Creative Artiste #89 December 2022

 ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly 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 last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I'm a firm believer in recycling and I'm not keen on single use plastics, so, I wanted to do something with the bowl a take away salad came in. I turned it into a snack dish to use for all those naughty nibbles we like too much at Christmas. 

The first thing I did was to use a DecoArt gold acrylic paint through an Aall & Create stencil around the bowl on the outside. I also painted under the rim too.

Next, I coloured some white tissue paper with red DecoArt Media Mister. Once dry, I tore the tissue into strips and glued it around the outside of the bowl with PVA. I then used a brush to dab gold acrylic randomly around the bowl.

To finish off I painted four glass beads with the gold Acrylic and stuck them to the sides of the bowl with some green beads.

Now I have a dish in my favourite Christmas colours of red, green and gold. It will get plenty of use over the festive period, and maybe beyond.

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

December challenge. 

This is the last challenge of the year and Creative Artiste will be taking a well earned break in January. The crafty fun will resume on Friday February 3rd 2023.

Enjoy the festive season everyone!

I have entered this dish in the following challenges:

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/11/miucb-62-anything-goes-optional-open.html x

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2022/11/ltccb-71-anything-goes-ltccb-70-winner.html x

https://artydivaschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/11/november-challenge-and-october-winners.html x

Crafts Galore Encore December 2022

December seems to have come around very quickly this year and I feel that I'm already behind with all the preparations. The tree needs to be decorated, presents bought and wrapped and cards written and posted. And then there's the food shopping and preparation. At least there are the school and group Christmas concerts and parties to look forward to. I need to get a move on or I won't be ready in time.

Meanwhile .....

.... there is a new challenge starting today at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with last month'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:

Gekko Gals

who are generously offering $25 to spend in their Etsy store.

I have a set of Christmas cards I made for our little princess to give to her teachers and group leaders for Christmas.

The cards are all A6 size (14.5 x 10.5 cm).

All the cards feature papers from the Frozen Mini ATC sheet. I made half the set in portrait orientation and the others in landscape. They all feature more or less the same layout with a background layer and a matted band.

I matted the images from the Santa Clause Lane collage sheets onto white card.

The cards are all decorated with die-cut snowflakes, a printed sentiment and lots of glitter.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using Gekko Gals images and papers.

Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in this month's challenge.

I have entered this card set in the following challenges:

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/12/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html x

http://countryviewchallenges.blogspot.com/2022/12/december-2022-christmas.html x

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/12/classic-design-challenge-december-12.html x

http://geckogalzscrapbooking.blogspot.com/2022/12/december-challengechristmas-dreams.html WINNER

Creative Artiste #88 November 2022

Well the weathermen weren't wrong about the rain this week but they forgot to mention the 30 mile hour (50 kilometre) winds! We were very brave and had a fun outing to a local marina where we really struggled to walk straight. We rewarded ourselves with some crafty goodies, so, in the end, it was a good trip out.

But before we play with our new toys....

  ....Welcome to a new challenge at

 Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly 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 last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

This month I have an upcycled biscuit tin to show. I've gone back to my comfort zone of circles, gears, blue and brown.

I white gessoed the top of the tin and then dabbed it with a coat of white acrylic. Once dry, I added a layer of DecoArt One Step Crackle. To colour the lid I used DecoArt Fluid Acrylics Prussian Blue, Cobalt Turquoise and Cobalt Teal in an ombre effect across the tin. I used those same colours for the wooden words.

I made the resin gear elements. Some are using a clear resin which gives a lovely translucent effect when painted. They were all painted with Dark Chocolate DecoArt acrylic and Fluid Acrylic Quinacridone Gold and arranged on the tin with Prima Heavy Body Gel.

I used texture paste through a cogs and gears stencil around the base of the tin. Once dry I painted the tin with Fluid Acrylics Quin Gold and Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide and also a few touches of Dark Chocolate acrylic. 

 

I finished the base with a coat of Mod Podge Gloss Finish. I tried to create a leather look as I want the tin to have an overall masculine finish so I can gift it to my brother for Christmas.

