Meet Metalhead!

Hello Everyone

Hope you've all enjoyed a super sunny Sunday - Its great to see the Sun holding on in there even though the clocks went back an hour last night and British Summer time has officially ended for another year.
So that means Halloween is edging ever nearer and after making my Tag for Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2015-October last week I decided to make another only this time, as you will see, I have made a few changes .

I used the “wrinkle-free distress” technique with Distress Inks ( Wilted Violet, Spiced Pumpkin, Black Soot) on my tag this time rather than on the Zombie die cuts and gradually built up additional layers of colour until I was happy. 
Once dry I then added a greater depth of colour using distress inks and a blending tool .

I added some light stamping and stencilling using Tim Holtz Stamps and Stencils , Black soot DI and Jet Black Archival Ink. I added touches of Silver Gilding wax to the tag edges and spritz the tag lightly with Pewter Perfect Pearls. I kept the tag background fairly simple as I wanted the Zombie to have the spotlight.

I die cut the Zombie pieces using Silver Mirror board and black card stock. I then embossed the mirror board pieces using Tim Holtz Shattered embossing folder.
Using my fingers I rubbed Black Soot Distress paint over the embossed pieces, left for a few minutes to become tacky and then rubbed back the paint using a piece of kitchen towel. I then added Silver gilding wax again using my fingers to further enhance the embossing. I also added touches of Silver Gilding Wax to the black card stock die cuts that I would be using .

Here's a few pics of my assembled Zombie  a.k.a. 'Metalhead!'

 

 

Definitely my kind of Zombie! 

I used the black soot distress paint in the same way for the word band and hex nuts. I attached the word band to the tag with hammered long fasteners

 and adhered the large hex nut over the hole of the tag with a smaller one to each side.

 I also added a small hex nut to the left eye, topped with a purple gem. 

At this stage I decided to mount my tag on to a piece of heavy grey board that I covered with paper from Tim Holtz Laboratorie paper pad and distressed with Black Soot DI. I added a hinge clip as a final touch.

 Now 'Metalhead' can stand on my desk and keep his purple eye on me! 

 Mwahhhh!

As well as entering this into Tims 12 tags of 2015 - October

I would also like to enter my altered  tag into the following challenges 

Simon Says Stamp - Monday Challenge - Monster Mash

Country View Crafts - October #32 Add some Texture

That's Crafty Challenge Blog - Oct 23rd - Haunted Halloween 
Art with Heart Challenge October : Hauntings and Holidays 
Frilly and Funkie- Something Wicked Challenge  

The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #17 - Word Search 

 (I have used Spiced Pumpkin, Black Soot and Purple ( wilted violet and Purple gem) in my work) 

Time for me to go make a start on clearing up my crafty trail of destruction so I can start creating again tomorrow  hopefully. 

Thank you so much for  stopping by today and until the next time hope the coming week is  kind to you all . 

Take care 

Amanda x

Art Journalling with Tim - Wildflowers

Hello again 

Gosh, whats happening I'm posting twice in one week - think that may just be a first for me!
The Challenge theme this month over at A Vintage Journey is Art Journalling with Tim and I'm here today to share my latest entry in my journal that I will be entering into AVJ 's Challenge and no doubt a few other challenges too.

I began by applying colour to my pages using Tim Holtz Wrinkle Free Distress technique and Distress Inks (Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey, Mustard Seed, Scattered Straw, Wilted Violet)  

Once the pages were dry I added more colour using Distress inks and a blending tool. I then added detail using some of Tim Holtz stamps (Speckle, Script, Splat) and Archival ink and Tim Holtz layering stencils (Brick wall, Latticework, Dot Fade and Schoolhouse) and Distress inks. I also stamped some raindrops on each page .

Next came the textured Wallflowers! I used Tim Holtz Wallflower layering stencil, Texture paste and Antique Linen Distress Paint.  I used the stencil the right way round for the right hand page and then flipped it over and used the reverse side on the left hand page as I wanted to create a sense of balance so the viewing eye wouldn't be dragged just to the right. It was a lengthy process but definitely worth it . 

Using a dry brush I painted over the texture paste with some Cosmic Shimmer Sparkle paint to add a touch of opulence and a little more texture . I also shadowed the wallflowers using a distress marker.

I think the camera has just about picked it up 

 

To finish off I dropped some glossy accents into the raindrops and once dry added white highlights to each of them.

 I added a few remnant rubs and one of my favourite quotes- 'Each life needs its own quiet place!'

Mine certainly does! 

I really did enjoy creating these journal pages but it is disappointing the camera hasn't really picked up the golden glow of the wallflowers! 

