Summer of Color - Pink

This weeks Summer of Color challenge is Pink and this wasn't my intentional piece... in fact I didn't even realise at first that there was pink in the Encaustic wax covered sheet I had used to add to some Tando bare chipboard to make my mosaic pieces for this bookmark (sheesh colour blind or what...lol)

 I definitely added pink beads to decorate the fine lengths of chain on purpose though.

I know there are other colours so I hope it fits the challenge... but well... all pink just wouldn't have had the same effect. 

I carried on to make a pair of earings as I well and truly had the mosaic bug... it may be fiddly cutting your own tiles from chipboard but it's very therapeutic too.

I used chipboard for the front and back of these and covered the reverse with other pieces of Encaustic wax coated paper which were more pink.

Then because I had leftover bits... and because I can't bare to throw anything away I made a necklace.

Quick and easy compared to the other bits.

Used double chipboard for this too so that it could be reversible.

Sorry for the long post ...Congrats if you got this far... blimey got a bit carried away...lol
hugs
Chris xx

Wish you were here atc

A little bit of distress ink and some collaged images make for a quick and easy atc... been too hot here today to do much more.  I love the weather BUT I hate the pesky fly that has invaded my home and has followed me everywhere today...even been cheeky enough to sit on my laptop aaaargh

I haven't any fly spray so have attacked it with a tea towel, a rolled up paper and even some hairspray lol... in the hopes of eradicating it or at the very least sticking it's wings together (oh that makes me sound so cruel..ha ha ha) but all to no avail... it just keeps on driving me nuts!!

hugs

Chris xx

Crafty Individuals challenge -Vintage with a heart

I decided to join in with Crafty Individuals' challenge this week which is 'Vintage with a Heart'.... only just managed to get it done in time... got a bit mixed up with my days this week lol.

Anyhoo I covered a sheet of Tando bare chipboard with this gorgeous sheet of Crafty Individuals paper ...

and added this gorgeous girlie from their glossy images... love her!!

I covered and added this Tando chipboard tree (cos it's one of my favourite pieces).....

...and to finish off I used wire with some tiny beads and paper hearts to hang my piece .

Have a great weekend all.

hugs

Chris xx

Just Peeking

The pencils are out again...just felt like experimenting.

 

She was meant to be peeking out from behind the wavy edge but I don't think I managed to get enough depth. Back to the drawing board ? lol I'm happy with her face though and I don't think the adjustment will take long. Thought I'd share anyway.

Have a great day

Hugs

Chris xx

The Summer of Colour challenge-Green

For this weeks Summer of Colour challenge I felt like getting sticky so did a collage journal page with cuttings from magazines and some doodling.  Bliss...sticking and doodling two of my favourite things to do.

I like to put down pieces randomly and see where they lead me and then find something a little interesting for the focal point. Butterflies are always a nice addition to any artwork  and I love them whatever shape or size they are don't you.

Thanks for looking

hugs

Chris xx

Fathers day gift

There's nothing quite like a homemade gift for Fathers day especially for the man who has everything.  My Dad like many, is partial to a sweetie or two while he watches T.V. of an evening so I decided to buy some of his favourites and use some recycled coffee jars to turn  into nice containers to hold them.

I designed and printed out some labels and tags in colours I thought he would like.....

then filled the jars with Everton mints and liquorice.

I then decided it would be nice if he had a co-ordinating card.

Hope your Dad has a lovely Fathers day too.
hugs
Chris xx

The Summer of Colour challenge - Blue

The Summer of Colour is a new ten week blog party celebrating art in all it's hues.  Any medium is allowed including journalling, jewellery, painting, atc's, cards etc etc.... each week will be based on a different colour and this week the colour is BLUE.

I thought I would have a play and do something different... I seem to get hooked up on doing one thing and doing it for weeks at a time... sometimes painting, sometimes journalling and drawing etc... but I am really trying to get back to experimenting and not getting so hung up on any particular medium.

