It is still September here! Just!!!

Hi everyone. Back again! The spin cycle that is my life continues to rotate at top speed, and out of that maelstrom comes my take on Tim Holtz' September tag challenge.

By now everyone will have seen (and probably used!) Tim Holtz' techniques for his September tag seen HERE. I took my tag one stage further to create a card.

I used an extra large manilla tag as a base and started with my cargo letters stencil. Heavily influenced by the idea of printing blocks sandwiched together, I used a mix of Distress Paint and Embossing Paste to recreate this idea. You can recolour White Embossing Paste with Distress Paint really easily.

The two brown based Distress Stains were blended over the top and the edges were blended with my favourite DI Walnut Stain. Finally I stamped over the whole lot with three Mini Blueprint stamps. 

 If you can spot creases in the tag that's because I put them there! The tag had taken on that soft feel you get from tags on vintage clothing and begged to be given a bit of rough treatment for extra texture. Meanwhile, these Idea-ology Alpha Tiles proved perfect for the theme/colour scheme and stood out when layered on black and kraft card banners.

Replicating the Mini Blueprint images in embossed Archival Ink on kraft card allowed the viewer to recognise what had been stamped on the tag underneath.

With the top of the tag still visible I altered some white seam binding with Distress Stains and stencilling using the cargo stencil and DI Walnut Stain again.

The Muse Token added the perfect finishing touch to the ribbon bow.

Thank you everyone for bearing with the recent torrent of posts. If I could beg your indulgence, there's one more to come tomorrow for the new Our Creative Corner challenge. In the meantime take care of yourselves, hugs Jenny xxx

25 Jumbo Manila Shipping Tags 8x4" #12	Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste - White	Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste - Black	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Vintage Photo	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Antique Linen	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint - Barn Door	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Brushed Corduroy
Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain - Antique Linen	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Walnut Stain	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Vintage Photo	Ranger Archival Ink - Vermillion	Ranger Embossing Powder - Clear	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Alpha Tiles	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Muse Tokens
Rayon Seam Binding	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Mini Blueprints 4

Autumnal Part Two (Nicecrane Designs)

Hi everyone and wow! Can't believe how many comments came flooding in for my last post in such a short space of time - thank you everyone. Ironing done - check, washing up done - check, lads ready and off to school - check, dog sorted - check, FB updated - check. Next on the list is my third autumnal card (as promised) this time using a lovely digital image from Nicecrane Designs as a focal point.

This one is a bit of a balance of the more minimal (well, design-wise at least!) with texture.

I kept it simple with the digital image; just some light distressing with ink and some Rennaisance Treasure Gold gilding wax on the edges. This painted image came from a wonderful set from Nicecrane Designs called Vintage Butterflies Cards.

You've seen the master board background already. This time I rubbed a touch more Rennaisance Treasure Gold gilding wax over the stencilled leaves to give them a copper glint.

Where would I be without Tim Holtz' Simple Sayings?! You never know when you are going to need an emergency card for a friend in need so it pays to have some in stock.

And finally the tattered floral flowers with copper centres, and my take on a 'rusted copper' butterfly. It's amazing what you can do with mixed embossing powder.

Do check out Ignacio's range of digital designs at Nicecrane Designs - he has something in the store to suit everyone. I'll be back later with my last minute TH tag entry (it's on the 'to do' list). Until then take care of yourselves and have a great week. Hugs, Jenny x

Autumn is such a busy time of year...

Hi everyone. I want to start today's post by sending out a huge "Thank You" to everyone who comes and leaves such lovely comments and to all those who have taken the time to vote for me in the Unruly Paper Arts challenge (mentioned in the last post). Some of you may have noticed a distinct drop off in the number of visits/comments from me recently and for that I'd like to apologise. By way of explanation - in 'real life' I'm currently heavily involved in setting up a new website (not for myself I hasten to add). As a result it feels like I'm attached to this PC, in fact so much so that I've had to pretty much stop commenting over and above DT commitments to stop my head from exploding! Normal service will be resumed fairly shortly, but I thought it only fair to keep you in the picture.

With that said it's time to post the first of three between now and Monday night (yep, just like buses!)

I created another of those paste/gesso/paint/stencil/spray backgrounds that are so enjoyable and versatile. The colours were relatively easy to choose for an autumnal feel.

The paste through leaf/acorn stencils absorbed some of the base colour, and for this card I added some of the new clear Distress Glitter - and oh boy is it worth the hype! Big glittery chunks and my favourite part, you aren't covered in the stuff for days after using it!

I also used it on the Distress Stained flowers, and yes, they are supposed to look a little past their best as they are the last remnants of summer finally fading.

The frame was created using a die and a mix of Distress Paints over tissue paper.

The stencilling was used to imitate spiders' webs over the leaf clusters covered in the first touch of frost and mist. As well as spraying though it I flipped the stencil and printed off the reverse pattern.

Now for a second card with a completely different look, using a smaller piece from the same masterboard. This card got a more muted look (minus the glitter this time). 

Like the splatters of paint under the stencilling on both cards? Trust me, I didn't start flicking it around with my paintbrush this time - actually there was no need to as I have the perfect stamp for the job. The Artistic Stamper sells one of their own background stamps called 'smudge background' which works a treat for adding a random splatter pattern. It is also incredibly useful if you spritz it with water and use it on Distress Ink to give that 'spritz and flick' look.

