Sunday Stampers #246 - Texture-tastic Tag

Hello again and welcome.

This weeks Sunday Stampers Challenge (you can find out more by clicking on the button in the side bar) is themed on the song title "You Raise Me Up" and is therefore texture. As my post title suggests I have gone all out on embellishing my tag with different textures - so without further ado, here is my Timeless textured Tag...

And some detail shots...

Just in case you are interested the following shots show some of the steps and individual elements involved in creating this piece.

The tag started off as a greyboard die cut, which I painted with gesso and then stamped with a text stamp in Jet Black Archival. I then swiped over a layer of Weathered Wood Distress Stain and heat set. Next came the first layer of texture, modelling paste applied through a mask. When this was almost dry I stamped in to the paste with a grungy number stamp to give added texture and then allowed to dry fully.

Using an ink blender I applied light layers of Wild Honey DI to the right hand side of the tag and Rusty Hinge to the left, blending a little in various places. Next I sparingly stamped my tiny Harlequin stamp (yet again!) in Rusty Hinge on random "bricks".

I then left this to dry and moved on to the embellishments.

The flourish is die cut from greyboard coated with self adhesive aluminium tape.

I used a Ten Seconds Studio embossing wheel to add texture to the metal tape and then applied Alcohol Inks to colour.

This picture shows the textured and inked flourish layered on to a piece of burlap and placed over-hanging the edge of the tag.

A piece of Tim Holtz Filmstrip Ribbon (adhered with hi-tack tape but allowed to keep its natural curve at the right hand end) adds another layer of texture.

Other textured embellishments include a handmade lace flower (tutorial here), a feather, tiny postcard (stamped onto white cardstock, inked with Antique Linen DI to "age" and edges distressed with a distressing tool), a salvaged Christmas lights bulb (stripped of its plastic socket and inked with Butterscotch Alcohol Ink), a  K and Co Words To Go - well - word, inked and distressed as before and pushed in to a memo pin and finally a faceted gem.

I also used some gold microbeads here and there on the brickwork to add yet another layer of texture and interest.

Supplies used are as follows...

Cutting Dies

Sizzix BigZ / Tim Holtz Alterations - Tags and Bookplates and Elegant Flourishes

Stamps

Text - PaperArtsy Hot Picks
Grungy numbers - PaperArtsy Ink and the Dog Minis 23
Postcard - Papermania Urban Stamps - Bookprint, Around the World 2

Inks

Ranger Archival - Jet Black
Distress Inks - Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
Distress Stain - Weathered Wood
Adirondak Alcohol Inks - Butterscotch, Espresso, Rust

Other

Mask - That Special Touch Mask - Bricks
Seam Binding - Angel Crafts
Burlap - Hobbycrafts
Filmstrip Ribbon - Tim Holtz Idea-ology Findings
"Timeless" - K and Co. - Black and White Words to Go
Faceted gem - Making Memories - Paper Reverie - Metalique
Red gem brad - WHSmith
Wooden bird - Kars
Microbeads - Accent beads
Memo pin - Tim Holtz Idea-ology Findings
Cotton Crochet Lace and Feather - from stash

That's all for now, off to make dinner... Thanks for stopping by.

WOYWW 195 and a Lace Flower Tutorial

Good morning fellow blog hoppers and welcome to WOYWW 195! (If you're visiting for the first time and want to know more about the phenomenon that is What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday head over to Julia's blog here - she is entirely to blame!)

I'm on a mission this morning as I've got to get this done an dusted before taking Moonshine Minor to the Fracture Clinic to have his cast removed - we have been counting down the hours! He's been an absolute star during the whole performance, the only things he hasn't managed are his shirt buttons and cutting up his food!

Anyway - to the task in hand, and what IS on my workdesk this cold and dull Wednesday? Well.....

I thought I'd show you the view from the other side of the desk for a change...

And what I'm working on...  my Sunday Stampers challenge tag (the theme this week is texture).

Back on Valentine's Day I posted pictures of a canvas I had just completed and Robin (State of Serenity) was looking for a tutorial on how to make the lace flower (also pictured above) so I thought I'd quickly put one together to share with you today - It really is SUPER SIMPLE.  Here goes...


1. Cut a length of lace, I have used cotton crochet lace but any will do. Mine has a "pointy" edge which lends itself to petals, a straight or curved scallop edge will give a different look.  The longer the length of lace the bigger the flower will be.

