There Be Dragons....

It's my turn this fortnight to pick the recipe for the Dragons Dream Tag It On challenge. I thought I would keep things nice and simple, so I've gone with blue, stencils and the sea.
The background has been made with distress inks, then stencilled through  a 'Special Touch' mask.
My main image is a clear stamp (I'm afraid I don't know who by), and the lettering is done with my £1.00 alphabet.
Please play along with us, the only rules are that you must make a tag and use at least one real stamp. There's lots of inspiration from my teamies on the TIO blog so check it out then go and play.
Thanks very much for looking x

Ghost In The Machine

It's time for another challenge over at Dragons Dream Tag It On, and this time around Trace has chosen green, die cuts, and cogs.
I embossed my background and coloured with various Distress Inks, and overstamped with gold paint.
The birdcage lady is by Scrollswork stamps, and she just reminds me of the opening credits from Ghost Whisperer lol.
The bird and cogs have been die cut, painted and embossed, and look far more green IRL, but I ran out of daylight at photographing time.

My huge cog has been stamped in Stazon onto a metalic thingamybob from the pound shop. It's amazing what you can find in the DIY section.
Please join in with our challenge, just follow the recipe and remember to use at least one real stamp.
Thanks very much for looking x

Love Is Like A Butterfly...

It's time for another challenge at TIO, and this time it's the lovely May's turn to choose.

Hi Everyone... It's May here again... this time round I have another recipe for you for the next fortnight  "Orange...Purple....Butterflies..."

Thank you all so much for taking part in our Tag it On... We love to see all your fabulous tags our only rule is you must use at least one real stamp  on your tag.. The rest is up to you...Have fun  Enjoy!!

So orange and purple, Mmm time for the distress inks, and butterflies... I used to love the Wendy Craig comedy Butterflies many (many) years ago, and the mere mention of butterflies and the theme tune is running through my head.

I've used Stampotique Small Butterfly, Daniel's Hearts, and Abstract Foliage together with Frantage embossing enamels and glass glitter.

It's all been edged with a little silver Treasure Gold, and a computer generated sentiment.

So, the usual rules, make a tag - how simple is that, and use at least one real stamp.

Thanks very much for looking x

Tales Of The Riverbank

Yes I know I'm showing my age now, but I remember Hammy hamster well lol.
It's time for another challenge at Dragons Dream Tag It On, and May has chosen Night Riverbank. This means she wants to see, boats, driftwood, and insects. Yikes the only boat stamp I have is a Stamp Camp scene of Venice. You know where they punt up and down the canal river in their gondolas. My driftwood is cardboard that's gone through an embossing folder and inked. I do have an insect stamp, but it's about the size of the gondola so my romantic scene would turn into a B horror movie.
Please join in with us in our challenge remembering to use at least one real stamp.
Thanks very much for looking x

Oops I Did It Again..

Over at Dragons Dream Tag It On, Tracy has chosen the theme of Dress To Impress. The team have done some beautiful subtle tags.... and here's mine :-)

The recipe is a dress or dressform, an embossed impression, and some bling.
Ok maybe not so subtle, infact the queens face is making my eyes bleed, but I did enjoy making this.
The stamps are a mixture of Stampotique and Dylusions, and they've all been coloured with Distress Markers.
I'm also entering this into the Altered Alice challenge, which is anything goes, and the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge 'what are you known for'. I hope I'm known for not taking myself too seriously.
Please pop over to the Tag It On blog and check out the gorgeous inspiration, then Dress to Impress us and show us a tag using at least one real stamp.
Thanks very much for looking x

While Dragons Dream....

It's time for another challenge over at Dragons Dream, Tag It On, and this time the team has chosen While Dragons Dream. So it's in with the mythical animals, a night sky and a clear moon.

My two main images are by Stamp Camp and have been stamped over a distress ink background. My bubble stamp is from Cherry Pie.
It's been finished off with a little white posca pen, and a liberal sprinkling of ultra fine and glass glitter.
I know this is stretching the 'mythical animal' a little but hey that gives you permission to do the same.
Please check out my teamies tags then join in with your own. Don't forget to use at least one (but the more the merrier) real stamp.
Thanks very much for looking x

The Magic Of Christmas

The challenge this fortnight over at Tag It On  is Magical Mystery and has been dreamed up by Monique. For her ingredients she has chosen 'a little magic, some mystery, and a little fairy dust'.
Well what could be more magical than Christmas!
I've used a Crafty Individual stamp, and then stamped again and cut out the main image. This has been triple embossed with kaleidoscope embossing powder. The backgrounds are a page from an old hymn book, and some pearlescent  card that's had the ink, spritz and flick treatment.
Please join us at TIO and make us a magical mysterious tag, using at least one real stamp.
I'm also entering this into the Crafty Individuals challenge which is Festive Sparkle oOOPs it turns out that this isn't a CI stamp - if anyone knows who it is by could you please let me know lol.

