Saturday 31 March 2018

It Nearly Went Horribly Wrong: A Tag

I made this tag for the fortnightly challenge over on Tag Tuesday:  Diamonds are Forever (with a wedding anniversary in mind!).  I was trying a new technique and at one point I was ready to throw the tag in the bin; however, I feel that I managed to save it and really like the finished result.

Thursday 29 March 2018

Wednesday 28 March 2018

WOYWW 460: Birthday Girl

I can't believe the week has gone round so quickly and it's time to share the desk once again for What's On Your Workdesk, Wednesday?  To join in with the fun, hop over to the Stamping Ground, where Julia hosts this weekly event.  As usual the photos were taken yesterday afternoon.  Eva, from the other side of the desk, was celebrating her birthday and I was working on an art journal challenge.
My side of the desk shows some of the materials that I was using for the journal page that I was creating.  If you pop back tomorrow, you will see that I had a second go at the pocket; using a different colour scheme to match in more closely with the colour of the background.
The birthday girl had brought lots of Steampunk themed dies and stamps with her as she had some tags to make for a swap.  She is pointing to her 'Honorary Stokie' mug from Moorland Pottery which was her birthday gift.  This is the card that I made her (for step by step, see HERE).
And here are the tags that Eva made; aren't they amazing!

Tuesday 27 March 2018

A Panel of Colour: Birthday Card

This card was made for a good friend of mine whose birthday it is today!  We are enjoying our regular Tuesday craft session together, so I can share as she has received the card.

Monday 26 March 2018

Creating A Night Sky with Distress Oxides and Acrylic Paint

This is my third journal page for the March prompt (Friendship) over on Nina Ribena's Art Journal Prompts and More.  I decided to use my Distress Oxides and some acrylic paint to make a night sky as the background for the quote I chose.  I took plenty of photos so that you can see how I built up the effect.

Saturday 24 March 2018

Layer upon Layer: Oxides, Archival Ink and Heat Embossing

Following the journal page that I created recently (see HERE), I wanted to use a similar layering technique on a card, but this time using Distress Oxides for the base layer.  I had also received the fabulous Peacock and Peacock Feathers stamps designed by Linda Williams for Claritystamp and wanted to see how the new extra fine line art worked with embossing powders.  The results were amazing and the photos really don't do the card justice!

Friday 23 March 2018

Steampunk Tags

The theme for the March tag swap over on Junk Journal Junkies and Mindful Art is Steampunk.  I already had one completed tag in my stash which was suitable for the swap (see HERE for step by step), but decided to be a bit more daring with the colours on the second.
New Tag on the right

Thursday 22 March 2018

A Layered Background With No Destination In Mind: Art Journal Page

Masterpiece or work in progress?
I started this page at a journal meet up while away from my desk.  I had taken my Strathmore Visual Journal with me, together with my Royal Talens Ecoline pens, some Spectrum Noir sparkle pens, my mini Archival inks, a folder of Stampers' Anonymous Tim Holtz Background stamps, tins of Distress crayons and my Tim Holtz mini layering stencils.  I had absolutely no plan or destination in mind when I started.  I finished the page when back home in my shed and there are not as many photos as usual of my steps, as I was too busy playing and chatting to think of taking many while I was out.

Wednesday 21 March 2018

WOYWW 458: A Change of Scenery

This week's WOYWW is a little different, as I am not sharing my usual desk. I wasn't crafting in my shed yesterday, but with a group of JJJAMA friends (Junk Journal Junkies and Mindful Art) at the Hobbycraft store in Stockport.  We meet up once a month on the third Tuesday of the month.
Julia will explain more about WOYWW if you visit The Stamping Ground, where she hosts our weekly virtual get together.

My desk shows some of the stash that I took with me to work in my Strathmore Visual Journal.  I decided to build up a background, but you'll have to visit again tomorrow to see where the finished piece ends up.  The ice cream / doughnut stickers were a gift from a fellow attendee, Kaz.  She creates the most amazing art with the bargains that she picks up in various places.
She was using her latest find, a box of 24 water soluble pastels from Hobbycraft (usual price £6, bought on sale for £3).  They appear to be aimed at children but are fantastic to work with.
Eva was not on the other side of the desk  as usual; she had to go to Cardiff for an examiners' meeting.  Instead, there were two lovely and very creative ladies making a guest appearance to my WOYWW post.
Lou Withers and Jane Telford
If you caught Barbara Gray's live show from the NEC on Hochanda last Saturday, you will recognise Lou and Jane.  Lou - JJJAMA leader - brings Royal Talens and Golden products to Hochanda and Jane is a member of the Claritystamp design team.  Lou was working on adding embroidery to an IndigoBlu printed fabric piece which she had already added colour to; Jane was working on some Folk Art pieces.

I had a fabulous time catching up with everyone.  (Paul did turn up later Neet and we had a good natter, but I forgot to take a picture as we were talking too much lol.) 
The best news came when I checked my phone before setting off home.  I had received a text to say that I have a second Great Niece, born the day before!

