Ad Hoc Crafting

The September workshop proved very different from the usual.  I provided various items from my seemingly unending collection of  "too good to miss out on a bargain" accumulated stuff.  Wooden frames, Bisque, Plaster, Paper Mache boxes of all shapes and sizes.  Supplies available for everyone to paint and decorate as each person decided.  A sample of one of the boxes was provided as a guide but everyone had a go and although I did not take photographs of all the finished items, here are a few, starting with my sample box.


Steampunk style sample box.

Mirror by Tanya

Box by Elizabeth

Bisque painted by Christine (holding paper bead bracelet made on the day)

Plaster painted by Angie

Box painted and decorated using paper napkin by Margaret B.

Fabulous day I wish I had taken more photographs of all the finished items.  We ended the day making paper beads and went on to make stretch bracelets and earings for many of those remaining in the afternoon.  Here are a few pics of the finished beads, plus many more I managed to make while on holiday, a bit addictive I must say, but now I have to find a use for them.

Paper Beads

Close up of varnished beads

Glitter varnished paper beads.

  Coming up.....exploding scrapbook boxes, another great workshop from October.  Until then...

Cards to Go

August workshop found us making early Christmas cards, we had fun with die cuts, metal tape (again) alcohol inks and paint.  Several cards were produced throughout the day and below are a few of them:-
  

Waterfall card

 All sections were precut ready to assemble, stamp and put together for this waterfall card that was requested.  Quite fiddly, but worth the work to put it together and can of course be used for any type of card, not just Christmas. Photos could be placed on each square instead of stamped images, to make it more personal for the recipient.

 

Technique from Craft Stamper

This is a simple technique, I found in Craft Stamper last year, mask all sides off and with a blending tool colour the oblong within using distress ink. I have used a Penny Black stamp and embellished with red stickles.  This card could be used for any occasion just by changing the stamps and ink colour used.





Credit for this design must go to Linda Elbourne, though I have changed it slightly due to different die cut and stamps used for the purpose of the workshop.  Narrow corrugated card painted with black acrylic, highlighted with silver.  The snowflake die cut embossed with silver embossing powder.  The greeting triple embossed.


<><>

</></>

Snowflake

A snowflake die cut adhered to cardstock and covered with foil tape, squiggle around the background with stylus, painted with Aqua acrylic paint dabber, lightly sanded, mat and layer onto card.

Similar technique to previous card, using Tim Holtz Reindeer die cut and punched snowflakes, but coloured with alcohol inks instead of paint. Lightly sanded back to reveal plain metal on raised areas.

That is all for today, will be back tomorrow with more updates. I might even find out how to arrange the layout a lot better than I have managed. Oh drat......  Until then....



Metal Foil Tape

As you might have guessed I love this metal adhesive backed tape, managing to incorporate it on a lot of the projects as it is so versitile.

metal tape before ink



In July we used it to cover a frame.  First applying die cuts and punched images to the frame, covering with the tape (first using a template to cut the tape as the frame is oblong and this made it easier to apply).  Defined with a paper stump, a stylus also used to add more detail. 

After inking

 Alcohol inks then used to colour the metal.  Lastly raised areas sanded to reveal the metal.  As well as die cuts, several small additions of mesh added underneath.  Additional squares added to make corner features.  Metal wheel tools added even more of a design.  Stickles added on random areas.




  

Using embossed metal tape and inks



Below is a frame where the metal tape (before removing the backing) had been embossed using an embossing folder.  When applied to the frame, it still holds a lot of the definition.  The photo is of my lovely grandchildren helping me in my craft room.



We finished with a card, where we used a punched butterfly shape under the metal tape onto cardstock, cut with a scallop punch.  Squiggles added around the die cut to give more detail.  Alcohol inked and lightly sanded.    

Until next time...

Target

Just have to share with you a personal achievement.  Having weighed in weekly for quite a long time now (the scenic route and not very direct) I have now reached my own set target losing a total of 5 and a half stone. Yeehaaar.  Now to get used to maintaining it.  Nuff about that.  Hope you achieve all you set out to do in 2012.

