Creative Artiste #56 December 2019

Christmas prep is coming along nicely with most food, presents and cards sorted, so, I'm giving myself the weekend off to attend a Tracy Evans workshop in Lincolnshire organised by Art Workshops. But, before I pack up and go ....

....Welcome to my December challenge 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 the challenge in November. Your projects were all fabulous and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"

This is one of those projects that I've wanted to do for ages but never got around to.... until now!
It's an altered book based on another of Finnabair's projects. Anna calls it "Rusty Heart".

I started by hollowing out an old hardback book with a craft knife. I used an Aall & Create stencil with texture paste around the edges. After painting Prima's Flaming Heart in black acrylic I gave it a coat of DecoArt crackle paste.

I added small random black splashes, crackle paste and some DecoArt Quinacridone Gold fluid acrylic on the inside front cover. I painted the hollowed side with white gesso before adding cheesecloth and Prima Artstones.

I glued the pages of the book together and painted the sides with Quin Gold and crackle paste.

I painted the hollowed section with DecoArt Prussian Blue Hue fluid acrylic and added Quin Gold to the heart and base and sides.

The next step was to add some random text and clock stamping and drips of DecoArt's Payne's Grey. The Fleur de Lys was cut with a Sizzix Bigz die from thick card and painted with Payne's Grey and Quin Gold.

On the outside of the book I added some texture paste, metal and clay embellishments and cheesecloth. Everything was painted with black gesso.

Lastly I used DecoArt Americana acrylics and Prima's Patina Effect Pastes to create an old rusty look to the book covers.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our 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 our December challenge.

 Have a fun weekend with whatever you've got planned. I'm looking forward to the Tracy Evans workshop. If I don't see you again before the end of the year:
 Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Crafts Galore Encore December 2019

The long awaited month of December is finally here and children, big and small, are getting excited for Christmas. Me, I'm rushing around trying to get everything done so I can relax next weekend at an Art Workshops class with the fabulous Tracy Evans. After that I will panic buy all those things I've forgotten to get to make the big day a success. But, before that ....

.... There's a new challenge at  

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with November's challenge. The winners have been announced on the challenge blog. This is a month long challenge and you can enter up to three times. There is a full list of rules on the challenge blog.

Our theme every month is the popular
"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor this month is:

Gecko Galz
who are offering a $25 voucher for their store to our lucky winner.

Seeing as it's nearly Christmas I have made some festive cards. Here are six of them. They are all on 8"x 4" (20cm x 10cm) card bases.

The design team was very fortunate to get to choose a set of papers and a set of toppers from our generous sponsor. I chose the lovely Merry and Bright digital paper pack which is full of gorgeous vintage papers in rich festive colours.

The delightful images are all from the Happy Holidays digital collage sheet. There are nine fabulous vintage images and a sentiment to instantly download and play with.

I matted and layered all the papers and images onto card that I had distressed and coloured with inks. I added strips of lace, die-cuts, MDF sentiments, threads and gems. They were fun to make.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the fabulous projects and cards created by our talented design team using Gecko Galz papers and images. Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the December challenge.

I have entered this card selection in the following challenges:
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/12/ltccb-41-december-anything-goes.html
https://merrylittlechristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2019/12/mlccb-17-december-anything-christmas.html
https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2019/12/morgans-artworld-challenge-12.html x

Creative Artiste #55 November 2019

This is my second post for today, please scroll down for my  Crafts Galore Encore post.

....Welcome to my November challenge 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 the challenge in October. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"

This altered box is based on a Finnabair project. Anna calls it a "Galaxy Box". It features on her blog and in a Facebook Live video. A wonderful friend sent me a Graphic 45 ATC Book Box as a present and I couldn't wait to alter it following Anna's inspiration.

I started by giving the box a coat of black gesso, inside and out. Next, I used a bubble stencil with texture paste over the top and sides.

Once that was dry I fixed some Steampunk embellishments, random jewels and Artstones on the top and painted everything with black gesso.

Then I got out my Prima Finnabair Art Alchemy Metallique paints and sprayed them with plenty of water to move the paint around. I coloured the sides too. I added touches of Prima Finnabair Art Alchemy Metallique Waxes and splashes of white paint.

