Above and Below

Hello and welcome to my blog  :)   I have a few pages from a couple of calenders that I made a couple of years ago as Christmas presents, the calenders and the stamps are from Chocolate Baroque.  The first two pictures feature stamps from the Mermaid Queen, Underwater Kingdom and Seadragon sets; Distress Oxide ink, black Versafine ink, clear EP, alcohol pens, pearlescent paints and a stencil from my stash.

For both designs I stamped several focal images, to create a scene, in black ink and embossed them with clear EP.  I then coloured them with the pens and paints.  I laid the stencil over the page and used a blue DO ink to create a patterned background that gives the effect of water currents.  

For the next two pictures I have used stamps from the Seashore Dreams and Seaside Scenes sets; sepia Versafine ink, clear EP, and colouring pencils.  

For both pictures I stamped and embossed the focal images using sepia ink and clear EP.  I added a border of shells either side of the focal images stamping and embossing in the same way.  I then coloured all the images with my colouring pencils.  


Thank you for dropping in today, I hope you've enjoyed this post.  Feel free to browse my blog further/ leave a comment - it would really brighten my day if you did!  I hope you'll visit my blog again soon  :)

My Rusty Bulb Project from CCA

Hello and welcome to my blog  :)  Today I'm sharing a lovely little mixed media project I've recently completed that I got from the Creative Craft Acadamy, it's a design by Aida Domisiewicz.  I bought a kit with everything I needed to create this artwork, including an online workshop with the artist.  

  

This project is based on an inverted canvas design.  The first step was to tear up some Tim Holtz designer tissue paper and cover the edges of the canvas.   I painted over the tissue with the same medium I  had used to attach it then painted over the whole thing with brown and blue translucent paints from the kit.  This gave the project an aged rustic look whilst being able to see the patterns of the tissue.  

The next step was to fill the light bulb with copper glitter, tiny glass beads and some copper sparkles.  The plastic bulb is very static so the glitter sticks to the inside giving a nice covering.  I then took a piece of thin wire and rolled it around a paint brush handle to create a coil for the filament that goes inside the bulb.  I kept one end of the wire long enough to thread up through the top of the bulb and attach it.  It was then time to attach the bulb to the substrate which I did with some multi purpose gel medium.  

Now it was time to start attaching the embellishments, which is always fun!  I began by attaching the metal embellishments, some of which I had added the paints and some gilding wax to.  I also added some sparkles, micro beads and glitter to the dragonfly as well.  

The original project wasn't as 'blingy' as mine, I have used more of the glass beads, glitter and sparkles, putting my own spin on it.

I had a real blast creating this project!  I learnt a few new techniques as well as using some old favourites.  It now hangs in my kitchen where it looks good with my industrial lighting.
Thanks for dropping in today, I hope that you've enjoyed this post and that you'll visit again soon  :)  

A Selection of Hearts

Hello and welcome to my blog  :)  I'm sharing some 'mini art' with you today in the form of Artists Trading Hearts.  I created them as samples for several Chocolate Baroque tv shows last year, using their stamps and as usual a multitude of techniques.  

For the first project I have used stamps from the CB Harmony Tree and Small Graph sets, CB White Board ATHs, Distress Oxide inks, Sepia Versafine ink, clear EP, watercolour paints, a gold pen and some die cut leaves from my stash.

I blended DOs directly onto the heart then stamped the tree and masked it.  I stamped over the entire heart with the small graph image then removed the mask and painted the tree.  I stamped a few words randomly then covered the whole piece with a clear varnish.  I added a few die cut leaves from my stash, shaping them before attaching them with 3D glue gel.  I stamped a sentiment onto a piece of coloured card and embossed it with clear EP.  I then cut and shaped it into a banner, added some gold dots with a pen and edged the heart with golde.  I added a small leaf to the banner and attached it to the heart.