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

November challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2022/11/ltccb-71-anything-goes-ltccb-70-winner.html x

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/11/miucb-62-anything-goes-optional-open.html x

https://mixedmedialovers.blogspot.com/2022/11/letters-challenge-19-van-mixed-media.html winner

https://artydivaschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/10/october-challenge-and-september-winners.html x

Crafts Galore Encore November 2022

 It's half term here in Wales this week and, unfortunately, the weather is of the usually predictable rainy kind. We will need to pick our activities carefully to avoid getting too wet. Fortunately we have a few ideas that don't involve umbrellas and wellies.

But first.....

.... there is a new challenge starting today at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with last month'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"

We don't actually have a sponsor this month but we do have a prize of a

£15 Etsy Gift Card

for our lucky winner.

The team was free to use any product we like to make our projects this month.

I'm choosing to showcase two commissioned birthday cards that I have recently made featuring  

images from The Paper Shelter.

The images are instant downloads and all come with a black outline digi and a coloured digi, both in Jpeg and png format. Also included is a backing frame paper and the coloured image on the backing frame paper. 

The papers for both cards are from The Gift of Giving 12"x 12" (30 x 30 cm) paper pad by Craft Consortium.

On this first card I started by colouring the edges of an 8"x 8" (20cm x 20cm) card blank with a pink Copic pen. I then layered a cheerful bunting paper onto plain lilac card. Next I added a dropped panel of balloon paper.

This card features the super cute image called Happy Birthday. I used the png black outline digi and coloured it with my Copics in colours that the little girl recipient loves.

I finished the card with the age of the little girl and a printed sentiment. Both were matted onto card coloured with a pink Copic pen.

For the second card I inked the edges of an 8"x 8" (20cm x 20cm) card blank with Picked Raspberry Distress Ink. I matted the balloon panel paper onto card edged with the Distress Ink and added a paper doily.

This adorable image is Cupcake Birthday. I again used the black outline png digi and coloured it with my Copics. I matted it onto card edged with Distress Ink.

I finished the card with a printed sentiment banner and lots of pink gems.

Both cards were commissions that have now been received. 

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see all the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using their own choice of  images.

Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in this month's challenge.

I have entered the 1st card in the following challenges:

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/11/classic-design-challenge-november-11.html DT Fav

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2022/11/morgans-artworld-challenge-11.html x

I have entered the 2nd card in the following challenges:

https://thepapershelter.blogspot.com/2022/11/challenge-532-something-yummy.html Winner

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/11/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html

https://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/10/world-wide-open-design-team-challenge-10.html x

Creative Artiste #87 October 2022

  ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly 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 last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I have upcycled an old chocolate box this month.

I started with a couple of coats of thick white gesso all over the top box piece as it was originally a dark green. I then used texture paste through a text stencil randomly over the top and sides of the top piece.

I painted the base sides with DecoArt Quinacridone Violet fluid acrylic and set it aside.

I used a frame, some flowers, a couple of butterflies and various sized beads that I'd made from resin to decorate the box lid. I stuck everything in place with more texture paste.

When it was all dry I used DecoArt fluid acrylics Primary Magenta and  Quinacridone Violet with lots of water to add colour to the elements and box lid.

Once everything was dry I then had some fun by sprinkling and heat embossing Aged Gold and Chunky Gold Frantage all over the top and sides.

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

October challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/09/miucb-61-anything-goes-optional.html x

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2022/09/ltccb-70-anything-goes-ltccb-69-winner.html Top Pick

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/10/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html x

https://mixedmedialovers.blogspot.com/2022/10/challenge-18-mixed-media-lovers.html x

https://artydivaschallenge.blogspot.com/2022/09/september-challenge-and-august-winners.html x

Crafts Galore Encore October 2022

Chilly temperatures, nights drawing in and leaves falling from trees can mean only one thing - Christmas is coming! I normally don't start my Christmas cards until November, but, this year I've already made my first card of the season! Now that I've started, I may as well get some more done.

Meanwhile .....

.... there is a new challenge starting today at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with last month'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:

All Dressed Up

who are offering two of their fabulous digi stamps to our lucky winner.

I couldn't resist an image of this cute little dog to make a cheeky Christmas card.

I made an A5 card blank and coloured the edges with a Copic pen. The pretty papers are from The Paper Boutique - A Christmas Visitor 12"x 12" card making set. All the mats are Copic coloured plain white card.

