Mandala Plaque for PaperArtsy

 

Hi - it's another redirect post tonight as it is my turn over at PaperArtsy. I am playing with stamps by Gwen Lafleur and embossing powder for the current topic - 'Fused'.

Nikki

Crackled Pebbles with Faceted Heart

I recently showed the Neutrals project I created for our challenge theme this month at A Vintage Journey. (Here). Today I am sharing the 'how to do' tutorial for this!

Do hop over for the Crackled Pebble effect and how I did the Faceted Heart.

Nikki

xxx

Keeping it neutral

Hi everyone. This month at A Vintage Journey our challenge is Neutral Zone. Time to banish colour and create with blacks, whites, greys, beiges, creams and browns only. I have made this 8x8 inch panel with greyboard coasters altered to create stone effects. I seem to be using the Faceted Heart alot at the moment - here it is again!

I will be sharing a tutorial post on how I created all the textured effects at AVJ in a couple of weeks - so for now its just some photos. I loved making this so much I repeated it but this time with a little colour!

Till next time!

Nikki

Envelope Wall Art for PaperArtsy

Today I have a project over on the PaperArtsy blog - featuring stamps from Courtney Franich and Alison Bomber. To head on over for all the details!

Nikki xx

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

Christmas Greetings!

Hi! Today we welcome a new challenge at A Vintage Journey and a wonderful Christmas (or not!) theme of Star Light - Star Bright. Our host is the lovely Julia - here is her description:

This month we are asking you to to create with stars. Fill up the dark winter sky with them or use one really big one as your central focus. Stencil them, stamp them, emboss them or die cut them. Make a card, make a star box, make a canvas, create a journal page - remembering to create in the vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journaling, industrial or steam punk styles.

A couple of weeks ago Brenda (Bumblebees and Butterflies), Alison (Words and Pictures) and I had another of our Skype crafting sessions and we decided to to each create a project for this theme. For those that haven't seen our previous Skype Craft - we
all connect up via Skype and take it in turns to chose a step which we all need to follow. Sometimes we work on the same substrate but this time we each chose our own.

Brenda kindly recorded the steps - so I have added a quick summary of what I did to each of the steps.

1. A - Use paper to start the layers. - I covered my substrate with black and white patterned paper

2. B - Use the monoprint method to add any colour medium of your choice - I used watercolour card to transfer white paint randomly across the surface (it was too black!)

3. N - Add a wash or washes of a colour medium - I added blues!

4. A - Use a stencil any way you wish. - I used a star stencil, added versamark and added Baked Texture to the surface before heat embossing.

5. B - Use asemic or dynamic writing to add a layer of visual texture. - I took a silver metallic pen and scribbled! It is there if you look for it!! As it is silver it shows up when the light catches it.

6. N - Add a bit of texture. I added more Baked Texture around the edges of the plaque.

7.  A - Determine and prep the focal point of the design. I die cut my 'Christmas' several times and adhered together before using the same embossing powder again. Texture was added to the 'Happy' (a precut greyboard piece) before paints sponged.

8. B - Find elements to bring the composition together. - Stars - more stars!

9. N - On one or more of the elements use two different mediums of the same colour. I went for my blues and silvers on my die cut stars and 'Happy' - using embossing powder, foiling and glitter!

10. A - Add some words - Well I was ahead of the game now - already did that!

11. B - Add some sparkle - Ditto - so I cleared up the glitter I seemed to have got everywhere!

12. N - Assemble and add whatever you need to finish off your design. - I added Snowtex around the edges and on the words to enhance the winter feel.

It was a fun day!

If you havent already head over to AVJ for lots more Star Light, Star Bright Inspiration.

Nikki

Coffee Time - Guest Designer Frilly and Funkie

Hi everyone. I am thrilled to be Guest Designer today at Frilly and Funkie. The challenge this month is 'In the Kitchen'. I decided to include a kitchen theme as well as using a kitchen item - salt.

