The Beauty of Nature ...

On Tuesday (1 June) a new challenge begins over at the Petal Lu challenge blog! I just couldn't wait that long to share this project with you though!
      
I've used an MDF Printers Tray from That Craft Place along with the May "Download of the month" papers which are free for members of Crafter's Companion's "Club Inspire"!
      
I've also of course used the stunning handmade flowers from the online Petal Lu Shop!

   

       

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I used the following materials:

PETAL LU FLOWERS

Large Original Rainbow Blooms

   

THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD

8" x 8" MDF Printers Tray
MDF Corner Flourishes
MDF Deer
    
PAPERS USED
"The Beauty of Nature" download papers from the Crafter's Companion Club Inspire.  This includes the papers backing each compartment in the printers tray as well as the feathers which I coloured with Copics and Promarkers.  The sentiment was also included in the download set!  Everything I needed!

     
STAMPS & DIES USED
Mushroom from the Sheena Douglass "Enchanted Doorway" stamp set 

Cracks from the Tim Holtz "Cracks & Specks" stamp set

Leaves from the Lea'bilities "Multi Flower Die #5" die set

    

MEDIUMS USED

White Gesso
Cosmic Shimmer - Shimmer Paint - Sunrise, Russet Red, Rich Oak
Crafter's Companion - Spray & Sparkle - Iridescent
 DoCrafts - Acrylic Paint - Metallic White
Archival Ink - Watering Can, Leaf Green
White Posca Paint Marker

    

OTHER PRODUCTS USED

Super-smooth card by That Craft Place
Air Dry Clay
Moss, preserved at home using glycerine
Twigs, bark & pine cones
Miniature owl & hedgehog ornaments
Glass dome hanging from an ornate metal disc
Tiny metal key
Lace trim

          

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I just love that the Crafter's Companion download papers (which are totally free by the way!) include sentiments!  I first printed the green linen-look paper and the then printed the sentiment onto the same piece of cardstock.

The tiny figures are something I've had since childhood!  I really enjoyed being able to incorporate them into a project at last.  I die cut the leaves from the same green paper from the download set and stamped them with a crackle stamp.  The berries are made from air dry clay and painted with shimmer paint and a little white gesso.

The moss for the project was preserved by boiling in a water/glycerine mix which means it will stay nice and soft for a long long time!  The bark was dry brushed with a little white metallic paint.

A twig and more of the die cut leaves highlight the Petal Lu flowers perfectly!

       

  

Metal hardware + a few jewellery findings = a perfect hanging trinket to add interest to the project!

The feathers, which were digital images as part of the download set, were printed onto That Craft Place Super-Smooth card before being coloured with Copics & Promarkers.  These were cut out and shaped before being attached with Collall 3D Glue Gel.

The mushroom stamp (by Sheena Douglass) was coloured with Copics and fussy-cut.  The pine cones dry brushed with white metallic paint.

The frame of the printers tray itself was painted with Cosmic Shimmer Paint and, once dry, given a good coat of the Crafters Companion Spray & Sparkle to really bring out the bling!  These photos just don't do it justice!

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Links you need to know 

  
PETAL LU - SHOP!

Petal Lu - Challenge Blog
Petal Lu - Facebook Page

Facebook group for sharing your Petal Lu creations!
   

That Craft Place Facebook Shop

That Craft Place Website

Crafter's Companion - Club Inspire 

     

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      Don't forget to enter the challenge! The prize is 30% off your order from the Petal Lu store!

           

Thank you as always for popping by, myself and the other Petal Lu design team girls very much look forward to seeing your creations!

     

xxSAMxx

    

Another day, another journal page!

I frequently break off from bigger projects in the evenings to work on journal pages.  It's my ultimate relaxing Craft and something that I can easily do in the living room by grabbing a new supplies and getting stuck in!
         

          

I used the following materials:

JOURNAL 
Handmade journal
Pages: Daler-Rowney Mixed Media Paper, 250gsm

MEDIUMS USED
White Gesso
Black Gesso
Gelatos
Acrylic paints by DecoArt & Cosmic Shimmer
Golden Soft Gel Medium (Matte)
Sharpie Markers
DoCrafts Artiste Permanent Dual-tip Pens
Posca Paint Markers (white, black)
Archival Ink  (Jet Black)

DIGI STAMP 
"All the Copics" by That Craft Place on Etsy
Printed onto That Craft Place Super-Smooth Card
Coloured with Copics and Promarkers

ANYTHING ELSE 
Circles stencils by That Craft Place
Various Alphabet stamps

     
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My current favourite starting point for art journal pages is Gelatos. I've been using them for a long while now and can see then continuing to be a firm favourite for years to come!!  I was able to match Promarker colours well to make the image from That Craft Place for perfectly!

