The Bookshop

Morning, I think everyone must be gearing up for the Christmas Season. I know I am, loads to do and running out of time to fit it all in. Today, I am sharing another project I made using the beautiful Bee Crafty Steam Punk paper pad which Bev brought to Hochanda. I really love the designs on these papers, they are wonderful to use, each one is a piece of art in it's own right and would look wonderful in a frame with very little done or added.

I chose to make a very simple design using this sheet from the pad, I selected the area I wanted to use and stuck it to a piece of board using Cosmic Shimmer Glue.

Using Gathered Twigs Distress Ink I stamped the Large Feather stamps onto Kraft card. I also stamped the Ink Pot with the same ink before using Versamark and brass embossing powder to stamp the nibs (both in the same stamp set).

I used some of my alcohol markers to colour parts of the design to highlight the characters. Finally I cut out the other elements and secured them to my piece using 3D glue gel.

Thank you so much for joining me today, I hope you like what I have shared and the short step by step. Take care and Happy Crafting.xxx

Make a Wish

Morning, This is one of the projects I made for Bev's MDF launch show on Hochanda, live from Alexandra Palace. I wanted to add a frame to this large piece and to create and almost 3D look with real depth, like the layered glass images you sometimes see. I used the beautiful Dandelion set for this, it's such a wonderful set of stamps with such great detail as do all of the BEAUtanicals.

To start with, I took a piece of cardboard and cut it to the same size as the MDF. Then using a square die I cut an aperture that would give a large enough window for the design while still keeping enough of the frame for the support needed.

Next I cut some thick wadding to the same size as the frame I had cut from the cardboard.

I coloured the back section of my MDF with Black Soot Distress Ink, the MDF has such a super smooth finish and takes inks extremely well, without any need for an undercoat. I wanted to keep the smooth surface for this piece.

On this back section I used Versamark to stamp the Sentiment, Dandelion and Seed Heads, then embossed with White detail embossing powder, making sure that the design fitted within the frame. To add the other layers I used squares of acetate large enough to fit behind the frame. Taking the first sheet I overlaid it onto the MDF stamped image to allow me to position the next layer of stamping, for these I used white Stayzon Ink. I repeated this for my next layer. When these were both dry, I secured them in turn using foam tape to give the distance between layers.

I took a square of cream calico  and stamped the dandelion seed heads around the area where the frame would be. I stamped them in both Black Versafine Ink and Versamark to act as a resist. Then I dyed the fabric using a blue denim fabric dye.

Once dry, I cut the centre so I could cover the frame. I stretched and secured around the inner frame using Cosmic Shimmer glue. 

Because of the tab at the bottom I just folded this edge and secured above the tab. The other 3 sides were secured with Wonder Tape and Cosmic Shimmer glue.

I covered the base/stand with the same fabric I had used for the frame and cut out the slit.

To finish I secured the frame to my base with Cosmic Shimmer glue.

I hope you like this project and the step by step I have shared with you today, I thoroughly enjoyed making it and sad that I had to send it for the show.Take care and Happy Crafting.xx

Dance In The Rain

Morning, Today I am using one of the trees from the 'Tree and Branch' Set that Bev launched on Hochanda a couple of weeks ago. Sam has made a fabulous job and I have really loved using the whole collection.

I cut a piece of white Super Smooth card measuring 8'' square. I drew a very wonky and broken border around the card in pencil to create a frame. I masked this with Pebeo Drawing Gum to keep the area white while I continued with the design.

I tore a piece of copier paper to create a landscape. As the card was going to be visually two sides, I used mowed lawn across the whole piece and then added Iced Spruce Distress ink to the right hand side.

I then added another layer of hills using the same inks.

Next I added a mountain range, again using the same Distress Inks.

I stamped the tree, then placed a moon/sun mask just rising over the horizon.

I replaced the negative of the mountain mask, then added the positive to divide the card. I added clouds, rather heavily using Iced Spruce as I was going to create a stormy sky but still wanted the clouds to show a little. To create the stormy look I used more Iced Spruce and Blueprint Sketch.

Then I splashed with water onto the sky to lift some of the ink to give atmosphere and to give the illusion of rain.

I removed the masks and used the other one to mask my stormy sky. 

I then created an early morning sky with the sun rising. For the sky I used Shaded Lilac. I coloured the sun using Scattered Straw and then blended from the bottom with Wild Honey. I also decided to add a couple more trees, to do this I used the main tree and masked off, this gave more perspective. Using Cosmic Shimmer Glue, I added green flowersoft to the sunny side of my tree.

Next I added some coloured flowersoft to make some blossom.

Finally I added the sentiment that I had backed onto grey pearlescent card with foam tape, I had shaded it using the Shaded Lilac and Iced spruce to tie it into the card.

Thank you ever so much for joining me today. I really hope you like what I have shared and the step by step of how this was created. I hope you will join me again next time.xx