Winners - Autumnal Tag

Hello and welcome back ! It's time to announce the winner and top 3 of the Autumnal Tag challenge. There were so many beautiful Autumnal entries but as always there can be only one winner:

Congratulations Lula ! 

Congratulations Lula ! We loved the leafy theme and of course the Autumnal colours but the chipboard leaf taking centre stage is stunning ! Please email carringtons22@yahoo.co.uk for your winners badge and the details of your guest post. 

Now on to the top 3:

Jane 

Nate

Alison

Congratulations everyone ! Please email carringtons22@yahoo.co.uk for your top 3 badge. 

The current challenge is Pastels and you still have plenty of time to join us. 

Pastels

It is Cec here and I am your hostess for the new challenge starting today.  I decided to call it Pastels and here is how I describe it:

We have been treated to a riot of bright, warm colour since the spring bulbs made their appearance and continuing throughout summer and fall so let's go in the opposite direction and make a project with soft, pastel colours. Don't forget to include some stamping or stenciling or both in your creation.

The Design Team have created some lovely inspiration for you and to get details just click on their name and you will be taken directly to their blog.

I hope you will join us for this challenge.

Rachel

Sue

Cec

Toni

Autumn

Ruth

An InLinkz Link-up

Cracked Mercury Glass Mixed Media Tutorial

Hi guys!  Autumn with you today to share another variation of the cracked glass technique, originally shown on Wendy Vecchi's blog.  This time I've geared my color scheme towards a mercury glass feel.  In my never ending quest for new and exciting techniques to share with you, this has to be an all time favorite.  

I cut my white mat board to size, then painted with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Metallic White Fire.  Next, I distressed the edges of the panel heavily and sponged black archival ink on the edges and into the center, using a wet wipe to smear and burnish.

I used a palette knife to scrape on IndigoBlu Super Thick Slap It On paste then stamped the Crackleglaze stamp repeatedly into the wet paste.  (Make sure to wash your stamp immediately.)  Next I brushed on black gesso and burnish into the cracks.  You can also use a black Distress Crayon.  I have used both and like the gesso method best because it is more subtle.  I used my panel to create a layered frame to display a favorite santa photo.  My photo is packed away just yet, but I can't wait to dig it out in November and replace this Found Relative.  The clip will allow me to switch the photos easily

I was so pleased with the result in this color combination that I decided to try the same process on a die cut.  Everyone needs a little mercury glass snowflake in their lives, right?!  I cut the snowflake from thin chipboard, then coated with thick white gesso, then repeated the process above.  I laid a weight on the snowflake so it would dry flat.

To finish off this project I inked up a red panel then tried a two step stencil technique (which I just made up and love).  First I taped my stencil down to my inky card then tapped the edges with Versamark ink and applied Silver Liquid Glass EP.  I heat set then repositioned my stencil and sponged with black.  I used a wet wipe to wipe the black off of the silver embossed areas.

I am addicted to the drama of this card!  I think it would be great to finish both sides of the snowflake and make it a removable ornament on a card.  Hmm, maybe next time.  :)

As I said, I've had a time experimenting with this cracked glass technique.  My first, particularly grungy attempt can be found  HERE.

My golden glass project can be found HERE.  Man, I hope your gears are turning and you're thinking up new ways to expand on this technique!  I hope you'll share a link to your project in the comments if you give it a go.  Thanks so much for joining us today, Autumn

Welcome to today's guest designer, Nikki !

Today we are welcoming Nikki of Pawsitively Creative as our Guest Designer. Nikki was the winner of the Technique School challenge and therefore asked to join us for a day. Let's move on to hear from Nikki.

Hello! 

Bio-Hello y'all! Just a quick little introduction about myself. I am a Veterinary Technician for my paying job and a mixed media artist for fun. I enjoy making mini top hats and designs out of the norm. Halloween and Christmas are my favorite holidays! Happy Halloween y'all and Carpe Diem! Hugz! ~Niki aka Pawsitively Creative

This is Niki aka Pawsitively Creative. Thank you for having me as a guest! This is awesome sauce! 

• How long have you been crafting for ? 
• I started mixed media about 4 years ago and have expanded since then. Off the page and altered items are among my fave and making mini top hats!  

• Who or what inspired you to start crafting? 
• My husband got me back into it after I broke both of my arms. He is the reason I tried mixed media and I thank him greatly for pushing me in a new direction. 

