Only a few days left

Morning all,

Not long to go now before the start of a new year.  What's 2013 got in store I wonder.

I hope you've all had a good Christmas, not too much of the old festive spirits.  It's been a pretty quiet one over here, nice and relaxing.  Christmas dinner out is something I can definitely get used to.  I did miss having the whole family around but, we had a fabulous meal, ate far too much though - 10 courses!!!  And the best bit was, no washing up - or loading the dishwasher I should say.
When we got back home we spent the rest of the day on the sofa and watched the whole first series of something called 'Falling Skies' - all 10 episodes!!  Neither of us could face anything else to eat, not even a "little mint wafer"!  In fact we didn't eat until well into the afternoon on Boxing Day.  The fridge is still bulging with all that 'just in case' festive food, and the Christmas pudding still hasn't been touched.  Oh well, the diet doesn't start until January.

The old craft room door finally closed on Christmas Eve (and hasn't been opened since!)  The last task on my 'To Do' list was my Timmie Tags.

Drumroll please ............ my December tags are done - whoo hoo!!  My set of 12 Tags of 2012 is now complete.

Here are Tim's December tags ......

He's made them into cards this time.

And here's my versions .......

I've kept pretty much to the original design, just added my own little bits here and there.
I loved doing the backgrounds using the metallic Distress Stains. You can't really see the shine from the metallic stains in the photograph but it is there, trust me.
   
On the snowman one I decided to add some snowflakes in the background and embossed them with a sparkly white powder.  I added an extra layer to his hat and also his scarf.   The word 'snowman' was stamped again and layered to cover up a bit of bad rubber stamping on my part, but I do quite like how it stands out.  My sentiment is a rubber stamp I've had forever, and I chose to finish off with the blue tinsel instead of the silver - very frosty looking.

The final tag was so quick and easy to do, it's all die cuts.  The tattered poinsettia is done in the same way as Tim's, grunge paper covered with tissue wrap then coloured using Distress Inks.  I did an extra layer in green Kraft-core cardstock for the leaves. Each layer of the flower has been given a coat of frosting using the Distress Stickles Dry Glitter in the Clear Rock Candy.  It's more sparkly when the light hits it in real life, on the picture it does actually look like frost.    My flourish is a Memory Box die - would you believe I don't have the Alterations one (must sort that out in the new year!) and I've added a couple of metal charms from my stash.

There you have it, all 12 Tags done!

I've really enjoyed doing these, and to have actually been amongst the winners one month too was just amazing!  I hope we can do it all again next year.

In case I don't get chance to blog again this year, I'd like to wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year.
Thank you for all your comments and support over the last 12 months, it's been fun!!

All the best

Crafty hugs

Linda

x 

Just in the nick of time!

Hi everyone,

Phew!  Now I can relax, well once this post is done that is.
Talk about being on the last minute.  November is almost over with (UK time). Thank goodness there's still a little over 8 hours to go before the deadline for posting this month's Timmie Tag.

12 Tags of 2012

November's tag has an Autumnal look, with a mix of all those fabulous shades we get as the leaves change colour.
This is Tim's tag .........

.......  look at all those vibrant colours, and how striking is the black.

Here's my version ........

Not quite as dramatic as Tim's, but hey I'm rapidly running out of time.  I just hope these colours look ok in the daylight, I'm not used to crafting in my room in the evening.  I really need a new daylight lamp, maybe Santa Claus will bring me one - I've been really good this year.

As usual I didn't have all the products that Tim used.  Mainly the colours of stains, (that's something else to put on my shopping list).
I love this technique though, using embossing ink to stamp with, and then clear embossing powder over the top.  Once all the colour has been applied to the tag, you then cover with some paper and iron over the stamped design to melt the embossing again and remove it, leaving a permanent resist behind - very clever.

