Heart Of Dixie

New Stamps and a New Challenge....a good excuse to use these fabulous "Heart Of Dixie" stamps by Oxford Impressions. When I saw the new "Tag Challenge Blog" I had the perfect excuse to open them and have a play, I must admit, these stamps have been sitting on my bench for a while, sadly Happy Daze was closing down and I bought a heap load of goodies and these stamps were to good to miss. Very sad to see the shop go as I have placed many orders with them, such a good service too.

On to the Tag Challenge ,which is over here....http://tagalongchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/.....This week sees it's very first challenge and the theme is "Vintage" a theme that I love. Those of you that know me,will know how much I like working with tags, inchies, twinchies, atcs etc...so this challenge blog is just perfect for me.

I am also entering this Tag in to the challenge here at .....http://artfultimes.blogspot.co.uk/......their theme is "Raining Men" so hopefully my tag will be acceptable for their challenge.

For this tag I used a Tim Holtz die and cut the card and backing paper together, then glued them, once the glue was dry I  trimmed a small strip off the bottom of the tag. Using the masking technique,I stamped images from the set on to the tag. Using a scrap of the backing paper I stamped the buildings and the word Soldier, then cut and adhered that to the tag to make a pocket.

For the photo's, I used white card, then trimmed them down and rounded the edges, using a small piece of very fine grained sandpaper I roughed the edges of the photo, inking the edges using Burlap distress ink. The same was done to the oval image. To finished I added the string and also the star that I stamped and cut out.

I'm pleased with how the tag looked after finishing it...hope you like it too.

A Fun Tag

There is a lovely challenge just started over here....http://outofahatcreations.blogspot.co.uk/   The theme is to use a Pennent or Banner on your make, well as I had the perfect stamps for that I decided to make a Tag and enter the challenge.

The stamps I have used are all from a set from Artistic Outpost...after winning a challenge over on their blog recently I have now got another lovely set of their stamps to add to my ever growing collection.

This is a 3"x5" Tag, that I have coloured using distress ink, the image and pennents are coloured with distress inks too and the leather cord is from my stash. 

Shimmery Floral Twinchie

I never thought I could put so much on a Twinchie  ( 2"x 2" ) until now,lol. This is one I have made for  the challenge over here    http://twinchieschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/   The theme is "Floral"

I am also entering this Twinchie in to the challenge over here     http://artfultimes.blogspot.co.uk/  where their theme is "Twinchies"

 I decided to use one of my tiny vintage images and surround her with flowers. 

First I applied modge podge to the twinchie then added the image while it was still wet,then left it to dry. Once dry I then added 2 coats of modge podge over the image (drying each coat) making sure I sealed the edges. Then I added the lace and all the other embellishments. Gesso was applied to everything (except the image) and once it was dry I the sprayed Cosmic Shimmer mists to colour the twinchie.

Something for the Ladies....

Today sees the 14th Challenge starting over at Rhedd & Rosie's challenge blog. The theme this time around is "Something For The Ladies"...imaginations can run wild with this theme,from something very feminine to something rather saucey.
The teamies have done a great job with their makes too.
My Dt piece is a dressing table mirror, it was completely bare, so I sanded it down, added an undercoat in cream, really to seal the wood, then I decoupatched it in this gorgeous floral tissue paper. I left it to dry overnight then I used Inka Gold in "Platin" to add highlights, finally adding the embellishments.
This is where the challenge is   http://rheddandrosies.blogspot.co.uk/     please pop over, as always it's an anything goes blog and there is a fabulous prize for the winner.

Dress Form Altered Canvas

This is only the second time I have altered a canvas, a little longer than my last one,this one being  7.5" x 9"...and once again I have thoroughly enjoyed getting messy,lol.
The dress forms are from Craft Shapes Torbay and I have had them for a quite a while, they have sat patiently in a box waiting to be used,lol.
For this canvas,as you can see from the pictures,I have used several bits and bobs, along with some flowers,beads, lace etc. My favourite embellishment is the Humming Bird,which was a brooch my Aunty gave to me,she had found it in a charity shop and bought it knowing I love Humming Birds.I removed the clasp before adding it to the canvas.
I used Cosmic Shimmer Sprays in Vintage Raspberry and Plum Twist....I also used my own mix using Pearl Mica powder for the dress form and center area of the canvas. To finish I then highlighted some of the embellishments with Viva Inka Gold "Platin"

I am entering my canvas in to 2 challenges....
the first challenge is over at.... http://craft-roomchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/...their requirements are that you use some "Old or New Stash"....so my new/old stash is the Dressforms and some Lace.

The second challenge is over at...http://www.crafterscornerindia.blogspot.in/2013/07/crafters-corner-challenge11-anything.html.....and their theme is "Anything Goes"

Thank you to all of you that take the time to visit and leave such lovely comments.

All Around Rinchies...lol

And now for something completely different....Gill Birch, over in the Twinchie,Inchie & Rinchie group on Facebook decided to set group members a challenge. Her challenge was to create something using 10 Rinchies. For those that don't know, Rinchies are 1" circles. 

As most of you know I love working with smaller items and just had to take up the challenge...so here is my entry. I have altered a CD, first I covered it with some Tim Holtz backing paper and then using my fabby set of Oxford Impression Stamps I stamped the images on to the spare backing paper, also stamping a pin, press stud and the word "sew" on the cd, then distressed the edge with distress ink.

