A Grunge Travel Theme Tag

I've previously mentioned that I don't really do grunge, I prefer a cleaner look in general.  Today I thought I would challenge myself by going all out grunge.

The tag started off with a shaded yellow/orange Panpastel background.  Using the Stampin' Up "Traveler" stamp set I stamped the suitcase.  The image of the world in the bottom left hand corner and the compass top left is from the Stampin' Up set called "The Open Sea".  Before cleaning the stamps off, I stamped the images in Post-it notes and then cut round the images to use them as masks over the ones on the tag.

I then used Stampin' Up "Gorgeous Grunge" stamp set to make the foxing and splash marks. I then used a script stamp to fill in the gaps across the tag.  In the bottom right hand corner I used a Stampers Anonymous set called "The Journey" for the text starting "Time is a companion".

Using a Stampin' Up stamp set called "That's The Ticket", I stamped, two tickets on cardstock and cut them out.  The "Bonjour" was from a tiny clear stamp set which I think may have come with a magazine.  I used a Stampin' up die from their "Banners Framelits" set to cut the arrow for the bonjour.

I then inked areas of the tag lightly in red and in some areas darker in black.  Throughout this tag, I have used Distress Inks, StazOn ink, Versafine and Memento inks.

I think I have completed the challenge I set to myself to go all out grunge with this tag. (Doesn't mean I like it though).

Sam x

Week 22 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

The prompt for Week 22 of the 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017 is "WILD".

I thought I would challenge myself a little with colour for the challenge this week.  I don't really care for beige/brown tones, so decided that I would base my tag on the "wild" animals of a safari using these shades.

I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks for this tag, using a light shade initially, building up layers of darker colours and patterns on top.  I used a couple of Stampin' Up masks from their "Seasonal Decorative Masks" set and inked the edges and across the tag in a darker shade of brown.  I finished with some die cuts and sticky alphabet letters.

A Wedding Card (using Spellbinders dies)

For this wedding card, I have used patterned paper from the "Pretty Posy" 6x6" paper stack by Trimcraft (I think I purchased it from The Range).  

The green cardstock I had in my stash, which I die cut using the Spellbinders die set called "Royal Circle".  The white ornate sentiment backing is also a Spellbinders die from thier "Jubilee Tags" set.  I finished the card with some pearls around the edge of the larger green die cut.

Ruby Lips Tag (using Stampers Anonymous Mini Bouquet)

I feel like I got all the toys out of the box to create this tag.

It started with a Panpastel background.  For the flowers I used Stampers Anonymous "Mini Bouquet" stamp.  The honeycomb outline is also a Stampers Anonymous stamp from a different set.  I don't recall who made the face stamp, it's a red rubber one I've had for years!.  The text stamp is a verse by Oak House Studio.  The flower petals and lips were coloured using a Promarker.  The edges of the tag were inked in black to give a more grunge look.

Anniversary Thanks

Today we have been flooded with good wishes from our friends, family and colleagues due to celebrating out 32nd wedding anniversary.  It saddens me that of the group of friends who married at a similar time, there are very few still together, so I guess we are in the minority these days in celebrating such a time span. It hasn't always been plain sailing.  Like most we have had our challenges, but we have been able to overcome them. 

I have made this card using the complimentary stamps I received last week.  It is for all those who have contacted us today, to say a heartfelt thanks for your kind wishes 

Sam x

An Anniversary Card

Today my Hubby and I celebrate our 32nd Wedding Anniversary.

Week 21 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

Week 21 of the 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge and the prompt is "Anything Goes".

I fancied playing with my Stampers Anonymous "Mini Bouquet" stamps.  So I stamped onto plain card and coloured with my watercolour pencils, cutting around the images. I rummaged through my allsorts box and found some foliage die cuts which I could use.

Using a tag with a prepared Panpastel background, I then arranged the components, glueing down and using foam pads for dimension.  I then added some self adhesive gems to add scrolls.

In hindsight, I think I should have used five rather than six flowers so that it looks less cluttered, but everything is adhered now, so it will stay as it is.

A Sympathy Card (Stampin' Up - Hopeful Thoughts)

This sympathy card is the first of several I need to make this week.

I have used the Stampin' Up set called "Hopeful Thoughts" for this card and tiny yellow self adhesive gems to brighten the look of the card.

(The "Hopeful Thoughts" set seems to be my "go to" set for sypathy cards, as they always seem to turn out well).

A Purple Toned Wedding Card

I was asked to create a wedding card to include the colour tones of purple, but based on a card I had made previously.  So this is the one I made.It uses Spellbinders dies.

An Urge To Sew

I've been helping the student with her sewing project again this week and it made me get the urge to sew.

I braved the spiders and visited my attic for patterns and fabric.  The simple pattern I decided to use came free with a magazine a while back.  In hindsight, I wish I had opted for another one as this one had many issues that I had to overcome).  

I fell in love with the fabric when I visited Fabricland in Bristol last year.  I had no idea what I would use it for, but knew that I had to have some, so in true crafters tradition purchased three metres.

The pattern was originally for a dress, but I decided that I would get more use out of it if I changed it into a tunic top (lopping 4" off the hemline).  I also added small slits to the seam/hemline to ease movement.  The neckline would not sit correctly, so I decided against what the pattern suggested and did my own thing.

Week 20 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

The promt for Week 20 of the 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge is "Growing".

I don't know about yours, but my garden is in over drive with growing so it seems only natural to reflect that in my tag this week.

My tag comprises of things I had around my desk, so I didn't need to cut or prepare, just put the components together. I used a prepared Panpastel background in sunny shades of yellow and green.  I added a part of a Spellbinder trellis, then various pieces of foliage from my scrap box. The flowers were already layered with a brad from a previous project that never got finished, so I'm quite pleased that I've been using up the odds and ends.

