Friday, 27 February 2009

A "BLANK" CANVAS ....?

Hope that you managed to find some kind of card or wooden blank to alter - they are such fun and (as they say around here) cheap as chips! My book blanks were two for one pound which can't be bad. I wanted to make it into a Harry Potter-ish tome, vaguely weird and wizardly, so I had a LOT of fun with this. I've used a K&Co paper from the Verbena range, and all sorts of bits of brass from my collection, plus a hand-made key. I lined the inside in a toning striped paper and the book plate says "enquire within" partly because I haven't yet decided what I'm going to put in it!! The sides were made of finely corrugated cardboard to suggest pages, so I painted them gold and then antiqued and distressed it because it was too bright and brassy.


Linda's blank was a tissue box cover which comes in two parts - base and lid. She's used all kinds of images, including birds and nests to cover it, and as you can see there is a quote running around the edges of the lid which reads
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words and never stops at all. - Emily Dickenson



Now we look forward to seeing what YOU can do .... and courtesy of our lovely sponsor Artchix this time there'll be this lovely prize on offer! (see below) Do go and visit their site as you'll find a selection of the most delicious materials you could ever want to play with!
Also included in the package is a new Tim Holtz ATC background stamp and a flower mini-book.

Thursday, 26 February 2009

Rock On!!

I want to thank everyone who was crazy enough to join in with my 'rock'n'roll challenge' this week!
I found it very difficult deciding which ones to show because I liked them all for different reasons, but in the end I chose....... Jendy http://jendypendy.blogspot.com/ - I loved all the bits and pieces you added, especially the curly quote! (And I adore gold leaf.)




Kimmie http://artinredwagons.blogspot.com/2009/02/rocks.html ..... I was so touched by the fact that you made not one, but TWO memorials for your pet fish! They are both beautiful.
Hope you've managed to find 'an alterable blank' for the next challenge; I'm doing a chipboard tissue box...in fact I'd better go and get on with it.......

Monday, 23 February 2009

AND FOR OUR NEXT TRICK .....!


Ssshhhh, don't tell anybody I told you but ... our next challenge will involve using a ready made wood or cardboard shape. I call these "blanks" but it seems not everybody recognises that description!

Anyway, this is a photo of the one I'll be using - it's a book shape box which is open for this picture. You can get all kinds - not long ago I altered a tissue box blank, and somewhere I've got some wooden door hangers. You can use any shape you like, but it would be good to see a photo of it before you altered it as well as after!

So your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go out and get one before Friday!! I got mine from the pound shop .....

Sunday, 22 February 2009

THE END OF THE SHOWCASES


Linda and I have had to admit defeat on the showcase front - we love the idea but are victims of our own success because each one is taking so long! Sadly we've had to decide that each week the person who sets the challenge (we take it in turns) will choose her favourites). So sorry but we just don't have time to do it the other way ...

Anyhow, I've chosen Jaqi and Jean's efforts out of the doors you all made. Jean's is the bright one on the left above, and see more pictures here. I love the block base she's used and the vivid colours - gorgeous work Jean! The pink one above is Jaqi's, see more here. I love how it opens up to show the Moulin Rouge and the variety of materials she's used. Great entry Jaqi!!

Saturday, 21 February 2009

ROCK 2


I had a go at Linda's rock challenge too, but only just finished it. Managed to nettle myself collecting this from the garden, but I suppose we all have to suffer for our art!!

I painted it with a gorgeous Lumiere paint called Metallic Russet - it looks more like pink to me - added a pewter heart and the message "love is all you need".

Finished it off with a spiral pattern of silver dots - more pictures on my blog.

Friday, 20 February 2009

Rock 'n' Roll!

OK, you're probably going to think I've lost the plot a little this week..........but I want you to go in your garden (or a friend or relatives) and find yourself a rock. Now I know some rocks and pebbles are already very beautiful without any help from us - I have loads in my home (I prefer them to ornaments), but try to find a fairly plain one. Then.....alter it!
On this one I used alcohol inks, gesso, gold flakes, Lumiere paint, a German scrap border and an image from Artchix.

On the other side I painted the background with Lumiere paint and gold ink then used my own drawing of Venus as a gel transfer (instructions below!) I added a few extra lines with a permanent pen. The letters are from a Tim Holtz Distressables sheet.
Finally I coated both sides with Liquitex Gloss Medium and Varnish.

I really hope you'll join in and have a go at this......and of course you'll have an attractive paperweight at the end of it!!



Gel Transfer
1. Print a copy of your chosen picture (I used a smaller version of my Venus sketch ). Cut around it (just roughly).
2. Paint a layer of gel medium onto the stone and place the picture on it face down.
3. Press hard and burnish with the back of a spoon or bone folder.
4. Let it dry for a few hours.
5. Wet the paper thouroughly and start to rub it away very gently. The image should remain on the stone when all the paper has gone.
It won't be perfect - but that can look good!

Thursday, 19 February 2009

Hearts and Crows

I have put these two showcases together because I am a bit behind in displaying them - sorry!
Anyway.......enjoy the fabulous artwork which follows:


and

Linda - http://my-littlebit.blogspot.com/2009/01/one-world-one-heart-participant.html
and
Maureen - http://maureen-maureensmixture.blogspot.com/

Veebee - http://veebscraft.blogspot.com/2009/01/stone-crows.html
Ezzie - http://ezziesart.blogspot.com/2009/02/big-art-adventure-crows.html

Hilda - http://inkythings.blogspot.com/2009/01/art-adventure-crows.html
and
Gayle - http://gaylepage-robak.blogspot.com/2009/02/art-adventure.html

Pattie - http://thejoyofnesting.blogspot.com/2009/02/black-bird-on-steroids-awfully-big-art.html
and
Virginia - http://littlebookofme.blogspot.com/2009/01/combined-challenge.html

Friday, 13 February 2009

DOORS


Here's our challenge for this week - make something with a door in it. It can open or not, just as you like, it can be literal or metaphorical ... you choose!

The lower picture shows a fairy door in the skirting board of my Studio. I made it from lolly sticks, paperclay, the hinges are card and the handle is an upholstery tack. I put it there for my grand-daughter to find and at 3 she already loves it! Now I have to think of somewhere else in the house to hide one.

The upper photos show a hanging I made from card and paper. I was thinking a lot about the idea of home, and going home, not least because my own mother is dying. So I wanted my piece to be about home as in house, but also an eternal home element. Looking forward to seeing your doors and hearing what they mean to you .....