Whilst we were travelling around Australia we visited Phillip Island, home of Tiny Penguins and beautiful shells. I found a shell similar to Tim’s stamp and recreated the colours from the original. It brings back so many happy memories.

The background ground for the shell was stamped with other images from the set. I used Potting Soil Archival Ink.  I used China Blue, Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers to colour the sea.

The Shell was created with the Distress Watercolouring – Part 2 technique in Tim Holtz Compendium of Curiosities 3 book. I can’t tell you any details, you need your own copy! I am entering Linda Ledbetter’s Challenge 20. There are some amazing prizes from Tim and Mario, plus the sponsor Funkie Junkie Boutique.

I decided to mount the shell on a small canvas, painted with Salty Ocean and Iced Spruce Distress Paint. I stencilled Dot Fade with pearlescent embossing paste. Then I layered burlap, scrunched vellum, dyed muslin, sparkly ribbon and chit chat stickers. I sewed the layers together.

I wanted to give the impression of the sea and rolling waves so I made small rolls with left over background paper and wired them with glass beads onto earring hooks. I poked holes in the canvas and threaded them through.

The seashell word was stamped and embossed with gold to stand out on the background. I love the sand effects behind the shell. I used Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw and Pumice Stone.

I was really inspired by this technique to create the canvas. Hope you enjoy looking at it!

Please leave me a comment, I love reading them!

Jan x

I loved making the front cover of my journal so much I made the back to match!  I used a Tim stencil to imitate Victorian wallpaper which I thought matched the picture. She looks a lost soul, I was attracted to this Found Relative. Maybe she is a sibling of one of the cowboys?

I used Grunge Paste through a Tim Stencil, then covered it in black gesso. I used Renaissance Treasure Gold to highlight the texture.

I followed the instructions for Challenge 19 on
Linda Ledbetter’s blog. Sorry I can’t give you details you NEED Tim’s b
ook Compendium of Curiosities 3 for yourself. The challenge is to use Frayed Fabric technique. The sponsor is Inspiration Emporium.

I used the Frayed Fabric technique on the butterfly, I think I am addicted!

Here you can see all the layers of burlap and eclectic elements fabric using the frayed fabric technique.

I am also entering A Vintage Journey Challenge to use Portraits. I love the Found Relatives pictures and have finally found how to use them!
I would like to enter the challenge at The Mirror Crack’d challenge for stencils.

I am pleased how the covers of the journal turned out, now the scary part of filling the pages! Hopefully I will have lots of inspiration!

Please leave me a comment I really appreciate your thoughts

Jan x

Wow I received a Pinworthy mention from A Vintage Journey!

I have had a fun afternoon playing with Tim Holtz frayed fabric technique. I had some of the charm squares from Eclectic Elements range. I sewed on some film strip, a stamped and inked tag plus some charms. I followed the instructions in Compendium of Curiosities 3. Sorry I can’t tell you any details because I am entering Challenge 19 on Linda Ledbetter’s blog. Check out the DT work there, lots of inspiration! There are some great prizes to be won from Inspiration Emporium.

I decided to use the fabric as part of the cover for a new journal. I am very hesitant to start the journal ( because it’s so new and clean) so this was a good start.
I used grunge paste through a stencil to get some background texture then covered it in black gesso. TOTAL disaster the gesso splurged out over my jeans and favourite jumper!! No I wasn’t wearing an apron, but then I wouldn’t want black over my Tim apron either. So quick change and clothes in the washing machine. Sorry I forgot to take photos after the incident.
I highlighted the texture with Treasure Gold, Renaissance and Oxonite, I think the colours complement the fabric.

I love this Found Relatives photo of the three little boys. The guy in the cowboy outfit reminds me of a cowgirl set I had in the 1950’s. I gave them a Kraft Card frame to show them off.

I am also entering Challenge 25 at A Vintage Journey. The challenge is To Use a Portrait, sponsored by Country View Crafts. I think the young cowboys are a great portrait. Check out the DT, some beautiful projects on the blog.

I hope you enjoyed looking at my work. Please leave a message, I do appreciate your comments.

Jan x

This months challenge was set by my new Team Mate, Pamellia.

“Christmas wrapping, gift bags, tinsel, ribbon, gift boxes, tissue paper, Christmas crackers, wine boxes, empty gift wrap rolls, Christmas cookie tins, even the images from the fronts of cards I received…you name, I hoard it!

Let’s put those bits to good use this month!”

Wow, this is my first challenge for Our Creative Corner as a member of the design Team!
The challenge is to recycle Christmas bits and bobs. I had collected a few things during the celebrations for my stash, a lovely box containing 3 pairs of Christmas socks, a handful of Christmas cracker pressies from my son in law’s posh work celebration ( everyone knows I collect stuff!) and some clothes labels and jingle bells.

I was particularly pleased with the box and cracker stuff as I had thought the box would be great for holding a mini album. The cracker stuff lent itself to embellishments for the album.

I die cut tags from Tim Holtz die then used distress paint and inks in seasonal colours to make wrinkle free distress effects. I used journal tickets to make pockets with tissue tape to fit small photos underneath. The robins were die cut in gloss paper then coloured with alcohol inks in traditional colours to complete the Christmas theme.

I am a great fan of silver plumbers tape, no idea what they use it for, but it is self adhesive, sticks beautifully to thin card and loves being dry embossed ( AND its very cheap!) I used a TH Christmas embossing folder, painted black paint over, then wiped off the paint when it had slightly dried to leave black in the recesses. I cut pieces to fit the 4 box sides. I die cut a TH snowflake from recycled corrugated card, ripped the smooth top off and glittered it. I also die cut a snowflake from plumbers tape on thin card and then embossed it with the corresponding folder. I had Snow Flurries on the edge die, so cut that from white card and glittered it with rock candy.

This is how I assembled the box. The snowflakes fitted on top of each other, the flurries slotted into the clear plastic in the frame. I added a piece of the silver emboss to cover the script on the box then added the ribbon and a TH metal embellishment that fitted.

Here is a view of the box side with the metal embossed card in place.

We had a fantastic visit to Kew Gardens at Christmas and had some lovely photos, so that inspired the title and the theme for the mini album. The title is die cut and glittered then mounted on the magnetic address book. I thought we could write the names and addresses of the friends we visited with on the pages.

I assembeled the mini pages, but the original red front cover did not work. I die cut a black tag, dry embossed with the TH holiday holder then used Treasure Gold to highlight the letters. (I hope you agree it looks much better.) I coloured the clip and keys with alcohol ink, rusted the lock with embossing powder and added ribbon and string to each tag page.

I am pleased with how the piece turned out, I didn’t use the clothes tags as they didn’t fit but are saved in my stash for next time. The jingle bells were too big and bulky but will be saved!

I hope you enjoy making a mini album to keep your memories too. I get a good feeling recycling discarded bits and bobs.

Our Creative Corner is sponsored by Nice Crane Designs. You could be the lucky Random.org winner who will win a gorgeous selection of treats from our Sponsor this month Nicecrane Designs.

Happy New Year!

Jan x