Tims 12 Tags of 2012

So, I suppose everyone knows that I adore T!m Holtz - have done for years and I must say that he has greatly influenced my "grungy style" if I have any style that is!  So, when he does his 12 tags of Christmas I always feel left out - December isn't the best month to sit in my craft room and play and working full time whilst trying to get ready for Christmas doesn't help either!! (ok put the violins away!) so, when he announced the 12 tags of 2012 I couldn't have been the only one that thought "Yeah I can take part this time" - even so, last minute minnie here is scraping in my the skin of her teeth.

One of my pet hates is people that copy! and more so, people that don't have the decency to credit other crafters when they do use their ideas - so, this tag is pure Tim Holtz - I couldn't totally lift his February tag as I didn't have all the product, but, its as near as copy as I can with what I've got....

So, the differences are:- I don't have the embossing folder and stamp - so, its stamped with white acryllic paint but no embossing, the cupid is a very old sizzix die, the "I love you" are type letter stickers from the lost and found pack, the heart is another very old sizzix die which was painted with acryllic paint - the centre heart was made out of clay and then soaked in a pot of dylusions spray ink the top was then hi-lighted using inka gold....I think I managed to copy the rest...

Pop on over to Tims blog to see the proper article.

TFL xx

Christmas card...

Ok so I do know that its only February - but, I got caught out big time this year with my Christmas cards and Hazel over on the BF forum runs a Christmas Card challenge blog and I did say I'd join in....ok its taken two months, but, here is card number 1 - how many more will I do before Christmas hey?

Each week Hazel has a different theme and this week the challenge was to use "Ribbon and or a charm" - I've kept this card pretty basic and have used, papers from a christmas kit which is yonks old and I have no idea who they are by, the focal image is off a set of stickers and the ribbon I found in my box, I think it must have some wire in it as when I pleated it it stayed!!

If you fancy getting ahead for Christmas this year pop on over to Hazel's Christmas Card blog...

TFL xx

Kathy's sketch file

Here's my second piece for the Sketch file this month.....

Before I show it I think I should remind you of this months sketch...just in case!! lolx

 so, here is my take on it....

The base is cardboard which has been coloured using dylusion ink sprays, I just love how vibrant they are....then stencilling using dylusions acryllic paint (which i don't think is available at the mo) the number stencil I found amongst the kids old crafting bits!! lol, the image is a freebie from freubels freebies.....

If you get a chance pop on over to the sketch file and see what the other dt members have come up with - there is also a great selection of sketches for you to try - post your results so we can see what you've created.

TFL xx

Some News.....

I've been keeping a secret from you! for quite some time!!

Vanessa, from Papermaze has asked me to join the DT and I've said YES!!

I'll be the one getting down and messy with the inks and paints and sprays and stamps!!and trying to encourage you all to join me.....

I've done classes and several product pieces in the past but this will be a regular spot...so I do hope that you'll join me and join in the inky, messy fun...

xx

double whammy

'ello 'ello 'ello what do we have here? two posts in two days?? lol

Tando Creative Challenges' challenge for February is "leap off the page" - well, I ask you? whats that about?? lol took me yonks to come up with this - but, thats the point of a challenge isn't it - make you think outside your normal boundaries....

The little houses are a Tando set and you make up the body of the house and the roof and then attach the windows...for this project I covered the chipboard with dictionary paper - one house says kebab, another pizza and the other safe...(house get it??) it wasn't intention really!! - the houses were then built....before securing the rooves they were all painted with a wash of white acryllic paint and the eaves painted with black acryllic....the edges were then edged with distress ink...when dry the houses where built.....the windows and door were all embossed with vantage distress inks....the base was chipboard covered in dictionary paper and sprayed with various inks with doodles and acryllic paint added....do pop on over to the challenge blog - and see what the other dt members have come up with.  If you have a go and are selected on the random picker thingy! you can choose from a range of Tando product.....there are only a few rules and the prize is fab so do have a go.

