Tag It On #137

So  it is the turn of the talented Trace to tempt us with the challenge for this fortnight at Dragon’s Dream Tag It On 
The recipe is : Green, die cuts and cogs

My green looks far more like grey in this photo, sadly.  I promise it is green though, lol

I started with a Vanilla Tag and covered it with a cog printed washi tape that had a cream/yellow background and brown cogs.  I thought that alcohol inks would the best to colour it with.  WRONG!  It look most of the print off but I just went with what I had left.

Through the Cuttlebug with a cog embossing folder and hey presto, not too shabby so far.

I have a massive bag of die cuts and odds and sods so I sat on the spare bed and spread them all far and wide to what was in there.  All the embellishments on tag were in that bag, hehehe.  The pen nibs had been stamped on acetate so I secured that to the Journal Tag.  The cogs and flower had all been cut on my Silhouette so there were my die cuts – ready and waiting.  I had stamped the flower parts with a crackle stamp prior to inking and assembling.

I am actually pretty pleased with this tag and I hope you like it too.

Why not go through your stash, make a tag to the recipe and join the fun at Dragons Dream Tag It On 

Cheers, Esther xoxo

Tag It On #136

This fortnight over at Dragon’s Dream Tag It On  May has set the recipe...”Orange....Purple....Butterflies...”

The only rule is that you must use at least one real stamp.

I dithered about a bit – not really knowing where to start on this one.  I just felt I wanted to do something other than blended distress inks.  I mean, I use that technique all the time and while I am by no means “over it” I just felt like doing something else for a change.

So I grabbed my new pastels, scribbled my heart out and blended with a water brush. I had used two stamps from Stamp It, that I have had for about 4 years, on to the tag before I started.

I used the Martha Stewart mould to make the butterflies using orange for the bodies and purple for the wings.  While one was still a bit soft, I pulled the wings up a bit for some extra dimension and really like the look of it.

I felt it needed something more so I added the zipper edge.  It probably needs to be stitched really but to be honest I couldn’t be bothered hauling the machine out.

So, there you have it.  Thanks for taking a look.

Esther x0x0

Self Portrait

I belong to a facebook group for NZ Project Life participants.  I have the album, I have the page protectors, I have yet to do anything with them!!  What is with that???

Anyway, there has been a bit of a challenge this past week to take a photo of yourself and use it in a layout or in Project Life.

I used the web-cam on my laptop to take some photos.  Huh! Not as easy as it sounds – not to get something half-decent anyway.  I took about 25 altogether and there are a few that are ok which is good because I need two for the Finnibair workshops that I am doing in March.

It has been so long since I have done an actual layout and I was a bit worried I had forgotten how (James laughed when I said that).

For the journaling, I used a Smash Ticket that came in a surprise RAK from Brenda and Carol.  Thanks girls – perfect!

Scary how often Mum comes into the equation, lol.

Cheers, Esther xoxo

Dragons Dream Tag It On–Night Riverbank

....Driftwood...Boats... and Insects....

What cool ingredients for this fortnight’s recipe over at Dragons Dream Tag It On – hop on over there, get some inspiration from the Design Team and play along too.

I love this boat stamp!  I don’t get to use it very often.  I coloured the boat/sand/grasses with water soluble pastels (Warehouse Stationery) and painted the main background with some beautiful shimmer water-colour paints I have.  The dragonfly was stamped twice onto acetate and layered for dimension.  I raided the grapevine (what’s left of it, lol) for the “driftwood” which is placed over some butterfly washi tape.

This tag has a lovely serene feel to it and I am very happy with the way it turned out considering I did it in the 20 minutes between Liam going to school and me going to work, lol

Thanks for taking a peek.

Esther xoxo

Dress To Impress

I missed last fortnight’s challenge at Dragon’s Dream Tag It On however, this time round its a different story.

Trace has set the recipe this time: A dress or dress form, an embossed impression and some bling.

I stamped the corset with embossing ink and brushed over it with chalks finishing it off with a layer of Dimensional Magic.  I made the skirt from one of those bags that fruit or onions or some such thing come in.  It was the netting that determined the colours really.

I covered the tag in printed tissue using matte medium and when it was dry I ran it through the cuttlebug.  I was a bit concerned that the impression couldn’t be seen but it popped once I added my sparkly ink sprays.

All that was needed now was the addition of some buttons, some bling and the ruler ribbon (from Typo) that I inked when I sprayed the tag.

Cheers, Esther  xoxo

Digital Scrapping Day

I had the chance to spend a day with 3 friends, playing and learning with photoshop.

Thanks Shell, Chris & Sheree!!!  I had a great time and just loved your company.

Esther xoxo

Welcome to 2013!

There were several “events” in 2012 that immediately come to mind.  In no particular order:

• My husband moved back home after 21 months apart
• My daughter graduated with a double degree
• My son started college and received a merit award for Japanese at Junior Prizegiving
• I took part in nearly every Dragons Dream Tag It On challenge (I think)
• My son developed seizures which we now have under control
• Members of my husbands extended family have passed away
• My daughter completed her first year of work as a Junior Geologist
• Our family cat sadly passed away too
• A good friend qualified as a Registered Nurse
• My best friend of all time celebrated a massive weight loss and fitness achievement (so damn proud of her!)

Interesting that most of these things happened for the other people in my life. What about me?  Same old, same old.  Nothing to report.  My time and energy is taken up with work, caring for family, and doing things for other people.  It’s not that I resent any of those things (very often) but on reflection, it still comes back to the eternal question, What about me?

I refuse to make New Years Resolutions.  What difference does the date make anyway.  In saying that though, the time has come when I need to bump myself up the priority list somewhat.

I have signed up for my very first online class with Big Picture Classes.  I have chosen to take Cathy Zielske’s class “Move More, Eat Well”.   To add to the challenge I intend to complete it digitally.  Talk about jumping in boots and all! I am finding it a little frustrating that we are 17 hours ahead in time and as I type this Minnesota has not yet ticked over to 2013, while I am about to go and make dinner for the first time this year.  This means that although I have completed 3 pages for the Pre-Class assignment, the 1st of the month info has still not arrived in my Inbox, lol.

I’m sick to death of trying to loose weight.  I figure I will become 5 dress sizes smaller overnight in the same way I will grow 5 inches taller overnight – It just ain’t gonna happen Esther!!!

But – I can move more and I can eat well.  I figure there will be a bonus of some weight loss, however, this will not be my main focus for 2013. It’s all the way you look at it really. 

Happy New Year!