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Saturday, December 20, 2014

Christmas Houses

It's been a really busy week for me, coming and going...I'm feeling tired and today woke up with a sore throat and aching like mad.Not one to give in I met up with my friend and we did some retail therapy. I'm out again tomorrow,but planning a whole day to myself on sunday, really need to chill for a while and also get my craft room tidied up and all my christmas stash put away.
I've been meaning to post these Row Houses's all week...better late than never....

I made these Row Houses with a Christmas theme,they are such fun to make, each one is individually decorated and backed.


First I covered each house with christmas themed backing paper, then I used doubled up masking tape to string them altogether. To finish that stage I  added the backs of the houses and distressed all the edges with pumice stone distress ink.


Using a selection of MDF shapes that are from Fernli Designs, I made an embellishment for each house. The sizes vary from domino size to 2"x 2" square.
Each piece was coloured using distress inks and then stamped with a few of my christmas stamps, some having a complete image and some having just a part of an image.


Once all the stamped images were dry,I coloured them and then highlighted some areas with glitter and some others with glossy accents.
I'm very happy with they way these look...may even consider making them instead of christmas cards next year...but that's a long way off yet...lol.



Sunday, December 14, 2014

Frosty Tag

Just finished my tag for the challenge over at Artistic Outpost......the last one for 2014.
I do love their challenges, they are "Anything Goes", you must use their stamps, of which I have quite a few, they are so versatile, easy to mix and match...
So here's my Frosty Tag....


I used a 3"x 6" Cream Tag, which I swiped with walnut stain distress ink...then used  the Music stamp from the Epherema Background set and stamped over the tag.
I added some scrim and mesh and hessian in layers on the tag, also added some silver scraps of mesh at opposite corners.
The image is from the Think and Wonder set which I stamped on some scrap cream card that I swiped with Walnut Stain ink.
Then I  mounted that on the lighter side of some Kraft card.....to the bottom edge I added a frayed strip of fabric.
The text was stamped on to some scraps of the Kraft card.



To finish the Tag I dabbed Frosted Texture past all over the tag and around the image, I just wanted a light dusting of frost so was careful not to over do it.
If you have any Artistic Outpost stamps, why not pop over and enter the challenge...you can find it here.....Artistic Outpost Challenge




Thursday, December 11, 2014

Bah Humbug....

A month or so ago I stumbled across Lost Coast Design's Challenge Blog....I've long been an admirer of their stamps, fortunately for me I also own a few,so I am able to enter their challenges...I'm sure I can find a stamp or two that I can adapt to their theme.



I just love this stamp ( Gothic Party ) from Lost Coast Designs, the expressions on the faces are brilliant...and perfect for the theme which is "Merry Christmas"
I decided to make a card for this challenge, just layering up on backing paper.I stamped the image and just coloured and then glittered the party hats...although the glitter isn't showing in all it's glory. the light was so bad here today with it being wet and overcast and virtually dark by 4pm!
So if you have any Lost Coast Design rubber stamps in your stash,why not pop along and enter their challenge....you can find it here

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Tis the Season Atcs....

I am a member of a lovely Artist Trading Card group on Facebook...I've been a member for quite a while now and they always have such lovely themes...members can often vote via a "poll" for a particular theme...This month the theme is "Tis the Season"


Fortunately I still had all my christmas craft stash out in my workshop,so made these 3 Atcs this afternoon....all made up from scraps and unused images.
These will be in the post tomorrow....

Monday, December 1, 2014

Christmas Canvas

I'm a few hours late posting my design team make for Altered Eclectics.....I'm sure my boss Elaine won't mind too much though....


For this canvas I adhered scraps of torn paper to the canvas, then randomly stamped over it.
Next part was to swipe it all with some white acrylic paint.
I then tore strips if christmas backing paper to create the tree, then adding some gems to the "branches"


To finish I scrubbed some pale green acrylic paint around the edge of the canvas, making sure not to get to close to the tree, then before it dried I sprinkle fine glitter on to it.
Then I added the computer generated words and the board "Joy"
Once the canvas was completely dry I added antique gold gilding wax around the outer edges.
The canvas looks so much better in "real life" than in the photo...the dull over cast weather dosen't help when you have to take photos.

Hope to see you enter the challenge which is here at 


Wednesday, November 26, 2014

A Set of Vintage Atcs

I have created a lovely set of Artist Trading Cards...the theme is Vintage.
Usually when I am faced with that theme, I think  of Victorian style and fashion, ladies, flowers etc.....but I fancied doing something a little different.....


So I decided on a predominantly male theme, it was a good excuse to use up a few of these vintage passport style images that had been given to me a while back.
Top Row 1 & 3 have my own background, just a couple of scraps that I had left over from a bigger sheet that I sprayed with acrylic paints.
2.3.4.5. have backing paper from my stash...the good thing for this project is you get to use up your scraps.
I've layered the atcs up with mesh, corrugated card, tickets,labels, lace,raffia,string and  buttons...
I'm pleased with these and will use them in a swap...they are also my entry for the challenge here....
Hope you like them.....



