Blog Break

Hi everyone x Just wanted to let you know that I am taking a break from blogging, however, I can be found on Instagram sharing my crafty makes there xx 

Sending my best wishes to you all

Annie xx

Merry Christmas at A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone I hope you are well and keeping safe xx Christmas will be quite different for many of us this year as spending time with family and friends is acceptable but not recommended.  On a positive note we are informed there is light at the end of the tunnel as vaccines become available in the UK/aroud the world.

Over at A Vintage Journey this month the Creative Guides have created Artist Trading Cards for our last ever challenge. It is with great sadness that this amazing challenge blog is ending, however, due to many changes with blogger,  various platforms now available to showcase your crafty makes AVJ has seen less peeps visiting,  commenting and participating in our challenges.

Brenda has explained our ending beautifully  on the challenge blog and you can read it by clicking HERE

When AVJ started out we were creating in the style of Tim Holtz, therefore I decided to create my Merry Christmas ATC's using his products. I do apologise for the poor quality of the photographs, which appeared fine until I edited them.

Below you can view my "Farewell" ATC, again in a vintage shabby style, using lace/ribbon etc from my stash, together with Tim's Paper Dolls and leaf dies.

I have had the most amazing time being part of A Vintage Journey as a Creative Guide. I have learned so much and been inspired by my uber talented teamies/friends both past and present. (I have also been fortunate to meet with many of them too x ) So much inspiration has also been provided by  AVJ followers and entries to our challenges and although I shall miss that I have managed to catch up with quite a few peeps on Instagram. So "Farewell" to AVJ it has been a blast but I think it's the right time as with any journey we frequently change direction. 

Best wishes and thank you for all the lovely comments left over the years. I have treasured memories and I am sure I will keep in touch with my friends at AVJ x

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2021

Best wishes

Annie xx

"Numbers" is the theme at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog

Hi everyone x I do hope you are keeping safe while we weather this global pandemic. With numbers rising again it continues to be a real concern, particularly for the vulnerable. It is at times like this that I am grateful to have various crafts to keep me occupied x

Today sees the beginning of a new monthly challenge over at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog, where I am on of the creative guides. As host for this month I chose the theme  "Numbers" and it's up to you how you use them in your creations. Here are the details :

"Numbers is our challenge theme for this month and we would like to see them being a focal point in your project entries. 

You can use stencils, die cuts, fussy cuts or rub ons, rust them up, use texture paste or paint them, the decision is yours as long as the numbers are prominent. Just remember to create your project in one of our preferred styles: vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk."

 

I created a shadow box using a  Tim Holtz Vignette Tray and also used many of Tim's products.

More photographs and a step by step process will be shared on the AVJ blog in 2 week's time. 

I do hope that you can find time to create and join in with us as the challenge runs until 18:00 hours on the 5th November.

 To view the  fabulous challenge projects created by my fellow creative guides please click HERE 

Thank You for dropping in x

 

Take care and keep safe

Annie xx 

Cogs, Gears & Textures at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog

Hi everyone x Hope you are keeping safe and well xx This month the challenge theme  at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog is being hosted by the very talented Ann Chuang of  Ann Chuang Crafts Blog

Here is what Ann has to say about the challenge theme:

"Let us see you create amazing textures on your cogs and gears. Embossing powders, pastes, rusting or gilding waxes, acrylics ..... whatever your imagination suggests. Just remember to create your project in one of our preferred styles: vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk"

My project started off with a Ranger size 10 kraft tag, which was smooshed through Speckled Egg and Vintage Photo Distress Ink spritzed with water. Once a few layers of the inks were dried I took an embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot, creating texture. Vintage Photo Distress Ink was then applied to a stipple type brush and applied over the cogs and gears, together with some patina cream.

One of Tim's stamps was inked with Coffee archival and you can see some first and second generation stamping. A Cog/Gear stencil finished the background of the tag.

Metal Cogs and gears were then adhered to distressed butterflies, which are also from the Tim Holtz Sizzix range. To raise the butterfly wings, creating some depth to the tag, I adhered some foam pads. Sadly the depth is not so obvious in the photographs.

For more inspiration you can view the challenge projects created by my fellow teamies by clicking  HERE

The challenge runs until Thursday 1st October at 18:00 hours. I do hope you can join in with us as we love to view your entries and to be inspired by your take on the theme. There is also a Pinworthy badge to display on your blog if you are one of the top 3 projects chosen by my fellow creative guides.

Thank You so much for dropping in today and I look forward to catching up with you on your own blog xx

Take Care, Keep Safe and Happy Crafting

August Tag You're It Challenge Theme @ A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone x Where have the last 4 months of lockdown gone and now we are in August !!!

