tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679971191438523902024-03-14T20:37:49.212+13:00ScrapFXA pictorial summary of my creative endeavours and what and who inspires me.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.comBlogger420125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-8650413931079004312015-03-17T21:59:00.003+13:002015-03-17T22:02:32.276+13:00Art Journal - Illustrated Alphabet - C is for Collage & Crackle<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Going into this page I was really worried because I was planning on attempting a couple of techniques / styles that I've never done before, well not like this anyway. Sure I've stuck various different items on layouts, mini albums, art journal pages, even off the page projects, but I've never done anything that I consider to be "Collage" in the strictest sense of the word and I've certainly never used images from magazines on any of my projects... only under to catch the paint and glue drips. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've also not done a lot of crackle work on my projects in the past though I have done heat embossing with a crackle stamp which I really loved on a canvas project. But I had made up my mind that these were going to be the two techniques for this page and I wasn't about to let inexperience stop me from doing what I wanted. (Yes I can be incredibly stubborn and when I make up my mind about something, then come what may I'm going to stick with my decision... even if that is on a soon to be published world-wide video.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've already watched the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG_-tC7QmNE">video</a>, then you will have heard in my voice-over than there were one or two (or more) moments of complete and utter panic when I wondered if I was completely screwing up the page and a definite moment when I thought I might have to scrap it all and start over from the beginning. I chose to stick with it and keep going (and not let this page get the better of me) and now that I've completed the page, in hindsight I can happily say I do actually like the end result and the process from start to finish really wasn't that bad. Let's just say it contained lots of learning opportunities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, enough blathering, let's get on with the good bits... what did I use and how did I do it.</span><br />
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Products Used:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black gessoed page</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liquitex Matte Gel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tissue Wrap - Postale</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vintage book pages</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Magazine cut-out images</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Washi Tape - various</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pebeo Studio Acrylics High Viscosity - Iridescent Blue Green, Iridescent Green Blue, Iridescent Blue Black, Iridescent Orange Yellow, Iridescent Green Yellow, Iridescent Violet Blue and Iridescent Red Blue</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint - Black Soot</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens - 114 Light Skin, 132 Light Flesh, 131 Medium Flesh, 199 Black</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faber-Castell Gelatos - Peach, Guava, Metallic Melon, Bubblegum, Chocolate, Gold Champagne, Red Cherry</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faber-Castell Gesso - White</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stabilo All Pencil - Black</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faber-Castell - Allbecht Durer Pencils - Burnt Sienna, Walnut Brown, Dark Sepia</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tools Used:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zig Water Pen</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Colour Shapers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wet Wipes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heat Tool</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Craft Mat</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Process Steps:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started with a page I had pre-gessoed with black gesso. I coated the page with a thin layer of matte gel then coated some torn pieces of tissue wrap on the underneath side and adhere in place. Then brush a light coat of matte gel over the top as well. To get rid of any excess gel and ensure strong adhesion in place, I then ran over the piece of tissue with a credit card. I repeated this step with multiple pieces of tissue wrap.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then did the same with some torn pieces of vintage book paper to give the background some contrast. I was interested to see how much the black gesso background showed through the various materials used.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I fussy cut a couple of images I had found in fashion magazines. Once I had decided where I was going to place the two images, I adhered them in a similar manner as the tissue wrap. Having completed the page, I suspect I removed too much of the matte gel or pressed/scraped too hard when rubbing the image of the face. When I added colour (in a few steps) it didn't flow as much as expected instead it soaked into the page or worse took off more colour than it added... note to self to watch this next time!!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To add some contrast and bring a bit more black back into the page, I added some strips of washi tape, all of which were predominantly black. To ensure these didn't lift off, I coasted them with the matte gel as well, then ensured that the page was well and truly dry by leaving it overnight to "cure".</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next step was to colour some of the cork ends in the second image with the iridescent paints. I had only purchased them earlier in the day, so I was really keen to see what they looked like away from the swatches in the shop. For most "dots" I gave them three coats of paint to get the intensity of colour I desired.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once I was sure the painted dots were dry (which didn't take that long really), I generously coated each coloured dot with a thick dot of black crackle paint. I used a pair of colour shapers for this step to get a thick enough coating while maintaining the shape and size of the coloured dots. This was a little more difficult than I had expected and to be honest about half way through I was screaming on the inside "what have I done????" while I waited to see if my moment of brilliance was actually going to work.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wait impatiently for black crackle paint to dry... to too impatient so pull out heat tool for a wee bit... then smack one's own hands and let it dry naturally.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This next step got a little bit messy, a little bit hair raising and a little bit panicky as it all seemed to go horribly wrong on several occasions and though you can't see it on camera... I spent a considerable amount of time thinking I had completely ruined all my hard work up until this step. Given my considerable panic, I have to confess I can't remember exactly what I did here, but it looked something like this - tried to cover the patches where the colour had bleached or been rubbed off the magazine image, first with PITT Artist Pens in flesh tones, then when that didn't work I tried gelatos in flesh tones. I tried water to blend the gelatos but this seemed to lift off even more colour off the magazine image (insert more panic)... so I tried heat setting the gelatos to see if that would get them to "stick" to the page... finally something seemed to go right, sort of. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I still wasn't happy with the colour and what was happening so to prevent myself from throwing all my toys out of the cot (not that I would do that)... I had a moment of inspiration and decided to do a thin layer of gesso to create a base on which to try to recolour the face. I painted the gesso over all the exposed skin on the face and upper torso covering everything but the eyes and eye brows.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the gesso had dried I tried colouring with the PITT pens once again but they just seemed to soak into the gesso rather than "float" on top of it, so I soon moved back to the gelatos to try them again. I did a light layer of gelatos then heat set them to see if they would create a good base for whatever else I was going to try. The good news was that this did work and I was able to blend in additional layers a lot easier, though I did still have to be careful that I didn't take off as much colour as I added back on. Once I had the skin tone base back again, I added some red for a rouge on her cheeks as well as some shadows and highlights to make the face look more natural, though still painted. Finally it actually looked pretty good.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I added some colour to her eyes brows again (to make them look less magazine and more art-like) as well as eyes lashes... though in hind sight I may have added to many as I'm not 100% sure that they look all that natural... but hey artist's impression right!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having done this, I then decided that the hair needed some extra highlights to match with what I had already done with the image. I added some highlights using metallic gelatos as well as ordinary gelatos to add some interest. I really liked the end result of the hair.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lined the images with my Stabilo All pencil which I then blended with my water pen. Note to self - sharpen pencil before using it on each project otherwise the line will just end up being really thick and won't look as good. (In the video I said something about it looking like a drag queen had done your eye liner... no offence to drag queens as their make-up is usually impeccable and I which I looked as good as they do all dolled up).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To add some more depth to the images I then coloured around them with a little water colour pencil which I also blended out using my water pen. This step gave the page a great deal of depth so it didn't look </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as one dimensional.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To frame the page I repeated the water colour blending around the edge of the page. This really finished off the page.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some close-ups of the page as well as a few pictures showing you some more of the magical iridescent paints... these are the excesses I scraped onto a random page in another art journal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8_LcFdFH3qY/VQfntM2OTnI/AAAAAAAAEKo/e68iyo4Fxhs/s1600/CC1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8_LcFdFH3qY/VQfntM2OTnI/AAAAAAAAEKo/e68iyo4Fxhs/s1600/CC1.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></div>
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Here is the finished page. After a few false starts and a few moments of panic, I ended up actually quite liking the end result.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9A-tkKlwzT4/VQfnr5ElVOI/AAAAAAAAEKg/w0UWUV0B498/s1600/CC2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9A-tkKlwzT4/VQfnr5ElVOI/AAAAAAAAEKg/w0UWUV0B498/s1600/CC2.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Maybe some overkill here, but I really loved the end result of the crackle paint over the top of these bright iridescent paints. The worked out even better than I hoped.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M6Bhi31ZwiI/VQfn2zkczMI/AAAAAAAAEK4/VeKfLp-IaI8/s1600/CC3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M6Bhi31ZwiI/VQfn2zkczMI/AAAAAAAAEK4/VeKfLp-IaI8/s1600/CC3.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's hard to say what my favourite colour is as they all turned out so gorgeous. Part of me hated the idea of painting over these sumptuous colours, but I think the end result is so worth it.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjEaaEJyeAA/VQfn9qjfwQI/AAAAAAAAELA/1mT9DIdBWVE/s1600/CC4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjEaaEJyeAA/VQfn9qjfwQI/AAAAAAAAELA/1mT9DIdBWVE/s1600/CC4.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sigh... love!!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bx8ZDnjSQEI/VQfoG3AGqgI/AAAAAAAAELQ/Bnpxzluj_28/s1600/CC5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bx8ZDnjSQEI/VQfoG3AGqgI/AAAAAAAAELQ/Bnpxzluj_28/s1600/CC5.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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This shows a little of the highlighting added to the hair. I love the effect and wish colouring my hair was this easy and looked this good afterwards. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UaDCOjoPI9M/VQfoC1pgJ4I/AAAAAAAAELI/teUP5ifAVyo/s1600/CC6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UaDCOjoPI9M/VQfoC1pgJ4I/AAAAAAAAELI/teUP5ifAVyo/s1600/CC6.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Though I wasn't entirely sure at the time, once I had finished the eye lashes and eye brow I really did like the end result... though I think I need to examine eyes a little more closing as I think I may have "over" extended the eyes lashes around the eye. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JG7ctX9Ij-A/VQfoOCsYBxI/AAAAAAAAELY/Ef3dKrEk0dA/s1600/CC7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JG7ctX9Ij-A/VQfoOCsYBxI/AAAAAAAAELY/Ef3dKrEk0dA/s1600/CC7.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Sharing some of the over flow of paint that I didn't want to waste ('cos it's just so yum!!) so I just smeared the excess onto this random art journal page. I love the colours here so much whether thick or a very thin coating as they just have so much shimmer to them. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wnQwrK9Lx-M/VQfopwn0z_I/AAAAAAAAELo/5DIU4elf9IY/s1600/CC9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wnQwrK9Lx-M/VQfopwn0z_I/AAAAAAAAELo/5DIU4elf9IY/s1600/CC9.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Isn't this orange just gorgeous!!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tjDxD0jbOS0/VQfnQ9gRUGI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/nWt3TpxGuq4/s1600/CC10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tjDxD0jbOS0/VQfnQ9gRUGI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/nWt3TpxGuq4/s1600/CC10.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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This one really shows that even when applied really thin so that they appear almost transparent, the shimmer still just shines through. Love the effect over the heading in the background. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3aBbV9QduVs/VQfnReVqzWI/AAAAAAAAEKU/B-niqy3g0_s/s1600/CC11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3aBbV9QduVs/VQfnReVqzWI/AAAAAAAAEKU/B-niqy3g0_s/s1600/CC11.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Not sure if this was the Blue - Green or the Green - Blue with the Red - Blue who cares... still YUM! </div>
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Ahhhh... this just makes my heart sore... love this almost but not really transparent look.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8_LcFdFH3qY/VQfntM2OTnI/AAAAAAAAEKo/e68iyo4Fxhs/s1600/CC1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8_LcFdFH3qY/VQfntM2OTnI/AAAAAAAAEKo/e68iyo4Fxhs/s1600/CC1.JPG" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And again the finished page... just a bit bigger.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-27145772564899118282015-02-28T01:18:00.001+13:002015-02-28T01:18:48.809+13:00US Trip - Meeting Crafty FriendsWhen we decided our trip to the States was a go... meaning I'd actually booked non-refundable tickets... one of the first things I made up my mind to do was to a) go to as many craft places as I possibly could but most importantly Michaels, Joanns and Viva Las Vegas Stamps and b) meet with as many crafting friends as would meet with me.<br />
We had started planning our trip, well the first week of it so that we knew we could get to Oklahoma in time for the party... more on that later, so I knew some of the places we would be stopping at - Los Angeles, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Flagstaff, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Amarillo, Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma even though the last location ended up changing the closer we got to the trip.<br />
