Tuesday 26 August 2014

Some recent makes

I've made a few cards recently whilst playing with some new brusho paints, sweet poppy stencils, splodgeaway masks and various stamps.


This was a brusho experiment, keeping the colours very distinct and unmuddied, also using the spritz and flick technique to get the paint to move more on the paper. I placed some splodgeaway masks on the painted background using a temporary adhesive and painted over the whole thing with black gesso.


A card made for a purple and green challenge.  I put a very small amount of brusho paints through this sweet poppy stencil and spritzed and blotted until I liked the effect.  I then dried the paint before drawing through the stencil with black ink.


My first brusho experiments with Sheena Douglass and Creative Expressions stamps.


This background was done using distress ink on a Tim Holtz layering stencil.  I then drew through a sweet poppy stencil with black ink.


Wedding card using distress embossing tinsel through a sweet poppy stencil.


There has been a foodie trend for the past few years to present something cooked in three different ways on the same plate, here is a sweet poppy stencil presented three ways in one image.  First the stencil was inked from behind, the paper spritzed and stencil pressed down.  I blotted quickly to prevent too much bleeding of the ink.  I then dried the image before replacing the stencil and inking through.  Finally I drew around the stencil with a micron pen.







Sunday 20 July 2014

Painted industrial tin covers

I set out this morning to make some fabric vase covers but then happened to go over to Linda Ledbetters Compendium of curiosities site, I suppose I was procrastinating, and as often happens I changed my mind.

 I decided to make covers for a random selection of old tins and boxes that hold all those brushes and pens and other paraphernalia I like to keep close to hand in my craft room.  The Challenge this fortnight is to use Tim's Painted industrial technique on page 46 of Compendium of Curiosities book 3.  the challenge is generously sponsored by The Inspiration Emporium

The covers are pretty simple, cut to the height of the tins and wide enough to overlap decorate using the painted industrial technique and fasten with Hitch Fasteners.  They just slip over the tins.





Monday 14 July 2014

Time flies when I'm with you

here is a time themed card specifically made for this months WOW embossing powder themed challenge

I used clear embossing powder to create a resist on the Clock face background by using a Tim Holtz layering stencil and various distress inks, I then went over those with perfect medium before embossing with the powder, by heating from the top I also created extra texture.  I was then able to ink in the other areas with more colours without losing the design.

I also coloured in the stamped watch face, (Stampendous stamps), with perfect medium before clear embossing to make it look like glass, embossing over stamping also seems to bring out the image.

I edged the green middle layer with gold pearl WOW powder.


Tuesday 17 June 2014

Eclectic Elements fabric tote with frayed tag

I bought these Tim Holtz designed fabrics as soon as they were released last year but loved them too much to cut into them!

Inspired by many ideas and Tim's frayed fabric tag in his compendium of curiosities book 3 I made this travel tote complete with a zipped interior compartment to keep valuables safe.  The bag is big enough to take a 12 x 12 scrapbook and my favourite cutter, is quilted so has a bit of insulation to keep a drink cool,  perfect to take to classes.




Wednesday 11 June 2014

Altered mirror using Layering stencils and Texture paste

My project for the Compendium of Curiosities 3 challenge 4 is this altered Ikea mirror.  The task was to use the techniques on page 49 of Tim Holtz book.  My mirror has 11 individual tiles so I guess that means I did the technique 11 times. I was having so much fun varying each tile I think I could have made 111!  This challenge is sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique


Tuesday 3 June 2014

12 tags of 2014 - June tag

Tim shows a fab way of using stencils this time in his monthly tag challenge.   Here is my take on the challenge, I used a black tag to show off the bright colours of the inks.  Remember when using the alphabet layering stencil to follow Tims instructions and ink the reverse side, don't ask me how I now know!  The sentiment stamp is one by Sheena Douglass as I didn't have one of Tims that was suitable.


Friday 30 May 2014

Wearable Faux tea roses

My second faux tea rose project for the Compendium of Curiosities book 3 challenge Sponsored by The inspiration Emporium  is a pin or brooch.