I do hope that you are all well and staying safe xx I have never been so grateful for crafting and having a garden xx They have enabled me to focus whilst we try to suppress this awful virus xx

Over at A Vintage Journey challenge blog  my lovely talented teamie Amanda is our host and she has chosen "Tag You're It", for her challenge theme. 

Here is what Amanda has to say about the challenge:

"We would love to see what you create with, or on, hang tags. Your hang tags can be created from any material or be any size. We would just love to see that iconic hang shape front and centre in your design.  Just remember to create your project in one of our preferred styles: vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk."

I decided to alter a tag to make a home decor piece  

First of all I die cut a piece of corrugated card using a Sizzix Framelits Tag die by Tim Holtz. You can see that the Pediments Die by Tim was also used as I wanted to hide the top of the tag, hanging it on to a piece of found driftwood once complete. Tim Holtz Speckled Egg Distress Paint was applied to the corrugated card and pediment die and once dry That's Crafty Crackle Glaze was spread over using a brush. ( apparently you can use a spatula but thats not something I have tried as yet) A further coat of Speckled Egg paint was applied and, using a baby wipe, some Wild Honey Distress Paint was administered. Using Ranger Collage Medium some of Tim's tissue paper and a book page from my stash were adhered. As you can see the driftwood was also coated with paint and a torn book page adhered.

 To give stability I die cut another piece of cardboad, which was adhered to the back of the corrugated cardboard.

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Flutter stamps were inked using Archival in Potting Soil, once dry some Speckled Egg DIO, that was applied to my heat mat and spritzed with water, was used to watercolour the butterflies and I just love the softness provided. Picket Fence Distress Paint was placed here and there in small lines/dabs, providing a variation to the gold splatters, created using Aqua Bronze Rich Pale Gold Powder mixed with water.  ( Splatters more visible in the main pic)

The driftwood and pediment.

Below you can see a slide that was created using a Stamp & Die Set by Paperartsy, (HPSD02)

I also placed some acetate within it and the stamped butterfly and little tab next to it are from Tim Holtz Field Notes stamp set. The slide and stamps were aged using Vintage Photo Distress Ink, which was also applied to the edges of the tag and driftwood, providing some definition to the edges. Wire was then used to attach the wood and altered tag hanging.

Thank You so much for dropping in today and I hope you can join in with this fun challenge. You can view more inspiration by my talented teamies and  the challenge details over at A Vintage Journey by clicking  HERE

We love it when you join in and there is a chance to be a Vintage Journey Pinworthy, with a badge for your blog.

Take care and stay safe

It's Tag Friday @ A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog

Hi everyone xx I hope you are well and staying safe x Today I am sharing a shabby chic tag that I created for AVJ . Whenever there are five Fridays in the month we have a tag Tag Friday post, which followers/visitors can enter x

It has been some time since I heat embossed some stamped images on top of Tim's new distress ink release "Speckled Egg" It's such a lovely soft colour and works well with the white embossing powder that I used. The stamp is one of Tim's and if youwant to know which stamp set just asks as I dont have it to hand right now x

The lace has been in my stash for ages and it was lovely to play with them, laying various pieces until I was happy. The cluster on the bottom are fussy cut digital images and the butterfly is punched using Tim's die, which is a favourite of mine.

To view the other tags created by my fellow Creative Guides just click HERE

There's also time to enter our monthly challenge, "Watercolour Wonders", which Deb is hosting, so why not check it out. There is plenty of inspiration on our blog too and Barbara has provided a wonderful card -making post using Tim Holtz thinlits dies.

Take care and hope to see you there

Happy Crafting xx

Card and Box using Eileen Hull Dies

Hi everyone xx I hope that you are all keeping safe but enjoying life as best as we can in view of restrictions in place to suppress this awful virus xx Today I am sharing a card and box that I made some time ago using Eileen Hull's Display Stand and CD box. They were inspired by my lovely friend and AVJ teamie, Jennie Atkinson, of Live The Dream Blog. You can find Jennie's post HERE

I have previously shared this post on Instagram , along with a few other designs using the display stand, so many of you have possibly seen it there xx 

 

Sending my best wishes to you

Happy Crafting

Tag Friday @ A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone x I hope that you are keeping safe during this globel health crisis. It's been some time since I last posted here on my blog and I note that blogger has changed slightly, at least on my pc x

Over at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog some of the creative guides and I are sharing tags with you. Whenever there are 5 Friday's in the month we provide some tag inspiration and you are welcome to participate along with us x Jennie's wonderful May Challenge "Beautiful Blooms" runs until 4th June  so there's still time to join in there too x

For my tag I decided to revisit some of the techniques demonstrated by Tim Holtz, which are in his book "Compendium of Curiosities" Volume 2. The technique I chose was enamelled stamping and you can view the background created in the photographs below. Broken China and Vintage Photo Distress inks were used.

