Alpha/Dictionary Challenge 2016 : G

When I saw the letter was G for the Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary challenge I just had to choose Geophysics because this is what I do for a living. I doubt anyone else will choose that word!
The dictionary definition of Geophysics is the physics of the earth and my plan was to create a collage of images that represent the exploration end of that huge topic because that is what I know.

Unfortunately, my printer has broken so I have resorted to a few sketches on tracing paper and some images from a magazine. I think I've managed to get a selection of things represented on the page and I must say, the seismic section through the earth adds a nice bit of colour in the background. It is offshore India in case you are wondering.

I had fun with that even though the pages didn't turn out exactly as I had originally planned.

Happy Easter Day everyone x

Circle Layering

Here is my entry for the Craft Barn fortnightly challenge. The theme this fortnight is circles and they must be in the background. A good opportunity to play with stencil layering again.

Stencils used:
Finnabair Elementals "Bubbles"
Crafters Workshop " Mini Cornflowers"
Distress Inks :
Peacock Feathers, Squeezed Lemonade and Picked Raspberry.
Stamp :
Paperartsy  Squiggly Ink SM15

I applied gesso through the bubble stencil first as a resist. Then added the distress inks and let it dry. The next layer was the stamped circles in archival ink and finally I added the cornflower stencil using black versamark ink. Highlights have been added to some of the circles with a white pen.

Alpha/Dictionary Challenge 2016 : R

The next letter in the Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary challenge is "R". I chose Raven. The definition in my pocket Oxford dictionary is "Large black bird of crow kind; (attrib, of hair) black". This reminded me of the Edgar Allan Poe poem so my pages are all about the poem.

Stamps used are from my IndigoBlu Hocus Pocus set.
Colour added using Tim Holtz Distress crayons : Fossilised amber and Rusty Hinge.

Just for a change it was dry enough to take a photo outside, roll on Spring.

CAS Peony

I used to do a lot of CAS cards but haven't done one in a while. Here is my offering for the Craft Barn fortnightly challenge where the theme is Clean and Simple with a flower and a sentiment. I did literally that, a flower with a Happy Birthday sentiment.

Stamps used : Peony Bouquet by Altenew
Dye based inks - dew drops
Mounted on an A6 card.

Back tomorrow hopefully with my entry for the dictionary challenge which is drying as I type.

Alpha/Dictionary Challenge 2016 : L

The next letter in the Craft Barn Alpha/Dictionary challenge is L. Lots of ideas but sometimes, the dictionary definition just doesn't fall in the right place on the page does it! So, I chose 'LEAF' for my word. Mainly because I love using leaves anyway and because I had an idea that I could make the pages look a bit like leaves that had been pressed in the pages of a book. What do you think? Did it work?

I started with a coat of white gesso on the pages leaving the definition visible. Then using my PaperArtsy stencil by Lin Brown (PS002) I applied Toad Hall Fresco Finish paint through parts of the stencil with a sponge. When dry, the leaves are outlined with a Ground Espresso distress marker.
The stamped images under the definition are from a Paperartsy Hot Picks set : 1102EZ, distress markers scribbled onto the stamp and applied to the page.
I wanted a border on the page so stamped some tiny leaves in ground espresso distress (messy, the leaf stamp was an acrylic stamp and doesn't work so well on the gesso as rubber stamps - learned that lesson!).
Then I added some die cut TH tattered leaves that I had left over from other projects.
At this point I was tempted to add more leaves but I decided to leave it alone.

That's it, my entry for the challenge done.

Alpha/Dictionary Challenge 2016 : F

The word I chose for this fortnight's Craft Barn Dictionary challenge using the letter F, is Fashion.
This is a messy one but thanks to all who suggested sticking the pages of the book together, much easier.

Stamps used : Tim Holtz Runway

I started by attempting to brayer distress ink on the pages for the background and stamped some random bubble wrap in purple archival ink but I did not like the look of it so knocked it back with some chalk Fresco Finish acrylic paint. Images of the runway models are stamped in black versafine ink and coloured with distress markers.

I added the heart and border with a black pen.

This is my entry for the challenge,  a bit rushed as I had so little time this weekend but I'm glad it is finished.

New PaperArtsy Stamps

For those who watched the launch videos of the new PaperArtsy stamps and stencils last week, weren't they great. I have the lovely set EKC02 by Kay Carley so today I decided to play with it.
If you missed the blog post for the new stamps by Kay, here it is:
http://blog.paperartsy.co.uk/2016/02/new-pa-products-feb-2016-kay-carley.html

I think I have been influenced a little by the colours used for the samples but they are not the same as I don't have the new Fresco paints (of course I want them, especially that lovely mint green).

I used Fresco paints for the backgrounds, applied with a brayer and added some random stamping from PaperArtsy sets. The big circles for the Allium were applied through a stencil.

Paint used :

Vintage Lace, Eggplant, Pansy, Rose and Snowflake.

Background images stamped using Ranger archival ink- Blue Violet and snowflake paint.

Allium, butterflies and flowers stamped in black archival ink.

Stitching around the edge added with black pen.

I added some white pen to the portrait format card but decided to leave the other panel alone, I quite like the sketchy look of it without any colour added.

I love this set of stamps, I think I may be using elements of it a lot.

If you want to see close ups of Kay's beautiful work go check out her blog :

http://kaycarley.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/allium-step-out.html