Friday 3 August 2018

Creative Artiste August Challenge DT Post

It's time for a new challenge over at Creative Artiste and I am sad to say that this is my final blog post as a member of the design team. I have had an absolute ball being part of it, but life is busy and the time is right for me to step down to focus on my other commitments. 

This month we are sponsored by Samantha K Gifts, which I am very excited about as I am also on her design team as you may know. Her MDF is fabulous to work with so I urge you to enter if you can for the chance to win a great prize. 




Thank you Creative Artiste for having me on your team, and stretching me creatively. It's been fun! 

Lynda
xx

Sunday 22 July 2018

Stars Can Only Shine Where There is Darkness

It's been a while since I have blogged as I have been seriously busy creating samples for my various design teams, ready for show on Hochanda later this week. Now all the samples are sent it's time for me to start sharing my creations, and today I am starting with a wall plaque that I have made for Samantha K. Sam creates some incredible mdf cuts, which are perfect for mixed media and card making,  and the latest release is just divine. She will be on Hochanda on the 27th July so set your reminders if you can.

To create my piece I first wanted to ensure it had some lovely texture so I adhered tissue to a base plaque. 


Once that was dry it was time for a good layer of black gesso, and some acrylic paints in night colours. I also added some shimmer sprays for added sparkle.


While that was drying I used a dabber and some Shimmer Magic paint for Luv Crafts on the mdf sentiment. It's SO sparkly. I just love it! 


And talking of sparkle, every night sky needs loads of stars, so I used a mask and some Imagination Crafts Sparkle Medium and a stencil to create a super starry look.


To finish I spattered white acrylic over the entire board, and added my sentiment and some more MDF stars that I painted with Shimmer Magic. 



I am really pleased with how this came out. I hope you like it too. 

You can seem more of my DT pieces and what the rest of my team mates have made over on the Samantha K Mixed Media and Crafting Facebook Group. You are welcome to share your own mixed media pieces there too of course. 

I'll be back soon with more work to share.

Lynda
x




Friday 6 July 2018

Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge Blog July Challenge. DT Post

Hi! I hope you are all enjoying this gorgeous weather that we are blessed with right now. Personally I struggle with the heat a bit, but luckily for me my craft desk is in a nice cool spot so no excuse not to keep cracking on the with my paint and ink!

Today I am sharing my DT piece made for the new challenge at Creative Artiste. This month we are kindly sponsored by Tando Creative


I used their sweet 'Home Sweet Home' hanging plaque to create a welcome sign with a summer vibe. I used Dylusions paint on the main board and words, and stamped images with versafine ink and coloured with paint pens. Patterned papers and some doodling gives the houses more interest, and then I used Gellitex on the words to make them sparkle. 


I hope you can join in our challenge.

I am entering this in the following challenges:


Lynda
x

Thursday 14 June 2018

Luv Crafts Studio Light Industrial Samples

I've neglected my blog a little lately but rest assured that's not because I have neglected crafting. My little work area has been messier than ever as I have frantically been making samples for the design teams that I am currently serving on and their Hochanda tv shows. So exciting!

This week saw my first batch of creations for Luv Crafts appear on screen. I cannot begin to tell you how exciting it is to see my work promoting some incredible products on telly. Such a buzz!

The show was featuring Studio Light's Industrial range and Luv Crafts brilliant mixed media products. The Rusty Magic is incredible for creating an aged look. An absolute must if you love grungy vintage like I do. 

Here's all the samples that I made for you to have a peek at. If you want to know how I achieved any of the effects, why not pop along to our Luv Crafts Crafting and Mixed Media Facebook group and you can ask away there. Obviously you are welcome to join even if you don't want to know how I did them- just come along for the chat and to share your own mixed media work with us. We'd love to have your company. 
















Tuesday 15 May 2018

Whimsical House Card for Polly Allsorts

Well it's really not long now until Create It in Kent ( 4 sleeps!), where you can enter the whimsical world of  Polly Allsorts and see all their beautiful products on their stand. I am getting SO excited! If you keep your eyes peeled you may spy this card that I have made there. 



I used a stencil  for the main image, and glitter paste, and coloured in and painted a little scene around it with sparkle pens. I mat and layered it onto a co ordinated piece of card which I embellished with stamps and stencils from the range. I love this little house- it would be perfect for a new home card. 

