Tuesday 28 November 2017

Fragile Winter - Brenda

I'm sharing a project with you today both here and over on my blog at Bumblebees and Butterflies. It is a mixed media canvas with layered snowflakes that I created for the Craft Stamper magazine last year, the process steps for the canvas background can be found HERE  and the steps for making the snowflakes are below.



Step by Step



1.    Die cut all the snowflakes from good quality card and seal them with a coat of gesso. Emboss them all using the embossing folder that accompanies the layered snowflake die.  




2.    Take each snowflake one at a time, spritz with water and dab on chosen colour of paint, add a second colour whilst still wet and heat dry. 




3.    Turn your snowflake over, you will see the colours seeping underneath the edges and being soaked up by the non-sealed card. 




4.    Continue to add layers of water and colours (and mix colours to create various combinations), until you are happy with the results. 




5.    On some you could add more interest and lighten the snowflake by rubbing white paint over it using your finger and keeping very little paint on it. 




6.    On others try adding transparent crackle glaze or gloss varnish, then white or black antiquing cream and rub the excess off with a damp cloth and finish with some gems given a quick coat of gesso or paint.




To finish seal the snowflakes with a coat of ultra matte or gloss varnish, stack some of them together and perhaps adhere some glitter. Add them to your Fragile Winter mixed media canvas where the process steps can be found at Bumblebees and Butterflies.


Have fun with your Christmas crafting.

hugs Brenda xxx


Products



Monday 20 November 2017

Dear Santa -

Hi it's Brenda back after a break and no this isn't my list for Santa but it is a stand up card created using DecoArt Chalky Finish paints.


I began by using a brayer and had some fun layering the colours thickly so that I achieved alot of texture. Of course all the colours are opaque so we have to be careful where we brayer the colours as each one blocks out the one below, but by being careful and using less of the colours as we go we can achieve texture and colour. I finished this one with some subtle stippling using a natural sponge and then lightly brayered some white over the top before stamping the background using the chalky finish paint.


I also stamped the foliage using the chalk paint and olive archival in before distressing the edges and adding a shabby bow and some berries.


This lovely Santa image is the St Nick die from Tim Holtz. I used the brayer again with the chalky finish paints to create a slightly textured piece for Santa's whitish beard and moustache. I also used some colored texture papers for the other pieces.


It all came together beautifully and I added a stand made from two pieces of card so he can stand on the mantelpiece with the rest of the Christmas decorations and cards.


I hope all your Christmas preparations are going well and if you'd like to see my other festive makes please pop over to Bumblebees and Butterflies between now and Christmas, I'd love to see you.



hugs Brenda xxx


Thursday 2 November 2017

Guest Designer Project - Ros Jones

 
Today with have a project from Ros Jones who has created this beach hut made using the Sizzix Tim Holtz Tiny Houses die, PaperArtsy snowflake chalk paint, A Bit Jaded infusions and Prima Art Stones which are coloured up as the pebbles
 
 
Thank You for Sharing Ros it's lovely and a great use of the pebbles, I've always wondered what customers use them for
 
You can see more of Ros's projects on her blog