The Craft Barn Blog Candy

Hi everyone, there is a fantastic offer over on The Craft Barn Blog lasting until Sunday 19th March-- the lucky winner will receive the complete new set of 12 PaperArtsy Infusions. To take part click on the link Here.
If you are not familiar with the new colours here's a picture to whet your appetite.

These wonderful little bottles of water soluble dye colour pigment explode into colour when moisture is added in the form of spraying water, mixing with pastes, various glazes and mediums etc.

I'm off to make a Mother's Day card using infusions and grunge paste so pop back later to see how it turns out!

Bye for now and don't forget to get your name on the blog candy list. Jane X

Pink and Orange!!!

After going and seeing a wonderful exhibition at "Standen" National Trust last week on some of the designs by Kaffe Fassett I felt inspired by his eye for colour ------- could there be a link with the challenge over on The PaperArtsy Challenge this fortnight?

One of the fabulous pieces on display --- pink and orange figure quite strongly in many of this wall hangings.

Now I have to say they were never up there in my top 3 colour combinations before but now having had a play and seen how they make things 'Pop"out at you I'm definitely warming to them. So below is my entry for the first of 2017's PaperArtsy Challenges titled 'Pink and Orange'.

I began by painting my MDF heart with Very Berry and Autumn Fire. Then once dry added some Blush paint through Lin Browns stencil PS005.

This was then stamped with an image from Lynne Perrella's LPC010 in black ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The words were then added and these came from One Penny 4 stamp set. The edges were heat embossed with Stampendous Aged Silver . Finally a pink leather tie was added to the top.

That's all from me tonight as I've got some pink and orange ink calling me!!

Enjoy your week -- doesn't look as if it's going to be quite so cold the next few days, take care. 

Jane X

The beginnings of my Art Journal

Welcome to my first blog entry on my newly started art journal. I have been thinking about making an art journal for a couple of years or more and over the Christmas holidays made myself a promise that 2017 would be when I'd begin. Although this is not the very first page of my journal ( that will appear on The Craft Barn Blog at the beginning of March ) this is the first time I've made an entry on my blog page.

I began by applying some Fresco paint in Mermaid with a brayer, then once dry added some distress inks through a Stencil Girl stencil.

More detail was added using a different stencil and 2 warm tones in distress inks. The bottom of the page was then stamped using a mix of Brilliance Pearlescent Olive and Ocean Depth ink and a stamp called Frise en Ribambelle by Carabelle Studio. 

Odd detail of colour was added to the stamped image using Distress Markers.

The flowers from PaperArtsy ZA08 a recent issue, were stamped onto white card that had been coloured with various Pan Pastels. These were then cut out and I played around for a time before deciding on their final position.

The fab sentiment was stamped in black Versafine ink and the flowers stamped onto the page. Before sticking the coloured flowers over the stamped images I added stems and a few dots and doodles with a fine black pen. 

Finally I painted a mini Tando Creative heart in Fresco Blush and drew on a smiley face!

Every time I read this message I have a little smile to myself ------ it's perfect.

Well now that I've begun my art journal and I must say have really enjoyed the time spent on the pages I will have to think seriously about making a scrap book for my 4 wonderful Grandchildren while I still remember who the elderly relatives are in the sepia photos!

Thank you for stopping by today, hopefully it won't be too long before the ground warms up a little and the 'Smiles' will start to appear. Enjoy the rest of your week and keep warm, bye for now.

 Jane x

Hi and welcome, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are now enjoying a little rest and relaxation!!!! Perhaps you were lucky enough to receive some crafting goodies from Santa which can be experimented with.

The Christmas card pictured below was made using 2 of my favourite stamp sets one from Crafty Individuals and the other from PaperArtsy. If you would like to see the different stages of making this card I have included a link to The Craft Barn Blog where all will be revealed here.

I would just like to wish you all A Very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year with lots of Craftyness added in. Take Care and see you all in 2017.

Jane x

"Bling It Up" Tag

Good evening and welcome, today I've been cracking on with some things ready for Christmas and thought I would share this tag with you. I would like to enter this for The Craft Barn 2 Weekly Challenge titled 'Bling it Up'.

