White wedding............

I thought in the current weather situation across our country you might like to hear a happy story. My niece, Katie, married her sweetheart Rob on Sunday in a local church, but only just..........

She left her home in North Oxfordshire on Saturday bound for the hotel, got stuck on the A34 for 5 hours and she, bridesmaid and best man decided to walk across the fields. After an hour they were lost but luckily found a local couple in a village who lent them torches and maps as it was now getting dark. Eventually a farmer took them in his 4x4 across fields of snow to meet her Dad (my brother) who was out looking for them. All was well that ended well and she married Rob yesterday in -5 and 6" of snow. Outdoor photos were done very fast as the bride turned blue (well all brides need something blue don't they!)

We had a great party night and by the time we left for home it was -11............

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Salmon.

Locally the snow is causing a few issues, I can get to the shop but with the temperatures so low we are having  problems keeping ourselves warm so we are opening at 10am instead of 9.30 and closing around 1.30pm.

We are available online at all times so please do email if you have delivery questions etc.

Be careful out there and keep warm.

I Can Hear Music... Plus... A GIVEAWAY!

Morning Peeps,

I have been getting inky and messy with tags again and this one is actually going to be part of a giveaway which also includes a £15 Gift Certificate for The Stamp Attic and a bit of alterable stash candy from me. This giveaway is running alongside one for the Sunday Stamper challenge and you can enter your name both here and there, the more comments, the more entries! The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Sunday January 2nd 2011.




So, how I made the tag! This is a whole load of elements from Tim's 12 Tags this year and I just took all the bits and popped it all together, along with a bit of imagination from moi - of course LOL I made a resist around the edges of the tag by swooshing a Malted Milk Dabber (Jenni Bowlin) around the edges of the tag. Once this had dried, I blending Old Paper, Stormy Sky and Vintage Photo Distress Inks and used a dampened paper towel to remove the excess ink from the painted bit. I cut a Grungeboard Fence (Alterations die) and painted it Malted Milk and then coated with Rock Candy Cracklepaint... then I added some Picket Fence Distress Stickles and finally, blended some Vintage Photo Distress Ink over it to darken it a bit. Do you spy the Trim hiding beneath the fence? Tis Idea-ology Trim which I coloured with Chipped Sapphire Re-inker in a Mini Mister of water... pretty!



The deer was cut from Grungeboard using a Tim Holtz Alterations die (Reindeer Flight) and embossed with the music Texture Fade. The music stamp is from Tim Holtz Collection rubberstamps and was stamped in Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink. I stamped the tall pines using Pine Needles and Vintage Photo Distress Inks and added some Picket Fence Distress Stickles to them. The little deer was painted with more of the Malted Milk and then sanded and inked with Vintage Photo. I made little antlers for him using the legs of the other deer on the die. Finishing touches are the little message which is a Seasonal Sticker in a Memo Pin and some ribbons and Baubles. All of the products used are available from The Stamp Attic. Remember to leave a comment here if you would like to own this tag!

Thanks for looking! TTFN

Hels x

Tagged Birds

I have used the PaperArtsy Papers (Thorndon Hall) for my next DT piece and decided to make a tag accordion card.

I simply drew around one of Tim's tags onto the PaperArtsy paper to make my accordion.  The edges have been distressed using Tim's Paper Distresser and the stamped images are from PaperArtsy Hot Picks range, Birds and Flowers.  All the images have been stamped with Adirondack Currant, and in some areas I have used the brushless watercolour technique (simply spritzing the stamp with water).  The bird on the right hand side is the second stamping hence a paler colour and my middle bird has some old screws for legs.  The flower on my house has had the Chipped Enamel technique applied (as detailed in Tim's Compendium of Curiosities book, page 44).

 

I have also added some hand stitching to the stem of one of my flowers and some faux stitching using a Pitt Pen around the second flower.  Added Idea-ology completes this side of the tag.

On the reverse I have tried to keep it quite simple so that you can see the detail of the paper.  I have created a flower from the Hot Picks Flowers and added a DREAM addage ticket, added a bird and cage using the Caged Bird Die along with some Idea-ology and a simple stamped flower on the final side, again using the Hot Picks Flowers.

