Shabby Chic at Crafty Cardmakers

This wasn’t what I had originally intended to do for this challenge, I had something a whole lot quicker  in mind but at some point in the last month or so I became aware that an artist whose style I had long admired was giving classes in the UK – Anna Dabrowska aka Finnabair. Of course this was after the event so to speak, and even if I had known I might not have got a place but to say I was miffed to have missed her is an understatement. So I thought I would have a go at a couple of pieces in her style, one of which was destined to become  my DT entry for the current Crafty Cardmakers theme – Shabby Chic.
The base for this project is an IKEA mirror frame – for some reason I decided to fill in in the mirror bit because I had this idea that I wanted a huge butterfly exploding out of the centre panel. If I had known the difficulties that butterfly would give me I would have stuck to the mirror!! I painstakingly chose some lovely shabby papers and covered the whole thing  - and then proceeded to obliterate it all with paint, ink and gesso!!
I loved using my new new ‘peacock’ stencil with artists spackle to give some texture – yum!!
 
I was really pleased with my diamond ‘relief’ – they are the waste from some trellis die-cut I have. Obviously I had to stick each one down individually but the finished effect was pretty neat.

Tried out the Kroma Crackle for even more shabbiness.



And of course there had to be flowers – these are made of UTEE using a mould.

The problem with the butterfly was I didn’t have a stamp big enough so it had to be digital – I tried several ways of colouring and printing it but it kept turning out either too strong against the background or more matt and dull than the background. In the end I found using a Golden glossy gel medium lifted it enough without being too brash. The layering of paint and gesso to create depth takes time as you need to let them dry between applications so this was not a quick project but quite a rewarding one!!  

Well I might not have quite nailed the look but I hope my take on the Shabby Chic theme will inspire  you to join in with to the Crafty CardMakers Challenge. This fortnight it is hosted by BettyC, who would like to see any creation, scrapbook page, altered art, or card that is 'shabby chic'. There’s lots more DT loveliness over on the blog to inspire as well.

PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE RULES BEFORE ADDING YOUR CREATION AND CHECK IT MEETS THE THEME. 

We are sponsored by
MILK COFFEE DIGITAL STAMPS

WITH A PRIZE OF 5 DIGIS FROM THEIR STORE

And also by SIR STAMPALOT

with a fabulous prize:-

So go on, get  crafting!!

May Art Draw - 'May I' share this project.....

I am sharing the May Art Draw with this month's challenge at Scrap our Stash. This project has been made with items that have been languishing in my stash for quite a while. Even the Clearly for Art which I have been using lately (it's all gone now!!) had been stuck in a file for over 6 months and I thought I had better use it up before it got mistaken for a sheet of acetate!

For the "MAY I?" Challenge you have to complete your project by getting inspiration from someone elses blog and that is what I did   for this month's draw. The item on offer is this altered wooden box which has been made over using some great techniques demo'd on one of my favourite altered art blogs 'Zuzu's Petals'. To create her wonderfully textured boxes and canvases Louise uses fusible/fantasy film and in response to requests from followers she generously posted a tutorial here.

I found this great fun, although I had some problems getting the film to 'stick' initially. Also although Louise did suggest that we "heat the holy crap out of it".... I may have taken this a little too literally - some of the film looked decidedly singed when I was done (nothing a touch of gold paint or metallic rub on couldn't fix LOL).

It was totally coincidental that I had also been making some rather yummy metallic looking flowers and this one really seemed to go with the box so I decided to stick it on the top rather than add lots of small embellishments like Louise has. However I have another larger box to do that may well get a lot of extra layers!! To finish off I put one of my Tim Holtz tags of 2012 inspired butterflies inside. It's wired in but the recipient could easily take it out and use it on a project.

The box is quite small, no more than 2.5" x 2.5", but if you like blingy texture and would like the chance 'win' this box then leave a message on this post before 9.00 pm on Sunday 27th MAYand I'll put you in the draw. Overseas players welcome. Please feel free to link from your own blogs if you have the technology (as per last month, if I see you have I will put you in the draw twice but no pressure!!). Alternatively maybe you will be inspired to follow the tutorial and have a go, I'd love to see what you do!!

That's it for now, hope  you like what I have made. I have a little more information to impart re making the flowers so will probably do a post about them when I have a minute but, unfortunately, decorating calls!!