The frame was also stamped in Archival Ink then heat embossed. Some Idea-Ology and a tile I made using digital papers by Astrid MacLean were adhered to complete the tag.

I do hope you can join in with us for our current challenge theme Beautiful Blooms and Tag Friday.

I have been so grateful for my crafts during this awful siutation we find ourselves in and I am sure you feel the same. Please be safe xx

Take care and Happy Crafting

We Are All Getting Older @ A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone xx I hope you had a lovely Christmas and I wish you a Happy and Creative New Year 2020 xx

It's time for a new challenge theme over at A Vintage Journey blog and Alison, whom many of you know as Butterfly, is our host.

Here is what Alison has to say about this month's challenge theme

"Time for weathering and distressing, or some ageing and antiqueing. Make a project using techniques for making the new look old, whether that's paper projects, altered art or mixed media. Just remember to ensure that you create in one of our preferred styles of vintage, shabby,mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk".

I decided to age a small canvas and papers/photos from my stash, using coffee, rusting powders, distress inks and splatters of gold powder.

I apologise for the poor quality photograph but it has been rather dark here in the West of Scotland the last few days, therefore I have had to take the photo indoors.

Here are a few photographs of the step by step :

To start the process some strong coffee was applied to the canvas, drying each layer before dripping, splatting etc.

You can view some of the coffee layers above.

Vintage Photo Distress Ink was then applied around the edges of the canvas, creating depth and intensity of colour.

Acrylic wax and rust powder, which is then sprayed with vinegar, was applied to the edges of the canvas.

Here you can view the rusted areas

The ageing process is quite dramatic in contrast to the original white canvas

Some splatters of gold really add to overall appearance.

I then began to layer papers, some of which were also aged with coffee and distress inks. Papers were adhered with Ranger Distress Collage Medium Crazing, again creating some texture.

The word 'Journey' was purchased from Calico Craft Parts and was adhered using cosmic shimmer glue.
Some Washi Tape, a tag, a stamp and a few fragments of paper provided the finishing touch.
We hope that you can join in with us for this fabulous new challenge theme, which if the first of the year.
For inspiration you can hop over to A Vintage Journey Challenge blog, where you can view the projects created by my fellow Creative Guides HERE

Thank You so much for dropping in xx Your visits are truly appreciated and I shall return the compliment xx

Take care and huge crafty hugs
Annie xx

It's Tag Friday at A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone xx Hope you are all good and getting ready for the weekend. As there are 5 Friday's in November the AVJ Creative Guides are sharing a variety of tags to inspire you. 

I am just sharing a sneaky peek so to see the whole tag you can visit HERE

I took one of Rangers Jumbo tags, one of Tim Holtz Christmas Stamps released inking them up with Archival Ink. 

Using my waterbrush I applied DI's to my craft mat, watered down the paint then applied colour to the poinsettia,  leaves, berries and pine cones. 

The sentiment in the middle is also by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous. Foliage and bow are from Tim Holtz Thinlits and you can see I used some Nuvo Drops for the red berries on some of the branches. Ranger Diamond Stickles were randomly applied using my  fingers. 

To finish off I applied a  Christmas Greeting die cut by JND. 

The centrepiece is raised using foam tape and I am not sure if you can see the Stickles glitter on areas of tag as the light was not at its best when I took the photograph.

Please pop over and leave some love at AVJ and there is still time to join in with Deb's November Challenge Theme, "Window To Your World", which ends on the 5th December 18:30 GMT.

To view the challenge details and travelling instructions, (which can be found on the sidebar), Click HERE

Thank You so much for dropping in today x Your visits mean so much.  Whatever you do have a lovely weekend

Happy Crafting

Annie xx

Inky Wings Tutorial at A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone today I am sharing the tutorial for this months Inky Wings challenge project over at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog. The challenge runs until the 31st October at 18:00 hours so you still have time to join us xx

You may remember I left you a sneaky peek here on my blog, promising I would be back on the 18th of October with the project details. Click the link HERE, which will take you to my blog post at AVJ. 

Below I am sharing the full photograph of my canvas, which I really enjoyed creating:

Have a wonderful weekend and I hope you get lots of time to create. As always thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment. They are truly appreciated xx

Huge hugs xxx

Inky Wings at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog

Hi everyone xx Hope you are good  and keeping cosy xx I cannot believe that we are now in October !!! It's been such a quick year xx Today I am sharing a sneak peek of my project created for A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog where I am hosting this month's challenge. 

