"Go Team"

Today I am showcasing one of the new releases from Artistic Outpost, the Go Team stamp set. The Artistic Outpost Design Team are all creating with the new release this week and we have a fun Blog Hop to inspire you.

I began by painting my background with London Bus Fresco Finish Paint and drying with my heat tool. I then applied Fresco Finish Crackle Glaze and again dried with my heat tool until I had a matt finish and I then applied a final coat of Little Black Dress and the cracks appear almost immediately. Whilst the paint was still wet I rubbed away some of the areas with a piece of kitchen towel to age my piece a little.

Once my layers of paint were completely dry I then applied a random coat of Gesso to the centre of the card and dried with my heat tool.

I stamped the young boy with Black Archival Ink onto the Gesso area and then dried with my heat tool. I then stamped the same image onto a piece of scrap paper, cut it out to create a mask and placed the mask onto the focal image and then stamped the background image, once again with Black Archival Ink and dried with my heat tool. I added touches of red to the boy using my Polychromo pencils. I added "Go Team" to a twig which I painted lightly with paint and then adhered to the card.

To add further interest I added scratchy lines using an old credit card and London Bus Fresco Finish Paint along with a few splatters of paint.

My fellow team members have created wonderful pieces to inspire you along the blog hop:

Lisa
Shari 

Kate
Terry

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Eileen Hull Art With Heart Challenge

This is my second post for our Eileen Hull Art With Heart Challenge this month, my first post can be found HERE. Our theme is Hauntings and Holidays and as this is probably the last chance I will have to make something for Halloween that was the obvious choice for me.

I decided to decorate Eileen Hull's die cut suitcase (this die will be available once again next year) I die cut the suitcase from mountboard and then added DecoArt Media Crackle Paste to areas of the case. I pressed the Sandra Evertson Relic Skull into the wet Paste and then I allowed the Paste to dry completely and then  painted with two coats of DecoArt Media Cobalt Turquoise Hue Fluid Acrylic.

I added layers of DecoArt Media Crackle Paste to the inside of the case along with some areas of DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste to add texture to the design. Once again I pressed another of Sandra Evertson Relic pieces into the wet Paste and allowed to dry. Once completely dry I then painted with two coats of Cobalt Turquoise Hue.

Once I was happy with my base coat I then added touches of Burnt Umber Fluid Acrylic, paying special attention to the edges and cracks and ridges. I repeated this process throught the case, using a pouncing action with my brush to add the paint. I like to add a little at a time to add layers and I then allowed to dry.

I used my vintage typewriter to add "ENCASED" text to the case and also included some rusty chain, which is actually plastic chain which I have treated with layers of paint.

Once I was happy with the layers of Burn Umber I then added touches of Quinacridone Gold Fluid Acrylic, once again adding a small amount at a time.

For the final layer I added a very small touch of Carbon Black Fluid Acrylic. To tone down the Turquoise a little and to age I applied a dirty wash over the top which I also applied to each of the Relic pieces.

I also applied a wash of Paynes Grey over each of the Relic piecec, this really highlighted the cracks beautifully.

I would like to enter this into the DecoArt Media Mixed Media Haunts Challenge along with the Emerald Creek Halloween Special Challenge.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Halloween Coffin

Morning, hope you are all enjoying your weekend. We have another fabulous challenge for you over at the Love to Create Challenge Blog where the theme is Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes.

We are approaching Halloween so it only seemed appropriate to create something to celebrate!

 I began by sticking a plastic skeleton onto my cardboard coffin box and allowing to dry completely.

I then die cut pieces of  Iron Gate from black card using Tim Holtz Sizzix Iron Gate On the Edge Die and adhered them to the coffin, adding pieces of the die cuts around the whole outside bottom edge of the coffin. I then painted the whole box inside and out with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Carbon Black and allowed to dry completely.

I added a witches hat to my skeleton along with a spider from Tim Holtz Alpha Parts along with some plastic chain for added dimension.

I applied VersaMark Ink to all the areas of my Coffin and then applied Rich Gold, Light Gold and Bronze PanPastels to the box, blending the colours with a soft art sponge, applying more colour where necessary.

I also added touches of Metallic PanPastels to the hat and spider. I then took some time to apply Black Coarse Pearl Medium PanPastel randomly around the box and then added touches of Silver PanPastel to add further to the metallic/aged metal look. I also included seasonal ChitChat Stickers, applying Black Coarse Pearl Medium PanPastel to the edges of each sticker.

To seal the PanPastels I sprayed lightly with Hairspray.

I would like to enter this piece into the DecoArt Mixed Media Haunts Challenge along with the Emerald Creek Dares Halloween Special.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

PanPastel Rich Gold Metallic	Silver Metallic PanPastel	Black COARSE Pearl Medium for PanPastels	PanPastel Light Gold Metallic	Metallic Bronze
Soft Tools

Fashion Fades, Only Style Remains The Same.

I am showcasing one of the stamp sets from the new release, the Vintage Fashion stamp set from Artistic Outpost.

I have opted for a vintage feel to this piece decorating the background with Vintage Photo Distress Ink; applying the ink directly to a non-stick craft sheet and then spritzing with water and mopping up the beads of ink with the card and then drying with a heat tool. I then dabbed the card back into the remaining ink and dried with a heat tool to add layers of colour.

