A Christmas Tag

I delivered my finished mini book order today and they were thrilled.......I wasn't however because I forget to take some photos..............doh! A last minute idea of adding some beautiful images from the Graphic 45 Secret Garden and Botanical Tea Papers along with one from Fab Scraps which I purchased yesterday whilst visiting Time to Create had me creating right up to the last minute.  I had my camera out ready but then got side tracked as you do.

Oh well, it has definitely inspired me to make one for myself at a later date but for now I am still creating for the swaps I have signed up for.  One of them being a Christmas Tag Swap.  Inspired by a couple of current Challenge Themes, I revisited some I made last year by creating a similar background using Distress Stains and stamped text. Today's tag is however layered a little differently and uses a different stamp for my main image.

I love the effect achieved by dotting the Distress Stains across my background.  The Christmas Text (Darkroom Door) stamp was stamped with Memento Luxe Ink - Color Rhubarb Stalk, the edges inked with Red Archival Ink, and the ornament image (Unity Stamp Co) was stamped with Jet Black Staz On and Colored with Memento Markers - Love Letter, Pistachio and Peanut Brittle.  The torn paper was some left over from another project and the decorative strips are from Bazzill.

I am linking the above tag up to the following challenges:-

Craft Room Challenge - Make Your Own Background
Vandicrafts.com Artistry Challenge #13 - Fashion Your Background
Inky Chicks Challenge #40 - Christmas
Oldie but a Goodie Challenge - Christmas (Old Stash Item Used - Bazzill Decorative Strips)



Here's a look at the one's from last year using a similar background and idea.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Deep Red Stamps Mail Art Challenge

MailArt has definitely been a popular theme this month.  I recently saw that it is the current theme over at the Deep Red Stamps Blog......and being that I own some of their wonderful red rubber I thought I would play along by Altering a Couple of Post Cards.

The Deep Red Stamps I am working with today are Marilyn, Audrey Hepburn and Laurel and Hardy Nice Mess, so I thought I would make some Stars of the Silver Screen Postcards.

Deep Red Rubber Stamps, Stars of the Silver Screen

I started my project using some old postcards from my Stamping Up /Demo Days - which I coated with black Gesso and then dried brushed with White Gesso.

I then messily stenciled with some White Gesso, before spraying the entire card with my chosen color of Dylusions Spray Ink.

Once Dry I added some stamping with a flourish, I repeatedly stamped over the same area starting with white, then a darker color to coordinate with my Dylusions Color or Black Ink.

I also stamped and cut out some stars and a piece of film strip (Unity Stamps) to add in some extra detail to my Stars of the Silver Screen.  All the edges of each element were inked with coordinating color ink.  

Marilyn and Audrey Hepburn Postcard

For my Audrey and Marilyn Postcard I used the film strip piece and layered this over a piece of newsprint paper.  Three Yellow Stars were added to the top.  I added a little bit of color to their skin with a Waterbrush and some Gelatos.  To this postcard I also added some extra detail to the bottom with a border punch.

Laurel and Hardy, Nice Mess Postcard

For my Laurel and Hardy Postcard I added three stamped blue stars and the words which are part of the stamp from Deep Red Rubber.  My stars weren't standing out from the background enough so I added a touch of yellow Gelato and also Sprayed them with a Gold Spritz Mist to add a touch of Shimmer.  I also added a touch of color to the faces of Laurel and Hardy with my Waterbrush and Gelatos.

Time to Spring Forward!

This month I was asked to be a GD over at Anything But a Card which is a fabulous challenge site which requires you to design anything but a Card to a set theme.  The theme currently is Spring Forward where they are wanting you to welcome spring by using bright colors with Spring and Easter in mind or simply seeing where your muse takes you.

I love everything about Spring, its my favorite time of the year and I am honored to have been asked to join the team over at ABAC for this challenge. As we head into Autumn here in Australia any chance to play with some of my favorite colors is a given, and so with time being short and Easter just around the corner I embraced my messy side and created a tag.

My tag today uses images from Altered Pages (Victorian Easter Collage Sheet), whilst my background has been created using distress stains, Gelatos and paper scraps.  I also added some further interest using a flower border punch strip, bright striped paper and a cute pastel green bunny brad from the Eyelet Outlet.

Be sure to pop over to ABAC and check out all the other wonderful spring inspiration from their Design Team.  

Altered Pages Challenge #11 Dreamy Nights

Hi Everyone!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  Today it's time for a new monthly challenge theme at Altered Pages.

