Christmas Plaque 1

 

A little Christmas MDF plaque (I can't remember whose kit it was).   The background was painted to represent a wooden plank.    I then add a snow effect to everything.  I shall attach some hooks to the top and add string or ribbon to hang it.

Finished Sea Theme Box

Top

Front

Side 1

Back

Other side

Inside

The finished article was painted with acrylic wax and highlighted with pink and blue gleams.

MDF Rainbows

I spent yesterday in the sunshine painting MDF rainbows for neighbours.

I did do some a few weeks ago for myself and one set of grandchildren.   My eldest granddaughter painted her own - but it seems I didn't blog them - so here are a few photos from then:

I painted the back a sort of night sky

Accepting a Facebook Challenge

The other day Lou Withers did a live demonstration and challenged us to join her.   We had to take a piece of 12 x 12 paper that we didn't like much and transform it into something completely different.

This was the piece of paper I started with:

As you can see it was a Christmas paper with a pale green/beige background with gingerbread men and stars etc.

This was the finished result:

I started off with three shades of blue acrylic through different stencils.  We then kept adding more paint, using a different colour - I chose red.   Again more paint through stencils, and some stamping with paint.   Then more paint- this time white through another stencil to "knock it back" a tad.   Finally some random stamping with some iridescent orange with stamps and the edge of an old credit card.

Quite a transformation I think you will agree ...... and completely out of my comfort zone.  However, it was fun and occupied me for a couple of hours in this period of isolation for us all.

I hope you are all keeping safe and well.

Owl Plaque

I had fun with some paint techniques and shading on this project.    Am still trying to decide if it needs something in the space on the top left though.  I feel it needs some wording or a picture.

"Hat-shaped" Box

I have been meaning to tackle this for a while, but couldn't decide exactly how I wanted to decorate it.  I decided to go with a faux leather effect  (Kraft card treated with glycerine and water and screwed up, and when dry I applied distress inks and distress oxides).    The faux leather was cut up into small pieces and applied to the box with heavy duty gel both under and over it.    When this was dry I highlighted all the "seams" with gold Nuvo drops.

I then applied random bits of screwed up tissue to the base with watered-down pva, to create a different "leather" effect.  This was then painted with various shades of oxides, and distress inks and acrylic paint.

I then created a buckled hat band from Hearty clay and a Katy sue mould, which I then painted in various shades of brown and highlighted the buckle with gilding wax (but decided it didn't show up enough so made it more 3D with more gold Nuvo drops.

I painted a selection of MDF cogs and a "star" embellishment with Pentart Rusty Effect and Patina paints.

Finally the whole thing was sprayed with Spray and Shine.

The faux leather effect

How it started off

A few weeks ago I received a RAK in the form of a little box containing MDF blanks.   The proviso was that I did something with it.   Well Having applied some gesso almost as soon as it arrived, it has sat on my desk waiting for me to get inspired.

I had so many ideas swimming around my head I didn't know whee to start.  Inspired by a demonstration on Hochanda where the origin of ATC was explained as a show case of your art, I decided rather than go with a theme, I would try to attempt something different on all of the cards, with a little of something from all my interests and just go with the flow.  So that is the plan

The little book box was covered with some tissue (just ordinary tissue out of the tissue box, but separated and just one scrunched up layer applied with slap-it-on.  When dry more black gesso was applied

Next various metallic and Pebeo DYNA paints were sponged on.  Gold gilding wax was then applied lightly over the rough surface and around the edges of the box   A strip of washi tape applied and a peel-off from my stash.   Sitting on my desk was a die-cut parchment butterfly - so some gold gilding wax was applied to that too.

I stamped the sentiment onto a piece of card and rubbed the edges with pebeo gilding wax.   

I felt the box need something in the bottom corner to balance the butterfly, and inspiration struck and I made a rose and some leaves from air dry clay; coloured them with artistry inks, and a smidgen of more gilding wax.  Happy with the effect.

I also made a start on one of the ATC shapes.   I started off with shades of red, orange and yellow oxides blended in and then sprayed with water and mopped to create lighter area.  I used a Samantha K stencil and some relief paste for the top left corner and added some lines with black nuvo ink and a credit care. I then stamped the words - the black word was embossed.   I wasn't quite happy with the result so I then applied clear embossing ink and Ultra thick embossing powder of the whole card, repeating the UTEE application a couple of times for a smooth finish.   This has of course obliterated the effect of the relief paste - so I shall re-apply it and then decide what else needs to go on the card as the mood takes me.