I made 3 roses from decorative papers and dipped them in clear utee.  I glued them to an ideaology fragment, you need superglue or hot glue for this.  On the back of the fragment I glued an old pin.





Faux tea roses

I love these roses and grabbed the chance to use them again in this fortnights Compendium of Curiosities 3 Challenge . Sponsored by The inspiration Emporium.

I revisited Tim Holtz April 2014 tag as I really enjoyed my first attempt but wanted this time to make it bigger.  I used a layering stencil as a template for the tag. The sentiment is from a stamp by Clarity stamps.






Wednesday 28 May 2014

12 tags of 2014 - May

My May tag for the 12 tags series by Tim Holtz is pretty big!  Created following Tims guidelines here I drew round a layering stencil as I wanted to include elements that were too big for my regular size.  I used layering stencils to create the background.

I used various papers from Tims collections as well as embossing folders and alterations elements.  The escutcheon is from the sizzix alterations Hardware findings die, cut from grunge paper, distress inked then coated in a verdigris embossing powder to give it the antique look.  This is as you can guess a 21st birthday card for someone special.


I'd also like to enter this into the Wow Embossing powders May Antique themed challenge.

Thursday 15 May 2014

Compendium of curiosities 3 challenge 2 - Glitter


I made this little row of 'beach huts' out of thick card using the Alterations Artful Dwellings die and decorating them with Graphic 45 by the sea papers and distress paints.  I have stood them on some thick card painted with distress paints, I then coloured some texture paste with the paints to get the sandy colour and created the beach.  I added clear rock candy distress glitter for a really sandy effect and some objects I found on the beach plus a little message in a bottle.

Message in a bottle partly buried in paint tinted texture paste with glitter applied to give a more sandy effect

Tiny found objects from beach



I would like to enter this into the Compendium of curiosities 3 Challenge  sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Tuesday 6 May 2014

CC3C Challenge 1 Marbling


Here is my entry to the Compendium of Curiosities Challenge sponsored by the Inspiration Emporium Marble onto a smooth kraft type card.

Friday 4 April 2014

12 tags of 2014 - April

My first attempt at Tim's april tag.


Monday 10 March 2014

Mixed Media - Altered journal cover

At the end of last week I saw a fab idea over on The Altered Page and spent some time in the wee small hours wishing I could attend Seths workshops before considering what I could do to alter an A5 size journal I was given recently.  The next day Cheryl Baker mentioned in a Facebook group that she had just finished a canvas and done a tutorial on her blog (click her name to visit).  WOW I was then really fired up to give it a go and THEN Hels Sheridan posted her Sunday stamper challenge which this week is 'stitch in time' and I had already planned to put in some big cross stitches somewhere on my piece.  It was meant to happen!




The Layers

I started with a piece of fine muslin torn slightly over sized and adhered it to the book front and spine using a good coat of adhesive I had left over from a diy project.   I used this was because I had previously tried to use it as a texture paste on cardstock and discovered it dried with a crackled chalky finish.  I put another coat of adhesive over the top of the muslin leaving some areas uncoated and laid down my second layer, a bit of torn packaging with a corrugated core.  I clamped the card in place and left the whole thing to dry overnight.



I was a little disappointed to find when it had dried there were no cracks but I was already loving the texture.

I then added another layer with die cuts using Sizzix Alterations dies and twine ensuring I did nothing to prevent the book from opening properly when finished.  I painted over the entire thing with gesso and left to dry before adding another layer.



While waiting for the above to dry I painted the other embellishments with gesso and stitched a huge cross into the piece of hessian.  Once dry I added texture paste through a Tim Holtz layering stencil and adhered the other pieces.



Finally came the scary bit because I wanted to paint over the entire piece.  I had tested various combinations on a piece of card and decided to go with an assortment of distress paints including a metallic.  Once the paint was on daubed fairly randomly I spritzed the whole thing to get some marbling going, then while still wet sprayed very lightly with some colorwash spray, some great chemistry happened at that point as the spots of spray bleed into the paint. Before drying I used a mica spray to add some sheen.  At this point the paint was very wet, using a heat gun moved it around more than I liked so I left it to dry in the sun.  


