Wonderful Wednesday - Pretty Romantic

Hello again and welcome to my first Wednesday post!

As you may have begun to tell I do like a bit of alliteration (comes from previously being a primary school teacher) and hopefully you are all having a lovely mid week.

Following on from my steampunk themed bottle on Monday, I am going for a different feel today, I am going for pretty and romantic. 
As it will soon be February I thought it would be good to start getting ready for the 'special' day.  Also over on Hels Sheridan's blog 'Ink on My Fingers' she runs a challenge, and at the moment the theme is 'Oh you pretty thing'.  So what better excuse do I need?
If you haven't seen Hels blog before do go over for a look as she makes beautiful items and also has some fab tutorials.

Anyway here is what I decided to use for my project (this was not the first photo I took as I did change my mind a couple of times)...

 

I decided to use an MDF tag rather than make a card as I like being able to add textures and mediums, and the MDF gives me a much more sturdy surface to work on.  The papers, stamps and dies are all by Heartfelt Creations (the Romantique collection) as they just seemed perfect for the colour scheme that I wanted for this project.

 

First I painted the tag with gesso and applied the paper using gel medium.  After sanding off the edges with an emery board I painted on watered down distress paint (tattered rose and worn lipstick).  Once this had dried I used a gold gilding pen around the edges  and then used the same colours of distress ink to blend around the paper...

I wanted some extra interest in the background so used one of the stamps that matched the paper and embossed the images using shabby pink embossing enamel from Stampendous.  I then used the script part of a stencil with champagne sparkle medium (the stencil is from TCW, Mini Grow Page) to add even more texture but still fit with the look of the paper...





The pink embossing is quite subtle but shows up better in the final photos. 
Now I was ready to die cut!  I used the Romantique dies to cut the main floral focal point then stamped and die cut the pieces to build up the flowers.  I also wanted even more texture so used a Tim Holtz die  (I recently discovered these and had to purchase them) called Mixed Media...

When these had been cut I coloured the floral elements using distress inks (picked raspberry and seedless preserves) and coloured the mixed media die cut using distress paints before adding some of the same shabby pink embossing powder.  I also stamped an appropriate sentiment (one from a retired Stampin'Up! set) which was die cut using Sue Wilson's Italian Circles die.  Finally they were all sprayed with some iridescent glitter varnish to give them a finishing touch...

It was then a case of putting all the elements together.  I used Pinflair glue gel to add extra dimension and make sure that it was stuck thoroughly.  I prefer to use this rather than silicon glue as I can not stand the smell that has!!  For hanging purposes I attached a piece of organza ribbon, and chose a darker colour as felt it looked better than a pink piece...

So there it is, my pretty romantic creation!

 

I hope you like it and thank you for looking.  I will be back on Friday and as it is a Funtastic Friday I will see what long lost goodies I have in my cupboard...friendly plastic? melt pot? paper clay? hmmm will have to have a good look and a play!

 

Enjoy the final part of your week,

 

Jane x

Mixed Media Monday - Altered Steampunk Bottle

Good morning to you!

After my detour on Friday I am back with some more messy, texturedness (I know not a real word) today!
Whilst looking for challenges to take part in I found one over at Country view Crafts that had the theme of 'Be Inspired by Bottles'.  Now in the past I have decorated jars as fairy lanterns but thought that a bottle could be something new and different for me to try, so I have!  I used this as the starting point for my project but have combined it with some other themes/challenges as well.

This project is being entered into:

* Country View Crafts Challenge - Be Inspired by Bottles
* SanDee and amelie's Steampunk Challenge - Anything Goes Steampunk/Industrial
* Rhedd's Creative Spirit - An Altered Art Challenge
* Altered Eclectics - An Altered Art/Mixed Media Challenge
* More Mixed Media Challenge - Colour Blue
* Our Creative Corner - Make Time, Mood board Challenge

There were a lot of stages to making this project and I have to admit that at some points I got carried away and forgot to take photos, so if the pictures seem to jump a few stages that is why! 
To start here is a picture of what I intended to use, although as always this may have altered as I went along...

The first thing I did was to paint the bottle with white gesso to provide a base coat that other things could stick to.  Once this had dried I added clear crackle texture paste (Prima), thick at the bottom and thinner towards the top.  I left it to dry over night (very patient for me!!), however in the morning the thick layers hadn't dried out completely and I ended up using a heat tool! Using 2 different stencils from IndigoBlu and Bee Crafty I applied some glass bead gel (Golden Mediums) and also spread some in random places.  My aim was to create as many different textures as I could at this stage...

Once this had all dried I added a selection of metal and chipboard embellishments.  I wanted the heaviest area to be at the bottom (flowers, cogs and leaves) with the main focal points being the clock faces nearer the top.  These were stuck on using 3D matte gel medium (Prima), but I have to admit that due to my rushing on with other stages I also ended up reinforcing some of the pieces with Pinflair glue gel...

