HEARTS and FLOWERS

     This is a little different project for me, I am trying to create a few more items that are not cards.  So on this theme I have made a little floral heart. The base is just a plain MDF heart which I have covered with some glittery and foiled paper. 

 

        In the plain area I stamped a butterfly from Lavinia stamps, coloured it lightly using Spectrum Noir pencils and also added a little dimension with some gold pearl drops. 

  

         I diluted some Vintage photo Distress ink in a spritzer bottle and sprayed a few flowers. These were then placed at the bottom of the heart along with some leaves. I painted on some Sparkle medium to glitter them up a bit. All around the edge of the heart I put a line of gold glitter.

           I like the finished effect, I do love glitter and sparkle. 

  
       I am entering this heart into the challenge at Lavinia stamps this month which is Anything but a Card.  Hope you like it, I have hung it in my spare room as it is just the right colours. 

BINGO

        Not really going to play Bingo but can liken this challenge to that rather traditional British game. I used to love playing Bingo though when I was little, I had my own little cards and counters. I would get my mum and dad playing on a Sunday afternoon. Anyway back to the challenge which is the  Clarity one for August.                                                                                                                  



                                        



       The idea is to choose any line , vertical, horizontal or diagonal, all four corners or full house, then using those elements to complete a project. I was going to be ambitious and go for full house but then decided to be more sensible and settle for the middle line, partly because I could not find my shrink plastic. So I have gone for Stencil, Stamp and Grunge Paste.

     

       Above is my completed card. I got so engrossed making this that I forgot to take photos as I went along. So I have taken a few close up ones of different areas and will try to explain how I made this.
I made the background using the Fresco chalk paints, they are brilliant. I used a brayer and covered the card completely in stone and then using blues and greens I walked the brayer over the base. By this I mean that I did not apply a lot of pressure. The effects that can be achieved are great, I had not tried this until I was at the retreat  a couple of weeks ago. Finally I added just a few splashes of red, just enough to give it a bit of a lift.
     
          Next I applied some grunge paste through the Japanese reeds stencil also through just a little part of a new sunflower stencil that was designed for the Clarity retreat. Leave to dry thoroughly then reapply stencil and sponge some ink onto the set paste.  As I was looking at the background I could see hills forming in the paint so I drew them in with a black pen. Then shaded them with Spectrum Noir pencils.

      

        Out came the fairy wee folk and I stamped some into place with a toadstool as well.

     

         I wanted some tiny butterflies so using the Butterfly tree stamp I brushed some chalk paint onto one of the small ones and stamped into place. 

  

         Finally I felt it still looked a bit flat so I used some bright colours of chalk paint and just dabbed them all over the bottom of the picture. Gives it a nice lift, thank-you Barbara Gray for sharing this tip with us. 

        

         I loved making this card and trying out some of the new ideas I have recently learnt. I really am getting out of my comfort zone by using paints but enjoying it too. 

        Items used   

                            Japanese reeds stencil

                            Butterflytree stamp

                            Fairy Wee Folk

                             Grunge Paste and Fresco chalk paints.

       Thank- you for visiting.  xx

      

                            

                            

CLARITY RETREAT 2015

        I have recently returned from two wonderful days at the Claritystamps retreat with the very talented Barbara Gray. She shared so much knowledge with us and I picked up so many wonderful ideas. Paul Church was there as well helping out, he worked so hard making sure we all had the right equipment and were coping ok. 
         
         I have only started to attend workshops this year and I really recommend them. Everyone is only to happy to share their knowledge and to give advice if needed.  I really hope I will be able to go to the retreat again next year, it was a brilliant experience.

       Anyway I thought I would share a few of the projects that we did. Please be aware these are not my designs so I cannot take credit for that. 

     Really pleased with the result on this one although getting the mask on these birds is not easy. Thank goodness Paul was there to help or I think I would still be sat there. 

     Wonderful effect achieved with this deer stamp by using some torn paper to create the hills in the background. Love the colours and think I might do some more in shades of blue for Christmas cards. 

       This thank you card is so pretty. It is one that was given to Barbara and she had the designer's permission to use it at the retreat for a tutorial. I have not bought this stamp yet but I think it might not be long before I do. 

     
         I thought I might not enjoy doing the canvas but I was wrong. So wrong. I am also happy with my finished canvas and will be hanging it in my hall. I shall also have a go at some more. The flowers were added by dragging Grunge Paste through a stencil.

    
         The above design is made on card but can be mounted onto a canvas. I love this one and so does my granddaughter. She has asked me to make her one in shades of blue for her bedroom. I think that might be a compliment. 

         Barbara checking on our progress. It was a very busy room and a lot of shopping was done as well.
       
           

      Two lovely ladies, Dawn and Alison who were very friendly and had a wonderful sense of humour. A lot of laughter in between all the hard work. 

   
     Finally this was a cake which I made and took along to the retreat. I had promised Barbara earlier in the year that I would take one. She was very pleased with it and I am happy to say it tasted ok as well. I hope you have enjoyed my pictures and my little insight into two very busy days.  Thank you for visiting. xx