Galapagos seascape

Last December my sister said that what she would really like for her birthday was a mixed media canvas of her favourite holiday scene.

So I bought a canvas and thought seven months was plenty of time to get it done!  Around May I decided I'd better get cracking and got as far as building up the base layers.  I used corrugated card, beads, masking tape and tissue embedded in grunge paste and gave everything a coat of white gesso.

 

With about ten days to go it was time to get some paint on the canvas.  I've never had any tuition in painting...but how hard could it be?!!!  I used Paper Artsy Fresco Finish Chalk paints which blend easily and come in a wide range of colours which helped with matching paint and not having to mix my own shades too much. 

Ta da!  Several days and quite a few hours later it's done with four days to spare.  Enough time for the paint to dry and harden!  Happy Birthday little sis.
 

For a first foray in to the world of art rather than craft I'm fairly pleased, but no more commissions please, it's far too nerve racking!

Thank you for taking the time to look.  All constructive comments gratefully received...just in case I decide to have another go in the future!

They know me here

I've not been up to much crafting recently for various reasons but hopefully that's about to change and you will notice a flurry of activity on my blog.  First up a CAS card for The Craft Barn weekly challenge - Clean and Simple.  In the spirit of CAS I'm keeping it brief!

Thanks for stopping by, it's much appreciated x

Materials used:

Stampendous: Cling Tutu Toad

Doo Lally Pip / Lindsay Mason: Don't Be Afraid

Spectrum Noir Aqua markers

Ranger Distress Inks

Ranger Archival 

gems

Turquoise beach huts

This month's calendar challenge at The Craft Barn is turquoise and beach huts.  Unfortunately I haven't a beach hut stamp which would have made things easier.  Inspired by photos on Pinterest I opted for watercolour using Gelatos.  I've tried to create the idea of a very hot day with a deep blue sky and dark shadows.

I'm afraid I found this difficult to photograph in focus and the paper was bending so it looks like I stuck the calendar on wonky...it is straight really!

I'm signed up for a watercolour course in September so watch this space!

Thanks for taking the time to look. xxx

Materials used:

watercolour paper

Faber-Castell Gelatos: bubblegum, watermelon, lemon, butterscotch, 

snow cone, cotton candy, blueberry

Stabilo All pencil 

white gel pen

Claire's Stuff

Blogging two weekends in a row!  Must mean I'm winding down at work and gearing up for some holiday crafting.  I'm off on a course next week and it occurred to me I might need a notebook.  The perfect opportunity to try out a technique that Lindsay Mason introduced me to.

First I masked off the spine on a cheap supermarket notebook.  I stuck on embossed paper, die cuts, metal embellishments and metal studs, then painted everything with a coat of Little Black Dress (sorry I forgot to photograph that step).

I then covered the background with Viva Decor Maya Gold, working the paint in to all of the nooks and crannies.  When the base was dry I used two more colours to paint the letters.

To finish off a little Treasure Gold was used to highlight the edges and bring out some of the texture.
 

No chance my notebook will get mixed up with anyone else's!

Have a lovely day x

Materials used:

notebook

assorted die cuts and embellishments

Cosmic Shimmer glue

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint: little black dress

Viva Decor Maya Gold paint: gold, cacao, turquoise, emerald

Treasure Gold: white fire

Lavender Dragonfly

Hi there
I don't seem to be getting much crafting done at the minute but an unexpectedly free Saturday (thanks to Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters) meant I could get my Craft Barn June calendar challenge done.  This month the theme is lavender and dragonflies.

I was messing around and experimenting with Brusho and my new Spectrum Noir aquamarkers and not thinking about making anything in particular so there's only the final photo.

I started by sketching a dragonfly and used masking fluid to protect some white areas.  I watercoloured with Gelatos and Spectrum Noir aquamarkers then masked over the whole dragonfly and used Brusho sprinkled over a stencil, blotting on the dragonfly card for the background.  A little bit of touch up with a Promarker and a swipe of shaded lilac around the edges finished it off.

Thank you for stopping by.

Materials used:

watercolour paper

Clarity leafy swirl stencil

Brusho: purple

Gelatos: acqua dolce, snow cone, blueberry, boysenberry, metallic grape, grape

Spectrum Noir Aquamarkers: teal, purple, marine

Distress Ink: shaded lilac

May flowers

Hi there

I've left it quite late this month to get my May entry in to The Craft Barn calendar challenge.  This month the theme is Magenta and Flowers.  I struggled a bit as it wouldn't be my preferred colour scheme or subject, but it's good to have a challenge.  I've used the faux watercolour technique of inking the stamps and spritzing with water before stamping on watercolour paper.  To add a bit of depth I added a bit of lighter stencilling. 

Thank you for taking a look.

Materials used:

Joy! Vintage Flourish Clear Stamps:  flower/leaf 2, flower/leaf 3, flower/leaf 4

Crafters Workshop stencil: mini butterfly meadow

Distress Ink: spun sugar, picked raspberry, seedless preserves, shabby shutters, 

mowed lawn, pine needles

Crafty Coasters

Hi there
I've not been doing much crafting recently (as most evenings I've had my leg up after a rather embarrassing tumble) but my lovely husband acquired me a large bag full of beer mats just crying out to be altered.  I thought this was a good opportunity to combine the new Lindsay Mason, Doo Lally Pip stamps I've just bought with a few bits and pieces lying around which I wasn't sure what to do with.

Materials used:

Personal Impressions clear stamps: Don't Be Afraid, Happiness Verses
Stampendous: Tutu Toad
Craft Individuals: Crowned Bunnies

Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Paints

Ranger Distress Ink: black soot, faded jeans

Ranger Archival Ink: jet black