Apart from adding the 'sparkley' bits the challenge also includes the colours purple, turquoise and green! I know turquoise and purple are often put together for Christmas decorations but the addition of green had me hooked.

So to begin with I started with a large manilla tag and dabbed on some Fresco Chalk Acrylic in Pansy using a small piece of cut and dry. Then once this was completely dry added some Tumbled Glass DI using a blending tool.

Next I coloured some Dreamweaver Translucent Embossing Paste with a little Dreamweaver Metallic F/X in Kiwi. This was then spread through a reindeer stencil by Tando Creative. The stencil was removed, cleaned and replaced, then green glitter was added to the still wet reindeer.

I did not pile the glitter on too thick as I wanted the lighter green of the paste to show through in parts so as to vary the shades of green. Once dry a turquoise gem was added for an eye and a small bronze bell attached with invisible thread.

Then using just part of the main stamp from Jofy 06 the star and baubles were stamped in VersaMark ink and brushed with antique green Cosmic Shimmers Mica Powder and the sides of the tag were also stamped using the VersaMark ink and then clear heat embossed with 'Jingle bells'.

Finally a light turquoise/green ribbon was tied to the top. The shimmer on the hanging stars etc doesn't show that well in the photo but I am very pleased with the effect the reindeer has against the painted background.

If you are making some cards or other creations over the next few days give this colour combination a go and enter the Craft Barn Challenge and be in for a chance of winning a £10 voucher to spend on line in the shop.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you have a good week, take care and keep warm as it looks like it's going to be a "Chilly" one.  Jane X

The Wicked Witches' Residence !

Hi, yesterday I had a fun time creating a 'Spooky' Halloween card which I would like to enter for The Creative Carte Blanche Challenge Witchy Woman and The Craft Barn 2 weekly Challenge Pumpkin and Bat.

I started by cutting 2 houses using Tim Holtz Rickety House die, one in spotty co-ordinations card and one from card that had been coloured with Fresco Chalk Acrylic paints.

Once I'd worked out which window went  where I sanded the black die cut house and rubbed areas with Treasure Pewter.

Next I stamped the bat, pumpkin, broom, and hat onto scrap card and clear embossed so as two make cutting out a little easier. These were coloured with Distress Makers and a silver Pro-Marker.

The banner was cut from kraft card using Tim Holtz Alterations Tattered Banners die and stamped with Wicked Witch and heat embossed in black.

The card blank was coloured using Distress inks in Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky and Pumice.

The cobwebs were added using pumice.

I don't normally make Halloween cards but I must admit this was fun to construct and I think the bat is quite evil!!

There is no visible witch in this project so I hope the Creative Carte Blanche will accept this entry.

Many thanks for stopping by, I hope your weekend is full of fun and relaxing things, maybe even some crafting!

Take Care, Jane X

Thrilling News----

Hi and welcome, today I am thrilled and excited to be able to tell you that I've been chosen to join The Craft Barn Blog Design Team. There was recently a post asking for people interested to apply and as I had been a customer of the shop at Lingfield and then Nutfield I felt a strong connection with the business which I wanted to continue.

We were having a couple of nights away in the camper van when I  found out I was one of the lucky 3 to be accepted and I was so chuffed and excited. A few days later the list of themes/topics arrived and I am now preparing various projects for the next couple of months.

My first sample was accepted and went out on the blog entry titled Alcohol Inks and Yupo.

To see how I made this card and a tag click here.

This weeks theme is Dimensional Crafting which I love, so had to add this to my chosen list. There have been 2 samples by other team members on the blog which are both very different and stunning. One is a gorgeous altered tin and the other a beautiful die-cut and stamped bird cage. 

To see these wonderful pieces grab a coffee and pop over to  The Craft Barn.

My entry will be posted tomorrow so to find out what I made with these embellishments please head over and have a peep.

Thank you as always for stopping by today and please do have a look at The Craft Barn's blog and maybe enter one of their 2 weekly challenges. See you soon and take care, Jane X.