Feeling Blue

Hello

Firstly I would like to say I can not draw, it's something I would dearly like to be able to do and until I saw the post from Clare Lloyd it wasn't something I thought you could learn. I am thrilled to find out actually it is.

To see how you get started check out the tutorial from Clare over on the PA blog here!

I followed the basic guide for creating the face and features and then went crazy with my crayons, the problem with this is they smudge... alot, so I had to keep painting her face and its not a clean as I would have like. (must buy pencils).

She isn't the prettiest girl in the world , but I aim to improve!!

For the back ground , I used my reverse chicken wire stencil and grunge paste then I the brayer over the top, this works well to highlight the stencil. Some more stencils, stamps and a flower to finish.

Oh I and used my new Xcut alphabet die to add the word ART.

I hope you like her, I am entering into the challenge!

Jules x

Pink Diary

Hello

After seeing the sketch book cover from Elaine Wainwright on the PA blog,view here I decided to cover my A5 diary I received at Christmas and didn't really like. This was another first for me and wasn't too sure where to start.

It was a shinny cover so decided to use copy paper and a mix of red & pink Fresco's to make a paper base large enough.

I then took a deep breath and a lot of glue to cover the book using both sheets.

I then started building all my layers with spray paint, stencils and stamps. (forgot to take a photo of this stage). I wanted the main image to stand out so I made a rough square using Nougat and stamped the image over the top.

 I needed to blend some of the nougat paint back into the design, some went over with more pink and stamps. Finished by adding colour to the main image and some embellishments,  Kinda wish I had used less black ink but happy with the results.

To protect the edges one the spine of the book I threaded ribbon down and tied in a bow

Thanking for looking and please leave a nice comments.

Jules 

Lilac Cluster Heart

Hello Happy New Year to you all. 

Didn't think I would be doing this to day with a sore head from last night!!! 

Part 3 to Paperarsty's Christmas Crackers (Click Here) and I love this style but was never sure how to proceed so when Leandra showed us the basics I couldn't wait to have a go and guess what my sore head has gone the miracle of crafting eh. 

First I just scatted out some of the things I thought I could use.

Then put a rough layout together.

I didn't want to copy Leandra's project but I was struggling on the colour pallet as I need to use opaque paints. So I ended up doing just that!!

I painted my heart and added Grunge Paste through a text stencil.

Then using a mix of acrylic and strong water based glues I starting securing the embellishments. (at this point I ended up melting my flower with the glue gun duh!)

Now the scary part, painting over everything!! Choose Sky Blue for the base colour.

And then just kept building with more colours until I was happy.

Finished with a mix of Silver & Gold Treasure gold and threaded purple satin ribbon for hanging. I have taken the photo's after dark so tried a few different photos to show to the results.

I loved doing this and learnt quite a lot as well, so I am going to work and try and improve my technic. 

I hope you like it and leave a nice comment. 

Thanks Jules

From the Heart

Loved Leandra's Patchwork back ground technic on the Paperartsy website, so I though I would give it a whirl!!

I have never used colour tinting with grunge paste before, so started out with Pansy Fresco's. I started with a piece of cut and dry but felt more comfortable with the spatula

I added each colour and then did the texture as I was worried it would start to dry before I got to all of them, I did random patterns and also used stamps for some.

Finished square, took a while to dry even using the heat gun, so started on the embellishments.

I crackled 2 chipboard hearts and sanded to distress them. I stamped my design on tissue paper and turned the image around so fit my heart better.

Back to the main piece and washed the whole image with a watered down with French Roast and added some stitches, which when I have finished I didn't really like so used a baby wipe to "clean" to whole piece, this seems to give it a more aged look which happily I did like. 

Finished by adding some treasure gold covered flowers and metal embellishments before making a stamped back and boarders with Kraft card, turning it into a wall hanging.

Here are the colours I used.

Check out  http://blog.paperartsy.co.uk/

Thanks for looking and please leave a nice comment.

Jules x 

Christmas Wreath

Hello

Only 2 weeks to go eek!!!

I have so much to do starting to worry now as I have orders for cards which I haven't started yet so going to be busy next week!

At least today I have made my Christmas wreath, I started with a plain really cheap wreath.

And started using a poinsettia die from spellbinders which I had forgotten about and used some lovely vintage Christmas papers, red & green card to layer up the flower and added gold leaves.

I had wanted some plain pine cones but could only get red ones, so I used gold treasure gold to change the colour of them and was left with a pleasing red/gold effect .

I made some small red bows and a large gold bow from ribbon I bought from Ikea. I have bought loads of ribbon from Ikea as its cheap and you get lots on a reel.

Used hot glue (and burnt myself about 5 times) to stick it all altogether and here is the result.

Thanks for looking and please leave a nice comment.

Jules 

Advent Christmas Tree

Hello again, thought I would share my Advent Christmas Tree, just finished making it today.

It's an MDF tree which I wanted to make into an advent calender, it's double sided.

I really enjoyed making this even though it's taken me ages to make and I was supposed to be sorting out my spare room...... oh well!!!

First I used Frescos nougat and the base and sprayed London Bus and Limelight over the top. I then built up layers using Christmas Stamps and stencils, Frescos and inks. I had a happy accident when I was using my new reverse chicken wire stencil as the paint run underneath, but I really liked the wider effect so left this as it was.

It was at this point I realised I didn't really have many numbers, I had a small die and some chipboard ones but not enough so I had to get creative with what I used.

I made some by covering card with ribbon and twine, thick cardboard and paints, tracing some on to card, using a stencil, gems, circles and punches, grunge paste & paints, white mini pom poms & paints and cutting freehand.

So I could show which date we are on I cut a Paperarsy die in half and glued a mini peg to the back to clip on to correct date. I Finished with a few metal embellishments. 

Love the effect and its going to take center place on the fireplace.

Hope you like it and please leave a nice comment.

Thanks

Jules

Fundraising Craftyness

Hello

Over the last 3 weekends I have been trying to make as many cards as possible for my friend to sell at a school fair next week! Unfortunately her sister lost the battle to Cancer a few months ago, and she died at the age of just 43 and leaving 3 girls all under the stage of 15!!!

It's a tragic loss for all her family and friends and my friend Hannah is going to run the London Marathon next year in tribute to Sarah her sister who ran it a couple of years ago. The family are trying to raise as much money as they can both in sponsorship for Hannah and to give to cancer charities.

I managed to make 200 cards, mainly Christmas ones for them to sell and I am hoping they will raise a good amount of money. They are going to have other events so I will be continuing my effects over the few months to giver to this great cause.

It's something dear to my heart after 4 years ago I lost my beloved Mum and both Aunties within the space of one year, it was a very hard time but crafting has helped to ease the pain and it's helping me to support my friend through a very rough time!!