Season's Greetings

Good morning all.

Feeling a little better today after drinking copious amounts of honey, lemon and ginger in boiling water yesterday...it certainly soothed the throat.

I think this is my final Christmas card for 2015!

Die from Wplus9. Stamps all from PaperArtsy stamped and heat embossed, then returned to die and inked with various DI and splashed with water. Bow from my stash.

Challenges entered:

Brown Sugar - anything goes

Fussy and Fancy - happy holidays

That's Crafty - anything goes

Scrap & Craft - anything Christmas

Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Christmas cards

Where the HeART is - Christmas colours

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

Altered Coffee Jar

Good afternoon all.

My turn today to show a tutorial over on the ARTplorations blog, this month I'm showing how I turned a humble coffee jar into this Christmas candle holder.

Challenges entered:

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything goes

Altered Eclectics - anything goes
Country View Challenges - add some texture
Where the HeART is - anything goes/stencils

Stencil Sunday September Challenge

Good afternoon all.

Another month gone by and it's time once again to inspire you for our September mixed media Stencil Sunday challenge at STAMPlorations. It was great to see so many entries in August. I have an altered bottle to share with you today.

The bottle originally contained a very nice smoothie drink and the plastic label came clean off leaving me a lovely blank canvas. I started by painting all over with Vintage Lace Fresco Finish  paint which is an opaque acrylic. Once I was happy with the coverage and everything was dry I stippled over with a translucent paint in Limelight. My paper was leftover from a previous project and as I'd use the limelight paint in it, it matched perfectly...it also fitted perfectly!The top of the bottle was stamped using archival ink and a stamp from the Artsy Border Makers set.

 

I stamped the Subway Art Builders Create stamp onto tissue with black archival and cut out and attached two of the sentiments with gel medium.  I added lace, flowers and beads from my stash to finish.

Products used:

ARTploration stencils - Some Birds, Hearts Tumbled, Shutters, Oh My Stars, Dots and Dashes,  Hearts all Over, Gridlocked, Nestled Circles, Bubbles, Foiled and Foiled Again.

STAMPloration stamps - Trendy Birds, Artsy Border Makers and Subway Art Builders Create.

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.

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

choice of 1 ARTplorations stencil to the top picks.

 Looking forward to seeing all your creations.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see what my team mates have produced, you won't be disappointed!

Challenges entered:
Recycle, Re-Purpose & Re-Invent - anything goes (must recycle)
Decorate to Celebrate - anything goes

Eclectic Ellapu "Anything Goes"

Good morning all.

Yesterday was spent catching up with the washing, tidying up the house and grocery shopping...today I have an ironing mountain to tackle if I can stand up long enough. Don't know what I've done to my right foot but it is very sore so I'm hobbling around.

Another new month and a new challenge here at Eclectic Ellapu, where the Pink Team have a theme of "Anything Goes". We look forward to seeing all your makes.

I've upcycled a spice jar for this challenge. This was really a test piece...I wanted to start with something small! The jar was painted first with Vintage Lace opaque Fresco paint then a translucent Cherry Red. I then stencilled a butterfly from ARTplorations  Flutterby stencil onto tissue paper with sparkle medium and once dry I painted the back of the tissue cherry red to help it blend onto the jar. The tissue was attached with gel medium. My piece was finished with a few gemstones and a tassel.

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the rest of the pink team, you won't be disappointed. Meanwhile the purple team are using up their forgotten or hidden stash (6 months old or older).

Challenges entered:

That Craft Place - mixed media anything goes

Love 2 Create - anything creative/mixed media goes

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything goes

Eclectic Ellapu "By the Sea"

Good morning all.

A new month and a year older...wonder what this year has in store for me!

With the new month comes a new challenge at Eclectic Ellapu. Yvonne has picked the theme of "By the Sea" for the Pink Team this time.

I started with a canvas board which hadn't turned out as planned and covered it with a napkin before painting with white gesso. The texture paste stencilling  was still evident so I positioned the canvas with this in the bottom right corner to give the sand some texture. Once dry I used antique linen crackled paint and two shades of blue chalk frescoes from Paper Artsy to paint my background. My image is a Paintbox Poppet decoupage from Crafter's Companion which I've framed with my die from Wplus9; the sentiment, cloud and sunshine die are also from the same set. The seagull and compass stamps are from Kanban and I've stamped onto tissue paper. I've used some dark blue ink to stamp around the edges with a stamp from The Mixed Media set from STAMPlorations.