I started asking questions, where to go, where to stay, what to do, who would be willing to meet me... after I promised I really, really wasn't crazy or a stalker. I also had to bear in mind that I would have my darling hubbie in tow, so I couldn't spend all my free time craft shopping (as much as I might have liked to) and I had to be select about what I purchased, so he didn't find out how much I spent... sssshhhhhuussshhh.<br />
After messages and emails and Facebook stalking, I mean research... I had in place plans to meet a couple of people I had met online in real life. Both lived in Las Vegas... (quite convenient I thought) so I wouldn't spend too much time boring hubbie to death.<br />
Several weeks of planning, several thousand kilometres of flight, at least 12 hours flying and several more hours driving... on the wrong side of the car and the wrong side of the road... and we finally made it to Las Vegas.<br />
The only thing I didn't plan, or even think about until it was too late, was that the weekend we were in Las Vegas was the US Labour Weekend. As the Monday was a public holiday, every man and his dog was in Las Vegas for a fun, long weekend... or at least that's what it felt like to us poor Kiwis from little old New Zealand.<br />
Here in New Zealand, in general, a public holiday means that most businesses are closed for the day. There are obvious exceptions, such as service stations, some convenience stores, building and gardening places (because we Kiwis have a great love of DIY), though this is a generalisation as it depends upon which public holiday it is... such is the New Zealand Holidays Legislation.<br />
I digress... but over in the States, most places, except I think local and federal government agencies, were actually open. I had confirmed this in writing with my MUST VISIT place... Viva Las Vegas Stamps. This was to be the venue for my meet with both of my friends.<br />
Monday duly arrived and I woke up keen to go craft shopping at last and meet my friends and instead I was greeted with the moans of a very unhappy hubbie. Unfortunately for him, the Thai dinner we had, at the Thai wedding we crashed the night before had not gone down well and he'd been up most of the night with a very upset stomach. He was still feeling somewhat second hand so he told me he'd be okay and that I shouldn't change my plans just because he was unwell.<br />
Now I'm pretty sure that most normal people would have the same internal conversation as what I did that morning... Part of me was quite concerned as he was looking quite pale; another part of me was wondering whether he was just using it as an excuse to get out of being dragged around yet another craft place and yet a another part of me was ever so secretly jumping for joy that my crafty shopping wouldn't be stifled by the ball and chain, I mean my darling hubbie.<br />
So feigning great personal sacrifice, I ventured out alone... sans navigator... in a strange city... in a strange country. Just between you and me... as I left I tried not to look too enthusiastic and instead showed the right amount of concern that hubbie would be okay without me, and that I really wouldn't be gone that long... YEAH RIGHT.<br />
Thanks to my trusty GPS in my trusty Samsung Galaxy 5 (when she cooperates and keeps up to speed with my driving) I managed to find my way to Viva Las Vegas Stamps. It was less than 10 minutes drive from where we were staying... more by good luck than good management... though it seemed to take forever to get there, I think because I was just eager to get there everything seemed to be moving in slow motion.<br />
Press the buzzer, get let in the building, walk down the hallway - the whole way staring and looking all around me at everything on display... so much neon... until I walked through the door into the hallowed land... Viva Las Vegas Stamps SHOP.<br />
I arrived with plans of taking photos and videos of the shop just so I could share with you how amazing it is inside. Instead I shopped, and shopped and then did even more shopping. I probably could have done even more shopping, had I not actually been concerned about hubbie's welfare.<br />
The good news was I finally got to meet DeeDee from UmWow Studios and of course one of the Viva Las Vegas Stamps Designers and a truly awesome lady. The bad news was my other friend didn't make it, but I would catch up with him another time.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wL-Q25Z_wtM/VPBXsVBdcmI/AAAAAAAAEJA/Db1QTbItRjE/s1600/IMG_20140903_034050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wL-Q25Z_wtM/VPBXsVBdcmI/AAAAAAAAEJA/Db1QTbItRjE/s1600/IMG_20140903_034050.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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We did manage to sneak a photo of the two of us, though to be honest as much as I loved the neon lights, they are not particularly conducive to good selfies!! And look... we were both wearing red and both had red rimmed glasses. We talked a little, okay a lot. I shopped, we talked some more, I did some more shopping... you get the picture... I shopped a lot!<br />
For those who have not experienced the glory that is Viva Las Vegas Stamps... see that shelf just over DeeDee's left shoulder (the top right corner-ish from where you are sitting)... yes those five shelves that you can see absolutely smothered in stamps... well take that image, then times by three for the approximate height of the shelves, then double that for the approximate width of the shelves then multiply by two as the shelves are generally back to back... and then... and then... multiply that by 25 maybe even 30 and you would still probably under estimated the sheer volume of stamps in this one cavern of rubber and wood heaven. (Sorry that sounds a bit 50 Shades of Grey Red Roomish... but you stampers and crafters know what I mean.)<br />
I read somewhere or watched a video tour, that VLVS has over 19,000 different stamps available... and I think I missed some, even though I was there a good several hours!<br />
Words can not describe my sense of amazement at this place. Suffice it to say... I will be going back, even if I have to swim across the ocean and then walk across the desert to get there... literally.<br />
As I mentioned I did do a little shopping there...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fA1SgmuN7J4/VPBawzxJyrI/AAAAAAAAEJM/-Hl0J_VPSYg/s1600/20140917_231411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fA1SgmuN7J4/VPBawzxJyrI/AAAAAAAAEJM/-Hl0J_VPSYg/s1600/20140917_231411.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
I may have bought one or two stamps. These are just the unmounted stamps... there was another pile, probably just as big, if not bigger of mounted stamps and there was the box of stamp plates that I had pre-ordered that were posted back to New Zealand for me.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EKDtRdFddSY/VPBaxMgpRPI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/VEP3CatK0e0/s1600/20140917_231429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EKDtRdFddSY/VPBaxMgpRPI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/VEP3CatK0e0/s1600/20140917_231429.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
Believe it or not, rubber stamps, even when unmounted soon become quite heavy. Even with two of us, with two suitcases each (yes we had to buy extra suitcases while we were in the States) and a full back pack as cabin baggage we still only had so much weight in terms of out luggage that we could take on the plane, and yes the airlines weighed it all very carefully. So while we rested in Newark, New Jersey before we flew back to New Zealand via Los Angeles, I trimmed every single unmounted stamp I bought to remove as much excess weight as possible. As you can see it ended up being quite a hefty pile of off cuts. I would hazard a guess that I managed to save a good couple of kilos at least... which saved us going over our limit and meant we didn't have to pay excess luggage fees as well as the extra bags fees. Well worth all the effort even if I say so myself.<br />
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Be sure to check back soon as I share stories of who else I met and where, while we travelled across the States as well as seeing some more of all the crafty goodness I bought along the way.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-37833783688655409122015-02-21T20:59:00.001+13:002015-02-21T20:59:36.104+13:00Art Journal - Illustrated Alphabet - B is for Background<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've just arrived at my blog having watched my <a href="http://youtu.be/1kT5zB5VIjs">new video on YouTube</a>... hello, hello, hello. You're either here to know what are the 22 mists/sprays that she used on this page or you want to know... did she really use 22 different mists/sprays on this page or was that an exaggeration?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The answer to all these questions and more is further down the page... but please don't skip down straight away, you might miss something interesting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've arrived at my blog because you follow it or you stumbled onto it by some random twist of fate then welcome, welcome, welcome. If you haven't <a href="http://youtu.be/1kT5zB5VIjs">checked out my video</a>, then you really must as it shows you how I created this art journal page, albeit at a great rate of knots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm typing this up while I wait for the aforementioned video to upload to YouTube... I call it multi-tasking... and as it just takes so long to upload it's also a boredom prevention for me at least.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's page was "B" for Background. If you think the page looks unfinished, and I totally respect your assessment if you do, then that's okay. To some extent I agree with you. I could have done a lot more, even just a few more things to finish it off... but, having said that, I also disagree on the grounds that because the page is all about "backgrounds" then that is what I wanted to show and I didn't want a lot of embellishing to over power the back grounds... they are after all the "stars" of the page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The page was created over a couple of days as I allowed for some drying time overnight, particularly for the moulding/texture paste to dry. As much as I just love my heat tool, I do find that with texture paste all it tends to do is bubble up when you try to force dry it. I have used this to my advantage on earlier art journal pages to give me some puffy looking circles I had wet embossed onto my project but in general it's not something I tend to create all that often. I also tend to take my time when I'm creating so I can enjoy the process. I know I will never win any speed creating prizes, cos that's just not my style.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So let's get down to business...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Products Used:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pre-gessoed page (Faber-Castell Gesso)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Die-cut Chipboard "B" approximately 6" x 3 1/2"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UmWow Studio - Star Confetti</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faber-Castell Whipped Spackle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liquitex Matte Gel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lindy's Stamp Gang Magical - Tiffany's Blue</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pearl Ex - #685 - Spring Green; #686 - Turquoise; #687 - True Blue & #688 - Misty Lavender</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lindy's Stamp Gang Mists</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flat Fabio - Danny Zuko's Denim (1)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Starburst - Tibetan Poppy Teal; Screamin' Banshee Black; Hydrangea Blue; Whale Watch Blue; Sea Grass Green; Freaky Franken-Lime; Ponderosa Pines Olive; Tiffany's Blue and Lucky Shamrock Green (9)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moonshadows - Ethereal Emerald; Gossamer Gold; Buccaneer Bay Blue; Mystic Malichite and Tawny Turquoise (5)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prima Color Bloom - Lime Wedge; Summer Sky and Storm Cloud (3)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heidi Swapp Color Shine - Chartreuse (1)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Gold and Monster Mash (2)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tim Holtz Adirondack Color Wash - Stream (1 - total 22)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tsukineko - Versamark Ink Pad</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Donna Salazar's Mix'd Media Inx Embossing Powder - Denim</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tools Used:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mechanical HB Pencil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Palette Knife</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UmWow Studio Mask/Stencil - Star Confetti Mask</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cake/Clay Modelling Tools</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Small head and large head paint brushes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heat Tool</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tweezers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upsy Daisy - Joyful Jots Acrylic Stamp Set</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Process Steps:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As soon as I had decided my theme would be background techniques, I knew I wanted to create a page that showed off a number of very distinct and very different styles / techniques but with a cohesion to the overall look of the final page. I decided that the best way to "blend" the various styles would be to blur the edges between one technique and the next rather than leave them in distinct boxed areas. The second key tool to creating a cohesive look would be my use of colour to draw the various components into one complete unit and my all-time favourite way to add colour, is to use mists and sprays. </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Starting with my pre-gessoed page, I aligned the chipboard "B" on the page and drew around the edges so I knew where I could and couldn't add texture to my page.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Starting in the bottom left corner (using the visual heavier weight to anchor the page), I started to randomly adhere pieces of the chipboard Star Confetti using the matte gel. I started with the larger pieces first then gradually selected smaller and smaller pieces adding them between the larger pieces as well as "fading" out from the heavier centre of the chipboard area in the corner of the page.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the top right hand corner I then added some more stars using the coordinating mask/template - Star Confetti with some whipped spackle. This was a little bit trickier to stay outside of the "B" shape, so I did have to clean up a little over flow so that it didn't impede the chipboard "B"'s ability to lie flat.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the top left hand corner I spread some whipped spackle out with my palette knife then I drew wavy lines into it to create texture reminiscent of tree bark or vines. The inspiration for this technique came from Aaron on his YouTube Channel - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbPmgkH2YKA">Imperfect Impulses</a>. I made sure to bring this right down the page to inter-weave the pattern amongst the upper-most stars which I had purposely left more open than further down the page.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the final corner I wanted to experiment a little with pre-colouring some of the whipped spackle. I put a generous couple of scoops into a small resealable container then added some colourants - magical and pearl ex powders being mixed together to try to get the perfect colour. Side note - although the colour was quite nice, it just wasn't what I wanted (not that I really knew what I wanted). Rather than keep blending for the sake of experimenting, I decided to settle for the colour created - for the time being.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spread some of the tinted whipped spackle onto the remaining space around the "B". Using a icing/clay moulding tool with fine corrugations on it, I created a series of peaks and valleys which kind of swirled from one point out in slightly different directions. I think it looks almost like the veins of a feather, not the fluffy ones, but the slick, flat feathers that kind of look fused together.