A Different Kind of Valentine for TioT

Hi Folks, well today sees the start of a new challenge at Try it on Tuesdays and, yes, as Valentines Day is approaching, we thought you might like to make a start and create something with at least 1 heart!
I had a lovely 'play day' when I made the background on this tag. I embossed the Leaf Swirl with Stencil Paste and then PaperArtsy Fresco paints -  Snowflake, French Toast and South Pacific, (bought these in October at GNP and its the first time I've used them - shame on me). I wanted a shabby look, so didn't completely cover the white stencil paste, which I had heat dried and gave a rough texture. I applied Treasure Gold in Aquamarine on the raised leaves, and then applied some gold rub on around the edges of the tag, which when polished up has given a lovely rich sheen.  The dress form was distressed with Faded JeansDI  and then stamped in FJ, the tulle and vintage seam binding were also dyed with FJ ink. Her little heart was distressed and then embossed with Gold EP and a little heart crystal added.  The sentiment, embossed with gold EP is Tim Holtz.
The rest of the DT have some fabulous inspiration for you, so please pop over here to take a look, and as this is the last of our January challenges, we are sponsored for this month by Crafty Embillies.
We would love you to join us in this challenge, but remember, you can only link your creation up to 5 challenges including ours to be in with a chance of being picked for our Top 5.

I am entering this at:
  Addicted to Stamps - Use Material
  Crafty Ribbons - Love/Anniversary/Romance
  DragonsDream - Dress To Impress (dress form)
  Creative Craft Challenge - Bling it Up
  Make it Monday - Anything Goes

That's it for now and thanks for looking.
Avril xx

Sharing the Love at Fashionable Samping

Hi Folks,

Its time for another challenge over at Fashionable Stamping and this time, we would love you to 'Share Some Love'.
For my piece, my new 'love' of tags  was the choice, and as I love stamping and inking, well, that had to be the starting point. I used the new IndigoBlu 'Vintage Flourish' stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with Clear EP on a white tag, then my new favourite Distress Inks - Iced Spruce and Seedless Preserve with a bit of Bundles Sage thrown in for good measure. Second generation background stamping in Frayed Burlap, and then polished up to reveal the lovely white flourish.
 My image 'Woman in Repose' by Rubber Stampeed, was stamped onto white card in Iced Spruce, softly distressed with Spun Sugar to soften the white, and her lips were painted with Spun Sugar. This was matted onto cardstock which had been randomly distressed with the same inks, which were also used  to die the seam binding. The letters, TH Vintage Market die, were also distressed  and coated with Glossy Accents.
My DT Sisters have as usual created some wonderful pieces for your inspiration, and this week for added inspiration, we have Chris  of   http://imaginationandinspirationwithchris.blogspot.co.uk/  as a Guest Designer  so please pop over here to take a look.  As ever we are sponsored by Cottage Crafts to the value of €7, so why don't you join us and 'Share some Love'.

I am entering this at:
  Fat Pages with Attitude - Love
  Gingerloft - Love is in the Air
  C.R.A.F.T. - Valentines/Love
  Aud Sentiments - Bingo (Die cut/Embossing/LOVE)
  Artistic Stampers - Favourite Stamp (Love this image)
  In the Pink - Distressing

That's it from me for now,  enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Avril xx

Keeping the Intention - so far!

Hi Folks,

One of my New Years Intentions (don't make Resolutions cause I always break them) is to start AND continue with the 12 Tags of 2013 with Tim Holtz.  I made a late start last year, and then I don't know what happened but lots of things went by the by,  including 2012's Tags.

So here we are with January's, and for a change I did have a few of the items required, although I did still have to improvise!  However, the hardest bit was cutting into the embossing folder - as instructed by Tim -this was a first for me, although I have heard of people doing this - scary!

Just a quick one, and if you want to see the original, just pop over to Tim Holtz blog for full instructions.

Enjoy your weekend.