I am entering this card in the following challenges:


Thanks for popping by

Lynda
x



Sunday 13 May 2018

Whimsical Flora Cottage - A Polly Allsorts DT Post

Good evening all. I hope you have had a great weekend. I'm popping by to share a project I have made using the stunning Whimsical Flora Cottage from Polly Allsorts. I adore these gorgeous houses. They aren't only pretty but practical too as can be used as storage because the front panel is hinged, allowing you to pop your own treasures inside. How cool is that!



To create my house I first applied a coat of white gesso, then painted in acrylic paint. I initially painted it a brighter yellow but decided that was a bit too bright so toned it down with a creamier yellow, which worked beautifully with the blues I selected. I accented the grooves using a dark posca pen to make them pop. 

The brickwork and flowers were created using a Polly Allsorts stencil. So useful for detailing. I coloured white texture paste and added the brickwork through the stencil. and the flowers were stencilled using glittery Sparkle Medium.  

Polly Allsorts also create some lovely complimenting stamps, which I used to create the foliage and signage- because every fairy cottage needs flowers and a cute name right? To finish off I painted some mdf flowers and leaves and glued them on too. 


I am so pleased with the way this turned out. I would love to live in a house like this wouldn't you?

If you are planning on visiting Create It  at Detling Showground in Kent next weekend you will be able to see all these wondrously whimsical  goodies as Polly Allsorts will be there. There is also  the opportunity to create a fabulous story book at their workshop. If you are interested you can find the details here.


I'm visiting the show myself next Sunday and can't wait! It promises to be a really good event with an amazing line up of demonstrators. Hopefully I will see you there.

I'll be back soon with another whimsical project to share, but for now I must go as the last of the Sunday sunshine is beckoning and the bbq is lit. 

Have a lovely evening

Lynda 
x

Monday 7 May 2018

Happy Birthday Ian!

Happy bank holiday Monday all. What a beautiful day it is too. Perfect for wandering the great British countryside don't you think? We did that yesterday, so today is a catch up on things at home and crafting kind of day. It's also my brother in law Ian's birthday, so I thought I would shar ethe card that I made for him. Ian is often found wandering the countryside as he is a keen geocacher in his spare time, so when I saw the latest release stamps from Sheena Douglass it struck me how perfect they would be for a card for him. 

To create my card I first made a background using distress oxide inks, and added streaks of sunlight through a mask. I stamped Sheena's silhouette thistles along the base, and the birds and sentiment are by Tim Holtz. 

The main image was stamped and then I coloured with watercolour pens. I love that it's like an old photograph- again perfect for Ian as he supports my sister in her professional photography business. 



To finish if off I added a die cut and stamped compass, from Sheena's Time Traveller collection. 

Happy birthday Ian. I hope it's a good one!

Challenges:


xx

A Spring Canvas - Samantha K DT Post

Finally Spring has sprung, the sun is shining and here in the UK we have a bank holiday weekend to enjoy. Perfect! I am definitely feeling the season and so thought I'd pop by to share a canvas that I created recently for Samantha K's recent Hochanda show. 


I wanted to create some layers of interest and so to begin I used a beautiful napkin that I purchased at Newbury Papercraft Show a while ago and pasted it onto my gesso'd canvas. 



Once dry I worked on my layout, using a stencil and texture paste to create a brickwork effect and flowers, adding flowers and fencing and sticking down before covering the entire piece with white gesso. 


While the gesso was drying I painted up Samantha's stunning swing seats and hummingbird and cut a window frame and scene to go behind it. I lay the window in place and set to work spritzing the entire piece with spray inks, and then once dry I stuck the window scene in place behind the frame, and added the final pieces in place.




If you'd like to see other projects made using Sam's beautiful mdf, why not join her Facebook group. You are very welcome to post your own mixed media creations there too, whether they feature her products or not. It's a great page to share hints and tips. We would love to see you there. 

Have a great weekend

Lynda
x

Sunday 6 May 2018

A Story Book Project and a Some Magical News!

Those that know me know me personally, and probably those that follow this blog, will know by now just how much I have a love of all things whimsical and magical. As a young girl I firmly believed fairies lived at the bottom of my garden and now, at the ripe old age of 46 I still do!  To me my crafting is an ecape into another world, and all the better if that world contains magic, which is why I am thrilled to be able to announce that I have just joined the Polly Allsorts design team.



For those that haven't heard of Polly Allorts, I can tell you that they create the most beautiful MDF whimsical houses, embellishments and story books and have stamps and stencils to compliment these. The products are so well cut and simply beautiful to work with.

Angela ( the owner ) has recently launched her products on Hochanda, and she will be hosting a stand at Create It in Kent on the 19th and 20th May. There is also the opportunity to create a beautiful story book of your own at a work shop there, so do book on if you are coming along. You cane see how here.



