Florishes and Butterflies

Hi everyone I have for you a picture  for my next post the background came out of a

 session playing with a brayer and using Paper Artsy Fresco Finish paints 

in shades of blue,  I watched Leandra's you tube brayered 

backgrounds and that was the result.

Instead of their waxed paper I used kitchen grease proof paper

and gradually built up the layers.

You have to be very careful not to have to much paint on the brayer and be gentle rolling 

it across make sure all the paint is off the brayer before you use a different colour. 

Start with dark colours first then and then gradually add the lighter ones.

It left a lovely mottled effect and the grease proof paper gets stronger

 with each application.

To finish the background I used Tim's Flourish stamp inked up with snowflake fresco

 finish paint then stamped randomly across the paper.

I triple embossed The Artistic Stamper butterfly off the insects & butterflies plate 

three times with gold embossing powder.

I then layered it up and highlighted areas with treasure gold after using alcohol

 inks to colour the recessed bits.

Little sequins were glued onto both wings and the body was made up with beads

 from my stash. The curly twig with berrys on I had laying around and 

two sparkly circles were glues on.

The frame was made with grunge paste through a stencil once dry painted with deco art

media paint in Cobalt Turquoise, once dry I used Deco Art Antiquing cream 

if you haven't tried this product yet you need to get some its amazing.

Products Used

1. Fresco Finish Paint in marlin, lake wanaka, antarctic, bora bora and snowflake. 
2. Deco Art Media Cobalt turquoise Hue, and Antiquing cream Raw Umber.
3. Grunge paste
4. Speciman Stencil
5. The Artistic Stamper Insects and Butterflies plate, Tim Holtz flourishes.
6. Gold embossing powder.
7. Treasure gold classic.
8. Alcohol Inks in stream, and denim.

I used beads and sequins from my stash, The very talented Jools Robinson inspired this piece by suggesting that I framed the paper I had made. So with that in mind this was where I ended up.

I would be very pleased if you let me know what you think.

Cheers Dee x

Neil Walker's Trio Of Hearts

Hi everyone to continue with our challenge this month LOVE! I have done a 

trio of hearts for you, using the fabulous Artistic Stampers 

Neil Walker Stamps.

Firstly I used Brusho on wet white card I sprayed it with a

mini mister of water.

I sprinkled Prussian Blue, Sandstone & Crimson.

If you haven't used these before have a play first as you don't 

need much. I followed with a little of gold mica powder 

mixed with water in the mister bottle.

I used the same embossing technique that I used in my last 

post of triple embossing powder.

I followed with stream and denim alcohol inks.

Finally I stamped the Neil walker alphabet soup stamp in walnut stamp

I gold embossed it and ran the versa fine ink pad around the 

edges and dragged it through the gold embossing powder.

Walnut stain was blended round the sides.

Brass sequins to finish.

Products Used

1.   Brusho :- Sandstone, Prussian blue, Crimson.

2. Neil Walkers stamps:-hearts and alphabet soup boarder.

3. Gold embossing powder.

4. Versamark.

5. Distress ink Walnut Stain.

6. Sequins from my stash.

I hope you liked this project love to hear what you think?

Cheers Dee x

Butterflies and Gems

Hi everyone I hope you are all good and that the new year finds you in good health!

I have loved this stamp but have never been able to do it justice but I 

think this wooden wall plaque,

might just do it justice.

I started of with putting texture paste through a memory stencil and allowing to 

dry naturally, then I covered the entire plaque with gesso.

Next I painted the entire plaque black. 

Once dry I highlighted it with Treasure gold in spanish topaz and white fire.

I triple embossed gold embossing powder on black card 

I then pressed the butterfly stamp into the molten

powder.

Once it had set I removed the stamp I had a rummage in my gem 

box and found the centre piece for my butterfly.

I took my alcohol inks in stream and denim and applied them 

to the butterflies wings.

I dyed some lint in steam Adirondack colour wash.

Some sequins from my stash and some gems to strewn across the 

stream lint.

A small piece of friendly plastic that I had from a previous project 

to finish off at the bottom. I really hope you like my plaque as 

always feel free to let me know what you think.

Cheers Dee x

Products used

1. Gesso, 
2. Black acrylic paint
3. Wooden garden post
4. Treasure gold or similar
5. Alcohol Inks stream & Denim
6. Grunge paste/texture paste
7. Embossing powder
8. Adirondack stream
9. From my stash:- Stencil, friendly plastic, gems

Snowy Tree

Hello everyone, Alison (butterfly) here with a wintry tag for you.  There's snow forecast for the UK this week, so it may well fit perfectly with the weather for some of you.  You can click on any of the product links in the text if you need to go shopping right now!!

