Taking the Leap...

Happy Leap day Everyone, 

it's not every year we get to post on our blogs on 29th February. 

After finding a bag full of Paris bits and bobs whilst 

looking for something else it seemed like fate that 

Sandie's Theme over @ TAG TUESDAY is PARIS 

The word Paris oozes Romance to me, from novels to old movies, 

I wonder how many people have popped the question in the City 

or maybe the Eiffel Tower..?

As the 29th February is a Leap Day women may still take up 

the old tradition of asking their partner to marry them..? 

Back in 1992 I know I did 😁 

After two years of me saying no to his proposals I made 

the most of leap day that year, popping the question to him.

I've never been to Paris but we did spend our Honeymoon 

in Blackpool in 1993.... he obviously said YES!! 😙

Really enjoyed layering all these found elements today,

the ironing will just have to wait until next month.. 

Enjoy the rest of your evening what ever your up too 

I'll see you all in March... 

Creative Hugs 

Tracey xx

Challenge #113 ~ Paperbabe Stamps *Sketch*

Hello creative friends 

Oh how the weeks are flying by this year 

can you believe we'll soon be stepping into March! 

I'm here today to give you a mid challenge reminder, 

be inspired by the shape below and share your creations 

HERE in our Paperbabe Stamps Sketch Challenge #113

Here's what I got up to using recycled fabrics, 

stamps, paint and a little bit of stitching... 

Many already know how I love to work with fabric. 

When I came across this tired old laundry basket 

liner I knew there'd be a way to repurpose it. 

Using the outline rose and leaf stamp from the Paperbabe  

Rose Layers Stamp set I stamped the rose onto the liner masking 

it before stamping the leaves so they would now sit neatly behind.

Undecided on colour I painted more than one Rose, 

there's now plenty left over for future projects.

Cut free from the fabric, edged with machine stitch 

and frayed around the edges this patch will become 

my focal topper for a handmade fabric journal cover. 

Cutting a large piece of fabric from the laundry liner 

a background pattern is created using stamps from the 

Spritz & Speckle and Watercolour Alphabet stamp sets.

With the cover machine stitched and frayed around it's edge 

the Rose patch takes centre stage when sewn onto the cover. 

Beads stitched amongst the speckle a large safety pin holds 

fabrics of tweed, linen, cotton and calico all cut from 

unworn clothing that had been relegated to the rag bag.

There's much more to be added to this journal cover 

but for now I think I'll enjoy it just the way it is...

There's still time to play along in Challenge #113 

With a Paperbabe Prize of UP TO £20* why not 

pop on over HERE and share your creativity.

*Challenge closes on Friday 6th March* 

Wishing you all a safe weekend. 

Creative Hugs Tracey xx 

Happy to play along with: 

Try it on Tuesday ~ Go Green/Recycle something Challenge

WOYWW #560

Hello everyone, 

I've been missing from blogland again, had things to fix damaged  

by the recent storms in my MIL's garden, how have you all managed

with the drastic weather conditions? Along with family Birthdays 

and those everyday jobs and duties there's genuinely been no time 

left in the day to get on here to see what you've all been up too. 

Behind with everything I thought i'd take a breather pop in to 

say Hi and share what's on my desk today as it's Wednesday... 

WoywW #560 .. it's just messy!!

This pic is especially for Neet, I did say I would show what I 

use to clean my stamps, these Minky's do a grand job..

I know you all thought I was mean taking away Freya's hiding hole 

so you'll be glad to see she's found a new place to cuddle up now. 

She's been suffering with garbage belly nibbling on everything and 

anything, she can get hold of. Those extra observant may have spotted 

the rubber duck on my desk which now has a hole in it's head 😒 

I've had issue's with blogger over the past few weeks with commenting 

and some left comments I've found in spam has anyone else had issue's? 

I know a couple of my blogging friends are having the same issue.. 

and the contact form still appears to be broken 😒

Just thought i'd throw that out there before I head on over 

to Julia's stamping ground to see WoywW #560.. 

Hugs Tracey xx

Beautiful Heart

Happy Heart day.. 

The heart beating around 100,000 times a day. 

A symbol of love and life, it's such a precious thing.. 

Using this amazing stamp from Andy Skinner I dissected each 

detailed area with precision and felt like a surgeon taking 

time to put it all back together right where it belonged.

there's been a lot of affection put into these pages 

built up with collage, stamps, stencils and paste 

each day since the beginning of February.