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this stage I left all the gel and moulding paste to dry overnight.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wasn't happy with the intensity of colour in the tinted moulding paste, so I added some more of the magical and pearl-ex in small patches across the tinted area then using a small brush I spread the colour across the surface making sure to get the additional colour both in the valleys and peaks of the surface. I then dusted off any excess with a large soft headed brush. Much better and the shimmer considerably more visible as well.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 9 is the colouring of the page and through it's just listed as one step here, in reality it's a lot of little steps all rolled into one for the sakes of brevity. I did all of the rest of the colouring of the page using various mists and sprays - 22 different colours to be exact. Do you have to use that many - no. Use what you have and what you like. You can give the impression of having more colours than you really have, by varying the intensity of the spray that you use. Spray a lot in one area but only a little in another. Spray from different heights. Dry in between layers or mix colours while they are wet. This all combines and mixes and mashes to create a totally unique and individual look that no one else will ever be able to recreate - not even you. My first layer of colour is usually the only layer that I cover the entire piece. After that it's usually a patch or a section only. I generally also use between one and three colours before drying with my heat tool. I may cover the entire page or only a portion before I dry the colour as well. And I use my heat tool as well as tilting my page to assist with mixing and blending the colours. Just keep layering with more mists/sprays and more colours or add more of the same colours until you reach the look that you like.I have been known to add so many layers I lose count not to mention not knowing how long this step takes. The final layer is also usually a light layer across most or all of the page with either a silver or gold just to add that final touch of opulence. For this page it was a light mist of gold.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Phew nearly there... last step was to add the title - "Background". I knew the fit for the alphabet stamps I was using was going to be very tight width wise. I laid them all out along the backbone of the "B" and they didn't quite fit - but only just. The only way I would be able to make it fit would be to ink and stamp each letter individually then eye-ball how much space I wanted to leave between it and the next letter. If I was using a coloured ink, not too big a deal, but as I was using a clear ink to then heat emboss, I had to create each letter start to finish before moving on to the next one. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get the spacing right because I couldn't see the letter I'd just stamped. Usual process for this... stamp with VersaMark ink (my ink of choice for embossing but you can use whatever you prefer). Generously sprinkle with embossing powder - usually I sprinkle directly out of the pot but I wanted a little more control over where the powder landed given there was just so much texture on this page. Using a wide palette knife allowed me allowed me to do this. Shake off the excess embossing powder and clean up the image with a small paint brush then heat set with my trusty heat tool.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that's all there is to it. I didn't add a border to the page this time as I didn't feel it needed it and the texture is so strong that I don't think it would have actually looked right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love this finished page. It's very me, very much my style as far as backgrounds. And I have lots of texture myself... (If you've ever met me, you'll get what I mean LOL).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are some photos below and of course you can see the finished product in the video, but neither seems to capture the colours how I see them in real life... not sure how to resolve this... maybe you all just need to pop on over to New Zealand to check it out yourself!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LGsovUDxHEI/VOgCFMxIRGI/AAAAAAAAEG4/N6BO2L0Asug/s1600/BG%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LGsovUDxHEI/VOgCFMxIRGI/AAAAAAAAEG4/N6BO2L0Asug/s1600/BG%2B1.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Top left hand corner of the page. The bark / vine look inspired by Aaron from Imperfect Impulses (believe it or not). I definitely need to try this technique on a tree form to see if I can create realistic looking tree bark... challenge issued! </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T-ur-UluD7w/VOgCjlDD0YI/AAAAAAAAEHA/onQlwcs-rK4/s1600/BG%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T-ur-UluD7w/VOgCjlDD0YI/AAAAAAAAEHA/onQlwcs-rK4/s1600/BG%2B3.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love the colour blending and striation. This also shows how two distinct techniques / styles blurred / ran together rather than being segmented by a harsh border.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G-iC4usLoO4/VOgCqMHEZ9I/AAAAAAAAEHI/VJxyxoJmGUs/s1600/BG%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G-iC4usLoO4/VOgCqMHEZ9I/AAAAAAAAEHI/VJxyxoJmGUs/s1600/BG%2B2.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stars created using mask / stencil from UmWow Studio. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1WoGyadNRec/VOgC-GNJjmI/AAAAAAAAEHY/TojSh3fOhNw/s1600/BG%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1WoGyadNRec/VOgC-GNJjmI/AAAAAAAAEHY/TojSh3fOhNw/s1600/BG%2B4.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stars created using die cut chipboard Star Confetti from UmWow Studio. This has got to be my favourite section of colouring. I love the deep, dark, moody blue-ish black look with just a hint of gold to break it up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BUmKdzXO_nc/VOgDKqYuCXI/AAAAAAAAEHg/oq09XbYo6DM/s1600/BG%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BUmKdzXO_nc/VOgDKqYuCXI/AAAAAAAAEHg/oq09XbYo6DM/s1600/BG%2B5.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> This has got to be my favourite textured part of this page. I think it almost looks like a peacock feather. I'm really pleased with the way the colouring worked out. The rivulets of colour were intentional and looked even better than I expected.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rLX-fIsV62I/VOgDbUHh56I/AAAAAAAAEHo/Lm1Utluu62c/s1600/BG%2B6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rLX-fIsV62I/VOgDbUHh56I/AAAAAAAAEHo/Lm1Utluu62c/s1600/BG%2B6.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heat embossing so that the letters would stand out a little as colour wise they almost blended into the background which is what I wanted.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7LJKNRKsASs/VOgDh506UiI/AAAAAAAAEH4/VjcKO9Res5o/s1600/BG%2B7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7LJKNRKsASs/VOgDh506UiI/AAAAAAAAEH4/VjcKO9Res5o/s1600/BG%2B7.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love, love, love this grungey, distressed style. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L7_S6DG9p6g/VOgDbUDMBkI/AAAAAAAAEHs/XLpI3GAAUJ0/s1600/BG%2B8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L7_S6DG9p6g/VOgDbUDMBkI/AAAAAAAAEHs/XLpI3GAAUJ0/s1600/BG%2B8.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next few photos are all about showing the dimension of the page created by the varying techniques used. It may also have been just a little of me playing with perspective when I was taking these photos.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pAQXfUGwV8Y/VOgDka5sXaI/AAAAAAAAEIA/WZc_1id1UEA/s1600/BG%2B9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pAQXfUGwV8Y/VOgDka5sXaI/AAAAAAAAEIA/WZc_1id1UEA/s1600/BG%2B9.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Hmmmm more of the delicious moody blues.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIXVTrGThtU/VOgBwAiNKHI/AAAAAAAAEGY/uhrlJDjfCYk/s1600/BG%2B10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OIXVTrGThtU/VOgBwAiNKHI/AAAAAAAAEGY/uhrlJDjfCYk/s1600/BG%2B10.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This piece looks even better from this angle. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xQCqKkw5HpE/VOgByd2pcyI/AAAAAAAAEGg/MUDwZh48fQY/s1600/BG%2B11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xQCqKkw5HpE/VOgByd2pcyI/AAAAAAAAEGg/MUDwZh48fQY/s1600/BG%2B11.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love these stars. The green looks slightly warmer, more golden but still a great colour. Love me some green!! </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dooeA7wOR4U/VOgCCvVYTbI/AAAAAAAAEGw/1XVQFf1pYgE/s1600/BG%2B12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dooeA7wOR4U/VOgCCvVYTbI/AAAAAAAAEGw/1XVQFf1pYgE/s1600/BG%2B12.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Considering this was merely a filler upper of a gap, I'm really pleased with the way they turned out. I had no expectations so the final look is awesome. Almost looks like craters on the moon LOL. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qVwElBckfSg/VOgCBvJA8iI/AAAAAAAAEGo/W3VTpqYlXIE/s1600/BG%2B13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qVwElBckfSg/VOgCBvJA8iI/AAAAAAAAEGo/W3VTpqYlXIE/s1600/BG%2B13.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe another one of those mysterious perspective photos that just slipped in... </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MazpqZ7NgcM/VOgC4_AKu2I/AAAAAAAAEHQ/OpL7rkszKMA/s1600/BG%2B14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MazpqZ7NgcM/VOgC4_AKu2I/AAAAAAAAEHQ/OpL7rkszKMA/s1600/BG%2B14.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At last the final page in all it's glory. Love it, even if I do say so myself! Just wish the colouring looked a bet closer to reality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do have the following products available in my online shop. Be sure to get yours before they are all gone. If you haven't already subscribed to my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXHlJd26TJlPidtxazeguhw">YouTube Channel</a> please be sure to head over and click the button. I'd hate for you to miss out on any other pages I create for this A - Z Illustrated Alphabet Art Journal of Art and Craft Styles and Techniques.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can also find me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scrap-FX/169711369705553?ref=bookmarks">Facebook</a>,<a href="https://instagram.com/scrapfxnz/"> Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ScrapFX">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/scrapfx/">Pinterest</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/111387447666064406240/posts">Google+</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.scrapfx.co.nz/index.php?route=product/product&path=38_81&product_id=298">Tim Holtz Adirondack Color Wash - Stream</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jy5Ociu3y3I/VOg3qjdrAnI/AAAAAAAAEIQ/Dc-j46CNiiE/s1600/Colour%2BWash%2BStream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jy5Ociu3y3I/VOg3qjdrAnI/AAAAAAAAEIQ/Dc-j46CNiiE/s1600/Colour%2BWash%2BStream.jpg" height="171" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.scrapfx.co.nz/index.php?route=product/product&path=38_81&product_id=516">Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Set - Sweet Treats</a> - I used Tiffany's Blue from this set but the other colours in the set are equally gorgeous in their own right. I've just had some new sets arrive so these will be going up on the website this week.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KNNm2He28ZU/VOg4XCCkL3I/AAAAAAAAEIY/isQ5gvC3Oy4/s1600/ss-Sweet%2BTreats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KNNm2He28ZU/VOg4XCCkL3I/AAAAAAAAEIY/isQ5gvC3Oy4/s1600/ss-Sweet%2BTreats.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.scrapfx.co.nz/index.php?route=product/product&path=42_87&product_id=536">UmWow Studio - Star Confetti Mask/Stencil</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Lm03BLGxVA/VOg5lEXMbZI/AAAAAAAAEIk/ercOse7cQS0/s1600/Star%2BConfetti%2BMask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Lm03BLGxVA/VOg5lEXMbZI/AAAAAAAAEIk/ercOse7cQS0/s1600/Star%2BConfetti%2BMask.jpg" height="200" width="168" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.scrapfx.co.nz/index.php?route=product/product&path=37_58&product_id=549">UmWow Studio - Star Confetti</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xH23skH8PxQ/VOg5xrN2mmI/AAAAAAAAEIs/GlfvEnYC5HM/s1600/Star%2BConfetti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xH23skH8PxQ/VOg5xrN2mmI/AAAAAAAAEIs/GlfvEnYC5HM/s1600/Star%2BConfetti.jpg" height="161" width="200" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-76038607156162976582015-02-13T23:45:00.000+13:002015-02-13T23:45:09.609+13:00Art Journal - Illustrated Alphabet - A is for Abstract<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having come up with inspired idea for a theme for my A - Z Art Journal, I then sat down to come up with my list of techniques and styles in preparation for creating <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjzBInlP88g">page 1... the letter "A"</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some might say this is cheating but I have to beg to differ. I did this step because...</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a planner and organiser type personality;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have in mind some specific techniques and products that I want to try and I wanted to make sure that they were included... and I didn't forget about them until I got down to X, Y and Z.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And because when I started to think about the list, I realised that some letters are really hard to come up with art styles and techniques for... like "Q" and "X"... so the planning stage gave me an opportunity to answer the difficult questions... up front.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And because this was something I could do at work in my lunch break. (30 minutes is not really long enough to pull out paints and paint brush especially if I want to video my creative musings.)</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now before anyone starts pointing fingers and asking me what about the cover page... which I mentioned in the </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOPEBvfW0fg" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">first video</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of the series about preparing the album... yes I have purposely left this until further down the track.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I happily, openly and with full disclosure admit that I am a perfectionist. I'm a Virgo. It comes with the territory. Having confessed this... I am also happy to add that I have learnt that this little personality trait means I tend to put a great deal of pressure upon myself because I have such incredibly high expectations of myself... sometimes unachievably high expectations. Over time and with a great deal of soul searching, I have learnt ways of reducing the pressure I place on myself and one of them is by not doing the first thing that you will ever see on a project, or in a book... well first. I allow myself time to get into the groove of things until such time as I can really feel the inspiration and motivation and MOJO are right there, in this moment and now is the time. I'll let you know when that time arrives...!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So let's get down to business...