12 Tags of 2013 - In Review!

Just sharing one final video of all the fun I had playing along with 12 Tags of 2013.  There are lots of links included so that if anyone wants to see a tag in more detail they can and I have also included some links to other tag review videos I made in 2012.

It is fun to look back at all the fun I had and I think you will agree with me I do love to make a tag!!!!

Short but sweet today - I have a messy craft room with my name on it!!!!

Thank you for popping by x

Finally it is uploaded!!!!!

The video for my final 12 Tags of 2013 and I believe Tim will be posting the first tag of 12 tags of 2014 today!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Ooops sorry!  I hope that wasn't too loud for some of you ;-) tee hee!

Thank you for popping by X

12 Tags of 2013 - January!!!!!

Yippeee!  I have finished my tags for the 12 tags of 2013 challenge.  I have had a great time and hope that you have enjoyed the videos I have made of each of them.  Showing you how I got from Tim Holtz's inspiration to my interpretation!

Here is my January tag which although very late seems appropriate as we are about to head into January 2014!

I finished the tag at 3 this afternoon and have since waited for the movie file to upload to my Mac (went shopping whilst that happened)  At 5 I sat down to edit and at 7 ish I pressed the button to finalise the movie.  Apparently there are still 4 hours to go for that so I am not going to get it uploaded before Big Ben heralds in 2014 so it will be the very first movie I post for 2014.

I just wanted to take a moment as I share this tag with you to say a great big THANK YOU for your support and kindness throughout the year.  I hope that I have provided some inspiration along the way and I look forward to sharing more creativity and friendship with you in 2014.

I am not making my usual resolution to loose weight this year as it never works!  I am trying a little reverse psychology for that one ;-)  But I am resolving to do all I can to turn my passion for crafting into a healthy online workshop business and have lots and lots of designs in the pipeline to share with you all.

Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year with plenty of time to enjoy your creativity in 2014………..oh and a few 'new' items of stash just incase your supplies are getting low ;-) !!!

Have a wonderful New Years Eve and I will see you in the New Year.

……And for the last time this year………

THANK YOU FOR POPPING BY X

12 Tags of 2013 - October

Following Tim's lead I kept the Halloween theme for my October tag as you can see.  I had lots of glittery fun and even had a go at colouring my own Distress glitter as you can see in the video.  It worked a treat so I will definitely be trying that technique again.

This tag definitely has the fun factor.  Even the scary spiders look cute all dressed in glitter!!!  Here is the link to the video that shows you how I got from Tim's inspiration to my interpretation.

Today will be filled with creating my final tag of the year which just happens to be the one I missed right at the beginning of it. It is a great way to mark the ending of 2013 and the beginning of 2014.  Watch this space to see if I manage to get it in on time.  It is going to be tight.

Thank you for popping by X

12 Tags of 2013 - December Tag!

I posted November's tag and video yesterday, December tag is now complete - October tag is made and filmed and is waiting to be downloaded so I can edit it…….so that leaves January.  I need to sit and muse a while before I start the tag that I missed right at the beginning of this year.  It doesn't seem two minutes ago that I decided not to play along with 12 tags of 2013 and then within a couple of months I could not resist the fun and even decided to make videos for each of my tags!

I have to admit I have really enjoyed it though truth be told I really should concentrate more on my online workshops and to try to start earning some money from my passion!!!  May be that should be the  New Year's resolution I make this year rather than the usual 'must try and loose a few pounds'!!!

December's tag was all about using two products one which I had and one which my lovely Mum gave me for Christmas!  Tim used them to great effect to produce translucent and delicate poinsettia and holly embellishments.  I loved the look and decided (mainly due to my limited die collection) to make frosty snowflakes.  So without further ado here is my December tag.

I thought my snowflakes needed some focus so I also took inspiration from a recent art journal page I shared.  I really love this cute snowman catching snowflakes on his carrot nose.

Here is the video that shows you how I got from Tim Holtz's inspiration to my interpretation.  Hope you like it.