The colours I've used are all Distress Inks - Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Crushed Olive, Rusty Hinge, Brushed Corduroy, and I added a touch of Aged Mahogany.
I used my new Clarity Maple Leaves stamps, that I bought from the NEC.   The  lovely sentiment also comes in the set.  The Honeycomb background is by Indigo Blu.

I used the Autumn Gatherings die  to cut my leaves etc., and then arranged them on my tag. The Glossy Accents wasn't quite dry when I took the picture, I can see it's still a little cloudy!
The tag was finished off with some vintage seam binding, cotton string and a Muse Token.
It was a bit of a rush job, but I wasn't going to miss doing one. 
Can't wait to see December's challenge.

Oh no I've just noticed that it's midnight, better get a move on and get this posted on Tim's site.

Happy December 1st.  just 24 days until Christmas.  I'd better make a start on some Christmas cards I think.

Cherrio for now.

Linda

x

BOO!! It's tag time .....

Hi everyone,

Yes it's that time again - Tim's 12 Tags of 2012. And mine is actually finished.  I'm a little bit earlier than last month, not by much though.

I've been looking forward to this month's tag, I knew Tim would do something spooky and Halloween themed.

Here's Tim's inspiration .....

spooky!!!!! ......... and this is mine

I took the pictures outside and I don't think the colours have come across very well, they're a lot darker in real life.  I'm useless at photography!

This was so much fun to do, and some fasbulous techniques too.
I pretty much followed Tim's instructions to begin with.  Covered the tag with the Tissue Wrap, creasing it up as I stuck it down.  I then used orange and purple acrylic paints to add some base colour, blending with a damp baby wipe.
Next came the Distress Inks, Ripe Persimmon, and Seedless Preserves, with a little bit of Black Soot around the edges.
The spider's web is from the Indigo Blu set of stamps - Hocus Pocus.  I stamped randomly over the background with Black Archival ink and also stamped one web using flitter Glu and followed with Winter Dawn Gilding Flakes.

There's also a spot of Fran-tage on there too (oops!) couldn't resist

I didn't have the large 'Boo' Alterations die so mine is cut using 'Wordplay'.  I decided to use two zeros instead of the o's because they were bigger and filled the width of the tag.  And it meant that I had room to put the googly eyes !!??!!! (again, I couldn't resist)  The spider and the 31 come together in a Movers and Shapers set.  But the coolest thing about the die cuts is .......... the glitter. 
It's the new Distress Stickles dry glitter in the clear rock candy.  Yes, it was actually white when I started out.  But after following Tim's instructions, I made this fabulous sparkly black version.  It's so easy to do, just pour a little into a plastic pot, add a few drops of alcohol ink and stir,  however I did have an OMG! moment when it all went 'lumpy'.  But, it came good in the end ........

........   I'll definitely be using that technique again.

The die cuts were then painted with black acrylic paint, covered with glossy accents followed by the glitter.
While these were drying, I made the ticket.  As I didn't have the new Seasonal Chit Chat, I just wrote the work 'spooky' by hand.
Everything goes together so well for this tag.  I love the colours, the techniques are fab and I'm really pleased with my finished result.

I love Halloween, although over here in the Isle of Man, the Manx people celebrate Hop Tu Naa instead.

It's an ancient Celtic festival, celebrated on 31st October, which used to be the Celtic New Year's Eve.  It would mark the end of summer and the beginning of winter, and was traditionally a time to celebrate the safe gathering of the harvest and a sign that preparations had been made for the long winter ahead.

For the last 100 years or so, children have carried out the Hop Tu Naa ritual, not unlike Halloween these days, where they go from door to door, somtimes dressed in costume, looking for sweets.  Instead of pumpkins they carry hollowed out turnips lit by a candle or a torch, and they sing Hop Tu Naa songs about 'Jinny the Witch'.
If you want to know more here's some links for you
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hop-tu-Naa
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-15337057   (last years report from the BBC)http://www.isleofman.com/heritage/ePedia/Arts/Ceremonies/hop-tu-naa.aspx

We're actually going on a Ghost Tour on Halloween - whoooo ooooo!!  We're off to Castletown for the Castle Rushen Experience.  I can't wait.  I'll problably be scared to death but it'll be worth it I'm sure.