The adorable dog image is called Christmas Pooch. It's actually just the one dog but I copied and flipped the image to create the two cute dogs sharing a kiss. I coloured the dogs with my Copics.

I cut out two of the flowers from the Christmas paper set and decorated them by heat embossing some Shabby Blue Frantage.

The sentiment is also from the Christmas papers. I finished the card with some gold gems.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using All Dressed Up images.

Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in this month's challenge.

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/10/classic-design-challenge-october-10.html x

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/10/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html DT Fav

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2022/10/morgans-artworld-challenge-10.html x

https://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/09/world-wide-open-design-team-challenge-09.html x

http://craftyanimals.blogspot.com/2022/10/challenge-66.html x

https://2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com/2022/10/challenge-67-anything-goes-with.html x

Creative Artiste #86 September 2022

 There is less than a week to go before our little princess is due back in school. She is getting super excited about getting to know her new teacher and being reunited with all her classmates and sharing stories of their summer holidays.

But before that....

 ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly 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 last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I finally got around to making a project I've wanted to do for ages. I decorated a paintbrush.

This is a 3" (7.5 cm) new paintbrush with a wooden handle and nylon bristles. It's length measures 10" (25 cm).

I started by wrapping a  length of thin lace around the brush and gluing  in place. I gessoed the brush, extending the white gesso onto the lace and bristles. 

I built up the composition with various resin pieces I'd made with mostly Prima moulds. I stuck them all in place with Heavy Body Gel to hold them securely in place. Then gave them a coat of white gesso.

I then layered different blue acrylic paints over the brush and resins starting with a light blue all over and gradually going darker in the deeper areas. I used water in some areas to get the paint to flow into all the crevices.

Once the paints were dry I dry brushed gold acrylic paint all over to finish.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.

Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 

September challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2022/09/ltccb-70-anything-goes-ltccb-69-winner.html x

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/09/miucb-61-anything-goes-optional.html x

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/09/classic-design-challenge-september-9.html x

Crafts Galore Encore September 2022

Well, August exceeded all expectations with a wonderful week meeting and spending time with my lovely friend and her fabulous family. I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity for us to meet in person and the wonderful memories will last forever. Now we have to start saving so we can do it again!

Meanwhile .....

.... there is a new challenge starting today at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with last month'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:

Jan's Digi Stamps

who are offering a $6 store voucher for our lucky winner.

I have made an 8"x 8" (20 x 20cm) card using an image from our sponsor.

I used papers from an old LOTV Nitwit paper pad called Perfect Pair. I matted all the layers on plain white card.

The image I chose to use is called A Little Note. I coloured the image with my Copics then cut the image to fit on the card, mounting it on white card. 

I used an old Cheery Lynn die to cut some flourishes from white card and coloured them with Copics. I stamped a sentiment to finish the card.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using  Jan's Digi Stamps images.

Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in this month's challenge.

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2022/09/202209-september-2022-anything-goes.html x

https://jansdigistampschallenges.blogspot.com/2022/09/anything-goes-september-2022.html Top Three

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/09/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html x

Creative Artiste #85 August 2022

I'm being kept very busy amusing the kids during the school holidays. We've had some lovely days out and have a fun filled weekend planned. The kids have been enjoying playdates with their friends and soon it will be my turn for some playdates with my wonderful friend.

But, before then ....

 ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly 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 last month. Your projects were all wonderful and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I have a collection of empty coffee jars and finally decided to do something with one of them. I've turned it into a vase.

After removing the labels and cleaning the jar I stuck some twine fishnet to the front with soft matt gel.

I then wrapped string around the neck and glued in place. I painted the entire jar with a couple of coats of white acrylic paint.stippling it on the netting to give extra texture.

I painted some resin flowers I'd made with acrylic paints and attached them to the jar with home made texture paste as it's a thick, sticky product with great depth.

I added some resin hearts that I'd painted with green Gansai Tambi watercolour to resemble leaves.

And now I have a new vase!

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.

Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 

August challenge. 

