New PaperArtsy EEG Stamp Sets

Hi everyone,

I'm delighted to be able to share with you two new stamp sets that I have designed for PaperArtsy.

As you can see, they are very different to my usual style and obviously influenced by the time that I have been spending in Portugal!

I find a lot of inspiration in the architecture (and nature) of the Algarve .. and the idea for these sets has been brewing for a while. I'm so happy that Leandra and Mark decided to take a chance with my idea.

Over on the PaperArtsy blog right now, you can see some more of the projects that I have made with these stamps. And as an extra bonus, in just 30 minutes there will be another PaperArtsy blog post, this time showing you what the awesomely talented Autumn Clark has made with them too.

What are you waiting for? Go and check them out...

I'd can't wait to hear what you think of them, and please share/tag me with any creations you make with them - I would love to see them.

Enjoy! 

PaperArtsy Blog Post - Topic 4: Architecture, Windows & Doors - Garden View

Hi everyone,

Tonight you will find me over on the PaperArtsy blog with a project using my brand new stamps. I'm just loving these flowers overstamped with a Mini, or coloured with Infusions and Fresco Finish paints. And the Metalline Violet WOW! Embossing Powder - is just gorgeous on the words. And don't get me started on the WOW! Celebration Sparkles!

Why not go and take a look...

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!

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!

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!

New Stamp Designs - EEG13, EEG14 & EEG15

Hi everyone,

Well tonight I get to share with you my brand new stamp designs from PaperArtsy...

Before we get to the stamps themselves, here's a close up of a journal page I made with one of the new sets...

These stamps were inspired by my love of art journaling. If you've ever seen me demo, you'll know I love my paint, stamps and layering - and these stamps are perfect for that. And quotes ... yay ... I do love my quotes. But they're not just for art journaling - you'll see plenty of ideas over on the PaperArtsy blog for cards, canvases, scrapbooking, ATC's etc.

And here are the actual stamps...

Some of you will have seen EEG13 and EEG15 in your local craft shop (or on the imagine that... website) for a few weeks as Leandra released them as an early Christmas present, but EEG14 is brand new.

Over on the PaperArtsy Blog you can see what my fabulous wingmen (Anneke De Clerck, Lauren Hatwell and Etsuko Noguchi) made with the stamps, and I also have a couple of projects that I show step-by-step.

Lights ... camera ... action ...

I hope the projects have got your inspiration flowing and if you think you might "need" them, then they are all available to buy here.

Thank you once again to my wonderful wingmen - you did a brilliant job ladies!

And ssssshhh, this is top secret ... but there might be more to come very soon.

Enjoy!

PaperArtsy Blog Post - Topic 22 Masterboards - Let Us Read Good Books

Hi everyone,

Tonight it is my turn on the PaperArtsy Blog with a masterboard that turned into bookmarks. I enjoyed making these so much and was sooooo excited by how they turned out!

Go and check it out ... you'll find all the instructions over there.

And NEW stamps too ...

I'm so pleased Leandra decided to release these as an early Christmas present to you ... I don't think I could've kept them secret until January! They are available to buy here.

Enjoy!

Stars In Their Eyes

Hi everyone,

It's been a little while since I've posted a project ... in my defence I have been very very busy working on top secret (and very exciting) PaperArtsy stuff for 2016!

A couple of weeks ago it was my nephew's Birthday ... so of course I had to make him a card.   He's seven, and in his own words "all grown up now" ... so I decided a mixed media type card might be the way to go ... paint and embossing powder ... stencils and stamping.

As I had some of the background sheet left over ... I made a couple of extra cards too.

Don't they look fab together...

And here's a close up that better shows the clear and gold embossing.

Enjoy!

More art journal shenanigans...

Hi everyone,

Here's another page I created recently in my art journal.   It's inspired by Roben-Marie Smith.

And yes, neon pink paint is becoming my favourite.

Love the details the white extra-fine Sharpie pen gives.

Enjoy!

Art Journal Fun ...

Hi everyone,

It's been a busy few weeks with all the new releases and Ally Pally, but I did get time to have a little play in my art journal.

These pages were inspired by one of Raemissigan's 15 minute mixed media videos.  

Here's a photo I took after I'd applied most of the base paint colours.

I love her use of colour - and the video took me a little out of my comfort zone with the paint colour combinations.   But I love it!    All of the paints used were PaperArtsy Fresco Finish - except for the neon pink (I am trying to persuade them that we need a neon Limited Edition paint set!).

Enjoy!

Crafting At Ally Pally - Demo and Make & Take

Hi everyone,

As you may know, the craft show at Ally Pally is coming up in a couple of weeks (Sat 19th and Sun 20th to be exact).  Are you going?  I certainly am.

I'll be on the No.1 destination of the show ... the PaperArtsy stand ... and the Make & Take table will also be returning.  If you went to the show in April, you will know how popular this was and how quickly all the spaces sold out. If you want to do one of the projects ... get there early to book your place!

I'll be running a Make & Take Saturday morning ...

... and also demonstrating either side of that ...

... I have lots of ideas for backgrounds using the Golden Gels.  I might even get my gelli plate out and use it with a BRAND NEW medium from PaperArtsy!

Talking of brand new products ... they will of course have all the NEW stuff ... including TWO new seasonal stamp sets from yours truly. :)  Exciting times. You'd be mad to miss it!  If you want tickets or more information on the show, then you can find it here.

See you there!