First though, I have to carve my pumpkins .........

....... here they are with my Timmie Tag  (the colours look a little darker on this shot!)  Then of course there's pumpkin pies to be made - yummee!!

Well, that's my tag done for another month.  What will be November's theme? ........ I'm going for Thanksgiving.

See you all again soon.  Thanks for popping by.

Linda

x

Tag! ....... you're it!

Morning all,

Well it's finally done, my Timmie Tag for  12 Tags of 2012 - September - yeah!!
It took me all afternoon yesterday but I was determined to get it done.  After all, time is running out and I don't want to miss any.  It's October on Monday, so there'll be a new challenge.  Let's see if I can get that one done any sooner shall we!
This is Tim's September tag ......

 ......... cool isn't it.

As usual, I didn't have all of the products that the master himself had used - nothing new there then.  But I managed.
Here's my version ......

Everything started ok, I had the foil sheets, so covering the tag wasn't a problem.  Had great fun making the faux rivets using an everyday biro, an old credit card (actually it was my current one, the other half will probably say this is the only way I should use it from now on),  and a pricking tool. I used this in two different ways, can you spot them.  I will say one is not that easy to see.
Obviously I used the pointy end to make small holes in my tag, but then I noticed that my pricking tool has a textured bit around the bottom.  What would happen if I rolled this along the foil tape ...........

You can just about see the result down the righthand side, under the film strip.  There's a bit of a mesh type effect going on.  Sorry it's a bit hard to see - didn't really think this through properly did I!  I'll know for next time.

Colouring the foil with alcohol inks next - this was fine, I had all the right colours so on I went.  Then came my first hurdle - no steel wire!  The best I could come up with was a kitchen scourer - it seemed to work ok.  I managed to get most of the ink off and achieve that look of old riveted metal. 

Next came the embellishing.  Hurdle number 2.  I didn't have the typewriter die, or anything similar.  In the end I decided on a pocket watch, and used one from the Art Parts range.  I coloured it with the new Metallic Distress Stains in the Tarnished Brass for the inside layer and the Brushed Pewter on the outside.  I used one of my Indigo Blu stamps from the Take the Time set  to stamp some cogs to give the look of the workings inside the watch.  Then added some mini metal cogs from the Idea-ology range along with a metal clock face.
Some of my trinkets are the same ones that Tim's used on his tag, but again I didn't have all of them. So, I added some words instead.  The only problem with this of course is that it does cover up a lot of the 'metal' on the tag.  I think you can still see enough of it though.
A bit of black vintage seam binding, some Chit Chat words, and a piece of chain attached to the pocket watch finish it all off.

Not quite the same as Tim's, but mine never are.  He gives the inspiration, and it's all about adding your own little twist.  I'm quite happy with the result.  It's my most masculine tag to date.

It's back to the craft room later but first I'm off to meet a friend in town for coffee.  And apparently while I'm there, I have to go and pre-order some new XBox game which is released tomorrow (FIFA 13).  The Game store in Douglas is opening at midnight tonight for anyone that has a pre-order and my son just has to have it asap!  Kids eh! 

Don't forget Kay from Indigo Blu is back on the TV today 11 o'clock and 3 - Create and Craft - Sky Channel 671.  You hadn't forgotten had you?!  I've set my Sky box to record.  Hopefully my samples will be on there along with those from the rest of the Design Team.

Thanks for looking. Have a great day.
See you again soon.

Linda

x

Hi Honey, I'm home!!

Hello folks,

Yes I'm back from my crafty week away.  Have you missed me?
Sorry I didn't get chance to blog while I was away, I was just so busy you wouldn't believe.  My friend Susan says that when I'm over in the UK it's like being on roller skates - we never stop.  And this trip was no different.  I had a great time, hardly slept but hey, who needs sleep when you can craft!!

