The Assemblage Clock

Hi
I missed the last Challenge due to being a little poorly, so I thought I certainly cannot miss the chance to have a go at decorating the Assemblage Clock.  I have had it sitting there for a while waiting for this Challenge.

I then had several thoughts of what to do with it, something Christmasy or something a little grungy I couldn't decide.  But none of these were the final product (cheesy grin) as I eventually went for some Botanical gardens. Let me know what you think.

I cannot believe it is Challenge #10 which is always sponsored by the fabulous Tim and Mario and a special sponsor www.thefunkiejunkie.com who offer a fabulous prize of $25.

Thanks for stopping by and I will be back soon

Denise x

Challenge #8 Faded Layers

Well hello again, can you believe we are half way through August already and Skye starts back school on Monday (shocked look on my face).  I have loved her being home from school and she has had a fabulous time over the Summer Holidays.  I didn't here the "I'm Bored" war cry in which I have heard over the years.  I think the good weather had played its part here (smiley face).

I cannot believe this is almost the 18th week of the Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiosites challenge III.  This is challenge number 8 and this is sponsored by www.thefunkiejunkie.com and they are offering a prize of $25 to the winner, it is always worth entering.

Here is my entry...

I love this technique, you can see the faded layers of wood grain underneath the postcard and compass.  I went for a little travel theme as you will see with my little box.

You can see the faded layers on each side of the box in the close ups.

I will be back real soon with some more.

Thanks for stopping by

Love Denise xx

Challenge # 7 Painted Industrial

Hello again

Thanks for joining me again, sorry it's been a while but I have had a few appointments to attend and that has kept me quite busy over the last two weeks.

Challenge # 7 has been loads of fun I thoroughly enjoyed the Painted Industrial technique.  It is the first time I have used the foil and it certainly won't be the last.  It is a fabulous technique that I can use over and over.

I used the Tim Holtz Lantern Bigz Die to create the little Industrial look Lantern.  I will make a couple more as they are so cute.  When I was painting the lantern I followed the technique on page 46 of Tim's Compendium of Curiosities a couple of times to get a more pewter older look.

I would like to say thank you to Tim Mario and the Curiosity Crew for such fun challenges, I love entering every fortnight and a big thank you also to the Inspiration Emporium as they have sponsored this weeks challenge and one of the entries will win a $50 voucher to spend in their store, they have sponsored every other challenge on the odd numbers.

You can find the Inspiration Emporium at
www.inspirationemporium.com


Well here is my entry of my little Pewter Luminaire...  What do you think?

Thank you for coming along and I will see you again soon

Denise x

Challenge #6 Altered Burlap Panel

Hello again

I have had the busiest week, well for me anyway.  A couple of years ago I would have been able to have worked full time and run the house as fitting everything else in this week, it can be quite funny when you think about it and not take life too seriously.

Ok let's have a look at the Altered Burlap Panel.  To be honest I was quite scared of because I had never tried working on burlap before.  That's why I love this challenge as it really takes me out of my comfort zone.  The finished outcome may not be wonderful or have a few mistakes in (that I can notice lol).  My boundaries have been stretched and pulled doing the CC3 Challenge therefore, thank you to Tim Holtz for writing the book and thank you to his fabulous partner Mario as they provide a fabulous prize to the winner of each challenge.  And for this challenge The Funkie Junkie have very kindly sponsored this challenge and have offered a very lucky winner a $25 gift voucher to spend in their shop, wow.

The Altered Burlap Challenge pg 37 CC3C

Although I was scared, I was looking forward to it and  that is why it is a very last minute entry also with only about 2 hours to deadline.  My friend Margaret came over to my house and we had a play with the Burlap and followed the directions on page 37 and voila, I can now work on Burlap.  I am now thinking of other things I can make (I am sure that very wise Tim Holtz had that idea for all of us when he was writing his books).

