Peace through Buddhism - Art Journal Page

Hello and welcome back to my lovely followers!
Also, a big hello to anyone visiting for the first time.

Today I'd like to share with you an Art Journal Page that I did this week.

I sketched the Buddha, first as a pencil sketch. I then photocopied my pencil sketch faintly and painted with Champagne Gold Gelato over the gesso'd printer paper.

  

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I used the following materials:

  

MEDIUMS USED:
Gesso
DecoArt Crackle Paste
DoCrafts Spritzing Ink (Cardinal Red, Gold)
Gelatos (Champagne Gold)
Derwent Academy Watercolour Pencils (Black)
Posca Paint Marker (White)
Molotow Paint Marker (Black)
Mod Podge Matte

OTHER PRODUCTS USED:
Dylusions Art Journal
Printer Paper
Tim Holtz background stamps (Grid & Croc)
Pental Water Brush

Most products above available from That Craft Place.

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Here are some more photos:

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Thank you as always for popping by.

  

xxSAMxx

     

TCP Mixed Media Challenge - Let It Snow!

Good morning!  It is time for a new challenge over at the
That Craft Place challenge blog

This fortnight the theme is

MIXED MEDIA ANYTHING GOES

This fortnight I decided to showcase one of the fabulous NEW MDF Christmas Wall Hangings from That Craft Place!

There's less time to go until Christmas than you think!

You can find this hanging on the website HERE, or in their Facebook Shop. Only £5.99 too, so great value, especially given the quality!

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I used the following materials:

  

THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD:
MDF Fir Tree & Sleigh Wall Hanging (comes with 4 stars)
MDF Snowflake
MDF "Let It Snow".

MEDIUMS USED:
Gesso
Texture Paste
DecoArt Crackle Paste
Acrylic Paint (blue)
DecoArt Dazzling Metallics (Silver)
   Antiquing Solution
Versamark Ink
Ranger Embossing Tinsel (Snowflake)

OTHER PRODUCTS USED:
Silver Craft Wire

All products above available from That Craft Place.

ANYTHING ELSE:
Chrome Chain from my local DIY store
       

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Here are some more photos:

 
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LINKS YOU NEED - THAT CRAFT PLACE
   
Website
Facebook Shop
Facebook Natter & Chatter Group

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Thank you as always for popping by, I hope you enjoyed looking at this creation as well as reading the thought process behind it.

Myself and the other That Craft Place DT very much look forward to seeing your creations!

     

xxSAMxx

   

Please can I enter this project into the following challenge(s):

   Altered Eclectics - ATG (1 September)
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - ATG (1 September)   
Noor! Design UK -  #9 Christmas (1 September)
Mixed Media World - #6 Gorgeous Textures (12 September)

You are Unique - Art Journal Page

Another art Journal Page from me today!
   

    

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I used the following materials:

    

MEDIUMS USED:
Gesso (white)
Texture Paste
DecoArt Crafters Acrylic (flesh, black)
DecoArt Dazzling Metallics (gold)
DoCrafts Artiste Spritzing Ink (cardinal red, gold, hematite)
Gelatos (coconut, green tea, red cherry, metallic melon)
Molotow Paint Marker (black)
Posca Paint Marker 0.7m (black, white)

OTHER PRODUCTS USED:
Dylusions Art Journal
Cog Stencil by That Craft Place
Circle Stencil
Lace and Crochet trims
 
All products above available from That Craft Place.
        

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Summary Process:

BACKGROUND:
Gesso'd the page before adding texture paste through the stencils.

Dripped (not sprayed) DoCrafts sprays to each end and spritzed with Water to drip and run across the page. I dried between colours so that to much mixing didn't occur.

Glued the Crochet trims to the outrage and related the colour dripping.

CLEOPATRA INSPIRED GIRL:
I used a face previously drawn in my sketch book. I cut this out and glued to the page.

Face and hair painted with DecoArt Crafters Acrylic.

Colour added to highlight the skin, cheeks, eyes and lips with Gelatos.

TO FINISH:
Gold DecoArt paint and Paint markers used to write the quote and outline.
     
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Here are some more photos:

 

   
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LINKS YOU NEED - THAT CRAFT PLACE
   
Website
Facebook Shop
Facebook Natter & Chatter Group

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Thank you as always for popping by.

  

xxSAMxx

   

Please can I enter this project into the following challenge(s):

         

Altered Eclectics - ATG (1 September)

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - ATG (1 September)   

  

You've got to be in it to win it!

On Saturday I entered the village show in Langcliffe (a gorgeous village right outside Settle, where I live). It was wonderful to see all the art, crafts, baking and produce that had been entered to be judged! I was particularly enamoured with a couple of felted wall hangings as well as another mixed media piece that was in the same class as one of my pieces.  

Anyway, before I get on to bragging about my wins!... I'd like to share with you this speedy sketch and watercolour painting of a Pheasant that I did yesterday. It is certainly no masterpiece, I just love playing around with watercolours!

