Say it with wood . . .

Hello eP friends, I hope you all had a fabulous Easter weekend!

It`s Tracy here today and I am so happy to be sharing a project that comes from the heart.

I am always looking for ways to create something a little bit special for a friend or family member, to let them know I appreciate them and love them for who they are.

 Sooooo if you know me then you know how much I loooove creating art on wood . . . oh yes I do indeedy  and it just happens to be the theme for this months

 e Play challenge 

be sure and check it out plus all the inspiration from the  DT and other entries here.

 My project started out as this humble chunk of wood.

 A quick pencil sketch and a new love of mine Dylusions Ink Sprayed onto my craft mat and brushed on the background . . . I love how the ink color sings.

For the skin tone I mixed a little Yellow Ochre Pan Pastel with Gesso. 

Seriously if you haven`t tried this with your PP`S then you must, once mixed it`s really creamy.

Her hair is a mixture of Black, Neutral Grey, Titanium White Pan Pastels with a littleTim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut Stain thrown in.

 At this point I yet again got carried away, I played around adding splats, more Dylusions and a wee bit doodle doodle dooing . . . 

A few words to describe the person who will be gifted this using

Dina Wakely`s Mixed Media Stamps . . 

She is brave

She is bold

She is fierce 

in her

 love for others and will always be there for you no matter what!

Can you make out the beautiful glaze, I used a versamark ink pad then sprinkled UTEE and used a heat tool to set.

I did this 3 times for a smooth finish and she was done.

She isn`t perfect but she was created from my heart to let someone know how special they are.

A little reminder that when things are tough just how 

Fierce, Bold and Brave

 they are!!!

Do you know someone who needs a reminder?

Then grab a few supplies and a chunk of wood and make something special to remind them.

Thank you so much for looking.

Have a great week

Till next time

xoxoxo

List of materials -

Chunk of wood

Dina Wakely Mixed Media Stamps- All for the Gals

Dylusions Ink Sprays

Tim Holtz Distress Ink pad

Pan Pastels from Mixed Media sets 1& 2

Be Brave with Dina Wakely`s Mixed Media All For the Gals Stamps

Hello sweet friends, Tracy here today to share a quick, messy, painty, ink splattered journal page featuring 

Dina Wakely`s Mixed Media Stamps 

All for the Gals Set

I am all in a " TIZ " at the ideas that are running through my head right now . . . I am so in  loooove with them!!

Kim has them on Pre Order in the shop and they should be in any day now.

I managed to get my painty mitts on them here in the UK, woohoo.

This was me tonight being brave 

as

 I headed out to the shed, with not a thought in my head

except

to have fun, get messy and play!

 I started with a quick splodge of Gesso to my old book page, followed by a mixture of

Dylusion Ink Sprays

a smidgen or two of

Pan Pastels

and

 a splatter or circle or two 

with

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Black Soot.

{ Massive apologies for no step by step pics today, I did get bold and carried away }

The tag was created on a 7 Gypsies Naked Tag . . . another loooove, lol!

A quick splodge of Gesso first

followed by

Inking up the stamp with an Archival Ink Pad

 Mixing up a little Pan Pastel with Gesso for her skin tone

Spraying Dylusion inks onto my craft sheet and brushing it on loosely 

before

Adding a few touches of  a script stamp

and

My doodle doodle doo`s.

Lurking around my shed, sitting gathering dust was a bottle of

Aged Artists Varnish

I have no idea how to use it 

or

what it`s for

but in the

Spirit 

of

Discovery

I gave it a shake

and

GULP

grabbed a cleanish rag

and

oh my giddy aunt

I quickly, nervously

rubbed it all over 

the result . . .

It has a beautiful aged gloss to the page, I wish the pictures could do it justice.

 

My sewing machine is feeling poorly at the moment, sigh . . . but I wanted thread on my page and thread I was going to have.

I dug around my sewing box which I inherited, it`s full of the most beautiful old threads on wooden bobbins and I came across this black linen thread . . . scrummy yummy and as I chopped some up it fell into circles all on it`s own . . . bliss!

A few of the sentiments from the set was all that was needed to finish the page.

That`s all from me today my friends

till next time

Happy Crafting

xoxoxo

List of materials and links to the eP Store -

Dina Wakely Mixed Media Stamps - All for the gals

7 Gypsies Naked Tags

Dylusion Ink Sprays - Lemon Zest, Vibrant Turquoise, London Blue

Pan Pastels - mixed media set 1 & 2

Tim Holtz Ink Pad Black Soot

Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gesso

Love Life everyday using a second hand old book . . .

Hello sweet friends, Tracy here today and can I just tell you all how excited I am to be sharing my love for second hand books with you all . . . I loooove them!

