More alcohol ink on yupo

Another cc103 class, this time alcohol ink splattered florals on yupo.  I found it quite tricky controlling the ink.

Day 5 creative chemistry

Alcohol ink stamped resist on yupo

Yupo is a really interesting synthetic 'paper', effects are quite different to those on regular cardstock

Distress paint lifting

Another technique from CC103, this one is distress paint lifting.  Loving the bright colours!

Day 2 Creative Chemistry 103

Another random dip into my CC103 classes and this time I decided to try a distress paint resist technique.  My first attempt was a fail but no worries, I used the card to die cut the tree and star  adding a bit of rock candy distress glitter to make it more festive.

Distress offset stamping CC103

I think a lot of people have used rubber stamps for this so maybe I cheated by using a clear stamp so I could see where I was stamping!  I loved the effect of watercolouring with distress stains, I will definitely be trying that again.

Distress highlight stamping

Day 1 of creative chemistry with Tim Holtz began with looking at accessories and trying out techniques using new products.  I still don't have the picket fence distress ink so substituted picket fence paint.  It possibly isn't quite as vibrant but I still have some dimension happening.

Creative Chemistry 103 distress crayons

Today I finally managed to nip into creative chemistry class with Tim Holtz and get a bit inky.  I still have a lot of catching up to do but here are three completed techniques from day 4.  From top to bottom Distress smudge, gesso fresco and textured resist.

Stamped Art Journal Pocket Page

Inspired by a fantastic lesson from Rachel Greig at Darkroom Door Rubber stamps I have created a pocket page in my journal for this weeks Wanderlust class with the theme of ATC's.  I think I am happier with the outcome of this one than any other so far :)

Summer of creative chemistry week 6

Mixed media with layering stencils - revisiting cc102 is great when the mojo has gone

Starting 2016 with something different

To try and help get my mojo back after so many months of crafty inactivity I joined Wanderlust 2016 classes and also a facebook challenge group called pick a stick.  Below is the first piece of journaling I did this year.   It was for the pick a stick challenge and the instructions are to do each piece on the page in order that the 10 sticks with the actions are drawn from the cup.  This can be quite challenging, especially if you are like me and do not read/think ahead but charge in blind, literally following the directions in order.  The one thing I did do was start with some colour on the page as it was a mop up from another activity, this was in a way restricting but it also forced me to focus on my options.  If I did this page again one thing I would change is the direction of the journaling, I feel it should be horizontal or vertical but not written diagonally.  This is all good, I learned something!  I also learned that when I run out of texture paste I can use good old fashioned decorators filler, the sort that comes in a plastic tube!

what I have been doing for the last year.

I cannot believe I haven't posted for almost a year.  A lot has happened.  As everyone who reads this will probably know, I broke my ankle in two places whilst on holiday last june.  The resulting hospitalisation, surgery and immobilisation set me back a lot.  The quilt I was planning in March 2015 is only just underway.

A community craft group I planned with the local voluntary service was delayed for three months.  Happily it has gone so well they have twice extended it from the original three months. Below are just a few of the projects completed by myself and some of the ladies who have attended.

pop up box

gift card wallet

Crackled paint using pva, decoupaged with paper napkin

Stamping with distress, using ink to make mats and layers

gift card wallet, stamping with distress paints

more gift card wallets

ATC, using die cuts and the waste as a stencil.

using die cuts and waste to stencil with distress inks.