Fresh Beginnings at Artist Trading Post Exchange

Best Wishes to everyone for 2015 and huge apologies for my lack of blogging/commenting but I have been so busy with work, Christmas and making the invitations/decor pieces for my son's forthcoming wedding. 

Over at the Artist Trading Post Exchange blog its time for the first challenge of 2015 and the uber talented Sue Carrington is the host of this great theme "Fresh Beginnings"

Here is Sue's challenge description:

"Now that the festive season is over and thoughts turn to what lies ahead in the New Year, take a look through your craft supplies and share with us a new product/technique/ or even a new item to alter ! Remember we are a Mixed Media challenge and and stamping must be included, but no digi images."

 

Here is my make, which was to alter many of the canvas boards that I purchased and to make more use of my Ranger Melt Pot

I have highlighted items used that can be purchased from the fabulous Artist Trading Post online store as well as their shop in Wirksworth, Derby, UK 

As many of you know I love vintage and so I decided to take a La Blanche stamp, inking it up with Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink. I knew the image would not be so clear but as I was adhering the same stamped image on tissue paper it gave me a base to work around. I also wanted the TH Doily stencilled area to be as close to the stamped image as possible so placed some masking tape over the top and bottom of the base stamp prior to applying my Ranger texture paste. Once dry I carefully removed the masking tape and was happy with the result. ( I should have wiped excess ink off the corners of my stamp but I was aware that I was going to paint over it so it was not a problem on this occasion)

Whilst the paste was drying I placed some Clear UTEE Powder in my Ranger melt Pot and then added some Gold UTEE powder. I also melted some UTEE Flex in the mix too as it does give a bit of flexibility to the end product. ( think this has been discontinued)

I carefully poured the molten mixture on to my Non Stick Craft Sheet ( special offer on the craft sheet at the moment) and also stamped part of the same La Blanche stamp in to the UTEE mixture. 

( I did this twice as you will see later.) I was not too happy with the other pieces so returned them to the pot ( no waste here !!) While the stamped mixture was warm enough to handle I trimmed around the watch part with my TH Tonic scissors.

Below you can see the image on tissue paper, which I stamped with Ranger Archival Ink in Potting Soil ( one of Wendy Vecchi's range of inks) The tissue paper was applied on to Ranger Glue n Seal and then sealed over with same. The TH Distress Paint used to cover the canvas was Shabby Shutters and a second coat was applied on the over inked areas.

Here you can see the 3D elements I created using the UTEE mixture. I also added a piece of chain from my stash. Part of the LB stamp was inked and stamped on to card then cut out and edged with Distress Ink in Walnut Stain. Distress Markers were used on the eyes and lips (Broken China and Barn Door)

Prior to adhering pearls/lace/metal embellishments etc I applied Treasure Gold Renaissance Gilding Wax to the stencilled area, using my finger. TH Bubble Stencil was placed on the rhs and then inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Once complete and lace was adhered with Power Tape at the back of the board I took Walnut Stain Distress Ink, applying it around the edges of the canvas to give more definition. 

For more inspiration click HERE, which will take you to the ATP Exchange Challenge blog, where you will find the fabulous makes created by my DT sisters. 

The winner of this challenge will receive a gift voucher to be spent at the Artist Trading Post online store. We also have blog badges for the Top 3. 

Hope you can join in with us...its always inspiring to visit your blogs and view your amazing entries.

Best wishes and crafty hugs xx

Colour Inspiration at Craft Room Challenge this fortnight

Hi Everyone..........Thanks for dropping in to my crafty corner in blogland. I truly appreciate your visits and I know I haven't been visiting as often as I should lately, but as I work full time that is not always easy. Please excuse me for that and I will drop in as soon as I can x

This fortnight at Craft Room Challenge my DT Roomie, Amber, is hosting the challenge theme, which is Colour Inspiration, using Spring Colours. PLease click HERE to view Amber's Colour Inspiration Challenge. 

Our sponsor this month is Stamp Addicts and as always we have a random winner and Top 3.  

Here is my DT project

 It's not quite as Pink as seen here under artificial light. I painted the canvas with Pickled Raspberry Distress Paint, toned down with Walnut Stain DI. Mowed Lawn was used through some Tim Holtz Stancils, Dot Fade and School House.  The torn napkin has many of the Spring Colours shown by Amber and was adhered with Ranger Glue 'n' Seal. 

ART was cut from some TH lost and found papers, then adhered to some cardboard and distressed around the edges with Walnut Stain.

Some fabric from Prima, obtained at a Finnabair Workshop, was torn and coloured with Mowed Lawn DI and attached with small screws. (the chain and key were in my stash) 

The Idea-ology plate, dragonfly and key were painted with Wild Honey Distress paint, then I took some Treasure Gold wax to highlight a few areas.

