Friday 20 March 2015

Hessian Canvas - PaperArtsy Deconstructed Challenge


I made this hessian canvas for the PaperArtsy deconstruction challenge. It was a cheap one I bought from The Works and I've recycled it by covering over the original design with gesso so that I could use the gesso transfer technique with a piece of green Chatsworth. This was a technique I've tried before which I love, and which I picked up from Anna Karin's blog. I added layers of stamping and leaf stencils and used the new Wisteria fresco paint - Yummy! I used three of the backless spools covered in Green Amber Treasure Gold and covered one with script tissue and a Lynne Perrella image, and the other two with some Chatsworth which I'd previously image transferred onto canvas and frayed the edges.

The flowers are by Ellen Vargo and are coloured with Fibralo pens and then glazed with Fresco Gloss Glaze to make the colours more vibrant, one of Leandra's tips. The leaves are the Eclectica chipboard ones; first time I've used these, I think, but I will definitely get some more. The little resin bird has been given the Green Amber treatment and was picked up from the PaperArtsy stand at one of the shows. The other chipboard pieces painted with Slate Fresco are from the pound shop. All the background images are Lynne Perrella on tissue paper, painted from behind with Frescos.

I was trying to embrace my inner Lin Brown with this style and then I found I didn't have an inner Lin Brown! She is one of the people I most admire, as I love her use of mixed media and the way she achieves such depth whilst still allowing all the layers to remain visible. One of my dear PATwit friends knows I am having a grim time right now and I commented to her what I was trying to achieve and she was so kind and said, you may not be Lin, but you are CraftyLuce, and we love you. I don't feel very crafty or very lovable right now but that did make me feel better so thank you, you know who you are!

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Shrink Plastic and Frescos - PaperArtsy Miniatures Challenge Inspired by Julie Ann Lee


Over on the PaperArtsy blog, the theme is anything in Miniature. I love anything in miniature, and I love shrink plastic, which was how Julie Ann Lee chose to use the theme, as you can see here. I just love her gorgeous peg doll; it is so original! I thought it was a perfect opportunity to use some of the larger flowers that have recently been released, so I picked out a selection. I used stamps from JoFY26, ELB15, and the brand new JoFY 31 and 32 on shrink plastic and painted them with new fresco shades Bougainvillea, Banana, Prawn, and Tangerine Twist.

I brayered the new blues, Smurf, China, Jade, Purple Rain, Southern Skies, and Caribbean Sea onto a white card blank and softened it with Snowflake, and stamped Happy Birthday from JoFY 26 in Jade. I stamped the grasses from HP1009 in a mix of Banana and Caribbean Sea to make green and then added a bit more of the Banana and stamped the grasses from Darcy's lovely EDY09, at differing heights and using some secondary stamping, along the bottom of the card blank. Then I used the spriggy thing from ELB15 in Jade and glued the shrink plastic flowers in place.

I am entering the PaperArtsy Miniature Theme challenge which is here.