I created an insert for the box too. The background was done the same way as the outside and I used a couple of Olga Heldwein's Aall & Create stamps to go with the "Galaxy" theme. Some white splashes on the inside box flaps finished it off nicely.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our 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 our November challenge.

 Have a fun weekend with whatever you've got planned. I'm hopefully going to relax.

I've entered this project in the following challenges:
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/11/ltccb-40-november-anything-goes.html winner
https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/11/miucb-31-anything-goes-watercoloring.html x
https://bleedingartchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/10/october-challenge-anything-goes.html x

Crafts Galore Encore November 2019

It's been a busy few weeks for me with demos, visiting relatives, school holidays and travelling to see family. I have managed to find some time to do some crafting and have two blog posts today to prove it. Here is the first one ....

.... There's a new challenge at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

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

We are having a DT call this month! Come and join our lovely team! All the info is on the Crafts Galore Encore Blog.

Our theme every month is the popular
"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor this month is:

Beccy's Place
who is offering a generous $10 AU gift voucher for her store.

I have made a cute New Home card to show today.
I could have made the sentiment "Congratulations! You're Expecting!" but I don't know anyone who is so I chose to make it a New Home card as the bird looks so cosy.

This is a simple design on a 6"x 6" card base with a matted layer created with Salty Ocean DI to which I attached the image topper.

Beccy very generously offered the DT images to work with and I chose this adorable little bird. She is called Lady in Waiting from the Feathered Nest set. I printed the image and sentiment together and coloured the nesting bird with my Copics. I lightly coloured the background with watercolours.

I painted some card with watercolours and die cut some simple flowers and leaves to match the image. I added coloured Artstones to the centres.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the fabulous projects and cards created by our talented team using Beccy's Place images. Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in the November challenge.
Don't forget the DT call!
And, check out my Creative Artiste post above.

I have entered this card in the following challenges:
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/11/ltccb-40-november-anything-goes.html x
https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/11/miucb-31-anything-goes-watercoloring.html x
https://classicdesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/11/classic-dt-open-challenge-november.html x
http://craftyanimals.blogspot.com/2019/11/challenge-32.html x
http://2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com/2019/11/november-challenge-sponsored-by-paper.html x

Creative Artiste #54 October 2019

It's been a busy week here and it will be a busy weekend too. I'm demoing the new Christmas collections from Docrafts in Cwmdu, Swansea and getting ready to celebrate our youngest grandson's birthday. Lots of present wrapping to do!
But first ....

....Welcome to my October challenge 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 the challenge in September. Your projects were all fabulous and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"

I attended an Olga Heldwein workshop run by Art Workshops a couple of months ago. I had a fabulous time, made four projects and learned many new techniques. This is the first of the projects I did.

The mount board base is 16.5"x 6" (42 x 15 cm). We used chipboard elements from SnipArt and mounted them up in layers to create dimension.

The figurine head is Marjani from Powertex and we used Prima's Art ExtraVagance Sculpture Medium with cotton fabrics to hold her in place and create the folds.

I used white gesso over everything first, then neutral coloured inks and water to accentuate the shadows and elements. I finished by slightly darkening the edges in grey.

The class was four hours and we used hot air tools during the process to help set the fabric but it was all completely dry and hardened within a couple of days.
Olga is a brilliant, fun and inspirational teacher and this was another amazing class from Art Workshops. I'm looking forward to my next one, with Tracy Evans, in December.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our 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 our October challenge.

 Have a fun weekend with whatever you've got planned.

I've entered this project in the following challenges:
https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/10/miucb-30-anything-goes-open-technique.html

Crafts Galore Encore October 2019

October already! I'm not sure where this year has gone, it seems to have flown by. This is going to be another busy month with birthdays, card demonstrations and a fun (child free!) weekend away. 

But first ....

.... There's a new challenge at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

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

Our theme every month is the popular
"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor this month is:

Limited Runs
who are offering 3 digi images to our lucky winner.

I have made a Sympathy card to show today.

As the card is for a sombre occasion I wanted to keep it as simple as possible.
The card base is 8"x 4" (20 x 10 cm) and I cut a black mat for it.

