Summer's Here

I love Hot air balloons, to me they are a symbol of a gorgeous Hot Summer and I had a lovely time designing and decorating this large MDF Balloon (from Woodform Crafts). Charlotte sketched the lines for me and using these I traced and made a template for my first panels which are the embossed TH Distressed ink panels, Archival Black to edges, and used matte Medium to adhere to the balloon shape. The yellow cog panels are DecoArt texture paste and TH cogs stencil. Coloured once dry with acrylic paint.

I then created the distressed brown panels and basket using Deco Art acrylic paints. I used Andy Skinners Industrial stamps and MME small script stamp from the Asparagus Collection of stamps with Archival Sepia Ink. The Patina Blue/ green (depending upon light) were created again with DecoArt paints and Docrafts Steampunk stamps and Bee Crafty pocket watch Art Stamp.

I then added MDF Cogs and Cog Bee (Wild Roots - Woodform Crafts), which I had decorated with Versamark and clear EP to cogs and then DecoArt MM paints and Viva Metal Colour Bronze to outer Cog Bee border. Finally added smaller metallic cogs and clock hands (Amazon) all adhered using DecoArt Matte medium. A leather braid was used to attach the basket to the balloon.

I then removed glass and decorated the Range frame base DecoArt Acrylic Titanium white, then DA Gesso through Andy Skinner bubble stencil and then I sealed with DA ultra Matte Varnish - it was "flat" and uninteresting so I used Finnabair bubble stencil and DA Americana Frost Glitter paint - which is so hard to capture!!

Thank you for dropping by  :)     x 

I would like to enter the following Challenges 

That's Crafty                                                                          Close To Nature 

Rhedd's Creative Spirit                                                          Anything Goes (MM)

Country View Crafts                                                             In The Summer Garden 

The Artistic Stamper                                                               Distress It!!

Altered Eclectics                                                                     Anything Goes (MM)

TIMI (Craft Stamper)                                                              Anything Goes (Stamp/s)

Love 2 Create                                                                          Anything Goes (MM)

Lost Coast Designs and Carmen's Veranda                            Something Beginning with "B"

MIUCB                                                                                    Anything Goes (MM)

SanDee & amelie's Steampunk Challenge                      Summer Special Anything Goes (MM)
Love To Craft                                                                          Anything Goes

          

Still Having Way Too Much Fun :)

I am still enjoying altering these AT Coins!!

Lost Coast have a theme of Round and round . 

Background Crowabout Images . 

Stamp(from Lost Coast - Doodle Dolls 2 set), stamped in versamark in , heat embossed, coloured with copics pens and black Faux diamante edging applied.

MDF base Woodform Crafts 

Thank you for dropping by  :)  I would like to enter the following challenges
Lost Coast Designs and Carmen's Veranda                   Challenge 55 Round and Round
Colour Crazy Craft                                                         Week 24 Anything Hand Coloured Goes
Creative Artiste Mixed Media                                         Anything Mixed Media Goes
TIMI June                                                                        Anything Goes
Love To Craft                                                                  Anything Goes
Mix It Up                                                                        Anything Goes
More Mixed Media                                                         Anything Goes
A Bit More Time To Craft                                              Anything Goes

Artist Trading Coins

 I am enjoying creating Artist Trading Coins (see post below for more info) They are great for using smaller stamps I love PS's Mini stamps and love this image. The first is directly stamped to MDF then Titanium White to the background.

This was initially clear embossed I then tried to washes in Nude and white but poor results so back to black Versamark and clear embossing. Background Burnt Sienna.

Third coin again stamped raw MDF for face and background crackle paste and Antiquing cream added to highlight the cracks.

Ingredients
Paperartsy MN83 stamp
DecoArt Media Burnt Sienna, Titanium white, Nude  Crackle paste Matte medium
Stampendous clear gloss E/P
Versafine Onyx Black
MDF coins  Woodform

Thank you for dropping by I want to enter this project into the following Challenges
PaperArtsy                    Neutrals
Star Stampz                   No Squares
Ike's World Challenge   Anything Goes / Monochrome

Always Be Yourself

I don't know if you have seen the Artist Trading Coins - Craftyhodges has an excellent you tube tutorial - I think she had the idea to create them first.

They are great fun and I loved creating this one! The only problem is I only have spellbinder die cut circles and they can only cut standard cardboard - bit flimsy I asked Woodform Crafts (PM Michelle who will be happy to help with any requests) to cut me some 2.5 inch MDF circles - much better I have both 2mm and 3mm MDF - both are fab !!

