Limelight

I am always inspired by the creations of the designers over at the Dragons dream Tag it on challenge.

This time, I have joined in and the challenge was to include the number 1 and a stamp.

I started with a large tag and brayered a background in PA fresco colours..Purple Rain, Sky, Glass Blue and finishing with snowflake.
I cut out a number one and stamped and clear embossed...Ali Bomber inspired....some LP stamps.
I decided to highlight my stamping with fresco Limelight.
I mounted the number onto black card and put it onto the tag....but it lacked something. so, I echoed the limelight with a little script stamping and then a larger script stamp in Watering Can Archival.
Finished it off with a lime ribbon that I cut from  new top yesterday. Funny how things just fall into place!

You can see the challenge HERE.

Yellow car

I was excited by the Countryview challenge topic this month of " On Your Travels." Lots of great examples from the designers too, so I decided to  join in.

I wanted to achieve a well travelled postcard feel and make it vintage too.
I started by using Paperartsy fresco paints in Seaweed, Mocha Mousse and Bora Bora and brayered them randomly onto my journal page. I then added some fresco Banana as a background for my large car stamp.
I played around with HP1207EZ stamps, a few postmark stamps, postcard stamp and bits of script in a selection of Archival ink colours. The postage stamps are real ones.
I finished off with a good old scribble and doodle around the edges and was pleased with the finished effect.
I am entering this into this months CVC challenge.

Stencil butterflies

I love the stencils theme on the Paperartsy blog, but holidays keep intervening! So tonight I knocked off a quick idea because I wanted to experiment.
I like the idea of repeating an image and will play with this more at a later date.
First I found a page in my journal that I had cleaned my brushes on.
Next I stencilled a butterfly six times in various archival inks, to simulate flight.
Finally I scribbled and added a PA sentiment, emphasising a different word each time...the beauty of the English languauge!

Samples for Emma Godfrey

I was very honoured and flattered to be asked by Emma to produce samples for her new stamp launch!
Didn't really get why a neat and tidy crafter wanted to ask Mrs Messy to produce stuff!

Anyway, I actually planned out some ideas and made a few prototypes! Never normally do this but felt that it was a big responsibility!
Her stamps are Travel themed and her colour palette is Lake Wanaka, Space Cadet, Stone, Taupe and French Roast.

I began with a small notebook which I created by painting onto canvas.
I padded it out with wadding and lined it with cotton.

I stitched some pages inside and stamped a few titles onto the first few pages to make it a travel notebook.

My second piece was a tag. I ironed some calico onto vilene and attached it to the tag, fringing the bottom part. I painted wave shapes as a background; used Emma's stamps en masse as a second layer;  some frayed hessian, and used the paints to dye some seam binding and attached a photo from my recent holiday.

My third sample is a photo pocket. I used a piece of cream, ribbed card and scored and folded it into 3 sections. I ran a gold leafing pen around all the edges of the card and around 2 tags. I printed with Emma's words onto the end panel using archival ink and stencilled with one of Emma's stencils as a background.

I used 2 more holiday pics on the tags and tucked them into pockets.

The backs of the tags are ready for holiday notes.

The left hand side is secured with magnets and opens up to reveal more space for holiday memories.

My final piece is a "postcard". I cut a piece of Paperartsy Smoothy Heavy Cardstock and created drippage in 2 directions. I used the spaces to stamp with Emma's travel words and finished it off with a holiday pic of my Grandchildren. I have a TH Postcard stamp which often comes in handy.
This was my simplest piece but my favourite.

I have really enjoyed playing with Emma's stamps, they are very inspiring.....and I have never washed my hands so many times in my whole life!

You can see Emma's stamps and her interpretation of them over on the Paperartsy blog.

Whoops, learning how to attach things and ended up with 2.....?

Stencil Transfers

I am a busy bee this week and have been playing nicely night after night.
Today, I decided to try the Paperartsy challenge about stencils.
I wanted to something a bit different and found an idea in a copy of Cloth, Paper, Scissors.
I was blown away by this technique!

First, I selected a picture from a magazine...not too glossy! Chose Kanye West on the front of the Times mag.
I placed my stencil over the top and applied clear parcel tape in long strips, making sure that they overlapped by about half an inch and went over the edges.

Next, I rubbed both sides of the image onto the stencil to engage the print with the sticky tape. You begin to see the pattern of the stencil on the back.

Next step was to immerse the whole thing in warm water for a few minutes. Here it is in the sink.

Very quickly the paper can be peeled from the back and then any excess can be scraped off with your nails...it really was easy.

Next thing was to air dry it. I put it out in the garden. You can see the weave through the picture.

When it was dry, I peeled it from the stencil.

Next, I created a background for it in my journal. I have used PA fresco paints, Glass Blue, Space Cadet, Limelight, Zesty zing and Caribbean sea. I added a few dots through a stencil and scribbled a bit.

The final step was to place my image over the top. It stuck down well as the tape had remained sticky.

It is a good idea to brayer over it to secure it.

So, this is my finished page. The technique has a wealth of possibilities and I will certainly try this again. I could go on to work over it in parts, maybe journalling with a white pen...I could also have cut up the tape before sticking down. I really wanted to share this idea.

So, I am entering it into the PA challenge.

Just gone back and written on it! 

Shabby Chic This Moment

Lots of fabulous inspiration this month on the CVC challenge blog! The theme is shabby chic, and after seeing Gabrielle's inspiring work I decided to feature an old photo!

I found a textural background that I had abandoned a while back and decided to work on that.
It is a piece inspired by old walls with posters fading and peeling. I have layered papers, maps, manuscript, paint, crayon and loads of grungepaste.

I chose a very old photo of my paternal Grandparents, probably taken about 1928. my father is top left and his siblings are all there except his twin brother who always lived with his Grandparents which was, in my opinion very sad!
I added some stabile scribble and a bit of printing with a script stamp. mounted the photo onto corrugated card and added part of a Shakespeare sonnet.
I think that the photo looks really at home in this setting and I wrote a secret message on manuscript paper and tucked it into the side of the photo! Still miss my Dad very much...he was my artistic inspiration!
Entering this into the Countryview challenge!

Hidden Objects Face

My first entry to the Hidden Objects challenge and yet another inspirational presentation from Leandra!
I had a bit of a think and faces are always a favourite with me! Picasso sprung to mind and his 2 faces in one.

So I drew one and painted it with bright Fresco paints!
I outlined most of it with my trusty Stabilo pencil and made a simple linear background!
Look again and you will see!
So I am entering this into the Paperartsy challenge and will pop it onto Kim Dellows faces on a Friday!