THank You once again for dropping in and I do hope you can join us over at Craft Room Challenge. 

It would be great to see you there plus you can also view some more fabulous inspiration from the very talented DT members

Crafty Hugs xxx

Ribbons and Lace at Craft Room Challenge

Phew....my first challenge theme at Craft Room Challenge is Ribbons AND Lace and I do hope you can play along with us this fortnight. Just remember to check out the rules and then have lots of  inky fun x

Crafty Individuals is our sponsor this month and  the winner of our challenge has the chance to win a prize.

                        

I adore Ribbons and Lace and had just purchased some amazing pieces from Live and Love Crafts that I was desperate to play with. As its February and Love is in the Air I decided to go with a Romantic/Vintage project. 

I started out with  a couple of canvases ( 5" by 7") that I painted with Distress Paint in Antique Linen. I felt the colour required to be a bit stronger and applied some Frayed Burlap DP to the Antique Linen along with some water,  creating a wash of paint. 

 Texture paste was applied through Tim Holtz bubble stencil. Should have applied this before I painted but to be honest I was not sure where I was going with this project. I started off with one idea in my head then went in a different direction !! ( sounds familiar right !) Once the paste was dry I painted over it a couple of times using the same colour as applied to the canvas.

 I began stamping and gathering items to place on the canvas. The stamps used are from Dark Room Door........... Love Letters and Correspondence. You can also see some  TH die cuts that I had originally planned on using. The papers are  by Brenda Walton for K& CO and I have had them in my stash for years...!!  The stamps were treated to some Distress Ink in Vintage Photo/Walnut Stain as well as Bundled Sage. Some edges of various pieces were distressed around the edges, creating an aged effect.

The filigree corners , butterfly, cameo and rusty heart  below were all purchased from Linda at the Funkie Junkie Boutique and lastly I added the  number plate14 from Tim Holtz Idea-Ology. ( love the distressed look of this piece and just could not bring myself to alter it in any way)

White Fire Treasure Gold was applied to the textures area using my fingers, creating even more opulance once buffed with a soft cloth.

 When we attended a Burns Night last week I was very moved by the voice of a female artist called Rachel Sermanni. She sang My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose and it was so beautiful. You may be able to view on Google/You Tube. The words are so meaningful and my favourite two lines were generated on my pc and a pllied to the back of this project.

As part of my birthday last year my mum gave me  a beautiful box filled with various flowers that she had made. Although not exactly a rose ( more of a wild rose....which I prefer) I painted  one of her flowers red and then applied some spray matte varnish. 

 More stencilling on the back  using Crafters Workshop ART IS and Tim Holtz  Dot fade

Below is a close up of the stamped  DD images :

 

 More lace and filigree as well as the DD stamps and a time piece/key/heart

 Below is a close up of the other panel, which was embellished with some  trinkets provided in a kit by Finnabair.

 Almost there !!!

Thank You for dropping in and for staying to the very end. Any questions just send an email, details in my sidebar. 

Hope you can join in this fortnights challenge and also drop in to view the fabulous inspirational makes by my DT roomies HERE

Take Care and Catch up soon xxxxxxx

Coming of Age

Hi Everyone.............................I just want to say thank you to you all for continuing to follow  me in my little crafty corner and for leaving such kind comments. They are really appreciated. 

Below is a canvas that I made for a friends daughter's 21st Birthday and for my first DT piece at Craft Room Challenge. I just gave you a sneaky peek the other day, promising I would pop back with the 'How To' and here it is.  

The Completed Canvas

I did take a photo of the embossed centre piece but it was rather fuzzy so I have not posted it. The card was brown and I ran it through my Bigshot using Tim Holtz Embossing die. I inked with walnut stain DI to age it and then distressed the edges with my  TH Distressing tool. I took some treasured Gold Gilding wax and highlighted some of the emboss words like Blanchard and Paris  

The canvas is  9" by 12" and was already prepared so I adhered some torn book pages, adhering them with Glue n Seal.  Once dry I took Tim's new Bubble Stencil and a CW Butterfly stencil, covering them  with texture paste.

The numbers are from Tim Holtz  Sizzix Wordplay die and I adhered two together to give a more raised effect that you can view later :-)

A closer look  at the numbers which I adhered with Glue n seal

Once dry I took Distress paint in Broken China, misting with water as I just wanted a wash, enabling the torn papers etc to be visible. 

Once dry I took Vintage Photo and  edged the canvas to give definition, particularly to the stencilled areas. I also applied Treasure Gold Gilding wax in Sapphire, Renaissance and White Fire, creating more definition. 

