Creative Artiste #43 October 2018

After spending the month of September doing card demos I managed to find some time for messy crafting, yay! So...

... Welcome to my September post for

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered Challenge #42 in September. Your projects were all fabulous and our winner has been announced on the blog.
Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"

This month we are sponsored by the lovely

Scrapmatts & Papertole Australia

Today I have a tag to show you. I've broken out of my blue phase as you can see.

The base is a 7"x 4" (18cm x 10cm) greyboard tag from Tando Creative. I gave it a coat of gesso to start with, then a wash of DecoArt Americana Light Buttermilk acrylic paint. I added some splodges (technical term) of DecoArt Americana Dark Chocolate acrylic paint and watered them down and mopped them up to create a mottled effect. I dabbed Dark Chocolate around the tag edges.

I made up some texture paste with DecoArt Americana Baby Pink acrylic paint and passed it through Scrapmatts Plus Sign stencil randomly over the tag. I then used Carabelle's "Un regard sur mon histoire" stamp over the tag and added some cheesecloth scraps. I splashed some paint over the tag to finish the base.

I started building up layers by taking some pieces of Scrapmatts Chipboard Sticks and covering them with DecoArt Americana Bahama Blue acrylic paint. I added DecoArt Crackle Paste and once dry dabbed the Dark Chocolate paint and water over the crackle. I added them to the tag.

I had an old bag of various Kaiserkraft ephemera and picked out some of the bits to use. I scruffed the edges, stamped onto them and and dabbed the watered acrylics on them. I splashed some of the watered paint over them and mounted them onto the tag with gel medium.

I took two of the words from Scrapmatts Assorted Words set and dabbed them with the Dark Chocolate acrylic paint and heat dried them. I repeated the process until I was happy with the textured look. After fixing the words in place I finished the tag with some Prima Artstones, paint and gel medium.

Now it's your turn to create your mixed media projects and enter the challenge up to three times. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the wonderful mixed media projects created by our talented team.  Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in the challenge.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

I've entered this tag into the following challenges:

http://welove2create.blogspot.com/2018/09/challenge-13-anything-creativemixed.html
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2018/10/ltccb-27-october-anything-goes.html
https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2018/10/miucb-18-anything-goes-monochrome.html
http://moremixedmediachallenge.blogspot.com/2018/10/more-mixed-media-challenge-anything.html
http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com/2018/10/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge-77.html
http://alteredeclectics.blogspot.com/2018/10/october-challenge-and-apologies.html

Crafts Galore Encore October 2018

Firstly, Thank you to everyone who offered kind words and support following our wonderful news that I reported last month.  New routines and relationships are still being adjusted to but, on the whole, settling in is going very well for our new family unit.

Secondly, I apologise for my continued lack of presence on social media. Hopefully I will soon learn to structure my time better. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Now, on to today's business:

Welcome to my September post for

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with September's challenge. The winners are on the challenge blog's 'winner's page'. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. A full list of rules are on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular

"Anything Goes"

and our sponsor this month is:

Limited Runs Stamps

who are offering three free digi images to the winner.

Seeing as October is generally regarded as a spooky month I decided to make a Halloween card.

For the background I matted and layered plain black and pearlescent purple card. I then wrapped some gorgeous black lace around them and fixed them to a homemade card blank.

The DT were lucky enough to be allowed to choose an image from the store. I chose Haunted House #1. I coloured the image with my Copics using a die-cut circle to create a void for the moon. I trimmed and mounted the image onto black card.

Before printing the image I added the sentiment to the page.

The spooky embellishments were plastic items in a Halloween themed bag. I added some touches of red with nail polish. The card was finished off with some purple half pearls.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can meet our new Design Team members and see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team. Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the October challenge.

I know a little girl who is excited to dress up as a fairy and wish everyone a
Happy Halloween!!

I have entered this project in the following challenges:
https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2018/10/morgans-artworld-open-challenge-10-1st.html
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2018/10/ltccb-27-october-anything-goes.html
https://fabrikafantasydigis.blogspot.com/2018/10/25-halloween.html
http://creativewithstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2018/10/cws-31-halloween-or-leaves.html
https://classicdesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/2018/10/classic-design-team-open-challenge.html

Creative Artiste #42 September 2018

Thank you for all the lovely comments on our new family situation. We've all had a good week with back to work and a new school to cope with. It's eighteen years since I had to take a child to her first day of school but it all went very well. We are going out for a celebration meal later today. In the meantime ....

... Welcome to my September post for

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered Challenge #41 in August. Your projects were all fabulous and our winner has been announced on the blog. 

