Journey, Explore, Discover

Good morning all.

I had my regular trip to the hairdressers yesterday with a bit of crafting and cooking in the afternoon. Not sure what today holds yet, think we need to do some baking as we decided not to buy a load of cakes and biscuits at the weekend...and it won't be long before the natives revolt!

An Artist Trading Block to share today.

Using one of my old stamp blocks...after removing the stamp I've painted the block with black gesso. Paper is from a case of 12x12 papers I got ages ago from Costco. Die cuts are all from Couture Creations, all cut twice and layered to give dimension. I've left the back plain.

I need to spend a day removing stamps from the rest of them now!

Challenges entered:

Recycle, Re-Purpose & Re-Invent - anything goes 

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything goes

Die Cut Divas - words, quotes and sentiments

All Crafts Challenge - anything goes

Not Just Cards - anything goes

2 Creative Chicks - anything but a card

Altered Eclectics - anything goes

Artist Trading Block 2

Good morning all.

Not sure what's on the agenda today, I really need to finish off my Christmas cards and make some more tags but suspect I will have to do some washing and cooking!

Today's share is another Artist Trading Block. I found some lovely little tin signs at Live Laugh Love and when they arrived thought they'd look nice on wooden blocks. Unfortunately none of the blocks from hubby were big enough to use so I removed one of my rubber stamps from it's wooden back and bingo we were ready to roll.

Block was painted all over with white chalk paint. Backing paper is from my stash and was a magazine freebie, this is layered onto kraft card. The sign is also layered onto several layers of kraft card and is attached with two brads. Block is finished with ribbon, bow and a button.

I've used a second sign on the reverse of the block.

Close up of the button and bow.

Challenges entered:

Brown Sugar - anything goes

Fussy and Fancy - happy holidays

CRAFT - Christmas present

Crafty Ribbons - animals at Christmas plus ribbon

Moving along with the Times - inspired by a song (It's a most Wonderful Time of the Year)

Decorate to Celebrate - anything goes 3D

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

Shopping our Stash - free is good (papers)

Top Tip Tuesday - buttons or bows

TOP TIP - wooden stamp blocks make wonderful bases to decorate, the rubber stamp can be peeled off and remounted on clingy stuff!

Craft-Dee Bowz - anything goes with a hand tied bow

Not Just Cards - anything goes

Altered Eclectics - anything goes but a card

The Mirror Crack'd - Christmas decoration

Artist Trading Block

Good morning all.

A week or so ago I was trawling around mixed media blogs when I saw some decorated wooden blocks, of course I forgot to bookmark it and can't for the life of me remember where I saw them. Hubby had been playing in the garage so I asked him if he had any spare bits of wood, after being told what I wanted them for he gave me one of those looks...then indulged me with a few various sized and shaped pieces. Here is my first transformation...I chose the smallest piece and a Christmas theme to start off with.

I started by coating the whole piece in gesso, then painted a panel on the front in blue acrylic. Once dry I added snowflakes with texture paste and a Joanna Sheen stencil using some diamond dust whilst it was still wet to make it sparkle. The Christmas sentiment is a Clearly Besotted die cut four times from card and layered up to make it quite chunky and sturdy, this was inked with festive berries DI. The piece was finished with ribbon, a bow, snowflake button, snowman, star, gems and a pearl all from my stash.

The finished piece is about 3" square and 1" deep and I love how it turned out!

This is how it looked originally - a lovely piece of teak, hubby thought I was mad painting over it but when I showed him the finished article he turned round and said "actually it's very good"!!

Challenges entered:

4 Crafty Chicks - make it sparkle

DL Art - Christmas

Crafter's Cafe - anything goes

Decorate to Celebrate - anything 3D

Divas by Design - snow

Inspiration Destination - anything goes

City Crafter - just a word

All Crafts Challenge - anything but a card

Craft-Dee BowZ - anything goes with a handmade bow

Altered Eclectics - anything but a card

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - anything altered art goes

Allsorts - anything but a card

Not Just Cards - anything goes