Time Travellers!

Hi Everyone ,

 hope you are all doing good and are loving the sunshine! Certainly adds some extra 'happy' to the days doesn't it ?

Well the clocks ticking n I have my entry for this months challenge over at A Vintage Journey to blog so here goes.......

This months Challenge theme is Celebration and as S@ndy says 'June is a month for so many wonderful events calling for a celebration.  It can be as simple as the last day of school, a wedding, an anniversary, a graduation, Father's Day or a birthday or anything else we wish to celebrate ! 
I have opted  to make a 'masculine' piece that could be used to celebrate any male occasion. I had Fathers day in mind and have used the Tim Holtz Stamp sets - Time Travellers one of my all time faves!

I was clearing my work space n came across the reminder of the piece of card I had used to cut the cabinet card die from to make last months project  Crazy Bird moves in ... n rather than 'bin it' I thought mmm I could use this at some point I'm sure .... n  yep this was that point!
I gave the frame a bricked effect by mixing some Distress Paint Frayed Burlap ) with Texture paste n applying it  through the Tim Holtz brick wall layering stencil . Once dry I  stamped randomly on the wall using a script stamp n Black Archival ink then inked the edges with Walnut Stain n Black Soot Distress Ink .

I die cut 3 cogs from Grunge board n gave them a more rusty look by mixing table salt (no vinegar lol) into black acrylic paint. Once dry I applied a layer of glue n seal to ensure the salt granules stayed in place. I added touches of brown and burnt umber acrylic paint with my finger and some gilding wax to the cog spokes. This was all an experiment as I had never tried it before (but needs must when you haven't got the 'text book products') n though by no means the ideal result I do think it turned out alright! 

Both 'Time Travellers were stamped using Black archival Ink n painted using Distress Inks (Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Black Soot, Stormy Sky) in the water colour paint technique. I used a skin tone pencil crayon to give a touch of colour to their face n hands. A bit of wire created a monocle for the 'Monocled Gent' which after adhering in place was filled with a drop of glossy accents to give a glass effect.

Some chain and a small clock embellishment provided the fob watch for the other Gent

The 'Monocled Gent' n 2 of the cogs were adhered directly onto a piece of black corrugated card stock before adhering the 'wall with a window' in place around them. The remaining cog I topped with a metal cog and along with the 'Fob Watch Gent'  adhered to the outside of the 'wall with a window' using dimensional glue as I wanted it to appear that one gent was inside whilst the other outside. The final touch was an ideology token attached with a brad to the wall .

At this point I decided to make it into a wall hanging rather than a card as I had initially planned to so it was  mounted onto a piece of black mount board cut to size. I created two holes fixed then with eyelets n used loop pins to hang the chain from. Now all it needs is the perfect spot to be hung .

I really enjoyed making this  piece and am happy with the end result! I hope it not only celebrates a Masculine occasion in this case Fathers day but also the crafty genius that is Tim Holtz and the amazing art work of Brett Weldele . 

 I would like to enter this into 

A Vintage Journey - June Challenge 2015- Celebration 

I would also like to enter this into the following Challenges :

A Sprinkle of Imagination . Monthly Challenge - June 

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge- June 'Year of Choices'-chosen option 'Stamps'

Anything But Cute Challenge #2 Make it Masculine 

Thank you so much for stopping by today - I hope it was worth the visit . 

Until the next time - enjoy the sun, remember to slip, slap, slop 

and I look forward to seeing you again soon 

Amanda x

12 Tags of Tim Holtz -June 2015

Hi there, 

what a lovely sunny day it's been here today in my little corner of the world - hope its been the same where you are . 

Fancy a coffee?

Well I hope my take on the  12 tags of Tim Holtz- June 2015  will provide you with a caffeine hit! 
A lack of some of the craft supplies meant I have had to improvise a little but on the whole I followed Tim's Tutorial which you can find if you click on the link above . 

So here are the changes I made either by choice or necessity:

I spritzed my tag using Antique linen and I used Peacock Feathers and Stormy Sky Distress Ink for my plaid effect. Both Walnut Stain and Black Soot DI were used to ink the edges of my tag.

