Art Journal - Flowers & Foliage

Hi all, I'm back today with another art journal page I created over the weekend. I have really caught the art journal bug! My page today has a floral theme, using some new Dina Wakley stamps, paints and stencil. This is my second foray into this type of creativity, and I like the free looseness of it. You can make a mistake or something may not stamp properly but it doesn't matter - you can cover it with another layer of whatever takes your fancy - no rules!

In my journal (£4.99 from WHSmiths) I randomly splattered some Dina Wakley paints (from That's Crafty)  in turquoise, Lime and Lemon, and used a mini squeegee to spread and mix the colours around the page.

After allowing to dry, I mixed some Lime DW paint with some structure paste, and stencilled through the new DW stencil Cellular, and while still wet applied some glittering glamour dust over the top.

I then stamped the mini roses directly onto the pages, from DW Abstract Blooms, using a blue gelato rubbed directly onto the stamp, and sprayed with water.

While the structure paste was drying, I stamped some images onto some tissue paper. I stamped the large scribbly flower from DW set Abstract Blooms, in Midnight Staz-On ink.

I stamped the inspirational quotes from DW set Handwritten Quotes also onto tissue paper in Jet Black Staz-On.

I then stamped the mini roses from the  set, along with the 'paint, bloom, grow' sentiments onto another piece of tissue.

After arranging where I wanted to place my stamped tissue, I felt it still looked a bit empty, so I added some foliage, again stamped onto tissue paper, from DW set Leaves and Pods, using Midnight Staz-On.

I stuck my stamped tissue down with Mod Podge in matt, and left to dry. It was only when I applied the Mod Podge that I realised some red Brusho crystals had transferred from the previous page - I had prepared this previous pages with red Brusho for a play for another day. Lesson learnt!

When everything was dry, I added some wash tape in  polka dot green and houndstooth check turquoise. I've had a tub of wash tape for years, and never really knew what to do with it, now I can finally use it to my heart's content! As a final splash of glitter, I went over the pages with Opal Dust by Jo Sonyas, you can see the sparkle in the above close up, I love this stuff so much!

I would like to enter this into the following challenges -

That's Crafty - Flowers & Foliage

We Love to Create - Anything Goes

Creatalicious Challenges - Anything Goes/Flowers

Try it on Tuesday - Botanical

City Crafter - In Bloom

Thanks for stopping by today

Pauline

My First Art Journal Page!

Hi all, I'm back today to share an art journal page I made yesterday, my very first one! I had watched a few YouTube videos by some very talented people (Vicky Papaioannou and Mimi Bondi) and felt inspired. I dug out my unused acrylic paints, and nipped out to WHSmith to buy an inexpensive journal, and set to.

First I lay down some strips of torn book pages, I found an old copy of The Hobbit in our bookshelves that was literally falling apart, so didn't feel too guilty using this. I stuck them down with Mod Podge, and let dry. When that was dry, I covered the pages with some white gesso and again, left to dry.

I then played with 3 acrylic paints, one by DecoArt - Citron Green, and two from PaperArtsy, Cherry Red and Turquoise. I applied them randomly over the pages using my fingers.

Once I was happy with the general look ( I have no idea what I am doing haha) I left to dry, then gave it another wash with white gesso, this time using a baby wipe so it was not opaque, just toned down the paints.

Then it was time to choose which stamps, and embossing stencils to use. I ended up using this wonderful image from Visible Image from set 'No Space for Dreams'.

I used two Dinky Stencils from That's Crafty - Bubbly All Over and Star Shower, using the three paints I had used for the background. I then added some more Dinky Stencils using the Raindrops Background in PaperArtsy Chalk acrylic paint.

I stamped and embossed the birds from two Visible Image sets, 'Learn to Fly Again' and ink splats from a retired set using Memento Luxe ink in Teal, and clear embossed.


I stamped the main image using Staz On ink onto white tissue paper, and applied with Mod Podge, it dried clear and I was pleased to see there was no discernible edges from the tissue paper.

I did the same with the fab sentiment, also from Visible Image called 'Free Soul'. Around the edges I used a background stamp also from Visible Image, stamped in Memento Luxe Black, and clear embossed.

Finally I went over both pages with DecoArt Ice Crystal translucent glitter paint, and when dry, I added some super glittery Opal Dust.

I really enjoyed making these pages, and I didn't make too much of a mess!

I would like to enter this into the following challenge-

That's Crafty - Bling it Up!

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

I'm Back!!

Well Blogland, it has been rather a while since my last post...June last year! Well, my only excuse is I lost my mojo a bit, I ended up doing a lot more hours at work, and had less time to craft, then the festive period arrived..as I work in retail, in a busy Wines dept for Waitrose, I had little to no time or energy to craft. Coupled with the fact I had begun a WSET Course in September, well, I had little time for anything!

Thankfully, now, I have handed in my course work, and feel free to indulge in more pleasant pursuits! My only worry was, could I still craft? And could I remember how to make a blog post? It was fine in the end, I didn't even need to call a teen to help me out!

