GRAB THE BROLLIES!!!

Hi and welcome. As I'm writing this post, the temperature outside has dropped and I know we're in for another chilly night.... just right for snuggling up in a warm doona!
Our inspiration at ARTastic this  month was based on the artwork of Shirley Charlton (aka Shirlroma) called "Umbrellas, wet street". 
I loved this piece, with its wet, reflective appearance, the pops of colour from clothing and umbrellas and the texture on the pavement. 

I had a photo taken on our last holiday in Tasmania, showing the reflective view of yachts and old buildings on the waterfront area of Hobart, and the rain falling on the nearby Mt Wellington. This, was just right for our theme and added criteria this month. Minutes after taking this photo we had to make a dash for cover... no brollies on our holiday!

The background was stencilled onto white card, using a new stencil which I thought went so well with a flagstone look.

 

This was left to dry slightly before spraying with various ink sprays and building up layers of colour using Glimmer Mists and Lindy Stamp Gang Sprays. These gave a beautiful metallic , watery sheen to the whole of the background. Once these were dry I sprayed sections with Dylusions Ink Spays and let them dribble freely down the page... helped by misting with water.

 

 

 

Umbrellas were made from papers which had also been sprayed or inked in some way. This one I stamped with versamark and heat embossed using a white embossing powder. It was then overstamped and coloured with Inca Gold 'Rose Quartz'.

 

 

Two of the brollies were cut from smooshed Distress Inks, using some of this year's colour releases. two were cut from paper sprayed with Dylusions Ink Sprays, and the remaining one on the centre of the grouping was cut from tissue paper which had been painted with Dylusions Acrylic paints (the most yummy colours!)

 

The title was also cut from the same types of paper and then given a coat of Glossy Accents to give them a wet look. This was also applied to the ribs of the umbrellas.
A lot of messy fun, using techniques and mediums I love to play with.
If you want to play with us, pop on over to:artastic and check out what the team has done. We'd love to see your art here.
Cheers, for now.
Di

 

 

HAPPY

Hi and welcome. Over at ARTastic this month we have had the beautiful painting "Amarys" by Robert Hagan as our inspiration. This fitted perfectly with the challenge this month... mother and child, with the added criteria of flowers.
I used a gorgeous background paper from Prima: Sunlight Daisies from the Fairy Flora Collection. because the print and the colours in it reminded me of the field of flowers in the painting.

The photos are of self and son aged 6 months. He always loved to get his photo taken... then! Whatever happened!  These were framed, again from cardstock reflecting some of the colours from the background paper.
For the journalling tag I used a piece of experiment paper... cardstock stamped in archival inks, given a very light coat of gesso, dried, re-stamped and then given a finish with Inca gold. I also used a diecut trellis.

Background for journalling.. gesso and stamping

Same piece with the added Inca Gold, rubbed to a light sheen



The flowers needed to be a neutral colour and I wanted them to be soft to add a dreamlike quality to the page. They were diecut from patterned sparkle organzas, taffeta and mulberry bark (a very exciting and interesting fibre to work with). A couple of bought hessian flowers completed their structure.

 

Close up of some of the flowers. The sheer fabric makes them difficult to see well in photos, but I hope you get the idea.

 

 

 

 

The title was made up from fabric thickers, painted with liquid pearls.

I hope you can find the time to pop over to ARtastic at: http://artasticchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/ 

and have a look at our inspirational painting and the fabulous work by the rest of the design team.

We'd love to see your art work here.

Thank you for coming by. Your comments mean so much and I always like to visit blogs from others to see what you are up to.

Cheers, Di



 



 

RHAIS WILL CERATINLY SPARKLE!

Hi and welcome to a sparkling challenge:- Number 33 at: http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/  which has a week remaining to join us.
I've been working on canvases a fair bit lately and this time decided to use 2 of them, hinged together so that they could form the exterior and interior of a fashion salon "Couture Roses", the favourite for Rhais, the fabulously effervescent Parisian socialite who does so much for charities.

The canvases were painted with black gesso on the exterior face and inside frames. The walls were papered with a soft pearlised and metallic cardstock. To this I added a chipboard chandelier, painted with 3D stamping paint with lights highlighted with glossy accents.

The same treatment was given to a large chipboard rose:the signature motif for the salon. The frame of the mirror has been rubbed with Inca gold and 3D stamping paint to give an antique look.
Graphic 45's 'Couture' papers have featured on this canvas from the photos of past models and advertising, the sign 'Couture' and of course, Rhais.

Rhais will certainly sparkle at her Charity Dinner/Dance in her gown featuring the new vogue dropped waist, softly draped and held by her favourite flowers. The hemline, trimmed with the same flowers, drops to a short train. Thin straps sewn with rhinestones add to the glamorous appearance of this gorgeous gown. The gown will be further enhanced by the long string of diamonds being held by Rhais.

