Last post of 2013

Happy New Year hope you all have a great evening.  A few of my favourite makes.

Christmas Cracker 2

Here is my version of Leandra's fab video.  I liked the idea of using Grunge Paste mixed with Fresco paints and stamped into or patterns drawn on, to create a patchwork effect. I followed Leandra's instructions on the blog here is what I achieved.

Unfortunately I will not be able to play along for the rest of the challenges, as I am away from home and no toys to play with, I will follow on my ipad so will watch out for the other Crackers and try when I get home in a weeks time.

Christmas Cracker 1

Having watched Leandra's video on mixing Grunge Paste and Fresco paints I decided to have a go. A made a canvas frame from mount board and sticky backed canvas. Used a selection of pink and claret I  blended the  paints together with cinnamon, to get some of the shades I wanted. Added the coloured grunge paste through the stencil and sanded back. Added more colour with paint on a baby wipe. A few stamped butterflies direct on to the canvas and on the vellum for texture. Finished off with ribbon and treasure gold.

Revisiting metal work

It has been along time since I got out any metal and the tools, used to do lots in Lin Brown's classes at Olney.  This week I have been inspired by the guest designer on the Paperartsy blog Liz Borer to have ago again. For the background used Fresco paints, Cheesecake, Guacamole,HeyPesto, Mocha Mousse, Vintage lace, London Bus and Autumn Fire for the flowers etc.lots of layers, stencils and Paperartsy stamps. Wire and a few pearls left over from candle rings I have been making for pressies. More on that later if I can find a picture.

Sorry pic is not great but getting any natural light is hard today, it's so gey!!!!!

Chritsmas Tea light holder

Alison Bomber is the guest designer on the Paperartsy blog this week, I followed her instructions to make this piece, using Liquid Leaf and a holly leaf stamp from Darcys Christmas stamp set. Scratching out and stamping were the hardest parts but with a bit of ribbon, wire and beads it looks presentable.

Christmas Challenge at Arty Inklings

Anything Christmas - so here are a few decorations, made from wooden shapes from Art Cuts, using various stamps some are JOFYs, some have been in the stash for ages.  All shapes have been painted and some have been topped with Paperartsy Metallic Glaze, my new favourite!!!

Thank you for looking!!!

Painting with Grunge Paste

The guest designer this week on the Paperartsy Blog is Liz Borer.  Liz had a fantastic technique painting with Grunge Paste which had been watered down a little.  So I was inspired to have a go. Here is my efforts.  I found a piece of mountboard I had already painted.  (If I have left over paint I usually use up the paint on any old piece of material ready to use later). I stamped using some of Lin Browns Stamps which I thought would be suitable, in Black Archival, and then painted with watered down Grunge Paste, finished the painting with  Lilac and Eggplant for the flower and butterfly and Tinned Peas and Limelight for the leaves. Finally adding Treasure Gold to highlight.

Christmas Hanging Bauble

This piece I created for my scrapbooking group who met last Friday, they all enjoyed making their versions. We used a polystyrene ball and painted either red or green. when it was in the planning stages I left the ball white but that didn't work so painting was involved, messy at times but baby wipes to the rescue! We added a long piece of ribbon to make the hanging then used that TH Tattered Poinsettia die for the petals, I will be using this die again for a workshop I am ruining next weekend making posh crackers. The petals were then attached to the ball using sequins and pins and a dot of glue for support. Worked well.

Simple is best!!

A few more simple cards, my designs.  The first two are done with wired ribbon, I have been making these quick and easy cards for several years. Just a piece of ribbon wrapped around a piece of glossy card, sellotaped at the back, attached to a card blank and an embellishment or two, and even a peeloff (many for a craft group) I don't do peeloffs!!

Now for two done using a Sizzix die and embossing folder, I really bought this die to cut out felt snowmen for tree decorations, but things have to have more than one purpose!!!

The final one is using a tree die, three times along a square card and a piece of card behind which has been gilded.  Love gilding flakes but what a mess, I go out gilded!!!!

Hope it has been inspiring!!!

inspired by a white pencil

Joanne is the guest designer on the Paperartsy Blog this week, she does wonderfully simple and clever cards.  I love the idea of stamping and shading with a white pencil and adding glitter, a really cool effect.  I did not have the stamps Joanne used but use a stamp from JOFY Christmas set that I have, hoping to get a few more JOFY stamps tomorrow when I attend a workshop tutored by Jo Firth Young at Shepreth.

Christmas Tags

The guest designer over at Paperartsy this week has been Alison Bomber, who inspired me to create these two tags.  Using Darcy's new Christmas stamps, a couple of mountboard pieces die cut from the TM houses die, Fresco paints, a couple of flowers and leaves, Sizzix dies, very cute and of course Treasure Gold completed the look.

Poppies for Remembrance Day

Have made lots and lots of felt poppies, using Paperartsy dies, they have been so popular. Many thanks to all who have bought them. I promise to do more next year!!!

6 cards 1 stamp challenge

Darcy set a challenge to complete 6 cards using the same stamp so here are my efforts.

