Roses

After a week of catastrophes - a flooded kitchen and flooded carpets (don't go there!) and the ensuing clear up and drying out, together with some much needed catch up on some gardening, I found time today to catch up with a project I started a couple of weeks ago.

For ages I had meant to replace the roses in a rather pretty vase I have bought at the glass factory on the Isle of Wight some years ago.   The roses were made with Hearty Soft clay in white and then airbrushed.  The leaves and calyx had a little green cake decorating colour added to the clay, and then they too were airbrushed.  I didn't use any cutters for the rose -  the petals were just modeled by hand. However, I used a cutter for the calyx and for the leaves

Really pleased with the results.   

I made the original yellow roses from cold porcelain probably back in the early 90s when I went on a course with my father.   I never really liked the yellow roses, so am pleased that I have last given the "vase" a make-over.

before - the old roses

July in the Den

I have managed a couple of afternoons in the Den for the first time this week, as I felt well enough to tackle some much overdue housework this week, which had been put on hold since I cracked a rib a few weeks ago.  We also had visitors on Tuesday, some Sheenie friends from Devon, who were holidaying in the area, and we spent a very pleasant afternoon in the garden.

Whilst they were here, they had a little play with my airbrush, and Ros was hooked, but then so was Tim, who is florist, and he wondered if you could airbrush carnations to save the faff of standing them in ink for a few days to colour them.  Well, I had a little play today, as one of my Marguerite flowers opened.   Result!

Airbrushed Marguerite

I have also been playing with my Pebeo goodies again - albeit I actually used some of the products I already had in my stash.

I decided to paint the reverse of the butterflies that I painted the other week.   Didn't quite turn out how I wanted, possibly because I was not using my favourite colours!  and the paints definitely had a mind of their own yesterday, and didn't go where I hooped they would go!    I intend to make a mobile out of them.

to recap - this was the first side:

Over the past two days, I have also played with a Martha Stewart glass painting kit.  I did do one a few months ago, but the little pots of paint that came with it didn't go very far.  So last week I topped up my stash with some bigger bottles.  Got a bargain as it happened.  My C & C membership had just been renewed, and I thought I would put the credit toward the glass paints, and lucky me discovered they were on super special offer as well.  Result!  I love it when a plan comes together, and gets better as well!

Glass painting study.

and finally, back to Pebeo again and a little work in progress - painted this box this afternoon, and started to enamel a flower.  The flower looks a bit "muddy" in this photo, but was in a just painted state when I took the photo.

Work in Progress

Actually it is good to take a photo, as I can see I need to do a bit more paint effect with the silver metallic paint to match the bottom of the box.  Might have to black gesso it again and start over with the sponging.

More Cloud Clay

I had a short play in the Den again this afternoon, although it was a tad cold with a strong southerly breeze coming in the door, and little sunshine!

Having watched yesterday's Cloud Clay show, I thought I would do my version of the frog.  I love him.

Cloud Clay Frog

Another attempt at scary trees.

I then tried to make a sweetpea, but this attempt is not that good, as I had no tools or cutters in the Den, so it was made entirely with just my fingers and a paintbrush!  and then airbrushed with purple..  At least my husband recognised what it was supposed to be!

A sweetpea?

I then found the tin I altered the other week, and tried to decide which of the clay embellishments I made yesterday would look best on it:

Cloud Clay and Air Brushing

First Attempt

I have been watch Cassie Brown's demo's all week, and my lovely husband said would I like one - well I didn't need asking twice, have wanted one for 30 years!

It arrived this morning, and having been good and read the instructions, and watched the video, I sat and played this afternoon.  I started with the "play" above, trying out all the techniques demo'ed on the CD.

I then decided to try mixing some colours and paint a scene!  bit amateurish, but not bad for second attempt at airbrushing.

First attempt with colour

I then tried using a freebie cake stencil.

stencilled train

Also this week at last my Cloud Clay order was delivered.  (someting happened to the first order and it got lost in cyberspace).   So I had a play and then used the airbrush on the items.  The items on the right was created with terracotta coloured cloud clay and the one on the right with yellow cloud clay.  Really pleased with the way they turned out

Stamping into Cloud Clay, then airbrushing with  red, blue and green, and varnished

Next it was the turn of a rose I made.

Yellow Cloud Clay rose airbrushed with orange

Finally, my daughter and eldest granddaughter called in to play as they knew the airbrush had arrived.

I showed them what to do and these two are my daughter's first two attempts - sickeningly good! (either that or I am a good teacher!)

Daughter's first attempt

I may never speak to her again - lol!

Daughter's second attempt!