Next I needed to cover everything added so far with another layer of gesso to provide a key for the inks and paints.  I was originally going to do this white but in the end decided to use black as I thought it would suit the style better (I honestly don't know if it made any difference!)...

This is where my next photo will leap ahead a bit!!  I had gathered together inks and paints that went with the mood board colours of one of the challenges.  I painted the bottom 2 thirds using Goldfinger paint from IndigoBlu and used Peacock Feathers distress paint for the top third.  Prima Bloom spray inks were then used to create the colour scheme I wanted (Tea Stain, Antique Gold, Gold Foil, Worn Leather, Glistening Waves) and later I added a bit of Lindys Stamp Gang spray as well.  Between layers I used my heat tool and afterwards added gilding wax (Pebeo Gold and Creative Expressions Patina).  To add extra interest I stamped cogs etc. onto tissue paper using brown Staz On ink and applied it with IndigoBlu slap it on medium. At this stage I decided that I wanted to add some words and applied some Tim Holtz Big Chat stickers...

Using more 3D Matte Medium I mixed up some Prima micro beads (copper, bronze and splash) and added them to the matching areas on the bottle.  Glass beads (turquoise and butter) were also added to some areas for a different texture. 
The main part of the project was now finished, but I like to add an even more 3D element as well as a sentiment (I love words and quotes).  I die cut a butterfly from Sue Wilson's Magical Butterflies (both the complete and decorative layer) from Prima Timeless Memories paper which I had spritzed with matching inks to the bottle.  I also stamped and embossed a sentiment (from the Time Flies stamp set that I used earlier) onto the same paper.  The butterfly then had some texture heat embossed onto it using a Bo Bunny stamp, and I used the same stamp to add some distress ink around the sentiment.  The sentiment was finished off with an edging of gilding wax...

To make the butterfly a bit more steampunk I added a screw type embellishment (I think it was from a Tim Holtz set).  Quite a long project but lots of fun.  Oh I must add that I find the Prima Bloom inks leave your projects quite sticky so I always add a layer of matt spray varnish (from a well known DIY store!) and that way it doesn't add shine but seals everything in. 
So here is the finished piece with an extra couple of close ups...

Thank you for taking the time to come and have a look! 

I have been getting quite quick at creating these posts now so have decided to add another day to the mix!  From this week I will be posting new projects on Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's.  Hopefully this won't become too much for me, but if I need to cut back again I will let you know.

This Wednesday is going to be a bit more romantic and 'pretty' to suit the upcoming celebrations in February...

Enjoy your week,

Jane x

Funtastic Friday - Disco Diva!

Hello to you all,

Well today I have something completely different!!

After all my vintage/steampunk creations I decided for this Friday to go for something a bit more funky using a stamp set that I have had for a few months but hadn't got around to using.

I will be entering this project into the Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge, which is to create a card using this sketch...

 

These are the main items that I used...

 



 

The playful part of the project this week was for me to do some colouring.  I used to love colouring as a child and I know that it has made a big revival recently.  I do not have any photos of the stages of this part as I had a few different goes at deciding how to cut down the image and also had not quite decided what medium to use for colouring so I only realised to take a photo once it was done. 

 

 First the main image was stamped and then cut out with a die.  Using inktense pencils I coloured the image, selecting 3 different shades for the hair.  I mostly took the ink from the pencil with a water brush, but where I wanted a darker colour I used the pencil directly on the image.  I then sprayed the whole piece with iridescent glitter spray from Crafters Companion and added a bit of Chloe's bling.  The sentiment was from the same set and also sprayed and a gem added.  Two of the glitter balls were stamped in versamark and embossed in silver then Ice Maiden glitter added.  One was put next to Betty and the other saved for later...

 

 

Next I wanted to create a strip for the middle of the card and decided to use Sue Wilsons Intertwining Circles striplet.  I cut 2 background layers out of card covered in double sided adhesive sheet and 2 layers of the inside pattern within the edge die, from holographic silver card.  These were then matted together and silver glitter from Finnabair added to the exposed areas...

 

 

Then to create a background layer I cut a 6" x 6" square of card and sprayed it with Lindys Stamp gang Steel Shimmer and Heidi Swapp Tinsel.  A stencil from Imagination Crafts (retro squares) was then used with silver sparkle paste...

 

 

Once it had all dried I matted the pieces using silver holographic card and layered them up with foam tape and glue gel, adding a piece of silver cord to the side and finally the other glitter ball. 

 

Here is the finished creation...

 

 

Hopefully a very sparkly and funky creation!!

 

I have already spotted an interesting looking challenge for my next mixed media project so watch this space next Monday!

