Feeling Patriotic

A few months ago I ordered the Artistic Outpost London Underground Stamp set from Happy Daze.  I have to say that I absolutely love these stamps and with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 just around the corner this theme remains on trend.  My first project was an altered frame for the Bramford Crop challenge, (see 26 February post).

Looking on the Happy Daze website a couple of weeks ago I noticed that the May blog challenge is 'May Queen'.  The instructions for taking part said: 'As it's the Diamond Jubilee next month for the may challenge we have a queenly theme. Think Maypole to welcome in the season of new growth, go patriotic and be Red, White and Blue, or just add a simple crown. Interpret the theme as you see it and what it means to you. But the main thing is to enjoy yourself and make something lovely to share with us for the challenge this month.  So I have decided to go patriotic with my mini easel. 

To create my background canvas colours I used Tim Holtz distress inks blue jeans and barn door.  Next I stamped the flag using a black archival ink pad and lastly added gold Ariondack acrylic paint dabber in the top corner.

I used the same colour ink pads on a smaller piece of card and stamped the sentiment, again in black.  I then used Ranger distress crackle paint - clear rock candy to cover the whole card.  I matted it onto white card stock and attached it to the canvas using double sided sticky foam.  Finally I attached a silver crown charm also from Happy Daze using Glossy Accents.

This is my first time participating in an online challenge, so now to work out how to upload my blog post to the website.  Hopefully I'll manage to join in each month going forward.

Thanks for looking!
Tracey x

T for Tracey

The May Bramford Crop Challenge was set by Janet and consisted of a 3-d paper mache letter.  We each received our initial and I chose to alter my own although some of the girls decided to swap and alter each others shape.  I started the challenge almost immediately but after cutting the paper out didn't get a chance to finish it until today, hence this blog post is very late as is the challenge itself. 

First I covered each surface of the letter with Basic Grey basics paper, distressing the edges before fixing in place with glossy accents.  For the front of the 'T' I wrapped 2 different sized bands of ribbon, the smaller through a buckle round the trunk, I then placed some pearl bead swirls all over the surface and finally attached 3 tiny butterflies which were punched out of corrugated cardboard using a Martha Stewart punch.

 For the top I pierced a Tim Holtz memo pin through the shape and attached 2 larger punched butterflies with glossy accents, below this I placed 3 small flowers which I inked in brown.  I also placed 3 clear beads close by.  I then used small letters on a piece of brown card stock to create my name plate, covered it with Glossy accents and again adhered to the letter with more glossy accents.

Thanks for looking!
Tracey x

Sorry You're Leaving

Today I spent a very enjoyable time with crafting friends at Belstead House.  Unfortunately I can't locate my challenge piece which was to be altered (a wooden plague set by Jacqui), so instead I did my own thing and made a 'Sorry you're leaving' card for someone in my office who finishes at the end of this week.  Normally I wouldn't post anything on my blog prior to the challenge date or handing over the project but I know the recipient doesn't use social networking so think it's safe in this instance.
As with most of the cards I make for work, I used an A4 card as my base and then used cream, brown and Kraft card stock plus some Stampin'Up papers.  I created the sentiment background using a Spellbinders labels die and used the Tim Holtz tattered florals and swirl dies for the embellishment.  I also used glossy accents, crackle glaze and gems.  Finally I added a swirl stamp to the edges of the sentiment.

Sometimes I'm not very pleased with the photos I take and this is one of those instances as it doesn't show the warmth of colours very well but you get the idea. 

Thanks for looking!
Tracey x

Wedding Anniversary Card

Recently I was asked to make a 20th Wedding Anniversary card for the wife of someone at work.  We discussed ideas which included using the colours of the Wedding flowers (dusky pink).  He asked for something with not too many love hearts, nothing too over the top and something completely bespoke which wouldn't be found in a high street shop.

I used some left over BoBunny papers from a Papermaze Crop as I thought these would represent the Wedding colours plus craft and Bazzill cardstock.  I also used the Martha Stewart love heart border punch, the Spellbinder labels and Tim Holtz tattered floral garland dies.  The alphabet is QuicKutz moxie.  To finish the card I applied rock candy, glossy accents, Stampin'Up twine, brads, clear gems and a love heart pin.

Thanks for looking!
Tracey x

Altered Children's Book

Yesterday was the April Bramford Crop and this month's challenge was set by Janina.  Well this was indeed quite a challenge and consisted of us each receiving a Children's Ladybird Book to alter. 

My initial idea was to create a journal using Dylusions products as I've been wanting to create one of these for a while now but as my local shop hasn't received the stock yet I decided to wait to try that idea later.  Instead I decided to make my book into a photo frame and knew that I wanted to use a photo of my Mum & Dad's Wedding Day.

As you can see I have used a lot of products for this project but mainly items from Tim Holtz, Prima and Stampin'Up.  Products include papers, inks, stamps, dies, flowers, buttons, ribbons, lace, gems, charms and numerous other embellishments.

Thanks for looking!
Tracey x

So little time...

Firstly, I must apologise for not posting on my blog last weekend and therefore failing my New Year's Resolution to post weekly in only the third month!  Anyway one reason for this is that sadly apart from the Papermaze Crop yesterday, I still haven't had any spare time to craft, but I guess some weeks are just like that! 
There are so many crafty projects going round in my head at the moment and my list of projects include:

• April Bramford crop girls challenge - an altered children's book set by Janina (Tractor Girl Gone Scrappin);
• An altered frame (keep calm and carry on theme) for Nancy (Kitty Scrapper);
• Tim Holtz 12 tags: both February and March;
• Scrap365 layout challenges;
• Mounting and using my new Bombshell Stamps Sugar Skulls stamp set; and
• A mask for my works Masquerade Ball in June.

As you can see my list is quite long and I am adding to it all the time.  Some of these items are due in a couple of weeks and require quite a bit of effort to complete.  In my opinion, work does get in the way of crafting!

In the meantime I have another fabulous project from a workshop taught by Carol (Krafty Pieces) at Papermaze, probably a year or so ago now.  This time we altered a Tando Creative frame and base.  This was a great technique class and as always I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and absolutely love the finished frame.

Thanks for looking!
Tracey x

Carol's Workshop - Configuration Box

As much as I love the chance to get into my craft room as often as possible, I just haven't managed to this week so instead I would like to share something I made at a workshop last year. 

I was very unfortunate to miss out on a place at the PaperArtsy workshop with Tim Holtz in February 2011 but one of the Bramford girls, Carol (http://kraftypieces.blogspot.com) went and then taught a workshop at my local shop, Papermaze (http://www.papermaze.co.uk) in May.  I am very pleased that Carol has just joined their DT. 

During the workshop we altered a Tim Holtz configuration box using papers, tissue tape and an old dress pattern.  As the theme was sewing and we used a number of related items to fill each of the boxes.  It really was a very enjoyable day and I love how much there is to look at in the completed box which now sits in my living room for all to see and admire.

 

Thanks for looking!

Tracey x