Maneki-necko

Hello

I've been having a little play with some of the lovely stencils in my Giogiocraft advent calendar. First up is the little maneki-necko, beckoning cat, in the hope that 2021 brings us better fortune.

Difficult to get a decent photograph at this time of the year when there is so little daylight.

Thank you for stopping by. Hope the week brings you happiness and good fortune xxx

Life is a song

Hello
I'm playing a bit of catch up with the #craftingwithgiogio challenge. This journal page was for the theme 'geometric'. Not a style I normally choose, but then that's why we challenge ourselves to try something new.

 

 I love this Dance to the Music stamp set from Joy! Crafts.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a lovely day xxx

Boxing Clever

Hello
Here in the UK we've just come through a spell of bitterly cold, snowy weather, but today there are glimmers of sunshine and a definite touch of spring in the air. My offering this weekend is a little decorated box, perfect to put a little gift or chocolates in.

For details of materials and how I did it do take a look at The Craft Barn blog. A short post today as I'm going to do my best to actually get some crafting done!

Thank you for visiting. Hope you have a lovely day xxx

The Key to My Heart

Hello
This week has been a very special one thanks to the love of my fabulous family and friends who have showered me in birthday treats. It's had me thinking about what's important in life and for me it's not the stuff we have, it's the memories we share with loved ones.  Having said that I did get birthday money and I have bought myself some lovely crafty goodies...craft stuff doesn't count!

Over on The Craft Barn blog hearts have been prominent this week. I had a lot of fun with this mixed media tag.

Take a look at the blog for more details and don't forget the winter sale is still on at The Craft Barn.

Off now to have a little play with my new crafty stash. Thank you for stopping by. xxx

Look at Me!

Hello
My project today is a bit of fun with the Tando whimsical birds.

There are lots of pieces in the pack for you to mix and match and enough for several projects. My birds turned out looking like penguins...or so people tell me!

For more details take a look at The Craft Barn blog. There are lots of Tando items in the sale.

I'm off now for a bit of a play in the craft room. Thanks for stopping by xxx

Get Carried Away

Hello there
Getting my crafting back on with a bit of card making over the weekend. I've been having a play with another of the StempelBar stamps picked up on my travels last summer.

This is a favourite technique of mine at present, combining silhouettes with stencilled backgrounds. I made the backgrounds by swooshing the paper through wet Distress Oxide ink and then adding layers of stencilling on top.

I stamped the Banksy balloon girl and masked off before adding the scratches. I finished off with highlights in white gel pen and a computer generated sentiment.

I got carried away having a bit of a play with some different colours and stencils.

Thank you for taking time to visit. Hope you have a great week ahead. xx

Materials used:

StempelBar: SB-UM0895-II

Stampers Anonymous: slight alterations

Carabelle Studio: London

Tando, Carabelle Studio and Ranger stencils

Distress Oxide Ink

Archival Ink

There is always hope...

Hello
At last a chance to play with some of the stamps I picked up on my travels this summer. First up the Banksy little girl with a balloon - There is always hope.

 

 

 

 
I picked this up from StempelBar in Berlin. Actually I spent quite a few pennies there on Banksy and graffiti art stamps. There may well be a few more cards and projects to come in this style!

Animal Farm

Hello
Business and housework sorted for the weekend...time now for a bit of crafting. First of all just to let you know that my latest post for The Craft Barn is live today on the blog.

I really love these cheeky chaps from the PaperArtsy Elena Zinski range.

The cards are actually one layer apart from the paper flower. Hop over to the blog for the step-by-step tutorial and find out how to achieve this effect with masking techniques.

No time to chat...crafting awaits! Hope you have a lovely relaxing day. Thanks for stopping by xx

One for the Boys

It's all things Seth Apter over at The Craft Barn this week. If you don't know his style it is very industrial and loaded with layers and textures. I had very messy fun decorating a Kate Crane Tando planner. Each page has roughly 8 layers of paint and stamping on it!

For step by step details of how to achieve this effect have a look at The Craft Barn blog.

Thank you for stopping by.  xx

Moroccan Lantern

I've had great fun this Bank Holiday actually doing a bit of crafting and finishing a Moroccan lantern I started on a workshop with Helen Chilton at The Craft Barn in March. If you love messy, mixed media but practical projects the monthly Kit and Kaboodle class is fantastic.

The base is a Tando Creative kit. Helen had us painting it with metallic paints and distressing it to make it look worn and rusted. I won't give away her secrets but the faux rust was really fun to do. We embossed acetate and coloured it with alcohol inks to create the 'glass' panels. The hinges were cut with the WRMK tabs punchboard. Of course I had to buy one!

Most people on the day chose to box in the top of the lantern but I already had other ideas...and so a month later I've had time to finish it off.

Firstly it all had to be assembled. Then I painted a few wooden embellishments to add some additional decoration to the sides.

Then time to decorate some bottles to fit into the recesses on the top. I used alcohol inks on miniature glass bottles and some old medicine bottles. To create more intense colours I used one colour on the inside of the bottles and two colours on the outside, plus some metallic mixative. I also dripped the copper mixative down the sides of the bottles,

I painted ribbbon to go around the top of the larger bottles, added painted embellishments and finished the tops with enamel accents.

 

I altered little silver charms with the alcohol ink and tied them on with wire and tiny labels were tied with string.

 

I had some left over paper clay flowers and butterflies from another project, so after a lick of paint I added a few of those, along with a few metallic gems.

I really love the irridescence of the alcohol inks on glass. 

 

It looks fantastic with a battery lit candle in it if I do say so myself. It is only made of cardboard so you really must not use a real candle!
 

  

 

Just have to find it a permanent home now. My husband has already asked where it's going!!!!

Materials used:

Tando Creative Moroccan lantern kit

acetate

Ranger alcohol inks

Tim Holtz grunge paper

DecoArt dazzling metallic acrylic paint

DecoArt fluid acrylics

black gesso

Ranger enamel accents

wooden, metallic, glass and gem embellishments

lace ribbon, string, wire

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