I have lots of small stamps and this really allows them to become the main focus of the project. 

The background is Nik Bantock inks (Chrome Yellow and Charteuse Leaf). I used the CL through a small Tim Holttz stencil, further interest added by stamping Music (Scroll Works Stamp) with Archival Sepia Ink. The Black foliage top and edges is a Bo Bunny stamp againg Sepia and Versamark Onyx Black ink.

The cute main Image stamped coloured with copics and fussy cut - it is a Tim Holtz mini image on a cube. A TH word sticker to add " always" as in the dress the words are "be yourself". Stabilo Black pencil and White gel pen for highlights / shadows.

Thank you for dropping by I would like to enter the following challenges
A Vintage Journey                              Words and Music
A Bit More Time To Craft Extra         Anything Goes
Colour Crazy Challenge                      Anything Goes
Crafty Gals Corner                              Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenge                Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments                              Anything Goes
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge    Use More Than 1 Stamp
Star In My Pocket                               No Squares Allowed
Through The Craft Room Door          Anything Goes
Penny's Paper -crafty Challenge         Anything Goes

Fish Fossil

I loved looking for Fossils as a child wish I had found one as intact as this rubber stamp! 

I used a large Woodform MDF tag (they will happily cut any size you would like), mine is 18.5 x 7.5cm. 

Having recently attended Andy Skinner's Scrap Metal Box workshop at the lovely 

Brigitte's Barn ((Let's Be Creative)  I decided to practice one of the several techniques we had learnt - (thoroughly recommend any of Andy's courses). I jumbled several techniques together with others from a previous course and am happy with the result!

 The fish is from Andy's Stampendous Fossils Stamp set. I enjoyed adding the rusted wire as not used before I gave it some swirl effects at the ends! DecoArt paint and mediums were used.Versafine Black Onyx and Color Box frost white and Stampendous Detail clear embossing powder.

I was lucky as glorious sunshine I could pop out to the garden for some photographs! 

Thank you for dropping by :) 

I would like to enter the following Challenges 

Mixed Media Monthly                            Rust

Emerald Creek                                  Guy Style

TIMI                                     Take A Stamp

Trying New Techniques - Finnabair Style

I treated myself for Easter to Finnabair's  Art Transformations Imagine Course - which I thoroughly recommend. 

I decided to decorate a 14cm MDF Circle .

 Crafters Companion embossing folder was my starting point.Various Dies were used by TimHoltz and Sheena Douglas. plus ply numbers, and various embellishments including found items from my stash.

I stamped several images of Sheena Douglas' Steampunk Woman and used one as a guide to check position and size. I then coloured one of my other images with Copics and sealed.  

 I had a blast layering and colouring this project and for a first attempt am happy with the finished project. It would be unfair to add any more details as a courtesy to  Finnabair.

Thank you for dropping by - have a lovely Bank Holiday if you are in UK or Europe xx

I would like to enter the following challenges 

Fussy and Fancy                                             Beautiful In Blues

The Artistic Stamper                                               Backgrounds

Altered Eclectics                                                   Anything Goes

Colour Crazy (wk 18)                                                  Anything Goes

Creative Artiste                                        Anything Mixed Media Goes

Creative Inspirations                               CAS or Fussy and Fancy (mine is

                                                         Fussy and Fancy)

Love 2 Create                                                      Anything Mixed Media 

Rhedd's Creative Spirit                                       Anything Mixed Media

TIMI (Craft Stamper)                                                           Anything Goes

Try It On Tuesday                                    Stencils /Die cuts or Both ( I have

                                                                   used lots of die cuts)

SanDee & amelie's Steampunk                                           Anything Goes Steampunk/ Industrial

Sid

I had a blast adding multiple layers of pastes, crackle, paints, MDF and metallic cogs to create Sid

SID 

A layer of black paint then a layer of crackle paint (both Deco Art).

Before Die cutting I used the dies to see which/ where I wanted to position them. (Tim Holtz and Sheena Douglas dies).

 I then used Andy Skinner and my own added concoction of paints to add rust onto the pre cut cogs. Adding texture paste here and there for dimension, and many layers of paint.

I treated the added to cogs to the same rusting and crusting effects as the base ones and added metal cogs and gears plus watch hands in some areas.

I added some layered small circle offcuts from the die cut cogs to add more interest to the mouth.

