a tag and an apron

Being ill just after Christmas is rubbish (I've had some kind of sickness bug) but after a couple of days reading, sleeping, perusing Pinterest and watching i-player (I don't know what I'd do without my i-pad!!!) I was well enough to sit up and play with my inks and stamps.

I used some Tim Holtz stamps from the 'mini muse' and 'purely random' sets, enjoying adding tiny bits of detail to the background of my manilla tag.

I just couldn't resist finishing it off with a scattering of hydrangeas.

Now all the presents are opened I can share some sewing I did just before Christmas for a friend of mine.  She loves 'dottie angel' so I decided to make a dottie-angel inspired apron.  It includes a little up-cycling - I found a denim shirt in my fabric collection and used the button edge to make the ties and the pocket as an extra pocket on the front.

a distressing StampMan challenge!

Brenda's challenged us to 'distress' in this fortnight's StampMan challenge so I had a very happy time (I'm glad to say!!!) playing in my journal with my Distress Inks!

After creating a background with Acrylic Paint Dabbers in shades of blue and brown, I added some distress ink by inking the lid of a clear box, spraying it with water, then laying it down on top of the journal.  Doing it this way means I can see where I am adding the ink!

I then placed a blob of 'Weathered Wood' Distress Ink [ from my re-inker bottle ] onto the page and blew it to create a flower like image.  The stem was made with a long drip of ink!

When I put this journal together I included various sizes of plastic pockets used for collecting coins and postcards.  I tore an Amazon box into small squares then collaged each square with images from Tim's 'Mini Muse' stamp set, tissue tape, stitching, words from an old book and scraps of paper.  I just LoVe decorating little tiny bits like this!

At some point I'll add some written journaling, probably in a grey ink, there's plenty of space!

Don't forget to head over to The StampMan Challenge Blog to see what the rest of the designers have been up too, and I'd just like to say an enormous THaNKYou to everyone who joined in the BLoG HoP celebrating your favourite project of 2010.  I'm still visiting people but thanks for all the lovely comments you guys left for me!