My panel is around 6inches square with a slight recess and frame. I decided to work directly on the frame but worked on measured heavy card stock for the central area. For both I started by creating some texture using stencils and texture paste and allowed to dry. For the centre panel (card) I added watery washes of Deco Art Media paint in Quinacridone Gold and Paynes Grey - allowing them to merge together a little and then sprinkled salt on, leaving it to absorb the moisture and pigment before wiping away once dry.

I also used the same technique on the border with 2 blue tones - but with less salt to create a more subtle effect. I also dry brushed gold paint over this surface to reflect the colours inside the frame.

I die cut the tea cups (coffee in this project!) from Tim Holtz’s Tea Time Bigz die and sponged with blue paint. before returning to my stencil and added gold paint. I added blue archival ink around the edges of the cups to make them stand out a little more.

I reached for the quirky quotes from Tim Holtz Snarky Small Talk and decided this coffee one was perfect! A little sponged paint toned down the white card.

I think there are days when this quote is very appropriate for me!

Nikki

xx

Stencilled hangings for PaperArtsy

Just stopping by to say I am over at PaperArtsy this evening having a play with new paint colours (yum) and stencils /stamps from PaperArtsy. Do hop over to see what else I got up to!

Nikki

xxx 

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

Texture, Texture and Texture

Hi folks. I am over at PaperArtsy this evening with lots more details on these textured panels....

Be great to see you there!

Nikki

Textured quote panel

Hello and welcome to my second post of the day. Earlier I posted my Rusty and Crusty canvas for the new challenge at A Vintage Journey - you can find it here.

And it is time for a new challenge over on the Craft Stamper blog too, as always it is Anything Goes as long as you include some stamping. For my design I created this textured 6 inch square MDF panel. I added lots of texture paste, sand paste and leftover card scraps before painting it all black. Once dry, I dry brushed with white gesso before adding Deco Art Media Fluid Acrylics to colour. I added some extra white dry brushing at the end too. 

I stamped one of Alison Bomber's PaperArtsy quote stamps on some white card and heat embossed in white before using the same fluid acrylics to colour the card. 

For this months challenge at Craft Stamper the winner will receive 2 stamps sets from Imagine, Design, Create.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Nikki

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

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

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

xxx

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

xxx

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

Relics & Artifacts / That's Crafty Collaberation

This week we have a collaberation between the Relics & Artifacts and That's Crafty! teams. We are each sharing a project featuring products from both camps. Today is my turn from the That's Crafty team and it is Lynne's over at R&A.

If you would like to see more details of my project do head on over to That's Crafty for lots more photos and a step by step.

Each day there will be a post from a That’s Crafty! Design Team member and a Relics and Artifacts Ambassador and the blog posts will go live every day at 11.00am GMT and 6.00am EST.

We hope you will join in the collaboration each day, as there will be two very special prizes! One lucky winner will receive a Gift Certificate for £25 from That’s Crafty! and the other lucky winner will receive 3 sets of Relics and Artifacts Matte Resin Craft Blanks of their choice, from Relics and Artifacts!

Here’s what you have to do for a chance to win:

1. Visit both blogs each day and leave a comment.

2. Become a follower of both the Relics and Artifacts and That’s Crafty! blogs.

It’s that easy! The winners will be picked at random on Tuesday 2nd May 2017.

Nikki

x

A beautiful thing....

Hi everyone - I am over on the PaperArtsy blog this evening sharing this project featuring new stamps by Emma Godfrey and lots of UTEE! 

Nikki 

x

Home Sweet Home - PaperArtsy

Hello - tonight I am over at PaperArtsy with this project for the current topic - Windows, Doors and Architecture. Do pop over for more details.
Nikki
xxx

Embossed Hearts - Part 2

Last week I shared a heat embossed heart using Frantage Encrusted Jewels. You can find details here. Today's heart uses Frantage embossing enamel - a little less sparkly today! All the details and a step by step can be found over at That's Crafty.

I am back on Saturday with a project for PaperArtsy - something a little different - back to my darker palette!

Nikki

xx