This pheasant was drawn from a Paint My Photo reference photo by Gary Jones: 

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So, at the Langcliffe Village Show I won three 1st places and one 3rd place out of the 6 pieces I entered. There were some fabulous entries so I feel very proud! This is also the first time I've got out there and taken part in a local show and I very much enjoyed it!

  

Photo above, Left to Right: The Certificates & Rosettes relate to the following classes and pieces:

1st Place, Papercrafts

   

   

1st Place, Other Handicrafts

    

    

1st Place, Art Piece: Other Improvised Mediums

    

    

3rd Place, Art Piece: Other Improvised Mediums

    

    

The trophies relate to the overall group winners in the Art and Handicrafts categories.

        

So, I guess all I have left to say is: if you are shy like I am, don't be afraid to get out there into your local community and take part in events like this! It is certainly worth it!

xxSAMxx
    

That Craft Place Challenge - Blues

Good morning!  It is time for a new challenge over at the
That Craft Place challenge blog

This fortnight the theme is

BLUES

This challenge is open to all types of crafting, so get that mojo working and join us!

For this challenge I made a birdcage book fold and made the most of the wonderful DoCrafts sprays and DecoArt paints, both available from my favourite craft shop!

   

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I used the following materials:

  

THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD: Greyboard Hinge, MDF Birds

MEDIUMS USED: Gesso, DecoArt Crafters Acrylic (Navy), DoCrafts Artiste Spritzing Ink (Ocean Blue), DecoArt Dazzling Metallics (Silver), DecoArt Crackle Paste

OTHER PRODUCTS USED: Lace/Crochet Trims, Flatback Pearls

All products above available from That Craft Place.

ANYTHING ELSE: An old book!
       

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Here are some more photos:

   
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LINKS YOU NEED - THAT CRAFT PLACE
   
Website
Facebook Shop
Facebook Natter & Chatter Group

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Thank you as always for popping by, I hope you enjoyed looking at this creation as well as reading the thought process behind it.

Myself and the other That Craft Place DT very much look forward to seeing your creations!

     

xxSAMxx

   

Please can I enter this project into the following challenge(s):

   

Altered Eclectics - ATG (1 September)

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - ATG (1 September)   

What is CMT?

What IS CMT? 

   

CMT is Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (now you can see why it's abbreviated!!). The names are the 3 scientists who first described and classified the disease in 1886. 

CMT is a peripheral neuropathy which, simplified, means that the nerves in my arms and legs don't work. This leads to muscle wasting, and in turn walking, balance, mobility issues as well as problems with manual dexterity (hands!). I also get a fair amount of pain and fatigue.

As it affects the peripheral nerves it can also affect the nerve to the diaphragm, making breathing tricky at times, I find it especially when laid flat or if I've been talking for a while.

The disease is progressive, meaning that it continues to worsen throughout life (but is not a fatal disease). 

So that's it in a nut shell! 

Whilst I'm able to walk, it is very difficult and I only shuffle around the house on good days. So I have a powerchair for indoor and outdoor use.  My chair (and wheelchair vehicle) give me essential freedom and independence.

Don't pitty me. I'm happy (most of the time!) and as the cliché goes, things could be much much worse! 

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So, that's about it! ANY questions, just ask! I'm always fully open and willing to talk about it.

     

       

  www.CMT.org.uk
    

If you are interested in finding out more, the UK's official charity for the disease, CMT United Kingdom, have a wealth of information.
     
xxSAMxx

UPDATED: 2 July 2017
        

Mindfulness Matters - Art Journal Page

Wow, the process of creating this journal page was cathartic! Yesterday afternoon I took a much needed break from a bulk order of cat cushions, switched off my sewing machine and pulled out my paints!

I didn't have anything in mind initially and simply opened the page to the first available page, which happened to already have the background done from a previous playing session.

My state of mind at that moment, plus the background that was already there, quickly spoke to me and told me what to do!

   

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I used the following materials:

     

MEDIUMS USED: White Gesso, Black Gesso, Mod Podge Matte, DoCrafts Artiste Spritzing Ink (Ocean Blue & Hematite), DecoArt Crafters Acrylic (Flesh), Gelatos (Coconut, Red Cherry, Metallic Melon, Gold Champagne).

All products above available from That Craft Place.

ANYTHING ELSE: Old kitchen roll sheets, Dylusions Art Journal, Posca Paint Marker (Black), Molotow Paint Marker (White), 0.7 Pilot Liquid Ink Pen (Black).
       

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Summary Process:

Background (created at a previous play session): There was already some stencil / texture paste clean off on the pages so I covered all of this with scrunched kitchen roll sheets before spraying with DoCrafts sprays. Then I played with white and black Gesso till I had a background I was happy with.

Whimsical Girl: Outline of face and shoulders drawn onto scrap paper and glued to page. 1 coat of white gesso applied before painting the head and neck with the flesh coloured paint. Tonal interest and flushed checks added to face with Gelatos. Shirt coloured with a Gelato. Hair sketched with pencil.