This project uses stamps from the CB Rememberance Tree set, pearlescent spray inks, Versamark ink, gold EP, gold pen, heatproof acetate, holographic glitter.

I sprayed the pearlescent inks directly onto the white board heart, using brown and blue colours.  When dry I stamped and embossed the tree image in gold onto the heart, and did the same with some words and sentiments onto acetate.  I cut around the words and edged the bottom edges with gold pen, then used the gold pen around the edge of the heart. 

 I added glitter to the tree branches to give it a frosted look.  I then attached the words and sentiments.

The first two hearts were created in Autumn and Winter colours so I decided to create a bright, colourful piece to represent summer.  For this project I have used stamps from the CB Butterfly Mind set, metalic acrylic paints, purple Soft Form Paste, black Versafine ink, a stencil from my stash and a white Posca pen.
I began by placing a large butterfly stencil directly onto the heart substrate and spread the purple paste through it then left it to dry.  I painted the heart between the paste lines and added white pen detailing.  

On a piece of white card I stamped several images in black ink and embossed them in clear EP.  I then painted them with metalic paints in bright co-ordinating colours and added white pen as detailing.  I stamped and embossed  a sentiment, cut around it and painted it.  When everything was dry I cut all the images out, shaped them with a ball tool and attached them to the heart with 3D glue gel.  I added silver pen around the edges of the heart and sentiment panel.

Thanks for dropping in today, I hope you've enjoyed this post and your visit to my blog.  Feel free to leave a comment ( I'd love it if you did!)  and to browse more of my projects and artwork, and I hope to see you here again soon  :) 

Natural Reflection

Hi and welcome to my blog  :)  I have a pretty scenic card to share with you today, it was one of my samples from last year for Chocolate Baroque.  For this project I have used stamps from the Harmony Tree, Sunburst Scenes and Landscape Edges sets; Versamark ink, white EP, Koh-I-Noor watercour paints, Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink and a white paint pen.
 

I began by taking a piece of Kraft card and stamping the large tree, the small tree and the windmill in Versamark ink and embossed them with white EP.  I took a white Posca paint pen and used it to link the stamped images and create a countryside scene.  I then stamped and embossed some words and birds in the sky of the background.  On a spare piece of Kraft card I stamped and embossed a stone wall image twice.  I painted all the images and background with the watercolour paints then cut the walls out. 
  

Next I took a white base card and stamped the stone wall image all round the edges using Vintage Photo DO ink.  I used a brush and water to smudge the ink and create shading on the walls.

    

I blended some DO ink around the edges of the focal panel then attached it to the base card.  I took the painted walls and attached them along the bottom edge of the focal panel with 3D glue gel.  

I think this card is a good worker card, meaning that it would suit virtually any occasion and any recipient - male or female.  

Thanks for stopping by today and visiting my blog.  I hope you've enjoyed this post, feel free to browse more of my projects or leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you!  I hope you'll come back and visit again soon  :)

Breath, Dream Explore

Hello and Welcome to my blog  :)  I have a sweet little card to share with you today which was one of my samples for the Chocolate Baroque tv shows in December, using some of the fabulous Steampunk stamps.  I have used stamps from the Steampunk Funky Fish and Punky Expressions sets; Distress Oxide inks, black Versafine ink, metalic acrylic paints, clear texture gel, a stencil, die cuts and some air dry clay embellishments from my stash.  

  

I began by creating the background panel.  I took a piece of white card and blended three colours of DOs on it, then added some worker images randomly.  When all that was dry I took a stencil, applied texture gel through it  and left it to dry naturally.  I then added some ink around the edges of the panel.

I die cut some leaves that I would use for seaweed, and added some ink to the edges.  On another piece of white card I stamped a sea horse image in black ink and embossed it with clear EP.  I then painted it with metalic acrylic paints and cut it out.  I also coloured some air dry clay shells with the paints.
    

I took a white base card and stamped the same worker stamps around the edges to create a border.  I attached the background panel to the card then added all the embellishments.