    

             

Continuing to layer shapes and marks gives the page depth and the final addition of black and white to the page gives it the definition it needs.

     

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So this is yet another art journal page about my love of art journaling!  I seem to have a recurring theme!
      

Thank you as always for popping by and keep an eye out soon for a GIVEAWAY on this blog and social media!
    

xxSAMxx

             

How to be The Artist you want to be

One day when I'm old and grey (or greyER!), I'll look back and appreciate the fact that I was able to dedicate such a large part of my life to my art.

I think a lot of people out there wish they could find something they are so passionate about.  As committed artists and crafters we are lucky because we've found it.

That said, we're all guilty of self-doubt and here's my thoughts.

Do you have periods of insecurity when it comes to creating?
     
I know I certainly do.
       

These essential 10 Commandments can be hard to follow, I know that I am particularly guilty of #1!

Try not to worry, your creations are unique and wonderful, and so are you!

       

Feel free to share this blog post and infographic (please credit this blog when sharing) and spread these words of encouragement with your creative friends!

       

xxSAMxx
        
     
Some of these "10 Commandments" have been adapted 
from an un-credited list circulating social media.

            

Enjoy the Art Journal process

Art Journal time again! This was an evenings work when I just wanted to sit in front of the telly and play, with no theme or layout in mind!  I really did just want to "enjoy the journey"!
     

   
The handwriting round the 2 largest circles read "Doodling is fun!!" and "Just make it up as you go along".
            

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I used the following materials:

JOURNAL 
Handmade journal by me!
Pages made from Daler-Rowney Mixed Media Paper

MEDIUMS USED
White Gesso
Gelatos
Distress Ink (Faded Jeans, Seedless Preserves)
Sharpie Markers
Posca Paint Markers (black, white)
Inktense Pencil (black)
Archival Ink (Jet Black, Watering Can)
Pental Gel Pen (gold)

OTHER PRODUCTS USED
Stencils by That Craft Place
Grid stamp by Tim Holtz
Sentiment stamp by Tim Holtz
        

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To me, art journaling is more about the process than the finished results, although I do like the pages to look nice as well!!
     

Thank you as always for popping by.
    

xxSAMxx

   

IN THE BRIG! - Petal Lu #14 - KennyK Stamps

It is time for a new challenge over at the

    

Petal Lu challenge blog

This fortnight (as always) the theme is

ANYTHING GOES

    

The prize is 30% OFF YOUR ORDER from the Petal Lu store!

Additionally, this fortnight we are sponsored by KennyK Stamps and they are offering 
3 IMAGES OF YOUR CHOICE to the lucky challenge winner.

I have used "Captain Locke" in my project.

  

         

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I used the following materials:

PETAL LU FLOWERS

Large, Medium & Small Original Rainbow Blooms

DIGI STAMP
"Captain Locke" by KennyK Stamps
(Printed onto That Craft Place Super-Smooth Card and coloured with Copics & Promarkers)

THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD

Greyboard Cogs
Greyboard Padlock
Greyboard Keys
Greyboard Scrabble Tiles

MEDIUMS USED

Black Gesso
White Gesso
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics - Quinacridone Gold, Paynes Grey
DecoArt Dazzling Metallics - Silver, Gold
DoCrafts Artiste Acrylic Paint - Metallic White
DecoArt Media Crackle Glaze - Clear
Embossing Powers - Gold & White
Posca Paint Marker - White, Black

OTHER PRODUCTS USED

 7" Embroidery Hoop
Burlap
Trim
Various Adhesives

       

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I had such fun colouring this KennyK image!
The highlights on the image were added with a white paint marker.

    
    
 I added a little White Metallic Paint to the Petal Lu flowers to integrate them in with the greyboard cogs and the overall design.  The padlock has Crackle Glaze on it.

        

        

          
           
I painted the scrabble tiles with the White Metallic paint and used a Paint Marker to write the sentiment.  I then added a little of the Quin Gold paint to add further interest.

     

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Links you need to know 

       
PETAL LU - SHOP!

Petal Lu - Challenge Blog
Petal Lu - Facebook Page

Facebook group for sharing your Petal Lu creations!
        
KENNYK - SHOP!
Club KennyK - Facebook Challenge Group
KennyK - Facebook Page
     
    That Craft Place - Facebook Shop
That Craft Place - Website

     

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Thank you as always for popping by, myself and the other Petal Lu DT very much look forward to seeing your creations!

        

xxSAMxx

      

   

MDF Frame & Sheena Douglass Stamp

Today I want to share with you a frame made featuring a gorgeous stamp by Sheena Douglass that I was lucky enough to get my hands of recently!  I chose to colour it with alcohol markers but it really would look great used plain, or inked with distress inks!
              

