Blossum, Bloom, Grow

I love playing with new products and this last week I got to play with a relatively new product from Faber-Castell, colour fizz tablets. They are included in the Shop and Crop Scrapbooking September Mixed Media Mania Kit, which is still available in the shop.

If you would like to see how I created this canvas and used the colour fizz tablets then please pop on over to the Shop and Crop Scrapbooking Blog to follow along with my tutorial.

Happy Creating

Paperfic Melbourne 2017

I cannot remember the last time I attended the Paperific Expo, it is at least 13 years as I have know my husband that long and I haven't been since I have know him. Last month I was able to go, but it was a little different to what I would normally have done. Normally I would have picked a day, and gone, this time was there for four days and working. Thursday was set up day, got there around 1130 as I had to go after I had dropped my children at school. I was really excited but also nervous as I was meeting Kylie and Darryl Powell who own and run Shop and Crop Scrapbooking. I had spoken to Kylie on the phone and had conversations on facebook and messenger but never actually in person. Its a bit hard when I live in Victoria and she lives in NSW. I also meet the fabulous Donna who is also on the design team.

The weekend was a fantastic, I had an absolute blast. For the weekend I got to talk and meet lots of people, selling products that I love and on the Saturday and Sunday I got messy. I played with Expo Kit No. 4 instead of making a scrapbooking layout I create a canvas. Here is a sneak peak, if you would like to see the complete piece please pop on over to the Blog.

Happy Creating

Day Dream

Just recently I had the pleasure of creating with a Shop and Crop Scrapbooking Kit that was created for the Brisbane Expo by the amazingly talent Elisa.

This is what Elisa designed for the Expo Kit - No. 8  instructions are included for this gorgeous layout.

 

The kit is jammed packed with lots of goodies to play with. Here is what I designed with the kit. I still have lots of left overs so I look forward to playing and sharing with you again in a couple of weeks.

 

If you would like to see the whole canvas and the steps on how to create it please follow the link to the Shop and Crop Scrapbooking Blog.

 

Happy Creating





Wildflower Meadow

The last class last Sunday was another one with Fiona from Pastiche Scrapbook Studio The class involved using water colours, not the traditional way but Fiona's way. I don't think I have ever been in a more relaxed class. All the participants were in their zone including me and the time just flew, I could have sat there all day.

I didn't finish my canvas in class but today I did. I wasn't sure which way it was going to hang, as I loved it upside and the right way up, but in the end it is the way it was intended with an added touch from me. Thank you Fiona x

products used for the butterflies: indigo blue mega-flake autumn blaze, black cardstock

 Happy Creating

Artsy Layout

Artsy I can do but combine that with a sketch and photo panic stations set in. This was another class from the weekend. The description of the class was "for anyone wanting to explore their love of scrapbooking with their desire to make art". Just reading that I knew I had to do this class by Fiona (blog), it sounded fun and messy, but I knew I would learn something. Maybe get over my fear of sketches.

Before class I actually found a photo that I thought I might like to use, in the end I didn't use it, but at least I had one. You have to go into Fiona's classes with an open mind, you cannot have preconceived ideas of what you will create. For me that's lucky because I never know what I am going to create I just wing it.

On entering the classroom we were given an artist board, a double sided page of abstract (love abstract) sketches and a sheet of different pencil grips. How you hold your pencil makes a difference to the marks you make. I was having so much fun making marks.

At the front of the class Fiona demonstrated how she goes about starting a sketch and then sent us on our way. She doesn't tell us what to do but shows us techniques and that way we all created totally individual pieces of art. The sketch I chose to use and my finished piece don't resemble each other at all but is was a place to start.

And this is what I finished with

Products used - gesso, paynes grey paint, grey lead pencil, donna downey stencil - scribble script

Happy Creating

A Gift

A couple of years ago a friend of mine moved house and she has an amazing creative space and is extremely talented, which she will deny. I am lucky enough to get to create in it. Well when she moved she lost her mojo so a group of her creative friends decided that we would each create something for her to hang in her space.

I hadnt seen her for a little while so at the time I could not share what I created for her.

Her favourite colours are pink, aqua, teal, turquoise and green. So I decide to use my favourite products to create something that was unique for her.

