Apples, but no Pears.....

Oh my...teamie Wendy certainly had me thinking about her theme in the current challenge over at Tag Tuesday
I must have at the very least over a thousand stamps, but not one for Wendy's Apple & Pears theme...so the best I could do was find some images from an old book I picked up in a charity shop a  year or so ago, but sadly no images of pears.

I used a page of blackberry images for the background on my tag then swiped it over with some gesso, then lightly wiped that back with a baby wipe.
When it was dry I distressed the edge of the tag in green ink, then added the images of the apples and leaves.
I used some chalks to bring up a bit more colour on the apples and leaves, then with the white pearly chalk I brushed over the complete tag, sadly the photo really doesn't show the light shimmer.
Fingers crossed Wendy doesn't mind the missing pears...
Please do go and check out the challenge, you can find us here at
TAG TUESDAY.

My Purple Tag

I am gradually easing myself back in to my crafting again....and do you know, it really does take up a fair bit of time when you have been away from it for a while, trying to remember where different things are,lol.
Over at Tag Tuesday their current challenge is to use Purple..I do so enjoy making tags, so it's nice to be back in to the swing of things again.
Please do pop over for a look, teamie Michele chose the theme this time around...
Below is my Tag for the challenge...hope you like it.

You can find the challenge here at..... Tag Tuesday

More Mixed Media..with a colour option.

Hello Everyone...I am back crafting again. It's been a while, although I recovered relatively well after my knee replacement, my back let me down for a few weeks, so sitting,standing and even lying down hurt...and to be fair I had no interest in anything.
Finally I am feeling better and more settled and able to get back to my crafting.

So here we are, Septembers Challenge over at More Mixed Media...literally anything goes, but there is an option of a colour and this month the colour is Brown.
There is also a prize to be won, a wonderful selection of papers designed by our boss lady Lozzy...they really are lovely designs too.

All my Artist Trading Coins are quite thick as they are in MDF...with hindsight I think I should have made them from thick card as the MDF tends to leave the pockets slightly open when the album is open...I'll remember that for the next time,lol.

The Atc coins were coloured with distress inks, stamped and when completely dry I sprayed with a gloss spray which bought the colours up beautifully.

I added cellophane to the windows of each pocket, so a bit of a nuisance when taking the photos.

I created the 6 page Artist Trading Coin Album from a video by Teresa Collins on youtube.

So there you are, I hope you like my album...and I hope to see you over at our challenge this month over at....
                            More Mixed Media

Wings is the theme.

Whoop, whoop...it's my turn to bring you all this fortnight's challenge theme over at Tag Tuesday, and the theme is "Wings"
I love this theme because there is so much scope to be creative, from winged insects, fairies, angels, even prehistoric winged creatures.
Below are my two Tags...I hope they will be enough to inspire you to join in with the challenge.

For this tag I stamped the background over distress ink. The image was stamped several times, coloured, cut and then layered up over a lace butterfly.

For this tag I stamped the image on to the tag, then again several times on spare card. Also coloured and cut and layered up. I finished the tag by using distress ink around the edges.

So get your thinking caps on and go and create something gorgeous so I can visit and leave some love on your blogs.

You can find the challenge here at
TAG TUESDAY

Time for Tea

Here's my Tag for the challenge over at Tag Tuesday The theme is "Beverages" and it was Valerie's choice...a good one too, as it gave me a good excuse to use my tea cup and saucer stamp that I had free with a magazine many years ago.
Valerie's theme covers a wide selection of beverages, including alcoholic ones.
I covered my tag with some pretty vintage style backing papers.
I stamped the images on some scraps of backing paper an managed to get the design almost perfect on each cup.
The clock was also stamped on a scrap of backing paper and the sentiment was made using my alphabet stamps

 There is still time to enter the challenge..would love to see you there...
You can find us here at Tag Tuesday

Pretty Heart Plaque

June already, where does the time go.lol.
Over at More Mixed Media they have just launched this months challenge...always Mixed Media with an option of using a colour...and this month the colour is Purple.
For my deign team projects, I use a medium sized heart plaque.
First I covered it in white card, once the glue was dry I trimmed the edges. I then used distress inks to colour the background before adding the stamped images.
I found a Vellum Butterfly in my stash that matched perfectly, so I added the wire antennae before attaching the butterfly to the plaque.

I managed to find a little selection of matching flowers and made a corsage adding coiled green wire.

I attached that to the plaque using hot glue.

To finish I added the lilac string bow and flicked some lightly diluted white acrylic paint over the whole plaque.

Do pop over and check out the challenge, you can find it here at 

More Mixed Media

Mary.Mary

Every time I have used this gorgeous stamp, its brings the Mary,Mary,quite contrary nursery rhyme to mind and I end up singing it, it kind just stays in my head all day,lol
The Gardening theme over at Tag Tuesday was chosen by teamie Joan, a perfect excuse to bring out this delightful stamp again...