The heart was cut from a piece of self-coloured/embossed card.

The flower is a tattered floral and the leaves stamped in Archival Ink from the Tim Holtz Mini Blueprint set, and inked to match the autumnal background.

These are being entered for the following challenges;

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team challenge - Autumn (and of course I've used that fab Artistic Stamper smudge background stamp)

Drunken Stampers - Die Cuts (frame, sprigs, heart, flower and lacy border)

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Autumn Colours (stamping on the background, the fussy cut leaves and the sentiment)

I'll be back tomorrow with another couple of cards (including my completely different take on Tim's September tag!) Hope you'll be back soon. In the meantime take care of yourselves.

Hugs, Jenny xxx

Pressies and a plea...

Hi everyone. Don't get too close to your screens as I don't want you catching my cold - ever noticed how fuzzy heads prohibit creative decisiveness? Well thankfully I have some pressies to share with you.

Many of you will know I had the opportunity to visit my wonderful and talented friend Anne during the summer, and as well as cutting die cuts, teaching me box making and feeding me right royally, this uber-generous lady gave me a beautiful box containing a very special pocket watch (below) and one of her super pin cushions. I was thrilled as you can imagine!

I was also lucky enough to have taken part in Astrid's ICAD swap earlier this month and want to share the very special ICAD's sent to me.

This vibrant ICAD and holder came from the talented Elly. I love the stencilling, the varied textures and the UTEE embossed lady, and most of all the way Elly has blended these fruity colours together in a grungy yet feminine way.

My second ICAD and holder came from Maryann, who had a totally different take on this concept (as well as a bit of fun with the postal service by the sounds of it!!!)

Maryann is a whizz with her die cutting and attention to detail and she had taken so much trouble to embellish every part of the ICAD and it's folder. I love the autumnal feel to this as well.

Thank you to Astrid for organising this swap. As well as being so lovely and efficient, she is someone who's artwork I am always utterly inspired by (and one day I want to grow up to be somewhere close to being as creative as her :)

Finally a small plea... thank you to everyone who left such kind comments about my altered stamp crate (seen here). It was entered for an Unruly Paper Arts challenge and the voting is taking place through to 30th September HERE. If you liked it I would be incredibly grateful if you would take a couple of moments to enter a vote for me
(I know some of you have already - thank you so much for your support xxx).

For now, take care of yourselves.
Hugs, Jenny xxx

Crafts-Too Challenge You - Texture with Something Shiny or Glittery

Hi everyone and welcome. I was thrilled to learn from Chris at Crafts-Too Challenge You that I had been picked as a Top 3 Winner for the July challenge. What's more she asked me to create a little something for the challenge this month which is 'Texture'. The twist from 20th September to 3rd October is to add something shiny or glittery to your project.

Before I share with you the project I made I must hang my head and show you the box in which many of my stamp sets are stored. Well at least they aren't all over the floor I suppose, but something had to be done. So for my birthday I got ...

Actually I got two of them! and turned the first into this...

Actually this was rather therapeutic. I've had this rather lovely card stack (DCWV - The Timeless Type Stack) that has occasionally been taken out and stroked but not used.

If I put it on a card it would disappear from my life forever! And it was way to gorgeous to let it go. Oh, get a grip woman!

So the logical solution was to use it on something that would have a practical use and (more importantly) stay at home - happy days.

The MDF box edges were painted black before the card was lovingly applied.

I chose a different sheet for each side to get the maximum enjoyment when viewing.

The card on the front had to be inked/stained to match the colour of the one on the back (ok, who out there said I'm rather OCD?!)

And then the box was put together (with a little help from my OH).

Now the fun could begin - the decorating on the front, using offcuts from the same sheets used on the sides, each treated in different ways. Roughened edge strips of card were layered with (shiny metallic) lace, vintage lace, and inked seam binding to provide a base for the other embellishments. 

I also got to use a Crafts-Too script washi masking tape which matched perfectly. Then black texture paste was stencilled through a chequerboard mask over the top.

The flowers were scrunched to give a vintage feel and each had a different button used in the centre - and I was even able to use some of my favourites (more therapy).

Some die cut branches and two types of leaves were added, with the larger leaves being embossed and stained with a metallic stain for extra shine.

And finally I added more shine with the addition of a key, lock and buckle courtesy of the Crafts-Too vintage range again (highly recommended). 

So there you have it - or rather I do (she says, grinning from ear to ear) and some of my stamps now have a new and more glamorous home. Now I just need to get the other one done. While I plough on with that why not take a look at the wonderful projects created by the Design Team HERE for more inspiration and make something for the challenge yourselves.

Unruly Paper Arts have a '3D wooden project challenge' running to September 25th (with voting from September 26th to 30th) so I will be entering, and would be thrilled if you would vote for me.

See you back here soon with a more autumnal theme.

In the meantime take care of yourselves. Hugs, Jenny xxx

P.S. Karen is quite right - I really should have included a link to the crate blanks so you too can have stunning storage solutions. You'll find it (and many more fab blanks) at; http://www.clevercut.co.uk/ECatalogue.asp?Parent=&Show=WOODELEM&ShowDesc=Wooden%20Elements&Page=1