6 April 2013

Pieces of Paper

Hi everyone. Thank you  for joining me on this (well for me) Saturday afternoon. I hope you are having a good weekend whatever you are up to and wherever you are. I've been busy re-learning the art of paper piecing (initial efforts just didn't meet quality control as I'd forgotten about how to layer correctly - I know! how hard can it be?) It probably doesn't help that I was doing this in duplicate...


I've used some K&Co papers (that have been lanquishing in my stash for eons) to create these masculine cards and my new 'Time Travellers' Stampers Anonymous stamps which have already become firm favourites.


These papers were an easy choice, particularly as the background one already included some street maps within the stripes. Although there was a little colour around the edges I added some DI Vintage Photo to  distress it further. The lime element also seems to stop the cards feeling too dark.








The second background layer was created using DP's Weathered Wood/Frayed Burlap/Antique Linen, blended across the text stamp and then clear embossed after having been applied to a coordinating paper. I do love the way these paints blend so well and they hold embossing powder beautifully without the need for an anti-static bag to stop any overspills. As you can see I made two versions - normally there'd be a favourite but in this case I liked them both.



The suitcase piles were fun. These were stamped with Memento London Fog on some DCWV Serendipity cardstock, chosen as it had a lovely pale leather colour and some texture to it. The ink was chosen to give a sharper image - I always find it can be a bit hit and miss getting this on textured cardstock with some types of ink. Adding decoupaged layers gave each stack more dimension.





On to the bit I struggled with - the paper piecing gentlemen. Patterned papers added a bit of a twist to them and each layer was stamped with Coffee Archival Ink. It is important to think about which layer needs to go on first, second, third, and so on otherwise you can end up with 'indentations' in places that should be more prominent. I did try stamping in Navy but it made this poor man look very gaunt - not a good look for a birthday!



You can tell how far you've come in crafting by looking back/thinking about how you would have tackled something and what you now do. Way back when (well actually a year ago when I started this blogging lark) the cogs/clouds would have been cut from plain cardstock. Now I have cogs/clouds created from white corrugated cardstock that has layers of gesso, Distress Paint (same colours used for the background) Picket Fence Crackle Paint and Antique Lined Distress Stain.


Having birthday card orders coming in I went with the simple sentiment on the luggage tag rather than doing anything more thought-provoking on this occasion.


These are being entered for the following challenges;
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - Paper Piecing
Out of a Hat Creations - Suitcase/Travel
Hope you've been encouraged to dig out some old stash and use it/revisit a technique you haven't done in a while (if only to refresh your brain). Enjoy the rest of your weekend, hugs Jenny x

4 April 2013

Rising to the April Challenge


Hi everyone. Thank you for joining me today as I share my take on Tim Holtz' April tag. This one has got me so excited - I love the way Tim has used Distress Paints and Inks to create a faux metal finish on plain card.  Of course you'll notice that panels were created for cards rather than for tags. For the first version Tim's recipe was followed for the verdigris finish. Then for the second version different colours were used and I came up with a rust finish that has worked well too I think.











The recipes are simple enough but there is a suggestion I would make here. The new Metallic Distress Paints are only just being released this week so most of us won't have them yet, and there is always that question to tackle - "Do we really need them?"











For the metallic element in each of these I used Metallic Distress Stains, but they aren't nearly as opaque as Distress Paints so it took several layers to get a similar (but not the same) effect. And then of course other types of paint don't wick/marble when spritzed with water either. In short? I'm not paid by Ranger to say this but the new Metallic Distress Paints are a must in my view.











Now, for those recipes. Verdigris; Distress Paints Weathered Wood/Salty Ocean/Broken China/Forest Moss/Peeled Paint, Distress Stain Antiqued Bronze, Distress Inks Pine Needles/Faded Jeans/Vintage Photo/Walnut Stain. Rust; Distress Paints Frayed Burlap/Vintage Photo/Walnut Stain/Spiced Marmalade/Rusty Hinge, Distress Stain Tarnished Brass, Distress Inks Rusty Hinge/Tea Dye/Walnut Stain/Vintage Photo. Just follow Tim's instructions for the way to apply them HERE.











Having created each panel I used Archival ink to stamp the Papillon background and three of the butterflies. Two of these were enhanced by stamping the same images into black UTEE. Then, just like Tim did with his alpha parts, the same Distress Paints/Stains were dabbed and rubbed onto them. Then they were re-stamped with Archival ink. The largest butterfly was stamped onto acetate and coloured on the reverse with co-ordinating alcohol inks. Then they were heated to distort the wings and stapled in place. The seam binding was treated as recommended (again, I think this has such a wonderful ageing effect).

Some cardstock tape measures were created using one of the new embossing folders. The metal elements came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique - Linda has a large range of beautiful and affordable filigree items which have the added benefit of being pliable enough to be cut in half (the buckle became two hinges for each panel). They also had Distress Paint applied.

These came out even better than I expected and will be entered into the following challenge;
There's a list of the goodies used below, and just a quick reminder that if you haven't seen The Funkie Junkie Boutique Facebook page there's a 10% 'Like Us On Facebook' discount available HERE valid until 12th April 2013 (including those new Metallic Distress Paints!)
Take care of yourselves and thanks again for joining me, hugs Jenny xxx


3 April 2013

WNOYWW 200

It's been a day spent travelling to and from hospitals today to see/support relatives so I've not had chance to display the state of my workdesk and share it with the WOYWW crowd (the nicest bunch of crafters you would ever wish to meet). However, I couldn't let Julia Dunnit's 200th anniversary get together pass without sending her my heartfelt congratulations on four years of commitment to a positive cause.

Let it be known I WILL be taking part in the ATC swap she is organising (deets HERE) - surely there is plenty of time between now and the end of May to rustle up one or two 2.5" x 3.5" mini masterpieces to send to some fellow crafters! For now take care everyone, hugs Jenny x
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...