I had used some postcard Tissue wrap for a little travel theme and used some chit chat to express a little Summer and Romance and some fabulous Ephemera Via Air Mail as the romance is long distance.  The Pointed Finger Ephemera raised to give a little more dimension to the little panel. A little of Tim's wishbone to wish the romance good luck and the number 13 (Tim's little number pack, I love these) as that is my Birthday in July.  Then some Distress Paints were used over the tissue and wow I loved how the paint rubbed straight through to the burlap very magical.  I then went round the chit chat with some Distress pens to highlight them and the Postcard Tissue wrap. And lastly I was happier when I added the Diamond Stickles which brings out the colours underneath it, another fabulous product.

Here goes nothing, my Altered Burlap Panel...........

I hope you like it, I do now that it is finished and I love to have learned a new technique yet again :) thank you to Tim for being a fabulous inspiration xx

I will see you again real soon as I have loads to show and tell.

Thanks for stopping by and reading

Denise xx

CountryView Challenge

Hello again

I have added this pic to enter the Country View Challenge for July.  I have been quite proud of this Journal page using a Stencil and the Dylusions Inks and Distress Inks.

Thanks for stopping by and I will see you soon.

Denise x

Challenge # 5

Hello again

I am back to enter my Curiosity Challenge entry for the 5th challenge.  I cannot believe this is the fifth challenge already.

I had used the following Tim Holtz products for this challenge.....

I had loads of fun trying out the faux watercolour technique.  It is one of my most favourite techniques and I really enjoyed using the spritzer pen thingy (cannot remember the name of it).

I had thought I would bring in a little of the 4th of July to my entry as the challenge ends on this day and what better way to celebrate from my Craftroom.

A big thank you to the Curiosity Crew who help pick a winner for the fabby prize from Tim and Mario.  And also from the Inspiration Emporium for the grand prize of $50 for the winner they choose xx

Happy 4th of July 

I hope you liked it and I will see you soon

Thanks for reading

Denise xx

Hot Air Balloons

Hello again

I cannot believe it has been over a week since I last blogged.  I had meant to come back a little earlier for the Clarity challenge for June which has a masculine theme this month but I was a little busy making some cards for Stamps By Me as I am on their Design Team.  I will post these up soon, Toni should be on Create and Craft very soon with New stamps for Stamps by Me with some of my cards.

I had decided to use my new Hot Air Balloon stamps for the masculine card.  I had got these stamps from the Clarity members Club, I love being part of the different clubs as you get good benefits.

I also used the fabulous tree stamps from clarity and Drew in some little birds.  I would never have drawn these in if I hadn't seen Barbara Gray doing so.  They help to fill a space which needed filled.  I will post a picture of the card without the Birds and you can let me know what you think yourself.

Here goes......

And then the one below is without the birds.

I hope you like it, I used the spectrum noir pencils to colour the water and hills the rest was coloured with real red stampin up ink for the front Balloon and the rest was coloured with Distress Inks.  But both Balloons were coloured using an aqua brush and the faux watercolour technique which is one of my favourite techniques.

I will be back real soon as the Tim Holtz challenge has to be entered by Friday.

Denise xx

Challenge # 4

Hello again

Well it is time for the Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiosities III challenge # 4 to be submitted.

I had no clue what to do again.  It takes me the two weeks to have a think about it and then the pressure of the last day seems to work and I then produce something.  My first tag I did didn't look good although my Daughter liked it.  I think she is just biased tbh.  The second tag I produced I quite liked it has a flutter theme, possibly because I am thinking about my ATCs for this month which the topic is "In Flight".

I followed the instructions on page 49 to start my tag off using the Tim Holtz Layering Stencil WOODGRAIN THS023 and some texture paste, then used the following distress inks Broken China,Squeezed Lemonade, Picked Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade.  My first tag looked too dull as I used the kraft tag therefore brighter colours looked better in my eye on the tag shown below.

Then I inked through some punchinella with Worn Lipstick DI stamped some Tim Holtz stamps with Jet Black archival, stamped the sentiment with fired brick DI and wrote over with a black sharpie.  I then stamped the lovely blue bird with Peacock feathers onto a piece of tissue and stuck down with the Ranger Collage glue stick.

