"Less is More": week 17 Pick a square

I can't believe that I haven't blogged for a while, I just don't seem to get any time at the moment to finish anything and therefore have nothing to post. I have a few altered projects on the go at the moment so might manage a flurry of postings once I get them finished. I think I need to give up working (I wish!!!) As this is the first bank holiday weekend this year that I haven't worked I just had to get in my craft room, even though I should have tackled a pile of ironing. A friend of mine suggested to me to send it out, have you seen how expensive that is!!!!!???  and it puts you in a catch 22 situation, more time to craft but spending money that could well be put to all those must have items that I currently don't have!! needless to say there are too many things that I need........ so my ironing remains where it is, hidden.
Anyway enough of my domestic trauma's, I tackled this weeks Less is more challenge this is only my second time entering although I got some lovely comments on my first it was probably a little bit too much "more"..... Hopefully my second attempt is more inkeeping with the Less is More philosophy (a personal struggle I am trying to overcome)
Anyway I picked my square and here goes.........


Time flies

The clockwork bird rubber stamp is from Happy Daze and is stamped in versafine sepia and embossed with clear powder. I then stamped and embossed it again on a old book page and cut out sections of the bird to stick to the original, I have left the wing flapping. I have added some watch parts to enhance the clockwork feel of the bird. I then stamped the saying again in versafine sepia but left it as is. The edges are slightly coloured with distress ink, and then to finish it, mat and layered it onto my card, now that might be my downfall in adhering to the Less is More principles but i am enjoying my therapy!!!

I am also entering this card into The secret crafter saturday Challenge whose challenge this week is clean and simple.

Texturise it - Great ideas are the fuel of progress

Well this is my second submission to a blog challenge in as many days, which must only mean one thing, the rain has come here in the UK after a long spell of lovely weather, it was always going to happen, and as lovely as it was at least it means I don't feel guilty spending hours indoors, indoors crafting...... its another first as I join Wanda's tag challenge over at dragonsdream tag it on.  This week the challenge is texture.

My texture comes in the form of adding and melting wax crayon to cover my tag, which gives a raised textured finish to my tag, to add further texture I have added paperartsy paints using bubble wrap. I have then stamped Barbara Gray hot air balloon stamps on patterned paper and cut out. Compass is a Tim Holtz sticker with a circular fragment over it finished with a game spinner. The torn map, I have stamped a map onto tissue paper and coloured with watered down distress inks and then crumpled it before tucking it behind my compass.

At the back of the tag, so it just pops out, is a Tim Holtz journal tag distresses with vintage photo ink. The phrase I have just cut out and again distressed with vinatge photo. A cluster of watch parts finish my tag.
Hope you like it and I look forward to next wednesday for a new challenge.

This tag has also been posted on Tag it on Tuesday where this weeks challenge theme is "One for the Boys" This is also the first time that I have posted on this blog and there is some great work to look at by my fellow crafters.

Less is More!!

Well I thought I would take the plunge and enter into this weeks challenge at less is more challenge blog. Now this concept is far from what I do but I liked the idea and thought why not. Perhaps not the best week to start as the theme is white on white?? and with not the cleanest of desk area, note to self; wipe up ink from other projects more thoroughly next time!!  I set about my idea, even though I did manage to finish it,  I think I might have a little too much more and not enough less lol, but this is a habit that this challenge needs to help me break. As my first entry I hope that I haven't broken too many of the rules.

and how difficult is white to photograph ?? Main flower is made from wendy Vecchi clearly for art mouldable film stamped with polka stamp in white stazon. I cant take a photo that shows it at its best but hopefully you get the idea, if you haven't used this product you must try it, I love it, it gives you so many options and dimension.

I think this photo shows you the dimension. I have moulded the centre of the flower, which was cut with Tim holtz tattered florals another can't live without item, and then filled it with white stickles which you see through the film.

sentiment is stamped on a torn piece of vellum and embossed with sheena Wow fine white powder a vellum butterfly cut from Tim Holtz movers and shapers butterfly die, then embossed, ribbon from my stash and a couple of white heart pins, two odd buttons finish my card, I think that list might have put this entry in the more catagory but you have to bear with me I think I am beginning to respond to this therapy as I did consider removing the pins but as you can see I am not quite there yet as I decided to leave them in...........practice makes perfect and I will try harder next week........

An explanation of absence!!

I haven't posted since 20th April but there is a reason, here in the UK we currently have some fantastic, continuous, sunny weather and with it being the UK you just can't waste it as you don't know when you will have such a nice spell again!! So this nice weather does somewhat distract me from my crafting projects leaving me with a desk of unfinished projects and newly purchased items unopened and not played with (it will rain soon). But I haven't taken to my sun lounger, I have taken to the water............... my other passion jet skiing.

This is my new toy the Yamaha VRX and I Love it!!!!!!! with a top speed of over 70mph (a bit scary)  it turns on a sixpence (more scary especially at speed) I can jump this baby right out of the water and my arms right out of their sockets........ but that's the fun!!!!

Whilst I am having crafting withdrawl symptoms, you have to make the most of the weather and I am doing just that.