This is my other entry for the art competition ‘Take Flight’
Utalising mostly Tim Holtz and ranger products
The background was done using layered distress stains and Tim’s famous spritz and flick technique. Sealed with Claudine Hellmouths Multi Medium and the butterflies are cut from Tim’s movers and shapers butterflies.
Along with some drops of triple thick to replicate rain and an American Crafts Metallic marker for the center of the butterflies.
I am so excited the year long journey is nearly at an end and my project using all 12 of my coasters is almost complete. Can not wait to share it all with you
in the meantime here is my January coaster.
I used two of my Christmas Presents (salty ocean distress stain and one of the sets of Tim Holtz stamps I got)
I also used Squeezed lemonade, festive berries and ripe persimmon distress stains for my sunset and stamping the radiant sun lines.
I will be doing up a tutorial for how to create the ocean using the distress stain, multi medium, triple thick and tissue paper its such a simple and effective way to create realistic water.
Add in a couple of fussy cut butterflies from the stamps I got for my birthday, a little tissue tape and some seasonal chit chat stickers covered in Warm Honey distress stain and of course a wee bit of bling and a little perfect pearls in gold and pearl (also from my Chrissy pressies)
and here it is the Last Coaster of 2012, I already have an idea of what I may do for 2013 but that is a post for a later day 😉
So here it is the final coaster for 2012:(bear in mind I am in the land down under and it is summer here)
You know the challenge I have been having with doing the coasters is they are 4″x4″ not a lot of room to work with however now that we are at the halfway mark I can see how my idea for the coasters is shaping up. I am sure by now your starting to get an inkling of what the finished 12 will be turned into given that I have been using the same colours for them all in various ways.
See T!m’s tag of the month here : July Tag
I loved the layering of this tag as well as the technique not having pressed air (although have been contemplating getting a mini air compressor as they are quite economical) I used a wide straw. For those Aussies reading this I emptied out a Sippah straw and used that.
For me I had fun building up layers and a little texture. Though the picture no where does the center scalloped circle justice in the sense you do not see all the layers . I then used some Kraft Core to make two larger scalloped circles and sanded them. Added in some glazed mini roses in victorian velvet and added them to a back that is layers of tissue paper stamped and painted over then inked around the edges. Stamped on my quote and embossed it. Viola Coaster of the Month.
I am really happy with how this one turned out.
Recently I participated in Two swaps (though was lucky enough to get the same partner for both which was a great blessing to my budget),
The theme for both was Shabby Chic, one was a card box filled with 5 cards in set themes. The other was a box swap (I tried everywhere to find a box the right size but just could not find one so I added in another small box and a small tag album to make up for the size as well as a few extra goodies for my swap partner)
So now that they have arrived I can share the pics with you all.
Here is the card box and cards:
and here is the two boxes and matching mini Tag Album
I of course had to gold leaf a little, and one of the cards is also on Jellybean Scrappers for a monthly Inspiration Challenge.
Guest DT May Challenge Layout:Â My Entry
This layout cost me under $2.50 actually if I am honest it cost $2.20 in total to create. Yeah I know right? I never originally set out to create a budget layout it just turned out that way.
This month’s Guest DT member Jody set a monthly challenge to create two clusters with 5 or more things in them. For the most part I used flowers that I made myself. Although there are some mulberry paper roses that I used as well.
Inspired by the background of the photo (me in Year 7), and the new teal Peacock Feathers Distress ink and re-inker that had recently arrived on my doorstep. I set to work.
I had already played with making my own Peacock Feathers mist and also misting some seam binding in various colours and such.
The first step for me was creating the background. You can do this in many ways, swiping your ink pad over the card stock, with cling wrap or the way I did with a scrunched up piece of paper towel. This gives a mottled effect. However it was a little too dark for what I wanted. So I took an old Snow cap paint dabber added a smidge more paint from a new one, added some water and shook well. Bingo I had a perfect tool for whitewashing over the cardstock to tone down the colour.
I also used this technique to tone down the DCWV Jewel Stack cardstock I used to matt the photo on. In fact that was the next thing I did. Then I stuck my photo onto the cardstock and adhered it to the background (the Cardstock is a plain Sam & Lucy 12×12 from a pack that I picked up on sale).
The next step was creating my boarder with seam binding. This is actually very simple you place tape around the boarder of your photo matt and then stick the seam binding to it. I folded the edges over as I went however you could also cut your seam binding to fit if you did not want the fold. Either way you will not see the joins or folds as they are covered with flowers.
Then it was a matter of playing with flowers and such to see what I wanted for my clusters. The large Flowers are Tissue Paper cut from A Fiskars large circle punch. You punch through several layers of tissue paper put a brad in the centre then scrunch each layer from the centre outwards. I misted mine with Homemade Peacock feathers mist.
The seam binding flowers I also handmade from the same seam binding I used for the boarder.
Once I had decided on how I wanted my flowers. I then used Inkadinkado Dot Flourish stamps to create my flourishes. I repeated the same stamp 3 times to create the flourish. Stamped with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink. (What I love about this layout is it also shows you that the different ways you use an ink can show as almost different colours). Then added some hot fix rhinestones from my stash (obtained cheaply from eBay) over the Dot parts of the flourishes in different sizes.
Then I stuck my flowers down where I wanted them. Made some pearl sprays using pearl sprays and wire. It only took 2 stems of pearl spray. I used the wire to sepperate one stem into two sprays for the clusters.
Glued them in with a little glossy accents and viola a layout that won’t break the budget
I know I know where is April’s coaster I hear you asking me. It is almost finished just needs a finishing touch of course it would help if I could actually find the thing
Here is the link to T!m’s version  http://timholtz.com/12-tags-of-2012-may/
I eneded up using 2 layers of pattern paper on mine, I inked and played with it a bit however it was to dark so I used Jenni Bowlins Malted Milk Paint dabber to tone it down . Stamped on some flourishes in Gold and added some of my faux enamelled/porceline flowers to the corners along with a little tissue paper skirt I made.
Think it will take me a bit more practice to get the flowers then again it may well be how fast the Utee sets here now that it is winter.
So here it is my May Coaster
This year has for me about exploring new ideas and mixed media art journaling has definitely captured my imagination. The scope and range of products in the art and craft world astounds me and my wish list is rife full of all sorts of things that I would love to experiment with.
I have been playing with some cheap pastels (they are more like a chalk/watercolour than an oil pastel) and some very basic drawings. I have also acquired along the way both soft and hard charcoals, and a few art pads to play on.
Today for the first time I decided to try and draw and colour a face (other than art classes at school some eep let’s just say a very long time ago).
I have been seeing such wonderful fun and funky faces and people around and about and I always think I wish I could do that so today I decided to try it.
So I used the biggest art pad I had and pencil drew in a face, I then traced it with tissue paper (in case I made a completely horrible mess of things) I painted the original with pastel mixed with water and also a little extra pastels in places to add texture
This first pic is the Tissue Paper Pic
And This is the coloured version, I am quite happy with this as a first effort especially pleased with her eyes as this was done without thinking of anyone just off the cuff
Also (no wonder housework is not getting done, 12 tags, Christmas and a bout of mega creativity) I had a go at making a little hand bound book although I had seen this on a TV show and did look at some tutorials I ended up doing it in my own way (what is new with that lol) I still have to make a cover for it but here is a pic of it so far it is 6 pages from a sketch pad as well as tissue paper. I am looking forward to making the cover and seeing how it looks when I finish it. It is designed to be a pocket art journal not sure if I am keeping it or going to use it for a present for one of my arty friends who draw.
Heavenly Craft Musings 