Darcy's new stamp

Hello

This is definitely my favorite stamp of Darcy's brand new designs at Paperarsty. I knew that for my first project I wanted to go bright which is something I struggle with normally, but the stamps are so inspiring it wasn't that hard in the end.

I started this project at the beginning of the week but only had time to finish it today. I used London Bus for the background and left a space of white to stamp the bird, later I used a fine brush to line the red right up to the outside of the stamp.

Then I used the other stamps to create the setting. I coloured with a mixture of Fresco paints and used my new Big Pitt Pens to add some definition to some areas. These pens are great because on top of the paints you can smudge them or leave a hard line and they dry quite fast.

Darcy suggested to mount him on to black, which I did and then added white pen the checker board. I loved this as it was but decided to carry and make it in to something bigger so I can frame it later.

Using my brand new leaf dies from Xcut I cut a selection in dark green and cream card. 

I added a wash of limelight across some of them and a script stamp of the rest of the cream ones. I then die cut circles in different coloured tissue paper and stamped over them so I could make some flowers, best remembering to stick all the layers together as I forgot lol!!!

I took a 8 x 8" piece of card stock and started to cover with the brayer in Limelight, Tango and Beach Hut, drying the layers in between

Using 3 different stencils I created the background and edged the card with little black dress. 

Then I stuck in all together and added a charm and a greeting. 

I am really pleased with how this turned out, I hope you like it and leave a nice comment.

Jules x 

Hip Girl

Hello Again

I wanted to have another go at the girl, so changed my face shape, hair style and colour.

This time instead of crayons I used frescoes and pro-markers, this was much better as I didn't get any smudges. 

I painted her top and used a stamp for the details.

The thing I love most about this technic is the eyes, as they are so easy to do and so effective.

I hope you like her and leave a nice comment.

Jules x

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