Thanks very much for looking x

Beware Spiders!!

The very talented Silvia has chosen the theme this week at Dragons Dream Tag It On, and she has picked 'Handle With Care'.  The ingredients are something fragile, an animal and a warning.
This really had me thinking, then I noticed some of my Halloween stamps that hadn't gone away. This led me down the path of spiders web - fragile check. Spiders - animal check, and a warning. Well if spider venom isn't a warning I don't know what is!
I started with Distress Inks in purple, orange and blue, then stamped my web stamp all over. I sprinkled various embossing powders over the top to give it a more realistic look, then stamped LOTS of spiders.

This is how it looked before the top layer of acetate was added.
I stamped more spiders on the acetate and the spider venom warning.
A bit of ribbon and a brad to finish, and all done. 
I found this great fun to make once I knew what I was going to do.
So please join us in making a tag using Silvia's ingredients, then we can come and take a look.
Thanks very much for looking x

Self Propelled Flowers for TIO

Yep that's another two weeks gone by, and it's time for another challenge at Dragons Dream Tag It On. My lovely teamie Gabrielle has set the theme of  Self Propelled Flowers, which means she want's to see butterflies, flowers and locomotion/movement of some sort. It also needs to be on a tag, and using at least one real stamp. Phew got it, well here's mine...

I must admit this didn't come easily, and the big blue filing cabinet under the desk (marked rubbish) is groaning a little. Whoever said that there are no mistakes in craft, just happy accidents really needs to take a look in my bin!
But with the spirit that made Britain great I soldiered on  - stubborn oh yes I will NOT be beaten by a challenge lol.
Sooo, base tag inked with dye inks then overstamped with The Paper Company flower and butterfly stamp. 
This took care of the flowers and butterflies, for the movement I stamped the Paper Artsy flying clock onto the Metal on Card and rubbed some Inca Gold over the top and attached with a ribbon.
Back to the flowers, many years ago I ordered some dried flowers from Joanna Sheen, and they are still as lovely now, so on they went. Finally the acetate butterflies were given a good stickling with the old Ice Stickles. Unfortunately it is so cold now in the conservatory that it decided not to dry.... ever! Their antennae are little beaded flowers on stems - get it self propelled flowers - mission accomplished!
Although a pain to start with, I really enjoyed this once I got going, and I had half an idea of what I wanted to do.
Please pop over to TIO to check out the other fabulous examples from the dream team, then please join in.
Thanks very much for looking x

Leaf It Out!

Helen has chosen the theme this time around on TIO, and she has chosen (drum roll please) leaves, metal, and the colour orange.

So to me orange is for pumpkins, and pumpkins are for Halloween, and Halloween means Edgar, and Ravens and so here we are.
The background is Distress Inks that have been blended, and then a leaf stencil over the top and more ink added. The Stampendous stamp has been inked in black Versamark and clear embossed, and a very handsome bird he is too.
I put metal tape around the edges, then added some silver embossing enamel to blend it in.
The bird and leaves have had a coating of Frantage embossing to give it a bit of texture, and the ribbon has been died with a Radiant Rain dauber.

I just love the Frantage range - can you tell lol.
This is not at all what I had in mind when I started the tag, but it seemed to come together nicely so I'm sticking with it!
Please check out my teamies tags, then gather your ingredients and come and join us. It's the usual terms and conditions - you must use at least one real stamp (but the more the merrier).
I'm entering this into the Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge which is leaves.
Thank you very much for looking x

Misty Autumn Glaze

There's a new round of recipe's going on at Dragons Dream, Tag It On and Elizabeth has chosen the theme of Misty Autumn Glaze, which means mists (either mica or dye etc), Autumn colours and a glaze. 
I started off with Dylusion mists in orange, yellow and a touch of old leather. The text stamp was then stamped in Archival plum, and clear embossed.
Next came quite a thick layer of Rock Candy Crackle glaze, so while this was drying I got on with the mice - so not like me to plan ahead lol.

