And Now For Something Completely Different

I have always embraced the theory that crafters need to venture outside that little comfort zone, they create for themselves, once in a while. It helps to expand and grow and, for me, helps to encourage Mr Mojo back where he belongs. This is why, when Katy Leitch from Mixed Up Creative advertised a little Shabby Chic tutorial using a kit available from Artful Days, I jumped right in with both feet. Trepidation can come later.  I really enjoyed the series of videos that Katy made and made my own version of the hanging (of course) but did use many of the techniques, some old and some new.
This is what escaped my craft desk to hang on my wall

To be honest, I have had "a few bits" of similar ephemera in my stash for eons and never really known what to do with them and loathe to throw them away (as most crafters will identify with). I think I will now bring them out of cold storage and start using them.

Frangifantastic

Morning all

"What a strange title!" do I hear you say? Well it's one of the words on the stamp set "Perfect Words" by France Papillon for Illusionary artists produced by Chocolate Baroque. It so seemed to fit this tag.

The tag itself was started as a challenge to myself - after seeing the challenge set by the Mixed up Magazine blog design team. Bold colour!! Now for those that know me - this isn't something that comes naturally. I prefer to keep to the muted tones of black and brown. Getting out of your comfort zone once in a while has to be good to expand the creativity of anyone. So with this in mind - I started on this tag.

The tag itself is from the "Tagtastic1" and an element from "Flaming hearts" - both produced by Tando Creative.

The heart shape first because I knew I needed curing time. the main heart shape painted red, then crackle paint and then yellow. The heart frame attached and Decoart ultra thick poured into the hole. Leave alone and don't touch. More on this later.

The main tag
A layer of white gesso. The neat greyboard can be painted on directly but would have reduced the brightness of the colours. The using a soft gel medium to increase flow time more and Decoart media fluids I mixed with up a storm on the tag.

Patience - let it dry.

Stenciling and doodling

adding the stamped word matted onto some sheer orange fabric

There's a smaller tag here to mount the heart onto. The flames are orange and coated with a crackle medium 

The wings are made using hot wax into an Artyco Crafts mould. Coated with perfect pearls before Decoart gold interference paint.

Outside of my comfort zone - for sure. Do I like it? Yes I do. Will I come back into this zone again? - for sure - just don't ask when.


I'd like to enter this tag into the challenge at
Make It Mixed Media challenge - Bold Colour

An ATC Swap

Good morning. Not much crafting going on here. I was unlucky to trap a nerve in my lower back and have spent the best part of the last two weeks suffering and barely able to sit for more than a few minutes. These things happen! Just hoping to get this done before retiring to my bed again.

I did manage to get a couple of ATCs done for a couple of swaps I had promised myself into.
There is a lovely group over on Facebook, Mixed Up Mag Mixer, that do monthly ATC swaps and this month - also a Valentine goodie swap.
The ATC made was to be mixed media of course.

Some modelling paste, crackle paste, paint, air dry clay and a little metal charm with satin varnish over some parts and matt varnish over others. This was mine and I received a lovely one back all the way from Miriam Gault in New Zealand with a bundle of fabulous goodies.

The Valentine goodies swap was to include a hand made item and other bits to the value of £10.
I have heard my swap partner has received her parcel so can now share a picture of what I made.

This was on the front of a little ATC sized card I enclosed

Chocolate Baroque Stamps. The Pegasus stamp from the April fairy set, this was kiss stamped with one from the Lace Fragments set, trees from the tall trees set. distress ink background.

I gave an altered memory box.

stencils are by Andy Skinner bought from Tando Creative. Tissue paper stuck to the box then painted and various embellishments added. The wooden elements were from Things to Alter.

That's it for the moment folks

Happy crafting

A New Year - A New Beginning

New Years's resolution. I will make at least one post per month on this little corner of my world. A catalogue of my crafty makes if nothing else. Also, after talking with a very talented designer, I have also decided to try out for another DT position. I miss that input and impetus generated by being part of a team. Of course it will not be just "any old DT position I go for - it has to be on a team for products that fire my passion.

So, what have I been up to in the last couple of weeks? Well apart from making blankets for my now 2 year old Granddaughter's doll pram and bunkbeds, I have managed to squeeze in time to make a few ATCs.  One for a swap organised by Mixed Up Magazine facebook group. My ATC winged itself out to New Zealand where, I just heard, it made it safely. This means I can share this.

A greyboard substrate with stenciling, painting, a clay flower embellishment and a bee charm.

The package I received back was far beyond what I expected. Not only was the ATC super cute but Miriam enclosed lots of lovely goodies as well.

Now to think on February's one.

ATC Swap

Mixed Up Magazine Facebook group have organised an ATC swap.
I made two using the same stamps but two different techniques. Stamps are from Chocolate Baroque's Steampunk Christmas set.

 This one uses the tree stamped into clay then painted

This one is on a layered ATC base with crackle bg and the tree is heat embossed

Two totally different results using the same stamps