This  was one of those pieces which had no plan and just evolved as I went along...I love how it turned out....and my canvas didn't go to waste :)

Do pop over to the challenge blog to see the inspiration from the other girls, you won't be disappointed. The Purple Team have a recipe for this month - 3 dies, 2 stencils and 1 sentiment.

Challenges entered:

Stamps and Stencils - happy holidays

Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

Die Cuttin Divas - the great outdoors

Crafty Cardmakers - anything but a card

Simon says Stamp - not ordinary paper (used a napkin)

Altered Eclectics - anything MM goes

Rhedd's Creative Challenge - anything MM goes

Sparkles Monthly - sun, sea and sand

The Mirror Crack'd - canvas

Anything but a Card - anything goes

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

Upcycled Bottle

Good morning all.

An upcycled bottle to share with you today...no before photos but this started life as a humble chutney jar.

I was inspired by Annecke's tutorial at Paper Artsy and when this jar came out of the dishwasher I knew I wanted to use it.  I will have to make a few more curry's now to get the next jar emptied!

After cleaning and drying the jar I give it a couple of coats of Hint of Mint Fresco Finish acrylic paint using a foam applicator. Once dry I added a couple of coats of translucent Beach Hut Fresco Finish just dabbing it on with the foam applicator. The front decoration was made some time ago and I hadn't worked out how to use it. It is  a piece of acrylic which I stamped with JM09 and heat embossed with black detail EP. I then added red stickles  to the reverse and painted it with acrylic paint, this was attached with gel medium. I sanded the edges of the jar and rubbed some pearl metallic guilding wax over them in both teal and pearl. Red paper twine was wrapped around the neck to finish.

Challenges entered:

Paper Artsy - topic #10 bottles

All Crafts Challenge - anything but a card

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Altered Eclectics - anything goes

Secrets of the Garden

Good evening all....running a tad late today!

Sunshine and showers has been the name of the game today and waiting for the refridgerator engineer who turned up at 6.30pm!

This has been lying waiting for words on my desk for weeks now but I finally got it finished this afternoon.

My May page in my Art Journal. Lots of stamping and stencilling...main focal stencils from Imagination Crafts and Prima. Sentiment stamps from Bo Bunny, Paper Artsy and Mucky Paws. Background stamps from Artistic Stampers and Crafter's Companion.

Challenges entered:

Mixed Media Mojo - tic tac toe (May, stencil, stamp)

Artistic Stamper - journal your heart out

Stamps and Stencils - three of a kind (flowers)

Crafting with an Attitude - anything goes/spring fever

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Simon Says Stamp - anything goes

Mini Canvas

Good morning all.

All packed and ready for the off! Just hoping the weather stays dry...I've packed some books and craft mags just in case!

A little 4" canvas to share today.

Canvas is painted with Fresco Finish paints from Paper Artsy. Stamps are all from STAMPlorations and are inked with Wendy Vecchi Archival inks. Stencil is from Imagination Crafts  and I've used Sparkle Medium.

Challenges entered:

Unruly Paperarts - animal instincts

Our Creative Corner - colour your world

Stamps and Stencils - anything goes

Mixed Media World - use bright colours

DL Art - anything goes

Live Life Fully

Good morning all.

Yesterday was best described as dreich! I spent the day doing chores then had an evening crafting. Today I need to get some shopping in and I've got to take Lora down home for some maths tuition from my nephew's wife.

One of the bits I did last night was a journal page for March.

Pages were coated in gesso using a credit card and once dry I added some mint Fresco Finish paint again with a credit card. The stamps are all from Unity Stamps and came from various SMAK kits, stamped with DI inks and black archival.

Challenges entered:

Friends with Flair link up

Unity {be inspired} Challenge - colours

What makes you Different

Good afternoon all.

Domestic Goddess hat has been dispensed with for today and I'm having five minutes before I need to start cooking! Another glorious spring day here, just hope it lasts all weekend.

A second post from me today...running out of month to enter some challenges!

