Another set of cards for Stamping Sensation's June Challenge

I intended to make another card for Stamping sensations and ended up with 2. They have both the similar layout and bird themed stamps only difference is the colour.

This one is darker and still worked on card layout sketch, majority of materials came from Issue 62 of Papercrafter magazine. Infact there are several card and papercrafting packs of goodies but all cost £7.99. This stash has the summer palette of pinks, blues and greens. In Crafterstamper they showed how to make your own paper tapes using double sided sticky tape. I sort of panic because there was a colour clash or LED light was playing tricks on me. I just blasted the background in terracotta Colorwash spray and added lighter colours in the foreground.
Main stamp image is from Paperartsy Hot picks range and others are Crafty Individuals. I've found some wonderful Asian foam stickers from a crafty store. Normally I buy Sanrio, San x and other Japanese stickers in Hong Kong just to show there are good thing if you look in your local craft shop not Hobbycraft.

I decided to enter this one for Stamping Sensations: Summer Blooms. I'm still making paper flowers by hands but more sculptural using glossy accent to glue them on and gem in place of a brad.
Paper is from still from Papercrafter magazine collection.
Rubber stamps are: Stampers' Anonymous-Tim Holtz, Crafty Individuals and Cox and Cox- birds and nest stamp collection. It does still has more over collaged style but I'm working on the minimalism.
There one more set to complete before I rest for a bit and craft again.  

This is what Oscar made he altered a loo roll and is in process of altering a cloth.

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My submission for Take it, Make it challenge two

This is for Craft Stamper Take it, Make it challenge two and involved tearing and ripping.I decided not to make a card although I can still can because there's still plenty of time and have 2 important things to be completed before this months ends. I feel so energetic right now like a Roborovski hamster. I didn't know Craft Stamper had a challenge going until I went on their site, brought a copy of June issue of their magazine. Used to buy a lot of magazines in the past and was nervous of submitted a card when I did it was gone and none of my ATCs submitted were publish the ATCs swap is gone as well blame this on high cost of postage.
I had some ideas in my head and sketched out a few drawings in my sketchbook mainly to put them to rest so I won't have to keep thinking about them.

I used Paper Artsy, Ink and Dog Mystery Plate as it came with house like stamp and perfect for making small matchbox shrines. The matchbox template is from Mirkwood designs and decades old, the box itself is made out of Idea-ology Paper Stash of Lost and Found. With all of my designs I don't know how it will turn out like until the object is finished because make it up as I go along.
Paper scraps coloured in Distress Inks/Stains or mixture of both were used for triangles and other pieces. House, labels and other parts were stamped in TLC Violet ink and Staz-on Jet Black. Other stamps used are Stamping bella, Crafty Individuals. I found the if edges look better if they were embossed or outline using a sharpie. Stampendeous Frantage Aged gold embossing powder gives a dynamic texture when used as gilding as the powder has mixture of coarse and fine grains. I wasn't sure to add to central area whether to use stamped image stuck with foams pads, charms or 3D embellishment. 

As you can see here I used charmed made from stamping bird cage from Paper Artsy Hot pick range HP1004EZ on to clear shrink plastic. Archival ink work best but stamping takes some skill.
I added from cross screw heads from Prima marketing- Junkyard finding these are yard I think are suited for scrapbooking or altered arts assemblage. This when jewellery making wire works comes in very useful for attaching metal embellishments which are Route 52, 7 Gypsies and others. As final touch I added a chitchat the whole thing is intended to be hung. This is the third matchbox shrine I've created and managed to acquire 2 of the configuration shadow boxes. Something to try out in the future.

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May tag of 2013

I haven't had much energy last week and even this week is a struggle. I'm forced to wake up early before 8am and endure hours of noise as work is done on the bathroom. I find my falling asleep in front of tv and there is no where quiet for me to go. Some how found some energy to make this month's Tim Holtz's tag of 2013 challenge. I know he would use remnant rubs in one of the monthly tags so I already brought 2 already Numbers and Element but wasn't able to get Words. Don't really need it. As I used Stampers' anonymous CMS110 Stuff to say and mix and matched a few items I have in stash. Other stamps I used are Paperartsy and Lost Coast Designs.

The tricky part is trying to get all part of 4 Distress stains colours on one tag as on my trial I couldn't get all the colours to balance on one sheet. You can dab a little and spritz to blend. The texture hammer is difficult to buy and maybe discontinued luckily there is a site which still sells the tool. Country View Crafts and they sell other Tim Holtz's products much cheaper.
There's still February tag yet to complete and would like to give their monthly challenge a try. The title is called 'How does your Garden grow' and any style and medium. There's a set of Paperartsy stamps I would like to try out maybe make another card again. We'll see I have lots of mailart to sort out and trying to survive this week. I just hope work on bathroom will be completed soon.

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TAG- now you're it

I have been busy not with cross stitch but organizing all my stuff together but sadly I'm still stuck in same situation I was last year without a permanent workspace. The ideal place for stamping is on the kitchen table lit under daylight I have LEDs daylight simulation lamp pity the batteries last long.
After reading Tim Holtz blog, watching his youtube videos and reading his Compendium of Curiosities I felt inspired to make tags for this month. I made two because wasn't happy with the first attempt never thought of making tags don't see their purpose.
For March: tag of 2013 I will submit them both they are part of set. 