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Products Used:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pre-gessoed page (Faber-Castell Gesso)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fibatape - Drywall Joint Tape (Available at Hardware/DIY Store)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Printed Deli Wrap</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liquitex Matte Gel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Golden Fluid Acrylics - Pyrrole Red; Pyrrole Orange; Hansa Yellow; Quinacridone Magenta; Burnt Sienna; Green Gold; Teal; Ultramarine Violet; Ultramarine Blue; Phthalo Green (Blue Shade); Phthalo Blue (Green Shade)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid (Gloss)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2B Pencil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stabilo "All" Pencil Black</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faber-Castell Gelatos - Lemon; Banana; Mango; Tangerine; Blood Orange; Red Cherry; Chocolate</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Viva Decor /Inka Gold - Gold</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens - Walnut Brown; Black</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tools Used:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Palette Knives (various styles and sizes)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paint Brushes (various styles and sizes, including Zig Water Pen)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Royal Sovereign Ltd - Colour Shaper #2 Taper Point - Firm</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Water Spritz Bottle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paint Palette</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baby Wipes</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Process Steps:</span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the theme of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjzBInlP88g">"Abstract"</a> I knew I wanted this page to be bright and out there and in your face and I knew I had to have a bloody great big "A" on it, but that was pretty much all I really had in mind when I started out.</span></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cut and adhered down some strips of drywall joint tape. I cut the tape different lengths and widths and stuck it down. Even though it is self-adhesive, I did go over the tape with some matte gel, just to be on the safe side.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tore up some of the printed deli wrap and adhered this in place with the matte gel as well. I wasn't too specific, just overlapped some of the pieces from both of these two steps.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put some drops of the warm paint colours directly on the page, spritzed a little water, then covered the entire page in colour blending the paint and water just with my finger tips.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted the colour to be more intense, so following the colour blocks laid down in the previous step with the acrylic paint, I added some coordinating gelatos over the top blending them in with a little water and again just using my finger tips. Some areas ended up getting three or four layers of gelatos while some only needed a couple of layers. Once I was happy with the colour intensity, I heat set the gelatos so they wouldn't move as I added the next layers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sketched in my "A" with the 2B pencil, then went over these sketch lines with the Stabilo All Pencil when I was happy with the size and form of the outline. I then lightly painted in the pencil lines with a water brush to turn this from pencil lines into permanent India ink lines.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I painted a couple of layers of white gesso inside the letter with a small brush so I would have a blank canvas to add the next layer onto. (I did actually like the plain white letter and was tempted to just leave it white but didn't think this was "abstract" enough like that.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I selected my cool colours and put three drops of each colour into my paint palette, then added equal amounts of glazing fluid. I mixed these thoroughly then painted a light coat in a random patchwork type design using a small paint brush. (I will confess that I was quite disappointed at this stage and was tempted to wipe the paint off and go back to just plain white but then I remembered that that wouldn't be abstract enough so I decided, ahh well, there's no turning back now, so just make the most of it.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wasn't happy with the look from the paint brush so I decided to experiment with a fine tipped colour shaper. These are like a paint brush, but instead of having a brush made out of individual fibres, they have a rubber head shaped like a brush head. I figured if nothing else, at least it should be easier to clean than a paint brush. (Can you spot Miss Perfection's ugly head making an appearance??)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I tried adding the paint using the colour shaper, I couldn't get an even paint layer. Some parts came out ultra thick and some were thin and almost watercolour like. I tried emphasizing the blended areas where two paint colours met and rather than making the blended a smooth transition, I encouraged the two colours to blend, but still remain distinct. (Sorry but this bit really needs to be seen to be understood). The other thing I noticed was that this technique was making my acrylic paints act as a faux oil paint and even though they are very small peaks and troughs, the dimension is nonetheless still very evident. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just to clarify... I am no oil painter. I don't have the patience to wait for the oil paint to dry and I'm too much of a perfectionist that I'd never get my brushes, palette knives and palettes clean enough to actually do any oil painting. My mother however, loves oil painting. (A debate that will last forever between us as neither of us will ever concede to the other's product of choice.) As a child and teenager, I used to watch her paint with oils. I watch how she created dimension using both brushes and palette knives to add interest to her sea scapes and sunsets and I guess somewhere along the way I may have learnt some techniques from her even if I did (please forgive the term) bastardize them to use with acrylic paints. Anyway I really love the end result!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the paint inside the letter had dried I went around it again with the Stabilo All Pencil and water brush just to darken up the framing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I added some gold highlights on the raised bits of the drywall joint tape that were still just the background colours.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To frame the piece I added some Chocolate gelato around the edge of the page and blended this with my finger. I then added a thin line of PITT artist pen which I also blended in with my finger and finished with edging the external edge with black just to hide any lighter bits that I might have missed earlier.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I added the title "Abstract" again using the Stabilo All Pencil and water brush.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really love the end result of the page especially the faux oil painting technique. Will be definitely trying that again!</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYyHRj2dTZI/VN3UfWcepFI/AAAAAAAAEF4/eZ-TLJcfn6A/s1600/Page%2BA1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RYyHRj2dTZI/VN3UfWcepFI/AAAAAAAAEF4/eZ-TLJcfn6A/s1600/Page%2BA1.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The finished Art Journal Page.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMZ_6ETZ-1A/VN3UcDk7vkI/AAAAAAAAEFw/5cJscLzy01o/s1600/Page%2BA2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMZ_6ETZ-1A/VN3UcDk7vkI/AAAAAAAAEFw/5cJscLzy01o/s1600/Page%2BA2.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Above and below - close up of the faux oil paint texture, made using fluid acrylic paints and glazing fluid.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRj1jqE4iEo/VN3UW_Rx0zI/AAAAAAAAEFo/YXX7WPk5kig/s1600/Page%2BA3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zRj1jqE4iEo/VN3UW_Rx0zI/AAAAAAAAEFo/YXX7WPk5kig/s1600/Page%2BA3.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really love the distinctive blending I was able to achieve with this technique, using the fine tipped colour shaper.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KgJYx_hoE18/VN3UimJL7eI/AAAAAAAAEGA/oK52-_MAQXk/s1600/Page%2BA4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KgJYx_hoE18/VN3UimJL7eI/AAAAAAAAEGA/oK52-_MAQXk/s1600/Page%2BA4.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gold accents to highlight the texture of the drywall joint tape.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mXFUej3aZL4/VN3UpqQAA0I/AAAAAAAAEGI/Xo7My_Y80yU/s1600/Page%2BA5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mXFUej3aZL4/VN3UpqQAA0I/AAAAAAAAEGI/Xo7My_Y80yU/s1600/Page%2BA5.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And a hand lettered title to finish the page.</span></div>
</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-47821853565910923202015-02-06T22:56:00.000+13:002015-02-06T22:56:52.521+13:00Illustrated Alphabet Art Journal Album - Part 1 - The Preparation<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you haven't already seen it then I suggest you take a wander over to my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/ScrapFX/videos">YouTube Channel</a> and check out the video I posted, the first of many, that shows the start of my new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOPEBvfW0fg">Art Journal project</a> for 2015.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was inspired by my good friend Aaron over on his YouTube Channel - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjU04ybwhaF0OyvQp-4Y1Eg">Imperfect Impulses</a>. Last year he created an A - Z album which I really enjoyed watching him create. I thought this would be a great idea for me to do this year, but I wanted to put my own spin on it (as you do).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I pondered the theme of my art journal for a few months... yes it took a while to come up with my own twist. Of course having just returned from the States meant I was really inspired... I just had too much work to catch up on at my "real" job (you know the one that pays the mortgage and power and food bill) so the actual turning the inspiring into reality took a little longer than I hoped.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the Christmas and New Year break (here in New Zealand it's Summer, so we have a long holiday break at this time of the year) I caught up on some YouTube watching and I watched a few videos demonstrating Calligraphy. Now this was an art form I tried back in my teenage years so it was almost like going home. It didn't take too many videos to click on what my theme would be for my art journal... An Illustrated Alphabet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To take it one step further I decided that the theme of the illustrations would be art styles and techniques so my completed art journal could also be used, once it's completed, as a source book or handbook of styles and techniques for any time I get stuck for an idea and need something to help re-ignite my crafting MOJO.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I considered the selection of art journals that I had in my stash and eventually decided to use the Prima Marketing Mixed Media Art Journal 9" x 6", but use it vertically rather than horizontally. It just seemed to fit the stylings of an alphabet better, especially when I was considering that some letters might have long tails or uprights... depending upon how I ended up actually creating them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As it is also going to fulfil the purpose of being a handbook of techniques, I also decided I was going to experiment with all those products that I have in my stash as well as any that I happen to acquire during the creative process. Which is why you will see a long list of different gessos in a paragraph or two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My art journal journey will be as much about experimenting with various tools and products as well as investigating the interaction between products used, as it will be a documentation of the techniques tried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope that I can give you ideas for new or different ways that you can use your tools as well as your products, because let's be honest there can be a lot of money invested in them so we want to make sure we are getting our money's worth out of them. And just quietly, I'm really not a huge fan of tools that can only be used one way. In fact I flat our try to avoid buying anything like that. I want versatility and multiple uses so I can rest assured that I am getting value for my hard earned money spent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Getting off soapbox now...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Products used in Album Preparation:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prima Marketing Mixed Media Art Journal 9" x 6"</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elmer's Glue Clear & White (stick pages together)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gesso: Faber-Castell Gesso; Golden White & Black Gessos; Liquitex Clear Gesso; Prima Marketing Finnabair Art Basics Clear & White Heavy Gessos</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tools used in Album Preparation:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recycled Credit Card (For gluing pages together step & painting gesso)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brayer (To ensure good adhesion of pages together)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Princeton Catalyst Blade (Shape 6 30mm)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paint Brush</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wet wipes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paper Towels</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-89468247067796490442014-10-01T22:16:00.000+13:002014-10-01T22:17:21.111+13:00It's back... Just when you thought it was safe to carry on with your crafting... you turn the page on the calender and realise... it's back... time to begin the countdown to my Christmas Craft Challenge.<br />
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Today is the 1st of October. That means here in New Zealand we are one month into Spring, it's 30 days until Halloween (not that we really celebrate it here), I've been back in the country two weeks and it's two months until the 1st of December which is officially the start of my Christmas Craft Challenge.</div>
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The 1st of October is the day I post my official reminder for the kick off of the Christmas Craft Challenge in exactly two months.</div>
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By now I have usually forgotten all about last year's stress and the self-imposed pressure I put myself through so I once again blindly commit myself to doing it all again. </div>
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This year will be the 6th year in a row that I have been doing this. When I first started there were very few crafters doing this sort of thing... well at least few who were blogging about it. Last year they were everywhere. There were so many people blogging, photographing and posting their Christmas creations that it close to being overwhelming.</div>
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So why do I put myself through this? We all participate in crafting challenges, especially at Christmas, for many reasons... some more practical than others - boost sales, get your name our there to build demand for your crafting or design services or for design team exposure. Some may be hidden behind a guilt about having committed to doing "X" amount of crafting during the year and then discovering in October/November that you've fallen short on meeting your targets. For those in the Northern Hemisphere it may be related to heading into the cold, miserable Winter months, when indoor pursuits are all you can do unless you don't mind standing around freezing, knee deep in snow waiting for the next chair lift. And if like me you don't fit into any of the above... then just because.</div>
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Back to this year's Christmas Craft Challenge...</div>
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Well last year's went horribly wrong, I don't mind admitting it. I was working full-time from the start of November having been unemployed for some time, and I was sick as well (no time off when you are contracting)... so my Christmas Craft Challenge turned into a New Year's Craft Challenge for the most part.</div>
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I'd like to think I learnt something from last year, so this year I'm not going to commit myself to one craft project a day as Christmas is busy and stressful enough at times without adding pressure to myself for no particular reason. Instead I am happy to commit myself to a minimum of one blog post a week for the four week period. Anything over and above that is a bonus. Each blog post will cover a minimum of two craft projects.</div>
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This is doable, without killing me, killing Christmas for me or for me ending up wanting to kill my family for adding to my stress.</div>