      

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I used the following materials:

STAMP USED
Sheena Douglass "Ancient Arches" from Crafters Companion
(Stamped onto Sheena Douglass White Stamping Card, coloured with Promarkers)
         

THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD
MDF Frame
MDF Circles (from an off-cut bag)
That Craft Place Website

DIES USED
Leane Creatief - Multi Flowers #5
Sizzix Butterfly
Buff-It Craft Polish - Slate
    
MEDIUMS USED
Cosmic Shimmer - Shimmer Paint - Rich Oak
Americana Triple Thick
Collall 3D Glue Gel
Cosmic Shimmer Glue
Golden Gel Medium

OTHER PRODUCTS USED
Microbeads
Flower Stamens
Creative Expressions Dazzlers
Craft Wire
Flower by Petal Lu
                        

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Painting with Shimmer Paints, the MDF frame doesn't need pre-gessoing!
At the same time as painting the frame, I painted a couple of pieces of plain cardstock
with the same paint, to die cut the flowers from later!

               

     

The Sheena Douglass White Stamping Card takes alcohol markers so so well! I drew a little silhouetted man in the blue archway, then added Triple Thick Gloss Glaze to that area.

           

     

The tiny flower is handmade by Petal Lu (link above) and fitted perfectly into this tiny glass dome!  Collall 3D Glue Gel worked perfectly for gluing the cap to the dome as well as for glueing the dome into it's base.  I then used craft wire to suspend the dome from the frame after first ageing the wire with a candle flame.

 

      

The butterfly die comes as 2 parts and I added microbeads to the body of the butterfly before painting them with more of the Buff-It craft polish.

             

   

These flowers came with the same die set as the flowers and leaves used at the bottom of the frame (details in the materials list above).  Adding stamens really finishes them nicely.

          

      

As with the flowers in the photo above, these were die cut from cardstock painted to match the frame.  I then distressed with an embossing tool to soften the fibres in the card and crumpled the flowers before adding Buff-It craft polish.  The flowers are finished with crystal-like gems.

    

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Thank you as always for popping by.
    

xxSAMxx

    

      

Set Your Goals High - Art Journal Page - Boingy Rabbit!

I'm sat here at my monthly blogging group (typed Tuesday 3 May), trying to think what to write, and somehow words are eluding me! I really do look forward to the first Tuesday of each month when I have a reason to dust myself off and get out of the house and into the real world beyond!  Always grateful to be back in my own company at the end though to rest and recharge my batteries!
   

       
I made this journal page Monday evening using a fantastic digi stamp from Bloobel Stamps on Etsy.

I used to really detest fussy cutting, but now actually like to sit on the sofa with my wife and dogs for company and slowly cut out all the bits for a project!... With my poor manual dexterity I have to pace how much I do in one sitting though, otherwise the cutting gets messier and messier!

               
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I used the following materials:

 

JOURNAL
Handmade journal using Daler Rowney Mixed Media Paper

 DIGI STAMP
"Boingy Rabbit" by Bloobel Stamps on Etsy
(printed onto That Craft Place Super-Smooth paper 
& coloured with Copics & Promarkers)

MEDIUMS USED
White Gesso
Gelatos (Cotton Candy, Blueberry, Chocolate, Mango)
Archival Ink (Tree Branch, Jet Black)
Distress Ink (Mowed Lawn, Gathered Twig, Faded Jeans)
Posca Paint Markers (White, Black)
DoCrafts Papermania Solid Cardstock
Golden Soft Gel Medium (Matte)
    
OTHER PRODUCTS USED
Dovecraft Mini Alphabet Stamps
Mini Stencil by That Craft Place
Tim Holtz "Grid" stamp by Stampers Anonymous
                   
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Here are some more photos

   
Here's the main double page spread. I used Gelatos for the background, setting with heat tool so the the colours don't smudge. Before heat setting though, I used a stencil and baby wipe to wipe back the gelatos in areas.

   
   
I used both Copics and Promarkers to Colour the image and adhered it to the page with gel Medium.

     
   
The sentiment is stamped in Archival Ink onto a scrap piece of thick cartridge paper .

           
           
I added colour to the green cardstock with Distress Inks.
I decided to glue only the bottom of the grass to give the page some texture.

             
     
Because I sewed the last page of one signature on my journal to the first page of the next signature (to give the finished journal some strength), this created pockets throughout the journal into with these extra pages slot!

         
       
I used a Gelato in "Mango" to add detail to the carrots before distressing slightly with Archival Ink in Tree Branch.