I have had a little play of my own with the book, and here is my take on it for you. It's a gorgeous piece,  perfect for using to record your own special memories. 






If you like the look of Polly Allsorts why not follow the Polly Allsorts Facebook page. You can keep up to date with all the news there, including details of how to book on to the workshop if you would like to. 

I am travelling to Kent myself for the Create It show.  I can't wait! It promises to be a really good one with an amazing line up of exhibitors. I hope you can make it too if you live nearby. 

Lynda
xx




Friday 4 May 2018

Creative Artiste Mixed Media May Challenge DT Post

It's May and time for a new Anything Goes challenge over at Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge Blog.  We've definitely had rather a lot of Spring showers lately and that was my inspiration for this months DT piece. 

Unfortunately this month we were let down by our sponsor at the last minute so, we have arranged a GDT spot for May's winner. The position will be available for our July challenge.


I have chosen to create a tag for my project, using up a background that I made a while ago from Aquatint inks and salt. I just love the effect and texture this technique creates. I also spattered it with white acrylic paint.  I stamped and heat embossed the main image and  rain drops, and stamped the sentiment on another piece of background card I had previously made, cut out and edged with distress ink. 

Challenges:



We love to see your work so do play along if you can.

Lynda
xx

Tuesday 1 May 2018

Crafts Galore Encore May Challenge

Sadly this is my final post as a design team member for Crafts Galore Encore. I have had a great time on the team, but I have exciting new crafty challenges ahead and therefore I have decided that  it is time to say goodbye to my talented team mates in order for me to focus fully on other things. 



This month the challenge is sponsored by Fred She Said. As I was organised nice and early for this challenge I created an Easter card using Easter Chicky and some old papers from my stash. I do love yellow and green for a Spring vibe don't you?



Thank you so much for having me Crafts Galore Encore. It's been a blast!

Lynda
xxx

Tuesday 24 April 2018

Just when the Caterpillar Thought The World was Over... Samantha K Dt Post

Did you catch the Samatha K shows on Hochanda last week?  If not you missed a treat as they were fabulous and the set looked amazing with all the DT samples. I thought I'd pop by to share one of my projects, using the stunningly intricate caterpillar quote. It really is hard to believe this is mdf. So beautifully detailed and cut. 

To create my card I first stamped out some large and small butterflies and covered with masking fluid. Once that was thoroughly dry I used Aquatint ink to create a wash background in sunset colours and sponged black gesso onto the quote. When the gesso was dry I used a Posca pen to highlight the letters , and added stickles to the butterfly detail. 

I then removed the masking fluid and painted the butterflies with watercolour pens before gluing the mdf across the centre and mat an layering onto black card to make it pop. 


Challenges:


I'll be back soon with another step by step to share. 

Thanks for looking

Lynda 
x

Monday 9 April 2018

A Special Wedding Card

Good morning! Well, I'm not really sure what's good about it as it's chucking it down with rain here in Hampshire. Not a great start to a week off work, but on the up side it does mean I can cosy up and craft. 

I'm popping by to share a card I was asked to make recently for a bride to be on here wedding day. The request was to include a black cat so I combined this beautiful bride digi stamp from Julia Spiri with a stamp in my Lavinia stamps collection. I think they worked quite well together.  The card was made in the wedding colours, and the sentiment was created using a Visible Image stamp. 



It's always such a buzz making special cards that I know will be treasured. Hopefully this will bring the bride many happy memories of her special day in years to come. I wish her and her husband a long and happy life together.







Friday 6 April 2018

Creative Artiste Mixed Media Blog April Challenge DT Post

Wow it's April already! This year is just flying by don't you think? A new month means a new challenge over at Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge Blog and so here is my inspiration piece. 



We are kindly sponsored by Mixed Up Mag. Mixed Up is a membership website, packed with step-by-step and video tutorials for the mixed media enthusiast. Learn techniques, explore products, and create sensational artwork with our international team of amazing designers. We already have 50+ tutorials available and more are added every week!
Mixed Up is giving one lucky challenger a free one year subscription to the site worth £40!

And Creative Artiste followers who sign up during April 2018 can get their first month for just £2 – use coupon code CreatewithMixedUp
(coupon valid for Rolling and Quarterly options only)

This time I have chosen to make a card with a vintage feel to it.  Mixed Up offer some free downloads to members, and the main image I have used is one of them. It is by Crafty Individuals and I think it's absolutely stunning. 


