It's all about Texture at A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone - it's time for another challenge at A Vintage Journey and our host this time, Jenny, has asked us to 'Get Some Texture'. As usual it is all about being Tim Holtz inspired - whether it's the techniques or products. It's both for me today - with the focus on the techniques he uses for creating texture.

I produced a set of tags all using slightly different texture creating techniques - although I started each of them with a background stamp, embossed with white embossing powder. On the left it is a flourish, the centre a blueprint stamp and on the right the harlequins (mostly hidden now).

Tag 1:
For this tag I used one of Tim's debossing folders - I found it quite difficult to only get the ink on the area to be debossed so I used the other technique he offers us of highlighting the debossed area afterwards with distress markers. Anyone else having trouble with this? - maybe my ink pads are too juicy but I get ink on areas other that the text when using the pad!

Also on this tag I created my textured butterflies by embossing some foil tape sheets which were then highlighted with black paint. (The butterfly embossing folder is from my stash - I then cut out the butterflies.) Some stamping, inking and an industrial border finished this one.

Tag 2:

My second tag used embossing paste through Tims cargo layering stencil which I then highlighted with various inks. I also added part of a failed tag - paste through the burlap layering stencil which I tore pieces off and added to this tag to create additional texture. 

Salvage stickers and the sentiment were then added. I like this one the best!

Tag 3:

The final tag used a texture fade - sorry can't remember what it is called. Distress inks were added to highlight the embossed areas.









I also added some cogs from my stash on this one. I often add embossing powder to my cogs (eg ranger antiquities) to create texture which I then ink over or use gilding wax.

I added a game spinner and some stamped images on this one too. As the stamped images were to be placed over textured surfaces they were cut out first of course - adding increased dimension.




So texture fades, embossing powder, layering stencils, debossing folders and foil tape sheets - lots of Tim texture! There were actually five made - so I may share the others later.

Don't forget to visit A Vintage Journey to see the amazing creations of the other Creative Guides.

Thanks for looking.

Nikki

xxx

Feminine and Fancy at Try it on Tuesday

The latest challenge at Try it on Tuesday is Feminine and Fancy! Not my natural style - but I seem to have gone all pink again!

I altered this chipboard heart with acrylic paints - using a brayer to get that slightly uneven, shabby effect. the ladies face is an Inkylicious stamp and the cracks and reeds are from a Sheena Douglas set - all stamped in archival. 

I then added some Ranger Antiquities weathered white embossing powder around the edges and decorated with various flowers and butterflies from my stash. There is even some glitter!

Do pop over to the main blog to see some great inspiration from my fellow Design team members. 

 

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I would like to enter:

Simon Says Stamp - Artsy stamp

Anything but a card - mini challenge - Hang It

Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes

Stampin for the Weekend - For the Girls

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Have a lovely day and thanks for looking.

Nikki

xxx

All things bright and beautiful

More painty play - it started as just the tag with stencils and acrylics and inks but then decided to mount on some mountboard. It's very bright!

I would like to enter into:

A Sprinkle of Imagination - Colour Challenge

Paper Artsy- Kate's use of paint and colour

Pan Pastel UK - Floral challenge

Thanks for looking - lets hope the next Bank holiday in the UK is a little brighter too!

Nikki

xxx

Fruit Punch for the Journey

Am falling in love with Tim Holtz papers! Here is a quick card I made using a piece. Added a few TH stamped elements - tyre track, fuel gauge, car and sentiment from various TH stamp sets - plus some industrial and salvage stickers. Edged some of the elements with rust antiquities embossing powder.

I will join the food and drink party over at Sugar Creek Hollow!
and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - where the theme is Travel / Vacation

Enjoy your Sunday

Nikki

xx

Steampunk - ish

I started creating some texture on 4 chipboard coasters with very little idea where it was going and this is where I ended up, the other 3 are still Work in Progress! I wanted to used some bolts, washers and screws (raided the garage) and also added lots of gilding wax to create metallic feel. Couldnt resist adding the little butterfly (alcohol ink on foil tape sheet) to brighten it up a little! Here are some close ups:

I will throw this in at:

SanDee and amelie's Steampunk challenge - Heavy Metal

Craft Hoarders Anonymous - Use Metal or Glass

Tando Creative - Use a Key

Stampotique - 148 - Steampunk

Thanks for looking

Nikki 

xxx

Glitter Tag

Just a quicky - been playing with distress glitter...... mmmm WIP I think!

