Turquoise n Orange by Alison Bomber

Another challenge set my thoughts racing about how to try out the techniques that Alison showed us trying to give it a little twist.
So I thought acetate! First I dabbed grungepaste onto tags cut from acetate and stippled it to give the required texture.

Next I worked in my journal painting a background of Autumn Fire and crackle glazing with Vanilla on top. I then stamped the large stamp LPC030 with coffee archival.

I made washi tape using Beach Hut and the same stamps with coffee archival and framed my image. I also added some watery paint to the stamped background.

Next I applied Bora Bora, Beach Hut and Mermaid to my grungepasted acetate frames and also rubbed on Treasure Gold, Aquamarine, Brass and Spanish Topaz. I found some buttons that matched and attached them to the tags.

It took me ages before I was happy with the way that I had arranged the frames and finally glued them over my images. My photos do not show up the acetate but I am happy with my end result.

Alison, you are an inspiration. Thankyou!

Green Man 2

When I get ideas in my head I get a bit intense and I wanted to think of another interpretation of the green man without a mask. So last night, torch out, outside in the green bin,(appropriate colour) rooting round for Sunday colour supplements. Hey Presto, found a suitable candidate for green man!!

Glued him into a journal page and left him until tonight.

No plans as to how to do this but just got back to him tonight and threw some fresco paint on him, Limelight, Chocolate Pudding, London bus, Smoked Paprika and Hey Pesto. Actually mixed paint together tonight !! Also tore some book paper and brown paper leaves and added to the mix.

Next I was going to add stamped and cut papers using similar to last night but suddenly thought about my Ellen Vargo stamps. Bingo, quicker and I hoped different….so I stamped a mixture using versa mark coffee, olive and black archival. With hindsight should have left out the black….too dominant.

So here is Green man number 2. Don't have nightmares, sleep well!!

Green Man!

Oh Julie Ann, what is it that you do to me with these challenges. You are so clever and literally challenge me every time to push myself out of my comfort zone.
This time, looking at your wonderful green man creation inspired me to Google images and delve into creative possibilities. By 8 o clock on Sunday night I was fiddling away with bits of card.

I decided to play with the mask idea without a mask….so I cut up a cereal box and worked out a face that was a bit 3D. This was supposed to be a prototype but I sort of knew that being Mrs Impulsive, if it was the right size it would get glued down!!

Next I sponged Toad Hall, Hey Pesto, Sage and wonderful Chartreuse onto a PA 6x6 canvas and printed "bricks" on the sides of the canvas using PA stamp and Tikka, Chutney and Seaweed.

Next I painted the face. I used Hey Pesto and Toad Hall and when dry Rubbed on Treasure Gold Aquamarine. (Love Treasure Gold) I glued it into place. By this time was overexcited!!

I ought to add at this stage that I have a long suffering husband who is used to this overexcited person rushing in several times on a night with piece of artwork expecting him to make the right sounds despite the fact that he is ALWAYS watching football!! He made the right noises and also told me that he knew all about the green man cos he had also researched after drinking in the green man somewhere in London while at university!! Result!!

That was Sunday night. Now for tonight. I painted some grungeboard with the green frescos and then stamped PA oak leaves and some other stamps and cut them out.

Next I found some green card stock and die-cut leaves of various shapes. I also die-cut gold card leaves and finally (triumph) Waxed Kraft paper leaves which turned out to be fabulous.

I mixed plain Utee with gold and dipped some of the leaves. Was like bonfire night as some of them came out like bubbly toffee! Decided not to heat tool bubbles away as it added fab texture. Here are some of my leaves. (Difficult step for Mrs Impatient doing all this as I need it to be finished yesterday!!)

Next I cut some lace and ribbon to add to my collage of leaves. I cracked some of the Utee leaves (very satisfying) added gallons of heavy duty glue around the man and began to build up the leafy layer.

I really enjoyed this stage and hurtled off to the living room with the leafy man for encouraging comments from footie fan. He deserves a medal for coming up with the right comments and a long time ago worked out that it is best to just go with it!

So, Green man is finished and Julie Ann, many thanks for pushing me to new horizons. I LOVED doing this project, like I do all of your work. If I did it again I would make the bit behind his face more interesting. !!

Jax Framed pic

It was a lovely surprise when our new Guest Designer popped up and it was Jax. Her framed flowers are beautiful so I decided to have a go myself.

I started by printing with black stazon onto silver mirri card using my new Darcy stamps.
Next I made a frame and painted it with French Roast, added Crackle Glaze and then Pewter over the top.
I selected translucent Frescos for my mirri card and painted the house, stars etc with London Bus, Hey Pesto, Beach Hut and Limelight. They stand out really well on a shiny surface.
Finally I stamped with Black Archival onto the frame and painted with frescos. (Next time I would have continued the painting from the frame onto the picture)
Nevertheless, I am happy with my picture and congratulate Jax on her debut!
I found this difficult to photograph as I was getting myself and camera in the reflection!

Jo Wardle's One Layer Card.

I am always fascinated by Joanne's pared down style and aspire to be able to be minimalist.
So here is my interpretation.
This is short on photos and text as I have been a bit off it this week.
I began by spraying the card with water to break down the fibres. This made it easier to tear. I folded down the middle to make it easier also.
Next I brayered my leaf stamp with Dusty Teal, brayered flowers with Amethyst and Dolly Mixture.
I tried to link them up with the splatter stamp using olive archival.
Finally I stamped the text and glued buttons.
Its an idea that I can develop, thanks Joanne.

Blue Rose by Jo.

I love Jo's work. She has her own special way of finding the right colour blends and works with sublety and flair.
I am from the old brigade of "Life's too short to stuff a mushroom", so making flowers was a chore for me. That's why they are a bit on the thin side!

I don't have the new Chatsworth papers YET, so used my original PA papers. I chose a small print and covered the whole lot with a thin wash of Bora Bora, Seaweed, Space Cadet and Eggplant. i used cut n dry foam and also covered a tag made from the reverse side of the paper.

I sanded back some of the paint and sanded the edges to give a white finish.

Next I stamped randomly in the background with an Ellen Vargo stamp and used one of Lin Brown's sentiments for the background and also for the tag.

I cut my paper down to 8x8 and used the spare to die cut petals and used the reverse for leaves.

Jo mentions how sturdy the papers are ,so I sprayed my flowers with water to make them more pliable.

I used Treasure gold Amethyst on the flowers, Treasure gold Aquamarine on the leaves, and added some to my brads.

I glued hessian to the background, added wool to the tag and arranged the flowers.

I was pleased with the result as I thought that my colours might not work together.

Thanks Jo and next time I will spend more time on my flowers….or buy some!!

Canvas by Linda Cain

Linda's canvas is just glorious and I felt compelled to try my hand.

I decided to work in my journal as I was totally unsure of where I was heading. if I am pleased with my results, I will rework onto canvas.
I started by selecting a poem and illustration from a book of love poems, and using grunge paste through the new JOFY bloom and grow stencil.

Next, I painted on my fresco colours. starting in the middle, Limelight, Toad Hall, Lilac, Pansy and Eggplant. If I did it again I would blend them with foam rather than with a brush.

By now I was in the WHAT HAVE I DONE zone. but know that things can be retrieved so carried on. I stamped images from new Lynne Perrella stamps, painted them;stamped script with olive archival; treasure gilded the flowers and words with Brass and Amethyst, and glued down the images. Rubbed a bit more TG around the edges and there was my finished work. Yet another "what I would do better next time" piece but enjoyable and learning.

Thankyou Guru Linda….respect!