Live Inspired

A little mixed media piece I created using Finnabair pastes combined with a Relic piece from Prima (Sandra Evertson).

I used a Prima Tray as my base coloured with Dina Wakley Heavy Body Acrylic. The background has been created using Finnabair's Rust Pastes applied through a stencil.

I added book pages to the centre which I crumpled and tore to add age and I also added one of my favourite Relic pieces to the centre.

I added a small embroidery hoop for added dimension.

Expression is taken from a book page and I also added some cotton threads and rusty tin wire for added texture.

I also added numbers from Tim Holtz Idea-ology along with a few Remnant Rubs. Original is another piece torn from a book page.

I love how in this picture all the layers are visible. I also wrapped rusty tin wire around the embroidery hoop, again for added texture.

To complete I added "Live Inspired" to the top of my tray. I also aged the Relic piece by giving it a wash of Raw Umber DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Stay Curious

I had a play day recently just for fun with a friend and these are the results.

It was fun to just play for no reason but fun. The idea was to combine vintage finds with any of our craft items and mediums. I altered an old cigar box using DecoArt Media products, Relic Pieces and Prima Artisan Powder along with added embellishments and bits and pieces.

The spoon which holds the Relic piece was from a car boot sale, I love the edge detail on the spoon. Torn papers and wire are added to a torn piece of Alice in Wonderland book page. The beads are from an old set of earrings.

I aged the Relic piece and the spoon with the Prima Artisan Powder and backed everything onto a Mega Crackle backdrop using DecoArt Media products.

I also included an old door handle which fitted perfectly over the spoon along with some circles of wire for added texture.

The book page was aged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

The text "Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures" is computer generated. The picture is from one of my vintage shopping trips along with the cherub and mushroom.

The hessian added behind is for added texture to the design, I love adding texture to  my work.

A little fairy added to the top of the cherub and metal leaves added from an old necklace.

A rusty heart and moss add further texture.

The cigar box is surrounded by crackle texture.

Thanks so much for popping by. Hope you are all enjoying the festive build up to the big day. Tracy x x

DREAMER

Welcome to my monthly piece for Eileen Hull's Art With Heart Challenge. This month we are doing something a little different; all the designers have been challenged to create a simple project that is simple to create and not too time consuming.

I already had the Passport Book die cut from kraft card on my desk so this was my starting point. The next step was to add simple decoration and technique. I began by tearing masking tape randomly and then adhering to the front cover. I then used a blow torch (one you would use for cooking) and hovered over the masking tape to burn (a technique from Andy Skinner); it works perfectly and is so simple and adds a lovely aged feel to the project. I then added a Prima Relic piece from Sandra Evertson which I coloured with a touch of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic; dabbing off the excess paint with a piece of kitchen towel. I added a circle of rusty wire behind the Relic piece and then added delicate splatters of Gathered Twigs Distress Spray stain along with scratchy lines using an old credit card and DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic. I also added a couple of pieces of masking tape to the Relic piece, again burning with a blow torch. "dreamer of dreams" has been added to the face using Remnant Rubs. A touch of simple stamping completes the front cover.

The inside pages have been decorated very simply. A couple of strips of burnt masking tape, a few delicate splatters of Distress Spray Stain and some simple sentiment stamping.

Continuing with the simplicity throughout the book.

Gathered Twigs Distress Ink has been applied to all the edges to add to the aged worn feel of the book.

Continuing the theme to the back cover.

A couple of close up shots to show the detail!

The rustic tones, monochromatic colours, splatters and torn burnt paper all add to the rustic aged feel.

A simple dream kraft Chitchat sticker has been included for added interest.

To join in our challenge simply pop along to the blog HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Eileen Hull Art With Heart Challenge - Favourite Things

Welcome time for another monthly challenge with Eileen Hull's Art With Heart Challenge and this time around we are looking at "Favourite Things".

I love anything that is mixed media, paint, using my dies and so incorporated them all into my pieces today and had great fun along the way.

My angel has a small dolls head added to a cardboard base which I have covered in Alice in Wonderland book pages and then she has been painted with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Cobalt Teal Hue and Yellow Green Light.

I have added a Tim Holtz Monocle to her head along with an icing funnel for her Christmas Hat. She also has a star charm hanging from her Monocle. Her faces has been painted with Titanium White Paint which I allowed to dry and I then added Burnt Umber Media Fluid Acrylic over the top, applying a little paint at a time and then dabbing off the excess with a baby wipe.

