Wednesday, November 25, 2015

CHRISTMAS CARDS WITH VIDEO TUTORIAL

Hi everyone!!!
As you all know it is getting to that time of year when many of begin to think about Christmas, and begin getting prepared. It is around this time of the year that I begin to make all my Christmas Cards, though I must confess I generally only make them for close family members as I come from quite a big family and there is just no way I would have time to make cards for them all!!!! 

Today I want to share with you these 2 matching Christmas Cards I made using new products from 13 Arts. I find Christmas Cards much quicker to make if I do matching pairs as then there is no need to decide on entirely different papers, colors, designs, ect, and I can do both at the same time.

I also put together a Video Tutorial for you which you can find at the end of this post.

Here is first card I put together for you today.....

'Tradition'

Some details:





And here is the second.....

 'Rejoice'


 Some details:







Here is the Video too :-)


 13 Arts products used:

Thursday, November 12, 2015

BEAUTIFUL - 13 ARTS

Hi everyone!!! I hope you have all been well? 

Today I would like to share with you this layout I made using a combination of the new collections by Aida and Olga at 13 Arts. 

You will notice in the tutorial below that these finished photo's actually have a different photo on them to those throughout the tutorial. Unfortunately as I was adding final touches i spilled quite a bit of ink over the photo and it was ruined, so I have cut another photo to the same size and replaced it..... The bonus is I like this photo on here much better!!!

'Beautiful'


Some Details:


















 Here is the tutorial :-)

Start by choosing your sheet for the background, then from another sheet of paper tear a strip using a ruler roughly 4 inches thick and glue it onto your background sheet to the left of the page, but not on the edge (leave a small gap). Then tear off the bottom left hand corner. Cut a rectangle of yet another piece of paper to fit behind it. Then attach everything to a thick piece of cardstock. 

Use a paint brush or palette knife to paint 1-2 coats of Clear gesso over the entire background. When it is dry add some Modelling paste through the Doily mask for texture. Let it dry thoroughly before continuing with the next step otherwise the water and mist can cause the modelling paste to loose it stenciled shape and wash off.


 Start with both the Pastel and Chalk Dirty Pink Mists. Unscrew the lids or spray some onto your desk, then use a small paintbrush to flick the colors all over the background. Then flick water over the top and let the mist mix with the water on the page. Add more color and water as necessary.
 Dry it with a heat gun.
If you want your background to be darker or more vibrant, add another layer of color when the first is dry once again using the Pastel and Chalk Dirty Pink Mists, but also add some Pearl Pink, Chalk Woodbine and Fuchsia, and Pastel Raspberry Mists in small amounts, along with water, slowly building up your color until you are happy with it.
You can dry it with a heat gun to gen some interesting watercolor effects,


When the Mists were completely dried I used my palette knife to scrape some very small amounts of gesso over certain areas to highlight some of the stenciling and lighten the color in certain spots. 
When the Gesso was dry I added some random stamping with the new Chart Stamp and also stamped Beautiful Memories near the top of the page. I then added splatters of Black Water-based Ink and the new SPLASH! Ink in Glitter Pink.
Next I have used papers mostly from the Secret letter Collection along with a small piece from the Winter Tales Collection to build my photo mat. I have distressed the edges of each piece of paper and used foam tape between layers for dimension. I then added some Calico, Twine, and my photo.


Next I began embellishing. I have added some different flowers, metals, ect. Then I have taken the chipboard word Beautiful from the Secret Letters Word Chipboard Sheet and covered it entirely in Gel medium then sprinkled Fine Silver Mica Powder over the top. I have attached it above the clock and flowers to the bottom right of my photo.
I have cut pieces of the Openwork Table Cloth and added them into my cluster along with the Pink pearl Twigs. I then added some Gel Medium in some areas beneath the clusters and sprinkled Purple Mica Flakes to it, before adding various different crystals from the 13 Arts store. 


I have continued to build up my embellishments around the page, adding more Twigs and Pearl Twigs along with a couple of 13 Arts flowers.


I have cut 2 butterflies from a sheet of paper in the Secret letter Collection, adding one each to either side of the page, wings folded slightly up. I have added a Dusty Attic chipboard piece beneath the flower cluster on the left with I have painted with the Glitter Pink SPLASH! Ink.
I continued to add pieces of the Openwork Table Cloth, Crystals and Gems and Purple mica Flakes beneath my clusters. 
I have also brushed the tips of all my flowers with Gesso.