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Play along at home as well or just pop by to look at what I have created. If you are playing a long at home and will be sharing your own projects on the net somewhere, be sure to leave me a comment to let me know where so I can check you out (well your crafting) and give you a plug on my blog.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-79134943522931381022014-09-04T17:00:00.002+12:002014-09-04T17:00:56.350+12:00USA Update 1Can I just start out by saying OMG... I can't believe I am actually here... here as in, actually IN the UNITED STATES of AMERICA.<br />
There was a time when I thought that not even in my wildest of dreams would I ever get to step foot in this country. Then plans were set in motion and even though I had my passport and my plane ticket I still thought something would pop up to prevent me from actually making it here but it didn't and I spent hours and weeks and months stressing and worrying about nothing. Yes I am a worrier... but moving on.<br />
I (I should say we, as my darling hubbie is with me)... We are here in the US of A and have been here a few days.<br />
So what's happened so far...<br />
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<ul>
<li>12 hour flight from Auckland, New Zealand to Los Angeles... in cramped, uncomfortable seats, including getting severe leg and foot cramp in my left leg... I wasn't a happy flier.</li>
<li>One night only in LA... in a really hard bed so that I didn't catch up on any of the sleep I didn't get on the plane.</li>
<li>Driving a big beast of a car, on the wrong side of the car, on the wrong side of the road when I'm used to driving a sports car about 1/3 the height of what the rental car gave me.</li>
<li>Three nights in Las Vegas... and yet another hard bed. Three fabulous shows... "Absinthe", "KA" by Cirque du Soleil and "Jubilee". Driving up and down the strip, seeing so many people in one spot all at once and so much neon!</li>
<li>Shopping at Walmart (a big deal as we don't have them in New Zealand lol) and picking up some great crafty bargains.</li>
<li>Finally getting to look around the many, many, many shelves of Viva Las Vegas Stamps at their 19,000 odd stamps and trying not to spend ALL my money there. </li>
<li>Buying stamps for myself as well as for my store.</li>
<li>Meeting the absolutely lovely DeeDee at VLVS where she works as well as designs for them and her own label UmWowStudios. </li>
<li>Picking up not one but two boxes of UmWowStudios products from DeeDee... and biggest frustration... not actually be able to do any crafting with it!!</li>
<li>Meeting Aaron Blazevich of Imperfect Impulses who I have followed on YouTube for a long time now as well as being a friend on FB etc etc. </li>
<li>And getting spoilt by Aaron when he gifted me some of his stash of printed Deli Paper (also something we don't have in New Zealand). I so wasn't expecting this. I made a cheeky comment on one of his videos on YouTube about wanting some and I was so flattered that he remembered!</li>
</ul>
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That's pretty much it so far. Not too bad for 840 odd miles, 4 States and 6 days. There are pictures... they will follow... just this hotel wifi is not the greatest and keeps crashing on me.</div>
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Be sure to check back for more updates and photos (eventually). You can also see updates on my Facebook account. Look me up if you're not already a friend there.</div>
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Catch up with you again soon... not sure where from!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-92110451181787084852014-07-05T00:06:00.000+12:002014-07-05T00:06:03.292+12:00In eight weeks time...Yes I know I have been absent, missing, neglectful even... I'm a terrible blogger, inconsistent, irregular... but hey life goes on and I'm not going to stress about it. (Once upon a time I would have been very distraught but now I'm more mellow... just ask my family).<br />
I have been busy... not as busy as I would like actually doing crafting... a lot of spending on craft things but not a lot of actually using. I'm still working full-time and will hopefully soon full-time permanent which will mean no respite or additional time for crafting but it will mean more money for buying crafting type bits and pieces, and food and keeping a roof over our heads!!<br />
I have also been very busy planning and actioning one of both my husband and my bucket lists items. Eight weeks tonight we will be finally winging our way to the US from little old New Zealand. It will be a combination holiday and business trip as I hope to visit some crafting shops as well as attend some classes... still working on finding what's available, when and where we are going to be.<br />
We will be catching up with some online friends including some crafting friends of mine who I can't wait to meet. The first part of our trip is quite planned as we are driving from Los Angeles to Oklahoma and have to be there in time for a 50th birthday. After that we will be reverting to what we New Zealanders refer to as "Tiki Touring" our way to Newark where we will finally start our journey home. Just seeing where the road takes us, stopping where we feel like stopping and just enjoying a hopefully relaxing holiday (or vacation lol)... yes and squeezing in as much crafty goodness as I can get away with while trying to make sure my husband is not totally bored to tears.<br />
Watch this space for updates before... during (hopefully)... and after our fabulous trip.<br />
And if anyone has any suggestions for MUST VISIT places along the way (especially crafting or vintage type places) please let me know.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-7598514514037521362014-02-01T21:14:00.000+13:002014-02-01T21:14:08.756+13:00The Doodling Un-Challenge - The FinaleIt's now the first of February so my Doodling Un-Challenge for January has finished. Below are the last group of doodles for the month.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VjO5W1aW9Ek/Uux9bG_Cg_I/AAAAAAAAEA8/uVHNXirSDCs/s1600/Doodle24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VjO5W1aW9Ek/Uux9bG_Cg_I/AAAAAAAAEA8/uVHNXirSDCs/s1600/Doodle24.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 24 - Cobblestone</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lF9CHJZyQmE/Uux9bOqhvGI/AAAAAAAAEBE/JAdfyk4Wfmg/s1600/Doodle25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lF9CHJZyQmE/Uux9bOqhvGI/AAAAAAAAEBE/JAdfyk4Wfmg/s1600/Doodle25.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 25 - String Theory</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F6u804MMoec/Uux9bGB554I/AAAAAAAAEBA/6BufkRP6lPI/s1600/Doodle26.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F6u804MMoec/Uux9bGB554I/AAAAAAAAEBA/6BufkRP6lPI/s1600/Doodle26.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 26 - Checkered Flag</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2xctYMy1lnw/Uux9b8ackfI/AAAAAAAAEBU/y5w1sGcIoZ8/s1600/Doodle27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2xctYMy1lnw/Uux9b8ackfI/AAAAAAAAEBU/y5w1sGcIoZ8/s1600/Doodle27.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 27 - Pot Scrub</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0r0bz0yPr50/Uux9cAYqLMI/AAAAAAAAEBY/O8zuqRUnP-4/s1600/Doodle28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0r0bz0yPr50/Uux9cAYqLMI/AAAAAAAAEBY/O8zuqRUnP-4/s1600/Doodle28.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 28 - Retro </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRWvOiqvPLg/Uux9cS0PWdI/AAAAAAAAEBg/GRaDwW9qhgc/s1600/Doodle29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TRWvOiqvPLg/Uux9cS0PWdI/AAAAAAAAEBg/GRaDwW9qhgc/s1600/Doodle29.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 29 - Palm Fronds</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odVwMXQkYhg/Uux9dGNEr3I/AAAAAAAAEBw/UIMu9Ow4Mko/s1600/Doodle30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-odVwMXQkYhg/Uux9dGNEr3I/AAAAAAAAEBw/UIMu9Ow4Mko/s1600/Doodle30.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 30 - Chicken Scratch</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LyVnhQteBgs/Uux9dGwJevI/AAAAAAAAEBs/tSjxV2HSVTo/s1600/Doodle31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LyVnhQteBgs/Uux9dGwJevI/AAAAAAAAEBs/tSjxV2HSVTo/s1600/Doodle31.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 31 - Layered Doileys</div>
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FINAL CONCLUSION:</div>
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Yes I managed to get all 31 doodles drawn... one for each day of the month. Did I do them on exactly the right day... no. I started late so had some catching up to do and then I got sick towards the end of the month, so had to catch up a couple. (Luckily I had managed to get a couple ahead, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been).</div>
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Would I do it again? Probably yes, though not straight away. I am not now, nor have I ever really been a doodler, at least not much more than the odd cube when I'm talking on the telephone. Some days were really easy, some days were not and towards the end I did feel like I was struggling a little to come up with new ideas that still fit within my chosen constraints. Did I stick with the constraints - YES and I am really pleased with myself for that.</div>
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I really like some of my doodles and there are also a few that I really dislike... a couple so did not turn out as I envisaged in my head, but that is the nature of being creative. And that is why I've shared the good, the bad and the ugly. Even though I did maintain some relatively tight constraints I still found the process quite liberating and it was great to feel "creative" again especially as I'd been feeling like I'd lost my MOJO after being sick in December and my Epic Fail Christmas Craft Challenge, and then having a relapse towards the end of January.</div>
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My thanks go out to PoetSpice for the inspiration and Debbie who led me there in the first place. But now that my Doodling Un-Challenge has finished... how am I going to fill my lunch breaks?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-27325874379053307082014-01-27T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-27T17:00:00.128+13:00The Doodling Un-Challenge... Just when you thought it was safe....I've been busy during my lunch breaks... and after work for those pages I didn't get finished in my measly 30 minute lunch break... time to catch up the next bunch, so you don't think I'm a total slacker lol<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Td54r9viEUw/UuJY7pl7rMI/AAAAAAAAD_0/YPOPMMYRbA8/s1600/Doodle16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Td54r9viEUw/UuJY7pl7rMI/AAAAAAAAD_0/YPOPMMYRbA8/s1600/Doodle16.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 16 - Sixteen Candles </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hv4uJYykE7E/UuJZAfITzcI/AAAAAAAAD_8/TpcG3_ttvao/s1600/Doodle17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hv4uJYykE7E/UuJZAfITzcI/AAAAAAAAD_8/TpcG3_ttvao/s1600/Doodle17.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 17 - Graphic Lines </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XU59Y1Z2yAw/UuJZAnVD6cI/AAAAAAAAEAA/sVYfrUfGIR4/s1600/Doodle18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XU59Y1Z2yAw/UuJZAnVD6cI/AAAAAAAAEAA/sVYfrUfGIR4/s1600/Doodle18.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 18 - The Hidden Message... (Yes there is a hidden message on this page lol)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rw8VSPP-Tys/UuJZAtUs7nI/AAAAAAAAEAE/eRUU1AGo1CE/s1600/Doodle19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rw8VSPP-Tys/UuJZAtUs7nI/AAAAAAAAEAE/eRUU1AGo1CE/s1600/Doodle19.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 19 - My Little Doodle (that sounds wrong, but it's supposed to be a play on "My Little Pony") </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yrktej_qKOY/UuJZBe6YDjI/AAAAAAAAEAU/Y9uOuotwOvQ/s1600/Doodle20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yrktej_qKOY/UuJZBe6YDjI/AAAAAAAAEAU/Y9uOuotwOvQ/s1600/Doodle20.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 20 - The Heart of the Matter</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBmcKXnC8mg/UuJZBguXD_I/AAAAAAAAEAY/T5wnfOGUqcs/s1600/Doodle21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bBmcKXnC8mg/UuJZBguXD_I/AAAAAAAAEAY/T5wnfOGUqcs/s1600/Doodle21.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 21 - Key of the Door</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nre1DQcGLiE/UuJZB7EhP2I/AAAAAAAAEAc/fFihjCqov88/s1600/Doodle22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nre1DQcGLiE/UuJZB7EhP2I/AAAAAAAAEAc/fFihjCqov88/s1600/Doodle22.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 22 - Doodles on Acid</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qZo3eSEgJNc/UuJZCv2OSAI/AAAAAAAAEAs/KySLoV3qwlQ/s1600/Doodle23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qZo3eSEgJNc/UuJZCv2OSAI/AAAAAAAAEAs/KySLoV3qwlQ/s1600/Doodle23.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 23 - Ode to Dyan Reaveley</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-90623825838333189822014-01-26T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-26T17:00:04.731+13:00The Doodling Un-Challenge - The continuing saga...Okay, so saga is probably a bit dramatic... but it sounds more interesting than continuing story... I know you have been hanging out to see what came next in the series so no more waiting...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8veJL5ZYzHY/UuJXPMeWG0I/AAAAAAAAD-8/lYxhZyfkFbY/s1600/Doodle08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8veJL5ZYzHY/UuJXPMeWG0I/AAAAAAAAD-8/lYxhZyfkFbY/s1600/Doodle08.JPG" height="320" width="242" /></a></div>
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Day 8 - Spider Web </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6yCkAR8rWmY/UuJXPEezidI/AAAAAAAAD-0/IFKzIp85Vbg/s1600/Doodle09.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6yCkAR8rWmY/UuJXPEezidI/AAAAAAAAD-0/IFKzIp85Vbg/s1600/Doodle09.JPG" height="320" width="246" /></a></div>
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Day 9 - Snakes and Ladders </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XWPvPciZe0E/UuJXPQQI3-I/AAAAAAAAD-4/1sd8ZT52mDg/s1600/Doodle10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XWPvPciZe0E/UuJXPQQI3-I/AAAAAAAAD-4/1sd8ZT52mDg/s1600/Doodle10.JPG" height="320" width="242" /></a></div>
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Day 10 - Patchwork</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ox5fw6CUAeA/UuJXQSOJqaI/AAAAAAAAD_M/vXjXZ6g2Of4/s1600/Doodle11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ox5fw6CUAeA/UuJXQSOJqaI/AAAAAAAAD_M/vXjXZ6g2Of4/s1600/Doodle11.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Day 11 - Legs Eleven</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P9-UlOoRCMI/UuJXQvPaDcI/AAAAAAAAD_Q/-Mvy01U5jQE/s1600/Doodle12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P9-UlOoRCMI/UuJXQvPaDcI/AAAAAAAAD_Q/-Mvy01U5jQE/s1600/Doodle12.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 12 - Muffin Time</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mjLjsVqwKM0/UuJXQrqVT_I/AAAAAAAAD_Y/-g_KMCe1RUA/s1600/Doodle13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mjLjsVqwKM0/UuJXQrqVT_I/AAAAAAAAD_Y/-g_KMCe1RUA/s1600/Doodle13.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 13 - Another Brick in the Wall</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2W1IftcslIk/UuJXRA4CkEI/AAAAAAAAD_c/kJ0csESY8lI/s1600/Doodle14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2W1IftcslIk/UuJXRA4CkEI/AAAAAAAAD_c/kJ0csESY8lI/s1600/Doodle14.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 14 - In Ancient Times</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-In-A38l6G10/UuJXRng8XuI/AAAAAAAAD_o/KNkGimw_xLU/s1600/Doodle15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-In-A38l6G10/UuJXRng8XuI/AAAAAAAAD_o/KNkGimw_xLU/s1600/Doodle15.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Day 15 - Concrete Jungle</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-41189826833525502672014-01-25T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-25T17:00:00.570+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge - Last one until Christmas 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At long last (I hear you breathe a sigh of relief)... the last of my Christmas Craft Challenge. </div>