To complete the salon, a curtain from sheer fabric, bling and  handmade roses have been added.

The roses, were die cut using Tim Holtz tattered florals dies  and made up in the manner given by Jennie in her fabulous tutorial. You can see this tutorial and others, at:

http://jennie-livethedream.blogspot.com.au   

Instead of using water, I sprayed the flower with Perfect Pearls mists. When dried they were brushed lightly with 3D Stamping  Paint.     

I hope you've enjoyed visiting Rhais's favourite salon.

Remember to pop over to Anything But A card to see what the rest of the design team have been playing with. We'd love you to join us.

Thank you for stopping by.

 

Cheers, Di.                                                                

FLIPPIN' OVER CHRISTMAS

Hi and welcome. You could take this title in a number of ways (depending on mood). However, I have made a tag, with a Christmas theme.
First, I used a Petaloo magnetic tag for the base. This is a deep chocolate brown which is great as a base colour to give additional depth. I'll apologise here for the quality of the photos.. really should have done them in natural light so that the true colours were more obvious (NOT !! at 1.00am!!)

 

This was painted liberally with Collage Pauge, and TH tissue paper was adhered to it.

 

 

After this I used a chevron stencil and white gesso to create a background. With the stencil in place I spritzed with glimmer mists  and then removed the stencil and left everything to dry.

 

 

 

 

 

When dry, Inca Gold (soft gold and apricot) were rubbed in.This gave the tag a beautiful pearly finish, while still allowing the chevron pattern and sprayed colours to still be seen.
Inside the tag I glued on paper strips,and fabric pieces, again with the Collage Pauge.These were tidied up before the edges were covered with paper tape, again smooched with Inca Gold.

 

 

A paper doily, smooched with a chocolate coloured Inca gold and a die-cut strip of paper was used to frame a vintage image. A Christmas poem torn from an old poetry book completed this section, together with a die-cut and embossed bauble (foil paper).

 

 

 

                                      

 

 

A dove was die cut and embossed from pearlised cardstock. Pan Pastels were applied to sections and the whole piece lightly spritzed with biscotti Perfect Pearls.When dry, some sections were highlighted further with Inca Gold. A piece of ribbon was threaded through the cardstock to form the basis of a very retro choker. Miss Bird was certainly getting into the Christmas spirit with her choice of jewels to adorn herself. A Christmas tag, again a deep chocolate brown,  salvaged from an old 
Kaiser craft range and some lace completed the front. Rayon ribbon was coloured using distress inks, and used to complete the tag.

Thank you for looking. I'm entering this piece into:
http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/  where the team members were getting into the holiday spirit.

and  http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com.au/ where the team was looking for a vintage Christmas, with no red  or green.This is a first visit to this blog challenge.

Have a happy and safe Christmas. Cheers, Di

Autumn Tag

Hi and welcome. Tags are becoming one of my favourite forms of mini-art. I've a long way to go, but am enjoying the experimentation process.
This tag is for the current challenge at Anything But A Card: Fall into Fall.  Pop on over to: http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/  to see what the DT has been up to.

I used a Kraft tag for the base and smooshed it with gold metallic alcohol ink, as well as the colours previously used and left on the applicator. I loved the effect this made and it's one I'll use again. I was surprised to see how well a non-glossy surface took alcohol ink. the edges were swiped with Inca gold.

For the next layer I added a smaller tag made from a  metallic gold vellum. The edges of this were swiped with 3D Stamping paint. The next tag was made from acetate packaging, alcohol inked and then put through an embossing folder. On the front I rubbed on some Inca gold and 3d stamping paint. The leaves were die cut using the Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die. These were also cut from acetate packaging and glossy cardboard packaging. The surfaces were treated the same way as the base with the addition of metallic gold alcohol ink.

 

 

Some images from Graphic 45 "Place in Time" collection and a snippet of an autumn poem from  an old poetry book (smooshed with Distress Ink) completed the tag. It was finished with a bow made from seam binding, spritzed and sprayed with Dylusions Inks, Glimmer mists and water.
 
 
                                     
Thank you for visiting and for your lovely comments.
 Cheers, Di.

Contemplative Companions... and a design team spot and new challenge blog!

Hi and welcome.
I'm thrilled to announce that I have been accepted as a member of  the design team for a great new challenge blog "Pixels and Paper" , a companion blog to ARTastic, which started today. The first challenge for the month of July is up, so pop over to the blog at http://pixelsandpaperchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/ to see the delightful inspirational photo and what the other design team members have been up to.
The photo I used for my inspiration was of my husband's grandfather, with his faithful companion, both gazing contemplatively out to sea. We don't know much about Jesse Hasthorpe, but this is one of those 'must find out more before it's too late' missions. Sadly, much of our families histories and everyday anecdotes have been lost. One of my goals is to glean as much information as possible from still living relatives to add to the information we already have.