When the crackle was dry I went over the top with Pumpkin Stayzon.
The mice have been stamped on vellum, and coloured with yellow and brown Pan Pastels, and cut out.
The smaller tag was coloured with Starburst Stains stamped in black, then oversprayed through  sequin waste with Perfect Pearls mist in Pearl. The usual VerDay treatment for the butterfly and job done.
It feels like ages since I made a tag for TIO as those that were posted while I was away were made before I went.  Phew try thinking that three times quickly!
So please join in with us this fortnight, you just need to use at least one real stamp, follow the recipe and have lots of fun.
I'm also entering this into the Pan Pastel challenge which is to use Autumn/Fall colours. 
All of the stamps used are by Dimension Fourth.
Thanks very much for looking x

Be Still My Beating Heart

I hope this posts ok, 'cos I'm still on my jolly holidays so please do your thing Mr Blogger! This time around Tracey has chosen the theme of 'In A Heartbeat', so we need a beating heart (yikes) a weathered timepiece, and a bit of grunge.
Well, I'm right out of beating hearts, but I do have a bit of grungeboard in a heart shape. I've coloured it in red acrylic paint,  painted in Verday metallic, then sprayed with the magic spray for the rusty look.  The drippy blood is glass paint
or is it....
The base tag is Core-dinations that's gone through the TH embossing folder. I've then sanded over and rubbed a red ink pad over the top.
My weathered timepiece has had the verday treatment, and it now looks like something the cat has dug up in the garden lol.
Only two real stamps this time - how bad is that!! They are from Bomshell stamps and they don't get out nearly often enough.
Please check out my teamies tags, then get out your stamps and come and join in.
Thanks very much for looking x

Art For Art's Sake

It's the boss (Frankie's) turn to set the challenge this time around at Dragon's Dream, Tag it On, and she has chosen a handmade background, interesting character(s) and a quirky twist. The handmade background came in the form of Dylusion house stamps that were stamped then masked. My tag was then sprayed with water then Dylusion ink in fuchsia. 
The leaves and border stamps are also by Dyan. The leaves were coloured in inkadinks, then stamped with the Stampotique spatter and text stamps.
Froggy has been coloured in Prismacolour pencils, and the houses in Twinkling H2O's.

For my quirky twist I added a piece of cellophane that came wrapped around a bunch of flowers. Yes it's true, I don't throw anything away! The heart is an ear-ring from the pound shop, it came with the matching necklace so I did alright there lol.
Please pop over and have a look at my teamies fab pieces of art dahlings then get out your stamps (at least one real stamp please), follow the recipe, then tag along with us.
Thanks very much for looking x

By The Pricking Of My Thumbs...

Something wicked this way comes...

The recipe this time comes from Blackdragon, and she has chosen a 'Nightmare' So she's picked a murder of crows, a blue moon, and a chill wind. For the last 2 weeks I've been reading this as an ILL wind - hence my tag, but I think it still fits lol.
The background is black card, that's been stamped with Tim's trees, then embossed with white. The moon is a Clarity stamp that was embossed in silver. I've then mixed some blue Perfect Pearls with a bit of water, and painted all over, then dabbed off the embossed bits. Next came the Dylusion ink in granite which was lightly painted over certain parts. You can see this better IRL as it changes colour as it catches the light.
The ravens are a mixture of Tim Holtz and Dylusions, and have been stamped and embossed. The bottom one is a Tim Holtz die that's also gone through an embossing folder. Can you tell I have a bit of a 'thing' for embossing :o)
The quote has been stamped and cut out, the letters are quite small so are really nice when you want to stamp your own words.
Please head across to the TIO blog and check out my team mates tags - you know the rules, follow the recipe, include at least one real stamp, then come and join in the fun!
Thanks very much for looking x

Fifty Shades Of Grey

Made you look, made you stare...
No it's not THAT fifty shades of grey (which I have not read by the way but I don't know how much longer I can resist) this is Alice's version.
My Tag It On team-mate May has chosen 'Following Alice' as her theme, and the elements needed are Alice, the rabbit, and a situation - plus at least one real stamp.
Alice's bottle wasn't marked drink me, so she knew that she wouldn't shrink, but it was marked 50 shades of grey (in very scruffy writing) so that should have been a bit of a give away about what would happen to her - and judging by the White Rabbit's shifty expression - he did it!!.
The background is a combo of Dylusions in fuchsia and yellow, then masked and a light spray of lime over the top. The usual mix of text stamps and silver paint and the background was done. The foliage was punched from various Basic Gray and Prima papers.

