Dimension without layers II

Hello

I thought I'd have another go at the techniques shared on Isa's dimension without layers workshop. I chose a totally different subject (no bugs or beetles) and also used mainly watercolour pencils and Posca paint pens.

It was quite a few nights of relaxing colouring in.

I can't find a way of stopping my phone camera from 'optimising' images. In reality there's a little more contrast. I shouldn't be so lazy and get the actual camera out! 

Thank you for stopping by. Your comments are always welcome xx

December tagalong

Hello

Today I'm sharing the last tag of the year for the challenge with Isa. The challenge was to use three elements or techniques from the ones used over the year. I went with crackle, sparkle and wings, and frame it.

I used reds and oranges on the base layer, followed by the crackle glaze when it was totally dry. I've found I get best results if I use a generous amount of glaze, apply it in one direction, don't go back over it and leave it to slowly air dry.

When the glaze was dry I went over it with contrasting colours and left it to dry slowly to maximise the cracks.

With the tag made it was easy to add the other elements...

 ...some stamping in the backgound and ink around the edges...a Giogiocraft frame coloured with Distress Oxide ink and gilding wax...the Katzelkraft butterfly designed by Isa... and a sentiment sticker...done.

For a bit of extra shimmer I used clear Wink of Stella on the wings. Finished the last tag of the year. 

I've had lots of fun with the group and the challenges. There isn’t going to be a group running next year but I am enormously grateful to Isa for the huge amount of time she gave and all the tips and techniques shared. 

Thank you for following along on my crafty adventures this year. Wishing you a Happy New Year and I look forward to hearing from you in 2023 xxx

African beauty

Hi there

Today I'm sharing a card using the GiogioCraft African beauty and tribal frenzy stencils. I've had them a few months but not had a chance to play yet.

I've used DecoArt and PaperArtsy chalk finish paints on bronze paper, with some Posca paint pen dots.

Thank you for taking time to look. Have a lovely week xxx

Art journal - April

Hello

Today I'm sharing an art journal spread for a #tagalongaj challenge  If you want to know more you can see the details at Isa.C Art&Craft. The theme for this month is black and white flowers.

I started with Brusho on wet watercolour paper.

 

 

 Next some stamping from PaperArtsy sets ETS06 and ETS09, with some embossed in white.

I added a little colour to the ovals with Posca paint pens and stencilled the honeycomb using a GiogioCraft stencil.

 

I stamped and embossed flowers from the stamp sets, cut them out and added them to the pages. I added a little stamped script in a few places.

 

A few bees from a Sentimentally Yours stamp set finished it off.

The bees are starting to visit the pots on my balcony as the weather warms up. Just waiting for the swifts to arrive now.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a lovely week.

A touch of Klimt

Hello

I managed an afternoon in the craft room on the bonus bank holiday. Perfect for trying out some of my new Klimt inspired stencils from GiogioCraft.

I started with yellow chalk paint on black card and then added red, blue, green and gold translucent paints over the top. I masked off the lady and stencilled the background with Distress Oxide ink.

The second try I coloured in the skin with pencil...not sure I like it...

The third go was with black paint on white card, overlaid with the colours and gold again, and gold stencilling in the bacground.

It's such a gorgeous stencil I'm sure it will make another appearance in due course. Which do you like best?

Thank you for stopping by. Have a lovely creative week xxx

Roses

Hello

Another quick one as there hasn't been much chance for crafting with boiler replacement going on. The good news is that we have heat and hot water, the bad news is everything, absolutely everything, is covered in a layer of gritty dust.

I did have time for a little watercolouring to join in with a February challenge hosted by Calicrafty Pam with the prompt 'roses'.

I did a scribbly sketch, added loose watercolour and finished off with some stencilling and stamping. This was a very different style for me, but I really enjoyed it and plan to experiment some more.

Thank you for taking the time to drop by. Have a lovely week xx

Bowled Over

Hello

I can't believe August is all but over. It's been a very busy month with family birthdays, trips away and visitors. There hasn't been much time for the usual mixed media and papercrafting but I have had a very creative time.

First I'm sharing some bowls made with air dry clay following a tutorial by Giovanna Zara. You can follow the link on her blog Giogiocraft.

My mother-in-law was staying for a while and we had fun having a go at this technique. The clay was easy to roll out like pastry. Unlike pastry, we found when we combined the left over edges it didn't join up again smoothly, but had air bubbles in it. We still managed 5 pieces from one packet. We used Giogiocraft stencils.

Once dry we sanded off the edges for a smoother finish. Here are mine painted...

Then gilded and varnished...

We chose to use a gloss varnish on the top and a matt varnish on the bottom. 

Here are my mother-in-law's...

...the yellow bowl came out especially well.

If you give it a try, do leave enough time for the clay to dry completely before painting, and again enough time for the paint to dry before glazing.

I visited the Museum of Royal Worcester in August and was completely blown away by this piece by George Owen in the collection. The photograph is taken from the website. Having spent a week on and off making our crude, wobbly air dry clay bowls I am in awe of the craftsmanship involved. I would highly recommend the museum if you're in the area.

Thank you for stopping by xxx

Bear princess

Hello

I'm sharing another mainly one layer card today. I challenged myself to see if I could do something with the Pink Ink bear hugs stamp that would be a bit more feminine.

 

I made a mask for the bear and crown by stamping the images on paper and cutting out. I used the inner oval and outside frame of a Clarity oval stencil.

First I positioned the paper bear mask to give me an idea where it was going and stamped the crown. 

Then I masked off the crown, put the frame in place and stamped the bear slightly overlapping the crown, so it wasn't perched on the top of its head.

With outside frame, bear and crown mask in place the script was added using a Giogiocraft stencil.

Keeping the crown mask on and swapping the outside frame for the inner oval, another Giogiocraft stencil was used for the flowers. The arcs were added with a PaperArtsy stamp.

I traced around the edge of the oval with a gel pen and added squiggles. Then two shades of grey Promarker for shadows around the bear and the oval.

Finally the bear was coloured with Inktense pencils and a waterbrush.

The sentiment was stamped, embossed and added separately. The only bit that isn't flat.

I like how she is leaning out of the frame.

A good card for my strong, courageous female friends who fight for what they treasure and believe in. I am blessed to have several of these awesome people in my life.

Thank you for stopping by. Hope you have a lovely day xxx

 

 

 

A gentle return

Hello

I'm back after a couple of months of no posts. I have been doing some crafting and painting, by that I mean starting things that I haven't finished! 

One project I did get finished was a mixed media canvas.

I started by painting a 25cm sq canvas with Fresco Finish paints and stencilling in some background.

Next I coloured white card by 'swooshing' through Distress Oxide ink...

...and die cut leaves, flowers and a vase. It was A LOT of die cutting!

I think it was worth it in the end.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a lovely day, hopefully with a little crafty something thrown in xxx

 

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

The magic of monoprinting

Hello

I have finally come to the end of the challenge for October set by Kim Herringe for those who have taken her online monoprinting workshop. I'm pretty impressed I did a print for each day and I now have a stack of prints which can become cards and backgrounds for other projects. 

22. Circle

23. Moon

24. Bicycle

25. Music

26. Treat

27. Feather

28. Shoes

29. River

30. Cat

31. Pencil

I've certainly learnt a lot more about how the layers interact and how the different paints behave. I've also discovered a new love...Payne's grey...how did I ever live without it?!

Thank you for taking time to stop by. Hope you have a lovely week xxx