technique junkies. I used Teal paint as a base then when dry painted a layer of PVA glue then while tacky paint a layer of white acrylic and wait for the effect to happen. I must admit i didnt expect it to work as well as it did. I cut a door shape added various grunge hinges, brads and a bell to give a real door effect. I used Bow tie and coloured him with pro markers added a key after using distress inks Brushed corduroy and crushed olive on the background. To finish off i distressed the door edges.
Find this technique here Faux barnwood technique.
Thankq for looking

Its March already !

I was quite late starting March and it feels rushed but i got there. I started off with a yellow theme but lost it really. I used Dylusions acrylic paints  mustard, pink, turquiose and white. I used a new stencil and sponged white through and went back with turquiose over a new area. Then i sprayed Dylusions ink in Jade,pink,lemon and burnt orange. I flicked white and turquiose paint and scraped it around to spread it.
I stamped the vines from Dylusions around the edge stamp set with Distress ink peeled pain then coloured in with pro markers and edged in black pen. I cut the flowers from Tim Holtz die tattered florals, embossed some and they are held together with ideaology press studs. I finished with one Tims stamps in black.

I am going to number that flower as day 21 just for a change.
Here is Februarys complete.

Thankq for looking

Mr Holtz

I am sorry these images are from my iphone but you can see roughly what i have done here. It doesn't look as patchy in real life i promise.
I had such a great morning on the workshop at Art from the Heart with Dyan and Tim. We were able to see and use some of his new CHA stuff and got to keep loads of freebies from Ranger.
This is my book so far. It is made from Art Parts by Wendy Vecchi covered with Tim's new Kraft resist papers which i fell in love with. It comes in Manila colour  with an embossed pattern on ready to be inked. I used brushed corduroy and crushed olive as they were in my pack but we could use and share any. And Tim's ring binders, Claudine's sticky canvas which was inked as we wanted, grunge hinges inked but lightly with black Adirondack dabber, imitation letterpress blocks made from grunge letters and new grunge blocks. The other wording is from his new idea ology range and we were given a sheet of this too, they are self adhesive black plastic letters and numbers in varying fonts and sizes.The charms and baubles and facet were attached to his clips with jump rings. So my outside is very nearly finished .
Inside there are tabs to be finished and inked , there are envelopes to be finished. We were given some new Glassine paper to crease and crinkle which can be inked but i loved it how it was it felt like fabric almost, we had a bag of idea ology treasures to do with what we wished. It was so much to finish in the 4 hours and to be honest i finished some of my cover at home but he gave me some ideas, lots of product to try and keep, he was very sharing with his knowledge and we each got a lovely commemorative ticket from Dyan which she obviously doodled on and defaced in a way only she can. It was a great day.
I bought a few bits as it would be rude not to have done so it will keep me busy for a while. More pics will follow as i managed to get through it.

And he posed for a pic with me, i wonder if all Americans have lovely teeth cos they seem to.
Thankq for looking

So Excited

I am going to take a little workshop in the morning at Art from the Heart with Mr Tim Holtz.
I arent sure if i will sleep at all but i am just abit excited for tomorrow and it cant come quick enough now.
No doubt i will post my creations after the event and i may be able to add to my supplies whilst i am there.
Thankq for reading

So after a morning of more rehearsals for the dance show next week we decided to make some cupcakes. Of course the theme had to be valentines day and i couldn't resist decorating a few myself so these are my ones. Right off to make cookies now. Heart shaped though needless to say.
Thankq for looking

Stampotique love/Valentine challenge

My second challenge, i am getting into this (slowly).
I used Claudine hellmuths red paint, then i clear embossed some hearts, used sequin waste and sprayed with Dylusions granite, used bubble wrap and gesso as its all i had and the card did seem darker than i planned. I used Prom queen as i love her and coloured her with Dylusions Pomegranate and Sky blue. I cut out a heart and covered it with Tim Holtz tissue paper torn in strips then covered it with Rock Candy Distress.The handle with care is 7 Gypsies gaffer tape.
Thankq for looking

More time

I am struggling to fit any crafting in at the moment due to work and children and life in general but i have managed to have a go at some backgrounds. I am using Dyans Dylusions and her ink ghosting technique. I wasnt happy with my colours at first and i arent sure i am still but its only paper and abit of ink at the end of the day and i will journal over it.
 My daughter is rehearsing for her first dance show which is in a few weeks and her she is in her outfit.

