New stamps - by Alison Bomber

I am lucky girl!

We have just seen the release of Alison Bomber's first stamps sets with PaperArtsy and I was lucky enough to have a play with them early. I have a post tonight over on the PaperArtsy blog but am sharing a few more details here too.

I also used these stamps earlier today for my Tag Friday post for A Vintage Journey - you can find this one here.

Alison (Words and Pictures) has selected some inspirational quotes for two stamp sets one called Trees and Flowers (EAB01) and the other Darkness and Light (EAB02). Here they are if you haven't seen them!

I love these quotes - so inspiring and thought provoking!

I have made a couple of projects using the same techniques:

 Stamp set - Trees and Flowers - EAB01

Stamp Set - EAB02 - Darkness and Light

Each piece began by adding Grunge Paste through stencils. Once dry I added Midnight and Blush Fresco acrylics with Matt Glaze - to increase transparency and help the blending of colour. I added Infusions - Sunset Beach and A Bit Jaded and spritzed and blotted until I was happy. I also lightly wiped down the surface vertically. Once dry I sanded the Grunge Paste a little and on the 6x6 panel added a little stamping too.

I have made some more samples too - I will share these another day!

Nikki

xxx

Tag Friday with exciting new stamps

Welcome to the first of two posts here at Addicted to Art today - both featuring the brand NEW stamps by Alison Bomber. These fabulous quote stamps were launched 2 days ago by PaperArtsy. Pop back at 7pm UK time today for my PaperArtsy post.

My tag today is for Tag Friday over at A Vintage Journey - we do love our tag Fridays - so hop over for a no theme tag fest of creativity!

I have used one of Alison's quotes from her Darkness and Light set (EAB02) so I decided to introduce a little dark and light into my tag. In art tonal value is very important to composition and design. When using a lot of colour I find it difficult to see the tone very well so sometimes convert a photo digitally to black and white to help see it. Although when using just white / yellow and black it isn't too difficult!

I started with a layer of  PaperArtsy Fresco paint in Little Black Dress and then sponged PA Chalk and finally Mustard Seed Distress paint to the central portion.

I sponged Tim Holtz Layering Stencil (Stone) with the same black paint and stamped it onto the tag. I then used the stencil more traditionally and added a few white highlights through it.

I also re-added a little of the black around the edges before trimming all sides and distressing with scissors. Mustard Seed was added to highlight the very edges of my top tag.

This was adhered to another tag that had also been sponged in black around the edges.

I sponged some additional card stock with black (and then white) and stamped and embossed the quote before cutting out the words.

The Mini Detailed Butterflies were die cut in black card - versamark added and clear embossed for a little shine and texture.

I hope you love Alison's stamps as much as I do and will pop back later to see a couple more designs.

Nikki

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Shimmering Moments

Another creation today using the fabulous new That's Crafty Shimmer paints and greyboard embellishments. More details today over on the That's Crafty blog.

Nikki

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Keeping it simple with Mini Detailed Butterflies

Clean and Simple (CAS) is the new challenge starting today at That's Crafty! Do hop over for more inspiration and the chance to win £20 in the store.

It's never easy for me to leave some white space so I played it safe. I started with some Distress Oxide backgrounds and spritzed through Tim Holtz Splash layering stencil - before removing the ink with kitchen towel. I then die cut the card into some squares, frames and the lovely Mini Detailed Butterflies and layered my cards. 

For a very non CAS crafter I am quite pleased with these!

Nikki

GiganTAG from That's Crafty

I am sharing this project over at That's Crafty today. This is one of the fab new MDF GiganTAGs launched on Hochanda last week - along with new paints and these wonderful greyboard embellishments. 

Fair to say this project took me quite some time! 

Nikki

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Under the Sea - with Brenda Brown!

Hi everyone. Just stopping by to briefly share this altered picture frame I made at a Brenda Brown workshop last week at Let's Be Creative. 

Brenda originally shared her design last year - you can see all the details here. She is great teacher - if you ever get the chance to attend one of her workshops, I highly recommend them!

Nikki

x

A double sneak peek!

I am, as usual, over on the That's Crafty blog today sharing a project using Rubber Dance - Textured Flowers. I have also sneaked in some new products - to be launched tomorrow on Hochanda. Do hop over for a bit more info or tune in tomorrow for the That's Crafty shows at 8am and 2pm!

Nikki

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Hello dog lovers

Cats tend to feature quite a bit in my art - but today it is a dog day! We have a new challenge at That's Crafty - Dog Eared - dogs must feature in your project!

I have used a Katzelkraft stamp on some white/greyboard. A similar style and method to the little houses hangings I did a few weeks ago (Kate Crane style) but this time a different colour palette.

Nikki

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Bright and Crazy

Welcome to my regular Thursday post. Today I am sharing these bright, Crazy Cat cards over at That's Crafty. Do pop over if you would like more details. 

Nikki 

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Canvas on canvas

 Hello! We have a new challenge commencing today at A Vintage Journey - where the theme is Canvas. It doesn't matter how as long as some canvas is a dominant feature of your project. Perhaps you may use a canvas in the traditional way or use the reverse to create a shadow box? Canvas boards are fabulous to work on or perhaps you have some canvas sheets which can be cut and adhered to another surface.

A couple of influences here - firstly this image I found on Pinterest. I love the textured surface and wonderfully embellished heart. 

Click here for link

Secondly I recently attended a France Papillon workshop where we made these:

I started off with a previously used canvas which had die cuts adhered so I decided the best way to cover it was with lot's of texture. I painted it black before adding a mixture of texture paste, crackle paste and sand paste. While still wet I scraped vertical lines into the surface. 

Once dry I added washes of Prussian Blue and Burnt Umber paints - blending a little in the middle.

I then decided to add some Golden Bead Gel - followed my a little more paint.

I cut a piece of canvas and coloured it with a watery wash of Transparent Red Iron Oxide. The next layer is from the France Papillon workshop - adding some crackle paste and painting once dry. My heart was cut by hand from watercolour card, painted and given firstly a coat of transparent texture paste and then a little bead gel.

For more inspiration do pay a visit to A Vintage Journey to see what my fellow Creative Guides have come up with! 

Have a great weekend.

Challenges entered:
Country View Crafts - Hearts

Nikki

xxx

Embossing with Masks

Have you seen the fab range of Dinky Stencils and Masks from That's Crafty? I usually use my stencils for building up backgrounds but here I have used the mask in two different ways. Do head over to the That's Crafty blog for all the details.

Nikki

xxx