Sunday, November 23, 2014

Just a few more.....

I really enjoyed making an ornament for my tree the other day,so decided to make a few more...so I have 3 here to show you....






These are MDF hearts that I covered on both sides with some lovely vintage paper,then layered up with corrugated card, music script backing paper, silver mesh like material and muslin. The edges of the heart and underlying music paper has been distressed with pumice stone distress ink.
I dabbed some glittery white texture paste all over to simulate a light scattering of snow.
I also made a few for my daughter, that way she won't be pinching mine off my christmas tree next month,lol...

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Angel Heart

I've made a super decoration for my christmas tree....from a wooden heart by Fernli Designs
To start I covered the tag, back and front with some gorgeous backing paper, then added some cream coloured scrim/muslin.
On top of that I added a scrap of corrugated card that I swiped with some gesso. At this point I wasn't sure what else to add, it needed something more....so I left it alone and put the kettle on for a cuppa, lol.


After my cuppa I decided to add a section of a music sheet,just a small piece,that I distressed around the edges.


I had a look in my stash and found some lovely soft silver mesh,its almost like material,so I cut a piece and added it to the heart...was really pleased with how it was all looking.
The little Angels were from a sticker sheet, so I added them to some lightweight card so I could shape them in to a curve.


To finish I dabbed around with some glittery snow effect paste, I've had it for ages,tucked away in the drawer, in fact I was surprised it was still usable, we crafters seem to hoard everything don't we,loathe to throw anything away, lol.
Finally added my Angels, the ribbon and bow.
I think I'm going to make a few more, but with different images......watch this space,lol.




Let's "Face It"......

I seem to have been pretty busy the last week or so,but have relatively little to show for it....do you ever get times like that?
I have just finished a project for the challenge over at Lost Coast Designs......it's a 3" Wooden Cube.
The challenge theme is "Faces" and I am pretty fortunate to be the owner of several of Lost Coast Design Stamps.


I had some spare scraps of card that I had spritzed with acrylic paints and found I had enough to cover the cube on all 6 sides.
 Using the Grunge Checkerboard Background Stamp I added some background images on all sides of the cube.
After that I distressed all the edges using pumice distress ink.
The top image is the Large Doll Face Stamp, which I painted using a damp brush and distress ink pads.


The stamped image on this side of the cube is from the Typewriter Girl



The image on this side is the Head in Hands stamp. I stamped the butterfly twice so I could layer it...again coloured the image with a damp brush and distress ink pads.



The 2 images here are from the stamps The Importance of Ernest and Flying Ballerina which I coloured the same as the other face images.



Face images on this side of the cube are from Chloe Collage and Fortune Teller.



To finish the cube I added the Large Doll Face image that I had stamped twice, then coloured and glued back to back.
I then added a few embellishments to the cube....adding the cotton reel for the stand that I had previously wrapped twine around.
You can find the challenge here...Lost Coast Designs......you must use their stamps to enter the challenge.





Thursday, November 13, 2014

Love these Row Houses....

I've had such a fun time making these Row Houses...why, because I got to use so many of my favourite stamps by Artistic Outpost.

This is my entry in to their monthly challenge here..
                                    Artistic Outpost

Click on Image for larger view

I started by die cutting the houses, 2 pieces per house, for front and back...I like the back to be neat and tidy.
Using a selection of Artistic Outpost stamps I created some backgrounds on some A5 pieces of thin card that I'd previously coloured with Glimmer Mist Sprays.
Next I covered each section of the houses with  my background card....once done I then put some washi tape back to back to string all the houses together, then I glued on the backs of the houses.

                           One Domino size for the Man
                       & 4 x  Inchie sizes for the Cow Girl

                            One Twinchie size for the Girls
                             & One Inchie size for the man

To decorate the front of the houses, I used some Twinchies, Inchies and Domino sized grey board and mdf pieces.
Using some pieces of the unstamped backing card I stamped backgrounds to compliment each face I wanted to use....glued that backing to each shape before I stamped the faces etc. By this time I had lost count of how many Artistic Outpost stamps I had actually used...to be fair having 23 sets, is it any wonder I lost count!

                             1.5"   square size for lady,
                Domino size for boy & Inchie size for lady.

Once all the shapes were stamped, I used distress ink pads and a damp brush to add some colour to the images....finished of the whole piece by distress around each house with distress inks.
Hope you like them....I'm not parting with these,lol

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Nautical Arches

Time again for another challenge over at Rhedd's Creative Spirit.....as always it's an anything goes challenge,so long as it's altered art.
My design team project is this lovely pair of wooden arches.



I prepared the wood for painting by covering the complete piece in gesso...then painted over with blue metallic acrylic paint.
I stamped my image on to white tissue,then coloured it before adhering it to the first arch.
Once it was dry I then dry brushed over some white acrylic paint. The 2nd arch I decorated with some mesh, netting and all things nautical...I also added embellishing to the first arch.

You can find the challenge HERE....there is also a fabulous prize on offer.