It would be great if you could pop over and join in with our challenge...you can find us here at
Tag Tuesday

Atcs & Display Frame

My 2nd design team project this year for Fernli Design is a set of 12 Artist Trading Cards with their display frame..all made from MDF.
Fernli Designs are in the process of changing their products at the moment, so this item is no longer available....but as it was part of my designer package I feel I should honour my commitment and use the products as promised.
So here it is....

Here I have lightly gessoed the atcs, just a quick wipe over, making sure not to go over the edges...then I covered each one in different backing papers from my stash.

I sorted through some of the Tim Holtz "Relatives" images that will be added to the Atcs.

Here I have used gilding wax in copper and gunmetal directly to the frame, then buffing up with a paper towel.

I stamped each of the Atcs to give them some background before adding the "Relative" images.

Here I have assembled the frame, each atc has been glued in place securely with Pinflair Book Glue, PVA would have been suitable, but I prefer the  book glue.

I have now added the "Relatives" images..I love these, so vintage, lol.

At this stage I set the frame aside as I just couldn't get any ideas of what else I could do to make it look so much more..I needed something to make it "pop"

Finally after a couple of weeks, I came up with the idea of the hearts and tulips, also Fernli Design products.

I used Sharpie pens to colour them, especially the tulips, as paint would clog the detail on the leaves and petals.

I also used Fernli Design scroll work shapes to add to the top of the frame, for this I used the same gilding wax as I did on the frame.

Finally it is complete...and I am delighted with it to be honest. I love the splash of red of the tulips and hearts...it was worth leaving it aside for a while until I decided how to finish it......

and it looks rather nice on my sideboard....

Thank you to all of you that drop by my blog...x

You can find Fernli Designs... HERE

Seaworld Tag

Just a quickie post from me tonight...I have been down with a virus and also have my daughter in hospital who has just been diagnosed with Sepsis..so a stressful time all round at the moment.
I made this tag for Wendy's theme, over at Tag Tuesday her theme is Seaworld.
I thought my stamp covered the theme quite well...and it is one of my favourites too.
I recycled a large circle tag by covering it with white card and shading it with distress inks.

On a piece of plain card I stamped the large shell from the same stamp and coloured it with water colour paints. Once it was dry I cut it out and adhered it to the tag.

I added a few coloured highlights to a couple of images on the tag.

Finally I punched a new hole to add the ribbon.

Do pop over and join us in our challenge...

You can find us here at

Tag Tuesday

Some one had to be the Princess....

More Mixed Media has just launched their challenge for May.
As always it'd mixed media with an optional twist...and the twist is "Pink"

I've had this board book hanging around in my craft room for ages, it's one of those things that got moved from one place to another, but never used. I think it was the shape that put me off...but then I had the idea to gesso all the pages and then paint them pale pink, using acrylic paint.

I painted all pages the same, then adding background using a selection of stamps, each page is slightly different.

I added the sentiment to the front page, also added the 2 girls from Tim Holtz "Relatives"

The crown was a charm that I removed the loop from, then using a piece of wood and some pressure I slightly flattened the crown so it would sit nicely on the cover.

To finish a selection of different ribbons and threads were tied to the book links.

Hope you can pop over during the next 4 weeks and join in with our challenge..there is a prize on offer, so well worth a visit..

You can find the challenge at

More Mixed Media

Faces

Do pop over to Tag Tuesday  and check out this fortnights challenge.
Teamie Michele has chosen a fab theme..Faces.
My Tag has oxide inks for the background colour...I then stamped over that with a collage stamp by Kaiserkraft.

These lovely ladies were from a free download that I have had for ages, not even sure where I got them from, but they were definitely free.
I cut them out and slightly overlapped them on the tag.
I felt the tag was lacking, so I added some more stamped images in black, these were from a set by Inkylicious.
You can find our challenge here at Tag Tuesday.

Anything Industrial

It's my turn to host this fortnights challenge over at Tag Tuesday...and my theme is Anything Industrial.
I like anything that relates to Industrial themes, for me it is a predominately male theme, so it's nice to throw something different in to the mix occasionally.
Think Steampunk,Railways,Buildings,Machines etc.
I do hope my tags will inspire you enough to pop over and join in with our challenge.

My 2nd tag was inspired by the iconic photo of the workers sat high up on the steel girders of a skyscraper many moons ago in the USA.

I was so pleased to be able to use the "row of men" stamp, I've had it for ages,but I never used it until now.

Hope to see you at Tag Tuesday....x

Birds & Nests

Just dropping in to share my Tag for Tag Tuesday's Challenge.
The theme was chosen by blog owner Valerie, you must pop over and check out her fab tags.
I'm really late adding my tag this fortnight, life gets in the way of crafting sometimes doesn't it..still as they say, better late than never...lol.

I started with a white die cut tag, that I distressed with inks, then stamped the image. I shaded it with pens and added the word, which is a rub on.

To finish I added a few gems.