Products used: Golden - Fluid Acrylics, Derivan Matisse - Flow, Faber-Castell - Pitt Pens and The Crafters Workshop - Stencils, crackle medium, rubons, Prima Art Basics - 3D Gloss Gel Transparent.

Happy Creating

The Strength Within

This month over at Off The Rails Scrapbooking there are two mood boards to choose from. 

 

When I first saw the two totally different mood boards I was immediately drawn to the top one as my favourite flower are tulips. But when it actually came down to the creating side of things I was inspired by the pink, grey and white of the second one. Pastel colours are not really my thing so I am not too sure what drew me to it.

I always say that I never know what I am going to create and this time was no exception. I didn't even really thing about what I was doing I just did it. It is way outside of what I normally create. Do I love it unsure, I do like it though.

Happy Creating

Playing Around

I had this idea in my head that I wanted to do but first I thought it would be a good idea to trial it first. Did it work how I wanted it to? No where close, but I am reasonable happy with the canvas. It's not something that I have done before. And it's probably not something I will do again. I am glad that I gave it ago though.

I always say to myself that Art is an adventure and you never know where you are going to end up, just enjoy the journey along the way.

Products used: 10 x 9.5 cm canvas, watercolour paints, gesso, texture paste, Faber-Castel Pitt Pens

Happy Creating

The Voice of The Sea

Recently I completed a course online with Michelle of Michelle Grant desiGns and she has been telling us that we have a voice. Well I decided to use my voice and all the products that I have sitting in my creative space and create a canvas.

The first thing I needed was a challenge and one that really appealled to me as I can count on one hand the amount of challenges that I have entered .

When I saw the mood board at Scrap Around The World I knew this was the challenge for me.

What initial drew me to the mood board was the colours, but in the end it was the texture and seahorses that really made me sit up and start getting creative.

Do you ever wonder why you buy things, I know I do all the time.Years ago I brought a seahorse stencil for no other reason than I thought it was cute, well that particular purchase came in handy.

Size of Canvas - 8 x 10

I love the stages that a mixed media piece goes through to end up with something that is very different from what it started out as. 

In finding my voice I also found this perfect quote that went with my design. In my research I found that the quote came from Kate Chopin - The Awakening.

Happy Creating

A Mystery No Longer

In my last post (click here) I mentioned that I had a third canvas that was a mystery. Well that is no longer true so I would like to share with you the finished canvas.

Before I share the canvas with you I would like to tell you how the idea came about. I am currently doing an online course with Michelle Grant desiGns. Now Michelle is a super talented artist who is currently one of the Scrapbooking Memories Masters, is on the Kaisercraft Design Team and has been on teams in the past such as Dusty Attic, Donna Salazar and others. The course is called Designed By You and Michelle is sharing her knowledge and talent, and it is really exciting to be a part of.

Last week Michelle had put together a couple of mixed media videos and it involved creating texture. It got me thinking how could I create texture with some of the products that I have here. These canvases are all inspired by those videos, So thank you Michelle for the inspiration, and the journey that you are taking me on.

The photo is not quite a true colour, the canvas is more a little purple rather than the blue that you see. This canvas was done in the same way as the other 2 but I could not see the flower straight away.

When I realised that it was higher up the canvas I knew it needed a stem so I used my Faber-Castell Pitt Big Brush Pens to colour in the stem.

Happy Creating

Creating Texture

I love playing with stencils, in fact I think they have become an addiction, but I wanted to create texture on a canvas background with out them. So I assembled the following products on my desk to see what I could create.

Finnabair Art Basics 3D Gloss Gel - Transparent

Golden Fluid Acrylic - Titanium White

Derivan Matisse Flow - Bleached Titanium

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - L.E.D. Red

Limor Webber Designs Lindy's Stamp Gang Flat Fabio Spray - Pop Rock Purple

Faber-Castell PITT artist pen big brush - Pink Madder Lake

Faber-Castell PITT artist pen big brush - Magenta

Faber-Castell PITT artist pen big brush - Manganese Violet

Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Cool Peri

3 10cm x 10cm x 3.3cm canvases

Using my plastic paint scraper I quickly scrapped some of the 3D Gloss Gel on all three canvas. I did it quickly as I did not want them to be the same or perfect. I wanted the bumps, the missed bits and the thin bits.

