Tag Friday at A Vintage Journey

Hello Friends

As there are five Fridays in the month, it is time for a Tag Friday at A Vintage Journey.

I wanted to cut into my Tim Holtz 'Dapper' papers' and use them in a more feminine way than

perhaps they were intended.  

I didn't take many photos as I was not sure where this tag was going when I started (as with most of my work, lol).  I glued a piece of the beautiful Dapper papers to some card and then I die cut the tag with Tim's Tag & Bookplates die and then edged the tag with Ground Espresso Distress Ink.

I then cut the doily from Tim's Doily #2 die (a gift from my very dear friend Kath), and edged it with Ground Espresso Distress Ink.

The flower was created using Tim's Tattered Floral Bigz die (cut twice to give more fullness), from card coloured with Gathered Straw Distress Spray Stain.  The ribbon was coloured with Tea Dye Distress Spray Stain.

To finish off I added a Big Chat sticker and a small piece of ribbon to the top If you have the time I hope you will pop over to A Vintage Journey to see what my talented teamies have made.

There are a few days left of our current challenge - Spring is in the Air - we would love to see you join in, if you have not already done so!

As always thanks for looking, I do love reading your comments!

Hugs, Anne xx

Thinking Outside the Box....

Hello friends!

One of the reasons I wanted to join in both Wanderlust and Creative Carte Blanche is because

I wanted to learn new techniques, do new things, take myself out of my comfort zone.

So, when Creative Carte Blanche's April Adventure required us to

Think Outside the Box, using a cigar box, I just knew I wanted to join in the fun.

I had no idea how hard it would be to find a cigar box, I searched the internet, ordered one

from a auction site, going for the 'pot luck' option.  They sent me a beautiful box, which cost

peanuts, it is beautiful, quite large, but definitely not a cigar box, but a tea box!   Then we were 

out shopping and we went past an old fashioned Tobacconist shop and I got one - for free!

I decided after having some success with some Structurizer fabric hardener, that it was time

to move on to Powertex - scary, messy but lots of fun!  I really didn't know where I was

going with the project but in the end it became a sea theme - no surprises there then!

Here is the finished box:

This is how it started out:

A coat of Gesso

Now for the fun part, adding the fabrics, stings, mesh, art balls, all coated in Powertex, I gave the sides a coat of DecoArt Texture Sand Paste.  I left it to dry overnight.

I cannot tell you how many inks and sprays I used to colour the top, I didn't like the colours at first and changed them at least half a dozen times - I used DecoArt Media sprays, Dylusions, Lindy's Stamp Gang, Tim Holtz Distress Stain and even some Ranger Perfect Pearls.  I finally got to the stage where I actually quite liked it!  It was the final colours that made me decide on a sea theme.

I found some bits and pieces and also painted the inside of the box with Powercolour crystals in Ultramarine blue mixed with water, the colour is much more beautiful in real life.  I found some Calico Craft chippies and a couple of other things that I intend to use to decorate the inside and outside of the box.

I added a couple of starfish, coloured with Spiced Marmalade Distress Stain.  

The wheel was rusted Andy Skinner style using a layer of  DecoArt Texture Sand Paste, DecoArt Media Fluid in Paynes Grey topped with a layer of Quinacridone Gold and finally DecoArt Ultra Matte Varnish, drying between each coat.

I was going to decorate the inside with an underwater scene but I ran out of time, so I will do 

that at a later date.

I am entering this into Create Carte Blanche's Think Outside the Box Adventure.

I am adding this project to Frilly & Funky's challenge - It's not easy being Green - I up-cycled
a cigar box

I am also adding this to The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #23 where the
challenge is 'Dimension'

As always, thanks for looking!

Hugs, Anne xx

Andy Skinner - Ministry of Mixology

Hello Friends

Just a quick post to share what I made at the fabulous Ministry of Mixology class, last weekend, that I attended with some lovely and talented friends (Jennie, Julia and Nikki from A Vintage Journey) and of course, the amazing talent that is Andy Skinner!

It never ceases to amaze me how chipboard can be transformed into  something

that looks like metal, I just love this piece!  It measure 9" x 12" approximately.

A close up of those fabulous rivets

Rusty wire was added to the heart and in the background are some of Andy's

new stamp release (which of course I had to buy...).  I am late posting this as I had not finished
the heart and wire.....and did this at home along with the apron below.

