Stencil Girl & PaperArtsy Winter Blog Hop

Hi everyone,

Well I am so very very happy to be part of this fantastic blog hop between Stencil Girl and PaperArtsy.  It started on Wednesday - and if you haven't already seen all the other wonderful projects, then there's a list of links at the bottom of this post!  PLUS there's a...

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Visit the fabulous designers from both teams and comment for your chance to win!

The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to WIN!
(just one comment per blog please.)

You have until Friday, December 30th at 11:59PM Central Time to leave your comments.

The winner will be announced on Sunday 1 January onStencilGirl's Facebook page and PaperArtsy's blog

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And now onto my project. 

I created this art journal page, layering up paint, ink, embossing paste and of course stencils! And this is how I did it...

1) I used my Dylusions 8"x8" black journal for this page (I really like using dark backgrounds as a base at the moment). I stenciled Fresco Finish Snowflake paint through stencil S151 all over the page.

2) Once the paint was dry, I stenciled M071 using Archival Ink Vibrant Fuschia in several places, and then filled in the blank spaces with S331 using Archival Ink Paradise Teal and Vivid Chartreuse.

3) I added some dots using Fresco Finish Snowflake paint through stencil M080, and then went back over the top with Archival Ink Buttercup. I wasn't worried if they didn't match up.

4) I swiped some neon pink paint around the page, and also stenciled M071 again - in different places, and this time with Archival Ink Jet Black.

5) I used a black pen to doodle around the pattern made with M080, and a white extra fine Sharpie pen to add lots of dots.

6) I mixed up some Fresco Finish White Fire paint with some Dreamweaver translucent embossing paste, and applied it through stencil L318. It adds a little bit of texture without being too bulky, and the mica in the paint adds a little sparkle when it dries.

7) To finish the page I added a quote from one of my stamp sets (EEG21) - stamped onto PaperArtsy Smoothy cardstock using Archival Ink Jet Black - and then outline the quote and the page with a black pen.

I hope you enjoyed my project - please leave a comment if you did (and that enters you into the GIVEAWAY too!).

The stencils I used are shown below:

S151 - Half Moon Slant

S331 - Puddles

M071 - Nonsensical Bloom

M080 - Repetition Stencil

L318 - Wall Of Words

And here's that list of the other fabulous blog posts:

Dec. 21
Darcy Wilkinson
Kim Dellow
Mary C. Nasser
Gwen Lafleur

Dec. 22
Jo Firth Young
Lauren Hatwell
Kristie Taylor
Tina Walker

Dec. 23
Clare Lloyd
Lin Brown
Anna Friesen
Janet Joehlin

Dec. 24
Kay Carley
Emma Godfrey
Cindy Gilstrap
Karen Gaunt

Enjoy!

WOW! Blog Post - Love Is All Around

Hi everyone,

Today I am delighted to be over on the WOW! Embossing Powder Blog with a gift idea using their fab products.

I created a piece of art to fit inside an IKEA frame – perfect for a personalised present. 

All the instructions are on the WOW! Blog, but in case you're wondering I used Archival Ink Watering Can for the stenciling and stamping the WOW! French Music Clear Stamp Set, and Archival Ink Sky Blue to stamp the triangle from the WOW! Let It Snow (by Marion Emberson) Clear Stamp Set.

The brayered background was created using PaperArtsy Amethyst, Haystack, Lake Wanaka, Chalk and Pumpkin Soup Fresco Finish Paints.

All WOW! products are available from their stockists, or on their website. If you haven't tried them yet, I promise you will {love} the new WOW! Sparkles.

Enjoy!

PaperArtsy Blog Post - Topic 20: Squares & Grids - Three By Three

Hi everyone,

Tonight I have a step-by-step wall art project over on the PaperArtsy blog... go and check it out!

Enjoy!

September Workshop #2

September Workshop #1

New Stamp Designs - EEG19, EEG20 & EEG21

Hi everyone,

Well tonight it is my turn to reveal my new PaperArtsy Autumn/Winter stamps ...

 

As you can see there are three big sets ... that could maybe be perfect for Halloween and Christmas. I didn't want to restrict them to just those celebrations, so I'm hoping that you also think they are versatile to be used all year round!

So why not pop over to the PaperArtsy Blog to see the first three projects I've made with them... and if you're going to Stamperama tomorrow, I can show them to you in person.

Enjoy!

August Workshop #2

August Workshop #1

Grab Yourself A Bargain - Closing Down Sale

Hi everyone,

I have made the decision to close down my www.imaginethatpapercrafts.co.uk retail website.

Unfortunately it just takes to long to manage the stock, when I could be teaching (or even doing more regular blog posts! Lol).

So we are holding a CLOSING DOWN SALE. It will start at 00:01 on Thursday 4th August, and finish at 23:59 on Sunday 7th August.

There are serious bargains to be had ... some products have a massive 90% off the RRP! And don't delay ... as there is just one left of a number of items!

To go to the website you can either click on the link or the image above, or on the shop link in the right hand bar.

I hope you find something you like ... and thank you so much for your continued support over the last 10 years!

Enjoy!

ps. Just in case you're wondering ... the Upminster Crops are still continuing as usual ... all the information is on the website!

PaperArtsy Blog Post - Topic 13: Paper Piecing - Patchwork Frame

Hi everyone,

Tonight you'll find me over on the PaperArtsy blog with this decorated frame for their latest topic - paper piecing.

If you want to know how I made this project, then hop on over there for the step-by-step instructions!

