compendium of curiosities challenge 16

Ooh, I only just got this finished in time. Shush don't tell I was up to silly o'clock on a school night crafting ;)

As it is late this will be a quick post, I only have seven hours left to enter the challenge hosted by the most talented Linda Ledbetter and lots of inspiration from the Curiosity Crew.

This challenge is sponsored by the fab Funky Junkie Boutique, lots of lovelies to browse through so pop over and treat yourself to a little christmas prezzie.

This challenge is all about layering stencils and embossing.  Hopefully you have Tim Holtz book by now, if not what are you thinking ;) get it on your Christmas list!!!

I love love love this technique, I layered and embossed the outside, the inside and even that gorgeous deer die cut... too much maybe but oh what fun I had

I love layering and embossing and inking and layering....

I also used some texture paste through the rays stencil

I made a mask of the deer die cut to try to get a misty mystical snowy background through tho fading dots stencil which I used here to represent snow

I die cut 4 deer and sandwiched the string between double layers,  I used the burlap stencil, paint in vintage photo and a distress ink or four... oh and of course embossing powder.  I can feel a deer family coming to stay I love this little guy

I used some paper from Craftwork cards pad on kraft paper which I embossed with the burlap stencil and inked

The burlap stencil is my fav for textured backgrounds

Thanks for looking :)

I made this for the compendium of curiosities challenge 16

my first DT piece _ Tim Holtz Christmas Carol stamp card

I am so excited to be sharing my first piece that I created for Eclectic Ellapu's  design team.

 I am a pink lady over there and our theme is "traditional Christmas"  I am really looking forward to looking at your creations so please pop along and enter your own pieces.  If you are not a traditional type of crafter than the purple team are doing "anything but a card" the options are endless and both teams inspirational creations are well worth a peak.

My first DT piece :)

I looked through my stamps and decided I wanted to use one of my favourite christmas stamps, Tim Holtz's Reindeer Games stamp.  I love the texture you can achieve with thin one it embosses beautifully for such a detailed design.  I dont have  a huge collection of embossing powders and aalthoughI had tinsel powder in gold and red I don't have a green.  No problems though I just used clear embossing powder that I had mixed with a little glitter powder over pine needles distress ink and voila.

DoDon'tave the right embossing powder clour, no problem just use and ink and clear embossing powder.

I wanted the background to be kinda plain as my main focus is the stamp, but not too plain ;)  I used an ebossalicious folder and brought the pattern out with vintage photo distress ink.  It was a little too dark so i sponged some picket fence paint over and when dried sanded back a little.

Remember there is never a crafty addition that cant be adapted if you go a little heavy, picket fence is great for toning down an over eager hand :)

Although I was really pleased with the stamps on the background it felt a little austere.  I layered some hessian, green ribbon (a bargain at £1 a roll from the range) and some thin crochet trim and placed the stamps over this.  They looked a little lost so I mat and layered the stamps on the same card as the background, glitter card in gold and a gorgeous holly patterned paper from one of my many craftwork Cards pads.  I cut a doily into bits and popped it peeking out of the two end and above the middle stamp.

If your focal image looks a little lost, mat and layering can really help bring your eye where you want it too.

I wanted some kind of pretty embellishments at the top, I had in mind the traditional swags we place over fire places and up banisters.  I made a long chain of jump rings, threaded some ribbon through every third ring and then hung some gorgeous christmas stockings and bells.

I just love brass embellishments,  I have a large range in my collection (magpie) and buy most from Ebay :)

I finished my card with some docraft red sticky glitter dots and a bow i made by wrapping some twine in natural and red.

Bows don't have to be made with ribbon :)

I had a blast making this card and am so thankful to have made the DT over at Eclectic Ellapu. I am honored to be showing my creations alongside the lovely and Uber talented ladies.  Pop over and see for yourself how inspirational their makes are.

Merry Christmas x

I am entering this card in the following challenge: Outlaws Twisted Thursday
Simon says stamp Monday challenge
And Hels Sheridans Ink on my fingers Christmas challenge 

Upcycled Home Decor - Tim Holtz watercolor technique with some old stash bits

I created this as have been looking for a nice little something to hang on a wall in my bedroom that was calling out to me to be prettied up.  I was sorting through and reorganising my stamps, having watched a Jennifer McGuire vid and came across the lovely stamp set  that I bought ages ago and have been neglecting.  Im sorry but I really cant remember where I got it from but Graphic 45 Parfumerie Clear Stamp Set by Hampton Art has the bottle and small images. I raided my stash of cardboard and material and found some net and this is what I came up with.

I stuck 3 layers of cardboard together, covered with gesso.  The backing papers are from my stash, I inked them up with the same colours and used watered down gesso to mute them a bit.  I then covered loosely with the net and used pins to hold in place so I could manipulate it after the images were in place.

From the back, nearly as messy as my desk

 I use Tim Holtz watercolor technique from his compendium book 3, so easy, and distress inks victorian velvet, black soot, pickled raspberries and pumice stone to create my main images.

