Hopes & Troubles - New Kasia K TCW Stencils

Hello! Hope you're all having a good weekend. I have a very special post for you today. My lovely friend Kasia Krzymińska  asked me to showcase her new stencils from The Crafter's Workshop and today she is running me as a "Featured Artist" on her blog, along with this layout I created with the stencils. And while you're over on her blog you can find a few little snippets about me on there... ;)

Aren't the stencils just fabulous?

I've used Kasia's stencils in a variety of ways, building up patterns and textures with ink, modeling paste and pencils to show the different effects you can get. I've used the TCW553 Stone Ring as the focal point and layered the TCW549 Oblong stencil around it creating symmetry.

I've picked out words from the "Thoughts" stencil for the title,  using contrasting sized stencils, Art Basics Modeling Paste and inks.

The pencil details add some contrast, along with doodling.

Finished off with some grungy flowers and messy inks.

A big thank you to Kasia for the opportunity to work with your new stencils :)

The Way I Feel - Journal Cover

Hi everyone! Hope you are all doing well. For today's post I have something of a rarity for me - a journal book cover. I find I often shy away from them, on the basis that in my head they seem very time consuming - even if that isn't actually the case in reality. I've been inspired by the "Wings" challenge over on the Mixed Media Place blog - and I'm so pleased I went with it!



I have a soft spot for the studs on the spin of the book, which were one of those awesome random finds...

So I started by painting a plain art journal with with Art Extravagance Copper crackle paste, layering it on thickly for some heavy crackle action. Once dry I used Art Extravagance Graphite texture paste with an ancient Donna Downey irregular circle mask, then adding Silks Acrylic Glaze (African Jade), mists and india inks to create a grungy patina look.

The wings behind the photo are a combination of Prima's new vellum butterfiles and Finnabair's "Don't Forget to Fly" stamp set which I stamped onto sheet music and cut out.

I decided I wanted to add my love of birds nests onto the project somewhere and had the idea to cut a Prima nest in half, filling with twine. I've love how tactile this is!

The main embellishments are a clustering of old washers, along with some Prima metals (Finnabair, Invild Bolme) adhering them to the album with 3D gloss gel. I've added pencil highlights and some subtle stamping to lift things.

So there we have it. Now the next step is to fill it up....

See you soon,

New Prima: The Archivist

Hello! Hope you are all well and enjoying all the CHA goings on this weekend. I've got another new project to show you today featuring another new collection, The Archivist. You can check out the full line and wonderful inspiration on the Prima blog.

The new Archivist journaling pads and Tags & Tickets are perfect for cards! I created this card combining all three items, which are perfect for layering.  The flowers, wooden icons, and cloche add stunning dimension to any project.

This collection is just divine! Steampunky, vintage and slightly masculine...

I've layered some of the Tags & Tickets along with some cogs I snipped out of one the 12x12 sheets (see details below), adding this adorable cloche and softening things off with flowers.

I've altered one of the Wood Icons by adding some white paint over the middle and stamping over when dry. The flowers have also had a slight makeover with some ink splats and some brads for centres. Loving this collection sooo much!

Prima Products: 990312 Memory Hardware - La Vie Antique Cloches, 579524 Tags & Tickets - The Archivist, 579333 Brads - The Archivist, 579159 Cling Stamps - The Archivist, 579265 Clear Stamps - The Archivist, 579586 Wood Icons - The Archivist, 578978 3x4 Journaling Pad - The Archivist, 579036 4X6 Journaling Pad - The Archivist, 990213 12x12 The Archivist-F & W, 579395 SIIC - The Archivist, 580438 Archivist- Ansel, 580452 Archivist- Florent, 580490 Archivist-Posterity, 573836 Color Bloom - Vintage Metal Tea Stain

Hugs,

CHA CHA CHA Time! Prima Timeless Memories

Hi everyone! It's nearly CHA time and the Prima blog has been a hub of activity with new product lines and samples. Today we are unveiling Timless Memories, which is one of my favourite new additions.

I created this mini box from an old electrical light fitting, painting it in Chalkboard paint and adding these perfect Timeless Memories frames. I wanted to use the metals in a variety of ways to show what you can do if you, pardon the pun, think outside the box!

The metal embellishments are simply divine!

Here I've used the new Art Ingredients micro beads with modeling paste and embossing crystals for texture under the frame.

The back of the light box was painted with Chalkboard paints, adding stamped details and the "Recalled Numbers" stickers for decoration. These are just perfect for adding to ANYTHING!!

I painted the metal bird for some contrast giving it a patina - style look. 

Prima Products: 579401 SIIC - Timeless Memories, 579883 Metal Trinkets - Recalled Numbers, 579852 Metal Trinkets - Retrospect Alphas, 579869 Metal Trinkets - Reminisce Alphas, 579791 Metal Trinkets - Archived, 579838 Metal Trinkets - Remembrance, 962562 Art Ingredients: Micro Beads -Silver, 990305 Memory Hardware - Louviers Antique Chain, 577216 Chalkboard Paint - Egg Blue, 577148 Chalkboard Paint - Sand, 577193 Chalkboard Paint - Charcoal, 960223 Sunrise Sunset Wood Icons in a Box - Borders, 580216 4x6 Cling Stamp - Brush Strokes

Please hop over to the Prima  blog for the full reveal!

Laters,

Joy: Christmas Card Tutorial

Hello! Hope you are all doing well. I've finally managed to poke my head up from my CHA Projects Mountain to share with you my final Christmas card of this year, along with a tutorial.

I love these vintage colours with a slight grungey theme.

Step 1: To start I've layered old snowflake stickers and chipboard shapes onto kraft card.

Step 2: Covering with a coat of gesso.

Step 3: Here I'm wiping away te excess with a wet wipe to give a lighter, white washed shabby finish.

Step 4: Adding Aqua India ink and misting with water.

Step 5: Next I'm adding Sepia ink for contrast.

Step 6: After drying with a heat gun I'm highlighting with some green Distress ink.

Step 7: I've adding dry wall mesh tape and rubbed a clear ink pad over then sprinkled over embossing powder and paste.

Step 8: Coloring a resin frame with Color  Bloom mist. This is a great way to get your embellies co-ordinating!

Step 9: Now back onto the card assembley. I've scrunched, ripped and distressed the edges of my backing papers which adds real dimension.

Step 10: Back onto the applied Clear Gel sprinkling with glass glitter

Step 11:  Highlighting areas with Clear Crackle paste and glitter.

 

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and happy holidays x

Steampunk Altered Doll

Hello lovelies! I'm sharing a bit of fun today, in the form of "Steampunk Barbie". I created this project for Mixed Media Place's Go 3D challenge.

I've had this idea in my head for a while now and had the doll on stand by, ready and waiting to be altered!

Our girl's hair has been "gelled" with heavy white gesso and coloured with black mist - in a slightly Cruella fashion ;)

And the back view.Her clothes are orginals which I painted with black gesso then decorated with cotton wool "fur" and a feather neckline. I finished off with a spritz of mica mist.

The ripped, grungy skirt was made from fabric scraps and tulle net. I used Finnabair's checkered mask for some texture and of course some safety pins just *had* to be included.

All steampunk girls need funky canes, this one being made from a wooden skewer and some metals. And check out the large diamond!

I think one of my favourite elements to this creation was the top hat and head piece, which I made with some plastic oddments adding tulle net, deconstructered flower and feathers.

Bye for now,