See you later,

Cindy x

April Art Draw - steampunk pocket watch

Here at last, a bit later than planned. This month's offering is this Wendy Vecchi Art Parts pocket watch. As usual the photography probably doesn't do it justice.

Had great fun grunging this up with paints and powders. The large cogs are chipboard pieces from eco green while the smaller pieces embedded in crackle glaze are old watch parts. Had great fun texturing the cogs (no I don't have a texturising tool just a hammer - noisy but fun). Used Clearly for Art to make the flowers following a Wendy Vecchi tutorial (I should emphasise hers don't look like this - I must have lost my way somewhere - but they are still kinda neat). It has a little chain so it can be hung or you could just leave it in the box.

So the April Art Draw will remain open until 9.00 pm on Saturday 28th April. All you  need to do is leave a comment on this post and I will include you in the draw (well I don't actually draw it so much as feed the numbers in to Mr Random Generator!).

International players are most welcome and I'd love it if you have the time (and ability) to link from your own blogs. In fact, although I hate sounding like I'm making people jump through hoops, if you do I will put you in  the 'draw' twice, so more chances to win.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll try to return the favour - I am getting better, honest!!

Happy Easter everyone!

Cindyxx

March Art Draw - gone mad for mosaic!!

Had a couple of options for this month's giveaway but when I saw that the current challenge for 'Try It on Tuesday' was 'mosaic' I thought I really should have a go at this. I have a ton of mosaic stuff (I jest you not, mosaic tiles are very heavy) so surely I could use my vast range of mosaic tiles to alter something small? I finally decided on this little birdie hanging (which I have to say looks much cuter in real life) which is an altered balsa shape. I have used the tiniest of tiles, most of which have been cut to accomodate the curve of the bird's body. I have only done one side as I thought it would make him a bit heavy to do both.. and he does need to go in the post!

So this is the giveaway for this month, the actual bird bit is about  4" x 2.5" so it won't take up much room! If you have space and would like to enter the draw then leave a comment on this post before 9 pm on Saturday 31st March. International players are very welcome to join in and everyone please feel free to link from your own blogs if you have the time and inclination.

Getting out the tiles sent me on a bit of a trip down memory lane, because a few years back I was absolutely crazy for mosaic and even attended courses to learn what to do. I'm also quite pleased to say that I had a couple of comissions that I actually got paid for!! Anyhow, here are a few photos of some of the mosaics that I made then that are still around my house and garden.

 I actually have a huge mosaic for the garden that has been under my bed for about 5 years. We had some building work done and the piece of exterior grade plywood I had bought and had cut to mount the mosaic got used for something else (mixing up cement or something). I was not best pleased and haven't gotten around to replacing it - another project for my to do list!!

Anyhow thanks for popping by and I hope you take time to leave a comment and take part in my Art Draw.

February Art Draw - it's Luvverly!!

If I do say so myself. Not often I'm tempted to keep my giveaways and fob you off with something else but am quite pleased with the way this turned out ...... but I'll stick to the original plan, especially as I already gave you a sneak preview before I went away.

My original inspiration came from two projects in February's Craft Stamper Magazine - 'Their Hearts Connected' by Louise Crosbie (AKA Zuzu) and 'A Splash of Paint' by Trish Latimer. The minute I saw them I knew I wanted to make something similar and get very painty and inky!! I had already decided to do something romantic with hearts using my canvases - it is February after all - and originally tried a red, and then a red and purple colourway (you may remember the red canvases from waaaaaay back).


Somehow it ended up too harsh looking so I softened it with gesso, some pink and added a touch of turquoise and I like it much better.

I really like using canvases 'backwards' for the possibilities they give as a kind of shadow box and I had two hanging about waiting for a project. The only trouble was they are quite small - about 7 x 10 cms - so finding teeny tiny things to go inside was a bit of a challenge. For the main message on the front which I wanted to be clear I stamped on to tissue first and then adhered with gel medium - I always find this works really well.

I did wonder at one point if I
had over mixed my metaphors so to speak as I seemed to have some funky paint effects going on and then went all vintage with a cherub and some tiny paper roses - but I decided  the colours held it all together.






And at last a use for one of those little corked bottles!! Bought them a year ago and they have been languishing in my stash ever since. Filled it with tiny silver stars as I couldn't find any tiny hearts in my stash.