Hair: I was going to undercoat with white gesso before deciding what colour to do the hair but once I started doing that, the Gesso picked up more of the DoCrafts spray than expected, a VERY happy accident! So I went with the flow, adding gesso and agitating the background Ink until I was happy wBlh the finished look!

Sentiment written with White Molotow Paint Marker and outlined with the Pilot pen.

I finished by outlining the girl and smudging with black Posca Paint Marker.
   
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Here are some more photos:

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Thank you as always for popping by.

  

xxSAMxx

      

No more drunken Tablet! - Card/Tablet Easel

Okay, so I want to start this post with a disclaimer!  This amazing MDF Card Easel from That Craft Place is just that, a CARD Easel, designed for displaying greeting cards and similar.

Whilst I find it holds my Nexus 7 Tablet with no problem, it is certainly not designed to, and indeed That Craft Place actually sell a separate MDF iPad Stand in their Facebook shop.

I simply like to get as many uses out of an item as possible, and it is certainly being used as a tablet stand! But then I have it there for the rare occasions I make a card or something small enough to photograph on it!

So, that out of the way, let's crack on!

   

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I used the following materials:

  

THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD: MDF Card Easel

MEDIUMS USED: Black Gesso, White Gesso, DecoArt Fluid Acrylics (Paynes Grey, Burnt Umber)

All products above available from That Craft Place.
       

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Summary Process:

This was painted using the same Faux Galvanised Steel technique that I used in the Wedding Box, found HERE!  The technique was shown by a DecoArt blogger and it is fabulous!
   
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Here are some more photos:

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LINKS YOU NEED - THAT CRAFT PLACE
   
Website
Facebook Shop
Facebook Natter & Chatter Group

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Thank you as always for popping by.

  

xxSAMxx

   

  

Summer wedding memories!

A week ago it was my lovely cousin's wedding and she looked truly fabulous (but then she always does)!  We had a wonderful time celebrating with her and had an opportunity whilst down south to visit, in person, my favourite Craft shop in the world, That Craft Place! So it was very enjoyable weekend as a whole!
 

   
For my cousin Cath , and her now-husband James, I made an album in which to keep her treasured photos of her wedding weekend. The wedding was a lovely summer theme (specifically tennis as that is how they met!) so the album suited them perfectly!

  

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I used the following materials:

         

PRODUCTS USED: Greyboard Sheets, Textured Cardstock, Kraft Card, Patterned Papers, Dazzlers Gems by Creative Expressions, Ribbon.
     
MEDIUMS USED: Mod Podge Matte, Glossy Accents, Archival Ink (Watering Can)
 
All products above available from That Craft Place

   
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Here are some more photos:

   
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I apologise for the quality of the photos! They were taken in our hotel room the morning of the celebrations!

 I'm off to spend some quality time with my 3 dogs! They were in kennels whilst we were away for the wedding and are going beck to the kennels for a couple of nights later this week as we have builders in doing some quite major work. So the poor dogs have been a little unsettled.

 
Anyway thank you as always for popping by. I hope you come back again soon.
    
xxSAMxx

         

  

MDF Remote Control Holder (That Craft Place)

Just a reminder that the current Mixed Media Anything Goes challenge is ongoing over on the That Craft Place Challenge Blog!  You have until 15th August to show us your wonderful creations.  We love seeing crafters of all skill levels so please do join in.

Whilst down on at the That Craft Place shop on the south coast this weekend I picked up my bag of MDF goodies and couldn't wait to get going with them.

So yesterday I got stuck in with decorating up this amazing Remote Control holder!  The well made MDF that TCP use is 4mm thick, so sturdy and perfect for this handy little storage thingy!

         

      

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I used the following materials:

  

THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD: MDF Remote Control Holder

MEDIUMS USED: Black Gesso, Mod Podge Matte

OTHER PRODUCTS USED: 8" x 8" Graphic45 "Rare Oddities" Paper Pad

All products above available from That Craft Place.
   

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Summary Process:

All MDF parts painted with 2 coats of black gesso.

Paper trimmed to size and adhered with Mod Podge Matte to all parts except the side pieces.

All parts sealed with 1 coat of Mod Podge Matte.

Remote Holder put together! (I put a small squirt of tacky glue in the joints to secure but to be honest these are so well made and a nice snug fit that I didn't really need to!).

Adhere paper to the sides of the remote holder and seal with Mod Podge.

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Here are some more photos:

   
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LINKS YOU NEED - THAT CRAFT PLACE
   
Website
Facebook Shop
Facebook Natter & Chatter Group

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Thank you as always for popping by.

  

xxSAMxx

   

Please can I enter this project into the following challenge(s):

    

  Best Laser Cutting - Anything Goes (15 August)

2 Creative Chicks - ATG (1 September)
Altered Eclectics - ATG (1 September)
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - ATG (1 September)