12 Tags of Tim Holtz - January 2016

 Hello again Everyone

What a week its been - 3 blog posts in as many days  - think that's a record for me!! Its definitely been a creative , productive week and I have the inky fingers to prove it. So pleased I got my 'scrubbie' !

So today it's time to share my take on Tim Holtz tag for 12 tags of 2016- January

You can see Tim's tag for January 2016 and how he created it here and as he's the 'Master of his Game' and explains everything so well there really is no need for me to go into detail so lets get started!

Here's my tag

I used the same embossing folder as Tim did and I have to say I have always LOVED this Industrial Metal technique from the first time I ever tried it. 

Now the Chalkboard technique is something I haven't tried before until now. I tried a few times but I wasn't getting a result I was happy with so I decided that I would come back to it (I'm not one to give in) when I had more time and I would use the chalk in a slightly different way to Tim on my chosen blueprint stamp - the padlock from Tim's Industrial Blueprint stamp set 

I stamped the padlock in Versamark, embossed with white embossing powder, heat set and then delicately applied Silver gilding wax over the embossing. I then used the chalk to outline the image and smudged the chalk as I worked. Its been a while since I last used chalk back in my teaching days so thanks Tim for the memories ! 

As Tim did on his tag I layered my image also - the centre panel on the lock. I also added an embellishment - an Ideology long fastener fed through an Ideology washer and adhered over the keyhole. 

I painted my chosen wordband with Black Soot distress paint,

punched an eyelet over the tag hole and fed a length of silver chain through the hole. 

and here it is again - My finished Tag for Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2016 - January 

the first of this years collection. 

I do enjoy making my 'Tim' tags, just hope I can make all 12 this year - fingers crossed !! 

Thanks again for taking the time out to stop by today - I really do appreciate it . I hope I make your visits worthwhile and you leave feeling a little inspired and/or motivated to go and connect with your creative self.

Be sure to have a lovely weekend 

Stay safe and warm 

Take care

 Amanda x 

Tag Friday January 2016 at A Vintage Journey

 Hello Everyone and Welcome

 Today over at A Vintage Journey its 'Tag Friday'! I'm sure many of you are already familiar with this tradition but for those of you who aren't let me explain . When there are 5 Fridays in a month ,the 5th Friday sees some of the  AVJ Creative Guides create and post a tag created in their own style.

So here I am today sharing my  'Tag Friday ' tag with you all . 

My tag was born out of my love for facial imagery and expression, especially the eyes, as they truly are the 'windows to the soul.'  So  with a certain stamp in mind I headed to my craft HQ and let the creativity commence . 

Taking a manila tag size #8 I applied colour using Tim Holtz Wrinkle Free Distress Technique and a few Distress Inks mainly in tones of blue.  Once completely dry I added more depth of colour using the blending tool with the Distress inks.

I then stamped the focal image (the main stamp from Tim Holtz Classics #5 stamp set) directly on to the inked background in Black Archival Ink.  As you've perhaps gathered this is the stamp I had in mind! I think it has to be one of my all time faves. 

Picking up water with a paintbrush I painted out some of the ink in areas around the face that I felt  needed highlights or emphasis, especially the eyes . This really made the face come to life. I also used a highlighter pen to enhance the eyes a little more.

I then added more detail to the background using stamps and Tim Holtz layering Stencils,Distress ink, Archival ink and Black Gesso along with a few circles and some splatters using Picket Fence Distress Paint.

I then masked off the face and spritz the tag with Perfect Pearls to give a slight shimmer to the background. 

I kept the embellishments simple as I didn't want to take anything away from the focal image- an ideology wordband and a few remnant rubs.  

I adhered the tag onto a black mount cut to size and attached an eyelet around the tag hole. To finish off I inked a length of crinkle ribbon (and my fingers oops!) using Black Soot Distress Stain Spray and fed it through the eyelet. 

 Here is my contribution to A Vintage Journeys Tag Friday .

I am really pleased with how it turned out - it speaks volumes to me personally and I would have to say its the kind of art I love to create. Hope you like it too. 