Tatty, battered, rustly, pages missing, corners turned down, signatures inside . . .

 that`s what I call a book that`s lived and has character, my favourite,lol.

I have two to show you, inspired by Christy Tomlinsons She Art Workshop

and 

the ever so talented Karen who is hosting this months 

ePlay Challenge - Alter a book.

You can find all the details for this months challenge HERE

 This is going to be my new art journal book, I usually forget about the covers . . . but not this time!

I want something to inspire me to pick it up and play.

Apologies in advance to you all,  I seem to be doodling She Art girls at the mo, always with half a face, hahaha!

Anyhoo I applied Gesso first, the pigment in the old cover bled slightly but that`s okay I can go with the flow.

A quick doodle when it was dry and then out came some Dylusions Ink Sprays, a little scoosh onto my craft mat and then applied with a brush to give my girlie some hair, lovely loose strokes.

I just kept adding colour, drying with a heat tool, adding more and drying until I was happy.

I also used a touch of Dylusions Ink Spray in Pure Sunshine as well  . . .  

just typing that name makes me happeeeee . . . mad I know.

A few doodles doodle doo`s because I do love to doodle doo.

The background was created by first applying the green Pan Pastel from Mixed media Kit 1 and then fixing the color with cheap hairspray.

Now more scooshey fun with Dylusions Ink Sprays in a few green shades and then applying them with a brush.

A touch of Distress Stain in Vintage Photo around the sides to add a touch of age and shadow.

A few Idea Ology Chit Chat Stickers and then a light coat of Faber Castell Gel Medium all over to protect it and I was done.

Now I have had time to have a wee play inside . . . wanna see?

I used a mixture of Pan Pastels and Dylusions Ink Sprays to color me doodle doo.

 Guess who is going on holiday in a Gypsy Caraven in July?

Whoooo . . . Yes Me, Alex and the mad pooch Rosie!

I am getting sooooo excited, can you tell, hahahaha.

 Here`s my other altered journal.

This one is full of texture and I kinda love her blue colored hair, more pictures of this one and step by step on my blog HERE 

if you want to see more.

Well that`s about it from me today except to say

thank you for taking the time to look

and 

I hope I have inspired you to go grab a book and get altering!

Be sure and check out the challenge

 plus

 you will see some of the most

Inspirational Journals from the rest of the team right HERE

Till next time

XOXOXOX

List of materials and links -

Gesso

Faber Castell Gel Medium

Pan Pastels from Mixed media sets 1 & 2

Dylusions Ink Sprays

Idea Ology Chit Chat Stickers

 Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Vintage Photo

Love Is Incredible . . .

 Hello sweet friends, Tracy here today and it feels so good to be back and sharing a little of my art with you all!

The lovely Broni is the host for this months

Get Altered Challenge

and the theme is

Altered Playing cards

Pssst you still have time to join in the fun!

I scratched my head and hummed and hawed . . . but I kept coming back to home, my boys, Alex and Rosie 

{ she`s the mad wee terrier,lol }

So time to get the old book out and create a journal page!

 A quick coat of Gesso followed by some Stenciling and Paste, Distress Paints & Stains with a touch of Pan Pastels thrown in and it was ready to add the details.

First up, preparing the playing cards, quick rub down with the sanding block followed by a splodge of Gesso.

They make great little houses with the addition of some prrretty scraps of paper.

Time to add some of my doodle doodle doo`s . . .

{ Just saying doodle doodle doo`s makes me happeee }

. . . and it started to look like this.

See the swirling puffs of smoke from the chimneys . . . Gesso dabbed on with my fingers.

 { The words I have had in my stash for a while, sorry but I don`t know who the manufacturer is. }

 Apologies in advance . . . I got really carried away at this point and started to add more doodle doo`s, Paints, Stains, Stamps, more pretty scraps of paper, lace trim, flowers and Distress Rock Candy Glitter to the teeny tiny windows.

I had some lovely red embroidery thread, so out came the needle to add a wee touch of stitching for that homespun feel.

This page is dedicated to my family.

My boys are spreading there wings and starting to fly the nest, but one thing for is for sure . . .

wherever they may be part of my heart will always go with them!

Well that`s all from me today, I hope you enjoyed having a look inside my old tatty book.

Remember you still have time to get creative with playing cards!

Till next time

Tracy

XOXOXO

List of materials and links to the eP Store -

Graphic 45 Papers

Tim Holtz Distress Paints

Tumbled Glass, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Picket Fence

Tim Holtz Distress Stains

Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Peeled Paint

Tim Holtz Distress Glitter Rock Candy

Pan Pastels Mixed Media Set 1  

Inkssentials Glossy Accents 

Wendy Vecchi Polka Dotty Stencil

Faber Castell Gel Medium

Idea- Ology Sanding Grip Block

Save the date . . .

