Infused Grunge Paste

Paper Artsy challenged us to use Infusions in new ways and I took inspiration from Alison Hall to make my page. However, instead of paint, I used Grunge Paste to up the ante!

I am sharing the results here despite the poorly chosen colours and lacklustre design because I think as a technique it works well and looks nice. If only I'd had the time to have another go...

My base is Kraft cardstock and I applied some gesso first before stencilling the grunge paste through the Fabric stencil (Dutch Doobadoo).
Immediately after I sprinkled the Infusions Violet Storm at the top, Golden Sands in the Middle and Are you Cerise at the bottom, using the paint knife to spread the powder/paste. Of course by using the knife in this way, the colours do mix up a little, but that is fine.
Next, I added some stamping using the ELB33 set, which I also used to stamp the leaves and quote.

The Gesso'ed background was niggling me so I used a green iridescent spray to soften the colours.
I was concerned this would re-wet the stencilled Infusions but it didn't... phew!!

I used Golden Sands Infusions again on the die-cut for the quote. This is not a single shape by the way, I just used a curved stitched line (Stitched Snow hills from Stamplorations) several times around the quote.

Thanks for coming by,
Also entering the SSS Monday Challenge, We Love To Create challenges.

Fabric bag

Before showing you my latest make let me remind you that the Craft Barn has a blog candy of the 12 new colours of PaperArtsy Infusions!!! Don't delay and enter here, they are gorgeous and so much fun to play with.

Back to the crafting...

This is a bit unusual for me as my forays on fabric are few and far between, but, I have relished testing out some fabric paints that promised a soft feel and I have plans for some wearable art...

Today it's a more humble shopping bag that I have used as a base for my painting.

I have created a step by step that you can see here.

Supplies:
Cotton bag
So Soft paints
Paper Artsy EKC02
Brilliance Dew Drop in Graphite Black
Sizzix Thinlit Mixed Media 1 (for the home made stencils used top and bottom left)

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the Stamping Sensations, Penny Black and More and Stamplorations MM & Stencil  challenges.

In the spotlight

Sadly the Spotlight is not for me but for the Time Out Challenges who are turning 3 this month and Uniko Studio who celebrate their 5th Anniversary. Congratulations to both!

Before being underwhelmed by my CAS card, I want you to know that it took me the best part of a day to come up with this design, having consigned a few tries to the bin!

I stamped in black 2 of the borders in black ink and one of the circle in blue (Kaleidacolor) from the Background Builders: Round In Circles set (Uniko Studio).
I added the "Anniversary" (my own stamp) and added the "5" and "th" die-cuts (both dies from Die'sire).

Nothing much to it... but that's CAS for you. "Clean" it might be but "Simple" to make it isn't!
Also entering the Fashionable Stamping, Craft Stamper TIMI and Stamplorations CAS challenges.

Here comes Spring

With March everyone is thinking of the coming spring, and Mother's day if you're based in Britain!
I can't think of a better opportunity to create something classical, pretty and feminine in honour of both ...

I stamped one of the flower stem from the Inspired By Stamping Magnolias set and embossed it with detailed white powder on watercolour card.
I used watercolours and a standard brush to colour the blooms and stamped the "Spring" sentiment in black ink (same set). A pink pearl dots the i!

The pink card base has been embossed with the same Stitched square die used to cut the stamped image and the Mother's day sentiment is one from my collection.

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the Allsorts, Stamping Sensations, Wow Embossing powders, Stamplorations Theme and Sketch, Stamplorations CAS, and The Artistic Stamper  challenges.

Inspired by Tim Holtz CAS Card

Welcome to my second inspiration post for the Country View Challenge, where our theme is "Inspired by Tim Holtz. My first Tim Holtz inspired make was very much in his style but today's is definitely cleaner, more my style!

The inspiration is product led on this make and I was testing out the Substrate Sheets for which very little information is available. Also being tested is the new Oxide Distress inks.

The Substrate comes in a pack with white, brown and Kraft colour which is what I used here. It is described as thicker than Grungepaper but thinner than Grungeboard, very resilient (does not tear) and can be die-cut even with the thin dies.

I cut the sheet in half and then die-cut it with a wavy die (Papertrey Ink).

Next, I used an embossing folder with Flourishes (Crafters Companion I believe) since this is one of the classic motifs that Tim Holtz likes.
I put the folder through once to make sure the paper would not move as I wanted the embossing to continue on the 2 pieces as if they had been embossed first.
I applied Distress Oxide ink before running the sandwich through again ( I took the tape off this time!)

To test the ink I had to spray water on it, since I'm told this is when the magic happens! Verdict: yes, once wet, the ink takes on a lighter shade, which against a coloured background makes it pop:

I didn't want to hide my background so, unusually for me (and for Tim), I didn't add any stamping.

