Remember, remember the 5th of November...at Stamps and Stencils

Hi everyone, time for our November challenge over at Stamps and Stencils, hosted by the lovely and talented Toni. Here's what Toni wants us to do.

I've got a 'bonfire night' challenge for you this month. As a child, I used to love bonfire night. My dad would come home from work with a box of fireworks and packets of sparklers for us and we couldn't wait to get outside and enjoy the show! I'd love to see your art works based on fire and fireworks. Think bursts of colour. Let rip with the colour sprays, glitter, and paints. Let's have a bit of fun and brighten up these dark days with COLOUR ! Just remember it must be mixed media and include stamps or stencils or even both.

Now I haven't gone down a traditional route and stuck strictly to the fireworks brief but I have been inspired by the colours and splashes of brightness against a dark sky that you get with fireworks and created some journal pages using bright...and I mean BRIGHT colours.

 I used black gesso to cover some white pages and I was certainly impressed with the new Pebeo black gesso I had bought, great coverage! I wanted the colours to pop against the night sky.

I then used gelli printed deli paper to cover the pages.

I stuck to pinks, purples, orange and a touch of turquoise...the wrinkles add texture.

More printed paper and fluorescent and pearlescent paint. I retrieved my foam stamps that looked like a Catherine wheel, but in the end I didn't use them...that's the joy of going with the flow on an art journal page. Layering up.

Finger painting is always great fun.

I punched out circles of colour to add even more contrast.

One of my most used stencils is a joggles one and I think it looks like fireworks exploding.

Hopefully you can see all the layers building...and hopefully reminiscent of fireworks exploding in colour.

Having added all this colour I now needed to rein it in and create some contrast with black...

and white.

I painted some blocks of black so I could add more contrast and add some words. Now the words have nothing to do with bonfire night unless you need to brave on Bonfire night! The words of Dina Wakley seemed appropriate for me personally at the moment, be brave, be strong, but most of all...be kind. A little kindness can go a long way in this world...and on that note I wish you a happy crafting time and hope you'll all join in and be inspired by the Design Teams fabulous creations.

Ruth xx

In the Meadow at Stamps and Stencils

Hi everyone, time for our next challenge at Stamps and Stencils and this month the lovely Rachel has chosen the theme which is all about meadows...

'Meadows are such amazing places - lots of different grasses, wild flowers and wonderful wildlife. Let your imagination run wild ...and use stamps or stencils too! Enjoy!'

What a lovely topic, time for fresh spring colours and I created some journal pages which is something I've not done for a while.

I like working on Kraft card and scraped gesso and some of the new blue paints from Seth Apters winter set, think Venice Blue, Steel Grey and Double Denim are making an appearance today. Floral and square stencils used on the first layers.

I've used one of my own hand carved stamps here as it matched in quite well with the geometric  elements.

More layering and stamping with a  little Toffee and Caramel paint.

Glass Bead gel, Treasure Gold and Decoart White Crackle paste.

Sleight Blue and In the Navy infusions on glossy card stock before die cutting with Tim's Wildflower dies.

Isn't the effect pretty?

I used the waste as a stencil  too.

White textured 'earth' for the flowers to grow out of.

I do like texture..

Love the contrast of the glossy flowers against the background.

Hope you're inspired to join in, hop across here for more inspiration from the design team and as always thanks for stopping by. Ruth xx

Bobbin Book at PaperArtsy

Hi everyone, I always get excited when I have a post over on the PaperArtsy blog and tonight I'm sharing a little labour of love. I've made a mini book from a wooden reel that I've had in my stash and as serendipity would have it I'm combining some of the new Seth Apter paints (Set 3) with Alison Bomber's wonderful word plates.....I 'reely' enjoyed making this!

 Butter, Double Denim, Magic Moss and Blue Lagoon work beautifully together.

Hop across to the PaperArtsy blog for lots of photos. 

Lastly, I'm hoping this fits the bill for the February mini album makers challenge, it's on a spool but it's still a handmade book of sorts and it's certainly mini....

Thanks for stopping by. Ruth x

On the Bright Side at Stamps and Stencils

Hi everyone, welcome to a New Year and a new challenge over at Stamps and Stencils. It's my turn to host and here's what I want you to do....

'It may still be winter but it's a brand New Year, the days will be soon getting longer, and pops of bright colours will soon start to appear in the garden. This month I'd like you to dazzle us by using lots of bright colours in your Spring themed creations ...and don't forget to use stamps or stencils

Oh yes, I bet your eyes are open now! I just wanted to create something with those zingy colours that you get in Spring, in previous 'Spring' posts I have often talked about the acid colours and how I love lime green leaves, purple iris and crocus and all those fresh colours, so I did something I haven't done for ages and created some journal pages.

I started with gessoed pages of an old book and plumped for some crayola twistable stix (trying to revisit and use some crafty goodies). I didn't know where to start but remembered Donna Downey's advice and to just get something on the pages.

I scribbled in a few areas and spread it out so the pages were covered but some areas quite subtly. Love how it's picking up the texture. Next I used some Kim Dellow masks to wipe away some of the wax and decided to use a coordinating stamp set EKD06 too and stamped a few leaf sprigs.

A few Lindy's Stamp Gang spray drips and splashes.

Stencils with transparent gel mixed with Zesty Zing fresco paint and another chequerboard one with white fresco...and more splashes...a few orange paint splashes crept in too to help make the pages pop.

Fresco paint on card before stamping out and just love the contrast of the layered background with the uniformly coloured flowers. Popalicious or what?! (I know, I think spring fever has already visited me)

No apologies for using another quote from one of Alison Bombers wonderful stamp sets...and so me...I LOVE flowers!

Well I hope that's inspired you to change direction after the autumnal and wintry colours and make something bright and fun. Hop across for some more wonderful inspiration from the design team!

Thanks as always for stopping by...and wishing you all A Happy New Year!

2nd class post...

Hi everyone, I have an inspiration post over at Stamps and Stencils today, it's another envelope journal which I think you may have had an accidental sneaky peek of if you caught the video in my last post! It's all about technique school this month so I hope you'll hop across and peer in through the classroom window as there's still plenty of time to join with our challenge.

I've really been caught by the handmade journal bug recently and will be back soon with another one to share. Whatever you're doing....enjoy it! x

Technique School at Stamps and Stencils!

Hi everyone, over at Stamps and Stencils this month the theme is ... 

The lovely Autumn is our talented host this month and here's what she wants us to do...

'This month we want you to play teacher and share a favorite process or new experiment.  Document your findings with at least one process photo.  We can't wait to see your technique tutorials and new ideas!  Remember to use stamps or stencils or both! '

I've recently had great fun making envelope journals so thought I'd share a short video on how to assemble one (apologies if I sound a little quiet towards the end...think my family would say I'm muttering again!)

Brief step outs now and lots of photos...brayer any paint on before assembling....and yes the paint is called London Night NOT London Fog as I said in the video...oops!

I used crackle glaze underneath snowflake and chalk paint just to add a bit more texture.

I used a 'bump' stencil technique to create a shadow effect with the Seth Apter stencil, squid ink underneath gold fresco paint.

I wanted a contrast to the almost aubergine tones and chose chartreuse adding little flecks in. I used a Lin Brown stencil here and of course a little gold had to creep in too..

Stamped skeleton leaves and lace

Love this motif

Book text and UTEE

Lace, skeleton leaves and journalling

The final pages

I really hope you're tempted to join in and share a favourite technique..you only need to show one process shot....for even more inspiration please hop across and see what the rest of the DT have created but whatever you're doing...have fun! R x