Next I coloured the images and then randomly cut out 10 Rinchies using my inch circle punch...adding them on the outer part of the cd.  The cotton reels were added  to the center of the cd, along with a pair of scissors. I will also be entering this altered cd in to the challenge over at.....

http://www.fashionablestampingchallenges.com/..

as they have a "Sewing" themed challenge going on at the moment. 

It's been a while since I joined in any challenges on a regular basis, so I intend to remedy that ...

One for the Oldies,lol

Oldies!....oh I dislike that word, maybe because I am an "oldie" myself, well in years maybe, but not in mind. So you have probably guessed the theme for this weeks challenge over at Eclectic Ellapus Challenge Blog is "A Birthday Card for an Oldie"   As much as I don't like making cards, I actually had the perfect stamps for the theme, they are from River City Stamps. I've had it a while and have only used it once, it's a wonder it hasn't perished,lol.

Hope you like the card...the challenge is over here   .....http://eclecticellapu.blogspot.co.uk/

Altered Slides

I've altered a few slides for the challenge over at 

 http://www.artisticoutpost.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/artistic-outpost-august-referral-program.html

The theme is Anything Goes,but you must use Artistic Outpost Stamps.

I enjoyed altering these,I have actually left the little glass pane in situ, the photo dosen't do the slides credit really. Loved using the stamps on them too.

Red....one of my favourite colours

Yes,it's that time again...another fabulous challenge over at   http://rheddandrosies.blogspot.co.uk/  Such a great theme this fortnight..." Use Red"

This is my Dumpy Tag...it's made from my new die,by Tim Holtz, I so love the shape...although I do trim about half an inch off the bottom of the tag.

The image is by Paperbag Studios, I adore this little pair of shoes...along with their sentiment.

Do pop over to the blog and have a look at the teamies fantastic makes...there's certainly some inspiration there.

It's teamie Melissa's theme this time around and our resident teamie Moira is very kindly offering this fantastic prize, well worth winning.

Hope to see you over at Rhedd & Rosies Challenge Blog soon...xx

Pretty in her Hat

Well,I was almost stumped when the theme for the new challenge over at    http://eclecticellapu.blogspot.co.uk/  was for Art Deco.  I will be honest and say I am worse than useless with that theme...but luckily I had been given a beautiful set of stamps by my friend and fellow crafter Rebecca when we did an altered paper bag swap recently.
For my DT piece I cut a piece of stiff mount board.Using the smooth side,which was the perfect colour,I stamped the image, the coloured her using a damp brush and distress ink pads...I just love her hat. Once dry I triple heat embossed the front, then I heat embossed it a  4th time adding a very light sprinkling of  light gold glitter. Unfortunately the glitter shows up as black dots in the photo.
The back of this piece I only heat embossed once, basically to seal the board, then I added the silver clasp and  added the ribbon.
I love this piece as I can't wear heavy jewellery on my neck,this piece is really light and has spurred me on to make another piece...which I shall post here in the near future.

Fly Around the World

Finally got around to posting on my blog...I seem to have had a busy week,but not achieved much, if that makes sense, although I  have spent a fair amount of time searching for old school pupils for a reunion next year rather than crafting.
This afternoon I wanted to craft so made this Dumpy Tag for the challenge over at    http://www.artisticoutpost.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/artistic-outpost-august-referral-program.html
The theme is "Anything Goes" but you must use Artistic Outpost Stamps...well as I have 19 sets of their stamps, it would be rude not to enter their challenge. Actually last month I was their winner, so my prize is winging it's way to me as I write, a fabby set of stamps, they will bring my collection up to 20!
For this Tag I have used the gorgeous Charles & Amelia set, I've tried to keep within the vintage feel by using vintage colours....hope you like it as  much as I do.....

A Tribute to my Mother...... (Picture heavy post)

I have been sitting on this make for weeks,now at last I can show you all my very first multi media canvas.

This is my design team piece for the challenge over at   http://alteredeclectics.blogspot.co.uk/ The first of each month sees a new challenge, always "Anything Goes" challenge and it  is specifically for altered art.

I've always wanted to create a canvas like this and as I was sorting through a box of photos I acquired after my father died last year,I found this photo of my mother aged 18...there was my inspiration. So I set to and collected all sorts of bits, enlisting a bit of help from friends for chicken wire and bolts etc. I was delighted to find in one of my dad's old tins a brass key with 18 stamped in it, just perfect to put next to mum...there are several small pieces on the canvas that belong to my dad, so this canvas was becoming really extra special.

It was my daughters birthday on the 10th July and I gave her this canvas as part of her birthday gift ,as a child she was close to her grandparents, also I know she will treasure it forever. Needless to say she felt very emotional when she saw it.

Below are some photos of the different stages and some sections from the whole canvas...

 Started adding and gluing items to canvas. Moving and adding pieces until I was happy with it.

 After attaching items to the canvas,I then  applied modge podge to the photo ( photo was coated several times)
Once dry, I covered the photo with a baby wipe and then gessod everything.

 Again, once everything was completely dry,I then added colour and sheen with Cosmic Shimmer Mists....drying with a heat tool (not too closely) in between so I could build the colour up.

 .

 After everything was dry, I used Inca Gold to highlight some areas on the canvas.

I'm now in the process of collecting some more items for my next canvas,not thought of a subject yet, but I'm sure something will come to mind....it is surprising though just how much you need for one of these creations...