Distress inks were used to stencil Tim Holtz Dot fade on the background and also CW Art is  stencil 

Alcohol Ink was applied to the metal Ideaology plate and  an old key from my stash. 

I also used Glossy Accents in the centre of the plate over the stamped image.

I love the facial images and sentiments in the TH Stampers Anonymous Classic Favourites set

 ( SCF005) I swiped with Distress Ink and then used Distress Markers on the lips and eyes

The little Butterfly was in my stash and added further dimension along with dome Adage tickets :-)

The recipient was absolutely thrilled, which makes it all so worthwhile.

This week at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge it is 'Anything Goes' where I would like to enter this project.  

Thanks for dropping in

CRafty Hugs xx

Stencils/Masks at Craft Room Challenge

Happy Tuesday everyone.......a warm welcome to new  and old followers.  Today I am sharing a sneak peek of my first project as a DT member at Craft Room Challenge. I can't tell you how thrilled I am :-)

This fortnight Esther is the challenge host and our sponsor is Stamp Addicts. The lucky challenge winner will receive a gift voucher from Stamp Addicts to spend in their store.  

You can view the whole project  over at Craft Room Challenge Blog by clicking HERE. 

You will also be able to view the other inspiring makes of my DT Roomies.

I shall post the 'How to'  and recipe for this project later this week.

Take care and thank you for visiting.

Crafty Hugs xx

Creating with Finnabair

Hi everyone...........Hope you are well and enjoying some crafty time. Just a quick post to share some photographs of my wonderful crafty day with  the fabulous Finnabair :-)

Damsel Fly and the Queen Bee, Great Western Road, Glasgow, held a Finnabair Workshop Weekend 5th/6th October and my lovely mum and I attended on the Saturday. It was an early start....not because Glasgow is that far away from us but I love to spend time with my two old Furballs and I am a bit of a fouter in the morning. 

Lo and behold we were first to arrive and had a lovely chat with Annie & Yvonne from DFQB and Anna. 

'Thank You' ladies for a lovely day and fab lunch, with yummy cakes, sandwiches and quiche :-)

Look forward to attending more of your classes.

Then it was heads down as we learned to create Mixed Media projects Finnabair style. 

The kits were amazing with stunning Prima Papers, laces and embellishments, some of which were designed by Anna herself. I really wanted to keep them in the packaging as they were so nice....... but that's not the deal!!!

The photograph below is Anna and I at the end of the day, which was from 9-6.30pm and the time flew in.

 

I did not quite finish my makes as I had some pieces that I knew I wanted to add and I still had at least another coat of gesso to apply, but I wanted to share them with you anyway. 

Below is the canvas that I made using the kit and a photo image provided by mum.

 

 In the afternoon we created this wonderful mixed media layout and I have to say I fell in love with this style/techniques. 

A close up...still to be finished but I just love it :-)

Anna's class was wonderful...she is an excellent teacher who is genuinely inspired by everything around her and enjoys sharing her style/techniques with fellow crafters. 

I am so looking forward to my next class with Anna, which is in Wirksworth, 30th November. Of course I am looking forward to meeting up with my lovely blog friend Redanne as well. 

Take care and I shall be visiting you all Tuesday /Wednesday as I am having an early night tonight

Best Wishes and Crafty Hugs xx

Guest Designer at Craft Room Challenge

Hi Everyone and a warm welcome to new followers...I am so thrilled to be Guest Designer this month over at Craft Room Challenge Blog.

The lovely Hazel has chosen Trees and /or Leaves for this fortnight's challenge and the sponsor is Crafty Individual's. I do hope you can join in with us x

When Mervi advised me of the challenge theme I immediately thought  of the phrase we have all heard....

' Do you think Money Grows on Trees'?

To view the finished canvas you will have to go to Craft Room Challenge Blog HERE, but I have provided some  photos and details of the recipe below :-)

I began by applying grunge paste through various stencil's that I have from Dyan Reavely and Crafter's Workshop. I then applied some Fresco Finish Paint in yellow's and green's. I then stamped Sheena Douglas's  Majestic Oak Tree, (courtesy of my mum),  on to tissue paper using Green Stazon. Paper napkins depicting pound notes were torn and  were also adhered with  matte Gel medium, then to blend them in to the background I applied paint to the  torn edges. 

Walnut stain was inked around the edges to give an aged look and treasure gold in sapphire and renaissance was applied to the stenciled areas. 

Thank You so much for dropping in and I hope you will manage to view the  fabulous DT makes as well as my finished  project over at the Craft Room Challenge blog,  leaving a comment if you can. 

Crafty Hugs and catch up soon xx