I picked up two of the canvases and pressed them together. I held them in one hand while I pushed the canvas from the back with my fingers . I then slowly pulled them apart and this amazing texture began to appear. Wondering how I was going to get that texture on the third canvas I again quickly used my paint scrapper to smooth out some of the gel so I could press the 2 canvases together.

Once I had texture on the canvases used my heat gun to dry the gel. At this stage I still had no idea what I was going to create on the canvases as I really was just playing. As I was drying them on two of the surfaces I could see a flower, the third was still a mystery.

Now that the gel was completely dry it was time to use my white paint and a very fine angled paint brush to create the edge of my flower. You can use a grey lead pencil to draw your shape but I found it easy enough using my paint brush. To create the flower I just followed the textural lines made by the gel.

Using the white paint i could clearly see my flower shape, leaving the inside of the flower alone, using my fingers i spread white paint around the rest of the canvas. Taking the top of my Pop Rock purple and L.E.D. Red I used the end of the tube to paint with. I coloured in my flowers, making some parts darker than others. Drying the sprays to speed up the process, and then adding more colour on top. Happy with the coloured sprays I used I them started adding different colours with my PITT pens.

The middle of my purple flower was coloured with the glimmer mist and the middle of my red flower was coloured using my alcohol ink.

The final step was using my fingers to add some unbleached titanium to the canvas.

Dont be afraid to play with your products, use them different ways because you never know what you could end up creating.

The colours I used came from the current challenge at Off The Rails Scrapbooking.

Happy Creating

Canvas Wall Art

Sometimes your creative side has to take a back seat to your responsibilities. I have not created much this year but I did have the pleasure of creating a couple of canvases for Mother's Day.

The mother of the two children (who are very cute by the way) gave me two photos of each child and asked me to create one for her, as she was going to spoil herself and one for her Mum.

I had never created a canvas let alone two with photos in it, but I think I did quite well

Happy Creating

It's All About Bling

I have struggled lately, well since Christmas to find my creative side. Two and a half months is a long time and to only have created a couple of pieces, it makes me a little sad and to have a lot of doubt in myself and my journey.

The current challenge at Off The Rails Scrapbooking is all about Bling. So the piece I created was something for me. I can hang it on the wall in my creative space and look at it and believe.

If you would like to see more from the Design Team at Off The Rails Scrapbboking then please visit the blog as they have all worked so hard and created some amazing pieces.

The sponsor for the challenge is Close To My Heart, would love for you to pop over and say Hi, either at their Etsy store or facebook page, links below.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/hobbiesfromtheheart

https://www.facebook.com/hobbiesfromtheheart?fref=ts

Happy Creating

Height

I love adding dimension to my designs, so the new challenge at Off The Rails Scrapbooking was right up my alley. For this challenge I did create a mixed media project but it was not my usually style. Would love to know what you think

I love the colours that I used, and that little pop of red really works, now red is not a colour that I usually work with but maybe I could use a little every now and then.

Happy Creating

2013

Happy New Year,

I hope that 2014 is all that you want it to be.

2013 was a year that many things happened. My baby girl started primary school, this was not easy and I know it is not easy for any mother. My baby girl was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was 2 and 1/2 so sending her off the primary school to be  cared for by someone else 5 days a week was rather stressful. The great thing about it was that the school I sent her to were amazing and rose to the challenge. She had a wonderful time and cannot wait for next year. I met new friends and caught up with old ones. Creatively I have grown and I hope to continue as it brings me great joy and allows me to lose myself.

Why am I telling you all this you wonder, well January's challenge for Scrap It With Attitude is "2013 in a Nut Shell" design a card, layout or mixed media project that best describes 2013 for you. As soon as I read what it was going to be an idea formed in my head. I am really excited to show you.

I hope that you will be able to join us for the challenge and I look forward to seeing what you create.

Happy Creating

Travel

Cars, trains, planes and bikes is that what sprang to mind when you read the title of this post? Well I am sorry to say none of those things are what you will see.

This fortnights challenge at Frosted Designs is Travel.

I challenged myself to think outside the box and do something that I had never done before. I quite liked it for 3 days and then decided it is just not finished. What could I possible do to finish it off and be pleased with my efforts

I added more shiny stuff and the results I was happy with.

Why not pop on over to find out more about the challenge at Frosted Design. This challenge is sponsored by Artsy Albums.