I'm off to link up to Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2013 and if you are new to this challenge and if Tim launches a 12 tags of 2014 I would recommend playing along.  Always something new to try and of course to buy!!!!  But best of all it is a challenge you can always take with whatever you have in your stash.  It's all about the interpretation……

See you again soon with October's tag.  January is going to be a real race against that New Year Clock. Wish me luck and thank you for popping by!!!! x

Three Tags to Go!

Here is my November tag for 12 tags of 2013!  A bit late I know.  I seem to have been playing catch up all year with this one!  I have 3 tags left and 2 days left of the year!!!!!  Will I make it in time to fulfil the challenge?????

Tim's tag featured a lovely chalkboard technique but I had absolutely none of the supplies he used!!!! Unusual not to have any.  I obviously haven't been shopping enough this year ;-) Tee Hee.  Note to self ……Must try harder in 2014.

As you may know I have been making a video of each of my tags so I can share the journey I took each month from Tim's inspiration to my interpretation.  I have really enjoyed playing along again this year so I really hope to finish this one in time to feel virtuous!!!!

So here is the link to my video.  Hope you enjoy it and that you are having a lovely time after the crazy run up to Christmas.

See you again soon.  Thank you for popping by X

12 Tags of 2013 - September

Here is my September tag for 12 Tags of 2013.  This tag made me want to shop for more stencils!!!  It also let me play with my newly acquired Distress Glitter!!!!  Any excuse I know ;-)

I think it was the mixing and matching of Distress Product as I wanted to use my Glitters that led to the tag you see before you.  I didn't have the right colours of Distress Stain but did better with the Distress Paints (both in the gradually collecting process!!!)  I know you are reading this and empathising with me ha ha !   Crafters are selective hoarders don't you agree ;-)

My Distress Glitter Collection so far comprises Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed and Shabby Shutters so that became the colour scheme for my tag!  I glittered and Glossy Accented my butterflies fussy cut from the paper you also see before you.  There is a texture paste resist in there somewhere!  I think because I used Distress Paint it has blended in a bit!!!

Another new product I used was the Industrious Stickers.  You can see my happy accident on this close up.  Where I didn't quite line up my stickers back to back the sticky caught the Peacock Feathers Distress ink and I really like the result!!!  I love the stickers I just wish there was more of them in the pack!!!!!

Here is my collection building up nicely one crafting month at a time.  It is fun to look back and see all the techniques we have tried and what they inspired us to do.  If you don't already play along with this monthly challenge and love to get messy with inks and paints then why not follow this link to Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013 and join in the fun.

I have an online workshop available to show you how to make my tag storage and display unit.  If you would like to make one you can purchase the video workshop and full photo instructions from my blog or my ETSY shop.

A video of how I got from Tim's Inspiration to my Interpretation is coming soon!!!  A watched uploading video never uploads ;-)  (new interpretation of old saying 'A watched kettle never boils!!!')

Finally after an aborted upload here is the promised video:

Thank you for visiting me today X

WOYWW 224

Hi fellow desk hoppers.  Here is my video desk this morning and considering I have filmed two videos over the last two days it is relatively calm and tidy.  Particularly as one of those videos was for my September tag (12 Tags of 2012) which normally calls for collecting copious amounts of stash on my desk while I make decisions about which way my tag is going to look!  So not too much of a tidy up job for me this morning!!! ;-)

Here is a close up of the results of all that filming.  If you want to know how to make the beaded heart that is my latest free video tutorial which you can get to by clicking here.  Today I will edit the tag video and get it posted to 12 Tags of 2013.

I have a relatively quiet day today so plenty of time to go desk hoping for a while!  WOYWW and Pinterest two activities sure to enthral me so I do not notice the hours slipping by!!!  If you are just passing and want to know why I am showing you my desk this morning then please follow this link and join in a world wide desk hop!!!  It is great fun and you meet lots of lovely WOYWW folk along the way.