Anyhow, enough of my waffling. If you would like to enter the Art Draw then leave a comment on this post before 9.00 pm on Saturday 25th February.

International players are very welcome. It always seems a bit cheeky to say this as I am not very good at any of this technical linking stuff but I would be very happy for you to link from your own blogs  - the more the merrier.

Finally, as I have been catching up in Blogland I have noticed there are a lot of challenges out there to do with Valentine's, hearts, romance..... there's definitely something in the air. So I'm linking this project to Snazzy's Design Team Blog Challenge # 1, Love/Romance. There are prizes!!! I've also linked in to the Link Party at Cindy Adkins' blog if you would like to join in as well. It also fits the theme for a new9ish) challenge blog  that I have come across - 'art with no boundaries'

January Art Draw - and Happy New Year to you too!!

Right. First giveaway of the year and I'm late. And I have an idea that is going to make you happy or fall asleep before you get to the end of this post. Still, read on!!

First, two altered slide mailers, one of these will constitute the main prize for this month's art draw. As you can see I've gone a bit oriental in honour of Chinese New Year which this year signifies the beginning of the Year of the Dragon, one of the most auspicious of the chinese zodiac.

The one on the right has an acetate front which may/may not be hard to see from the photo. Lots of gold embossing powder and a bit of gilding flakes. On the reverse there is a chinese proverb/quote (allegedly anyway according to Mr Google).

I am not quite sure what it means but it sounds like pretty good advice, should you happen to know a local dragon.

For the one on the left I got out some sadly neglected embossing paste and a bamboo stencil to decorate the back and front. Came out pretty well (but oh what a mess you can get into!!!)

I used some of my inca gold to highlight and was quite pleased with the result. Finished off the front with the large coin that just happens to have a dragon on. (I don't just throw this stuff together you know).  Inside I have used the slide 'niches' to add some pictures and another inscrutable chinese quote. More good advice to start the year!!

I did get rather carried away with my general paintiness and inkiness - feels like an age since I've had a chance to be messy - and I was doing a bit of 'resist' work because that is the challenge over at TIOT this week. So I also made a CNY tag which will be part of the giveaway and which is my entry to the challenge. I hope the DT at TIOT won't be cross with me for burying it in the middle of this post but I can't be bothered to do it all separately.  The dragon is the resist bit in case it's not obvious!!

Right usual rules apply. If you would like to be entered in to the art draw please make a comment on this post before 9.00 pm on Saturday 4th February. (I am extending it a bit because it is already the 15th, and also I know I won't be able to get to the pc to do the draw before then). International players welcome. please feel free to link from your own blogs.

Now I am going to make it a bit more complicated. The draw will be for 1 slide mailer, unless we get over 30 entries, when there will be two winners. I will also make another tag and box to be fair (it'll never happen!). First drawn will get first choice. Simples?

Oh what the heck, it's New Year and I'm feeling generous. As I say I got carried away and I also have three tags and three ATCs (most but not all are resist technique as well). So the next six new people to 'follow' me will get one of them as a RAK. (We are currently at 147 and, yes, it's really bugging me that that follower tag has not gone over 150 yet!!).
So there are potentially 8 prizes on offer this month and I hope they will tempt you to join in. Don't forget that although you do not need to have a blog of your own I must be able to contact you if you enter. Good Luck, and
Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Watch the Birdie!! November giveaway is here

Was trying for a Christmassy feel for the November giveaway , not sure I pulled it off!!

As usual, my mediocre photography skills let down a rather cute little bird house. It is very small, about 3" high and is basically an altered chipboard house. I just used some paints and metallic rub on (also used the PVA technique on the roof to get the distressed look) and finally found a use for the littleshrink plastic leaves I made a month or so ago - there were just enough!! The tiny seed beads which were once in a glue like medium that has long since dried out were the perfect size to use as berries to add a bit of colour and my little robin (you may need to use your imagination as his red breast kinda disappeared) was made using shrink plastic and a Tim Holtz die.