To finish my page and tie everything together I added splashes of Chalk and Pastel Dirty Pink Mist and Pearl Pink Mist to my flowers, and also my chipboard title and other embellishments. I then brushed the Glitter Pink SPLASH! Ink along the tips of the flower petals. 
I added a small Gold Key and a 13 Arts Decorative Heart Crystal for final touches.

As you can see it was at this last stage that disaster struck and I ruined my photo. to replace it i simply gently peeled back any embellishments that were glued directly to the photo, and pushed them to one side (I did not need to remove them completely) then slid the new photo in place, gluing straight onto the old one. I then carefully glued my embellishments back down.

As I said at the start I like this photo much better!!!!




That is all from me today!!
 I hope you like my layout and that you found my tutorial helpful.  

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!!!!


13 Arts products used:


Monday, November 2, 2015

A NEW CANVAS

Hi everyone!! I am back today to share with you a Commissioned Canvas I made using some really beautiful pieces of Dusty Attic Chipboards.

Dusty Attic Products I have used:

Here is the canvas I created:


'Live, Laugh, Love'




Even had it not been requested that I use lots of pink on here, I likely would have anyway, as it is simply a color I adore!!!! Not to mention that I have been a little addicted to it lately!

The canvas is 12x16 Inches. 


 Some Details:




 I have taken the 'Live, Laugh, Love' for my title from the Mini Captions #6, simply coloring it with Black Ink. I have layered it above a resin frame. When I had finished the Canvas I gave everything a generous spray of Pearl Silver Mist, giving everything a gorgeous shimmer, including the title.




I have painted both Spring Blooms #1 and Foliage #5 with a very thick coat 13 Arts White and Silver Glitter Paint. When the dried I cut them apart accordingly and spread them around the canvas, tucking them into, and beneath, flower clusters.



The two 'Teardrop' drops are from the Ornate Pendants Set, painted with White SPLASH! Ink. I have used one slightly larger than the other then placed them side by side at different lengths, to look as though they are 'hanging beneath the flowers.

The 'XOXO' at the bottom of the photo was given the same treatment as the title.




The Mini Birdcage #2 has also been painted White with SPLASH! Ink. I have then placed a very small square of foam tape at the top of it, before tucking beneath the flowers, so that it sits slightly raised off the Canvas.




 At the top here  are some of the smaller parts cut from the Spring Blooms #1.









There is a lot of dimension on this canvas and tucking in the chipboard below, in-between and above layers really helps distinguish the different layers of the Canvas.


 That is all from me today!! I hope you like what I have created and will be inspired to pull out your own stash to give something fun and different a go!!!

Have a great week!!


Friday, October 30, 2015

I HAVE SUPER EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE!!!!!!!

Hi everyone!!! 

As you can see my title says, I have super exciting news to share with you today..... 

Firstly, I am so, so honored to announce that I will be joining The Scrapbook Diaries team. I was thrilled when Janene asked me a couple of months ago, and I have had such a hard time holding onto this secret until now!!! 

Secondly, today is the release of my very first kit 'XOXO'.  So exciting!!!!!!
You can find all the details here.   
(There is also an overview at the end of this post)
'XOXO'



Some details:


















The kit is available as basic or plus. 

The basic kit comes with 3 sheets of patterned paper from various brands, Webster's Pages Vellum, White Card-stock by Bazzil, and a cut-out strip (butterflies) from UHK Galleries. You will also receive some gorgeous chipboards from Dusty Attic, twine, wire thread and enamel dots, not to mention lots and lots of stunning Prima products including flowers, wood-icons and resin frames.

The Plus Kit includes all of the above plus 3 Mini Twinkling H2O's, A small Prima Stamp, and Gold Gel Pen.  
 
The kit also comes with additional product to make the bonus page (by Janene).

You will also receive step-by-step written instructions and unlimited access to a private online video tutorial, showing you step-by-step the creation of this layout. 


I hope you like my first kit and will have just as much fun creating this as I did!!

Remember you can find all the details here.


Have a great weekend!!!



Tuesday, October 27, 2015

NEW ART JOURNAL COVER WITH STEP-BY-STEP - 13 ARTS

Hi everyone!!
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and a great start to the week!!!


