HERO

Today I am showcasing the Paperboy stamp set once again from Artistic Outpost.

I have added the Paperboy focal image to a mixed media background.

I added a touch of background stamping using the Ephemera Background stamp and Distress Ink to add a tone on tone effect.

I stamped the Paperboy and then cut out the image and added shading using a grey pencil. This picture shows all the layers added to the background from Gesso resist to inking and stencilling.

Splatters of paint have been included along with Tissue Tape to ground the focal image

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Just For Fun!

I created a canvas today just for fun using Seth Apter's dies combined with Tim Holtz stamps.

I used Tim Holtz Undertaker stamp set as my focal images.

I began by brayering Hey Pesto Fresco Finish Paint across my canvas, using a light touch and then drying with  my heat tool.

The next layer was Beach Hut Fresco Finish Paint and again dried with a heat tool.

Next was a thin layer of  Taupe and then Chartreuse Fresco Finish Paints, again drying each layer of paint before applying the next layer. I then added a top coat of Cheescake to lighten a little.

I also added Chartreuse paint around the edges using my finger.

Touches of Beach Hut added to give subtle hints across the top, applying with my finger and then dried with a heat tool.

I added two colours of Fresco Finish Paint to two pieces of scrap card and then pressed them together and then dried with my heat tool.

I love the texture this gives when the card is pressed together. I also heated with my heat tool to create a few bubbles.

I then used Seth Apter's die to die cut from the coloured pieces of card.

Touches of rust have been added to the edges of the die cut pieces as a contrast against the background. I also added stencilling using Tim Holtz stencil and Quinacridone Gold DecoArt Fluid Acrylic Paint.

I applied Black Soot Distress Crayon around the edges of the canvas and around the edges of the die cut pieces.

Splatters of Titanium White paint lift the whole design.

Touches of background stamping with Black Archival Ink and Tim's stamps along with Jump Rings for added texture.

I then added the skull images as my focal imagery, keeping one image white with no colour as a contrast. I love how all the layers of paint are still visible within the design!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

You are the HERO in your own story.

Welcome to my weekly post for Artistic Outpost. Today I am showcasing the Paperboy stamp set once again.

I am loving the Gesso resist technique at the moment and the background to my tag has used this technique once again, applying Gesso over one of Tim Holtz number stencil and then applying Broken China Distress Ink over the Gesso once dried. The Gesso resists the ink.

I then added three circles; applying paint to an old lid and stamping onto the background. I then applied Distress Crayons Hickory Smoke and Mermaid Lagoon to the edges of each circle to add a touch of shading.

I added scribbly lines around each circle using a white pen and also added splatters of water to the background.

I added the sentiment from the Paperboy stamp set and also added splatters of white paint to the background.

I also added stamped numbers around each of the circles to echo the stencilled numbers in the background. The fabulous focal image from the Paperboy stamp set has been stamped with Black Archival Ink.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Write Your Story

Welcome to my weekly post for Artistic Outpost and today I am using the fabulous Paperboy stamp set.

My background has been created using PanPastels; applying the PanPastels to the background using a sponge and then adding circles using black paint. I then painted each circle with Titanium White paint, dried with my heat tool and then applied Gelatos to each of the circles, blending with my finger.

I stamped the focal image with Black Archival Ink and added random numbers to each of the circles.

A touch more stencilling has been added using the Dot Fade Layering Stencil and PanPastels.

Delicate splatters of white paint have been added along with a sentiment 'write your story' stamped using an alphabet set.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x

Botanicals Birdcage

Today I am back with a post for Craftstash using one of their fabulous Apple Blossom Dies - Botanicals Birdcage.

My first piece is a tag from the Fernli Designs Laser Cut tag range. You can find these tags HERE. I began by painting the tag with Raw Umber DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic and then drying with my heat tool. I then applied a good thick coat of DecoArt Media Crackle Paint and allowed to dry. Once the Crackle Paint was completely dry I then used a pair of scissors to scrape some of the edges and to add a few scratchy lines to age my piece a little.

I then die cut the birdcage from Craftstash and then aged with Finnabair's Rust Effect Paints.

I die cut the heart in the centre a second time, aged with the rust paints and then added to the centre for dimension. A few delicate splatters of Pyrrole Red DecoArt Fluid Acrylic add a pop of colour.

There is also a bird that comes with the Botanicals Birdcage die which I die cut and once again altered with the Finnabair Rust Paints. I also added a touch of rusty tin wire for added texture along with a flower which I created from tin wire. I created the flower first from the wire, added red paint to a piece of greaseproof paper and then placed the wire flower over the paint and then poured Liquitex Pouring Medium over the wire and allowed to dry completely overnight. Once dry I simply peeled the flower away from the greaseproof paper.

A touch of stencilling gives a little more interest to the background.

For my next piece I added a touch more colour and I also have a video for you below.

Below are a few close up pictures of the completed design.

