Mystical week - Jane

Hi everyone,  
Hope you had a lovely weekend. 
How are you doing with your Christmas cards and gifts? Have you started yet?
Because Jane will inspire you today with this beautiful candle she altered. 

This week will be mystical.... Why? well... we have the Lavinia stamps in stock now... and we wanted to share a few ideas through different projects using those stamps. 
And you know us by now... It won't be "just cards"... be prepared for a full week of mystical Art Journal, canvases, upcycling and more... 

Here are some of the stamps Jane used... 

Ready? 

Here we go... 

ETA to share a brilliant tip that Laura suggested in a comment below: A neat way to use but preserve you candles is to burn it a bit until it's soft enough to scope out a small well. Then drop in a tea light candle and use your creation forever!

Christmas and frosty fairyland!

I decided to go with a decorated candle

Using a Speedball Brayer and ink pad, colour the tissue paper 

Stamp the Lavinia stamps as desired 

Gently heat the tissue paper onto the candle (I demonstrated this in a previous blog post) 

Add punched flowers and thin borders made with black card.  

Decorate with Liquid Pearls and Stickles 

Jane used:

Lavinia Stamps - Vine, Dandilions 2, Lavender, Field Grass, Flower Trail, Leaf Trail

Memento Ink - Tuxedo Black

White tissue paper

Kaleidacolor Ink Pad - Birthstone

Speedball Brayer

Heat gun

Liquid Pearls - White

Stickles - Crystal

Black card

Woodware punches - Mini Daisy, Regular Daisy

See you soon, 

Izzy

Background layering week - Karen

Hi, 
Another approach to layering with masking today with Karen who chose to decorate some little ceramic tiles using Brilliance inks. 
Karen used Impression Obsession Craquelure and Pine Trees

I thought for a change that I would decorate some of the tiles that we have in the shop.  (got to start thinking of Christmas presents at some point).  I really didn't know what to expect as it was a first for me but I was very surprised.  I found that most paints work on them as they come to you unglazed.  For the idea that was going through my head I decided to go with Brilliance Inks as they give a slight sheen when dry and mix well.  If you are worried about which paints then have a play on the backs. 

The Impression Obsession Cover-a-Card stamps are lovely to work from - really deeply etched,  firm to handle and there are loads to choose from.  I found it easier not to use an acrylic block this project.  

Ink up the Pine Trees Cover-a-Card Stamp with Brilliance Ink. 

I used Rocket Red, Crimson Copper, Pearlescent Lavender and Pearlescent Rust.

Stamp onto the tile and also onto some scrap paper. 

Cut out the paper image to make a mask.  You don't have to be too fussy with the cutting.  Place the mask over the trees and hold in place with some masking tape.  

Now ink up the Craquelure Cover-a-Card stamp with Brilliance Inks in Pearlescent Thyme, Pearlescent Ivy and Pearlescent Olive.  

Stamp over the trees onto the tile.

 Allow to dry thoroughly.  

You can use a heat gun on these tiles but use a slower/cooler setting.  

Now stamp a word from the PaperArtsy JOFY Stamps Set 11 onto the tile and go round the edges with inks.  Please make sure that your tiles are totally dry before you add the PaperArtsy Fresco Gloss Glaze - I left mine overnight and thought I was safe but I still had a little smear.  Cover the backs with felt and you are done.  

I think I shall be making more of these!  They are inexpensive and would make lovely presents.

Karen used

Impression Obsession Cover-a-Card Stamps - Craquelure and Pine Trees

PaperArsty JOFY Collection 11

Brilliance Dewdrop Inks - Pearlescent Thyme, Pearlescent Ivy, Pearlescent Olive, Rocket Red, Crimson Copper, Pearlescent Lavender and Pearlescent Rust

Country Love Crafts -  4" Tile

Felt

See you tomorrow

Background layering week - Gio

Hi, 
How about this sample by Gio for your jewellery... or make this to offer to a friend. Isn't it lovely? 
Gio used the Impression Obsession Cover-a-card stamps with paints and inks to achieve this layered background. 

 I drew and cut the corset template from a newspaper sheet, I laid it on the fabric, I joined the paper with the fabric with some pins and I cut it twice, one for the front and one for the back.

