Smile - A song

The subject for the smiles were 'Songs'. This took me hours to do - and I got really messy but it was fun - and much better in natural light.

Basically layer and layers of ink. Then the gold moon painted a few times and bubbled up to look like the moon surface - and to give it texture and depth.

Vintage couple - inked a number of times to get a depth of colour - but softer than paints.

Night sky - inked -painted with thinned mettalic dark blue to give it a sheen in cloud like formations. Rub and Buff antique gold rubbed over it.

Then horizontal cloud lines highlighted with an embossing pen and clear embossed.

The line of the paper is hardly noticeable in daylight - the photo flash has made it look prominent

My First Smile

Today I made my first 'smile'


On a forum I have joined, we were invited to make one for a member who is unwell at the moment - and I was delighted to have a go.


After downloading the template, and deciding on the backing paper - I set about 'altering' it.



I used watercolour pencils, paints, and inks, using lots of colours to enhance it.


I used lemon, lime, yellows, blues, black, brown, and greens. I love texture - so I used lots of clear embossing powder and also used gold embossing powders to highlight areas, and the darker 'spots' are 'sprinkles' of gold - and looks much better and lighter in 'real life'


I added a ribbon hanger.


The reverse is really bright and cheerful - lots red, yellow, orange, green, pink bright fushia - I just inked and painted all over a pale backing paper




I wrote in green - 'It's memories that make you smile' - and then dabbed over green ink. Drew over


I added extra swirls, and dots and then embossed with lots of clear embossing - having drawn with a glue pen - hearts and smiles which you can see in 'real life' if you tilt it or have it under a light. This was taken before I punched the hole and added the ribbon hanging loop