Part of me is glad we can't offer coffee and cake (or Percy Pigs) to our visitors or we would end up thudding rather than hippety hopping across the craft desks of the world!!!!

Wishing you all a happy WOYWW and thank you for popping by and saying hello X

12 Tags of 2013 - August

I am off to meet Tim tomorrow so I thought I'd better make sure my homework was up to date!!!  Here is my version of Tim's August tag.

Tim ended up making 4 tags so you know me........any excuse to make more tags ;-)  It turned into a little booklet of tags.  Here is tag number 1....

I did not have the gorgeous travel stamps that Tim used but I did have a fab set of sewing ones from Creative Expressions.  I also don't own any Distress Markers so I improvised my colour stamping with clever manoeuvring of my Distress Ink pads!  Can you see my two tone cotton reels?  Here comes tag number 2........

I did make my usual video of how I got from Tim's inspiration to my interpretation but I will have to post that when I get to edit it at the weekend.  I really loved adding the little skirts to the dress form images.  Tag number 3.....

I found some lovely velvet ric rac in my stash so this tag is very storable!  I love that this set of stamps has so many wonderful quotes which were perfect to use on my tags.  And last but not least - Tag number 4........

Tag number 4 is actually the back cover of what turned into a little book of sewing tags - Hope Tim doesn't mind all this girly stuff!!!!  I loved making this cute little cotton reels and colouring them with the Distress Inks I used for the tags.

This final shot shows how the tags go together to form a little booklet of tags.  Don't forget to pop back for the video if you want to know what I did.  For more Tim inspired tags please follow this link although Tim won't be there as he is visiting with us here in the UK - I am so excited to be doing a class with the man himself tomorrow afternoon.  I will be sure to thank him for all the inspiration.

One of the jobs on my list for today is tidying up the mayhem created by making four tags yesterday and I have a small adjustment to make on the cover tag as I have attached the lacy pom pom a little too close to the hole and I can't quite thread it on to my tag storage (workshop available for sale from my blog or ETSY shop).

Thank you for popping by x

WOYWW 221

Very early good morning to you all - It is 3.22 am here and I am up and about and very glad you can't see me right now!!!  My eldest is flying back to Gibraltar today and I am seeing him off.  His Dad is dropping him off.  Whilst I am waiting for them to get dressed I thought I would make myself useful.  I hope I am awake enough to make a sensible post.

My first photo is off the mayhem making a Tim Holtz tag creates on my desk!!!  As you can see I had lots of fun yesterday.

I will be working on editing the video today though I will post the tag anyway as I am off to see the man himself tomorrow - almost as exciting as going to see the Osmonds!!!!  Giving my age away now ;-)

Here is a sneek peak of my August tag and like Tim I have made 4 tags - no wonder it took me so long!!!  A real tag work out.  I will post the photos of all 4 tags later today.  It turned into a mini book of tags.  You can see Tim's August tag in the background.  The technique was all about masking and stamping.

I am a bit sad now as I have just waived Damian off but only a bit as he is back at the end of September to start a new job - much closer to home than Spain and Gibraltar!!!

I am off to bed for a while as I definitely need more beauty sleep and will pop in and do my desk hopping after my breakfast.  If you want to join in a fab desk hop where you get to see what is on crafting desks around the world and to meet lots of fab crafting folk then follow this link to Julia's to find all the links you need to set off on a fascinating journey.

Night Night and see you soon.  Thank you for popping by x

Work In Progress

Hi everyone, its a lovely sunny day again today.  It was fab yesterday too.  Unusual for a bank holiday in the UK ;-) I am going to balance my day with more painting in Callum's Room (my MIL is coming on Friday!), my Tim August tag video and sitting in the sun - I think I need a timetable!!

Here is the mural a little further on.

I hope this is recognisable as New York!  The lights are now on.  I have been putting off tackling the face of the girl as I don't want to mess it up!!!

Today I will white out the final two little murals I painted!  Boo Hoo!  Another 5 coats of white but first a removal job for the boys to get this wardrobe out of the alcove - I expect a lot of cobwebs to be revealed!!!

