A Cracking Tag!

We are using our crackle for the latest That's Crafty challenge and I’ve created a distressed tag using the fantastic crackle paint from DecoArt. This is a great crackle product, it’s really sturdy and cracks really well. The secret is to get a nice even coverage that isn’t too thin and to use a darker colour on your base layer which will show through the cracks.

This video shows you how to do create the distressed crackle background used on my tag – hope you enjoy it!

To finish I just added a circular wash of yellow paints, some stamped images, some background stamping and a computer-generated piece of text.

Look how fab that crackle is!!!

Materials used:

DecoArt Media Crackle Paint, Black Gesoo

DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics: Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, Yellow Iron Oxide, Primary Yellow

PaperArtsy Hot Picks stamps

Stampendous Andy Skinner stamps: Industrial
Archival Ink: Coffee, Jet Black

Embellishments: keychain, light bulb, mini brads, photo turn

Scrap of chipboard

Palette knife

Hope you like this piece, was a ton of fun to make,

Katy x

Sunny Journal Page for Susan K Weckesser

Today I've created a journal page that's a homage to our wonderful Creative Team leader, Susan K. Weckesser herself. Susan is quite the most positive, upbeat and optimistic person I think I have ever met. So my words on this page remind me that she always sees the good in every single day including the bad, hard ones; even on the darkest days, the sun still rises. Thank you Susan for being an inspiration.

It's quite pared down (for me anyway!) as I wanted the beautiful stamps to take centre stage here. I really love both sets I used here!

Susan K. Weckesser Inc products used:
Fly Away stamp set by Unity
Grunge Fun stamp set by Jillian Vance
Colorbox Color Pop Inks: Ice, Sky, Mystery, Snow

Details of how I made it are on the Susan K. Weckesser blog today,

I hope you like my journal page and that you've had a sunny day today :).

Katy x

Get Cracking Challenge for That's Crafty!

Liking this That's Crafty challenge muchly as I do like my crackle! I've used a couple of crackle mediums on this little ATC plus an Andy Skinner crackly stamp, for good measure! I used a chipboard ATC as it can take all the wet mediums without complaining!

Sorry I didn't get step pics (too dark at 3am!!!) but here's how I created it.

1) Prime the ATC with gesso then paint in Cobalt Teal Hue - this is the colour that will show through the cracks.

2) For the crackle on the background I used Andy Skinner's Mega Crackle technique for which you can find a video here. Apply Weathered Wood and let dry completely, Mix Crackle Paint with a small amount of Metallic Gold paint and paint over the dry Weathered Wood, leave to crack.

3) Add some stencilling using Cobalt Teal Hue mixed with Tinting Base to make it more opaque. Add stamping in Coffee and black inks.

4) Paint a piece of card with Crackle Paint and when dry paint in Pyrrole Red. Stamp with the heart (Darcy). Add a wash of Metallic Gold over the top and cut out.

5) Add the heart and embellishments to the ATC.

If you haven't used them I'd really encourage you to play and experiment with them, as they are great fun to use and you can create quite a variety of effects. 

PS: If you've enjoyed this you might like this video which also uses DecoArt crackle products :). And hearts for that matter!

Katy x

Products used - available from That's Crafty:

That's Crafty chipboard ATC

DecoArt Media: Crackle Paint, Gesso White, Tinting Base

DecoArt Weathered Wood
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics: Cobalt Teal Hue, Metallic Gold, Raw Umber, Pyrrole Red

Archival Inks: Jet Black, Coffee

PaperArtsy Eclectica Darcy stamps: EDY01

Stampendous Andy Skinner stamps: Industrial, Shabby Chic, Steampunk

That's Crafty Dinky Stencil: 003 Circles

Rainbow Giveaway WINNER!

Thank you everyone for playing - my winner is: JPScraps! Well done! Please email Susan on: hello@susankweckesser.com and she will ship your inkpads to you.

Hope you have fun with them, they are lovely rich zingy inks.

Katy x

Mixed Media Card for Susan K Weckesser

I use paint on my art journal pages all time, and I thought why not use the same techniques to create a card? I think the painted panel makes a fun and dynamic background for the focal fox image.