The theme Dreamy Nights is open to lots of interpretation, at the time of thinking about this challenge I had been having lots of dreams in my sleep, and I can always remember conversations with one of my friends who was always having vivid dreams in full color.  Her stories of her dreams always has us in stitches laughing as well as trying to interpret their meanings.  If anyone can decipher what red and blue chickens in clothes means I am sure she'd love to hear it.  So my canvas is entitled - Technicolor Dreams in my Head.

Anyway I came up with a little Canvas for this challenge, incorporating the following items from Altered Pages:- Glitz Large Gemstones, Music Ribbon, Scrabble Tile Collage, Vintage Artists Trading Cards Collage Sheet, Glitz Vintage Blue Papers and Foil.

The Acrylic Paint, Gesso and Stencils are from my own stash but you can get these also from Altered Pages.

The metal dragon fly and the butterfly were on my desk at the time so I incorporated these into it as their symbolism is often relevant to dreams.

Well I must go I have a teenager wanting to challenge me to a game of Ten Pin Bowling on the WII.

I hope you all enjoy your week.

Feeling a Little Fragile!

Hi Everyone!  I have a couple of ATC's I have been working on to share today and I thought I might put them up over at AFA to trade.

The first one I actually started at my AFA Meet in Melbourne last week, and finished today whilst the second one is playing along with a couple of bird themed challenges.

Gelli Print Background with Stamping & Collage

There is something about this image, that portraits the fragility and innocence of a child and she looks rather vulnerable and that she could do with a hug.  

Fragile is a bit how I've been feeling the past few days since returning from Melbourne.  I have not been well and we have been having a few trying moments with 'A'.  Trying to understand why he behaves like he does at times is hard and it is often the internal conflict within myself that I find the most difficult as its hard to know when to respond, rather than react as he struggles to not let us get too close.   

I am entering the above ATC into the following challenges

The Lollipop Ladies - #71 Musk and Seeing Spots

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Rounds Circles and Dots

Gesso and Watercolor Background with Collage

The background for this I had made some time ago, I often make ATC sized background and keep them on hand for when the need arises, I also participate in a lot of background swaps over at AFA.  Often I find a theme or one comes to mind, so after deciding on an image/design I then go looking for the background.  I love how the red of the birds brings out the hint of red in this background and blue was the perfect choice to represent the sky.  The birds sitting on the sign post are from a Collage Sheet from Done4YouPages on Etsy and the quotation I have been hoarding in my filing cabinet for a couple of years.

I am entering the above ATC into the following challenges

Three Muses - Bird

Wicked Wednesdays - #88 Birds, Nests and Eggs

Snow Dancing

Good Morning!  Today sees the start of a new challenge over at Altered Pages!  We want to see your interpretation of 'Snow Dancing" which is exactly what I would love to be doing right now given the heatwave of the past few days here.  Yesterday and today have been somewhat cooler than the 40 + degrees we were getting over the weekend.  For those of you who only know Fahrenheit that is about 107 degrees, thankfully we have both air conditioning and a pool.

For the challenge I decided to make an ATC.  Dressed like this in the snow to dance would only mean one thing - that you would be dancing the Quick Step or Hot Shoe Shuffle.

Supplies Used from Altered Pages

Vintage Text Page

Paris Trunk Walnut Ink & Tiara Gold Walnut Ink

Image from Operetta Collage Sheet

Supplies Used from my Stash

White ATC Base

White Gesso

White Gelato 

Blue Watercolor Pencil

Snowflake Stamp

Vintage Lace

Blue Glittered Snowflake Die Cut from the Robin's Nest

Blue Mini Rhinestones

For some more inspiration and for all the details of this month's Alter Your Creativity Challenge be sure to visit the Challenge Blog.  I can't wait to see how you interpret this one.

Other Challenges I am entering this in:
Simply Create Too - #28 Let it Snow
Drunken Stampers - #112 All that Glitters
My Creative Moments - Word Play Saturday - Anything
Crafts for Eternity - #106 Moody Blues
It's All about the Vintage - #34 Lace Dreaming

Altered Pages #4 - Glitter and Glow

Hi Everyone and welcome to my new followers.  Yesterday was wet hot and steamy here, and it looks like it will be a similar day today.  Our tanks are now full and all the plants around our home are getting a good watering so its enjoyable for this reason.  My husband however wouldn't agree.  Because we are in summer the rain combined with the heat sees the grass growing at a rapid rate which means he is mowing almost every week.