Kathy's waffle sketch file is another great challenge blog to visit, not only does it have loads of inspiration but a fab sketch every month....this months sketch is:-

Kathy has lengthened the sketch this month so that its can be used either way...

Here's my first piece for this month:-

Square card inked with distress inks, basic grey papers and stickers, Tim Holtz "love" stamp and an other photo stamp....(who say's I've been clearing out my stamp drawers??? lolx).....a lovely mesh heart finished it off...guess where this ended up yesterday???

TFL

xx

Happy Valentines day...

Did you all get spoilt this morning? breakfast in bed, a red rose and a card??? lol My OH is very good, but, several years ago I did tell him I'd rather have crafty stash than red roses on Valentines day!! well! lolxx

I have taken a tall and narrow printers tray from Tando and made this:-

Instead of painting the background with acryllics before I assembled the tray I decided to spray it with Dylusions inks and then dry and over stamp using various Tim Holtz and Technique Tuesday stamps....  Whilst this was drying I glued the three layers together and then painted with black acryllic paint and then added a swipe of red inka gold....when the base was dry I glued it all together....The gold heart in the top right hand box is made out of friendly plastic and the three little red hearts beside it are pop outs from Tando's Karen's Frames....these were coated with Glossy accents....the heart and swirl at the bottom of the tray are from Tando and have been painted using distress stains and then outlined with black pen before being covered in glossy accents and then a jewel added....various ideology pieces and ticket stamp by Tim Holtz were also added to the piece...a little metal cupid finished it all off.

Hope you all have a lovely day

TFL

February 9th

This month is just flying past isn't it?  we still have snow, in all honesty I don't think that the temperature has been above zero all week.  The roads seems ok, its the paths that are lethal - much easier, and safer, to take the car than attempt to walk anywhere!!

I've been busy making cards we seem to have so many occassions that need a card, I keep trying to get a supply together but it never seems to work that way...

This one was for an american friend - just hope she gets it in time for the big day....

The image is Jasmine by stampotique and coloured using water colour pencils, the papers are all by basic grey...as is the lace trim sticker... The Happy Birthday is a penny black rubber stamp.

and this one for a friend.....

Once again the backing papers are by basic grey and the same happy birthday stamp...the image is a photo stamp by stampsmith, a bit of a so and so to photograph but well worth the effort...

Hope you're all staying warm...

TFL xx

Sunday February 5th February 2012

and we've had snow...........loads of it.....about 4" has fallen since I went to bed at about 11pm last night.  The drive is now clear as are the cars so we're ready if need be, although, today I intend to stay in the warm.

Six of the crafty girls from the Bramford Crop, Janet, Nancy, Karen, Janina and Tracey (and me) take it in turns to set each other a challenge, we have a month to complete it and then swap......  Last month I had bought a box of childrens wooden cubes off the car boot and so decided to challenge them!! lol

Here is my cube and its soon to be off to live with Tracey .................

The cube was painted with Paperartsy fresco paint and then crackle glaze then another layer of paint...then each side was decorated....this side had a couple of Tim Holtz's sprockets with a grungepaper butterfly which has been coloured using distress ink and a bit of bling added....

This side had an image from a Graphics 45 steampunk pad added with a little key.....

This side has a clock face from a Tim Holtz pad, a watch face and a little charm......

This side has another graphics 45 image and some seed beads added......

This is the top of my cube....the base is a piece of lace and across it is a clay hand that I made and have painted with gold acryllic paint before distressing it....I have threaded beads thro' wire and wrapped around the hand and also added a little red flower...some bling and pearls finished it off....

I love challenges like this although I think some of my crafty pals might not agree with me!! lol, I hope that Tracey likes the cube...

Stay warm today and TFL

I'm entering this piece on the challenge blog "Try it on Tuesday" where the theme is "alter it"and this week they are sponsored by The Craft Barn.

xx