The one stamp I used through out was from Darcy's new Christmas set, and I choose the Tree.

Card 1 is stamped with Distressed Ink and coloured with the same ink, some of the definition moved a bit so I have to use a fine marker pen to put back what I had lost.  The final element for this card was the addition of Black Glossy Elements (Ranger).

Card 2 is probably my favourite, I stamped the tree on to double sided Christmas Paper, cut out alternate layers and matted on to the stamped image on a plain piece of card. Added a few crystal gems to finish and a piece of Christmas ribbon.

Card 3  this one is vcry simple I just stamped and embossed in gold and added some glitter etc.

Card 4 for this one I created a background using Fresco paints, Lilac and Eggplant and Pewter at the end.  Then overstamped with a greeting and embossed in clear, you cant see much from the picture. Next stage to stamp the tree in black archival and added buttons for decoration this time.

Card 5 again simple, I stamped the tree on to card and coloured with Inktense pencils and water, next added some Stickles Glitter.

Card 6 my final one, this one I stamped and embossed in black and coloured with H20's for a more sparkly effect.

In away I suppose they are very similar, but I try to make Christmas cards simple and without too much embellishment so as not to add to the postage.  And finally I really love this stamp set. Thanks Darcy.

If you have read to the bottom of this post congratulations!!!!

Love this guy!!

Another Christmas card, I saw this stamp and could not resist, how many times do I say that!! I thought he would make fun cards for men. So I stamped in black versafine ink and embossed in clear, if prefer this method for a couple of reasons, makes a nice edge for colouring and you can then choose what you want to colour with. This time I chose Promarkers.

Christmas Wreath

I have also been working on things for Thursday morning craft group. This is my sample. I am hoping to get a die to cut out the holly leaves otherwise there will be a bit of cutting out. I have the Tattered Poinsettia for the flower part.

Christmas Tree Decorations

Having just finished making felt poppies for  Remembrance Day, I have now moved on to felt decorations for a craft stall at the end of the month.

The first picture are new decorations for this year.

The next ones are similar to ones I did last year.

 I have ordered a couple more bigz dies so watch this space.

Thanks for dropping by!!!

Inspired by Jo

Jo Myhill is the guest designer on the Paperartsy blog this week. I was inspired to get out the shrink plastic, Fresco paints and the Paperartsy large heart die and created this tag.  The tag was painted using a plastic card, this is one thing I had not tried before and a liked the effect. I added plenty of treasure gold.

Sewing Room

I made this piece for the Swanstitch Challenge for October.  It is not quite 3D but it is quite dimensional and good by my standards as I am not good at sewing.

I started with a canvas board, painted in Fresco paints pansy, lilac and eggplant. Stamped the background with Stampers Anon stamps. Die cut a few pieces from the TH Sewing Room die and decorated the model and reels. More lace and ribbon on the side and some felt flowers, which were not easy and I now have glue all over my fingers, messy.

Very happy with the final piece, although not sure it fits the criteria!!!

Poppies

I have been busy making felt poppies.  They are made using the large, medium and small Paperartsy flower dies.  There is a bit of sewing, not my favourite thing, the large and medium petals are gathered in the centre to give a bit of texture, the small is cut out in black and along with a black button makes the centre piece. The pin is sewed on the another medium red piece. The leaf is die cut from Tim Holts Tattered leaves die and it attached using a hot glue gun between the flower and the piece with the pin.  It makes a very neat finish.  I have sold quite a few and 50% of the sale price is being sent to the Royal British Legion

Christmas Decorations

This little table decoration is one I did last week with my Thursday morning craft group. Very simple to make, I used a circle of card for the base, then die cut some flowers using the small flowers from Tim Holtz Tattered Floral Dies. Finished off with a bit of glitter and a everlasting candle.  Safety first!!!

One stamp two different views

I have had this stamp for ages, its wood mounted, but it is one of my favourites.  I have used it here for Christmas cards.

The first one I stamped in black on white card, then stamped again on acetate and embossed in gold. This is then laid on top of the black outline and off set just slightly it gives a lovely effect.

The second one is stamped in black archival ink then colour washed and glittered to give a different effect from  the first card.   I just this stamp quite a lot just change the colours for different seasons.

Thanks for dropping by.  

Fly me to the moon

This little piece is created from a few new techniques pick up on the Paperartsy Blog this week, where Liz Borer is guest designer.

I used Fresco paints, stencils and a lovely moth stamp from Papersartsy.  As usual I have kept it very simple. Do love the moon which is a circle cut in card and then I used snowflake paint and gave it a misty look by dragging the flat edge of a paint brush across the moon.

Thanks for looking

Textured Dragonfly

Here is another piece inspired by Joanne over on the Paperartsy Blog. I die cut the Dragonfly to create a stencil, and attached stencil to card and filled with Grunge Paste and left to dry, removing the stencil.  When dry I put the stencil back on and painted with Fresco Paints, removed stencil and added a little wash in the background and of course highlighted with Treasure Gold. Lovely technique thanks Joanne.