Shabby Plaque

It's time again for another Altered Art Challenge over at Altered Eclectics.....as part of their design team I decided to make a Vintage/Shabby Chic Plaque from some cardboard.





I used some cardboard from my printers box, stripped the front layer down to reveal the corrugation.
Then I used white acrylic paint and swiped it across the cardboard.


The image was a freebie which I printed off and mounted on card....then I added layers of fabric and lace on to the plaque.
For decoration I added the creamy seed pods, ribbon bows and bead trim, then added the mounted image.
The hanging piece is actually from a paper carrier bag, its not string, more like twisted paper to look like cord, just perfect for what I needed...I twisted some raffia around the handle for effect.
This pretty plaque measures 6" x 8" and is now hanging on my wardrobe door.
Just to remind you that the challenge is HERE....looking forward to seeing you over there.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Deliciously Vintage

Just realised that I never blogged my Vintage Atcs...




These were made for an Atc Swap Group I am in...really enjoyed making them, I do love vintage.
Everything was made from scraps from my stash and stamped images....I created the background for the last tag, the other two have backing paper. The white dots showing on parts of the atcs is actually glossy accents that I used to highlight certain areas.
Hope my swap partner likes them.....she won't receive them until the beginning of November.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Apothecary Cube

I've been meaning to alter this 4"x 4" wooden cube for ages. It's actually one of a few that my friend's partner cut for me from one of my dads old fence posts. My dad passed away 2years ago and I had them before that, so they are quite old, still in good condition though.
I decorated my cube to suit the challenge over at ARTISTIC OUTPOST. The theme is "Anything Goes"....but you must use their stamps.
Well to be fair I have quite a few of their stamps so I was spoilt for choice...... after a lot of umming and arring I decided on the "Apothecary Set" and also the tree stamp from "The Outpost Set"






The top images were stamped twice and then glued back to back. Some of the images on the cube have been highlighted with glossy accents.
Thank you to all that drop by my blog and leave such lovely comments...




Thursday, October 23, 2014

Metallic Look Altered Peg

It's turned in to quite a dark,wet miserable day....not that I was going to go out, in fact I planned to craft for most of the day....

I wanted to enter the lovely challenge over at MOO MANIA...their theme this time round is "Metal"
 ( the image is actually a "Moo")

I also found a challenge over at ECLECTIC ELLAPU...they have 2 themes going on, so the one I am entering my peg in to is the "Texture" themed one.

( Click to enlarge image...the sheen shows up better )

I used gilding wax to colour the under sides and sides of the peg. I found some clock & cogs embossed card my friend had given me sometime ago, so I sprayed that with Artiste Spritzing inks, they have a fantastic sheen,unfortunately the light being so poor today it dosen't show up to well. I did try a couple of photos with the flash option,but I just got a glare on the sheen.


I then adhered the embossed card to the front and back of the peg. I stamped the Paperartsy image on to some spare card that I had lightly shaded with distress ink...then just added some colour with a damp brush directly off the ink pads.


I added the image to the peg, then added the Fernli Design cogs that I had coloured with gilding wax.
Hopefully my peg will qualify for both challenges, Textured & Metal....



Sunday, October 19, 2014

A Christmas Plaque....

Just wanted to share my Christmas Tree plaque with you...I actually made it for the monthly challenge run by Fernli Designs over on facebook.


This is the larger plaque which I covered in pale blue and white paper, then I stamped a music script all over the paper and swiped it with gesso.
Once dry I used watered down pale green acrylic paint around the outer areas and just as it started to dry I sprinkled it with fine glitter.....


While I waited for everything to dry, I tore paper strips to use for the tree, I also printed some words and cut and distressed the edges.
I managed to find the tiny hearts,( took a while as I had forgotten where I had put them) again by Fernli Designs and painted them in a shimmery white paint.
After adding the tree and the words to the plaque, I adhered the hearts on to the tree, adding a bow and a star for extra embellishing. I used  gilding wax around the edge of the plaque to give it a bit of a boost.


All that was left for me to do was to add the hanging cord.....I'm more than happy with the result,unfortunately the photo dosen't show how twinkly it is, the light here isn't that good today.






Thursday, October 16, 2014

My "Winged" Bathing Belle.

I was over the moon when I stumbled across a challenge blog by Lost Coast Designs. I've been an admirer of their rubber stamps for many years, in fact I have a grand total of 18 of their stamps,unfortunately where I used to buy them from in the UK no longer trades and I've not seen any at the craft fairs I've been too.
I've used one of my favourite stamps for my Altered Cotton Reel....."The Swimsuit Girl"


I decorated the cotton reel with reindeer moss, mesh, hessian,string, little pieces of drift wood,shells and a starfish


The theme of the challenge is "Wings" so I stamped and cut the butterfly from another of Lost Coast stamps, the lady with her face in her hands, it was the perfect size for what I needed.


A closer view of the wings.....


I so enjoyed creating this piece, just wish the cotton reels you buy in the shops now were as good as the old style ones. So I am off now to post my entry......you can find their challenge here at  Lost Coast Challenge