I added the sentiment on the computer before printing the Lilies image. I coloured the flowers with Copics.

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

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

Creative Artiste #53 September 2019

I survived the six week challenge! Yay!! Six weeks is a long time to occupy a small person but we coped and I even found some time to be creative. So ....

....Welcome to my September challenge 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 #52 in August. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"

I have a present I made for my daughter's birthday to show today. She loves miniatures and it looks lovely on her dresser.

The kits for the bookcase and books are from Tando Creative. The bookcase measures roughly 8"x 8" (20cm x 20cm).

I started by assembling the bookcase and painting it with a few DecoArt brown acrylic paints. Once dry, I used Black Soot Distress Ink through a Tim Holtz stencil to create the wood pattern. I used Pebeo's gilding wax to finish the edges.

Some of the books have a bendable spine and the smaller ones need to be glued together. Once the books were put together I painted them all with varying shades of DecoArt's brown acrylics and glued papers from my stash onto them.

I used small, random stamps on the book covers, smudged Vintage Photo Distress Ink around the edges and added touches of gold Pebeo gilding wax.
The book pages were all papers I stamped with text stamps and cut to size. I glued the pages in place and inked the edges.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our 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 our September challenge.

I've entered this project in the following challenges:
https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/09/miucb-29-anything-goes-3-d-project.html Winner
http://welove2create.blogspot.com/2019/09/challenge-9-anything-goes-mixed-media.html x
http://moremixedmediachallenge.blogspot.com/2019/09/more-mixed-media-challenge-anything.html Top 5
https://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/09/ltscb-125-anything-goes.html x

Crafts Galore Encore September 2019

Only two more days to go until the schools start back here. We are all looking forward to that. It's been a busy summer with plenty of activities, day trips, family visitors, a short holiday and a little girl's 6th birthday! We are all ready for a return to routine, but, first ....

.... There's a new challenge at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

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

Our theme every month is the popular
"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor this month is:

Fabrika Fantasy
who are offering our lucky winner 3 digi images.

As postage costs for dimensional cards can be expensive I've been practicing keeping my cards simple. With a craft room full of embellishments, that does not come naturally, but, I have managed to make a 6"x 6" (15cm x 15cm) CAS card to show you today.

I started by using Spiced Marmalade Distress Oxide Ink with a sponge to colour the front of a card blank. I used Black Soot Distress Ink to shadow the edges.

I chose Fabrika Fantasy's cute Little Witch image to work with and coloured her with my Copics. I die cut the image, edged it with Shaded Lilac DI and glued it to the card.

The sentiment was computer generated, cut out and coloured with Spiced Marmalade DOX. I used foam pads to fix it to the topper. The card was finished with little purple pearls.

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

I have entered this card in the following challenges:
https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2019/09/a-perfect-time-to-craft-challenge-for.html DT Fav
http://abitmoretimetocraft.blogspot.com/2019/09/a-bit-more-time-to-craft-challenge-99.html x
http://yourscrapbookplace.blogspot.com/2019/09/ysbp-september-2019-challenge.html Top Three
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/09/ltccb-38-september-anything-goes.html x
https://lovetoscrapchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/09/ltscb-125-anything-goes.html x

Creative Artiste #52 August 2019

Two weeks of the summer holidays gone already and we are surviving. Yay! We still have a mini break, family coming to visit and a birthday for our special little girl to look forward to. Now all I need is to find some crafty time for myself. Meanwhile ...

...Welcome to my August challenge 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 #51 in July. Your projects were all fabulous and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"

I have a 12"x 9" (30 x 23 cm) canvas to show today.

I started by applying texture paste through a stencil by Marta from Maremi Small Art around the edges of the canvas. Once dry I covered it with a layer of black gesso.

I added splatters with a gold and a white Posca pens.

I then applied Pebeo Empire Gold gilding wax to the raised texture paste and the edges of the canvas.

I brayered acrylic paints onto watercolour card and die cut circles which I then stamped using a PaperArtsy Eclectica stamp set by Tracy Scott.

I again used my gold and white Posca pens to add details to the circles before mounting them all up on the canvas using foam pads for dimension.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our 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 our August challenge.

