Japanese Faces Fan for PaperArtsy Faces Challenge

Over on the PaperArtsy blog, the theme is Faces. Definitely outside of my comfort zone by several planets! Wearable art was much more me. I totally commend my lovely friends and fellow bloggers who have had a go and shown such talent and spirit. There was a brilliant intro to the topic where Leandra featured lots of lovely people, many of whom I know and admire, and I would love it if PaperArtsy brought out some more face stamps from amongst the clever people out there that folks like me could use in our crafting. For now I am entering the challenge in a rather desultory way, with this fan, using Japanese faces from the wonderful Lynne Perrella range (022 and 023 and Asian plate 4), using Fresco paints and some Gloss Glaze for a lacquered look.

Silk Scarf for PaperArtsy Wearable Art Challenge

I decided to decorate a huge plain white silk scarf which Petra kindly gave me. I brayered on lots of colours of Fresco, and then knocked them back with Nougat.  I then decorated the edges with the chequerboard stamp from Lin Brown's new set in Bougainvillea.

I chose the colours mainly to go with this chunky necklace from Boden although it is more red in it than pink.

I had a lovely colourful workspace afterwards! You can see the Costa coffee my friend kindly brought me whilst I was 'working'! I've got the best friends ever!

I'm entering this scarf into the PaperArtsy Wearable Art challenge.

Floral Espadrilles for PaperArtsy Wearable Art

I decorated these espadrilles for the PaperArtsy Wearable Art Challenge. The apron was a bit of a trial run. I used solely the new Limited Edition Lin Brown Fresco colours, some of them mixed to obtain extra colours, and Lin Brown floral stamps.

These aren't very seasonal but they fit well and I will definitely wear them next Spring/Summer and am looking forward to making some to match other outfits. They were very quick and easy.

I am entering them into the challenge which is here.

Apron for PaperArtsy Wearable Art Challenge

I've been wanting to make myself an apron for ages and with a Lin Brown class coming up and the Wearable Art theme over on PaperArtsy, it was the push I needed. I knew it needed to be washable so I used a fabric medium mixed in with the Frescos, which I had never done before, a Liquitex one.

I used Lin Brown stamps, new, recent, and slightly older floral and text stamps. It was easier than I thought and I will definitely do a more ambitious design and use a better quality apron next time - I just used a cheap one as I didn't want to mess up one of the £10 heavy weight ones. The only thing is, I preferred my design before I added on and painted the poppy as it looked much more delicate. Less is More, Lucy!

I am entering it into the challenge here.

Vintage Gloves for PaperArtsy Wearable Art Challenge

Over on the PaperArtsy blog the theme is Wearable Art which really appeals to me. I decorated some vintage gloves a while ago and was really pleased with the outcome so I decided to have another go, this time with a recent Hot Picks stamp release. The gloves are genuine vintage delicate white kid, made in France according to the label. I stamped in Archival Coffee and painted the flowers with Frescos, adding Satin Glaze to make them more translucent so that I didn't cover any of the stamped detail. I used Hey Pesto for the leaves and stems, Zesty Zing for the centre of the flowers, and Autumn Fire and some highlights of Bougainvillea for the petals.

I hope you like!

I am entering the challenge which is here.

Wood and Canvas Clutch Bag for PaperArtsy - Wearable Art

Over on the PaperArtsy blog it's a theme I love - Wearable Art. What could be better than making something you can wear to match or decorate an outfit, or give to a friend as a gift that they can wear and show off?! I had a great time decorating one of those pliable wood clutch bags you can get. I used the glorious new Lin Brown floral stamps and Limited Edition Fresco colours. Here is the finished bag:-

The step by step and products are over on the PaperArtsy blog here, but I've added some extra photos below. Here is the blank bag. I took the clasp and elasticated strap off and cut a rectangle of canvas with craft knife and metal edge ruler.

Put bag on its end to cut the oval side bits out of canvas sheet.

Cut them out.

Gesso the whole thing to help the glue stick.

Lightly cover shrink plastic with Prof Plum.

Stamp Poppy with StazOn and Paint.

Shrink and mould the layers.

Brayer tissue with the paints and draw round the bag and cut out.

Build up the design, starting with the leaf stencil and Granny Smith.

Build up design with new Lin Brown stamps.

Use gel medium to line the bag with the tissue.

Decorate the prepared canvas in the same way.

Use the flowers from the Bloom and Grow stencil with a mixture of Captain Peacock and Teresa Green.

Mix Professor Plum with Captain Peacock for a luscious Mauve!

Here I wrapped the canvas around the bag to see how it was looking to position my final stamps of the flower and the wording.

I stamped the Poppy in Little Black Dress for a nice strong black so the stamens stood out, and then painted with a mixture of Prof Plum, Captain Peacock, and Satin Glaze, with some highlights of Bougainvillea. I used some Zesty Zing in the middle.

Here's a close up of the bag showing the Poppy Anemone and the Shrink Plastic clasp.

I hope you like my bag and I hope you will join in the Wearable Art challenge - I will be joining in myself as I've got loads of ideas - just hope I don't run out of time!

Birthday Cards with Brushos for PaperArtsy Challenge

It's an important birthday week for me, with four of my most favourite people having birthdays, Julie Ann, my two much loved brothers, and one of my oldest friends, Elaine. Over on the PaperArtsy blog the theme is pigment powders so I decided to experiment with Brushos which I have only got out of the box once since I bought them! For the first card, for John, I used the Lin Brown leaf stencil and mixed the Brushos with modelling paste. I added Brown and Yellow to Leaf Green and once it was dry it acted as a resist to the colours I added over the top so there is a cream shadow around the edge which I quite like. I stamped Artful Blooms and Flora and Fauna from LB01 and 02 in Captain Peacock around the edges. I also used some splatters of Fresco London Bus mixed with Tango, and Zesty Zing. For texture I wanted to use up some Terra I have had in the cupboard for ages so I used it through the Hot Picks numbers stencil and through my favourite Is it Art stencil. Well, I cannot get them clean! Has anyone got any ideas? I have tried my usual tricks with Fairy Power spray and Deco Art Brush Cleaner but it is not budging at all, even though I was fairly quick.

 

For a focal point I have stamped two of the flowers from Lin Brown Eclectica 01 onto black card and cut them out. I layered the panel onto a turquoise card blank I got at Ally Pally on Saturday. I had a fab time by the way. There is a great write up on Helen's blog here. I met so many lovely people, that was the best bit, and PaperArtsy had put so much work into their stand with new products, make and takes, and superb demonstrators. Such a great atmosphere and I have felt so much better for having a day out.

For Elaine's card I used the same leaf stencil and Brusho colours, but this time used with Golden Heavy Modelling Gel. I really like this effect! It holds its peaks like Grungepaste but gives a translucent effect which is a bit different. A nice change. I stamped text with Snowflake onto a piece of Chatsworth and used the other stencils as before. I used the same LB flower stamp as my focal point, and made some shrink plastic flowers for the centres.

I am entering these cards into the PaperArtsy Pigment Powders challenge with is here.