Instead I created a flower embellishment with Tim's Tattered Florals (anybody remember the rush to get that particular die?), a brad and some Treasure gold in Amethyst and Gold.

Then I set out to test the Substrate by die-cutting one of the very detailed word from the Sizzix TH Thinlits 660215 (Sentiments words) and embossing it multiple times with copper, Aged Aqua, Black and gold embossing. The Substrate did indeed hold up to that treatment but alas wasn't showing up much against my background... (looked amazingly gorgeous though).  The die-cut I actually used is in fact plain card embossed with clear powder and has gone translucent after triple embossing.

A charm threaded on twine finishes the card.

I hope I have inspired you to have a go at our Country View Challenge, in Tim Holtz's style or your own, just as long as we can see how Tim inspired you. You could win a £20 voucher to spend at Country View Craft shop...

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the Allsorts and WOW Embossing powders challenges.

Inspired by Tim Holtz 1

Welcome to March and this, my first post for the latest Countryview challenge. This month I chose the theme, "Inspired by Tim Holtz". I trust most of you will find it easy... who hasn't got any products designed by him, from Sizzix, Ranger, Stampers Anonymous and lots more or hasn't tried one of his techniques?!

Should you need inspiration from the master himself, I will point you in the direction of his blog where Tim has lots of steps by steps, mainly through his 12 tags monthly posts from 2012 through to 2016, a whooping 60 and that's even before we look into his Christmas tags...

Without further ado here's mine:

First I created my base, the equivalent of a No8 Manilla tag, after realising that this is the size TH actually uses and not 10 as I thought! I cut a tag then gessoed it, painted in Fresco Vanilla and even created a faux hole protector.

Then I applied some tissue tape. I tore 1 strip in half to give uneven edges, which you'll see if you look close up. You'll notice I have the dispenser too and it may be an extravagance but it is nice to have this tool as it makes it super quick to get a piece of tape.


For my focal image, I stamped the Bowler hat man from the True Gentleman set from Flonzcraft with Archival.
It's one of my favourite stamp set and I couldn't possibly narrow it down to just one!

I applied some Grunge Paste (Paper Artsy) through the Retro Circles(Stamplorations) and Reverse Chicken wire (TCW) stencils.



Next, I spritzed my tag and applied Distress inks re-inkers. Usually TH would use Distress Stains for practical reasons but, as my experiment reveals, it's perfectly OK to use re-inkers although messy (beware stained fingers)...

I used a chicken wire stencil to add more stencilling with black ink and tried to lighten my man's face and clothes.

For finishing touches I added some wooden gears (Calico Crafts) and an arrow (Tando) after giving them a metallic look with DecoArt Metallic Lustre in Silver Spark.
TH would at this stage include some sort or words be it Chit-chats or a metal plaque, but I couldn't find the right space for it and I'm a woman of a few words so I settled for the single "authentic" from the Thinlits set Adventure Words die-cut from black card.

I am looking forward to see all your Tim Holtz inspired creations on the Countryview Challenge blog! You could win a £20 voucher for your entry...

Thanks for coming by,
Also entering the Penny Black and more, SSS Wednesday and Vintage Journey challenges.

DIY Storage

One of my favourite recent discovery for quick home decor pieces is the Imagination Crafts rice papers. If you missed it my first project is here.

Today I made another bathroom storage item with them in a Mixed Media makeover of a humble tube:

Supplies:
Rice Paper - Imagination Crafts
Stencil Weft Fabric and Numbers by Carabelle Studio
Stencil Mini Layering Stencil Set #10 Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous
Fresco Paints - Paper Artsy

You'll find details on how I made it on the Craft Barn blog.

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the Allsorts, Creative Artist MM, Stamplorations Mixed Media and SSS Wednesday challenges.

The wedding picture

What more appropriate for today [1] than a wedding picture! I saw this old photograph in a Finnabair ephemera pack and decided to showcase it in a Mixed Media tag.

The background was made by scraping paint with my favourite painting tool, a credit card... it's so easy and the clean up is a doddle!
I added watered down white paint to create drippage on top and applied Distress inks when all was dry.
Taking inspiration from the Paper Artsy challenge, I used the Retro Circles stencil (Stamplorations) as a mask and stamped the Script stamp Mini 30, giving varied sizes of scripted circles.

At the top I added a die-cut heart (if I remember correctly this is a Cottage Cutz die) just because the hole fitted exactly the tag hole.
Behind the fussy cut couple I placed a doily (Prima die-cut) and a piece of blue cheesecloth.

Needless to say my die-cut machine is my favourite tool and I wouldn't be without it!

I added a set of tags stamped from CI-428 It's a man's world (Crafty Individuals) to re-inforce the Retro and "tag" theme.