Used a white gel pen to ink part of the EYE CHART THS010 Layering Stencil onto the top right hand corner of my tag.  Attached some bunting to the left hand side of the tag and some lace to the bottom of the tag with some washi tape onto the top of the lace.  Cut out the lock and keys from the TH Lock & Key cardstock covered partly with glossy accents and layered a lovely heart with wings embellishment onto the padlock.  I made a small bow out of some bright pink Rattan for the top left hand corner and also glossy accented some cabouchons and placed over the small inked butterflies on the tag to give a little more dimension and layers to the tag, finishing with the little chain at the punched hole.

Let me know what you think.  Here goes nothing ....

The fabulous Sponsor for this challenge is The Funkie Junkie Boutique which offers a fabulous voucher and then there is also a fantastic prize that Tim and Mario pick out for their favourite.  I wish everyone who enters the best of luck and if you don't enter, why not?

Please leave a nice comment below, and if you cannot then an email would be great too at dmjshepherd@blueyonder.co.uk.

Let me know what you think and

See you soon

Denise xx

Challenge # 3

Hello again

It is time to send in my Challenge for the Compendium of Curiosities challenge # 3.

I couldn't decide what I was doing and then I was unhappy with the outcome once or twice,  therefore I had to try again.  I just adore the tattered pinecones die and how it looks like Little roses, so what better than a Rose Garden climbing a trellis.  I do love to see climbing roses in a garden on a lovely summers day.

I used my Dylusions sprays over a trellis background in my home made Art Journal, which is about half full now as I have been having fun just trying out new things.  I have to laugh as I have green fingers as I type and it isn't from Gardening, it is from the Dylusions Sprays.  If you have used them you will understand he he.

Again a massive thank you to Tim and Mario for the Challenge and making me explore new crafty heights and a massive thank you to the Inspiration Emporium who sponsored the Challenge with a fabulous prize of £50 up for grabs.

Well here is my challenge entry.  What do you think???

Thank you as always for taking the time to read my little Blog.

See you soon.

Denise xx

I won

Hi

I am a very excited bunny this evening or I should rather say morning as it is 1.30 in the morning and I cannot sleep.

I found out I won the Clarity Stamp Monthly Challenge not too long ago.  It was my first time entering it and I won, how lucky am I, woo hoo.

I just had to share with everyone.

And the prize.............drumroll................

A Mahoosive £50 voucher to spend at Clarity stamps, how fabulous.  They are one of my most favourite stamp companies and I also love the fabulous stencils that Clarity make.   Barbara Gray is the fabulous Lady behind Clarity and I have learned so much from Barbara especially following her Blog and of course You Tube Tuesday where Barbara teaches fabulous techniques every Tuesday by posting a You Tube Video.

Here is my card again....

If you have ever thought about entering any challenges and haven't done so because it is a big bit scary, I would just enter anyway as you can only gain from it.  Just like me (I am grinning like the Cheshire Cat from Alice In Wonderland).

See you soon

Denise xx

Happy Birthday Jack

Hi
Today I want to wish my little Nephew a Happy Birthday, he is 3 years old and such a cutie with big brown eyes.

I have put his favourite vehicles on the card, placing a truck in the centre as that seems to be his favourite as my Husband let him sit in the truck recently on one of his visits to Elgin.

I miss Mya and Jack as they live too far away.  I wish they were closer as they are lovely and Skye has a special bond with her little cousins.

Jacks card was coloured using the fabulous Pan Pastels in which I have fallen in love with, I hope you like it x

See you soon

Denise xx

Clarity Stamp Challenge May

Hi

I have been promising myself for a few months now to enter the Clarity Stamps Challenge blog and today I have made something I really want to enter.  I am quite happy with it.  I have been practicing my vintage technique for a little while and I was making some vintage ATCs for my monthly craft club last week which I was quite happy with also, so I thought I would have a little play in my Art Journal.