Avril xx

Lucious Lace

Hi Folks,

Hope everyone is safe and well in this snowy weather, although we have had snow all day, it has been wet and making the previous snow into slush - I hate this bit!
My card today is for the Challenge at In The Pink and its there by the skin of my teeth!  Still felt the need for something pretty, and as the challenge suggests, its PINK!  The paper is a Pink Petticoat freebie, stitched and distressed, added half a lace 'cake' doily again distressed. The CI image was stamped in Brown StaZon and coloured with Spun Sugar Distress marker.  My shabby flower is TH Tattered Florals, with a lace and pearl centre and a bottom layer of gauze (raided the First Aid box again) and lace.

I also added 3 vintage lace flowers from my stash.  The bow was coloured with Spun Sugar and Tattered Rose.
I am also entering this in:
  Sugar Creek Hollow - TicTacToe ( Sewing/Distressing/DieCut)
  Stampin for the Weekend - Something Girlie
  The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop -  Flowers and Ribbon
  The Shabby Tearoom - Insp + Stripes & Flowers
  Make it Monday - Anything Goes

That's it for me, I'm making the most of this snowy weather by staying in and 'playing'

Avril xx

Sweet Baby

Hi folks,

Hope everyone is staying safe and warm and the snow isn't causing you too much trouble. We've had quite a covering, but apart from the minor roads, everything seems OK.  It's been perfect weather for staying in and I had a lovely 'play' day yesterday, trying out a few new goodies - when I say new, some of them were bought in October at GNP, but haven't been used - shame on me!

Before I got messy I needed to make a New Baby card.  I used 2 sizes of Nestabilities Romantic Rectangles in Pearlised card and stamped my old but well loved PSX stamp.  I cut a 2nd large rectangle, scored about 3/4" down and glued the two tops together, making the card. Lightly coloured with Distress markers and Glamour Dust for the moon. The two larger flowers are TH Tattered Floral and the rose was tinted with inks.

I am entering this in:

  Allsorts - Flower Power
  Joanna Sheen - New Beginnings
  Stamp your Life - New Beginnings

Take care and enjoy the rest of the weekend - I'm going to try to make something with yesterdays 'pieces'

Avril xx

Yummy at Alphabet Challenges!

Hi Folks,
Its Yummy over at Alphabet Challenges  this week and we would like to see 'food' of some description on your card.
I haven't done cute for quite a while and when DD asked me to make a card for her friends 5yr old daughters birthday, it gave me the opportunity to use this gorgeous LOTV image that came free with a mag over a year ago! The papers are Pink Petticoat, also a freebie with a magazine, were all distressed  and there's also a stamped music script layer slipped in - well it is a Birthday card.  The letters were from Papermania's Rose Garden Papers.  All colouring was with Promarkers.
The rest of the DT have some very tempting makes, so please pop over here to take a look.

I am entering this card in:
  Divas by Design - Make it Girly
  I Love Promarkers - Lots of Layers
  Nutcrafters - Lots of Flowers
  By the Cute & Girly - Cute & Girly
  Emergency Crafters - Use unused but over 12months old. (papers and image)
  The stamping Shack - For a child


That's it from me, except to say hope this snow isn't causing you too much disruption, but look on the bright side - perfect crafting weather!
Avril xx

Lets Get Stitchy at Try it on Tuesday

Hi Folks,

Its time for another Challenge at Try it on Tuesday and this time we would love you to get 'Stitchy' these can be real or 'faux'.
For my card, I have used Stampendous Rose Corset, coloured with Distress Markers, I also stamped the edge of a swirl stamp in Tumbled Glass around the edge, before stitching.  The paper from K&Co  was also stitched and all distressing was done with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo inks. The small tag is Katzelkraft.  The rose is a TH Tattered Florals die.
The rest of the DT have some fabulous creation to show, so please pop over here to take a look.  But don't forget, you can only link up to 5 challenges, including ours. We are again sponsored by http://www.crafty-emblies.org/  who are offering a £10 voucher for our January winner.

I am entering this in:
  Our Creative Corner - Shabby Chic
  ATCs & Cards with Attitude - Add a Tag
  Make It Monday - Anything Goes
  Card Making Mamas - So Girly


Before I go, I would just like to say 'hello' to my new followers, thank you for choosing to follow my crafting journey.