We were actually home on Monday evening, after a bit of a lumpy crossing.  Stephen and I were fine, Christopher suffered a little, but we got home safely.
Yesterday was spent unpacking, washing and ironing and just generally getting back into the swing of the things.
My main job was finding a home for this lot ......

I brought quite a bit of new stash home with me (I did say I was doing a stock up!)  In fact it was touch and go as to whether it would all fit in the car, along with the luggage (lol!)  Managed it though (good job we have a big car!!)
I think I got a bit of everything.  Stamps, inks, paint, PanPastels, cardstock, lots of wooden stuff to alter.  You name it and it's there. Lots to keep me busy. 
There's also new Indigo Blu Stamps in there (ooh!)  More on that later.

Over the next few days I'll fill you in on all the details of what I got up to last week, but first I must get my Tag done for 12 Tags of 2012  before the Friday deadline. Where has August gone!

This is the inspiration Tim Holtz gave us for this month  ........

I love it, I think it's so pretty. 
This is my version, nothing like Tim's at all, but then again they never are.
What do you think ............

As usual, I didn't have all the stash that he'd used, so off I went to search through my boxes to see what I could find.  It's always fun trying to find something to use to get the same effect.  I always manage to come across things I'd forgotten I had.
I don't really have any silhouette stamps, no cameos anyway. But, I came across this little guy who's been sat in my collection for ever.  I think he was one of the first rubber stamps that I bought all those years ago.  It's called 'Magic of You' and it's from Rubber Stampede.
Now I didn't have the embossing folder with the frame so I had to emboss the whole of the tag first, and stamp my image onto a seperate piece of card, which was then layered onto a Nestie Labels die to give the look of a frame.
The colours I've used are the same as Tim's, although mine are much paler.  I've added a little bit of pink into the mix too.
The flowers and foliage are from the Tattered PineCone die and I used the Autumn Gatherings and the Tattered Flower Garland dies to add the leaves and twigs.
I kept to the same little trinkets and the chit chat words, but added a couple of hat pins into the flowers.
It's a little bit rushed but I like the way it turned out.  Just need to get it uploaded now.

Well that's job number one crossed off my rather long 'To Do' list.  At least I've made a start.
It's nice to be back, and I'm looking forward to sharing with you some of the fun I had across in the UK.

Thanks for popping by.  Have a lovely afternoon, and I hope the sun is shining where you are.

Bye for now

Linda

x

Glad this is done!!!

Happy Friday evening everyone,

I'm so glad this is finally done, my Tim Tag for July - yeah!  I have not been looking forward to this one I can tell you.
Don't get me wrong, I love doing this challenge but, this month has been really hard work for me.  It's not my favourite tag (Sorry Tim!).

I didn't know where to start with it at all!  I didn't have the stamp that Tim had used and nothing in my stash came close.  Normally that wouldn't faze me, but this time I couldn't think of anything, I had no inspiration at all - my mojo had taken the day off I think.

Not having a clue where I was going with this, I gathered all my supplies together and made a start.
It was fun with the alcohol inks, but unfortunately I didn't have a can of compressed air, so I made do with a plastic straw and a lot of huffing and puffing.
Great technique, but I wasn't too happy with my results, even after a couple of attempts.  I'm now on the look out for a can of compressed air so I can give it another go.  Tim made it look so easy.

Here's my finished tag ....

I stuck to Tim's colours and overall Tag design and added a few of my own bits - extra stamping on the actual tag,  some bunting and a little more baker's twine.
The stamps I've used are ..... the Union Jack from the Indigo Blu 'Pomp and Pageantry' set and 'Firework Frenzy' from Butterfly Kisses. 

Because of all we have to celebrate at the moment over here in the UK, I suppose this challenge should have been easy for me.  I'm afraid my heart wasn't in it this time though.   However  I did get a result in the end.  Well, I couldn't miss one out could I.
I promise I'll try harder with the next one.  Roll on August's Tag.

