It's been a while

I've not had the urge to craft for a very long time (over a year maybe) but when a friend suggested we do a group swap I wanted to join in. I went with something I'm comfortable with, mixed media and a box canvas.

Layers of acrylic paints, sprays, stamps and stencils were all used to make this piece.

Paperartsy

Here is the full picture of the hanging I made to be featured over on the Paperartsy blog last week

Step by step instructions and pictures are available here

Paperartsy GD project

I've kept this under my hat since December last year and now I can finally tell you about it, I was lucky to be asked to do a guest designer post over on Paperartsy's blog. 

I've been using Paperartsy stamps for as long as I can remember so to get to have my work featured on their blog is a privilege.

Here is a little snippet of my piece 

The whole piece is posted over on the Paperartsy blog so go take a look and let me know what you think x

Bee happy jar

I recently took part in an altered jar/bottle swap on a friends art Facebook page, Zuzu's Petals Altered Art 'n' Stuff.

I've never made an altered jar before and not sure if I will again, but I quite enjoyed the process.

I used a thick piece of tissue and applied layers of paint, ink, stamps and stencils and then once it was dry used the paper as a wrap to go around the bottle.

I'll be back tomorrow with an exciting post, well exciting for me anyway :-D

Bee happy

  Happy Mothers day to all you Mums. I've taken advantage of today being 'my day' and spent the whole morning crafting. 

This card is what I came up with.

Layers of paint, stamps, ink and Grunge paste

My umbrella

I was a naughty DT member last week and didn't get around to doing my post for Clare Curd Crafts . With a big inspection coming up at work I was working long hours and the week flew by, but today is my much needed day off, and what better way to de-stress than a few hours crafting.

When I want to totally relax crafting I go to my paints and  a canvas, todays is 7x5 inches in size. 

I have to apologise as there are some photos missing to the process of creating a mixed media canvas, but when I get going I forget to take pictures....oooops sorry :-/

I started with a good few layers of my chosen paint colours and when I was happy with the blending and the paint had dried I moved onto stamping.

I built the stamps up in layers (the secret to depth on a piece is lots of layers) I also used some spray paint.

I then added some texture using texture paste through some sequin waste and when it was dry dry rubbed some paint over it.

Now this is where I got carried away and forgot to take photos. I drew a template for the umbrella and then transferred the pieces onto my patterned paper, cut them out and stuck them to my canvas using ModPodge.

 Once the umbrella was stuck down I stamped and added my quote. 

The next step is optional but I like the effect it gives. Using either a black maker or black paint, whatever you are comfortable with, draw around the pieces of teh umbrella and blend the colour in. This will make the pieces pop and give some dimension to your canvas.

My final step was to apply some white rub ons for extra interest.

The items I used from Clares shop are as follows

My Mind's Eye Kate and Co. OXFORD LANE 6 x 6 paper pad

and 

My Mind's Eye Kate and Co. OXFORD LANE Stamp Set

I've also used the Raindrop set of stamps from Designs by Ryn.

A lovely day

Hello, well it's Thursday again so my turn to share over on Clare Curd Crafts

The sun put in a very welcomed appearance yesterday and I think it was reflected in the card I was making, bright and cheerful

I used the 

My Mind's Eye Kate and Co. OXFORD LANE 6 x 6 paper pad 

and the 

My Mind's Eye Kate and Co. OXFORD LANE Stamp Set

start by decorating your base card if you wish, then cut a few narrow strips of the patterned paper and weave these together. Cut a picture tile, also from the paper pack, and mount this up on layers of 

coordinating papers to give some depth. Finally run a contrasting ink pads around the edges of your finished card.

I loves a bit of swagger

The Swagger paper collection that is. 

And that is exactly what I used for this weeks make for Clare Curd Crafts DT.

The front of my card I folded back on itself and then applied my choice of paper to the front flap and inside the card.

I then worked on the 'topper' of the card, layering papers and inking the edges. 

I cut some banner shapes to match in with the piece I used with the rub on word. The other elements I've used are also from the rub on pack, adhered to card, cut out and mounted onto 3D foam.

Clare has some great new stuff in the shop so why not stop by.

DT thursday

It's Thursday and that means it's my turn over on Clare Curd Crafts

This week I used the Fancy Pants Swagger collection.

the 6x6 paper pad

and 

the rub on collection

This is a wonderful collection, very useful, with some wonderful papers.

I layered up my chosen papers and used a rub on, applied it to piece of contrasting card and cut out and mounted on 3D foam.

Alice in Wonderland

I've recently taken part in a UK based Alice in Wonderland swap, and now that I know my piece has been safely received I thought I would share it with you.

I was thinking more along the lines of Tim Burton rather than Lewis Carrol

Now I don't own any Alice stamps so I have painted or drawn all

the images, the watch is a stamp. The background is done in layers of acrylic paint. 