Thanks for looking

Avril xx

Trains, Planes & Automobiles

Hi Folks,
Where did last week go - I was full of good intentions, but a busy week and computer problems left no time for crafting!
Anyhow, its time for a new challenge over at Fashionable Stamping and this time it's 'Trains, Planes and Automobiles' and we would like to see any or all of them on your project.
I decided on a tag and took the opportunity to use my JustRite map background stamp that I got at Harrogate GNP in October, which I'm sad to say hadn't seen ink!  My travelling couple are a BLine stamp, the Aeroplane is Tim Holtz, (another new and uninked) both of these were stamped in Black Versamark and then masked before stamping the map, I then masked that and stamped the TH Compass.  For the colouring I used Distress Markers and  a little Brushed Pewter Stain on the plane, before distressing the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.
We would love you to join us - the prize of a €7 Gift Cert to spend in Cottage Crafts online shop is now picked by 'Mr Random Org', although we will still be doing a Top 3 and a Spotlight.  If you need any inspiration, pleas pop over here, as my fabulous teamies have once again come up with some fabulous creations.

I am entering this at:
  Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
  Crafting for All Seasons - Something New
  Crafty Creations - Something New
  Stampin for the Weekend - Anything Goes
  Anything but a Card - Things with Wings( my plane has wings???- alternative take)
  Vintage Stamping challenge - Vintage

That's it for now, enjoy the rest of your Sunday

Avril xx

Alphabet Challenge

Hi Folks,

I must tell you my news - a few weeks ago I was asked to join the very talented team over at Alphabet Challenges, and this is my first 'outing' where the theme is - X marks the Spot -  in other words -
Spots and Stripes.

I decided on another tag, I love doing these, but don't always know what to do with them, apart from adding to a card base or attached to a gift.
For my 'tag' I cut some corrugated card with the TH Dressform, peeled the top layer off to expose my 'stripes' and then heat embossed with WOW Metallic Gold Sparkle EP.   Distress inks Bundles Sage, Iced Spruce, Tumbled Glass and Wild Honey made up my background, Dusty Concord was applied through a mask for my spots. TH Script and Flower Swirl stamping in BS and DC, all spritzed with Biscotti Perfect Pearls.
The flower, was inked and then spots applied through the mask. The ribbon was dyed with BS and TG inks, then stamped with a 'dots' stamp in DC ink.

I turned this into a 'card' by adding another tag, scored and glued at the top....... so now I have the option of being able to display it better or send it without the recipient wondering where the present is!!!

The rest of the DT  have some wonderful inspiration, so please pop over here and take a look.

I am also entering this in:
  Live and Love Crafts - Old (Everything used is 6 - 12months old)
  Divas By Design - Anything Goes
  Craft Room Challenge - Make a Tag

Thats it for now, hope you all have a good weekend,  and thanks for looking.

Avril xx

Happy New Year and New Stash at TioT

Happy New Year to All

A New Year, a new Challenge and New Stash over at Try It on Tuesdays - and we'd love your to join us!

For our January challenge we are being sponsored by http://www.crafty-emblies.org/ who are offering our lucky winner a £10 voucher to spend in their online Store.
                                  

My new stash is Graphic 45 Ladies Diary stamps for the main image and top 'quote'. I used my new Distress Markers to colour the image. The background was made with Distress Inks and 2nd generation stamping with new Katzlekraft stamps. Lace and ribbon  from stash.

The rest of the DT must have been very good this past year, as they have some fabulous new stash too, so please pop over here to see their new goodies.
Don't forget - you can only enter another  4  challenges along with ours to be included in our winners and Top Picks .

I am entering this in:
  2 Sisters - Anything but a Card
  Its All About the Vintage - Lace Dream
  Vintage Stamping  Challenges- Pocket Full of Posies
  Eclecticellapu - Anything Goes
  Pile it On - Embellishments
  Craft Room Challenge - Make a Tag

Thats it for now, enjoy your Day, and I will be back on Friday with some 'news'.

Avril xx