Garden of Dreams Tulip Postcard Tag inspired by Gillian Simpson and Helen Mazengarb

I didn't think I'd have time to enter the Paper Artsy challenge so this is just a quickie. I was so inspired by lovely Gillian's post using the Paper Artsy postcards which is here and Helen Mazengarb's use of the Tulip die which is here, so I wanted to grab an hour to make something whilst I should be making dinner. They suck you in, these Paper Artsy folk! 

Helen is new to me and make a beautifully textural tulip using the die which comes in three pieces, and I used grungepaste and her colourscheme. For those of you who don't know, Gillian is a very talented artist who was behind all the organization of the blog posts and is now ably paired up with Darcy as I believe she has been very tied up with studying lately, but a while ago when she was demo'ing at shows she coined this idea of using the Paper Artsy postcards as a backdrop to pieces of artwork. So it's lovely she has had a chance to break from her studies and make us something glorious again. I had a large postcard which had a Fresco paint chart on the back so I thought I would cut it into a tag and lightly cover it with Bora Bora, Mermaid, and Claret, so that some of the images showed through. I then stamped it with some background stamps. I added the Lynne Perella lady image painted with Frescos and a piece of bobble trim which was in my bargain box I ordered from Paper Artsy a while ago, and edged the piece with Ice Fire Treasure Gold. The Garden of Dreams wording from Lin Brown Eclectica was stamped onto a piece of Thorndon Hall paper which I had image transferred onto canvas a while ago using Fresco Satin Glaze and torn around the edge. I finished off with a couple of buttons.

Crafty Individuals - A fine Romance

Over on the Crafty Individuals' Blog there's a new challenge starting today for the month of February chosen by Daniele, with the theme 'A Fine Romance'. Lovely choice, Daniele! As usual you get an incredibly generous 25% of anything you order from Crafty Individuals just for entering, and a chance of a fabulous prize.

I've been singing 'A Fine Romance' (with no kisses) in my head since I heard the title of the challenge, and made this frame with the couple dancing, and what looks like the same couple in a clinch later! I stamped onto Crafty Individuals backing paper and used their Summer background paper with the dove and the words 'Forget me Not'. I cut a doily shape with another piece of the background paper for the corners to tuck the images under.

Then I went to town with the frame! I painted it and added Tim Holtz Crackle Paint in places and spritzed it with mica sprays. I used a selection of metal and resin flowers and leaves and gesso'ed them all first so they were uniform then painted them and spritzed them, except for the large leaves which I rusted for some contrast.  I also added some mica flakes to the frame.

There are SO many beautiful and romantic designs in the Crafty Individuals range so I hope you will join in this month with the challenge.

'Jane' MDF Hanging Heart

 

I made this MDF heart for the Indigo Blu Challenge which is your favourite stamp, and the Eclectic Paperie Get Altered Challenge which is Hearts. I painted the heart with Fresco Finish paints in Pansy, Lilac, and Eggplant and then mixed some of the paint with Kroma Krackle and spread it around the three 'corners'. Once it had crackled I rubbed on some Treasure Gold in Ice Fire and stamped the heart with the script stamp from Sarah's Choice in Vibrant Violet Archival Ink. I coloured Jane, my favourite Indigo Blu stamp, with Fresco Finish paints. I stamped the Dinkie Butterfly, which is actually quite large, on tissue paper, and painted it with Frescos before adhering to grunge paper and painted it with Fresco Gloss Glaze. I then painted some shrink plastic with Frescos in Limelight, Claret, and Green Olives, and stamped with a selection of flowers and the leaves from Live, Laugh, Love. I finished off with some ribbon to hang the heart by, and some pearls for Jane's earrings.

Dolly Daydream for Paper Artsy, Inspired by Claire Lloyd

 

Happy New Year! It's exciting to see what the new year will bring on Paper Artsy, and who will pop up. It looks like there is lots in store for us, and this week's Guest Designer is Clare Lloyd, whose beautiful work I have seen before on Unruly Paper Arts, so I was delighted to see her! I was inspired by her art doll spool on day one, so let me introduce you to my alter ego, Dolly Daydream.

I bought loads of spools when France Papillon made her spool key rings and I love art dolls, so I was very pleased to see this. I made mine with Dolls plate one, and The Eyes See Everything. I deconstructed the doll and used the tape measure from the set for the bottom part of her torso. Clare had used metal embellishments at the top and bottom of the spool and I had an I Ching coin knocking around on my craft desk which was taken from a belt and therefore had loops on either side where the chains had attached together. This gave me the chance to reconnect the legs either side of the spool so they would hang from jump rings.

I had stamped the doll on book paper and backed her onto card so I wanted to use translucent Frescos so as not to cover the text. I wanted to use a wooden button over the button on her chest so this dictated my colour choices, and I added a bit of Inky Pool to the flower on the button to tie everything in. I used some Treasure Gold Ice Fire round the edge of the button and the spool and the butterfly wings. I finished Dolly off with some hand shaped charms hanging from her arms which say Hand Made on them. It's all a bit mad, and definitely reflects part of me that tries to get out sometimes.

I am entering this into the Paper Artsy challenge for this week.

Crafty Individuals' Challenge - Santa and his Sleigh

 

There is still time to enter the December Crafty Individuals' challenge which is to make something Festive. Why not enter those Crafty Individuals' Christmas cards you have been making? All the details are here, and there is a fab prize.

I have made this Santa sleigh, covered with Crafty Individuals' Christmas background paper. The recently released Santa stamp was embossed in black for definition and coloured with Distress Inks, as was Rudolph, which was cut away from the stamp 332 so that he appears to be pulling the sleigh. I embossed loads of fir trees in green embossing powder from the set 257 to fill up the sleigh.

Thank you so much for all your support, comments, and friendship this year. I hope you have a very happy and healthy Christmas and New Year, surrounded by those you love.

12 Days of Christmas Noel Plaque for Snazzys

Over on the Snazzys Blog I have my second make using the gorgeous Graphic 45 '12 Days of Christmas' kit. I would love you to pop over and visit me there!

12 Days of Christmas Clock

Today is my first day as Design Team member over at Snazzys! I hope you will pop over there and say Hello. We were sent a fab Graphic 45 '12 Days of Christmas' kit to work with and my first offering is this clock.

I went to Snazzys in Swindon for the first time yesterday with my friend, Jean, and had a good natter with Val and Don who were so kind and friendly. If you are within striking distance of Swindon it is a fabulous shop to visit and has such a great selection of products by Ranger, Eco Green, Paper Artsy, Kaisercraft, Chapel Road, and lots more. If you are a shopaholic as I am, it is very near the Great Western Factory Outlets!

For more photos and details of how the clock was made (a trip to Poundland was involved!), pop over to Snazzys!