Loop de Loop playtime

Hi everyone. I really have not been a good blogger recently, posting only my projects for A Vintage Journey and That's Crafty. So today time for a post for my blog! 

This is a 12 x 9 inch canvas I made a couple of weeks ago - just for fun. Truth is I can't quite remember what I did - but I will try my best.

I started with a coat of gesso and once dry added random circle stamping with Seth Apter / Spellbinders Turnaround stamp set and archival ink. I added watering washes of Seth Apter PaperArtsy limited edition paints - green patina, mahogany and and terracotta. 

I added some clear texture paste randomly through a stencil and Deco Art Sand paste around the edges. I allowed this to dry before adding additional colour and allowing it to drip over the surface.

I die cut the letters and Loop de Loop die (several times to adhere together for dimension) and stippled with black gesso. This creates a wonderful subtle texture - perfect for sponging paint over for a rusty / grungy effect. I sponged with the same colours as the canvas to create a worn / rusty feel. More mahogany on the outer circle, more black inside, green patina to highlight.

That's all for now - back later in the week with a project for That's Crafty and then a new challenge on Friday for A Vintage Journey.

I would like to enter Loop de Loop into this weeks Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Going Round in Circles.

Nikki

xxx

Feline Fridge Magnets

Today see's the start of a new challenge over at That's Crafty - your chance to win a £20 voucher!

The theme is 'Feline Fine' - your project should include cats. Well this was right up my street and I decided to make some little fridge magnets using the tiny cat stamp off Donna Gray's stamp set - The Quirky Girls Collection - Heather.

The background card is small - around 7x4cm. I brayered using Deco Art paints and added some stamping, stencilling and doodling. (Kate Crane style!). I stamped the little cat directly over the background and added a little colour to add contrast and some stickles for some sparkle. I printed some words on my computer. 

I made a few - but being the idiot I am I had mounted some in the perspex frames before the photos - when will I learn!

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

Nikki

x

My Happy Place

Time for my regular Thursday post over at That's Crafty! Do hop over for all the details.

Nikki

xxx

An old rusty shrine....

It's Thursday morning which means I have a step by step over at That's Crafty today. Do hop over for more details of this project featuring Deco Art Media Fluid Acrylics, Andy Skinner techniques, Tim Holtz Chipboard quote chips and That's Crafty Surfaces.

Nikki 

xxx

Distress Oxide and Wildflower Cards

Hello again, back for my second post of the day. I am the guest today over on the Craft Stamper Inspiration post for the May challenge. 

I finally got hold of a few more colours of distress oxides and had a play making lots of backgrounds. I decided to use them to make some birthday cards featuring Tim Holtz Wildflower stamps and dies. My Wildflowers and Sentiment thinlits are cut from kraftcore cardstock. 

These were inspired by the wonderful creations by Richele Christensen on the Ranger Blog. 

Nikki

xxx

Back to Black Journal Page

Time for a new challenge at That's Crafty - Back to Black - your project should include a large amount of black. The lucky winner of each challenge wins £20 to spend in the shop - yay!

I created this for one of the recent That's Crafty Hochanda shows featuring the white / greyboard art journals. I painted the surface with black gesso - feathering at the edges. Once dry I flicked silver and gold paint over the surface.
On some card I used a credit card to create a background using PaperArtsy Fresco Acrylics. I added some stencilling with That's Crafty word stencils before die cutting lots of circles with some framelits.

I arranged these on my page and stencilled 'Imagine' (That's Crafty word stencil) - first in white chalk paint and then in colours to coordinate with my circles.

I am back shortly with another post!

Nikki

x

Kate Crane inspired Mini Art

I am over at That's Crafty today sharing these and other designs of little wall hangings - completely Kate Crane inspired! Do pop over for a visit for more details.

Nikki

'Be the Change'

 Hello everyone - my posts have been short and sweet of late - but I have a few more details today!

We commence a new challenge at A Vintage Journey hosted by the fabulous Jenny Marples. The theme is to 'Use a Quote'. We are very lucky to have That's Crafty! sponsoring this month's challenge and each of the creative guides has worked on one the That's Crafty! surfaces this month. Do come and play for your chance to win a £20 voucher to spend.

That’s Crafty! are an online retailer and bricks and mortar shop based in the UK. They sell an extensive range of papercraft and mixed media supplies along with a large range of branded stamps & stencils. In addition they produce and sell their own stamps, stencils and surfaces. Surfaces include shrines, tags, hearts, panels, journals, uprights and stacks and come in varying materials - MDF, white/grey board and acrylic.

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For my surface I selected the MDF upright with the rounded top. I wanted to use the new Seth Apter / Spellbinders Steering Wheel die - so based my design around this.

MDF Surface:

Lots of layers went onto the surface and I think some are now completely covered - but here they are!

1. Cover with grey chalk paint 

2. Add some random texture crackle stamping (That's Crafty Texture stamps).

3. Took mermaid lagoon Distress paint on my craft mat - spritzed with water and added randomly to the surface.

4. Added Deco Art crackle medium through 2 That's Crafty! dinky stencils - Cogs and Decorative Background)

5. Once dry added some Deco Art Antiquing medium in black to highlight cracks. Then sealed with matt medium.

6. Took distress paints- rusty hinge, fired brick, ground expresso and aged mahogany and slowly built up colour by dipping my surface onto paint off the craft mat - drying between layers.

7. Created a little patina effect by mixing cracked pistachio, mermaid lagoon and twisted citron and repeated. Added a little black soot too.

8. At the end I also added Deco Art Quinacridone gold around the edges of the upright.

9. Seal it all with matt medium.

Steering Wheel and Nuts and Bolts

1. I die cut the steering wheel six times and glued them together - offsetting the X . I thought this made it look a little like a clock?

2. Painted it all with black gesso.

3. Stippled / dry brushed white gesso.

4. Added a combination of Deco Art yellow iron oxide and Quin Gold.
(Nuts and bolts and central cog are Tando Creative)

Cog and quote plate

1. Painted black.

2. Added Deco Art crackle paint - not quite to the edge.

3. Once dry added yellow iron oxide and Quin gold.

My quote is from Gandhi - love this quote! (The stamp is from Clarity stamp). I stamped in black archival and heat embossed with clear powder to make it a little bolder.

Do hop over to A Vintage Journey to see what everyone else has created for this months challenge!

I am entering the following challenges:
Take it Make It
Frilly and Funkie - Put your Inking Cap on
Sandee and Amelie's Steampunk Challenge
We love to Create
The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

Nikki

xxx

Dreamy card

I am playing with the gorgeous Lin Brown stamps again today over at That's Crafty - I love these stamps! Do hop over if you would like to see more details.

Nikki

xxx