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These are the totally awesome crafting books that I received from my darling hubbie and son for Christmas... that I totally bought online for them to give me.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-28T5bWthHXM/UtUNzB8EZsI/AAAAAAAAD9k/gTeVi9rtKQQ/s1600/AJBook5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-28T5bWthHXM/UtUNzB8EZsI/AAAAAAAAD9k/gTeVi9rtKQQ/s1600/AJBook5.JPG" height="320" width="274" /></a></div>
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I'm a little disappointed in this book as it's not really what I thought it would be. There are still some things for me to learn from it, but it's more project based than technique based and at this point in my crafting I want to learn techniques and new uses for products and media. I have none-the-less seen some things I think are quite cool and I look forward to trying.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-shYSlmc9kUE/UtUNxwDaxtI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/YhU-0GWYvh4/s1600/AJBook1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-shYSlmc9kUE/UtUNxwDaxtI/AAAAAAAAD9Q/YhU-0GWYvh4/s1600/AJBook1.JPG" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
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These two books (above and below) were more what I was looking for. More techniques and uses for both products and tools as well as explanations about the process of art journaling. The bottom book includes spaces for you to try the techniques actually in the book so you end up creating your own reference book of techniques. As much as I love the idea, I'm not sure I can bring myself to do this... I was brought up to respect the sanctity of the written word. A book was never to be destroyed like this by writing in it let alone painting, so this will take a mind set change for me to use as it is intended.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vYN6ZYFfM3I/UtUNx1F9eqI/AAAAAAAAD9M/XcTGElge9WI/s1600/AJBook2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vYN6ZYFfM3I/UtUNx1F9eqI/AAAAAAAAD9M/XcTGElge9WI/s1600/AJBook2.JPG" height="320" width="254" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Cf72wKsIm8/UtUNx9Cn6XI/AAAAAAAAD9I/7sgegkBrVuo/s1600/AJBook3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Cf72wKsIm8/UtUNx9Cn6XI/AAAAAAAAD9I/7sgegkBrVuo/s1600/AJBook3.JPG" height="320" width="245" /></a></div>
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These last two books are definitely what I was looking for. I am definitely a technique girl. I love altering things and adding colour and texture and interest. I love that I will be able to learn new techniques and apply them to art journals, mixed media projects, cards and layouts. I think these two books will most definitely be getting a good work out for a long time to come.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jcRfESwXfFw/UtUNymX8lRI/AAAAAAAAD9g/ppSycmxRDVU/s1600/AJBook4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jcRfESwXfFw/UtUNymX8lRI/AAAAAAAAD9g/ppSycmxRDVU/s1600/AJBook4.JPG" height="320" width="252" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-30187779348421313812014-01-24T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-24T17:00:00.337+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge - Second to last....<div style="text-align: center;">
Just before Christmas Bltzy had their sale and I did a little spending... kind of a Christmas present for me or the studio. I really love my Tim Holtz Distress Inks from Ranger and have been waiting for some good prices to extend my range. I've also been needing (not wanting) to get some Distress Ink Refills. Some of my favourites were starting to look a little dry, so I've been looking around for a while, so when I saw them on Blitzy I jumped at the change to stock up on the ones I needed as well as some for as many of my Distress Inks as possible... including the new ones I was buying.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YOtXyM2b94/UtUNXKRMoiI/AAAAAAAAD74/dAo4cixT-lE/s1600/Blitsy1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YOtXyM2b94/UtUNXKRMoiI/AAAAAAAAD74/dAo4cixT-lE/s1600/Blitsy1.JPG" height="69" width="320" /></a></div>
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New Distress Ink colours...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--kqmvPsuxkM/UtUNXNYWdyI/AAAAAAAAD7w/r8uUfhnCjrU/s1600/Blitsy2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--kqmvPsuxkM/UtUNXNYWdyI/AAAAAAAAD7w/r8uUfhnCjrU/s1600/Blitsy2.JPG" height="69" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IRGSDTZjkH8/UtUNXyBbjXI/AAAAAAAAD8I/vatiOEtGFqE/s1600/Blitsy4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IRGSDTZjkH8/UtUNXyBbjXI/AAAAAAAAD8I/vatiOEtGFqE/s1600/Blitsy4.JPG" height="81" width="320" /></a></div>
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Awesome Distress Ink refills - YAY!!! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8bkhHXIRSKs/UtUNaoza76I/AAAAAAAAD88/2qsJI7BuUTo/s1600/Swatch1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8bkhHXIRSKs/UtUNaoza76I/AAAAAAAAD88/2qsJI7BuUTo/s1600/Swatch1.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Updated my Distress Ink swatches so I can see what all the colours look like. The original post when I set up my swatches is <a href="http://scrapfxnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/10/diy-swatches.html">HERE</a>. If you don't have something like this, then I suggest you take the time to create it. It's a huge time saver, not to mention saves you buying colours that you already have!!!</div>
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And then I found some stamps...</div>
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I've always wanted some Tim Holtz stamps but they are just so expensive here in New Zealand and really hard to get. I found these Wendy Vecchi stamp sets for Stampers Anonymous and had already ordered these and then a week later Blitzy had their big sale and they had some Tim Holtz stamps from Stampers Anonymous so I bought some of these as well.</div>
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These first four sets are from Wendy Vecchi for Stampers Anonymous.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PNpwewpOix4/UtUNYQPnrPI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/-Cc6a7RIwiE/s1600/Stamps1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PNpwewpOix4/UtUNYQPnrPI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/-Cc6a7RIwiE/s1600/Stamps1.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GQrV0HvO-FU/UtUNYsVzUJI/AAAAAAAAD8g/uKz3uHVs4nU/s1600/Stamps2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GQrV0HvO-FU/UtUNYsVzUJI/AAAAAAAAD8g/uKz3uHVs4nU/s1600/Stamps2.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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And these next ones are from the Tim Holtz range from Stampers Anonymous. Some of the stamps in the Classics series are from other designers.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5gpHIQnHhrE/UtUNZOZKesI/AAAAAAAAD8o/t3cqSkpRYpY/s1600/Stamps3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5gpHIQnHhrE/UtUNZOZKesI/AAAAAAAAD8o/t3cqSkpRYpY/s1600/Stamps3.JPG" height="134" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQESVS-7ioY/UtUNZTGSv3I/AAAAAAAAD8w/UaEei7l_Ukg/s1600/Stamps4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rQESVS-7ioY/UtUNZTGSv3I/AAAAAAAAD8w/UaEei7l_Ukg/s1600/Stamps4.JPG" height="140" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PrK9hbkyTtc/UtUNZjxyCBI/AAAAAAAAD84/cqvRwKRdVmU/s1600/Stamps5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PrK9hbkyTtc/UtUNZjxyCBI/AAAAAAAAD84/cqvRwKRdVmU/s1600/Stamps5.JPG" height="140" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4rajbK3Dr0/UtUNaQkVzEI/AAAAAAAAD9A/CqmHnCg5Pd8/s1600/Stamps6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4rajbK3Dr0/UtUNaQkVzEI/AAAAAAAAD9A/CqmHnCg5Pd8/s1600/Stamps6.JPG" height="138" width="320" /></a></div>
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I can't wait to use all my new purchases. Definitely some projects in the mix for some up-coming major events in the planning for this year! Will let you know what I think of them after I've done some testing.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-75347758281925274992014-01-23T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-23T17:00:03.296+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge 10 of ?Here are the tags I included in Tai's Secret Santa Mini album... but first I wanted to show you the relative sizes of the tags.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QUzB0X6GR-4/UtUJ50_Ln6I/AAAAAAAAD5w/lY0Axt3X4T8/s1600/SSG14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QUzB0X6GR-4/UtUJ50_Ln6I/AAAAAAAAD5w/lY0Axt3X4T8/s1600/SSG14.JPG" height="320" width="260" /></a></div>
The largest tags are just slightly smaller than the size of the album. The smallest tags are the standard size 8 tag. Here are all the tags included in Tai's mini album.<br />
LARGEST TAGS:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8SdimpuwpQ/UtUJ4pe8d0I/AAAAAAAAD5o/8Y8jFk9d5ko/s1600/SSG11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v8SdimpuwpQ/UtUJ4pe8d0I/AAAAAAAAD5o/8Y8jFk9d5ko/s1600/SSG11.JPG" height="137" width="320" /></a></div>
MEDIUM TAGS:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tri_IMpIG_4/UtUJ4p2LbpI/AAAAAAAAD5s/abYYdr3rr8U/s1600/SSG12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tri_IMpIG_4/UtUJ4p2LbpI/AAAAAAAAD5s/abYYdr3rr8U/s1600/SSG12.JPG" height="128" width="320" /></a></div>
SMALLEST TAGS:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pg_fobl5dQc/UtUJ4s7PZ3I/AAAAAAAAD5k/ufitHxkmwVU/s1600/SSG13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pg_fobl5dQc/UtUJ4s7PZ3I/AAAAAAAAD5k/ufitHxkmwVU/s1600/SSG13.JPG" height="74" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sAHqWniQx6I/UtUJ6JOsk7I/AAAAAAAAD6A/b1qRpvN4PGk/s1600/SSTag1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sAHqWniQx6I/UtUJ6JOsk7I/AAAAAAAAD6A/b1qRpvN4PGk/s1600/SSTag1.JPG" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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Manila tag (home made). Tissue paper misted with Lindy's Stamp Gang Flat Fabio "Danny Zuko's Denim" mist, dried, then adhered onto tag. Edges of tissue torn. Tag edge colour with Faber Castell Gelatos blended with finger tip. Lindy's Stamp Gang Mist and liquid acrylic ink dripped down front of tag.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6o-JDxDCFGg/UtUJ8_USNTI/AAAAAAAAD64/T7RK0U6YV6Y/s1600/SSTag2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6o-JDxDCFGg/UtUJ8_USNTI/AAAAAAAAD64/T7RK0U6YV6Y/s1600/SSTag2.JPG" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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Manila tag (home made). Tissue paper misted with Lindy's Stamp Gang Starbu<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">rst "Freaky Franken Lime" mist</span>, dried, then adhered onto tag. Edges of tissue torn. Tag edge colour with Faber Castell Gelatos blended with finger tip. Lindy's Stamp Gang Mist and liquid acrylic ink in white and chartreuse dripped down front of tag.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8NLiKq3gyk4/UtUJ9UiF9tI/AAAAAAAAD68/T97M1yarnnU/s1600/SSTag3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8NLiKq3gyk4/UtUJ9UiF9tI/AAAAAAAAD68/T97M1yarnnU/s1600/SSTag3.JPG" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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Coloured using Inktense Blocks by Derwent then blended with water before heat setting.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cS7IxkKnq28/UtUJ96I5WjI/AAAAAAAAD7I/DXjxwufsglk/s1600/SSTag4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cS7IxkKnq28/UtUJ96I5WjI/AAAAAAAAD7I/DXjxwufsglk/s1600/SSTag4.JPG" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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Tim Holtz Distress Inks to colour tag, dripped Liquid Acrylic Inks, Archival Ink to stamp sentiment.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1FYo8BTv1IQ/UtUJ-SkN8FI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/bnEdtYgqUzU/s1600/SSTag5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1FYo8BTv1IQ/UtUJ-SkN8FI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/bnEdtYgqUzU/s1600/SSTag5.JPG" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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Tim Holtz Distress Inks to colour tag, dripped Liquid Acrylic Inks, Archival Ink to stamp sentiment.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E2XHuBafOF8/UtUJ-i70A3I/AAAAAAAAD7Y/Avt7h1ODoag/s1600/SSTag6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E2XHuBafOF8/UtUJ-i70A3I/AAAAAAAAD7Y/Avt7h1ODoag/s1600/SSTag6.JPG" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
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Faber Castell Gelatos blended with a finger tip, Archival Ink to stamp sentiment.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--9sLDMzUz1I/UtUJ-_hugoI/AAAAAAAAD7g/t04EkFlf1Jc/s1600/SSTag7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--9sLDMzUz1I/UtUJ-_hugoI/AAAAAAAAD7g/t04EkFlf1Jc/s1600/SSTag7.JPG" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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Tim Holtz Distress Inks to colour tag, Archival Ink to stamp sentiment.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aW9AsVLwQjg/UtUJ_cGhuQI/AAAAAAAAD7o/_KtTn1-Lhms/s1600/SSTag8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aW9AsVLwQjg/UtUJ_cGhuQI/AAAAAAAAD7o/_KtTn1-Lhms/s1600/SSTag8.JPG" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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Tim Holtz Distress Inks to colour tag, dripped Liquid Acrylic Inks, Archival Ink to stamp sentiment.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vBCNmIxQQJQ/UtUJ_24RPmI/AAAAAAAAD7s/XwZrKdG6IV0/s1600/SSTag9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vBCNmIxQQJQ/UtUJ_24RPmI/AAAAAAAAD7s/XwZrKdG6IV0/s1600/SSTag9.JPG" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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Tim Holtz Distress Inks to colour tag, dripped Liquid Acrylic Inks, Archival Ink to stamp sentiment.</div>
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Faber Castell Gelatos blended with a finger tip, liquid acrylic inks dripped from top of tag.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rp92sBOW_wc/UtUJ69BjgCI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/EPZwD_fTC44/s1600/SSTag11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rp92sBOW_wc/UtUJ69BjgCI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/EPZwD_fTC44/s1600/SSTag11.JPG" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tim Holtz Distress Inks to colour tag, Archival Ink to stamp image.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qVK9CUoo5bY/UtUJ7ForHHI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/VxBoR2_GHGY/s1600/SSTag12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qVK9CUoo5bY/UtUJ7ForHHI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/VxBoR2_GHGY/s1600/SSTag12.JPG" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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Tim Holtz Distress Inks to colour tag, dripped Liquid Acrylic Inks, Archival Ink to stamp sentiment.</div>
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Tim Holtz Distress Inks to colour tag, Archival Ink to stamp sentiment.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E3rlom0BNsw/UtUJ8O62ukI/AAAAAAAAD6w/SCMqyhcnCYg/s1600/SSTag14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E3rlom0BNsw/UtUJ8O62ukI/AAAAAAAAD6w/SCMqyhcnCYg/s1600/SSTag14.JPG" height="320" width="160" /></a></div>
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Tim Holtz Distress Inks to colour tag, dripped Indian Ink, Archival Ink to stamp sentiment.</div>
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Faber Castell Gelatos blended with a finger tip, Lindy's Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Mist "Golden Doubloons" splattered over tag.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-89980101270492816792014-01-22T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-22T17:00:01.746+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge 9 of ? (Nearly there)I had Tai as my secret swap partner on Artistic Creationz. Along with some scrappy goodies I made her an altered box and coordinating paper bag mini album filled to the brim with tags of all sizes.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjrBcv_JeS4/UtT-riOpPyI/AAAAAAAAD4M/0uam6wjTrPU/s1600/SSG1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gjrBcv_JeS4/UtT-riOpPyI/AAAAAAAAD4M/0uam6wjTrPU/s1600/SSG1.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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The box started out as a shoe box that I cut down in height by about half. I loved the finished height though I also would have liked it to be just a little bit taller as the mini album only just fitted inside it... so no room for anything else. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w8NWsGiAwjM/UtT-rjIoU5I/AAAAAAAAD4I/zvEb5KuP78o/s1600/SSG2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w8NWsGiAwjM/UtT-rjIoU5I/AAAAAAAAD4I/zvEb5KuP78o/s1600/SSG2.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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The patterned paper used for both the box and the mini album was a Rosie's Studio set "My Favourite Recipe" from The Warehouse. I used coordinated dimensional stickers from the same set in the mini album as well. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAtwC2e0Zng/UtT-uHafW5I/AAAAAAAAD4g/-T3kTXYLuBc/s1600/SSG3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAtwC2e0Zng/UtT-uHafW5I/AAAAAAAAD4g/-T3kTXYLuBc/s1600/SSG3.JPG" height="291" width="320" /></a></div>