Edged with inky drips, white spots and splatter i'm sharing 

a little mixed media love with you all today... 

Wishing you all happiness and health 

and a super creative weekend. 

Hugs Tracey xoxo 

Playing along with: 

Paint Party Friday ~ Wk50 Yr9 

Rains Thursday Art Date ~ LOVE 

Creative Artiste's #57th Challenge

Try it on Tuesday ~ Share the Love 

TFJB Challenge ~ Love is all around us 

Art Journal Journey ~ Elizabeth & Bleubeards HEARTS  

Craft Stamper ~ Take it Make it Challenge FEBRUARY 

Country View Crafts February Challenge ~ Splatter's, Splashes & Drips

WoywW #558

Hello everyone, 

Time to show WoywW #558.

Sorry I couldn't make it over at the stamping ground 

last WoywW but I needed to be else where, i'm sure 

our lovely host Julia will forgive me.. 

There's just some leftovers put to use on my desk this morning 

and a couple of very sad looking ink pads in need of re-inking.

A sympathy card I made over the weekend, not something I 

enjoy making but this hobby art stamp is one I turn to often. 

Still in the process of moving crafty things from one space to 

another I've found so many things I know i'll never use again.. 

Time for another charity bag sort out, i'm sure creatives 

out there will be able to show them some love. 

I'll leave you with the latest pic of little Freya, at 

5 months she's still squeezing into this little space. 

She's not going to be my friend when I collapse that 

adaptable storage down as she's claimed it as her own.

Look forward to seeing what's on your work desks. 

Creative Hugs 

Tracey xx

Sacred Sunday

Hello everyone, 

an impromptu post from me this evening having sheltered 

from the storms today, I hope friends in the UK are safe 

it's been fierce in so many areas. 

So huddled indoors, lost in the moment there was so much thrown 

at this tag. Using stencils, pastes, flicked and dripped paint 

and a rich rusty red heart as the focal, it shows off that super 

thin heart rhythm taken from Tim Holtz Heartbeat die..

Unconvinced after lunch that this was finished 

there just seemed to be something missing..?

some found cogs and gears should fix it..

now that's kick started that heart.. I'm happy now 😊

The poor light today really doesn't show this tags true colours 

but it was good to have a much needed play day and share the love. 

Take care everyone & stay safe. 

Creative Hugs 

Tracey xx

Playing along with: 

TAG TUESDAY's Challenge: Wendy's Black, White and Red.. 

(I hope my iron oxide rusty red is red enough..) 

SanDee & amelie's FEBRUARY Steam Punk Challenge

Country View Crafts February Challenge ~ Splatters, Splashes & Drips

Try it on Tuesday ~ Share the Love

Challenge #112 ~ Paperbabe Stamps *LAYERS*

Happy Friday everyone, 

Today see's a New Paperbabe Stamps Challenge   

as we present you with this fortnights Theme 

Paperbabe Stamps Challenge #112 *LAYERS*.. 

Here's my DT Creation and how it came to be. 

Onto a heavy weight calico fabric panel I stamped a 

Dinky 3/4 Female Face with Flourishing Hair Stamps  

painting both face and stamped torso with fabric paint.

Gluing a patterned paper napkin onto the surrounding hair space 

I used an inktense pencil to define those flourishes and blend out 

with a water brush to help create a subtle edge to her hair line.

Tracing those hair flourishes with glitter glue adds another layer along 

with the word Flourish taken from the Flourish and Grow stamp set 

stamped onto tissue paper, positioned then glued into place.

Embellished with sequins and beads initially my intention was 

to create a fabric postcard sized patch to add as an extra layer 

to a bag or item of clothing but when I laid the panel onto a 

lace edged piece of fabric I saw a different vision.

Folded it made a super needle book.. 

I've lost count of the amount of needle books i've made over the years 

they always tend to find their way into other peoples hands as gifts,

i'm hoping that this one will stay with me a little longer...

I do hope you can join us this fortnight for our

Paperbabe Stamps Challenge #112 *LAYERS* 

there's a prize for one randomly chosen winner.. 

After an extremely busy week i'm looking forward to some 

creative time myself and seeing what you've all been up to. 

Creative Hugs & Wishes 

Tracey xx

Playing along with: 

Creative Artiste Challenge #57

Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge #2