Flower Power with Rubber Dance

Quick post from me today with a great use for background stamps. I made a felt flower to update a craft bag I have had for years.

I die cut felt flowers using Tim Holtz' Tattered Florals die and stamped them Rubber Dance flourishes using StazOn ink - hold the inked stamp in place for a good five seconds on each impression to let the ink seep into the felt. I also edged the petals using the same ink and a piece of foam.

Coat the back of each flower with PVA glue and leave to dry to stiffen the felt so it doesn't flop about so much when worn.

Glue or sew the layers together with a vintage-style button in the middle and add a broach back. And there you have it - simple, quick, effective and cheap!

I used this gorgeous background stamp for my make (Rubber Dance have lots of lovely background stamps to choose from!).

Rubber Dance Flourishes

Katy x

Tim's Tags 2015 - January

Somewhat fittingly, the theme of Tim's first tag of this year is 2015. Fitting, because one of my
resolutions is to do all of Tim's tags this year - something I've not managed to complete before.

So in the interests of getting off on the right foot, here's my version of his January tag. I used Distress Paints and Sprays as per his tutorial, but went for much brighter colours as I want my 2015 to be happier than last year.

I followed the steps for the Alphaparts but added a swipe of Mustard Seed paint here and there over the dried Broken China.

I used totally gorgeous Rubber Dance stamps too, of course! The ATC Backgrounds One set.

I added some inked seam binding and I finished with the word stickers, using those which represent ideals for my future :).

This is Tim's fabulous version:

Here's to the next 11! Can't wait!

Katy x

Journal Page for Rubber Dance

Over on the Rubber Dance blog today is a step-by-step guide to how I created my journal page for this month's Colour Challenge!

A couple of months ago I went to a wonderful workshop with the amazingly talented France Papillion. She totally encouraged me to have a go at journaling - something I had never been comfortable with. So this is MY style of journal page - lots of product and technique but comfortable and still my work. Kind of a hybrid scrapbook page/journal page. A single layout because for me that flows more easily than a double. Not so much about emotions as about memories.

I think I may be a convert to MY form of journal page - it does not conform but so what? If you are thinking about journaling for 2015 then I say go for it - and do what is natural - not what you think a journal page is about. I have France to thank for that lesson.

If you want to know more, do check out my tutorial over at RD Blog.

Katy xxx

To find the stamps I have used, here's the Rubber Dance web shop: www.rubberdance.com

The year that was

It's been a funny old year. After finally plucking up the courage to leave my job from hell my creativity flourished and all of sudden I found myself invited to Design Teams (Rubber Dance and Tando), winning awards including the Compendium of Curiosities top spot (amazing!), and being honoured to be asked to Guest Design at PaperBabe Stamps AND A Sprinkle of Imagination.

Other highlights included being taught some awesome workshops by Andy Skinner, France Papillion, and Mark Smith of JMTV; having a commission in Beads and Beyond magazine; celebrating my first anniversary, joining the madness that is the Moxley crop, and making some wonderful new friends.

I thought I'd round up this year of creativity with some of my favourite makes from 2014 (in no particular order). Hope you enjoy! Here's to an equally crafty 2015.

Gorgeous MoonGirl :)

Keepsake box for Rubber Dance

Xmas Wreath for Tando

Bee Canvas

Andy Skinner Workshop

Guest for PaperBabe stamps

My CC3C Winning Entry!

Slide Mailer for Rubber Dance

Tim's Tag May

Notebook

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!!!!!

K xxx

Tim's Tags meets my Design Teams!

Today I am sharing my take on Tim's 12 tags of 2014 for December.

As soon as I saw the tag Tim had made I thought of the gorgeous deer chippies that Tando make and knew they would work a treat with the new Rubber Dance Winter Wonderland stamps I helped to design.

To begin with I used Tim's technique to make the background with lovely Distress Stains (LOVE these). I didn't have any Frosted so I used Frosted Film which took embossing lightly and added a lovely frosty look to the tag. I used texture paste and Distress Glitter again to make the 'snow', adding splatters of white paint over the Frosted Film.

The greeting is simply stamped and watercoloured with Distress Ink. I also added some bling just to make it a little bit more snowy!

Reindeer Small Running

Winter Wonderland Stamps

See you in 2015 - Happy New Year!
Katy x

A Very Merry Christmas!

Me and my snowman wish you a very merry one!  Can't take ANY credit for this little cutey as it was a class taught by my dear friend Barb Gasby. She does folk art commissions too (much more pro looking than mine LOL!).

The little holes now have jingle bells attached :)

K xxx

Da Vinci inspired with Rubber Dance

Really quick post for me today - this time of year is so hectic it's hard to find time to craft! Anyway, I thought I'd share a last minute gift idea today, for anyone who is as disorganised as me!

This is a shop-bought notebook I got (it's really cute and teeny weeny but you could use any notebook). The stamping is applied direct to the book (word Dream) and with tissue paper - I stamped the Da Vinci lady onto tissue and applied the image to the book with Glue N Seal - you can see it looks like part of the book and has blended totally with the background. Love working with tissue paper in this way.

The book's finished with some splatters of ink and another coat of Glue N Seal to protect it. Quick and easy but a lovely stocking filler.

The stamps are Da Vinci from Rubber Dance:

Have a very merry Xmas all!
Katy x