As I don't have the fresh brew die in my craft stash I had to consider other options and at first I was looking at using one of my other Tim Holtz dies but then I thought maybe I could actually create my own fresh brew cup with my own fair hands !!  I had nothing to loose as my other dies would serve as a back up plan . 
So like Tim I took the various surfaces n instead of using the Fresh Brewed die  I created  templates for the the various parts of the coffee cup n cut them out free hand. I  then followed the rest of Tim's instruction to bring the parts together. I toned my circle in with my background by painting it in Peacock feathers Distress Paint .

It was a first airing for my bottle of mushroom alcohol ink n i do love the tone it gives to the silver star!

Though my Sewing Machine is ' in situ' it still needs to be set up so I hand sewed down the side of the natural burlap strip. I used natural jute to tie around the base of the cup and fixed an eyelet in place around the tag hole to  thread a length of natural linen ribbon through. Taking a 'genuine' ideology tag I sanded it  back and pinned it to the ribbon. To finish my tag off I mounted it onto a piece of brown card stock cut to size.

 N that's it - my take on Tim's tag for June 2015

   Now was that one sugar or two? 

Thanks for  stopping by today - always lovely to share your company.

 Look forward to seeing you next time 

keep on smiling  

Amanda x 

Creating with Croco Crackling !

Hi Everyone  

'm here today to share with you my entry for this months Challenge over at Craft Stamper - 'Take a Technique, with the technique being 'Texture' and this weeks Monday Challenge over at Simon Says 
Stamp .- 'Don't Cut just Paste!

I have altered a paper mache heart magnet using a textural medium called Croco by Viva Decor. Having used it a few times before without always achieving the best of results I decided it was time to give it another shot! Apologies in advance for the lack of photos showing the process- I got carried away in the creating!! 

I  began by priming the heart using Gesso. Once dry I painted the heart using acrylic paint - any will do - I chose a deep Burgundy red that I had in my stash. I had to paint at least a couple of coats to get the coverage I wanted, letting each coat dry before applying the next! 
Now it was time to 'Croco' !! 
If you're not familiar with it, its a textural type paste that creates a crackle effect!

Generosity of application is key to this product as the more you apply the deeper n more textural the cracks. Though Croco can be purchased in a variety of colours I chose to use transparent in order to retain the colour I had painted the heart . 
I applied the  Croco to the heart generously, trying not to go over the areas I had already applied it to n then set it aside to dry. As I wanted bigger cracks n deeper texture I left it to dry for 24 hours, room temperature .
Once the Croco was completley dry and had worked its magic (this time I was pleased with the result) I rubbed some black archival ink into the cracks and some gold gilding wax to accentuate the created texture .

I adorned the heart with some leaves (Martha Stewart punch) and  a die cut flower (Bitty Blossoms  Spellbinders die) embellished with a Burgundy bead n a couple of beaded pins  I adhered a stamped sentiment (Tim Holtz Stamp set Odds and end) and a few gold gems and  my Croco Cracked heart magnet was complete! 

If you've never heard/ used Croco before or have heard of it but shied away from using it I hope seeing the results that can be achieved will inspire / motivate you to give it a go . 

I would like to enter this piece of altered art into 

Craft Stamper- Take It Make It Challenge- June Challenge:-'Take A Technique' TEXTURE 

and 

Simon Says Stamp - Monday Challenge - Don't Cut , Just Paste

Thanks so much for visiting today - always appreciated as are all your lovely kind comments. 
Hope you have all had a lovely weekend n are looking forward to the week ahead which just so happens to be the first week of Summer! Lets hope those temperatures risen we can enjoy some nice warm sunshine !

Time to hit publish so I do hope to see ya again real soon 

Take care 

Amanda x

For the love of Plants - In Monochrome

Hi Everyone n Welcome. 

Hope you're all enjoying the weekend even though the sunshine of last week has been out played by the rain! 
Have to say, I do love the freshness of the Spring/ Summer rain n I know all the plants in my garden are always grateful for a drink or two .....  talking of plants the Monday challenge for this week over at Simon Says Stamp is For the love of plants.... .. mmm, so many options! 
I have opted to make a simple tag using the gorgeous Tim Holtz Garden flower stamps released at CHA Jan 2015. Bet ya can't guess which flower I chose to use? 

