Cards

Anne - Birthday (Christmas day)

One of my long time scrap friends.

Stamps Foxes - Gorjuss

Foliage & stars - Indigoblu

Dies cut - Papermania

Coloured with Inktense Pencils

Perfect Pearls on stars

 

My Dad's - Xmas Card

Stampendous stamp - St Nick

Wink of Stella clear brush pen

Inktense Pencils

Doily with acrylic paint

& Inka gold

 



 

My Sister Tracy & BIL Martin's Xmas Card

Stampendous stamp - Snowy Postcard

Inktense pencils

Wink of Stella clear brush pen

Doily with acrylic paint & Inka gold

Label tag - Papermania

 

Queen Bee Beauty Salon - Xmas Card

Doily with acrylic paint & Inka Gold

Crafty Individuals - Angels

Inktense Pencils

Wink of Stella clear brush pen

 



Christmas Wishes

Merry Christmas to all my

craft friends old & new!

Some of us go way back

& it is good to be seeing 

a whole New Year coming to

spend with you & the possibility 

of meeting new friends along the way!

So eat, drink & be merry!

Cherish time spent with loved ones 

& let's hope 2015 doesn't fly by

quite as fast as 2014 did because there

are so many thinks I want to try

& new products to play with!!

Merry Christmas Everyone. X

Bottom of the Sea Art Journal Page

I started this page in June. It has been

re-worked 5 times. I finally got it how I wanted it

and then I added my chosen wording in black

stamping and it looked awful!

The words were too black and ruined the

feel I wanted for the piece. So I had to get out

some acrylic paint and cover it all up.

Now I can not get it back to the colour that it was :(

But, I am happy enough to call this DONE!

 

 

I applied home made texture paste through the

CW branches stencil at the top left to look like seaweed.

Then bottom right through my Clarity Stamps stencil Pods

to resemble Sea Anemones. I coloured them with Inka Gold

in Turquoise & greens. This made it too shiny.

 

So I applied some acrylic paint first & them over painted

most of the textured sections with Silks Acrylic Glazes.

It looked fabulous (until the stamping)

 

I ended up painting dark blue & then re- applying

Silks & Primary elements over the top.

My fish & crab are coloured with Inktense Pencils.

I added sequins to give shimmery bubbles to the water

and computer generated the words which are more suited

to the overall tranquil feeling I wanted for this piece.

 

Art Journal - Quirky World

Beware! Very bright colours!!!

I am VERY happy with this one.

I had a plan for Psychedelic but it wound up Quirky. 

Mind you it did begin as a happy accident.

I was testing out a new Joggles stencil - Swirls

on the inside covers of the journal and ended up with

rather a lot of juicy ink left on the stencil.

So not wishing to waste any I flipped it and this was

the resulting print ( Dylusions Pomegranate seed)

 

 

My background was then built up using

Dylusions Luscious Leaves stencil

with distress inks, Squeezed Lemonade

and Wild Honey for funky checks.

Forest Moss & Mowed Lawn distress paint

for the upward leaves.

Shabby Shutters distress ink for rays at the bottom.

Sponged Seedless Preserves across the top.

Forest Moss paint for the hanging

leaves (Dylusions Leaf Flourish Stencil)

The word blocks were created on my computer

using my Cameo Silhouette Studio software;

Font - Billo

then printed onto regular card stock.

My figure was made up of collage images

from a set purchased on Etsy;

Crazy Paper Dolls - by Cemerony.

Thank you for looking.



Autumn Art Journal Page

This is page 17 in my journal.

Pages 15 & 16 are in various stages of completion.

I am totally thrilled with how this one

turned out! :0) :0)

Autumn - My favourite season to depict

in art work due to the fabulous array of colours.

I know summer is pretty but Autumn is full of

russet, gold, terracotta & greenish browns.

 

 

What this photograph does not show is the umpteen

layers that went into creating the depth of colour

in the background.

I lost count after 7 applications of paint and ink.

I stencilled the trees either side with my

homemade texture paste and the centre in brown

heavy body acrylic paint.