I have just realised I took the photo befor I put back his little hangy bit. This little house does come with a hanging loop so it could go on the tree - or wherever you want really!!        Anyhow, usual rules apply, you need to leave a comment on this post before 9 pm on Sunday 27th November to be included in the draw. International players welcome, feel free to link from your own blogs. Thanks for looking, and hopefully for playing along.                     Cindy x              

More 'stuff' - quick show n tell

Here's my completed canvas. Did the drawing about 6 months ago and finally incorporated it into a canvas. Made this one for myself. It's upside down. Why I don't know. I've never had a picture upload the wrong way round before. Ooops! Well, just lean to  the left. Sigh. Life's too short to worry about these things. (Addendum: discovered that  if I save it on my pc skeewif it uploads the right way round - the things you have to do)

Despite the demise of my melt pot, did manage to do a bit of beeswax work. A few ATCs and a tag. Which I also can't get the right way up lol. But you get the idea.

Also found time to make this little hanging. Just a few ods and ends I had stamped/coloured made - seemed to go together. Couldn't find my nice 'believe' stamp though. Another thing that's gone down a black hole. (Keep losing my 'word' stamps. Think I forget to put them away because they are small.)

See ya soon.

Cindyx

WOYWW - art at last

Oh dear back again!! Sooo, what's on my desk this week? Well, thought I would do a side shot this time and it is actually a bit tidier than the last time people came to visit!
I have been busy prepping a piece of altered art for my one world one heart door prize - it's nearly finished so we know there will be at least one (heaves sigh of relief). There has been a lot of red and black paint, glimmer sprays and metallic rub ons used over the last couple of days and my nails look disgusting lol. Aah, just noticed the packet of biccies - diet didn't do very well last night, had a severe attack of the munchies. You can also see my new Ottlite which hubby bought me for Christmas after my constant moaning about grabbing the wrong colour paint - no more excuses!!

Guess what was waiting for me when I came home last night? A lovely packet from Zuzu on Alter It Monthly. My altered slide mailer for December was chosen to win a great prize from Crafty Individuals. There is a lovely book of seaside themed papers, two seaside themed stamp plate set(just love those little girl images) and a further set of Christmas stamps. Really really chuffed with this ('cos you know how much I lurve stamps lol). Will have to write some proper thanks tonight as am dashing off to work now but itching to have a go with these. You never know, there might be a project using them on my desk next week! Thanks for dropping by and if you want to see more wonderful work desks then pop over to Julia's to join in.

ONE WORLD ONE HEART - WELCOME!!!!!!!

Helloo bloggers!! You all know how ditzy I am, and I ALMOST forgot about the fantastic 'One World One Heart' event taking place between January 25 and February 15this year. So I'm one day late, but hope you will forgive me!!

For those of you who don't know, this has been running since 2007 and is a wonderful opportunity to get out there and visit lots of blogs (many, but not all, of which are arty or crafty) and have the chance to win some fantastic giveaways.



My giveaway will be this altered coaster book which I made for a swap but never entered. It looks a bit thin, so I think I'll add another page or two (the joy of using jump rings!!) and if I have a real creative rush there may even be another piece of art on offer. Well it is a special event!! All you have to do to be included in my giveaway draw is leave a comment on this post before 5.00 pm BMT on Monday 15th February. You must also have a blog to link to or be able to leave your email addy so that I can get in touch should you be the lucky winner.

As regular followers will know, I am a great believer in sharing our art and have a giveaway every month - the OWOH event will replace my usual monthly giveaway for February 2010.

But it's not just about me, put an hour or two aside, get a cup of coffee and a few choccy biccies - then click on the logo above to start your journey on the magic carpet ride.

There are a lot of blogs to visit over the next few weeks!!

UPDATE: Yes I did add some more pages, if you would like to see the inside of the book please look here.

I also did have a sudden rush to the head so here is a second prize. This is a piece of slide glass that has been 'enhanced' with fusible film and embossing powders. I have just put a simple leather tie on it so it could be a piece of wearable art (although I do find these a bit big but then er well so am I and things like this don't hang so well if you know what I mean) or you could just have it as a pretty hanging. I've never done anything like this before so I hope it will stay in good shape



I also have a little altered tag that has been stamped and collaged to give away. I made this earlier this year and thought someone might like it (or maybe not - tough!)


How many blogs have you looked at? I don't think I'll ever get through them all!! But it's great fun and the giveaways aren't bad either!! Thanks again for taking part and for all your lovely comments - I am doing my best to get round to everyone but regretfully time has been at a premium this week so please be patient!! Off to do a few more rounds on my magic carpet......