I sprayed lightly the fabric with water, then I painted it with a mixture of Fresco Finish paints Rose, Nougat and Very Berry. For the back I only used Fresco Finish paints Rose and Nougat.

When dry, I stamped the first layer with the Impression Obsession - Cover-a-card: Swirls stamp and Archival ink. I stamped the second layer using Fresco Finish paints Nougat. I stamped the third layer with the Impression Obsession - Cover-a-card: Sunflower and Archival ink.

 I cut several sheet of acetate to make the pockets. I sewed the pockets to the corset. I hand sewed the lace at the bottom, a button, and the straps.

I made the same for the back, but, instead of stitching the back to the front, I decided to make two jewellery corset holders.

Gio used

Impression Obsession - Cover-a-card: Swirls and Sunflower 

Fresco Finish paints  

Archival ink pads 

Natural Calico

Pebeo brush pack: set of 8

 See you tomorrow

Saturday Savers: Opposites week - GIO

Hi, 
Opposites for Gio are masculine VS feminine, with a couple of business card holders she upcycled and which would make a perfect little gift. 
Gio simply cut out the plastic sleeves from the old holder and made a new one using Pop Art Canvas.
She also used templates/masks along with misters to achieve the effect on the background.
Love the idea of the map too. They look fantastic me think. 

What do you think? Would love to read your comments below. 

 I folded one sheet of Pebeo Cotton Pop Art canvas pad - A4 in half and I cut in two.

For the men version: I laid one of them on the craft sheet and I sprayed through a Tando Masks - Andy Skinner: 12x3 Burning rubber different colours of Cosmic Shimmer Mister. 

Tip: Always clean the inked masks on a piece of book page or a blank AJ page.

When dry, I stamped randomly using different colours of  Archival ink and some stamps from Oxford Impressions: London Telegraph plate. I stamped the man face on a piece of gessoed book page and I cut it out. I glued it to the canvas.

For the  back, I glued a long piece of a map using Pebeo Studio matte gel, I added a zig zag border with the sewing machine, and I sewed the business card sleeves in the centre . I made the little belt out of leftovers.

 For the ladies version: I laid the second canvas strip on the craft sheet and I sprayed through The Crafters Workshop template - Flower shower different colours of Cosmic Shimmer Misters. When dry, I stamped random using different colours of  Archival ink and some stamps from CI-335 - A ladys boudoir  plate. I stamped the woman face  and other details on a piece of gessoed book page and I cut them out.  I glued them to the canvas.

For the  back, I glued a long piece of a vintage magazine page using Pebeo Studio matte gel, I added a zig zag border with the sewing machine, and I sewed the business card sleeves in the centre . I made the little belt out of leftovers.

For the business cards: I glued the book pages where I cleaned the masks to a piece of cardstock cut to size. I lightly gessoed them and I stamped them using Archival ink pad and some stamps from Oxford Impressions: London Telegraph plate.

Pebeo Cotton Pop Art canvas pad - A4 

Cosmic Shimmer Mister

The Crafters Workshop template - Flower shower

Tando Masks - Andy Skinner: 12x3 Burning rubber 

Oxford Impressions stamps: London Telegraph  

Black Jet Archival ink     

CI-335 - A ladys boudoir  

Tim Holtz embellishments: Tissue Tape  

Pebeo Studio acrylic auxiliaries: Gesso 250 ml  

Pebeo Studio acrylic auxiliaries: Studio matte gel 

See you tomorrow

Around the world - Izzy

Hi, 
I had to think hard on that one.. trying to make something different from the rest of the team. So I thought travel... plane... passport! Checked I had a bit of grungepaper left and tried to make a passport holder. 
It came out much much better than I expected, so I'm going to make lots now as they make the perfect gift. I guess there will be more samples posted on my blog in the near future if I find the time ;)
More pink (yes Gio... I know..) as it's for my daughter... but with one hubby and two sons at home, there will be some masculine ones coming up... Once I have ordered more grungepaper :D
I hope you like it. Ask away if you have any questions. Would love to hear what you think. 

Cut 4 pieces of grungepaper:

1 > 5 1/4 x 7 3/4" (13.30 x 19.70 cm approx)

2 > 5 1/4 x 3/4" (inside strips... 13.30 x 1.90 cm)

1 > 5 1/4 x 1" (closure on the outside... 2.5 x 13.30 cm)

Paint them white (for the big one and the closure one) and pink for the inside ones. I know they all show white on picture one but that's the way I started and then changed my mind. See the first coat as a primer LOL. 