Another one for:

CC3 - Challenge 2

Everybody Art challenge- Ticket

Sparkle n Sprinkle - May

Nikki xx

Dylusions and Stencilling

Something a little different today! I bought some Dylusions sprays a while back and decided to have a play with some backgrounds. Not sure this is how they are supposed to be used - but going on a workshop soon with Brenda Brown / Country View Crafts - so hopefully my technique will improve!!!

Also wanted to have a play with a relatively new Crafters Workshop stencil - so here is my colourful tag.

I would like to tag along with:

Country View Crafts Challenge - Nature's Glory

Simon Says Stamp Monday - Botanical

Eclectic Paperie's - EPlay - Get Stenciled

The Artistic Stamper - In the Garden

Make my Monday - Nature

Paper Artsy - Weekly Challenge

Thanks for looking

Nikki

xx

Precious Moments

Having a play with distress glitter and kraft card. The great thing about the card is its pretty sturdy - after inking and stamping I then sanded it to get a less consistent colour and the illusion of texture. Embellished with remnant rubs, industrial stickers, twine and seam binding.

Would like to play along at:

CC3 - Challenge 2 - Distress Glitter

Thats Crafty - Kraft Card

Hoarders Anonymous - Use Twine, ribbon etc

Simon Says Stamp - Letter M - It's Moments

Thanks for looking

Nikki xx

All About Him for 'A Vintage Journey'

It's time for a new challenge at A Vintage Journey - the subject this time is 'All About Him'. I went to work with a couple of Tim's stamp sets; Roadtrip and Warehouse District.
I have also added other bits and piece's; salvage stickers, philosophy tag, alpha chips etc.

I adore that tyre track and used it on the backing paper, in the background of the main image and as the background for the Roadtrip text.

Tyre stamped in multicolour and roadtrip stamped and heat embossed over the top.

Background shadow stamping with tyre and compass

Philosophy tag coloured with DP and attached to twine.

There are lots more ideas from the team over at A Vintage Journey - don't forget to tell us how your project is Tim inspired.

I would like to play along at:

Left of Center - Card for a Male

Nikki xx

It's in the Mail for Try it on Tuesday

I have joined the Try it on Tuesday Design Team - a great fortnightly challenge blog. The topic for the forthcoming two weeks is 'It's in the Mail' - lots of scope for creativity here ...mail art, envelopes, postcards etc. Hop over to the blog to see lots more ideas.

I went for something quite clean and simple for me, an envelope and little gift tag I made, both stamped with script and distressed the edges to give a vintage feel. A few little flowers and a sentiment.

I would like to enter:
Artful Time - Mail Art

Have a great day
Nikki
xx

Saturday night in with Tim Holtz - May Tag

Aghh I know I am getting both old and craft obsessed when a Saturday night in with Tim Holtz is a joy! Well when I say Tim I mean his blog and videos of course.

So this is my first attempt at one of Tim's tags - here is his May tag. Click the image to go to his blog.

I would also like to join the fun at:

Frilly and Funkie - Words, Words, Words

A few more piccies of mine:

Crackle paint butterflies

Playing with metal foil

Debossed text

Thanks for looking

Nikki

xx

A beautiful world..

My first little W Book - thanks to video instructions from Tim Holtz and some covering and binding tips off Astrid Maclean's blog!

I think I may have learned as many don'ts as do's in the project and it probably took me longer than it should, but it was fun.

The theme throughout the book is nature - featuring butterflies (of course), birds, trees, flowers etc. So I would like to enter Country View Challenges - Nature's Glory and That's Crafty - Spring is in the Air.

I have used heaps of bits I had left over from other projects or from 'just trying things out' - so I would also like to enter Our Creative Corners - Love those Leftovers.

Lots of photos - sorry for some of the watermarks across the middle of the image, was trying some different software and didn't realise what had happened until I had deleted the original image files!

The textured front cover with crackled butterflies:

 My inside pages:

The tags:

 The back cover :

 My little Book:

Have a lovely weekend.
Nikki xx

Vintage Fashion

I wanted to have a play with chipboard! I cut 4 pieces (only used 2 so far) - each around 12 x 8cm - and started decorating them with TH papers, stickers, stamped images, ribbon, flowers, lace, buttons etc. Lots of distressing and inking too!

I need to plan how I am going to join them together in advance next time - this works, but not brilliantly....

(The back is covered in paper, forgot to photo!)

I would like to share with:
Frilly and Funkie - On the Runway - Sewing and / or Fashion 
Sugar Creek Hollow - Tic Tac Toe (I have used - lace, ribbon, pearls)
Paper Artsy - inspired by Liesbeth's altered sewing tin