Build a Door

A quick in-front-of-the-TV make from me today - using Artisan papers from Graphic45 to decorate an 8x8 scrapbook from Hobbycraft. I just used lots and lots of layers and fussy cutting to build a 3D scene.

I thought the sentiment on this - 'If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door' was a suitable resolution for 2016.

Happy New Year :)

Katy x

Wishing...

So delighted to have been asked back again to guest design for A Sprinkle of Imagination, this time as part of their 12 Designers of Christmas series - I am in fact last to go but it's well worth a look back through a month of fabby art from lots of talented peeps.

I used stamps from A Sprinkle of Imagination - Stampotique Great Moon and the hare by Crafty Individuals. I also used my own Believe set from Rubber Dance for the sentiment.

I decided to combine the stamps with the opportunity to get more familiar with my DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics. I've actually used these paints a LOT but not usually in a very 'painterly' way, more for adding colour to mixed media pieces. Here I've attempted a form of painting with them ('proper' painters look away now!!!) to create my evening scene.

1) I used two colours of blue for my background - Phthalo Blue and Cerulean Blue (always makes me think of The X-Files that colour!). Blob the paint randomly onto the gessoed canvas then mix with brush then use your fingers to smooth it out.

2) To create the moon, I added a tiny blob of Titanium White to the canvas and smoothed it into a circle shape working from the centre outwards so the white fades out. I added a touch of Hansa Yellow Light over the top of the white while it was still wet and blended it in with my fingers. The snowflakes are simply spots of Titanium White added randomly with the end of a paintbrush.

4) To create the snow add a thick layer of modelling paste textured using a palette knife. Add some Glamour Dust while the paste is still wet. When dry, lightly add washes of Cobolt Turquoise Hue and Silver Metallic paints, just adding the paint here and there. When dry, mute down with a little Transparent White.

5) You can just see I created a 'halo' effect on the snow - as snow reflects the light back up. This is just a wash of Transluscent White applied close to the top edge of the snow and blended upwards.

6) Finally I also painted my stamped images with paints - Hansa Yellow Light for the moon and Raw Sienna for the bunny. I also added Glamour Dust to the moon here and there to give it more shine!

I loved making my canvas - hope you like my moon gazing hare!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year!

Katy xxx

Wintry Wishes

Well it doesn't feel very wintry here in the UK, as we are having unseasonably warm weather! It should be bright and frosty when instead it's grey and rainy, but hey I can still create a card that captures the cool hues of winter!

This card is all about the background, which has quite a few layers.

1) The first layer is actually one of my 'leftovers' - a print created using the waste spray ink collected on a stencil. To this, I added Distress Inks in Iced Spruce, Tumbled Glass and Cracked Pistachio.

2) Next I added a layer of stamping - script (IndigoBlu) in Watering Can Archival and swirls (Tim Holtz) in Iced Spruce. In each case I stamped with the stamp in my hand rather than on a block, to get a partial/distressed impression.

3) I then spritzed the card here and there with Picket Fence Distress Stain and used the nozzle to flick larger drops of the ink over the background. Dry the background with a heat tool.

4) Finally, I applied white gesso (DecoArt) roughly around the edges with a stiff paintbrush and added some smears of Stickles in places.

I finished off the card with die cut stems (Memory Box) and a word (Tim Holtz for Sizzix).

Hope you like!

Katy

Joy to the World for Colourarte

I have a journal page in wintry shades on the ColourArte blog today. There's a full step-by-step on their blog.

If you'd like a copy of the angel image I used, here she is. She's actual size (she's fairly small) - right click and 'save as' to save a copy.

This is my last post for ColourArte for 2015 and I have had so much fun so far! Looking forward to the rest of term next year.

Katy x

Doorway to Narnia

If you've seen the January issue of Craft Stamper magazine, you may have spotted an appearance from me, with a make for the challenge featuring Art Room chipboard kits from Tando Creative (p32). Sadly. the photo in the magazine didn't really show all the details of my piece and seeing as it took me nearly two days to make (!), Trish agreed that I could share it here on my blog too.

As a child, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was one of my favourite books - so much so that I read my copy so many times it literally fell apart. My Craft Stamper project is a homage to the magical place behind the wardrobe doors. complete with iconic lamppost and Mr Tumnus sheltering under his umbrella.

I added lots and lot of layers inside the Art Room using a variety of die cuts by Tim Holtz for Sizzix, all covered with 'snow' created with modelling paste and Glamour Dust glitter. The exterior and doors are simply stamped with a big Tim Holtz woodgrain background.

I loved making this and hope you've enjoyed having a closer look :).

Katy xxx

12 Tags of 2015 - December

Well I haven't managed to achieve my resolution to make all 12 of Tim's tags this year - but I thought I'd at least do the last one, so here's my make for December.

I didn't have most of the supplies Tim used (not being a huge fan of Xmas I don't have that much in the way of seasonal stash), so I've improvised.

Also entering my tag for a couple of challenges:

-Frilly and Funkie; 'Tis the Season

and

-A Vintage Journey: Vintage Christmas

My burlap background is stencilled with Ground Espresso ink spray using a layering stencil. I wanted a snowy tag, so instead of inking my edges, I dry brushed them with white gesso (where on earth would I be without gesso???).

I cut lots of Holiday Greens foliage, inked it in Bundled Sage and Evergreen Bough and dry brushed it with - you guessed it! - gesso. I made three pinecones from kraft card using the Tattered Pinecone die, spritzed lightly with Ground Espresso ink and then added more gesso to the edges,

My berries are flat backed pearls with a couple of coats of acrylic paint and I finished my tag with a die cut word and bow in red, also dry brushed with gesso.

I feel quite festive now!

Katy x

Snowman ATB for Rubber Dance

I am a bit obsessed at the moment with putting things on top of ATB boxes! So following on from my Stampotique witch and my dress form here's another thing on a box - this time a snowman for Christmas! Also a bit obsessed with modelling paste, which is making an appearance here again!

Full details and a step-out are over on the Rubber Dance blog today.

Katy x

I used these lurvely stamps available from Rubber Dance:

USE CODE KATY2015 TO GET 15% OFF YOUR ORDER AT RUBBER DANCE.COM!!!

Frosty Friends

Winter Wonderland (designed by moi!), available from my etsy store.

New Stamps Out Today!!!

I've got a new stamp plate out today over at Rubber Dance - called The Artist. I personally love this plate - perfect for all arty types! I especially love the brushes, they are a nice BIG stamp.

My card is a really quick and simple one today, just to show you one idea with the set. I stamped the brushes in black then roughly masked them off, not masking the bristles part of the image. I then sprinkled three colours of Brushos lightly and sprayed with water. Once heat set that's the card more or less done - I just added the Make Art sentiment on foam pads to finish.

See you soon!

Katy x