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!

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.