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Does that just look so sweet... quite retro 50's style. And just a simple layered flower embellishment on top. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_swIJ_f9xcc/UtT-t57pFUI/AAAAAAAAD4c/qzkM6jDD-s4/s1600/SSG4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_swIJ_f9xcc/UtT-t57pFUI/AAAAAAAAD4c/qzkM6jDD-s4/s1600/SSG4.JPG" height="294" width="320" /></a></div>
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The little paper bag mini album that really isn't all that little... it's about 2 1/2" thick. The covers were recycled cardboard which were covered with patterned paper to coordinate with the altered box. With leftover scraps from the album pages I made some coordinated rosettes using my Sizzix Tim Holtz Rosette and Mini Rosette Dies. I also die cut some doileys using a Couture Die from some photocopy paper that I had distressed with tea and coffee. I then misted the die cut doily with Lindy's Stamp Gang "Don't Eat the Golden Snow" Mist.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r8lR6DH5gnU/UtT-uL-6_mI/AAAAAAAAD4k/PF3ly0rIr9I/s1600/SSG5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r8lR6DH5gnU/UtT-uL-6_mI/AAAAAAAAD4k/PF3ly0rIr9I/s1600/SSG5.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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I covered the spine of the album with masking tape... kind of retro looking. I coated it with Distress Inks which I heat set then covered all of the spine and onto the covers with Golden Matte Medium to stop the masking tape from lifting over time. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6YvTNEEv6I8/UtT-vaBJe0I/AAAAAAAAD44/7Fi-ovoAHq0/s1600/SSG6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6YvTNEEv6I8/UtT-vaBJe0I/AAAAAAAAD44/7Fi-ovoAHq0/s1600/SSG6.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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The album includes five pages with pockets and flaps on each page.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ruma0vZGMg/UtT-vUyZoHI/AAAAAAAAD40/JTpa4vDvcq0/s1600/SSG7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9ruma0vZGMg/UtT-vUyZoHI/AAAAAAAAD40/JTpa4vDvcq0/s1600/SSG7.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Above and below you can see one of the full size flaps on each page. Not counting the front and back inside covers or tags... there are four pages for photos or journaling for each of the five paper bag pages... so a lot of retail space is built into the album.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4nIIfUOd_yk/UtT-vrWPaXI/AAAAAAAAD48/PrmtW9cZflU/s1600/SSG8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4nIIfUOd_yk/UtT-vrWPaXI/AAAAAAAAD48/PrmtW9cZflU/s1600/SSG8.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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You can also see the pockets on the pages here. To the left is the back of the page where I have tucked in the largest of the three sizes of tags. To the right is the front of a page which has pockets both on the binding side and along the bottom running the length of the paper bag.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9rx-9wVTkEw/UtT-wXoYCNI/AAAAAAAAD5I/JLUUptuUoe0/s1600/SSG9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9rx-9wVTkEw/UtT-wXoYCNI/AAAAAAAAD5I/JLUUptuUoe0/s1600/SSG9.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Inside each paper bag there are also full size decorated cardstock tags... more space!! </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1mtvwSzw0c/UtT-rSUCU1I/AAAAAAAAD4E/xmGQeCrnOuU/s1600/SSG10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1mtvwSzw0c/UtT-rSUCU1I/AAAAAAAAD4E/xmGQeCrnOuU/s1600/SSG10.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Above are all five pages with the pocket tags all partially pulled out.</div>
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The smaller tags and descriptions of the techniques used to decorate the tags can be found in the next blog post. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-63779701762523086802014-01-21T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-21T17:00:01.491+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge 8 of ?For December we had a Secret Santa swap on the Artistic Creationz Website. Our partners were chosen at random and the receiver didn't know who the sender was... though most of us worked it out one way or another lol. My adorable swap partner sent me this awesome altered box with lots of goodies inside.<br />
I love the way she has altered this box. I've always had trouble covering metal boxes, so tend to avoid them (put them in the too hard box) but my SS did an awesome job with altering this tin.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OQz8-l4xI-k/UtT0dtP_3ZI/AAAAAAAAD24/VGvCZKglt1U/s1600/SSR1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OQz8-l4xI-k/UtT0dtP_3ZI/AAAAAAAAD24/VGvCZKglt1U/s1600/SSR1.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
I love the colour combination. I'm definitely a warm Autumn colours girl. Love reds and oranges of every shade. But having said that I also love apple green and lime green, so my SS couldn't have picked a more perfect colour scheme if I had told her exactly what I liked.. and I didn't.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVuK_rV4iYE/UtT0d8LJQpI/AAAAAAAAD28/KdbF1P11CeU/s1600/SSR2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVuK_rV4iYE/UtT0d8LJQpI/AAAAAAAAD28/KdbF1P11CeU/s1600/SSR2.JPG" height="99" width="320" /></a></div>
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Inside were some amazing goodies. The most magical and heart warming was a little present of goodies for my granddaughter.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4xLYC4erm0/UtT0eobuOHI/AAAAAAAAD3Q/YG_opiPOxyU/s1600/SSR4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4xLYC4erm0/UtT0eobuOHI/AAAAAAAAD3Q/YG_opiPOxyU/s1600/SSR4.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
The box was was full to the brim with lots of goodies including these really cute handmade washi tapes.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8a5dAqCnMXo/UtT0ffGv44I/AAAAAAAAD3U/WT5RsL3ayQ8/s1600/SSR5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8a5dAqCnMXo/UtT0ffGv44I/AAAAAAAAD3U/WT5RsL3ayQ8/s1600/SSR5.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Stickers... chipboard die cuts and and awesome mini album closure.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DNX-Xjs60YQ/UtT0fd6Vn9I/AAAAAAAAD3c/WFNOs1ncZx4/s1600/SSR6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DNX-Xjs60YQ/UtT0fd6Vn9I/AAAAAAAAD3c/WFNOs1ncZx4/s1600/SSR6.JPG" height="199" width="320" /></a></div>
Beautiful flowers and some decorative wood embellishments from Prima.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZjSlupsWoE/UtT0gS0JcbI/AAAAAAAAD3o/1d5FSuCicIY/s1600/SSR7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZjSlupsWoE/UtT0gS0JcbI/AAAAAAAAD3o/1d5FSuCicIY/s1600/SSR7.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
A note book, address book and coordinated pencils...always useful!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZkU8VQOD_4/UtT0guGoIBI/AAAAAAAAD3s/PFPbNHrdmrw/s1600/SSR8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZkU8VQOD_4/UtT0guGoIBI/AAAAAAAAD3s/PFPbNHrdmrw/s1600/SSR8.JPG" height="309" width="320" /></a></div>
And a book for me to alter... probably after I have read it first.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4UNlK9U4JJs/UtT0g0dakEI/AAAAAAAAD3w/S5KljYsOiSE/s1600/SSR9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4UNlK9U4JJs/UtT0g0dakEI/AAAAAAAAD3w/S5KljYsOiSE/s1600/SSR9.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
Awesome Christmas goodies... thank you so much to my Secret Santa from the Artistic Creationz Group.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-26132958263651151192014-01-20T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-20T17:00:06.601+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge 7 of ?I know this wasn't intended as a Christmas gift but it was a little late arriving, so thank you to my lovely and talented friend Lainie... and I'm counting this as a Christmas Craft cos it's just so darned cute!!<br />
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This was for the Candy Station Swap we had on Artistic Creationz a wee while ago. Lainie was so determined to get this right that she made not one, not two but three versions to get the look she really wanted... been there, done that and will no doubt do it again!<br />
There were some chocolates with this... they were very scrummy... but alas they didn't make it to the photo shoot... oh dear, how sad, never mind.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzLyvrxhSBY/UtTpQ4w30DI/AAAAAAAAD18/PKoQ-WA-Vzk/s1600/Candy1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzLyvrxhSBY/UtTpQ4w30DI/AAAAAAAAD18/PKoQ-WA-Vzk/s1600/Candy1.JPG" height="248" width="320" /></a></div>
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Stunning decorated candy station box that is a mini set of three drawers... and a bag of goodies that wouldn't fit inside... more on that later.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJbfLftObzk/UtTpQ_LulxI/AAAAAAAAD10/ShtXSBZPxx8/s1600/Candy2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vJbfLftObzk/UtTpQ_LulxI/AAAAAAAAD10/ShtXSBZPxx8/s1600/Candy2.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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All three drawers open independently. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MY_Nk1x_tvs/UtTpQ8UvTOI/AAAAAAAAD14/syz5ZFLFuKg/s1600/Candy3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MY_Nk1x_tvs/UtTpQ8UvTOI/AAAAAAAAD14/syz5ZFLFuKg/s1600/Candy3.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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The top is just so adorable.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QjpXlzrR-dY/UtTpR560WwI/AAAAAAAAD2M/kd5Jwe9_YQ0/s1600/Candy4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QjpXlzrR-dY/UtTpR560WwI/AAAAAAAAD2M/kd5Jwe9_YQ0/s1600/Candy4.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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I love the way Lainie made these handles. They are cotton thread through a bead and mini metal plate or bead cap. So simple, but so effective!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3LBLQJLnNRQ/UtTpSWKSmrI/AAAAAAAAD2Q/NVJTfi2dG-g/s1600/Candy5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3LBLQJLnNRQ/UtTpSWKSmrI/AAAAAAAAD2Q/NVJTfi2dG-g/s1600/Candy5.JPG" height="161" width="320" /></a></div>
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WOW - all these glorious metal charms and goodies were inside the top drawer tucked inside some stamped tissue paper. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D0KEPrp6QEM/UtTpSQ0cJaI/AAAAAAAAD2U/p7HoLq-84_g/s1600/Candy6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D0KEPrp6QEM/UtTpSQ0cJaI/AAAAAAAAD2U/p7HoLq-84_g/s1600/Candy6.JPG" height="134" width="320" /></a></div>
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Double WOW - all these goodies were in the second drawer. Huge and varied goodies that are perfect for mixed media projects. And some stamped tissue.</div>
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Triple WOW - awesome feathers and shells. Some really delicate, really finely shredded patterned paper - brilliant idea... and the most amazing paper feather. And some more stamped tissue.</div>
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Inside the bag of goodies (that didn't fit inside the drawers) were some wind works and some cotton reels... "real" (get it) vintage. I remember these from my mum's sewing kit from way back when I was knee high to a grasshopper.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-91331601452945192232014-01-19T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-19T17:00:02.261+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge 6 of ?I did manage to finally get some crafting done as the flu started to improve... mainly because I had to get it done. Some of it may have been finished after Christmas... but if anyone asks, I will deny it...!!!<br />
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Like previous year's I planned to alter my diary for next year (well this year now). Previously I've bought a diary, altered the cover, taken out some pages I wouldn't use then added in some dividers and extra pages I would use. This year I decided to go whole hog and make my diary from scratch... including printing out the pages of the diary as well as making the covers themselves.<br />
My first decision was what size did I want. I decided, after much umming and ahhing, to make it A4 size... plenty big enough for planning and writing notes. I cut some heavy weight chipboard to size and covered it completely in some heavy weight kraft cardstock. (I have some A3 size so it was big enough to completely cover each chipboard sheet.)<br />
I made some black acrylic mist by adding water to black acrylic paint to a mist bottle. I misted through The Crafter's Workshop "Tiny Circles" 12 x 12 stencil. The home made mist blobbed in some places while in others the pattern stayed quite crisp. To be honest I really like the end result even more than if the whole image had sprayed and held it's image. Once the home made acrylic mist had dried I lightly added texture paste using The Crafter's Workshop "Time Travel" 12 x 12 stencil turning the stencil around to get the images across the front cover how I wanted. (I didn't add any to the back cover).<br />
Once the texture paste was dry, I generously misted both the front and back covers with Lindy's Stamp Gang Mists.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3CDlgkSAJM/UtO8Wa7naEI/AAAAAAAAD0k/PRq0oPyq9O4/s1600/2014Diary1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F3CDlgkSAJM/UtO8Wa7naEI/AAAAAAAAD0k/PRq0oPyq9O4/s1600/2014Diary1.JPG" height="320" width="246" /></a></div>
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Above taken without camera flash... LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!!</div>
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With the camera flash to show off that gorgeous shimmer of the Lindy's mists.</div>
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Back cover (no texture paste).</div>
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Diary covered out to show both back and front covers.</div>
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We had a Secret Santa swap at work... gifts to cost less than $10.00. I was gifting to the boss's secretary, Carmen, and wanted to make her something different she could put on her desk at work or have on display at home. Something a little more personal.</div>
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I found some mini clipboards (A5 size - so cute!) which just looked perfect. I bought some plates stands to hold it up on display.</div>
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I started by painting the edges of the clipboards and a little onto both the front and back with white gesso.</div>
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When the paint was dried, I cut some patterned paper to size then adhered it onto both the front and back with Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive. I used the brayer to make sure the paper was well and truly stuck down onto the clipboard.</div>
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The "C" was a die cut letter I've had forever. I coloured it using Tim Holtz Distress Inks. Once coloured completely I polished the ink which gave it a nice shine before I then distressed the edges slightly with sandpaper.<br />
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To finish off the clipboard I added some I Am Roses flowers which I had misted with coordinating Lindy's Stamp Gang Mists.<br />
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I liked Carmen's clipboard so much I then made one for myself... though instead of flowers with the animal print, I added feathers.<br />