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

Crafts Galore Encore August 2022

Finally it's August! I've been looking forward to this month for ages. The highlight of this year will be seeing my wonderful American friend who is coming to the UK for a visit. We didn't think this unexpected event would ever happen and I'm beyond excited for a wonderful few days of face to face chatting and fun.

Meanwhile .....

.... there is a new challenge starting today at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with last month'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

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

I have made an 8"x 8" (20 x 20 cm) birthday card using some pretty papers and an image from our sponsor.

The papers I've used are from the Scrap Boys Dream Garden paper pad. I matted all the papers onto white card coloured with a matching Copic pen. I wrapped a seam binding ribbon coloured with Picked Raspberry DI around the layers before fixing the image.

I chose the lovely Peony in a Jar image and coloured it with my Copics. I also printed the flower head by itself.

I printed the Happy Birthday sentiment on the computer. I coloured the peony and rotated it as an embellishment.

I finished the card with a double bow from the coloured seam binding ribbon.

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 this month's challenge.

Enjoy August everyone! I know I shall.

Creative Artiste #84 July 2022

 This is my second post of the day. Please scroll down if you want to see my Crafts Galore Encore challenge post for July....

 ....Welcome to a new challenge at

Creative Artiste

Creative Artiste is a monthly 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 last month. Your projects were all fabulous and our winners have been announced on the blog.

Our theme is always
"Anything Mixed Media Goes"
We have opportunities to be a Guest Designer for all our winners.

I recently took an online class from Art Workshops with Bipasha K and we decorated a shadowbox. As I had two more smaller shadowboxes I decided to decorate those as well to made a matching trio.

One of the techniques involved heat embossing. Another was stamping and colouring flowers. I used these throughout the three boxes.

One of the steps was to insert a small LED light strip to illuminate the circular aperture. I also used twigs and Prima Artstones.

I used acrylic paints and crackle paste on the outside of the boxes. The tops of the boxes were finished off with Tim Holtz Curio Knobs and twine.

I chose three Tim Holtz Paper Dolls to go with the three Aall & Create stamped sentiments.

It was a fabulous class and I enjoyed using the different techniques from Bipasha to create this little set of shadowboxes.

Now it's your turn to have fun and create your mixed media projects. You can enter our challenge as many times as you like. A full list of the rules is on the challenge blog. For more inspiration please visit the Creative Artiste Challenge Blog to see the fabulous mixed media projects created by our multi talented team.

Remember to have fun crafting and enter your "Anything Mixed Media Goes" creations in our 

July challenge. 

Don't forget to scroll down for my Crafts Galore Encore post.

I have entered this project in the following challenges:

https://mixedmedialovers.blogspot.com/2022/07/challenge-15-mixed-media-lovers.html x

https://mixitupchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/07/miucb-60-anything-goes-optional-clean.html Top Pick

https://lovetocraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2022/07/ltccb-69-anything-goes-ltccb-68-winner.html x

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/07/classic-design-challenge-july-7.html Best Technique winner

Crafts Galore Encore July 2022

We were told it would be a wet week here but we've been lucky and mostly dodged the showers. It would be nice to be able to plan ahead and not just have to rely on looking out of the window. Sunday is forecast to be sunny so we are keeping our fingers crossed that we can get out to visit our favourite local attraction.

Meanwhile .....

.... there is a new challenge starting today at

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in with last month'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:

Color of Love

who are offering a winner's prize of 3 digi stamps from their shop.

I have made a 6" (15cm) z-fold card. I used papers from Papermania Sweet Treats 12" paper pad. The pink and blue mats are from Papermania Solid Cardstock.

This fun image I chose to use is Li'l Ellie's Donuts and I coloured it with my Copics.

I finished the card with some pink gems and a computer generated sentiment.

Now please visit the  Crafts Galore Encore challenge blog where you can see the wonderful projects and cards created by our talented team using Color of Love images.

Grab some inspiration while you're there and enter your "Anything Goes" creations in this month's challenge.

This is my first blog post for today. My Creative Artiste post is above.

I have entered this card in the following challenges:

https://morgansartworld.blogspot.com/2022/07/morgans-artworld-challenge-7.html x

https://cuteasabuttonchallenge.blogspot.com/2022/07/welcome-to-challenge-82.html x

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2022/07/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html Honourable Mention