Voyager Pocket Notebook for AALL & Create

Hello Friends

My Guest Designer project for AALL & Create this week is a Pocket Notebook using Olga Heldwein's beautiful Voyager stamp set (AALL #198), along with the Digital Bubbles stencil (AALL #45) by Autour de Mwa.

I was at a Craft Fair recently and saw the talented Tracy Evans demonstrating with colours that were quite different for her, so of course I had to buy some similar ones (not the same) to try, I think they work well with Olga's stamp.  Sometimes it is good to try different things!

I used Paper Artsy paints in Bougainvillea, Smurf and Snowflake.

I started by brayering my three colours onto a media board and using a second board to clean off the brayer.

Next, I added some stencilling, again using the blue paint.  The above two photos were

taken at night, so the colours look a bit muted.

After die cutting the notebook, using Eileen Hull's Notebook die by Sizzix, I stamped Olga's stamp onto the front and used a smaller stamp from the set to add some more detail here and there.

I used the same paints to colour in the image.

I finished off the inside by adding a ticket holder pocket on the left hand side and a notebook and pen on the right hand side.

To finish off I created a hanging charm to add to the side.

The stamp set and stencil I used are available from AALL & Create, HERE, where you will find a list of worldwide stockists.

Thanks so much for your visit, I really do appreciate it.
I hope to see you again soon.

Hugs, Anne xxx

AALL & Create Project #6 - Artist Trading Coins

Hello Friends

This is the second of two posts today, sometimes things just happen that way!

Artist Trading Coins (ATCoins) are all the rage at the moment and when I saw the latest release of stamps by Tracy Evans for AALL & Create, I just knew they would be perfect for making ATCoins.

I created the coins first and then decided they needed a holder (as you do - lol).

Starting with AALL & Create stamp set #113,  #119 and #140 (all by Tracy Evans) and Paper Artsy paints I created the coins.  Once I was happy with the result I gave each coin a triple layer of clear embossing powder.  I love the effect the EP gives and it really brings the colours to life.

I used all of the above colours in both the coins and the holder.

To create the holder I used a kit from Calico Crafts.  I brayered all of the pieces, front and back, with the same Paper Artsy paint colours I used on the coins and then stamped with AALL & Create stamp #119 and Stencil #22 (by Autour de Mwa), before constructing the holder.

A close up view of the ATcoins.

A close up view of the finished holder.

Wherever you are in the world you can purchase the AALL & Create Stamps and Stencil I used from the stockists listed HERE.

I would like to join in with Country View Challenge, where the challenge is to create Artist Trading Coins.

That's all for this week, I have another post going live today, I am taking part in a Blog Hop.

Hugs, Anne xx

Mini Album Makers - October Challenge

Hello Friends

The first of October means that we are starting a new challenge at Mini Album Makers and as always Our Rules are very straightforward : Any Handmade Book goes.  Enter any form of handmade mini album, scrapbook, journal or book art.  Our focus is on completed works, so no layouts or journal spreads that are not part of a complete handmade book project. 

Since we are sponsored this month by Seth Apter, I have created a mini album using Seth's fabulous Baked Textures along with his dies and stamps and Paper Artsy paints.

I also used my favourite Eileen Hull journal die - Passport (Sizzix 660331).

Using heavyweight black card I brayered several colours randomly onto the card and then over-stamped with a 'crackle' stamp (make unknown) to add some texture.  I did several sheets of card.  I just love the way the colours look against the black card.

I die cut my pieces for the cover and two extras for the inside covers, in plain black.  I also cut three signature covers from the same brayered cardstock. The beauty of the Passport die is that it also cuts perfect signatures to fit inside the Passport journal.

After die cutting the spine in plain cardstock I used Seth's Baked Textures Embossing Powder  - Rocky Road to create a lovely contrast.  I also die cut several pieces from Seth's Steering Wheel die (S4-741) and his Broken Maze die (S4-743) for a couple of the signature fronts too.  These were also embossed with Rocky Road Baked Textures.  The EPs give a wonderful tactile feel to the die cuts.

I created a pocket for the inside of the journal and applied the 'steering wheel' due cuts to the signature covers.  The steering wheel on the front cover of the journal was layered up three times and I added a mini corked jar, filled with some Baked Texture powder (Vintage Beeswax).

I added the signatures to the journal and stamped the word Experiment from Seth's ESA08 stamp set, this was also embossed with Rocky Road.

To finish off I always like to add some handmade charms and I also added a black crinkle ribbon closure.

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Our generous Sponsor this month is Seth Apter who is offering one lucky winner a full set of his Baked Textures Embossing Powders by Emerald Creek - what a fabulous prize!!

