Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2013 - June

Tim Holtz's June tag (you can see it here) uses Distress Markers and water pens to create a watercolour-esque appearance. OK, so the main problem here is that I don't own a single Distress Marker. But necessity is the mother of invention and I do own plenty of Distress Inks, and a water brush so I'll just have to use the old smoosh-the-ink-on-the-craft-mat,-pick-it-up-with-a-water-brush-and-hope-for-the-best technique.

So, my second Tim Tag and I've got to say that, although I almost fell at the first hurdle, I'm really pleased with how this turned out.

I LOVE the splatted ink spots.

AND the background stamping. And I think you can just about see the watercolour effect - do you think I've got away with it?

If you're interested I took some progress shots, if not - well thanks for taking the time to stop by, please do leave a comment so that I know you came and I can visit you in return.

Chosen images - butterflies and post mark Crafty Individuals, flourish - Artemio

Instead of Distress Markers I used Distress Inks in Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey, Broken China, Faded Jeans, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade and Ripe Persimmon

I had to repeat the distress technique a couple of times to get a look I was reasonably happy with (I used Salty Ocean DP, Gathered Twigs DI and Dried Marigold DS)

LOVE this stamping - Chocolate Baroque:  Artistic Affirmations, Paper Artsy Ink and the Dog: Clocks 3, Paper Artsy: HP1109 and Cactus Annie: text stamp.

I'm really pleased with how this turned out - and I'm actually itching to have another play with this technique -
Thanks for the inspiration Tim!

U is for... Urbain

Good afternoon all.

Now don't fall over with shock... but I have finished my entry for week 12 of The Craft Barn's Dictionary challenge - AND it was only posted yesterday!

This week's challenge is the letter U - no twist this time - the letter is challenge enough!

I have decided to go for Urbain in my French/English Dictionary which translates - not surprisingly as "Urban, pertaining to town life".  So here it is...

Some detail shots...

The Crafty Individuals CI 274 stamps were the perfect choice!

I stamped the "town" street three times and the "village" street once onto super smooth cardstock with Jet Black Archival ink. Then using a fine paintbrush, a little water and various DIs (Antique Linen, Gathered Twigs, Pumice Stone, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Faded Jeans, Shabby Shutters, Dried Marigold and Fired Brick) I "watercolour" painted the various houses, trying to make them all different.

I then fussy cut them out (you will notice a certain lack of chimney pots!) After the bottom tier of houses I cut up between the buildings to break up the repeat, and then adhered them to the page with  a strip of hi-tack tape along the bottom of each row of buildings. Leaving the tops unattached, I hope, gives an impression of depth - and that there might be streets running between the houses.

This was a fun - yet fiddly - page which, on the whole, I'm quite pleased with and it was nice to get these stamps out again!

Off to link now - have a happy and creative day.



P.S. New post over at my gardening blog Maisie, Maisie, Garden Crazy  if you fancy a peep at my "outside studio".