12 Tags of Tim Holtz - July 2015

 Hello there

With the clock ticking and the deadline rapidly approaching  I'm here today, hopefully just in time, to share my take on  The 12 tags of Tim Holtz - July 2015. 
Tim's inspiration for this months tag is the 4th of July holiday as he says 'its a time to show gratitude for the USA and embrace the celebration of Independence day.'
Having family and friends in America and been fortunate enough to experience the 4th of July holiday and celebrations I knew I would be creating my tag in much the same way as Tim's (click the link above to see Tim's tag and tutorial)

I chose a text print background paper and adhered it to the tag making sure the word 'Independence' would remain visible on my finished tag. I added a No.4 to a file tab and adhered it in place.

I added some remnant rub stars and Fig. 1,2 and 3 to each of the 3 stamped image panels 

With my sewing machine inaccessible at present I added some faux stitching with a micron pen. 

I attached a tarnished silver word charm with brads to the 'star 'panel as the final touch . 

And  here it is my take on Tim's Tag for July 2015 

I  always enjoy making Tim's tags but I really enjoyed making this one as it brought to mind so many memories of my summers spent in The USA . 
Right, time to get a riddle on and get my tag linked up so thanks ever so much for popping by today and  be sure to have a lovely day 

Until the next time 

take care 

Amanda x

 

 

An Eye (I) for Art

Hi there

Hope you' re all having a lovely weekend . I had a lovely day yesterday as I was able to go along to a Strawberry tea' that my fab Friend Lindsey had arranged to raise money for Breast Cancer . Lindsey asked us all to take along something Pink n delicious so naturally I took myself hahahaha who am I kidding  - no of course she meant food n drink so there was a vast array of tasty delights to savour , a raffle and donations and a good old chinwag . Lindsey raised £87 on the day with still more to come so it was a good day all round .
Lindsey is a keen photographer in between all her other gazillion activities and responsibilities and has recently set up a blog and a facebook page so if ya fancy visiting or liking I'm sure she'd appreciate .

This week saw me make a card for  Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge- 'I scream' . 
The  challenge wanted us to be inspired by the letter 'I'  and after an initial 'mmmm  not too sure what to do for this ' it  soon became clear as - the  letter 'I' would inspire me to make a card using Inks with the focal Image being Eyes (I).

So here's what I created

I inked the background panel in Hickory Smoke Distress Ink and then embossed it using a Swirl embossing folder . To highlight the swirls and create a slight sheen I applied silver gilding wax over the embossing and polished it up. I added a length of  black dotty ribbon across the centre of the panel and mounted it onto a silver and black card stock mount.

Of the many eye stamps  I have (yep I love them) I chose to use one of Wendy Vecchi's from the Stamp set 'An   Eye for Art' -  quite an apt choice as the very talented lady is in London right now  for her 7 day Make Art in England Tour. I stamped this using Black Archival Ink and created more interest by cutting away the corners of the card to create the shape you see ( not sure what it would be called - answers on a postcard please lol ) I distressed the edges lightly using Black Soot DI before mounting onto an identically shaped silver card stock mount . The image is embellished with black gem beads and some  glossy accents drops in the eyes.  I used foam pads to adhere the focal image onto black and silver card stock mounts. 

The sentiment was stamped in Black Archival with the edges distressed lightly with black Soot DI and adhered in place . I chose this sentiment as once  the ideas for this challenge began flowing  the possibilities really were  endless .

To finish all the elements were positioned and adhered in place onto a pre -prepared white card. 

I would like to enter this card into the following Challenges 

Simon Says Stamp - Monday Challenge July 2015 - 'I' Scream

Craft Stamper July Challenge: 'Take A Stamp' Anything Goes! 

Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to visit- I do appreciate it as I do all the lovely comments you so kindly leave for me . 

Thanks too to all my followers for believing my creativity is worth the follow . I'm humbled to say the least .   

Look forward to seeing you again soon but for now 

 Have a  lovely week , take care and Enjoy 

Amanda x

It'sYour Day to Shine

Hi Everyone

I will begin by apologising for my lack of blog posts recently but life has thrown out a few curve balls for me - some pleasurable , some not so - hence my absence. Hope to get back on track over the next few weeks.
Thanks for your patience and thanks too for all the lovely overwhelming comments you have left for me for my recent makes.  In my absence it was extra nice to receive and read them. They truly are much appreciated and always make me smile.
I'm thrilled to be able to tell you that my 'Time Travellers'  make was chosen as a Pinworthy Winner for June over at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog - Celebrations  and a design team favourite for June  over at Anything but Cute Challenge Blog - Masculine ! Yes you can be sure I have been busting some moves happy dancing ! lol

Right time to share my latest make and this time its a card using one of the New Limor Weber designer stamp sets for Indigo blue- 'Industrial Lamps'! If you want to check the full range of stamps out you can find them here or here.
I was humbled to receive this stamp set as a gift from an extremely lovely friend of mine (yes, she's one of life's 'Bests')  so naturally the very least I could do to show my immense gratitude was to get at least some of it inky .

