TMTA: look into a face

Two posts in one day :) Even though it's Tuesday I decided to do the Think Monday Think ATC challenge as although I don't have many face stamps/images, I did buy this gorgeous girl recently. She's by Art Journey and I just love her expression. What I want to know is how could I make this ATC in minutes yet one I have to make with a Paris theme just won't happen!!!

playing with paint and scissors

I'm teaching a workshop on art journalling at Paddy's Stamping Place on Saturday 18th July and Tuesday 21st July '09 and have been working on a journal based on using rubber stamped images. I've been noting down the images I love and so today I worked on using houses -

I did the coloured background in the rain on Sunday and today I added dripped paint (I've been admiring artwork at my children's school using this effect, and Julie from The Land of Lost Luggage also uses this effect a lot). I think the piece is a bit busy but it's ok so is stopping in the journal!! I then discovered a gorgeous image of a Waybuloo character in the Radio Times. I love illustrations in children's picture books, and sketchy pencil drawings, but realised that these don't feature in my own artwork! Hmmm!

I'm much happier with this page. I scraped turquoise paint over it with a top-up card I got in Tesco. Aren't the phone companies generous giving away free paint tools ;) Then I pressed a fairly dry white ink pad down on the page and added some text stamping.

more afternoon bliss!

My daughter Sophie (12) and I spent the afternoon next to this lock near Marple, Stockport with our journals, just painting backgrounds. It was so relaxing, despite the rain. There's something about sitting in the rain when it's warm. The lock is one of a series of 16, all very close together, which I discovered by googling 'days out in lancashire'. It was only 20mins drive away and we'll definitely be returning :)

When I checked my phone I only had a handful of pictures from the Manchester Faculty of Art and Design degree show. My battery was going and I was hoping to go back with the kids but they weren't keen! I loved these ceramic pieces inspired by pebbles on the beach

and this piece was by someone doing a foundation degree. I love all the squares, and the texture of the piece.

The forecast is for a heatwave this week, temps up to 28deg. I don't do hot weather though so I may grab some time in my nice cool cellar sorting out my art materials, it's a tip and I really want to find my crackle paint ;)

an afternoon of pure bliss

...visiting the Faculty of Art & Design degree show 2009 at Manchester Metropolitan University.

My favourite section is always textiles and since you're not allowed to take photos in there I bought a brochure, and I have a fabulous collection of postcards now. I was very taken with the work of Lisa Stannard, so much so that I've ordered a print from her! I love the contrast of black and white with a hint of colour and she has a very painterly feel to her work.

Roses featured very heavily both in the textile exhibition and in the foundation art show. This work is by Laura Walker, BA (hons) textiles.

And how cool is this illustration by Kirsty Wingfield who studied illustration and animation!

More eye candy tomorrow :)

another fairy

This sweet little fairy ATC is for the monthly ATC swap I take part in, and am always running late with!!

Wendy's blog candy

Wendy from the Stamp Attic is offering this fab blog candy. For those who asked about my bird stamp, she's by Stampotique and I got her from Wendy :)

Wednesday Stamper: Spiders

..it's fab shoes and the ability to catch spiders !!!

I came across this spider stamp in my collection the other week and when I caught sight of this bird stamped on a piece of card on my table I knew it would look cute hanging from her beak and would mean I could enter Wednesday Stamper this week :)

coming along

My canvas is still a work in progress but I'm pleased with how it's coming along. Unfortunately the photo doesn't do it justice, and I ran out of paint so the blending between the colours isn't perfected yet. My favourite section is the silver squares - they look like textured foil but are only polyfilla and silver spray paint!!

I highlighted the wallpaper with paint on a dry brush. Next step is to buy more paint ;) and cut some more stencils. This canvas is huge, the biggest DunElm sold, so it's going to take a while to do.

what a week!

Hopefully this week'll be a bit calmer than the last one. I've had three close members of family visit A&E (hubby with knee infection but had to be checked for deep vein thrombosis; sister with suspected appendicitus; nephew cut head open falling on a step - they're all fine now), a daughter with a stomach virus, and I've been changing my tablets for depression as well as just having the plaster cast of my foot (it hurts, a lot!!) so all in all I've not managed any computer time never mind crafting!! However, I did make it to my 'contemporary canvas' class last Tues and since the last one is tonight I thought I'd better get my pics posted pronto!


I spent the evening adding texture to the canvas using wallpaper and polyfilla (spackle to my US friends I think!). I cut the flower from the wallpaper I am co-ordinating the canvas with and used it as a stencil to put the polyfilla through. I need to cut another one for tonight as I plan to paint the canvas, then stencil the flower again over the top.

I've also managed a bit of crocheting this last week. I find it helps when I'm feeling particularly 'edgy' ; then I read that apparently it's the new 'yoga' as the repetitive actions bring a state of calm! I've made up the pieces for a cupcake but haven't sewn it together yet. Last time I had a crochet moment I spent ages making flowers ...

I made one into a bag charm for a friend's birthday...

Sketch Challenge Winner

Hee hee :) The Craft Stamper Sketch Challenge winner is me! I did find it a challenge to work to a sketch for a card but I loved the result. I really, really like these peacock stamps from Elusive Images! Blues and greens with a bit of sparkle are definitely my colours.

theme thursday - people with hats

I can see myself getting seriously addicted to these little envelopes! I love working with this colour and it's not easy to get on card. These happy ladies were a free download here - thanks Gaby!

I actually bought the envelopes for my journal. I love stamping text on them then adding bits and pieces from the pad of paper I lean on when I'm stamping. They make great backgrounds as they end up with colours next to each other that I wouldn't normally choose to combine.

I put quite a few envelopes in the Radio Times book I made in a class with Sue Roddis I really, really enjoyed that workshop. It was one of those that you thoroughly enjoy, then go home and continue working on and keep on enjoying it!!

I put ATCs, tags or little pamphlets inside the envelopes.

Wednesday Stamper: Fairy

There was no way I could resist this week's Wednesday Stamper challenge!! I love fairies and this beautiful one was a purchase at Port Sunny.

The stamp is a canadian one from Enchanted Hollow. I painted a patch of white acrylic onto an envelope, stamped the fairy and added colour with watercolours before embellishing with scraps of paper and diamantes.

ps Oops, just been over to the website to provide the link above and there are some really, really gorgeous fairies. I feel a shopping spree coming on!

canvases with texture

I have just spent a great evening at my children's secondary school. They are running evening courses for parents and the one I signed up for was 'contemporary canvases'. The art department is to die for, it oozes the work of talented students, so it was fantastic just to work in such inspiring surroundings.

We were shown how to blend coloured emulsion and use masks, and how to add texture using caulk, polyfilla and glass paints. After practising these techniques on paper, we were let loose on a small canvas. My tree is a masked circle sprayed over with silver paint, with leaves added using glass paint liner. I'd like to add texture within the leaves using beads and embroidery thread.

The classes last for another two Tuesdays. Our homework for this week is to choose a canvas size to fit somewhere at home and design an image to go on it. We have been provided with an ideas sheet so we can use one of those or design our own. I'm planning on something based on a flower image. Will have to get the design passed by my husband ;)

beading in the sunshine

I'm involved in a corset round robin organised by Paddy. The corset I have at the moment has a metallic theme so after adding embossing powder and stamping into it I took it outside
and had a lovely time adding beads, brads, buttons and snap fasteners - very relaxing!

I just love the new tiny brads from Tim Holtz; they're little screw heads add extra charm.