Happy Valentine's to all couples!
[1] Today's post is going out on Valentine's day

I am linking to the TAGplorations, Stamplorations Mixed Media, SSS Monday Challenge, That's Crafty, and Stamplorations Theme & Sketch challenges.

Starlight Express

Today I'm showing on the Craft Barn blog my first project with the truly shiny Starlight paints.

They have to be seen (in real life) to be believed and I really enjoyed working with them.

Do come over to the Craft Barn for a step by step makeover of my tissue box.

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the Craft Stamper TIMI and Creative Artist MM challenges.

Quickie Valentine

Welcome back to the second inspiration post for the Under 30mns challenge at Country View Challenges.

Let me first say I had trouble with that one... so much so I had to abandon my first project as I couldn't find a way to finish it in the alloted time. In theory it looked quick, but in practice... However I still wanted to come up with a card involving die-cuts, and, since Valentine's Day is round the corner this is what I made:



Dies:
Memory Box : Tessatina border
Sizzix/Tim Holtz: Celebration words Handwritten
Die'sire: Valentine

Stamps:
Sewn heart: From Creativity Magazine Jan/Feb 2014
Canvas texture: Impression Obsession Create-A-Card

Other:
Versacraft in Cherry Pink
Distress ink in Spun sugar
Frosted Crystal EP by Ranger.

I stamped the Sewn heart first with the Versacraft ink and overstamped the canvas texture with Distress ink, embossing with the Crystal powder which has a matt finish.

For time saving purposes, I did all the die-cutting in one go adding a piece of Wax paper to my sandwich to help the cardstock glide out of the dies.

Also for speed reasons I spent as little time as possible applying glue on the die-cuts which means that some bits can be lifted but, since I don't expect the recipient to pull on the sentiment, it should be fine!

Apologies for the lacklustre photo, which is actually a scan, but the sun just wouldn't play nice and I was running out of time! In real life the pink is brighter more fuschia than on the scanned image.

I am really curious as to what you will be making under 30mns for our Country View challenge, and if you find it easy or tough!

Thanks for coming by,
I am entering the Memory Box, Stamplorations CAS and The Artistic Stamper  challenges.

Splash of Orange

I can't believe it's a been a year since the last winter CHA and the Paper Artsy main release. I have barely had time to enjoy the sets I bought last year so I thought before I get new sets I'd better ink the old ones first!

Since I had the set already out for my Country View Challenge post, I used the Paper Artsy Hot pick 1601 set again, time someone gave it some love and as I haven't seen anyone else use it... (Maybe only Amsterdam dwellers use it?)
Last year I made this card and today I am updating it for the latest Paper Artsy Challenge theme, taking inspiration from Jennie Atkinson's post here, in particular the use of Infusions and stencilling.

 

I have decorated both the front and back of the card as you can see. I stencilled heavy gel medium with the Retro Circles Artplorations, which preserved the stamping of the script stamp from ESN10 . Also from ESN10 are the circles stamped on the right hand side. The "bubble wrap" is from set EEV06.
With all the stamping and stencilling dry I sprayed water on the card and concentrated the orange (Brusho) on the buildings, applying Cerise Infusion around them. The Cerise Infusion is very powerful and I was taken by surprise a bit which is why the result is considerably darker than Jennie's!




And finally...  AllSorts are celebrating this week, so you might ask what the celebration is... well, I'll just say this is for an Anniversary of sorts.

I thought it would be fun to add the secret message by popping up the Valentine word I have die-cut from the stamped building.
It is hardly visible as shown in this picture:
but under different angles the message is revealed.

The "be" and "my" words have been made with bits of Tim Holtz Adventure Words. The Valentine is Die-sire die-cut.

Definitely more colourful than Jennie's subtle make, plus Orange is sooo not my colour, but since it is Amsterdam (orange is the National colour of sorts over there), it felt totally right to use this colour.

 

 

Thanks for coming by,
Also entering the That's Crafty, SSS Wednesday and Vintage Journey challenges.

Shortcuts Home

Sue, my Country View Challenges teamie, has chosen "Under 30mns" as the theme for February and it is just as well as we are usually busy, this time of year...

So here is a quick card to make:

My time savings tactics rely on:

- using just one technique, here stamping, but with different inks to add more interest
- using as few stamps as possible and from the same sets or sets stored in the same folder/box
- use left overs: here I used the waste of some dies to create the frame around my buildings.

The stamp sets I used are from Paper Artsy ESN10, which is my go to texture stamp set, and Hot Pick 1601.
I added colour to the building with Cut & Dry foam and Distress inks in Squeezed Lemonade and Wilted Violet.

Over to you... can you make something quick for our challenge? If you do you will be in with a chance to win a £20 voucher to spend on crafty things!

Thanks for coming by,