Christmas Tree Scene Model - Work in Progress

Originally these trees were going to be green, and I had applied black gesso - then I changed my mind.  I am pleased I did - I do like the blue/white effect.   I painted with white pebeo acrylic, and then sponged various blue distress oxides around  the edges, and a little green on the trunk   I did the same with the small trees.

with stag 

 The Stag was painted with acrylic paints.

with snowman

The snowman was also painted with white acrylic and highlighted with black from a Nujvo embossing pad with my finger to give the appearance of a rounded shape.  Ribbon was tied around his neck.  His features were added with micron pens, and the black of his hat was done with a Pebeo 4Artist Marker and a band painted with a Posca pen.

The Merry Christmas signs were sponged with a cream paint and brown paint and the words highlighted with a micron pen.

All there is to do now is to apply a snow effect, and add a bauble - which I am hoping to paint compliment the design - it may even be paint poured.

I will share the finished designs anon.

Canal Barge 1

I suddenly realised that I hadn't posted the finished barges  Not a lot of explanation - I painted them with acrylic paints.  

I thought the best way was to just show a lot of views.

I will explain that the little ornaments on the top of the barge were made from FMM air dry clay, just using my fingers and a paintbrush to hollow out the bucket and jug.  The flower displays had some offcuts of scourer stuck in the top ( the rough side)  and then some little "stamp-plonker" flowers added.   They were all made in white clay, then painted.   The "rope" embellishments came with the kit.

It now has pride of place in my son-in-laws garden, and it is names after his wife and daughter.

One Finished Barge

Well the first barge is painted (and even has a name).    I confess I changed my mind on the colours to paint it a couple of times.

As I mentioned before I painted the barge with Powertex, and then gave them a coat of white gsoo.  I commenced the painting with various acrylic paints (Makes include Amsterdam, Hobbycraft, Pebeo, IndigoBlu and Pentart.)

I created the flower containers, jug and bucket from FMM Air Dry clay, and then painted them. 

The "rope" came with the kit.

The decoration was painted with miniature ball tools, using the paint fusion technique.

and finally I gave it a name ... although I think I should have called it the Elena Dawn , which would have been a bit more "classy"

I have to admit that I am pretty pleased with the result, considering my eyesight isn't great these days as I am awaiting a cataract operation,

Another Jeep

I finally got around to painting the second jeep.

Fairy House

A little play with textures on a little Fairy House from The Works,  (I went in to buy something else, which wasn't in stock, and came out with this - lol!)

I used texture medium on the "green" edging, which I then painted.   The walls were done with pearl medium mixed with acrylic paint.  I also made a few tiny air dry clay flowers.  (When I was teaching cake decorating, we used to call these "stamp-plonker" flowers, as they were made with a little spring loaded cutter, and it was a case of stamp, then plonk to create them!)

Upcycling from this ......

........  erm looks interesting .... not

coated with Powertex and a few features added

.... here's a clue

a Fairy Door MDF kit given a coat of Powertex

and finally ......

........ a Fairy House

Yes I decided that rather than throw my poor frost damaged and useless chiminea (it would never drawn properly when you lit it), I would upcycle it into a Fairy House.

I started with giving it a coat of Powertex, and using an old dishcloth repaired the chipped opening, and then using strips of t-shirt material I made a "vine" to wind around it.   I also had an MDF Fairy Door kit in my stash, which was an almost perfect fit for the opening.

I then gave the whole thing and the stand a coat of Crystal Glitter Black Diamond paint, and added some texture and crackle paste to the fairy door and some acrylic paint.

I then made some flowers from FMM air dry clay  (oh gosh I am loving that product). and painted the flowers, leaves and some of the shapes I had already stuck on with Powertex,  with POSCA pens and acrylic pens.   These were then attached with more Powertex, as was the door.   Finally I painted the roses on the lid and on the side, and gave it a quick spray of varnish.

Ta da ..... no longer a useless bit of garden furniture, but a feature for one of the flower beds.

Fairy Houses

A friend's mother was admiring my fairy houses and other makes.  My pal asked if it would be possible to create something for her mum's 90th birthday.   Anything would do .... of course my mind went completely blank as to what I could make.   I have made these two fairy houses so far, and am currently working on a plaque.

The little houses are much more glittery in real life as in addition to sparkly paint, I finished them off with some Unicorn sparkles.  The one on the left was a jam jar and can have a battery tealight in it.  The one on the right started off life as a sauce bottle.

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!