 I inked the edged of the images and mat and layered them using my "perfect layer tools", they make the job so much easier for me.

I coated all the images in glossy accents including the little circle.  I love how this really changed their look.  It was hard to pick up on camera but they look like enamel buttons.  Then onto embe;;ishment heaven.  The flowers were made but curling ribbon into circles.  I punched out some sma;; butterflies and raided my box of brass tone embellies.

I added lots of pearls and a special button I have been saving.  I chopped the back of the button off and sanded it so it would lie flat.

The chain under the Parfumerie sign was from a necklace that I had broken and kept because I (am a crafty hoarder) just know them odd little bits some would call rubbish are just waiting for a new home.

I am super chuffed with my new wall art and because I made it myself it matches my room perfectly :)

I am entering this into the following challenges

Altered Eclectics -Anything but a card anything goes
Flonz craft - Anything but a card
That Craft Place - Anything goes.

Thanks for taking dome crafty time out to have a look at my blog, please feel free to leave a quick message and then I can pop over to your place too

Tracey :)

OMG Eclectic Ellapu picked me!!!!

I am so so excited.  I applied to be on eclecticellapus design team not really thinking I had a chance but I have always thought you get nowhere if you don't try, and God bless them, the fantastically talented team have invited me to join them!!!!

Please pop over for a look and do enter the challenges, after all you get nowhere if you don't try :)

A card for my Bird loving Bro

My Brother is really into animals,  his latest addition to the family is a stunning falcon.  He also loves, motorbikes, cider and anything outdoors and messy.

I treated myself to the Pinflair rust it mediums and love them,  such messy fun and a fab result, it even feels like rust.

I didnt use the pinflair on the falcons I used crackle glaze, embossing powders and distress inks,  a bit of gilding wax and two grungy but fabulous falcons, even if I do say so myself ;)

Some really cool manly papers and embellishments came with the rust it kit and they gave me loads of choice for this card.

I popped in a couple of real feathers for some lush texture and used foam pads on the for you letters.I crackle glazed the garage sign and distressed the edges.

I have had these fab little tool split pins for ages, I ised the rust it to distress them as they were silver and am really chuffed with the look for this card.

I built a decoupage motorbike from the kit and highlighted some of the bike with glossy accents.

I squished some bottle tops with my embossing machine and added a greeting to one and a cider logo to the other,

I used a few more bits from the kit for the envelope and job done.

I am entering this card in the following comps
 Eclectic Ellapu's "texture"
Simply Create Too "lots of orange or Halloween"
And over at the Outlawz for the October challenge and the Friday colour challenge.

Gorjuss Glitter is a girls best friend.... ;)

I had great fun making this card for my 9 year old niece.

I used lots of glitter and metallic paper, lovely Gorjuss die cuts and stamps and the awesome X-cut build a scene dies.

I love using the build a scene dies but so far have only used browns and greens for the forest set.  For my niece I was inspired by the Gorjuss flying horse die cut and thought using girly colours in glitter and metallic papers would make a more magical dreamy landscape.  I am chuffed with how different this die set looks using less expected colours and  am looking forward to playing around with other sets and colours too.

On the inside I made a cute little pull up surprise, just to make sure she knows I love her loads!

I used an old block stamp I have and masked of the pics on it so I could just emboss the words.I surrounded this with cute critter stamps from the Gorjuss range using versamark and gold embossing powder.

I am entering this card in Craft for the Craic's latest challenge "something suitable for a child"
also Country View Challenges "Sparkle and Shine"

Mums Birthday Card using Craftwork Cards Vogue Collection and Tim holtz tattered rose border die

I haven't been here for ages as have been adjusting to being a working girl again and have to admit that for a while being Mum and working was all I had energy for.

Craftwork Cards Vogue Collection and Tim Holtz tattered rose border have been used

There is a fab new group on facebook called the Craftwork Cards Fan page, run by the awesome Natalie Reeves.  They have a competition this month that has an autumnal theme so I browsed through my stash and was inspired by the Vogue collection, peacocks and falling autumnal coloured flowers became my inspiration.

I used some real peacock feathers, fussy cut the large Pacock and used my ball tools and pinflair glue to get some shape to the peacock.

I added some gold and teal stikles to the feathers for a bit of bling

I decorated the sides with Craftwork Card ooh lala collection and added lots of flowers made using Tim Holtz tattered rose border

I mat and layered some cream cad that I ran through a butterfly embossing folder on some lush bronzy, gold paper I had in my stash.

Back of envelope

Front of envelope

I used the crafters companion enveloboxer to make a complimentary envelope.

I have entered this card in the Craftwork Card Competition
Eclectic Ellapu "Ladies Birthday" September challenge
Crafty Creations "Vintage" challenge

WARNING!!!

WARNING!!!!