Today I have a Tag for the latest Challenge over at Altered Pages - Glitter and Glow.  I chose a tag as time was a bit scarce this past week.

Altered Pages Supplies used for this Tag: Manila Tag,  Eco Art Board Inchies, Paris Trunk Walnut and Gold Tiara Inks, Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Paper.

Other Items used: Gold Metallic Dew Drops from the Robin's Nest, Victorian Lace from Stampin' Up!, Snowflake Stamp from Unity Stamp Co, Metallic Copper Ink It Up Ink, Gold Kindy Glitz, Medieval Gold Glitz Spritz from Lindy's Stamp Gang

Similar to last month we ask that you vote for your favorite inspiration piece from the AP DT and also play along for your chance to win a great prize pack full of Altered Pages Goodies.

For all the details and to vote head over to the Challenge Blog here.

Other Challenges I am entering this tag in are:-

Come and Get It Challenges - Tag Your'e It!
Quirky Crafts - Challenge #25 Christmas Tags
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - #193 Anything But a Card!

Alter Your Creativity Challenge 3 - Rusted Colors

Can you believe that today Altered Pages Third Challenge kicks off!  This month we want to see you use shades of Rust or Rusted Colors to create with.

Although we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in Australia, November is a time of year that I do find myself reflecting on all those things I am thankful for and my project today highlights one of those things which is the Love.  The Love and support of my family and friends.  It is with their love that I am empowered and encouraged to take risks and go after the things I want in life.  It is with their love and support that I keep striving to be a better person and it with their love that I am who I am today and am thankful.

This is one of my favorite quotes, and sometimes it is nice to have quotes such as this visible as a reminder and to uplift us.

I have made this little quote Easel using a ATC Size Echo Art Board from Altered Pages which I have then decorated with a Paper from the Glitz French Kiss Paper Collection and a Chipboard Corner Scroll (Maya Road) which are also from Altered Pages.  The quote and butterflies have been stamped and cut out whilst the pearls and flower are all from my existing stash.  I have popped the scroll up with pop dots and behind the centre placed a Glitz Clear Giant Rhinestone which is also available from Altered Pages.  It has a sort of mirror ball effect and adds a shimmering dimension to this project which my camera doesn't do justice.

The edges of all pieces have been inked with Paris Trunk Walnut or Gold Tiara Ink also from Altered Pages.

The Challenge Rules have slightly changed this month as we would like to see you use a product available from Altered Pages to play along.

As normal there is a great Altered Pages Prize Pack up for grabs for one lucky participant as well as the Top 3 as voted by the DT eligible to receive a Free Digital Collage Sheet of their Choice.  So I do hope you will join in the fun and can't wait to see what everyone creates.



PS.  Don't forget to pop over and see the wonderful inspiration from all the AP DT and vote for your favorite!

PTT #89 - Anything But a Card

Tuesday means Party Time!  This week over at PTT we want to see you create anything but a card!

Using one of the the great 50's Vintage Stamps from Flonz Stamps and some papers and Dew Drops from the Robin's Nest, I decided to create a fun Sticky Note Pad Cover.

I stamped the image in Vintage Sepia and colored in including the background with my Tria Markers.

Be sure to pop over to the PTT Blog for all the wonderful inspiration from the Design Team, who are showcasing products from our sponsors this week.  These include:

Thanks for stopping by today!  Your viewing of my projects and your comments are really appreciated! xx

Alter Your Creativity Challenge - #2

With it being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Altered Pages has turned Pink and we want you to think Pink for our second challenge!

Be sure to pop over to the Challenge Blog to check out the wonderful inspiration from all the DT, which includes a Bra Mini Inspiration Book, Post It Note Holders, an assortment of tags and an Altered Barbie!  Whilst there you can also vote for your favorite project from the Design Team!

Here's what I came up with!  I took a Manilla Tag and using my new Gelato Pens colored it Pink!  I then cut the bra image out from the Support Collage Sheet and the image of the female looking in the mirror from the Waterhouse Maidens Collage Sheet both of which are from the Altered Pages store. A touch of Inka Gold - Old Silver from Viva Decor adds a bit of shimmer around the edges and  I then stamped an Awareness Ribbon on Shrink Plastic using a Unity Stamp from their October 2011 KOTM.  Once shrunk I colored this in with a pink marker and attached with a rose on top.  To finish my tag, some pink grosgrain ribbon, twine and my favorite can't be without bling - a dew drop from the Robin's Nest.