• What is your favourite technique? 
• Anything relating to rust. I'll try coffee grounds, cinnamon, rusting powders, and any paints that will result in a rusty look.

• What excites you most about crafting ?
•  I never know what the finished design will be. I don't really plan my designs. Sometimes I have an idea and just go with it. 

• What is your 'go to' craft product and why ?
• Hmmm, I use so many but probably craft foam.. You can make any shape you want, it is not expensive and you can even make it look like real leather! 

• Who would you most like to take a class with and why ? 
•  Probably Finnabair. She has some wonderful texture on her designs and her grungy style is something I enjoy. 

• What is your favourite style of crafting i.e. journalling, layouts, altered items etc. 
• My favourite style is mixed media and altered items. I think the two combined are my absolute favourite. An old clock, a glass bottle, the reverse side of a canvas-yeppers, that is fun!

 Here are 2 of Nikki's favourite projects to share with you:

 

 

 Thank you Nikki for joining us today and sharing your favourite projects ! 

The current challenge is Autumn on a Tag and you still have plenty of time to join in !

I Heart Steampunk

It is Cec here and I am bringing you the inspirational post today.  I have made a steampunk inspired canvas I am calling I Heart Steampunk.

I started with a flat canvas from Michaels and used Mod Podge to cover it with torn strips of old book paper.

Next I added Molding Paste (Golden) through a Mini Time Travel stencil (TCW) to create a bit of texture and when it was dry I coated the whole canvas with White Gesso (Liquitex).

The next step was to add some ink sprays to the canvas - Gathered Twigs and Tumbled Glass Distress Spray Stain (Tim Holtz) and Burnished Brass Moon Shadow Mist (Lindys).

Some stamping was added next using Jet Black Archival Ink (Ranger) and a stamps from different sets - Grand Tour I and Steampunkesque (IndigoBlu) and Time Flies (Hampton Arts).

Now it was time to put the heart together.  I started with a wooden heart my husband cut for me on the laser cutter.  Then I used Super Heavy Gel Medium (Liquitex) to add a variety of bits and pieces.  There are wooden bits, charms, hardware and buttons.  This is the fun part because you can use whatever you feel like and this is what I felt like this time.

Once the gel medium was dry I coated everything with White Gesso, which was fine because I needed to unify the colour but I was too impatient and it wasn't totally dry before I started the next step and that meant more work for me.  Lesson learned!!

I used Espresso Acrylic Paint (Craftsmart) to cover the heart using a large brush to begin with and then followed up with a little brush to get in the missed nooks and crannies.

Next I sprayed the heart with Gathered Twigs Distress Spray Stain and Moonshadow Mist Burnished Brass spray.  When the inks were dry I rubbed on some Classic and Rose Quartz Treasure Gold wax.

To give the heart a little "patina" I sponged on some watered down Bluegrass Acrylic Paint (Folk Art).  I also sponged a bit of the paint on the canvas.  The heart was then adhered to the canvas using Super Heavy Gel Medium.

I know I probably should have made a project for your inspiration that followed the current challenge theme but I have made so many fall-themed projects lately that I just decided to go rogue.  If you are still relishing in all the lovely fall colours then I encourage you to create something and share it with us.  The current challenge can be found HERE and you have until November 1st to join in.

Winner - Metallics challenge

Welcome ! We're back today to announce the winner of the Metallics challenge, the entries were fabulous, yet again.  But we have chosen the winner :

Mona Pendleton

Congratulations Mona ! We loved the texture you created and the beautiful, subtle colours. Please email carringtons22@yahoo.co.uk for details of your Guest spotand your winners badge.

Now onto the top 3: 

JulD

Nate

 Craftymamma

 Congratulations everyone ! Please email carringtons22@yahoo.co.uk for your top 3 badge.

The current challenge is Autumn on a tag and you still have plenty of time to join us !

Autumn ~ 'The Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness'.

Hi everybody! It's Toni here and I am your host for our October challenge. Autumn is well and truly underway here in the northern hemisphere and I'd love to see your mixed media projects, that are inspired by this beautiful season. You may love the rich colours, the shapes of fallen leaves or the bounty of natural forms. Let's celebrate the wonders to be found around us. The only catch is that I'd like you to use a tag or several tags, as your substrate. Your tag(s) can be any size or shape and made of any material. Remember to use some stamping, stenciling or even both! I think you'll agree that the design team have produced some wonderful inspiring work and now we are looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Autumn

 Ruth

Rachel

Cec

Sue

Toni

An InLinkz Link-up