Christmas comes Early..

Hello everyone, it's looking a little chilly on my blog today 

with my first Christmas post of the year.

It's time for another That's Crafty Blog Challenge over HERE

with this fortnights theme being *Only Cards*

and a chance for you to win £20 to spend in the
That's Crafty online Store.

Here in words and pictures is my

*Christmas comes Early Card*

Using the Newly released Christmas Stamp Set 2 Designed by Donna Gray 

I stamped the focal image multiple times, colouring with water colour pencil. 

Onto the main card image I painted the background using Icicle Blue Multi Surface paint 

and would later layer up both house and trees to create dimension.

I created snowfall by layering up lace, threads and strips of Tyvek previously heated gently with a heat gun to shrink and create texture. All fabric and threads were sewn onto the card with the Tyvek glued on last as it can become hard in places and difficult to sew. 

A touch of Multi Surface Antique Silver helps create shadow and 

micro beads help to fill in the gaps as well as adding a little interest.

Falling snow was achieved by pushing White Multi Surface Paint 

through the Christmas Tree Stencil onto the card background. 

This stencil not only has a large lace effect tree but also 

the most useful snowflakes and snow drop dots included.

I can see this stencil being a firm Christmas favourite with many as well as myself.

I stippled Pearl Multi Surface Paint onto two greyboard 

Snowflake surfaces, layered them both up adding a central gem stone 

for a little bit of Christmas sparkle.

Mat and layered onto a 7 x 5 card the Snowflakes embellish the corner with 

a Tim Holtz die cut Sentiment word finishing it all off.

I know it's only August but us crafty people always want to prepare ahead at least
one season in advance and because there are so many *New and *Fabulous That's Crafty
Autumn and Christmas products just released I thought it was the perfect timing
 to bring them to life and make them shine.

Thank you for sharing your time,
Take Care and Stay Safe.

Until Next Time
Crafty Hugs
Tracey xx

Crafty Supplies:

That's Crafty: Christmas Collection Stamps Set 2

That's Crafty Multi Surface Paint: 

Metallic Pearl, Ice Blue, White. Antique Silver

That's Crafty Poinsettia Tree Stencil

Snowflake Surfaces: Large, Small

Tyvek

Tim Holtz Sentiment Words

*Anniversary Wishes*

Hello everyone.. Thank you for stopping by.

I don't often post makes that are personal but as today is a special day

and this stamp set makes me giggle each time I use it 

I thought I would share this one with you all.

Here in words and pictures are those How to do's..

Weeeeeeeeeee...!!!!

Using Tim Holtz sentiment dies I cut out the words adding colour by
mopping up some spritzed Antique Linen and Salty Ocean Distress Oxides

The balloons were stamped, heat embossed, coloured with pencil and cut out.
Using foam pads I began to build up the balloons each one representing a year..

*It's a BIG Bunch*

Strings have been drawn on the Balloons using a fine liner pen and 

the stamped and embossed girl adhered as if she is flying off the card.

Mat and layered onto black card helps those words pop.

My Anniversary card is complete!

*Happy Anniversary Hubby*

Let the fun times continue xxx

Until next time, stay safe everyone

Creative Hugs

Tracey xx

I'd like to enter this into the
Rubber Dance Stamps EMBOSSING Theme Challenge.

Crafty Supplies:

AALL & Create Clear Stamps: #5 Designed by Olga Heldwein
Versafine: Onyx Black Ink
Clear Embossing Powder
Tim Holtz Thinlit Dies: Sentiment Words
Tim Holtz Distress Oxides: Antique Linen & Salty Ocean
Coloured Pencils (Caran d'ache Supracolor ~ my personal choice)
Water Colour Card/Black Card
Foam Pads

*Happy little Beach Huts*

Hello everyone, hope you've all had a great weekend? 

I'm sharing a Happy little creation over on the That's Crafty Blog today 

hoping to brighten those rainy days we have been experiencing in the UK recently.

Here's a sneaky peek at my *Happy Little Creation*...

For the full picture please pop on over HERE.

I hope to see you over there.

Have a great week everyone, take care 

and lets hope to see some sunshine before Summer ends !..

Creative Hugs

Tracey xx

Tyvek *Shimmering Butterfly* ATC

Morning Crafty Friends, I hope you had a great weekend ?

 Mine was full of creative disasters spiralling from one mistake to another, 

but Thankfully it came and went in a flash and I find it's Monday again 

and I'm here sharing a Tyvek covered ATC over on the That's Crafty Blog.

Here's a little sneaky peek but if you'd like to see a little more 

please pop on over HERE to see the full picture and *How to Do's*

Thank you for stopping by 

I hope to see you over there.

Take good care everyone and I look forward to sharing 

more creativity with you again very soon.

Crafty Hugs

Tracey xx

It's not just for Kids..!! Shrink plastic Key ring..

It's Friday again.. YAY..!! One small step away from the weekend.

It's also time for a brand new Challenge Theme over 

on the That's Crafty Challenge Blog .

.. and a chance to win £20 in the That's Crafty Store.