Here's how I made it:

1 Create a painted background by swiping paint across a piece of card with a baby wipe. Add some white areas with a credit card.

2 Stencil the loops with Susan's Doodle stencil, followed by the X design in red. When dry stencil the numbers in modelling paste.

3 Add blobs of grey paint with the rubber end of a pencil and doodle over them when dry. Stamp the Going Wild wording over the background repeatedly as shown, using just the arrow part around the edges.

4 Colour the fox with pens (I used Graph It markers) and add him on 3D foam pads.

5 Mat the panel to grey card. Stencil a border with grey ink onto a card blank and glue the panel in place above.

Thanks for stopping by today - see you soon I hope.

Katy x

Susan K. Weckesser products used:

Unity stamp: Going Wild

Doodle Stencil for TCW

Patterns for PaperArtsy

Well I am feeling proud today as I was asked to create a guest post for PaperArtsy for their Pattern theme. I decided to create my pattern by using just parts of stamps to create borders and backgrounds. Using parts of stamps is a great way to get a lot more mileage from them. Stamping tone-on-tone can create depth to your background, and because the image recedes it doesn’t really matter what stamp you use. Here I used a clock stamp for this technique – it doesn’t really go with my ‘botanical garden’ theme but in the final piece the eye doesn’t register the clock image, just the texture it creates.

Products used:
PaperArtsy Hot Picks: HP1005, HP1109, HP1509
Fresco Finish paints: Vanilla, Pumpkin Soup, Yellow Submarine, Bora Bora, Hey Pesto
Archival Inks: Jet Black, Tree Branch, Pale Ochre
Coloured pencils
Black and white pens

Step One: For my background I used Fresco Finish Vanilla, Pumpkin Soup and Yellow Submarine paints, mixing them lightly while still wet.

Step Two: I stamped the clock (HP1509) all over with Pale Ochre Archival to give subtle texture in the background then add some stamped pot lids (HP1109) in Archival Tree Branch. This texture will recede into the background so it’s about looking at the shapes of the stamps rather than the images as such.

Step Three: Using just parts of images is a great way to add pattern or borders. Here I used the edge of the key stamp (HP1509) to make an ornate repeating border along the top and bottom edges.

Step Four: In a similar way I used the top edge of the door image (HP1509) to create a grungy border to frame my design.

Step Five: I stamped the flower (HP1109) at various angles to finish my layered background.

Step 6: I used coloured pencil to shade the flowers and leaves then added detail with black fineline and white gel pens.

Step 7: I again used the door stamp (HP1509) in an abstract way to add pattern to a die cut butterfly. The symmetry of the door stamp works perfectly on a similarly symmetrical image like a butterfly. I painted the die cut with Fresco Finish paints before stamping it with black Archival.

To finish the piece:
Stamp moths onto card, colour with Fresco Finish Bora Bora and Pumpkin Soup and cut out. Stamp again onto the background and position the cut out moths on top. Stamp the pot lid (HP1109) in Tree Branch onto book paper painted with Vanilla Fresco Finish. Mat onto card to give it some depth then glue to the background. Add the butterfly on top and embellish it with a pen nib. Stamp ‘take flight’ (HP1005) onto a scrap of painted card and add behind a bookplate.

I hope this project has encouraged you to look again at the stamps you have and consider how you might use them in different ways.

Thank you to PaperArtsy for having me today!

Katy x

Unicorns and Glitter for Susan K Weckesser CT

I know - pink unicorns? And glitter? Where is Katy and what have you done with her???

But I have to admin I love this whimsical little fellow with his unicorn fart - tooooo cute! (OK it's probably not a fart, Susan's mind is far too pure, but unfortunately mine isn't and it appeals to my silly side!)

The challenge this month for the Susan K. Weckesser is journal pages. I have a couple of journals - one is A5 but I also have a teeny weeny little one I got in Jo-Ann's last time I was in the States. I love the size of this because it's quick to create and also I can take it with me when I travel.

You can find a step-out of how I made it on the Susan K. Weckesser blog today!

