Spring has sprung

Hello
A quickie today for the next #craftingwithgiogiochallenge a doodle on an old alcohol ink background. I used the back of photographic paper that doesn't have any branding on it.

Actually I even cheated the doodle by using stencils to get the main shapes.

Just quick snaps today. All this self isolating is very tiring. Time for a small nap...

Thank you for taking the time to look xxx

Bubble Bloom

Hello  there
Nearly the weekend with a chance to relax just around the corner. Today I'm bringing a project that I've done for The Craft Barn using a Woodware stamp and alcohol inks on Yupo synthetic paper. Woodware have a range of stamps which are simple outlines of circles making flower heads and are perfect for this technique. I've applied the alcohol ink with a fine brush, cotton buds and even a pin.

I couldn't decide on a sentiment or not...what do you think?

For a few more details pop over to The Craft Barn blog or better still grab yourself a bargain from the sale!

Hang on in there, one more day until the weekend...Thanks for stopping by. xx

Perfume Bottle Card and Tag

Hello
My first Craft Barn post of the year has gone live today with a pretty card and tag. The Craft Barn seasonal sale is well underway so do take a look for some bargains.

I used a stamping tool so colours could be overlaid to get shading and depth on the bottle.

 

I made the little tag with shrink plastic and glossy accents...

 

 ...and decorated a little glass bottle with alcohol inks.

Thank you for stopping by xx

For the Girls

Hello
Somehow it slipped by me that my project was up on The Craft Barn blog this week. There have been lovely projects which will make great gifts as well as decorations.

The bottles are great fun to decorate. I've used the technique in the past in another project that you can see here.

Right off to bed now as I'm hoping to get up bright and early and put my mind to a couple of crafty projects in the morning.

Have a good weekend. xx

Autumn Fruits

Hello
I hope you're having the same gloriously sunny day as me. I love this time of year with the soft autumnal colours. I had a great day yesterday with Helen Chilton at The Craft Barn playing around with alcohol inks and Claybord. You can take a look at her sample on her blog.

Needless to say I bought a couple of pieces to play with, so watch this space!

Hope you are having a relaxing weekend with a bit of crafting time thrown in. xxx

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

Bunnies by Night

It's 'silhouettes' week at The Craft Barn and today my project is featured. I've used the delightful Lavinia bunnies on a mini printers tray. For full details of how to make it and to see all of the projects this week pop over to the blog.

Tomorrow sees the start of my two week holiday and this time I have actually kept a few days completely free for some craft time. I feel like a small child on Christmas Eve! Watch this space there may be a flurry of posts...

Owl always love you...

Hi there
Today's as good a day as any to be thinking about how we show those we love that our lives are made better for having them around, whether it be partners, family or friends.

Here's a card I've made using a digital hearts die cut, Heartfelt Creations die cut owls and alcohol inks on yupo.

Materials used:

Yupo synthetic paper

Ranger alcohol ink: purple twilight, turquoise

Silhouette digital die cut

Heartfelt Creations die: sugar hollow bungalow

Promarkers: cool grey 2

white gel pen