Before (enjoying a Devon afternoon cream tea)

Not quite after, but a few months ago with my lovely niece Beth,  my equally lovely son Robert at the centre pulling faces, what is new there then!

Until next time.....



AT LAST

I am back along with a new year resolution to blog more often in 2012.  Happy New Crafting Year to everyone.

Over the next few days I will endeavour to update with some of the projects we enjoyed at the Harston workshops.  Kicking off with a folder to hold Artist Trading Cards.  We waxed, painted, sprayed and stencilled backgrounds for several of the ATC's then made the folder from an A4 sheet.

The folder is A4 sheet of card stock (or double sided scrapbook card trimmed to 12 x 6"). Fold in half length ways, open and repeat width ways, open and fold both long ends to centre (cupboard fold), open and cut down the centre long length and stop at last fold.  Accordion fold all folds, glue ends section closed or form a pocket.

Attach clear ATC's pockets to each side to hold the cards.  This is the view of the open folder:-

and this is the reverse side.

This folder is also ideal to hold photographs. This was a great workshops, very messy with inks and paint etc.   Until next time....

Watch bracelet and second Arch Mini Album

My daughter gave me a lovely rich autumn colour beaded watch bracelet for my birthday.  I decided to try to make another similar using Swarovski beads. I'm pleased with the way it turned out.
All the components were from my stash apart from the watch face.  Now I seem to have the bug and want to make more in a selection of colours.

I used a toggle charm bracelet, removed three of the centre links and added the watch face with jump rings.


Second Arch Mini Book using Tim Holtz Plaque & Postage Edge die

I thought I would share another mini book I made.  I used the same techniques previously and it is still a work in progress, more to add and alter yet.  I did get a bit carried away with the figure on the front cover, face, ideology hair!!!! Oh well, it is growing on me.


Front Page

Back Page

For the umbrella man page, I used the negative sheet after die cutting the shape.  Overlaid this onto sprayed and stencilled page. The cogs on the metal tape page are a variety of cogs from old clocks and cog die cuts, coloured with black soot distress inks and copper Inka gold brushed over, also punched holes and copper eyelets inserted.  A few die cuts, decorated dominoes and ATC's to decorate the remainder of the album.  On the front page I used an Ideology plate with UTEE face mould, Large butterfly stamped onto gold decorated paper and used for wings.  Until next time.... 

Mystery Arch Mini Book

Back again at last with details of the enjoyable May and June workshops, with a few of the April ATC's (Artist Trading Card) used to embellish the project.  I really enjoyed the fact that in May we completed 7 of the technique sheets but had not shared exactly what they would be used for. Of course the split workshops meant that a few could not attend May but wanted to come along in June and vice versa.  With the help of Postman and one to one workshops etc. we made it.  Two ladies are waiting for their June workshop kit via the post, they are on the way.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

In June we prepared the final 3 technique sheets before I gave out the kits to complete the book, I am lucky to have such a lovely group of ladies that attend the workshops, they all played along until the reveal of my finished sample to use as a guide.

Before I share the photos of the pages, I would like to thank Roni Johnson of INK STAINS fame for inspiration for 3 of the techniques we used which are the cardboard grunge, bookpaper blocking, layered collage sheets and idea for arch shape, please view her fabulous tutorials on her Gothic Arch Book  I did contact her regarding permission to share these techniques and she kindly agreed.  The second person I must thank is Rachel for the metal tape and texture paste sheet tutorials on YouTube RachO113 and visit her blog  Artful Evidence.  Some of these techniques have been changed a little to suit the supplies, or lack of, that are needed for the workshops.

There are lots of pics for these techniques, so you may want to make a cuppa before you proceed lol.  I hope I do not make a dogs dinner of the whole thing, as I am still finding out how to enter all this stuff.  Anyhoo here goes!!

Front Cover

I used corrugated cardboard for the front cover as it is quite thick. We removed part of the top layer cut an aperture and inserted an acrylic shape. Stamped quote with Stazon on top.  Alcohol inks on reverse. Embossed metal tape strips frame and hold the acrylic in place. Painted with metallic paint.