A sewing good deed

Last week I did a good deed, by helping the daughter of a friend of a friend with her college course work.  She's doing an art & design course and had to make three items of clothing, some of which would be in a fabric that she had designed herself.

Unfortunately, the course does not offer any assistance in dressmaking, so she was left stressing over how she could construct the items

I have limited experience of sewing and would only place myself as little better than a beginner, but we went through the basics of translating the pattern, machine, pinning & cutting, construncting a draft top out of calico.  This enabled her to see how everything goes together.Using those skills, she was able to work alone on the projects.  In fact, that evening she went on to make a skirt!

I was happy to help her and maybe sewing will become an interest that she will enjoy for many years.  I certainly hope so.

It saddens me that these types of skills are no longer available to the youngsters at school.  Not everybody is academic, I certainly wasn't.  I feel there is a place in the world for not only sewing but crafting in general.

So, I'm stepping off my soap box now.  Thank you for reading my rant.  I'm going to disappear to stroke fabric now.

Welcome To The World - Baby Card

This weekend my Simply Cards & Papercrafts (issue 163) subscription magazine arrived through the letter box.  This month there is a nice corner die and a stamp set featuring strawberries.

As I had time to kill, I decided to play with the die set, cutting six corner sections to create this card.  I then cut two layers of Spellbinders shapes to stamp the sentiment on.

Spellbinders Keyhole Tag

Due to me doing more formal style cards this week, I felt the urge to do something with a grunge feel, so made this keyhole tag.

It started with a plain sheet of coloured paper which I stuck to a tag (it was actually a previous project that had gone wrong, but it felt a waste to throw it away). I used Stampin' Up "Gorgeous Grunge" stamp set in a gold and brown colour to add a background of splats and dots. I then inked the edges in black.  I ran the tag through a Cuttlebug embossing folder to provide the texture (which can be seen better in the section photo).

Using Spellbinders dies I cut the keyhole and keys, giving them a touch of gold & brown ink too.

Spellbinders White on White Tag

While watching TV last night, I made this white on white tag.

The background uses a Sizzix lattice embossing folder for the detail.  This is topped with two Spellbinders die cuts from their "Decorative Fancy Diamonds" set.  Which in turn has been topped with a heart die cut and then a self adhesive heart to finish it off.

Wedding Cards (Three & Four)

Following on from my earlier post.  Here are cards three and four, made as samples for a neighbour to choose from.

The intricate background is cut using a Spellbinders lattice die (sorry I don't recall the name).  On top of that I have used a die from the Spellbinder set called "Majestic Oval".  ON top of that is another Spellbinders die cut from their set called "Renaissance Jubilee Tags", finished with some faux pearl and diamond embellishments.

I have used the Sweet Dixie (from Personal Impressions) intricate background die for this, topped with a Spellbinders die from their "Renaissance Jubilee" set.

Wedding Cards (One & Two)

A neighbour asked if I would make her a wedding card. I don't make cards for others as I feel under pressure.  I prefer to flit from one thing to another as I please.  So making several cards on a similar theme was hard going for me.

These are the two cards I made for the customer.

This silver and white card has a decorative background is a Sweet Dixie die from Personal Impressions (SDD217)

This dusky pink card has a Poppystamps heart lattice background (style no.985).  The central area is a Spellbinder die.

Week 19 - 52 Week Mini Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

Well it's Week 19 of the challenge already and the prompt for this week is "My Favourite Waste Of Time".

Now this is really apt as this weekend my Hubby introduced me to an anagram app called "Word Cookies" and I am addicted already, so it was only natural for my tag to be on this theme.

I started with a Panpastel background of pinks and orange.  I then die cut the letters for "Word Cookie App" using Xcut dies, then sticking them into position on the tag. I then stamped hexigon images around the edge and added an image of a typewriter and part of a clock to the left of the tag and five stars to rate the app on the right hand side.  Finally I added the letters for "Anagram" and inked the edges a little to provide a slightly grunge feel to the tag and also to help the colours to pop.

Thankful, Grateful & Blessed Card (Stampin' Up)

I had half an hour to play with paper this morning while I waited for the washing machine to finish its thing, so I made this card.

I had already cut the intricate background for the sentiment using a Creative Expressions Die (Ref CED9105).  I then stamped the sentiment using Stampin' Up Paisleys and Posies stamp.  The blue background was embossed with dots using a Crafter's Companion "Scattered Dots" embossing folder.

Tottering Teacups Tag

Sometimes when I craft, it doesn't matter what I try, it doesn't work.  Fortunately, these bad days do not occur often, but today is one of those days.

I have been asked to make a card for a specific occasion nd all my attempts ended in the bin.  I then decided to do something totally different and that too ended in the bin.  All I could rescue from my session was this little tag, which I've cut down and then down again for various reasons.  The stamps I've used on this tag are by Papermamia/docrafts.

I have now tidied my desk and will have am hour of reading instead.

New Home Card (Papertrey Ink Love Lives Here)

Our lovely neighbours are moving house this week.  They've lived in the village for 29 years and they will be greatly missed.

For this card I used Papertrey Ink "Love Lives Here" stamp and dieusing off-cuts of patterned paper.

Week 18 - 52 Week Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017

So here we are on Week 18 of the 52 Week Art Card/Tag Challenge 2017.  The prompt for Week 18 is "Nature".

I used a Panpastel background in shades of blue and yellow/green.  I used a sentiment and bird on a branch stamps from the retired "Moon Lake" set.  I stamped the netting and script and then added the black circular dots to the top and bottom of the tag.  I inked the edges in black to make the colours on the tag pop a little more.