I would like to enter my journal pages into the following challenges 

A Vintage Journey - October Challenge - 'Art Journelling with Tim' 

Craft Stamper - TIMI Challenge: October ''Take A Technique' Use one or more of the following processes in your art: Ink Stitch Paint Collage Print Paper (and include stamping somewhere!) 

Country View Crafts - October #32 ADD some Texture  

Thank you so much for popping by to take a peek at my journalling . Your visits, follows and comments are gratefully received and always appreciated . Time now  for me to go and find my own quiet place before the creativity begins again ! 

Take care and hope to see you again soon 

Amanda x  

12 Tags of Tim Holtz -October 2015

12 Tags of Tim Holtz -October 2015

Hello there Everyone

Hope you're all having a great week so far and the lovely autumnal sunshine is shining down in your part of the world! The last few days here in Yorkshire have been beautiful and if it wasn't for the calender telling me it was October I wouldn't believe it! Just hoping there's at least a few more similar days to come before the real cold dreary autumnal days set in. I'm sure if I may quote Sam Cooke  'a change is gonna come'   though as Halloween is just around the corner and I don't think I can remember a time when Halloween night has not been cold damp and dreary!
Speaking of Halloween I have been spending time with Zombies this weekend  - well not real ones - Tim's! 

Yes its that time again for Tim's 12 Tags of 2015 - October 

As it was the first time I have used the Zombie Thinlits die I decided to follow Tim's tutorial to create my tag , making very few changes along the way. 

  So let me introduce you to Exhibit A -' Zombie'

A close up of the assembled Zombie - I used a white and red water-colour pencil to create blood shot eyes! 

 I used Tarnished Brass Distress Spray Stain and Gold Gilding Wax to create the Gold Tooth.

As well as stencilling my tag background I also added some speckle stamping in Black Archival ink. I then spritzed using the Distress Marker Spritzer and Distress Markers (Spiced Pumpkin, Black Soot) and added a few flicks of Picket Fence Distress Paint. (oops! I forgot to take a close up photo of the background detail before I adhered the Zombie - sorry)

I finished off my tag with a copper eyelet, a red and black ribbon tie and a spiders web charm that my lovely friend kindly gave me .(the spider is caught in there-can ya spot him?)

 And once again here is 'Exhibit A- Zombie!'

Thanks Tim for another great tag this month. I have to agree your Zombie die is pretty cool!

Time now to to head over to  

Tim's 12 Tags of 2015- October

 and link up my 'Exhibit A'. 

I would also like to enter my tag into the following challenges 
Simon Says Stamp - Monday Challenge - Monster Mash

Thank you so much for popping by today. I hope to be posting again in the next few days so look forward to seeing you again real soon . 

 Take care

 Amanda

HAPPY THANKS

HAPPY  THANKS

Hello there 

Its a real quick post today to share some  'Happy Thanks!'

What a thrilling ride yesterday proved to be in my creative journey!  Not only was I a Guest Designer over at A Vintage Journey   a BIG WOW in itself but I also featured on Craft Stamper Challenge Blog - Winners Profile. 
as Septembers Challenge blog winner- another WOW!!  
It was my 'A House is made of Bricks and Stone .... '. project that was chosen as the winning entry. I altered a box frame for a Guest Design spot I was kindly invited to that month at A Vintage Journey- the theme being 'Home sweet Home' chosen by Jenny so I would like to offer my HUGE  thanks to the Creative Guides at AVJ  and Jenny for the Guest Design spot and providing the inspiration for me to create my winning piece - without them my project may never have been created and to the Design team at Craft Stamper and Trish for choosing my altered art as the Challenge winner.

When I began blogging never for one second did I even remotely consider any of this would be happening to me !! I really am incredibly thrilled and truly grateful .
Thank you too to all of you who are sharing my creative journey (and waffle) , for your visits , your follows and your comments - It means the world to know that my Art is appreciated ! 

   Hope you all have a fantastic weekend and see you  again real soon

 Take care 

Amanda x

Art Journalling with Tim

Art Journalling with Tim  

Hello There Everyone

Today I am thrilled to bits to be one of the Guest Designers over at A Vintage Journey. Its such a fantastic blog with so many super talented Creative Guides that it really is an honour to have been given this wonderful opportunity. Thank you so much to everyone at AVJ!

Its Alison's Challenge theme this month and Alison can be found not only at AVJ but also here 
- be sure to pay her a visit as Alison is an incredibly talented crafter and such an eloquent blogger. Alison  has chosen 'Art journalling with Tim' as her theme and here's what she has to say 
We would love to see some art journalling from you, Tim style. Your journal can be any size, format, or type, but let's see some Tim techniques, grunge or vintage style, and of course any Tim products are welcome.