The eye is a trimmed card die cut made from the transparent cellophane from a sweet LOL . I made several in different colours but the red was my favourite.

Skull and MDF cogs here
 Paints used

Thank you for dropping by :)

I would like to enter into the following challenges
Sandie & amelie's Steampunk Challenges                        Steampunk
A Vintage Journey                                                                     Rusty and Crusty
Craetive Artiste Mixed Media                                                  Anything MM Goes
More Mixed Media                                                                   Anything Goes Option yellow ( lots of                                                                                   transparent Yellow oxide was used in this project).
Rhedd's Creative Spirit                                                             Anything Mixed Media
That's Crafty                                                                              Going Around In Circles ( lots of cogs)

Postcard

I used TH Oxides in 3 shades of green (Cracked Pistachio, Iced Spruce, and Peeled Paint) to create my back ground using Visible Image strobe stencil.

I used Kate Cranes Stampotique background block using the same colours and Archival Olive, to build more interest to the background .

I then stamped the Stampotique Snuhubala stamp onto card - clear EP. I used Twinkiling H2O's on his scales and hair . skin and lower tail were coloured with Derwent Inktense pencils.  He was them fussy cut and using matte media applied to the decorated postcard. 

Matte media was used to seal the whole project.

Thank you very much for dropping by x

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges -

Country View Crafts                     Postcards

The Artistic Stamper              Stencils and Masks

More Mixed Media                Anything Goes Optional Green

Mixed Media Monthly                    Stencil  +  3 Mediums

Mail Art

 It has been a long time since I altered an envelope and I needed one for a swap

Quick and easy. New Distress Oxide inks for the background.  Reggie then inked stamped clear E.P Coloured with Twinkling H2O's .

Next Octopet inked stamped and clear E'P . He is also used on the flap at the back of the envelope . Again Twinkling H2O's to colour. Finally some doodling with a black Faber pen, including zizags on the front to add more interest.

Thank you for dropping by x

I would like to enter this mail art into the following challenges 

Stampotique SDC293                         Mail Art

Sisterhood Of Snarky Stampers                     # Z is for Zigzag

Creative Artiste MM                                   Anything Mixed Media Goes

Dreaming of Spring

I have not had a long crafty session in ages - so needed to spring into action and play!

I must be yearning for warmer spring days as I delved into my DecoArt paints with no real plan or ideas of where I was going with my chosen substrate but chose spring colours.

As usual the stencils followed the painty layers - I love how many different colours and shades appear when brayering on layers of paint! TH mini stencils - it is the first time my Splatter stencil was used. A selection of ink pads and MME Asparagus stamps to add more layers depth and interest and also to frame the MDF piece.

Amongst the many Christmas crafty gifts I received at Christmas was this large Banksy style girl with balloons from Bee Crafty she is gorgeous. I also wanted to use a favourite Visible Image phrase but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't use the images separately in a layout I liked .

So I decided to combine both stamps to place the saying within the balloons. Lots of stamping to form masks to enable me to create my finished project.  

A repair to the damaged tissue stamped girls leg, more painty layers to blend the tissue edges. White Sakura pen for highlights and thread to hang and I am quite pleased with my altered stamped image. The sun came out so I had to take a photo in the garden!

Phew sorry for such a long post

Thank you for dropping by - have a lovely day / evening  xx

Materials

Stamps - Visible Image - Text
                Bee Crafty - Banksy Style girl and balloons (large)
                MME - Asparagus set - floral, text, floral mesh stamps
DecoArt Media Paints - Cobalt Teal Hue, Phthalo Green Yellow, Dioxazine Purple, Green Gold, Diarylide Yellow, Cerulean Blue, Pyrole Orange, Pyrole Red, Quinacrodone Magenta

DecoArt Tinting Base, White Gesso and Matte Medium
Sakura White Gel Pen
Versamark black Onyx, Archival Olive and Sepia ink pads
Tim Holtz Mini Stencils - Dots Fade, Splatters, Alpha and Numbers
15 X 20CM  MDF Plaque Woodform Crafts


I would like to submit this project to the following challenges
The Artistic Stamper                            Stencils and Masks
That's Crafty                                         Spring Into Action
Altered Eclectics                                  Anything Goes
Rhedd's Creative Spirit                        Anything Goes
Creative Artiste Mixed Media             Anything Goes
TIMI (Craft Stamper)                          Anything Goes
Moo Mania                                          Colour / Effect
We Love To Create                             Anything Mixed Media Goes