Yay, You were right, the Conehead - my kind of flower for sure!

As you can see I kept my colour palette monochrome - well actually the only ink I used was Black Soot Distress Ink ! Hahaha, do I hear you saying, I bet she was in her element ??  You  bet I was ! Gotta love that black soot!  I do hope that my painting will show you that it doesn't always have to be dark but can offer up many shades n tones when used with water!

I stamped the Cone head in Black Archival n painted it using the Black Soot Distress Ink as a watercolour. I added a subtle shadow around the flower to add further dimension. Further detail was added using a black micron pen n a white highlighter pen .

I distressed the edges of the flower panel using Black Soot DI n ragged them before mounting onto a white card panel cut to size. 

At this point I threaded the ideology word band with black embroidery thread, highlighted the quote with white acrylic paint and fastened it around the panels.

A black panel was cut to size n edges ragged to provide the final mount before adhering to a white card tag. that I'd prepared earlier ( lol always wanted to say that )
I added some simple number stick-ons above the mounted flower panel, 4 on each side of the tag hole . I fixed an eyelet in place n threaded some black, white n grey strands through to create the hanging n the tag was complete. 

Simple, but I think by keeping it monochromatic,effective ! 

I would like to enter this Tag into

Simon Says Stamp - Monday Challenge: For the love of Plants

As I have kept my tag Monochromatic I would also like to enter it into

 Frilly And Funkie - Monochromatic

Thanks so much for visiting today - you are always welcome anytime! Thanks too for all the lovely kind comments you leave - they do mean alot . 

Hope the week ahead brings you all lots of 'Happy'

 n look forward to seeing you here again soon . 

Bye for now

Amanda

Royal

Hi Everyone 

Just wanted to share with you the card I made for Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge . This week's theme Challenge is 'Royal' .  However we chose to interpret this is up to us as long as it is inspired by all things Royal or Regal !!

So Royal mmmm , my first obvious thoughts were of Kings n Queens n Crowns n Jewels, but then my thinking wandered (n oh how it can wander, hahaha) to things like Queen Bees or feeling like the Queen Bee, the band Queen, a Royal Flush (as in card games), The Royal Mint (money), The Royal Mail .........
I  decided in the end to link  a few of my thoughts together and essentially create a very British feel to my card using the colours of the Union Jack (as we have a Royal Family), Queen Siouxie (The Queen of Punk) and also give a nod to The Royal Mail! 

N here it is 

The background I kept quite simple with just a light bit of stenciling to the right hand side of the cardstock using Tim Holtz dot fade layering stencil, Chipped sapphire n Fired Brick Distress Inks. I added a touch of further detail using a speckle stamp n Black Archival ink. I cut a wide strip of dark blue lined card stock n adhered it to the left hand side of the stenciling. 

Using Tim Holtz Bigz Postage Stamp die I created a frame for 'Queen Siouxie'. A trip to my local post provided the Union Jack infill of the postage stamp frame - part of an commemorative envelope made for the London Olympics 2012 (thank you Jane (my lovely postal clerk) you're a star) n a rummage through my mail provided the stamp embellishment to compliment the postage stamp frame.  I chose n stamped a quote from my stash and distressed the edges of all these with chipped sapphire.
'Queen Siouxie' (Dylusions stamp set - Strength) was stamped in Black Archival n watercoloured using Fired Brick n Chipped Sapphire. I added a touch of sparkle to her crown n glossy accents to her red lips n eyes.

 

After mounting the background onto a 6x6 card  n adhering all the parts in place I added a few little extra touches - hex nuts in the four corners topped with deep blue gems, some Tim Holtz  Ideology- a paper clip and arrow.

  I would like to enter this into 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge- Challenge: Royal 

Once again I would like to Thank you so much for stopping by n for all the ever so lovely comments you leave for me - it's  always a pleasure to read them all n you can be sure they always make my heart happy !

Have a lovely weekend n see you again soon 

Amanda x