2.  I use 3 strands of embroidery floss for the next step - you need something fairly strong as you will be pulling up this thread to make gathers and you don't want it to snap. (I've used a contrasting colour for demonstration purposes but you should use a matching colour.) Tie a knot at the end of the floss and then work one or two stitches through the bottom end of the lace to hold the gathering thread securely.

Work a running stitch along the length of the ribbon using the holes in the design as a guide

Work the running stitch to the end of the lace DO NOT FASTEN OFF this is now your gathering thread.

 4. Gently pull up the gathering thread easing the lace along to make fairly even gathers DO NOT FASTEN OFF, keep your needle threaded.

5. Starting at the end with the knot curl the lace in on itself to form the middle of the flower then curl the lace around, your gathers will spread out as the flower gets bigger, arrange the gathers in a pleasing fashion.

6. Using the gathering thread you have pulled up and with neat stitches stitch through the layers of lace to hold the gathers in place. Stitch only through the bottom of the lace. Fasten off but DO NOT CUT OFF THE THREAD.

7. Turn the flower over and arrange the petals to make a pleasing shape. 

8. Using the gathering thread attach a vintage button to the middle of the flower, fasten off at the back and cut the thread.

OR

Cut off the thread and attach a brad, gem or similar.

You could also try layering up paper or metal blooms inside the flower for added interest. 

I hope this all makes sense if you have any questions please put them in the comments box and I'll answer them as soon as I can. 

Enjoy the rest of your WOYWW!

H is for Homme

Hello friends...


I mentioned in my last post that I was planning on joining in with the Alpha/Dictionary Challenge over at The Craft Barn (details here). The idea behind the challenge is to alter a dictionary, in whatever style you prefer, but following the fortnightly prompts from The Craft Barn DT.

I am already three letters behind and will have to play catch up at some point! The current prompt is the letter H and as the dictionary I am using is my old French - English dictionary from my A Level days my H is for Homme - which fits in very nicely with the Sunday Stampers Challenge #245 which is "Man of the World" - lucky eh?

So here is my  first finished altered dictionary page...

I began by using a  tiny frame stamp to highlight my word (as per the challenge remit) then used an ink blending tool to apply a light coat of Antique Linen DI over both pages (leaving the definition un-inked).

  

Next I built up layers of subtle colour and interest in the background using stamped images in Scattered Straw and Tea Dye DIs and Jet Black Ranger Archival. The rather dapper gentleman is stamped directly on to the page using Jet Black Archival - I love the look of stamping faces on text paper (you might remember my mixed media angel here).

Despite the background stamping the page still looked a bit flat and uninspiring but the problem with altering a book - unless you gut some of the pages, is that you can't go for  full on chunky embellies and texture as it will be impossible to close the book or work on future pages very easily. So - I had to find something with as little dimension as possible to add interest. A quick sortie round the boxes, drawers and cubbies in my craft room produced some washi tape and American Crafts embellishments that started me off in the right direction...

The details

Stamps

Background - IndigoBlu - Crackle Glaze Background; Crafty Individuals (freebies) - Crown and flourish; Tiny harlequin stamp - unknown

Tiny frame - Studio G
Dapper Chap - Inkylicious - Mr Blaketon
Pointing left finger - Pink Paislee - Phantom
Pointing right finger. clock and pen - Pink Paislee - Daily Junque

Inks

Distress Inks: Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Tea Dye
Ranger Archival: Jet Black

Other

Washi Tape - Cavallini and Co - Numbers
Leather Fleur de Lys - American Crafts - Townhouse
Red embroidery floss - Anchor
Postage stamp

This was a fun project, challenging in both finding a french word to fit in with the prompt and in keeping the page flat, but I really enjoyed it - ready for the next one now...

Thanks for stopping by

WOYWW 194 and finished Art Journal Page

Hello happy blog hoppers and a warm welcome to you and also to my new followers. Thank you for visiting and for your lovely comments.

If you're visiting for the first time and are wondering what WOYWW is all about visit Julia's blog to find out more and join in the fun - try it - you'll be hooked!

This week I am big on multi tasking as I am working on three projects at once - my Art Journal page which you could see the makings of in my WOYWW 192 post, my Art Journaling class homework task (a spring themed page - hmmm - needs more work) and my submission for Sunday Stampers (of course) which I am also going to submit for the Craft Barn's Alpha / Dictionary Challenge - yet another challenge I am late starting!!!

Anyway - here's my desk - and I admit I did have a quick tidy up for two reasons

1. It was awash with scrap paper I had been using to protect everything from the over spray from my Dylusions inks
2. I had lost my tiny harlequin stamp UH OH - and as you'll know if you've been following my blog recently - I don't seem to be able to complete a project without using it!

