Paper Dolls French Kiss.

The challenge on the PaperArtsy blog is currently "Paper Dolls". There has been lots of fabulous inspiration from the team.

In the intro, Darcy talked about the kind of paper dolls that girls of a certain age used to make outfits for. Jofy made a wardrobe of clothes in her post which made me want to create my own page. 

This set of stamps that I have chosen reminds me of my paper dollies so I decided to join in.

This is one of those pages where you just go where the mood takes you. No preconceived ideas, just playing.

I began with a washi tape background, used some distress inks in a distress wrinkle free way and stamped with Black and Red archival. Lots of stamping and I used the PaperArtsy stencil by Scrapcosy which has all the months on and is so handy!

Eventually I built up a story in my mind of this young French Girl, but don't want to retell as you may draw your own conclusions.

Suffice to say that she is not comfortable with her life choices and wishes the months to whisk by!

It was a bit tricky to work in this thick tome as you can see. I am almost at the end of it. It is a recycled book from Oxfam with wonderfully thick pages.

I am entering this in the PaperArtsy challenge.

New Lynne Moncrieff stamps and stencils

I was fortunate enough last week to buy some wonderful new stamps and stencils from Lynne Moncrieff''s" Thats crafty" range.
I have a small handmade book which is just perfect for playing with this gorgeous array of images and affirmations.

Lots of Distress inks, Infusions, crackle, Grungepaste, vintage lace, teabags, calico, embossing and drippage. Had a ball and can carry on playing forever.

Vintage Neutrals.

I have been sidelined recently by an amazing free online course called Sketchbook Revival.  There have been some amazing lessons on there from about 20 different artists.
I try to do something in my sketchbook everyday and yesterday I did a double page spread of my Prima watercolour paint tins.

The one on this page is a little set that I bought from PaperArtsy on their final trip to Ally Pally....sob!

Because they are largely neutrals, I thought that I could enter it into the Vintage Neutrals PaperArtsy challenge.
At the bottom of the page, I created a very quick watercolour of one of the flower borders in my garden. It was a blissfully peaceful exercise.

Kraft card project.

Loving the challenge over on the PaperArtsy blog which is Kraft card. Had every intention to join in....where has the 2 weeks gone? then Darcy reminded us and here I am......last minute entry.

On my kraft card I stamped some PaperArtsy mini stamps and printed some patterns using Coffee Archival ink. I bubble wrap printed some white circles and also used the white paint to add texture to my various corrugated cards. I added some treasure Gold Onyxite also and distressed the edges with Black Soot Distress inks.
I added some sepia tissue which I bought from PA at Ally Pally recently.
Arranged my bits and bobs and stitched around the edges.
Enjoyed this, so, thanks for the reminder Darcybobs!

Garden Party

I haven't joined in much of anything recently, so, needed to get back into things with the latest PaperArtsy Challenge which is "Bunting".
So, in one of my small journals, I began by creating an Oxide background and stamped some of my favourite Jofy stamps.
Some colouring in with oxides and Posca Pens, a little sparkle with Stickles and lots of spattering.
My bunting was from some paper stash and string.
A quick play and very enjoyable. Nice to get some old stamps out.

Whimsical Garden Fairy

I do like the whimsical style, but it is not my go to. However, when I saw that the latest PaperArtsy Challenge was Whimsy, I felt compelled to enter.

I have been following Tamara Laporte on Lifebook, recommended by Chris Cresswell, and found her video about The Garden Fairy fascinating. She includes so much detail and, unlike me, takes her time. 

So, inspired by Tamara, here is my garden fairy. The words, Love, Hope and Peace are secreted around the picture. I have used a variety of PaperArtsy fresco paints for my background.

This took me a couple of days, which is very rare for me.

So, am entering this into the PA Challenge. 

Quick watercolour entry

I just looked on the PaperArtsy blog and was surprised that the watercolour challenge was to finish in 52 minutes. So, I rushed around and quickly produced my entry!
First, I found a sunset picture to copy.

I watercoloured a background to look like a sunset. Because the image was on my computer screen,I had to stand up in front of it and quickly get the paint down! What a loon!

I quickly drew some trees in black, using a paintbrush, found that it was a bit fat and used a smaller one and scribbled some branches with a Black Fudeball Pen.

I darkened the foreground and used a fab Alison Bomber stamp which looks wonky but isn't, it was just all a rush!

Entering this into the PaperArtsy challenge!