Some of the Make and Takes  (with some hugely talented people)

Top left - techniques with Mark Gould

Top right - a freebie from Michelle Stamper (a folk art artist)

Middle - Make and Take with Nikki Killinger

'I survived' - a fun stencil from the Retreat, applied to my apron

If you want to have a go, the blank kit is now available from Di at Tando Creative.

Andy is planning another retreat later in the year, I can't wait!

As always, thanks for looking.

Hugs, Anne xx

Tim Tag April 2016

Hello Friends!

It is no secret, I love doing Tim tags, usually I don't have some (or all) of the items 

that Tim does and I have to 'adapt and overcome' as my lovely friend Kath calls it!

Well, not so this time!  I have everything - I have not used the bird die before so it was an

ideal time to get him out and use him.  There are a few photos to show you the process, you

can see Tim's original tag HERE.

This is my effort.

I had a slightly different idea for the mosaic, I just managed to get the new Mixed Media #3 

set which includes the brick wall die and also one I think looks like mosaic.  I die cut the bird,

and die cut some Carte Postale paper.  I grouted the die cut bird.

While the grout was drying I prepared the tag and the Distress Woodgrain Cardstock part.

Once the grout was dry, I applied the mosaic elements using the Mosaic Glue.  I really

like the look of the die cut mosaic elements!

I used the Distress Glaze on top of the mosaic pieces and then assembled the tag.  To keep in

with the air mail theme of the Carte Postale papers, I attached a small Idea-ology piece (with the

word AIR on it) to an Idea-ology arrow, using thin wire from my stash.

Here is the completed tag, with some added stitching.

When I was photographing the tag I noticed that part of the mosaic paper has given

the bird an eye!

As always, thanks for looking, I hope to see you again soon!

Hugs, Anne xx

Sizzix Collection Paper Flower Party

Hello Friends!

Late last year the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team were lucky enough to get to play with

Eileen's new Flower Collection dies, to make samples for CHA.  I always feel so 

honoured to have projects shown there, it still gives me goosebumps!

As the whole range of dies are due for release in May, the team can now share some of

our projects with you.

My favourite project uses Eileen's new Flower Pocket die (Sizzix 661112) and the

Flower Romance die (Sizzix 661110).

My idea was to create a faux galvanised metal holder and a faux porcelain flower. The flowers
 were cut using Eileen's new die and the leaves were hand cut.

I used a Structurizer (you could probably get the same result using Powertex) and

painted this on both sides of the flower.

Whilst the flower petals are still wet, shape them - they will be very hard once 

they are dry and you will not be able to shape them then.

The flowers were given two coats of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Paint in 

Pyrole Red.

To create the faux galvanised metal, paint extra thick white card (or matboard) with a mix 

of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic in Medium Grey Value 6 with one part of Primary Cyan

and paint the card or matboard.

Using Eileen Hull's Sunburst Embossing Folder, emboss the painted card.  Apply a thin 

coat of DecoArt Media Fluid Antiquing Cream in white, leave to dry and wipe over with 

a nearly dry baby white.

Die cut the card with the Flower Pocket XL Scoreboard die.  There are only two parts to

this die, it is incredibly easy to construct.  It is a great size too.

You could use it as a mobile phone and charger holder.

Or a note holder perhaps?

This whole month we are sharing our projects at Eileen Hull's blog HERE.  I hope you can visit,

it's a party!

You can see all of Eileen's new dies by visiting Sizzix the new dies and embossing folders

are all listed as new, for release in May.

As always, thanks for looking, I hope to see you again soon!

Hugs, Anne xx

Destination Inspiration at A Vintage Journey

Hello Friends

It is time to visit Terminal 2, for Destination Inspiration, at A Vintage Journey.

I just have a sneak peek for you and hope that you will go over there to see

what I have done with the travel bag this week.

Thanks in anticipation of your visit, I hope to see you again tomorrow with 

another new post.

Hugs, Anne xx


PS. Apologies, I am behind with my commenting, I have been away this weekend,
I hope I can catch up with all of you soon..... xx

Earth Day at Anything But Cute

Hello Friends

Over at Anything But Cute the talented Samra (Paper Talk with Samra) is our hostess this
month and she has chosen the theme of Earth Day!  We have a fantastic Guest Designer

today too, please do hop over for a look if you can.

I used the beautiful Tim Holtz seahorse dies to create an underwater scene.

Samra says:  Create a mixed media project inspired by this mood board and the
beauty of our planet.  Please tell us what inspired you.  Entries for this challenge can
be eco friendly, or even re-cycled or up-cycled items; or depictions of the sea, mountains,
rivers, forests or flowery meadows .... let's celebrate our planet!!

