Back to Black

Well its finally like summer here in the South Coast of England. We are expecting 30 degrees this weekend!!.

I took my artwork outside to photo and am a bit disappointed with the picture. In real life I'm pleased how it turned out. I made it specifically for the That's Crafty Challenge which this week is Back to Black.

I first painted the canvas with black gesso and then added die cut corners from black card before coating again with gesso. I used a stencil from a recent edition of Cards and Papercraft, with Pebeo Dyna Paints. The butterfly stamp was from the same set which I stamped and embossed with WOW! Embossing Powder Metallic Gold Sparkle.

I just wish you could see it in real life to see the shimmering effect!

Other challenges I am entering

Artistic Stampers - Floral Fantasy
CountryView Crafts - Flower Power

Messing About with ATCs

Its been a long time since I made some ATCs. I don't why as I love the fact you can go wild and experiment with techniques in such a small space.

I was inspired to make these cards by Lynn Kopas' work and whilst no where as fabulous as hers, I really enjoyed making these.

First I stuck on a layer of hessian type material and then added found objects, beads, shells and other trinkets. I covered the whole piece with Gesso. For the first time I used a texture paste and a stencil to create the flourishes - I am now hooked!

Once dry I spritzed blue and green inks onto different areas and stamped the butterfly image.  To bring out the texture I dry - brushed gold acrylic paint onto shells and flourishes.

I think I may be making more of these!

I am entering them into the following challenges:

That's Crafty Challenge Blog - ATCs

Stamps and Stencils - Oh So Blue

We Love to Create - Anything Goes

Adore

I hope you are all ready for the weekend and have some exciting plans. Today I am sharing with you a canvas I made. I loved making the tag inspired by Tim Holtz so much that I decided to make a similar canvas.

Ingredients List :
Canvas
Tim Holtz Vintage Images and Stickers
Embossing Folder - Bingo
Wooden Key
Twine
Acrylic Paint - White
Lace
Crackle Paint
Tissue Paper
Various stamps
Tissue Tape

I created a collage on the canvas with various images from Tim Holtz's pads and papers. The canvas has been edged with tissue tape. I then painted a layer of white acrylic paint over the top to distress them further. The tag was created with a Ranger Embossing Bingo Folder which I sanded back and then rubbed over with gold ink to enhance the embossing. I added the 14 sticker and an altered wooden key to it.  The musical notes and image of the lady were stamped onto tissue paper, adhered with gel medium and then I added some Distress Ink to age them. To complete the canvas I added the little red heart - embossed and painted with crackle paint and the lace.

Challenges I am entering :

That's Crafty - Be My Valentine

Altered Eclectics - Anything Goes 

Rhedds Creative Spirit - Anything Mixed Media

Spring Butterflies

Over the weekend I found a bit of time to have a play with some different techniques and materials.And this is what I came up with.

First I painted kraft card with Gesso. I then used the butterfly stamp with Staz On ink so that I could watercolour the images with Distress Pens.  The text stamp was randomly used over the card as well as applying Bundled Sage ink through a stencil.  Finally to make the butterflies really stand out I used Glossy Accents on them.

Challenges I am entering:

Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Flying Things

Make My Monday - Distress It
Fantasy Stampers - Distress It

Art Journalling

I love the art journal style and had a bit of time to play with my own art journal this week. I am entering this into the Fashionable Stamping Challenge, where the theme is journalling!

First I painted the page with acrylic paint, then using Gel Medium stuck on the torn book pages.  I painted over the top of the whole page with a light coat of Gesso.  I used a stencil to create the sunflowers using Distress Ink and foam.

The stamps are a fabulous set by Sam Poole for Creative Expressions. I paper pieced the fairy before adding other motifs onto the page. I used Promarkers to colour some of the motifs and the words were stamped onto paper before cutting out and sticking on.