The back of the book using crackle paints as well as distress paints and colorwash and cosmic shimmer spray.



Monday 3 March 2014

12 tags of 2014 - March

Here is my take on Tim Holtz March tag.  I didn't have any of the stamps he used this month so decided to stick as close as I could to his layout and method.  I used Sheena Douglass and Graphic 45 stamps and a stamps away mask.  I love the second generation smudge stamping this would make a fantastic background.


Thursday 27 February 2014

Some new dies

I got a few bargains last week one of them being the on the edge pennant die I used to add texture and dimension to this rather large heart.  Its former life was a box of valentines choccies.  The 'frame' was the box lid with the acetate window cut away Lots of distress paints used various ways and a promise to myself that I would not use a single flower on this piece, that was the hardest bit.  I've used various beadazzles and micro beads on the die cut sprockets and gears and butterflies to bling them up a bit and the stamps are from a Sheena Douglas set.


Saturday 22 February 2014

February tag swap - new ideas

I made this using an idea by Tim Holtz but as I didn't have many of the items he used I made some changes.  The hello was stamped with some individual letter stamps that have never seen light of day, I must have bought them at least 5 years ago, I think from the bargain bucket in hobbycraft.  The telephone die had also never been used, I covered the diecut in glossy accents then added black beadazzles sent to my by a lovely lady.  Tag was coloured with distress paints before inking two different text/letter stamps, one in distress ink the other using Wendy Vecchi's Red Geranium Archival, those archival inks are my go to these days, I've almost forgotten I also have black!  The heart was diecut from grungeboard, I then stamped on part of a large swirl image and using pebeo cerne relief and fantasy paints.


Monday 17 February 2014

Workshop project at The Studio in Leicester - Something New

On Saturday I went to another Hels Sheridan workshop, this time at Neil Burley's studio.  I traveled up with a friend I met at the online creative chemistry classes by Tim Holtz when we also met Neil originally and were introduced to Hels.  It really is all thanks to Tim that I have a new circle of friends and that my crafting is not limited to a room in my home.


Although I have made a similar canvas with Hels before there were many new and different techniques covered in this workshop. I loved stamping with paints and then over stamping text with archival ink. Although I have seen lots of splattering with paint before I'd never tried it myself, the paint did splatter everywhere but was really effective in adding more texture and dimension to the piece.




It was disappointing to find Ranger have discontinued Beadazzles because this was the first time I had used them and they are really effective scattered between the sprayed/died flowers.

Sunday 19 January 2014

Altered Ikea Mirror two


In the midst of refurbishing chaos I managed to get a little me time this weekend, in fact it probably saved me from the lunatic asylum! Using Graphic 45 French country papers and embellishments. 

Tim Holtz birdcage bigz die, 



some spellbinders dies to cut the flower pieces which were then dipped in utee and the metal leaf also utee dipped.  the blue utee center of the flower does not look this blue in real life.


The butterfly is from Couture Creations Dreamboat collection, Butterfly Notes set. I put a tiny dribble of utee behind the butterfly.




Friday 10 January 2014

Dream

I decorated this Ikea mirror a few years back and it was looking a bit tired so I scraped off the original decoration and paper blocked it using a set of papers I found in a drawer.  The three flowers were made using Tim Holtz tattered pinecone die then dipped in clear utee, I then coloured the utee and dipped in a couple of the leaves. I'd like to enter this into Hels Sheridan's Sunday stamper challenge this week.


Sunday 5 January 2014

12 tags of 2014 January

Here is my take on Tims January tag.  I thought it would make a lovely retirement card.

I made a few variations as I didn't have all of the supplies.  I used a stencil cut from the bigz wordplay die to ink the numbers down the side of the card.  I used a stamps away mask for the background and to emboss the center of the clock which I used instead of the pocket watch.  The sentiments were printed using old typewriter script and cut out.  The nameplate is cut using the Sizzix alterations label die and embossed with Verdigris distress embossing powder.