Sunday 30 November 2014

JUST BE FREE - art therapy

Hi there,

I am slowly getting more confident using this blog & posting about my creations. It is so freeing to be able to share your creativity.  Thanks to those who take the time to read this.

I created this next piece on a piece of packaging. An ice cream box to be precise.  The colour & weight of the cardboard was appealing and I never throw anything away that might be useful!!





This is what I started with....(on the other side)


The background was layered up using Faber Castell Whipped Spackle through the Tim Holtz Chevron Stencil & random strips of prima papers including the Prima printed canvas crisscrossed.  Prima font stickers were applied randomly to give more texture as well as crackle texture paste applied with a spatula.


Various Sizzix die cuts were then layered over the background.  (Trellis Frameworks die, Birds in flight & Tattered Lace strip die, Twigs on the edge die, Garden Greens die, Bird Branch die, Mini Feather & Ink well Mover & Shaper die.


Tim Holtz Alpha Parts were used for the Title. The Rusty house was from my stash, & other metal flower embellishments added & part of a Prima flower. Applied with Helmar 450 quick dry adhesive & Heavy Gel Medium.
All these layers were roughly brushed with a layer of Gesso and dried.


Colour applied to the surface with various Lindy Stamp Gang sprays (mostly Flat Fabios) which give a lovely chalky almost pastel finish. Allow the colours to blend & drip.


  Touches of white gesso applied to highlight the flower petals & slightly watered white gesso droplets flicked in different areas.  Small prima text and texture stamps used to create more interest.
Shading around text, birds, flowers etc done by applying the darker sprays with a brush straight from spraying the craft sheet.


I intend to frame this piece.  It is an odd shape so I will have to make my own frame.  Will post a photo when complete.  Sorry I didn't take photos along the way.  I am amazed what can be created from scraps.
Cheers for now,  Debbie Adams


Saturday 29 November 2014

GIFT FROM THE HEART

Hi There,

I wanted to share a project I created for a Kris Kringle gift for one of my workmates.
The necklace was made from Vintaj copper products & some beautiful copper & green beads from my stash.
I re purposed a Toblerone chocolate box as a gift box. It displays the necklace perfectly, and is pretty enough to sit on a shelf to display on it's own.


The papers I used were from Prima A4 Printery Collection. The Sizzix Ornate Frame was cut from scrap white cardboard & coloured with Brushed Pewter Distress Stain. 
Text was randomly inked over this with Black Archival Ink. Dried with heat tool, then randomly swiped with embossing ink dabber & clear UTEE applied & heat set.
I love this effect. It bubbles & looks so dimensional and aged.


The girl stamp is from Artistic Outpost (Flower Market) over Pewter Distress Stain Background. Black Archival Ink of course.
Flower & leaves were made using the sizzix pinecone die & Autumn gatherings sizzix strip die.


Edges were finished off with Tim Holtz Tissue Tape.




I am entering this gift in the Frilly & Funkie Challenge "Gift from the Heart" over on the Frilly & Funkie Boutique Blog.
The link to this challenge is as follows:
http://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/a-gift-from-heart.html

Hope this has inspired some package decorating & getting out those jewellery supplies.  Thanks for coming for a browse.

Cheers  Deb Adams

Friday 28 November 2014

Altered Tattered & Time Worn November Sketch Challenge: XMAS CARD

Hi All,

Have been absent for a few weeks due to Family commitments.

Glad for the ATT November Sketch Challenge to encourage more creative play.
Wanted to make something with a Xmas Theme.



I would like to show some of my creative process.  Some parts working well, other parts not so well, but experimenting & learning achieved.

The paper used is from the Tim Holtz Merriment Paper Stash.  The background rectangle made me think of a brick hearth. So I stencilled with Wendy Vecchi's brick stencil with a mixture of embossing paste, spray stains & 2 different dry glitters as shown below.


I left the surface rough. Love the way this turned out.  Slight glitter visible. Dry with heat tool.


 Cut shelf for hearth from same papers just with stripe going opposite. Popped up with foam strip.
Applied Clear Crackle Paste & Rock Candy Dry Glitter mix through Tim Holtz Gothic stencil above & below the hearth as inspired by the sketch.


Applied it quite thickly so it would crackle nicely. It dried ok on the paper sections but absorbed some of the red colour where applied over the bricks. (Distress spray stain used on them) I get the reason why.  Applied text sticker by Heidi Swapp for the sentiment and left to dry overnight.


For the vertical stripes on the Sketch I chose to hang stockings across the hearth. They were stamped with black archival on white card stock. Slightly shaped by rounding over a fine paintbrush handle. Applied with pop dots & given a coat of glossy accents.  The stamp set used was by Mickey Choo.


The hearth clock and other embellishments were made up from pieces in my stash.  I swiped the stencilled and embossed areas with brushed pewter distress stain to make the crackle stand out.  It actually looks like snow.  I know that I can use this combination for a snow scene in another project.

The card was trimmed and layered on black cardstock then on beautiful embossed paper from House of 3 (Heidi Swapp) from my stash. Corresponding Heidi Swapp sticker applied to inside of card.  Her font is just beautiful & these slightly raised stickers were perfect for this.


Will make this card again using pewter embossing paste with the Gothic stencil.  Think that will give the effect that I was after.  My experiment has led to a recipe for fake snow anyway.
I am embracing the imperfection.  It adds texture & sparkle.