This is a small canvas, painted first with gesso then, using a brayer I layered opaque and translucent Fresco Finish paints in various shades of blue, adding a layer of gesso between each colour. I used Grunge Paste for the first time with a stencil from Memory Box and painted over it once dry with the darkest shade of paint. The NBUS stamps are from Unity Stamps...stamped onto tissue paper and added to the canvas with gel medium. I used a versamark pen and various EP's to add colour to the flowers and leaves, then painted the rest with Fresco Finish paints.

This is my first attempt at this type of image on a canvas and I'm quite pleased how it turned out...but there is room for improvement! Not sure whether to add anything else or leave it be...

Challenges entered:

Inkspirational Challenge - she art

Unity Stamps - Friends with Flair

Darnell's NBUS challenge- #4

Stamp Artic - use stamps

STAMPlorations - stamps & stencils

Noted

Good morning all.

We ended up with another glorious spring day yesterday despite the cloudy forecast. The eclipse was quite surreal as my computer sits in full sunshine at that time of day so I was sat with the sun on my back and the moons shadow shading the screen. It was actually too sunny to see the moon itself and I didn't have anything protective for my eyes so I basked in it instead lol.

A bit of upcycling/altering today...I won this  note block in a raffle recently and decided it was ripe for a bit of altering.

This is how it used to be...navy blue tacky plastic cover but a nice size and very sturdy. This is what it looks like now:

This is plan A...I started with plan B and painted the plastic with black gesso then used the brayer with various Fresco Finish paints but I didn't like it....so...

After removing the notepad I recovered the whole outer with adhesive canvas and painted it with gesso.  I then set to with a brayer and some Fresco Finish paints from Paper Artsy in first an opaque Mermaid then a translucent South Pacific. Peacock feathers DI was then sponged through a circles stencil from Memory Box before I stamped a chicken wire and word stamps from Artistic Stamper.

The bird on a branch is a stencil from Imagination Crafts and I've used two colours of Sparkle Medium. Noted is from Prima, metal doily and love plate were a recent purchase from China, butterfly charm from Splodgeaway and corners from Mucky Paws...these were all gessoed then sponged with peacock feathers DI. Feather and flower were from my stash.

I love how this turned out!

Challenges entered:

Mixed Media Monthly - birds of a feather

Our Creative Corner - junk in your trunk

Paper Artsy - deconstruction

Recycle, Re-Purpose & Re-Invent - anything goes

Mixed Media World - anything goes

Tatiana

Good morning all.

A quiet day yesterday, I had a football match to watch in the afternoon...really need it to be the end of season as the matches keep interrupting my crafting time lol!  A quick visit to the dentist this morning, a few household chores then the day is my own.

The intrepid traveller decided to head into Yorkshire...after visiting Kielder Reservoir he set off over the Pennines into the Yorkshire Dales where he has been visiting caves, waterfalls, gorges and reservoirs. He was camped up last night with a view of the Leighton Reservoir. He's staying clear of all the motorways and main roads and just "googling" as he goes! I believe he's heading for the North York Moors today.

I read a tip at the weekend regarding dies which were hard to cut...put a layer of bubble wrap in your sandwich...now I want my die back to give it a try!!

Some more embossing with aluminium tape to share today.

Using one of the Celtic Dream Dies from Imagination Crafts and Lavinia Stamps called Tatiana. I've cut the die several times and layered it up to give plenty of dimension and stuck it to a backing card embossed with a hessian EF from Crafter's Companion. Plumbers tape was then stuck all over the die and backing sheet making sure to press it well into all the grooves.

Once everything was covered I started inking up with fresco paints from Paper Artsy - I used 

Autumn Fire, Blood Orange and Pumpkin Soup . Paints were sponged on and then polished when dry to let some of the tape shine through. I kept adding layers of paint until I was happy with the results. 

I then added some diamond sparkle medium over the die relief to add lots of sparkle. After painting and distressing an MDF collage frame with black and silver the finished piece was mounted and a few gems were added the frame.

Challenges entered:

Mixed Media World - anything goes

Art Journal Journey - things with wings

The Mirror Crack'd - wings

Country View Challenges - anything goes

Lavinia Stamps - add some gems 

All Crafts Challenge - anything but a card

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything goes

Stay Lucky!

Good morning all.