 

 

Have a happy crafting weekend,

 

Jane x



Mixed Media Monday - Sparkling Butterfly

Hello again!

I did as I said last week and had a play with some of my dies and even made 2 cards which I posted on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/isleofcraftycreations) and one which I posted on here! 

This week I am back to a mixed media piece and am entering it into 4 challenges!

The first is the IndigoBlu Challenge Blog and the theme is 'All That Sparkles'
The second is the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog where the theme is 'Time Flies'

The third is the Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog where the theme is 'Anything Goes'
And last but not least the fourth is the Craft Stamper Challenge Blog where the theme is 'Take a Stamp, Anything Goes'

So here goes...

These are the main items that were used but there were more! The focal part of the piece is the MDF butterfly which I have a collection of since buying them at Alexandra Palace last year (or maybe the year before!), so I thought it would be a good time to get creating with them, especially as it fit with my IndigoBlu stamps and the flying theme.

First I painted both sides of the MDF with black gesso (Art Basics from Prima) and then attached a piece of butterfly Vintage Memories paper (IndigoBlu) using slap it on.  Using a sanding block and emery board I took the edges off the paper and then watered down some Goldfinger paint (IndigoBlu) and painted a wash over most of the paper, making it slightly heavier on the edges, then flicked some gold spots on as well...

I then used a butterfly stamp from an exclusive IndigoBlu set that came with a magazine, inking it up with Versamark then embossing with Wow! embossing powder, twinkling lights.  This was repeated until I had a number that I thought looked ok.  Next I used flitterglu and chocolate box gilding flakes with my Vintage Flourish stamp (IndigoBlu), and stamped and gilded in the spaces around the sides of the butterfly.  Once this was done I wasn't entirely happy and thought something didn't look right, so I ran my glue around the edges of the MDF and gilded all the way round, this then gave it a more coherent and finished look...

To complete the background part of the project I wanted to add some texture and so stencilled through a diamond stencil (IndigoBlu) using Gold Shine sparkle paste (Imagination Crafts)...

Then I went on to make the parts to complete the piece.  I stamped with flitterglu again, this time the Big Butterfly stamp (IndigoBlu) twice onto a piece of paper from Timeless Memories by Prima.  When I had cut them out I layered them together to create more dimension.  I then used the piece of paper left from the initial covering of the MDF butterfly and stamped a sentiment from the Enjoy Life set (IndigoBlu) using Vintage Sepia by Versafine and after cutting out with a vintage label die from Justrite, I inked around the edges with distress ink...

Once it was all put together I felt that the butterfly needed a bit more of something...sparkle!  So I added a few blue circle dazzlers from Creative Expressions to tie in with the whole colour theme.  Finally a piece of blue ribbon to hang it and I was done...

I loved making this and was really happy with how it turned out, especially as halfway though I wasn't convinced! 

I will keep searching out more challenges and will have a good look through my craft cupboard for what to use for the next one.
Hopefully you will have a lovely rest of your week whatever you are doing,

Jane x

Funtastic Friday - Gelli plate cog card

Hi everyone!

Now I know it is not Monday but as I have really gotten back into my crafting since Christmas I have decided that I will now start doing 2 blog posts per week, Mixed Media Monday and also Funtastic Friday (it is quite hard coming up with names!).
Funtastic could mean just about any craft project for me as I love them all and think craft is and should be fun, but I am going to try to make sure that it contains some sort of more playful element (for me anyway) if that makes sense?  I am also going to incorporate more challenges and with that in mind this project is being entered into 2 this week...

1) Die Cutting Divas - this challenge is to follow a sketch this week, which incorporates at least one die cut (not a problem for me due to my slight addiction in the last few months to dies!).   Here is the sketch...

 

2) Anything But Cute Challenge - this one is any mixed media project that contains some of your new crafty stash...

 



 

 

So here is the main part of what I used for my project...

 

The playful part of this project for me is the gelli plate.  I have had it a while but only really used it once when I first got it, so this was a good opportunity for me to have a play around with how to use it.  The new part is the cog die cuts (you can just about see them) from my Memory Box steampunk corner die that I bought with some Christmas money.  However I have to admit that the main stamped image and sentiment and die cuts could also probably count as new as I realised when I got them out that the stamps still had the backing on the foam where they hadn't been used (oh dear!).

First I created my background using acrylic paints on the gelli plate and stencils from Finnabair and Tim Holtz.  I made a few different ones until I had what I wanted, and I wasn't too fussy as I knew I was going to add more to it.  Once it dried I added more stencilling with distress ink, gelatos round the edge and some stamping and spritzing until it looked like this...

 

 

I then matted and layered it up with vintage gold and brown card...