So while I have been trying to clear up some folders on my computer I came across some old photos I had taken and some old artwork I had forgotten about and decided to play around digitally and see where my muse took me.

This is the result and I'm really quite pleased with it... it's VERY blue..lol but it made me happy.

If you'd like to join in with the challenge go HERE and check it out... I think it's going to be heaps of fun.

hugs

Chris xx

Party on down

Another journal page to share today... and if you feel like partying then I think this little fella from Stampotique is looking for a partner.  Doesn't he look dapper in his bow tie and pink trousers.  Bet you would run a mile if he asked you to dance but hey only real men dare wear pink ( or so I've heard...lol)

Lots of fun with Dylusions ink sprays again and some doodling with me favourite white pen... I was born to doodle... I just know I was cos I loves it !!

Have a great day

hugs

Chris xx

Picture magnet

All Mum's deserve gifts at any time of year and after mine was poorly recently I made her this large picture magnet to cheer her up.  I used a chipboard sheet and chipboard pieces from Tando Creative and a beautiful vintage image that was supplied for a challenge on Hands and Heart ning.

 I covered the chippie sheet in acrylic paint and glitter (although my photography doesn't show this up too well I'm afraid) before decoupaging the image and  I adhered a piece of magnetic sheet to the reverse so that it can be displayed on the fridge.

I painted the smaller chipboard pieces and added glitter before covering with Diamond glaze and added a teardrop gem to the top piece.

It took a while but I think it was worth it in the end.
Thanks for looking.
hugs
Chris xx

Mixed media playtime

I love Tando chipboard sheets they are so versatile and can stand up to a real battering and in the making of this handmade art journal they certainly did that!!  As is often the way I had a rummage in my DIY cupboard and came across some 'No More Nails' and I know it's meant for putting up shelves lol ( or sticking men to walls if the advert is to be believed ha ha ha).... but I thought it would be fun to experiment so I squished (arty farty term) some all over my piece of chipboard and then attacked it with my fingers,a comb, a pen and some bottle tops.

It takes ages to dry so I had time to have a real play before I left it for a couple of nights to dry rock hard. It dries so hard you could hit it with a hammer (although I didn't try it...don't think a black eye would be much fun if it bounced back at me..lol)  When it was dry I used various acrylic paints to add colour...

another experiment but I loved the result.

I could have made a spine for my art journal with a slim piece of chipboard but decided I like the look of the stitching so just made front and back covers.  I just used a thick layer of acrylic paint in various colours for the back cover as I want the journal to lay completely flat when I open the front cover. I am going to use the journal for sketching and will probably only draw on the right hand pages leaving the left hand page clean to protect my sketches

I had so much fun messing around with this that I am sure I will do this again and I totally love the texture ...it's great for something to be tactile as well as good to look at.  Below are a few close ups of some of the pattern and texture.

See you soon
hugs
Chris xx

It's been a while....

but it wasn't intentional... I took a few days off from blogging to spend some time with my Sister but then somehow I just couldn't get back into blogging or creating.   Days have turned into weeks and I've started a million crafty things (ok slight exageration..lol) but then hated them all.... think my inner critic has been on overdrive!!   

On the positive side I have begun to excercise again (both to help my weight loss and to give me some well needed energy) and oh baby it's Zumba all the way.  Boy is it a cool way to have fun excercising... gets quite addictive really and gets the adrenaline pumping.  My Sister has been joining in with me so we have a little contest going on who can get to their desired weight first.... a little competition is good right.... and I'm happy to say I've lost a stone in 4 weeks and I'm already feeling fitter and healthier.

I'm giving myself a kick up the butt this week on the creating front so I will be back soon hopefully with some pretties to share but in the meantime I will leave you with another journal page.

This one was created with Dylusions ink sprays, images from Dyans downloads (hat and legs), Lisa's Altered art (flowers,dress,cat in chair and words) and the overpainted doggy face is from a magazine.

hugs
Chris xx