My background is created using layers of vintage paper and vintage tape onto Kraft card stock, which I stained with layers of Distress Oxide.  and then I have added a gorgeous paper napkin over the top with matt medium. I had some old rub ons in my stash that I added , and I inked the edges in Distress Ink before adding my embellishments and image, which I mounted on a die cut and distressed doily. The postcard and tags are from Hunkydory.



I hope I have inspired you to investigate Mixed Up Mag and also to join our challenge. Anything mixed media goes so it's easy to get involved. 

Challenges:


Bye for now

Lynda 
x

Sunday 1 April 2018

Crafts Galore Encore April Challenge DT Post

April is here and that means it's time for a new challenge over at Crafts Galore Encore and as always the theme is Anything Goes.

This month we are kindly sponsored by Star Stampz.


I chose to work with this Little Mermaid image to create a sea themed card and use up some papers I had in my stash. She's so sweet! I can never resist a mermaid. They are so magical. 



Challenges:


Thanks for popping by.  Do enter our challenge if you can. 

Have a great day.

Lynda 
x

Monday 19 March 2018

Born to Dance Card for Samantha K

I've been meaning to share this card I have made for Samantha K for a little while but life has been crazy busy so I haven't had much time for blogging. 

This was super easy to do, and here's how:

Step One: Colour a piece of watercolour cardstock with a light wash of Aquatint Ink ( or any other watercolour paint will do). Mat and layer onto a distressed base card 

Step two: Lightly stamp musical notes randomly in soft grey.

Step 3: Paint Samantha K swirl frame and leave to dry.

Step 4: cut/tear image to size to fit the frame and adhere ( I used the top layer from a beautiful paper napkin)

Step 5: Stamp and heat emboss the sentiment in silver ( stamps by Visible Image)

Step 6:  Glue frame  in place and add flowers, leaves and gems and finish off with die cut corners. 


Challenges I am entering:



If you aren't a member already then do join us on Sam's Mixed Media Facebook Group. There's exciting news of the next Hochanda show coming soon so you won't want to miss out!

Hope to see you there.

Lynda
x






Wednesday 14 March 2018

Cogs Canvas for Samantha K Gifts

Hi there. Today I would like to share with you another mixed media piece I have created recently for Samantha K. I love cogs and so I was really happy to see them included in my last DT pack. Sam has designed some brilliant mdf cog clusters and tags with bases and I was itching to have a play with them. 

I started by using some thick card which was once the back of a watercolour pad for my base and coated it with black gesso. 





I used a combination of Deco Art fluid acrylic and spray inks to add some colour to the panel. 




On black card stock I used texture paste through a  panelled stencil by Sweet Poppy designs, which I covered in mica powder and heated until it bubbled. Once dried hard I cut and arranged on my base and on the back of the tag piece ( which was also painted in gesso) and also added some texture sand for more dimension. 



Once the sand had dried I arranged my painted cogs and tag on top, alog with some die cut cogs to give even more layers. 


Then it was a case of darkening the whole thing down by dry brushing black paint over some areas, leaving the metallic mica showing through. When that was done I attached the top layers and went wild with the gilding wax until I had created an effect I was happy with. 

  
I finished it off with a sentiment from the Sheena Douglass Time Traveller series of stamps. 

I thoroughly enjoyed creating this. I hope you have enjoyed taking a peek at it too. 


Do join Samantha's Facebook Page if you haven't already. We love you to share your mixed media projects over there and it's a great way to keep up with what's going on with new releases etc. 

Hope to see you there.

Lynda  

Guest DT for The Male Room

I was thrilled to be announced as the winner over on The Male Room challenge blog recently with this vintage card I created using Visible Image stamps. I often struggle with cards for the fellas, so it was a lovely surprise, and one that has pushed me to create more male themed cards as they kindly invited me to guest DT for them for this months challenge with the theme Space/Science ( you can find it here).

I couldn't decide which of the two themes to create for, so I decided what the heck and did both!

The first feature stamps by Sheena Douglass and he Alchemy range. I really love these and they make male cards so easy- result! The background was created using distress oxide inks and I have used a combination of watercolour paints and sparkle pens to colour the images.


For my second card I used a background paper I created a while ago on my gelli plate, which I spattered with white paint to create a space effect. All the stamps are by Visible Image and I have used a combination of stamping in chalk inks and in Versamark with Wow embossing powders to create my universe. The images are fussy cut and coloured with Sparkle pens.  


I really hope you feel inspired to join in this challenge yourself. 

Thanks for having me The Male Room.

Lynda 
xx