I made two "trunks" from chipboard for the outer

trees using chipboard as the stencil (CW Reverse Branches)

has no trunks on it.. Once the texture paste was dry the trees were first painted

with Luminarte Silks Acrylic Glaze in Chestnut Brown.

Once that was dry I added brown HB Acrylic paint sparingly

by dry brushing over the branches.

Fence is a Die cut as are the two birds.

Word Autumn - TH Chip block Alphabet

This was coloured with Ripe Persimmon Ink, covered

with Rangers Crackle Glaze & once dry

swiped over with Gathered Twigs.

Then of course I added my leaves!!!

TH Tattered Leaf die, some sprayed with

Dylusions; Ground Coffee/ Chopped Pesto

Tangerine Dream & Melted Chocolate

The rest were Gilded with Indigoblu Mega Flakes

Winter Dawn (silvery ones)

Chocolate Box (goldish ones)

I am extremely please with those leaves!!!!

Finally the wording strips.

These were computer generated & inked with Antique Linen.

The words are the first two lines taken from

the poem "Leaves" by Elsie N Brady.

“How silently they tumble down

and come to rest upon the ground.

To lay a carpet, rich and rare,

beneath the trees without a care.

Content to sleep, their work well done,

colours gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly,

until they nearly reach the sky.

Twisting, turning through the air,

‘till all the trees stand stark and bare.

Exhausted, drop to earth below,

to wait, like children, for the snow."

I wanted to use the whole of this beautiful poem,

but felt it would not look right on my page.

 

Journal Page for Hallowe'en

I had real fun creating this Hallowe'en themed Page!

I had the image in my head from the word, go

& I'm pleased to say it mostly went as planned.

 

The background began as pieces of dry wall tape

randomly stuck down. It was then covered generously with

gesso & dried. Then came the two stencils & home made

texture paste. Beaded home made paste added at the bottom.

I then painted the sides with TH distress paints but

once dry it was too dark so I went over it with Silk Acrylic Glaze.

Added die cuts & hand cut pieces all in black.

Then painted them with matt black paint.

I added texture paste to the top of cauldron & made it look

as if it had spilt down the side as the Witch stirred the mix.

For fun I added textured circles for bubbles.

Acrylic Glazes - Moss Green, Olive Vine

& Boysenberry. Beads painted with Primary Element Pigments

Black Orchid & Blushing Rose to redden some of the brown.

I painted the bubbles & Cauldron "gloop" with Primary elements

Lucky Apple & added some further colour with Big Brush Markers

by Faber Castell. Finally gave both the Cat & Witch some

white highlights to make them stand out as bit.



Art Journal Pages

Page 13 of my large journal.

Loved how this eventually turned out.

Background made of tissue

sprayed with inks (dylusions ground coffee

& tattered angels coffee shop)

Postcards using Papermania stamp

and covered with more.

Lettering stamped and painted with

Crimson Silks Acrylic Glaze.

Word - Art die cut

Word Writing - computer generated.

The title is a play on words

my question is really two.

Is letter writing dead, or in this technological world,

is writing dead?

Bottle made from chipboard

Feather found on floor.

Stencil - Cubist / old postage stamps.

 

My next pages are the start of my new Visual Journal.

I bought a gorgeous Derwent hard covered journal in

Corbridge during my holiday it measures roughly

61/2 x 4 3/4 & I will mainly be doing work in watercolour with

inktense pencils.

Some paint (TH Distress because dries flat, smooth & permanent)

My first page below (hidden address)

2nd pages not yet complete.

 

3rd pages - using paper, photos

& inktense pencils to tell my story.



Stamp - Sheena Douglass

This will be pretty much how my book will look on each page.

Except I will do stencilling with paint

here and there.

thank you for looking.



Happy Anniversary Tracy & Martin!

 

 It took me ages to get this photo

and even now it is not the greatest!!

Background was hand made, as was the tag.

I applied some texture paste and a Tim Holtz die

trellis. I made the bird & circle with the silhouette Cameo by

creating the hoop & welding one of my bird shapes onto it.

I then applied beads with some soft matt gel

& nutmeg primary elements.

I added tiny birds & leaves (die cuts) along with the

prima flowers.