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The "P" is from the same chipboard alphabet set as the "C" above. As above I coloured the letter with some Lindy's Stamp Gang Mists. Once the mists have dried I stamped across the letter with Archival Ink in Black using one of the stamps from the Classics #2 set from Stampers Anonymous.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kvuXUEud8LA/UtO8ZpKDs3I/AAAAAAAAD1Y/g1MySxU1-qw/s1600/Clipboard2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kvuXUEud8LA/UtO8ZpKDs3I/AAAAAAAAD1Y/g1MySxU1-qw/s1600/Clipboard2.JPG" height="320" width="264" /></a></div>
To finish off I added three black rhinestones.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-72192904404514476012014-01-18T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-18T17:00:02.128+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge 5 of ?Calendar 2014 - July to December<br />
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November and December were my months. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-15746325622949688032014-01-17T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-17T17:00:02.116+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge 4 of ?Calendar 2014<br />
I really love this swap when we did it last year so I was keen to join in this year. The premise is six friends each make two pages for the coming year's calendar - 6 copies of the two months. Then you swap, so that everyone ends up with a complete calendar for the coming year.<br />
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Calendar 2014 - January to June<br />
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Oops... I should say the size is 4" x 4"... not that big really!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-56194975751210329192014-01-16T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-16T17:00:02.440+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge 3 of ?We did two ATC swaps for Artistic Creationz, and although not strictly "Christmas" related... they were in December so in my book they count as Christmas Crafts... (we all know how broad my book is lol)<br />
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ATC Swap 1 - "Father Time"<br />
First one is my contribution.<br />
The card is kraft cardstock (Yes I seem to use it alot!). I added a thin layer of texture paste over The Crafter's Workshop "Time Travel" 12 x 12 template. I coloured the ATC with Faber Castell Gelatos smoothed with a little water and my finger tips.<br />
I printed out some pictures of grandfather clocks I had download from the internet onto white tissue. I tore around these carefully (wet the tissue where you want the paper to rip) then adhered them randomly over the background making sure to adhere it carefully over the grooves of the texture paste.<br />
Once the glue had dried completely I misted the ATC generously with Lindy's Stamp Gang Mist.<br />
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The ATC's I received from the other participants:<br />
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ATC Swap 2 - "White Christmas"</div>
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This first ATC was my design.</div>
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The card is kraft cardstock (Yes again!). I coloured the background again using Faber Castell Gelatos, this time using a much softer palette of colours.</div>
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Both stamps are second hand stamps that I purchased online - sorry manufacturers unknown. I stamped the trees using Ranger Archival Ink in Coffee. I stamped the hills first using VersaMark Ink then heat embossed using Stamping Up White Embossing Powder. Using the residual ink left on the stamp, I lightly tapped across the top of the ATC and sprinkled with more white embossing powder. This gave the look of a snow flurry in the sky as well as some snow on the trees as well. I really love the look of this ATC. The finished result almost looks like a water colour landscape.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AUugRqOVr2g/UtOw8hsC2sI/AAAAAAAADxw/olDiCa6Ih8U/s1600/ATC+WinterWonderland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AUugRqOVr2g/UtOw8hsC2sI/AAAAAAAADxw/olDiCa6Ih8U/s1600/ATC+WinterWonderland.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
The ATC's I I received from the other members of the swap.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-4764886592686473732014-01-15T23:01:00.001+13:002014-01-15T23:02:08.915+13:00The Doodling Un-ChallengeI saw a cool doodling challenge that runs for the duration of January on the YouTube channel of a friend of a friend. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JAtxRyouI0&list=PLhr8_KTdvjEi7zbaUQJ1cl0zVljPP1aRC&index=1">Poetspice</a> on YouTube). I thought about doing it. I was inspired to do it but I didn't want to do the challenge if you know what I mean. So I thought about it some more, and some more and then some more and before I knew it, the first week was over and more importantly I was back to work. (My Christmas break was so not long enough. I had barely achieved that totally relaxed state and was ready to do all those things I had planned to during my time off but reality had other plans.)<br />
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As I diligently packed my bag for work the next day, I decided to throw in an small art journal and a small plastic bag with a pencil, eraser and a selection of black pens. I made up my mind to play along but without formerly signing up to the challenge.</div>
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It's Summer here (all be it a bit cool for what I would really refer to as Summer) but it's still well and truly nice enough to to head outside for lunch to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. I am really lucky that I am working at an educational facility at the moment so there are plenty of seating, sheltered and grassed areas to sit on and around and enjoy the outside.</div>
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I had my lunch and still had some time to spare so I opened my art journal and started to doodle. By the time I finished the first page, I had made up my mind to undertake the challenge but without completing the challenge. </div>
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In coming up with a theme for my doodling I decided:</div>
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<li>Each day's journal would include the day number somewhere as a significant part of the doodle; and</li>
<li>I would only use black pens for my doodles, of varying widths.</li>
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Here are my doodles for the first week... one per day (well two per day until I had caught up). Some were very quick, completed in less than 15 minutes (what was left of my lunch break). Others took several sittings over the course of a day or two.</div>
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Day 1 - Flower</div>
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Day 2 - Swirls</div>
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Day 3 - Geometric Patches </div>
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Day 4 - Stretched</div>
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Day 5 - Heart Pillow</div>
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Day 6 - Flames</div>
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Day 7 - Seventh Heaven</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-46093463505992091402014-01-15T17:00:00.000+13:002014-01-15T17:00:02.929+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge 2 of ?I received this first card from my friend Brenda to say Hello, Merry Christmas and thank you for hosting some of the swaps on Artistic Creationz this year. It was a lovely surprise and I really love the rosette flower she made for the front.<br />
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These other cards are from the lovely ladies at Artistic Creationz who joined in the Christmas Card swap.</div>
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Very cute card... hedgehog is made using FlowerSoft (I think that's what it's called).</div>
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Cute little wee card with tag.</div>
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Hand painted card. Love the postal stamp on the envelope, so had to include that as well.</div>
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Easel card with a difference. Love the difference!</div>
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The lilac is a beautiful metallic look paper that this picture just does not show how lovely it is.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-85223162217510791672014-01-14T23:15:00.001+13:002014-01-14T23:23:43.857+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge... what should have happened but didn't... 1 of ?I had all these great plans for the 2013 Christmas Craft Challenge here on my blog. It started off well... then it rapidly turned upside down and inside out and just became an EPIC FAIL!<br />
My kids returned from a holiday down country and brought me back a very special gift... a lung infection. They had it and gave it to me, my husband and then my mother-in-law, who also lives with us.<br />
This pretty much wiped me out. Throw in that I was temping (and still am) at the time... and it all just snowballed.<br />
I've been looking for work since February 2013, so finally securing some work in November (thankfully just before Christmas, so it meant we were actually going to have a Christmas), it was important that I not do anything to jeopardize this work. So I kept working... which nearly killed me. After a full day of working I was heading home to bed... at 5.00 pm in the afternoon... before my 4 1/2 year old grand daughter. Unfortunately this meant that something had to be given up... and that was my crafting... all of it.<br />
I finally felt over my flu a few days before Christmas, but by then it was a little bit too late to carry on. I didn't want to let you down so I will now belatedly share my Christmas Crafts as well as some I received from some totally awesome crafty friends... and some Christmas goodies I received on Christmas day!<br />
There's too much for one blog post... but it won't be one craft per day... so hopefully you enjoy!<br />
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STAR GARLAND:<br />
This was made using recycled corrugated cardboard, jute string, embroidery thread and Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive.<br />
Trim corrugated cardboard into desired shape and sizes. I cut mine into stars - two different sizes. I carefully pulled one side off each star to reveal the corrugations then adhered two of the larger stars back to back with the string between. I wrapped metallic embroidery thread around the smaller stars randomly before adhering these on top of the larger stars to both sides of the garland. I ended up with 20 or so star groups on my garland.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_byuKT47YuA/UtOMA-DwoqI/AAAAAAAADuk/T5s8jd2b6i4/s1600/Garland1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_byuKT47YuA/UtOMA-DwoqI/AAAAAAAADuk/T5s8jd2b6i4/s1600/Garland1.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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GIFT TAGS:<br />
Cardstock (kraft), tissue paper, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Ranger Archival Ink, Tsunkineko VersaMark Ink, Lindy's Stamp Gang Embossing Powders.<br />
Lightly stamp white tissue paper with the stamp of your choice. Be sure to use Ranger Archival Ink or Staz-on Ink so that when you adhere the tissue paper onto the cardstock, the ink doesn't run. Cut the cardstock to size - about 4" x 2". When the ink has dried completely, lightly coat the cardstock with liquid adhesive such as Mod Podge or Elmer's Glue then lay onto the back of the stamped tissue paper. Don't worry if the tissue goes on wrinkled as it all adds to the texture of the finished item. Repeat with as many cardstock backs are you can fit on the tissue paper, then set aside to dry.<br />
When the adhesive is dried, gently tear the excess tissue paper from around the outside of the cardboard. Again don't worry if you don't rip the edge straight or some of the tissue pulls off the front of the cardboard. It all adds texture to the finished item.<br />
Ink around the edge of the tag with Tim Holtz Distress Inks - I used Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Walnut Ink. Heat set with heat tool.<br />
Stamp chosen image with VersaMark Ink then generously sprinkle with Lindy's Stamp Gang Embossing Powder. Shake off excess embossing powder and set image with heat tool.<br />
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I have to confess these Christmas cards are not my best work... but I still like the end result. I used some card bases from a K & Co card kit I received in a swap (a number of years ago). I die cut the frame for the front of the card and heat embossed the image as above using a stamp I received free from a magazine. I applied a thin line of glue around the edge of the frame and adhered coordinated glitter.<br />
I cut apart some small holly sprigs I had purchased from The Warehouse then adhered these around the edge of the frame before adhering it onto the front of the card using double sided foam adhesive squares.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567997119143852390.post-70571815509285744712013-12-02T18:00:00.000+13:002013-12-02T18:00:11.940+13:00Christmas Craft Challenge - Day 2I picked up a paper mache star when I went looking for some Halloween goodies. It was slightly deformed (a bit like me lol) but it was cheap so it was in my non-existent budget!<br />
I'm the type of person who can't really sit there doing nothing... not even while watching television, so while I was catching up on some YouTube videos I pulled out the star and decided to do something with it. I didn't really have a plan just went with whatever I was feeling in the moment.<br />
I started by stamping some images onto a sheet of white tissue paper after I cut the tissue paper into four equal pieces as the full sheet was massive. I picked out some wooden Christmas Tree stamps from my stash as well as a StazOn ink "Cactus Green" and some Ranger Archival Ink "Library Green". I picked these inks in particular because they are waterproof and I'd decided to decoupage ripped up pieces of tissue paper onto the star to provide the background to whatever would happen next.<br />
To decoupage the tissue onto the star base, I used a 50/50 mix of Elmer's Glue and water. I painted the glue mix onto the star then adhered torn up pieces of the stamped tissue paper onto the star before coating them over the top again to ensure I had good adhesion of all the tissue paper. I crisscrossed the tissue paper to ensure that the entire star had at least a double layer of tissue paper.<br />
For the next layer I placed the tissue wrapped star in an old shoe box that I use as a misting box (to prevent mist from ending up everywhere). I misted it generously with Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst - Freaky Franken Lime Mist and Moon Shadow Golden Doubloons. I misted in several layers, drying with my heat tool between each layer. Once I was happy with the overall colour, I then splattered more of the Moon Shadow Golden Doubloons Mist to add a real grungey/aged look to the star.<br />
To finish off the look (so it looks like a Vintage ornament that has been handed down through the generations, rather than one made five minutes ago) I inked the edges of the star around the outside edge as well as the edges into the central point of the star using Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain.<br />
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Above - Without camera flash - I love the depth and warmth of the colour in this picture. It's more true to the real colour and really shows up the grungey vintage colouring of this ornament.</div>
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Below - With camera flash - the colours appear a little duller but the shimmer from the Lindy's Stamp Gang Mists really stands out like it does in real life.</div>
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Below - a couple of close-ups of the finished star. The dark green lines showing through are from the stamped images on the tissue paper.</div>
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I really love the "water marks" created by splattering the Lindy's Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Golden Doubloon and then drying it with the heat tool to speed up the process so the mist doesn't have time to blend as much with whatever other colours are on the project.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03941736882559955724noreply@blogger.com2