Thursday 30 August 2012

Altered book pages

Good morning everyone.
I hope you are well. In the midst of the chaos that is my life this week I managed to carve out a bit of time to work on my altered book so thought I'd share it with you.
The book itself is a fantasy art book I picked up at a boot fair ages ago because it has some illustrations of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in it that I have loved since I was 2 bricks and a tikkie high (Good old SA saying meaning very small!)
A while ago I decided that I would work on the book and alter it by working over the images I didn't want and creating my own collection of art that speaks to me as well as making my own art on the pages too.
So here are the first two finished pages.
 This is the first page; the introduction if you like. I've added tissue paper, paint, gesso through a mask as well as stamping and writing onto the page.

 This page is somewhere in the middle of the book. It has pockets and flaps to hide things and pop tags into . Mainly worked over the imagery with black paint before adding tags and bits to it.
 I love the words; I also like how by using a black marker on the black paint turns the writing almost coppery.


I'm enjoying working on this as I have a bit of time. Often I'll just add paint onto a page before leaving the studio so it can dry overnight so slowly but surely I'm removing the stuff that does not "speak" to me leaving a blank place for me to add things that inspire me.

Before I go I must tell you that The Craft Barn has an AMAZING follower candy; over £150.00 worth of fab goodies for one lucky follower. Click the picture on the top right side of my blog to get all the details! If you don't follow yet then I can tell you that you are missing out on some fabulous tutorials and inspiration!

Have a truly blessed day today. I need to go Uni shopping!

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Catch up on Sunday's class.

Hi there
Just another quick post today; I'll get back to creating properly again soon but this week I'm getting eldest ready for Uni and catching up on some deadlines as well as having to do the pay the bills job too so time is tight!
Still; on Sunday at The Craft Barn we had the sew true class on distress techniques which was a lot of fun.





 And as promised, the pics for some of the pages!





Yesterday we spent a bit of time just as a family and ended up  down at The Shell Grotto in Margate.


Pretty impressive; then off to Turner contemporary; less impressive.....well, the space is awesome but I'm not a huge fan of Tracy Emin so the current display did not do too much!  We then meandered and meandered from shop to shop and town to town and ended up in Sandwich where we had fab fish and chips alongside the river. It was really nice to just be the four of us together after a busy summer and before everyone goes off again. Now, back to work! Catch up with you all later.

Thursday 23 August 2012

Tando Clock for The Craft Barn

Good Morning
Over at The Craft Barn blog this week everyone has gone clock crazy and this is my clock for them!
I had great fun with it using Dylusions inks to give vibrant colour. More pics on the blog HERE.


Crafty Individuals paper packs
Flower punch
PaperArtsy stamps hot picks 1005
Dylusions Further round the edge stamps.

Our special offer this week:
10% off Tando Creative clocks
Just type TANDOCLOCK
in the offer code box as you go through checkout

Also; a reminder that there's still places on Sunday's  Distress  sew true class where we'll be exploring distress products and all the possibilities while we create this mini album.
 Details can be found HERE too.
Right; I'd better get cracking. Another day of visitors today. The last round before my Mom in Law returns to SA on the weekend. It's been a busy full summer with a houseful of peeps from the USA and SA exploring this beautiful land; they've seen just about all the South East, London; of course, then Cumbria, Lancashire and the Lakes; North Yorkshire and the Dales too; not forgetting Norfolk either.......
Still as they leave bit by bit; the house is falling strangely silent!
Have fun today everyone.

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Sew True class at The Craft Barn

Hi there folks
Hope you are well. Just wanted to tell you about my class at The Craft Barn on Sunday. This is a technique based masterclass on different distress products; from ink pads, stains, markers and powders we'll be looking at ways to use them. You'll finish the day with a decorated mini album along a sewing theme ready for you to add your own finishing touches to.
There are some places still available so if you are close to Lingfield and fancy a fun day why don't you join me?! All details are HERE and to further whet your appetite here are some pictures ....





And plenty more that we'll be covering too. It's always a fun filled day
Have fun today, wherever your creative journey takes you.

Monday 20 August 2012

A bit of studio time!

 Hi there folks.
At long last I managed to squeeze in a bit of studio time last night and this morning so I feel so much happier.....
Just before I went away I received some new stamps and had no time to do anything with them so I hauled them out and made this card as I needed to make a thank you card for someone.
 I love Katzelkraft as I find their images are just that bit different. The background has been done with "I have a dream" in black archival ink and the card then coloured with Stormy Sky and Walnut Stain Distress ink and some flicked water to age.
 The balloon is stamped onto card and cut out. Coloured with the same inks and I used a distress marker to add the green (Peeled paint) It's attached with 3 d foam and I added Dream from the Tim Holtz idea-ology Chit chat stickers.
Right; one thing done and another thousand things to do so I'll catch up again soon. Until then, be blessed in your art.

Ps These stamps can be bought direct from France HERE or if you are in the UK they are sold exclusively at  The Craft Barn HERE

Friday 17 August 2012

I'm BAAAAAAAACK.......did you notice I was gone?

Hi there everyone,
What a busy time and still a bit hectic but wanted to drop in and say hi. What a busy summer; I've had a houseful of visitors to show England to; we've been to just about every National Trust property in the South East and more, walked the white cliffs at Dover, Birling gap and beachy head; done London in a day (got blisters to prove it too!), Travelled up to Cumbria, been to the Geocaching Mega in Cartmel, walked across Morecombe bay with the queen's guide (9 MILES!!!!), cruised on Derwent, Drank cider at Tan Hill, Britain's highest pub, driven up and down mountain passes and explored the lakes and Beatrix Potter's world  too and pottered in the Yorkshire dales a while just because we could. Been to Fountains Abbey and done North Norfolk too! I'm shattered and can't remember what my craft room looks like any more. But I plan to rectify that soon!
Doing this has just re-affirmed; we live in a truly beautiful place on God's good earth.
I'm sure you get some photo's along the way if you want to see? But today I've a post over at The Craft Barn HERE of this for Artemio week

All the details and more pictures if you follow the link.
Just want to say that The Craft Barn have a massive sale on at the moment so why don't you check it out HERE!
Right, I must away as I've a last day of sightseeing to arrange........ Bless ya one and all.