I  just love Samra's challenge theme, I was really inspired by the gorgeous colours in

the mood board.  It was perfect for me as I absolutely adore seahorses, they are an
endangered species where we live and I wanted to celebrate them.

First of all I gathered up all the items I wanted to use.  The Golden Fiber Paste and  the IndigoBlu underwater stamp set have been in my stash forever so I thought they deserved an airing.

First, I painted the chipboard (6" x 6" board from IndigoBlu) with white Gesso and once dry
applied the Golden Fiber Paste, it has a lovely thick and pulpy texture.  I just used the palette
knife and my fingers to make an 'underwater pattern'.

Whilst the paste was drying I used Distress Crayons to colour the die cut seahorses (which
had been gessoed first - the crayons work much better when the card has some 'tooth'), moving
the colour with my finger. A coat of Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint
was then applied, quite thickly.

 Apologies, I got a bit wrapped up in the painting and did not take photos of the painting steps 

but it was pretty simple.  I made three 'puddles' of paint using DecoArt Media 
Fluid Acrylic Paint:

1.  Primary Cyan and Titanium White (Translucent) Ratio: 10/2
2:  Primary Cyan, Titanium White - Ratio: 10/4
3: Gold Green, thinned with a little water

I applied the first mix of colour to the whole of the base.  I lightened some areas with the
second mix to create some 'movement' in the water.  Lastly, with a thin brush I applied the
Gold Green (the other paint was still wet at the time) to some of the
ridges to create 'grasses'.

I used the IndigoBlu bubble stamp with the white paint to create some bubbles near to the
seahorses, you can just about see them here.  I added beads to the seahorses for eyes.

I thought it needed something extra and I had this string net in my stash, so I attached it
along with some shells and a beautiful blue starfish (purchased from a seaside souvenir shop).

To finish off I painted a piece of card with some leftover paint and stamped the IndigoBlu
sentiment and embossed it in white embossing powder.

I really did enjoy making this piece for Samra's challenge at Anything But Cute,  I hope you
can go over to see how my talented team mates interpreted the Earth Day theme!  Why not
join us?  We would love to see how you interpret the theme....

As always, thanks so much for looking, I hope to see you again soon.

Hugs, Anne xx

Spring is in the Air at A Vintage Journey!

Hello Friends

Spring is in the Air at A Vintage Journey, the lovely Sandy has chosen

the theme this month.  Here is what Sandy has to say:

'Leave those winter blues behind.  Make anything that says SPRING, using pastel

colours.  It is your choice, a card, canvas, 3D or a tag etc., but remember it should

be in one of our vintage; shabby; mixed media; art journalling; industrial or 

steampunk styles that we favour'.

I really needed to make some cards for my birthday box and since most of my
friends don't always appreciate really shabby, mixed media type cards, this challenge is just
perfect for me to create some softer toned cards that celebrate Spring!

I started by colouring an A4 (letter size) piece of card with Distress Ink in Broken China and Worn Lipstick and cut a 6" square for the base.  I stamped onto the remaining piece and cut it into strips and laid these on the card.  I used Tim Holtz's Flourish Stencil and DecoArt Crackle paste to create some interest in the corners.  I die cut the gorgeous Doily by Tim Holtz (a gift from a lovely friend) and lightly coloured it with Distress Ink.  The seed packet is from the internet and the butterflies are Prima stamps. To finish off, I flicked some Broken China, Picket Fence and Worn Lipstick Distress Paint over the background.

Here is a close-up of the focal point(s).  The wire is silver wire that I coated with Gesso to tone down the shine, I quite like how it turned out.  

I thought it needed a 'lift' as the colours were so pale, so I painted another piece of card in Broken China Distress Paint and made a mat.  Both edges were distressed and then lightly coloured with Broken China Distress Ink.

I ended up making four cards, but this is the only one that photographed reasonably well, but at least I have plenty of cards in my birthday box now!

Our sponsor this month is Country View Crafts who have a £20 voucher for one randomly drawn winner and as always the team will choose three Pinworthies to feature on our Pinterest board.

I hope you will join us at A Vintage Journey, it would be lovely to see your Spring themed mixed media/shabby or vintage creations!  Do please have a look to see what my talented team-mates have made, you won't be disappointed!

Thanks, as always, for looking, I hope to see you again soon.

Hugs, Anne xxx