Wednesday 29 October 2014

Cold as Ice Tando Challenge


It's challenge time again at Tando! Here's my make for the Tando Cold as Ice Challenge. I used the fantastic Tando Snowflakes as the main feature of my frosty festive wreath. 

Here's how I made it:

1 Cover a cardboard ring with burlap - I left the edges frayed for texure.
2 Paint the snowflakes with gesso then have a layer of modelling paste added - I applied the paste in a pouncing motion with a sponge to create a bumpy texture all over. I added a light sprinkle of Rock Candy Glitter to the still-wet paste.

3 I highlighted parts of the texture with Treasure Gold in Pewter before adding some random spots of glue and a touch of Pumice Stone Distress Glitter.

Use a strong glue to attach the snowflakes and the NOEL (Tim Holtz) in place to complete. Before adding the snowflakes I first created a hanging loop with florists' wire.

I used the following fabby Tando products for this make:



Get on over to the Tando Challenge Blog to enter the Challenge - great prizes are up for grabs!

As this make is literally covered in glitter I am also entering it for Country View Crafts Sparkle Challenge this month. It's rare I make something quite so bling!

Katy x

Monday 27 October 2014

Frighten Me with Tando


Aaarrrgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh spiders!!! Now THAT'S scary!!!

Yes for the frighten me theme my mind immediately turned to spiders (shudder...........). Now I know that spiders are lovely and eat horrid flies but I am afraid it's still down to hubby to humanely remove them!!

For my make I covered the arch in torn pieces of book page and inked them with Distress Inks in Dusty Concord and Seedless Preserves, I then added swipes of white paint to tone it down before embossing the stamped cobwebs in silver. I also added some areas of crackle paint for a more distressed look. 


My spiders are covered in black paint, Glossy Accents and silver ink. The big spider has eight creepy eyes!!!

For my creation I used the following Tando goodies:



Hope you are suitably scared!!

K x

Saturday 25 October 2014

Tim's Tags October 2014


Managed to get around to doing Tim's Tags this month and went spooky for Halloween! The stamps are all Tim's and the mask I used and the spiders are by Tando Creative.

After making this I am officially in love with Distress Sprays - they rock!!!!!!!!!

I am also entering this into the That's Crafty Spooky Challenge too :). If you don't know about this challenge check it out - great prizes.

Short and sweet from me today - back soon with another scary creation for Tando.

Happy Halloween!!!

Katy x

Tuesday 21 October 2014

Da Vinci Tryptich for Rubber Dance


I simply love the art of Leonardo Da Vinci - what an incredible man he was. Now I could never even attempt to emulate this genius of the art world but I've been inspired by his beautiful work using the awesome Da Vinci stamp set from Rubber Dance. Find out how I made this at the Rubber Dance blog.

The Tando frame and easel are sprayed with the Distress Spray Stains - let me just say these rock - you need them!

These are the stamps I used:

DAV1-L: Da Vinci
BK2-1E: Flourishes
Why not have a go at this technique for your entry to the Rubber Dance Colour Challenge, which this month features vintage tones?

Katy x

Saturday 18 October 2014

Tando Animals Week


The theme this week at Tando is animals - and as anyone who sees my Facebook shares will know, my fave animals are bats! This also means I love Halloween, so here's a card featuring a pair of winged beauties in a spooky, misty Halloween scene!


I used the Tando Minis Bats for my main focal point, simply painting them black for a silhouette effect.

The moon is created using a circle mask around which I blended Distress Inks. I then used the negative of the circle to add some light yellow colouring and speckled stamping in grey to the moon, giving it more detail.

The Stampendous landscape stamp is added in grey to make it look like it's shrouded in mist. Finally I placed the bats silhouetted against the full moon and added a sentiment by Stampotique.

Hope you like! Happy Hauntings!!!

K x

Tuesday 14 October 2014

Andy Skinner Workshop


Here's my journal from a recent class I did with Moxley Massive and Andy Skinner. I adore this rust effect and I got the DecoArt paints already so I can do it again :).

Andy's lovely version is below but I wanted to go more feminine with mine.


So I used these lush new Da Vinci stamps from Rubber Dance - they are just so gorgeous, an homage to one of my favourite artists.

DAV1-L Da Vinci

Katy xx

Sunday 12 October 2014

In Flight Slide Mailer for Rubber Dance


I fell in love the Vintage Birds stamps we were sent in this month's DT package - this set is so versatile with lots of great images. Plus I am just a sucker for birds!

I decided to make an altered slide mailer with my stamps - all the info and pics of what's hiding inside can be found on the Rubber Dance blog.



Below are the gorgeous stamps I used for this make:

B2-L - Vintage Birds

I loved making this!

Katy x

Monday 6 October 2014

Warhol Inspired for Rubber Dance

I've been inspired by Andy Warhol today for this quick and colourful card make, created using TR1-L: Travel set from Rubber Dance. At first glance this set shouts vintage but I wanted to use it in a different way.

I started by dividing my card into four with very light pencil lines, then stamped the image in four different primary shades of Archival, once into each of the segments. To finish I stamped the word 'Discover' in black ink and drew a line around the edge to frame.


Don't forget to play along with this month's challenge over at the Rubber Dance blog.

Hope you like my card - see you soon!

Katy x

Saturday 4 October 2014

Tando Inchies Week


For Tando inchies week I made a little pair of earrings using the Tando Inchies Straight pack of shapes. These are great cheap Xmas gifts as the inchies cost just £1.90 and you get lots in a pack. They make great earrings because they are so lightweight. While they are not totally weather-proof, a coat of varnish will prolong their life - just don't wear them in a hurricane!!!

I firstly rounded two of the edges with a Corner Chomper to give a more pleasing shape. I then gessoed the shapes before adding a layer of Viva Decor Precious Metal Colour in Emerald then heat embossing the Rubber Dance background in gold. I edged the pieces with gold Krylon and sealed with varnish before finishing with a few crystals.

Why not make a matching pendant too?

Lots and lots of inchie inspiration over on the Tando blog this week - check it out!

Katy x

Wednesday 1 October 2014

Rubber Dance October Colour Challenge


It's Rubber Dance Challenge time again! This month's colour scheme is a favourite of mine - gorgeously vintage!


My challenge make uses the gorgeous TR1-L: Travel and BK1-RG: Collage Elements 1 stamp sets. My background is stamped with the world image and layered with pages from an old map. Alongside various stamped images from the sets I used some bits of Tim Holtz ephemera.


In this close up you can see how I crumpled or dog-eared and inked some of the stamped elements to age them. Crumple and open out the stamped items before adding sepia and brown toned inks to the edges and creased areas. Don't forget to ink the back of the image too where that part will be visible.

Can't wait to see what you make for the challenge!

Katy x
TR1-L: Travel
BK1-RG: Collage Elements 1