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"

This month we are sponsored by the fabulous

WoW!

Today I have an 8" (20cm) canvas to show you. You can see I'm obviously still in my blue phase.

I started by spraying the canvas with a couple of different shades of blue - Pastel Blue and Pastel Cobalt - from 13arts.

I used texture paste through the 13arts stencil Bubbles, designed by Marta Lapkowska, and once dry I carefully repositioned the stencil and added Versamark. I then sprinkled on Clear Sparkle Embossing Glitter from Wow! and carefully heated it. It gives a fabulously glittery finish.

I die cut the circles from thick greyboard and layered some of them up for different thicknesses. I then painted them with dark blue acrylic paint.

I gave them all a coating of DecoArt crackle paste and left them to dry.

I again used my 13arts blue sprays but this time applied them with a brush and water to areas of the circles.

Once dry, I applied Versamark and Clear Gloss Embossing Powder all over the circles and gently heated and repeated until I had a thick glossy shine to my circles.

I fixed the circles to the canvas with Soft Matt Gel, superimposing several of them. I've called this canvas 'Bubble Blues'.

Now it's your turn to create your mixed media projects and enter the challenge up to three times. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the wonderful mixed media projects created by our talented team.  Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in the challenge.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

I've entered this canvas into the following challenges:

http://craftingwithanattitude.blogspot.com/2018/09/challenge-43.html
http://alteredeclectics.blogspot.com/2018/09/september-challenge.html x
http://rheddscreativespirit.blogspot.com/2018/09/september-challenge.html x
http://moremixedmediachallenge.blogspot.com/2018/09/more-mixed-media-challenge-anything.html
http://eclecticellapu.blogspot.com/2018/09/september-challenge.html x
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/ltccb-26-september-anything-goes.html

Crafts Galore Encore September 2018

A brief personal update before I get down to today's business: 

The court hearing that I attended at the beginning of August resulted in the excellent news that my husband and I have been awarded Special Guardianship of our five year old granddaughter. To be honest, this is not quite what we had planned for our retirement years but it is already bringing some much needed joy to our family. Our little blonde bombshell arrived just in time to celebrate her fifth birthday and nearly every minute now is spent settling her in to her new home and life with us. I do apologise that my crafting and commenting duties are still suffering but I'm sure you'll all agree as to where my priorities currently lie.

Now on to crafty business ....

Welcome to my September post for

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with August's challenge. The winners are on the challenge blog's 'winner's page'. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. A full list of rules are on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular

"Anything Goes"

and our sponsor this month is:

Fabrika Fantasy
The lucky winner will get three digi images of their choice.

I had to make a birthday card for our very special little girl and I used this darling image to make an 8"x 8" (20cm x 20cm) scalloped card.

I inked the edges of the scalloped card base with Spun Sugar Distress Ink. Then I used Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide on watercolour card to create the background layer.

This adorable digi image from Fabrika Fantasy is called Cute Zebra 1 and comes in a pre-coloured version or black outline. The coloured version is so cute I decided to use that. I shrunk the image and made a border with five zebras on the computer.

The border, image and text were all printed onto a piece of white card. I also printed the Cute Zebra 1 digi twice more to cut out and decoupage. All the bubbles were dusted with glitter.

I used the Worn Lipstick DO to dye a length of seam binding to create the bow and a strip across the card before attaching the layers.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team. Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the September challenge.

I have entered this project in the following challenges:
http://alohafridaychallenges.blogspot.com/2018/08/126-anything-goes-woptional-twist.html Top Pick
http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com/2018/09/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge-75.html x
http://createsandmakes.blogspot.com/2018/08/challenge-24.html
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/ltccb-26-september-anything-goes.html
http://ribbongirls.blogspot.com/2018/09/september-anything-goes-challenge.html x

Creative Artiste #41 August 2018

Happy Friday everyone. I'm on my travels again and keeping my fingers crossed for a good outcome today. Hopefully, one way or another, we will know what the future holds. But first there is something else going on today, so ...

... Welcome to my August post for

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered Challenge #40 in July. Your projects were all fabulous and our winner has been announced on the blog. 

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"

This month we are sponsored by the fabulous

Samantha K Gifts

who are offering this lovely prize to our lucky winner.


This month I have decorated an 8" (20cm) embroidery hoop to make a wall hanging.

The hoop is an old wooden one I've had for years that deserved a new lease of life. I started by painting the hoop and my MDF pieces with black gesso. Once dry I used white gesso and DecoArt crackle paste to create texture.

