Tag time again!!!

Happy Thursday!

The last day of the month ..... what happened to April?!!  Just a little over 4 weeks and it's the TT (eeek!)

You guessed .... it's Tim Tag time.  This months tag was so much fun, and it's using one of my favourite new stamp sets from Tim .... the gorgeous Flower Garden 

Here's the master's inspiration ......

And here's my take on them ......

Just in case you're wondering what I'm going on about .... Tim Tags??? .... you can find all the details and techniques on how to create these, and many more, over on Tim's Blog

As usual I haven't left myself a lot of time to play around with the tags so I pretty much followed Tim's step by steps.

Watercoloured look to the backgrounds using the Distress Markers and the spritzer .....

 
The colours I used were Broken China (I think) and the new Cracked Pistachio.

Used the markers again, this time with a waterbrush, to add colour to the flowers

Then once everything was dry, used the spritzer again with a Black Soot Distress Marker, to give the speckled look

I don't have the word dies that have been used on Tim's tags (yet!)  so I had to improvise.

I went for a couple of the word stamps from the Perspective stamp set .... stamped onto Kraft card and embossed with a fine white powder

I love the look of white on Kraft  ...... and you can see I wasn't too particular about brushing of the excess powder around the words as I wanted to continue the speckled effect from the tag itself

So there they are ..... last minute again but ....better late than never eh!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your evening.
I've got a rather nice glass of red waiting for me and the latest episode of Game of Thrones so I'll see you all next month!

Cheerio for now

Linda

xx

Put a tag on it!

Happy Tuesday!

And what a lovely day it is too!

Just a quick post this morning ..... I'm off out soon.  A bit of retail therapy, then coffee and a chat with a friend before I meet the eldest ..... he wants new shoes and I think he wants me to pay for them!!!

Before all that though I have my entry for this weeks Less is More Challenge ..... yeah!!!  I've so missed playing along with these guys.
It's a Recipe Week and the challenge is ......

to include a TAG on our projects

You know me, I love my tags, so I couldn't miss out on this one.

I've even been playing with some of the every growing, but not getting around to using, new stash.

I love the new background stamp from Crafty Individuals ..... Baroque Splatter.  It looks fab whatever colour you use to stamp it, and its such a great size too.  Looks gorgeous on it's own ..... but is large enough to be a pretty backdrop for a main image.

I've stamped the collage directly onto my card blank using Rose Bud Memento .... so pretty in pink! Then I've cut my tag from a piece of card leftover from a day playing with Brushos

I stamped the flowers over the top using Black Versafine ink and embossed them with a clear powder to make them really pop.

I added a bit of twine to the tag, used foam pads to attach it and finished off with a sentiment.
Guess what .... I had to decorate the inside too!

It is nice to be back in the old craft room ..... I'm still getting used to where everything is but at least I'm starting to have fun again!

Thanks for popping by ........ enjoy the rest of your day. 

Cheerio until next time.

Linda

xx

A festive little kitty ......

Happy Sunday,

Well I may have been taking things easy on the craft front recently but, you'll be pleased to know nothing's changed ..... I'm still on the last minute with my challenge entries.  But hey .... at least I've been in the old craft room today!!!
There's been a little sorting out, and tidying up going on .... I can see my desk .... yeah!!!  Things have finally been put on shelves etc.,  and I've come across stuff I'd forgotten I had.  Let's hope I get the time, and the mojo to make use of them.

I'll apologise now if this post seems a little rushed, or I seem distracted ..... it's just I'm trying to blog whist watching the football!!  I can't wait until the match is over .... challenge deadline approaching FAST!!!!  and my boys in blue are playing Arsenal ...... it's currently 0-0 and we're just past the hour mark!

Anyway, enough of the football, what have I got for you today?  Well I know the sun is shining and it's still April but I'm starting back with my festive makes ..... I've missed the last 4 Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenges due to moving house etc., I didn't want to miss another one.

This week's challenge is .......

to use a Cat or a Dog

Hmmmm .... not an easy one for me but, here goes ......

The stamp is from Penny Black ..... coloured using Distress Inks mixed with a little water

I added a touch of Glossy Accents to the baubles and sprinkled on some fine crystal glitter

Added one of my favourite Hero Arts sentiments ......

And finished off using one of my favourite techniques at the moment ..... a few ink splatters here and there .....

Oooh .... we had a chance there!  Sorry ... I was watching the match then!

Well that's another Christmas card done .... I've a bit of catching up to do with the challenges I've missed but I'll get there.

Thanks for popping by .....enjoy the rest of your day.
I'm off to watch the last 15 minutes of the game ...... it's still 0-0 but whether it'll end that way who knows!!

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

Time to say goodbye .......

Hi there ...... Happy Weekend!!

What a week it's been! ...... I've been so lost on the days this week .... yesterday I thought it was Saturday, Thursday I felt like it was Friday and the beginning of the week well, who knows what day I was on then .... confused?  I am!!

It was my weekend away that threw me ... that's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it!
I usually fly across to the UK on a Friday, this time I went early Saturday morning.  Then I went on a craft workshop on the Sunday, which is usually held on a Saturday ....... so, you get my drift.

Anyway .... enough waffling!  How's your week been?  It's been like summer over here ... the sun was shining everyday, and it was so warm too.  I say 'was' because as we speak it's raining again!  Never mind perfect weather for me to pull my socks up and finally get back in the old craft room!!
It's still the only room in the house that isn't sorted ..... I've got boxes everywhere, and my desk is just about visible underneath the stash piling up on top but .... the good news is the missing box has turned up .... yeah!!!  Hopefully I'll find Mr Mojo in there when I get around to unpacking it!

It's been a funny old week ......busy as usual with craft workshops, a lovely get together yesterday where the girls and I put the world to rights, ate cake, and got the old craft stash out to play! Our new sofas arrived on Thursday so we have a lounge again ..... no watching Game of Thrones and the football sat on the floor .... whoo hoo!! (not very comfy I can tell you .... we've got wooden floors!!) Oh and a fab meal out to celebrate a few milestone birthdays coming up for friends who work alongside hubby. Oh to be 30 again!!!

On a sad note though ....... I've decided to step down from the IndigoBlu Design Team ...... yes I am no longer an IndigoBluBelle (sigh!)

It's been a tough decision, one I've been mulling over for a while ....... you all know I've been taking a break for the last few months.
I can't believe it's been nearly four years since Kay rang me and asked me to join the team (I was so excited!)  Four years of fabulous fun, working for a great company, with the best products and designs you could wish for .... it's been a fabulous creative journey,  and I've enjoyed every minute of it!

I'd like to thank Kay, and Alfie for giving me the chance to be part of their IndigoBlu family, the team behind the scenes .... you're the best!  And of course you guys, for all your lovely comments and support over the years both here and on the IndigoBlu Blog.  It's been a real pleasure .... THANK YOU SO MUCH ...... mwah xx

So ..... next week I'm hoping to get things back to normal (whatever that is!).  I'm going to make a real effort to get the old craft room sorted this weekend .... I've still got some DT stuff to do!  Like I said I hope the old mojo is in that box!!

Thanks for popping by today .... enjoy your weekend.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx

I'm Back!!! ...... Just in time for a challenge .....

Good morning everyone ..... Happy Tuesday to you!!

Remember me ..... it's been a while I know.  Normal service WILL resume shortly .... I hope!! (once the old craft room gets up and running again)

I can't believe it's the 21st of April already!! ..... that means it's time to launch the latest Blog Challenge over on the IndigoBlu Challenge Blog.

Thanks to everyone that played along with last month's challenge ..... great job! And Congratulations to Helen, our challenge winner.  You'll be seeing more of Helen's work in a future challenge.

So what's this month's theme .......well ...... it's one of my favourites .......

 Just One Layer

One Layer Cards ..... you either love 'em or you dread them!
And there are different views as to what 'one layer' actually means. For me, 'one layer' means exactly that ..... everything done on the one layer, meaning the card blank itself! With no matting and layering, and the embellies kept to a minimum .... but that's just my take on it ..... I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with.

Here's a little bit of inspiration to get you started ......

Just because you've only got the one layer to work with though, doesn't mean that you can't achieve the 'layered' look.  A little bit of masking here and there and you can get the look of using more than just the one layer.

I started by masking off the edges of a 6x6 cardblank using low tack masking tape. With the tape in place I stamped the beautiful Jane using Black Versafine ink, over the right hand side of the card, stamping over the edge of the masking tape.  Be careful .... as the ink on the tape will not dry as fast as the ink on the card .... don't smudge it over your stamped image. I tend to carefully wipe it off straight away so that it doesn't end up all over .... remember, no covering up any marks with sentiments, or butterflies etc., it needs to be kept to just the one layer!!

I made a mask for Jane, covered up that pretty face and added a touch of colour to the background using Spun Sugar Distress ink .....

I then stamped the script background from Sarah's Choice, using a grey Versafine ink.

I  then carefully removed the mask, and the masking tape around the edge and finished off the design with the Vintage Flourish, stamped with Flitter Glu and added Chariot of Fire Gilding Flakes.

Ta Dahhh!!! ...... the look of different layers all done on just the one, the card base itself ....... with the inside done to match too.

Now it's your turn ...... get out those IndigoBlu stamps and have some fun!

The challenge runs until 8pm on May 20th so you've loads of time to get your entries in.  I'm looking forward to seeing all your One Layer Projects.

Thanks for popping by today, enjoy the rest of your day.  The sun is shining and it's a lovely day over here ..... I hope it's just as nice where you are too.

Things are finally getting back to normal around here, the new house is slowly beginning to look like a home again.
Getting the old craft room sorted is taking a little longer than planned though ..... I'm still looking for one of my boxes!  I'm hoping the old mojo is in there along my missing cardstock!!!
It doesn't help when I'm off out to workshops etc., .... speaking of which I've got one this afternoon! Meeting friends for coffee in town, now that I'm only 5 minutes away, and a trip across to the UK for a fun, craft filled weekend has mean't that I haven't had that much time to spend in there.  This week, I need to take a deep breath and just get it all done ...... I'll keep you all posted on my progress!

Cheerio until next time

LindyLou

xx

A new start .....

Happy Tuesday ...... mind you it's probably Wednesday now, so Happy middle of the week!

Sorry but I can't stop ...... it was Tuesday when I started this post, still March 31st, and still time for me to get March's Tag entered into this months 12 Tags of 2015.  I couldn't miss this one could I .... how gorgeous is this ..... and it's using one of my current favourite stamps

As usual, I'd left things to the last minute, busy moving house and all that this month.  But .... I did get chance to play along before the old craft room got completely packed away, well... sort of!! Everything went really well, I followed Tim's step by steps ....... and found all the bits that I needed. Mine's slightly different colours but just as pretty

I love the technique of using the embossing powder over the texture paste ......

And I do love this butterfly ....

Everything was going so well until I came to look for my embellishments ...... yep!  you guessed it .... they'd been packed!  Just as well I could remember which box they were in!!!

Well .... the move is done and we're finally in the new house.  There's boxes everywhere and the old craft room is a complete mess .... in fact half of it is still in the hallway!!!  But at least the internet is connected ...... it's beginning to feel like home!

Thanks for popping by ..... and just in case I don't get the chance to chat to you again this week ..... have a lovely Easter.

Cheerio until next time

Linda

xx