So long Dexter - you have been hanging around long enough ;-)  Is that DeeDee coming out of the closet - sorry couldn't resist that one ;-)

....and my other job today is to finish off my August tag video.  Had to have a break in proceedings to upload the content of my memory card to my computer.

Hope you are having fun in the sun and in your craft room too!

Thanks for popping by X

12 Tags of 2013 - July

Morning!  I am up early this morning.  Strange as the school summer holidays are here.  Don't you just love the days when you don't have to set your alarm clock?  I finished the video for my July tag yesterday.  I had great fun with Tim's Patriotic inspiration as you can see!

I loved Tim Holtz's Brayer technique that he shared with us this month on 12 Tags of 2013 though I think if I had pressed a little less when gathering up the ink with my brayer I would have achieved a more streaky look than I did.  I liked this alternative way to apply inky colour to a project.

Here is the video of how I got from Tim's inspiration to my interpretation!!!!

Already half way through Tim Holtz's 12 Tags of 2013 challenge - can you believe it?  Where is the time going to I wonder????  I still have a January tag to play along with so I may be able to catch up with that one next month.

As you can see my tags for this year are building up nicely.

Ha Ha - I know what a teaser!!!  Here is the tag storage project online workshop I am about to put on my blog/shop.  It is a great solution for those with tag storage issues (if I say so myself) and I have a ton of ideas for ways to use this cute little storage project.  I am working on the editing the last of the series of 5 video tutorials and finishing off the photo instructions so it will either be up on my Blog sidebar Shop and ETSY shop today or more likely because of upload times tomorrow!  So if your interested in tag storage check in again soon.

I forgot to say last week but I managed to get a ticket to do a workshop with Tim in the UK at the end of August!!!!  It was a marathon dialling and redialling session but I got through and I am a happy bunny!  I am going with my friend Deb so we are both looking forward to getting inky.

Have a great day and thank you for popping by x

12 Tags of 2013 - June and a Catch up tag for March (not May!)

Good morning on a cold grey day here in Derbyshire.  Who is hogging all the sun again that is what I want to know!?  I have my fleecy on and my fluffy socks.  I have been working on my tags for Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013 and here is June's.  I was a little 'Distressed' when I saw Tim's tag this month as I don't have any Distress Markers...........poor little old stash deprived me...... tee hee!  I know you are all feeling sorry for me right now ;-)  But isn't that just what makes this challenge fun.  If you haven't got it then improvise and that is what makes a tag your own.  I used my Ripe Persimmon and Shaded Lilac Distress paints to do my colouring in with a touch of Shabby Shutters. The colours remind me of squished berries and that is great for a tag celebrating the month of June.

Tim showed us how he adds colour to his stamped images and I had a go at the delicate splattering and washing of colour to form a frame around an image as you can see here in the close up.

If you are following me you will know I am making videos of how I get from Tim's inspiration to my interpretation so here is the video for my June tag.

I am still playing catch up with my tags so I am also posting my March tag today.....Yes contrary to the pictures it is definitely my March tag!  I don't know what happened but when I labelled it up I went with May.....ooops.  I have changed it now so the photos and the videos say May but it is definitely March ;-)

So my didn't have items were the lovely dies Tim used in March and that cute tinsel.  I put on my thinking cap and decided that Tim's cute bunny reminded me of a shaker tag and that is where I began.
My solution to not having the paper Tim used to cover his tag was to try out a paint transfer technique with some gorgeous images from the Graphics Fairy and I decided to see if it could be done using the New Distress Paints and I am happy to say it did!  I only have 4 Distress Paint colours so far but each time I use them I am impressed by their versatility so I am definitely going to add to my collection.

Tim showed us how to use the paints to colour metal embellishments and I was really happy with that effect too.  I didn't have any yellow so I used my Distress Stickles and I like the extra texture they bought to the finished flower embellishments.