First one I call Dark (because I used earthtones) and the other is Light. They both talk to each and have similar styles. My tags bare no resemble to Tim's because don't have sizzix or use the idea-ology materials I find it's best to make something more of your style like own personal interpretation of the project. 

Picture quality is not good as I've take this on my smart phone ideally I would take a picture using my digital camera in good daylight one thing in the UK it always rains and rains some more.
Much of what I used is explain in my flickr photostream I find it's good to have a source of vintage royality free images the rabbit is from Dover books.

See the colours are more subtle or could be because of poor light conditions. I'm not going to wait till tomorrow to do this why not now. Actually, last week I wanted to make stuff but couldn't because unsuitable condition it's too noisy and the table wasn't free. So I said to myself stop waiting and start doing. This was finished when first half ended of England vs San Marino match.

Here's another tag I made this is for second monthly swap of new yahoo group I've joined. Actually take on ATC I once made for Blue theme swap.

I was giving crushed jewels techniques to try and didn't realise you can add glitter, embossing powder, shaved ice at the same time. Oh well it pays to follow the instructions very carefully.
Okay I admit I went on a spending spree on buying Distress Inks, Stains and idea-ology finding will was for ATC swap now I have more variety for other things. I'm interested in making shadow boxes or personal shrines been a while since last made one. Well I have to find a way to use Paper stash pad I should really stop there's still more Stains and idea-ology, Stamper anonymous stamps to get but they are so expensive. Mini ornates cost £24.99 and you can't just have one.
No seriously I have to stop buying craft materials plus there's unfinished projects to do. There's further news from this post.

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Own designed motifs and other completed projects

I'll update this when I have time here are some completed tatting motifs.

Original central motif intended for mignonette medallion worked on No.50 DMC cordonnet special. I have yet to try smaller size threads such as No.70 or 80. Successfully tatted motifs using beading thread.

My attempt at inverted picot the difference from inward facing version is you need drag the loop slightly. I found the loop tend to close and thread become shredded when pulled through.

Overlapping chains bookmark by Jon I went wrong in some parts due some confusion where the chains lie towards the end of the first row. Used No.20 Flora thread.

Tatted heart motif the original was used as an embellishment on Mother's day card but this was thrown away. Show how much my family care about my work they tend to ass kiss one person who copies. I'm the only one who creates original worked. I used N.20 Flora thread which came in beginners tatting kit. This second attempt is better as more experienced in tatting.

Woven picot I looked back on example found on scallop edging and discovered the picots were attached to rings not chains and twisting the picots worked best. I need more experiment with this technique can't find any practical patterns other than scallop edging. Used inward facing picot and Anchor Aida No.30 thread.

So far I like using No.30 thread as just step up from 20 find 50 tend to lock up there are other types of thread I would to try. Only 20 comes multi coloured might have to resort to dying my own thread. Current working on mignonette medallion.

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Tatting techniques I have learnt.

I haven't been able to update my blog as I like due to some people being stubborn and moronic. Only been tatting for 2 month and already becoming proficient, ring and chains are second nature to me. Also I noticed certain projects contain obmittance and mistakes. Here are techniques I have completed so far.

Cluny leaves are not as difficult as it seems and there are perfect tutorials on youtube. I have difficulty following written instructions even if they have clear photos. I recommend a pattern with lot of cluny leaves just so you can get used to make a loom and weaving.

Celtic tatting- I used Helen Bailey's Celtic Egg Pattern and noticed there were so errors, where it says 'repeat from * to ** 4 times.' It should be 5 otherwise there won't be enough rings to fit to first section. Third section instruction- after Chain B, etc it should be another chain 6 - 3 - 3 - 6 join to picot of ring from First section, chain 6 - 6 - 6 join to picot of ring from First section.
Here's a hint check the instructions before uploading online, 11 year old motif and still not corrected.

Motifs are from Diamond Rio Bookmark/Edging by Sabina Carden-Madden and Saundra Hameed Cluny.

Flying Minor Norwegian Dragon-Google threw up several images of this wonderful dragon motif, I traced the source it turned to be designed by Anne Bruvold. I used Lizabeth H&H 20 No.131 it has 4 different colours you can tell I have used SSSR because never quite mastered it. My dragon is the mystic psychic and appears a totem/guardian of mages/psychics/shamans. Well I am an RPG gamer. 

Inward face Picot- There was very few tutorials for this technique the nearest I could find is Tatted Moth Pattern on totusmel.blogspot.com Hard to notice the inward face picot from this image they are on the body of the moth.

Maltese/Pearl tatting- This is from Eliz's Maltese Pinwheel Snowflake
I must of miscounted on last chain as ended up with additional section of snowflake and it should be load 6 seed beads on shuttle 1 as I can't see how bead on shuttle1 can be encapsulate into a ring. This pattern is good as has clear photos on how a maltese ring is made.

Expermental1- block snowflake
My attempt to create a medallion with blocks. It seems last block has to 4 X 5 or the thread won't lie in the right direction. The first section can be made with split ring which means omitting the beads. I unattentional created floating rings.

Expermental2- Wide snowflake
This has 12 sides and variation of first design I sketched while I was learning how to tatt. Originally featured just chains and ring this motif has SCMR on the outer arms.
These patterns I created are experimental and won't be releasing instructions just yet. Threads I use are Flora H & H white or white with purple graduation.
There are still of other techniques to learn and becoming harder to find practise patterns for them. I have few more experimental motif of my own. Bye for now.

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