I like the fact that these papers co-ordinate with the stamp sets which gives a very co-ordinated feel to your artwork.

I have also created a co-ordinated tag.  The cage in the background was the APERTURE from die cutting the Caged Bird Die which I thought I would use rather than just discard.

Wishing you all a HAPPY CHRISTMAS and very BEST WISHES for THE NEW YEAR, Tracy Evans x x.

girls on film!

Stuck for a last minute Christmas gift?  Need something to do now you've finished your Christmas cards? [I know there's the odd one or two super, super organised people out there!!]

Well, here's an idea to play with....  Buy Tim's filmstrip die with the money you would have spent on a gift and fill it with photos of a memorable day eg skiing holiday, baby pics through the year, a special birthday...  Then give this project away as your pressie to that special someone.

I cut out two strips of glittery filmstrip, glued some tiny photos into each space on one filmstrip, then placed a strip of card (to cover the joins of the photos) down the back before gluing the second filmstrip on the back of the first.

I used a Coats cotton reel and two pieces of cardboard for my spool, but for those of you who don't have such things lying around the house, Wendy stocks a great selection of chipboard which includes spools from the great  Wendy Vecchi!  I painted my cardboard with white dabber paint then sprayed it with Stream colourwash whilst the paint was still wet - great texture :)  Lots of punched snowflakes, gems and a blue eye later (I rubbed it, oops!)  I have a beautiful gift :)

I take photos of my tree every year and whilst making this project thought it would be nice to make one each year with the date and the pics of my tree..so that's on the to do list for now :)

Meanwhile, the filmstrip ribbon die leaves beautiful rectangles of paper which are perfect for using on cards or  tags.

I layered mine with some 7 gypsies paper after punching a snowflake out of it.  The tag has been cuttlebugged and extra snowflakes and thread added.  I love playing with paper at this time of year, you can't get away with snowflakes in quite the same way in July!!  ;)

Poinsettia Wreath... by Hels Sheridan

Goodly morning folks... tis that time of year again - you know, when I do my level best to avoid making Christmas cards... this year is no different so instead of making cards, I decided to make a bit of festive home decor instead. This little wreath is just the perfect size for hanging on a door inside, measuring about 8" x 8"




I started by cutting a circle from mountboard - I drew round a big ribbon reel I have, but a plate or bowl will work just as well. Once this was cut out, I then drew round the top of my button tin, again, plates and bowls are good. I cut out the inside circle - using Tonic Studio's scissors for this job made light work of it because the scissors are so sharp and heavy duty. I used Chili Powder paint from the new Jenni Bowlin dabber range to colour the circle and then edged with Gold Dabber and although you can't really see it in the pics, I stamped a script all over the circle, again using Gold Dabber... just to fill in the gaps and make it pretty. The Poinsettia's are made from Paper Artsy stamped Grungepaper, coloured with Fired Brick and Peeled Paint Distress Inks and then covered with Fired Brick and Peeled Paint Distress Stickles to add some bling. I punched out some 2" circles from music paper and made these into cones so they could pop inbetween the poinsettia's and to add a finishing touch, I used some gold Organza for a bow and gently heated this with a heatgun, this makes the organza shrivell slightly giving it more shape.



For the hanging bit, I attached some Idea-ology chain to clips and popped these onto the frame - adding Maya Road chandelier beads to add that extra bit of bling. All of the stashy bits used today are available from THE STAMP ATTIC :O)) Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

Odds and Ends

Tim's 12 Days of Christmas Tags are amazing but we are selling out of some items very fast. I wanted to let you know that we have just received an order for the much sort after Odds and Ends stamps........

and the Paper Rosette Die along with Tattered Florals, Reindeer Flight and Townhouses..........

If you are wanting any items but are unsure of the stock status then please just email me, we reply almost instantly as at the minute I seem to be sat at the keyboard poised LOL

If you are not sure what I am on about then go here to see just what Mr Holtz is up to.....you will not be disappointed I can assure you.

Oh Christmas Tree...

Goodly morning to you! Tis that time again... yep, nearly Christmas... and very nearly time for me to finish making my cards... actually, that is all fabrication for I fear I will be still making them on the 24th LOL Anyways... I have made a card using those LUSH new Basic Grey Jovial papers.. I used the 6x6 pack and just cut a sheet slightly to fit onto my card and backed it with Bazzill cardstock.