 I cut a circle of heat resistant acetate and attached it to the back of the hoop. I built up a support layer with a strip of silky fabric, some thick netting and cheesecloth and stretched them tightly over the hoop frame. I then added the 'bubbles' to the background and foreground which  are Circle Cluster B and Circle Cluster C from Samantha K Gifts.

I fixed shells, glass beads, pearls and a seahorse to the structure with my glue gun. I added clusters of Prima Artstones and gave it all a coat of white gesso.

Next was the fun part of painting everything. I used gorgeous Prima Art Alchemy Metallique acrylic paints in Emerald Green, Crocus Fields, Mermaid Teal, Light Patina and Vintage Rose.

For the finishing touch I added little highlights of Prima's Art Alchemy Metallique waxes.

Now it's your turn to create your mixed media projects and enter the challenge up to three times. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the wonderful mixed media projects created by our talented team.  Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in the challenge.
Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Find Prima products in the UK at Artist Trading Post.

I've entered this project into the following challenges:

https://rheddscreativespirit.blogspot.com/2018/08/august-challenge.html x
http://alteredeclectics.blogspot.com/2018/08/august-challenge.html x
http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.com/2018/08/august-2018-sun-sea-and-sand.html
https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2018/08/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html Spotlight
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2018/08/ltccb-25-august-anything-goes.html Top Pick
https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2018/08/miucb-16-anything-goes-acrylic-block.html x

Crafts Galore Encore August 2018

July ended in a bit of a washout in the UK but it's not like the land didn't need some rain. Hopefully the sunny skies will be back for some more lovely summer weather.

On the home front we are slowly making progress, thank you for your good wishes. The four legged family member is recovering well and meetings and hearings are scheduled over the next couple of weeks. Lots more travelling for August but things should start to fall into place soon, hopefully.

In the meantime ...

Welcome to my August post for

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with July's challenge. The winners are on the challenge blog's 'winner's page'. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. A full list of rules are on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular

"Anything Goes"

Our sponsor this month is:

Fred She Said

who are generously offering a $10 voucher for their digi store to our lucky winner.

I made a 6" (15cm) Double Gate Fold card with a difference.

I started with a normal Double Gate Fold card but turned it around and decorated the back. I didn't want to hide the lovely image inside a card.

I made the paper by sprinkling Brushos onto watercolour card and spritzing with water. I then cut it into three panels to fit the gate fold leaving a white border.  

The Fred She Said image I chose to work with is the gorgeous Corner Rose. I printed it off five times and coloured it with my Copics. I then cut out layers to decoupage the rose and mounted the layers on foam pads for dimension.

I finished with a computer generated sentiment cut into a banner.

Please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team. Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the August challenge.

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com/2018/08/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge-73.html

http://craftingwithanattitude.blogspot.com/2018/08/challenge-42.html

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2018/08/ltccb-25-august-anything-goes.html

http://createsandmakes.blogspot.com/2018/07/challenge-23.html

Creative Artiste #40 July 2018

Well, never a dull moment for us. On top of all the family strife we now have a pet problem that needs sorting, so, I'm on my travels again. I'm hoping for a swift veterinary solution and wonderful weekend in the British sunshine visiting with lovely family and friends. Crafting will be resumed later next week.
In the meantime ...

... Welcome to my July post for

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered Challenge #39 in June. Your projects were all fabulous and our winner has been announced on the blog. 

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"

This month we are sponsored by the fabulous

Tando Creative
who are offering a prize of a 30% discount on Tando products in their online store.

I have decorated a Tando greyboard tag.

I started by gluing the diamond cut outs from a Diamond Grid to the tag then I
gessoed all the greyboard pieces including the butterflies. I then added washes of Prussian Blue Hue and Green Gold Media Fluid Acrylics from DecoArt until I was happy.

I edged the tag with a wash of Quinacridone Gold Media Fluid Acrylic and added some splashes to the tag and diamonds.

The butterflies are from a Tando Butterfly Grab Bag and the cogs, washers and bolts are from Tando's Andy Skinner Industrial Elements pack. I added the cogs etc to the large butterfly before painting them all with washes of DecoArt's Media Fluid Acrylics in Cobalt Teal Hue, Green Gold and Quin Gold .

This challenge runs until the 29th of July so you have time to create your mixed media projects and enter up to three times. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the wonderful mixed media projects created by our talented team.  Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in the challenge.

I hope you have something fun and crafty planned for your weekend. Enjoy!

Crafts Galore Encore July 2018

Summer has definitely arrived in Britain with lots of glorious sunshine. I have even managed to enjoy some of it in between my almost weekly travels across two countries trying to deal with family issues. At least I've found time for a bit of crafting, so ....