 

The layout has been done in mainly earthy tones, with the only bright colour ( to hint at a seascape)added under the photo. This was taken from a piece of experimental cardstock, using gesso, Dylusion inks and acrylic paints over a stencil. The photo was distressed and inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The frame around it was smooched with Antique Linen, Tea Dye and Pumice Stone D.I's and stamped with Coffee Archival.

 

 

To add extra texture, I've tucked under the photo a piece of embossed cardboard, fussy cut vellum, and a die cut clock. This has been smooched with Inca Gold and 3D Stamping Paint. This paint has also been used to colour the chipboard seahorse (Bronze, Chocolate and Moss Green) and to stamp the fish (Silver). The stamp used for the fish came from the Inkadinkado Stamping Gear sets.

 



 

The cogs, die cut from bookbinding fabric, and the title have also been coloured using the same paint.

 

 

 



I hope you will visit Pixels and Paper and maybe even join in the challenges being offered. We'd love to see you there.
I hope that this gives you some inspiration and ideas.
Thank you for visiting and thank you also to all of you who always leave such positive and inspirational comments.
Cheers, Di

Sunset Canvas

Hi and Welcome!
I recently won a guest design spot for April at http://artasticchallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/   where this was the inspiration. The design brief asked for these colours to be used. 

 

This is the artwork of Australian Indigenous Artist, Trevor Nickolls and his  piece 'Warmun Mandala'.

With these vibrant colours, I immediately thought 'Aussie outback'..... but, no outback pictures. Then I found the perfect sunset photos, combined with an outback inspired theme and came up with this... a reverse canvas.

 

 

Gesso was painted on the canvas and frame prior to painting. For the background I've used strips of mulberry paper, cardstock and a piece made on a gelli pad. The gelli pad printing is just how it appeared after a second pressing. I loved the way this turned out, with the suggestion of grasses and rocks in the foreground. The frame was also painted with acrylics in the same tones with the addition of Opals embossing enamels and stamping with archival ink and 3D Stamp paint (chocolate and copper).

 

 

                             

 

 

 

 

The photos of  sunsets taken from my home, were matted on a stamped background (Darkroom Door Background Stamp 'Marbling'). The gum nuts are real, and were given a light touch of 3D Texture Paint.

The tree was drawn and cut from cardboard from a cereal  box, embossed with a Craft Concepts  'Secret Garden'  folder and inked with Black Soot and Bundled Sage Distress Inks. The background was stamped using  the same mediums as the frame.

 

 

 

Fibrous wool has been added to give a grassy effect. The  chipboard grass segment on the frame was finished with opals.

 

 

The log in the foreground was made from a dried lotus leaf. Flowers and leaves were also made from a gelli pad experiment using acrylics, Lumiere Metallics and spritzes of glimmer mist. One section of the cardstock was stamped (Darkroom Door Carved Flowers) and cut out. The other section was cut using T.H. Tattered Garland die. Brown flowers were die cut from glassine paper, spritzed with glimmer mist, scrunched and then heat dried. Inca gold, brads and seed beads completed the flowers. I really  enjoyed this challenge and had great fun designing for it. I hope you find it inspirational.

I must thank the ARTastic team for giving me the opportunity to show my work. Please make sure you pop over to the ARTastic blog to see what the fabulous design team has come up with and to also see the entries that have been submitted. You still have the time to enter if you feel inspired to do so.

 

Thank you for visiting and for your lovely comments. They are truly appreciated.

Cheers, Di

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afternoon Delight.

Hi! and welcome! Just a short post today. I really love the way plain (or patterned) cardstock / papers can be changed to make them unique by simply adding different mediums to them. Playing with stencils has changed a plain background into something quite different to fit with the photo I've used for my layout. The medium, Viva Precious Metal was brushed on and when dry, Inca Gold (pink and pale gold) was lightly applied in sections.

The photo didn't call for any embellishments. It was matted onto black cardtock, two edges were punched (Martha Stewart trellis punch) chipboard letters for the title were painted in brown acrylic paint and then glazed with Extreme Glitter (hologram). The page was completed by streaking with some random lines of Kindyglitz to represent wisps of clouds.

This photo is one of many I take of sunsets near my home.This one was quite unusual with its two distinct bands of colour and  the paling blue sky betwixt.
"A picture is worth a thousand words" springs to mind.

I'm entering this in the ABAC Challenge 16:Inspired by.   http://anythingbutacard.blogspot.ca/
Have a look at what other artists and the design team have created.
With me, a great deal of my inspiration comes from nature.
Thank you for stopping by. Thank you also for supportive comments. They are always appreciated. Cheers, Di