If you want to know how I made this tag then please watch my video as once again I start at Tim's inspiration and end up with my interpretation.........I think I like that phrase!!!

Ha ha.....I didn't realise that You Tube had selected this frame as the thumbnail of my video!  Coffee and crafting.....all that is missing is the cake and cookies!

I think I might just go and put the kettle on!  Thank you for popping by X

PS Don't forget to check out my giveaway for anyone that is kind enough to follow me already or who wants to join me on my crafting adventures.  Just a small token of my huge appreciation of your support.

Trash to Treasure and 12 Tags of 2013 - April!

Me again - two posts in one day!!!  I uploaded another video in my series of 12 Tags of 2013 and I have caught up with my April Tag.  I did have to wait to do this one as it was the perfect excuse to try out some of the new Distress Paint!!!!  Any excuse to shop right?!  So following Tim Holtz technique tutorial for my background and using his fab Dragon fly tag as my inspiration this is where I ended up.....

You can see the foiling I was telling you about earlier popped up again on this tag!  I really liked the Distress Paints.  I do use acrylic paint and I really liked the versatility of this product.  Easy to apply direct from the bottle, great coverage but doesn't overload the paper and dries with a smooth finish which is great for stamping over.  Needless to say I will be adding to the 4 bottles I purchased to try out this faux patina technique. Ha ha!

Here is the link to the video I made of how I got from A - Tim's Inspiration April Tag to B - my finished April Tag.

It's looking a bit messy on my desk there but this shot is nothing compared to the state of my desk when I had finished playing with my new Distress Paints!!  Steel yourself.......

See how I push everything out to the sides so I can keep my video frame looking all neat and tidy ish!!!!

The reason I am posting this as a Trash to Treasure Post as well as 12 Tags of 2013 is because I did actually use my plastic wrap to make the little bubbles to capture my bugs under.

I know it is a bit naughty to keep bugs in a jar but this is ok right?!!!  I am a bit late doing this but I promised to send a card to someone that commented on my Last Trash to Treasure Post and the winner is.........The lovely Mo!  I hope you read this Mo.  I will get that card off to you soon with a little surprise for you too.  Better Late than Never ;-)

I am off to finish off one of the tutorials for my Etsy shop.  I have two projects almost done and I keep way laying myself.....Focus Helen.....Focus!

Thank you for popping by X

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2013 - May Tag and Playing Catch Up!

I couldn't resist playing along after all.  I kept popping in on bloggers who where having such fun creating beautiful tags inspired by Tim's 12 Tags of 2013 that I just had to!!!!

Here is my tag for May.....

Although I didn't have Tim's rub-ons to try the resist technique he shows us this month, I did have some in my stash which worked a treat (eventually, as you will see in my video!).  I think the problem was one of size in relation to my tag.  I got there in the end though and I really love how this technique looks and will try it again (after a bit of rub-on shopping!)

I have decided to make a how I got from A to B video for each of my tags this year.  'A' being Tim's original tag and 'B' being my version of it. 

I think it should be quite interesting (I hope!).  I think May's video shows how each decision you make in the design process impacts on the next decision you take.  I think it illustrates what I love about this challenge and any other I have taken part in.  Whatever the challenge is no two crafters will end up at exactly the same point.

So here is the link to my May video.  Don't let this 12 minute video fool you this tag took me over 4 hours to make!!!.....and I enjoyed every single inky minute!  Thanks Tim.

I am a couple of months behind so this month I am also posting my February catch up tag.  I didn't have the stamp nor a Queen of Hearts card nor even an Ace of Hearts Card but I didn't let that stop me playing along as you can see!........

Might try this laced up detail again on something else........it looks so pretty.

 If my Ace had be Hearts and not Diamonds I may never have thought to do this pop up heart!

If you like my tag and want to see how I did it I made another A to B video.  Hope you find it interesting.

Inspiration from Tim and Interpretation from Me!

Thank you for popping by and a big thank you to Tim Holtz and his 12 Tags of 2013 X