I've had a little helper around the house today.  Isn't it strange how housework and cooking are so much more fun when a 22 month old joins in ......

He's fast asleep in bed now, the little angel.  I can put my feet up and relax, with a well deserved glass of something red, full bodied and Italian.

Cheers everyone!

Thanks for popping by.  Have a lovely weekend and I'll see you all again next week.

Linda

x

The weekend starts here

WANTED - ONE MOJO (preferably before the end of the week!)

Good evening everyone,
Well I hope your Monday has gone a little better than mine.  Technology has been playing games with me again (arghhh!) - and my mojo seems to have gone walkabout.  If anyone spots it please send it back, I really need it this week!
First thing this morning was to finish off a birthday card I started yesterday (more about that some other time).  Once that was out of the way I decided it was time I started Tim's Tag for June. 12 Tags of 2012 That's when the trouble started. 

After searching through mountains of photographs and not being able to find a single black and white one, can you believe it,  I decided to see what was still on my camera that I could play about with.
There were a couple on there that I thought would be ok so off I go.  BIG problem, my printer thought they would look better in GREEN!   OK, No problem I can sort that I thought, so I tried again. No, still green.  I tried printing a colour photo.  That was green too. 
OK, lets check ink cartridges.  Half full -  hmm they should be ok, but, I thought I would put new ones in anyway.  I even cleaned the print heads and decided to re-calibrate the machine.  Try again .......  slight change, this time they were BLUE (so was the air in my craft room I can tell you).  I even tried printing pictures downloaded from the internet but no, they were blue too.  June's tag was not going well.

The afternoon got a little better.  After an short, and expensive, trip into town with my son I had another think about how to do this tag.

I suddenly remembered that I do have one black and white photograph but I really didn't want to start messing around with it.  I have a copy of it framed but the original is safely put away.  Time was running out though, I had to get my tag done today, so off I went to get the photo.
It's the only photograph I have of my Mum.  It was taken over sixty years ago and I'm not one hundred percent sure, but I think she would be in her early to mid 20's.  The picture is of her and her sister, my mum's the one on the right.  Sadly neither of them are still with us.  I lost my Mum, Dorothy, in November 2001 and then Auntie Hilda in 2008.  You can understand why I didn't want to mess with it.  Anyway I had a thought, could I possibly get the printer to COPY this.  (drumroll.......) TaDa!!  Yes I could, and here's the result ....

Sisters

I must admit, this was a tough tag for me.  I had virtually none of the things Tim had used, except for the inks.  Even the stains weren't the ones I had - except Picket Fence. (need to put that right - SOON)   I went with Victorian Velvet and Bundled Sage for the background, which doesn't look too bad.   The stamp is the large script one from his Papillon set from last year.  The one I used on the photograph is from a Hero Arts clear set.   It took me a couple of attempts at colouring the picture (good job I'd done a few copies)  In the end I tinted my photo with Bundled Sage and Spun Sugar, the Victorian Velvet was a little too dark.  It's not all that clear in the photo, but in real life you can tell.
The paper is from Tim's Vintage Shabby Paper Stack.  It was already out on my workdesk thank goodness, because I hadn't even thought about which paper to use.
I had some of the trinkets but not all, I do need to stock up again. (Ooh, looks like I'm going craft shopping!)   In the end there's a right old mix of things on there.  
What do you think?  I'm quite pleased with the result, considering how much I struggled with it.  I don't know if I would do this technique again but it was nice to give it a try.  Thanks Tim!

I guess I need to buy a new printer now.  Another thing to add to my list.  See, what do I keep saying .... cross one thing off, add something else on.  I'll get to the end of it one day.

Thanks for popping by.  Don't be shy, please leave me a comment, I love to know what you all think. And if you've taken part in Tim's Tag's of 2012 this month I'll do the same over on your Blog.

Bye for now.

