Tim Holtz 12 Tags of 2014 January

Hello!

Like any self respecting crafter,I love Tim Holtz. I love him very much indeed. Yet,unlike any self respecting Tim Holtz loving crafter I have never delved into the fabulousness that is the 12 Tags of ---- ... Why? Pure ignorance! I had no idea what it was all about (Plus I hadn't discovered the addiction of challenges yet ;-) ) But this has all been rectified now,so without further ado, here is my version of the January 2014 tag:

 I had SO much fun doing this! The background is a stencil my friend made me with her Cameo,I added some of the really cute teeny tiny watch cogs I have been hoarding like Smaug,added Tattered Wings with some painted burnt tulle between them for a bit of dimension,and then abandoning my original 'time flies' idea,went for a darker Edgar Allen Poe feel with my beloved Smeared Ink Quoth The Raven stamp set. A few bits and bobs from my Idea-ology stash got selected. The little 'January' taggy thingy is a 7Gypsies fabric sticker cut down,grubbied up and stapled on. And finally a sprinkling of Frantage aged silver and aged green was liberally applied...gotta learn some restraint with this stuff ;-)

How about a closer look...

This was the first time I have used Grungeboard,oh boy-I am addicted! (I had to try and stop myself from just stroking and sniffing it! That stuff is ah-mazing!) 
I LOVE LOVE LOVED making this-I cant wait for February's tag to be revealed!!! And the rest of the year!! Thank you Tim,you genius you ;-)

Lou x

I love you more than coupons!

Hello!

Wow,now that really is love! 

We don't coupon as much here in England as you guys State side do,but we do love a good bargain ;-) and I love watching Extreme Couponing on TLC-the organization in some of those garages is astounding!

Anyway,so I fell in love with the Paper Smooches Market Fresh,but it sadly hasn't seen any ink action...until now! I was struck by the idea that the Hot Spots large base could be a page of newspaper with a coupon already cut out. Sure enough,as always with Paper Smooches,the funny sentiment fit just perfectly in the cut out piece. Then I had the idea to use the chevrons on the other die in the pack as writing squiggles (like you used to do as a child,or was that just me?!) and voila,Hot Spots makes an awesome newspaper!

Yes,that is a lil' Chubby Chum sneaking on there-I think he makes a rather dashing reporter,don't you?

I'm entering this into the Paper Smooches Sparks 'Anything Goes' Challenge, and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Lou x

A slightly different Christmas card

Hello!

I totally forgot to share a teeny alternative Christmas card I made for a friend who studies Ancient Rome. She has never been one for lavish cards (or Christmas cards in general),so I thought I would make her something a little more personal,a little more 'her'. 
(In a nutshell,Saturnalia is the Ancient Roman festival celebrating the rebirth of the Sun) Anyway,here it is,short sweet and to the point :-)

I hope your New Year is starting well,only 339 days until Christmas! ;-)

Lou x

SUPPLIES USED:

Die: La La Land sun

Stamps: W Plus 9 'Heartflet Holiday', Lawn Fawn 'Milo's ABC's'

Other: Inks: Distress Inks and SU Olive

Never forget.

Happy New Year!

Flying in quickly today with a present I made for my wonderful brave cousin who is in the RAF and has just been posted quiet close to us (yay!!). This die is new and I bought it with him in mind,it's the gorgeous Susan's Garden Poppy die from Sizzix. Why all the new stuff? I am entering it into the SSS Wednesday Challenge over here,which this week is 'Something New',so new stash for me,new post for my little cousin :-)

A while back I was at a car boot sale with my sister and came across a wonderful stall selling WW1 and 2 memorabilia. He had a few old mortar shells which are ironically very beautiful,and I instantly thought of crafty things I could do with them. Fast forward to a month ago when I finally got around to making something. Here it is,very simple.

I typed 'remember' onto antique music paper and stuck it onto the stem (no easy feat as it is super thin!)

I hope you like it,I hope he liked it!

Until next time!