Enjoy!

July Workshop #2

JulyWorkshop #1

Our apologies, but we have had to cancel the Crop & Shop and workshops on Saturday 18 June. The workshops will now take place on the next date, which is Saturday 16 July. Our apologies for any inconvenience.

May Workshop #2

May Workshop #1

Upcoming Workshops & Demos

Hi everyone,

Some of you have been asking where I'm teaching in the next few months ... so I thought it would be a good idea to give you an updated list ...

Saturday 14 May - That's Crafty
(Harold Wood, Essex - 01708 344146)

Art Journaling : 10am-4pm
Cost : £35 - SOLD OUT

Sunday 5 June - Birds In The Barn

(Marks Tey, Essex - 01206 211099)

Demonstration : 10am-1pm

Cost : FREE

Mixed Media Cards : 2pm-4pm

Cost : TBC

Saturday 23 July - The Forget Me Not Kraft Kabin

(Rochford, Essex - 01702 547833)

Art Journaling : 10am-4pm

Cost : TBC

Saturday 29 October - Keep On Crafting

(Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk - 01284 701101)

Mixed Media Card Making : 10am-12.30pm
Cost : TBC

Mixed Media Triptcyh : 1.30pm-4pm
Cost : TBC


Saturday 4 November / Sunday 5 November - Stampers Grove
(Edinburgh, Scotland - 0131 221 9440)

Workshop Details & Cost Coming Soon

As you know, I love bright colours ... and I have lots of ideas to share with you ... so each class will be a bit different. I'll add photos to the blog once the class samples have been completed.

On each class we will of course be using the fabulous PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints and my PaperArtsy EEG stamp sets.  We'll also play with stamps, stencils & masks, mark making, textures, lots of layers and more...

I'd love you to join me. Why not contact the shops above to book your place...

April Workshop #2

April Workshop #1

PaperArtsy Blog Post - Topic 7 Resists - Through The Round Window

Hi everyone,

Tonight you can find me over on the PaperArtsy blog, where I will show you how to make these two cards with a resist effect ... loved the chance to use the Infusions with some WOW embossing powders!

Enjoy!

Today ... A Work In Progress - Part 2

Hi everyone,

I'm back with part 2 of my "word of the year" project.  This is where I go up to last time, and you can find Part 1 here.

So here we go... first up I stamped and heat embossed the word "today" (this is an old Technique Tuesday set - I love it because the letters are outline and huge). I then painted inside the letters with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Gold paint.

Holding the sheet up, I then sprayed quite a lot of Tarnished Brass Distress Spray Stain at the top of the page - I let it drip down the page about halfway, before laying it back down on my table. I left it for a few moments and then blotted off the excess liquid.

Next I wanted to add some texture. I stenciled the dotty circles using Ranger's Texture Paste, and the chickenwire with Dreamweaver Translucent Embossing Paste. I knew the Dreamweaver paste would go completely see through when it was dry, whereas Ranger's paste would stay fairly white (but still show hints of the colour underneath).

I painted some of the Crazing Distress Collage Medium over the circle stencils and onto blank areas too. I then went a little crazy with Tim Holtz's splatter tool and PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Little Black Dress paint. I {heart} the effect.

I added some Distress Crayons over the circle stenciled areas, and blended the colours in with a wet wipe. I think it was probably a bit too wet, as the colours merged into one to give an overall purple effect. But I still like it. In the picture below you can see the Crazing Collage Medium - I may still go over this again with the crayons  and work them in with a damp finger instead..

My final steps for this part was to add some spots with some white paint and the wooden end of a paintbrush, and ...

... some squiggles with my favourite Sharpie Extra Fine White Paint Pen.

Here's another close up ...

That's it for now ... but there will be more to come ... look out for Part 3 coming soon.

Enjoy!

Today ... A Work In Progress - Part 1

Hi everyone,

At the start of this year I decided not to set New Years resolutions (after all, I never stick to them!), and instead I chose a word to focus on for 2016.  My word is TODAY.

I've found that it's really helped me to focus on what I want to do - every morning I will think "what do I want to achieve today?" and change that answer into a statement (or two) - "Today I will ...".

In January I brought myself an IKEA Ribba frame - one of the big ones with room for a 12"x12" picture - with every intention of creating something for it to represent my word of the year. Well weeks have passed, and it seemed like such a big project that I never could find time for. Until today. I've decided to start it - afterall, I don't need to finish it in one day do I?  So this is Part 1 of my journey - I have no idea how it's going to turn out - but what's the worse that could happen eh?

I started with a sheet of PaperArtsy 12"x12" Heavy Smoothy, and added some pieces of scrap patterned paper. I then covered it with a layer of Dina Wakely Clear Gesso.

Next I wanted some colour and pattern ... so I stenciled some circles and a sun-ray with Archival Ink Pads - and also the year. (I don't mind if the year can't be seen at the end of the project - but I felt it was important to include it).

Now for some colour. I scrapped various PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints over the page (Caribbean Sea, Chalk, Limelight, Tango and Bougainvillea).

I then added more Chalk with a brayer to knock the brightness back (just a tad).

I stencilled some text in random areas, and painted thicker areas of Chalk to add more "white space".

I then sanded pretty much everything. I wanted some of the patterned papers to peek back through the layers, and I love the effect of this text piece with a resist effect on it (I think it was a Prima paper).

And that's it for Part 1. Hope you'll join my for the next installment...

Enjoy!