The Alice, Rabbit and Mushroom stamps are all by Stampotique, and have been stamped in black Archival and coloured with Twinkling H2O's. My but it's been a while since they've been out of the box, but they work as well as ever. 

Alice has been coloured with Prisma pens in a mxture of greys - she really should learn to stay out of trouble!
Please pop on over to the Tag It On blog for loads of inspiration then get stamping!


I'm also entering this into the 
Anything Goes Challenge which is Anything But Square, and
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Hey Girl.
The Stampman - Summer Colours/Anything Goes
Thanks very much for looking x

It's Steampunk Jim But Not As We Know It

Over at Dragon's Dream Tag It On, my teamie Monique has chosen Considering Steampunk as her theme, and her recipe consists of fantasy, inventions and Victoriana.  I love steampunk, but I always seem to go down the same route of browns and dark greens, so this time I thought I would have a change. 
I started by stamping and embossing the ScrollsWork stamps in white. Then added lots and lots (and lots) of distress inks in yellows and blues. Then I just went a little mad with various smaller background stamps, clear embossing powder, and the odd spritz of bleach to add a bit of contrast. The muslin has been cut into a strip and had blue and yellow ink dabbed on it, then a spritz of the bleach again.

My lovely lady with the rather odd taste in clothing/iron work/household pets, has been Frantaged with blue mica flakes and old gold and white embossing powders. The rivets are cut from a Spellbinders die in PaperArtsy card on metal, then painted with black acrylic which was then rubbed off again, and finished with Frantage glass glitter in blue and green.

More of the Verday paints and patina topped with a little glass glitter. The pocketwatch face has been coated in glossy accents and look - no thumb prints for once. I actually made this tag over a few days. Each time I thought I had finished, then I just kept throwing something else on lol.

Another rusty old butterfly - I'm really liking these paints and patinas and did I mention my fondness for the glass glitters??
The quote is by Leonardo da Vinci and says
'For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return' Well said Leo, I think this sums up Steampunk rather nicely.
I really enjoyed making this girlie steampunk tag, and luckily I'd now run out of room or who knows what else would have been on it.
Please pop over to TIO and see my teamies wonderful creations, then come back with one of your own.
I'm also entering this into the following challenges:
Sir Stampalot - Crafty Passions - ink and anything Frantage at the moment.
The Craft Barn - Frantage
Tando - Texture
The Stampman - Bling It On
Simon Says Stamp And Show - Layered
Lets Ink It Up - All Girls


Thank you very much for looking x

Things That Make You Go Ooooo

This time over at Dragons Dream TIO Silvia is in charge, and her recipe is entitled Don't Fear!! She has chosen a scary image, a crowd of purple and textures. I have to admit this challenge has been the one that made me go oooh??
My only scary images (besides the ones used to make Christmas cards in June) are from my Cherry Pie graveyard scene.
The tag has been stamped with a text stamp, inked in Stampin Up inks in various shades of purple, then run through an embossing folder that has been inked in a lighter purple Distress Ink, then lots of Black Soot DI has been applied to the edges.
The graveyard and skull have been stamped onto tissue paper then stuck down with watered down pva. This has then been embossed with Frantage embossing enamel in white. 
The Nevermore stamp is also by Cherry pie, and  has been stapled down and further staples added to the edge and to close the skulls eyes (I must be a very disturbed person on some level lol). The moon has been embossed in white onto vellum.
Every scary tag needs a skull charm to finish it off, and some black organza ribbon.
Please head over to the Tag It On blog to see my teamies fabulous entries then make a tag and we can come look at yours!
As Simon Says Stamp And Show are asking for Depths of Distress I'm entering this over there.
Thanks very much for looking x

Men Men Men Men Manly Men....

This blinkin' tune has been going round and round in my head as I made this tag, and I  really DON'T like this programme (Two and a Half Men) either with Charlie Sheen or without him lol.
It's Gabrielle's turn to set the menu for this fortnights TIO recipe, and she's chosen Industrial Chic. This means clockwork/cogs, vintage brown, industrial imagery, and at least 1 real stamp.

