Textured words

The new textured words stamps from Rare Earth are wonderful for creating background papers and can be used in a variety of ways. The stamps work well together and be used to build a layered and textured surface.

I used several of the backgrounds I created to make this bag. The flowers were also created from the background papers using the Fleurs mallow dies. The sentiment is also from Rare Earth and makes a big statement on the bag.

The bag was a good way of using scraps left over from other projects.

The background was created using oxide inks with part of the textured stamps over the top. A few gilded mica fragments added some sparkle. The sentiment is from tattered Lace. I made the dragonfly from a mould using soft clay and painted it to match.

On this card I wanted to achieve patches of texture with white spaces to give it an artistic feel.

I stamped the textured stamps onto patterned paper to give some additional texture and dimension. The flower is the Tattered Lace Echinacea and scrabble type wooden stickers for the word dream.

Oxide inks and the textured word stamps were used for the background. A few gilded mica flakes were used for the texture. The flowers are from the decorative floral pop up set by tattered lace and I used another dragonfly I had made from a mould.

The textured words were used to add extra texture to the background paper. The tag was decorated with oxide inks and the texture word stamps. The wooden hearts were painted with Pebeo mixed media paints.  I added some lace buttons and twine for decoration.

With the card below, the background was again created with oxide inks and the textured word stamps. Again I used the gilded mica fragments to give added texture. The butterfly was made from soft clay and painted . I added some flowers and swirls cut from tattered lace dies.

The same card from another angle.The gilded mica help give a sense of movement.

I decorated a wooden plaque to making a hanging for Valentine`s Day. I cut three layers of some of the embellishment dies from the secret slider card set and stuck them together and adhered them to the plaque. I added a paper flower I had made buttons, lace and berries. The plaque was painted and I added some bubble gum spray. The textured word stamps were used to add additional texture. The whole plaque was given a coat of modge podge to protect it.

This card was made using the decorative floral pop up box dies by Tattered Lace. I used the texture word stamps from Rare Earth to give some card I already had some extra texture. The accessories were cut from some of my backgrounds I had created using the oxide inks and textured word stamps. I used acetate to give height to some of the flowers when attaching them to the card. Love was cut from  Tattered lace die.

I used some off -cuts form the background papers I had created to make this card. The flowers were all from Tattered lace dies, as was the lovely sentiment.The buttons and twine give extra texture.

This card was made using the half scalloped circle dies for the bottom half of the card and oval dies for the top. I used the oxide background paper I had created with the word texture stamps. The dog and boots die is from Tattered Lace, which was coloured with alcohol inks. The sentiment was printed n the computer.

Packing a punch

The Fleurs Flower Forming Punches can be used to create small flowers or the centres of larger flowers. They are cleverly designed to neatly fit over the shapes of the punches, which you can print in a variety of colours to get a variegated effect.

I used the punch on shiny paper to make the centre of these mallow flowers. I used the flower and leaf punches to make the smaller flowers on the border.

I cut out some leaves using the punches and laminated them, together with some textured threads. I folded the laminated sheet to create a bag shape . The edges were sewn by hand and a button fastener was attached. The handles is a string of beads. The bag was then decorated with mallow flowers with the punched flower centres. A few leaves were added to finish the bag.

The Tattered Laced box dies were used for this box. The bottom of the box was cut from card and the lid is again laminated acetate with punched shapes and threads encased in the acetate. The papers used to make the flowers were decorated with oxide inks and cut with the Fleurs Flower Forming Foam mallow dies.

The wooden plaque was painted and texture paste added. Rare Earth stamps were used to decorate the plaque. The punches were used for the centre of the mallow flowers.

This tunnel card was made by cutting an aperture in the card and using the spring frame cut twice and positioned in different places to create depth. The flower punches were used to make the flowers at the front of the card.

More bunnies....

My rabbit family is growing....
I have made more felt rabbits.

The rabbits are easy to make when using the dies to cut the felt shapes.

I then used my Tattered Lace Tiny Tubs dies to make the pugs.

The numbers of the dies I used are:

Head no. 7

Body no. 16

Muzzle no. 40

Ears no. 25

Eye shadow no.52

Eyes no. 42

Tail no. 58

Nose no 2

Legs - I used the legs from the rabbit but cut off about 1cm 

I attached a brooch back for this pug.

Tattered Lace Deep Dish Bunny

I have been trying out the deep dish bunny dies and found they are very versatile. I started out by making basic rabbits and added pop poms as paws.