I am really pleased with this card, it's a cheerful little project that would cover many occasions and recipients.

Thank you for dropping by today, I hope that you've enjoyed this post and that you will visit my blog again  :)

Imagine What Lies Beneath

Hello and welcome to my blog  :)  I have another of my Chocolate Baroque samples to share with you today, featuring the lovely Steampunk stamps from the shows last month.  For this card I have used stamps from the Steampunk Funky Fish and Steampunk Sea World sets, Distress Oxide inks, black Versafine ink, clear EP, pearlescent ink sprays, metalic acrylic paints, a white pen and an embossing folder from my stash.

I began this project by creating the background.  I took a piece of white card and spayed it with a couple of pearlscent inks and left it to dry.  I then embossed the panel in a folder from my stash, I thought the swirling pattern represented the underwater currents of the ocean.  I then blended DO ink around the edges and matted the panel onto black card.  

I took a white base card and stamped around the edges with one of the large images using DO ink then attached the panel to the card.  

I stamped some fish and a sea creature image onto black card using black Versafine, and embossed them with clear EP.  I coloured the images with metalic acrylic paints and added white pen as highlights before cutting them out.  
  

I shaped all the images with a ball tool before attaching them to the card with 3D gel.  I took a spare piece of white card and stamped a sentiment in black ink and embossed it with clear EP.  I blended a little ink around the edges of the panel then attached it to the card.
  

I had a ball creating this card, I love the little mechanical fishes and creature!  I love the textures that I've created too.  I think this is a cheerful little card that would suit all sorts of occasions and recipients of all ages.

Thank you for stopping by today I hope you've enjoyed this post.  Feel free to take a look at my other work on this site, and I'd love it if you left me a comment!  Hope you'll visit again soon  :)   

Curios Adventures

Hi and welcome to my blog  :)  I have a mixed media Steampunk wall hanging to show you today which was one of my samples for the Chocolate Baroque tv shows last month.  I LOVE Steampunk and I LOVE mixed media so this project was definately a labour of love for me!  I have used stamps from the CB Steampunk Sea World, Steampunk Funky Fish and Punky Expressions sets; chalk acrylic paint, metalic acrylic paints, Distress Oxide Inks, gold Soft Form Paste, gold pen, black Versafine ink, Versamark ink, gold EP and a selection of stencils from my stash.
  

I began by creating the background on an MDF panel.  I gave it a coat of white gesso, and when it was dry I painted a coat of blue chalk acrylic  onto it.  I let that dry then started to layer up several stencilled images using DO inks.  I wanted to create a sense of being deep under the ocean so some of the stencilled images were done in shades of blue on the blue background  to give depth to the piece.  I took some gold Soft Form Paste and added it to the bottom edge of the panel through a stencil to create a sea bed and to add texture. 

I then stamped  several fish, sea creatures and quirky machines in black ink onto black card and embossed them all with clear EP.  I painted them all with metalic acrylics to emphasize the mechanical nature of the images.  I cut them all out and shaped them with a ball tool before attaching them to the panel with 3D glue gel.




The larger images had some 'sand' or 'sea bed' attached to them so I placed them along the bottom edge, above the textured sea bed.

Once the bubbles had been added to the 'thingamybob' I added Glossy Accents to give them a domed shine.  

I stamped a few sentements from the Punky Expressions set onto black card and embossed them with gold EP.  I added gold pen around the edges of the sentiments and the edges of the panel.  I attached the sentiment panels with 3D glue gel, then punched a couple of holes on the top edge of the panel and threaded some cord through to hang the panel up with.

I had so much fun creating this mixed media piece, from layering the stencilled background to attaching all the images.  I never tire of creating art with these fabulous images!  

Thank you for dropping in today, I hope you've enjoyed this post and maybe it will inspire you to have a go.  Feel free to browse here some more, leave me a comment, and I hope that you will pop in again soon  :)