 

To view the whole project please click HERE , which will take you to the AVJ blog where you can read the challenge details and be inspired by the amazing projects created by my fellow creative guides. 

The challenge runs until Thursday 31st Of October and we would love to have you join in with us xx

Huge Hugs & Happy Crafting

Box It Up at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog

Hi everyone x Hope you are all good x Today I am sharing my project for Julia's Box It Up Challenge, which starts today over at A Vintage Journey Blog HERE

Here is what Julia has to say 

"This month our theme is boxes! Perhaps you will make a trunk or suitcase, some kind of package to hold a gift, or maybe make a card or journal page showing presents. Just remember to ensure that you create in one of our preferred styles of vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk."

I decided to alter a matchbox using some papers/washi tape from my stash  as well as a stamp set by Paperartsy

 

First of all I measured then adhered some paper froms my stash. Some washi tape was then applied to the top and bottom of the matchbox. The Paperartsy stamp was inked with Ranger Archival then fussy cut.  

 Distress Markers and Promarkers were applied to the doll and a piece of lace adhered using glue/staples, providing her with a skirt to cover her modesty  x

Idea-ology spoons were attached using jump rings and  brads.

Using a piece of card from my stash I created a little folder in which I could place a gift within the matchbox x The stamps are also by Paperartsy.

 To view more more creations by my teamies please click HERE, which will take you to the AVJ blog.

The challenge runs until the Thursday the 3rd October at 18:00 hours. We dont have prizes but the Top 3 Pinworthies will receive a badge for their sidebar.

Take care and happy crafting xx

It's Tag Friday at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog

hello everyone xx I hope this post finds you well and that you have enjoyed the summer, even if it was a bit wet in  many areas of the UK. 

It has been a busy one for me with lots of "Special Birthdays" and weddings.  Thankfully the pace is slowing down and I am looking forward to having some time to enjoy creating in my craft room x I am still knitting and recently started to knit some socks for babies/toddlers, which are great for using up left over wool.

Below is the tag I am sharing over at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog. 

 

It is a Size 8 Manila Tag by Ranger, which was sprayed with Tim's new Distress Oxide Sprays. I really love the way the colours blend. I then stamped some text using a Paperartsy text stamp by Lin Brown. Some lace and paper from Paper Garden were adhered using glue medium on the back and front. The dress form stamp and die, which is by LaBlanche, was inked using Ranger Archival Sepia. Once cut it was edged using  a charcoal pencil, then adhered using foam tape, which gave some depth/dimension to the tag. Tim Holtz Transparent Wings were adhered on the front of the dress form and a pen nib used as the body of the butterfly.

For more tag inspiration please pop over to the AVJ challenge blog where my teamies are sharing their fabulous tags, with details on their own blogs, which you can view by clicking their name.
There is also a link enabling you to join in with this fun challenge xx

Have a lovely weekend and Thank You so much for  taking the time to visit.

Huge Hugs

Creative Card Making at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog

Hi everyone x Apologies for my lack of blogging but the last two months have been very busy with holidays and three Big Birthdays so I think I am finally catching up.!!! 

However, I have been able to leave some love on occasion and to post on Instagram. 

Anyway, its my turn to post a card tutorial over at AVJ today so here is a sneak peek of my card, which you can view by cliking HERE

Thank You so much for dropping in and leaving some love, which I always try to return. 

Have a lovely weekend whatever you are up to xxx

Tissue Paper is the challenge theme for June over at A Vintage Journey

Hi everyonexx As mentioned in my last post we have a new challenge theme for June over at the A Vintage Journey Blog. My lovely teamie and  dear friend Astrid is this month's challenge host and here's what she has to say about the challenge :

"There are many different ways you can incorporate tissue paper into your project - create texture by scrunching it up, stain it, paint it, wax it, stamp on it, emboss on it. You could use cheap tissue from the supermarket, recycle gift wrapping tissue, or even use old dressmaking patterns. Just remember to create in one of our preferred styles of vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk."

I have used a tissue napkin, separating the layers of tissue before adhering to the substrate with a glue medium.

 Gesso was applied to the large jumbo tag and one of Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Bookboard Frames.

The words Paris and Carte Postal, Fleur De Lys and date were stencilled using some Thats Crafty Light Texture Paste through Andy Skinner's stencil.

 Whilst the texture paste was drying I prepared my napkin, separating the tissue layers then trimming to fit.