I started by breaking out my PaperArtsy Metal on card, and running it through a Timmy embossing folder. This has then been dabbed, splodged and squirted with alcohol inks in Expresso, Caramel, and Ginger.
If you look closely you can see where I have stamped 'Thingamajig' in Archival, then rubbed it off again so that it removes the AI's. 

The Scrollswork stamps have been stamped on some of Tim's Distressables, embossed and cut or torn out. I've embossed the edges with Distress Embossing Powder (I had to blow the dust off this first), but it does kind of fit in with the rusty old industrial feel to this.
The big cog has also been embossed in the DEP's in green first, then brown on top.  I love the sandpapery feel to this.
The smaller one was painted in acrylics in black, orange and brown to try and give it a rusty look. The green and the gold one (needed to use a bit of colour by now) have been stamped and UTEE'd.

I've added a few screw brads, cogs, and the odd propeller, then some manly ribbon to finish off. 
I've really enjoyed using stash that has literally been sat in a tub for years along with the new stuff.
Thanks very much for the recipe Gabrielle, this one was great fun to make. Please have a peek at the TIO blog and join us in making a tag.
I'm entering it into the following challenges, 
Artful Times - Men
The Stampman - Make It For A Man
Simon Says Stamp And Show - Anything Goes.
The Crafty Pad - Lets Hear It For The Boys
My Mojo Monthly - Man Up
Thanks very much for looking x

Ticket To My Heart

It was my turn to pick the recipe today at Dragons Dream Tag It On, so I chose spray inks, embossing, and die cuts. As it was my choice you would have thought I had something in mind, but no, it was the old 'white cat in a snowstorm' that sprang to mind as I looked at my blank card.
Luckily help was at hand as postie brought my new Stampendous corset stamp - (if Neil asks I've had it for weeeeeeks if not years lol)
Sooo changed the white card to some blue, and stamped and embossed the Hero Arts stamp in white. I then sprayed with Radiant Rain in green and bright pink. When this had dried I sprayed again with some champagne pearly paint dissolved in some rubbing alcohol.

This part was some white card sprayed with Dylusion ink in Old Leather, after I had stamped and embossed in gold ep, then masked the image. This is coloured in Prisma pencils. I've added a little sprinkling of Frantage chunky glitters and colour fragments. Yes, this is my latest love lol. The cloth in the background is some very loosely woven cheesecloth, and I've also cut a strip of this to use as the ribbon through the top. The die cut is from Hunkydory. The blue around the edge is Moonglow embossing powder and it looks really nice here IRL.

This one gives you a better idea of the colours. The die cut button is one of Sir Tims from the dress form set, and it's been embossed in the same Moonglow powder, then had some glass glitter placed carefully (thrown) on. 
I finished off with some lace and a needle and thread 'cos I was feeling a bit 'arty' Everyone then proceeded to tell me 'you do know you've left the needle in' YES I'm an artist daaaaarling lol.
So please pop on over to TIO and cook me up a tag.
Thanks very much for looking x

Madame Butterfly

For this fortnight the recipe at Tag It On as chosen by Helen is A Symphony of Flowers, and she would like to see 'a pinch of greenery, buttons, and a butterfly or two' Of course we also need at least one real stamp.
Sooo I was very methodical in making this. First of all I gathered my colours and stamps (I usually just ink a background then wing it from there but not this time) The stamps are a mixture of Hero Arts clear stamps, and B Line Designs, and I have to say they have all had their maiden inking and have passed with flying colours.
The background is a mix of orange and yellow Pan Pastel (surprise!!) then I've used a stencil around the edge and gone over with magenta PP. The receipt has been stamped in Versamark then gone over gently with PP, and the butterfly has been Flitter Glued then had Indigo Blu leafing flakes over the top.
My flower heads have also been glued then sprinkled with glass glitter, and my flower buttons have been stamped with the same receipt stamp. These have been threaded with linen thread. For some reason buttons without thread creep me out - weird eh!
If you're thinking that you've seen (or done) butterflies like these recently, that because these two started life on a Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2012. They stayed there for about a week, then fell off! Never one to throw anything away I rescued them from the bits and pieces box and thought they looked rather swish on here.
Please join us over at Dragons Dream- Tag It On, and show us yer tags.
Thanks very much for looking x