           

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Thank you as always for popping by.
    

xxSAMxx

   

Curiosity feeds Creativity - Art Journal Page

I''m pleased to share with you today a journal spread I made in my handmade journal.
         

 
This hidden extra page hides inside the pocket  that sewing the right page to the page after it formed! 

              

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I used the following materials:

 
JOURNAL
Handmade Journal using Daler-Rowney Mixed Media Paper

DIGI STAMP
"Dotty Bubbles" by That Craft Place on Etsy 

MEDIUMS USED
Gelatos
 Copics
Posca Paint Markers (Black & White)
Golden Soft Gel Medium

OTHER PRODUCTS USED
Patterned paper scraps from my stash
Stencils by That Craft Place

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This page spread features a digi stamp from the Bubbles range by That Craft Place.  

I coloured her skin and hair with Copics before Paper Piecing her dress and hair.  

I coloured the spots on the dress and bow with the same white Posca pen that I used for the highlights on her skin.

      

Thank you as always for popping by.
    

xxSAMxx

  

Mixed Media Card - Petal Lu & Saturated Canary

I've been busy catching up with my blogging this week and today I have a card to share with you that I sent to my brother and his partner who have just welcomed a new baby into the family!

          

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I used the following materials:

    

PETAL LU FLOWERS
Rose, Fuchsia & Small Original Rainbow Bloom
  
DIGI STAMP
"Butterfly Baby" by Saturated Canary
      
OTHER PRODUCTS USED
A5 Card Blank
Winsor Newton Cartridge Paper
Brown Cardstock
Distress Inks
Posca Paint Marker
Archival Ink
Copics
Promarkers
Tim Holtz "Simple Sentiments" by Stampers Anonymous
    

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Here are some more photos

    

            

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Links you need to know 

       
PETAL LU - SHOP!

Petal Lu - Challenge Blog
      
Petal Lu - Facebook Page

Facebook group for sharing your Petal Lu creations!
          
Saturated Canary Shop
        

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Thank you as always for popping by.
        

xxSAMxx

          

More Pen Pots!

So today, I'm following yesterday's blog post by showing you 
2 more pen pots I made!

     

             

Again I constructed the pots from the greyboard sheets using masking tape to secure the pieces.  I then added tissue paper to give more stability as well as texture and a good ground for painting onto. 

      

I crinkled the tissue paper this time rather than applying it smoothly.  This resulted in the fab rustic bumpy look you see here!

    

          
The inside of the pots is painted with Mushroom Chalk Paint (from Creative Expressions).
      
I tinted more of the Mushroom Chalk Paint with DecoArt Fluid Acrylic in Dioxazine Purple and used this to paint the outside of the pots.  
        
I painted the excess purple paint onto white cardstock and this was used for the background behind the dog silhouette.  Before I got to that stage though, I used a Crackle stamp by Tim Holtz along with some more chalk paint on the painted card.

          

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I used the following materials:

       

Thick greyboard sheets
Masking Tape
Tissue Paper
A'Colour Allround Medium
Creative Expressions Chalk Paint - Mushroom
DecoArt Fluid Acrylics - Dioxazine Purple
Cardstock - Black, White and Grey
Die Cut Dog (by Tattered Lace)
"Cracks" from Stampers Anonymous "Cracks & Specks" by Tim Holtz

Elastic String
Paper Flowers
Metal Charm

               
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Thank you as always for popping by.
           

xxSAMxx

         

      

Remote Holder & Pen Pot Set - Graphic 45 "World's Fair"

Good morning folks!  
Hope you had a great Bank Holiday Weekend.
   
Today I'd like to share with you a matching Remote Control Holder and Pen Pot set that I made for an order by a friend.

REMOTE CONTROL HOLDER

The Remote Control Holder is an MDF kit from That Craft Place!  

I painted it and then decorated it with Graphic 45 papers from the "World's Fair" collection before varnishing.

PEN POT

I used sheets of thick greyboard and masking tape to construct the Pen Pot.  

Applying tissue paper with matte medium then gave a good base for painting and decorating with the same Graphic 45 Papers.

        
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I used the following materials:

 

THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD
Small Remote Control Holder

OTHER PRODUCTS USED
Graphic 45 - 8"x8" - "Worlds Fair"
Black Gesso
DecoArt Crafters Acrylic - Navy
A'Color Allround Medium
Elastic String
Greyboard Sheets & Masking Tape (to construct and reinforce the pen pot)
White Tissue Paper

All products above available from That Craft Place.
  

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Links you need to know 

  

That Craft Place Facebook Shop

That Craft Place Etsy Digi Store

That Craft Place Website
     
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Thank you as always for popping by.
    

xxSAMxx