Inktober

Hello

Inktober was started by artist Jake Parker as a challenge to improve his inking skills. Follow the link to find out more. In the spirit of creating for creating's sake Kim Herringe has set those taking her online workshop a gel-printing challenge, to create something every day for a month, with prompts if we want to follow them.

       

It's a great excuse to delve around in my mask and stencil collection, as well as use the leaves my mother-in-law has sent from her garden. So far I have used acrylic paints but I do have some acrylic inks tucked away which I might just have to dig out and play with.

1. Summer

2. Mountain

3. Rocket

 

I love that however much you plan a sequence you can't really predict what's going to happen as the layers combine. I'm slowly learning to accept the outcome whatever, and just enjoy the process.

Thank you for taking the time to visit. Hope you have a lovely week xx

Look deep into nature

Hello everyone
I hope you are all keeping well. Last weekend, needing some impetus to get creative for an afternoon, I dipped into an online tutorial with Carpe Occasio Creative Arts on Facebook. I started off following but of course soon went off in my own direction. But then that's what it's all about isn't it?

Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.

Albert Einstein

 

 

 

 

I'm still working on the lettering :-)

Take care and have a lovely week xxx

Snarky cat returns

Hello
Hope you are all keeping well and getting through the challenges of a restricted lifestyle. I've lost my energy and creative mojo this week, but I know that's fine and normal and it will be back.

Here are some cards I made last weekend with the fabulous snarky cat stamps. I went with warm colours this time. You can see my first batch here and a link to the method I used here in one of my old Craft Barn posts.

I'm off to find my mojo. Thank you for taking time to stop by. Take care xxx

Faith in humanity

Hello
Hope you are all bearing up wherever you are in the world in these very strange times. I'm sure like everyone, I've had my ups and downs, but crafting really is a great distraction.

I've been continuing to try new things as the novelty, and the extra concentration it takes, really make time pass quickly. I tried Dina Wakley's faces tutorial but I'm not ready to share those just yet!

So here is this week's attempt at journalling with a quotation from Mahatma Gandhi.

 You must not lose faith in humanity. 

Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty

the ocean does not become dirty.

Mahatma Gandhi

Deciding I needed a few tips I've ordered myself a magazine on lettering and some pens.

I'm off now to reconnect with some blogs that I had lost touch with. Take care and thank you for stopping by xxx

Off you go!

Hello again!
After a bit of a break from crafting I'm slowly getting myself back into it, starting with small projects and cardmaking. Here's a card I didn't post from earlier in the year using the stamps from Creative Stamping magazine issue 54.

The background and circle are actually one layer with the illusion of depth but the car itself is mounted on foam squares.

Thank you for stopping by for a look xx

Materials used:

Creative Stamping issue 54

Creative Expressions stencil: star turn

Clarity stencil: framer shape circle

Distress Oxides

Archival ink

Promarkers

Owl in a good day's work

Yesterday was one of those very rare days when my friend Mary and I got together to mess around crafting, without a specific purpose in mind. She brought over her new crafty stash and I got out all of my new bits and we had a play. In the end I think I came out of it very well as I used a lot of her new stamps. I think it's a great idea to craft together. We can all get a bit comfortable sticking to the same style or favourite brands. Good to shake it up sometimes!

We used my new stamp positioner and both agree that it's a very useful tool, especially for large stamps, or for adding the final sentiment without fear of making a mistake! It's also great for over-stamping the same image in several colours. I stamped the owl first in vintage photo. Then I inked it up in walnut stain, but removed the ink from the centre with a baby wipe. Finally I inked it in black and removed all of the ink except for the very edges. I drew out some of the colour with a waterbrush. I did the same with the moon using weathered wood and faded jeans.

So far I've only finished one card but watch this space as I get round to making the others up. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a lovely Sunday whatever you're up to. xx

Materials used:

Hobby Art: Orla owl

Creative Expressions: dreamy sentiments

Distress Ink

Archival Ink

Tealight Holder

With Christmas approaching it’s time for a bit of altering. I picked up a tealight holder in a charity shop some time ago that was crying out for a makeover. First texture past was added, left to dry and then painted white.

Next the background was painted, gradually blending the colours together. When it was dry speckled stars were added in white paint and the textured areas were highlighted with gilding wax.

  Die cut snowflakes were embossed and painted silver. When the silver was dry the raised areas were highlighted with white paint and the snowflakes were adhered with gel medium.

 Finally gems were added and the holder was sealed with gel medium which also gives a silk finish. To finish a circle of felt was added to the base.

 

Now that it's dark so early I really enjoy sitting in candle light when I get in from work. It's a great way to block out distractions and relax.

 

Materials used:

PaperArtsy grunge paste

Tando masks: distorted harlequin, Giovanna eighties

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint: snowflake, blue oyster, china, southern skies, blueberry

Viva Decor Maya Gold: silver

Creative Expressions metallic gilding wax: patina

Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die: winter elements

Sizzix Texture Fades Embossing Folder: gridlock

Ranger Multi Medium: matte

  

W is for wine

W is for wine...of course! Thought I'd get the gelatos out for a change for The Craft Barn dictionary challenge this fortnight. The background is made with layers of gelatos rubbed through stencils with a baby wipe, then stamping on top with a few highlights. The main image was stamped and watercoloured with the gelatos. A little distress ink was added here and there for shadows with the rings stamped in paint.

Materials used:

Stencils: Stampers anonymous harlequin, Clarity trellis, unknown brick

Creative Expressions stamps: wine label

Faber-Castell Gelatos: buttercream, butterscotch, iced chai, cinnamon, chocolate, red cherry, grape

Archival Ink: jet black, coffee

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint: blood orange

Distress Ink: black soot, vintage photo

gel pens, Stabilo All pencil

Typewriter Greetings

Another card with the new GiogioCraft stencil directional drops (except I used the chevron part of the stencil) and a much loved Creative Expressions stamp.

Adorned and adored

Last year I treated myself to the extra large bottle of Dior's J'adore just so that I could have the marvellous gift box with the magnetic clip!  Finally I have had time to work on it just in time for a friend's birthday.  Inspired by the work of Giovanna Zara and her blog, Scrap in Progress, I set to.  The first stage was sticking on die cuts and embellishments, giving it all a coat of gesso and then using Dylusions ink sprays to create a coloured base.

I added a little yellow and orange paint to the base layer and the box was dry brushed with white paint to knock the colours back a bit and create some highlights.  I used Viva Decor Maya Gold paints to bring out the letters and using a sponge, added a slight shimmer over the whole box.  Further highlights were added with gilding waxes. Et voilà!

 

Materials used: 

various die cuts and embellishments

Ranger Multi Medium: matte

Dylusions Ink Sprays: funky fuchsia, post box red, squeezed orange

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint: yellow submarine, autumn fire, snowflake

Viva Decor Maya Gold; magenta, lilac

Treasure Gold: white fire

Creative Expressions Metallic Gilding Wax: patina