I've entered this project in the following challenges:
http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.com/2019/08/august-2019-texture.html
http://welove2create.blogspot.com/2019/07/challenge-8-anything-goes-mixed-media.html x
https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2019/08/ltccb-37-august-anything-goes.html x
https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/08/miucb-28-anything-goes-triple-time.html x

Crafts Galore Encore August 2019

The school summer holidays are here and our daily routine has flown out of the window. I've been away on a weekend of craft workshops, us 'girls' have a little holiday to look forward to and family are coming to visit. We have lots of fun things planned so, hopefully, the six weeks will fly by.
Meanwhile ....
.... There's a new challenge at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

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

Our theme every month is the popular

"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor this month is:

Fred She Said Designs

who are offering a $10 store voucher for the lucky winner.

I have an 8"x 8" (20 x 20 cm) card to show today. A certain young lady, who has a birthday coming up, has requested it as one of her birthday cards, ha ha.

The card base was layered with some blue card and then matted with a pretty paper from LOTV's Promises collection.

The next layer is another sheet from the same pad which I cut to create two wide borders. I inked the edges in Dusty Concord DI and mounted them with foam pads for dimension. I stuck gems on the flowers and printed a generic sentiment.

I chose this delightful image to work with as she looks like our little girl. It's called Emma in her Cool Cap.  I printed it out four times and coloured them with my Copics before cutting Emma into decoupage layers and mounting her up with foam pads.
I finished the card with a little turquoise bow.

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

I hope you all have a lovely summer and manage to find some crafty time for yourselves.

I have entered this card in the following challenges:
http://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.com/2019/08/challenge-62-august-2019-anything-goes.html
https://craftingwithanattitude.blogspot.com/2019/08/challenge-54.html
http://yourscrapbookplace.blogspot.com/2019/08/its-time-for-august-challenge-at-ysbp.html x

Creative Artiste #51 July 2019

I'm still busy with weekly demos and teaching and looking forward to the summer break in a few weeks - just in time for the school summer holidays! I hope we all get to enjoy some lovely sunny weather. 
First, some crafty business ...

...Welcome to my July challenge 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 #50 in June. Your projects were all fabulous and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"

I have a project I made for the class I teach to show today.

This is a journal made with an Eileen Hull die from Sizzix. I cut the panels out of greyboard and gave the front one a coat of black gesso.

I built up the arrangement using paper straws to give dimension to the random elements. Most of the embellishments are made with paper clay and moulds. Once the embellishments were in place I added Prima Art Stones to the gaps and gave everything a coat of black gesso.

I dabbed Prima's Art Alchemy Acrylic paints Metallic Crocus Fields and Metallic Emerald Green on the cover and used plenty of water to move the paint around. Once dried I did the same with Prima's Art Alchemy Metallic Rustic Brown.

For the back cover I used DecoArt Crackle Paste through a stencil. Once dry I repeated the same paint techniques as on the front. I finished both panels with touches of Prima's Art Alchemy waxes for extra shine.

Once both pieces were painted, dried and waxed I joined them together and threaded them with black elastic for the signatures. I finished the ends off with some beads.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our 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 our July challenge.

I'm demoing some gorgeous Docrafts products at The Range in Carmarthen tomorrow (Saturday 6th) from 10am til 4pm. Join me if you're in the area, and have a great weekend if you're not!

I've entered this project in the following challenges:

Crafts Galore Encore July 2019

This year is spinning past so quickly. I can't believe we are over halfway already. It will soon be the school summer holidays and a year since we've had our gorgeous little girl living with us. What a difference to all our lives!
But, before the holidays, there's a bit of business ....

.... There's new challenge at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

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

Our theme every month is the popular

"Anything Goes"
and our sponsor this month is:

Polkadoodles

I have made a birthday card for a boy to show today.

The card is 8"x 8" (20 cms x 20 cms). I coloured the background with Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink. The two papers came with the image and I changed the colours in a graphics program and cut them into angular shapes. They are edged with Chipped Sapphire DI.

The Polkadoodles image is called Gamer Little Dude. I coloured him with Copics and cut the image out in an angular shape.

The image comes with three papers and some sentiments. I chose this one and coloured it with Chipped Sapphire DI. The musical notes are from an old Crealies die set.

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