A crazy mash up

 

Hi everyone and belated New Year greetings. Here's to a positive year for everyone.

I am over at Paper Artsy tonight - the current blog theme is Mash Up - using stamps from 4 stamps sets. I'd forgotten how challenging this can be. All the details over at PaperArtsy.

Nikki x

Icy Abstracts at PaperArtsy featuring Seth Apter stamps

 

Hi!

I am over a PaperArtsy this evening - sharing these Icy Abstractions! It's meant to be a Christmas theme but got very carried away with joy of the paint!

Nikki xx

Booking binding Seth Apter style for PaperArtsy

Hi everyone. I am over at PaperArtsy this evening with a book using Seth Apter stamps and  PaperArtsy paints. For more details and pics visit the PA blog - if not here is a little video!

Nikki xx

Isolation Skype Craft 1

Hello everyone

What difficult times we are living through. I feel lucky to have a hobby to turn to where I can sometimes forget any problem or worries.

On Friday I got together (virtually of course) with two crafting friends - Brenda Brown and Alison Bomber for one of our 'Skype Craft' days - it's been a while since we have done this. What a joy to spend several hours crafting, chatting and laughing with friends.

I worked on a large canvas, Brenda on a similar sized board and Alison in her large journal. 

As we have done in the past we take it turns to select the next step. I took photos at first then got carried away and stopped!!!

1. All - Seal the substrate with a coat of gesso/tinting base.

2. Alison - Use tissue paper and/or tissue tape.

3. Nikki - Use a stencil for some texture.

4. Brenda - Add some text/number stamping in any gaps

5. Alison - Add more than one colour paint in any way you'd like to,

Here you can see my strips of tissue paper, Grunge Paste through a brickwork stencil, some stamping and some washes of colour (Paper Artsy paint) added and then dabbed to remove with kitchen towel.

6. Nikki - Use something to create a resist. 

I really wanted use my new Izink Ice Translucent Gels from Seth Apter - so scraped some over the surface and dried. I also added some candle wax in places for additional resist.

7. Brenda - Use a colour medium to reveal your resist areas.

I added lots more paint layers at this point to create more contrast and depth and also allowed some paint to drip. 

8. Alison - Add some more stamping but not text and numbers.

I used a wonderful leaf stamp - from Lin Brown - PaperArtsy. 

9. Nikki - Select a focal point and gather elements together.

 10. Brenda - Alter/colour up/prepare and position elements for your focal point/s.

I painted the back of the Tim Holtz Ideology transparent wings in colours to match my canvas and splattered the front with white and gold paint. 

11. Alison - highlight or refresh the original background before adhering the embellishments.

I continued to build up my layers adding some dry brushed paint and using my pallet knife to add more Izink Ice. Oh and some splattered paint of course. The brown I originally scraped for resist, the red in the bricks and the transparent yellows on the canvas is the ICE.

I love some of the textures I managed to create - not sure about the overall composition but love the texture !!!!
When we do these sessions it is amazing how different everyone's turns out. Here are some sneak peaks for Alison and Brenda.

Alison

Brenda

Sorry for this long post! We are hoping to Skype Craft again very soon - so look out for our next adventure!

Take care, stay safe, stay home (if you can) 

Nikki xxx

Dream It - Create It -Tag Friday at A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone! My blog has been quite neglected of late but back today with a project for our Tag Friday post at A Vintage Journey.

I have been struggling with both time and motivation to create recently - which saddens me! Hopefully as the colder months arrive I will find more time and a little creativity.

I started with the background, Seth Apter style - building a few layers - dark then light without worrying too much about what went where as long as some of each layer was showing through. I then took some watercolour card and monoprinted additional layers of colour - this gives the slightly mottled appearance. A little stamping and stencilled circles to finish. All paints were Paper Artsy Chalk paints.

I created a few layers with die cut frames, and some altered patterned paper along with the altered clock face and clock hand - all using Distress paints.

I have no idea where the word stamp came from, but I found it my folder of random stamps and its seemed appropriate for my lacking mojo! I added some camera film and altered some strips of cotton material to finish.

I am sure there will lots of wonderful creations on the Tag Friday post at A Vintage Journey so do head over! 

Thanks for stopping by.

Nikki

Seth Apter Mini's for PaperArtsy

I have been having lots of fun using new stamps from Seth Apter (PaperArtsy), Baked Texture, PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylics plus my brayer and gelli plate. For the all the details do head over to the PaperArtsy blog!

 Nikki 

xx

PaperArtsy project - Vintage Neutral with Seth Apter stamps

Hi everyone. Today I am over on the PaperArtsy blog with details for this altered frame. The theme for this fortnight is Vintage Neutrals taking me away from my more normal colour palette to something a more toned down. Do pop over for details of the techniques and lots more photos!

 Nikki x

Rusty and Crusty with Texture Paste, Paint and Seth Apter's Baked Texture

It's the first Friday of the month so another double post day for me! First up we have a new challenge at A Vintage Journey and this theme is perfect for me! Rusty and Crusty!! Our host is the creative genius Autumn Clark.

Now first up I must say my inspiration for this came from the wonderful designs of Lisa Rasmussen - who I have been seeing all over Pinterest - if you want some male card ideas - I recommend you pay her blog a visit. 