 

 Some Decoart Timeless Chalk Paint was painted on to the Jumbo Tag and a coat of Decoart Raw Sienna was applied to the bookboard frame. Once dry Thats Crafty Crackle Glaze was applied to both substrates.

 A coat of Decoart Chalk Paint in Lace was then thinly applied to the tag and Bookboard with amazing effect.

 The tissue napkin was adhered using Ranger Glue medium and I thought that adding some torn pieces of tissue added to the aged effect I was trying to create. I love that the crackle can be seen through the tissue x

 Various Distress Inks, Vintage Photo, Bundles sage, Walnit Stain and Fired brick were gently applied over the tag and bookboard.

 Then some gilding wax on the raised stencilled areas.

Finally some charcaol was applied and blended around some of the waxed words/numbers.

Some  TH Idea-ology Paper Dolls with trasparent wings attached along with flowers  and a large butterfly from  TH Botanical Ephemera  and a chipboard quote completed the shabby vintage appeal I was trying to create.

I would like to enter this jumbo tag in to the challenge theme over at the Frilly and Funkie Blog, where the challenge is "Embellishments, Trinkets and Trims "
My embellishments are Tim's Idea-ology Paper Dolls, Botanical Ephemera, Quote chips and lace as well as some vintage ribbon at the top of the Ranger Jumbo Tag.

For even more inspiration please click HERE, which will take you over to theAVJ blog where you can see all the inspiration provided by my fellow Creative Guides xx

Thanks again for dropping in as its lovely to know you have visited and as always I will get back to you to view your crafty makes too xx

Huge hugs and Happy Crafting xx

Quick cards

Hello peeps x Just a couple of quick cards to share today using LaBlanche papers and ephemera along with some lace/muslin from my stash.

I absolutely love LaBlanche stamps/products and have some transfers to play with along with some shrink covers for bottles and jars, which I will share with you soon xxx

Have a great week and I shall see you on Friday when I am back with my DT creation for A Vintage Journey's June challenge theme xx

Huge Hugs and Happy Crafting xx

It's Tag Friday at A Vintage Journey Challenge

Hi everyone x As it's the 5th Friday in the month its time for our "Tag Friday Post" over at A Vintage Journey Challenge Blog. 

Some of my lovely team mates put together some amazing tags and share the details of their process too !!

There's also some  exciting news too !! To find out more click HERE

Meanwhile here is my tag :

 

 I started off by painting one of Rangers Manila tags in a very light brown chalk paint, then added some That's Crafty Crackle Glaze. Once dry I painted over some DArt Chalk Paint in Lace.

Distress Ink in Cracked Pistachio, Pickled Raspberry and Spiced Marmamlade was applied to the tag, followed by some stamping using Ranger Archival in Sepia. The Wildflower stamps are by Lynne Moncrieff for That's Crafty. (Lynne's Wildflowers Set 2)

The sentiment and butterflies are also from one of Lynne's stamp sets for Thats Crafty.( Lynnes Affirmations Set 1)

The butterflies were inked in Cracked Pistachio and Pickled Raspberry using a Ranger pen nib  to blend the colours.  Some  of Tim's Idea-ology was adhered to the butterflies. 

The sentiment was stamped on to some tea/coffee stained papers and a litle piece of lace added.

I then edged the tag in Black Soot DI to make the tag pop.

Thank You so much for dropping in and for leaving a comment x I really do appreciate the comments you leave and endeavour to repay the compliment. 

Huge Hugs and Happy Crafting

Surprise & A Few Journal Pages

Hi everyone xx I apologise for my absence but sometimes life gets in the way and I have been so busy with many things I have not found time to edit/post. However, having recently had a very special birthday I am now retired and hope to create/post on a more regular basis. 😄

Below is a signature for inside a journal, which I made whilst spending a crafty day with my lovely friend, Astrid MacLean, of Astrids Artistic Efforts  Blog and my mammy, Rita, of RMG Creations Blog.

Astrid creates the most amazing journals in her own unique style and on that day we decided to create a signature insert using altered papers, which were stained with coffee and tea, We also made some pockets for holding a note/tag as well as flaps where we could reveal a message or quote. 

It was such a fun day and you can see my signature below, which I am now starting to fill with various scraps of papers/stamps and vintage lace. 

 The cover above was from a Tim Holtz Paper Stash

 Tim Holtz Fragments stamps were inked with Archival Ink in Sepia and stamped here and there, then some papers  from my stash were cut and glued.

 Some hand writing to be applied on the flap, although I do love this quote. 

I do hope that you are all well and I send my best wishes and hope to visit your blogs over the next couple of days xx 😍😍