Website - http://www.sethapter.com/

Blog - https://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sethapter/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thealteredpage

Twitter - https://twitter.com/sethapter

I hope you will visit us at Mini Album Makers to see what my talented teamies have made and also to join in - you might just win the wonderful prize from Seth Apter!

Thanks so much for your visit, I hope to see you again soon!

Hugs, Anne xxx

Rusty and Crusty for A Vintage Journey

Hello Friends

It is time for a new challenge over at A Vintage Journey where the lovely Autumn  is our host. Autumn has chosen Rusty and Crusty as her theme - I just love that title!   Here is what Autumn has to say about the challenge:

Many of us love rust and enjoy looking for new ways to get that authentic look of rusty peeling metal.  For this challenge, include some rust in your vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journalling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk project, whether it be the real thing, a faux technique or just a rust colour on your project.

I love rust!  When Seth Apter / Kim Evans brought out the Baked Textures Embossing Powders and I knew that Rust was one of the Textures I was thrilled - another way to produce a rusty result!  Autumn's challenge theme was very timely as, after taking a couple of classes with Seth recently I fell in love with his monoprint technique and I used it to create my rusty background.

In the class we all received a set of stamps and I chose ESA 08 by Seth Apter for Paper Artsy which you can see in the above photo.

 To create the background I used two pieces of watercolour paper and Seth's paints, Mahogony, Buff, Green Patina and Smoked Paprika.  I layered the colours one by one onto the first sheet and pressed the first sheet onto the second. I repeated the steps until I had the background I was happy with.  I was going for a rusty/patina look.

I also used the background stamp, with some of the Mahogany paint to create some further texture on the background.  If you use paint on your stamps make sure you wash the stamp immediately.

I stamped the main image onto plain white card with Black Archival Ink and gave it a good coat of Distress Matte Medium in Vintage, to tone down the white and make it look more vintage.

I used the keyhole stamp onto some watercolour paper, I coloured it with a coat of Mahogany paint, then some embossing ink before applying two coats of Baked Texture - Chunky Rust to get a lovely rusty and crusty look.

I wanted the key element of the design to stand out more so I embossed a key from my stash, using Emerald Creek's Allure Embossing Powder in Oil Rubbed Bronze.  I wrapped it with some Tim Holtz thread to give it some texture.

Overall, seeing it here, I think there is something missing, I may go back and add some rub ons or a bit more stamping..... not sure - the wonders of photography on grey days here in the UK at the moment!

I hope you will join in Autumn's challenge HERE.  You could be in with the chance of being one of our Pinworthies.  Please pop over too, if you have time, to see what my talented team-mates have made, you won't be disappointed!

Thanks so much for your visit, I always appreciate them!

Hugs, Anne xxx

The Chemist

A big welcome to my latest followers, I am so pleased to have you along on my crafty journey!

Do you ever have times when you would like to create something, not for any particular challenge, but just for yourself?  These days I seem to take forever to create things for challenges - so this one is just for me and just for fun.  As a child, my lovely Dad built me a beautiful Doll's House and I spent many months decorating it and building furniture for it and creating little scenes.  When I saw Tim's new stamps of 'The Chemist' I immediately wanted them so that I could make a Chemist's shop or some kind of display.  Easier said than done!  I tried using a configuration box but the images, although quite large, just did not work.  I don't have one of the new slimmer configuration boxes with a lid, which would have been perfect, but undaunted I used a box that I already had in my stash.  After all, this was meant to be just for fun.........

The box is 6.1/2" square and just over 1" deep, it is very sturdy and you can see in the photo that I have started marking out a window.

And this is what the shop front ended up looking like.  The finished item has an acetate window but I left it off so that I could photograph it better.

The Chemist's pots and jars are coloured with Distress Inks and they have been set on a small table created from card.  The Chemist and pot stamps come separately so that you can place them in different situations.  I love that about this set of stamps.  The wall in the background has been created with backing paper and the 'chemical formula' on the wall has been stamped with black Archival Ink.

The lamp shade was created from card and the bulb is a Tim Holtz Ideaology bulb.





The window frame has been painted with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish in Vintage Lace as the base.  This was coated with Crackle Glaze and then over-painted with Fresco Finish Chocolate Pudding.

The bottles are Ideaology - they have been tinted with alcohol inks, one in Rust, one in Denim Blue and then the jars were filled with coloured sand.

The labels are by 7Gypsies.  What self respecting Chemist in those days would have been without a bottle of Arsenic....

The sign base above the window has been created with a Tim Holtz On the Edge die - Plaque and Postage.

The colours on the chemist sign are the same as the window but I applied a thicker coat of Crackle Glaze and used a thinner top coat to give a more weathered look.  Alpha Parts have been used for the word.

I am so pleased with this set of stamps, the images are large - well done to Brett Wedele for designing them and to Tim for using those designs.

Thanks for looking!  Take care and have fun creating.  Big hugs, Anne x