Inspiration from Paper Artsy bog

Leandra has some amazing designers on her blog lately.  The following piece was inspired by a recent project by Sue Carrington.  Full details are on Paper Artsy blog.

 Sue started with a blank wall hanging but as I didn't have one I used an offcut of chipboard and glued diamond shapes of corrugated card to it as shown.

 I then added texture paste through a handmade stencil as shown below.  

Once dry, I gave the board a base coat of acrylic paint then added a couple of other colours with a baby wipe.  I have to say, I WISH I had the Paper Artsy fresco paints.  I used them at the trade show and have to say they are amazing,  The problem I have is that I need to use the paints up that I have first.......or do I ?

 I continued adding to the background by stencils, masks and text.  All the text on the background are by Paper Artsy.

 Once I was happy with the background I simply  Stamped a couple of Paper Artsy butterflies and added them as shown,

 Then made a rose and some leaves as above.  The photo below shows the dimension of the butterflies.  Take a look on Paper Artsy blo.  I was so pleased I did and am grateful to Sue for the inspiration I gained from her.

 These three tiny frames are the result of a recent class I taught.

 Below are some backgrounds from my art journal....

 I love creating backgrounds....

 I just struggle with adding journaling.

 Instead of journalling I tend to use stamped quotes.

Maybe one day I will get into the journalling side of it.

Sue xxx

Art calendar challenge, April and May

 I'm still ahead with the Art Calendar.

Above is my Mach page and below is my April page.  As always I have added a quote to each monthly page.

 I treat myself to some Paper Artsy JOFY stamps, I love them....

Here's hoping for some more creative time tomorrow....Sue xxx

Candles

A week ago, my friend came round and we experimented different ways of adding stamped images to candles.

It's not something I have ever done, or probably would do often but it was a great day....Thanks for the fun Lisa!

Sue x

Julie Nutting 'Girly' tags

I have been in my element!  

I have actually bought some new stamps!

I have actually USED them!

I have really enjoyed creating!

I can't wait to create some more!

OK, I will calm down just a bit but I can't believe how much I love working with the new Julie Nutting doll stamps.  They remind me so much of the cut out and dress dolls from my childhood, but obviously WAAAAAAY better.  

Here's hoping that one day Julie will visit the UK and I am able to get on a class with her, now wouldn't that be AMAZING?

Sue xxx  

Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Challenge............

 Well I have FINALLY finished my 'Tattered Florals Creations' for Tim Holtz' Challenge on his blog 

http://timholtz.com/tattered-floral-challenge/

It ends tomorrow, so I am amazed to actually be posting this.  I always have good intentions to enter challenges, but fail miserably, however TATTERED FLORALS is my favourite die ever!!!!!!!

The plaque above uses layers of paper which I made myself (more on that later) with the largest flower on the die plate..... and also the smallest flower too (the one on the hand made heart).

 The plaque above uses layers of the 'daisy' shape from the die......oh and I threw an another of my faves, one of the beautiful butterflies .....

 The simple hanging heart above uses the middle sized flower which I formed as a 'rose'

 Close up

 And another

 and another

 and finally.....

 These photo's are in the wrong order, sorry I always mess up!  I used emulsion to create my 'hand made papers, all scrunched up shabbily!

 Above shoes the die cuts, below shows the finished paper before cutting.

 To change the colour of the daisy type flower I added distress inks.  As 'my ladies' who come to my classes know, I just CAN'T live without them!!!!!!

 Ihave added the following in error, but it is the parts I cut from the medium flower in order to create the 'rose'.  I have simply LOVED this challenge!!!!!

In fact I am AMAZED I posted them, now to see if I can manage to add my link on Tim's blog........Here goes.....

See you soon

Sue xxx

Izzy Wizzy I've been bizzy

  I've done more crafting in the last few weeks than I have done for aaaaages, main reason being I have no car!  I quite like the fact that I can't just get up and go when I choose.  The top sample is a book cover taught by the amazing Leandra Franich.  It uses the new paints and rubber stamps by Paper Artsy, one of my ever favourite companies http://www.paperartsy.co.uk/  

The frame above was made using the 'lasagne frame' technique which I had published many years ago in a magazine called Simply Stamping.  The hearts, hat pin and rose are hand made and the butterfly and leaves are die cuts.

The heart above was simply covered with an off cut of wall paper and decorated with a couple of leaves and flowers.  Simple but effective.

Almost there......................  I love, love LOVE the new stamps by Julie Nutting for Prima. I have had the book 'Collage Couture by Julie Nutting a while now and made a couple of large framed 'couture' pictures after attending a brilliant class at Grimsby Crafts, taught by Polly http://artfulwings.blogspot.co.uk/ ( Here's my first attempt using one of the stamps on a tag.  The rose and heart are handmade, leaves are punched and background is painted and overstamped.

http://thekathrynwheel.blogspot.co.uk/

Finally my March page for the art calendar challenge organised by Kate Crane. Click on the link to see more of Kates brilliant work.

 The bunting and tag were made from a sheet of collage, background is painted, stencilled and overstamped.  Stamps are all from my old faithful Paper Artsy collection.....timeless.

Unfortunately I get little time for blog hopping now but for those of you who still visit my blog and / or leave comments thanks, I am really appreciative. Hope you find some inspiration here.

Sue xxx

Another page

Here's my most recent page from one of my art journals.  Not my usual colours, but I was pleased I used with them.  I made a 'stamp' out of an old polystyrene tile as an experiment and it worked well.  It shows up white on the background. The rose is a rubber stamp and the image and text is a copy from one of my old postcards.

That's it for now, short and sweet.  See you again soon.

Sue x

Shabby tags

I have always loved creating tags and have really enjoyed creating these recently.

 I grabbed a few tags and started creating various mixed media backgrounds in fairly subtle colours.

 I created hearts using various techniques as I wanted to use a heart on each tag.

http://www.craftyindividuals.co.uk/

 I then raided my stash of images , most of which are by my favourite 'crafty individuals' 

 then started putting them all together with ribbons, lace, rub ons, and tiny embellishments.

Hope you like them!

Sue xxx

No boundaries...

 I've been 'getting into' just simply faffing around and experimenting in my journals over the past couple of days.  I'm ahead on my calendar, brain child of the amazing Kate Crane.  Take a look at her blog. 

http://thekathrynwheel.blogspot.co.uk/

 I decided to go a little 'strange' and did a couple of weird and wacky pages.

I bloomin well enjoyed it too.  No boundaries, not too much worrying , just painting, glueing, stamping and 'thinking outside the box' a bit.  

 All of the stamps used are some of my old faithful Paper Artsy's

 I managed to prepare a couple more backgrounds......

 three to be precise......

 and completed yet another 'different' page.

I reckon I have finally accepted the fact that journaling should be fun and that 'anything goes'.

Sue x

A little bit of art journaling

 At last I have completed January's art calendar page.  The background was created using ripped text, Jo Sonja acrylics, silver metallic spray and stencilling through sequin waste.  I have decided to add a rubber stamped sentiment to each month, the one added above (a snowflake is winters butterfly) is by Hero Arts and happens to be one of my favourites.  Tree is chipboard and from Crafty Individuals.  I added white crackle paint to add detail.  Title is a cuttlebug alphabet die set.  There's a lot more inspiration on Kate's blog,  http://thekathrynwheel.blogspot.co.uk/  Sorry I can't seem to get the link. 

Here's my most recent art journal page.  I was inspired by the tattoo ' We all laugh a red butterflies' and focussed on the colours red and black.  I think I'm enjoying art journaling more each time I complete a page, it is very relaxing! 

I'll be back with my February page soon.

Sue xI