Time to relax

Afternoon! Haven't been on for a while as we've been away on our hols, and I got a bit busy before we went. While we were away, I had the opportunity to take part in some watercolour sessions - something I haven't done in over 20 years!! it was great to be able to do something creative purely for myself - not for friends or family, or for allocations or demonstrations. 

They are not great works of art, but I found it so much fun that I don't mind. There were challenges along the way - like being bolder with colour, which I finally achieved with the parrot, and the portrait - which I found really difficult. So here they are! 

Back soon

Cxxx

Out of fear of seeming ridiculous, we often end up not tackling the challenges around us. John Ruskin

Creativity takes courage. Henri Matisse

Black Butterflies!!

Well, I know you don't normally see black butterflies, but I like the silhouette against the bright background.

Imagination Crafts: 

Mix Media Inks - Fuchsia and Sunshine

Magi Blend

Art Stamps - Distress Set 1

Other:

Gesso

Glycerine

Memento Tuxedo Black

Watercolour and Black Card

Spectrum Noir Clear Sparkle Overlay pen

Acetate - from Sara Signature Flutterby collection

Dies - Botanical Butterfly, Trio of Wings, Simplistic Sentiments from Sara Signature  Flutterby Collection

I started by masking off the bottom of a piece of watercolour card, as I only wanted the colour on the top. I used a bit of wax paper and low tack tape.

Next, I sprayed some of the Mix Media inks onto my craft mat, then using a sponge applicator, I mixed them with some glycerine to blend for the background - creating this lovely warm orangey colour.

I used more of the sprays, but this time mixed them with a bit of gesso and some Magi Blend, because I wanted to paint them onto the printed acetate. It's hard to see on the finished picture, but one of the layers of the large butterfly was made from this. 

I also used this mixture to stamp onto the background. 

I then stamped over this with Memento Tuxedo Black - stamping more than once each time to get different depths of colour.

The background was mounted onto black card, and I used a thin black ribbon across the bottom of the inked part to define the edge. 

The die cuts were covered with Clear Sparkly pen, and both the large butterfly and the sentiment have a layer cut from the painted acetate.

Haven't had a chance to craft and get messy for a while - so not sure when the next post like this will be - but I will have hopefully have some quick cards to share in the meantime.

Take care

Cxxxx 

Bright and Beautiful - and a little quirky!!

Morning! Hope you are all well. The rain has finally arrived here - very welcome for the garden - and for just freshening up the air!!

The lovely Sue Baker is on Hochanda at 6pm with a fabulous new launch of some gorgeous texture pastes. Haven't got my hands on them yet, but thought I'd share another of the makes I did for my DT application. This was is VERY bright and a little quirky - and very different from my altered vase - but I kind of like it!!

What I used:

Starlight Paints - Hot Pink, Mediterranean Sky

Mixed Media Ink Sprays - Fuchsia, Light Blue, White, Sunshine

Stencil - 25cm x 10cm - Baby BubblesSmall canvas

Magi-blend solution

Gesso

Buttons

Prima Art Basics - Heavy Body Gel

Bottle tops and other embellishments from my stash

Pebeo Deco Matt - Naples Yellow, Lemon

Distress Oxide - Seedless Preserves

Visible Image sentiment stamp

I started by mixing the Starlights with white gesso for the background.

After applying the paint, I spritzed with water for a smoother finish.

For the next part I used an old cardboard box so that the spray didn't go everywhere. 

I then sprayed the canvas with Mixed Media Inks - Fuchsia, Light Blue and White. 

And stood the canvas up in the box so it dripped down. 

I dry brushed a bit more of the gesso mix over the top to lighten it up. 

 Then sprayed again with the White spray, before blotting with kitchen towel.

Structure paste was applied through the stencil, and I didn't need to colour this - it seemed to absorb the colours from the canvas - probably because I was too impatient to wait for it to dry properly.

Next step was to add the embellishments - I used heavy body gel to make sure they wouldn't move. I filled a couple with the gel too, so that other embellishments would sit on top rather than sinking in.  

I went over these with white gesso.

And as I didn't have a yellow Starlight paint, I mixed the Sunshine spray with gesso. 

Using Magi-Blend and the Fuchsia and Mediterranean Blue Starlights , I mixed a purple spray which I spritzed over the whole canvas.

At this point, I wasn't happy with the yellow - so had to dig into my stash and use Pebeo Deco Matt paints to liven up the canvas. 

I painted the same paint onto a piece of white card, and used this to create the butterfly, and to stamp the sentiment. 

The finished canvas is very in your face - but I think it fits the sentiment!!

Don't forget to tune in to see Sue on Hochanda at 6pm and 8am today - and also for 9am, 1pm and 5pm tomorrow. 

Take care,

Cxxxx

A little announcement!

Well, the time has come to announce that I have been chosen to join the new Imagination Crafts Design Team.

Am super excited to join the team, and can't wait to get playing! In the meantime, this is one of the pieces that I made for my application to the team.

It's an altered vase and will eventually be for a friend, but she's not on social media, so I should get away with sharing it now.

I used:

Starlight Paints - Fuchsia, Mint, Clotted Cream

Rice Paper 339

15cm x 15cm Stencil - Honeysuckle

Structure Paste

Starlight Wax - White Gold

Fabric Decoupage Glue

Mixed Media Spray - Light Blue, Sunshine, Dark Brown

White Gesso

Embellishments and flowers from my stash

I dabbing Fuchsia paint on the vase - two coats, baked in the oven in between. 

 I then added a layer which was a combination of Fuchsia, Mint and Clotted Cream.

On the front of the vase, I glued the teacup rice paper image which had been stuck onto white card first. Other parts of the paper were added to the other sides, but not with white card as I wanted them to be more in the background.

I then used structure paste through the stencil, on all four sides of the vase.   

A mixture of the three media sprays with white Gesso was applied over the stencilled parts.

I then rubbed a little White Gold Starlight wax over the top. 

After a last bake, I added the large embellishments, then gessoed over them, before adding more colour. Heart embellishments were added to the sides in the same way.

I finally added the flowers to the front with a edging of wax. 

I decided on more flowers at the end, to cover a little more of the large embellishment at the top.

Am really looking forward to sharing more Imagination Crafts makes in the future.

Take care,

Cxxx