 

 

For the strips I added colour to my cog die cuts (which I had cut up from the corners to be able to make strips) using distress ink and sprays then a little bit of gold gilding wax.  They still seemed to lack something, so after I had backed them onto some kraft card I added a few gems, a bit more spray and some ink along the edges.  I used 3 more cogs from the same die to make my embellishments for the top of the card...

 

 

After laying it all out I was then able to choose the size of circle die cut that I wanted and cut out 2 to mat together with my Stampin'Up! circle dies (this must be one of my most used sets).  I matched the colours to the main mats from earlier.  Then I stamped my focal image from Heartfelt Creations (All Geared Up) onto kraft card and added some ink and sprays.  I cut a 'cog flower' from the matching Heartfelt Creations dies and layered them up with a final gem.  The sentiment came from the same stamp set and it then just needed to all be stuck together...

 

 

The card is 8" x 8" and because I layered it up with foam tape I added some card to the inside to balance it out and put it into a box.

 

I hope you like it, I certainly did have fun making it and will be getting my gelli plate out more regularly from now on!

 

I will also be putting this card onto my Facebook page www.facebook.com/isleofcraftycreations

If you would like to take a look at my page do please pop over.

 

Enjoy your weekend and I will be back on Monday,

 

Jane x

Mixed Media Monday - Believe in the magic...

Happy new year!

I hope you all had a great time and are looking forward to 2016?  I don't do new year resolutions but I have decided that this year my aim is to get some of those 'long lost' craft purchases out of the cupboard and make myself use them!!  Gelli plate, melt pot and friendly plastic to name but a few!
To help me do this and to give me purpose for my blog posts I have decided to enter some online craft challenges, and the first one is from Mixed Media World  (you can click on the blog title for a link or there is a link in my blog list to the side).

The challenge is to create a mixed media piece using this photo as inspiration...

 

Living on the Isle of Wight this scene is quite a familiar one for me in the winter, and I have always found the beach at this time of year to be calming and somewhat magical, so the colour scheme immediately made me think of a fantasy/magical theme.  I apologise in advance as this post has quite a few photos to show the steps, but I will try to be as concise as possible.

I started my project by getting out all of the media that I had that matched the colour scheme, inks, glitters, beads, gelatos and more and because I knew I wanted to layer up some heavier items I decided to use a paper mache hanging icon as my base.  These are the items I started with although they may not all have been used and others may have been added...

The base for my project had some dry wall tape (I think that's what it is called!) and 2 coats of white gesso added.  I use art basics heavy gesso from Finnabair/Prima, as I like the thickness of the coverage...

Next I used a star stencil from Stampin'Up! and a textures one from TCW to add extra texture.  The stars were added using white crackle medium, however as I dried it with my heat gun (due to lack of patience) there were no crackles!  The bottom texture was with Golden glass bead gel...

Next was one of the most fun parts.  Using chipboard, MDF and metal embellishments that I have bought/collected from various places, I laid out the elements that I wanted.  Extra texture was also added under a few of the flowers using gauze.  I knew that it was going to be floral at the bottom but wanted to add some butterflies and dragonflies to my starry night sky.  When I was happy with the layout all the elements were stuck down with Pinflair glue gel, but I do often use the art basics thick matt gel instead.  Once these has dried (well almost), I painted over it all with white gesso, it had 2 coats then I gave the metal elements another coat as they needed a bit extra...

An attempt was made to try to let it all dry thoroughly on it's own, but I must admit that my heat gun was in use quite a lot!  Then it was time for my spray booth to be used, also known as a cardboard box.

I used sprays from Lindy's Stamp Gang (steel shimmer) and Dylusions (white and black) to provide my base.  My aim was to create an ombre type effect so I tried to keep the darker colour to the top.  Then I used gelatos to blend in more colour (white, Earl Grey and silver) and created a darker top by using a black Pitt marker from Faber-Castell and a white Posca pen at the bottom to keep it lighter.  I spent quite a while adding my mediums until I felt it looked right.  I then used my black marker around some of the elements to create more definition and also added highlights with my white pen and some silver gilding wax...

Glitter and embellishments were next, especially as I wanted this piece to feel magical.  I used glitters from art basics with soft gel medium in the different shades across the whole icon.  Microbeads in black and silver were added using thick matt gel, then beads from my collection were added to and around the flowers.  I also decided at this point that some splattered white would add a bit of extra interest...

Nearly done!  Finally I had to have some words on the piece so used an appropriate phrase from my Tim Holtz small talk book and stamped a fairy from Lavinia Stamps onto heat proof acetate and embossed her in black.  Glitter was added to the back of her wings and then she was able to be placed on the flowers. 

Here is the final piece plus a couple of close up shots...

I had really good fun making this and look forward to the next challenge that I do.  I am also going to keep to my decision and get some dies out over the next week that haven't seen much daylight and see if by getting some cutting done I can be inspired.

Enjoy your week whatever you are doing,

Jane x