Clipboard Makeover

 Hiya my lovelies!

Today, I decided my clipboard needed sprucing up!

I gessoed it and then squirted it with blobs of Fresco Paints in Sky, South Pacific, Eggplant & Sherbert. I used a dry brush to spread the colours on both sides. I love this technique! I never know how it going to look and it reminds me of tie dye! 

 

 

I told you I'm a hippy at heart!

 

 

I used my stencils and stamps on the front...

 

 

and the back.

 

 

I wanted to make a feature of the sun...

 

 

so I collaged a face onto it and blended it with some copper paint.

 

 

I then used a black pen to add detail to the sun and a white Posca pen to doodle.

 

All done!  

 Now I have a fab clipboard to help me doodle, colour or write while sitting infront of the T.V!

 

I would like to enter this project into the Words Challenge over at PaperArtsy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Crafty hugs

Sez x

Arty Art Box

 

Hello my lovelies!

Just wanted to share something with you.

I've been having a rough week health wise & felt quite low.

So, I decided to brighten up something!

 

The 'something' was my art box! My mum got me it for Xmas last year. It's a baby box... you know the white ones that have a little shelf thing in! Well, I'd mentioned to Mum, about the one we had when I was a child. It used to sit in our bathroom with all the bath stuff inside. I thought that it would make a great art box to put in all my art essentials. She no longer had the original one but got me a modern equivalent! 

Thanks mum!

 

Anyway, I decided to give it a good spraying with some Decoart Media Misters. Lots of lovely colours!

Used some metallic copper paint though a Doily stencil which I love! (It's very mandala-ish which calls to my inner hippy!) I also used the Swirly Garden stencil for the corners.

 

 

 

 Here it is open...

 

Loving all the drippage!

My art box finally looks like it's mine! ;)

 

I see over at the PaperArtsy blog the theme is Sprays so I would like to enter this for the challenge! My first one for ages!

 

I hope you like it as much as I do!

Thanks for stopping by.

Crafty Hugs

Sez x

DT project 1 'Anything Goes' for Old, New & Digital Too! (ON&DT)

 

Hello my lovelies!

Welcome to my 1st DT project for Old, New & Digital Too.

I'm soooo excited!

 

Right then, as you can tell from the title of the blog, we use stash that's old, new & some digital stuff too! This months challenge is 'Anything Goes!'

 

My project started with an old canvas that I had previously collaged all sorts of different papers, including kitchen paper, (with a wedding photo & some lacey bits & bobs which I have removed) & covered it with a layer of white gesso.

I used this because A) it had been knocking about since 2008 when I made it, B) it's therefore old stash, C) it was hideous & needed a new purpose and D) I love recycling/repurposing stuff! :)

 

  

After it had dried I used my NEW stencils & my NEW ink sprays!

I treated myself to these at Christmas & believe it or not, hadn't used them yet.

The stencils are from Crafters Workshop & are the 6" ones One is 'Doily' and the other is 'Mini Swirly Garden'.

 I ordered the sprays from USA as I couldn't get them here. They're Decoart Media Misters which are an acrylic ink spray which is permanent when dry. I think they're fab!

I masked off areas using kitchen paper and sprayed away starting with the 'Mini Swirly Garden' stencil & then the 'Doily' one over the top in a contrasting colours. Then went 'spray happy' with all the colours. (This happens a lot with me I'm afraid!) 

I used  the 'Mini Swirly Garden' stencil & the black spray to add detail to the edges.

 

I used some Treasure Gold from PaperArtsy in 'Olive Bronze', 'Indigo' & a limited edition teal colour which I don't know the name of! I picked out the texture of the kitchen paper with it.

 

I then used squirts of the ink sprays & stood the canvas up so the ink would run. I love this technique.

Makes it look like graffiti! That's the background done.

 

 

 

These are the sprays I used for this project...

 

 

 

Now comes the DIGITAL bit...

I use Serif Craft Artist Pro. I like text. I'm a bit of a typography lover in fact!

I also love quotes... a lot.

I chose one from Pablo Picasso. He's an artist after all & I thought this particular one is very apt!

 

 

I used the letters from the 'Planet Pop' digikit.

 

 

I cut them out and stuck them on using matte Medium Gel. I prefer matte & use it all the time.

 I finished the piece with -Picasso in White Posca Pen as you can see...

 

 

TADA!

I hope you liked this project as much as I enjoyed doing it!

 

You can find this project featured on the New, Old & Digital Too Blog.

Please visit it & join in with this months challenge!

Make sure you check out the other DT members blogs too!

 Deborah Wainwright

Brian Raymond

Mo (Mass of Hair)

Thanks for stopping by!

Crafty Hugs

Sez x

DT member ON&DT

Watch This Space!

Hiya my lovelies!

I know it's been a while... too long really.

It may have seemed that I had fallen off the face of the earth, but I assure you I'm still here.

I have been busy working full time & have also had to learn to deal with being diagnosed with a chronic illness, that has turned my body into an un co-operative, painful mess!

I am trying to focus on the positives...

As of September I will be going part-time at work & will have more time to sort myself out.

I will also have more time for my chosen therapy... ART!

 I thought that the therapy should start sooner, rather than later....

I'll be posting tomorrow what I've been up to!

Would love you to join me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Crafty hugs

Sez x 

 

 



Creative Blog Hop

 I was asked by the lovely & super talented Massofhair to do my very first blog hop! 

She is a fabulous artist & inspirational woman! Well worth a follow on her blog & on Twitter!

The blog hop is about getting to know more about each other by answering some questions, so here goes!
 

