Stained Glass Window

Over on Time for Crafting Sara has made a beautiful stained glass window aperture card - so today's inspiration came from her.

As per usual I didn't have a card with an aperture and am not the worlds best at cutting them out (understatement) so I improvised.


Ever the optimist on a dreadful snowy, sleety, rainy, then snowy dark day. I decided to make a sunshine catcher.

I am making excuses now as Sara's is stunning - and this isn't a patch on hers - but I had FUN so I am happy to have tried it. And next time I will make a better job of it.

I don't have broadband in my studio - so just have to try and remember the procedures when I am working out there.



That said - it's best to look at Sara's card as it is beautiful - photographed superbly and doesn't have brickwork, mould, and a stump of wood as a background LOL


Mine seemed to change colour with the light - roll on the sunshine!

The start of my challenge piece for Objet D'Art

Jennie over on Objet D'Art has created the most amazing altered book from her stash from her The Artistic Stamper Shop and Site

Now I do try and join in a few Challenge Sites - this being one of them - but the task has utterly defeated and deflated me!

I bought a child's chipboard book - as Jennie did.

As I don't have 'all the gear' papers and whatnot I have to improvise - which has taken me not only hours and hours, but days and days, and it still looks rubbish compared to Jennies.

It has got a long way to go before it is finished - so I am not comparing like with like. So when it is finished which will be weeks rather than days, it will look much better. I want to get it done my May, for my son's birthday.

So here is what I did. I peeled off all the glossy pages from the book to get back to a surface that I could use.

Gesso'd all the pagers - of which there are many more than are shown here.





I covered both sides of each with paper - then got inking and stamping -taking inspiration from cards that Paula makes


Each page - apart from the long drying time inbetween - has taken literally hours to do. Gradually building up layers of colour, onto which I stamped text, then used sequin waste and swiped over more colour.



Stamped Japanese storks - because my grandson is dual nationality - English and Japanese, and this book will be filled with photos of him and my son. I also used a Tim Holtz mask. The blue above is the true colour of the book pages - goodness know how they all photographed differently - must be the photographer.

I made some 'glimmer' mist with mica powder and spritzed it on - which does actually look nice in daylight.

I have only managed to do four pages so far - that is 8 sides - so quite a lot work wise. These are just the 'background' of the pages.






Does anyone have problems with embossing and gluing Grunge Board - I don't seem to have the knack. The embossing comes off - and I find them really hard to stick on - and stay stuck (excuse the grammer).

So, apologies Jennie - this will take me a very long time to finish - but at least I tried LOL

So bring on the next challenge please! But not such a hard one LOL

Copy Cat?

Do you ever get days when everything you touch turns to rubbish - art wise - or is it just me.

Yesterday I braved the snow and blizzard to get to the end of my garden to do some crafting in the 'studio'.

I spent quite a few hours trying out new techniques - then trying to rescue them - only for them to end up worse - and in the bin.

Today the snow has gone, the sun was shining, and after walking into the village to post some letters and get some milk, I intended to spend time again 'playing' and see if today would be more productive.

I posted the letters - the village shop still had no milk and no idea of when they would get some, and on the way back I slipped on black ice (no warning or icy puddles) and crashed to the ground. Phew it knocked the wind out of me - but no bones broken, lots of bruises, and now I am stiffening up.

BUT

After lunch I decided to pay a visit to Jo Capper-Sandon - to see if she could inspire me to make something.

Not in real life silly - but in February's Craft Stamper - yes I am still reading it. Over and Over.

I wanted to make some ATCs - but instead I had a go at this.

I had to do a heck of a lot of improvising of course, as I didn't have the stamps or other bits and pieces.

So I started out with one of these

I painted it with thick white Gesso - which gave it some texture. Then I tried to get similar colouring with some little ink pads.
My tree stamp came from here and is a different size from Jo's by the look of it.

I didn't have a bird stamp, so drew those on, neither did I have the lovely butterfly stamp - so I found one in a magazine, cut it out, added pink ink, and embossed it - it looks paler and pinkier in daylight.

No Sentiments stamp - so I typed up something relevant as I looked out of the window, on my computer and cut it out.

No gauze ribbon so that will have to wait until I go into a town -that might or might not have a haberdashery shop - ditto the lace. So I have improvised for now with a bit of fibre - but it is too heavy I know.

I want to make one tag a month - and on the reverse put an 'Inspirational Quote' or even two from here where there are 65 of people's favourites.

The idea is to force myself to try something 'new' to me, and also to have a collection to hand of lovely quotes too.

Once it is finished I will add some pretty ribbons and fibres to hide the O wires.

Sometimes when ideas just won't come, or you are feeling a bit 'down' perhaps - it is nice to get out the magazines and have a go at something I think. Far better to feel good at achieving something, than feeling fed up because you can't.

So am I being a Copy Cat? I like to think the magazines are there to inspire us to do something we might not have tried otherwise. Well the inexperienced people like me!

Then, having produced something half decent - it kinda spurs you on to try other things and give you ideas. Well it does me. Or else I might give up altogether if I don't improve bit by bit.

This month's magazine is out again Friday - and my village shop has mine on order each month - I can't wait!

Artistic Stamper Blog Candy

Valentines Day Blog Candy on Jennies Artistic Stamper Blog

Argh..........Inchies

I was asked to join in an 'Inchies' swap the theme Oriental.

Argh........never again.........it was a nightmare


They haven't photographed very well as they are embossed and shiny and have gold on them




It took me over three hours to stamp, paint, stamp again, emboss, and add collage gold on them.

They do look better in real life - but I won't be doing them again - life's too short

Lots to do Challenge - in stitches.

Phew this was a toughie on the Lots to do Challenge

Well I have had a go and given it my best shot! As always 'click image to enlarge'



My friend Kath gave me some beer mats - which I have prepared with Gesso, so decided to use one for this challenge.

A scrap and I mean a scrap it only just fitted the coaster - of ancient material - I knew it would come in handy - was used to cover one side of the coaster.

I printed out an image and enhanced it with inks - love that blue colour! It took ages to dry! I then cut out the section I wanted, and glued that on too. I cut out a little phrase and adhered that too - rather fiddly!

I found some vintage buttons in my rusty old button tin, and stuck those on too - I was going to sew them but the coaster is rather thick so didn't want to risk messing it u

I added blue to the buttons to take off the shine a bit - but I might wipe it off - as I am not 'sure about it' what do you think? I either need to add a lot more blue - or to return them back to their original colour.

I distressed the material so that was frayed and ran a black ink pad around it to enhance the fraying.


p.

BIA Note Book - Green - TGIF Challenge

I thought I would have another go at the TGIF challenge this week Green.

Hmm - it really was a challenge for me - I am not a lover of green - but here is my effort. Not sure which photo looks best so am adding both LOL

(Click images to enlarge)



Using a bit of recycled card which I covered in a scrap of leftover white paper, I sponged all over with green Ecoline ink. With a darker green I stamped a background stamp all over it. Which in hindsight was a complete waste of time as I decided in the end to add an image.



I found a sepia image I liked, resized it and painted it different shades of green. It is painstaking work, as all the leaves I painted individually with a tiny brush - the hardest were painting ivy looking leaves in the foreground.

I really enjoyed doing it though. Once it was all dry, I mounted it onto the inked card, then using another stamp from the Elusive stamp plate I bought - I stamped -
'Art is the pigment of your imagination'. When I saw that stamp - I just loved the wording - and hunted for something to go with it.

This image gave me the impression of the lady staring into the pool, imagining....................

I got both the notebooks made today - you can tell my husband is out bowling - I got a guilt-free play time, without any interruptions!