From the moment I saw the large Snowflakes Backgrounds by CaroLines, I had plans for them!  This tag uses the Palette Snowflakes as the background.

I stamped it onto a whitewashed tag using Stormy Sky and Weathered Wood Distress Inks.  I gave it a slight spritz of water beforehand, which is why you get that nice watercolour splatter effect in places.

The other new winter stamp here at The Artistic Stamper which really caught my attention was this beautiful Pine Tree, also CaroLines.

It's stamped in Potting Soil Archival Ink (or maybe Coffee - sorry, can't quite remember, but it's bound to be one of the two!), and clear embossed with SuperFine powder to make it really pop against the snowy blizzard in the background.

The sentiment comes from the Christmas Greetings #1 plate, and got the same treatment.

I cut the figures using a Tim Holtz die from some "rusted" card leftover from another project.  The effect is created using some of the new DecoArt Mixed Media line.  You'd need the Carbon spray and Quinacridone Gold.

I used Ginger and Rust alcohol inks to alter my metal Idea-ology Findings - the Muse Token here, and the Word Band below.

And once the inks were dry, I smeared Picket Fence Distress Paint onto the Word Band and wiped it back, leaving the lettering highlighted.  Despite being dry, the alcohol inks seeped into the colour, but I rather like the distressed look.

I brushed some Chalk Fresco paint (part of the new JOFY Limited Edition) onto the edges of the tag to draw the eye inward and give a softer, snowier look.  I blended on some Vintage Photo Distress Ink too, to tie in to the rusty accents of the tag.

The whole thing is finished off with a couple of my tiny pine cones (UPDATE: sorry for any confusion - they are real pine cones, not "mine" as in I made them!!) and some seam binding which has just had a tiny touch of Vintage Photo Distress Ink to shabby it up (down?).  And a splatter of Chalk paint at the very end...

So there you have it... I hope that you are staying safe and warm if it's snowing where you are.  And if the weather is keeping you indoors, why not use the time to come and play in our Anything Goes challenge this month at The Artistic Stamper.  You don't have to use Artistic Stamper stamps to enter, but if you do you get two entries in the prize draw.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I'll see you again soon.

Alison xx

A Starry Christmas by Alison Hall

Hello Stampers!

I couldn't resist using that faux dichroic glass technique again. This time I used it on a couple of wooden stars.

Ingredients...

2 Wooden Stars

The Artistic Stamper Stamps - Greetings and Words

Viva Croco Crackling Colour - Silver or Gold

Ranger Alcohol Ink - Sailboat Blue & Purple Twilight

Clear Embossing Enamel - Ultra Thick

Versamark Embossing Ink

Book Paper

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Paint - Snowflake

Distress Ink - Black Soot

Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents

Clear Crushed Glass Glitter

Tinsel Twine - Silver 

2 Adhesive Gems

Instructions...

1. I started by applying Viva Croco to the stars, then left them for 24 hours, to dry and crackle.

2. I then used a felt applicator to apply the two colours of alcohol ink all over the stars, front, back and sides.

3. I applied Versamark Ink to the crackled surface, then dipped it into clear ultra thick embossing enamel. I added a couple of layers.

4. I lightly painted the book paper with Snowflake paint, then stamped the words. The word 'Wishes' comes from the greeting 'Best Wishes', I just cut out the word I wanted. I inked the edges of the words with Black Soot Distress Ink.

5. I reheated the embossed stars, and used a cocktail stick to push the words into the molten enamel. I sprinkled more clear powder on top & melted it with my heat gun.

6. I applied Glossy Accents to the edges of the stars, and dipped them into some glass glitter. This took about 24 hours to dry thoroughly.

7. I finished my stars off with an adhesive gem and some silver tinsel twine.

I hope this inspires you to have a go at this fabulous technique.

Thanks for visiting,

Alison x

Faux Dichroic Glass Domino Book by Alison Hall

Hello Stampers! I have a little domino book to share with you today, & I used a fabulous faux dichroic glass technique by Julie Dandy of It's a Scrappy Life.

Ingredients...( I used a LOT of stamps!)

Jumbo Bouvardia, Encyclopaedia Botanica, Garden Plate 1, Botanical Plate 2, Botanical Plate 3, Free as a Bird, Insects and Butterflies No. 1, Gibson Girls 002, Journaling Mini Words, Dragonfly Words, Butterfly Words

Dominos x2

Owl Charm

Vintage Ribbon

Viva Croco - Gold

Alcohol Inks - Stream & Pesto

Distress Ink - Vintage Photo

Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black

Versamark Embossing Ink

Ranger Mini Mister

Craft Mat

Heat Gun

Matte Medium

White Card

Clear Embossing Powder

Extra Sticky Double-sided Tape

Post-it Notes

Copier Paper

Glass Beads

Instructions...