Linda

x

Tim's Tag done and the TT Races start

Hello from a beautiful sunny Isle of Man,
I'm guessing the weather is just as nice where you are, I hope it is anyway.  We're certainly having a lovely bank holiday weekend, and the 2012 TT races have got off to a good start.
Practice week started last night and now that we've moved, we're not far from the start line. We can hear the noise of the bikes when we're in the garden.  Christopher and I had a walk down there last night to take a look at what was going on.

Now I'm not really into motorbikes but the TT is massive over here.  Last year, we'd only been on the island a matter of a few days when it all started.  Stephen was lucky enough to win 2 VIP tickets for Senior Race day in a raffle at work.  We had a great day with food and drinks thrown in.  We got seats up on the Grandstand right over the pit area, access to the tower where all the press etc., go.  Start line access at the beginning of the races which was fun, and we could even go around the paddock area where all the bikes were being prepped.  Unfortunately he didn't win any this year but as we're so close to the startline now we may just wander down there.

I've had some well deserved me time today and I've finally managed to do my version of Tim's Tag for May. 12 Tags 0f 2012   Well, I couldn't not find time to do this months seeing as I was one of the lucky winners in April.  I still can't quite believe that.  I've had so many fantastic comments from all over.  Thank you all so much for taking the time to visit my blog, I really do appreciate it.  I've had over 900 views on that particular post which is just incredible!!

Here's this months offering, I took the picture outside because it was such a nice day, but I think I've lost some of the colours, see what you think. I hope you like it ...........

Tim's 12 Tags - May

As usual I didn't have all the products that Tim used but I got there in the end.  I really enjoyed doing this one and I think it's become my current favourite.
I started off following Tim, except that I stamped in a grey ink.  I also decided to stamp the dress form again in a different colour, I went for Rose Red ink from Stampin Up! I cut off the bottom bit and added some pretty green tulle with fabric roses to make a skirt, and I tied a little tulle around the waist for a belt.  I attached this over the top of the stamped dress form with a dot of silicone glue to add dimension.  I love this colour combination, reminds me of summer (goes with the weather we're having), and I managed to find some bits of seam binding that matched.  I knotted them together with a piece of the same in cream.
I hadn't got any mini coathangers but I did find in my trinket box, a sewing machine charm which I added to the side with an Idea-ology clip.

My paper roses are not exactly like the ones on Tim's tag, I don't have the melt pot.  I did try using a home-made foil tray and some UTEE but I wasn't happy with the results so I had a re-think.  In the back of a drawer I found a bottle of liquid embossing ink that I'd had forever and decided to give that a try.  I poured some onto my craft sheet and dipped the flowers into the ink, then used clear embossing powder over the top and heated.  The results were ok, not as shiny as using UTEE but I quite liked the effect.

I cut the bobbin in grunge board, from the Sewing Room Alterations die, inked it with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink and wound some thread around it.  Used it to form the vase for the roses, added a couple of pins and a little piece of knotted seam binding to finish it all off.

It's a lot more girly than Tim's tag, (again!) but I think it's very ME.

Thanks for popping by.  I'm off now to enjoy the last of the afternoon sunshine, before cooking dinner.  Tidying the mess in my craft room can wait until tomorrow.

Bye for now

Linda

x

Oh no! It's Friday the 13th .......

Good morning everyone, 
Happy Friday 13th. I hope today's a good day for you all.
Doing household stuff yesterday didn't last very long. I made the bed and tidied the bedroom. Did a pile of ironing whilst watching 'This Morning'.  Entered their competition to win £50000, not much chance of that I know, but, you have to be in it to win it! Entered online so at least it didn't cost me anything.  I emptied the dishwasher and cleaned the kitchen, and that was it.  I'd had enough at that point so off to the craft room I went.  Well, I still had my Tag to do for April.
Yes, it's that time again. Tim's tag has been up there for 2 weeks nearly and I hadn't even started mine.   Check out his blog to see what he came up with. 12 Tags of 2012
As usual I didn't have all the products that he's used, I'm still waiting to get my hands on the new Bird on a Branch die.  So I had to see what was in my stash that would inspire me to create a similar look.
Here's my finished tag

It's a little more feminine than Tim's, I like the addition of the flowers and a little bit of pink, adds a touch of Spring.