Hope you like this little cutie.

Katy x

Products used:

Susan K Weckesser for Unity Stamp: Unicorns and Rainbows
Susan K. Weckesser Colorbox Color Pop Ink: Ice
Raindrop stencil (That's Crafty)
Modelling paste (DecoArt Media)
Stickles: Stardust
Alcohol markers
Blue ink sprays
Black inkpad

Create Your Own Rainbow Contest

Do you create your own rainbow?

Our gorgeous team leader Susan K.Weckesser sure does!

And so.... GUESS WHAT!?

We are having a contest and we want to see how you create your own rainbow! Someone is going to win a complete package of NEW Susan K. Weckesser Inc. designer Color POP Inks by Clearsnap Inks. (All 8 new colours!) 

Here's my rainbow - more deets tomorrow on how I made this. Creating for me is a passion and a release from everyday stress. It's my happy place.

Here's the details:
1) Share a picture of how and/or why you create your own rainbow on Facebook or Instagram. You can share it on Susan K. Weckesser Inc. FB page. 
2) Make sure to tag @susankweckesserinc with the hashtag #createyourownrainbow . 
Find Susan on Instagram HERE!
3) Leave a comment on this blog just saying, " I create my own rainbow!"

All of the Susan K. Weckesser Inc. Creative Team members are having this Create Your Own Rainbow Contest own their blogs too! And they are all giving away Color POP Mini inks away ! So go check out their blogs! The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win. We can't wait to see how you create your own rainbow!

Susan K. Weckesser Inc. Creative Team:

Susan K. Weckesser
Larissa Pittman

Katie Lamb

Lynne Mizera

Katy Leitch - you are here

Brooke Bock

Steph Ackerman

Kim Kendall

Debra Davison

Kim Rippere

Joyce Shaulis

Closes: Monday at midnight - good luck!!

That's Crafty Zest Zing Challenge - part 2!

If you haven't joined in yet, there's still time to win a voucher in the latest That's Crafty Challenge - Zest Zing. Break out those summer brights! I'm here halfway through the challenge to bring you a little bit of inspiration with a technique video.

Today I'm creating a messy journal page with paints and a palette knife - easy peasy and messy - and great fun!

Enjoy!

Katy x

Products used:
PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints; Tango, Zesty Zing, Coral, Nougat, Bora Bora
That's Crafty Dinky Stencils: TC005 Bubbles, TC019 Distressed Harlequin
Dina Wakley and Tim Holtz stamps

That's Crafty Zest Zing Challenge!

Sharing a couple of makes for the That's Crafty Challenge Blog team today. The latest challenge theme is Zest Zing - so we want to see those bright summer shades!

I created a tag and a card for the challenge, using the same materials (listed below). Each is pretty simple using paint and stamping, along with a little bit of stencilled detail.

Products used (mostly available from That's Crafty):

PaperArtsy stamps: Darcy EDY09, Lin Brown 06 &28

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish: Limelight, Zesty Zing, Coral, Tango
DecoArt: Gesso, White
Archival Ink: Jet Black, Watering Can
That's Crafty Dinky Stencil: Bubble Wrap (076)
TCW 6x6 Stencil: Citrus Montage
Homemade circle stencil
White gel pen and black fineline pen

Good luck in the challenge!
Katy x

Flower Wreath Card for Susan K Weckesser CT

A quick make today from me for the Susan K Weckesser Creative Team. I used the gorgeous In My Garden set to make a pretty, summery card.

To start with I marked a light pencil circle in the centre of a square card blank and stamped the phrase inside the circle. I used a die cut card circle for this, then used the negative part to allow me to lightly ink the area just inside the circle.

I used the circle as a guide to stamp a wreath of flowers around the greeting. I stamped the flowers again and coloured them with alcohol markers and cut them out. I cut between each petal and bent the petals around a pencil to add shape. I then glued them over the stamped images on the card. I used glue gel to give them a bit of lift and enable them to overlap.

A simple card, but I think very pretty for a summer birthday.

Lovely to see you today. Take care.

Katy x

Susan K Weckesser for Unity - In My Garden Set