A very colourful workshop

I recently attended a workshop run by the very talented Lin Brown whose classes I enjoy enormously.This class was a bit different to the usual classes that she runs, because she decided to look at composotion with us, rather than presenting us with a specific finished project to make. We looked at how to use pieces of scrapbook paper that we might have lurking around in our stash to form the basis for our backgrounds, and then how to build up a series of layers on that paper to produce a backdrop for the stamped images. I was not very keen on the piece of paper that I had to start with, and almost asked to swap it for something different. However, I figured that I was going to be covering it up fairly well, so I would just run with it and see what happened. I really like the finished piece, so I am glad that I stuck with the original piece of paper, and it just goes to show that you can use up those pieces of paper left over from paper pads that you do not want to use for anything else.

Lin showed us how she creates her layered backgrounds step by step, using opaque and transluscent Fresco Finish paints from Paper Artsy. I have seen her demo many times, but it is always fascinating to watch her create a piece of artwork. Her background was much busier than I had realised, and it gave me the chance to experiment with trying this new look out. We had a lot of fun with her vibrant paint colours and the latest stamp images. She also showed us how to make some cute little padded birds to add to our project if we wanted to.

This is my finished project, which I actually completed at home. I had one or two things that needed to be put together after the class. I added some extra stamping to the background to ground the flowers and yet another layer over the white detail, with the little black dotty stamp.

 

I had such fun making this project, and it sits in my craft room where I can see the vibrant cheery colours to brighten up my day.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

Practising with my PA Goodies

Hi Folks, I've had a day playing with my craft supplies today. It's a rare thing for me to craft without a deadline or an agenda in mind, and today was a day where I just dabbled for sheer enjoyment, it was so relaxing. I've been using my Paper Artsy supplies, some of which I purchased over the weekend at Alexandra Palace. I watched lots of demos by Lin and Leandra, and wanted to experiment before I forgot what I had picked up from their examples. I have a memory like a sieve these days!

I made a project using a piece of greyboard similar to one that Leandra made at the weekend. I loved the colours that she had chosen, sort of 'shabby French' using shades of turquoise with a white wash effect and crackle down one side. I've added some of Lin's Eclectica stamps and some metal elements to finish my project off. I've stamped the flowers onto black card, as Lin does, the effect is fabulous. She has some great samples on her blog, which you can reach on my sidebar.

I've mixed puff paint with the Grunge Paste as Leandra showed us at the weekend, the result is really great:

This would look lovely on a mirror frame or other home decor projects. The texture is really brilliant. I've then brushed lots of different colours of Treasure Gold over the raised areas.

I had some spare Grunge Paste/Puff Paint mixture left over, and just like Leandra at the show, I decided not to waste it, so I made a tag. I looked for something textural to drag through it, and found a pie slice in my utensil drawer. I'd better wash it thoroughly before I use it next time! I also stamped into a couple of areas, and then painted the whole tag. I brushed lots of Treasure Gold over the whole thing before giving it a good buff.

I added some lace, a flower and a word, not forgetting a little dragonfly coloured with TG as well.

These samples aren't rocket science, as they are along the lines of what Lin and Leandra make many times at the shows they attend. However, it's given me a chance to flex my muscles with the materials, and hopefully, I can go on to create some more bits and pieces now.

Thanks for stopping by, xx

The first cut is the deepest

Hi folks, it's a very sunny Monday here in Norfolk, I hope it's the same wherever you are.
I have another Birthday card to show you today, that I made for a very special friend of mine recently. I've not had much time for crafting lately, and wanted to make something extra special for her. Time unfortunately was against me, but I found a lovely blog recently and the blogger, Paulien had made a beautiful tag which I thought was so pretty. I decided to use the same technique to create a background for my friend's card. You can see a how to on this lady's blog, it's really straightforward.
I decided against making some of the lovely organza flowers, as she has had some of those from me before. I got out my Paper Artsy Thordon Hall paper pack, and decided to use some papers from there to make some flowers.
Now I am a paper hoarder, I buy pretty papers, and I don't use them, it pained me greatly to use these lovely papers, to make that first cut into the new pack. Does anyone else suffer with this problem? I am terrible! Once I got started, I was okay, I used several sheets, and I was fine!
I used three of the Paper Artsy dies to cut out the flower shapes, scrunched them, and fixed them together with brads, before colouring the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Inks. I used a Paper Artsy sentiment stamped onto a background coloured with Fresco Finish paints. I distressed the edges of this, and again coloured it with Vintage Photo DI. The leaves have been stamped onto the same green card as the sentiment, and these are Paper Artsy stamps too.

Don't forget to pop over to Paulien's blog to look at the lovely things that she makes, she is a very talented lady. I'll be back tomorrow hopefully, with some more projects, thanks for stopping by, Judith xx

Forgotten Friday 12- Monarch Tag

Hi folks, well it's Friday, so it's time for my Forgotten Friday post again. How quickly did this week go? I had a lovely time on Saturday at Alexandra Palace, meeting my  CSQ friends at the Big Stamp and Scrapbooking Show. I also got to meet some of the Chocolate Baroque Guild members too, whose names I know, but I had never met in person before. It was lovely to meet you girls. It is always a big treat to meet up with Jo, Lesley and Elaine, who I rarely see. We talk all of the time, but this was a great opportunity to catch up face to face. We also managed to fit some time in spending money on crafting goodies too!

My craft room is full to the brim already, but there is always something new coming along that is a 'must have'. Don't you know that feeling? Fridays are a great chance for me to use something that has been lurking unused for a while, and has been neglected, because I've been using my new stuff. This week, I've chosen too use a little bit of both again, some new, some old. I have used a beautiful Monarch Butterfly stamp that I have had for many years, I don't know when I bought it. It doesn't even have a makers name, but I think I bought it from Creative Expressions. I've also used an unused stamp from Stampendous, 'Wishes take flight', I can't believe I haven't used this, considering my love of butterflies! My new items are a large Cling stamp, again from Stampendous of a Dahlia, it's gorgeous! and some of the new Fresco Finish paints from Paper Artsy. I raided my paper stash for a piece of paper from Basic Grey to finish the tag, adding some organza ribbon at the top.

I hope some of you will find time to join in with me this week. Have a look through your forgotten stash, make a project, and leave a comment for me. I'll pop over to your blog to take a look. You've got a week, see what you can come up with! Thanks for stopping by, Judith xx