Gosh it didn't half blow a hoolie last night!!
We were contemplating going to watch some husky sledding this weekend but I think it will actually be too warm for the dogs with the mild weather...typical!

Two ATC's to share today....both sons are going off travelling this year so decided as they'll both be travelling light to forego the Bon Voyage cards and give them these instead.

The youngest, Mark left yesterday eventually! He stayed in Rothbury (little town/village in Northumberland about two hours from here) overnight and he'll be heading Hexham way today and into the Lake District from there. Gary doesn't go until June, he's doing a motorbike tour of Iceland  and also visiting Holland, Denmark and the Faroe Islands en-route. He'll be away for about 5 weeks.

Background was created using Fresco Finish paints from Paper Artsy and a brayer. I started with a layer of gesso then a layer of green, more gesso then using a chevron brayer I added some vanilla, then more green with a hearts brayer. Texture paste was applied through a Memory Box stencil and WOW EP added over the top. After leaving everything to dry overnight I heat embossed the EP. The stamp is from the same Year Round Cheer set from Close to my Heart which I used a couple of days ago and this is the March stamp. Stamped onto tissue paper and applied with slap it on. Finished with a gemstone in the middle of the clover.

Challenges entered:

Unruly Paper Arts - I should be so lucky

Mixed Media Mojo - 2 x ATC's

Paper Artsy - miniature art

I was inspired by Liesbeth's brayered background here

Country Views - anything goes

Simon says Monday - just a hint of clover

SimplyCreate Too - mostly green

Eclectic Ellapu Pink Team "Anything Goes"

Good morning all.

This is my second post today, you can find my DT inspiration for Imagination Crafts here.

It's time for a new challenge for the Pink Team over at Eclectic Ellapu where Elaine has chosen the theme of "Anything Goes". I've made a small canvas this month.

Canvas has been primed with gesso then texture paste has been used through a Memory Box stencil. I used Fresco paints for the background in Mermaid, Beach Hut and Chalk. Circles die from Memory Box. Flower stamp and die are from Paper Artsy, stamped with Fresco paints. Sentiments also from Paper Artsy which were stamped on tissue. Grass die is from Lawn Fawn and bee dies are from Elizabeth Design Crafts. Finished with some bling in the flower centre.

Challenges entered:

As you Like It - favourite anything but a card

Being new to mixed media I'm loving paints, canvas, lots of texture and messy fingers!

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday - anything goes

Sweet Stamps - anything but a card

All Crafts Challenge - anything but a card

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Get Creative - embossing

Work it Wednesday (SSS) - spring

Brown Sugar - anything goes

Hello

Good morning all.

Off to the beauticians later for some threading!! Hope the snow holds off until I get home again.

An ATC to share today.

Inspired by Pam's Journal here I got hold of some plumber's tape and picked out some netting, sequin waste, odd die cuts and plastic gridding and deciding to start small set to, to make an ATC.

After gluing everything in place I covered it all with the foil plumber's tape. Then the fun part with acrylic paints using a sponge and various colours. After each colour was applied I rubbed back to expose the high parts.  Once happy with the colours I added a die cut Hello from Memory Box which was layered up three times and gold foiled. Finished with a couple of gold foiled hearts.

Challenges entered:

Paper Artsy - Shiny Stuff

Hello ATC

Good morning all.

Well my little girl is 17 today, I really don't know where the years have gone. We're taking her for a driving taster session this afternoon at a local racetrack which has been organised to raise money for Children in Need.

Several loads of washing to get through today then I'm off down home for my sister's hen party! Should be a good night but I will have to watch what I drink as I want back here by lunchtime on Sunday and wouldn't want to risk being breathalysed on the way home.

Something a "little" different to share today, an ATC.

Both the base and the topper have been covered in some adhesive fabric which gives a lovely feel to the piece. Base and topper were painted Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics. Once dry the topper was stamped with JM05 from JOFY stamps and painted with the Eggplant acrylic. The base was stencilled with a dots stencil from Memory Box using Eggplant then stamped with JM37 from JOFY stamps. The sentiment is from Wild Rose Studio and pearl is from my stash. The topper was attached with foam tape.

Challenges entered:

The Stamping Boutique - anything but a card

House that Stamps Built - anything but a card

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Party Time Tuesdays - anything goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Artistic Stampers - anything goes

One Crazy Stamper - anything goes