Playing with metal

A couple of weeks ago I went to a workshop at Rumpelstiltskin in Broadwindsor run by Tanya and we played around decorating metal.  I've had the odd go before but not invested in the tools or done anything large but thanks to Tanya this is what I produced!

As always the photo is rubbish but hopefully it gives you an idea.  I decided to do a sampler for my mirror and cut the metal into 9 pieces which are each decorated differently using as many of the tools as I could.  The top right and bottom left pieces are both done using a moulding mat but the others are all just done with the various tools.  The pieces have been coloured with alcohol inks and the whole piece is really bright!

Of course, I now know I need a set of tools for myself but my house has to be rewired the week after next and that is going to cost serious money so I'm trying not to spend money on yet more stuff.  After all I could carry on creating for about 20 years just using up what I've already got!

Many thanks to Tanya for another fun workshop.  She has a really nice selection of mixed-media workshops between now and Christmas so I have signed up for several more!

Thread holder - inside

Doreen asked what the inside of my thread holder looked like so here's a couple of photos to show you:

And here's what the original beige plastic holder looked like!

Alcohol inks again

I did another class yesterday at Kraft Crazy in Tidworth using the new colours of alcohol inks. I made the projects bright and summery to really show off the new colours and the sun came out for one day at least in honour of the occasion!

The card below uses a technique I found on Patti Behan's blog where she has a video tutorial showing how you can use alcohol inks to make an animal print - very clever!

I love all the new colours, especially the brights, much more my colour range than the original selection (even though I've used them loads as well). Also love the birdcage stamp from Elusive Images on the middle card.

2nd thread holder

I've finished the second folder to hold all my DMC threads. I made it in the same way as the first but with a different colour scheme. Here's the band sampler on canvas I made to go on the front:

And here is the finished folder:

And a picture of the two holders together:

Playing with texture paste

I've been reading Stitching the Textured Surface by Lynda Monk and Carol McFee and decided to do some texture paste samples. I didn't have the products used in the book but they said to try different types so I used what I had: Dreamweaver embossing paste and Winsor & Newton coarse texture gel and gesso. I used a variety of materials: calico, hessian, velvet, nappy liner, butter muslin etc. and my dining table is now covered with samples drying. The texture gel and embossing paste are used up so I've had to stop! I'll leave them overnight to dry and then I'll start adding colour and cutting them up. The book is excellent by the way, wonderful clear photos, lots of inspiration and I'm only about a third of the way through so far.

I used Stewart Gill stencils, Tim Holtz masks and Tattered Angel masks (plus my comb but maybe we won't talk about that!)

This is what my dining table looks like at the moment - most of the samples are white on white so don't show up too clearly but wait for the colour!

More fabric painting

I've started working on a thread holder to house all my DMC threads. It will be the same as the Anchor one posted earlier but I've used red/orange/yellow this time. Here's the material painted and stencilled with Stewart Gill paints. It's much brighter in real life but useless photography is to blame again! The back of the folder is made up ready but the front is waiting on me stitching the band sampler which I'm doing bit by bit in the evenings watching tv.

I went to Newbury Stamp show yesterday and spent far too much money as always. I bought some Glimmer Mists and screens which I have been coveting for some time so I'm looking forward to having a play with those - much more rewarding than cleaning the bathroom which is what I should be doing!

Mixed Media Canvases

Yesterday I went to Rumpelstiltskin at Broadwindsor Craft Centre and did a mixed media class with Tania. Yes, I have nearly all the stuff we used at home already but I rarely sit down for 3 hours to play with it and if I do I'm paralysed by the choices instead of just getting on and making something. Also it means I would have to clear up all the messy stuff myself - much better to have glitter and angelina all over Tania's floor! Here are the pieces finished off at home because I couldn't commit myself in too much of a hurry as to where exactly I wanted to stick each piece!

The green piece is actually half the size of the blue but I scanned them both as my photographs turned out rubbish! We painted small canvases with a variety of paints then stuck down some torn scraps of sari fabric with beading and sequins still on. We painted over the fabric, added tiny beads, glitter and embossing powder and zapped it with a heat gun which made the sari fabric distort. We then heated and painted some tyvek and stuck that on along with moulding mesh and a bit of friendly plastic on the blue canvas. I added some leaf beads to the bottom of the blue piece and a couple of buttons to the green one.

Two other ladies did the class with me, profolly and her friend Jo and profolly has posted one of her pieces on her blog here. I think we all had a fun afternoon.