I started with the clockwork stencil and some Dylusions sprays which I love, when the ink dried I used the gold Wink of Stella pen to colour in the cogs and clock face of the stencil, then using the Grunge stencil I wrote TIME WAITS for NOBODY as this is so true.  Next I used spiced marmalade distress ink around the stencil then went over it with some Vintage Photo distress ink building up the colour and leaving a little space around the words to make them pop.  I then inked the edges with Black Soot distress ink.  I then went over the Grunge stencil words with a black Wink of Stella brush pen.  I then stamped the two Clarity pocket watches in aged Mahogany distress ink.

My hands are very dirty looking now with the sprays and the inks, but is had fun and I like the finished article this time.

I will be back soon

Denise x

A card for a Friend

Hi

I have been making a card for my Friend who could use a little love right now.  I was thinking what could I do, what could I do.  I just couldn't think so eventually I thought about some pretty flowers (I love poppies) as I love to receive flowers and I thought if you feel a little burdened you just want to float away, hence my little clarity girl floating away with her balloons flying into the sky.

I had used the gorgeous clarity stencil for my background using pan pastels and then used pinflair Gentle Blends for the frame of the card as White was too stark.

Next came the Clarity Poppies in which I love, I coloured with the poppy red pro marker and then stampin up pens for the grass and stems.  The centre of the poppies are glittered with black diamond sparkles.

Following that came my Beutiful trouble free Love Balloon Girl from Clarity in which I stamped and then used my quickie glue pen again to add the glitter to the balloons in festive red and green diamond sparkles and then the girl herself in gold diamond sparkles.  The word love was glittered using black Diamond Sparkles.

Then I used the quicky glue pen to draw a thin line around the edge off the card and used the gold diamond sparkles to add a little consistency to the colours on the card.

I then used the Grunge ABC stencil to write my Sending All My words.  But I then felt the top of the card was missing something and therefore used one of the little stencils to make a banner and then stencilled the word Sending again.  All the words were glittered in black diamond sparkles.

A couple of white card candi were coloured in my gorgeous lilac wink of Stella pen (my favourite). And placed in the top corners and on the Banner to make the card more even and to add a little more dimension.

I hope my friend likes it when she receives it and doesn't see it here first.  I also hope you like it too.

Denise xx

CC Challenge 2

Hello again, today I am entering Challenge number 2 of the fabulous Compendium of Curiosities Challenge.  For those of you that don't know, that is the Fabulous Tim Holtz book and the challenge is on every fortnight.  I love that I have 2 weeks to enter as I do not always have the correct ingredients to enter each of the challenges and this gives me time to either order on line or ask my fabulous Husband to go and collect what I need if I cannot get out to get it.  Of course he does love to moan about that but he still goes for me (happy smiley face)x

This challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique who offer a fabulous $25 prize and Tim and Mario also offer fabulous prizes.  TBH I don't expect to win as there are so many fabulous crafters out there who have been crafting far longer than I have.  I do enter I. The hope of winning though as that would be a tremendous achievement, but my personal aim is to learn new techniques and that is exactly what is happening.  I used grunge board for the first time ever, if you haven't used it I would highly recommend it it is so soft and so lovely.....and it cuts beautifully in my ebosser and with scissors too might I add.

Well here goes nothing, this is what I made...... Please tell me what you think of it.  I will be giving it to my Dad as a Fathers Day gift in June, wow I am organised for once (another smiley face).