This fortnights theme is *Anything BUT cards*

Please pop on over HERE and check out the DT's inspirational makes.

Here's my little *Anything BUT cards* creation, in words and pictures.

Using the Marina Stamp set I stamped onto clear shrink plastic with 

Black StaZon and coloured in on the reverse side using alcohol markers.

I cut around the images leaving a border and punched holes where I wanted the jump rings to be  attached. Now its time to bake them, I always use an oven for shrink plastic as it works much better for me than a heat tool but that's just my personal choice.

Follow the manufacturers instructions as they can vary from brand to brand.

Jump rings fasten the shrink plastic pieces together and a gathering
of Maya fibres help add interest along with twisted wire pearls.
All finally attached to a Key ring with lobster clasp.

 My baked shrink plastic Key ring is complete.

A fun little make perfect to entertain the Children
over the Summer Holidays and a bit of
 low calorie baking for the Adults.

Thank you for taking time to pop on over
 I look forward to seeing your Crafty Creations over at the
That's Crafty Challenge Blog.

Creative Hugs
Tracey xx

Crafty Supplies:

That's Crafty Stamps Deep Sea Divas: Marina
StaZon ~ Jet Black
Alcohol Markers
Jump rings, Key ring & Lobster Clasp.
Maya Fibres.

Mini Gift bag make over plus some extras

Today i'd like to share a little revamped gift bag made for a swap challenge along with some other little makes all created using Rubber Dance Stamps Designed by Katy Leitch.

Here in words and pictures is my revamped mini gift bag plus..

Using Dylusions paints on a Gelli plate I printed both sides of the paper bag,
stamped randomly onto the print adding dabs and scrapes of gesso.

Paint in primary colours was dripped down the bag and the palette, paint brushes
 and wording stamped, coloured and cut. All from the Artist palette stamp set.

I made a tag using one of the paint tube stamps and decorated extra large paperclips by attaching the paint brush images, coloured in using neocolor pastels

 and Kuretake wink of stella clear, gold and silver brush pens.

Clipped onto the paper bag the paint brush paper clips really do look like
they are full size with their coordinating paint dips and drips.

My Mini altered Gift Bag is complete and ready to send to it's new home.

I also made some ATC's for another swap..

and a Birthday Card!
All having liquid pearls added for the dipped paint effect on the brushes.

I do love this stamp set, great designs and so handy for creating something Arty.

I'm linking this up with the all new Rubber Dance Stamps Forever Stamping Challenge
 a continuous challenge where you can showcase your Rubber Dance makes.

Thank you for stopping by today,
Take Care & Stay Safe

Creative Hugs
Tracey xx

Crafty Supplies:

Rubber Dance Stamps: Artist Palette
Mini Paper Gift Bag 3" x 5"
Gelli Plate 3" x  5"
Dylusions Paints: Vibrant Turquoise/Pure Sunshine
Caran D'Ache: Neocolor water soluble pastels
Kuretake Wink of Stella: Clear, Gold & Silver
Ranger Archival Ink: Jet Black
ATC's

July Tag: Nurture Nature..

Oopps it's the last day of July and I haven't shared my July Tag using those
fabulous prompts from Chris for a mini challenge last year..
Can't believe this is now Tag number 7.
You'd think I would be able to put these together with my eyes closed now but nope,
I forgot everything putting this one together, including to photograph the stages..

Here in words and not so many pictures is my July *Personal Challenge* Tag

Using a Black Tag I painted it in Clear Gesso. 

I then completely forgot to cover with a layer of paint and then forgot to 

cover the layer I forgot with another layer of a different colour. What a donut..!!

I did remember to push Grunge Paste through a stencil and add a strip of lace 

as my collage and then cover the whole Tag in matt medium.

English Red Oxide was dragged down the tag using a dry wipe and Gold DecoArt interference paint dripped down . Stencilled layers have been applied using white Gesso and when completely dry a coating of clear Gesso applied all over.

Fern Leaves by Hobby Art have been stamped onto the tag but I couldn't help think it was all looking a little flat. I'd been here before with my very first Tag thinking it all looked a horrid mess but we were encouraged to keep going... so on I plodded.

For my main focal image I chose an unused PaperArtsy image i'd previously painted with Distress Oxides it was only when I placed this image against the Tag to see if it would fit that I realised I had not put any background colours onto my Tag.. no wonder it was looking a little flat.

So a quick wash of Peeled paint Distress Oxide was applied to mask all that black and my focal image cut out and glued onto the tag. Lots of flat back pearls, gems, sparkly doodles and a glimmer of gilding wax helped bring it to life.

I used my own handwritten words of *Nurture & Nature* added colour
coordinating twine and a dragonfly embellishment to serve as a hanger or tie.

My July Tag is complete.

I must admit the wash really did transform the background  and bring it all together and forgetting to put the coats of paint on first really did make it look a little pants.

Chris's 12 prompts are a revelation and although we had been told we could leave any prompt out anytime, i'm never forgetting one again.

Thank you for sticking with me peeps my August Tag will be shared before we know it.

Creative Hugs
Tracey xx