Her bodice has pieces die cut from white card using Eileen Hull's Baners and Pennants Thinlits Die, perfect detail for her dress.  I love how the book pages are still visible!

I used Treasure Gold Wax to highlight the detail on the die cut pieces. I also added Textured Snowflakes to the body using Tim Holtz Layering Stencil and added 'angel' using computer generated text. I also added touches of Snow using a DecoArt Snow Writer.

I also decorated an Artist Trading Block, die cut with Eileen Hulls's Block/Cube die. I added the Needle Book to the top of the block but this time around used it in a mixed media piece. The ATB has been painted with DecoArt Fluid Acrylics Cobalt Teal Hue and Yellow Green Light. I have also added stars applying Texture Paste through Tim Holtz Layering Stencil.

The Needle Book has been painted with Titanium White Fluid Acrylic, allowed to dry and then I applied Texture Paste randomly around the book. Once dry I then painted with Burnt Umber Fluid Acrylic, applying a little paint at a time and then dabbing any excess away with a baby wipe. I added a birthday candle to the inside and added 'christmas wish' using computer generated text. I also applied Treasure Gold Wax randomly around the book.

I added a small Christmas tree to the inside of the book set onto some white cheesecloth for added interest and texture. I sprayed the tree with Tarnished Brass Distress Spray Stain.

For added texture I also applied a layer of Crackle Glaze to the ATB and then added Raw Umber Antiquing Cream to highlight the cracks and then added a layer of Matt Medium to seal. I also added delicate splatters of Tarnished Brass Distress Spray Stain.

The stars have had a layer of Texture Paste added to each one and then painted with Titanium White Fluid Acrylic and once dry painted with Burnt Umber Fluid Acrylic, once again dabbing off the excess paint with a baby wipe. Touches of Treasure Gold Wax have also been added to the stars and all the edges of the ATB.

I also included a Sandra Evertson Prima Relic piece to one side which I again painted with DecoArt Fluid Acrylics. She is adhered to a piece of Cheesecloth and I addede 'ange' using computer generated text. I have also added Crackle Glaze randomly around the edges.

I applied Texture Paste over Tim Holtz Stars Layering Stencil to add texture and dimension to the back of the Needle Book.

A Sandra Evertson Prima Relic piece has also been added to the centre of the Needle Book along with a Finnabair metal piece behind. My angel has had rusty bells added which I coloured with Wax and she has a clay star on her wing.

I would also like to link this to the Emerald Creek Dares Challenge which this time around is "Show us your holiday creations".

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Christmas Angel

I took some time out from deadlines and DT commitments to just have some fun and decided to join in with Sandra Evertson's Merry Christmas Ornament Challenge.

I decided to create a Christmas Angel. She is covered in book pages from an Alice in Wonderland paperback.

This is what I started with. I removed the head and replaced with a dolls head.

The paints I used are DecoArt Fluid Acrylics Cobalt Teal Hue, Yellow Green Light for the body and wings and Burnt Umber with a touch of Quinacridone Gold with a base coat of Titanium White for the head. I applied the Titanium White first as the base coat allowed to dry and then roughly applied a mix of Burnt Umber mixed with a touch of Quinacridone Gold over the top, dabbing off the excess paint with a baby wipe.

I was pleased with how the face turned out and I added a few Remnant Rubs for added interest. I also gave her a crown which I found in an antique store and coloured with touches of Treasure Gold Waxes.

Around her neck she is wearing a Sandra Evertson Prima Relic Chandelier Pendant Embellishment attached with rusty wire.

I love how the book pages are still visible under the paint. I added computer generated text along with some DecoArt Crackle Glaze randomly to the wings and body. I used a Pitt Pen to highlight the text around the edges.

Snowflakes have been added using Tim Holtz Layering Stencil and Texture Paste. I also added delicate splatters of Titanium White to the backdrop.

I love all the layers that are clearly visible, the book pages, the Texture Paste element, painted layers and Remnant Rubs.

ChitChat Stickers have been added to one wing and I have added rusty wire around each of the wings for added texture, secured into place with a Tiny Attacher.

I die cut snowflakes from copper sheets die cut with Tim Holtz Stacked Snowflakes Die and added snowflake embellishments to the top. I heated the copper until it changed colour, you can't see from this picture but the copper really does have an array of colours from heating.

I really had fun making this piece...now back to the deadlines!

I would also like to enter my Christmas Angel into the following challenges:

 Anything But Cute Challenge - "It's Ornamental"

Wednesday's Creative Inspirations Challenge 336 - Festive Fun

Thanks for stopping by. Tracy x x