Do pop out if you can and join us HERE

Pretty Yellow.....

Time again for another fab challenge over at More Mixed Media....as always there is an option with the challenge and this time the option is Yellow.
To be fair, it's one of my favourite colours, but I never seem to craft well using it.lol.

My background for this tag was created using oxide inks and then I built up the background using a script and dot stamps.

I added a yellow bird stamp, some bunting and flowers..maybe the flowers are a bit much, looking now I wish I had used smaller flowers. I inked and stamped over a die cut butterfly and added a filigree brass one over the top adding a pearl for decor. The cord is a kind of shiny pale green, I thought it looked nice under the flowers.

Do pop over and join in with our challenge...there are some fab digi papers to be won, as well as a badge for your blog...

You can find us HERE

Rabbits or Hares....

The choice is yours..this is the theme for this fortnights tag challenge. It was chosen by Wilma, who sadly will leaving us and this will be her last Dt challenge over at Tag Tuesday
You know that having so many stamps can be a pain, I know I have some  hare and rabbit stamps, could I find them..no I couldn't.

In the end I used my Peter Rabbit stamp, it's never been used, I picked it up in a sale somewhere, along with another stamp of Jemima Puddleduck.
Peter with his blue jacket that I painted, along with the mushroom/toadstools, also another sale stamp  that I used for the background, finally adding some bunting.
Please do pop over and join in with our challenge...you can find us below by clicking on the link
Tag Tuesday

Bright Pencil Case

It's the 5th of the month, so it's time for this months challenge over at More Mixed Media.
As always it is Mixed Media, but with an optional twist, this month the twist is "Green"
My project is this super pencil case, it's very sturdy and took the bright green acrylic paint really well.

Once the paint was completely dry I rubber stamps a few images all over the case.
I then stencilled dots over the lid in orange acrylic paint and once dry I used a paint pen and painted some dots inside the orange ones.
I left the case overnight to completely dry before spraying with a glossy sealer..actually I am really pleased with this, I love the colour.
So why not drop by and enter our challenge..there is a prize on offer for the winner.
You can find us here at
More Mixed Media

Choose a favourite stamp.

Joan has chosen a super theme for this fortnights challenge over at Tag Tuesday the theme is "Your Favourite Stamp"  For me that was difficult as I love stamping so I have so many and to choose just one was so hard.

In the end I went with this stamp, it's years old and one I have used many times over the years and I can relate so well to the sentiment too.
 I have re-purposed a couple of clothes tags for this tag, the base tag and the gray one.
On the main tag I used oxide inks, then stamped over that when it was dry.
The image was stamped on to some spare card and layered over the 2nd gray tag.
Would love to see your favourite stamp, please come and join us at
Tag Tuesday

Pretty Little Trinket Box.

Good Morning...after the glorious weather we have had recently, it has now got a lot cooler...and wetter today, so I am staying home today. Would you believe that this time last year we had snow!

As some of you may know I own a challenge blog called Rhedd's Creative Spirit, I have been running challenges for 5+ years now and I think now is the time to retire. So this month is our very last challenge.
I will of course continue to craft and blog here, I couldn't manage without it, like many of us it's a great way to relax, think and mull things over.

My last project for Rhedd's is this lovely hexagonal wooden Trinket Box that's been on the shelf in my craft room for about 3years, so high time I got around to doing something with it.

I sealed the wood with black gesso inside and out, then gave it 2 coats of black acrylic paint.
Once dry I lined the inside of the box with black felt.
I added the cotton lace around the box and added the string bow.
For the top,I just layered that up with some burlap, lace,a strip of fabric, brass leaves and flowers and another string bow.

I felt it needed a little something more, so decided to add the watch with the key and chain.

Do pop over and check out our last challenge, it would be lovely to see you there.

Just follow this link to 

Rhedd's Creative Spirit

I am also entering this Trinket box in to the challenge over at 

Altered Eclectics

Fungi Tag

I am so late posting my Fungi/Mushroom Tag for Tag Tuesday Everything recently hasn't gone to plan, so I am desperately trying to "catch up".
The theme for the tag challenge was chosen by fellow teamie Wendy...and it was a challenge for me,lol.

The base of my tag was coloured with oxide inks..then I used random stamps to create a back ground. The images were freebies that I collected over the years..

The little flower fairy/elf is minus the wings and I sat him on the toadstool.

Do pop over and enter our challenge, you can find us here at 

Tag Tuesday

Love is....

Today I am sharing my design project for More Mixed Media 
I used some card that I embossed to cover this fab little wooden house shape..colouring it with distress inks. The sides were painted with red acrylic paint.

I painted the wooden heart in deep red and once it was completely dry I went over it with crackle glaze.

I found a set of wings in my stash..with them I just used the non crackle glaze and once they and the heart was dry I added them to the house.
Finally adding the quote....
Why not come over and join in with our challenge this month..anything Mixed Media goes, with an optional colour twist, which is Red.
You can find us here at
More Mixed Media