I love the alcohol resist using Tim Holtz stencil in the background.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and leaving a comment, much appreciated. Tracy x

Paperboy

Today I am showcasing one of my favourite stamp sets from Artistic Outpost, the Paperboy stamp set.

The background has been created using an old credit card and various Distress Paints. Simply add the paints to a non-stick craft sheet, dip the credit card into the paints and swipe each of the paints across the card.

A touch of stencilling to the background gives further interest, using several varieties of stencils.

The focal image has been stamped and cut out and coloured with pencil crayons. Torn strips of book pages have also been added to ground the focal image.

Splatters of red and white paint have been added to the background.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

"Holiday Jumpstart" with Eileen Hull

Morning and welcome, today Eileen Hull's Design Team are showcasing a whole range of products to kickstart the holiday season; that could be Autumn, Halloween, Christmas, whatever takes your fancy!

I was on a roll and decided to create three projects whilst I felt inspired! I decorated a Pumpkin, created an Autumnal card and created an ATB using techniques from Tim Holtz tag for September 2016 which you can find HERE.

Beginning with the card I used a few of Andy Skinner's techniques to create this rustic card. I began by applying DecoArt Media Crackle Paste over Tim Holtz new leaf stencil allowing to dry completely before moving onto the next step.

Once the crackle was completely dry I then applied a wash of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Dark Grey Value 3. I simply added a small amount of paint to my non-stick craft sheet and then mixed with water. I then dried the first coat of the wash with my heat tool and then added a second coat of the wash; I repeated this process until I was happy. Whilst the paint was fluid and still quite wet on my third coat I added a few sprinkles of coarse sea salt and then allowed to dry naturally.

Once the salt/paint wash was completely dry, I removed any salt particles and then added a wash of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Quinacridone Gold to give that rusty tone and to age further. I applied a couple of coats of the Quinacridone Gold, drying between each application. I cut two leaves from a separate piece I created and this time painted with a more concentrated mix of the same paints. I then used Eileen Hull's Twist and Style Tool to add the spirals of rusty wire behind the leaves for added interest and texture. To complete, I added an 'autumn' sticker. Black Soot Distress Ink has been added around the edges of the panel for definition.

I then moved onto the pumpkin which was so much fun to decorate! I began by once again applying a wash of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylic Dark Grey Value 3 and then drying with my heat tool. I then repeated the same process several times and on the last layer I again added a few sprinkles of Coarse Sea Salt and allowed to dry. Once completely dry, I removed the salt and then added layers of a wash of Quinacridone Gold and then dried with my heat tool.

For added interest I then used Tim Holtz Leaf Stencil to add stencilled leaves around the pumpkin; applying DecoArt Media Titan Buff over the stencil; using a very light touch and then drying with my heat tool. I used Andy Skinner's Toxic stamp set to add a touch of background stamping using Black Archival Ink; stamping with the stamp as is and not applying to an acrylic block. Stamping is much simplified this way as you can bend the stamp around the curved areas. I repeated this process with the leaves from Tim Holtz Leaf Prints stamp set, again stamping with Black Archival Ink.

The Fig. stamp is from Tim Holtz Undertaker stamp set which I thought worked perfectly with the leaf imagery.

I love my rusty flower which has been cut from coffee filter papers using Eileen Hull's Flower, Romance die. I added Quinacridone Gold and Raw Umber Fluid Acrylic to a spritz bottle, added water and then spritzed the flower with the mixes. I scrunched the flower whilst wet and then allowed to dry completely. Once completely dry I added a touch more intense colour with the paints using my finger. I added one of Finnabair's rusty stars to the centre to add to the rustic tones. Once again I used Eileen Hull's Twist and Style Tool to add the spirals of rusty tin wire.

No pumpkin is complete without a spooky hand!! The hand is made from plastic and once again I coloured with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics.

A touch more stamping adds further to the layers of interest.

I love the layers of colour that you can achieve from a few simple washes!

Now onto the ATB created using Eileen Hull's Block, Cube Die which I die cut from black mountboard. I then used Tim's techniques from his September 2016 tag to decorate each side; using the Undertaker stamp set and many stencils to add further interest. I also added further stamping using Black StazOn Ink.

I used Pitch Black and Latte on Yupo and the two colours together gave a purple tinge to the background which I loved. I then stamped the imagery on each side with Archival Ink and then used a soft cloth to remove the ink to reveal the resist.

I love the ghostly effect from the resist which works so well with a touch of overstamping for further detail, love it!

A touch of resist on this panel using a stencil and Alcohol Ink Blending Solution.

I added a jump ring to this skull for added interest; he looks rather dashing with his monocle!

I added touches of white paint to the edges of each panel to lift each panel a little from the black backdrop.

I added the same detail to the top of the ATB along with a plastic skeleton and a few bones from Tim's Idea-ology range.

I left a few drips of hot glue to add further to the texture.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x