I Received the email below,  IT IS NOT from paypal,  if you click the link to take you to the resolution centre it takes you to one that looks like paypal but does NOT have a secure link.  It has a form requesting all your detiails DO NOT fall for this x

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Back to work following long term illness - Fighting for reasonable adjustments when disabled

Morning all,

Just a quick post, will be going into work, to work not have a meeting, today for the first time since Oct 2013,

I had to fight to get my employers and some colleagues to understand that Fibromyalgia is a disability.  I may look "normal" on some days but that does not mean I am not in pain, totally fatigued and disabled.  There are many illness like this and sadly far too many people lacking in empathy and making noises from ignorance.

The Equality Act 2010 clearly states it is unlawful for employers to fail to make reasonable adjustments.  At the start off my Fibro journey I myself was unaware of my rights,  people had, still are, fighting to keep disabled people in work.  For this to keep improving we need to understand this law and then find the courage to fight to get equality.

It has not been easy, nor quick. Without my family I would be in bed, a given up ball of weepiness. There were many, many times I just wanted to cave, stop fighting the system. I was also fighting my body, mindset, acceptance of my new body and bloomin stubbornness, how many things can one person rail against ;)

You cant out-stubborn Fibro lol  I have accepted (most days) my disability but it took some time. My family and I have accepted my limitations and put in place coping strategies  but I refuse to accept being forced out of a job I love and to see the Law flouted.

I did complete my caseload, with the  reasonable adjustments in place during the school term 2012-13, I was told this was irrelevant to my boss.  To me it was very relevant yet  the reasonable adjustments were removed and following this I had a serious flare Sept 2013.  There is more to this story but for now I will just say that this is when I began to fight and find out about the Law regarding disabilities in work.

 I also want to make it easier for the next person who deserves and is entitled to be treated fairy in a similar situation but perhaps with a large loving family around them to offer support and the drive when mine had run out.
I am so nervous today, My functionality is most certainly not where is was before my flare but I am hoping I can increase it again with gradual steps.  I am not saying everyone with Fibro can or should work.  In all honesty I do not know if I will get back to my previous levels, however, I do believe we are entitled to be treated fairly and that we, and our employers, need to know disability rights and enforce them regardless of moany colleagues ;)

I know it it isnt easy but if you or someone you care for is in a similar situation take heart that there are people, agencies out there that can help.

If you want to chat please feel free to drop me a line.

Gentle Hugs x

A Birthday Card for my Bruv's partner an a good friend of mine - Girly and vintage looking

Mornign all,

This will be a photo heavy post, with fewer words (wahhay I hear you say) as the Fibrofunnies are in my fingers today ;)

Using the Craftwork Cards Paper Couture Kit that I picked up at a bargain over at Create and Craft, and it's on sale at the moment!!

I used ditress glitter in clear rock cany all over the manequin and distressed the edges using tattered rose ink.  Then I punched several circles from the lush paper, cut a slit and rolled into swirly cones.

 Lots of theses and some glossy accents and I had a skirt.  I put 3 pieces of candy from the kit to add some interest to the top of the mannequin.

I die cut the Happy Birthday words, covered in glossy accents, the next bit was a little time consuming as you have to write in the glossy stuff to maintain the words and add some height, then sprinkle liberally with distress glitter.

I used my x-cut and square template to remove a square from the centre of the card, used the x-cut again to cut a border of patterned paper from the kit, some plain black card and finally some acetate , in hindsight I wish I had used a more transparent acetate.  I distressed the edges of the patterned paper with my little scissors and inked the edges with tattered rose and then mounted them on each other.

Black Card First, then acetate and finally the patterned paper, then popped them over the hole in the front of the card and stuck down using cosmic shimmer.

I mounted the mannequin also on black and patterned paper.  I then stuck down the mannequin, Happy Birthday die cut and finally added some of the candi from the kit.  

Onto the inside

The kit comes with some really cute, bag shaped, mini cards.  I covered in paper, used tim holtz layering doily mask to add some holographic embossing powder on the right hand side. Mounted on the patterned paper left over from when I cut the border for the front.  I added some cream ric rac for trimming at the top, silver embossed the handle clasps and ruched some lace for my handle.

I added some patterned paper on the left side and distressed all aver using tattered rose and Victorian velvet ink.  a little more paper in the right side and a tag from the kit finishes off the surprise open bag greeting.

When I stood the card up the handbag kept opening and knocking the whole thing down lol, so I made a clasp using bakers twine and a pearl that i mounted on 3 foam pads.  Another happy accident that I thinks adds a really cute finishing touch :)

I had great fun making a really girly card, 

I  would like to enter it into the Rhedd and Rosie - anything goes competition

Paper take weekly - pearls and lace challenge

craftycreations challenge - Tic Tac Toe and I used circles, although I cut into them, ribbon - ric rac and lace and a die cut mannequin :)

Avenue613 challenge - Anything goes but optional twist is pink

Crafting at the weekend - Anything goes

thanks for looking, do pop along to the challenge sites I have mentioned as there is much inspiration to be found there.