So here's the card I made and how I made it :

The larger panel to the left of the card I embossed using Tim Holtz Rays embossing folder  ( are ya getting a sense of deja vu ? hahaha)  and inked it up using Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Mustard Seed , Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge and Black Soot . I  then spritzed lightly with water and dabbed off some of the ink with a paper towel . This combination of colours is one of my favourites as I love the gradual build up of colour that can be achieved .  I added some speckle stamping using Black Archival ink before  spritzing with perfect pearls - heirloom gold to add a touch of shimmer . ( sorry my camera seems to refuse to pick up shimmer)

For the lamp panel I stamped one of the hanging lamp stamps using Black Archival and embossed it using ultra fine embossing powder .The panel was then inked, stamped n spritzed as before and a number remnant rub was applied to the top right corner of the panel.

I stamped and embossed the Industrial lamp a second time, inked it up before cutting out just the lamp. This second embossed lamp was then placed over the lamp on the panel and attached with a brad to enable it to swing from side to side as well as sit central.   

Both panels were aligned and adhered to a black corrugated card mount cut to size before adhering to a cream card that I'd cut n scored appropriately earlier.
The sentiment was stamped using Black Archival, the edges distressed with wild honey and Black Soot  DI's , mounted onto black card stock and adhered in place .

I added a few black gems to the corners of the panels as the finishing touch .

Though more could have been added to this card I chose not to as I really wanted to showcase not only the colours of the Distress Inks and how they blend so well together to create a sense of light n shadow  but also the  fabulous Industrial lamp stamp designed by Limor Weber for Indigo Blu
I hope you think I've managed to do just that and I hope my lovely friend likes what I have created with her very kind, thoughtful and generous gift .

Thanks for popping by today and i hope you all get to enjoy a lovely Sunday doing whatever makes you happy!

I would like to enter this into the following challenges

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Anything Goes

A Sprinkle of Imagination -Free to create whatever you like

Craft Stamper Challenge Blog - July 'Take A Stamp' Anything Goes!

Hope to be back soon with more creativity but for now

take care n keep on the happy side

Amanda x

American Summers

Hi Everyone n Welcome

Time to share my 'make' for this weeks Monday Challenge over at Simon Says Stamp .
The theme this week is Summer and for me Summer always makes me think of America as I used to pack my bags n head on over the pond to stay with my dear American friends. So my creation is inspired by those memories .

I used Tim Holtz 'Rays' embossing folder and Distress Inks (Fossilized amber,Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot ) for the background, spritzed with perfect pearls n dusted lightly with mica powder. (sadly the camera hasn't picked up the shimmer too well )

I used Tim Holtz Rockstar and Americana Blueprint Stamp set for the Skylines and the Statue of Liberty. They were stamped using black archival and water coloured using Distress Inks- Hickory Smoke , Fossilized Amber , Weathered Wood and Black Soot.
All the stamped elements were cut out ready to assemble. The Statue was adhered using dimensional glue. I  adhered the skylines with foam mount of various thicknesses, placing one slightly lower than the other to create a sense of  depth and perspective to the city scene.  I then mounted it onto a black n white mounts as you can see from the photos.

The final touches I added were a very small Halogen lamp inked with butterscotch alcohol ink and some gold gilding wax applied to the spikes of the crown .

 

my nod to Summer n the good Ol' USA

I Would like to enter this into  
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Summer  
As my creation is related to travel I would also like to enter it into the following challenges

A Vintage Journey - July Challenge- Destinations 

Country View Crafts- July Challenge - On your Travel
The Carft Stamper - July Challenge Take a Stamp- Anything Goes!  

 That just leaves me to wish you all a great weekend making the most of  the Summer Sun

 and to all my American friends n followers I wish you a very Happy 4th of July Holiday weekend! 

Have fun and Enjoy 

Amanda x

Big thanks to you all for your visits and  your comments -they are always much appreciated.