More playing about!

Again nothing brilliant, but playing.   I was watching a programme on Hochanda yesterday and it inspired me to have a go.   This idea was from the first show, and I created it whilst watching the second show.

I set myself the challenge of using what was on my desk at the time.   My new Daler Rowney pearlescent paints, an AALL & Create stencil, and some dandelion dies and stamps that I had for my birthday recently.

The idea was to create a background using 3 shades in a "family" colour.   Well I didn't exactly have three shades in the set of paints that was to hand, so went for pink, red and purple.

The three colours of paint were applied with fingers, layering up the colours.   Then using the same colours I sponged them through various parts of the sunflower stencil.    I then used the paint again with the dandelion stamps in various colours.

The idea I was following used a tag as a focal point with a cutout image on it.  I improvised.  I actually used a trimmer that I have had for more years than I care to remember that sits on the shelf above my desk.  I invariably forget I have this - it cuts two sorts of wavy lines.  I used the shape I cut as my tag.  I applied two shades of pink/red ink to this, and then stamped the dandelion on it with white gesso.   I also die-cut a couple of dandelions from the set and mounted these over the stamped image.

The programme I watched was Lou Withers teaching Paul Church to do a Mixed Media project, and to basically not be afraid of getting a little messy with paint and using your fingers.  Thus the two sentiments I added as a note to myself.

I confess I am not that good at this sort of mixed media (albeit mixed media does come into a lot of my creations), and although I have some art journals, I have always been a bit afraid to do anything with them. 

So this again is for me and trying out techniques, whether they fail or not - and hopefully one day I can look back on them to see how far I have come.

I already know what I forgot - and that was to gesso the page first!    It does look better in real life as the pearlescent paints have a love shine to them.

Mixed Media: Decoupaged, Painted and Embroidered Panel

Really pleased with how this turned out.  I have watched the PinkImk demonstrations on Hochanda many times and have been tempted to try one.   A few weeks ago they had a bundle of various designs on sale at a silly price - so I though I would take the plunge.

The panel is about 8" x 8" with an extra little panel of embellishments.

I wet the material and then water-coloured it using Cosmic Shimmer Fabric Paints, and IndigoBlu paints for the face.  When it was dry I ironed it to set the colours.

I then painted the embellishment section and when dry I did some embroidery on it and added some beads (i.e. pearls on the bow).  Again I ironed the panel to set the colours, and  then painted a mix of pva and water to the back to strengthen and stop it fraying, so that when dry I could cut out the items.

The little elements were then added to the panel with glue.  I also did a little more accent painting, as well as adding some gems and Nuvo drops.

It doesn't show up that well in the photo, but the image is very sparkly, as I went over the whole design with Cosmic Shimmer Sparkle Star Fabric paint.  (I am in love with this - the effect is similar to a sparkle pen on cardstock).

I will eventually stiffen the whole thing with either PVA and water or IndigoBlu Fabric Slap it on.  I also want to get some matching velvet ribbon for the frame (although I may paint it) to finish it off completely.

Mixed Media mdf ATC Card 3)

I started off with black gesso on this card..  I then used an Imagination Crafts feather stencil and applied Cosmic Shimmer Frosted Blossom crackle paste.  Being impatient I dried it with my heat tool - erm slight mistake - or is that happy error - it bubbled !    Undeterred when dry I went over it again with Cosmic Shimmer Crackle paste in Frosted Heather and let it dry naturally,  I also used another part of the stencil with the clear Ranger Emboss It Dabber and added some gilding flakes (albeit you can't really see those as they are under the flower.  I then added gold gilding wax to the edges of the card and over the stencilled feather.

I made another flower, leaves and gypsophila with some of John Next Door dies and The Flower Modelling foam. again colouring them slightly with ink pads and adding Nuvo drops to the centre of the flower and the end of the gyp.

Finally, as I didn't have a suitable stamp or stencil, I freehand wrote the word Fleur in White Posca pen and outlined it with a black Poscas pen.

The three ATC cards

MDF Mixed Media ATC Card 1)

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Now that Christmas is over I can focus on playing again.   I have bee playing with my mdf ATC cards that I received as random act of kindness from Lou Withers.  (you may remember that I decorated the box and one side of one card a couple of months ago).

Inspired by Lou I wanted to play with the Amsterdam Pearl Medium and my Pinata inks.  I had also prepared some egg shells, as I loved the effect they gave on the little drawer unit I made.

I spread the Pearl Medium on the card and added the egg shells, and then a little more pearl medium, and then added random drops of the inks whilst it was still wet.   When it had dried I added a little touch of pebeo gilding wax.