1. Spread a layer of gold Viva Croco on the smooth side of the domino, about 1 mm thick. Allow it to dry & crackle, or use a heat gun to speed things up. You'll get better cracks if you let it dry naturally, but I was impatient! Lol!

2. Apply alcohol inks to the Croco, leaving some of the gold showing through. I also inked the domino edges & other side.

3. Press the crackled side of the dominos into embossing ink, then apply clear embossing powder and heat. If you use normal clear powder, you may have to do 3 or 4 layers, but with ultra thick, 2 layers should suffice.

4. Cut a piece of white card, 7 ins x 1 7/8 ins, then score & fold every 7/8 ins. 

5. Swipe Vintage Photo Distress Ink on the craft mat, mist it with water, then dip the white card in it. Dry & re-dip until you are happy with your background. Do this on both sides, then ink the edges & all of the folds with the Distress ink pad.

6. Use the black archival ink to stamp your chosen images, masking each segment as you go. Stamp both sides, omitting the edges you will stick to the domino. Stamp & cut out the phrases on copier paper, ink with vintage photo, & adhere to the pages.

7. Use extra sticky tape to adhere your domino covers to the little book.

8. Stamp the words from Journaling Mini Words onto copier paper, ink & cut out your chosen words, then use the extra sticky tape to adhere them to your front domino cover.

9. Thread ribbon through the owl charm, tie it around the book, gluing the owl in place with matte medium. Finish off with some contrasting glass beads.

I hope my project inspires you to make a little domino book of your own, they're a lot of fun! They also make lovely gifts for arty friends :-)

Alison xxx

Garden Beauties Bracelet by Alison Hall

Hello Stampers! I have some art jewellery to share with you today.

Here's what I used...

Garden Plate 1 A5

Ranger Alcohol Inks

Blending Solution

Felt Applicator

Glossy Card

Ranger Archival Ink - Watering Can

Memory Frames 1 x 1 ins - Black Patina

Memory Glass 1 x 1 ins - Clear

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Link Chain

And here's what I did...

1. I used alcohol ink and blending solution to make a pale background on glossy card, then stamped the Grecian ladies & the floral background with Watering Can archival ink.

2. I cut out 3 x 1 inch squares of the ladies heads, then 3 x 1 inch squares from the floral background. I placed them back to back between 2 pieces of memory glass, then inserted them in the memory frames.

3. I used jewellery pliers to attach the frames together, & added link chain & toggle clasps to finish my bracelet.

Thanks for dropping by,

Alison xxx

Tag - Man of wood

Hello Everyone, 

Shilpa here,

Today I have come up with a Tag which has very interesting image

 'Man Of Wood'

It is designed by Donna.

I created the background with Ranger Adirondack  Alcohol ink - Sail boat blue and citrus. I tapped the both inks and blending solution with Applicator tool on to the glossy paper. This is super easy and quick method to create beautiful background.

I also used  leaves stamp from Artistic stamper Botanical plate 2

with Jet black Archival ink at the edges.

Man of Wood is very artistic stamp perfectly fitted with these colours.

I created two similar background pieces, adhered the one with image on the base with foam tabs to make it dimensional.

I hope you liked my tag.

Please do let me know your views regarding it through your comments. I always look forward to your feed back.

Supplies used:

Artistic stamper stamps- Man of Wood, Botanical Plate 2

Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Sail Boat blue and Citrus

Glossy paper

Ideology Findings

Bold Blooms by Alison (Craftytrog)

Hello Stampers! 

As Mothering Sunday is fast approaching, I thought I'd share some bright & bold statement jewellery that would make a nice gift for Mum. Of course, you could always make some for yourself instead!

Here's how I made the set...

I took 3 Stampbord pieces, 2 one inch square, & 1 two inch square. This is a fantastic surface to work on, & takes inks beautifully. 

I applied alcohol ink (sunset orange, watermelon, & raspberry), using felt on an applicator tool, layering until I had the look I wanted.

I then sanded back the colour in the middles a little, to lighten.

I used jet black archival ink to stamp flowers from Katy Fox's Encyclopaedia Botanica plate.

Then I used a scratching tool to scratch some white highlights. This adds a lovely depth to the pieces.

I used the black archival ink pad to ink all of the sides & edges, to add a frame to my artwork.

Next, I embossed my pieces with clear ultra thick embossing enamel. I used 3 layers of embossing.

In the picture below, I have just embossed the large piece. You can see the difference the embossing makes, it really brings out the colours, and adds a beautiful shine, of course.

To finish, I added jump rings, metallic beads & ear wires for the earrings, & a ball chain for the pendant.

I hope you like this bright little set,

thanks for visiting,

Alison xxx