Last night I created a mini canvas using some lovely stamps I received for Christmas, by Visible Image.

I used the stamp set 'Sparkle in the Rain' for this little glittery creation. I stamped the lovely lady in Versamark and embossed with Sliver Glitter EP from Stampendous, and fussy cut out. I repeated this, and glued them both together, to make a more sturdy topper.

While the glue was drying, I used my Glue pad to stamp the rain and sprinkled Glamour Dust onto it. I then Sliver Glitter embossed the sentiment onto black card and cut out. To 'ground' her I cut some little daisies off a daisy ribbon and some leaves from some leafy ribbon, and glued them on randomly.

Finally I added some silver sequins, the lady and the sentiment. She is sitting on my shelf above my much neglected craft area, sparkling at me.

During last week I also made this card, using Brushos and more Visible Image stamps from their new release, called Create It! and Outside the Lines. I love the way the Brusho colours turned out, and the stamps are embossed in WOW! Silver Glitter powder.

I would like to enter these cards into That's Crafty Challenge -Words, and Sweet Stamper's Challenge - Add a Sentiment, and A Vintage Journey - Words that are Special, and We Love to Create - Mixed Media
I must say it is nice to have a bit of crafty mojo back, I hope you've enjoyed my little makes today.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

Just for Fun!

Hi all, I'm back today with a couple of cards made for fun -  I'm feeling inspired after a 6 week hiatus, and I am trying to keep my crafty side going!

 I made some panels a little while ago, playing with my newly bought inks by Dylusions.

For this citrussy coloured card, I sparyed some Lime Zest and Jade Green inks onto my craft mat, added some pearlescent pigment powder to it and pressed my card stock into it. I love the effect, but I am not sure how to stop the pearly pigment coming off onto my hands, if anyone can advise me I'd be very grateful!

I matted this panel onto a silver mirri card, attached to a card base, and stamped a Uniko Studios sentiment around the edge in Memento London Fog.

For my next card I used the same technique, but with the colours of London Blue and Funky Fuschia.

The sentiment is also by Uniko Studios.

I have several more snippets of these coloured inky panels, so I may make a few more to have in my stash for future occasions.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

Less is More

Hello again, two posts in one day! I made a card for last weekend's Less is More challenge on Sunday, and didn't get round to blogging it, as I'm day off today, I'm having a catch up! The theme this week is purple - I have used Brushos with resist stamping using Visible Image stamps.

I masked the butterfly, and stamped several times and embossed in clear embossing powder. I then sprinkled on the purple brushos, and spritzed with water.

I then matted onto some silver mirri card, and attached to a card base, added another Visible ~Image sentiment, and voila, card made!

Thanks for stopping by today, I'm off for a lie down after all this blogging!

Pauline

Brushos and Visible Image

Hi all, it's been a long time since my last blog post, I've been busy one way or another, and have not felt much like crafting. Well, I got my stamps and brusho paint crystals out at the weekend, and had a dabble, to kick start my mojo.

I created the background using Ultramarine Brushos on wet watercolour card, and left to dry. I then had a tinker about with stamping with water and adding the brushos to it, but it didn't work too well with this splashing horse image, I think it may be too detailed. So I then tried stamping with the Brusho paint, and it worked a treat!

I stamped the sentiment in Versamark, and embossed twice using gold detail embossing powder, then added some specks of shabby white embossing enamel over the top.

I matted onto a piece of  blue swiss dot bazill card, and attached to a card base.

A nice quick card (minus drying time) and flat for posting too!

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

That's Crafty - The Sea (the horse is splashing in the sea)

Stamplorations - Blue

Sentiment stamp and horse stamp are by Visible Image.

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline

Express Yourself..

Hi all, it's been a while since my last post, I have been creating, but just not got around to blogging or sharing! I made this card the other week, experimenting with some stamps and a new to me technique - shaving foam technique.

I made the background using Brushos on the shaving foam instead of inks, and I had mixed results. As I used the Brusho powders in their crystal state, they tended to 'scratch' along the surface of the card when i removed the foam. This piece I used was one I was quite happy with, the rest went in the bin!

 I stencilled a mesh design using a Tim Holtz stencil and some Mahogany distress ink, then stamped the fabulous eye image in a circle to imitate a flower. The eye and sentiments are from Visible Image.

 I went around the edge of the panel with some glue pen in wiggly lines, and added some gold glamour dust, then I added some to the eye flower and the 'R' in Art.

I stamped the 'express yourself' stamp 3 times, and cut in a random fashion. I then backed them onto black card and attached with some foam pads.

If you haven't seen Visible Image stamps before, check them out! The stamp quality is superb, and customer service is amazing too, you can find their store here - Visible Image.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges:

Hiding in my Craftroom - Layers

Love to Create - anything Goes Mixed Media

Inspiration Destination - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by,

Pauline