And this is my "pens n tools" end of the desk

I remembered to do some close-ups this week. Here's my Dictionary Challenge/Sunday Stampers piece in progress...

And here is my finished journal page...

Credits for the digital collage elements are as follows:

Sun, border and birds - Nancy Baumiller (Crowabout StudioB) Love the World: Sun, Border3, Bird2
Girl - Nancy Baumiller (Crowabout StudioB) Joyous Journey: Woman Dancing all from Deviant Scrap.com

Leaf stamps are Dyan Reaveley Further Around the Edge, Inks are Dylusions spray inks

Song Lyrics are Green Garden by Laura Mvula - the deep green and blue colours in the background made me think of the serenity of a shady garden and the lyrics seemed to fit with the solace I find in my own garden.

Got to dash now - will post my link and then blog hop later... see you soon and thanks for dropping by.

Get me - not crawling in under the wire! Sunday Stampers #244 and ABAC #12

Hello and Happy Valentine's Day to you and a very big thank you to all my WOYWW visitors who inspired me to carry on with a project which - if I'm honest - was a bit like pulling teeth!

Any way... 

I can't believe this is my THIRD post of the week - (OK I'm only managing this because I'm ironing on a need to wear basis!) I wanted to get my submissions in for Sunday Stampers (Endless Love) and Anything But A Card (Share the love) without having to rush (too much).

So here is my offering...

And here are some detail shots

(Handmade lace flower)

I have never done a project that has been such a roller coaster ride as this one! 

I loved my initial background stamping, but OH DEAR when I added colour to the canvas AAARGH!!! I hated it, not even my favourite crumpled tissue paper trick worked - it looked more like something from Chainsaw Massacre than Endless Love! So on Wednesday (gosh was that only yesterday?!) a coat of gesso and a rapid retreat were called for. 

After a spirit lifting voyage round the WOYWW world and some kind and uplifting reciprocal visits, I hit my craft room in a flurry of lace and flowers this morning and - in my eyes anyway - a phoenix has risen from the ashes! (or maybe that should be splashes? - groan)

Here or the (now not so gory) details

Canvas

8x8 ins Daler Rowney canvas board

Die

Sizzix BigZ / Tim Holtz Alterations - Caged Bird

Stamps

Background text - Paper Artsy Hot Picks HP1006; Tiny Harlequin - unknown

Winged heart and rose vine - Kanban Stamp 09

Inks

Images - Ranger Archival - Jet Black (second impression used for rose vine)

Background - Distress Stains - Spun Sugar, Fired Brick, Weathered Wood

Bird cage - DI - Vintage Photo

Scroll - DI - Antique Linen

Markers (for colouring heart) - Promarkers - Ruby, Cardinal  Red

Wings - highlighted with Sakura Gelly Roll Clear Star

Paint

Bird cage - Hobbycraft acrylic - antique gold

Other

Embossing powder - (bird cage) Stampin Stuff - Vertigre

Cream cotton lace

Vintage brass button

Mulberry paper roses

Red foam roses

Heart shaped deco pin 

Well that's all for now, I'm off to post my links, hope you like the end result, see you soon.

WOYWW 193 - Warts 'n' All

Hello and welcome

A very quick post today as I am zooming out to do the school run in 25 minutes.

Here's my workdesk in a bit of a tip as I am mid project on my hearts submission for Sunday Stampers Challenge. I walked away from this last night feeling much disgruntled and not liking the background on the canvas I am doing - (so much so I covered it with gesso as a mark of disrespect!) Today I'm seeing possibilities and a resurrection may be on the cards.

Almost inevitably you can see Distress Inks and even this time Distress Stains and my go to tiny harlequin background stamp is making another appearance far left, apart from that it's mainly a mess of kitchen towel and tissue paper.

I noticed on my WOYWW hop last week that some of you were discussing Distress Ink swatches - you can see mine far right. You can download blank ones (updated with new colours I see - guess what I'll be doing later!) HERE - it is also worth doing this on a sheet of Kraft cardstock as the effect of the ink is different (tattered rose disappears completely) You can also download side labels for your Distress Inks at the same link (Ranger Industries).


Anyway apart from proving that I am a bit of an organisation freak (I was a Civil Engineering Librarian in a former life - old habits die hard) I hope this has been a useful visit for you. Hope to come visiting later but...

TTFN