Today I would like to share with you the cover of my new Art Journal. I have used some simply stunning 13 Arts Mediums, Sprays and a few other bits and pieces. Actually I think its the first time I have not tried to use every last thing in my 13 Arts stash!!


 I have also put together a quick step-by-step tutorial for you, showing how I made this journal cover with just a few simple steps.


'Journal Cover'




Some details:













Here is the tutorial:


Step 1: 
I have simple started by giving the cover of my Art Journal a coat of Gesso. It is not perfect and doesn't really need to be. I only painted a thin coat because this journal came with this gorgeous pattern embossed into the cover and I had hoped to keep some of that texture in later steps. It is very difficult to see the retained texture in the photo's of the finished cover above, but in person you can see it and feel it whenever you pick it up.






Step 2: I have taken an array of metal embellishments, a large plaster heart and a couple of flowers and organized them on my cover. When I was happy with the composition I used Gel medium to glue them in place. I then put it aside overnight to be sure that the Gel medium was thoroughly dried.




Step 3: As I do not have any Black Gesso (although this product is available from 13 Arts), I have taken some Matte Black Paint and mixed it with equal parts Gel Medium to make it permanent. I have then painted the cover with it, being sure to get into all nooks and crannies. Depending on how thickly you paint it, you may need a second coat.




Step 4: When it was dry I have dry brushed some White Gesso over the top to create some highlighted areas.




Step 5: Next I have generously sprayed the cover with Pearl Silver, Pearl Violet, and Pearl Pink Mist, letting it pool then drying with a heat gun for interesting watercolor effects. I have then added splatters of all three colors all over the background and embellishments, before finally adding some Pearl Black Mist around the heart and adding a few small flicks all over.




Step 6: To finish off I have added Fine Black Mica around the heart, and to some of the embellishments, and also some Silver Microbeads, using Gel Medium to hold them in place. I finished off by adding a few more touches of Mist.





That is all I have to share with you today. I hope you were inspired to pull out your 13 Arts stash and have a play!!!


13 Arts products used:

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

ENJOY THE LITTLE MOMENTS

Hi everyone!! Back again with another layout to share..... this time based on the October Moodboard over at Dusty Attic.

Here is this month's moodboard: 


I have taken the blue, and golden tones from the moodboard, however instead of using the oranges I have chosen to use Gold itself, along with the blues, a hint of green and black. 

I know its a little early, but I couldn't resist the temptation, to scrap this photo of Jet at Christmas a few years back. I have tried to give my page a non-traditional Christmas feel.

'Enjoy These Little Moments'


The black background was inspired by Jennifer hedger, owner of Dusty Attic, when she said to me she would love to see how some of my work would come up on a black background. Unfortunately it didn't turn out quite as well as I had hoped, but it was a good practice run!!

Some Details:


For my title I began by spreading Modelling Paste through the Heidi Swapp stencil 'Enjoy', on top of the already painted background. When it was dry I replaced the stencil and spread Gesso over it so that it was white (Modelling Paste dries transparent), I then outlined the inside of the word enjoy with lead pencil, and added some letter stickers on foam tape to create the word 'These'. Next I have then taken the 'Little moments' chipboard from the mini Captions #6 and painted it with 13 Arts White SPLASH! Ink. When that was dry i brushed Gold Glitter paint along the bottom half of the title, creating a two-toned effect.



I have painted the Mini Brick Panel White with Gesso, then cut it apart, attaching it to the background around my paper layers to create depth, and added interest.
The Mini Reindeer has simply been Inked Black and layered on top of the Lace Border #3 and Mini Brick Panel.



The Vintage Flourish was painted with Viva Decor Maya Paint in Old Gold, then wrapped in Bronze sparkling thread. I have used both a large and small one, layering them above my flowers, with more flowers on top. I have also added a few of the small teardrop Ornate Pendants, which I have simply covered with White liquid pearls.


The Leaves #2 have also been painted White with SPLASH! Ink, and once again brushing them with Gold glitter paint, though this time all over. I have then tucked them into flower clusters around the page.



I have taken the Lace Border #3, cutting off the 2 pieces the same, to create smaller decorative pieces. I have given them the same treatment as the leaves #2 before attaching them to the left and right edges of my page with the points facing inward toward the photo. 


That's all I have to share today. I hope you have enjoyed my post and found something to inspire you!

Dusty Attic products used: