{Mixed Media Tutorial} Love Always

Good evening all.

My turn once more to produce a Mixed Media tutorial over at STAMPlorations and share some tips on how to use your stencils in your crafting.

Today I've upcycled another wooden stamp block...it will get turned into a photo holder once I get round to asking hubby to drill a hole in it!

If you love STAMPlorations products or if you'd like to try them for the first time I have a discount code to share with you - STAMPGIRLCAROLD

This gives you a 20% discount on all stamps, stencils and dies...both regular and sale priced items. Please note this code can't be combined with any other code. It is valid for multiple uses whilst I'm a STAMPlorations Girl.

Stencil Sunday #32 + February Challenge

Good evening all.

My second post for today, you'll find my Christmas Card Club post here.

Time once again for a new Stencil Sunday challenge at STAMPlorations. We loved seeing your projects last month and hope you'll join us again this month.

This is the memento I made my friend on the birth of her grandson...she loved it and ordered two more to be made - one for the parents and one for the other set of grandparents.

The background was made with my gelli plate and used the following ARTplorations stencils along with Paper Artsy acrylic paints: Bubbles, Foiled, Nestled Circles and Hearts all Over.

Wording on the back was computer generated and printed onto tissue paper and adhered with gel medium. Baby die is from SSS, boy stamp from STAMPlorations Heaven Sent and border stamps from the Mixed Media Elements set. Photo holder, bow and nail heads from my stash.

  

The theme is always anything mixed media goes except a card and you must use at least one stencil (any brand) in your project. Linky closes at the end of the month. I hope you can join us!

Prizes: $15 gift certificate OR choice of any 2 small or 1 large ARTplorations stencils to the winner

choice of 1 small ARTplorations stencil to the top picks

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the other girls mixed media designs, you won't be disappointed.

Stencil Sunday #29

Good evening all.

All being well I'll be enjoying myself in Queenstown when this goes live! We're here until Friday whence we start our 2,500 mile roadtrip back to Auckland...of course we'll be taking the scenic route!
Update...we're having a fabulous time, weather has been mixed but it was glorious today.

My turn to provide some Stencil Sunday inspiration over at STAMPlorations today. I've got a 5" x 7" canvas to inspire you with.

I started with a layered gelli plate piece made using the Foiled Again and Leaf Bliss stencils and acrylic paint which I stamped with various stamps from the Mixed Media Elements set. I painted the canvas using the darkest colour then attached the gelli piece.

I used texture paste through part of the Flutters and Splatters stencil and once dry I over stamped the butterflies with the matching stamps from the Trendy Butterflies set with versamark and heat embossed with various EPs. Sentiments are from the same stamp set. Gilding wax was used around the edges to finish.

I love how this turned out.....

And the January Mixed Media Challenge runs until the end of the month! If you want to play, you still have a few days left to get messy and share your non-card mixed media projects. It's anything mixed media goes except a card...and you must use a stencil (any brand or even a homemade one!) in your project(s). For the complete challenge info + prizes, click here.

Challenges entered:
Craft Stamper - TIMI stamp

Texture Pastes and Gels

Good evening all.

It's my turn to share a tutorial over at ARTplorations today and I've done what I hope is a useful guide to some of the many texture pastes and gels available.

Here is a sneak peek of what you'll find.

Crazy Bird

Good morning all.

Parcels all arrived safe and sound yesterday so I'm off down home today to deliver presents and meet up with my brother and nephew for lunch. 

Had to whip up an extra card at the weekend...I still had some leftovers and have some made for next year but they weren't suitable. So it was out with the crazy birds and gelli prints again.

Mat dies are from Wplus9 and Spellbinders. All other dies and stamps are from the Tim Holz Crazy Bird sets. Stickles and googly eyes from my stash.

Challenges entered:

613 Avenue Create - anything goes

Amusing - anything goes

Come and Get it - anything Christmas

Fashionable Stamping - make your own background

The Glory of Christmas - anything goes

CHNC - anything Christmas

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas

Sweet Stampin' - Merry Christmas

Simon Says Stamp - die crazy

Holly Jolly - anything Christmas

ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop - day two

Good afternoon all.

A reminder! We're on day two of the blog hop...come and join in the fun.

Prizes:

• FIVE (5) winners will receive their choice of ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from all comments left on the designers' blogs.
• ONE (1) winner will receive a $15 gift certificate OR her choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7). Winners will be randomly drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog.

Extra prizes for those who participate in the Flash Stencil Project Linky Party and link up by December 13:

• TWO (2) winners whose projects feature stencils (any brand) will each receive their choice of one (1) ARTplorations stencil (standard size - 5x7)
• ONE (1) winner whose project features an ARTplorations stencil will receive her choice of three (3) ARTplorations stencils (standard size - 5x7) OR a $15 gift certificate to the shop.

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to todays projects here.

Background was created using Silk Acrylic paints from ColourArte and my gelli plate....I won't be using them again with the gelli plate as I've had better results with other paints. I then ran the ARTplorations Holly Background stencil through the GC and inked with a green DI, I then carefully inked the berries with red DI. Sentiments are from STAMPlorations Vignette: Christmas Block set and were stamped onto tissue before being applied with gel medium. Ribbon from my stash.

Challenges entered:

613 Avenue Create - bags, tags and boxes

Come and Get it - anything Christmas goes

Pile it On - anything goes Christmas

Stencil Sunday December Challenge

Good evening all.

Time once again for a new Stencil Sunday challenge STAMPlorations. We loved seeing your projects last month and hope you'll join us again this month.

I've got an 8 x 10 canvas to share with you today using some of the new larger stencils which have recently appeared in the shop.

I started with a layered gelli plate background printed onto light weight card using this tutorial from Barbara Grey. I used  Leaf Bliss and Gridlocked stencils with Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Paints and some scrim tape. This is how it looked:

I then stencilled the large Happy flowers (if you love the little one you'll love this one even more!) with bead gel and once dry I used Silk Acrylic Paint from ColourArte to paint. I painted my canvas board using the same blue paint as on the first layer of the gelli print and once dry adhered the print (which was cut to size) with glue and seal. I applied more of the blue paint around the edges with my finger to blend everything together.

I then used a matching ink to stamp around the edges with one of the Mixed Media Elements stamps and added a sentiment from Bold Sentiments: Believe.

A close up showing the background and gorgeous shimmer on the flowers.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see what the other girls have produced...you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

Sparkles Forum - anything but a card

Altered Eclectics - anything MM goes

Mixed Media World - anything goes

Creative Artiste - anything goes

We Love to Create - MM anything goes

Stencil Sunday

Good afternoon all.

This is my second post today...if you'd like to see my CAS card for the Christmas Card Club you'll find it here.

I've been battling an oncoming migraine all day so far but I have managed some crafty time this afternoon, the results of which you won't see until next month as I'm trying to get ahead with some DT work.

My turn to provide some Stencil Sunday inspiration over at STAMPlorations today. I've created some gift bags which will hopefully inspire you all to get your stencils out.

I got the Gelli Plate out and had a play! Shery has some larger stencils due out soon and I used Leaf Bliss to create my mood board, which I then made into a gift bag.

To finish them off I used a stamp from the Holiday Expressions: Thankful for Autumn set to make a label and tied the bag with bakers twine.

And don't forget the October Mixed Media Challenge runs until the end of the month! If you've been meaning to play, you still have plenty of time left to get messy and share your non-card mixed media projects. It's anything mixed media goes except a card...and you must use a stencil (any brand or even a homemade one!) in your project(s). For the complete challenge info + prizes, click here.

Challenges entered:

My Time to Craft - autumnal colours

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge - anything goes, twist autumn colours

Wags n Whiskers - fall colours

Crafting for all Seasons - bags and boxes

Eclectic Ellapu "For a Cause"

Good morning all.

Last day in Venice today as we fly home tomorrow.

A new month again so time for a new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu. Becca has given the Pink Team the topic "For a Cause". She is hosting a special blog hop "The Hop to Stop".

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and this hop is designed to raise awareness about domestic violence, an issue that impacts 1 in 4 women, and the resources that are available to assist victims of domestic violence.

Any type of papercraft/mixed media art project is welcome, as long as it *features* the color purple (domestic violence awareness color).

There are lots of prizes to be won from some fabulous sponsors, so pop over and have a look.

I decided to join in the blog hop and have made something purple. Thankfully I have no first hand experience of domestic violence but am happy to support and raise awareness of the cause.

Using one of the Crazy Birds from Tim Holz stamped and die cut from gelli plate waste. Backing paper from my stash. Happy die from Whimsy Stamps...die cut three times and stacked. Mat dies from Wplus9. Googly eyes and sequins from my stash.

Do pop over to the challenge blog and see what my team mates have made. It would be lovely to see you joining in too or alternatively you may like to join the Purple Team with their Halloween/Horror/Dark challenge.

Challenges entered:

The Hop to Stop

Happy Christmas

Good morning all.

A quiet day yesterday keeping the migraine at bay...I'll catch up with you all in a day or two as I can't spend too much time at the computer while it lingers!

This was meant to be my July Rudolph Day card but by the time it was finished and ready to post it was going to clash with my DT post so I saved it for another day.

This was to be a very quick card!! I'd planned in my mind to use this piece of gelli plate paper I'd saved from one of my early plays and team it with teal and red...so first thoughts when I got everything out was to use a die for a speedy card. Opened my drawer and found this snowflake from Impression Obsession which I was convinced I'd used before but turns out it's a NBUS. I cut it from the teal layer and dozens of passes later when I came to remove it from the die I discovered it came out in about four very fine parts.....urgh!!!! I was losing the will to live by now...

Deep breath and I put through a red version using bubble wrap to help the cutting along (it does help!). Lots of photo glue later I'd managed to stick everything together!!  The sentiment was a freebie from Tattered Lace. A gemstone finishes the card off.

Don't think I'll be repeating this experience any time soon which is a shame as I like the end result!

Challenges entered:

Winter Wonderland - Christmas Carol/Song (Snowflake by Jim Reeves)

Sister Act Card Challenge - anything goes

Southern Girls - anything goes

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

CHNC Extra - anything Christmas goes

Whimsy Stamps - Christmas in July

Christmas Cards all Year Round - snowflakes

We Love to Create - anything mixed media/inky goes

CHNC - two of something (words)

Collage

Good morning all.

 Urgggh spring cleaning...who invented it! Decided I ought to gut the house before we go away as I'm sure none of the kids will think to clean anything. Lots more still to do but having a day of rest today as I'm off to Glasgow tonight to see Fleetwood Mac. A bit of laundry to do and maybe some crafting too.

I got a small gelli plate last week so managed to fit in a little play at the weekend.

This is the mood board I created.

Using acrylic paints from a Royal and Langnickel art box which belonged my son along with several ARTplorations stencils from STAMPlorations.

I die cut the section I wanted to use (after I had cut some out for a DT project) with my favourite die of the moment from Wplus9 and attached to another die cut from waste card to give some dimension. Base card and insert were both in my bit box. Sentiment is a Jofy stamp from Paper Artsy, stamped onto waste tissue and heat embossed. The button, hessian and gemstone were all found on my desk. Truly a card made of left over bits!

Challenges entered:

Mixed Media Card - collage

Crafting from the Heart - anything goes

Craft Your Passion - anything goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Crafting for all Seasons #94 "Things with Wings"

Good morning all.

Thanks goodness it wasn't as frosty last night, although it's not much warmer today. Managed some inky crafty time yesterday and hopefully I'll get some projects finished today so I'm caught up with my DT work.

It's time for our next challenge at CFAS and this time the theme is "Things with Wings". We're  looking forward to seeing all your makes. We're being sponsored by Faery Ink who gave the DT images to work with.

I've used Acorn Faery Fae and coloured her with promarkers and used some stickles and glamour dust on her wings. Wasn't too happy with the colouring as the colours wouldn't blend very well on the paper I used. The background is my first attempt with a Gelli Plate using lots of beautiful autumnal acrylic paints from Paper Artsy. Finished with a bow and button.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the rest of the girls inspiration, you won't be disappointed.

Challenges entered:

ABC Challenge - B for buttons and bows
Card Mania - make it sparkle
X for Xperiment - use a new technique (backing paper made on Gelli Plate)
Sister Act Card challenge - anything goes
Baffies Kreativladen - anything goes
Inspiration Destination - anything goes
The Sisterhood of Crafters - anything goes
Inky Chicks - anything goes
Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes
Top Tip Tuesday - something new (Gelli Plate)