Seize the Moment journal page by Sue Carrington

Hello, it's Sue here for my last GDT post for September. I would just like to take the opportunity to thank Jenny and Emma for inviting me, I've had lots of fun playing with the Artistic Stamper stamps.

So, for my final project I decided I would do a journal page. I've only recently discovered how much fun journalling can be, you really do have the freedom to do whatever you want. It's a great way to experiment too which is what I've sort of done with this page !

I have long admired the wonderful effects that can be achieved when, what appear to be, random objects are stuck down and then painted over. I guess the most well known person for this technique would be Finnabair (absolutely adore her work!) So, I thought let's give it a go ! I went through my stash of assorted metal embellishments and arranged them on the page. When I was happy I glued them in placing using Claudine Hellmuth's Multi-Medium Matte glue.

When the glue was totally dry I then brushed over the whole page using Vanilla Fresco Finish paint. This colour is opaque so covers really well. I let that dry and then I used a mixture of a paint brush and a baby wipe to add a layer of Mermaid Fresco Finish paint, but I didn't completely cover the page, I wanted some lighter areas to show through. I kept on building up the colour in the same way using Bora Bora, Baltic Blue and Inky Pool Fresco Finish paints.

Then I used a small mister bottle and filled it 3/4 full of water and added some Baltic Blue and Little Black Dress Fresco Finish paint. I gave it a good shake and then spritzed the page ! When the paint was dry I then started to add some stencilling using The Crafters Workshop Spinning Tops stencil and Vanilla Fresco Finish paint. I also used the Reverse Chicken Wire Stencil and the Mini Numbers stencil with Baltic Blue Fresco Finish paint.  I did some random stamping using the Swirls Splats and Dots and the Sequin Waste Open stamps. (You will see this detail in a later photograph. I got carried away and forgot to photograph this step!)

 I then started to make some of the embellishments. I stamped some DIY masking tape with the number stamp from the Numerical set using black Archival ink. I then cut them into strips making sure I was close up to the edge of the stamped image.

I used masking tape again and this time painted it roughly with Baltic Blue and when dry brushed over the top lightly with Mermaid Fresco Finish paint.I then stamped onto the strips using the Journalling Words 3 set, again using black Archival ink.

I stamped the flower from the Botanical Plate 1 using Cornflower Blue Archival ink, masking off the extra leaves, and then stamped over the stalk using the Pyrex Bottle stamp using Watering Can Archival ink. I also stamped the little bee from the Insects and Butterflies set onto the flower. I then cut them out and glued it to the page using foam pads with a little help from some Multi-medium Matt glue.

I also stamped a little insect onto each of the word strips, which you can just about see on the above photo. I decided that I wanted a darker colour over the metal embellishments so used the same mister that I had used earlier but added more Little Black Dress Fresco Finish paint to it and then spritzed again, being careful not to spritz the whole page. I added some little black buttons from my stash and then to finish I brushed some White Fire Treasure Gold over the raised areas of the metal and added some Glossy Accents to the centre of the metal flower.

I hope you've enjoyed my journal page today !

Sue

Flower Wall Hanging by Sue Carrington

Hello and welcome, it's Sue here with my second guest design project for the month of September. I'm definitely starting to feel like Autumn is just around the corner now, the leaves are starting to change and the temperature has definitely dropped ! This is being reflected in the projects that I'm making and today's is no exception !

I started with a piece of mount board and spread some Grunge Paste over it, but only around the edges as I knew the centre would be covered. While it was still wet I then took the Sequin Waste Open stamp, spritzed it with water so it wouldn't stick to the paste, and pressed it into it. I also used one of the small script stamps from the Carte Postale set and a flower from the Botanical Plate 1 set and did the same thing to create some texture in the paste.

Once it was dry I then gave the whole thing a coat of Stone Fresco Finish paint. Then I started to build up colour around the edges using Irish Cream and then Moccha Mousse.

The effect I was wanting to achieve was that of an old book, the sort you see in antique shops so I wanted to warm the colours up a little and Brown Shed Fresco Finish is perfect for that.

To create the burnt, aged look I then used French Roast mixed with a tiny spot of Little Black Dress Fresco Finish around the edges. Once it was dry I brushed Onyxite and Classic Treasure Gold over it.

For the main image I've used the text from the Encyclopaedia Botanica set and stamped it with Sepia Archival ink. Then I stamped the flower from the same set with black Archival ink. I heat set it and then painted the flower using Distress Markers.

I made a little sign to go on the wall hanging from a small piece of mount board. I painted it with a mix of French Roast and Little Black Dress Fresco Finish paints, then added a coat of Crackle Glaze and then a top coat of a mixture of Vanilla and Pumpkin  Soup Fresco Finish paints. To make it extra shabby I then sanded it slightly to reveal more of the bottom colour. The sentiment is from the Encyclopaedia Botanica set and I've stamped it with black Archival ink.

 

I distressed the edges of the card the flower was stamped onto and then used Distress Inks around the edges. 

I punched holes in either side of the little sign and threaded some twine through and added a metal filigree corner.

I hope you've enjoyed today's project, I'll be back with my last project in a couple of weeks !

Sue
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Sewing Lady by Sue Carrington

Hello! It's Sue here and very excited to be guest designer for September, thank you Jennie and Emma ! For my first project I wanted to use the gorgeous stamp of the lady sewing from the Dressmaking 001 set.

I've used a piece of grey board and started by spreading Grunge Paste over the Art is stencil in random areas on the board.

Once this was dry I then painted the whole board with Vintage Lace Fresco Finish paint. Then I used Cut 'n' Dry foam and sponged more Fresco Finish paint around the edge and over the embossed text to highlight it.

I then used the Spinning Top stencil and the Swirly Vines stencil, again using Fresco Finish paint. I've added some text using the stamp from the Carte Postale set and Coffee Archival ink. I then brushed some Treasure Gold around the edge and rubbed some over the raised, embossed text.

I stamped the beautiful sewing lady onto some Specialitiy Stamping paper and blended some Victorian Velvet Distress Ink around the edge. I've mounted her onto some card that I've stamped with a stamp from the Stitch in Time set using Coffee Archival ink.

The cotton reels and thimble have been stamped onto pieces of paper from a book that have been stuck onto Grunge paper. The tape measure has been made using the stamp from the Stitch in Time set and I've blended Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Inks over it. The little paper roses are from my stash and I've rubbed Victorian Velvet Distress Ink over them. For the dress form I've stuck some more paper from an old book on to some Grunge Paper and die cut the shape. The sentiment is from the Stitch in Time set and I've cut it into separate pieces so it would fit on the design.

The little bird cage has been painted with Fresco Finish paint, once it was dry I added a coat of Crackle Glaze and then a further coat of Fresco Finish paint. To finish I added some buttons and some lace from my stash.

I hope you've enjoyed my first project and I'll be back later in the month with my next one !

Sue
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