Welcome to my July post for

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with June's challenge. The winners are on the challenge blog's 'winner's page'. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. A full list of rules are on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular

"Anything Goes"

Our sponsor this month is:

Beccy's Place

I've made a 6"x 6" card.

I started by matting and layering a Papermania wood effect paper onto Kraft card and fixing to a card blank.

The Design Team was generously offered a choice of images from Beccy's Place and I chose this Old Mailbox digi image and coloured it with my Copics. I then trimmed and mounted it on Kraft card.

I deconstructed a Papermania envelope in a wood effect pattern and fixed to Kraft card with a stamped sentiment from Dovecraft. I finished with some thin cord and the envelope fastener.

 Please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team. Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the May challenge.

I have entered this project in the following challenges:
https://crafty-girls-creations.blogspot.com/2018/07/challenge-49.html
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2018/07/ltccb-24-july-anything-goes.html x
http://beccysplace.blogspot.com/2018/07/july-challenge-photo-inspiration.html x

Creative Artiste #39 June 2018

Welcome to my June post for

Creative Artiste

This is my second blog post for today. To see my DT card for Cards Galore Encore please scroll down.
Creative Artiste is a challenge blog for everyone who likes to mix their media. So, as long as you like to use various mediums on your creations we'd love to see you enter the challenge.

A big Thank You to everyone who entered Challenge #38 in May. Your projects were all wonderful and our winner has been announced on the blog. 

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"

This month we are sponsored by the fabulous
DecoArt

who are offering another brilliant prize.

I have made a wall plaque from an old cardboard box lid.

I started by giving it a coat of DecoArt Media Black Gesso. Once dry I painted it with a coat of DecoArt Media White Tinting Base and when that was dry I sanded back areas and the edges to reveal some of the black layer.

I stamped all over with Andy Skinner's crackle stamp from his Toxic set in black Archival then gave a wash with DecoArt Prussian Blue Hue. Lastly, I dry brushed with white gesso to give a lighter and patchy effect similar to a faded old piece of wood.

The flowers were die-cut from wet wipes coloured with DecoArt's Hansa Yellow Light and Diarylide Yellow Media Fluid Acrylics. They were then blasted quickly with my heat gun to shape them.
Seam binding ribbon was coloured with the two yellows and Green Gold Media Fluid Acrylic before being tied in a bow.

The stone effect flourishes were created with white DAS clay and Prima's IOD Large Flourish Moulds. Once dry I gave them a wash of DecoArt's Media Fluid Acrylic in Payne's Grey. I love how it shows all the little cracks in the clay and makes them look like old stonework.

This challenge runs until the 1st of July so you have time to create your mixed media projects and enter up to three times. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the wonderful mixed media projects created by our talented team.  Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in the challenge.

I hope you have something fun planned for your weekend. I'm hoping for a quiet one at home for a change.

I've entered this project into the following challenges:

http://alteredeclectics.blogspot.com/2018/06/june-challenge-is-here.html
http://welove2create.blogspot.com/2018/05/challenge-8-anything-creativemixed.html x
http://eclecticellapu.blogspot.com/2018/06/its-june-and-anything-goes.html

Crafts Galore Encore June 2018

Welcome to my June post for

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with May's challenge. The winners are on the challenge blog's 'winner's page'. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. A full list of rules are on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular

"Anything Goes"

Our sponsor this month is:

Sparkle N Sprinkle 
who are offering a $15 voucher for their store.

I have made an 8"x 8" card to show you using some hot Summer colours.

I started by colouring two pieces of watercolour card and a strip of seam binding using Distress Oxides and water in Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick and Squeezed Lemonade.

Once dried I printed the dresses from the Dress Up set a few times each and cut them out. I removed some of the details to leave just the dresses.
I used Posca pens to add some extra colour to the dresses.

The sentiment is one of two that are included in the Dress Up set and was printed at the same time as the dresses.

I wrapped the seam binding around the card and matted it onto black cardstock before fixing onto a card blank. I arranged the dresses and stuck them to the card with foam pads.
To finish I added a thin black bow to a seam binding bow and fixed them to the card.

Please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team. Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the May challenge.

I have entered this project in the following challenges:
https://simplypapercraftsforalloccassions.blogspot.com/2018/05/challenge-58.html x
http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2018/06/challenge-279-wedding-or-party.html x
https://crafty-girls-creations.blogspot.com/2018/06/challenge-48.html x
http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge-69.html x
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2018/06/ltccb-23-june-anything-goes.html x