Stamping used here and there to add interest.

I am quite pleased with this one, but as usual

I am critical of it & would do bits another way!!

Baby Mini Book

WARNING!!!! Photo Heavy!!

One of my colleagues, Krystal recently

gave birth to her son, Jimmy.

I didn't make a welcome baby card, instead

I made this mini book.

 

 

The book began life as a 12"x12" sheet of white

cardstock, folded like a maze book but then

pages glued together to make 8 double

spreads. I then primed them all with gesso.

Once dry, coated each page with texture paste,

(my binding ingredient - baby talc)

once this was dry it all got a coat of

clear gesso to seal and then when that was dry

I went in with blue acrylics in baby blue & sea spray.

It took 3 days just to get all that done!

So I busied myself making the watercolour paper stars.

Photos were all taken by Krystal, partner Mark

and various friends/relatives.

I had the pleasure of meeting baby yesterday

even had a cuddle! and Krystal loved

the book so I can now share it!



Another Wedding Commission!

This time it was another colleague,

Hollie, who requested a card for her friend

Samantha's big day.

My design brief was, hearts & roses,

Cream & deep red & to include a phrase

& a verse. Quite a lot to go on.

Here's what I came up with..

 

Die cuts by Tonic Studio

Embossing Folder - Vintage Floral (roses)

by crafters Companion.

I added the phrase like a banner.

 

 I used Art Extravagance Texture Paste

by Finnabair /Prima in Platinum crackle to

age this Tim Holtz die cut bookplate.

 

Verse created in Silhouette Cameo design software.

I then printed it onto cardstock before running

through the big shot.



Finally, I made a box for her to put it in

& decorated it with more tonic studio die cuts.

I saw this box on this You Tube Video  by LiveLoveScrap.

I just had to give it a go.

Very pleased with the finished result.

 



I have been very busy, reading,

learning & playing in my art journals.

Nothing complete that I am able to share just yet.

I am also creating a mini book for a colleague, Krystal

who recently had her first baby.

That I will be sharing soon.

Commissioned By The Groom!

My colleague Matthew is getting married today.

Congratulations to both him & Hayley.

He asked me to create a card which

he could give to Hayley on the wedding day.

His only instructions - it had to be "Hot Pink"

After I had got over the thrill of being asked

to create such a special card,

I got to thinking....

is he sure!!!!!!!

 

I was away for a week at my sister's at the time.

He messaged me on Facebook with his request.

I am glad to say he was right, I did it and

he reported early this morning that most

important of all....

She Loved It!!!!

Job done!

 

So here it is.

 

 

Card covered with a doily & sprayed with a

diluted re-inker - Picked Raspberry.

Once dry I glued lace across the centre.

The heart is created from some sheets of French book text.

I lightly painted them with gesso

edged with picked raspberry ink

& attached in the centre.

Message was computer generated & die cut.

I selected French text for two reasons.

a) it is romantic

b) Hayley's parents live in France.

So I knew it would have hidden meaning for her.

The card was mounted onto a white folded card

& I added plain velum in the centre to which

I stamped feathers in white ink.

Another photo

A slightly better photo of Rain!!

Art Journal - Rain

This is my twelfth journal page.

I based it on a favourite song of mine

Rain - Ladysmith Black Mambazo

I am NOT happy with how the blue shadow looks

because it really is not that colour on the page!!!!

 

 To create my page I took a piece of scrapbook paper

I knew I would not use on a layout & covered it with gesso

spritz blue inks all over it and allowed to dry.

I then covered it with Tim Holtz tissue.

I added a bit of blue paint with sponge here & there.

I die cut Umbrella man from chipboard & used

it as a stencil to apply Viva Décor Ferro paste

in Steelblue. I let it be uneven too for texture.

I stamped images of rain drops, rain in words

& die cut letters & added a lady with Umbrella.

Stamps by Katzlecraft,

(mine were previously loved)

Studio G & Inkylicious

 

This is a small postcard I made to send

some documents to my sister.

 



 

I stamped Birds by Inkylicious

used distress emboss ink & black embossing powder.

I then gently stippled paints around them.