 I felt the piece needed some dimension so I layered up so hand-cut swirls to frame the piece.

A sunny disposition

Hi, it's Thursday and that means it's my turn to share a little inspiration on Clare Curd Crafts DT blog

I've used the

My Mind's Eye Kate and Co. OXFORD LANE 6 x 6 paper pad

and the clear stamp set that goes with the collection.

I love this collection, so fresh and sunny, and yet suitable for anyone as there is such a wide variety of papers and images in the collection.

I started off by picking a few papers from the pack and cut them into banner shapes.

I them picked out one of the small icon pictures that are included in the pad. I cut it out and mounted it onto a contrast piece of card.

I found my base card to stark against the patterned papers so I took out my beloved Dylusion sprays and added some splashes of colour. 

I also took the little dotty stamp and the flower from the stamp set and added them in a few places.

Then I mounted up  the banners, curling the points a little, and the image, raised on adhesive 3D foam pads.

C.A.S

 

It's my turn over on Clare Curds Craft DT page today and I came up with this very clean and simple, but stylish card.

 

 

I used some Flitter Glu and Mega Flakes, love these products! to create the substrate to cut my die from.

Then layered up my card base and sentiment on white card, keeping everything very clean.

 

 



Just a note

It's my turn over on Clare Curd Crafts today and this is the card I came up with using FlitterGlu and Mega Flakes

 

 

I've kept it very clean and simple, have to say I do like the white space!!



Who doesn't love a saving

It's Thursday and that means it's my turn on the DT blog at Clare Curd Crafts.

 

It was only after I made this card that I realised Clare has put this stamp set and lots more into the 40% sale she has on at the moment

 

The background of the card is brayered with grey ink and over stamped using the small nut & bolt stamp. The motorbike is stamped in grey ink and layered onto black card.

The patterned paper is from the Carta bella well Travelled pad

I cut a couple of cute little banners and attached them.

 

 

A bit of distressing on the edges and this manly card is finished.

 

 

Hello

 

 

I've noticed I have a few new followers, great to see you

 

 



New Year bargains

 

 

40% off SALE over at

 

Clare Curd Crafts

 

 

Wishing you all a happy, peaceful New year x

 

Looking forward

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. Mine was peaceful, spent in the company of my husband and our two Sons. Our daughter and her partner couldn't join us as she was unfortunately working, so I made them both a 'takeaway' Christmas dinner, which her boyfriend called round and picked up so she had a good meal waiting for her when she got home at 8pm.

 

I was thinking of the coming year and came across a lovely quote online, which I wanted to use on an art journal page

 

“For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.”
T.S. Elliot

I started off adding a coat of gesso to my page, and then using a collection of paints, inks and Dylusion sprays added colour



 

The colour was added in layers.

 

interest and texture added by using stencils and sequin waste.

some splatters are added with Dylusions



 

just keep adding layers until you are happy with what you see.

 

I stencilled through a face stencil using texture paste, and when dry I re-stencilled using a black permanent pen.

 

 

I added some pieces of masking tape and some Mega Flakes to give more texture.

more stamps are applied and some details using a black pen.

some white paint drips to lighten the page.

 

 

the words of the quote are torn to size and then added to the page, you could if you wanted hand write on your page.

 

 list of items I used from Clare Cure Crafts

- Dylusion Sprays

- Mega Flakes 

- FlitterGlu

 

I also used water droplets, water droplets 2 and raindrops set all by Designs by Ryn



Simply does it

Oh my how close is Christmas now!! And if you are anything like me then you are rushing round trying to get everything bought, wrapped and delivered and there just isn't enough hours in the day, and then to find out you've missed out on making a couple of cards.....disaster. So with that in mind I thought I'd do a quick and simple, but stylish card this week for Clare Curd Crafts.

 

I used a circle card blank and cut a layer from another card blank, using a set of nesting dies and my good old Cuttlebug to give a bit of depth to the card.

 

I then stamped the quote from the Here Comes Santa stamp sheet, by IndigoBlu, and cut this out using  a smaller die.

 

I then took a sheet of card that I had covered in Mega flakes, both the Flakes and FlitterGlu are available here, and punched out a few snowflakes to embellish the card.

 

Add a single gem to the top snowflake and you are done.   

 

 

I think in total this card took maybe 10 minutes!

 

 

My style of Christmas card

I've found making traditional Christmas cards a bit of a challenge this year and so when I had time to play with some paints this card was the result.

 

 

The background is a mono print taken from putting acrylic paint onto a plastic bag and spreading it out using a brayer. When the paint is spread how you like take a sheet of card and press into the paint, great marbling and texture with very little effort!!

 

I over stamped the background and then attached my focal image, an old stamp called Allegro, by Stampington & Company.