Happy Birthday

A few weeks ago I sent a card to a friend for her birthday.... and I've only just realised that I haven't shared it.

I started off by creating a brayered and stencilled background using fresco paints. I then tore a strip of this and adhered it to the bottom of the card

I stamped the butterfly and coloured it using Polychromos.  I then cut it out.

I used Darcy's new stencils and added images and backdrop to the card.

I finished by adding some of the Emma Godfrey circles and ribbon.

You may have already guessed.... but I LOVE the latest Paper Artsy releases!  And who could blame me!

Thanks for looking.....

First Play With Powertex

This week I had my first play with Powertex.... it's a medium taking the mixed media world by storm.

I wanted to complete this project in time for my mum's birthday in January but didn't get time... and so I made it for Mother's Day.

Here is my model...

This started as a white head, and a wooden stick on a cube!

I started by getting the head to glue to the stick.  Lots of glue and masking tape was involved. 

I then used the Powertex to colour the whole of the statue.

After this I cut some cloth and covered this in the Powertex, which I then started to mould to the statue.  Once I was happy I allowed this to dry for a couple of days.

After a couple of days I added bronze mica powder to varnish and painted this over the statue, leaving bits a bit shabby and bare.  This then had to dry completely.

Here are other shots of the finished figurine....

I was really happy with the finished product.  There are things that I would do differently next time... and I can't wait for the next project!!

Thanks for looking.

Paper Artsy Meets Everything Art.....

Those of you doing the Wanderlust course will know that Paper Artsy teamed up with Everything Art to create a fabulous stamp set..... and from the set you can tell that there are more to come.... Yay!!

I could not wait to start using it as soon as I received it.  So here's what I did....

The background is a brayered one using various colours of Fresco paints.  I also added grunge paste through a stencil.  I coloured the grunge paste using fresco paints first.

The lace is one of the amazing stamps - stamped simply in black archival ink.

The main image was stamped in archival ink and then coloured using Polychromo pencils.

I really, really love this stamp set!!

Thanks for looking.....

Fun In Milton Keynes With Lin Brown

Last week I went to Milton Keynes for a workshop with Lin Brown. I was lucky enough to also meet up with friends, Jo and Vonny.  Lin was her usual AMAZING self - if you haven't done a workshop with Lin I would highly recommend it as Lin is an amazing tutor.

Anyway..... we were lucky enough to use some of the new Paper Artsy stamps that are being released this weekend..... which is why I am not blogging my project until now. 

I won't show you how the project was made but will share my pages with you....

This is my front cover.  Yes, that is fabric.... and yes, it is the second time that Lin Brown has managed to get me to sew!!

In no particular order..... here are my other pages.

It really was a fabulous workshop.  I finished the project at home. But I really, really enjoyed it.

Hope you like my book.

Thanks for looking......

More Masterboard Makes

I really enjoy creating master boards.  There is something quite satisfying about creating a background and then cutting it up.

Here are the cards that I created using a painted and stamped master board:

I used some  fairly dark colours for my master board and used black to help the colours pop a bit more.

The master board was stamped in lots of different Paper Artsy stamps.

The images were stamped and coloured in before being added to the cards.

To finish I embellished using  seam binding ribbon, flowers and gem stones.

I really enjoyed creating these.... and there is something very satisfying about creating 4 cards using 1 painted background!

Thanks for looking......

Birthday Blooms

I had a few birthdays to cater for in January and wanted to use the Beautiful flower from the Stampin' Up set.

Here are my makes:

I kept the cards fairly simple as I wanted the beautiful flower to stand out.  I also wanted to keep the colours subtle.

Hopefully I achieved both of these!

Thanks for looking.....

Rebel Stampers ATC Swap

It's time to show you the atcs that I made for the swap over at Rebel Stampers for January.

The first theme was 'Wilderness'

I wanted to try to create a sort of garden or forest that was growing wild.

First, I coloured an atc using various colours of green distress inks.

Next, I set about stamping various leaves and branches in Archival ink.  I also stamped a bird in the bottom right corner.

To finish I inked around the edges using walnut stain ink.

The second theme for January was 'Mixed Media'.

Here I coloured an atc in distress ink and sprinkled water to create a mottled effect.

I added texture paste to the atc to give an added dimension and extra media.

I stamped an image onto canvas and coloured it in using paints.  I added glossy accents to the heart to make it pop.

To finish I added a metal heart.

So, for the mixed media theme I used:

Card

Ink

Water

Texture Paste

Canvas

Paint

Metal

That's certainly a mix of mediums to me!!

Thanks for looking.....

#Patwits Party

At the beginning of December I attended a Paper Artsy day in Essex.  It was a great day filled of catching up with friends, shopping, and of course, crafting.

We were given the opportunity to use Emma Godfrey's newest stamps, which are amazing.

Tracy Scott was the 'teacher' for the day and her work is amazing.

I won't tell you how we created our projects but here are my finished canvases.....

The second project especially took me out of my comfort zone as I used colours that I wouldn't normally reach for.  I also had to write and draw straight onto the canvas!!

I finished the second project at home.  I was really pleased with how both of the projects turned out.

It was a really great day, and as usual, Leandra and Mark were the perfect hosts.

Thanks for looking.

Paper Artsy Challenge : Hearts

I have left this challenge to the last hours!! LOL!  However, I used it to create my Valentine card for next week.....sshhh.....don't let Dan see it yet!  I chose non traditional colours and decided to keep it simple this year.

The background is the salt technique on silk (which I have stick to a card blank.

I then die cut a frame in black and adhered this to the silk.

The heart is from the amazing new Emma Godfrey Paper Artsy set.  This was stamped and coloured in snowflake Fresco paint.  Once dry I added crackle glaze and let this dry naturally to achieve it's magic.  I then painted it over using London Bus.  I love the effect of this crackle glaze!

To finish I added a key hole and a die cut word that I painted in London Bus.

I hope you like it.... and am sure Dan will too!!

Thanks for looking.....