The tree is made from Grungeboard which was stamped with the Tim Holtz Collection Christmas Tree in Peeled Paint Distress Ink and then embossed with Shabby Shutters Distress Embossing Powder. I gave it a quick blend with more Peeled Paint just to get rid of the grey bits and then wiped with a damp cloth to show the embossing again. The little deer is made from Grungeboard cut using the Reindeer Flight Alterations die, then was embossed on the wrong side with the Snowflake Texture Fade. I then swiped Malted Milk Dabber from the Jenni Bowlin range (these BTW are divine!) Then I sanded him, applied some Vintage Photo DI with a blending tool and then rubbed a damp paper towel over to show the painted area's again. I love how the paint has recessed into the snowflake shape!



The fence is cut from mountboard using the Picket Fence On The Edge die and coloured with Brushed Corduroy and Vintage Photo DI's and then smothered with Rock Candy Distress Stickles... these are FAB as they can be heated to dry them and they don't burn or bubble... which means that crafting with sparkles just got a whole lot quicker! The sentiment is a Tim Holtz Collection Mini and this was embossed with gold powder to add some more bling to the card. Finally, I distressed the edges of the card with Tim's Edge Distresser and added a bit of Gold Dabber around the edges to close them in. So... another card down, only seven hundred and 24 left to make LOL Thanks for looking... TTFN

Hels x

A PARLIAMENT OF OWLS?

Yes, weird as it is that is what a group of owls is called!

 This is a page in my small passport sized journal. The background is made with ADIRONDACK SPRAY INKS.........did you know there are
NEW COLOURS?

 The stamps are MEMORY BOX.......the owls in trees is WINTRY OWLS and the small birds with text is WORDS TO BIRDS COLLAGE
The circle trees are coloured using PITT PENS. 

The letters for the words are cut from THE RADIO TIMES......I like the ransom note look!

Sue Roddis

12 Tags of Christmas

If, during this cold and snowy week, you are tempted to give Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas a go, then you can find all the stash you might need on our website............

and you can see all the tags as they happen on Tim's Blog

some things are going out of stock very fast but we have more coming in everyday so don't despair if it says out of stock..........go ahead and order and we will get straight back to you with a stock update so you can either wait or cancel.............better to be safe than sorry eh?
Happy tagging.................

Countdown To Christmas

With Tim's Tissue Tape.

Hope you can make out the image above of Tim's Tidings Tape, it has snowflake images, baubles, postcard text etc and is wonderful for those Christmas makes.

I decided to make a canvas with mine.  I painted the canvas with Gesso and then added a thin layer of Terra and heated it until it bubbled.  I added two coats of Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber in Aqua with highlights of Mushroom.  For the baubles (Carved Ornaments Die)  I added tissue tape to Grungepaper and then die cut the baubles, which were then painted with the Aqua dabber and highlights of DI Broken China added.  To add definition I have added a Fragment to each bauble along with the decorative baubles from Tim's selection.  Tissue tape has also been added to the bottom of my canvas and again painted lightly with Aqua Paint Dabber.  I have also die cut a bird from Tim's Caged Bird die, once again covered with Tissue Tape.  To complete, I have added faux stitching with a Pitt Pen, BELIEVE from Wendy Vecchi Just Word Art stamps along with metal embellishments from Tim's Foliage selection.

I have also created a tag to co-ordinate with my canvas.  I have stamped Daniel's Hearts from Stampotiqe with a VersaMark pad and embossed with clear embossing powder.  DI Broken China has been applied over the top and again faux stitching has been added to the edges with a Pitt Pen.  I have decorated the Carved Ornament with Tim's Tissue Tape, added baubles as before and hand stitched around the edges with white thread.  A Styled Label has been cut from white shrink plastic and stamped with BELIEVE from Wendy Vecchi's Just Word Art stamps, the edges have been sponged with black ink. To complete, I have added a flower which has been created from The Artistic Stamper Flower Power Sheet and Tim's Seasonal Paper Stash.  Wherever you are, have a fabulous day, Tracy x x