Dragons Dream TIO – Misty Autumn Glaze

This fortnight the recipe for the tag challenge at Dragons Dream Tag It On is:  “Mica/Ink Mists, Autumn Colours, Glaze”

Oohhh! I was looking forward to a play with this one!

Using the Cameo, I cut a series of Oak Leaves and a few Acorns from a natural cardstock.  I stamped the leaves then sprayed the with various home-made DI sprays that have mica powder in them.  I sprayed the base tag in the same way before using the same stamp with Dried Marigold DI.  I crumpled the leaves while they were still wet for added texture and to try and simulate fallen leaves in the Autumn.  I layered the acorns, coloured them with DI pens and added dimensional glaze to the lower part.  Then I “dripped” the glaze here and there to look like drops of moisture.  I topped it off with a resin frame that I made using clear resin and fine glitter.

Here is a closeup that shows the detail a little bit better.

Thanks for popping by to see what I have been up to.  I love to read your comments so if you feel inclined to say a word or two – please do.

Cheers, Esther.  xoxo

A Layout, at last!

I really do not get enough new photo’s to do all the layouts I have in my head!  Not fair!

I also seldom do classes.  I live for the Scrapbook Dreams retreat each year as that’s about my only chance to get together with other scrapbookers. It can be quite a lonely hobby sometimes.

However – in saying that, I saw a chance at the Wellington paper Arts show a couple of weeks ago to take a layout class.  The class was all about using Washi Tape and was taught by Beverley from Craft House, here in Wellington.  I have been slow on the Washi Tape uptake so I was looking forward to it.

The photo’s are nearly 2 years old and are actually screen shots taken from a TV1 news item about a Memorial Service for the 29 Pike River Miners who lost their lives in the disaster in November 2010.

My daughter was working at the Waihi Gold Mine during the University holiday at the time and was captured at the service by the TV camera.  Such emotional and poignant images, I felt, and I have been wanting to scrap them ever since.

Cheers, Esther

Dragons Dream TIO – In a Heartbeat

This fortnight there is another awesome recipe to follow over at Dragons Dream Tag It On – pop on over there to check out the work of the Design Team and the other followers who add their links at the end of the post.

So … In a Heartbeat … a beating heart, a weathered timepiece and a bit of grunge.

I got out all my timepiece stamps and was quite surprised at how many I had.  I didn’t even use them all!

I inked up the background using faded Jean, Victorian Velvet and Bundled Sage distress inks. I didn’t use a stamp block this time, just rolled the stamps onto the tag so that the images were not too crisp (thanks for that tip Tim).

I designed the Grunge Heart Clock on my Silhouette software and am really quite chuffed with myself.  Hopefully,you will be able to grab this file from here, if you would like it.

I have also been playing a lot with silicone moulds and resins/colouring (as opposed to hot glue) and the grungy rose was a happy accidental outcome.

Thanks for taking a peep.

Cheers, Esther

 

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2012 - September

What cool tag this month!  I had to do the comprise thing again – as usual.  I only have some very thin metal ducting tape and was thinking it would be useless for making the indentations if I just put it on cardstock.  I thought about it a bit more and finally came up with the idea of cutting a tag from thin foam and covering that with the tape.  Am I a genius, or what?!
Well . . sort of.  It worked to a certain extent but you can judge for yourself.

Hmm . . .
Moving right along then.  I used my trusty Silhouette Cameo to cut the typewriter, number and cogs and used part of a book page behind the typewriter, adhered the pen nib and in place of the little lightbulb, I used an tiny bottle with some black micro beads in it.  I didn’t bother with a type charm because I felt it was getting a bit too cluttered at the top and I completely forgot about the filmstrip ribbon! Oh, well..
All in all, I am pretty happy with it.  Bring on October!
Cheers
Esther

TIO #123 – Art for Arts’ Sake

This fortnight’s tag at Dragons Dream Tag It On is based on the “recipe” of: A Handmade Background, An Interesting Character and a Quirky Twist.

I had the usual thoughts of OMG etc but came up with this tag:

I had another play with alcohol inks and compressed air – pretty cool fun!  I found a pattern for an art doll on the internet and traced it in my Silhouette Software.  I cut the body parts from 2 different patterned cardstocks and stamped the dress onto a book page.  I love that the limbs move.  I added some cardstock leaves, a punched crown and a ticket for fun.

I hope you like it.

Cheers

Esther

Ink Stains Charm Swap

A couple of months ago, the very talented Roni from Ink Stains called for interested crafters to take part in a charm swap.

I thought (just quietly) “I would so love to do this!!!”  So, I did!  Yay for me.

Being in New Zealand, we sometimes feel so removed from the “real world” of scrapping and scrap-related artists.  Well, I do anyway.  Having a little piece of art from the other side of the world is actually a really big deal.

The brief for Roni’s general charm swap was to create 5 charms the same or at least similar.  Send them off to her and receive not only 5 different charms in return but also a pin to hang them on.

These are the charms I sent off to the USA in June.

I used tiny bottles, beads and charms and re-purposed costume jewellery.  I filled each bottle with a co-ordinating glitter.  I was pretty chuffed with them to honest.

I was thrilled to bits today when I received my return charms in the letterbox!!  I admit that I squealed out loud, quickly looking around to see who might have observed me acting so strangely at the front gate, lol.

I ripped into the parcel (carefully preserving the very cool postage stamps for a future purpose) and fond the most gorgeous goodies inside.

Oh, the talent and time that has gone into the making of these is simply a treasure in itself!  Thank you so much to creators of my charms (I am wearing my pins as I type).  To have such an amazing individual piece of art jewellery give me a real buzz.

I will be in for Roni’s next charm, without a doubt.  Lets see some more followers of Ink Stains from Down-Under!

Dragons Dream TIO #122 – A Nightmare

I lieu of a dream this fortnight, we have a Nightmare over at Dragons Dream Tag It On.  Check out what the DT have done – Impressive!

The inspiration was to include: Murder of the Crows, a Blue Moon and a Chill Wind and , as usual, to include at least one “real” stamp.  I’m really going to have to invest in some scary/Halloween stamps!  It would have been so much easier.

The stone arch is a Magnolia stamp,the vine (stamped in both Archival Jet Black and Forest Moss DI).  The crow is one of  Tim Holtz ones, as are the bids flying across the Moon.  I also stamped the crow on shrink plastic to make a charm.

I’m not sure that macabre is my style but it might grow on me, lol.

Thanks for taking a peek, I always appreciate your comments.

Esther xoxo