Journal page 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.'

 About Me

 

I'm a 35 year old wife & mother from Northants in UK & I work as a Teaching Assistant in a local primary school. I am also partially deaf and currently studying British Sign Language.

 I started making things from a young age. My Grandma taught me to knit, crochet, embroider, cook & to embrace my creative side. She even allowed me to paint a mural on her bedroom wall when I was 9! I started distressing jeans long before it was fashionable & have always had my own sense of style. I always wanted to go to art college but unfortunately it never happened... My art teacher didn't like me much & told me that I wasn't very good so I didn't continue with my creative journey until I was much older. I re-started my journey by making cards, which my Mum encouraged me to do! Thanks Mum!

 

Greetings card.

Then moved into jewellery...

 

'Saracen' Necklace.

 and also mixed media, which I love!

 

Altered box.

 Before working in school, I was a self employed mixed media artist & sold my wares at local art markets & emporiums. I also taught workshops in various techniques and medias. Guess my art teacher was wrong, eh!

I was also on Stamping Dragon design team & have taken part in art challenges for PaperArtsy.

 

Why do you create what you do?

 

I used to create commissions for others but it can be very frustrating to create things for sale! I mainly make art for myself & as gifts to others. My art is my therapy! My job can be very stressful but also very rewarding. I don't get a lot of spare time as I have 4 children, 3 step-children & 2 beautiful step-granddaughters, but when I do, I love to get messy & the kids can join in too!  

 

'Elsie' Wedding Posy made with polymer clay.

 

How does your creative process work?

 

 I usually have an idea of how it will look & my brain is fabulous at keeping me awake at night with loads of ideas! I even dream ideas... Although I quite often 'see' my creations before they actually exist, I do love the freedom of 'randomness' & going with the flow.

 

'Lydia's Happiness House' made for my daughter's 13th birthday.

How do you stay motivated?

 

 I will be honest, I have lost my mojo & found it hard to get it back. I'm the first to admit I am, (as most creatives are) emotionally charged. So my art is closely linked to how I'm feeling. I have suffered with depression in the past and am very aware how quickly the downward spiral can start, so I try to stay positive as much as I can. But sometimes the fight becomes too hard. My art can reflect this. Sometimes I dry up completely, then other times my creative juices overflow! I must be a challenge to live with!



'Tears' journal page.

What are you creating at the moment?

 

My latest make was a 'Positivity folder'. It stores my inspiration papers, which I hope will help me fight off the mojo eater! I am a member of Jennibellie's Journal Workshop and made an 'Inspiration Station'. Check out her YouTube channel, she's fab!

 

'Positivity Folder'

I hope this 'getting to know you' post wasn't too boring...

Thank you for taking the time to stop by & read it!

 

Now to introduce the creative souls I have chosen to pass the baton too!

Mary Woolley from Black Flower Creative.

Find her on Twitter as @Mezzy1306 

and the lovely Emma Taylor from Pink Sparkle Days.

Find her on Twitter as @pinksparklegirl

Give them both a follow & pop over to read their inspirational stories next week!

Crafty hugs

Sez x

 

 

Update!

I know it has been a while! If you still follow me on Twitter then you'll know I have kind of fell off the face of the earth! Sorry!
I've been catching up on housework & family stuff when not at work, which seems to have taken over everything!
I fell down the stairs last week (whilst hoovering!) & had to have a week off work... (I have bruised my coxyx so I'm finding it hard to sit, but am now back at work!) So to keep myself from sitting I had a mass sort out of craft stash!
I have decided to keep some things to do journalling with but the rest of my craft stash can go! In my next post I will upload pics of what is for sale with prices etc! There will be embellishments, stamps, ribbons, beads, wire & all sorts of stuff! So watch this space!
Crafty hugs
Sez x

My Last Lunchbags & Art for Me!

 Hi there my lovelies!

I know it's been a while since I shared anything with you...

I've been so busy with work, training & family stuff that I haven't had time to do much!

If you follow me on Twitter, you might recall me getting a large order for bags. 

Well, thankfully it was cancelled!

I know some of you might wonder why I use the word 'thankfully',

 but in all honesty I am thankful!

Since starting my job I seem to have less & less time to do stuff...

 (My washing is cascading down the stairs as I type!)

My brain is turning to scrambled egg with all the training I'm doing & I'm feeling like

I've been plugged in & drained of all energy... mentally, physically & emotionally.

But putting all that aside, I know that once I get to the Easter Break I will be able to recharge

myself & put in place strategies that will help me & my family cope better.

Anyway, getting to the point of this post...

I have FINALLY finished my last order for lunchbags!

I have decided that the 23 bags I have made up to now are a limited edition!

Not only have I not got the time to do them, but I have lost the joy a little so I need to do something else! Which I'll come to in a bit...

 

 I made these bags for a colleague & her daughter.

 

Her favourite things are seahorses & rainbows... The same as me!

Her daughter loves campervans & her stuffed toy 'Moley' so I made him driver!

 

I hope they like them!

 

So, to the something else!

Earlier, I said that I feel drained. So, I have decided to heal myself using my art.

I have signed up to a free online course that the fab Jenniebellie is running.

She shows you how to use what you have to make an 'Inspiration Station' which helps in times of creative block & she shows how to make your own journals.

 I love Jenniebellie's videos on YouTube & I urge you to take a look at them!

I am going to spend what little spare time I have just making art for me,

to help me work my stresses away & to calm my spirits.

 I may share some of what I have made with you.

 

Thanks for stopping by I really appreciate it!

Feel free to leave a comment.

 

Crafty hugs

Sez x