I made this while away at a craft retreat, so sorry, no process photos. I began by formulating a composition and collating my pieces - the 6 inch wooden panel as the base, some corrugated cardboard, some wire mesh, greyboard cogs and bolts (That's Crafty), Tim Holtz hardware findings keyhole die cut in greyboard, some cheap plastic chain and 2 strips of greyboard.

Each were given varying amounts of texture paste / texture sand paste and allowed to dry. I covered them all in black gesso and once dry dry brushed with white gesso for contrast and to highlight texture. 

Next I began adding paint - Deco Art Media Fluid Acrylics in Quinacridone Gold and Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide plus PaperArtsy Green Patina. The corrguated card was roughly painted brown with some blue highlights.

The combination of the texture sand paste and Deco Art paints makes for great rust - thanks to Andy Skinner for this one. Finally I took some versamark and added around the edges of the panel and the keyhole before apply patina Baked Texture.

Thanks for stopping by - don't forget, if you haven't already, to visit A Vintage Journey for more inspiration and to, hopefully, join in our Rusty and Crusty challenge this month.

I would like to join the following lovely challenges:

SanDee and Amelie's SteamPunk Challenge - April

Mixed Media Monthly - April - Compimentary Colours - Green and Red - Rust and Patina

Nikki

New PaperArtsy / Seth Apter paints and quirky Hot Picks

Hi everyone. Today I am over at PaperArtsy with a rather quirky creation using an oldish Hot Picks stamp set and the new paints from Seth Apter / PaperArtsy. 

Nikki

xxx

Make a Wish - black, white and a little sparkle

Hi everyone. Today I am sharing this tag at A Vintage Journey. It is the first Monday of the month so we start our monthly Destination Inspiration posts.

Do head on over to see what my travel bag consisted off and how I used it!

Nikki

x

It's been a while.... Happy New Year!

It has been a while since I posted on my poor neglected blog - but hoping 2018 allows a little more time and focus. 

Today I am over at A Vintage Journey with a step by step for our current Destination Inspiration. 

I am also happy to say I have joined the Craft Stamper Take it Make it challenge design team for 2018 so I will be back later in the week with my first project.

Whatever your dreams and plans I wish everyone a successful and happy 2018.

Nikki

xxx

Rusty Christmas Greetings

Tonight I am over at PaperArtsy sharing this project - the theme is rust and I have used Scrapcosy Christmas stamps to create a reverse canvas.

It's all rusty and patina tones for this Christmas hanging!

Nikki

Mini Book for A Vintage Journey

Hi everyone, back with a couple of blog posts this week after a quiet period here! Not had much crafting time of late after starting a new job. Hoping I get into a better routine soon and manage to find more time for creating and blogging.

Today we have a new challenge at A Vintage Journey - hosted by the lovely lady that is Anne Redfern from Redanne! Our theme is Mini Marvels and Anne is looking for projects that are miniature - less that 4 inches.

I have created a mini book - which is 3 inches square. One thing I have done over the last month is attend a Seth Apter workshop - Book of Moments - where we altered book covers to create a book. Despite me not yet finishing that project it certainly inspired me to create this.

I started with some greyboard and cut two pieces 3 x 3 inches square. I also cut some kraft card 1inch x 3inches (or a fraction under) and scored at 1/2 an inch. I joined these together.

For my pages I took some cardstock and my distress inks. Firstly tea die to give that aged look and then a little ink splodging and stencilling. The edges were distressed and more ink added.

I stamped several quotes from Alison Bomber / PaperArtsy stamp sets - selecting some of my favourites from Music and Silence (EAB03)  and Darkness and Light (EAB02). I heat embossed for added impact.

 For the front I took Seth Apter / Spellbinders Pathways die and stippled various paints over it.

I added a previously created star and a Tim Holtz Quote chip. For the back I used just the Pathways die.

I added some patterned paper to the insides and the backs of my distressed / stamped pages. I will add to these later! 

There is heaps more miniature inspiration at A Vintage Journey today - plus the chance to win a prize from Southern Ridge Trading Co. or to be one of our Pinworthies this month.

I would like to enter the Mini Album Makers November Challenge.

I am back on Monday with a PaperArtsy project - see you then!

Nikki 

xxx

Altered Notebook Version 2 - New Challenge at That's Crafty

Hello again. It's been a busy 24 hours here at Addicted to Art. I am back with Version 2 of my altered notebooks - this time for the new challenge at That's Crafty - Rustica - use rust techniques in your project.

Version 1 can be found here -  a little more feminine.

And talking of Altered Art and challenges the new challenge at A Vintage Journey is Altered Art and I have used Andy Skinner techniques to alter a coffee tin. Again if you missed it earlier today - here is the link.

So back to the Rusty Altered book!

Like the first book I began with a coat of black gesso and sealed the surface with varnish. I painted a piece of card with black chalk paint and embossed before sanding to reveal the white areas. I used washes of paint to colour adding Quinacridone gold at the edge to give that rusty effect.

For my embellishments I die cut Seth Apter's Steering Wheel and cut it in half and adhered to his Pathways die. I sponged paint in yellows/reds/brown and black to create the rusty tones. The cog and corner nuts are That's Crafty greyboard embellishments which were treated in the same way and a little PaperArtsy Green Patina added for some contrast.

For the back and spine I took That's Crafty Alphabet stencil and sponged white chalk paint through. Once dry I added a 'dirty wash' - Paynes Grey and Quinacridone Gold.

I would like to enter Frilly and Funkie latest challenge - A Little Rusty.
Once again thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend.

Nikki

x