The show is at quite a big venue in Hull on a big stage and she is dancing to Shake your tail feather.We spent all day on Sunday watching all the rehearsals and its going to be so good. Proud mummy at the moment and its putting things into perspective especially with how busy i seem to be
Hopefully Art will resume soon
Thankq for looking

Well it is my first time at a challenge so this is my attempt at the stampotique challenge using Turquoise and orange. I used Pool adirondack and black adirondack dabbers, orange pigment pad,Dylusions ink, prom queen stamp and Dymo tag maker words from a stampotique text.
I found the colours challenging as i havent used this combination before but i enjoyed it
Thankq for looking

Februarys Calendar page

Just ahead of the end of the month i have finished Februarys page.The theme to me was obvious seeing as the 14th is Valentines day.
I used Claudine Hellmuths paints, Adirondack dabber, Tim Holtz stamp, 7 Gypsies stamp and a heart stamp. The papers are Blonde moments and various other paper i have. The images are from The Octopode Factory and are download sheets.

This is Januarys complete all but the 31st which would have been a sad day as it was supposed to be my last day at work but i may have another month left. I really enjoyed doing my first month and i just hope i can keep it up.
Thankq for looking

Idea blocks

After seeing Gail Milburns article in Craft stamper i thought these were such a great idea so i made my own.I got the blocks from Hobbycraft and used some My Minds Eye papers, i adhered them with multi medium and sanded the edges. The labels were made with my Dymo Label maker.

I gave them a roll and i got Red,Glitter,Journal,Fantasy and ribbon so i created a Journal page using all these elements.I used Claudine Hellmuth paint, Silver adirondack dabber, Words from Downloads by Dyan Reaveley, ribbon from stash and images from The Octopode Factory. I didnt really want glitter on it so i kind of cheated and used Rock candy stickles.

I was just having a play around after watching Dyan Reaveleys video on a technique called ink ghosting and i used my own mixed ink sprays. I used distress re-inkers with either pearl pigments or Blonde moments pearls i have both, in mini misters with water. But i have just ordered some of Dyans dylusions so i intend on having a play when they arrive.I used what was left of a a Grungeboard mask pattern and them reversed it on the other side.
Thankq for looking

Inside Journal cover

The idea for this came from Kate Cranes Journal article  last year i think in Craft Stamper magazine.
I used AFTH papers, stamps and an image from a book i got as a present.This page is in my small journal as are the pictures below.

This page is just waiting to be journalled on but I love the colours. I used adirondack dabbers and the stamp is Tim Holtz.

This page was inspired by a song, I love the idea that there could be such a place to go somewhere only we know. I used Dyans download sheets, Dyans stamps and  paper from my huge supply I have laying about .
Thankq for looking

Regular journal

A page from my regular journal done using downloads from Dyan @ AFTH, her range of Dylusion stamps and Tim Holtz stamps.
I am quite new to journalling and i find i do it in waves. But its a good release for me so far.
Thankq for looking

1st Blog post 365 Calendar challenge

After following lots of blogs last year i decided to try and create my own. I loved the idea of combining Art with a diary so i wanted to join in the 365 calendar challenge with Kate Crane .Here is my first page created in a very large moleskine which is larger than i am used to but i found it easy to work in. I am fairly happy with my first page and it will be interesting to see the progression as it becomes more familiar to work in.
Thankq for looking