I did two coats of white for anything that is supposed to remain white. 

Add the girl using the Andy Skinner stencil and Americana pink paint. 

Dry with a heat tool.

Place the mask on the girl and add the shadow first with the grey paint then the black. That will really make your image pop.

Use the Crafter's Workshop template and white paint to add patterns on dress. When dry, use a permanent pen to "highlight" the pattern (pic 2) and use it again with pink paint on 3 corners of your grungeboard as shown on picture 3 below. Highlight with the permanent pen again.

Use the same mask to add pattern on the three strips of grungeboard: white paint on the pink ones, and pink paint on the white one. 

You will then glue the grungeboard strips inside the passport holder. 

I used super glue as I really wanted it to hold quickly and to make sure it would not come off later. 

Only add a very thin line (1mm) of glue right on the ends of the strip or you won't be able to slide the passport in later. I used the BasicGrey magnets for the closure. Once again, although they are self-adhesive, I added a bit of super glue to make sure it won't come off later.

Once everything is glued in place, add your stamping using Archival or StazOn ink. 

Add a couple of coats of varnish/sealer. Not only to protect your design, but if you go for a gloss or satin finish, you will be able to wipe off any stain later with a baby wipe ;)

Tip:

For the inside strip on the left, you could actually made it bigger and glue it on 3 sides so it can be used as a pocket for tickets or cards. I will do this on the next one I do... It's 5 of us at home, so there will be more ;)

 I also made a little box that can be used to keep the favourite jewellery or even the ear plugs when you travel. I upcycled a tiny box (the one my Pandora charms come in... I have several of those, perfect size).

Paint them inside and out with the same colours. Use the stencil on the side and top of the box. 

The bird is actually part of that stencil too. 

Add a few stamps, a touch of glitter and you are done. 

One little keepsake box matching the passport holder

I used

Crafty Individuals stamps: CI-239 and CI-221 (for the Travel, Explore, Discover)

6x12 grungepaper

Black permanent ink: Archival or StazOn 

Americana paint: Royal Fuchsia

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint: Snowflake, Little Black Dress, Taupe

Andy Skinner stencil/mask: Vogue

The Crafter's Workshop template: Paradise

BasicGrey magnetic snaps

DecoArt Varnish Sealer

Our special offer this weekend: Spend and save
Every order of £25 or more will receive a voucher in their parcel 
worth £5 off their next shop with us.  

Vouchers are valid for one month

See you tomorrow

Build it up week - Neil

Hi, 
A lovely spring like project today made by Neil, who chose the "on the edge" die by Tim Holtz to make this beautiful tray.
Isn't it something you would love to have on your desk? 
Neil takes you step by step through the process of making this tray. Hope you will like it as much as I do. 
Let us know in a comment below.

I've used the on the edge Butterflight die to make a "tray" 

I have to say that I enjoy looking for different things to do with dies, so though these are intended to be used to create decorative edges for albums, I wondered how complicated it would be to create a box or tray from them....
And it isn't difficult really, though it is a bit fiddly! Worth it though.

I started off by using 2 6 x 6 chipboard and cut the butterflies from both sides and then cut them in half to give me four pieces. I then used some washi tape to attach them to another piece of 6 x 6 board (Using tape on one side only) I then used a selection of the new Distress paints and water to add colour to both sides.

When it was dry I used the butterfly stamp from Tim's Spring Sprung to add detail to the butterflies. I used a mask and white paint to add detail to the base of the tray.

 I used a Crop-A-Dile to punch holes on each corner. I threaded ribbon through and fastened them through to create the tray. I then used Tim's Tissue tape to go around the edges to strengthen the base and sides. 

I used dominoes for feet to lift the tray off the ground.

 So, what can you use it for? Well.... you can fit 25 Distress paints on it....

Or, in my case, I discovered that I had four metal containers fit it so I'm using it to keep my brushes, markers and stuff inside and it works perfectly.

On The Edge Die - Butterflight

Tim Holtz Stamps - Spring Sprung

Distress Paints - Various colours

Tim Holtz Tissue tape

Ribbon

Archival Jet Black ink

6 x 6 chipboard 

See you tomorrow