Products used ....
#8 Manilla Tag
Tim Holtz Reflections Stamp
Sizzix Oval Frame Embossing Folder
Sizzix Caged Bird Bigz Die
SizzixTattered Florals Border Die
Grunge Board
Distress Inks - Wild Honey/Stormy Sky/TumbledGlass/Broken China/Gathered Twig/Vintage Photo/Old Paper

Black Archival Ink
Perfect Pearls Mist - Pearl
Vintage seam binding
Chain/jump rings/tiny clip/Adage ticket
Pearls

I did some of the techniques he used - stamped on the embossing folder with the reflections stamp before embossing the tag through the Big Shot, used the distress inks to highlight the embossed areas and colour the tag. Instead of misting my craft mat at the end, to pick up the excess ink, I spritzed some water into my hand and then splashed it onto the tag. I used kitchen roll to mop up any excess water, this takes some of the ink out and creates a 'mottled' look.  You can just about see this in the photo.
The bird cage was cut from grunge board and then coloured using Old Paper Distress ink.  It was then spritzed, very generously, with the Perfect Pearls.  I was hoping to get a nice shiny metalic look to the cage.  I think it worked.
The leaves could do with a little inking around the edges I think, but it's not bad.
I think I'm all crafted out for this week.  I need to give my room a good tidy and put some things away, ready to start again.

Thanks for popping by.  I hope you've enjoyed my ramblings this week.  Have a lovely weekend wherever you are, and whatever it is you're doing.
Bye for now

Linda

x

Tag 2

Happy Weekend!
I hope you're all doing something nice this weekend.  We're having a quiet one I think, busy week next week. We're going across to the UK next weekend and I can't wait. We're going to catch up with family, and I'm off to spend time with my crafting buddies.  It's going to be loads of fun!!
I've had a lovely week this week with birthday wishes, and surprises arriving daily. Thank you everyone. My new camera arrived on Friday (another present from Hubby), so I'm looking forward to having a play with that.  Hopefully I'll be able to get good pictures now.  Bear with me though, it may take some getting used to - I'm no photographer!
I've spent quite a bit of time in my craft room this last couple of days, and boy can you tell.  I've left it in a bit of a mess, but hey! what's new.  Unfortunately I can't show anything just yet as it's all been stuff for birthdays that are coming up, and Mother's Day. Don't want anyone to spot their card before their big day.
The one thing I can show you though, is my March Tag for Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2012.


http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/12-tags-of-2012/
This month's inspiration is Spring.  I love the little butterflies made with the Movers and Shapers Dies.  Unfortunately, like last month, I didn't have all the products that TH used but I managed to find something to do my version.
I've pretty much stuck to the design of his tag this month, except I wanted mine to be a little bit more feminine, so I used the blue and the pink papers from the 'Vintage Shabby' paper stash, and added some vintage seam binding and a few pearls. Hope you like it.

The mosaic technique was really fun to do, a bit fiddly because the pieces were so small, but I think it's very effective. It's a technique that I will do again, on something a little bigger next time!  I didn't have the Antiquities embossing powder or anything that was similar (Note to self:  must look for that at next craft show!) so in the end I went for a Cosmic Shimmer Embossing powder in Steel Blue Aurora.  I think it turned out ok.  The woodgrain background stamp is a Hero Arts one that I've had on my shelf for ages, and I haven't really used it that much. At least doing these tags, I'm going through my stash searching for product to use, and I'm finding stuff that I'd forgotten I had.  You never  know what you'll find when you start looking!
Have a lovely weekend whatever it is you're doing. Thanks for stopping by.

Cheerio for now

Linda

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