Tuesday 20 March 2018

Blackout Background Tag

This tag was created - to help me unwind after work - for the Spring/Easter prompt on Tag Tuesday.  I decided to use a method of creating a background that I've used before (having seen Carolyn Craven's backgrounds), but with a paper towel mop up sheet as the base rather than a painted background and using a stencil rather than stamps.

Monday 19 March 2018

Rainbow Doodle!

This piece was completed for Explore Your Creativity Challenge 9 over on Junk Journal Junkies and Mindful Art.  I created it in anticipation of our 4000th member as we are very close to achieving this milestone.  Please feel free to come and join a very friendly and supportive group of creative people, led by Louise Withers.  The prompts were 'Doodle', 'Ink' and 'Rainbow'.

Sunday 18 March 2018

Oxides and Watercolour Pens: A Tag

Once again, I have managed to complete the mini mission for March over on Mission Inspiration, before the main mission!  As always, the mini mission has been completed on a tag, and this month all the stamps and stencils are from Claritystamp.  The prompt was 'Lost'; this seemed appropriate, as I had just returned home from seeing Stoke City lose at home to Everton!

Saturday 17 March 2018

A Distress Experiment With Crazy Birds: Art Journal Page

I finally got round to making my first art journal page on the theme of Friendship; the March prompt over on Nina Ribena's Art Journal Prompts and More.  I went back to one of my favourite stamp sets; Bird Crazy designed by Tim Holtz for Stamper's Anonymous.  I also decided to see how the Distress Oxides would work with Distress sparays and inks to create the background.

Friday 16 March 2018

Distress Oxide Backgrounds: ATCs

These are the ATCs that I made for the March swap over on Junk Journal Junkies and Mindful Art.  The prompt letter was S and as always I used only Claritystamp stamps and masks.  All the stamping was done in Onyx Black Versafine ink and heat embossed using detail clear powder.  The backgrounds were all created using Distress Oxides and the images were coloured using Ecoline pens by Royal Talens.

Thursday 15 March 2018

Ecoline pens on Rice Paper and Canvas

I was so proud to have this canvas shown on Hochanda yesterday during the one day special shows with Lou Withers.  I am sharing a step by step as it was such an easy technique with such a vibrant result.

Wednesday 14 March 2018

WOYWW 458: A Busy Weekend


Another week has flown by and Wednesday has come round once more.  Time to share desks with the WOYWW crew and chief desker Julia (check out the Stamping Ground for more).  Last weekend was a busy one.  On Saturday, Eva and I went to an all day class with Maria Moorhouse from Claritystamp.  We had a thoroughly fabulous time, working with a two colour palette, paid for as a Mother's Day gift.  Sunday was Mother's Day of course, so I was thoroughly spoilt.  We can't make Maria's April class but will be back in May!
My side of the desk shows a new ink storage rack from Inkylicious.  The instructions were really easy to follow, although there was one stubborn piece which didn't want to go into the slot initially.  I got there in the end though.  It now sits next to my workspace with all my Oxides (and room for the rest when they come out) and my Dylusions paints close to hand.
The finished shelves.
On the other side of the desk, Eva was practising some of the techniques that we used in Maria's class last Saturday, but in different colour ways.
 I will be looking out to see if my samples made it to Hochanda for the Ecoline shows with Lou Withers.  The shows are on at 9am, 1pm and 5pm today.  In case they got lost in the post, here are two of the samples I made with the rice paper and Ecoline pens.
Blogged yesterday (see HERE)

Step by step tomorrow
So that's it for now; hugs to Shaz who hasn't been too well this week and Happy WOYWW to you all.

Tuesday 13 March 2018

Rice Paper and Ecoline Pens: A Canvas

I thought I'd wet everyone's appetite for the new Ecoline water colour brush pens from Royal Talens.  I love them as they are so versatile; they can be used direct to stamp, direct to paper or be picked up off a glass mat with a water brush for colouring.  I stamped onto rice paper and added it to a canvas for this piece.

Monday 12 March 2018

Using A Limited Colour Palette

After a class with the fabulous Maria Moorhouse from Claritystamp, where we worked on five cards using a two colour palette of greys and yellow, I had a piece of copy paper that I had used to clean up my ink mat.  I decided to use part of it as a background for a tag and see what I could make of it.  This is not a colour combination that I would have thought to use myself, but I love all the cards that we made (not for sharing here) and my bonus tag.

Sunday 11 March 2018

From Gelli Print to Mother's Day Card

I made this Mother's Day card from the last print that I pulled during my recent half hour gelli plate experiment (see HERE for details).  Happy Mother's Day to my darling mother; I appreciate and love you!

