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

xxx

Texture and colour for A Vintage Journey

Embossing or texture pastes is the theme of our new challenge at A Vintage Journey. I had lots of fun creating this reverse canvas. 

I started by using tissue tape to hide the staples on the reverse of the canvas and gave the inside a coat of gesso. Not sure where I was going at this point - but in the end all the tissue tape is hidden!

I added various distress paints randomly on the 'frame' and once dry added clear embossing paste through Tim Holtz latticework stencil.

Once dry I took Deco Art Prussion blue and covered the frame - wiping it away from the embossed areas but letting dry in between.

For the inside of my canvas I added texture paste to the ornate frame cut from grunge board. I just added with my finger to create texture.

Once dry I added the same colours of distress paint and a little prussian blue to tone it down.

The butterfly was cut and embossed on card before sticking to a grungeboard die cut for strength. I used a black oil pastel to highlight the embossed areas. 

I hope you like my colourful canvas - it really shines in the sunlight!

I would like to enter The Mixed Media Monthly Anniversary Challenge - my chosen theme is Texture!

Have a lovely weekend

Nikki

xxx

Pretty pastel wall plaques and CVC Big shot prize reminder!

We are reaching the end of our Stencil it challenge at Country View Crafts - but there is still time for one more project to share!

This time I have used wooden plaques - a great surface to paint, stamp, stencil and doodle on. I gave them a coat of gesso and added a pastel base colour (PaperArtsy Fresco paints).  I then just randomly stencilled with differing colours and stencils.

I dont have any process shots but it was similar to my sparkly canvas - and also the cards I shared on the CVC project blog earlier in the week.

A few close ups:

Reminder - there a chance to win a BIG SHOT bundle at CVC this month - just two days to go if you would like to enter.

See you next week for new challenges!

Nikki

xx

Stencils and Wildflowers

 Hi everyone and thank you for stopping by today. The start of the month marks a new challenge at Country View Crafts with our theme being to Use a Stencil. 

But this is no normal month we also have a blog hop and an amazing prize up for grabs - you could win a

Sizzix Big Shot Machine & Die Bundle

To enter, you must be a follower of the Country View Crafts Challenge Blog and also hop along to each of the Design Team Members blogs and leave a comment. 

The normal monthly challenge is still taking place and those who link their Use A Stencil projects will also be entered into the £20 Voucher draw. Winners will be picked at random in early June. 

So here are some links for you:

Country View Crafts - April challenge and Blog Hop

If you are here from Doreen's blog (hello!) the next on your list is Monika.

After all that excitement here are some more details of my project!

I decided to make a few cards with different backgrounds all using a slightly different technique but all using distress inks and Tim Holtz layering stencils.

From left to right:

1. I added various inks to my card using cut and dry foam. I then placed the stencil (my favourite - latticework) on top and spritzed with water - gave it a few seconds to react and then laid kitchen roll over to remove the ink.

2. I used the splotches stencil. I secured it over the card and used cut and dry foam to add a blue toned ink randomly but not over all of it. I then took a green ink and added to the remaining white areas.

3. Latticework again secured to my card. With a stencil brush I created a rainbow effect by brushing my inks in lines down the card.

4. Not as successful I think! The honeycomb stencil with 2 tones of pinky / purple - again with a stencil brush - the aim being to create a slight shadow.

I cut wildflowers from the die set out of dark blue cardstock and matted my backgrounds onto the matching card.

Nikki

xxx

Sparkly Flower Canvas

Hi everyone - something a little different today - lots of paint, stencilling and drawing to create this fun canvas. Details on what I did can be found over at Country View Crafts. Be good to see you there.

Nikki

x

Easy background cards

 

Hi everyone - the current challenge at Country View Crafts is to make your own background. Today it is my turn to share a project. Why make one when you can make three!

All the cards began with inked white card in varying distress inks. I then placed a harlequin stencil over the card and spritzed with water. Kitchen roll is then placed over the top to remove excess water and, of course, some of the ink to create this fab effect.

I kept my embellishing simple as the backgrounds are quite bold!

Here are the other versions...

See you next time, thanks for stopping by.

Nikki

x

Butterflies and flowers

I hope you are enjoying your Easter weekend. Last weekend I went on a craft retreat and had a whole weekend to play! Unfortunately I seem to have lost my mojo a bit at the moment and really wasn't that productive - but I had a lovely time with friends. I am giving myself a little crafting break to recover some ideas (hopefully) and in the meantime I am trying to have a good ruthless sort out in my study / craft area. 

I have a few projects to post from the weekend though and here is the first. When short of ideas I look to others for inspiration and I am a big fan of Pamellia's work. I had this in mind when I started:

You can see the influence without it being a complete copy I hope! 

I have gesso, texture paste, stencilling, embossing powder, inks, stamping and even some glitter on this. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Frilly and Funkie - Add ribbon

Stamps and Stencils - Anything Goes

Mixed Media Card challenge - Flowers

Pan Pastel - Spring Colours

A Sprinkle of Imagination - Anything goes

That Craft Place - Spring

Thanks for looking.

Nikki

xxx

Be an Individual

This is my second make for the current Country View Crafts challenge - to Use Something New. There is still plenty of time to join in!

I used more of my new layering stencils and also I am slowly increasing my range of distress paints and have included these too.

My Tim Holtz honeycomb and Stampin Up star stencils have been used on the background with my favourite combinations of blues and browns. The centre is an embossed and painted panel with a little treasure gold added.

Umbrella man and the stars have been dabbed with 3 colours of distress paint and spritzed with water to allow the colours to blend.

Oh I do love umbrella man!

I would like to enter
The Mirror Crack'd - where the theme is stencils

Thanks for looking today.

Nikki

xxx

These are a few of my favourite things

 

Time for the first challenge of 2015 at Try it on Tuesday and we are using our Favourite Things. I have too many favourite things so thought I would focus on my layering stencils - which I love in all sorts of projects. This really is quite a feminine little card for me.

I have used two Tim Holtz stencils here - Latticework and Bubbles. I added the lovely Stampin' Up flourish and petite petals. The colours are Tim Holtz tattered rose and aged mahogany.

Thanks for looking

Nikki

xx

Anniversary Celebrations

Happy New Year!

It is the first of the month and time for a new challenge at Country View Crafts. A great theme for the new year to 'use something new'. I took advantage of the CVC Advent offers and treated myself to some new layering stencils which I have used to make this card for my friend.

I have used latticework and stars stencils to create my background with distress inks. My darker layers were created by brayering some cardstock with distress paints. The numbers and stars were coloured with distress paints and a little embossing powder added to highlight them.

Hopefully you may have had some new crafty goodies for Christmas - so do play along with us at Country View Crafts challenges.

Nikki

xx