Bee Friendly - Hobby Art

Today's project is another ATC (Artist Trading Card) and, as with most things I make, it has a garden theme. My life revolves around the great outdoors, flowers, foliage, nature and if I'm not outside immersed in them, then I'm inside nurturing my 'little' (Cough!) houseplant collection or creating something crafty along that theme (in between washing, ironing, dusting...UGH!)

I started with a Strathmore Illustration Board ATC for my base. These are sturdy little cards, perfect for taking a lot of mixed media liquids, water and weight.

Then it was a case of playing with different textures and mediums. So I started by spreading Liquitex Super Heavy Gloss Gel through a honeycomb stencil. You can use any gel medium, matt or gloss, it doesn't matter which brand and there are loads of them to choose from. Once dry (a few hours later) I drizzled a selection of yellow, orange & brown sprays and paints (if you're interested...Prima Colorbloom 'Spring Dandelion' & 'Pot Marigold' sprays, Distress 'Vintage Photo' spray and Finnabair's Dark Chocolate Impasto paint).

I then stamped, coloured with Promarkers and fussy cut the flower and bee from a stamp set by Hobby Art called 'Bee Friendly'. I also painted Glossy Accents on the bee's wings.

Once stuck onto my card I added some glass stones and gold Micro beads and then drizzled on more spray liquid where I felt it was needed.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Honestly...just play with what you have. Faff, like I do (lol) until you're happy with your project. Step back (or away) if it's not quite going to plan and then return to it another day. I do this all the time...I have a vision in my head of how I want something to look and then more often than not it doesn't work out that way. Just play and have fun!

Now...go out and help those bees!

Layout 'Special Friend'

Hello there!
Welcome to 2020 chez moi.
Today's project is a 12" x 12" framed gift that I made for someone for Christmas using a selection of beautiful papers from AB Studio, Lemoncraft & Fabrika Decoru.

Fussy cutting on these cold, grey, winter days has become my way fav' way of cosying up & keeping myself entertained and trust me, there was HEAPS of fussy cutting on this one.

So this project all centered around the recipient's beloved hound, Harvey.

To start, I spent about 5 years (lol) pontificating over the background sheet of paper and where on the paper to place the photo. 

Then came the easy & fun bit...

...decorating.

I started by stamping some leaves from Altenew's 'Leaf Cluster' set with 'Wheat' Versamagic ink for a subtle kinda shadowy backdrop behind the photo. I also stamped & embossed the same images with WOW's 'Mojito' glittery embossing powder, die cut them, then started piecing together the layout with my fussy cut flowers & leaves from AB Studio's 'I Love You' & Fabrika Decoru's 'Sentimental Story'.

Getting the layout just right takes slightly less time than choosing the background paper...about 4.5 years. Then it's a case of sticking it all down before adding the 3D embellishments of flowers, pearls, glass gems, art stones & thread.

The finishing touches included glittery highlights and fussycut butterflies from Lemoncraft, then the whole piece was framed. 

Ta-Da!

50th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Oh I LUUUUURRRRVVVVEEEDDDD making this.

The brief was '50th Wedding Anniversary & Anything Goes (colourwise)'...Brilliant!!

There's something quite magical about black & white photos and on this occasion I had one from the couple's wedding day itself as well as a more recent colour photo to work with.

I spent a lot of time on this piece...A LOT! 

I spent a lot of time just looking at the white piece of paper.

I then spent ages just looking at the photos.

Then I had my usual...

'HELP!!! 

WHO'S NICKED MY MOJO???'

When 'IT' finally appeared I needed restraining from adding everything AND the kitchen sink...lol.

It's easy to get carried away.

So what did I use?

A 12"x12" white card base, foliagey stamps & dies from Altenew, paper flowers, stencils, beads, glitter, flower arranging accessories, ...

.... wired flower stems, inks, embossing powder, Finnabair butterfly stamps, vellum & glitter stickers.

The final piece was then mounted in a white, box frame to protect it.

Happy 50th Anniversary to this couple.

What an amazing achievement.

Love is All You Need - Mixed Media Project

This was a commissioned piece that I sooooooo enjoyed making.

The brief was based around the love for these 2 sweet girls.

The colour theme was green so I decided to go for subtle tones. I used black & white photos as the originals had other colours that would have been too distracting. 

I used a mixture of elements... wooden lettering & heart shapes, stamped & embossed vellum...

... paper flowers, wired crystals and glass stones.

I love using white embossing powder on vellum ... such a delicate feel.

I could make these all day .

Fire Ruby Icing Paste - Finnabair

If you buy any crafty product this year get this...Prima / Finnabair's Fire Ruby Icing Paste. You don't need to make anything with it...just sit n' look at it, give it a stir & look at it some more. It's gorrrrrrjus stuff... a thick, creamy, sparkly gel / paste and the colour is mind bogglingly lush. Like rich, red blood but in a non-gory way.

Having sat for 8 days...staring, stirring, oooohing n' arrrring and staring some more....I decided to use it with my all time favourite stencil, 'Cell Theory' by Crafter's Workshop, and made a card.

You can put it on as thin or as thick as you like, it'll dry with what ever texture and depth you desire.

And that colour!!!!!

Be Your Beautiful Self

Welcome back.

Today I have thrown everything PLUS the kitchen sink (hidden behind that big, white flower..lol) at this project.

I started with a white, gesso'd heart and smooshed it with the most gorgeous of green Impasto paints from Prima /  Finnabair, Green Apple.

There's all sorts on here... glass stones, wooden pieces, microbeads, flowers, beady bits.

These Impasto paints are brilliant...you can use them with stencils as a kind of paste or add water to dilute and make the colours flow. 

Finding just the right sentiment is the hardest part but I love this one...

'be your beautiful self'

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you have great weekend.

Prima / Finnabair - Don't Forget To Fly

I made this tag a while back, inspired again by the sentiment in Prima /  Finnabair's beautiful stamp set 'Don't Forget to Fly'. 

I made some of the embellishments with paper clay and silicone moulds.

There's also metal, brassy elements, glass beads...

.... glass glitter, micro beads, Nuvo Drops....

... and vellum butterflies.

I like that tags have so many uses, whether it be on a present or as a gift in itself with an inspiring, encouraging message.

Have a great weekend x

Follow Your Heart

Spring has officially arrived this week and, as an outdoorsy-kinda-gal, I can't be more thankful.

Flowers are appearing, there's a hint of green in the trees and the sun's got some warmth to it...Yay!

In celebration of all things 'springy', I've made a gift drizzled in sunshine yellows with a message for all of us.

Follow Your Heart.

This applies in so many aspects of our lives.

Just do it.

As always, I prepped my heart base with gesso, added crackle paste and then went to town (and back) with my embellies.

There's ooodles of white microbeads and glitter alongside some tiny, yellow flowers, glass stones and hearts. Drizzles of Lemon Peel impasto paint and Wink of Stella shimmer.

The weekend is here.

I hope the sun shines where you are.

Follow your heart.

XXX