Saturday 10 March 2018

A Tour of the Craft Shed

I've been asked by a few people recently to describe my craft shed, so I thought you might like a virtual tour!  I have often told those who are thinking of getting their own shed that I wouldn't be without mine, but that the old saying 'Your craft stash will expand to fit the space available' should be borne in mind when deciding on size.  Mine is 16' by 10' and I have managed to pack a great deal into it; with room for up to five friends if I feel like company!
I like to have everything that I use frequently close to hand.  Immediately behind my work station is my ink pad storage and hanging baskets with acrylic blocks, brayers and inky accessories.
My work station has the large Tonic glass mat and I keep fresh water, an old ice cream tub for soaking stencils, as well as my heat gun immediately in front of me. You can also see my daylight lamp, pencil case with regularly used tools and Tim Holtz carousel with Nuvo Drops, Izinks, misters and water brushes.
Immediately to my right hang all my Tim Holtz stencils on book rings and I also have ready access to brushes, pens, markers and Distress crayons.  My sprays are in the drawers between the windows.  Even though the blinds stay down when it is dark outside to reflect the light (also why the walls and ceiling are painted white), there is an entire row of windows along the side of the shed and in the daylight it is flooded with light.
From the other side of the desk you can see some of the 'guest' workstations ready for when I have company with mini bin and wet wipes ready and waiting.
I am nothing if not a good host, with tea and coffee making facilities also available.  I have, however, lost count of the number of cold drinks that I end up drinking when I become engrossed in my work.  The kettle boils and dispenses one mug of water at a time, so is very economical when I am on my own.
Also along the back wall of the shed (next to the ink storage section) are further Billy bookcases which fit floor to ceiling.  They are all crammed full with stash, books, stamps, pens, journals and my Cricut supplies.  The IKEA kitchen trolley holds my e-bosser, Brother Scan N Cut and ribbon carousel as well as acrylic pour supplies.


The wall opposite the windows is also lined with storage from IKEA including drawers and boxes.  My stamps are organised into either themes or manufacturer and different coloured card is organised in each of the grey drawers.  My bit box is over flowing as you can see, and is often the source of a quick background, as I rarely throw things away.  I even have access to my sewing machine if I need to.  The long drawers hold A3 card and all boxes are labelled with the type of embellishments or stamps that they hold.  The red boxes lined up above the storage cubes (in front of the box files) hold my re inkers, Distress and Adirondack paint dabbers and my alcohol inks.  A place for everything and everything in its place.
Thanks for taking some time to look round my shed; I hope you've enjoyed the tour.

Friday 9 March 2018

From Master Board to Tag!

This tag was created following three of the four prompts on Tag It Tuesday for March 2018.  As at least two of the prompts have to be followed, I am within the permitted parameters.  The prompts were: Use a sponge brush; add gears; use a black marker; 'luck'.  As you can see, I used the last three!

Thursday 8 March 2018

Wednesday 7 March 2018

WOYWW 457: Normal Service...

Hello everyone and welcome back to a warmer, snow free WOYWW this week (for more desks please visit Julia over on The Stamping Ground).  I didn't actually get to teach any children last week, as we had an INSET day on the first day back and my other two work days were snow days.  I therefore had lots of extra shed time!  Eva was also able to join me yesterday for the first time in three weeks, so I actually have more than one desk to share today.
My side of the desk shows the start of an 18th birthday card for a good friend of my youngest son.  He is into the game 'Magic: The Gathering'  so I decided to use Sheena Douglass' Once There Were Dragons stamp set.  The card is hidden below the black card so as not to spoil the surprise, but as the friend's birthday is today, I will be able to reveal all on my blog tomorrow.
On the other side of the desk, Eva was travelling light as you can see; only one big bag this week together with her Light Wave and a small bag of Groovi supplies.
She was starting a second piece of line art so that she can alternate between the one you see in the foreground and the second piece when doing white work.  Parchment has to be allowed to rest between layers of white work.  I'll try and get photos of the finished pieces next week!  Have a great week everyone and thanks to all who visit my blog;  I do post something every day if you ever fancy popping back to visit on a day other than Wednesday! 

Tuesday 6 March 2018

Gelli Plate Experiments

I decided it was time to get out my gelli plate after ages and try some quick pulls using a new stencil.  Not all my attempts were successful, but I won't be throwing anything away.  I used my 8" x 10" Gelli Arts printing plate throughout, together with one of the new A5 stencils from Claritystamp (Be Still and Listen).  It is also available in A4.  
I grabbed a random selection of paints and paint colours and the Speedball brayer that I keep separate for using with paint and made a start.  For the first print, I spread some Raspberry Adirondack paint over the plate, followed by Citrus.  I then laid the stencil face down so that you can see the words reading backwards and pulled a quick print onto copy paper.

Monday 5 March 2018

Saturday 3 March 2018

Water Colour in the style of Clarice Cliff

The Explore Your Creativity Challenge #8 on Junk Journal Junkies and Mindful Art was to use water colour pens and/or pencils in the style of Clarice Cliff.  The predominant colour was to be yellow.  As I live in the Potteries, I could not resist this challenge.  I decided to base my piece on her crocus design even though they were in shades of orange, purple and blue in the original pottery version.  I turned my piece into a journal page.

Friday 2 March 2018

Ancient Soul; Futuristic Mind: An Art Journal Page

This page was completed for the February 2018 prompts on Mission Inspiration.  Even though I didn't complete the page until 1st March, at least I am sharing it before the new prompts are released tomorrow lol.  I loved the colour scheme for this page (brown/red/orange)!