The Altered Pages Team would love it if you joined the fun, simply think pink and create something for our challenge this month.  One lucky winner will be rewarded with this fabulous prize jam packed with lots of wonderful pink goodness from the Altered Pages Store.

And the Top 3 as voted by the Design Team will each receive a Digital Collage Sheet of their choice.

For all the details head over to the Alter Your Creativity Challenge Post here!

Shaving Foam Fun!

Hi Everyone!  Well what can I say, I haven't finished tidying up my craft room, I got side tracked.  My craft table was calling me to play and I was also helping to set up the wonderful new Challenge Post over at Altered Pages and do some sponsorship stuff for Party Time Tuesdays.  This also means I still haven't got round to visiting all my lovely crafty friends blogs to leave some love either.  

I felt the urge yesterday to play with my dye re-inkers and get messy with some shaving foam.  I now have some fabulous backgrounds for my cards and ATC's.  

I also made this tag using my shaving foam backgrounds with another new challenge in mind.  Anything But a Card and their theme this fortnight is Texture.

I have used the ribbon, paper strip and flower to highlight some of the colors in my background.  To add some simple texture I have embossed with my Divine Swirls embossing folder and run some black ink over the top to bring out the embossed design.

So here is some of those results of my shaving foam adventure.  What is it about Blue Ink.  It doesn't matter in what form I use it, it seems to be the only color determined to stain my hands and fingers.

This is the first generation of color after first being added to the foam.  I have used the SU Colors of Pixie Pink, Green Galore and Brilliant Blue (all retired).

Eventually the colors start to mix so I have added a few more drops of color into the foam 

for the second generation 

Each time I remove a piece of paper I allow it to dry a little and then scrap the remnants of the foam back into the mix, as the foam starts to dissolve I also mix it up a little in the tray.  This is the third generation of color.

I do so love getting messy and playing with color!

Other Challenges I am entering this into:-

Scrappers Delight Challenge Blog - Make Your Own Backing Papers

UnstampaBelles Challenges - #15 Embossing

Brown Sugar Challenges - #7 Bags or Tags

PTT#54 Valentines

This week we want you to join the party and create a Valentine's Day card or project for someone you love.  

Image:  Digi Doodle Shop

Papers:  Stampin' Up!

Flourish Rhinestones and Flowers ZVA Creative

Other:  Computer Generated Sentiment, Heart Rhinestones

There has been lots of love given this week at Party Time Tuesdays with four fabulous sponsors joining the fun. ZVA Creative provided our Party Planners with the most beautiful rhinestones and flowers whilst Wee Stamps and Digi Doodle Shop allowed us to showcase some of their adorable images.  So be sure to stop by the PTT Blog to see all the wonderful and inspiring creations from the team and for further details about this weeks wonderful sponsors.

I hope you will join us as I just know that I am going to love seeing all the wonderful love themed entries for our challenge this week.

Flashback Friday - Black and White

Today whilst visiting and leaving comments for all my Unity FWF Friends I followed a link to where Jen from Jen's Cup of Creations is guest designer over at Flashback Fridays.  This is a challenge blog where each challenge is set and you are asked to find a creation you have done in the past (your first creation to be exact) that fits into the criteria.  How fun is that?

As guest designer Jen chose a Black and White Challenge and is asking us to join in the fun and revisit our very first Black and White Project with all the girls over at Friday Flashbacks.  On going back through my old posts I discovered that the above pictured card was my very first Black & White Card, which I created for one of the Tangled Up in Creativity Challenges in August of 2010, you will find the original post here, the criteria of this challenge was to create a CAS Card using either a single stamped sentiment or image.  I had just at the time purchased these tiny wedding ring embellishments, I used them for the first time on this card.  

Do you know that I couldn't remember the last yet alone the first Black and White Creation I had made so it was fun having to search back through my old posts and I look forward to doing this again with the Flashback Friday girls soon.  

One lucky  FFC blog hop participant will win this fabulous prize 

Ooooops!  I almost forgot to mention - that as part of their 20th Challenge Celebrations some of the Past Guest Designers and Amy (FFC Blog Owner) are conducting a Flashback Friday Blog Hop with a fabulous prize (pictured above)  to we won by one lucky blog hop participant.  So be sure to check out all the details over at Flashback Fridays and see how you can join in the fun and be in the running to win.  Or better still join in the fun of the blog hop and the challenge and revisit your first Black and White Creation.