Seasons Greetings.

Please don't think I have completely lost the plot, but for some reason I just felt like making something with a Christmas theme today. Perhaps that little thought that I have each year that I'll make my own cards has surfaced, but I'm sure it won't last for long.

Over at the lovely Linda Ledbetters blog Studio L3 this weeks CC2 challenge is Shattered Stains. To get the full details on how to do this you will need to look at page 48 of Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2.

Now I'm not really sure I got this quite right, because my tree has ended up looking remarkably like a Savoy cabbage leaf! Still I quite like that sort of organic look. 

      

For some reason my photos make it look as though my tree is still grungepaper grey, in real life it does look green (Peeled Paint and Stormy Weather Distress Stains), honest it does.  My tag is inked with Iced Spruce, Evergreen Bough and Faded Jeans, and the tree and pinecones have been edged with Snow Cap White paint dabber, some multi-medium and  then I got my glitter out. I have to admit that felt just plain wrong in the middle of May.

Anyway, please go and have a look at all the lovely creations on Linda's blog, which has been sponsored by Simon Says Stamp this week who are going to send a $25 gift certificate to one lucky person.

Some Faded Layers

The technique over at The Compendium of Curiosities 2 Challenge this week is not one that I had tried before, and I really like it.  To get the full details of what you need to do you will need to look at page 43 of Mr Tim Holtz's lovely new volume of inspiration.
I do not have many masks (one actually) and as you can see it's the one with the clock and gears.  My new Spring Distress Inks came through the letterbox on Friday, and now I've finished my night shifts I can get them out and play. I wasn't too sure about them at first, but I think they are definitely growing on me.
Here's a picture of my tag before I put anything on it, just because I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out.

The background stamps are from the Steampunk and Remnants  sets by Tim.

Next I must thank Hels Sheridan for the dimensional balloon idea, which I learned at her fabby workshop at the Stamp Attic a couple of weeks ago. The main balloon is also from Tim's remnants set, and the small balloon and the words are from a set by Artistic Outpost.

I made a tiny ruffle for the words at the bottom of the tag and attached this with some bits of Ideology. The ribbon is stained with the new Squeezed Lemon and Peacock Feathers Distress Inks, and I decided to stop there, because this is quite a busy tag.

And now I'm off to have a look at all the lovely creations over at Studio L3.
I really love this balloon stamp so I am also entering my tag in the Simon Says Stamp and Show Your Favorite Stamp this week

Marbled Sky

The Compendium of Curiosities 2 Challenge (Number 3) that Linda has set us this week over at Studio L3  is to use the technique that can be found on page 46 of Tim Holtz's new book.

I love that I never know quite what I'm going to get with this technique.

So following the instructions I coloured my tag using Pickett Fence, Broken China , Stormy Sky and Weathered Wood Distress Stains, and  with really no idea of what I was going to do with it.  Anyway, in the end I have ended up with a flowery, birdy type tag.

I cut a mini bird and cage with a Movers and Shapers die and some little branches from the Autumn Gatherings strip die.  The roses are made from the Pinecone die  inked on the edge with Walnut Stain DI.

The leaves at top and bottom are some ribbon trim , and I have used one of those new Wordbands that has been painted with pale blue acrylic paint which has then been wiped off to highlight the words.

Finally to finish off I've used Stormy Weather Distress Stain to colour the ribbon, and added some extra bits of Ideology

PS. This weeks challenge is sponsored by Eclectic Paperie who will be sending one lucky person a gift voucher.

Patina Time

Having finally managed to get round to purchasing the fabulous Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2, by Mr Tim Holtz, I can now have a go at some Faux Patination.  The lovely Linda over at Studio L3 has asked us to create a little something using this technique for the Compendium of Curiosities Vol 2 challenge number 2.  You should really go and have a look, as there is some really stunning artwork there.
For full details of how to create this lovely antique look  you will need to peek at page 58 of the Compendium (Vol 2).

I wasn't quite sure where I was going with this technique, but it's so easy and gives a lovely effect on metal and glossy card. How lucky am I that my supplies of Alcohol Ink are mostly blues and greens, though I did have to buy some Snow Cap Mixative.

As you can see I've used a Wendy Vecchi Art Part watch, that is covered with paper, sanded, inked, and the watch frame is stamped with a flourish stamp in gold. I have aged an Ideology watch face, and added some little watch parts as well.  I don't think I've finished with this watch yet and might add it to an overloaded tag.

Two Hearts

Having had such a great time with Donna Downey a couple of weeks ago, I am now obsessed with hearts and Pan Pastels.  Plus I have made myself a new art journal, and for someone who has a pathological fear of sewing machines (which stems from a needlework class when I was about 11 when I sewed my finger to some material, and got told off by the truly unpleasant teacher for breaking the needle), I feel quite proud of my achievement.
Here is a page which I made today.

I covered my page with some vintage French script, and then applied a sheet of scrunched up tissue with matt medium.  After this dried I used a homemade stencil and my Pan Pastels to make the heart images, sprayed with fixative and then coloured the background.
The stamps are a mixture of Tim Holtz and Wendy Vechhi, and its all stamped using black Stazon.
The bus tickets are stamped onto manilla card and then fixed with tiny staples.
Hels theme this week over at The Sunday Stamper is numbers, and it's the 200th Sunday Stamper, so a big thank you to Hels for giving us a lovely dose of inspiration each week. To celebrate she has some fantastic blog candy, so pop over to her blog to have a look and perhaps enter the challenge.

Before I go here's a picture of my journal, that I made all by myself. I bet that needlework teacher would be quite surprised!

And now I really should go and make a start on the veggies for tonights dinner, yummy Welsh lamb.

I'm Seeing Things

Well I thought I must be when I popped over to see what lovely creation Tim had designed for his April tag.  I had to check about ten times, but yes that really is my name there in the list of prizewinners for March.
Woo Hoo!!!
Now I 'm off to email Mario.
It's a good start to the week.

The Custard Factory

I have been meaning to write this post all week, but somehow  just didn't get round to it.
Last Sunday I had a fantastic time at the Custard Factory in Birmingham, where I was lucky to attend wonderful workshop by Donna Downey whose work I love.
It was a really small group so we all got a chance to chat and ask Donna loads of question.  She was really inspiring.
I made two canvases on the day and brought another home to finish.First up is my Pan Pastel creation. I am truly hooked on these little jewel like lovelies now.

Next my mixed media canvas (18''x6''). Lots of gesso, modelling paste, acrylic paint and different collage elements. This was such fun to make, and very messy.

I can't wait for Donna to come back next year. It was such a brilliant learning experience for me.