Recent Creations

Firstly I am sharing the final pages

in my 3x3" handmade mini journal.

They are a bit hard to photograph  because

I coloured the pages with two shades of Inka Gold

 

 

Next is the start of a new project.

My very first hand stitched (bound) art journal!

This book measures 91/2x51/2" open page spread.

This journal is all about backgrounds

with texture/colour/imagery.

This first image is the front piece of the booklet.

 



This is the first double page spread.



 

Second double page spread.

I want this all about colour and texture

I want to experiment with stencils, pastes

floral images and stamping.

I am not bothered about any journaling on the pages.

I will share the cover when the journal is complete.



Album/Box decorate Tim Holtz Style

WARNING!!!!!

PHOTO HEAVY!!!

 

First picture is a collage of it all.

 

This is my favourite side. 

Totally love the top of the lid.

Back.

Close up of centre Eiffel Towers.

These would not meet neatly in the middle

& so I have put battery tea light in centre.



 One of the sides.

 

 Front - wish I had used my favourite side for this!!

 

 The mini album inside.

I wanted to make a functional mini album.

I wanted it to be cheap to make and

I wanted to use my Tim Holtz papers

& new Stamps & Dies set French Flight.

I can not take credit for the design of this book, the credit

goes to Kit Bauer (Paper Kitz) She has a You Tube

Channel where she made mini books from one single

sheet 12x12. So of course this thrilled me!

This was fun to make. The box itself took 25 minutes.

The decoration took about 5 hours over the course of a week!

French Industry Paper

Distress Ink - Walnut Stain/ Antique Linen

Hand stained coffee paper

Tim Holtz Stamp sets

Chipboard - backs of A4 pads.

Trinket Pin

Book Plate die

Chain

copper brads aged with Inka Gold Browngold

Create

 

My eleventh art journal page.

This is possibly my second favourite.

I started with a piece of scrapbook paper

Squared Papermania Happy days

I clear embossed the swirls & borders top & bottom

before spraying re-inker sprays in

Spiced Marmalade/ Fired Brick

Wild Honey/ & a mix of Fired Brick with Mandarin

Perfect Pearls for shimmer.

I added the Tattered Bird & Text (both TH)

by stamping onto tissue & apply with gel medium.

Flowers & butterflies - ISC Friendship plate.

I stamped the images in Hero Arts Cup o Joe

& edged the page with Rusty Hinge/Barn Door

You might not see but the page was also over-stamped

with script & a crackle stamp using Apricot & Sand Hero Arts inks.

Images coloured with Big Brush Pitt Pens.

I loved the quote & felt the background squares gave

an industrial/urban look.

 



Two More Mini Journal Pages

 With this one I coloured my pages orange

& then applied homemade texture paste through

the stencil while the background was still slightly wet.

It gave this fab paler orange texture.

Stencil - TCW

 

This started off as reduction stencilling,



but then, I started to add touches of

colour to make the stars & flowers pop.

Image - ISC friendship plate

 

only one more spread to go and my mini is finished!!



Happy Birthday Tracy

My sister Tracy's special birthday.

Spending time together for her big day

Special thanks to my friend, Jade who is very kindly  house sitting for me.

Art Journal - Friendship

 

This is my 10th Journal page.

I am VERY happy with this one!

I was inspired (as I most often am)

by Barbara Strembicki of Joggles

I fell in love with this colour palette

after watching this video.

I modified the reduction technique

& even added some 3D swirls using gesso.

MATERIALS USED

Stamps - Art Journey & Craft Individuals.

Words -Tim Holtz Chit Chat Stickers

Quote in circle - Friendship plate - ISC

My paint colours are rose & turquoise acrylic

with degrees of white mixed in .

I added TH Seedless Preserves Distress paint

some Artistes Baby Blue paint

Pitt Artists black pens in 4 sizes.

FRIENDS - Alice alpha die X-cut.

Circles drawn around die cut card shapes.

Inka Gold in Turquoise.

Copic markers in flesh tones

Distress markers for girls clothing.

 



More Wedding Card Photos

Following on from the post yesterday,

here are two far better photos of the Wedding Card.

 

Detailed Front

In the box