I then decided I wanted rabbits with more character... Again I used pom poms for their paws.

I used felt circles for their cheeks and ovals for their eyes and gave them a few whiskers.

I added a pink bow to the tail. I made the legs so they can move by just threading the cotton through the limbs and the body in the same place several times.

I then tried making it as a mouse, using two circles for ears.

I used a piece of faux leather for the tail.

Here are the three different characters I have made so far. I am sure there are more possibilities.  A dog might be next. However at the moment I want to make more bunnies ready for Easter.

Pebeo mixed media brooches

The Pebeo mixed media paints are great fun to work with and give amazing effects. Prisme paint gives a honeycomb effect and Fantasy moon gives textured and marbled effects. Mixing them together gives even more depth and texture.

I made these brooches by cutting shapes with my die cutters. I layered them up to make them stronger. I then added Gesso to stop the paint being absorbed into the card. I added a layer of Pebeo vitrail glass paint then dropped the Prisme and Fantasy Moon paint. I put glossy accents over some of the brooches to give greater depth and for protection.

If using several colours I found it is best to let one colour dry before adding another one.

 Mixing the colours gives a lovely marbled effect.

You need to ensure the brooch is on a flat surface when you leave it to dry.

I used a wooden cocktail stick to mix the colours. You can watch the paint colours reacting with each other. it is amazing to see.

The photos don`t do justice to the amazing effects you get.

The paints give an opaque, textured and pearl finish.

I painted the edges and the backs of the brooches black and sealed with modge podge.

There was no brown paint but dipped orange onto red vtrail glass paint to get this effect.

I used the prisme paint on top of the white porcelain paint. for the snowman`s body.

Peterborough Live

I am really looking forward to  Peterborough Live. It`s lovely to meet so many crafters and see the latest ideas and trends in crafting. There`s always so much to do. Free workshops and demonstrations to watch and Create and Craft have live broadcasts during the show. I always get really inspired when I go to these event and arrive home with my head buzzing with ideas of things I want to try.
If you are interested in going please email me at festus173@btinternet.com for the chance of some free tickets.

Rare Earth Motivational Stamps

The new Rare Earth Motivational stamps have inspiring sentiments and can be used in soooo many ways. I have used them on cards and a bag but they could be used for scrapbooks, mixed media pictures, tags and could be stamped onto fabric. So many possibilities. I like the way the designs incorporate pictures. Although the stamps are quite big they stamp clearly and easily.

I used the Tattered Lace  Trifold dies to create this card. I used Pitch Black rare Earth ink to stamp onto a sky background paper. I stamped some trees onto white to create a small scene in the left hand corner. Stars were suspended on fishing line to hang in the left hand corner and a border of stars was added to the right side of the card. I thinks it would make a good leaving card or encourage somebody who wants to move forward in some way.

The design was stamped onto a background made with distress and oxide inks. The left-over paper was used to make the flower so it matched the card. The flowery paper is from one of the Tattered Lace magazines. I can think of a few people I could send a card like this to.

If you have been reading my blog you know I love bags. I think it is lovely to personalise them for the recipient. I makes the gift more meaningful.

I stamped onto craft card and blended the edges with distress inks. The stars are gems on wood on cork. I used washi tape to decorate the handles of the bag. I love washi tape. It has so many uses.

I went a bit crazy on this card. I just wanted it to be bright and cheerful. I used inks to create the background. It was stamped with pitch black ink. The sun stamps is from Tatty Twinkles and the foliage is from a Tattered Lace die. The butterflies are cut from foil.

I stamped onto one of the Tattered Lace stitched lace tags and put it in a pocket . I attached string and a wooden flower to give it more interest. The same kind of string was attached to the tag.

I love the Tattered Lace Trifold dies so so much. I think they make really special cards. I used some of the dies from the set to create the borders and corners.  I added some bunting from the Tattered Lace Stage card set. Adding a contrasting colour to different sides of the car adds more interest.

I used one of the Rare Earth flower stamps to stamp the message on. I think it enhances the message of the stamp. The guitars, shooting stars and the words were all from My Craft Studio. I used the oval shutter dies from Tattered Lace to create the shape.

I used the stitched lace tag dies by Tattered Lace to make this tag card. The tags can be mat and layered onto each other. I hung some wool, wooden flowers and lace from the top right hand corner. I stamped onto water-colour card that I distressed with inks. I like the message. It encourages you to keep going even when the situation you are in may be tough.