I applied DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Carbon Black to the lid from one of my containers and pressed the inked lid onto my background, repeating three times and then dried with a heat tool.  Each circle was then painted with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Titanium White and once again dried with a heat tool and I then coloured each circle with Gelatos, blending the colours with my finger. Imagery from the Vintage Fashion stamp set was then stamped into each of the circles using Black Archival Ink and then dried with a heat tool to prevent any smudging. I stamped a piece of scrap card with the background stamp using Ground Espresso Distress Ink and then stamped the bodice over the text using Black Archival Ink; I love how the text is visible over the bodice! I also included a piece of burlap ribbon behind for added texture.

I also used the background stamp from the Vintage Fashion stamp set to add random stamping, using Vintage Photo Distress Ink for a tone on tone effect. Random machine stitching has also been added for a further layer of interest.

More layers of stamping have been added to the top corner, once again using the background stamp, this time stamping once with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and then a second time with Ground Espresso Ink; both layers of stamping clearly visible. I love adding layers to my designs!

I also stamped the inside of my card with the bodice imagery, using Black Archival Ink to echo the design on the front.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Holiday Greetings

Morning, hope you are all enjoying your weekend. We have another fabulous challenge for you over at the Love to Create Challenge Blog where the theme is Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes.

I decided to get a head start on some of my seasonal makes this week, creating a Christmas Card using the fabulous Metallic PanPastels. I cut a piece of black card and embossed with Tim Holtz Texture Fade and I then applied VersaMark Ink directly to the embossed background and then applied Rich Gold, Light Gold and Bronze PanPastels to the background and then blended the colours with a soft art sponge; applying further PanPastels where necessary to achieve the desired depth of colour. Silver PanPastel was then applied lightly to the raised areas and I then added touches of Black Coarse Pearl Medium PanPastel to the edges and then sprayed the decorated piece with a light spray of hairspray to seal the Pastels.

I die cut a poinsettia from black card using a Tim Holtz Sizzix Die, embossed each layer of the poinsettia and then coloured with the Metallic PanPastels. I then placed the layers of the poinsettia together securing in place with a star brad.

I placed a black panel behind the poinsettia so that it did not get lost against the background and then added two Memo Pins for the Holiday Greetings sentiment.

Silver twine was also added for further interest along with silver metal corners.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

PanPastel Rich Gold Metallic	Silver Metallic PanPastel	Black COARSE Pearl Medium for PanPastels	PanPastel Light Gold Metallic	Metallic Bronze
Soft Tools

Christmas Robin

Time for my weekly post for Artistic Outpost.

I have another Christmas card for you this week, I hope working ahead will make it a little less of a rush nearer to the Christmas season! I applied Drawing Gum randomly to my background and allowed to dry. I then applied water to the card with a paintbrush and then dipped my paintbrush into Brushos and dipped into the wet areas on my card, I then moved the card around to allow the ink to run and then dried with my heat tool. I then rubbed away the Drawing Gum; any ink resists the Gum.

I then stamped the Robin from the Birds of a Feather stamp set onto the background using Potting Soil Archival Ink. To add further interest I added stencilled stars randomly to the background using Fired Brick Distress Ink and the Stars Layering Stencil.

I added touches of background stamping using the background stamp from the Ephemera Backgrounds stamp set. I then stamped the sentiment 'Happy Christmas' from the Snowy Woods stamp set. To add a further layer of interest I added delicate splatters of Tarnished Brass Distress Paint.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

See no evil, Speak no evil, Hear no evil.

Morning, hope you are all enjoying your weekend. We have another fabulous challenge for you over at the Love to Create Challenge Blog where the theme is Anything Creative/Mixed Media Goes.

 This week I decided to alter an Artist Trading Block which I have die cut from mountboard using Eileen Hull's Block Cube Die. I then cut pieces to fit all the sides of my block and coloured each one with a layer of PanPastel Turquoise Tint, to lay down a first layer of colour.

I then placed the Tim Holtz Splotches Layering Stencil onto the background and then applied Turquoise Shade and touches of Turquoise Extra Dark PanPastels over the stencil and then sprayed with a light spray of hair spray to fix the pastels. I added touches of background stamping using the 'Rugged Edge' stamp set, stamping with Watering Can Archival Ink, using first and second generation stamping.  I then stamped the fabulous 'Jane' image from IndigoBlu with Black Archival Ink.

I repeated the stencilling and colouring with PanPastels around each side of the ATB and again stamped 'Jane' but this time only stamped half her face to this side. I added text to all sides of the cube, see no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil. I also added delicate splatters and scratchy paint lines with Cadmium Red Hue DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic. I love the pops of red against the background.

On a couple of the sides I have added circles applying DecoArt Carbon Black Fluid Acrylic to a lid and stamping onto the background, then painting the circle with Titanium White Fluid Acrylic and drying with a heat tool. I then coloured the larger circle with Gelatos and blended using my finger. I stamped ART (a Wendy Vecchi stamp) with Black Archival Ink.

To add a touch more texture I also applied DecoArt Crackle Glaze to each of the panels.

I stamped 'Jane' onto a piece of scrap card and then die cut pieces using Tim Holtz postage stamp thinlits label and added shading with PanPastel Turquoise Shade.

I added two broken paintbrushes to the top of the ATB and added drips of paint and rusty wire for added interest.

I would also like to enter my ATB into the Craft Stamper October Take it, Make it Challenge which this month is:

October Challenge:
'Take A Technique' 
Use one or more of the following processes in your art:
Ink Stitch Paint Collage Print Paper
(and include stamping somewhere!)

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

PanPastel Turquoise Shade

PanPastel Turquoise Extra Dark

PanPastel Turquoise Tint

Black COARSE Pearl Medium for PanPastels

Soft Tools