Thanks for Stopping by....Deb

Tuesday 11 November 2014

Xmas Accordion Card for Inspiration Blog November Challenge. 'Happy Holidays'

Hi There,

I am posting some pictures of an accordion card I made to send to my daughter who is spending Xmas in New York. (That's a long way from our home in Australia) 
I wanted something that would serve as a decoration as well as fold flat to post.


I cut out the card frame from Tim Holtz Merriment papers using the Sizzix dies; Accordion Flip 3D & the Bracket, Frame & Label die.


The scalloped top was cut using the 'Ornate' on the edge die.  Snowy features were added using the Ranger Embossing Dabber & heat embossed with Ranger Embossing Tinsel 'Snowflake' . 


Other Tim Holtz & 7 gypsies papers were used to give American references. Font cut out using 'Wanted' Alphabet strip die & 'Vintage Noel' die.


Mini Poinsiettas, Stocking, Cane & Mistletoe are all Movers & Shapers dies from Tim Holtz Sizzix Alterations. The Word Band was swiped with Picket fence Distress Paint & gently wiped off to leave the words highlighted.


I think she will get a nice surprise with this gift. Hope it doesn't make her too homesick!

I am entering this Accordion Card in the November Challenge on the Inspiration Blog at Inspiration Emporium. The theme is 'Happy Holidays'
Link Address:  http://blog.inspirationemporium.com/?p=2904

Extra FYI for Crafters outside the USA: Most of the product to make this card was actually bought from Inspiration Emporium as they offer a flat fee of $10 for International Postage.  I have made full use of this offer over time and have been extremely pleased with their service.  Just giving praise where it is due.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.  Debbie Adams


Sunday 9 November 2014

Black White & Grey & ??

Hi There,

I have created an entry for this month's challenge at the 'Mixed Media Place'

Exercise #1


1. Use black
2. Use white
3. Use grey
4. And - add one more color of your choice.  (I chose RED)


My project is a re purposed black gift box that my kids gave me a wallet in for Mother's Day. 6 x 9"


Close Ups


The Stamped Image was a happy accident. A while ago I stamped off with black Archival Ink to clean this stamp onto a cloth.  I loved the look of it on the tissue type fabric, so cut it out roughly and kept.


I distressed the edges of the box & coated the cover of the box with Soft Matte Gel.


Brushed Pewter distress stain swiped on torn, embossed black card to mount stamped image on.


Apply stamped image with Soft Matte Gel. Love the bunched up edges & stripes showing through.
Swipe raised areas with distress stain. 


Black & Silver Embossing Paste applied to top & sides through Stripes Stencil. Let Dry.


Layers applied with Soft Matte Gel. Including various Tissue Tapes, Harlequin die cuts, acetate die cuts of timepieces, birds & cards.  Sentiment from Tim Holtz. Doilies stamped & heat embossed with Firebrick Red Distress Embossing Powder & Ranger cement embossing powder.


Corners & edges randomly swiped with Ranger Emboss it Dabber then a mix of Platinum & Clear UTEE applied & heated.
Higlighted with White Gesso, crystal mica flakes & platinum glass glitter.

Found it hard to photograph.  Lots of textured layers & reflective surfaces combined with the black.
Good to try something that stretches those creative muscles!
Thanks for taking the time to read.
Debbie Adams

Friday 7 November 2014

Comfort in your fathers arms. Creative Process


I only had time to post one photo of my creation yesterday, so I could enter it in the Finnabair Blog Hop & Comfort Challenge.
I took some photos as I was making this and so would like to share some of my creative process.


I started with a backing of framer's matt board. 14.5 x 11 " Distressed & inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink & Wendy Vecchi Background stamp.
Papers used from Prima Sunrise Sunset Collection 12 x 12.


I fussy cut and layered scallop strips from 'Aura' Lace strip paper to fill in 14.5" side.
I distressed & inked edges with punches, distress tool & Vintage photo distress ink. I double stitched around 12 x 12 lace paper base, attaching a strip of real cream lace to right side edge.


I blotted and splattered base with black tea & sprayed a mixture of tea & left over gold Color Shine,  then glued down with 3D Matte Gel. Leaving distress edges raised.

 Close up of beautiful edges.


Primed surface with Clear Gesso.


Printed off & cut out Title from heavy cardstock. Coloured with tea mix & D Inks.


Cut Strips of leftover papers, prima printed canvas sheets, & tattered banner strips I had in my stash. Distress & ink the edges.  Collect an array of embellishments and lace.


I had to use inkjet photos, so protected them with soft matte gel. Has given them a hazy smoky look. Ok with it. Looks cool. I mounted my photos on kraft heavy cardboard. Distressed & inked edges. 


Used Tim Holtz flourish stencil with mixture of crackle pastes above. 
Finally layered paper & fabric strips in cross hatch pattern. Applied with Soft Matte gel.


Metal and other embellishments applied with 3D Matte Gel.
Light spray and splatter using Colour Shine & Lindy Stamp Gang Sprays.
Final highlights with Frosted Mica Flakes and Platinum Glass Glitter.


Close Ups

Thanks for reading. I would appreciate any feedback as these are my very first blog entries.

Cheers,   Debbie Adams