Art journalling is something I had always considered doing from way back in my pencil sketching and painting days but never really got any further than the thought itself until last year that is when I bought a journal and began to dabble. I had the idea that I would create a page every month at the very least. Needless to say, and much to my regret, that hasn’t happened and I have only a few entries to date. The pages I have created so far are all hand drawn and painted – both images and text – few stamps and techniques involved, just simple pencil, paint and ink work .

So when I found out Alison had chosen 'Art journalling with Tim' as this months theme I thought 'Great, this is an opportunity for my old journal and I to get reacquainted!!'  Hahaha! Oh yes, that was the thought!!( me and my thoughts , hey)
However, with the journal open I hit a wall!!  How do I journal Tim style?  What was I going to do? Where was I going to start? What if I made a mistake when I’m creating a page for a Guest Design Spot .......I guess you could say I had 'Creative Fright!'

After a long hard chat with myself, my perfectionist demons and my self doubt I decided to be brave and just go for it, get some ink on the pages then maybe it would all come together from there and it did indeed do just that!

I added colour to the journal pages using Tim's Wrinkle Free Distress technique and several colours of distress ink (Chipped Sapphire, Broken China, Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet, Dusty Concord, Twisted Citron). Once the pages were dry I added more colour using Distress inks and a blending tool.

 

a few close ups of sections of the wrinkle free technique 

I then added detail using a few of Tim's layering stencils ( Bubbles, Dot fade)and Distress Inks( Black Soot, Chipped Sapphire ) ,mostly Tim's stamps( Speckle, Script, Splat and Cobalt and Jet Black  Archival Inks and finished off with a spritz of perfect pearls. (sadly the camera hasn't picked up the shimmer of the perfect pearls but  it does show slightly on one of the later photos) 

 a few close ups of the stamped and stencilled pages

The Vintage Globe stand is painted in Black Soot Distress Paint and heat embossed using clear embossing powder.  The land mass is covered with sand texture paste and painted with Crushed Olive Distress Paint with touches of Ground Espresso Distress Paint to pick up the texture . 

The Crazies are painted using Tim's watercolour technique and Distress inks (Twisted Citron, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean, Wilted Violet, Dusty Concord).  One of the dies from Tim's Scribbles and Splats Thinlit dies created an ideal perch for two of the Crazies. The other would sit on the Vintage Globe . 

I gave each of my Crazies a tweet bubble which I have translated for you just in case your not familiar with ‘tweet’! 

Finally, I added my chosen quotes to my pages and here is my take on 'Art Journalling with Tim'

My pages are all about having the courage to be yourself in this crazy world, to be brave, to take risks, to step outside your comfort zone and even when in doubt or being doubted by others , do it anyway - who knows you may just amaze yourself and those around you and it may make you feel like you're on top of the World!

After all my initial angst about 'Art Journalling with Tim' creating these pages turned out to be a real hoot! Gotta love those Crazy Birds !!! 

If you fancy having a go at 'Art Journalling' with Tim you still have time to enter this months challenge

just head over to A Vintage Journey's blog, checkout the rules and then open your journal and create.

Once again Thankyou so much to all you lovely ladies at AVJ for inviting me to share my work today on your blog and to Alison for reminding me I had a journal that was long over due some more entries .

I would like to enter my journal pages into the following challenges 

Craft Stamper- Take It Make It October Challenge -'Take A Technique' Use one or more of the following processes in your art: Ink Stitch Paint Collage Print Paper ( and include stamping somewhere) 

I used inks and stamps 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge- Wonderful Watercolour 

I painted the birds using watercolours 

Thanks Everyone for taking the time to stop by today.  As always your visits and comments are much appreciated.

I have another journal entry to share and of course Tim's tag for October is currently in the making so hope to see you again real soon  

 Wishing you all a lovely weekend  

Take care 

Amanda xx

Life is art features.......

HI Everyone 

Today I am so happy to be able to share with you that my 'Life is Art' altered canvas, that I blogged a few weeks ago now, is featured on Marjie Kempers Tuesday Tutorial Blog series . Wahoo!!

Marjies Tuesday Tutorials series has grown from a year long series called Tuesday textures that completed in June this year. Each Tuesday Marjie shares a post featuring an art tutorial created by a different  artist from around the world. All the artists can be seen here and here.

 This is the project that Marjie has chosen to feature

 For anyone who missed my original blog post and would like to see and read more  it can be found here 

Marjie is an incredibly talented artist who's work I have admired for a long time now so as you can probably imagine I am absolutely thrilled and totally honoured to be featuring and it is one of, if not THE  proudest moments  in my creative journey so far.

 From the bottom of my heart I sincerely thank you Marjie