ATC Coins

ATC coins appear to be the latest fun trend in crafting, so I thought I would try my hand at creating some. ATC coins apparently need to be sized at 2.5 inches, and from I have seen they are always flat with no embellishments! Of course no embellishments for me is very difficul.  I decided to heat emboss all of the stamps I would be using, so the coins would not be completely flat.

I used Tando Creative coins, but they could also be cut to size on a die cutting machine if you have one, or you can find 2.5 circle template on google to print out. I decided to begin by adding a layer of gesso onto my 2.5 inch coin.The gesso gives a good base for paints or inks.

For the background I used Tim Holtz Distress Oxides, which I dabbed onto my splodge mat and then spritzed with water

I laid my coin into the resulting inky puddles, until I was happy with the look. It is best to leave the ink to dry a little before dipping again so the colours don’t become muddy. It is difficult to wait....  

I used a mixture of small stamps to heat emboss onto my coins. The sentiments are by Docrafts  and the lovely little images are by Clarity Stamps.

I enjoyed this new to me project, and I think I will be making some more in the future. 

Thank you for stopping by today xx

Hang In There Art Journal Cover

Hello how are you today, well I hope. I have nearly completed my latest art journal, this is my first one made by Jane Davenport. I love all  of her products, although I don’t have many. I didn’t cover my book before I started and of course I soon realised it was getting  very inky, painty spalshy!

Here is the messy cover!

I don’t have much space to keep my journals, and I knew it would need to be squashed in somewhere so the cover had to be one flat layer only. I began by applying two coats of gesso.  I used a Daler Rowney gesso as it was on offer in Hobbycraft, and it works very well even though it is a bit thinner than some of them.  I dabbed on some blue and pink acrylic paints with a sponge.I love the girl on a swing stencil by Clarity Stamps, which I used  with some black paint. I heat embossed all of the flowers which are by Lavinia Stamps. The art in my journal represents my struggles so I thought the “Hang In There” sentiment from a Phyliss Harris Stamp kit was very fitting! 

Thank you for stopping by, and hang in there friends!

I would like to enter this into the following challenges.

Vintage Journey Stencil It

Stamps and Stencils Do Judge A Book By It’s Cover

That’s Crafty Summers Day 

Spring Joy

Well it looks like Spring might have actually arrived - at last ! I have been playing with my new Distress oxides, and after experimenting I ended up with a colourful background for this Spring Joy scene. 

I love Hares I don’t think I have ever actually seen one in the wild in person, but I adore them. I sat this darling hare by Hobbyart in his meadow, and stamped and fussy cut a flower stamp to keep him company. I love using dried flowers and items from nature, so of course they made up the meadow too. 

Some Hares were so full of Joy they jumped into the air over the meadow! I stamped my hares by Clarity Stamps which have always been a favourite of mine, but then when Lavinia Stamps released some similar hare stamps, I had to get them too! I wonder if there are any hare stamps I don’t have... no, no don’t tell me ... : )

 I stamped my assortment of hare stamps in a curve over the main hare, they look like they are having lots of fun! 

By the time I was finished it was much too large for a card, so I punched some holes in the top and hung it up with some pink raffia.

Thank you for visiting the hares today, have a lovely day.

I would like to enter  Spring Joy into the following challenges

Craft Stamper Take It Make It 

Stamps and Stencils In The Meadow 

Fashionable Stamping Animals

Crafty Nomad Bunny Hop

My visit to the Alexandra Palace Craft Show

I met lovely Jenny from Hobbyart

Unfortunately it was pouring with rain yesterday and was very misty, so Alexandra Palace did not have its usual magnificent views over London. It it was wonderful to meet so many lovely people. I took lots of photos to share.

A collection of beautiful cards by the talented Hobbyart Design Team.

The talented Barbara Gray giving a lovely little demo.

Some lovely cards by Inkylicous, I am sure I spotted my friend Sandra’s stunning work there.

Some gorgeous Alice in Wonderland makes from Dolly Dimples.

I was really looking forward to the Anna Marie stall, but sadly they had sold out of a lot of things the day before.

My goodies - a stamp by Hobbyart, and one from Clarity, a stencil too all with nature themes. A beautiful unique fairy stamp from Inkylicius. I also found some Distress Oxides at a good price! I found Tim Holtz Resist Spray, which I have had my eye on for a while.

 Last but not least I treated myself to a gorgeous die of children holding hands, and one of them holding a teddy bear ahhh.I used to work in a playgroup for under fives years ago before the coma and before I became very ill and disabled.

I am looking forward to playing with my goodies. Sad Indigoblu were not there, but they are very busy with their popular Dirty Weekend workshops. I will be receiving their new stamps to work with soon.Lots of crafting ahead.

Thank you for visiting, wishing you a happy crafty week xx

Getting the tree tag

Just a simple tag today, which I have made for my little December Daily Album.I left a white Snowy space at the bottom of the tag to add a date stamp on the day we select and bring our tree home.I used  Watercolours to create the background and also to colour the Clarity Stamp car. I watered down some white acrylic paint for my snow.

I would like to enter this into the Happy LittleStampers  Watercolour Challenge Option Tags

Thank you so much for visiting.

Ally Pally Craft Show

I decided to brave a visit to the Ally Pally Craft Show today. It was very, very busy So we didn't stay long, as I am not too well.

Sadly Indigoblu were not there this time : (

I discovered two new (to me) companies with lovely products 

I always like to use natural elements in my projects so I was delighted to discover Anna Marie Designs. They have the most gorgeous natural products and stunning creations! 

As I am an Alice fan it was nice to find some original and different Alice designs at Dolly Dimple Crafts

Clarity Stampswere very busy and I tried to watch Barbara Gray give a demo, I couldn't see much but the finished result was wonderful!

Jenny Maye was there with Hobbyart too, with lovely projects by the Design Team. 

 

Lovely Cards by Lavinia Stamps

I am finally seeing the surgeon next week.I hope he will say that something will  be done to unblock my artery.I am trying to do a little crafting each day.

Yesterday at Ally Pally

 

I almost did not go to Ally Pally as I wasn't very well in the night, but I was determined! It was a wonderful  day and turned out to be a lovely sunny day here in London too!

 

I had a lovely time watching Tracey of Lavinia Stamps  demonstrating her gorgeous stamps. It was so nice chatting to her about all things fairy and magic! It's nice to escape into a magical world far away from reality sometimes : ) I treated myself to a few more stamps!

 

Look at the gorgeous work of the Design Team!!

 

 

I also met Barbara Gray from Clarity Stamps who was so lovely.

 

She even gave me this picture she had just made in her demo! Thank you!

 

I eventually found the wonderful Indigoblu! I am annoyed with myself as I did not take a photo of Kay's wonderful face canvases. I was too busy admiring them ! Be sure to stop by the Indigoblu's Facebook page as there are very, very generous competitions happening !

 

Lovely large pink case, and how do you store your clear stamps?

I found this gorgeous large pencil case, and my stencils fit in it perfectly. I especially love the deer on it and of course it's pink, my favourite colour!

Now if only storing all my clear stamps was as easy. I have the made for purpose stamp holders, you know the TIm Holtz one and also a papermania one. But they don't seem to be working out for me. You have to reach into the plastic pockets and pull out the acetate which the stamps are stored on and then many of them slip off, or get caught. I always seem to be losing a stamp, and of course this induces great panic when I lose one of my Clarity stamps!

How do you store your clear stamps? I would love to know...