Left sheet - A Rachel inspired technique - Using mesh and metal adhesive tape plus narrow copper metal tape. Cut the tape to small pieces, placed over a few random cut mesh strips.  A paperstump was used to define around the mesh, metal roller tools and stylus to add further detail.  Painted with black paint, removed to leave paint in recessed areas. Inka Gold copper or Rub n Buff to add copper highlights.

Right sheet - Painted with two colours of acrylic paint mixed to watercolour consistency, dabbed off to lighten some areas.  Embossed with Embossing folder.  Stazon black ink pad swiped over lightly on raised areas.
(For finished sample I have added a ATC that we produced at the April workshop)

Left - Another Rachel inspired background technique - Texture paste applied to black cardstock, detail added using stamps and stylus, dried thoroughly. Painted with a generous quantity Luna Light paints, while still wet sprinkle on various colour embossing powders and heat until embossed don't worry if it bubbles it will add more texture.

(To embellish this page, I have used chipboard to form a frame, covered with acrylic black paint and lightly brushed with Rub n Buff gold.  Image stamped onto black card using black embossing powder.  The image painted with Perfect Pearls used as a watercolour.  Butterflies stamped onto black card, gold embossing poweder and painted with Perfect Pearls and punched out using Martha Stewart punch)

Right - Bookpaper and Blockstamping - Roni technique. - Vintage bookpaper glued to cardboard, dry, brush over diluted white paint or gesso.  Using torn pieces of paper or torn centres from Post It Notes to form masks, colour areas with Distress Ink Pads and foam pieces.  Using masks again, stamp images within the coloured areas. 

                                   

Left - Colour and mica spray onto card, heat dried. Stamped with a HUGE webbing stamp and embossed with black embossing powder.
(Another ATC used to embellish)

Right - Another Roni technique - Very popular with everyone. - http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/2011/03/mom-gothic-arch-1-segmented-collage.html - Torn strips of various papers both textured and plain, lace, vellum etc. Stamp onto plain smooth papers and glue layers onto card.
(Tim Holtz Alterations Sewing Room die cut - embossed in embossing folder and Brilliance silver lightly swiped over on raised areas. Embellished with lace, beads etc.)

Left - Wax ironed onto card, bank note tissues (top layer only) ironed into wax, more wax added and heat gun to fuse the wax.  Instead of beeswax, we used a tea light candle for the wax, a cheaper alternative to beeswax for this technique.

Right - Crackle paint - Black painted chipboard, heat dry.  Apply Elmers glue with brush, while wet apply layer of white Eco Green paint, heat to crackle. After embellishing I added small dots of Glossy Accents for rain drops all over
(Tim Holtz Alterations Umbrella Man die - Umbrella man and TH stamp quote. Embossed umbrella man in embossing folder and swiped with Brilliance silver ink pad. An alternative umbrella paper used.)

Back Cover - Colour sprays (2 - 3), blotted with roll of kitchen paper, grungeboard waste sheet (circles) used as a stencil, sprayed with water, wait 20 seconds, remove stencil, and blot to leave a ghosting image of circles.  Alpha stencil placed over

Sprayed with one colour spray, lift, reverse and replaced on remaining portion of card to transfer ink from stencil,  heat dry.

(Another ATC used to embellish plus a Martha Steward punched lace strip)

Finally using templates, all boards and sheets cut to size, glued to boards, holes punched for bookrings with added charms, ribbons etc.  A book closure to complete the book, made with small bulldog clips, jump rings and chain.

A photo of the ladies busy with their painting plus photos at the end of the session of a few of their front pages, yet to be embellished.  A fabulous time had by all I hope!

From left to right, Christine, Angie, Pamela, Jane, Nina, Victoria, Liz, Marjet, Julie and Caz (Tanyal, Alex and Margaret to complete via posted parcels)

I cannot seem to arrange these photos in a block, so I have given up.  It is my birthday today, so I am being taken out for lunch.  Hope this information will help you recreate these techniques again. Until next time!