I also recently invested in Craft Artist Flower Modelling Foam - wow love this stuff.  I die cur some flowers  and leaves with John Next Door dies.   I coloured the m slightly with some ink pads and shaped them.  (I haven't tried heating the foam yet, but it is on my todo list to try). I added a gem and some Nuvo drops to the centre   I then used an Imagination Crafts stencil on black card with Nuvo clear and added white detail embossing powder.  Rather than cut it out with a straight edge, once embossed I cut it out around the letters

Really pleased with how the experiment turned out - really shines in real life - although I have sprayed it with Crafter Companion spray and shine since taking the photo.

Mixed Media Grungy Tool Box

One side

I suddenly realised that I hadn't posted the pictures of my little tool box, having earlier posted the work in progress photos.

Second side

I used various techniques with crackle paint, acrylic paints, stamps, distress oxides, stencils, spray inks, and crystal tints.  This is quite a deviation from my normal painting, but having been fascinated my examples of mixed media pieces, particularly those with a "grunge" them, I wanted to have a go.  It was sealed with Spray and Shine when I had finished to seal it.

One end 

The other end

With some of my tools in it 

Another view

I am quite pleased with the overall result, and if I get fed up with it - I can always apply some more gesso and start again!

Playing with textures

Well this may look a bit "naff" but the object of the exercise was to play with some textures on something that didn't matter - i.e. a custard tin.  From base up I used Amsterdam Pumice Medium, Pearl Medium and Gel Medium and let them dry.

The original idea was to try and paint a "seaside" scene on the side of the tin  - well that didn't quite work, as the finished texture of the gel medium didn't really work ..... so out came the air dry clay and some cutters and moulds and I made daisies and leaves, which were painted with acrylics.

 Next it was time to tackle the plastic lid.   I used the new Izink Diamond Glitter paints - wow these are brilliant.  I used a green for the centre of the lid and a mix of blue and purple dabbed on to the rim.

It needed something else for the centre so the acrylics came out and I painted a paint fusion rose (ok in hindsight I should have painted a daisy to compliment the sides!)

Yes it looks a bit weird and not what I had originally planned, but was a good bit of Mixed Media play.  No doubt it will find a place in the Den to hold something!

Messing about with textures and effects.

It's been a while since I blogged - so remedying that with two blog entries today!

I have been trying out some textures and effects in my little journal.   This was trying out effects with candle wax for a resist technique to get a peeled paint effect.  Was quite pleased with how many colours I could see when using a candle and overpainting. I also tried out a rust effect, by "sloshing" on quinacridone gold and then heating it to get a bubbled effect.

Christmas Village and Bell Jars - WIP 2

A bit more of the WIP today.   I happened to see this mirror candle plate in John Lewis and it was perfect for the village.  I also bought a cake board, which I intended to paint in a "snow" effect.  As you can see I have also started to paint the houses, using some mini stencils for the brick effect.

Having put the ornaments on the glass plate, I realised I need to paint the underside of the ornaments white!  Still a way to go to finish the painting as I want.

I also have these two bell jars, which were another kit, and you can see I have also started painting these.  (I applied glitter gel to the little brush trees, but will add white texture past as on the wooden ones, but then apply the gel over that.)   The larger one will have a small string of fairy lights added. (The lights came with the kit and have a tealight candle base,

You can see the brickwork effect on the houses, and I have since outlined the windows with white pen.

To be continued ...........

Christmas Village and Bell Jars - Work in progress 1.

The start of the painting progress.

I am working on a village scene and some bell jars.   So for the next few days I will share my WIP (Work In Progress).

To start with a coated all the wooden pieces with clear gesso, and then built the houses and trees and started on the painting progress, using Pebeo decoCreme paints.

I then mixed some white gesso with some EXpandit paste and applied it randomly to the trees, the bases and roof of the houses.  This was then heated to create the snow effect.

Watch this space for the next step!

Christmas Fireplace

I have had fun making this (well after I managed to work out how to put it together as although there were supposed to be instructions, there weren't any - fortunately I managed to watch the programme again and used the snipping tool to capture the relevant bits).

The finished project

Here are the various stages:  (yes I managed to remember to take some photos as it was decorated over a few days!)  I had to paint some of the parts before putting the whole thing together, after applying gesso to all of it.

I used a stencil for the brickwork and sand texture

Close up of hearth

next stage - modelling paste through the stencil

colour added to the "brickwork" and painted wood effect for mantlepiece

and just to prove I don't always get it right - spot the mistake!   (Clue look at the stockings). However, I am including the photo as it shows a different angle to the finished project.  You can see the wood effect on the top shelf, and the different stencil effect on the hearth base

The kit came with the imitation moss and the fir cones (some of which I glittered).   I also raided my cake decorating stash for some dried gypsophilia, which hadn't seen the light of day for many years. (Just as well I never throw anything away!)

There are also two holes in the back of the Fireplace to take two battery operated t-lights so it can be illuminated at night,

 Hope you like it.