Hello eP friends, Tracy here today and it`s so good to be back and sharing a little of my art with you all!

In my design team package, I had the most adoreable little rulers from Maya Road { swooooon } thank you Kim!

Cute, cute, cute!

What was I to do with them, hmmmmmm?

A layout, bindings for mini books, cards . . . the list went on and on I can tell you, but inspiration came from another project I had created involving cakes . . . mmmmmm!

A little project on wood using Gesso, Scrap paper and Pan Pastels.

. . .loving the cakes, lol . . . so what if I used the little rulers as a frame and an old book page for the background.

I backed them onto cardboard packaging to add some strength.

 Time to mix up a little Yellow Ochre Pan Pastel with Gesso. I smooched it on with my fingers, making sure to let the words and parts of the design on the rulers show through.

 Now I have to apologise, I got so wrapped up creating the cake that I forgot to snap any more pictures.

But here is a close up of the finished confection . . .

Layers of pretty paper

A sprinkling of roses { Distress Stain }

A frosting of Distress Clear Rock Candy 

{ I wish you could see how much this sparkles }

A little doodle doodle doo`s

and

 letters snipped from old book pages to finish.

 I went on to add a little Permanent Red Pan Pastel onto the background with my finger, before applying more Yellow Ochre, Titanium White and Black Pan Pastels around the frame.

How cute this would be made into special cards for an engagement , or as an embellishment to mark a special occasion . . . or . . . or . . . giggling here because my brain has just exploded with about another dozen ideas . . . watch this space,lol!

Be sure and leave us a link if you do in the comments, we would all love to see your creations.

I hope you enjoyed my post today and maybe you will be inspired to grab a few supplies and get creating yourself.

Till next time

Big hugs

XOXOXOX

Materials and links to the eP Store -

Maya Road- Measure Once, Cut Twice Wood Embellishments

7 Gypsies Harmony Paper Pad Collection

Pan Pastels - Exploring Mixed Media Sets 1 & 2

Tim Holtz Distress Stain Fired Brick

Tim Holtz Distress Glitter - Clear Rock Candy

Inkssentials Glossy Accents

Love Letters Whimsical Wood Art . . .

 Hello sweet friends, it`s Tracy here today and I am so happy to be back here with a little more of my wood art to share with you all.
For my Christmas, Mum and Dad purchased a workshop by Junelle Jacobsen { loooooove } called
The Art of Wild Abandonment
and slowly I am starting to feel my mojo returning from a looong holiday away, lol!

My inspiration -
As Valentine draws nearer and nearer, I have been remembering the Love Letters that my husband Alex wrote for me . . . oh back in 19 canteen, lol . . . I still have each and everyone he gave me, treasures that money can`t buy.

 Recognise the pretty papers . . . the deelish Graphic 45 papers leftover from my Christmas journal.
{ Psssst . . . Kim has a sale going on right now and let me tell you . . . yummy papers galore are included, check it out here }
I quickly coated the block of wood with Gesso and while it was drying snipped out my girls skirts and legs.

Using Multi Matt Medium I fixed all the parts in place . . . oh see the little teeny tiny letters . . . old book pages stuck together, add Gesso and outline with a black fine liner pen . . . c...u...t...e!

I just kept adding touches of Gesso randomly with my fingers, also adding Pan Pastels as they are and to the Gesso as well for all the smudges of colour.
Now if you know me, you know how much I love to
Doodle Doodle Doo , mmmmmm got to love the doodles,lol!
  Plus I think it helps to bed the papers in and give them some life, not quite so flat looking.

I added a few more tiny envelopes as if they were falling from her pocket, little lace trim and  alpha stickers.

As our lovely Sue is hosting the Get Altered Challenge with the theme being Hearts and it seems like forever since I have been able to join in the fun, what love letters would be complete without some hearts!
You still have time to enter my friends, just click HERE to see Sue`s project and all the entries.

  Was I finished . . . nope not quite . . .

The legs weren`t doing it for me, out with more paper scraps to make some wellies, touch more Pan Pastels mixed with Gesso and I was happeeeee.
{ my hands were singing with the joy of getting messy again at last! }

A little wire wrapped around the block of wood, twisting the ends to make a jump ring along with a little tag.
From scraps of wood and paper to a memory block for Alex for Valentines day!
Thank you so much for letting me share a little part of me with you all and I hope you enjoyed following along.
Till next time
Happy Crafting!

List of materials from the eP Store -
Pan Pastels Mixed Media Sets 1, 2
Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gesso
Claudine Hellmuth Multi Matt Medium
Faber Castell Gel Medium
For deeelish papers be sure to check out the Clearance sale for great deals HERE
Alpha Stickers - sorry not sure the manufacturer had them in my stash a while but you will find more in the store HERE