How I made it.....
I had a small wooden frame in which I embossed with clear embossing powder using the scroll stamp from Tim Holtz stampers Anonymous Shabby French CMS087 stamp sheet.
Inked the frame with Spiced Marmalade, Peacock Feathers, Dusty Concord and Pine Needles Distress inks.  Then helped dry it with the heat gun as I don't like to wait.  Rubbed kitchen roll over the entire frame to take the ink off the embossing.
I then stamped the Umbrella Man onto grunge board, cut him out and added Distress Dry glitter (clear rock candy as this was the only distress glitter I had) to the umbrella and then inked in Peacock Feathers.  I then used the heat gun again and it gave a nice bubbled look but my glitter then coloured. I loved that.
Next I used the Movers and shapers star from the mini old glory set and cut it onto grunge board.  I love this little star but didn't think I could use the movers and shapers in my ebosser.  My friend Heather and I were playing with the movers and shapers dies the other day.  I am a happy bunny as I have a couple of them and I can now use them again. I then inked the little grungy stars in fired brick and again covered in distress glitter and the colour just shows through the glitter, another discovery.
I coloured some grunge board letters in Broken China and I loved the look of the inked grunge board so didn't add glitter this time.
The Family sticker was taken from the Seasonal Salvage Stickers from The Tim Holtz pack.
And lastly I added a couple of metal cogs from my little stash to give a little more dimension and a more manly feel after all it is for my Dad.

Very happy with all the new things I have learned doing this challenge.

I hope you liked it and I will see you all soon

Denise x

Altered Beermats and Jar

Hi again, I haven't been around much as I have been under the weather again.  I have been diagnosed as having Functional Neurology Disorder.  A disorder that mimics MS therefore, I don't keep too well.  Enough about that now I have told you, we can get on with the Blog and I will come back as often as I can.

I had entered a challenge this month to alter some Beer mats.  I had to alter 5 beer mats and then send them off to Zuzu as it is her challenge on her blog "Zuzu's petals Altered Art n' Stuff".  I also entered last months altered bottle/jar swap.  It was the first time I had done anything like this and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I was really nervous for the jar challenge as it was new to me and I wasn't sure what I could do.  But it turned out ok I think, picture below.......

Now for the Altered beer mats in which I need to post tomorrow to enable them to reach Zuzu on time.  I will receive 5 beer mats in return and a book ring.  I wish I had made 2 of my Jars as it was my first but I didn't.  Anyway I did double up on the Beer Mats so I could have a copy of them, since they are my first.  So here goes, let me know what you think please.......

Well that is the Beer Mats and they will be in the post tomorrow.  I have used the Typography papers from Graphic 45, some Tim Holtz stamps, distress paints and some Dylusions ink on grunge paste over a clarity stencil.  As well as other stamps and some crackle paint and a little glitter and stickles.  I also embossed a little too.  I wanted to do a range of different things to challenge myself and have some fun.  I really enjoyed the challenge involved in altering the beer mats and I will have to think of another way rather than adding Gesso to the beer mats as it didn't really work on them.  Anyway I cannot wait to see what I receive in return.

Speak soon

Denise x

A Compendium of Curiosities Challenge 1

Well hello again and so soon.  I have been on a Tim Holtz fix recently and as you may or may not know, I have only been crafting for a year and am a little besotted with everything Tim Holtz.  So when the new Tim Holtz book "A Compendium of Curiosities Volume 3" came out I had asked my lovely Husband to buy it for me.  Look what came the very next day...

Well the first challenge is sponsored by Inspiration Emporium which mean there are fabulous prizes up for grabs.  Secondly both Tim Holtz and Mario Rossi are also offering some prizes.  Therefore as well as my love for learning all new crafty things I get to learn new techniques using the Tim Holtz products and my new book (I have the biggest smile on my face as I type) so there is nothing to lose is there?

Wow then I got a little scared as I haven't used any other of Tim's products other than the Dies, stamps and Inks.  But I still have nothing to lose.  I then had to call upon a friend or two to borrow some distress paints for the first Challenge as I don't own any yet.  Although I will very soon (another big smile).

Well here goes this is my attempt at Challenge 1 of CC3C....

I used the Honeycomb textured plate after applying the marbling technique with the only two Distress Paints in my crafty little hands to the sissix die cut Tag, Walnut and Seedless Preserve.  I then used the following distress inks, Worn Lipstick, Pickled Raspberry, Peacock Feathers and Broken China. And cut out the Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves and Florals and then decorated the tag.  Below are a few close ups....

 

I hope you like my first ever tag and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Denise xx