Mixed Media Plaque - Ram

I painted a piece of wood black and then started playing around with different elements until I was happy with the layout.

Once I was happy I started to work on the background. I used gold leaf and then went over with a stencil and modelling paste.

I used Finnabairs mechanical stencil.

Next after I'd painted all the elements black, I glued them onto the background.

I threw on different shades of brown, rust, red and orange mica powders. I then sprayed them and watched them disburse.  You don't have much control over this, so you just have to let them do their thing.

Close up of the different colours of mica powders.

I just kept adding and spraying until I was happy with the result.

More close ups of the different colours of mica powders.

And this is the finished plaque.

Explore Everything Tag

Ooooh it's been, and still is, so hot today. I was urging to do something but I really was so hot and bothered, however I did manage this tag using Seth's stamps and dies and distress oxides. I finally cracked open the fossilized amber! The good thing is, it's great weather to get a decent photo!

Indian Tag Book

Today I was lucky enough to go to a workshop not far from me near Lincoln at a place called Needle and Thread.

It's an absolutely fabulous venue with perfect views.

And fortunately for us, it was a gorgeous day.

More green fields, trees and a lovely blue sky.

This is where the workshops are held, there are two rooms.

The workshop was taken by Angie Hughes, a textiles artist who is absolutely lovely and so down to earth as well as being a fantastic teacher.

So this is sort of what we were aiming for by the end of the session.

This is Angie giving us some instruction before we start.

And getting enthusiastic about it all!!

So off we went to choose some fabric for the front of our tags.

Next some instruction on how to use the sewing maching and a quick demo.

And Emma having a close up look!

Collecting bits of fabric, some stamping, images, sari ribbon and foil to start to build up the tags.

Layering the bits and bobs to build up the tags.

As you can see, there was plenty of stuff to choose from and play with.

11am was coffee / tea and cake time. Top one is strawberry and the bottom one is tahini and dark chocolate.

The lovely lady on the right stood up is Jan. She kept us supplied with teas and coffees all day.

And this is Angie sat in my chair next to Emma, sewing some metalic thread around a circle for me on one of my tags!

And this is Sally, the lady who organises it all. Behind her there is an embroidery class going on.

I will be back at some point to show you my finished tags, once I've finished them!!!

A symbol of the Orient

The base is the postage stamp TH die cut in black card.  The main image was stamped in versamark,  heat embossed in black powder and coloured with London bus fresco paint as were the pediments.  Sticky embossing powder was applied to them and black foil stuck on, that would be schizzle foil.

The 3 smaller images were stamped, cut out and the top and bottom, mounted onto red card.

This is another photo of it taken in daylight with the sun out showing the more true colours!!

Out the Blue

The background was coloured with baltic blue fresco paint, a layer of crackle glaze added and covered with vanilla.  A layer of limelight added and some more baltic blue splodged around the edges.

The main LP image was stamped onto crackly tissue paper and painted from the back and adhered to the background with golden matte medium.

The Tando Creative chipboard cog with wings was given a layer of grunge paste and #44 PA mini was stamped into it. Once dried it was coloured with brown shed and tinted with aquamarine treasure gold. The smaller cog was painted with haystack, pumpkin and brown shed and a smidge of the TG.

Pewter treasure gold was added to the edges.  The background was stamped in white ink with the #44 mini script stamp.  The TH pediments were coloured with haystack, pumpkin soup and brown shed.  Again using the #44 mini stamped in versamark, sticky embossing powder added and heated and bluey/green (schizzle) foil applied.

You can just about make out the crackle effect on the left, as I covered most of it up!!

Hope you like it Carol xxx

Challenges I would like to enter - 

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Colour

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything goes

FP Glass Pendant

I made this pendant by wrapping a large glass losenger and a piece of wire in a piece of foil coated friendly plastic.  I continued to decorate with the FP and added some beads and a chain.

Inspired by Linda Peterson - FPTV

Friendly Plastic Beads

I had a FP day yesterday which was a bonus as I was saving it until Monday.  I was going to Maz's to show her some of the techniques I picked up from Liz, but she is now busy.

I picked up a tubeads kit from Liz last weekend, you can buy them direct from her on line shop (here).  This is a must have kit to assist with bead making.  The above bead is made using the smaller of the silicone tubing and I added some wooden beads.

This was made the same way except I didn't put any peel off's on the FP.  I made one bead shaped and the other one straight.  I cut the straight one into two and added a wooden bead between the two pieces.

Again this one was made in the same way but the larger of the silicone tubing was used.  Peel offs were used and the FP started of stripy.

This is a large green bead with peels offs.

This is just to show you the difference in width between the two beads, you can make them as long as you want.



And finally, these are the ends of the beads, this time finished off. 

JFF - Week 6 - A New Technique to You

JFF this week is asking for a new technique, so I thought I'd try this out.  Using alcohol inks on friendly plastic, and wow, I love the results.  I melted two pieces of plain white together, swiped them with Ranger blending solution.  Dripped blobs of AI onto the plastic.  I let each colour dry before I applied another.  I used a combination of blending solution and surgical sprits to 'lift off' some of the colour to create the lighter areas.  For further info check out the art of friendly plastic blog from where I followed their instructions.

Once I was happy with the colour combo, I turned it over and heated the back with a hairdryer type heat gun (you can use the other type but just be aware as it seems to get hotter quicker) until it had a glossy sheen to it.  I then placed a piece of rainbow transfer foil face up on the FP and rubbed it on.  When it had cooled I peeled it off to reveal the above.

I heated the FP again and cut into it using a hand shaped metal cutter.  Once cooled, I pulled the cutter from the FP and above is the result.

And this is the back.