Be sure to stop by A Vintage Journey's blog if you haven't done already and see all the other fabulous tags some of my fellow Creative Guides have created . 

So that just leaves me today to thank you so much for stopping by and for the lovely comments you leave- I  do appreciate them greatly . 

See you again very soon, hopefully tomorrow, when I will be sharing my take on Tims tag for January 2016 .Yeh, its sure been a Creative week here at The Pink Craft HQ' !!

Have a great weekend 

Take care 

Amanda x

A Little Blue Bottle - Guest Desgner at Frilly and Funkie -'Enjoy your Embossing! '

Hi Everyone and Welcome 

Today I am a Guest designer over at Frilly and Funkie and I really am thrilled to have been given this opportunity to share a little of my creativity on such a prestigious blog.
The current theme is 'Enjoy your Embossing' chosen by the super talented Jenny and here's what she has to say:

'Make a vintage or shabby chic project of your choice and remember to include some embossing. Use your favourite embossing methods (wet, dry, heat, or any other techniques you want to share) - just enjoy your embossing!'

What a fabulous theme! Thanks Jenny for providing the ideal opportunity for me to finally alter one of the many glass bottles I have stashed away in my 'bottle bank'  using Wendy Vecchi's Faux Granite Technique . 

Choosing  one of my 'empties' did take a while ( I seem to have quite a stash!!) .......... but in the end I settled on an empty perfume bottle- isn't it cute ?

With respect to Wendy I won't go into detail about how to do her Faux Granite Technique as you can find Wendy's excellent tutorial here 

I used Sky Blue Archival Ink and Embossing powder to emboss the bottle - Be sure to keep in mind glass+heat = HOT, VERY HOT so work in stages to minimise the 'OUCHES' !!

To create the white specks I used Ranger Glacier White Pigment Ink Pad and a Speckle stamp from my stash. Once the embossing was dry and the bottle cooled down I applied Silver Gilding Wax to the bottle neck and base.

Though the bottle is cute enough to stand alone or have its original topper popped back on (which is fabulous in itself) the challenge theme is all about embossing so I created an embossed poinsettia using Tim Holtz Bigz Poinsettia die, a dot embossing folder and some dark blue card stock that has a subtle silvery shimmer to it .
Can you believe I bought this die a while ago and this is the first time I have used it!!!  

I highlighted the embossed pattern and caught the edges of the leaves with Silver Gilding Wax before shaping and adhering the layers together. 

I adhered a couple of hex nuts into the centre of the poinsetta and positioned a heart pin in place. I altered the pin using Silver Alcohol Ink by simply dripping the ink from the bottle. I love the textured effect it created. I placed a deep blue gem in the centre of the heart as a finishing touch.

Here are a few more photos of my altered embossed bottle. Hope you like it .

If you fancy joining in the current challenge there's still plenty of time to enter - just head over to Frilly and Funkie's blog  checkout the rules and then go have some fun 'enjoying your embossing!'

Huge thank's again to all the team at Frilly and Funkie for my Guest Design spot today - it has been a real priviledge and honour and is much appreciated . 

I would like to enter this into the following challenges 

Country View Crafts #35 January 2016- 'Inspired by Bottles' 

Anything but Cute Challenge #9 'Ring out the Old, Bring in the New' 

( Tim Holtz poinsetta die bought new but used for the first time on this project ) 

Thanks too to all of you who have popped by today. I hope you have enjoyed your time here and leave inspired to create . 

Look forward to seeing you again soon 

Take care 

Amanda x

Destination Inspiration - January 2016 at A Vintage Journey

Hello Everyone and Welcome

Its lovely to see you all again and Thank you for visiting. Hope you all had a lovely weekend recharging your batteries and are now full of energy for the week ahead.

My week begins with me sharing my first Destination Inspiration post over at A Vintage Journey .

Today I arrive at Terminal #2  to show you what I have created using our travel bag of crafty goodies. It would be lovely if you could pop by to take a look at my card/Wall art.  Maybe I can tempt you with a little sneaky peak

Hope to see you there

Amanda

xxx